M6740022Q0004 QandAs Final.pdf

Combined Synopsis Solicitation M67400-22-Q-0004 (Attachment III)

QUESTION SUBMISSION FORM

Page Section Paragraph Questions Answers

2 52.212-1 Addendum to Instructions to Offerors

– Commercial Items

(a) Submission of Quotes, second paragraph

Would the Government please confirm that the intent of the sentence “Non-US business concerns of any size are not qualifying entities.” is to restrict non-U.S. business concerns from submitting an offer as a prime contractor under this Solicitation?

In addition, are non-U.S. business concerns eligible to participate in this acquisition as a subcontractor to a U.S. business concern (prime contractor)?

The required services will be performed remotely from the Continental United States (CONUS). FAR part 19 applies and the requirement is 100 % Small Business set aside. Non - US Business will not be considered as a prime contractor.

Yes non-U.S. business concerns are eligible to participate in this acquisition as a subcontractor to an eligible U.S. small business concern.

Instructions to Offerors

– Commercial Items

(b) Submission of Quotes, first paragraph

The solicitation states: “The government reserves the right to make one, multiple, or no award resulting from this solicitation.”

In the event the Government chooses to make more than one (1) contract award, is the Government contemplating use of Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) or ID/IQ features as detailed in FAR Subpart 13.303, BPAs, and/or FAR Part 16.504, Indefinite-Quantity Contracts (IQC)?

If BPA or IQC features are not contemplated in a multiple award scenario, please explain how the firm requirements (CLINs) contained in the Solicitation Deliverable Contract Line Item Numbers, pages 5-22, would be split among more than one contract/contractor?

If multiple awards are a potential scenario, we respectfully request the Government provide in the Addendum to 52.212-2 Evaluation – Commercial Items, the evaluation criteria, techniques, and methods to be used to split the CLINs among multiple contracts/contractors.

No BPA or IDIQ is contemplated.

Multiple award is not anticipated for this requirement.

5 CLINS ITEM 0001 Item 0001 and other sub-CLINs refer to a “contractor provided connection”.

What are the requirements for this connection? (security, accreditation, capacity)

Can this be performed via the internet, or is a dedicated circuit required?

If a dedicated circuit required, is a separate circuit required for each end point (Camp Butler, Camp Fuji, US Naval Hospital, MCAS Iwakuni, Camp Blaz (Guam)?

PWS section 3.1 and CLINs have been modified to reflect that the direct remote access to the equipment will be via Government provided connection vs contractor provided connection.

2 52.212-1 Addendum to Instructions to Offerors

– Commercial Items

(b) Submission of Quotes (See bolded paragraph immediately under Table 1)

What are the Government’s file size limitations with regard to e-mailed attachments? There are not file size limitations however if the vendor anticipated large files that have the risk of not being received via email, DOD SAFE can be utilized.

Please send requests for a DOD SAFE link to susana.suber@usmc.mil.

Be advised that DoD SAFE does NOT guarantee a specific delivery time.

2 Submission of quotes Bolded Sentence “Quotes must be submitted as indicated in separate volumes numbered one through five”, but Table 1 only identifies four volumes.

Please clarify if there if a fifth volume required.

PWS Submission of Quotes section has been corrected to:

“Quotes must be submitted as indicated in separate volumes numbered one through four”

– Commercial Items

Volume I – Technical, second sentence

We respectfully recommend the Government revise the second sentence as follows:

From: “At a minimum, the offer shall include a written plan with their methodology and details as to how the Offeror proposes to perform in accordance with the Performance Work Statement.”

To: “At a minimum, the offer shall include a written plan with their methodology and details as to how the Offeror proposes to perform in accordance with the Performance Work Statement section 3.0 Technical Requirements (Description of Work/Tasks 3.1 through 3.3.7).”

52.212-1 Addendum Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items has been updated as follows:

“At a minimum, the offer shall include a written plan with their methodology and details as to how the Offeror proposes to perform in accordance with the Performance Work Statement section 3.0 Technical Requirements (Description of Work/Tasks 3.1 through 3.3.7).”

Commercial Items

Volume I – Technical, sixth sentence

In the sixth sentence, the phrase “objectives of the solicitation” is used. Please confirm the objectives of the solicitation is ONLY referring to the performance objectives as referenced in PWS paragraph 5.7, Performance Requirement Summary (PRS), and its associated PRS Table.

The phrase “objective of the solicitation” refers to entirety of the requirement as specified in the PWS to include section 5.7 of the PWS, Performance Requirement Summary and associated table.

3 52.212-1 Addendum to Instructions to Offerors

– Commercial Items

Volume II – Validation of Reps/Certs paragraph (a)

Given the Solicitation reference on page 2, paragraph (a), states non-U.S. business concerns of any size are not qualifying entities, we respectfully request that the reference to “NATO Commercial and Government Entity Code (NCAGE) (Foreign Vendor)” be deleted.

52.212-1 Addendum to Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items.

Volume II – Validation of Reps/Certs paragraph (a)

Reference to “ NATO Commercial and Government Entity Code (NCAGE) (Foreign Vendor)” has been deleted

3 Volume III-Price Second Paragraph, second and third sentences

We respectfully recommend sentences two and three be changed:

SENTENCE TWO:

From: “This labor rate will be the hourly rate by which repairs will be charged for labor.”

To:”This labor rate will be the hourly rate by which inspection, disassembly, and repairs will be charged for labor.”

SENTENCE THREE:

From: “This hourly rate is SOLELY for labor…”

To: “This hourly rate is SOLELY for inspection, disassembly, and repairs…”

Volume III-Price below sentences have been changed in the solicitation:

SENTENCE TWO:

From: “This labor rate will be the hourly rate by which repairs will be charged for labor.”

To: “This labor rate will be the hourly rate by which inspection, disassembly, and repairs will be charged for labor.”

SENTENCE THREE:

From: “This hourly rate is SOLELY for labor…”

To: “This hourly rate is SOLELY for inspection, disassembly, and repairs will be charged for labor.”

3 Volume IV Period of acceptance for quotes Is the Government willing to extend the RFQ response dead line by forty-five (45) days?

Given the number of Manufacturers, time is needed to obtain maintenance support agreements with each manufacturer.

The Government declines to extend the solicitation for the 45 days. Solicitation has been extended until 19 April 2022 days.

4 Addendum to 52.212-2 Evaluation – Commercial Items

(b) Does the Government anticipate providing notification to all unsuccessful offerors as described in FAR Subpart 13.106-3(c), Notification, AND a brief written explanation of the basis for the contract award decision as described in FAR Subpart 13.106-3(d), Request for Information?

Will all offerors whose proposals are compliant with the terms and conditions of the solicitation have their Technical Proposals evaluated regardless of their standing with regard to their proposed pricing or will only the lower priced offers have their Technical Proposals evaluated?

Yes, the Government will notify all unsuccessful offerors as described in FAR subpart 13.106-3(c) and 13.106-3(d).

All responsive quotes determined to comply with Terms and Conditions of the solicitation will be evaluated.

4 Addendum to 52.212-2 Evaluation – Commercial Items

(c), Second sentence, The solicitation states: “Offerors will be evaluated on the suitability of their written plan, and ability to convey a clear, comprehensive approach to meeting the requirement as described in the PWS.”

We respectfully request that the Government provide additional detailed information describing the Government’s evaluation techniques and/or methods proposed to be used to assess the “suitability” of offerors written plans. As currently stated in the Solicitation, it is unclear what evaluation techniques and/or methods the Government will utilize to determine an offeror’s written plan to be “suitable” or “unsuitable”.

This is a Simplifies Acquisition requirement and Evaluation will be conducted using simplified procedures in accordance with FAR 13.106 -2.

8 CLINS ITEM 0002 Item 0002 and other sub-CLINs for “Equipment Repair & Return” state that the contractor “shall repair, replace/replenish failed components”.

Since the work will be performed remotely, in the event of a failed component, can the government confirm on-site support exists to assist with troubleshooting associated equipment that is not reachable remotely? For example, is support available to exchange New components shipped to the site and/or return failed items?

Yes the Government will provide onsite support.

8-9 CLINS All 0002 CLINS Is repair and replacement costs built into upfront cost? Is cost of replacement included in the support cost? Or is it billed separately as an overall price?

The Government established Time and Material (CLINs) for the repair and replacement/replenishment of equipment for each location. Each T&M CLIN includes an estimated Not to Exceed dollar amount per year per location.

Every time the contractor completes an approved repair or replacement of equipment the contractor shall submit their invoices in Wide Area Workflow (WAWF) for processing and payment. To calculate the cost of inspection, disassembly, and repairs, the hourly labor rate established in the contract shall be used.

8-9 CLINS All 0002 CLINS For the 0002 CLINS – this is for repair, replace/replenish failed components. Can the government explain how vendors are expected to price what will need to be replace/repair failed components?

Can the government provide historical data of equipment issues, both repaired and replaced equipment? Provide historical data of how often remote support has been requested?

Historical data will help inform pricing.

See PWS section 3.2.1. The cost for replacement/replenishment will be in accordance with the quote provided and approved, to calculate the cost of repairs the contract established labor rate shall be used.

The Government is not able to provide historical data regarding equipment repair and replacement. The Government has generally described the equipment that maybe required to be repaired or replaced on paragraphs 3.3.1 through 3.3.7 of the

PWS.

23-48 Section 3 All paragraphs Listing inventory

Given the extensive list of products form numerous different manufacturers, is there a complete inventory for all products in –scope and associated manufacturer or maintenance support coverage?

Many products like servers need to be covered under an active manufacturer’s maintenance agreement to be compliant with security policies, receive software

A complete list of equipment required to be supported under this contract is provided in the PWS. There are no current maintenance agreements or existing warranties with equipment manufacturers. The purpose of the contract is to provide required maintenance for the existing equipment.

patches, etc.

23-48 Section 3 All paragraphs Listing inventory

If items that fail have been discontinued, how would the government handle the identification of a like-in-kind (similar but not exact match) replacement and any cost variance of such products?

The Government will identify acceptable like-kind replacements when an items fails or is discontinued on a case by case during the repair pre-approval process outlined in paragraph 3.2.1.

23 3.1 Routine and Emergency Technical Assistance

Will the government please define Depot Level Maintenance?

Can the government define the type of work expected at this level? Is this beyond Tier 0/1 troubleshooting? Does this entail facilitating contractor support?

Depot level maintenance is the ability to replace equipment that has failed through coordination with the applicable original equipment manufacturer.

23 2.0 and 3.2.1 Place of Performance

Can any of the work be performed remotely vice contractor facility (e.g., from the employee’s residence)?

The contractor shall perform all work remotely (contractor facility or residence).

24 3.2.1 Requirement for Pre- Approval.

Estimate, Preparation, and Evaluation

Can the government please confirm COR working hours is 0900- 1700, local time (Japan Time)?

Pre-approval delays could cause delays in repair timelines. If the contractor fails to meet the timelines due to delayed COR approval, is there a mechanism for relief?

The Contracting Officer Representative (COR) will respond to emergency repairs as needed. Any delays caused by the COR’s approval will be the responsibility of the Government not the contractor.

27 3.3.3 Okinawa Avaya Switches

Are the HP servers, Dell servers, Cisco switches, etc. in scope? If not, what is the protocol for troubleshooting when the fault is not initially clear?

The equipment listed in the PWS is in SCOPE, if troubleshooting determines that issue is out of scope the contractor is not responsible.

24 3.3.1 Nortel Switches Can the Government please elaborate on how it will address the Nortel SL-100? Given Nortel no longer exists, will the Government accept Avaya products as replacements for Nortel?

Nortel SL-100 is in scope and the contractor will be responsible to troubleshoot and replace failed components. Avaya products may be accepted on a case by case basis if the Government determines the part proposed by the Contractor is a viable solution.

23 3.1 Routine and Emergency Technical Assistance

Is the government open to web-based platform to report initial issues? This method will help streamline initial diagnostics and relay direct information to manufacturers. This also reduces the cost of long-distance calls between CONUS and bases located in Japan time Zone.

The Government is open to all options, but the method must be clearly defined in the proposal.

23-48 Section 3 All paragraphs listing inventory

What is the current inventory of items that are in stock locally, to include quantity, just in case something failed that needed replaced?

Government respectfully declines to provide the current inventory if items that are in stock locally.

23-48 Section 3 All paragraphs listing inventory

What is the mean time to failure they have for each component The Government respectfully declines to provide a mean time to failure for each component.

23-48 Section 3 All paragraphs listing inventory

Is the Offeror responsible for backup configuration for each piece of equipment? The PWS does not include a backup configuration for each piece of equipment

23-48 Section 3 All paragraphs listing inventory

Can the Government specify which equipment in the PWS is near “End of Life”? What is the Government’s expectation to replace equipment from a Manufacturer if the part is not in stock?

The Government respectfully declines to define what equipment is near end of life. If equipment from a manufacturer is not available the Government will identify acceptable like-kind replacements when an item fails or is discontinued on a case by case during the repair pre-approval process outlined in paragraph

3.2.1.

27-45 Section 3 All paragraphs listing inventory

In the diagrams, the Callegra Servers are listed as existing and new.

Can the Government clarify if the Callegra Servers are in the process of migration? If so, is this contract also responsible for Repair/replace of these servers?

Callegra servers are existing and new and in scope (PWS 3.3, 3.5 and 3.6), meaning that the contractor is required to provide remote routine and emergency technical assistance for the parts, and repair or replace them if necessary.

23-48 Section 3 All paragraphs listing inventory

Is is the offeror’s responsibility to purchase/acquire spare parts? Spare parts are not a requirement in the PWS. Replacement parts are required.

2 Submission of quotes Bolded Sentence “Quotes must be submitted as indicated in separate volumes numbered one through five”, but Table 1 only identifies four volumes.

Please clarify if there if a fifth volume required.

PWS Submission of Quotes section has been corrected to:

“Quotes must be submitted as indicated in separate volumes numbered one through four”

General What security clearance is required for contractors performing services on this contract? There are no Security Clearance requirements for this services.