Amendment_2.pdf

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT 11. CONTRACT ID CODE I PAGE OF PAGES

1 I 10

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO. 15. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

000002 07/24/2014

6. ISSUED BY CODE 32 7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6) CODE I

USCG R&DC CONTRACTING OFFICE

1 Chelsea Street New London CT 063205506

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code) Q1

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

HSCG32-14-R-R00013

x 9B. DA TED (SEE ITEM 11)

06/27/2014

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

CODE FACILITY CODE

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

~The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers Dis extended. rais not extended.

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods: (a) By completing

Items 8 and 15, and returning 2 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT

THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. lfby virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required)

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

CHECK ONE A. b~gifRH~~~~ ?r~~Efo~ ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor D is not. D is required to sign this document and return copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

The purpose of this amendment is to address questions submitted in response to the RFP and revise RFP provisions and clauses.

See Continuation Sheet ...

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

NSN 7540-01-152-8070

Previous edition unusable

15C. DATE SIGNED

STANDARD FORM 30 (RE . 10-83)

Prescribed by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

CONTINUATION SHEET Page 2 of 10

SOLICITATION HSCG32-14-R-R00013 -000002

1. The following are responses to questions submitted by interested parties:

QUESTION # 1: In Section H, H.10 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST (FAR 9.505) & LIMITATION ON FUTURE CONTRACTING, the bottom of page 27 of the RFP includes "(d) The Government may, in its sole discretion, waive any provisions of this clause if deemed in the best interest of the Government.(f) If any provision of this clause excludes the Contractor from competition for, or award of, any contract, the Contractor shall not be permitted to serve as a subcontractor, at any tier, on such contract." Page 28 includes paragraphs (e) through (g).

Should "(f) If any provision of this clause excludes the Contractor from competition for, or award of, any contract, the Contractor shall not be permitted to serve as a subcontractor, at any tier, on such contract" be included as paragraph (h)?

RESPONSE #1: The Clause is reformatted to change (f) to paragraph (e) as a separate paragraph, and the remaining paragraphs are renumbered as shown in the revised Clause H.10 included in the Summary of Changes section of this Continuation Sheet.

QUESTION # 2: The Escalation paragraph reads: “The Government will use the most recent Global Insight recommendation for the escalation rate. Clauses in Section L describe the circumstances where we will apply this rate in evaluating cost realism of contractor proposals.

The Government will compare offerors proposed escalation rates to the Global Insight escalation rate.

The higher of these two rates (the Global Insight rate and the proposed rate) is applied for a cost realism evaluation."

Since the Government intends to evaluate proposals against the Global Insight escalation rate, will the Government provide this benchmark to all offerors so that offerors know what is the evaluation factor for escalation?

RESPONSE #2: The Global Insight (GI) rate is currently 2.96%. The Government will use the GI rate current at the time of the cost realism evaluation.

QUESTION # 3: The first sentence of the third paragraph of L.10 PROPOSAL DELIVERY INFORMATION on page 59 of the solicitation states, "Responses not received by 2:00pm Eastern Standard Time on 12 August 2014 at the address stated above will be considered late, as defined by FAR 52.215-1." Should the time for submission be "2:00pm Eastern Daylight Time" instead of "2:00pm Eastern Standard Time?"

RESPONSE # 3: Provision L.10 will be amended to correct the Time Zone information. See the Summary of Changes section of this Continuation Sheet.

HSCG32-14-R-R00013 000002

Integrated Design, Test & Evaluation (IDT&E) Services

QUESTION # 4: Solicitation pages 3, 21, and 70 Clauses B.2 Contract Limitations and H.2 ordering under a Multiple Award Contract M.2 Single or Multiple Awards - Is it the Coast Guard’s intention to have multiple awards or is a single award anticipated?

RESPONSE # 4: Clause M.2, Single or Multiple Awards (FAR 52.216-27) (Oct 1995) explains the Governments intent.

QUESTION # 5: Solicitation pages 4 and 25 Clause B.3 level of Effort and H.5 Key Personnel. A few of the key labor categories have more than a man-year of hours per year. Does the Coast Guard require more than 1 key person per labor category? (example Test Engineer, Sr. Engineer etc.) For categories with less than a man-year of hours per year can the contractor propose more than 1 key personnel?

RESPONSE # 5: It is up to the Offeror to decide how to propose personnel to meet the stated requirements. All proposals will be evaluated in accordance with Section M of the Solicitation.

QUESTION # 6: Solicitation page 7 Clause C.4 Accessibility Requirements (Section 508) Will this clause be determined on a task by task basis so appropriate costs can be estimated if required?

RESPONSE # 6: The clause is applicable to all Task Orders issued under this IDIQ, unless the Task Order Contracting Officer states otherwise.

QUESTION # 7: Solicitation page 16 Clause G.6 Cost Accounting Systems. Is it a requirement that subcontractors must have an approved DCAA accounting system?

RESPONSE # 7: All subcontractors that are proposed on a cost reimbursement basis must have an accounting system adequacy determination by the Government. This normally requires an audit by DCAA or other auditing organization.

QUESTION # 8: Solicitation page 35 and 45 Clauses H.83 Service Contract Act 52.222-49 Place of performance Unknown - Which is the applicable wage determination? Since the majority of the work is in Connecticut we suggest wage determination 2005-3023 rev 14 be used for pricing purposes so all bidders are treated equally. Which labor categories does the Coast Guard consider covered by the wage determination? Can the government “map” the solicitation labor categories to the wage determination labor categories? This would again ensure each bidder is treated equally from a pricing standpoint.

RESPONSE # 8: There is no requirement that the work be performed in Connecticut. Offerors should obtain the appropriate DOL Wage Determination for the locality it proposes to perform the work. The Table in Section B - Supplies or Services and Prices/Costs, B.3 (a) is modified to add the applicable Service Contract Act Wage Hour Division (WHD) codes which are available at:

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/wage/. See the Summary of Changes section of this Continuation Sheet.

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/wage/

QUESTION # 9: Solicitation page 59 Clause L11 Packing Instructions. Can the contractor submit 1 box for the technical volume and 1 box for the cost volume with a packing slip in each of the boxes identifying the contents? Are 2 separate boxes required to be put in a larger box for submittal? It is our understanding 1 complete CD of the technical volume and 1 complete CD of the cost volume are required which will be included in each of the separate boxes.

RESPONSE # 9: No, two separate boxes are not required to be put in a larger box for submittal. Clause L.11 specifically states that “Box 1 must include the electronic copy CDs, and the master packing list.

The master packing list must list the contents (i.e., volume number, copy number, and volume name) of each box, by box number. These packing instructions also apply to all Subcontractor submissions”. The Offeror may, if it chooses, include packing lists in any other box in addition to the Master Packing List in box 1.

QUESTION # 10: Solicitation page 64 Clause L13 1.subfactor 3 Personnel paragraph 3 (iv) This clause requires a letter of intent for any potential new hire. The certification requires salary information which is to be submitted in the technical volume. We request that the required compensation be redacted in the technical volume and an un-redacted copy be included in the cost volume.

RESPONSE # 10: Clause L.13, Volume I, Technical Proposal, Subfactor 3– Personnel Paragraph (3)

(iv) is modified to read as follows:

(iv) Identify all proposed Key Personnel who are not currently employees of the offeror or proposed subcontractor. Provide a statement signed by that person indicating willingness to be hired if the contract is awarded to the offeror.

QUESTION # 11: Solicitation page 68 Clause L15 7. The solicitation appears to require pricing for a summary of one five year total and indirect rates provided separately for each year. There are no option years just one 5 year period of performance. Does the Coast Guard require 5 separate years of pricing and a total? Is the requirement for electronic spreadsheets in addition to the requirement to provide a CD of the cost volume?

RESPONSE # 11: The electronic spreadsheets containing cost data are to be provided on a CD, marked appropriately as part of Volume II- Cost Proposal, and packed in Box 1. As stated in Clause L.15, Volume II – Cost Proposal Paragraph (7) 1:

1. Electronic Proposal Spreadsheets. In addition to the proposal hard copy binders, offerors are required to submit the electronic spreadsheets for both prime and subcontractor cost proposals.

These spreadsheets must be fully editable by the Government. The Government will use the offerors spreadsheet in the Cost Realism analysis and will make adjustments as necessary to reflect probable costs.

The offeror must submit a five-year total cost and fee summary spreadsheet broken down by cost element, fee, and total cost plus fixed fee.

The offeror is also required to provide the same breakdown for each year of performance. Individual years must include a breakdown of labor categories and all direct and indirect rates proposed. All subcontractors are required to submit the same electronic spreadsheet data.

Failure to submit the required cost proposal data may render the proposal ineligible for award.

QUESTION # 12: Solicitation pages 69- 70 Clause L.22 Subcontracting Plan Goals – Is the small business goal 45% including the subcategories or a total of 61%. Are large prime contractors required to meet this goal or is it a target and contractors may propose less. A prime contractor may have all of the skills required to perform the tasking and adding subcontractors to meet the 45%/61% goal may not increase the value to the Coast Guard. Will the Coast Guard consider reducing the overall goal to 25%?

RESPONSE # 12: The subcontracting goals for each category are expressed as a percentage of total dollars being subcontracted. These goals are not intended to be mandatory but Offerors are encouraged to keep these goals in mind when developing their subcontracting plan. The goals will remain as stated.

QUESTION # 13: Under Sub-Paragraph (v) of Proposal Format, the government states the Maximum Number of Pages for Technical Volume I is “25 – not including Resumes or Past Performance”.

Question: Does the 25-page count for the Technical Proposal include Title Page and Table of Contents, or are these also excluded from the page count?

RESPONSE # 13: The Title Page and Table of Contents are not included in the 25-page limit.

QUESTION # 14: The RFP states in paragraph H.10(a)(3) and H.10(a)(5) that:H.10(a)(3): “In accordance with FAR 9.505-3: whereas this contract may require the contractor to provide technical evaluation of other contractors’ products or services, the contractor agrees that it shall not furnish to U.S Government, either as a prime contractor, as a subcontractor, or as a consultant to prime contractor or subcontractor, any system, subsystem or component which is the subject of work under this contract. This prohibition is effective during the term of this contract and extends for a period of 3 years after the term of this contract."

H.10(a)(5): "The Contractor shall be excluded from competition for, or award of, any Government contract either as a prime contractor or subcontractor for which, in the course of performance of this contract, the Contractor has received advance procurement information, which has not been made generally available to other persons or firms.”

It is feasible that participation in another similar USCG Research and Development Center acquisition support contract such as SETA could result in work on a system, subsystem or component or knowledge of advanced procurement information which is the subject of the IDT&E solicitation. Does this clause imply that by participating in another RDC support acquisitions contract as either a prime or subcontractor, there could be a perceived organizational conflict of interest?

RESPONSE # 14: As the Clause states, if a contractor receives advanced procurement information, they shall be excluded from competition, or award of, any Government contract either as a prime contractor or subcontractor.

QUESTION # 15: Government transition employment regulations state that, “After you leave Government service, you may not represent someone else to the Government regarding particular matters that you worked on while in Government service.” Could there be a perceived conflict of interest if a recently retired RDC Command Staff member was named as Key in our proposal?

RESPONSE # 15: Refer to: 18 U.S.C. § 207(a) (1), which establishes a lifetime representational restriction. This restriction precludes a person from ever knowingly making a representational communication or contact to any person in the executive or judicial branches of the Federal government on behalf of any non-Federal third party regarding any particular matter that they “personally and substantially" participated at any time while in government service. This rule is broad, and covers and include all forms of contacts or communications (verbal or written, face-to-face, email, mail, phone, letter, fax, etc.).

QUESTION # 16: Should solicitation document be returned separately or included in the Volume II - Cost Proposal?

RESPONSE # 16: The Solicitation documents must be separate from, and packaged with Volume II – Cost Proposal.

QUESTION # 17: On page 60 of the amended solicitation, section L.12 PROPOSAL SUBMISSION - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS, (b) (ii) requires we return an Original plus 2 copies of the signed solicitation document. Box 11 of amendment 0001 requires we return 5 copies of the signed amendment.

Is this correct? Should signed amendments be returned as part of the signed solicitation document?

RESPONSE # 17: Block 11 of Amendment 000001 is changed from “5” copies to “2” copies of the Amendment. Amendments must be returned as part of the signed solicitation document.

QUESTION # 18: We found no requirement in the RFP for submitting an electronic copy of the technical proposal. Is it correct that an electronic copy of the technical proposal is not required?

RESPONSE # 18: Electronic copies of both the Technical, and Cost volumes is required. Section L.12 – Proposal Submission – General Requirements, (2) (iii) is modified to read:

(iii) The Technical and Cost volumes shall be in standard three-ring loose-leaf binders that can be easily opened and closed. Binders shall be marked as follows:

Proposal Title

• Proposal Category (Technical or Cost)

• Volume number

• Security classification (Unclassified only)

• RFP number

• Name and address of the offeror

• Serial number/copy number

In addition to the binders, the Technical and Cost volumes shall be included in Electronic Format on CD and included in Box 1

QUESTION # 19: Should the electronic copy of the spreadsheets be packaged separately and provided in Box 1 or provided in Volume II? How many CDs are required?

RESPONSE # 19: In accordance with Section L, Clause L.11 Packing Instructions, Box 1 must include the electronic copy CDs. Clause L.12 (b) (1) (v) Page Limits and Copies, states that and Original plus 1 copy of Volume II- Cost Proposal is required. This includes the electronic copy CD’s.

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES/COSTS

The Table in Clause B.3 Level of Effort ( a) is amended to include DOL WHD Codes as follows:

Labor Category Service Contract Act WHD Code

Labor hours Contractor Site

Program Manager* N/A 9300 Project Manager* N/A 11300 Subject Matter Expert N/A 5000 Test Director* 29086 6000 Test Engineer* 29085 18600 Statistician N/A 3200 Systems Analyst* N/A 9300 Senior Programmer/Analyst 03103 3200 Junior Programmer/Analyst 03102 1600 Senior Data Analyst* N/A 5000 Junior Data Analyst N/A 4000 Senior Engineer * N/A 18600 Middle Engineer N/A 14000 Junior Engineer N/A 9300 Senior Physical Scientist N/A 12000 Junior Physical Scientist N/A 4000 Senior Information Technology Specialist 03045 1600 Junior Information Technology Specialist 03044 1600 Senior Electronics Technician 23183 4000 Junior Electronics Technician 23182 3200 Senior Mechanical Technician 23530 4000 Junior Mechanical Technician 19010 3200 Human Factors/Ergonomics Specialist N/A 2000 Technical Editor 29480 4000 Technical Writer 29480 6000 Technical Illustrator CAD/CAM 29064 3000 Senior Fabricator 19040 3000 Junior Fabricator 23550 2000 Documentation Specialist 01060 4000 Data Collector 29081 2500 Administrative Specialist 01118 6000

Total Estimated Hours 184,500

SECTION H - SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

The Clause formatting is revised to now read:

CLAUSE H.10 ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST (FAR 9.505) & LIMITATION OF

FUTURE CONTRACTING

(a) Work under this contract may provide the Contractor with access to information that is not generally available to the general public, other persons or other firms. In order to prevent a potential bias, unfair competitive advantage, or other potential conflicts of interest, the Contractor shall be subject to the following restrictions:

(1) In accordance with FAR 9.505-1; whereas this contract may require the contractor to provide systems engineering and technical direction (SETD), the Contractor agrees not to be a supplier, a subcontract supplier, or a consultant to a supplier of any system or subsystem for which the SETD functions are performed hereunder. The prohibition relative to being a supplier, a subcontractor supplier, or a consultant to a supplier of these systems or their subsystems extends for a period of 3 years after the term of this contract.

(2) In accordance with FAR 9.505-2(a); whereas this contract may require the contractor to prepare complete specifications covering non-developmental items to be used in competitive acquisitions, the Contractor agrees not to be a supplier, a subcontract supplier, or a consultant to a supplier of any system or subsystem for which complete specifications were prepared hereunder. The prohibition relative to being a supplier, a subcontractor supplier, or a consultant to a supplier of these systems or their subsystems extends for a period of 3 years after the term of this contract.

(3) In accordance with FAR 9.505-3: whereas this contract may require the contractor to provide technical evaluation of other contractors’ products or services, the contractor agrees that it shall not furnish to U.S Government, either as a prime contractor, as a subcontractor, or as a consultant to prime contractor or subcontractor, any system, subsystem or component which is the subject of work under this contract. This prohibition is effective during the term of this contract and extends for a period of 3 years after the term of this contract.

(4) In accordance with FAR 9.505-4; whereas this contract may require the contractor to have access to proprietary data of other companies the contractor must agree with other companies to (1) protect their information from unauthorized use or disclosure for as long as it remains proprietary and (2) refrain from using the information for any purpose other than that for which it was furnished. The contractor agrees to furnish copies of such agreements to the Contracting Officer before accepting possession of such data.

(5) The Contractor shall be excluded from competition for, or award of, any Government contract either as a prime contractor or subcontractor for which, in the course of performance of this contract, the Contractor has received advance procurement information, which has not been made generally available to other persons or firms.

(b) This clause shall not exclude the Contractor from performing work under any modification to this contract or from competing for award for any future contract for work which is the same or similar to work performed under this contract.

(c) The term “Contractor,” as used in this clause includes any person, firm or corporation which has a majority or controlling interest in the Contractor or in any parent corporation thereof, and any person, firm or corporation in or as to which the Contractor (or any parent or subsidiary corporation thereof) has a majority or controlling interest. The term also includes the corporate officers of the Contractor, and those of any corporation (or any parent or subsidiary corporation thereof), which has a majority or controlling interest in the Contractor.

(d) The Government may, in its sole discretion, waive any provisions of this clause if deemed in the best interest of the Government.

(e) If any provision of this clause excludes the Contractor from competition for, or award of, any contract, the Contractor shall not be permitted to serve as a subcontractor, at any tier, on such contract.

(f) Flow down: Any subcontractor which performs any work relative to this contract shall be subject to this clause. This clause shall be incorporated into all subcontracts and consultant agreements awarded under this contract unless the Contracting Officer determines otherwise.

(g) Within 15 days after the effective date of this contract, the contractor shall provide, in writing, to the Contracting Officer, a certification that all employees, agents and subcontractors involved in performance of this contract have been informed of the provisions of this clause.

(h) In the event the Contractor or any its employees, agents, or subcontractors fails to comply with the provisions of this clause, such noncompliance shall be deemed a material breach of contract for which the Government reserves the right to terminate the contract for default and/or resort to such other rights and remedies as provided for under this contract and under the Federal law of contracts. Noncompliance with the provisions of this clause may also adversely affect the determination of Contractor responsibility in future Government acquisitions.

SECTION L - INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS OR

RESPONDENTS

PROVISION L.10 – PROPOSAL DELIVERY INFORMATION

The Solicitation Provision is revised to reflect a change in time from 2:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) to 2:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

END OF SUMMARY OF CHANGES

2. The point of contact for this Solicitation is Mr. Richard J. Pecoraro, (860) 271-2837 or richard.j.pecoraro@uscg.mil

3. All other terms and conditions of this Solicitation remain unchanged.