Q and A Matrix_02.02.21.pdf

M67854-20-R-7829 Attachment 6 – Solicitation Question and Answer Matrix dated 02/02/2021

RFP Document (i.e., Attachment J1, Attachment J2…, RFP, etc.)

Page/Section/ Paragraph/etc. Relevant Text Question Government Answers

1 RFP Page 1 RFP due on 2 Feb

Would the Government consider a 2 weeks extension? The timeframe is not enough to prepare a proposal and get the PPQ’s returned in this timeframe.

The Government release the DRAFT ECS MATOC RFP and PWS on 21 October 2020, while also issuing multiple amendments based on industry questions and issued the RFP on 15 January 2021, which captured any minor revisions from the DRAFT RFP package. As a result, the Government believes industry has had sufficient time to review the requirements and a proposal submission extension of two weeks will not be granted. However, the Government has granted an extension date of 05 February 2021.

2 RFP General NA

Would the Government please consider providing any incumbent information on who provided this work previously?

This ECS MATOC is a new requirement.

3 RFP Page 97

Offerors shall provide three (3) paper copies of the information identified above in Section A.2.A, and separately bind each copy in three-ring binders. In addition, Offerors shall provide one (1) electronic copy (e-copy) of the aforementioned information on a CD ROM. E-copies (i.e., CD ROM) shall be submitted in Adobe Acrobat, Portable Document Format (PDF). Individual sections per hard copy volume should be tabbed, removable and replaceable.

Offerors shall designate one paper copy as the “original” and should also be identified as the “official” proposal, should a conflict arise between the paper and electronic submissions.

Would the Government please consider electronic submission instead of e copies via CD ROM for this requirement submitted via email or other electronic means?

Please reference Section A.2.B.7 of the RFP. The Government will not accept Email or facsimile submission.

4 PWS Page 97 / Section B.5 “All lines of text shall be consecutively numbered”

The Templates provided by the Government do not currently have the lines of text enumerated. Should the PDF templates be converted to Word for enumeration of lines of text?

Please note the attachments are restrictive and contain the following guidance, “Offerors are not to change the spatial structure of this form, i.e., borders, block size, etc.” The provided attachments are not to be altered and the “All line of text…” requirement is not applicable to the attachments.

5 PWS Page 93 / Paragraph A.2.2.C “Facility Code”

In paragraph A.2.2.c, the government asks for the Offeror’s facility code. In paragraph A.2.2.d, the government asks for the Offeror’s CAGE code. As a Contractor’s CAGE code is usually used as its facility code, what is the difference between paragraphs A.2.2.c and A.2.2.d and what code is expected to be used for paragraph A.2.2.c?

Facility codes may be applicable in instances where a company has one cage code but also have multiple business segments under that CAGE code. The individual business segments may be identified as a unique business unit code under the CAGE code.

6 1449 1 Block 5 Solicitation Number M6785420R7829

Section B. Proposal Submission Instructions: Para #7 page 98 states

“REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS –

SOLICITATION M67854-21-R-

8001” Can the Government please deconflict the 1449 Solicitation number VS. the Section B RFP number please.

M67854-20-R-7829 is the solicitation number. An amendment will be issued to correct numbering.

7 RFP document General Instructions

General Instructions A.1 General

Instructions Page 92

Para # 6.

Questions about the solicitation are due by noon Orlando, FL local time, TBD, 2020

Is there a new date for questions to be asked date and Time?

Questions Due January 28, 2021. An Amendment will be issued to include the date.

8 RFP and Attachment

Page 97#3 and #4 and Attachment 4

3. Offerors are limited to a total of 10 pages for A.2.A.9 (Organizational Experience) and are limited to a total of 20 pages for A.2.A.10 (Past Performance).

4. The definition of a page is a single side of paper with text, drawings, data, or similar content. Pages shall be 8.5 by 11 inches in size; no foldouts will be accepted. The text margins shall be no less than one inch. Text font shall be in Times New Roman or Arial Narrow, no smaller than 11 point. Font for tables, figures, embedded graphics (tables and illustrations) and other graphics shall be no smaller than 8 point Times New Roman or Arial Narrow.

The Government has provided a Word table that expands when data is input. The direction under #3 state A.2.A.9 Organization Experience is limited to 10 pages.

#4 states Test font no smaller than 11 point and tables and graphics no smaller than 8 point. However the instructions in Attachment 4 state no text smaller than 12 point.

Also does the Government required information page for each of the 5 topics count against the 10 pages? If so this reduces the content to only five pages or less because of the required block at the bottom of the last page for Government comments.

Also if your narrative is two pages as an example then that would require the final page noted for Government comments a full blank page would that then be counted against the page count of 10? Please provide guidance for this section.

The Attachment 4 word documents have been replaced with restrictive PDF fillable documents, upon issuance of Amendment 01 on 19 Jan 2021.

Please adhere to the specific guidance found within each attachment. Please adhere to the specific guidance found within each attachments.

Increase Page Count of Technical Submission to 20 Pages.

9 RFP 95, A.2.A.9.4

Organizational Experience #4:

Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) The Offeror shall complete Attachment 4, and provide documentation supporting a CMMI assessment of level 2 or greater. If the Offeror has CMMI level 2 assessment the Offeror shall provide a plan with appropriate schedule to achieve a minimum CMMI Level 3 assessment. An Offeror must meet this requirement, and cannot rely on a CMMI assessment provided to any other entity

Earlier drafts of the RFP stated that the offeror had to have CMMI level 2 certification or “provide a plan with appropriate schedule to achieve a minimum CMMI Level 3 assessment”. The final requirement is quite different, and requires an offeror to already possess some level of CMMI. This rewording eliminates many small business offerors and a CMMI level 2 certification is not meaningful for executing the ECS contract and does not really provide a significant advantage towards achieving CMMI level 3. Request the Government reconsider the requirement and reinstate it as earlier written.

The Government will not reconsider.

ECS RFP Organizational Experience #4: Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) requirement was revised for clarity and to align with ECS MATOC requirements. This revision was included in the RFP daft release updated dated 11/24/2021.

ECS PWS includes requirements for the performance of software engineering (PWS Paragraph 3.1.17).

Based on past software engineering requirements for USMC training systems, we do not believe that it is appropriate that the Government lower the CMMI requirements.

10 RFP

Attachment 4

RFP A.2.B.3 page 97 Attachment 4 All pages

RFP - Offerors are limited to a total of 10 pages for A.2.A.9 (Organizational Experience)

Attachment 4 for providing Organizational Experience is 20 pages long, and states offerors shall not change the spatial structure.

A.2.B.3 states that offerors are limited to a total of 10 pages for Organizational Experiences. Please clarify the page limit for the Organizational Experience.

Increase Page Count of Technical Submission to 20 Pages.

11 RFP RFP A.2.B.5, page 97

5. The Offeror shall use a standard page numbering system. All lines of text shall be consecutively numbered.

The instruction in A.2.B.5, page 97 states that all lines of text should be numbered, and does not specify a proposal document. As written, it applies to the entire submission including letters, certifications, Past Performance, and the Organizational Experience (which belongs in a template without numbered lines). Additionally, Microsoft Word does not offer functionality to number lines within tables, which is the bulk of the text input being provided. Would the Government consider changing this requirement to a standard page numbering scheme which consecutively numbers pages? Or, if this requirement is misunderstood, please clarify.

Please note the attachments are restrictive and contain the following guidance, “Offerors are not to change the spatial structure of this form, i.e., borders, block size, etc.” The provided attachments are not to be altered and the “All line of text…” requirement is not applicable to the attachments. The Government is not requesting that the Offeror should provide a solution to the limited Microsoft Word functionality with regard to numbering systems. The Government understands the limitation of Microsoft Word or other word processing software.

12 RFP RFP A.2.B.1

1. Offerors shall provide three (3) paper copies of the information identified above in Section A.2.A, and separately bind each copy in three-ring binders. In addition, Offerors shall provide one (1) electronic copy (e-copy) of the aforementioned information on a CD ROM. E-copies (i.e., CD ROM) shall be submitted in Adobe Acrobat, Portable Document Format (PDF). Individual sections per hard copy volume should be tabbed, removable and replaceable.

Offerors shall designate one paper copy as the “original” and should also be identified as the “official”

Due to COVID concerns with in-person coordination required in order to print, collate, and prepare a printed proposal, will the Government consider allowing a SAFE submission? Especially considering that some contractors have already submitted a digital-only version of Past Performance, and it has been requested not to re-submit previously submitted information.

No, the Government has provided clear guidance on proposal submission and SAFE submission will not be accepted.

Please reference A.2.B.7 proposal, should a conflict arise between the paper and electronic

13 RFP Page 92/ Item #6

Questions about the solicitation are due by noon Orlando, FL local time, TBD, 2020 with the information below identified clearly. Questions shall be submitted via email to alvaro.l.pineda@usmc.mil.

Telephone inquiries will not be accepted nor addressed. Please be advised that the Government has the absolute discretion to answer any question that it receives, and the Government is not obligated to answer any question. Moreover, the Government does not intend to respond to questions which the Government believes contain proprietary information or which would require the disclosure of proprietary information.

The due date for questions is not provided. When are RFP questions due?

Due date updated to 01/28/21, 12 p.m.

EST

14 RFP

Block 8 or page 1 of the solicitation.

OFFER DUE DATE/LOCAL

TIME12:00 PM 02 Feb 2021

Can the proposal due date be extended 2 weeks to 16 Feb 2021?

The Government release the DRAFT ECS MATOC RFP and PWS on 21 October 2020, while also issuing multiple amendments based on industry questions and issued the RFP on 15 January 2021, which captured any minor revisions from the DRAFT RFP package. As a result, the Government believes industry has had sufficient time to review the requirements and a proposal submission extension of two weeks will not be granted. However, the Government has granted an extension date of 05 February 2021.

15 RFP Page 96, section, item c.

Forward a copy of the Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) (Attachment 5) attached to this RFP to the past performance contract customer’s Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for any past performance example under

Should the CPARS Reports be included in the past performance proposal?

If available, the Government will utilize the completed CPARS in lieu of a completed PPQ. Yes, the CPAR Report shall be included in the past performance proposal.

paragraph a. that does not have a completed CPARS Report. If available, the Government will utilize the completed CPARS in lieu of a completed PPQ.

16 RFP Page 96, section, item c.

Forward a copy of the Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) (Attachment 5) attached to this RFP to the past performance contract customer’s Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) for any past performance example under paragraph a. that does not have a completed CPARS Report. If available, the Government will utilize the completed CPARS in lieu of a completed PPQ.

If CPARS reports should be included in the past performance proposal, do the CPARS reports count against the 20 page limit for past performance?

If CPARS reports are include with the past performance proposal, they will not count against the 20 page limit.

17 RFP

Page 97, Item #1 under B. Proposal

Submission Instructions

Offerors shall provide three (3) paper copies of the information identified above in Section A.2.A, and separately bind each copy in three-ring binders. In addition, Offerors shall provide one (1) electronic copy (e-copy) of the aforementioned information on a CD ROM. E-copies (i.e., CD ROM) shall be submitted in Adobe Acrobat, Portable Document Format (PDF). Individual sections per hard copy volume should be tabbed, removable and replaceable.

Offerors shall designate one paper copy as the “original” and should also be identified as the “official” proposal, should a conflict arise

Will the government consider electronic proposal submission via email instead of hard copy mail/hand delivered proposals?

No, the Government has provided clear guidance on proposal submission and electronic submission will not be accepted.

Please reference A.2.B.7

18 RFP

Page 97, item #5 under B. Proposal

Instructions

5. The Offeror shall use a standard page numbering system. All lines of

Does this mean all lines in the Past Performance and Organizational Experience proposals need to consecutively numbered?

Yes, except for Attachments 4 and 7.

text shall be consecutively numbered.

19 RFP Page 97, Para.B.3

There is no page limitation for the submissions associated with paragraphs A.2.A.1 through A.2.A.8.

Offerors are limited to a total of 10 pages for A.2.A.9 (Organizational Experience) and are limited to a total of 20 pages for A.2.A.10 (Past Performance).

Does the Government expect submittal of three (3) separate volumes for 1)the information associated with paragraphs A.2.A.1 through A.2.A.8, 2) Organizational Experience and 3) Past Performance or one proposal volume broken into these three (3) sections? If Volumes, what title does the Government expect for Volume I?

The Government expects the Offeror to provide three (3) paper copies of the information identified above in Section A.2.A

Please reference Section A2.B.1 for specific proposal submission instructions.

The Government is not dictating a specific name for Volume I.

20 RFP Page 94, Para A.2.A.4

As such, Offerors shall submit a copy of the confirmation of receipt notification (e-mail) for verification of successful submission of VETS 4212 report. If a Contractor, for any reason, cannot produce a confirmation notification, then they may contact the VETS-4212 Service Center to request a verification search to be performed.

If the Offeror is a new entity proposed as a joint venture, this confirmation will not be available.

Will it be considered acceptable, to simply provide a statement to that effect?

Email confirmation is the only acceptable method for this requirement.

21 RFP 95, A.2.A.9.4

Organizational Experience #4:

Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) The Offeror shall complete Attachment 4, and provide documentation supporting a CMMI assessment of level 2 or greater. If the Offeror has CMMI level 2 assessment the Offeror shall provide a plan with appropriate schedule to achieve a minimum CMMI Level 3 assessment. An Offeror must meet this requirement, and cannot rely on a CMMI assessment provided to any other entity

Earlier drafts of the RFP stated the offeror had to have CMMI level 2 certification or “provide a plan with appropriate schedule to achieve a minimum CMMI Level 3 assessment”. The final requirement is different, and now requires the offeror to already possess some level of CMMI. This rewording eliminates many small businesses and the teams that have formed.

Also the CMMI level 2 certification is not meaningful for executing the ECS contract and does not provide a significant advantage towards achieving CMMI level 3. Request the Government reconsider the requirement and reinstate it as earlier written.

No, the Government will not revise.

ECS RFP Organizational Experience #4: Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) requirement was revised for clarity and to align with ECS MATOC requirements. This revision was included in the RFP daft release updated dated 11/24/2021.

ECS PWS includes requirements for the performance of software engineering (PWS Paragraph 3.1.17).

Based on past software engineering requirements for USMC training systems, we do not feel that it is appropriate that the Government lower the CMMI requirements.

22 RFP 91 of 103/Section J/ List of Attachments Attachment 2 CDRLs

Row 2 lists all the CDRLs A0001- A016 but does not list A017 although it is part of the released

That is correct; CDRL A017 was omitted from the attached CDRLs list.

documents. Is this a required

CDRL?

An amendment will be issued to add this CDRL to the list.

Please note, the list of CDRL are anticipated CDRLs and are not part of the MATOC requirement. Actual required TO CDRLs will be defined at the TO level.

23 RFP

28 of 103/Clauses Incorporated by

Reference Clauses Incorporated by Reference

What NIST SP 800-171 assessment level is required for the RFP award in accordance with DFAR 252.204- 7019 and 252.204-7020, due to the CUI anticipated by this award?

Please note, the use of the provision at DFARS 252.204-7019, Notice of NIST SP 800-171 DoD Assessment Requirements, is required in all solicitations, including solicitations using FAR part 12 procedures for the acquisition of commercial items, except for solicitations solely for the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) items. There is no specific NIST SP 800-171 requirement at the ECS MATOC level.

The use of DFARS 252.204-7020, NIST SP 800-171 DoD Assessment Requirements, is required in all solicitations and contracts, task orders, or delivery orders, including those using FAR part 12 procedures for the acquisition of commercial items, except for those that are solely for the acquisition of COTS items.

There is no specific NIST SP 800-171 requirement at the ECS MATOC level.

24 CDRL A005 1/BLK 2 and 16 Engineering Change Proposal

Title refers to Engineering Change Proposal but in 16 Blk 12-13 item references Cyber Incident Report for content. Is this correct?

This was an error that will be revised in the amended RFP.

Please note, the list of CDRL are anticipated CDRLs and are not part of the MATOC requirement. Actual required TO CDRLs will be defined at the TO level.

25 RFP

95/Section

A2A9/Organization Experience

Organization Experience

Will the Government confirm offerors are to only use Attachment 4 to complete the Organizational Experience requirement?

Yes

26 RFP

95/Section

A2A9/Organization Experience

Organization Experience

If Offerors are to use Attachment 4, offerors will have to alter the structure of the document to include line numbering as this was provided as a pdf only.

Please note the attachments are restrictive and contain the following guidance, “Offerors are not to change the spatial structure of this form, i.e., borders, block size, etc.” The provided attachments are not to be altered and the “All line of text…” requirement is not applicable to the attachments.

27 RFP

97/Section A2B4/Proposal

Submission Instructions

Proposal Submission Instructions

Attachment 4 states offerors shall use a font no smaller than 12 pt, however the RFP states text shall be no smaller than 11 point. Please clarify.

Please note the attachments are restrictive and contain the following guidance, “Offerors are not to change the spatial structure of this form, i.e., borders, block size, etc.” The provided attachments are not to be altered and the “All line of text…” requirement is not applicable to the attachments.”

28 RFP

95/Section

A2A9/Organization Experience

Past Performance

The Past Performance (Attachment 8, submitted early), and the Organizational Experience (Attachment 4) information could be the same information if a single contract contained all of the experience requirements as listed in section A2A9. Is the Government anticipating the possibility of the same information in both Attachments?

The Government is anticipating that each Offeror will make their business decision on how to prepare their proposal based on the ECS MATOC RFP requirements. The Government will not influence one approach over another.

29 RFP

95/Section

A2A9/Organization Experience

Past Performance

Please clarify, if offeror submitted Past Performance early, the Government does not intend for offeror to resubmit their past performance information.

Please note General Information, Section #20.: If early Past Performance was submitted during the Pre- Solicitation Phase, the Government requests that the industry partner not resubmit previously submitted Past Performance again with the FINAL RFP and confirm the early Past Performance submission is still valid.

Contractor format of confirmation is acceptable and will not count against the total page limitation of the proposal submission.

30 RFP 97/Section A2B4/Proposal Proposal Submission Instructions With the COVID-19 restrictions, will the Government consider No, the Government has provided clear guidance on proposal submission

Instructions allowing industry to submit electronic as done with the early submission?

and electronic submission will not be accepted.

Please reference A.2.B.7

31 Question & Answers

Question 57, 58, 70, 71 states there is additional guidance to be provided in the final RFP. The final RFP does not contain info on early submission. Can the government clarify if industry submitted past performance information early, does the government want industry to resubmit a completed package?

Please note General Information, Section #20.: If early Past Performance was submitted during the Pre- Solicitation Phase, the Government requests that the industry partner not resubmit previously submitted Past Performance again with the FINAL RFP and confirm the early Past Performance submission is still valid.

Contractor format of confirmation is acceptable and will not count against the total page limitation of the proposal submission.

32 RFP 98/Section A2B7 Proposal Submission Instructions

Item 7 states to mark boxes with

“REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS –

SOLICITATION M67854-21-R-

8001” however the Final RFP Solicitation number is M67854-20- R-7829. Please clarify.

Language will be updated to reflect M6785420R7829 in an amendment.

33 M678520R7829+RF

P.pdf Page 97/ Section B.1

Offerors shall provide three (3) paper copies of the information identified above in Section A.2.A, and separately bind each copy in three-ring binders. In addition, Offerors shall provide one (1) electronic copy (e-copy) of the aforementioned information on a CD ROM. E-copies (i.e., CD ROM) shall be submitted in Adobe Acrobat, Portable Document Format (PDF). Individual sections per hard copy volume should be tabbed, removable and replaceable.

Offerors shall designate one paper copy as the “original” and should also be identified as the “official” proposal, should a conflict arise

Due to the Global Pandemic, does the Government still require hard copy delivery? Would email submission be acceptable?

No, the Government has provided clear guidance on proposal submission and electronic submission will not be accepted.

Please reference A.2.B.7

Attachment+ 7+

Past+ Performance+ Proposal

Will the government be providing attachment 7 as a Word document?

Attachment #7 is provided in a fillable PDF format. The attachment title is mislabeled attachment 8 and the table within the RFP identifies it as 1 page when it is actually 17 pages. An Amendment will be issues to correct this error.

Attachment+ 4+ Organizational+

Experience+ Information+ Sheet

Will the government be providing attachment 4 as a Word document?

No, Attachment 4 has been revised as of the release of Amendment 01. The document has been converted into a fillable PDF document.

36 RFP 97/B.1

Offerors shall provide three (3) paper copies of the information identified above in Section A.2.A, and separately bind each copy in three-ring binders.

In response to a question on the Draft RFP the Government stated “The Government is considering electronic submission due to COVID-19. Updates will be provided in the final solicitation.”

The final RFP still requires hard copy mailed or hand delivered proposals. Will the Government please reconsider and allow electronic submission via email?

No, the Government has provided clear guidance on proposal submission and electronic submission will not be accepted.

Please reference A.2.B.7

37 RFP 98/B.8 “For hand delivery, the following additional instructions apply:“

If proposals must behand delivered or mailed, will he Government please consider moving the time offers are due to later in the afternoon, like 3 pm, vice 12 am to allow ample time for delivery?

Unfortunately, the Government will not change submission time.

38 RFP Page 95 Section 10

“Offerors will be required to identify three (3) contract efforts of recent and relevant past performance that demonstrates the Offeror’s ability to successfully perform in accordance with the PWS.”

If we want to highlight the performance from 2 different opportunities for the same ‘Question’, should we submit separate Attachment 8 Volumes for each reference or is this practice discouraged?

Please note Section A.2.A10 a.

Offerors will be required to identify three (3) contract efforts of recent and relevant past performance that demonstrates the Offeror’s ability to successfully perform in accordance with the PWS. Attachment 7 Past Performance Proposal_Past Performance References, may be used, in any combination of Software Development, Post Deployment Software Support, Cybersecurity Efforts, Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI), and Geographically Dispersed Contract Performance, to support three contract efforts of recent and relevant past performance. The Government will not influence Offeror proposal submission business decisions.

Attachment+ 7+

Past+ Performance+ Proposal

Heading Heading

The heading for Attachment+ 7+ Past+ Performance+ Proposal says Attachment 8 instead of Attachment

7. Will the Government be changing the heading in the attachment or the name of the attachment file?

Attachment #7 is provided in a fillable PDF format. The attachment title is mislabeled attachment 8 and the table within the RFP identifies it as 1 page when it is actually 17 pages. An Amendment will be issues to correct this error.

40 RFP SF1449 Conformed Block 28

Block 28, Contractor is required to sign this document and return 0

Can the Government please clarify the Block 28 reference to the Number 0 in this block is in error?

The confromed copies are provided as a courtesy and do not supersede the original. As a result, the Government did not select that option to require the contractor to sign the document and return.

The Government has updated Block 28 of the original RFP to require a returned and signed document. Please submit a signed version of the original SF 1449 released on January 15, 2021 and sign all acknowledged subsequent amendements.

41 RFP SF1449

CONFORMED

Will the Government please confirm that the SF1449 CONFORMED supersedes the original SF1449 and that the Offeror only has to Sign and return the SF1449 CONFORMED with their submission.

The confromed copies are provided as a courtesy and do not supersede the original. As a result, the Government did not select that option to require the contractor to sign the document and return.

The Government has updated Block 28 of the original RFP to require a returned and signed document. Please submit a signed version of the original SF 1449 released on January 15, 2021 and sign all acknowledged subsequent amendements.

42 RFP Page 98 of 104 B. Proposal Submission Instructions paragraph 3

The Government in Amendment 0002 has increased the page count to 20 pages for the Corporate Experience and Past Performance.

However, the Government has also instructed the Offeror to use Attachment 4 and Attachment 7 for the submission and those documents

Please note, the assertion “The Government in Amendment 0002 has increased the page count to 20 pages for the Corporate Experience and Past Performance,” is incorrect. Please be aware, the Government has not increased the Past Performance page count in Amendment 0002. Please cannot be changed in any way as per instructions on the attachments.

Since there is no way to insert pages in the Government provided Attachments which render the page count reference moot, it is the intent of the Government to modify the attachments to allow for the additional of pages to support the references page count? Example:

Attachment 7 would need at least 5 blank form pages for each reference of three (3) to get to the 20 page count. Does the Government intend to reissue these two Attachments?

review and understand the requirements defined in the A.2.B Proposal Submission Instructions. The Government does intend to reissue Attachment 4 as there is a locked text box on page 4.

43 RFP Block 8 Due Date of 5 Feb 2021 12:00PM

EST

With a possible Substantial winter storm in the Northeast Sunday thru Wednesday 3 February 2021 and having to ship hard copy responses would the Government entertain an extension into at least February 9 2021?

Extension has been granted in Amendment 0003. The revised due date is February 10, 2021 at 12:00 pm

EST.

44 RFP

SF1449 Conformed;

RFP page 78 paragraph 7

The RFP instructions state:

“Offerors shall submit a signed SF 1449 acknowledging any/all Amendments.”

It is our understanding that:

1 - The “Conformed” SF 1449 and the following pages supersede the original released SF1449 in its entirety; and, 2 - That there were no Amendments issued. Therefore, offerors are to sign and return only the “Conformed” SF1449 and pages following.

Are we correct in our understanding?

The confromed copies are provided as a courtesy. As a result, the Government did not select that option to require the contractor to sign the document and return. The Government has updated Block 28 of the original RFP to require a returned and signed document. Please submit a signed version of the original SF 1449 released on January 15, 2021 and sign all acknowledged subsequent amendements.

45 RFP

Q+and+A+Matrix_1.

26.21 Q&A #4

The Government’s response stated:

“… etc.” The provided attachments are not to be altered and the “All line of text…” requirement is not applicable to the attachments.”

Please confirm that the information in the form itself is “not to be altered” but that the balance of the 20 pages are considered to be the attachments and are therefore not subject to this restriction.

The Government confirms that the reference “not to be altered”is accurate.” This is also applicable to the Attachment 4 document consisting of 20 pages.

46 RFP

Q+and+A+Matrix_1.

26.21 Q&A #1

The Government’s response included a short extension, stating:

In light of the COVID pandemic and the very noticeable impact it has had on the reliability of timely

Extension has been granted in Amendment 0003. The revised due

“… the Government has granted an extension date of 05 February 2021.”

deliveries, we respectfully request that the Government do one of the following:

1 – Consider the date the packages are provided in a timely manner (at least two days prior to the due date) to the carrier (UPS/FedEx); or, 2 – Extend the due date to at least Friday 5 February 2021.

date is February 10, 2021 at 12:00 pm

EST.

47 RFP Page 94- A.2.A.2.a

Copies of the latest available financial statement(s) covering the Offeror’s organization, i.e., the entity that will be awarded and perform the contract.

What specific financial statements is the government asking for?

The Government requirements were not restrictive and allowed flexibility for Small Business to decide the most appropriate financial documents. The financial statement submission supports the contracting officer’s decision that there is no reason to believe the offeror would likely offer other than fair and reasonable pricing.

48 RFP Page 98- B.4

Text font shall be in Times New Roman or Arial Narrow, no smaller than 11 point. Font for tables, figures, embedded graphics (tables and illustrations) and other graphics shall be no smaller than 8 point Times New Roman or Arial Narrow.

When filling in the PDF attachments, the font is not TNR or Arial Narrow. Should the offeror alter the font in the PDF or leave the font and size to what is already in the form?

Please note the attachments are restrictive and contain the following guidance, “Offerors are not to change the spatial structure of this form, i.e., borders, block size, etc.” The provided attachments are not to be altered and the “All line of text…” requirement is not applicable to the attachments.

49 Attachment 4 Page 4 n/a The text box on page 4 is not fillable. Will there be a new attachment?

Yes, there will be another Attachment 4 made available in Amendment 0003.

Attachment+4+Organ izational+Experience +Information+Sheet

Page 4 N/A

Page 4 of Attachment 4 is missing the fillable text block for vendors’ use. Will the Government provide an updated file to include the missing fillable text block in the next amendment, or are vendors allowed to add a text box sized according to the box provided on the page?

Yes, there will be another Attachment 4 made available in Amendment 0003.

Please do not alter the attachments.