Amendment_A0002_ID09180038_MPTA_Q&A.pdf

ID09180038 – MPTA SUPPORT SERVICES – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

NUMBER QUESTION ANSWER RECOMMENDED CHANGES

1. Page 1, Section B: SF 1449 Continuation Page, B.2 Contract Type: The FFP CLIN structure includes CLINs 3001 and 4001 which are missing from the Price Worksheet. Can the Government confirm that CLINs 3001 and 4001 should be removed as those CLINs would be reserved for Option Periods 3 and 4.

CLIN 3001, 4001 were included in error. CLIN 3001 and 4001 were removed from section B.2 – Contract Type.

2. Can the Government confirm that the 66 months should be 36 months to accommodate the three (3) year period or 42 months to accommodate three (3) with the additional 6-month period?

i. Page 6, Section C: Contract Clauses, C.1. Contract Duration: This contract has a base ordering period starting on the date of contract award and ending one-year thereafter. The contract also contains two (2) one (1)-year option periods as indicated in section B. The contract may extend for a total period of three (3) years after the date of award, if all options are exercised by the Government.

ii. Page 17, Section C: Contract Clauses: FAR 52.217-9 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract, Paragraph (c): states “The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed 66 months.”

Page 17, Section C: Contract Clauses – FAR 52.217-9, Option to Extend the Term of the contract, Paragraph (c), should state 36 months, instead of 66 to account for the base plus two

(2) period of performance with a 6 month extension.

Page 17, Section C: Contract Clauses – FAR 52.217-9, Option to Extend the Term of the contract, Paragraph (c), has been updated to 36 months, from 66 months to account for the base plus two (2) year period of performance with a 6 month extension.

3. Cyber Security Markings: The DPAP Implementation Guidance acknowledges that “the Department must mark, or otherwise identify in the contract, any covered defense information that is provided to the contractor…” There doesn’t appear to be any identified covered defense information (CDI) markings in the Statement of Work, CDRLs, etc… on any of the three task orders. Could the Government please confirm whether there are any CDI on the task orders? If so, please provide appropriate markings.

i. Page 8, Section C: Contract Clauses:

DFARS 252.204-7009 Limitations on the Use or Disclosure of Third-Party Contractor Reported Cyber Incident Information OCT 2016, and

DFARS 252.204-7012 Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting OCT 2016

We do not anticipate any covered information on the task orders.

No Change to RFP.

4. Page 30, Section C: Contract Clauses: Is the inclusion of FAR 52.219-14, Limitation of Subcontracting applicable as this is not a set-aside?

FAR 52.219-14 is not applicable due to the contract not being set-aside to a small business.

FAR 52.219-14 has been removed from Page 30.

5. Can the Government confirm if the maximum number of references allowed is 3 or 5?

i. Page 51, Experience – Element 1B, (2) Corporate Experience: we are instructed to, “submit 3 to 5 references to projects performed within the last five years by the business unit that will perform this effort.”

The maximum number of references allowed is up to 5.

Page 52, Volume III, Past Performance Reference has been updated to state up to 5 references.

ii. Page 52, Volume III: Past Performance/Factor 2: states “Prepare and submit up to 3 Reference Information Sheets….”

6. D.4, Key Personnel Requirements Summary and Matrix: Would the

Government consider breaking out the Programming & Analytic Support Staff category into levels that reflect the range of experience and training of individuals who could reasonably be placed in this category? In the previous solicitation, it was noted that there were three levels in his category, differing on the basis of seniority. These were defined in terms of the Federal General Schedule, with Level 1 equivalent to steps 1-4, Level to steps 5-7, and Level 3 steps 8-10. If this is acceptable, would the government be willing to pose minimum qualifications for the levels, such as:

iii. Level 1 BS/BA in relevant IT field

iv. Level 2 BS/BA in relevant IT field or 3 years of relevant experience

v. Level 3 BS/BA in relevant IT field or 7 years of relevant experience

The Government does not believe that breaking out the Programming & Analytic Support Staff category into multiple levels based on experience and training as suggested would be sufficient for the purpose of defining key requirements for this category. For Key Personnel Requirements of the “Programming & Analytic Support Staff” category, the Government requires a minimum BS/BA degree and a minimum of 5 years of experience.

No Change to RFP.

7. D.1 Attachment 1 HISTORICAL_AND_PROJECTED_WORKLOAD, page 26 lists a series of anticipated hours for the Mid-Range Technical Contributor (Behavioral):

2018: 22,560, 2019: 2,364, 2020: 24,759; 2021: 25,938; and 2022: 27,174. Will the Government please confirm/update the projected hours for 2019?

Total number of hours for Mid- Range Technical Contributor (behavioral) should be 22,364 for 2019. 2,364 was written in error.

D.1 Attachment 1

HISTORICAL_AND_PROJECTED_WORKLOAD,

page 26 lists a series of anticipated hours for the Mid-Range Technical Contributor (Behavioral) has been updated from 2,364 to 22,364 hours.

8. D.3_-_PRICE_SUMMARY_WORKBOOK, tab Base Year, row 22 identifies 50,626 labor hours for A001AU/Programming & Analytic Support Staff.

D.1 Attachment 1 HISTORICAL_AND_PROJECTED_WORKLOAD, pages 27-28 does not include a labor category for on site Programming & Analytic Support Staff.

The very last row of D.1 Attachment 1 HISTORICAL_AND_PROJECTED_WORKLOAD, page 27 is lists “mid-range” as an onsite labor category. Question: Will the Government please confirm that ‘Programming & Analytic Support Staff” is the correct labor category for the last row of D.1 Attachment 1 HISTORICAL_AND_PROJECTED_WORKLOAD?

“Programming and Analytic support” has replaced “Mid-range”. The labor category was originally listed in error.

“Programming and Analytic support” for on-site categories has been updated on D.1 Attachment 1

HISTORICAL_AND_PROJECTED_WORKLOAD.

9. D.4_KEY_PERSONNEL_REQUIREMENTS_SUMMARY, page 2, states that the Senior Technical Editor must possess at least 10 years of experience in scientific report editing or test item writing/editing and thorough knowledge of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, capable of rewriting and final editing based on general guidance/ principals/examples, capable of generating editing rules from general guidance/principals/examples. This is in addition to either a Masters Degree or Ph.D. Will the Government accept 5 years of experience as the minimum requirement if the proposed candidate has a Ph.D. and 10 years of experience as the minimum if the person has a masters degree?

For Senior Technical Editor, there is a non-compensatory relation between experience and education. That is additional education (i.e., Ph.D.) does not necessarily compensate for fewer years of experience (i.e., 5 years).

Therefore the Government requires both minimums on experience (10 years) and education (Masters or Ph.D.).

No Change to the RFP.

10. D.4_KEY_PERSONNEL_REQUIREMENTS_SUMMARY, page 2, states that the TASK LEADER/SENIRO CONTRIBUTOR (DATA COLL. OPER.) Possessing a minimum of a bachelor degree in a behavioral science field, plus ten years of related work

The text “Possessing a minimum of a bachelor degree in a behavioral science field, plus ten years of related work experience, or a masters in

No Change to RFP.

experience, or a masters in behavioral science field, plus five years of related work experience. However the column for “experience” simply states 5 years of experience. Will the Government please confirm the correct years’ of experience?

behavioral science field, plus five years of related work experience” is correct. Experience should be either 5 or 10 years depending on education level.

11. RFP Section E, page 52 and Attachment D.3 Price Summary Workbook. page 52 of the RFP states that “for estimation purposes, the Government is expecting to award the contract in August 2018.” Attachment D.3, [Base Period] tab indicates that the POP runs from July 2018 to July 2019. Will the Government please clarify the specific POP dates that offerors should use in their proposals?

The anticipated period of performance is estimated at 1 year from date of award. Date of award is anticipated in August 2018.

Attachment D.3 Price Summary Workbook has been updated to include the estimated period of performance with a start in August 2018.

12. RFP Section E.1 (b) Submission of Offers, Proposal Submission Requirements, Page 43 states that “The type used shall be no smaller than Times New Roman, 10-point.” May a reduced font size be used for graphics and tables?

Yes, reduced font size may be used for graphics and tables.

No Change to RFP.

13. RFP Table 1 – Proposal Volume Breakout, page 45 states that FACTOR 1 has a page limit of “100 Pages (exclusive of a table of contents, table of exhibits, compliance tables, figures, acronyms, position descriptions, and resumes).

However the RFP includes several requirements that, on their own, could severely impact the 100 page limit if they are not excluded from page count. For example:

RFP Section (A) Technical Approach – ELEMENT 1A on page 48 states that the staffing plan should include a copy of “any applicable teaming or subcontractor arrangements.”

RFP Section (B) Experience ELEMENT 1B on page 50 states that offerors should provide “A completed Attachment D.5 Key Personnel Requirements Summary and completed Matrix for each Key Personnel”

Section [C] Small Business Participation – ELEMENT 1C on page 51 and 52 states that all offerors are required to submit “D.7 Small Business Participation Sheet” and all Large Businesses are required to submit a “Small Business Subcontracting Plan”.

Will the Government please confirm that items such as Teaming Arrangements, Attachment D.5 Key Personnel Requirements Summary, Attachment D.7, and the Small Business Subcontracting Plan can be provided as an attachment and excluded from the 100 page limit for the technical proposal.

Yes, Teaming Arrangements, Attachment D.5 Key Personnel Requirements Summary, Attachment D.7, and the Small Business Subcontracting Plan can be provided as an attachment and are excluded from the 100 page limit for the technical proposal.

No Change to RFP.

14. RFP Table 1 – Proposal Volume Breakout, page 45 states that FACTOR 1 has a page limit of “100 Pages (exclusive of a table of contents, table of exhibits, compliance tables, figures, acronyms, position descriptions, and resumes). Will the Government please confirm that any “figure” is excluded from the 100 page limit?

Yes, any figure such as charts or elements stated in question and answer number 13 above are excluded from the 100 page limit.

No Change to the RFP.

Will the Government please define “figure”?

15. PWS page 9, D.1.3.1 SUBTASK 1 – COORDINATE A PROJECT KICK-OFF MEETING/

POSTAWARD CONFERENCE

The PWS states the Kick-off meeting will be held within 5 days of contract award and that Key Contractor Personnel shall attend. If the expected transition-in period is 30 days, a non-incumbent awardee could not possibly have all key personnel transitioned within 5 days. Will the Government consider adjusting the Key personnel requirement for the Kick-off meeting to allow all offerors to successfully complete key personnel transition?

The Government will allow for transition of key personnel within the stated 30 day requirement in the PWS. The kick-off meeting will thereby no longer require that all key personnel participate.

Q&A document incorporated into the RFP, no change to RFP document.

16. PWS page 19, Section, D.1.18 Training states “The Government will not allow costs, nor reimburse costs associated with the Contractor’s training of Contractor employees in an effort to attain and/or maintain any minimum personnel qualification requirements that may be established for performance of this contract. However, Contractors supporting this contract are required to complete mandatory Government Security Awareness training as specified in D.1.25.5.3.”

Will the Government reimburse costs for Government Security Awareness training?

Since Security Awareness training is required to access the Government computer and data systems, the government will allow training related costs necessary to access the Government computing network.

No Change to the RFP.

17. ATTACHMENT D.8 PAST PERFORMANCE REFERENCE SHEET page 1 states that “Offerors are not to change the spatial structure of this form, i.e. borders, block size, etc.” Will the Government provide Attachment D.8 in Microsoft Word to allow Offerors to easily complete the form and attach additional information as instructed?

What are the font size restrictions for the “summary description” required in item

15. For example should the Offeror include the description pages with the font restrictions on RFP Section E.1 (b) Submission of Offers Page 43 of the RFP (Times New Roman 10 point)?

Yes, D.8 Past Performance Reference Sheet will be attached in Word version. There are no font size restrictions on the D.8 attachment.

D.8 attached in word format.