M00681-16-R-0005_Q A_Final.pdf

1. Question: “Historically 14 contractors have been staffed annually to support the training schedule.” Is there a current incumbent for this effort? If so, who is the incumbent? What was the award amount, contract number, and award date? Are the requirements the same or has there been an up-plus in requirements including number of instructor personnel?

Response: The current incumbent for this effort is Raytheon Technical Services Company, LLC.

The contract number is W900KK-07-D-0001-064106. The task order was awarded May 16, 2014. The requirements remain the same.

2. Question: These sections reference the various courses and exercises required under this effort. Included in each is the instructor to student ratio for each course or event. There appears to be a huge discrepancy in many of the events required instructor support in relation to the historical instructor contractor support of 14 instructors. For example, three of the exercises have instructor to student ratios of 1:5 with class size of up to 120 students. See PWS Paragraph

4.7. This would require contractor support of 24 instructors. Are the ratios assigned to each course and exercise correct? Is the contractor to provide a number of full time equivalents (FTE) to support, for example 14 instructors, and up-plus with part-time employees for requirements requiring additional staffing? Historically the requirement has been met with 14 full time equivalents only. Additionally, without a course schedule to reference, it becomes difficult to accurately plan for the amount of instructors required. An annual training course and training event list based from the TEEP has been incorporated into the PWS (see paragraph 3.2).

Historically, 14 instructors have been staffed in support of this effort. Were these instructors full time staff (2080 hours)? Yes Were 14 instructors adequate for supporting the courses and exercises? Yes Were additional instructors needed or provided to meet the required ratios? No Are additional instructors above the historical (14) required to support the courses and exercises identified under this effort? No

Response: Provided within question.

3. Question: Language implies that courses and exercises will be issued on a task order basis.

Are instructors full time staff assigned to the EOTG or do staff remain at contractors location until courses or exercises are scheduled? Do courses and exercises require a blend of full time and part time instructor support? If instructor personnel are full time staff assigned, why would the contractor be required to respond within seven (7) days of a service request or special instructions? What would be the need for a response if adequate staff were available on-hand at Government’s location?

Response: Referenced language has been removed from the PWS. See response to Question 2 concerning full time instructor support.

4. Question: Ground vehicle transportation was listed as a requirement. Define ground vehicle transportation? Is this company vehicles such as 15 pax vans, range trucks, or off-road range vehicles? Historically, how many ground vehicles have been required? How many vehicles and what type are required in support of contract instructors for all courses, exercises, and the tentative instructor schedule? Without a schedule, it is difficult to accurately identify the number of vehicles required based on the needs to the staff to different locations or supporting of multiple training events.

Response: The contractor is expected to provide means to meet its own transportation requirements, specifically; the contractor will be required to transport equipment and personnel over rough terrain. This requirement has historically been met through the use of 4 (4x4) pick-up king cab trucks capable of transporting 4-5 personnel and gear, and equipment in support of EOTG training. Each vehicle drives 20-25K miles a year altogether for trips on Camp Pendleton, during training courses, in support of site surveys, and off base target site setups. 350 miles per tank of fuel, 30 gallons on average, total 1700 gallons per vehicle per year.

5. Question: Independent internet for instructor personnel. Is office space provided to contract personnel? Is the internet referenced in this paragraph for field use only or is the Government stating the contractor must provide instructors with internet whether at a Government location or in the field? Will contractors be provided internet in office setting by the Government?

Response: Office space is provided in government buildings for contractors in Government buildings. The Contractor is expected to maintain internet connectivity in an office environment independent of government systems. Historically this has been provided at 3 office locations on Camp Pendleton, CA.

6. Question: Fuel as required equipment. We would believe this item is required for contractor provided vehicle transportation. What are the type and number of vehicles required?

What is the total yearly historical or average miles, hours, or trips these vehicle(s) are being used for? What is the historical or average fuel consumption used by contractor provided vehicle transportation?

Response: See response to Question 4.

7. Reference: Section 4, Page 40, Paragraph C. Question: This paragraph reference the pricing volume instructions; specifically the listing and pricing of appropriate labor categories.

What are the required labor categories identified by the Government? Historically, what have been the identified labor categories for the 14 contractor personnel? If additional personnel are required or utilized other than the identified instructor labor categories, what are the supporting or logistical labor categories identified by the Government in support of this effort?

Response: The contractor is to propose the labor categories in accordance with their own technical approach for this requirement.

8. Question: Travel in support of training and exercises, however there appears to be some discrepancies. Certain exercises have been outlined within the PWS in regards to instructor to student ratio and some have not; or the exercise language has changed. Need to ensure we are talking about the same effort. Solicitation requires that the “PMINT” exercise be quoted, however there is not any detail using the term PMINT. What is the total number of students, instructors, or ratio required to support this trip? Solicitation requires that the “COMPTUEX” exercise be quoted, however there is not any details using the term COMPTUEX. What is the total number of students, instructors, or ratio required to support this trip? Additionally, 2.1.10 references the SPMAGTF CERTEX, although there is not a CLIN using this term to price under supporting travel exercise; please clarify?

Response: See PWS paragraph 4.11.

9. Reference: General

Question: Given the short timeline and the number of questions requiring a detailed answer to accurately propose a response, we respectfully request a week extension for the due date of all offers.

Response: Proposal due date has been extended to January 26, 2016 at 0900PST.

10. Question. Is the performance location for contractor personnel out of a contractor or government provided facility when not in the field or providing support to a course or exercise?

Will government provided office space be provided to contractor personnel when actively supporting government courses or exercise requirements? Are the day-to-day duties (administrative and training logistics of instructor personnel) of contractor personnel provided out of a government or contractor provided facility?

Response: All contract performance will be at a Government provided facility.

11. PWS states- The contractor shall perform preventive maintenance on weapons and optics used by the students during each POI prior to turning them back in to the Armory

Question: Are the instructors actually performing this maintenance or ensuring the students are properly maintaining their weapons and optics and inspecting both before turning into the armory?

Response: Contractors shall perform maintenance only on weapons and optics they use during sustainment training. Contractors will not be performing or ensuring maintenance of weapons or optics for students. See PWS paragraph 6.1(i).

12. Contractor personnel providing training must possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

Question: Must all Contract Instructors possess all the qualifications as detailed in the solicitation.

Response: Contractor instructors must possess the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities as listed in PWS paragraph 5.1.

13. PWS states- Graduate of any Scout/Sniper Course in the US Marine Corps or US Army.

Question: Will the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Scout/Sniper course satisfy the requirements for Scout/Sniper instructor?

Response: Yes.

14. Contractor Travel, PWS states- Standard means of travel is through ground transportation with Contractor-owned vehicles

Question: 11.2 Exercises support (c) and (f) have travel to Arizona, Nevada and Utah are these all expected to be conducted using Contractor-owned vehicles?

Response: Yes, all travel is conducted using Contractor owned vehicles.

15. Government Provided Resources

Question: Can we assume the Government is going to provide a workspace with desks, chairs, lights, electricity, internet capable, sufficient storage to secure Government and Contractor equipment (separately), and adequate parking for contractor vehicles?

Response: See the response to Question 10.

16. Government Provided Resources

Question: Can we assume the Government will provide appropriate classroom(s), with visual aids (proxima), dry erase boards, tables and chairs to administer classroom portions of training for different courses simultaneously?

Response: Yes

17. Contractor Travel, PWS states X days of travel X times per year.

Q: Is the X days of travel per year total or must we multiply X days travel by X times per year?

Example- (a) says- Reconnaissance and Surveillance Course: 7 days of travel three times per year. Travel will be to Southern California.

Question: Is this 7 days per year or 21 days per year?

Response: It would be 21 days per year. See Table included in PWS paragraph 3.2. The number of Travel Days would be multiplied by the number of Training Cycles per Year to equal the total number of travel days per year.

Question: Does the travel time take into account the positioning travel and the time on station?

18. Pg 40, (c) VOLUME III: Price, 2. last sentence states, “Historically 14 contractors have been staffed annually to support the training schedule”

Question: Is the contractor staff augmenting an active duty (AD) training component within 1st EOTG? If so, what are the numbers and specialties per branch (ARB, STB, and ATB)? If not, can we assume the historical contractor number is irrelevant as it doesn’t support the current requirements?

Response: The historical number of contractors is relevant based on the current requirements of the Government. ARB, STB, and ATB are minimally staffed due to shortages throughout the Marine Corps of qualified/ certified Marines. STB specifically has few 0321s and 0372s to meet the requirements established by the course curriculum.

19. In the Pre Solicitation there was a personnel requirement to have a Contract Administrative Support Specialist (CASS) and a Contract Management Supervisor.

Question: Was the detailed information for the CASS and CMS position left out intentionally?

Response: The PWS was revised to provide the Tasks rather than position titles.

20. PWS states “For the purpose of this document, instructor to student ratios are always in reference to field training evolutions and do not apply to classroom evolutions.”

Question: Can the government please clarify what the required instructor to student ratio is for the classroom portions of each of the courses outlined in the solicitation?

Response: The Government has no required instructor to student ratio within the classroom portion of courses.

21. Solicitation CLINS, Items 0002AA - 0002AN, Travel

Question: Does the Government require the labor related to this travel to be priced in these items?

Response: All labor shall be priced within the Labor Support CLINS. See revised CLIN structure for Travel.

Question: Is travel defined as more than 50 miles from MCB Camp Pendleton?

Response: Yes, travel is defined as more than 50 miles from MCG Camp Pendleton.

22. Solicitation CLIN, Item 0003 Materials

Question: Will the Government provide an estimated amount for this item?

Response: No, the Government will not be providing an estimate. The Contractor shall price in accordance with the requirements of the PWS.

23. Question: The PWS specifies the number of weeks each course is conducted. Is each course conducted 8 hours per day, Monday through Friday?

Response: See Table in PWS paragraph 3.2 for anticipated duration, hours and if weekends are required.

Question: Do any of the courses specified in these sections occur during overlapping time periods?

Response: It is the Government’s intent for all courses to run consecutively without overlap.

24. PWS Equipment: Question: Is the contractor required to price the items in the PWS in Item 0003 Material? Should additional contractor furnished range equipment (i.e. trailers, generators, tool kits, etc.) also be priced in Item 0003?

Response: Yes, all Equipment required in PWS paragraph 6.2.1 should be priced in CLIN 0003.

25. Question: Does the Government intend for the instructors to be full-time employees or part-time employees who are available only during preparation, execution, and review of courses?

Response: See response to Question 1 and PWS paragraph 3.2.

26. Question: Throughout the PWS, the position required is referred to as “Special Skills Instructors (SSI),” “CPI’s,” and “Contractor Personnel Providing Training.” Can the Government please clarify the position title?

Response: All references referring to SSI or CPI have been removed from the solicitation. The contractor shall propose their own position titles.

Question: Is the Instructor for the Assault Climber Course required to have any American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) certifications?

Question: Will any instructors be designated as Lead Instructors?

Response: The contractor shall propose their own labor categories/titles of personnel in accordance with their technical approach.

Question: Are instructors required to have completed any formal instructor courses?

Response: Contractor personnel providing training must possess the knowledge, skills and abilities listed within PWS paragraph 5.1.

Question: Are instructors required to be combat veterans?

Response: No

Question: Is qualifying as a USMC Sharpshooter or service equivalent, the only marksmanship/weapons proficiency requirement for CQT or Sniper instructors?

Response: Requirement changed. See PWS paragraph 5.1.1(b)

27. PWS GOVERNMENT PROVIDED RESOURCES. Question: Will the Government provide weapons/ammunition for routine instructor sustainment/proficiency training?

Response: Yes.

28. Reference: CONTRACTOR TRAVEL, Question: Will the Government require pricing for travel to subject matter expert conferences and site surveys?

Response: See Table in PWS paragraph 3.2.

29. Reference: CONTRACTOR TRAVEL, Question: Will the Government specify how many instructors are required to travel during each exercise specified in this section?

Response: See Table in PWS paragraph 3.2.

Question: PMINT and COMPTUEX travel is priced in Items 0002AH - 0002AL and described in Paragraph 11.2, but there is no labor in PWS Section 2.0, Paragraphs 2.1.1 - 2.1.10 related to these activities. Will the Government provide a description of the labor related to these activities in the PWS?

Response: See PWS paragraph 4.11.

Question: Section 2.0, Paragraph 2.1.7, Maritime Interoperability Exercise, has specified labor for this activity and the related travel is described in Paragraph 11.2, but there is no pricing for this travel in items 0002AA - 0002AL. Will the Government require pricing for this travel?

Response: See revised CLIN structure for pricing related to all Travel.

Question: Historically, the Assault Climbers Course has required travel. Can the Government confirm that the contractor should not price travel for this course?

Response: See Table in PWS paragraph 3.2..

30. Reference: PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY, PRS Table. Question: Can the Government define the position “CASS” as mentioned in the PRS table? Additionally, the PWS paragraph numbers cited do not match the stakeholder outcomes listed.

Response: The PRS table has been revised to remove the position “CASS” and update the PWS paragraph numbers within the stakeholder outcomes column.

31. Reference: Section “Instructions to Offerors,” Page 40, Paragraph 4(c) VOLUME III-

PRICE

Question: Does the Government require the staffing plan to show the number of work hours proposed for each labor category?

Response: The Government does not require number of work hours for each labor category.

Question: Does the Government require the staffing plan to show a calculation of the number of work hours for each labor category times the fully burdened hourly rate that totals up to the same price proposed in Item 0001 Special Skills Instructors Support?

Response: The Government does not require any work hours or calculations within the staffing plan.

32. Reference: Section 52.222-41 FAR Clauses, Page 61, Paragraph (c)(2) Question: Can the Government confirm that the Service Contract Act (SCA) does not apply on this contract?

Response: The Service Contract Act (SCA) does not apply to this contract.

Question: Will the government provide an SCA Wage Determination related to this contract?

Response: See response above.

Question: Will the Government specify the SCA WD labor categories related to work on this contract?

Response: See response above.

33. Reference: Attachment 3, QASP Question: Is the contractor required to provide a plan for compliance with the QASP provided in Attachment 3?

Response: No compliance plan is required.

Question: Attachment 3 lists Program Manager and Task Manager as Key Personnel. Key Personnel are not defined in the RFP. Will the Government further define the Program Manager and Task Manager positions? Is the Program Manager required to be on site? Are resumes required?

Response: The areas identified in this question are templated Contractor Representative titles.

Upon contract award this section will be updated to reflect the Contractor Representative information of the awardee.