02.26.13_-_NAT_II_Q A_.pdf

28 Feb 13

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS # 2

Solicitation No. HTC711-13-R-R002

National Afghan Trucking II (NAT II)

U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) Requirement

Q.1. Business Proposal, Solicitation Instructions

Ref: Addendum to 52.212-1, Section (12) Proposal Preparation Instructions, (c) Proposal

Content, (1) Volume I – Business Proposal, d. Section D: Business Licenses, subparagraph iv.

The solicitation requires that the Business proposal include the Ministry of Interior (MOI) license for Private Security Company (PSC) Services from all proposed PSC firm(s).

However, the government of Afghanistan has formally dissolved almost all PSCs and plans to introduce APPF for convoy security, though it may take time. How does the USG plan to address this dilemma?

A.1. The USG recognizes that the transition from Private Security Companies (PSC's) services to Afghan

Public Protection Force (APPF) security services is still progressing. Until the Government of the Islamic

Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) Ministry of Interior, in coordination with the USG, certifies that the

APPF is ready to assume convoy security and the APPF begins convoy security operations in the relevant

Area of Operations sufficient to effectively cover all necessary convoys, the NAT II solicitation/contract continues to require the contractor to provide PSC's for missions where PSC security is needed. The

Peformance Work Statement (PWS) currently includes provisions for GIRoA security at paragraph

5.2.4.12.2. The solicitation will be amended to require offerors provide pricing for GIRoA security.

Because the APPF is a State Owned Enterprise (SOE), the provisions for GIRoA security in the PWS encompass security provided by the APPF.

Q.2. What is the projected award date for National Afghan Trucking II (NAT II)?

A.2. The projected award date is mid-October 2013, with performance beginning in mid-December 2013.

Q.3. Business Proposal, Solicitation Instructions

Content, (1) Volume I – Business Proposal, Section H: Joint Venture/Teaming Agreements (if applicable)

If a logistics company and a transportation company form a joint venture does the solicitation require the transportation and logistics licenses for both companies or is it sufficient for the joint venture to submit the transportation license of for the transportation firm and the logistics license from the logistics firm to satisfy the requirement?

A.3. All companies, including joint ventures, offering proposals under this solicitation, are required to provide proof of the Afghan Business License issued by the Afghanistan Investment Support Agency

(AISA). If a proposal is submitted by a joint venture, the AISA should be registered to the joint venture and provided with the proposal. Any company, including those that are part of a joint ventures, that will be performing actual trucking services using assets that are owned by that company must also provide proof of the Transportation Company License. The offeror is also required to provide proof of the

Ministry of Interior (MOI) license for PSC services for any proposed PSC firm(s). Offerors are cautioned that the solicitation terms and conditions require offerors to posses all registrations, licenses, etc., necessary to perform the requirements of the contract. If offering as a joint venture, the offeror must demonstrate in its proposal it has the necessary licenses to complete the work as a joint venture. This may

Solicitation No. HTC711-13-R-R002 require licenses in the name of the individual company and/or the joint venture. This may differ depending on the structure and type of joint venture or other business relationship proposed.

Q.4. Business Proposal, Solicitation Instructions

Content, (1) Volume I – Business Proposal, Section D: Business Licenses

The solicitation states that both the contractor and each proposed subcontractor shall provide are to provide proof of the Ministry of Transportation – Afghanistan (MoT-A) and the Transit and Freight Forwarding Company License; however at this time our subcontractor only has the Afghanistan Investment Support Agency (AISA). If the offeror

(the potential prime contractor) has all three licenses, would they be considered for this opportunity with their subcontractor only possessing the AISA license? Are the additional licenses a hard requirement for the subcontractor?

A.4. In accordance with the Afghanistan Investment Support Agency (AISA) guidance at http://www.aisa.org.af/english/licensing.html, in order to operate a business legally in Afghanistan, all companies need to obtain an AISA business license.

The solicitation and Performance Work Statement are changed via amendment 01 to require offerors to provide proof of the AISA license for the prime and all proposed subcontractors and the Transportation

Company License or the Transit and Freight Forwarding Company License as applicable.

Q.5. Business Proposal, Solicitation Instructions

Content, (1) Volume I – Business Proposal, Section D: Business Licenses

What licenses, if any, is the offeror required to submit for an American subcontractor that is only providing project management and financial backing to an Afghan company?

A.5. In accordance with the Afghanistan Investment Support Agency (AISA) guidance at http://www.aisa.org.af/english/licensing.html, all companies operating within Afghanistan are required to obtain an AISA license. If a company is not operating within Afghanistan, and is not required by AISA, then this license is not required to be submitted with the proposal. The Investors Support Department of

AISA can advise on whether or not businesses require any additional licenses.

Q.6. Solicitation Instructions

Ref: Addendum to 52.212-1, Section (12) Proposal Preparation Instructions, (a) General

Instructions, subparagraph (3)

This paragraph states, “Proposals shall be submitted in hardcopy on the specified due date and time to the U.S. Transportation Command at the following address.” May offerors hand deliver their proposals to the address listed at Scott AFB?

A.6. Yes, offers may be hand delivered. Be advised that it is the offeror’s responsibility to coordinate with our office to arrange for hand delivered proposals. Offerors shall notify myself at http://www.aisa.org.af/english/licensing.html http://www.aisa.org.af/english/licensing.html

Solicitation No. HTC711-13-R-R002

Jason.Logsdon@ustranscom.mil and Ms. Lorrie Leedy at Lorrie.Leedy@ustranscom.mil at least 5 days in advance of delivering a proposal. Proposals may be hand delivered to the address listed in the solicitation on or before 09 APRIL 2013 at 1:00 PM US Central Daylight Time (CDT).

Q.7. Solicitation Instructions

Content, (2) Volume II – Technical Proposal, subparagraph a.

The Instructions in the Addendum to 52.212-1 require offerors to provide a Technical

Capability Overview. 52.212-2 Evaluation of Commercial Items (JAN 1999) does not cite this Technical Capability Overview as an evaluation factor. Will the Technical Capability

Overview be evaluated with the other subfactors?

A.7. The technical capability overview requirement has been deleted as a requirement per amendment 01.

Q.8. Solicitation Evaluation

Ref: FAR 52.212-2, (f)(5)

The solicitation states that “A plan that addresses the requirements outlined in PWS paragraph 7.7 and all its corresponding subparagraphs to include the sections outlined in subparagraph 7.7.1 through 7.7.6.” Are offerors required to submit a complete Dispatch

Plan, complete Pilferage Prevention Plan, and complete Quality Control Plan (QCP) with their proposals? If yes, are these plans included in the page count?

A.8. Yes, offerors are required to submit a complete Dispatch Plan, Pilferage Plan, and Quality Control

Plan. Yes, these plans are included in the page count.

Q.9. Performance Work Statement & Solicitation Instructions

Ref: PWS Paragraph 4.2 and Addendum to FAR 52.212-1, (12)(c)(1)d. Section D: Business

Licenses

The PWS states, “At a minimum, the contractor shall provide proof of the following

[licenses] at the time of award.” The solicitation instructions state that offerors are required to submit licenses as part of their Business Proposal. Are offerors required to provide proof of their licenses at the time of award?

A.9. The solicitation and PWS are changed via amendment 01 to alleviate this confusion. The licenses identified in the solicitation instructions as changed in amendment 01 are required to be submitted with their Business Proposal.

mailto:Jason.Logsdon@ustranscom.mil mailto:Lorrie.Leedy@ustranscom.mil

Solicitation No. HTC711-13-R-R002

Q.10. Performance Work Statement

Ref: PWS Paragraph 4.4.

This paragraph states that the contractor shall maintain sufficient commercial insurance to insure against all third party claims. What limits are considered to be “sufficient” for the purpose of performing the NAT II contract?

A.10. The contractor following commercial business practices and in compliance with GIRoA laws and regulations is responsible to determine the appropriate amount of commercial insurance to meet this requirement.

Q.11. Solicitation Instructions

Ref: Addendum to FAR 52.212-1, (12)(c)(1)d. Section D: Business Licenses

This paragraph states, “Proof of the Transportation Company License from the Ministry of

Transportation – Afghanistan (MoT-A) for the offeror and subcontractors, as applicable” and “Proof of the Transit and Freight Forwarding Company License for the offeror and subcontractors, as applicable.” Is an American company that plans to prime the NAT II contract, but only manage Afghan subcontractors (not provide any assets – only financing and program management), required to provide proof of an MoT-A License and Transit and Freight Forwarding Company License with its proposal?

A.11. This section is changed via Amendment 01. Per the change, if the offeror is not a transportation company but instead intends to use principal subcontractors in performance of this contract then they are not required to submit the Transportation Company License or the Transit and Freight Forwarding

Company License for the offeror. However, one of these licenses is required for the principal subcontractor(s), as applicable. As stated in the response to question 5, any companies operating within

Afghanistan, shall also submit proof of their AISA business license.

Q.12. Solicitation Instructions

Ref: Addendum to FAR 52.212-1, (12)(c)(1)d. Section D: Business Licenses

This paragraph states, “Proof of the Transportation Company License from the Ministry of

Transportation – Afghanistan (MoT-A) for the offeror and subcontractors, as applicable” and “Proof of the Transit and Freight Forwarding Company License for the offeror and subcontractors, as applicable.” These licenses are not “applicable” for the performance of the NAT II contract in Afghanistan. Our company and subcontractors are currently providing transportation/freight services to the U.S. Government in Afghanistan in compliance with the laws of GIRoA without these two licenses. Are offerors and their subcontractors required to submit proof of a MoT-A License and Transit and Freight

Forwarding License with their proposals in order to be eligible for award of a NAT II contract?

A.12. Yes, per the solicitation, as amended, these licenses are required in order to be eligible for award.

Solicitation No. HTC711-13-R-R002

Q.13. Solicitation Instructions

Ref: Addendum to FAR 52.212-1, (12)(c)(1)e.

This paragraph states, “The offeror shall submit no more than three contract references for the offeror.” May the offeror submit contract references from its subcontractors for one or more of these three contract references?

A.13. Yes. The solicitation is amended to include provisions for submitting contract references for principal subcontractors. The changes are included in Amendment 01.

Q.14. Solicitation Instructions

Content, (2) Volume II – Technical Proposal, subparagraph a.

This paragraph states, “The offeror shall submit an overview which describes how the offeror plans to complete the requirements as described in the PWS of this solicitation.”

The PWS is written to a fifth level (i.e. 1.2.3.4.5.). Shall offerors address the PWS to the fifth level? If not, what level of detail is expected for this Technical Capability Overview?

A.14. Per Amendment 01, the requirement for a Technical Capability Overview has been removed from the solicitation instructions.

Q.15. Solicitation Instructions

Content, (2) Volume II – Technical Proposal, subparagraph d.

This section lists four key personnel positions (Program Manager, Alternate Program

Manager, Accountant, and Fuel Manager). Is the Alternate Fuel Manger cited in PWS

Section 5.1.3. on page 10 of 50 considered key personnel? Is a resume for the Alternate Fuel

Manager required with offerors’ proposal?

A.15. Yes, the Alternate Fuel Manager is considered key peronnel and a resume for the Alternate Fuel

Manager should be included in the offeror’s proposal.

Q.16. Solicitation Instructions

Content, (2) Volume II – Technical Proposal, subparagraph d.

This paragraph states, “Key positions include Program Manager (PM), Alternate PM, Accountant, Accountant, and Fuel Manager (FM)” Can the Alternate PM be dual hatted as the Alternate FM or are both of these positions to be separate full time employees?

A.16. The solicitation does not restrict an offeror from having a dual-hatted key personnel position. In accordance with the instructions, the proposal shall include the offerors plan to provide Key Personnel.

Solicitation No. HTC711-13-R-R002

Addtionally, the evaluation criteria states that the offeror must demonstrate the ability to provide Key

Personnel in accordance with the PWS and that the proposal must substantiate the key personnel’s ability to perform the applicable responsibilities.

Q.17. At what point in time are the required license(s) to be presented to the USG?

A.17. Please see the response to question 9.

Q.18. CENTCOM Clauses

Ref: 952.225-0014

The requirements of section 952.225-0014 are not cited in the Instructions to Offerors.

Where should offerors include this information for their subcontractors in their proposals?

A.18. This information shall be included in Volume I, Business Proposal, Section B General Proposal

Information. This instruction is added via amenment 01.

Q.19. Solicitation Instructions

Ref: Addendum to FAR 52.212-1, (12)(c)(1)g.

Are offerors required to submit copies of teaming agreements with their proposal for first-tier subcontractors?

A.19. Per amendment 01, the term “teaming agreement” has been removed from this section. These instructions of this section only apply to Joint Ventures.

Q.20. Does the NAT II program require transportation through Pakistan?

A.20. The NAT II program only includes trucking transportation within Afghanistan. There are no requirements for trucking outside of Afghanistan included in the NAT II solicitation.

Q.21. Is the impact of the drawdown contemplated in the volume estimates?

A.21. The NAT II requirements and volume estimates represent the US Government’s best understanding and projections of the requirement for each period of performance.

Q.22. There is no longer a requirement for a panic button alarm for the ITV system? Why is this no longer a requirement?

A.22. The US Government no longer has a requirement for the ITVs to have this capability.

Solicitation No. HTC711-13-R-R002

Q.23. Will the acceleration of the drawdown discussed in the State of the Union address impact the start date of the program?

A.23. No.