final Questions and Answeres 2.10.2009.doc

Question #1: General

Putting together complex teaming agreements is time consuming. Additionally, this is a complex proposal for which compliance is crucial. And there are only 10 working days from the date questions are due (02/06) to the government until the date the proposal is due (02/23). We are concerned about the amount of time we will have to adjust to FEMA’s responses to questions. Would it be possible to extend the proposal due date by 10 days?

Answer #1: The Government will not extend the due date.

Question #2. RFP, Section L-2.2, pages L4-5

The offeror is required to omit any embedded watermarks, logos, etc. We assume this means that offerors should not refer to themselves by company name in the text of the proposal but instead refer to themselves as the “offeror.” Is that correct?

Answer #2: Offerors should not refer to themselves by company name in the text of the proposal unless completely necessary, but should instead refer to themselves as the “offeror.”

Question #3. RFP, L-7, A through D, page L-8

Because this section is limited to only 20 pages and there is much material to cover, will the Government consider excluding the 6 required resumes and Quality Control Plan from the page limit?

Answer #3: The Government will exclude resumes from the page count but will not exclude the Quality Control Plan form the page limit. The RFP will be changed accordingly.

Question #4. RFP, H.2, page H-1

Paragraph two states that the risk level of contractor positions is delineated in DHS Management Directive 11055. Could you please briefly describe the difference between low risk and high-and-moderate risk positions so we can determine the level of security clearance required for each, or else provide a copy of the referenced directive?

Answer #4: All positions are considered high and moderate risk positions at this time.

Question #5: RFP, L-7, page L-7 and L-8, page L-8

In this reference, both the Management Approach and the Price sections are described as Volume IV. We assume that this is a typo because the table in Section L-2, page 4 lists Management Approach as Volume IV and Price as Volume V. Could you please confirm?

Answer #5: Management Approach and the Price sections are separate volumes. L-8 should read Volume V (Price/Cost) and L-9 should read Volume VI (Contract Information Volume Requirements). The RFP will be changed accordingly.

Question #6. RFP, Section IV (Price/Cost)

Should the offeror estimate numbers of performance hours? Given the nature of the contract, estimates may vary dramatically due to the nature of a disaster.

Answer #6: Offerors shall not estimate the number of performance hours because the hours will vary based on the magnitude of each individual disaster. AFTER award and during the onset of a disaster or emergency, the Government will request an estimate that will include the labor categories and number of hours from the awardee. In accordance with M.3(e), offeors shall provide all labor categories and their corresponding rates for the Base Period and ALL Ordering Periods. The following line will be added to the RFP to make it clearer, “Offerors shall list all labor categories and their corresponding rates for the base year and ALL Ordering Periods.”

Question #7. RFP, Section L-6, paragraphs 1 and 2, page L-7

In this section, Paragraph 1 requires a list of all relevant projects in a Master Projects List and paragraph 2 requests 3 references for the Reference List. However, paragraph 2 notes that if the offeror has fewer than 8 relevant projects, the offeror should submit as many as it has. Please clarify the significance of 8 projects and specify how many projects are required for the Master Projects List and how many references are required for the Reference List.

Answer #7: The Master Projects List details ALL related work completed in the last three (3) years. If there are fewer than eight (8) projects, please list all relevant projects on the list. The offeror will select three (3) projects to cite as references following paragraph 2 directions. The Master Projects List gives the Contracting Agency the ability to check any of the offeror’s work performed in the past three (3) years.

Question #8. RFP, Section L-6, paragraphs 1 and 2, page L-7

Is it permissible to include some highly relevant projects from our teaming partners to satisfy the requirements detailed in this section or does the Government want only those projects performed by the prime contractor?

Answer #8: It is permissible to include teaming partners’ projects.

Question #9: RFP, Section L-2.5, page L-5

To increase readability and reduce the amount of cross-referencing necessary, would the Government prefer that volumes (e.g., Volumes II and V) be marked proprietary in their entirety rather than individually marking sections within the volumes?

Answer #9: The Government would accept offerors’ incorporating additional sheets that would indicate the proprietary areas of their proposal. These additional pages would not count against the page limitations.

Question #10A. SOW, Task 0006D, page 17

Does Task 6D refer to the contract closeout costs or task order response in a disaster setting?

Answer #10A: The Government has clearly defined what is meant by “Contract Close Out Cost.” Please refer to the SOW.

Question #10B: Is it the government’s expectation that Offerors provide a single rate for each Task (CLIN), or are Offerors allowed to provide multiple labor categories/rates for each Task (CLIN)?

Answer #10B: Offeors are required to submit multiple labor categories and their corresponding rates. Please also refer to the SOW which list the description of Key Labor Categories.

Question #10C: Is it the Government's intent for Offerors to provide separate Schedules (Section B) with CLINs for the Base Year and each Option Year?

Answer #10C: Offerors shall provide separate Schedules (Section B) with CLINs for the Base Year and each Ordering Period.

Question #11: Pricing Volume

Is overtime to be addressed in the Pricing Volume or will overtime be negotiated at time of award?

Answer #11: In accordance with FAR 22.103-2; Contractors shall perform all contracts, so far as practicable, without using overtime, particularly as a regular employment practice, except when lower overall costs to the Government will result or when it is necessary to meet urgent program needs. Any overtime, extra-pay shifts, and multi-shifts should be addressed in the Pricing Volume. Please also refer to FAR 52.222-2 Payment of Overtime Premiums.

Question #12. RFP, Section B, pages B-1 Are Offerors to provide an estimate for those CLINs that state “NTE Amount TBD in Each Order” and “Per Day (TBD in per event)”?

Answer #12: Offerors shall NOT provide an estimate for those CLINs that state “NTE Amount TBD in Each Order” and “Per Day (TBD in per event).” The estimates can not be reasonable estimated/priced before a disaster/emergency. The Government will negotiate and provide a ceiling during Task Order award if needed.

Question #13: RFP, Section B, page B-3 Should there be a Note 3 or is Number 4 incorrectly numbered?

Answer #13: The RFP will be corrected to change “Note 4” to “Note 3.”

Question #14: RFP, Section B, page B-3 Instruction Number 1 requires Offerors to select and list all proposed labor and material associated with each of the tasks, sub-task, and sub-task element. Is it the government’s expectation the level of detail will include a list by task, sub-task, and sub-task element of labor categories, rates, number of hours, and total cost or is the intent for Offerors to provide total labor cost by task, sub-task, and sub-task element?

Answer #14: Tasks, sub-tasks, and sub-task elements are already listed in Section B. Section B of the RFP clearly indicates which tasks, sub-tasks, and sub-task elements require pricing. Pricing will occur on the sub-task and sub-task element levels as indicated in Section B. Any sub-tasks or sub-task elements with TBD (To Be Determined) shall not be priced by offerors.

Question #15. RFP, paragraph H2c Paragraph H.2c requires contractor personnel to obtain DHS FEMA identification badges to DHS FEMA facilities. Once FEMA exercises an ordering period to operate an airfield, will the airfield be classified as a DHS FEMA facility?

Answer #15: The airfield is not a FEMA facility. A FEMA badge is required for the contractors.

Question #16A: RFP, page J-2, Insurance to Third Persons

a. According to FAR 52.228-7 Insurance to Third Persons, contractors must carry “such other insurance as the Contracting Officer may require under this contract.” Is the contractor required to cover liability for damaged aircraft (if someone on our team damages the aircraft)?

Answer #16A: The contractor is NOT required to cover liability for damaged aircraft Question #16B: Could the contracting officer list the types of liability the vendor should have insurance t cover outside of normal business liability insurance?

Answer #16B: As of now there are no other types of liability the vendor should have insurance to cover outside of normal business liability insurance.

Question #17. Statement of Work, Attachment 1

This section consists of 24 pages. However, Pages 19–24 are blank. Please confirm page 18 is the last printed page.

Answer #17: Page 18 is the last printed page.

Question #18. SOW page 5, lines 4-5 and page 5, 3.a

The SOW requires that the workforce be made up of personnel from outside the impacted area and states that the Contract Service area includes FEMA regions IV and VI. Does this mean that the contractor would have to have separate workforces available to service different airports within the two FEMA regions contingent upon the area of impact?

Answer #18: There is a possibility that the contractor would have to have separate workforces available to service different airports within the two FEMA regions contingent upon the area of impact.

Question #19: SOW, Task 0002B1 (pages 12-13, Operations Based Exercise - Situational Drill)

This section states that the drills will "evaluate the initial phase of its mass evacuation operations." Does this include all sub-tasks under Task 0003 Pre-Event Operations (pages 13-14)? Also, will this include any tasks sub-tasks from Task 0004 (page 14, Operations - Airport Ground Support Services)?

Answer #19: This includes all sub-task under Task 0003.

Question #20: SOW, other phases of Operations as outlined in Tasks 0007, 0008 and 0009 (pages 18-20)

Will any drill be required for any of these sub-tasks?

Answer #20: A table top exercise may be used, but not a full scale exercise with equipment.

Question #21: SOW, Task 0002B (page 12)

Will there be only one (1) Cadre Scale Exercise (CSE) and one (1) Full Scale Exercise (FSE)? If not, is there an estimate for the number of each of these to be designed and conducted? How many total drills will be required?

Answer #21: This would depend on need after award. Please estimate for one (1) exercise each.

Question #22. SOW, 2.4 Task 0005—Operations: Passenger Service Support

The first paragraph states, “Security would be in-place at the entrance and exit of the screening facility.” Who will be providing this security?

Answer #22: In the past security has been provided by local law enforcement, but since there is not a requirement in this RFP for offerors to be responsible for the coordination of security the source of the security is irrelevant.

Question #23: RFP, I.2, NOTICE LISTING CONTRACT CLAUSES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (page J-2)

This section of the proposal incorporates by reference FAR 52.228-9 Cargo Insurance. Will the winning contractor be responsible for shipping property and, if so, what amount of cargo insurance will be required?

Answer #23: Offerors are not being asked to ship evacuee property. If there is other cargo that must be shipped than FAR 52.228-9 will be applicable. Other cargo will be determined at time of disaster/emergency per Task Order.

Question #24: General, SOW

Our understanding is that equipment damage (i.e., not gross negligence situations) is now a pass through cost to the Government. Please confirm that this will be continued under this contract vehicle?

Answer #24: Equipment damage (i.e., not gross negligence situations) will NOT be a pass through cost to the Government.

Question #25: RFP Section 3, CONTRACTOR LIABILITY FOR LOSS OF AND/OR DAMAGE TO FREIGHT OTHER THAN HOUSEHOLD GOODS, page J-2

Under FAR 52.247-22, is baggage considered freight? Will the contractor be liable for lost baggage or the contractor be allowed to use a disclaimer as the airlines do?

Answer #25: Baggage is NOT considered freight under FAR 52.247-22. The contractor will be allowed to use a disclaimer.