Post-release Q As

1) Please clarify the requirements for the response to Section 3 of the Technical Volume and how it relates to the Task Management Plan (TMP). Section L/Attachment L3a (Format for Representative Task Order) states that the TMP is the format for the response which "addresses both task order level requirements, as well as unique task level requirements for each individual task specifically described." However, Section M, page 138, Evaluation Factor 3, 2nd paragraph, notes that "the Government will evaluate the representative task order and associated TMP to assess the Offeror's technical understanding..." Section M leads us to believe that there are two components to this section of the response.

Section L states that “the TMP and response to this evaluation factor will be evaluated as a whole.”

Attachment L.3 goes on to note that “This is a representative task order for purposes of evaluations of proposals.” Additionally, Attachment L.3a provides instructions for Offerors, to include the following language: “The Offeror’s TMP should address both task order level requirements (management requirements applicable to all tasks in the representative task order), as well as unique task level requirements for each individual task specifically described.”

Section M states the Government’s basis for evaluation, including: “The Government will evaluate the representative task order and associated TMP to assess the Offeror’s technical understanding of the task requirements and proposed approach to managing the effort. As Section M further explains: “Proposals will be evaluated in order to determine the terms of the Offeror’s technical understanding of the requirement, management approach and overall capability to perform work comparable to the representative task order.”

Therefore, the Section L instructions and Section evaluation factors are consistent.

2) Section B.4 – Maximum Contract Ceiling. This section states, “This is one of several NS/EP SETA multiple award ID/IQ contracts. All have a combined overall ceiling price of $388,854,230.” This quote from the RFP implies that the maximum contract ceiling shown in the RFP is inclusive of other ID/IQ contracts and does not provide offerors with the total ceiling for this RFP. Can the Government please provide the total ceiling amount for this contract?

Section B.4 is intended as a contract clause for inclusion in each of the multi-award ID/IQ contracts. Since the Government cannot predict the number of ID/IQ awards, nor can it predict the value of task orders under each contract, it is not possible to estimate the contracts’ individual values. The ceiling amount shown is the maximum amount for all ID/IQ contracts awarded under this solicitation.

3) Section B.8. Fixed Labor Rates Tables. The Fixed Labor Rate Tables in Section B of the RFP only include space for the 26 Government Labor Categories without a breakout of the varying levels of experience and education within those categories as laid out in

Attachment L.5, Part III – Experience and Education Tables. Should offerors modify the tables in Section B to incorporate the different levels of education and experience requested in Attachment L.5 and propose multiple rates within each category to encompass the varying education/experience levels?

As stated in Attachment L.5, if the Offeror’s costing methodology is not conducive to the format provided, the template may be modified as necessary, provided that an adequate explanation is provided.

4) Section L.4 1) General Information. This offeror assumes that “paragraphs should be numbered in sequence” refers to the use of section heading numbering for major paragraphs and not that each paragraph, regardless of length or location, be numbered. Is our assumption correct? If not, please clarify.

Offeror’s interpretation is acceptable.

5) Section L.4 II. Volume II: Business and Cost/Price a) Section 1. This offeror assumes that the Tab B – Cross-Reference Matrix is designed to help the Government evaluate proposal compliance with the solicitation requirements. Therefore, the matrix should include entries for appropriate Section C, L, and M requirements with mappings of the offeror’s proposal to each of these requirements. Is our assumption correct? If no, please clarify.

Offeror’s interpretation is acceptable.

6) Attachment L.5 – ID/IQ Cost/Price Template. The instructions for Attachment L.5 – ID/IQ Cost/Price Template reference Part I which includes the Cost Template for Hourly Labor Rates, however no Part I is included in the Attachment. Will the Government provide the Cost Template described in Part I?

In lieu of the Attachment L.5, Part I template, the table provided in Section B.8 should be used.

7) For Cost/Price, how will the Government evaluate/compare the offeror’s proposed rates for the Basic ID/IQ contract? Does the Government intend to apply a set of evaluation hours to the proposed rates? If so, can the Government provide the evaluation hours to all offerors?

See the cost/price discussion under Sections L and M.

8) Will the price comparison between offeror’s ID/IQ rates have more importance in the evaluation than the price comparison of the offeror’s Representative Task Order?

See the cost/price discussion under Sections L and M.

9) What is the anticipated date of award for this contract?

As addressed during the Pre-proposal Conference and posted on FedBizOpps, contract awards are anticipated during the first or second quarters of FY09. Task order awards should be issued shortly thereafter.

10) For pricing purposes, what date should offerors use as the contract start date?

Contract awards are anticipated during the first or second quarter of FY09. Task order awards should be issued shortly thereafter.

ITEM REFERENCE QUESTION

11. B.6, Labor Hour , Time and Material or Fixed Price Rates; b) Program Management Support Costs

The Government states “Contract-level program management support costs are included as a percentage of each individual labor category rate,” Given the indefinite nature of this contract, we believe that it is more advantageous to the Government from a cost control perspective to propose these costs on a task order basis. For example, travel related to task order Program Management may be required on one task order and not required on another. The Government would then have visibility into the support costs required for individual tasks and Program Management Support costs would be allocated based on the requirements of each task order consistent with standard accounting practices.

Section B.6 applies to labor hour, T&Ms, and fixed price task orders only. It is not the intent of the Government to specify separate contract-level management services under these types of task orders.

Thus, such costs are to be allocated across the resultant task-orders.

12. B.8, Fixed Labor Rate Tables;

Attachment L.5- ID/IQ Cost/Price Template

Section B.8 states “For subcontractors that are listed in the tables, the maximum ceiling rate shall be the rate shown in the table for that particular subcontractor” and Attachment L.5 states “Any rates or categories corresponding to subcontractor or consulting personnel must be separately listed and identified.” Is it the Governments intention to have individual rates, by company, for the same category?

For example, if the Prime has the rate a for the category Project/Task Manager, does that Prime’s many subcontractors have rates b, c, d, and e for the same Project/Task Manager category?

ITEM REFERENCE QUESTION

In addition to prime contractor rates, all subcontractor rates shall be included and separately identified.

13. Attachment L.5- ID/IQ Cost/Price Template

In attachment L.5, Part III, The Government Labor Category Overview section, the Government has identified 26 labor categories, each with 2 to 5 experience level subsets. Does the Government want 26 rates or an individual rate for each labor category subset or 92 rates?

Further to this question, where should the mapping from contractor labor categories to Government labor categories be provided? Based on the instructions for Part I and Part II

vs. the attached tables identified as Part II and Part III, it appears that a table to provide the mapping (Part I?) may be missing.

Please clarify if something is missing or is it the Government’s intent for the bidder to add a column to provide the required information.

To the extent that the Offeror proposes a labor category/level, the rate for that category/level shall be included in the proposal. The table shown in Section B.8 shall be used in lieu of the referenced Part I Template.

Section Page Question B.6 10 14) It is stated that “Contract-level program management support costs are included as a percentage of each individual labor category rate” and that these program management support costs are to be allocated across all of the task orders. It is our understanding that this requirement is applicable to Labor-Hour, Time and Materials (T&M) or Firm Fixed Price (FFP) task orders. Would the contractor be allowed to directly bill for contract-level program management support costs on Cost Reimbursable task orders at an actual cost or the contractor should propose a percentage of cost to be allocated for support of the contract-level program management?

For cost-reimbursement task orders, see Section B.5. It is expected that all contract-level program management support costs will be priced and invoiced at the task order level.

B.8 10 15) It is stated that Tables 1 and 2 require “fully loaded hourly rates for each labor category at both the Contractor site and

Government site(s). These fully-loaded hourly rates are the ceiling rates representing the maximum rates allowable for prime Contractors and for any subcontractor that is not listed in the Fixed Labor Rates Tables. For subcontractors that are listed in the tables, the maximum ceiling rate shall be the rate shown in the table for that particular subcontractor.”

Does the Government expect to see separate tables 1 and 2 for the Prime rates and each Subcontractor’s rates?

Separate tables for subcontractor rates are acceptable.

C.6 27 16) What is the Period of Performance for each contract year?

As stated in Section B.2, the term of the ID/IQ contract is a one-year base period with four one-year options.

L.5 124 17) Does the Government intend to provide a Part I of its IDIQ Basic Contract pricing template? The current RFP shows only Section II – Breakdown.

In lieu of the Attachment L.5 Part I template, the table provided in Section B.8 shall be used.

L.5 126-132 18 a) The Government Labor Category Overview table on page 127-132 identifies different levels for each individual labor category. However, Table 1 in section B.8, page 11, only lists individual labor categories and no levels. Is the Government requesting that the Contractor provide one rate for each labor category or that the Contractor should provide rates for individual levels within each labor category?

All categories, including the proposed level(s) within each category should be priced.

b) If the Contractor is to provide rates for individual levels, how are the levels identified:

a) by a Descriptor (junior, intermediate, etc), or

b) by roman numerals (I, II, etc,)?

Either way is acceptable.

c) If the Contractor is to provide rates for different levels, is it expected that the Tables in section B.8, pages 11 & 12, are to be modified accordingly to accommodate the various levels for each labor category?

As stated in Attachment L.5, if the Offeror’s pricing methodology is not conducive to the format provided, the template may be modified as necessary, provided that an adequate explanation is provided.

I.1 55 & 60 19) FAR 52.216-29 Time-and-Materials/Labor-Hour Proposal Requirements – Non-commercial Item Acquisition with Adequate Price Competition (FEB 2007) is referenced on page 55, however FAR 52-216-30 Time-and-Materials/Labor-Hour Proposal Requirements – Non-commercial Item Acquisition Without Adequate Price Competition (FEB 2007) is cited on page 60.

Considering that there will be multiple offerors and multiple awards, it is assumed that FAR 52-216-30 does not apply. Please confirm.

FAR 52.216-30 applies to the extent that adequate price competition cannot be established.

I.1 57 20) The solicitation makes reference to FAR 52.244-6.

a) Is it the government’s intent to provide authorization to the contractor to purchase from Government Supply Sources, to include labor?

See FAR 2.101 and FAR 12.2 regarding the acquisition of commercial items and FAR Clause 52.251-1, “Government Supply Sources,” which are incorporated by reference in Section I.

b) If the contractor is authorized to purchase commercial items, per FAR 52.244-6, will the government incorporate FAR 52.212-4 or 52.212-5 into the contract?

The resultant awards are being procured subject to FAR Part 15, in lieu of FAR Part 12.