Q and A 2 M6739923R0002.docx

29 Palms Regional Contracting Office M67399-23-R-0002

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS #2 (9/9/23)

The Government is providing the following questions and answers for information purposes. The answers provide clarification only and DO NOT constitute a change to the solicitation and shall not be considered part of the solicitation. Should the solicitation be amended, these answers may no longer reflect the solicitation document and resulting contract. The solicitation and resulting contract take precedence over this Q&A document.

General

1. Does the Government anticipate hosting an Industry Day in support of this requirement?

No, the Government does not intend to host an industry day for this requirement.

2. In light of the new ruling by the Supreme Court affirmative action will this opportunity be removed from 8(a) to small business set aside?

No. Please visit the SBA website and review the section titled, “Guidance for the 8(a) program participants in light of the U.S. District Court ruling.” https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/8a-business-development-program/updates-8a-business-development-program

3. What is the Marine Corps / RCO 29 Palms’ policy regarding pending California law which would require “right of first refusal” to incumbent employees? Vendors are required by the RFP to submit names, resumes, and Letters of Intent for all key personnel. Will the government accept last minute replacements if a company (other than the incumbent) is selected as the awardee?

Offerors shall comply with all terms & conditions of the RFP and all Federal, State, & local laws. Currently, there is Executive Order 14055 issued on 11/18/2021 which aligns with the Service Contract Act (SCA). However, the SCA does not apply in this RFP and resulting contract, as this contract is for professional services. Therefore, First Right of Refusal will not apply.

The Offeror is required to meet all requirements of 52.212-1 with its initial proposal submission in order to be eligible for contract award, including the Key Personnel requirements. The Government intends to award the contract without discussions. If discussions are held, offerors will be afforded the opportunity to revise its proposal. If discussions are not held, Section C para 3.1.14.7 KEY PERSONNEL outlines the process for substitutions of key personnel during execution of the resulting contract.

4. Once the list of this equipment, gear, tools, etc. is identified, will the government provide governing regulations or requirements that these systems must operate with, in order to be approved and authorized for use aboard USMC installations and within USMC operating systems.

It is the offeror’s responsibility to determine a list of equipment, gear, tools, etc to utilize in the performance of each task order. Specific to authorization for use with USMC operating systems, please see PWS 3.1.4.1 “Marine Corps Enterprise Network.” Authorization for use aboard USMC installations will be handled by base security on an as-needed basis.

5. Can the contractor set the routine 8-hour workday as long as it fits within 10-hour window of MCTOGs core hours, understanding the need to be flexible if required to best suit training support requirements?

Yes, the workday will routinely be 8 hours, but flexibility is required to satisfy training support requirements.

6. The MCTOG RFP indicates that small, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are required for this contract. Starting September 16, 2023, all drone pilots in the U.S. will be required to operate their drone in accordance with the Remote ID rule. The rule states “if you are required to register your drone, then this rule applies to you. This includes drone pilots who fly for fun or for business or for public safety.” How will this ruling impact any small UAS’ assets that the contractor will be required to buy, maintain, or operate in support of the MCTOG contract?

Contractors will have to follow all applicable Federal, State, & local laws in performance of the resulting contract.

Further, Task Order (TO) 0001 is a performance-based requirement and therefore the Government providing an estimated number of hours for TO 0001 is not appropriate. Additionally, the estimated hours for years 2-5 are for purposes of price evaluation only, as the specific scope for those years is not identified and will be identified the TO level at a later time within the ordering period.

The Government’s historical information for travel for TO 0001 is $56,250.22, however the offeror shall provide a firm fixed price to cover the performance-based scope of the requirement, regardless of the Government’s estimated value.

"Attachment 1 Technical Proposal identifies those key personnel for Task Order 0001. Key Personnel on future Task Orders are also required to adhere to the below requirements."

Attachment 1 will be the offeror’s technical proposal, so there is nothing for the Government to provide.

The offeror’s Technical Proposal will identify the names of the key personnel that it’s proposing.

The offeror may find key personnel labor categories in Attachment 2 Pricing Workbook tab “Additional Labor Categories.”

9. Would the Government confirm if FAR 52.222-41 applies, and if so, provide the appropriate Wage Determination Schedule?

Performance Work Statement

This contract is for training support of the Marine Corps authorized programs or projects of record in fifteen technical areas that are implemented across the MCTOG program and TECOM. The fifteen technical areas are:

Section C para 1.5 will be amended to reflect 14 technical areas.

18. Does the current contractor or MCTOG have a service level agreement/memorandum of agreement (SLA/MOU) with MAGTFC/MCAGSS Communication Strategy & Operations (COMMSTRAT) for contractor support to exercise websites involving social media platforms? Is there an existing platform for the 'exercise Social Media organization', or does the contractor need to create one from scratch?

"Government phones or computers will not be provided. At the Task Order level, the Government may allocate cubicle space at the Government’s facility at the contractor’s request. The contractor shall presume, for both pricing purposes and in execution of this contract that the Government will not provide any cubicles." However, PWS 3.1.9 says, "Accomplishment of the work effort will be primarily onsite at MCTOG in Twentynine Palms, California."

The Government has 1 office and up to 20 cubicles for Contractor use at no cost.

It is at the Contractors discretion to determine which labor categories are telework eligible, however no Key Personnel are telework eligible.

An amendment will be executed to revise PWS, para 3.1.9 and 3.1.4 to include additional verbiage.

Amendment to PWS par 3.1.14.3.1 to included that all Key personnel shall be onsite during mobilization.

Page 25 3.1.14.5.1 references CDRL A007, Conference Minutes. PWS 3.1.14.3.1 references CDRL A007 as the Mobilization Plan.

Tab 1.3.2.4 references exercise design deliverables as CDRL A001, which is a trip report per RFP Attachment A. Further, Tab 1.3.2.4 references A011, which is not included in RFP Attachment A.

An RFP amendment will be issued to update Appendix A Consolidate DD 1423 CDRLs to include A0007.

And RFP amendment will be issued to update RFP Attachment 5 to correct the CDRL numbering.

a. Develop exercise products using fire support data systems.

b. Construct fire support databases and repositories.

9. Conduct Joint Tactical Air Requests (JTAR), Air Support Requests (ASR), Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Requests (ISR), Electronic Warfare (EW) and air request training and instruction for exercise augments.

a. Provide air planning instruction for secondary training audience (i.e., exercise augments).

b. Create and validate JTAR, ASR, ISR, EW and air request training materials.

10. Instruct ATO and Airspace Control Order (ACO) generation, distribution, and execution process within the Marine Air Command and Control System (MACCS) and associated joint air C2 agencies

a. Train GCE unit members to pull ATOs and ACOs

b. Train the training audience on how to submit and process preplanned and immediate Joint Tactical Air Requests (JTARs) and Air Support Requests (ASRs).

c. Train the training audience on how to submit Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) requests.

d. Train the training audience on how to submit Electronic Warfare (EW) requests.

e. Train the training audience on how to submit airspace requests.

This section pertains to both MAGTFTC and MCTOG efforts.

35. The Government has instructed offerors to align Task Order 0001 pricing with IDIQ CLIN 0002 and to incorporate all cost associated with CLIN 0001 Mobilization and 0003 CDRLs as a true Firm Fixed Price bid. the FY25 TEEP that aligns with TO 0001 appears to be a duplicate of FY24 and fails to capture substantive tasks that offerors will be required to perform under a FFP contract.

1. Will the Government please clarify if offerors should price CLIN 0002 starting with the 26 Aug 2024 POP as listed in the TEEP, or starting with 04 March 2024 tasks listed in the FY24 TEEP?

1.a. If 04 March 2024, will the Government please consider issuing an Amendment to the RFP correcting the CLIN delivery dates?

1.b. If 26 Aug 2024, will the Government please clarify how offerors should handle TEEP events prior to 26 Aug 2024?

2. Considering the risk to offerors of submitting fully burdened cost against an incomplete TEEP (i.e., FY25 is a cut/paste of FY24) for an FFP CLIN, will the Government please consider extracting Travel, ODCs, equipment (i.e., Contractor Acquired Property (CAP), Real Property, and vehicles) as separate CLINs to improve the Government's ability to evaluate actual performance cost and avoid escalating cost or degraded performance after award?

The offeror shall price IAW RFP Attachment 2 Pricing Workbook, which includes a FFP for TO 0001. The “additional labor category tab” price is for evaluation purposes only. The rates will become contractual for future Task Orders, however there is no specific scope being firm-fix-prices beyond the rates. Specific Task Order scopes will be issued and negotiated with the awardee.

1. The correct Period of Performance for Task Order 0001 is August 26, 2024- August 25, 2025. The TEEP (RFP Attachment 3) will be revised via RFP amendment to reflect he correct dates for FY24 and FY25.

2. The Government will not extract different price elements from the FFP of each task order, including Task Order 0001.

3. The Government has included a row in RFP Attachment 2 for the offeror to propose ODCs under TO 0001, which will be included as part of the FFP of the TO, similar to the travel price. ODCs at the base IDIQ level are estimated at $0 for the purposes of price evaluation. The awardee will be able to price ODCs at the future task order level, just like it is for TO 0001.

38. Section 3.1.11 Travel states in part:

“Travel will not be separately priced at the CLIN level, however the price for travel at the TO level will be required to be separately outlined and found fair and reasonable by the Contracting Officer prior to the issuance of the TO. No mark-ups on Travel will be permitted, including and not limited to G&A, profit, Fee, overhead, etc. The proposed price for travel at the TO level will cover all foreseen travel (i.e., except for short notice support requirements) regardless of the price proposed.”

and:

“The contractor shall adhere to all requirements of the Joint Travel Regulations while traveling both CONUS and OCONUS, including but not limited to per diem rates and economy class tickets”

Question: Please confirm that the firm fixed price for resultant task orders will include amounts for both labor and travel on a single, indivisible CLIN. For example:

Labor amount: $100 + Travel amount: $50

= FFP: $150

Attachment 2 Pricing Workbook

CLIN 0002 on Attachment 2 Pricing Workbook tab “total price” will be revised via RFP amendment to pull the data from the appropriate cell.

CLIN 0002 on attachment 2 Pricing Workbook tab “total price” will be revised via RFP amendment to pull the data from the appropriate cell.

Attachment 2 Tab “Task Order 0001” cell A9 will be revised to make it more clear that this scope is not it’s own clin under the base IDIQ and is rather scope of a task order to be issued under CLIN 0002.

The Government has included a row for the offeror in RFP Attachment 2 to propose ODCs under TO 0001, which will be included as part of the FFP of the TO, similar to the travel price. ODCs at the base IDIQ level are estimated at $0 for the purposes of price evaluation. The awardee will be able to price ODCs at the future task order level, just like it is for TO 0001

Amendment will be issued to RFP Attachment 2 Pricing Workbook to change verbiage to remove “or higher.” Additionally, 52.212-2 will be revised to remove the statement that higher security clearances will be evaluated more favorably.

First Tab: Additional Labor Cats, ROW 11 First Tab: Additional Labor Cats, ROW 13

The government is requiring contract experience at this level to determine if the contractor can manage this contract complexity.

48. Will the government provide a copy of the MCTOG Academic SOP (MCTOGO.1C) for review?

Any additional references may be requested to the same individual identified above.

50. Tab has a “plug” number of “56,250.22” for travel. Please advise whether offerors are to understand that this is the government estimate for travel on Task Order 001. Will specifics as to what non-local travel will be required in connection with Task Order 1 be provided so offerors can validate whether the “plug” number is sufficient?

Additional Labor Categories

The Government’s historical information for travel for TO 0001 is $56,250.22, however the offeror shall provide a firm fixed price to cover the performance-based scope of the requirement, regardless of the Government’s stated value.

This is not a “plug number” for TO 0001.

Travel requirements for TO 0001 can be found in RFP Attachment 3, TEEP.

54. With respect to travel, the contractor is supposed to provide their own travel costs for the mobilization period. Under Task Order 0001, will the government provide a travel plug (similar to the other ordering period years) within the pricing worksheet?

The Government’s historical information for travel for TO 0001 is $56,250.22, however the offeror shall provide a firm fixed price to cover the performance-based scope of the requirement, regardless of the Government’s stated value.

This is not a “plug number” for TO 0001.

56. Should Offerors capture hours for "August 26, 2024 - August 25, 2029 (Ordering Period Year 1 through Ordering Period Year 5) in column "C."

Or is the Government only requesting hours for Ordering Period 1?

58. We believe the labor category in Row 53 is a typo. Will the Government please confirm the naming convention for each and further define these two LCATS:

1. Providing details on what courses the Instructor Design Expert (Row 16) and [correct LCAT title] (Row 53) will facilitate,

2. And identifying the number of courses per year for which each is required to support?

60. Will the Government please confirm that there are only tasks associated with MCTOG EXCON and not support to the MAGTFTC SLTE support?

The contract has requirements for both MCTOG EXCON and MAGTFTC SLTE support.

Additional Labor Categories" Tab, Row 18: Exercise Development Support (Naval Integration) Clearance: TS

Additional Labor Categories Tab, Row 19: Exercise Development Support (MAGTF Intel) Clearance: TS Row 22: Exercise Development Support (Adv Corps Intel) Clearance: TS Row 23: Exercise Development Support (Adv BDE SME) Clearance: SECRET or higher Row 37: Exercise Development Support (MAGTF SME Bn) The SME is a senior mentor to either a Regimental Commander or battalion Commander during the planning and execution and After Action review of the MAGTF Warfighting Exercise. The SME provides directed observation from EXCON that allows for a wider understanding of what is taking place, what actions are occurring and the feedback to be included into the AAR based on the AAR collection plan.; Retired Marine; Command Exp in Combat Arms; 06 commander preferred, but must have commanded 05 Combat Arms; Clearance: SECRET.

The Government will not be changing the Clearance level.

62. The labor categories omit "GCECC," however, at least the GCE SME in Row 26 appears to teach the GCECC. Also, the definition in Row 28 does not state that they are involved in the "GCECC." This may lead to offerors proposing the wrong candidate for either row.

1. Will the Government please clarify the LCAT definition in Row 26 versus Row 28?

2. Are both LCATS and associated hours required to "Train Commanders at MWX"?

3. Will the Government please clarify the requirement for both "GCE SME" and "Grey Beard" LCATS to be "Prior GCE O-6 level command" as many of the most talented special operations and fires experts are not post-O6 Level Command?

4. Additionally, we recommend the Government consider breaking out the "GCE SME" in Row 26 to two positions (i.e., 520 hrs each with one post-O6 GCE command and one without the post-O6 GCE command stipulation) and the "Grey Beard" (Row 28) into two LCATS (e.g., one at 2080 hours post-O6 GCE command and one at 4260 hours without the post-O6 GCE stipulation) so that those highly qualified candidates across their warfighting function that are pre-O6 GCE command - of whom many of the most qualified special operators were enlisted - may qualify?

Additional Labor Categories" Tab, Row 26; Row 28: Exercise Development Support (GCE SME); Exercise Development Support (Grey Beard GCECC) Provides exercise design and development scenarios. Teaches the commanders course and trains commanders in MWX (Row 26); Trains commanders during MWX (Row 28);

Prior GCE O-6 level command. Current on Marine Corps concepts, FD2030, and adult learning methodology. Commanders view MCDP-1 as foundational to a command philosophy Knowledgeable in doctrinal approaches to command Commanders are skilled in developing a command philosophy that reflects their approach to command and is actionable Knowledgeable in building unit cohesion, will & resiliency Knowledgeable in doctrinal approaches to training Practiced in developing training guidance Knowledgeable in MWX trends Knowledgeable in doctrinal approaches to tactical decision making & planning Practiced in modeling a thinking enemy and defeat mechanisms Practiced in crafting commander's guidance & intent Practiced in commander KSAs for planning and execution Knowledgeable in multi-domain environment warfighting challenges Knowledgeable in emerging challenges (EMS, CUAS, SIGMAN, OIE)

1. An RFP amendment to Attachment 2 Pricing workbook Labor Categories 26-28 have been revised to reflect more detailed description.

2. The contractor is responsible for providing the hours associated with the requirement.

3. The requirement for both LCATS is necessary because they will be teaching O6 and CO’s.

4. The Government will not break out the positions. The hours that are listed in Attachment 2 tab “Additional Labor Categories” are only estimated hours for purposes of price evaluation and establishing ceiling rates at the Task Order level.

This coordinator position is critical to the development of the specified requirements tailored to the specific SLT being supported. This individual needs to be fully aware of what SLT is and be able to participate in varying conferences and meetings. This individual should be readily available routinely to discuss options and emerging changes to what the performance will be during an SLT Iteration.; Marine Corps Experience The government requires Marine Corp Experience based on the complexity of the requirement. Attachment 5 Task Order 0001 MCTOG requirement worksheet outlines the requirements for Task Order 0001

64. The requirement for a "retired" MO is overly restrictive and does not denote a capability or experience. Similarly, the "05 level experience" assumes a different level of relevant experience is inadequate. We recommend the Government remove "retired" and "05 level experience" to allow offerors to propose candidates with relevant Aviation C2 capabilities for actual MAGTFTP requirements.

Additionally, we recommend the Government consider breaking out this labor category into 2 separate labor categories, one Exercise Development Support (DASC, Aviation SME, Junior) and one Exercise Development Support (DASC, Aviation SME, Senior), to allow offerors to propose relevant candidates to the MAGTFTP's actual, current requirements.

Additional Labor Categories Tab, Row 43: Exercise Development Support (DASC, Aviation SME) Retired MO with 05 level experience in Air Command and Control and the Marine Air Command and Control Systems The government requires a retired MO with 05 level experience in Air Command and Control and the Marine Air Command and Control Systems. The government will not remove this required experience.

Additional Labor Categories" Tab, Row 45: Information Knowledge Management Support Additional Labor Categories" Tab, Row 41: IKM Support (SD) Additional Labor Categories" Tab, Row 44: Exercise Development Support (Network Engagement)

There is no additional experience, education or skill set to add other than what is stated in Attachment 2 tab “Additional Labor Categories” Rows 41,44, 45,46

In charge of developing and posting command social media across all platforms; Experience in overseeing commands interactions with the public by implementing social media platforms content strategies.

RFP PWS Section 1.5.1 (14.b) Design, develop, and maintain exercise Social Media organization.

Attachment 5, Tab 1.3.3.1, Subparagraph 1.3.3.1.a: Design, develop, and maintain exercise Social Media organization.

There will not be an additional PWS for Task Order 0001, as Attachment 5 was provided outlining the requirements for Task Order 0001, and is considered to be the PWS for TO 0001.