Q A_10_July.pdf

HTC711‐13‐R‐D003

Questions and Answers

Number Question Answer

For pricing purposes, should the rates be based on previously approved/accepted Government rates such as GSA Schedules, etc?

This requirement is open market, and therefore offerors do not have to base their pricing on GSA Schedules or other existing ID/IQs. The pricing (labor rates) that offerors proposal will be effective for all five years of the contract.

PWS Para 4.4.2 states that a holder of a foreign passport cannot obtain a DoD clearance. Would like verification of this.

While DoD 5200.2‐R, Personnel Security Program, provides that dual citizenship and the possession and/or use of a foreign passport are conditions that may be disqualifying, decisions to grant or deny clearances are made on a case by case basis. See revised PWS paragraph 4.4.2 and Amendment 0002.

Reference: Attachment 7. Can the Government provide a labor category description for each labor category? The following categories are not described:

Program Manager L3, Program Manager L2, Project Manager L4, Business Analyst L3, Change Management Analyst L1, Functional Analyst L3, Program Analyst L2, Systems Analyst L2, Database Management Specialist L2, Applications Programmer L3, Applications Programmer L2, Process Engineer L4, Information Engineer L3, Information Engineer L2, Systems Engineer L3, Systems Engineer L2, Systems Engineer L1, Business Process Requirement Specialist L2.

Descriptions have been provided. Reference Attachment 7 (Amendment 0002).

Reference: Attachment 7. Can the Government provide standard substitution criteria (education/years of experience) for each degree?

The Government provided skills, education and experience for the labor categories. There are no standard substitution criteria. Staff for each labor category should possess a a level of skill commensurate with those expected of a person with the described education and experience. See revised Attachment 7 with Amendment 0002.

The PWS makes multiple references to Section "O" or "0" in the Tasks and Sub‐ tasks, but there seems to be no reference to know where this is located within the

RFP.

Should be Section 3, GFE/GFI. See revised PWS with Amendment 0002.

Reference: Pricing Matrix, Attachment 6. Does the Offeror have the ability to adjust the labor category/labor hour distribution in Attachment 6, or is it the intent of the Government that this distribution remain fixed?

The Government's intent is for the hours and labor categories to remain fixed for fair comparison among offerors.

Reference: RFP Section L, Factor 2. Is the Offeror to use the labor category and labor hour distribution in Attachment 6 as the basis for the personnel matrix used to identify the personnel resources for performing the PWS?

Yes

PWS Para 1.3.2.1.1. (Document Architectures USTRANSCOM) ends with "identified in Section 0". Is this the intent of the sentence?

Reference Question #5.

Reference: RFP Section L4, Volume 2 Staffing. Normally a program of this size requiring an “Integrated Program Management Plan (PMP)” would have a sizeable page count – at least 50 or greater. Does the Government want a draft PMP and then delivery of the full IDIQ PMP post award? Could the PMP be delivered as an appendix to Volume 2 and therefore not be inclusive of the 100 (Volumes 1 & 2) page count?

See Amendment 0002, which removes the PMP as an evaluation subfactor (Section L) and adds it to the PWS instead.

Reference: RFP Section L. Does the Table of Contents (TOC), List of Figures, Title Page, Glossary and standard front matter count towards page allocations?

Reference L3, Paragraph 2 of Amendment 0002 of the solicitation.

Reference: RFP, Pricing Attachment 6. The template appears to have an error in the formula (cell references) in the column ‘Ktr Proposed Total $…’ Will the Government correct the template?

The formula has been removed from the Base Period Tab and the cell showing the instructions (H2) has been corrected to show (D*E)+(F*G). Amendment 0002 includes the revised Attachment 6.

PWS, Pricing Section, Para 1.3.1.1. “…conferences and trips”; Para 1.3.1.5 Trip Reports; Para 1.3.3.3.1 “support at ASC X12 and ACI meetings 3 times per FY”; Para

4.3.9 Travel “Number of Trips – 5”. Will each task order have an ODC and/or Travel estimate associated or should we propose some amount of ODCs and Travel cost?

The Government will determine and provide the ODC and Travel costs prior to negotiating each task order.

Reference: RFP, Pricing Attachment 6. Are the hours on the template historical or proposed hours?

The hours on the template are based on the Government's expectation of the level of effort required for each contract period.

Reference: RFP, Pricing Attachment 7, Section L4. Since this contract will be a task order (TO) based IDIQ, as a common practice contractors are required to provide rates for each labor category (provided in Attachment 7) so as requirements evolve, change the Customer has the flexibility in what is purchased and that a true TEP can be derived. We are not being asked for a rate for each category, would the government consider revising such that all categories are therefore priced which would support a TEP?

Reference RFP Page 121. Offerors shall price the base period and all option periods using the template pricing matrix, which is Attachment 6 to the solicitation.

Reference: RFP, Pricing Attachment 6. Do the hours in Attachment 6 represent the IDIQ hours in general or a combination of all task orders?

The hours on the template are based on the Government's expectation for all task orders to be issued on the IDIQ, broken out by each contract period.

Reference: RFP, Pricing, TEP. How do we derive a reasonable and realistic TEP when the Government requires the offeror to guesstimate the current workforce (related to question 14)? This type of requirement in Sections L & M assumes that non‐incumbent offerors know exactly what is being delivered now for all 3 participating organizations/commands.

The Government has provided labor categories and hours in Attachment 6 for evaluation purposes. Offerors are to fill in labor rates.

Reference: RFP, Pricing, Sections L & M. In this fiscally constrained environment, we understand that the Government is trying to achieve cost efficiencies by consolidating contracts; however the Government hasn’t issued the appropriate estimated workload data to be able to perform such a careful analysis. Would the Government be willing to provide workload estimates by task order?

This data isn't necessary for evaluations. Refer to the answer for Question 15.

Reference: RFP, Past Performance Evaluation, Sections L & M. Since this effort is new and consolidates multiple contracts that are currently held by several different companies, how would the Government be able to rate any single Past Performance reference as Very Relevant? The evaluation for Very Relevant indicates “…effort involved essentially the same scope and magnitude and complexities this solicitation requires.” It would appear the most an incumbent could receive would be a Relevant rating.

The Government intends to utilize the past performance ratings in Section M. Very relevant ratings will be used for Present/past performance efforts that involved essentially the same scope and magnitude of effort and complexities this solicitation requires. As an example, a contractor could receive relevant ratings on contract references and receive an overall substantial confidence assessment.

Reference: RFP, Staffing. Offerors are required to submit their staffing approach as reflected in a personnel matrix which identifies the personnel resources given the Offeror's approach to performing the PWS tasks. For the personnel matrix are you expecting the offeror to identify available candidates by providing resumes or are you expecting the offeror to provide the labor category, qualifications and experience the offeror's potential employees would be required to have to perform each PWS task and sub‐task (if applicable).

The Government is expecting offerors to indicate the labor category proposed for each task and subtask. No resumes or position descriptions are required.

For the use cases requested with DODAF views what specific software tool must be used to turn in a soft copy? Can we turn in soft/hard copies created in rational system architect? Is there a preference for which software tool is used to create the dodaf views?

Section L2 of Amendment 0002 states that proposal content shall be submitted in a format that can be read and edited by using the MS Office Suite of Tools and Adobe Acrobat.

Per the pricing sheet, it appears that some of the rates are quoted for contractors to work offsite? Is there an estimate or percentage of how many workers must work on site vs how many can work offsite?

Reference Section 3 of the PWS.

For the past performance evaluation area can the 8A firm to be assigned "prime system integrator" include past experience of previous work performed as a "sub contractor" to other companies for federal DoD programs? How many past performance experiences are needed from the 8A firm? Can past performance experience from the "sub" companies be included as well for past performance?

The prime 8(a) can submit past performance examples where they performed as a subcontractor. There is no limit on how many of the references must be from the prime.

Past performance from the subcontractors may be submitted, but subcontractor consent letters must also be submitted (reference Section L‐4, Past Performance).

One of the subs partnering with the 8A has facilities with clearances…can the sub company sponsor the 8A firm to obtain a facility with a clearance to perform this contract?

The DD254 included with this solicitation is for the prime offeror/contractor. The sub cannot sponsor the prime, however if the prime awardee does not have an FCL, USTRANSCOM will do the sponsorship package, thereby getting a FCL for the prime.

I'm a new 8A firm with proven capabilities and strengths as described in the PWS for the 10 contract areas specifically for enterprise architecture, management approach, enterprise engineering, contract management and delivery schedule. I'm seeking to grow capabilities as an 8A firm with other large recognized multi million dollar in revenue DoD contractors for this solicitation and was wondering whether it was possible to have the other companies (subs) teaming up with my 8A cover the expertise for some of the areas listed on the PWS to successfully deliver the project for USTRANSCOM?

Contractors are able to set up teaming arrangements. However the 8(a) prime has to be responsible for at least 50% of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel.

(FAR 52.219‐14).

25 For the staffing management plan are key personnel resumes required? Resumes are not required.

26 Is there a limit to the number of "subs" for this solicitation?

No; however the 8(a) prime has to be responsible for at least 50% of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel. (FAR 52.219‐14).

Reference: Pricing Matrix Template, Attach 6. There are labor categories called out with hours attached to the government matrix (e.g., Journeyman Systems Engineer) without corresponding education / experience levels called out in Attachment 7 (Labor Descriptions). Request government clarify whether the labor descriptions in Attachment 7 are meant to be both authoritative and exhaustive in nature.

Refer to Question 6.

Ref several places in the RFQ (e.g., “Ordering Period” in Section B (page 2); “Period of Performance” in Section 4.3.8 (page 55); “Ordering Period” in Appendix A (page 63)), the base period is indicated to be 18 December 2013 ‐ 30 September 2013.

The FY14 table in Appendix A, though, indicates the earliest Task Order is to begin on 15 February 2014. Request government clarify intent between 18 December 2013 and 15 February 2014.

The ID/IQ contract is expected to be awarded on 18 December 2013. The ordering period will run from 18 December 13 ‐ 30 September 14 for the base period. The Government intends to negotiate Task Order 0001 after 18 December and performance will begin on 15 February 2014.

Reference: Pricing Matrix Template, Attach 6, worksheet “Base”, cell “H2”, the cell indicates the formula is (A*B)+(C*D). There aren’t numbers in those columns, though, that would seem to satisfy the formula. Does the government intend to reference (D*E) + (F*G)? Assuming this is so, is the “Ktr Proposed Total” (column H) intended to be the contractor’s proposed rates * the government’s estimated hours, or are we free to also provide contractor estimated hours (columns D and F)?

Reference Question 11. Yes, Column H is intended to be the total (proposed rates * the Government's estimated hours).

Reference: Signal Code, Section B. What is a Signal Code? What does 'A' represent?

The signal code is a data field in USTRANSCOM's contracting system, PD2. The signal code identifies the ship‐to address and billing instructions. They are primarily used with the logistics systems. Signal code A stands for "Ship to requisitioner and bill to requisitioner account (DFAS).

Reference: Total Estimated Price, Section B. CLINs 4003 and 4004 appear on the page after the TOTAL ESTIMATED PRICE and CEILING PRICE values are inserted in Section B. Is it the Government's intent to exclude these two values from the total estimated price for the solicitation?

It is not the Government's intent to exclude these two CLINs. Offerors shall include 4003 and 4004 in their price.

32 Reference PWS, Section 1.1. What does IMA refer to? IMA is the Army's identifier for the Automated Transportation Systems Division.

Reference: PWS, Section 1.3.1.4 discusses conduct of quarter reviews and lists several areas that the IPR will cover. When the requirement is stated "to date" is it referring "to date for contract period" or "to date for quarter"?

The intention is to date for that quarter. See revised PWS with Amendment 0002.

Reference: PWS Section 1.3.4.2.7.2 refers to an Appendix I; however there is not an Appendix I included in RFP documentation. Please provide.

See revised PWS (Amendment 0002) which references Appendix E and not Appendix I.

Reference: Security Plan, PWS Section 4.1.2 states the Contractor shall submit a security plan for Government approval. When is this plan required to be submitted?

The plan is required to be submitted at time of award.

36 There is no PWS Section 4.3.1.6. Is this intentional? Yes. The previous paragraph number is 4.3.1 and the next paragraph is numbered 4.3.2.

PWS Section 4.3.16.2 requires a phase in plan. Is this plan to be included in the technical and/or staffing plan and count against the page count for those two volumes?

This plan shall be included with the technical approach and is included in the 100 page limit.

38 What are Combo Documents?

A combo document is made up of the invoice and receiving report in Wide Area Workflow.

A vendor creates two documents from the same data entry session.

The Vendor inputs contract and item data once. Two separate documents ‐ an Invoice and a Receiving Report ‐ are generated in the WAWF system. The Receiving Report will flow to inspection and acceptance. The Invoice will flow to payment approval.

What is the date for submitting an OCI mitigation plan if one is required? Section H says [Fill‐in: number] calendar days prior to the proposal due date.

Revised language to state that the mitigation plan is required with the proposal. Also added that no page limits are associated with the OCI mitigation plan. See Amendment 0002.

Does the Government have any preference as to which volume the previous and ongoing work is presented in? If it is required in the Technical and/or Staffing volumes, can it be included as an appendix that does not count in the total page count?

The OCI mitigation plan has been added to Volume 4, Pricing (Reference Amendment 0002 ‐ Section L). See the Answer to Question 39 regarding page limits.

Clause 5552.242‐9000, requiring Common Access Cards, does not contain a trusted agent name nor a security office name, email and phone number. Is it the Government's intention to fill these in at time of award?

The Government will complete this clause at time of award.

Section L‐3 states that glossaries do not count against page limits. Do Appendices to volumes count against page limits?

Appendices do count towards the page limits (See Section L in Amendment 0002).

Section L, Factor 4 states that the offeror's total evaluated price should include an additional six month period calculated in accordance with FAR Clause 52.217‐8, Option to Extend Services. This six month option to extend services is not included in the pricing worksheet (Attachment 6). Does the Government want each offeror to include this in the Attachment 6 pricing worksheet? Or submitted in a separate pricing worksheet?

The Government will calculate the additional six month period IAW with Section M.

44 What is the FP number that is inserted in box 2c of the DD254 (FP‐00035‐12) It is an internal tracking number for J3‐FP (Force Protection).

The pricing worksheet (Attachment 6) indicates that column H should be a total dollar value based on the formula (A*B)+(C*D). Columns A, B and C are not hour or rate values. Shouldn't the total dollar value be based on the formula (D*E)+(F*G)?

Yes, Attachment 6 has been updated (Amendment 0002).

Attachment 6 does not contain a line for each and every labor category described in Attachment 7. Should it?

Reference Answer to Question #3.

The footer in Attachment 7 states that contractors should propose comparable labor categories to those in the attachment. Is it the Government's intent for the contractor to propose all of the labor categories in Attachment 7? Or only those contained within Attachment 6?

See revised footer on Attachment 6. Offerors are to complete Attachment 6 by proposing a labor rate for each labor category listed. Attachment 7 is the description of education, skills and experience of each labor category.

Who is the incumbent on this contract and what is the incumbent contract number?

This is a consolidated contract. Contract numbers and incumbents are below:

1) USTRANSCOM EA ‐ HTC711‐12‐C‐D002 (Trident 3)

2) USTRANSCOM EDO ‐ HTC711‐11‐F‐D011 (Dynamics Research Corporation)

3) USTRANSCOM Engineering ‐ TRANS‐10‐5333‐B0‐009 (CACI)

4) AMC and SDDC EA ‐ FA4452‐12‐D‐0002 (Red Cedar)

49 Is the incumbent eligible to bid for this solicitation? Any incumbent that is of 8(a) status is eligible to bid.

Section L‐3, 2(d) indicates that volumes should be bound in a three ring binder.

Are all 7 copies to be bound in separate binders or can copies be marked (Original & Copy) and put in 1 binder?

All six copies should be in separate binders. Section L of Amendment 0002 has been revised to show that offerors may combine Technical and Staffing volumes for a total of 12 binders (6 Technical and Staffing and 6 Price). Past performance will be submitted electronically.

Reference Page 118, Section L‐4, Subfactor 2. Can the Technical Volume Subfactor 2 be delivered as an attachment in accordance with USTRANSCOM architecture delivery practices that are in use today?

No, subfactor 2 will count towards the 100 page limit for Staffing and Technical volumes and is expected to be delivered in both hard and soft copy.

Reference Page 118, Section L‐4, Subfactor 2. Can the Government accept Microsoft Visio native format or Adobe Acrobat Reader PDF formatted files for Subfactor two [OV‐6c]?

The Government will accept Adobe Acrobat Reader PDF files for Subfactor 2. Reference Answer to Question# 20.

Since the architecture, design, source code, and associated documentation of the CATS (AMCADRE) tool was not available to all bidders, how will knowledge of this tool be used in evaluations?

Reference Section L, the knowledge of this tool will not be evaluated. The evaluation criteria does not contain any reference to the CATS tool.

Can the architecture, design, source code, and associated documentation be provided to all bidders to support proposal responses to the RFP section 1.3.4?

The Government does not intend to release this information. The CATS tool is an Oracle‐ based software application. The code is written in VB.Net and C# and currently entails 24 Releases, 24 patches, approximately 451,559 lines of code to maintain. The AMCADRE architecture, design, and source code will be provided upon issuing the AMC Enterprise Architecture Tools task order.

Does the government envision a core Program Management/Engineering support team on the FFP CLIN?

The Government's intent is to issue Program Management tasks at the task order level on a FFP CLIN. The Government's intent is to issue Engineering tasks at the task order level on a LH CLIN.

56 Will task orders be executed against both the FFP & Labor Hour CLINs? Task Orders may contain both FFP and LH CLINs.

The verbiage in many of the PWS task paragraphs states to delivery ‘X’ days after contract start. Does contract start mean date of task order award? It is our understanding the IDIQ will be awarded approximately 18 December 2013, however the first Task Order will not commence until approximately 15 February 2014. When the IDIQ is awarded no actual work will be performed until TO 2 is awarded in February. Is that a correct assumption?

Yes, contract start means task order award since no deliverables will be submitted at the IDIQ level. The assumption is correct with the exception that it will be TO 0001 beginning in February, not TO 2.