Attachment 11 Industry QA SBO Support 11122025.pdf

Solicitation HT001125RE003 Attachment 11 Industry Q&A

NOTE: The following represents a consolidated list of questions. When questions were repeated in submittals received by the cutoff date they were included in a consolidated answer to represent the repeated question.

No Industry Question DHA Response

1 Is this a completely new requirement or is there an incumbent? If the latter, please provide the associated incumbent vendor name and contract number.

Yes, there is an incumbent currently performing the services presented in this solicitation. This solicitation is a recompete, with scope of services provided substantially the same as the incumbent contract. The current contract number is HT001120C0011. The incumbent contract period of performance began on March 30, 2020. The period of performance for the incumbent contract is set to expire on September 30, 2025, which includes a six-month extension of services. The incumbent contractor is JAMS Systems LLC. Total contract value is $4,301,434.14. Currently, there is a bridge contract in place with the incumbent, with a performance period starting October 1, 2025, not to exceed March 30, 2025.

2 Instructions for “Part-III: Past Performance Submission” require the offerors to ensure submittal of Attachment 4 (Past Performance Questionnaire).

For those Offerors, who have CPARS in place and who can submit CPARS reports with the proposal against each of the utilized Past Performance Contracts, can the Government waive off PPQ submittal?

No. CPARS reports cannot be submitted in place of the Past Performance Questionnaires. Please refer to Addendum to FAR 52.212- 1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items, for “Proposal Content and Submission Instruction” details.

3 Is it required that we maintain 8(a) eligibility throughout the entire period of performance, or only at time of initial award?

Please refer to 13 CFR 124.507 for eligibility parameters. Eligibility is determined at time of award. Refer to your local Small Business Administration office for support regarding Federal Regulation standards."

4 The PWS specifies that the Program Manager and Alternate must have a bachelor’s degree in a business field and 5+ years of experience. Will equivalent experience be considered in lieu of a degree for key personnel?

See revised PWS Section 1.12 for equivalent experience details.

5 The estimated workload data (Part 7, Attachment 2) outlines five labor categories. Does the Government expect offerors to propose exactly these labor categories and hours, or are alternative staffing models acceptable if they still meet all performance objectives?

This will be a firm fixed price contract and not a labor hour contract. The government expects the contractor to propose a labor mix of categories and hours to ensure the work requirements and performance objectives are achieved. The hours in Part 7, Attachment 2 are explicitly marked 'Estimated Workload Data – for Reference Only.' The information is not intended to represent minimum or maximum staffing levels.

6 The PWS notes telework may be considered. Can the Government clarify the anticipated percentage of work that may be performed remotely versus on-site at DHA Headquarters?

See revised PWS Section 1.7.1 for clarification.

7 During the 30-day transition-in period, does the Government expect full staffing from day one, or can personnel be phased in as training and onboarding are completed?

See revised PWS section 1.6 for clarification.

8 The PWS references background investigations for personnel accessing DHA networks. Can the Government confirm the required level of clearance for contractor personnel (e.g., Tier I vs. Tier II), and whether interim access is permissible pending adjudication?

Contractor personnel requiring network access must have Tier I or Tier II background investigations. Interim access may be permitted once OPM confirms the investigation has been initiated.

9 Can the Government clarify if contractor personnel supporting the MPP are expected to engage directly with DHA-approved mentor and protégé companies, or will their role primarily be administrative and analytical in nature?

The role will primarily be administrative and analytical; however, there may be instances of direct engagement. See revised PWS Section 5.4.

10 The PWS requires management of the OSBP website. Can the Government confirm which platform (e.g., SharePoint, Drupal, etc.) the current OSBP website is hosted on, and whether DHA will provide access, hosting, and security support?

See revised PWS Section 5.3 for details.

11 Is the solicitation a competitive 8a set aside or 8a set aside for sole source to a specific company?

Refer to solicitation - DFARS Clause 252.219-7010, Notification of Competition Limited to Eligible 8(a) Participants-Partnership Agreement (OCT 2019).

12 Does govt have an estimated value for this solicitation? Yes, the government has an estimated value for this solicitation. It is contained in the Independent Government Cost Estimate, considered Controlled Unclassified Information, and is not releasable.

13 The solicitation indicates the award will be made, FY26Q1.

When does the government expect to award the work?

Contract award is currently anticipated to occur in the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2026.

14 In the PWS, paragraph 32, pg 14, it states, “The Government will make available a limited amount of space for personnel working onsite, in accordance with tasks outlined in this PWS.” Paragraph 4.1, page 15 states, “The Contractor shall furnish all supplies, materials, equipment, facilities and services required to perform work listed under Section 5 of this PWS.”.

a. How many contractors are required at the govt facility?

b. Does DHA have a preference in what position(s) will be onsite with govt employees?

c. How many contractors will be located at the contractor’s facility?

d. Can employees provide DHA services remotely?

e. Should the offeror add an ODC pricing CLIN for office rental space in the Falls Church, VA area?

Since the contractor determines labor mix under the firm fixed-price contract resulting from this solicitation, the government cannot identify in advance how many contractor employees will be required at the government facility, or identify a preference prior to contract award. All contractor personnel shall be available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except Federal Holidays or when the Government facility is closed for administrative reasons. Although primary performance is at DHA HQ in Falls Church, VA., telework may be considered for tasks that do not require on-site performance. The pricing for office rental space is a decision made by offerors, and included along with other expenses under the firm fixed-priced rates presented in the offeror's proposal.

15 Can you clarify if the MPP relationship is a mandatory requirement?

Support for the Member Protégé Program (MPP) is a mandatory requirement under the contract. See PWS Section 5.4.

16 Is it a requirement for the contract/program manager or alternate to be physically onsite during performance?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information regarding eligibility determinations. See revised PWS regarding on-site requirements for contractor personnel.

17 For the deliverables outlined in Part 7, Attachment 1 – Performance Requirements Summary Table, can the Government please confirm: (1) the designated recipients of these deliverables; (2) the preferred format (e.g., PDF, Excel, editable Word); and (3) the required submission mechanism (e.g., via email, DHA SharePoint, other secure portal)?

See revised PWS Part 7 Attachment 1 for clarification regarding formats and submission timing.

18 Acknowledging the inclusion of DFARS 252.219-7011, Does DHA have a preferred transition start date following award, or will transition begin only after onboarding and account access are completed?

The government will comply with terms of the referenced clause and Transition-In details in PWS Section 1.6.

19 Extension of Services – The solicitation incorporates FAR 52.217-8 (p. 20), permitting up to six months of extended services. Should offerors include pricing for the potential six-month extension in their proposal, or will it be priced at time of exercise?

No. If needed the pricing for an extension will be addressed at time of exercise.

20 Strategic Communications Deliverables – PWS Section 5.3 outlines Strategic Communications Support. Does the Government expect development of multimedia/graphic design products (e.g., infographics, videos, branding), or is the scope limited to written communications, briefings, and stakeholder messaging?

The scope of Strategic Communications support is limited to written communications, briefings, and stakeholder messaging. The Government does not expect the contractor to develop multimedia or graphic design products (e.g., infographics, videos, or branding). See PWS Section 5.3 for additional details.

21 Performance Standards/SLAs – PWS Section 1.10 requires a Quality Control Plan (QCP). Will the Government provide defined metrics or service-level standards (e.g., timeliness, accuracy) for evaluation, or should offerors propose their own performance metrics within the QCP?

Offerors are not required to propose their own performance metrics.

22 Key Personnel – PWS Section 1.12 identifies the Contract/Program Manager and Alternate as required. Can the Government confirm that these are the only required Key Personnel, or should offerors designate additional roles (e.g., Communications Lead, Analyst) as “Key” positions?

See revised PWS Section 1.12 for details.

23 Is this effort fully funded or will it be incrementally funded? No incremental funding of the awarded contract is authorized.

24 This paragraph (PWS 1.7.3) essentially suggests the offeror hire from the current workforce to keep continuity. Is this govt intent?

The Government in no way directs hiring practices or strategies of potential offerors.

25 The govt's estimate for travel at $800 appears low if the work is performed outside the NCR or in another state. Will the govt increase the amount based on travel location/distance for a new offeror?

This is a reimbursable CLIN with a Not To Exceed value. Contractor will be reimbursed in accordance with the PWS. If the government authorizes contractor to travel at a level exceeding the current amount, it will be addressed at that time.

26 Will every desk have a dedicated computer for the personnel? Each contractor employee supporting the contract will be issued a government furnished laptop by DHA for performing their duties.

Contractor employees are expected to use the laptop when working in government facilities or remotely.

27 How many Mentor Protégé Agreements have been approved by DHS and how many are submitted each year for approval?

There are currently no Mentor-Protégé Agreements approved by DHA, and no agreements have been submitted for approval under this requirement. The contractor is expected to support the program in accordance with revised PWS Section 5.4.

28 Is the Government stating in this section that once staffing levels have been approved, the Contractor cannot deviate from that level?

See PWS Section 1.11 for information regarding updates to Staffing Plan.

29 Why is this clause in the RFP when this is an 8(a) small business set aside?

See revised Solicitation for updated clauses.

30 Will a table be inserted into the RFP showing the equivalent rates as set forth in the FAR?

See revised Solicitation for updated clauses.

31 The PWS indicates travel to Tidewater, VA one time. Can the Government confirm that no other non-local travel is anticipated?

See revised PWS Section 1.8 for clarification.

32 The PWS states “Contract/Program Manager and Alternate who either the (i) the Contractor proposed pre-award or alternatively (ii) are replacement Key Personnel pursuant to the Contracting Officer’s written and signed authorization shall not be replaced for a period of one (1) year after award or after replacement. The only exceptions to this are: 1.

Serious, prolonged illness, the onset of which post-dates the Contractor’s submission of that Key person’s resume to the Government. 2. Death or dismemberment. Could the Government clarify the intent of this requirement?

Specifically:

How does the Government reconcile this restriction with the reality that contractor personnel may resign or terminate

See revised PWS Section 1.12 for clarification.

employment voluntarily, which is a right outside the Contractor’s control?

Would the Government consider revising the language to allow replacement of Key Personnel in cases of voluntary resignation, promotion, or other unforeseen but legitimate circumstances beyond the Contractor’s control?

33 Which position(s) would be performing cyberspace work roles as it pertains to “IA technical positions” referenced in the

PWS?

None. No positions are designated to perform IA technical roles.

34 Will the government provide a definitive list of all Government Furnished Property (GFP) and any associated security or maintenance requirements? (Attachment 1 PWS, Section 1.2 )

The Government will provide a definitive list of all Government Furnished Property (GFP) to the Contractor, including any security or maintenance requirements, prior to the start of performance.

35 The PWS outlines a 30-day transition-in period for the new contractor, which is concurrent with the incumbent's transition-out period. It also states that the outgoing contractor will provide a transition-out plan six months prior to the end of the contract. What is the government's role in coordinating with the incumbent contractor to ensure a smooth transition of data, personnel, and operations?

See revised PWS section 1.6 for clarification.

36 PWS Section 1.2 states that the government will provide certain items. Are there any specific government-furnished tools or equipment that our personnel will be required to use, and will there be any associated training for these items?

See revised PWS for details regarding government furnished items and training.

37 What specific standards of conduct, as established by the DHA Director, are contractor personnel required to adhere to, beyond what is generally accepted in a professional environment?

See revised PWS for requirements contractor and their personnel are expected to meet.

38 PWS Section 1.4 details six areas of support, including "Technical support," "Data and Analytical support," and "Administrative services," in addition to "Program management" and "Strategic communication." However, the pricing sheet (Attachment 3, Tab 1) only lists "Business Execution Support" (CLIN 0001), "Strategic Communication Support" (CLIN 0002), and "Mentor Protege Program Support" (CLIN 0003). Please clarify which of these CLINS or other means should be used to price the "Technical," "Data and Analytical," and "Administrative" support tasks.

See revised PWS and Solicitation for details.

39 The PWS notes that normal core duty hours are 0800 to 1600 Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday, but also states that the "Contractor must at all times maintain an adequate workforce for the uninterrupted performance of all tasks". Are on-call or after-hours services required outside the normal core duty hours? If so, what is the expected frequency and response time?

On-call or after-hours services outside if normal core duty hours stated in the PWS are not required.

40 The PWS states that the contractor will provide a "Weekly" SB Achievement Report as part of Deliverable 6. However, it also mentions a "Semi-Annual" Subcontracting Achievement Report as Deliverable 7. Are both reports required, and what is the difference between them?

See revised PWS for clarification of Deliverables.

41 Are there specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) tied to timeliness, accuracy, or customer satisfaction that contractors will be evaluated against?

See revised PWS Part 7 Attachment 1 for details.

42 How does this support effort integrate with existing OSBP or DHA contracts, and will there be government-furnished information (GFIs) provided?

The effort integrates with existing OSBP contracts by supporting the execution of the Small Business Program mission. Government-furnished information and equipment will be provided as required.

43 What are the OSBP Director’s top three priorities for this contract?

See PWS for performance measures.

44 From the Government’s perspective, what outcomes would make this effort a “success story” for DHA leadership?

See PWS for performance measures.

45 How many billable hours are required? The contract is firm fixed-price. Tracking and submitting of billable hours will not be required.

46 Please clarify if there is any preferred solution already in mind for this requirement?

See revised PWS for requirements.

47 Will there be a pre-proposal conference or live Q&A session scheduled?

No.

48 Are there any expected surges (e.g., end-of-fiscal year, large outreach initiatives)?

No.

49 Is there a specific contract vehicle that contractors are required to use as a basis to propose labor category rates?

No.

50 General. Considering industry’s experience with recent DoD procurements that have been modified post proposal submission due to descoping by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has this solicitation undergone DOGE review and received the approval to proceed?

Yes.

51 Past Performance Considerations For small businesses without direct DHA past performance, will the Government accept relevant past performance from non-DoD federal agencies or large-scale nonprofit engagements as evidence of capability?

Refer to Addendum to FAR Clause 52.212-1(b)(18) for clarification.

52 Section L specifies that proposals must be submitted via email, but the solicitation only provides email addresses for pre-proposal inquiries and PPQ submissions. Could you please confirm the exact email address(es) to be used for submitting the full proposal?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

53 Should the proposal be submitted as one consolidated document containing all volumes (Parts I–IV), or should each volume be submitted as a separate file/emailattachment? If separate, please confirm if there are specific file naming conventions required.

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

54 The solicitation requires submission of a redacted copy of the proposal. Could the Government please clarify expectations for this redacted version?

Specifically:

a. Should the redacted copy remove company identifiers such as logos, headers/footers, and cover letters?

b. May the technical proposal body continue to reference the offeror and teaming partner names as part of the solution narrative, or should those identifiers also be removed?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

55 How many resumes do we need to provide for a Key Personnel?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

56 Do we have to provide resumes for the identified LCATS? No.

57 Do we have to utilize the LCATS mentioned on Attachment 2 (last page of Attachment 1 – PWS document) or propose new LCATS? Also, if you could clarify that do we need to follow the same number of hours mentioned in Attachment 2?

The government expects the contractor to propose a labor mix of categories and hours to ensure the work requirements and performance objectives are achieved. The hours in Part 7, Attachment 2 are explicitly marked 'Estimated Workload Data – for Reference Only.' The information is not intended to represent required minimum or maximum staffing levels.

58 Can we utilize the Task Orders of the same contract as different past performances?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

59 Solicitation HT001125RE003, Section 16, Format for Submission (p.29), did not specify any requirements regarding page numbering, headers/footers, or file naming conventions for proposal submissions. Could the Government please clarify whether there are any formatting requirements for these items?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

60 Could the Government clarify whether a specific format is required for resumes (e.g., designated sections such as education, experience, certifications), or if any resume format will be acceptable?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

61 Per the solicitation HT001125RE003, Section 17, Offer Submission (p. 29), under Part III – Past Performance Submission in the summary table of proposal submission, it states: “Excluded from 5-page limit are any letters, metrics, customer surveys, independent surveys, PPQs, and Separately Submitted Past Performance Questionnaires.” Could the Government please clarify the following: a. What is meant by letters, metrics, customer surveys, and independent surveys— are these specific documents the Government expects (e.g., reference letters, performance metrics, CPARS excerpts), and is there a preferred format for these items? b. Should these items be submitted by the offeror within the proposal, or will the Government obtain them directly from the offeror's references (similar to Past Performance Questionnaires)? c. Is there a distinction between PPQs and Separately Submitted Past Performance Questionnaires—for example, are PPQs included in the proposal while “separately submitted” refers to questionnaires sent directly by references to the Government?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

62 Per the solicitation HT001125RE003, Clause 52.212-2 Evaluation–Commercial Products and Commercial Services, Factor III (p. 32) states: “Price proposal shall only include the required pricing sheet provided as an attachment to the solicitation.” However, Section 17 – Offer Submission (p. 29), under Part IV – Price Submission, the summary table of proposal submission includes a “Table of Contents.” Since no Table of Contents was provided in the pricing sheet attachment, could the Government please clarify whether:a.

Offerors should include a Table of Contents in the Price Submission (Part IV); orb. The Government intends for offerors to simply submit the provided pricing sheet as is, without adding a Table of Contents.

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

63 Can the Government confirm whether there is flexibility in proposing custom labor categories, or does DHA anticipate alignment with pre-defined LCATs ?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

64 CLIN Pricing Approach – The solicitation references Firm- Fixed-Price CLINs for Business Execution Support, Strategic Communication Support, and Mentor-Protégé Program Support. Should offerors propose total FFP per CLIN only, or provide a labor category/hour breakdown supporting each

CLIN?

The final awarded contract will be firm fixed-price based on monthly rates set forth in the Solicitation Schedule of Items. The labor category breakdowns in the Pricing sheet are for pre-award cost and price evaluation purposes only.

65 Travel CLIN – The solicitation lists “Travel” as Firm-Fixed- Price (1 Job). Will travel be reimbursed at cost per JTR/FTR (as ODC) or should offerors include a pre-priced travel pool?

Travel will be reimbursed at cost per JTR/FTR and in accordance with PWS Section 1.8.

66 Extension of Services – The solicitation incorporates FAR 52.217-8 (p. 20), permitting up to six months of extended services. Should offerors include pricing for the potential six-month extension in their proposal, or will it be priced at time of exercise?

Pricing for Extension of Services under FAR 52.217-8 will be priced at time of exercise. Offerors are not asked to provide pricing in response to this solicitation.

67 Are the responses to Sub-factor 2 (Staffing Plan, PWS 5.8), Sub-factor 3 (Transition Plan, PWS 1.6.1), and Sub-factor 4 (Management & Quality Assurance Approach, PWS 1.10) subject to the overall 10-page Technical Volume limit, or may these sections have separate page allowances given their detailed plan requirements? If separate page limits apply, could the Government please confirm the maximum number of pages permitted for each of these sub-factors?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

68 For formatting purposes, could the Government please confirm whether the cover page and table of contents (TOC) for each volume (Part I –Summary / Administrative, Part II – Technical, Part III – Past Performance) count toward the page count of that volume?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

69 Section 18, Part II - Technical Submission (page 30 of Solicitation): can the Government please confirm that within the 10-page limit for the Technical, there are no separate page limit requirements for each sub-factor? Are offerors requested to allocate the 10 pages among the four (4) sub-factors (with the exception of the resumes which have no page limit) as necessary, or does the Government have page requirements for each sub-factor?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

70 Can the Government please provide Attachment 2 CDRL Combined OSBP Support in another format? We are unable to access the original Attachment 2 provided.

The attachment is an Adobe Acrobat compliant portfolio document with eleven CDRLs. The Government confirmed the document is accessible.

71 Solicitation Section 18, Part III - Past Performance Submission, page 30) Are Past Performance Questionnaires required for each contract reference in the written narrative?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

72 In the Contract factor 1, the Contract / program manager definition in the evaluation factor technical submission is defined differently in the HR attachment. Is the Contract Manager and Business Manager one and the same or are they different roles?

73 Why is this clause in the RFP when this is an 8(a) small business set aside?

See revised solicitation for details.

74 Will a table be inserted into the RFP showing the equivalent rates as set forth in the FAR?

See revised solicitation for details.

75 The PWS states “5.3.1.1 The Contractor shall support OSBP in industry outreach, coordinating all of its speaking engagements, and outreach events.” Can the Government provide historical data or the anticipated number of events the Contractor will support each year?

The government expects up to twelve outreach events annually that would involve support of the contractor. They may be held in person or remotely.

76 The solicitation lists Line Items 0001, 0002, and 0003 (and their option periods) as Firm Fixed Price (FFP) but the pricing sheet for these items is blank. Please clarify how pricing should be submitted for these FFP line items. (Reference:

Solicitation, Page 3; Attachment 3, Tab 1)

The offeror is expected to add a unit price to the Pricing Sheet Tab 1, resulting in an extended total for 12 months. The spreadsheet is set up to use the unit price for calculating the extended total. The 'blank' unit price needs to be filled in for the base period and option periods for CLINS XXX1, XXX2 and XXX3.

77 The pricing sheet indicates a "KEY PERSONNEL (Y/N)" column, but the specific labor categories and their definitions (e.g., job descriptions, required qualifications, and experience) are not fully detailed in the provided PWS. Could you provide the full list and descriptions of all labor categories, especially those designated as Key Personnel?

See revised PWS for Key Personnel requirements.

78 The Solicitation references a Program Manager role in PWS Section 5.1, but this section is not included in the provided PWS document. Can you provide the full job description and requirements for the Program Manager and any other roles outlined in Section 5?

See revised PWS for clarification.

79 DFARS clause 252.203-7000 restricts compensating former DoD officials for two years after they leave service without a written opinion from a DoD ethics counselor. Can you provide guidance on the process for obtaining this opinion to ensure we are compliant during the hiring process?

In accordance with Public Law 110-181, referenced in DFARS 203.171, individuals should consult with the post-employment ethics counsellors available through the branch of government under which they were employed.

80 Can the government clarify how technical approach, past performance, and price will be weighted in the evaluation?

See FAR Provision 52.212-2 Evaluation - Commercial Products and Commercial Services, for clarification.

81 Will the government provide labor category descriptions/qualifications?

See revised PWS for details.

82 Are the labor categories subject to SCA? Yes. The McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act applies.

83 What criteria will the government use to determine whether past performance is considered 'relevant'? (e.g., similar dollar value, scope, customer type)

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

84 Will the government accept past performance references from commercial contracts?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

85 What specific Government data systems (e.g., FPDS-NG, eSRS, SAM.gov, DHA internal systems) will the contractor have access to for data analysis and reporting?

The contractor will have access to FPDS-NG, eSRS, SAM.gov, ETMS2, TEAMS, Sitecore, SharePoint, and the DHA Network. Access to other systems may be added as the need arises.

86 If a position remains unfilled beyond the 30-day vacancy window, would the Government allow flexibility if the position requires a security clearance or hard-to-source skillset?

Yes. The clearance level for these positions is Public Trust. Flexibility may be considered if a vacancy extends beyond 30 days due to clearance processing or a hard-to-source skillset.

87 Are resumes required for all proposed staff or only for key personnel (Program Manager/Alternate)?

See revised PWS and FAR Provision 52.212-2 Evaluation - Commercial Products and Commercial Services, regarding Key Personnel requirements.

88 Is there a preferred template for Monthly Progress Reports (MPR), or should the contractor propose a format?

There is no preferred template. Contractor may propose a format for Monthly Progress Reports.

89 For weekly and semi-annual reporting, does the Government prioritize quantitative reporting (metrics, numbers, trends) or qualitative analysis (impact, lessonslearned)?

Prioritization of Quantitative reporting or Qualitative Analysis will vary depending on the type of report.

90 Of the deliverables outlined, which are considered the most critical discriminators where the Government seeks contractor innovation?

Contractor innovation is encouraged in methods, tools, and process improvements used to meet or exceed all listed deliverables.

91 Are there preferred social media platforms for outreach, or is the contractor expected to recommend a communications strategy?

The contractor is expected to recommend a communications strategy.

92 What types of outreach events are considered most critical to OSBP (e.g., national conferences, regional small business events, healthcare-focused forums)?

All outreach events are considered critical.

93 PWS 1.16–1.17 – Do all contractor staff require ADP/IT II background investigations, or only those requiring DHA network access?

In accordance with the revised PWS, only those requiring DoD/DHA network access.

94 Will DHA-issued laptops be required for all staff, or may contractor-owned IT be used for non-sensitive tasks?

DHA Issued laptops will be required for all contractor staff assigned to the contract.

95 Will DHA provide VPN devices, or must the contractor procure and configure them?

DHA issued laptops are capable of connecting to VPN. No separate VPN devices are needed or made available by the Government.

96 For the Monthly Progress Report, what level of expenditure detail is required (summary-level or labor-category detail)?

See revised PWS for report content details.

97 Will the Government provide a QASP template, or should the contractor propose its own QCP format?

See revised PWS Section 2.1.6 for QASP preparation guidance.

98 Are the semiannual COR reviews intended as formal CPAR input sessions or informal performance reviews?

All reviews conducted by the COR are considered for CPAR and other performance reviews.

99 The pricing spreadsheet does not have a tab for CLIN xxx4 (Travel). Should one beincluded in the final proposal submission?

As stated in the solicitation, Travel CLINS XXX4 under the contract are pre-determined by the government and don't need to be included in a separate tab on the pricing spreadsheet. Tab 1 includes the pre-determined rates for travel and should be left unchanged in pricing submitted by offerors.

100 Paragraph 17 – OFFER SUBMISSION. Could the Government please clarify whether offerors are required to submit four separate volumes (Summary/Administrative, Technical, Past Performance, and Price), or if a single consolidated volume containing all required sections is acceptable?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

101 Page 29, Paragraph 18(a)(2) – PART I – SUMMARY/ADMINISTRATIVE SUBMISSION. Could the Government please clarify whether the Master Table of Contents required in the Summary / Administrative section should reflect a high-level overview of all proposal sections combined, or if it should be limited to the contents of the Summary / Administrative volume only?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

102 Would the government like a copy of Attachment 4 – Past Performance Questionnaire as part of the proposal response submission?

See instructions included in Attachment 4 regarding submissions.

103 The RFP, as written, appears to preclude the use of sister company past performance – please confirm whether this is the Agency’s intention. If it is the Agency’s intention, we request you consider the following and consider changing the RFP terms to permit the use of sister company past performance in accordance with the FAR and precedent established by the GAO. Specifically, GAO has consistently held that it is appropriate to consider the past performance or experience of affiliates, subsidiaries and predecessor entities where the resources associated with that past performance will be brought to bear in the performance of the contract being pursued. Such resources including personnel, equipment, facilities and other resources. In light of this we respectfully request that the Solicitation be amended to permit the use of such sister company or affiliate past performance so long as the offeror can demonstrate through its proposal that the resources associated with that past performance will be brought to bear in the performance of the contract.

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

104 Will offerers certified at CMMC Level 2.0 receive any additional consideration in evaluation for this requirement, or will demonstrating compliance with NIST 800-171 be deemed

No. CMMC Level 2.0 certification does not receive additional consideration. Demonstrating compliance with NIST SP 800-171 is sufficient for this requirement.

105 Can the government confirm that the Quality Control Plan is outside of page count?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

106 If the government is only requiring the Pricing Sheet Template provided as Attachment 3, can the government clarify what Table of Contents is required as noted in the summary table under Part IV Price Submission (section 17. Offer Submission)?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

107 Can the Government please provide the estimated start date for the base year?

The effective date of the base period of the contract is anticipated to be in second quarter of Fiscal Year 2026.

108 TECHNICAL SUBMISSION (10-page limit, excluding specific plans identified below with separate page limits, no page limit for resumes): Consists of a technical offer in narrative format addressing the items in the chart below. The solicitation states that the specific plans identified below are excluded from the 10-page limit. Can the Government confirm that this is referring to the the Staffing Plan and Transition Plan, and that they are excluded from the 10-page limit for the Technical Approach?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

109 The contractor shall support and provide assistance through the use of analytical tools and real-time visibility of performance metrics to facilitate in-depth analysis of what is driving the DHA small business performance. Can the Government please clarify what are the data analytical tools, such as Power BI, that currently in use (if any)?

Microsoft Excel is typically used to analyze data. The contractor can use any other analytical tools it wishes.

110 Does the government require a questionnaire from a contact from each of the past performance write ups or is a single reference requested?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

111 Does the government have a limit on the number of past performance write ups that can be submitted?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

112 Can the government provide specific task numbers that each of the LCATS will be assigned?

LCATs will be assigned across the following task areas: Business Execution Support, Strategic Communication Support, Mentor-Protégé Program Management, and Travel.

113 What contracting vehicle will the government be using for the award to the 8a company?

See solicitation for contracting vehicle details.

114 Labor Categories and FTEsCan the Government provide the anticipated number of Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) and the expected labor categories for each CLIN or functional area?

Alternatively, should offerors rely solely on the labor mix proposed in Attachment 3 (Pricing Sheet), and will that mix be evaluated for adequacy in staffing coverage during technical review?

See revised solicitation for details.

115 Deliverables During Transition Several deliverables (e.g., Staffing Plan, Transition-In Plan, QC Plan) are due shortly after award. Will the Government allow staggered submission of these deliverables during the transition-in period, or are all initial deliverables required by Day 30?

See revised PWS Section 1.6.1 for clarification.

116 Transition & QC Plan Approval Timelines What is the Government’s anticipated timeline for reviewing and approving the Transition-In Plan and the Quality Control Plan after submission? Will delays in Government feedback affect the contractor’s ability to begin full performance?

See revised PWS Section 1.10.1 for clarification.

117 JV Past Performance Evaluation How will the Government evaluate past performance submitted under a joint venture (JV)? Will the past performance of both JV partners be considered equally, or is past performance specific to the JV entity required?

A joint venture is treated as a single entity prime contractor for evaluation purposes, based on the legal structure of the venture. See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

118 Security Requirements Will the Government sponsor and initiate PIV card processing or other required clearances prior to full performance start, especially during the 30-day transition-in period?

The Government will sponsor and initiate PIV card processing and required clearances during the 30-day transition-in period to ensure personnel are ready for full performance.

119 Facility Clearance Is a Facility Clearance Level (FCL) required or anticipated for this contract, even if work is conducted in unclassified spaces?

No Facility Clearance Level is required for the performance of this contract.

120 Past Performance Questionnaire Submission Can the Government confirm whether completed past performance questionnaires (Attachment 4) are to be submitted directly to the Contracting Officer, or may offerors include them within their proposal submission package?

See Attachment 4 Past Performance Questionnaire Instructions for submission instructions.

121 Page Limits & Attachments Are resumes for proposed personnel and past performance questionnaires counted against the technical volume page limit, or may these be included as appendices that do not count toward the page limit?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

122 Compliance Evaluation of Staffing Plan Will the Government evaluate proposed staffing plans for compliance with PWS section 5.8 and CDRL 10 as part of the technical evaluation, or is the staffing plan considered binding only after award?

The initial staffing plan will be incorporated into the awarded contract, in accordance with PWS Section 1.11.2.1. Monthly updates will support the Plan in accordance with PWS Part 7 Exhibit 1. If notable changes are needed to the Plan after award, a revised Plan may be incorporated into the contract.

123 The Technical Submission instructions call for Key Personnel to be addressed within the 10-page limit, alongside the Staffing Plan, Transition Plan, and Management/QA Approach. Could the Government clarify whether it expects full resumes of Key Personnel to be included in the 10-page Technical Submission, or whether the offeror should instead elaborate on the selection criteria, roles, and qualifications in the technical section, and provide actual resumes separately in an appendix/attachments?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

124 Will the transition in period include overlap with the incumbent contractor, or will the transition in period be transition from the government to the awarded vendor?

See revised PWS Section 1.6 for clarification.

125 Are all staff members required to travel within the NCR or only those performing certain functions, such as Small Business Participation and Outreach?

Travel within the NCR will vary, depending on needs under the contract.

126 Does the government require a Past Performance Questionnaire for each past performance submitted?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

127 Would the government consider limiting the maximum number of Past Performance Questionnaires to 2-3 submissions per proposal?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

128 Will the government consider Past Performance that was performed by a proposed subcontractor? If so, how many such subcontractor past performances can be included within the propsal?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

129 Can offerors include their prior work as a subcontractor as Past Performance? If yes, how many can be included within the proposal?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

130 Will staff need a security clearance? If so, what level of clearance is needed?

All positions require Public Trust level of clearance.

131 Does a resume need to be included? See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

132 What is the preferred submission format? (Price, Technical, Past Performance)

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

133 In Part II – Technical Submission, the Table of Contents is listed after majority of the response sections. Would you please clarify if the intent is for the Table of Contents to appear at the beginning of the Technical Volume, as is standard practice, or if it should be placed at the end as currently indicated?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

134 In Part III – Past Performance Submission, there are two references to PPQs. Would the Government please clarify the distinction between ‘PPQs’ and ‘Separately Submitted Past Performance Questionnaires’?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

135 Since Part IV – Price includes a Table of Contents, we are assuming that a Price Narrative is required. Would the Government please confirm if a Price Narrative is required with proposal, and if so, whether there is a page limit for this section?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

136 As resumes are excluded from the 10-page limit for the Technical Submission, may contractors submit resumes in an appendix at the end of the response?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to

137 In the Attachment 4 Past Performance Questionnaire template, the performance ratings listed in the Part III description (Excellent, Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory, Neutral) differ from those in the rating table below, which includes an additional 'Good' rating. Would the Government please clarify which set of ratings should be used when completing the PPQ?

See Attachment 4 Past Performance Instructions for submission instructions.

138 In Attachment 3 – Pricing Sheet, we understand that only Tab 1 and Tab 2 are required to be filled to provide pricing information. The additional two tabs, also labeled as Tab 2 – Labor CLINs XXX2 and Tab 2 – Labor CLINs XXX3, appear duplicative. Would the Government please confirm whether our assumption is correct, or if pricing and labor categories must be provided separately for each CLIN?

See revised Pricing Sheet for details.

139 Can the Government please confirm if the OCI Certification should be included in Part I – Summary/Administrative section of the proposal?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

140 In the PWS, Section 5.3 is immediately followed by Section 5.6, with Sections 5.4 and 5.5 missing. Would the Government please clarify?

See revised PWS for clarification.

141 Will the Govt confirm if a significant scope change has or has not occurred between the previous requirements and this follow-on?

There is no significant scope change between the incumbent contract and scope represented under this solicitation.

142 Do we need to propose an analytics tool, or can we use tools already provided by DHA?

Proposed analytics tool is not required from the contractor.

143 Will DHA accept blended labor rates across categories, or must roles be broken down individually?

See revised Pricing Sheet for details.

144 For Past Performance Questionnaires: Should vendors submit references with the proposal package, or only through the questionnaire form? Should clients send it directly to DHA, or can we include signed PPQs in our proposal?

See revised Past Performance Questionnaire for detailed instructions.

145 Will DHA provide access to internal collaboration platforms (e.g., SharePoint, Teams), or should contractors propose alternatives?

The Government will provide internal collaboration platforms.

146 The evaluation instructions state that for award purposes the Government will add “the total price for all options” to the base price. Does this mean offerors must submit pricing for every listed option period (CLINs 1001–1004, 2001–2004, etc.)? Please confirm that all option pricing is required and explain how option prices will be treated (e.g., whether unbalanced option pricing could render an offer unacceptable) during evaluation.

See FAR Clause 52.212-2 for evaluation criteria.

147 The Past Performance submission is limited to 5 pages (excluding letters, metrics, customer surveys, PPQs, etc.). Is this 5-page limit intended only for the narrative description of contract references? May offerors submit additional pages beyond five for reference details or attachments. Also, please clarify the process and timing for the Past Performance Questionnaires (Attachment 4) – should references submit them directly to the Government by a certain date, and how will late or missing questionnaires be handled?

148 The Part II Technical Submission instructions specify a “10-page limit, excluding specific plans identified below with separate page limits”. No separate page limits are listed for Key Personnel, Staffing Plan, etc. Can the Government clarify how the 10 pages should be allocated? For instance, does the 10-page limit apply to the entire narrative (with no separate limits for sub-sections), and are any plans (e.g. staffing, transition, QCP) expected to have their own page allocations?

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

149 The instructions request one “redacted copy” of the technical proposal “to exclude the company name”. Please clarify what information must be redacted (e.g. only the offeror’s name, or any identifying logos/names) and how the redacted copy should be presented or labeled.

See revised solicitation section "Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Offerors" for information.

150 The RFP breaks down proposal submissions into four parts…