15-R-1SA100_Added_Question-Response_(17)__document_posted_5-28-15.docx

QUESTIONS/RESPONSES

RFP# HSCG84-15-R-1SA100

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER, WEATHER OBSERVATION AND

AUGMENTATION SERVICES

@ USCG AIR STATION CAPE COD, MA AND

AIR STATION ELIZABETH CITY, NC

Date: 14 May 2015

1. Question: With regards to the hours of operation at ECNC in the new solicitation, it shows daily from 0700-2200. As you are aware the Coast Guard wants to be operational from 0700-200 and in order to do so the contractor needs 15 minutes prior to that time to open the tower and 15 minutes after close to shut down the facility. It has been my experience that contractors will only propose the hours listed and the CG will be shorted 30 minutes per day. I am recommending the hours of operation for ECNC be revised to read 06:45 to 22:15 thus saving the possibility of fighting this issue after award.

Response: The Hours of Operation at the Air Station Elizabeth City (ASEC) location remain from 0700 hours through 2200 hours IAW Paragraph 5.1. There will be no changes made to the operation hours.

2. Question: Does the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation under solicitation number HSCG8415R1SA100 contain requirements similar to a current contract?

If possible, please provide the current contract number. Or, is this a new requirement for the government?

Response: This is not a new performing requirement for the government; however, it is the responsibility of a contractor to submit an offer based on the requirements set forth in Solicitation Number HSCG84-15-R-1SA100, for Air Traffic Control Tower, Weather Observation and Augmentation Services at USCG Air Station Cape Cod, MA and Air Station Elizabeth City, NC.

Current Contract Information:

(1) Contact Number HSCG84-09-N-AA1324 at Air Station Cape Cod, MA was awarded to Dynamic Science, Inc. for a total value of $2,958,418.68 at award; for a Base Year from 10/01/2009 – 09/30/2010, plus Four One-Year option periods from 10/01/2010 – 09/30/2014.

(2) Contact Number HSCG84-12-C-AA5414 at Air Station Elizabeth City, NC was awarded to Defense Contract Services, Inc. for a total value of $1,985,219.00 at award; for a Base period of 11 months from 09/01/2012 – 07/31/2013, plus Four One-Year option periods from 08/01/2013 – 07/31/2017.

* This information does not include any extensions.

Date: 20 May 2015

3. Question: Ref page 31, Volume 1 page count: It appears The STAFFING PLAN (per position) is missing a page count requirement. Please identify how many pages we are limited to in this section.

Response: There is no page count requirement for the STAFFING PLAN (per position) under Volume 1 (3).

4. Question: Ref page 32, Factor 1 Relevant Experience Key Personnel: Since the start date for Elizabeth City, NC is more than two years away, August 2017, the requirement for key personnel resumes and letters of commitment does not seem relevant. Please confirm that the proposal requirement for key personnel resumes and letters of commitment for Elizabeth City, NC.

Response: Under Volume 1, Factor 1(b) Key Personnel; this applies to the USCG Air Station Cape Cod (ASCC) location only, this is due to the USCG Air Station Elizabeth City (ASEC) location not starting until 1 August 2017. However, Key Personnel Resumes for ASEC location will be reviewed per HSAR 5052.215-70 Key Personnel or Facilities, 120 days prior to Option Year Three. Amendment 0002 will be forthcoming regarding Page 32 of 52 in the solicitation.

5. Question: Ref page 31, Volume 1 page count: The PAST PERFORMANCE page limit is 16 pages. The cited example of how the page count is calculated includes 3 pages for the questionnaire. The questionnaires have been sent to the respective contracting offices and will be returned directly to the USCG. They will not become part of the submitted Technical Proposal. Please clarify the intent to include the questionnaires in the Technical Proposal. It is our recommendation to not have a page count limit for the PAST PERFORMANCE factor, or if one is included to restrict it to 16 pages and allow the vendors to choose the individual page count for each contract they submit so long as the total of all contracts does not exceed 16 pages.

Response: The intent for past performance is to determine the experience of similar scope, magnitude and complexity in relation to subject requirement; refer to Factor 4 (a) and (b) on Page 34 of 52. The Page Limit count under Volume 1 (4) PAST PERFORMANCE, is changed from 16 to No Limit. Amendment 0002 will be forthcoming regarding Page 31 of 52 in the solicitation.

6. Question: Ref page 33, Volume 1 Staffing Plan: The table contains a row labeled Corporate Support. Please clarify the requirement for Corporate Support as it is unclear how corporate support is applicable to the number of positions and the productive hours per year being proposed to meet the solicitation requirements.

Response: On Page 33 of 52, under Factor 3 (a) Staffing Plan, Corporate Support has been removed from the table. However, corporate support should be addressed as part of the Relevant Experience under Volume 1, on Page 31 of 52. Amendment 0002 will be forthcoming regarding Page 33 of 52 in the solicitation.

Date: 21 May 2015

7. Question: The solicitation states contractors must submit required documentation along with their quote, including a "Certificate of Insurance”. At Federal Contract Air Traffic Control Towers around the nation the FAA provides Aviation Operations Insurance. This insurance provides coverage for personal injury or property damage resulting from Air Traffic Control operations provided at the Federal Contract Tower locations. We understand Cape Cod Air Station, MA is a military only airfield. However, Air Station Elizabeth City, NC is a general aviation airport with significant general aviation operations for civilian operators. Will the Government provide FAA’s Aviation Operations Insurance?

Response: Air Station Cape Cod and Air Station Elizabeth City are both Non-Federal Contract Towers (NFCT); are not FAA funded; and no FAA insurance is provided.

8. Question: If the government will not provide FAA Aviation Operations Insurance, are contractors required to carry a level of Aviation Liability Insurance for civilian operations? If so, to what level? The FAA industry standard for this insurance is $10M per occurrence. Please advise if contractors should provide this insurance and for which airports.

Response: This solicitation does not require additional insurance beyond, HSAR Clause 3052.228-70: Insurance, on Page 14 of 52 in the solicitation.

Date: 28 May 2015

9. Question: Reference Volume 1, Factor 1, page 32: Are the key personnel resumes excluded from the 16-page limit of Factor 1 Relevant Experience? Four resumes with letters of commitment will take up too much of the 16-page limit on this volume to define our overall relevant experience.

Response: In an effort to reduce the paperwork prepared and received, the government set page limits on the proposals. There have been several questions stating that the page limitation is inadequate therefore page 32 is hereby revised in amendment 0003 to remove all references to page limitations.

10. Question: The attachment 2, Past Performance Questionnaire is security protected making it extremely difficult to impossible to extract it from the RFP package; and in many cases impossible for our clients to complete. Would the Government consider posting the Attachment 2, PPQ in a separate document with format security protections removed or in MS Word Format so that offeror’s and clients can make responses on the form?

Response: Attachment 2, PPQ is provided as a separate document with amendment 00003.

11. Question: Reference RFP, page 1, Attention Offerors, paragraph number 10 and page 31 of 52, Instructions to Offerors. Page 1 of the RFP states: no electronic offers will be accepted; Page 31, Volume I – Technical Proposal and Volume II – Cost/Price Proposal states mail original and copies and email one electronic version. For small businesses who don’t prepare their proposals in the Norfolk, VA area, having to prepare and ship a Task Order Proposal in tabbed binders poses a considerable expense. We respectfully request that electronic submittals be accepted instead of mailing our proposal response to the USCG.

Response: Because of the number of proposals anticipated, it is necessary to receive hard copies of technical proposals from offers. Offers are not required to bind volumes or submit documents in a fancy manner. However, offerors should simply prepare portions in separate parts so that separate teams may review their portion.

12. Question: Reference: RFP, page 1, Attention Offerors, 2nd paragraph and Standard Form 1449, block 10 for NAICS code and size standard.

The Table of Small Business Size Standards, effective July 14, 2015 references NAICS 48811 with a Size Standard of 32.5M while page 1 and Standard Form 1449 references the size standard as 30.0M. Should the size standard be 30.0M or 32.5M?

Response: Corrections to the Attention to Offers are included in amendment 0003 to state correct size standard of 32.5M.

13. Question: PWS, Section 2, 3.3, Weather, ASEC: Weather Services:

The Contractor shall provide weather observation and reports 24 hours per day, seven days a week in a manner consistent with the applicable facility designation, presently Limited Aviation Weather Reporting Stations (LAWRS).

PWS 5.1, Hours of Operations, ASEC reflect that ATC services shall be provided from 0700hrs through 2200hrs seven days per week …etc. Currently ASEC closes daily at 2200hours. Is this a new requirement to have weather observations provided 24 hours a day/7-days a week at Elizabeth City Air Station ATC tower facility?

Response: The hours of operation for ASEC is 0700 to 2200 and are corrected in PWS 3.3 included in amendment 0003.

14. Question: Reference Attachment 2, Past Performance Questionnaire, pages 86 -90. The PDF provided by the Government does not allow the vendor to copy and paste the Past Performance Questionnaire information into a MS Word document so that we can email to our evaluator. Would it be possible for the Government to provide the Past Performance Questionnaire separately as a MS Word document?

Response: Attachment 2, PPQ is provided as a separate document with amendment 00003.

15. Question: Reference RFP, page 1, Attention Offerors, paragraph number 9 and page 35 of 52, paragraph 8

Page 1 states the proposal is valid for 180 calendar days while page 35 states the offeror agrees to hold the prices in its offer firm for 90 days. Should page 1 reflect proposal is valid for 90 days or 180 days?

Response: Corrections are made on page “36” to state that the proposal validity is for 180 days is included in amendment 0003.

16. Question: Reference PWS paragraph 5.16.1, page 70 of 169, Specific Security Requirements, ASEC section

The ASEC section references “in addition to a-e above the below applies to ASEC.” The “above” only makes reference to a-c under the Specific Security Requirements paragraph--Is a-e a typo and should it reflect a-c, or is there information missing for paragraphs d and e?

Response: Corrections to PWS 5.1.6.1 to reference “a-c” is included in amendment 0003.

17. Question: Reference: PWS paragraph 6.2, page 73 of 169, Personnel Requirements

There is no text information following PWS 6.2, Personnel Requirements on page 73 of 169 causing the reader to believe information is missing since more than half of the page is blank. Is there information missing or should we assume no information is missing and the next section begins on the following page?

Response: This was intentionally left blank and is identified as such in correction page to amendment 0003.