M00264- 26-R-0009_Amend 0001_Attachment 1.pdf

TECOM HPB – M00264-26-R-0009

Questions Received During Solicitation

DISTRIBUTION: DoW COMMUNITY ONLY

Question Number

Solicitation Section Comment/Question Answer

Section 1 General

Can the Government provide the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) or an estimated budget range for this requirement?

This will assist offerors in developing realistic and competitive proposals.

The Government is unable to provide an Independent Government Cost Estimate or an estimated budget range for this requirement.

Is there an incumbent contractor currently performing this or substantially similar work in support of TECOM HPB? If so, can the Government provide the incumbent's contract number for market research purposes?

As provided during market research, the incumbent contract is

GS02F055AA/M00264-21-F-

0154, II Corps Consultants, Inc.

SF1449

The solicitation set-aside block on the SF1449 cover page reflects 'WOSB' in the header watermark but 'SDVOSB' is checked in Block

10. Please confirm the correct and intended set-aside designation for this procurement.

This solicitation is a 100% Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business.

PWS

Section 3.1

PWS Section 3.1 states the primary work location will be contractor-provided space with Government space provided on an as-needed basis. Can the Government clarify how frequently contractor personnel will be required to work on-site at MCB Quantico versus working remotely? Is a hybrid or primarily remote performance model acceptable to the Government?

Per the PWS Section 3.1, the primary work location will be contractor-provided space with Government space provided on an as-needed basis.

Will contractor personnel be required to be physically present at MCB Quantico for the kick-off meeting, IPRs, working group meetings, and other Government-directed events? Approximately how many on-site days per month does the Government anticipate requiring?

The Kickoff meeting and POA&M meeting can be combined and conducted in person or on TEAMS.

The primary work location will be contractor-provided space with Government space provided on an as-needed basis.

Section 6/General

Can the Government provide an estimate of the anticipated number of contractor labor hours, or full-time equivalent (FTE) personnel expected to fulfill the PWS requirements? This will assist offerors in developing realistic staffing plans and competitively priced proposals.

Based on the tasks outlined within the PWS, please provide your proposed labor solution/technical approach to meeting the needs of the requirement.

Section 6.1.1

PWS Section 6.1.1 states that urgent tasks may require a contractor response within 24 hours. Can the Government provide historical context on how frequently urgent tasks arise — approximately how many urgent tasks per month or quarter should offerors plan for?

Urgent tasks vary depending upon higher Headquarters (HQ) demands. Historically, approx – 1 to 2 task per month on average, though this may increase or decrease in the awarded contract.

Section 6.2.7

PWS Section 6.2.7 requires support for the Human Performance website and social media platforms. Can the Government clarify whether this includes content creation and drafting only, or whether the contractor will also require direct publishing and administrative access to Marine Corps social media accounts and the official HPB website?

It requires both – access to create and upload already developed content.

Section 6.2.8

PWS Section 6.2.8 requires support for the review and response process of the Force Fitness Organizational Mailbox.

Can the Government clarify the approximate volume of correspondence — how many emails per week or month does the mailbox typically receive that require contractor support?

The contractor will have a staff member (s) provide oversight of appx 5-7 questions per day that are sent to the group mailbox and have the ability to respond on HPB’s behalf.

Section 7/General

PWS Section 7 lists multiple qualification requirements for contractor personnel (Sections 7.1–7.6). Does the Government intend for ALL personnel to individually meet ALL listed qualifications, or are these qualifications intended to describe the collective capability of the contractor team? For example, may the team collectively satisfy the requirements, with individual personnel holding expertise in specific areas?

The contractor can build their team in order to cover each of the fields and have a backup as required to ensure coverage of a topic at any time.

Section 7.2

PWS Section 7.2 requires documented experience conducting human subjects research protocols and Marine Corps survey policy. Does this requirement apply to all contractor personnel, or only to those specifically performing data collection and analysis tasks under PWS Section 6.1?

Only those selected to conduct the surveys will be required to meeting any training as noted in PWS paragraph 7.2.

Section 7.5

PWS Section 7.5 lists biomechanics, strength and conditioning, sports medicine, dietician principles, fatigue and sleep management, exercise science, and data science as required experience. Does the Government intend for a single individual to hold expertise across all of these disciplines, or may these qualifications be distributed across multiple team members?

The contractor can build their team in order to cover each of the fields and have a backup as required to ensure coverage of a topic at any time.

Section 4.1/General

The PWS designates the Program Manager as the only identified key personnel position. Will the Government require any other positions (e.g., Senior Analyst, Lead Subject Matter Expert, Technical Lead) to be designated as key personnel in the proposal or in the resulting contract?

The PWS only designates the Program Manager as noted in PWS paragraph 4.1.

PWS Sections

3.3 & 13.3

PWS Section 13.3 requires contractor-furnished MCEN-approved computers and peripherals. Can the Government clarify: (a) the process for obtaining MCEN approval for contractor-furnished equipment;

(b) whether a Government-approved hardware/software configuration list is available; and

(c) the typical timeline for MCEN approval after contract award?

Currently MCEN requires a new HP (eBook) or Dell (5420) contractor provided asset that will be imaged with the compliant operating system and approved Apps. Typically, this takes 14-days post contract award.

3.3.2 & 13.1

PWS Section 3.3.2 states contractor personnel require CACs to perform their job function. Can the Government clarify the typical timeline for CAC issuance after contract award for personnel who do not currently hold a CAC? Will the Government initiate the background investigation/CAC request process immediately upon award?

CAC process will be started by the command with access typically granted in approximately 14 days.

Section 3.3.1

PWS Section 3.3.1 confirms no access to classified data is required. Can the Government confirm whether access to Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or For Official Use Only (FOUO) materials is anticipated under this contract, and if so, whether any specific CUI handling certifications or training will be required prior to performance?

A contractor will not have access nor be required to have access to classified material.

The contractor will need to be CAC eligible.

Section 8.3 / Chart 1

Chart 1 identifies the Annual PFT/CFT Analysis due NLT January 31 and the HP Annual MCS/MSPS Analysis due NLT October 31. Given the base period of performance runs from June 24, 2026, to January 23, 2027, will the Annual PFT/CFT deliverable be required during the base period?

Please confirm which Chart 1 annual deliverables will fall within the base period of performance.

The first Annual PFT/CFT deliverable will be required during the base period as directed in Chart 1 due to the COR No Later Than (NLT) 31 January. MCS/MSPS Analysis and Assessment due to the COR NLT 31 October.

Section 8.1

PWS Section 8.1 requires monthly reports to include financial milestones including 'authorized payment, current period and cumulative expenditures, total invoiced, and remaining balance.' Given this is a Firm Fixed Price contract with no cost reimbursement structure, can the Government clarify what financial data is expected in this section of the monthly status report?

Billing for each CLIN and what items fall under the CLIN per the PWS.

Section 10.2

PWS Section 10.2 requires the contractor to develop a Quality Control Plan (QCP) within 30 days of contract award. Will the Government provide a QCP template or minimum required elements, or is the format and content entirely at the contractor's discretion?

The contractor must develop a QCP per the PWS. An example can be provided if required by the contractor.

Section 11.1

PWS Section 11.1 requires a post-award kick-off meeting within 7 calendar days of award. PWS Section 6 also requires a POA&M brief within 14 business days of award. Can the Government confirm whether these are separate deliverable events, and whether the POA&M may be presented at or shortly after the kick-off meeting to satisfy both requirements simultaneously?

The kickoff meeting and POA&M meeting can be combined.

Section 9/General

PWS Section 9 requires all work product to be Government-owned with unlimited rights. Will the Government provide contractor personnel with access to existing HPB data repositories, analytical datasets (e.g., historical PFT/CFT and MCS/MSPS performance data), and prior analysis products to support contract performance from day one? Or is the contractor expected to independently build new data infrastructure?

Past historical data or additional sources of data will be provided.

6.1.8 & 6.2.9

PWS Sections 6.1.8 and 6.2.9 reference use of Power BI, Power Automate, and AI tools. Will the Government provide licenses for these platforms through the Marine Corps Enterprise Network (MCEN), or is the contractor responsible for independently obtaining and funding these licenses as a cost of contract performance?

Access to Government AI sites will be provided. If the contractor has additional sites that they prefer or want to work on, this will be the responsibility of the contractor and must meet MCEN App requirement, must be consistent with applicable law, and will be subject to the security vetting by the Government.

Note: proposal to use technology on the MCEN that has not already been approved for use on the MCEN may result in an adverse evaluation if the offeror’s performance depends on such unapproved technology.

Addendum 52.212-1 Section 6.4.1

The Technical Approach volume requires a proposed staffing solution with labor mix and labor categories. Should offerors propose specific named individuals for all labor categories, or only for the Program Manager (key personnel) position? Are resumes required for all proposed personnel or only for the PM?

It is the Offeror’s choice to name individuals for all labor categories. Resumes are not required.

Addendum 52.212-1, Section 6.6

Attachment 4 (Pricing Sheet) requires a single monthly price per CLIN per period. Should offerors include a Basis of Estimate (BOE) or supporting labor hour detail in the Price Volume (Volume 4) to support price reasonableness, or is completion of the Attachment 4 pricing sheet alone sufficient for the price submission?

Per the solicitation’s instructions, the Government intends to award a Firm Fixed price contract; therefore, the offeror is required to submit their firm fixed pricing on Attachment 4 (Pricing Sheet) that make up the total pricing.

Please reference FAR Addendum 52.212-1, Paragraph 6.6.

Addendum 52.212-2 Section 1.6

The evaluation criteria state that Factors 1 and 2 combined are significantly more important than Factor 3 (Price). Will the Government consider proposals for award that are technically superior but priced above the IGCE? Is there an upper price threshold above which proposals may be deemed unreasonable regardless of technical rating?

Per FAR Addendum 52.212-2, paragraph 1, “The Government will employ a Tradeoff analysis of cost or price and non-price factors (FAR 15.103-1). Thus, a proposal that is not the lowest priced, technically acceptable may form the basis of award, if it is determined that the additional non-cost factors are worth the additional cost in relation to the other proposals received.”

Addendum 52.212-1, Section 6.5.1

Past performance references must be within 5 years of RFP issuance.

Can the Government confirm: (a) whether past performance on subcontracts (where the offeror served as a subcontractor) is acceptable; (b) whether teaming partner / subcontractor past performance will receive equal weight to prime contractor past performance; and (c) whether joint venture past performance is acceptable?

Please see FAR Addendum 52.212-1, Paragraph 6.5.7.

SF 1449/

Schedule of Supplies

The Schedule of Supplies references CLIN 0001 as PWS Para 9.1–9.1.7 and CLIN 0002 as PWS Para 9.1.8 and 9.2.7–9.2.9.

However, the attached PWS (Attachment 1) uses Section 6 numbering throughout. Please confirm whether the CLIN descriptions intend to reference PWS Section 6, or advise if a different version of the PWS applies.

The Government will revise

CLIN structure.

RFP

Section 3.1 and 12.1

What is the government's anticipated frequency, duration, and location for T&R working groups and conferences during the period of performance, and should offerors embed all associated travel costs within the FFP CLIN pricing?

No travel will be required for the contract. All meetings, working groups etc., will be aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA.

RFP

Section 3.1 and 12.1

What is the government's anticipated frequency, duration, and location for T&R working groups and conferences during the period of performance, and should offerors embed all associated travel costs within the FFP CLIN pricing?

No travel will be required for the contract. All meetings, working groups etc., will be aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA

RFP Section 6.1 / Volume 2

The RFP permits 11x14-inch pages for foldouts, matrixes, and Work Breakdown Structures.

Please confirm whether pages formatted at 11x14 (e.g., org charts, WBS) count against the 50-page Technical Volume limit or are excluded.

It will count against the page limit.

Section 3.2.4 and 12.1

Paragraph 3.2.4 states in part, "All information related to this effort must remain on the Marine Corps Enterprise Network (MCEN)" and

12.1 states in part, "The Government will not furnish computers". What are the approved computer brands, years, models and specifications, as well as what's required to be accomplished for these assets to connect to the MCEN?

Currently, the MCEN requires a contractor provided asset that will be imaged with the compliant operating system and approved Apps.

Section 4.3, 4.4 and 7.2

PWS Section 4.3 (ref. n) cites DODI 3216.02 governing protection of human subjects in DoD-supported research. PWS Section 4.4 requires HRPP policy compliance and submission of research protocols for HRPO review when directed by the COR.

PWS Section 7.2 requires contractor personnel to have documented experience with human subject’s research protocols. However, neither the PWS nor the RFP explicitly identifies CITI Program certification (or an equivalent) as a required qualification or deliverable. Please confirm: (1) whether CITI certification, or a comparable DoD-recognized human subjects research training, is required for personnel supporting data analysis tasks under this contract; and (2) whether active HRPP-approved protocols from the current contract will transfer to the incoming contractor or require new submissions.

If human research study is required, CITI cert will be required for any /new personnel that are asked to conduct the study.

Section 6.2.2

Will contractors be designated to receive licenses for the DON- Enterprise Task Management Software Solution (ETMS2)?

No – limited access to the system is provided. The contractor will provide responses using MS word and a TECOM staff member will upload them into the system.

34 Attachment 1/PWS Page 2, Section 4.1.2

How many concurrent tasks or studies are typically active at one time?

7-10 on a weekly basis that require responses.

Attachment 1, Page 2

Section 4.3

Can the Government clarify the anticipated frequency of updates to applicable references and policies listed in Section 4.3, and whether such updates are expected to generate additional analytical or reporting requirements beyond the baseline deliverables?

The majority of HPB’s orders are reviewed on an annual basis and required to be updated at the three-year date of signature.

Attachment 1, Page 3

PWS

Section 6.1

What Government supplied data systems and sources will the contractor have access to?

MCTIMs and MCTIFs are the primary sources to retrieve data from.

Section 6.1

Will the Government provide cleaned/structured datasets, or is data engineering expected?

Data will be provided in raw for or by specific custom requests from M&RA.

Templates can be created for required occurring requests.

Section 6.1.1

What percentage of tasks are expected to require 24-hour turnaround?

Urgent tasks vary depending upon higher HQ demands.

Approx – 1 to 2 task per month on average historically. That may increase or decrease the awarded contract.

Section 6: 6.18 and 6.29

The PWS references support for Power BI, Power Automate, and AI-assisted platforms. Can the Government clarify whether existing Government-owned licenses and infrastructure will be provided, or is the contractor expected to furnish these tools independently? Are these the only tools allowed to be used when conducting analysis?

Access to government AI sites will be provided. If the contractor has additional sites that they prefer or want to work on, this will be the responsibility of the contractor, must be consistent with applicable law, and will be subject to the security vetting by the Government.

Note: proposal to use technology on the MCEN that has not already been approved for use on the MCEN may result in an adverse evaluation if the offeror’s performance

Attachment 1 Page 4

PWS

Section 6.1.8

Are there existing dashboards, data models, or automation workflows to maintain?

There are no existing dashboards, data models, or automation workflows required to maintain.

Attachment 1 Page 4

Section 6.2.7

The PWS references support for the Human Performance website and social media platforms. Can the Government clarify the scope of this support: is it content development only, or does it include platform management, publishing access, and graphic design?

Both – access to create and upload already developed content.

Attachment 1 Page 5

Section 7.1

How does the government want the Offeror to document professional knowledge of Marine Corps leadership and culture, Marine Corps Total Fitness, Resiliency and Spiritual Fitness, physical fitness standards, and job-related physical performance standards from entry-level (1000-level), core plus (2000-level), and the collective/unit training (3000 +) T&R Manual standards? Would the Government consider personnel with documented experience supporting analogous military programs (SOCCOM, US Secret Service) as meeting the USMC-specific knowledge requirements

The 52.212-1 Addendum provides proposal preparation instructions. The 52.212-2 Addendum provides how the Government will evaluate proposals.

Attachment 1 Page 5

Section 7.2

Can you clarify why the Offeror has to have: documented experience conducting human subjects research protocols? What level of detail/experience is required?

CITI training will be required by the contractor if human subject research is conducted.

This will be completed by the contractor if assigned to be part of the study team.

Attachment 1 Page 7

Section 9.0

Can the Government clarify whether deliverables are expected to undergo a defined number of revision cycles, or if revisions are considered iterative until final acceptance?

Deliverables will be met upon final product being complete for submission.

Attachment 1 Page 13

Section 11

Can the Government clarify the expected level of on-site support for TECOM, to include the anticipated frequency, duration of on-site presence, and which tasks or deliverables specifically require physical presence versus those that may be performed remotely?

The primary work location will be contractor-provided space

M00264-26-R-0009 Page 23 CLIN Pricing

Is there an expected level of effort or historical staffing baseline or labor mix?

Based on the tasks outlined within the PWS, please provide your proposed labor solution/technical approach to meeting the needs of the requirement.

Page 39, 6.5.3

If an Offeror has made a good faith effort to obtain a PPQ from a reference, but the assessor is unable to submit it prior to the deadline, will the Government consider the reference based on the information provided within the proposal?

The Government will consider what information is available at time of evaluation consistent with the evaluation criteria.

PWS/Staffing

Does the Government anticipate a preferred labor mix, minimum on-site presence, or minimum staffing level during the base period, or is the Offeror responsible for proposing staffing solutions based solely on meeting PWS outcomes?

The Offeror is responsible for proposing staffing solutions based solely on meeting PWS outcomes.

Section 3.1/Work

Location

With the PWS identifying contractor-provided space as the primary work location and Government space being provided on an as-needed basis, can the Government clarify expectations for routine on-site support (e.g., recurring in-person meetings, briefs, or working groups)?

Sections 6.1.8 and

6.2.9

The PWS references the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Power BI, and Power Automate platforms. Does the Government anticipate the contractor will be responsible for providing and licensing these tools, or utilize Government-provided systems and licenses where available?

Access to government AI sites will be provided. If the contractor has additional sites that they prefer or want to work on, this will be the responsibility of the contractor, must be consistent with applicable law, and will be subject to the security vetting by the Government.

Note: proposal to use technology on the MCEN that has not already been approved for use on the MCEN may result in an adverse evaluation if the offeror’s performance

PWS / Data Access

Can the Government clarify expected timelines and approval processes for contractor access to required datasets, dashboards, and repositories within MCEN needed to execute analytical tasks at contract start?

For the most part, the contractor will have access to sites on an as needed basis and have 15-30 days to meet PWS timelines.

Section 6.1/Tasking

Does the Government anticipate periods of surge support (e.g., senior leader briefings, policy rollouts, emergent data calls), and if so, how will task prioritization be handled when multiple PWS requirements compete for contractor resources?

The contractor will be responsible for meeting all requirements in a timely manner, per the PWS.

Section 4.1/Program

Management

Can the Government clarify the level of autonomy expected of the contractor Program Manager when coordinating with TECOM stakeholders and working groups versus Government-directed tasking via the COR?

It is not expected that the PM or any other contractor employee attends meetings /WG unless identified to do so directly by the COR or HPB Director.

Deliverables/PRS

Beyond the PRS accuracy thresholds, does the Government have preferred formats, templates, or briefing styles currently in use for executive-level deliverables that Offerors should anticipate aligning to?

All formats, templates, etc., will be provided by HPB to be used for briefing documents.

OCI

Are there any known or anticipated Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) considerations related to this requirement (e.g., overlapping advisory roles within TECOM, Health Services, or external research bodies) that Offerors should be aware of?

Please refer to PWS 6.3.3 and 6.3.3.1.

Section 6.1/Table of

Page Limits

Page-limit counting rules: Please confirm what counts toward the 50-page Technical volume and 30-page Past Performance volume, including cover pages, table of contents, dividers, resumes, commitment letters, PPQs, APPQ Sections I-II, and CPARS printouts.

All information necessary to support the Offeror’s responses to the technical factor and past performance factor, submitted by the Offeror, will be counted.

Section 6.4.1 + Attachment 4 Pricing

Sheet Reference

Staffing/FTE basis: Should offerors propose their own labor mix, hours, and FTEs, or does Attachment 4 establish the required staffing structure all offerors must follow?

Offerors shall propose their own labor mix, hours, and FTEs.

Attachment 1

Sections 4.1 and 6.4.1 of the RFP

Key personnel / resumes / LOIs:

Does the Government require named key personnel at proposal submission? If yes, which positions, and are resumes and/or letters of commitment required?

The PWS only designates the Program Manager as noted in PWS paragraph 4.1.

Attachment 1 PWS

M00264-26-R-0009

Inspection/Acceptance Pages

Place of performance ambiguity: Is performance primarily remote/contractor-site, with only as-needed Government-site support, or does the Government expect routine on-site support at Quantico?

provided on an as-needed basis

Sections 12.1, 13.1 and 13.3

Government-furnished resources / access: Please clarify exactly what the Government will provide versus what the contractor must furnish, including space, CAC-enabled network access, MCEN access, software/licenses, and any Power BI / Power Automate / dashboard tools.

The government will provide a space in the office on an as-needed basis. MCEN access will be provided on a contractor provided asset with the same operating system and Apps that the HPB staff have, all contractors must be CAC eligible.

PWS

Sections 11, 8.3 + CLIN Structure on SF

1449 Continuation

Travel not clearly defined: Does the Government anticipate any travel? If yes, should travel be included in FFP CLIN pricing, proposed separately, or treated some other way?

No travel is expected.

Section 6.5.3 +

Attachment 3 APPQ Instructions

APPQ/PPQ submission mechanics: For references without CPARS, do APPQ Sections I-II submitted by the offeror count toward the 30-page limit, or are they excluded? Also, is a PPQ still required when an official CPARS exists?

APPQ submitted from the outside will not count toward the 30-page limit. Please submit PPQ with an official

CPARS.

WAWF Clause Pages

15-17

WAWF routing / invoicing data incomplete: Please confirm the final WAWF routing data and point of contact, since several fields appear left TBD/blank.

The WAWF clause is completed upon award.

Attachment 1 PWS

Section 15 vs.

Solicitation

Delivery/Performance

Potential PoP inconsistency:

Please confirm the actual contract start date and whether the PWS phrase “from date of award” controls, or whether the scheduled PoP dates on the solicitation control.

The current contract ends in June. Expectation is that the new contract will be awarded before/on 24 June 2026

Section 4.2 / Price evaluation

52.217-8 pricing treatment: Should offerors show a separate 6-month extension price anywhere in Volume 4, or will the Government calculate it internally?

Offerors shall also include the 6-month extension price on Pricing Sheet, Attachment 4.

Sections 5.2 and 6.1

Email submission / 20 MB issue:

If a proposal exceeds 20 MB, may offerors split volumes across multiple emails? If yes, what subject-line format and sequencing does the Government want for multi-email submissions?

Please adhere to the submission instructions provided.

PWS p.1, §3.3-§3.3.3;

p.13, §13.1

Please confirm that no facility clearance, personnel security clearance, or access to classified systems is required for performance. In addition, please clarify whether all proposed personnel must be CAC-eligible at time of award, or only those individuals who will require Government network/site access during performance.

The contract is unclassified.

All proposed personnel must be CAC eligible at time of award.

PWS p.1, §3.3.1; pp.2- 3, §4.4.2-§4.4.3;

Solicitation pp.12-15, 31

The PWS states contractor support will involve unclassified and/or sensitive unclassified information, while the solicitation also incorporates cyber safeguarding clauses and the PWS references Privacy Act / HRPO controls.

Please clarify whether any contract data is expected to constitute CUI, covered defense information, Privacy Act data, or other specially controlled information requiring a specific safeguarding environment.

Contractors will be responsible for working with CUI/ PII information.

PWS p.14, §13.3; p.1, §3.3.2 - §3.3.3

Please clarify what is meant by MCEN-approved computers and related peripherals. Specifically, must contractor-furnished equipment be Government-furnished / Government-imaged, or may contractor-owned devices be used if approved and compliant with Marine Corps network access requirements?

Currently MCEN requires a contractor provided asset that will be imaged with the compliant operating system and approved Apps.

PWS p.5, §6.1.8; p.8, §6.2.9;

p.14, §13.3

The PWS references support for Artificial Intelligence, Power BI, and Power Automate. Please clarify whether commercial AI-enabled tools or automation platforms may be used in performance, and whether any Government approval, accreditation, or hosting restrictions apply before such tools are employed.

Subject to security requirements, access to government AI sites will be provided to the awardee. If the contractor has additional sites that they prefer or want to work on, this will be the responsibility of the contractor, must be consistent with applicable law, and will be subject to the security vetting by the Government.

Some restrictions may apply for use on MCEN. This will be determined on a case-by-case platform /APP/ program basis.

Note: proposal to use technology on the MCEN that has not already been approved for use on the MCEN may result in an adverse evaluation if the offeror’s performance

PWS p.2, §4.1

Please confirm whether the requirement that all labor be performed by U.S.-owned and U.S.-operated contractors and subcontractors is intended to apply at all tiers and for all support functions. Please also confirm whether foreign nationals are categorically prohibited from any performance under this effort, regardless of task type or data access level.

All labor must be performed by U.S.- owned and U.S. -operated contractors and subcontractors.

Foreign nationals are categorically prohibited from any performance under this effort.

Solicitation p.39, §6.5.1-

§6.5.7; p.45, Factor 2

Please confirm how the Government intends to evaluate subcontractor past performance references where the subcontractor is proposed for major or critical aspects of performance, and whether the signed commitment described in §6.5.7 is sufficient for those references to receive full consideration.

The Government plans to evaluate submitted past performance in accordance with the solicitation’s FAR Addendum 52.212-2, Section 3, Past Performance.

PWS Section 6.1.8

Can the government please clarify which "other data driven platforms" are currently authorized for use alongside Power BI and Power Automation for interactive visualizations?

Subject to security requirements, access to government AI systems will be provided to the awardee.

Additional data driven platforms that are permitted on MCEN may be added by the contract team in the Government’s discretion and subject to security requirements. Provided, proposal to use technology on the MCEN that has not already been approved for use on the MCEN may result in an adverse evaluation if the offeror’s performance depends on such unapproved technology.”

PWS Section 6.1.1

Regarding "urgent tasks" that may require a response within 24 hours, can the government define the anticipated frequency of these requests?

Historically, HPB must reply to 1-2 urgent tasks per month that require short deadline;

requirement may be more or less in the awarded contract.

Section L/PWS (Staffing)

Can the Government confirm whether offerors are permitted flexibility in labor category structuring and labor mix, provided the proposed solution demonstrates the ability to meet or exceed all PWS requirements and performance standards?

Offerors are permitted flexibility in labor category structuring and labor mix, provided the proposed solution demonstrates the ability to meet or exceed all PWS requirements and performance standards.

PWS (Qualifications)

Will the Government consider equivalent combinations of education, certifications, and relevant operational experience in lieu of strictly defined qualification criteria, where such combinations demonstrate equal or greater capability?

Offerors must meet the requirements of the solicitation

PWS (Technical Approach)

Does the Government permit the use of advanced technologies (e.g., AI-enabled analytics, automation tools, or digital solutions) to support or augment performance of PWS requirements, provided all deliverables and performance standards are met?

YES - as discussed and agreed upon by HPB and the contract team provided, request to use technology on the MCEN that has not already been approved for use on the MCEN may result in an adverse evaluation if the offeror’s performance

Section M (Evaluation) whether successful performance will be evaluated primarily based on achievement of required outcomes and deliverables versus adherence to a specific level-of-effort or staffing construct?

Successful contract performance is evaluated primarily based on achievement of required outcomes and deliverables.

PWS (Staffing)

Are there any minimum staffing expectations, either explicit or implicit, that the Government anticipates offerors should maintain throughout performance?

The awardee must furnish the staff necessary to meet all the requirements of the solicitation.

PWS (Transition) expectations regarding incumbent workforce continuity and whether there are any minimum thresholds for incumbent capture to ensure acceptable transition performance?

The Government cannot clarify expectations regarding incumbent workforce continuity.

PWS (Transition)

Will the Government accept phased or ramped transition approaches, provided that full operational capability is achieved within the required transition period?

Full performance is required at commencement of the period of performance.

PWS (Data/Systems)

Will the Government provide access to historical performance data, systems, and relevant reporting tools necessary to support analysis, assessment, and program execution?

Selected historical data and resources will be provided to the contract team from the HPB sharded site in order to complete PWS timelines.

PWS (Deliverables)

Does the Government permit the use of standardized or automated reporting formats and tools to produce required deliverables, provided all required content and quality standards are met?

Formats and templates will be provided by the Government to use as needed or an agreed upon style from the contractor.

PWS (Place of Performance)

Can the Government clarify which functions, if any, may be performed remotely or in a hybrid environment, provided all responsiveness and performance requirements are satisfied?

The primary work location will be contractor-provided space

PWS (Workload)

Can the Government provide insight into anticipated variability in workload and whether flexible staffing approaches (e.g., surge support) are acceptable to address peak demand periods?

The requirement is as stated in the solicitation.

Section M (Evaluation Criteria)

Can the Government clarify how it will balance evaluation among technical approach, staffing approach, and price in determining best value?

Please see the solicitation FAR Addendum 52.212-2.

Section M / Price

Will the Government perform a price realism analysis in addition to price reasonableness, and how will innovative or efficiency-driven approaches be evaluated within that framework?

The Government will not perform a price realism analysis.

Section L / Teaming

Are there any limitations or preferences regarding the use of subcontractors for specialized capabilities or technical functions under this requirement?

There are no limitations or preferences regarding the use of subcontractors. beyond applicable legal and regulatory restrictions, including but not limited to the requirements for eligibility for a 100% Service- Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business set-aside competition.

PWS (Future Scope)

Does the Government anticipate any changes in scope, workload, or performance requirements in option years that would necessitate scalable or adaptive solutions?

There are no anticipated changes in scope, workload, or performance requirements in option years.

Can the Government provide information regarding the current or most recent contract supporting this requirement, including contractor name, contract number, scope similarity, and approximate contract value, to assist offerors in understanding the operational context of the effort?

The incumbent contract is

GS02F055AA/M00264-21-F-

0154, awarded to II Corps Consultants, Inc.