HSFE20-16-R-0009_-_Questions_and_Answers_.pdf

RFP # HSFE20-16-R-0009 – CDP Training Delivery Services

Questions and Government Answers

The Government’s responses to questions are provided below in red:

Question

Cite/Reference Question

1 Schedule B.2 CLIN 2002 has a different unit and quantity than like CLINs (12 months instead of 24 lots). Is this an error?

This is a typo and is corrected in the amendment to the solicitation.

2 Schedule B.2 Please clarify whether Role Player/Actor support and SimTech support (PWS 7.1) should be included in the FFP “Course Delivery Management” CLINs or in the CPFF “Estimated Costs - Instructors, Logistical Support, Overtime and Other Direct Costs” CLINs.

Role Player/Actor support and SimTech support shall be included in the CPFF “Estimated Costs-Instructors, Logistical Support, Overtime and Other Direct Costs” CLINS.

3 Schedule B.2 Please clarify the meaning of “Logistical Support” in CLINs 0008, 1006, 2006, 3006, and 4006.

Please confirm whether the “Equipment Management – PWS 7.5” CLINs include all Logistical Support services described in PWS 7.5.

The “Equipment Management – PWS 7.5” FFP CLINs does include all the Logistical Support services described in PWS 7.5. Logistical Support for CLINs 0008, 1006, 2006, 3006, and 4006 is also described in PWS 7.5.

Logistical Support for CLINs 0008, 1006, 2006, 3006, and 4006 as described in PWS 7.5. The logistics support will include all resident and nonresident training operations for the CDP with the exception of inside the toxic agent training building at the COBRATF.

4 L.8.A General Instructions Is 12-pt Times New Roman an acceptable font for proposal text?

May we use a smaller font in tables and graphics, such as 10-pt Calibri?

Yes, if necessary to make the table and graphics more legible a smaller font is acceptable, but nothing smaller than 8 pt.

May we use smaller fonts in the headers and footers?

Yes, but nothing smaller than 8 pt.

All other proposal content should remain as specified in the solicitation.

5 I.9 (c) Clause I.9 paragraph (c) states, “the apparent low bidder, upon request by the contracting officer, shall submit a subcontracting plan.” However, section L requires the subcontracting plan to be submitted with the proposal. Can the Government please confirm that the subcontracting plan is required with the proposal in accordance with the instructions provided in L.8.

A subcontracting plan is required with the initial business proposal. The solicitation correctly indicates FAR Clause is 52.219- 9 Alternate II. However, the full text content of the clause did not include Alternate II verbiage in the solicitation. IAW Alternate II, paragraph (c) should have read:

(c) Proposals submitted in response to this solicitation shall include a subcontracting plan that separately addresses subcontracting with small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, and women-owned small business concerns. If the offeror is submitting an individual contract plan, the plan must separately address subcontracting with small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, HUBZone small business, small disadvantaged business, and women-owned small business concerns, with a separate part for the basic contract and separate parts for each option (if any). The plan shall be included in and made a part of the resultant contract. The subcontracting plan shall be negotiated within the time specified by the Contracting Officer. Failure to submit and negotiate a subcontracting plan shall make the offeror ineligible for award of a contract.

The full text clause is corrected in the amendment to the solicitation.

6 Clause I.6 52.216-7 Allowable Cost and Payment

Clause I.6 52.216-7 Allowable Cost and Payment includes a blank CO fill-in. Can the Government please complete this fill-in?

The clause should read the “30th day”. The clause is corrected in the amendment to the solicitation.

7 I.19, Clause 52.223-3 Hazardous Material Identification and Material Safety Data Alternate I

Clause 52.223-3 Hazardous Material Identification and Material Safety Data Alternate I is included in the RFP. This clause requires the identification of hazardous materials to be delivered under the contract. Is this information required with the proposal? If so, will the government provide an attachment to the RFP that identifies these materials?

The clause will be changed to indicate “See Attachment 47 Hazardous Materials”, and Attachment 47 is incorporated in the amendment to the solicitation. Any other Hazardous Materials not identified in the attachment are to be proposed by the offeror, if applicable, in I.19.

8 L.1; M.3 and M.4 L.1 includes FAR clause 52.215-1 Alternate I. This clause identifies that the Government will make award after holding discussions. However, RFP sections M.3 and M.4 state that the Government may award without discussions. Can the Government please clarify?

The clause is corrected to remove the reference to Alternate I in the amendment to the solicitation.

9 What is the required proposal validity period?

Please see Box 12 on the first page of the solicitation. 60 days unless a different period is inserted by the offeror.

10 L.8.C Section L.8.C provides plug numbers for ODCs. Can the Government clarify if these plug numbers should include G&A, or should Offerors add G&A on top of these plug numbers?

The plug in numbers do not include any overhead, G&A, indirect rates, or fee (profit). If applicable, those numbers would be in addition to the ODC plug-in numbers, with fee in applied to the separate Fixed Fee CLIN. However, as noted in the solicitation, Travel is not subject to any fee (profit).

11 L.8.C The Government has escalated the plug numbers provided for the expendables and travel ODCs, but not the non-expendables.

Additionally, the RFP states that Offerors may consider an escalation factor in the option years for these plug numbers. Can the Government please clarify?

Because the plug-in numbers already include escalation, no additional escalation is required. However, the offeror may choose to increase that escalation rate at their own discretion if they deem it necessary.

12 L.8.C; M.4, “SMALL

BUSINESS

PARTICIPATION AND

SUBCONTRACTING

PLAN FACTOR”

Will the Subcontracting Plan be evaluated as a part of the technical or cost/price evaluation?

Per the solicitation, the Subcontracting Plan is evaluated as part of the business proposal evaluation.

13 L.8.C; M.4, “SMALL

BUSINESS

PARTICIPATION AND

SUBCONTRACTING

PLAN FACTOR”

What is the relative importance of the Subcontracting Plan in relation to the other evaluation factors?

The subcontracting plan does not relate to the other evaluation factors. The subcontracting plan is separate from the evaluation of the technical and price factors, and will not be included in the trade-off process. Rather, the Subcontracting Plan will be evaluated for acceptability in accordance with FAR 19.705-4 Reviewing the Subcontracting Plan.

14 PWS sections 1.12.2 and 1.12.3

PWS sections 1.12.2 and 1.12.3 identify that continuous and on-call support is required, including weekends, holidays, nightshifts. Can the Government provide an estimate of support needed during all non-normal working hours so that Offerors can propose the appropriate amount of overtime costs?

Training delivery and support staff hours may vary based on program of instruction and individual course schedules. The CDP will coordinate with the contractor prior to scheduling evening or weekend hours for overtime and support requirements. Planned overtime for personnel shall be pre-approved by the COR (PWS section 6.2.2) and would result as an allowable cost under the cost plus fixed fee (CPFF) CLIN.

15 PWS section 4.1.2; FAR clause 52.245-1 paragraph (h)

PWS section 4.1.2 states that “Unless otherwise provided in this contract, the contractor assumes all risk of loss and shall be responsible for loss or damage to Gov’t property provided under this contact…”. This statement appears to conflict with FAR clause 52.245-1 paragraph (h), titled, “Contractor Liability for Government Property”.

PWS section 4.1.2 is changed to drop that line in the amendment to the solicitation.

16 Attachment 34 Attachment 34 states "Instructors must have a minimum of 7 years’ experience." However, the PWS in section 7.4.1.1 states that instructors must have 10 years of experience. Which is the superseding requirement?

PWS is the superseding requirements – instructors must have 10 years of experience.

17 L.8 RFP section L.8 states that a completed copy of Section K of the RFP must be included in the proposal. Can the Government please confirm if a completed model contract, RFP Sections A through I, is required with the proposal? Additionally, if sections A through I are required should they be submitted as a part of the Business Proposal?

The offeror is not required to submit a “model contract”. However, offeror proposed or filled-in portions of the contract are required by solicitation, such as parts of the SF 33, Section B.2, Section G.2, Section G.10, Section I.19, Section I.25, and applicable portions of Section K. These responses should be included in the Business Proposal.

18 Attachments Some POIs are missing for courses that are included in the Resident or Nonresident Training Data (for example, PER-906, PER-313, and MGT-300-C). Some POIs are contradictory or do not provide adequate information to determine the number of instructors actually required (for example, PER-905 has multiple contradictory ratios;

PER-267 is unclear regarding the number and type of lectures and lanes, each lane requiring its own instructor, etc.). Some POIs are outdated and, in our understanding, have been replaced with more current versions used on performance of the current contract.

Refer to Attachment 48 for POIs PER-906 and PER-313. PER-313 is located in Attachment 21, Chg. 1.

For technical proposals to the RFP offeror’s are to use the POIs provided with this solicitation.

Due to these and similar issues, it is not possible for Offerors to independently estimate the correct number of instructors required for performance based on information provided in the RFP. Different Offerors may make different assumptions, and the Government will not be able to do an apples-to-apples comparison. Additionally, the incumbent contractor may have access to the missing or updated information.

The approach will be determined by the offeror. The contractor is required to meet the instructor requirements of the POIs.

Since this is a cost-plus element of price, will the government consider providing a table that shows how many instructors are needed per course, per day, in order to create an even competition?

We would recommend a table similar to the RPA/SimTech information provided in Attachment 28.

The contractor is required to meet the instructor requirements of the POIs. For technical proposals to the RFP offeror’s are to use the POIs provided with this solicitation.

If the government does not have this information immediately accessible, can you provide a sample level of instructor effort (total number of course-days per contract period) that all Offerors should use to prepare price?

19 Attachments Some POIs require only 1 instructor for some training days. We understand that is typically not preferred by CDP and it is not a best practice in adult learning. Should we provide a minimum of two instructors per course day?

20 Attachment 28 Please confirm that Attachment 28 (RPA/SimTech SOP) supersedes the POIs in regards to the number of RPA/SimTech hours required for each course iteration.

Yes, Attachment 28 (RPA/SimTech SOP) supersedes the POIs in regards to the number of RPA/SimTech hours required for each course iteration.

21 Attachment 34 Attachment 34 (NDPC ICP) states, “Non-certified instructors, assistants, and experts may be used as part of the instructional team, but at least one certified instructor must be present in the classroom at all times. This individual will be instructor-of-record for the course, and as such, is responsible for the satisfaction of the terminal objectives. The instructor-of-record must be a certified instructor as described within the ICP.”

However, the PWS Section 7.4.1 and 7.4.3 seems to indicate that all instructors should be certified instructors and meet ICP requirements. Is it correct to assume that Offerors should bid only certified Instructors to satisfy the requirements of each course’s

POI?

Yes, offerors should bid only certified instructors to meet the requirements of each course’s POI.

22 RFP Section L.8 RFP Section L.8(C)(2)(b) requires detailed information regarding indirect costs. Our standard company estimating and disclosure practice is to include our fringe costs as a part of our overhead rate. However, on prior proposals we have been requested to deviate from our standard practice and separate our fringe costs from overhead. Can the Government please confirm if we should use our standard practice and include fringe as a part of our overhead cost, or if we are required to show our fringe costs separately from overhead.

Fringe costs may be included with the overhead costs at the offeror’s discretion. However, the Government needs sufficient information submitted by the offeror to show that the non-exempt SCA labor is receiving the minimum health and welfare benefits IAW the SCA wage determination.

23 RFP Section L.8 RFP Section L.8(C)(2) currently lists cost information required only for the CPFF CLINs. Can the Government please confirm that it only wants this information for CPFF CLINs, and not all CLINs?

The breakdown of the estimated costs found in RFP Section L.8(C)(2) is only required for the CPFF CLINs. However, please note the information requested in L.8(C)(3) is still required, regardless of the applicable CLIN those labor costs fall under.

24 RFP Section L. If applicable, Section L of the RFP requires a copy of the accounting system audit report and subcontractor letters of commitment to be included with the business proposal. Is it acceptable for these items to be submitted with the business proposal as a separate appendix?

Yes.

25 RFP Section L. RFP Section L on page L-6 states the following requirements for the Business Proposal, "7) Letters of Commitment (key personnel and subcontractors)." However, the instructions on page L-8 are to include letters of commitment for key personnel in the Technical Proposal. Additionally, on page L-14, the instructions for the business proposal item #7 for Letters of Commitment only addresses letters of commitment for subcontractors. Can the Government please confirm that letters of commitment for Key Personnel should be included in the Technical Volume and Letters of Commitment for Subcontractors should be included in the Business Volume?

Subcontractor letters of commitment shall be submitted with the business proposal. Key Personnel letters of commitment shall be submitted with the technical proposal. Section L.8(A), item # 7 under Volume 2, Business Proposal, (page L-6) is corrected in the amendment to the solicitation.

26 Section L.8 proposal Preparation Instructions - A. General Instructions

The only Courier font available in our font options is Courier New.

Will the government accept Times New Roman 12 point for standard text and Times New Roman 10 point (as a minimum) for organization charts and other graphic illustrations?

Yes, and organization charts, graphic illustrations, and headers & footers may use 8 point or larger.

27 Section L.8 proposal Preparation Instructions - A. General Instructions

Are tables considered "other graphic illustrations" eligible to be produced with 10 point font?

Yes, see above response.

28 Section L.8 proposal Preparation Instructions - A. General Instructions

Does the font requirement of "..printed letters shall be no smaller than Courier 12 point or equivalent as the minimum size standard, with no reduction permitted except organization charts or other graphic illustrations;…" also pertain the text in the headers and footers of the document?

Yes, see above response.

29 Section H.1 Subcontracting Plan - Small Business Categories

Does the government consider Minority Serving Institutions a category that meets small business set aside goals?

No, a Minority Serving Institution does not meet the definition of a small business concern, therefore a Minority Serving Institution cannot meet the Small Business Set-Aside Goals found in RFP section H.1. Please see FAR 52.219-9 for additional guidance on the Subcontracting Plan.

30 Section 6 - Past Performance (Volume 1)

The offerors shall submit at least three (3) but not more than five (5) past performance references.

If applicable, the offeror shall submit at least three

(3) but not more than five

(5) past performance references for any major subcontractor(s)...

Does the Government intend that the offeror submit at least 3 but no more than 5 past performance references for ALL subcontractors that meet or exceed the total value of $750,000 IN ADDITION TO the 3 to 5 references provided by the prime contractor?

Yes.

31 Section 6 - Past Performance (Volume 1)

The offerors shall submit at least three (3) but not more than five (5) past performance references.

If applicable, the offeror shall submit at least three

(3) but not more than five

(5) past performance references for any major subcontractor(s)...

Will the government accept less than 3 if the subcontractor does not have at least 3 qualified references?

Yes, but please note that information in the proposal.

32 Section 6 - Past Performance (Volume 1)

The offerors shall submit at least three (3) .... If applicable, the offeror shall submit at least three

(3) but not more than five

(5) past performance references for any major subcontractor(s)...

What does the Government mean by "If applicable" in regards to submitting major subcontractor references?

“If applicable” means if the offeror has any major subcontractors.

33 Facilities Is the government providing office/work space at NYPD, LAPD, and LASD academies for the Non-Resident Academy requirement?

Office/work space is provided by the Host Agency (NYPD, LAPD, and LASD) at no cost to the contractor.

34 RFP L.8.A.2.Volume 1 and L.8.B, Section 5, Page L-6

Is it permissible to provide a one-page introduction to Section 5:

Experience, excluded from the Volume 1 page limitations?

Yes, a one page introduction would be considered front matter or a cover page for these section.

35 RFP L.8.A.2.Volume 1; L- 9, L.8.B.Section 6, Page L-6

Is it permissible to provide a one-page introduction to Section 6: Past Performance, excluded from the Volume 1 page limitations?

Yes, a one page introduction would be considered front matter or a cover page for this section.

36 RFP L.8.A.2, Page L-7 The RFP specifies Courier 12 point or equivalent as the minimum size standard for text. Does FEMA consider Garamond 12 point, Times New Roman 12 point, and Arial 12 point as equivalent to Courier 12 point?

Yes.

37 Attachment_1,_ CDP

_TDS_ PWS_2-9-15

Cover page

Cover page of the PWS displays “Date: 2-9-2016 DRAFT” – will the Government please confirm that this document is the final PWS, and not a draft posted in error?

“DRAFT” will be removed upon award of the contract.

38 Attachment_1,_ CDP

_TDS_ PWS_2-9-15

7.1.3 Technologies/Equipment Integration and Sustainment, page 32 and

7.1.3 Resident Training, page 33.

There are two instances of PWS 7.1.3. Will the Government please clarify the numbering?

This is a typo and is corrected in the amendment to the solicitation.

39 Attachment_1,_CDP

_TDS_PWS_2-9-15

6.1.1.2.5 Communication, page 24 and 6.1.1.2.5 Standard Operation Procedures, page 24.

There are two instances of PWS 6.1.1.2.5. Will the Government please clarify the numbering?

This is a typo and is corrected in the amendment to the solicitation.

40 Attachment_2,_QASP Performance Work Statement (PWS) Task 7.2, page 7 through PWS Task 8.3, page 12

With the addition of the new PWS section 7.2 External Agency Support on page 38 in Attachment_1,_CDP_TDS_PWS_2-9-15, the PWS Task numbering in Attachment_2,_QASP no longer corresponds to the PWS Task numbering in Attachment_1,_CDP_TDS_PWS_2-9-15. Will the Government please clarify the numbering?

This is a typo and is corrected in the amendment to the solicitation.

41 RFP

L.8.A.2

The RFP states that font reduction is allowable for "organization charts or other graphic illustrations." To improve legibility in graphics and tables is it permissible to use a non-serif font, such as Arial or Arial Narrow 10 point?

Yes, 8 point or larger may be used for charts, tables and graphics.

42 RFP

B.2 G.1

Section B.2 of the RFP states that CLINs will be paid on a twice monthly basis. Section G.1 of the RFP states that “the Contractor shall not be paid more frequently than on a monthly basis.” Would the Government please confirm that payment will be paid on a twice monthly basis?

Yes, payment will be twice monthly. Section G.1 is corrected in the amendment to the solicitation.

43 RFP

Section L.8.B, under Section 6

Section L.8.B, under Section 6 - Past Performance, of the RFP states that offerors shall submit at least three (3) but not more than five (5) past performance references and then a list of considerations related to those past performance submissions are provided. Within the bulleted list of considerations the Government also states that “offerors shall provide a list of any contracts terminated for convenience or terminated for default within the last three years” and that “the offeror shall list any contracts for which the customer did not exercise an option to continue the contract within the last three years with an explanation as to why the option was not exercised.” Is it the Government’s intention that these additional lists be related only to the past performance references submitted with the proposal?

No, these lists would be in addition to the past performance references. However, it is still possible for a past performance reference to be on one of the lists.

44 RFP

Section L.8.B, under Section 6

Past Performance, of the RFP states that “the offeror shall list any contracts for which the customer did not exercise an option to continue the contract within the last three years with an explanation as to why the option was not exercised.” The information being requested is not data that is required to be tracked by industry in support of government contracts and would encompass a review of many thousands of contracts for large business bidders. Would the Government consider removing this requirement?

That requirement is removed in the amendment to the solicitation.

45 RFP

Section L.8.B, under Section 6

Past Performance, of the RFP states that “offerors shall provide a list of any contracts terminated for convenience or terminated for default within the last three years” and that “the offeror shall list any contracts for which the customer did not exercise an option to continue the contract within the last three years with an explanation as to why the option was not exercised.” Due to the amount of data generated by these two requirements, particularly for Option period executions, can this information be provided as an Appendix to Section 6, excluded from the Volume 1 page limitations?

Yes.

46 RFP

Section H.1

Do second tier subcontractors under this solicitation count for small-business goal credit and would they be allowed?

Prime contractors only report first-tier subcontracting goals to the Federal government under their subcontracting plans.

47 PWS

4.1.4

Section 4.1.4 of the PWS states, “sensitive property includes, but is not limited to the following property categories: dangerous and hazardous property, weapons (as defined in Section 4.3.4), property with data storage capability, portable property and property that can be easily converted for home use or has a high potential for theft, and all property authorized for processing and/or storing classified information,” but the referenced Section 4.3.4 is not provided in the current version of the PWS. Would the Government provide a revised PWS to include Section 4.3.4?

PWS Section 4.1.4 should reference Section 4.1.6 for weapons.

Corrected in updated PWS attached in the amendment to the solicitation.

48 Page L-7 (top of page) RFP says: “ … printed letters shall be no smaller than Courier 12 point or equivalent as the minimum size standard.” Are Calibri 12 and Times New Roman 12 both considered equivalents and acceptable for the proposal submission?

49 L.8 page L-6 ref resumes Do resumes need to conform to the font size standard of the rest of the proposal?

No.

50 Page L.9: L.8.B (5th Bullet) Section 6 and Page M.4: M.4 Factor 6 (5th bullet)

L.8.B states "The offeror shall list any contracts for which the customer did not exercise an option to continue the contract within the last three years with an explanation as to why the option was not exercised.”, and M.4 states “The offeror has also listed any contracts for which the customer did not exercise an option to continue the contract within the last three years and the reason the option was not exercised.”

Most organizations do not have a business reason to routinely collect the level of information requested for unexercised options. In fact, many options are exercised by customers unilaterally with no reasoning given to the contractor – providing this data seems excessive and burdensome. Request that this requirement be removed, or at a minimum reduced to options not exercised on efforts used as Past Performance.

That requirement is removed in the amendment to the solicitation.

51 B.2 cost/price schedule ref. Transition-In

Due to the complexity of the task, request that the government consider lengthening the transition period to 60 days.

No, the transition period will remain at 1 month.

52 PWS Section 1.3.4 The PWS states: “Personnel licensing and certification shall be complete before that individual performs any work under this contract.” Would the government provide a list of licenses and certifications required for individuals performain gunder this contract?

Commercial Driver’s License as required to operate Government Furnished Property listed in Attachment 13.

Contractor identified requirement, e.g. OSHA certifications, etc.

53 PWS Section 4.1.1 Property Control Plan

Will the current Property Control Plan be made available at the start of the transition period?

No, it is contractor specific.

54 PWS Section 4.1.4 Sensitive Property (All)

Will the current Inventory of Sensitive Property be made available at the start of the transition period?

55 PWS Section 6.2.7 Energy Conservation Plan.

Will the Energy Conservation Plan be made available at the start of the transition period?

No, it is contractor specific.

56 Attachment 45 Course Risk Level

Would the government provide a definition of DHS risk levels. What are the safety officer/ student ratios that should be followed?

For risk levels refer to Attachment 44, page 19. For safety personnel refer to PWS section 7.6.12.

57 Attachment 13 Government Furnished Property.

Will the regulations, maintenance records, or calibrations that should be done periodically on the furnished equipment be made available at the start of the transition period?

58 Attachment 29 Resident Training Data

The POI's specify the instructor/student ratio, and the role players/sim technicians to be assigned per course. Please provide a matrix for safety, logistics, and quality personnel per course.

Logistics and quality personnel will be dependent on contractor’s technical solution/approach to meeting the requirements.

59 Attachment 33 Chemical Surety Standards

Please define the training delivery contractor’s responsibility for safety and maintenance issues at this facility.

Safety responsibility is covered in PWS section 7.6

Facility maintenance issues are the responsibility of another Government contractor.

60 Attachments 19 & 23 RERO/ARIO Courses

Will RERO/ARIO courses still be under the Noble leadership or will they be moved to COBRA?

The RERO/ARIO course equipment is primarily located at the Noble Training Facility. The Government has no current plans to relocate these assets. The training venues utilized by these courses are scheduled based on space availability meeting the course objectives.

61 Attachments 19, 23 & 29 RERO/ARIO and HERO/EMRA Courses

There are discrepancies between the POI Attachments 19-24, & the Resident Program List, attachment 29; and the course descriptions referred to in the PWS on page 28 section 7.1.2.4, and in section

7.1.2.2 reference to the Course Plan of Instructions. The POI attachments show RERO/ARIO and HERO/EMRA courses;

however, RERO, ARIO and EMRA are not listed in Attachment 29, Resident Training Data. Attachment 29, Resident Training Data shows RCCC, RCTIC, REEC, MADT, and SNS courses which do not appear in POI attachments 19-24. What are the actual current training classes required?

RERO and ARIO course data is listed in Attachment 32.

PWS Section 7.1.3.2 - For planning purposes, resident course delivery data is provided in Attachment 29.

PWS Section 7.1.4.2 - For planning purposes, nonresident course delivery data is provided in Attachment 30.

PWS Section 7.2.1.1 – For planning purposes, external agency support delivery data is provided in Attachment 32.

These are the actual training course data, to include the number of iterations per year and number of students per iteration, to be used for the solicitation response.

62 All Proposal Submission Date

Based on the complexity and some of the unknowns that prompted these questions, we request the Government grant a 30-day extension.

No, however, proposal due date is extended by one additional week in the amendment to the solicitation.

63 Pages L-11 – L-13 Should the “plug-in” values provided for travel and equipment costs be considered inclusive of burdens (such as G&A)?

No, the plug-in numbers do not include any overhead, G&A, indirect rates, or fee (profit). If applicable, those numbers would be in addition to the ODC plug-in numbers, with fee applied to the separate Fixed Fee CLIN. However, as noted in the solicitation, Travel is not subject to any fee (profit).

64 RFP Section L.8.B Section 5 - Experience

The PWS states “Each Experience shall be limited to 5 pages.”

QUESTION: How many Experience descriptions are required, and how is Experience differentiated from Past Performance? Are Experience and Past Performance expected to reference the same activities?

Offerors shall submit at least three (3) but no more than five (5) examples of experience. This is included in the amendment to the solicitation. The definitions of Experience and Past Performance are included in RFP Section L.8. Experience and Past Performance may reference the same activities, but not necessarily. That is at the discretion of the offeror.

65 Attachment 1 The Performance Work Statement is dated 2-9-2016 DRAFT.

QUESTION: Will there be a FINAL version released?

“DRAFT” will be removed at award of the contract.

66 PWS 1.4.4

PWS 1.5

PWS Paragraph 1.4.4 requires the contractor to provide the full name and social security numbers etc at least three weeks prior to anticipate employment start date. Paragraph 1.5 states the Phase-in Period is 1 Month.

QUESTION: This timeline seems very tight since on boarding of all contactor personnel would have to take place during the first week of the Phase-in Period. Will the Government have provisions in place to expedite this process to ensure there are no disruptions to on-going or scheduled training?

The Government will work with the contractor as much as possible to minimize any disruptions to ongoing or scheduled training.

67 PWS 1.5.1.7 PWS Paragraph 1.5.1.7 requires the contractor to finalize the development of site specific Quality Control Plans and procedures.

The request for proposal included many quality control related plans and procedures.

QUESTION: Does the Government expect the new contractor to review, update, submit, and obtain (finalize) Government approval within the 1 month Phase-in Period. Will the Government consider extending this requirement to allow the new contractor the opportunity to actually execute the contract during the Base Period in order to observe current and long standing CDP policies and procedures and then provide the CDP with effective and efficient recommendations and updates to existing plans and procedures?

PWS section 6.1.1.2 identifies the requirements of the Quality Control Program (QCP) for the development of a site specific Quality Control Plan per PWS section 1.5.1.7.

68 PWS 1.5.2 PWS Paragraph 1.5.2 makes reference to a Phase-Out Plan.

QUESTION: Will the Government provide the incoming contractor with a copy of the out-going contractrs Phase-Out Plan for coordination and de-confliction of on-going Phase-in activities?

The Government COR will coordinate activities between the outgoing and incoming contractors, and provide any necessary information/documentation.

69 PWS 1.12.2.1 and

PWS 1.12.3

PWS Paragraph 1.12.3 states working hours may be extended beyond the regular hours. PWS Paragraph 1.12.2.1 states (24/7/365) QUESTION: Will the Government have processes in place that will allow the contractor to pay any overtime requirements in these instances?

Yes, with overtime approval from the Government.

70 PWS 5.1 PWS Paragraph 5.1: Reference Contractor Furnished Property, Equipment, and Material.

QUESTION: Are these items provided using “contract-funded dollars”? Does this refer to the same materials referenced in paragraph 5.2?

Yes

71 PWS 6.1.1.1 PWS Paragraph 6.1.1.1 states the contractor will provide the COR with a final written Quality Control Plan with 30 calendar days after contract award.

QUESTION: Does the Government mean within 30 days of the Base Period?

Within 30 calendar days of award of the contract, so basically at the end of the phase-in.

QUESTION: What does the Government expect in this plan? Since the new contractor will have limited experience working with the existing long standing CDP plans, does the Government expect the new contractor to review and update existing plans?

PWS section 6.1.1.2 identifies the requirements of the Quality Control Program (QCP).

72 PWS 6.1.1.2 PWS Paragraph 6.1.1.2 lists nine specific areas for the Quality Control Plan.

QUESTION: Are these the nine items the Government is expecting in the Final Quality Control Plan submitted by the new contractor in the first 30 days?

Yes

As we read this it seems the Government is expecting the contractor to provide our approach to executing a Quality Control Program and not asking us to address specific CDP functional area Quality Control process? Is this assumption correct?

Section L of the RFP identifies the technical proposal Quality Control Plan content requirements. The PWS section 6.1 identifies the requirements of the Quality Control Program upon award of the contract.

73 RFP Section L, Paragraph L.8.B Section 6

RFP Section L, Paragraph L.8.B Section 6 states a Major Subcontractor is defined as a subcontractor with a total value greater than $750,000.

QUESTION: Is this $750,000 anually or over the life of the contract?

Over the life of the contract (base and all options).

74 Attachment 20 LERA, LEPM and CSM are listed as no longer being offered. Yet, they are routinely combined with other LE courses FFE and FFC and FFO. Will these courses continue to be delivered in the advertised packages?

Yes

75 Attachment 19 The RAD related courses – RERO, ARIO, REP and RECC are generally offered once a quarter. Who is responsible for calibrating the RAD equipment?

Calibration of the RAD equipment is a requirement under this contract.

76 PWS 7.6.10 If risk analysis indicates a student to instructor ratio, are these ratios always to be followed? Under what conditions might they be changed?

Deviations, variances or changes to instructor to student ratios must be approved by the Government. Deviations and variances could be temporary (single occurrence) or long term resulting in a curriculum change to the course. Examples might include change in training equipment requirements resulting in safety concerns/risks, changes in PPE, small group/exercise variations, etc.

77 PWS 7.1.3 The contractor shall provide a balance of local and national instructors.

QUESTION: How is this possible, given the instructor selection, training, certification, and sustainment requirements provided in

PWS 7.4?

It is the contractor’s responsibility to provide qualified personnel to perform all requirements specified in the PWS.

78 RFP page B-2 CLIN Table, Option period 2

CLIN 2002 (FFP) has a quantity of 12 which is not consistent with other related CLINS for the other years. Should this quantity be 24?

This is a typo and is corrected in the amendment to the solicitation.

79 RFP Section I, I.17

52.222-42 STATEMENT

OF EQUIVALENT RATES

FOR FEDERAL HIRES

(MAY 2014)

Section I.17 provides the classes of service employees expected to be employed under the contract and states the wages and fringe benefits payable to each if they were employed by the contracting agency, is the intent to use only these categories? When looking at the SCA list for Alabama (the location for this work) the same labor categories are not listed.

I.17 52.222-42 STATEMENT OF EQUIVALENT RATES FOR

FEDERAL HIRES (MAY 2014) is a required clause. As stated in the clause, it is for information only. The information provided in this clause is not a list of SCA labor categories, rather a list of Federal Government Job Series, along with Federal wages and fringe benefits per hour.

80 Is the new contractor able to utilize processes and procedures

(those approved by current contract holder) that were prepared with contract dollars?

There is no requirement for the incumbent contractor to turnover their specific processes and procedures to meet current contract requirements to a new contractor.

81 Will the new contractor be able to access tools and processes developed for the government and residing on government computers and systems?

82 Hazardous Materials Technician for CBRNE Incidents POI pages appear to be missing.

Corrected, refer to Attachment 48, POI List Seven in the amendment to the solicitation.

83 Radiological Emergency Response Operations POI appears to be missing Modules 11 & 12.

84 It appears that POI Field Force Command & Planning Executive (FFCE), course mgt-300-c, is missing.

85 It appears that POI Hazard Assessment & Response Management for CBRNE Incidents (HARM), course per-906 is missing.

86 Which number do we use for student expendables? The solicitation (Section L.2.c page 11) states that we should use $1,250,000 as expendables in our calculations, where the PWS (Para 7.5.2.5 page

42) states that the expendable supplies per student is $40. What is the difference between the two expendables amounts?

The plug-in numbers provided in the solicitation should be used for the business proposal. As stated in the PWS, 7.5.2.5 is for planning purposes only (i.e. an “FYI”). The expendable supplies per student is already included in the plug-in number.

Att 19 POI One

The Table on Page 7 of APIOHHE 09.00 states Module 10 of the Advanced Public Information Officer: Health and Hospital Emergencies course is .5 Hours on Day 2 and 4 hours on Day 3 for a total of 4.5 hours. The POI details on page 20 state that Module 10 is only 4 hours total.

What are the correct hours for Module 10 of this course?

4.5 hours.

N/A

Is there a collective bargaining agreement associated with this work?

No.

7.4.7.2

This support will require assignment of a request number of SMEs with expertise in one or more of the 17 as determined and approved by the Government

What does the number 17 refer to?

Disciplines.

Table for ARIO POI in the course map on POI-3 lists Module 1 at 1 hour. Page POI-8 in the Module 1 concepts has the module at 4 hours.

Is Module 1 of Advanced Radiological Concepts 1 hour of 4 hours?

1 hour.

Att 19 POI One, pg POI-2 for ARIO.IG.9.1

Class size is limited to 12 minimum 9 for the PER-905. . Page POI-8 in the Module 1 concepts and Conclusions and After Action Review at page POI-26 has the Instructor-to-Participant (I:P) ratio at 1:32 for large group.

Is the class size limit 12 or 32?

Class size is 12.

Table for ARIO POI in the course map on POI-3 lists Module 8 at 2 hours. Page POI-19 in the Module 8 concepts has the module at 1.5 hours.

Is Module 8 of Advanced Radiological Concepts 1.5 hours of 2 hours?

2.5 hours over days 2 & 3.

Att 19 POI One, BMAP Course, Module 3 ppg 16, 19 & 49

Page 52 states 1 for Module 3.

Module 3Page 16 states the Instructor to Student ratio is 1:25. Max course occupancy is 25. This requires 1 Instructor yet on page 19 in the Table at the bottom it states 2 Instructors required.

What is the correct I:S ration and instructor requirement for Module 3?

See instructor and training support personnel table in POI page 19.

Att 19 POI One, EHTER Ops Course, Module 1 ppg 11, 12 & 49

EHTER Ops Course, Module 1 pg 11states I:S ratio of 1:24, max of 24 students in a course equals 1 instructor yet pg 12 states 1 Course Manager and 8 instructors required. Pg 49 states 1 CM + 8 Inst.

What is the correct I:S ration and instructor requirement for Module 1?

See Module 1 instructor and training support personnel table in POI page 12.

Att 19 POI One, EHTER Ops Course, Module 2 ppg 13, 14 & 49.

EHTER Ops Course, Module 2 pg 13 states I:S ratio of 1:24, max of 24 students in a course equals 1 instructor yet pg 14 states 8 instructors required. Pg 49 states 8 Inst.

What is the correct I:S ratio and instructor requirement for Module 2?

Refer to POI page 14.

Att 19 POI One, EHTER Ops Course, ELA 1 ppg 16 & 17

EHTER Ops Course, ELA 1 pg 16 states I:S ratio of 2:5, max of 24 students in a course equals 9.6 instructor which rounds up to 10yet pg 17 states 8 instructors required. Pg 49 states 2 Inst.

What is the correct I:S ratio and instructor requirement for ELA 1?

Refer to POI page 17.

97 Att 19 POI One, EHTER Ops Course, ELA 2 ppg 19, 21 & 49

EHTER Ops Course, ELA 2 pg 19 states I:S ratio of 2:6, max of 24 students in a course equals 8 instructors yet pg 21 states 2 instructors and 2 Role Players required. Pg 49 states 1 CM + 8 Inst.

Pg 49 states 2 Inst + 2 RPs.

What is the correct I:S ratio and instructor requirement for ELA 2?

Refer to POI page 21

Do Role players count towards the instructors for meeting I:S ratios?

No.

Att 19 POI One, EHTER Ops Course, ELA 3 ppg 23, 27 & 49 instructors and 3 Role Players required. Pg 49 states 2 Inst + 3 RPs.

EHTER Ops Course, ELA 3 pg 23 states I:S ratio of 2:6, max of 24 students in a course equals 8 instructors yet pg 27 states 2

What is the correct I:S ratio and instructor requirement for ELA 3?

Refer to POI page 27.

Att 19 POI One, EHTER Ops Course, ELA 4 ppg 29, 33 & 49

EHTER Ops Course, ELA 4 pg 29 states I:S ratio of 2:6, max of 24 students in a course equals 8 instructors yet pg 33 states 2 instructors and 4 Role Players required. Pg 49 states 2 Inst + 2 RPs.

What is the correct I:S ratio and instructor requirement for ELA 4?

Refer to POI page 33.

Att 19 POI One, EHTER Ops Course, ELA 5 ppg 35, 38 & 49

EHTER Ops Course, ELA 5 pg 35 states I:S ratio of 2:6, max of 24 students in a course equals 8 instructors yet pg 38 states 2 instructors and 4 Role Players required. Pg 49 states 2 Inst + 4 RPs.

What is the correct I:S ratio and instructor requirement for ELA 5?

Refer to POI page 38.

Att 19 POI One, EHTER Ops Course, Module 3 ppg 45, 46 & 49

EHTER Ops Course, Module 3 pg 45 I:S ratio of 1:24, max of 24 students in a course equals 1 instructor yet pg 46 states 1 Course Manager and 8 instructors required. Pg 49 states 1 CM + 8 Inst.

What is the correct I:S ration and instructor requirement for Module 1?

Refer to POI page 49.

Att 19 POI One, ERHM.IG.09.00 Course, Module 10, Day 4 pg POI-

Course map for Mod 10 does not appear to add up properly. First line Day 4 Mod 10 is 2.5 hours which is further broken down into a screening and briefing at .25 hours each. Next line has 2 hours for IRO Activity Debrief. Together these add up to 2.5 hours.

Should the 2 hours allotted for Implementing Response Objectives (Activity)/Debrief be in the subtotal column vice the total column?

Day 4 total time for Mod. 10 is 7 hours; disregard sub-total for day 4.

Att 19 POI One, ERHM.IG.09.00 Course, Module 10, Day 4 pg POI-

Course map for Mod 10 does not appear to add up properly. 6th line Day 4 Mod 10 is 2.5 hours which is further broken down into a Lanes and Screening at 3.75 and .25 hours respectively. Together these add up to 4 hours.

What are the correct numbers of hours – both total and subtotal, for Module 10 on Day 4?

Day 4 total time for Mod. 10 is 7 hours; disregard sub-total for day 4.

Att 19 POI One, pg 1 and MCATI Command Course, POI-1

Managing Civil Actions in Threat Incidents (MCATI) is included in the material for POI One List but is not on the list of POIs at page 1 of Att 19.

Should this POI have been included in the package for POI list One or should it be elsewhere or not included at all?

Is this actually Field Force Operations – Non-Resident?

Managing Civil Actions in Threat Incidents (MCATI) is the POI for Field Force Command and Planning (FFC).

Att 19 POI One, pg 1

Two courses listed on page 1 of Att 19, Field Force Command and Planning (FFC) & Emergency Medical Operations for CBRNE Incidents (EMO), are not included in the POI packages that follow.

Were the packets for these two courses omitted intentionally or should they be present?

Managing Civil Actions in Threat Incidents (MCATI) is the POI for Field Force Command and Planning (FFC); See Attachment 19, page 236 for EMO.

Att 20 POI List Two, Field Force Operations (FFO) - Nonresident

There is not a separate POI for the Nonresident course. The Resident course POI states it can be Resident or Nonresident (PER- 200 pg 1) and the MCATI POI Identifies itself on the title page as Nonresident Delivery FFO.

What is the correct POI for the FFO Nonresident course?

Resident and Nonresident POIs are the same; disregard nonresident

POI.

Att 20 POI Two, FRAME.IG.v2.0 course, pg POI 25 & 27

I:S ratio on Module 16 and 18 are 1:12 for small group whereas the remainder of the course modules are 1:15.

Is 1:12 the correct I:S ratio for Modules 16 & 18 of FRAME.IG.v2.0?

Yes.

ATTs 19 - 24

Some POIs use the term Moderate and some Medium for risk.

Which is the CDP accepted term for moderate/medium risk?

Used interchangeably.

POI List 3, Incident Command: Capabilities, Planning and Response Actions for All Hazards Course, pg POI-14

Instructor-to-Participant Ratio: 1:10 per breakout room; one lead facilitator for all breakout rooms. This type of definition is used in other modules/course as well.

Does this requirement call for 1 instructor per 10 students that is also the lead facilitator for each room or 1 instructor and one lead facilitator for 2 personnel per breakout room?

1 lead and 1 facilitator per breakout room; 4 breakouts (5 instructors).

POI List Six, SAT POI, pg

POI-2 & POI-14

Page POI-2 has Module 4 at 1 hour but pg POI-14 has 1.5 hours for Module 4.

What is the correct amount of time for Module 4?

1 hour.

ATT 21 POI List Three, Integrated Capstone Event

There is no planning guidance in the way of instructor, controllers, role players, simulation Technicians and the like. It is understood that this exercise varies from iteration to iteration depending on what type of responders and in what quantity they participate.

Request the Government provide planning numbers for staffing a “typical” event or the average required annually or some other reference. Otherwise companies that have not performed this work have no basis to determine what is required to support it and therefore price it.

For planning purposes, use the instructor, role players and simulation technicians final exercise requirements of the courses listed for ICE (HCL, EMO, HERT) in Attachment 29.

Att 22, POI List Four, Initial Law Enforcement Response to Suicide Bomb Attacks (ILERSBA)

Module 1, Pages 1-2 and 1-2 appear to be missing. These pages have the length and I:S ratio required to determine instructor and other support requirements.

Please supply the missing pages & information.

Pages 1-1 and 1-2, and POI not available. Course is 8 hours, requires 2 instructors and class size is 60 students.

Att 19-24 and Att 30 Nonresident Training Exhibit.

PER‐265‐1‐C Law Enforcement Response Actions for CBRNE Incidents Train the Trainer (LERA TtT)

This course is not listed in any of the 6 POI Lists but is on Att 30 and there is no POI for his course in the packet. Request POI be provided.

Disregard this POI, Refer to Updated Attachment 30, Chg. 1 attached to the amendment of the solicitation.

ATT 23, POI List Five, Radiological Series Train-the-Trainer Course; Att 45 Risk Assessment

The POI for this course does not include I:S ratios, or risk assessments.

Request the I:S ratios, and risk assessment for this course and its individual modules.

Max class size 20 students.

Instructor/student ratios:

1 to 20 lecturer

1 to 10 small groups

Risk level - Low

ATT 23, POI List Five, Radiological Emergency Response Operations

The details for Modules 11 and 12 are not in the POI.

Request the Government provide the details for Modules 11 and 12 to enable staffing analysis.

Refer to Attachment 48.

Att 19-24 and Att 30 Nonresident Training Exhibit.

PER-915-1 Threat Hazard Recognition and Emergency Actions Training for CBRNE Incidents (THREAT TIT)

This course is not listed in any of the 6 POI Lists but is on Att 30 and there is no POI for his course in the packet. Request POI be provided.

Disregard this POI, Refer to Updated Attachment 30, Chg. 1 attached to the amendment of the solicitation.

Attachment_43,_CDP_Sa fety_Plan_(COBRATF)(Ja n_16)

The file is locked with a password and cannot be printed.

Request an unlocked version of the file be provided.

Corrected with unlocked Attachment 43, attached to the amendment of the solicitation.

ATT 31, pg 2

Requires training support essentially 5 days a week for LAPD.

How many weeks in a year is the training provided?

12 months.

Requires training support essentially 2 days a week for LASD.

How many weeks in a year is the training provided?

Average of 6…