Q0016 Q_A(01).docx

Q1. Regarding the two FTEs, must both have a SAW or SAMS background, or does this requirement only apply to the lead?

A1. In accordance with the Performance Work Statement Paragraph 4.1.1 and 4.1.2 both individuals must have attended and graduated from one of the following: the United States Marine Corps School of Advanced Warfighting (SAW), The United States Army School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), the United States Navy Maritime Advanced Warfighting School (MAWS), or the United States Air Force School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (SAASS).

Q2. Section L and M refer to "a resume" and "the individual" in the singular. However, PWS 4.1.1 and 4.1.2 describe two distinct roles with different clearance levels and taskings. Question: Should the Offeror provide two (2) separate resumes—one for the Future Operations Specialist (With a Secret Clearance) and one for the Operational planner (With a Top-Secret Clearance).

A2. Offerors are required to submit two (2) separate and distinct resumes. One resume shall be provided for the position of Future Operations Specialist, and the other for the Planning Support Specialist position. Each resume must clearly delineate qualifications pertinent to its respective role.

Q3. Are there specific page limits or formatting requirements (e.g., font size, margins) for the technical and past performance submissions?

A3. There are no specific requirements for submitting dedicated technical or past performance sections with your quote. Please ensure the submission adheres to all other explicitly stated instructions within the solicitation.

Q4. Does the Government prefer the quote to be submitted in separate volumes (e.g., Vol 1: Technical, Vol 2: Past Performance, Vol 3: Price)?

A4. Yes, as this format, with volumes aligned to the evaluation factors, greatly assists our team in conducting a clear and organized evaluation. While this is not a mandatory requirement, we find it to be the most effective method for offerors to present their information.

Q5. Is there a current contract in place for these requirements? If so, can the government provide the incumbent contract #?

A5. There is no current contract in place to provide reference.

Q6. Should Offerors include this $50,000.00 as a non-fee-bearing "Plug" figure in their total price, or should we estimate travel costs based on our own internal projections?

A6. Offerors shall utilize a ceiling price of $50,000.00 per year for travel expenses in their quotes. This amount represents a Not-to-Exceed (NTE) value, and the contractor will be reimbursed for actual travel costs incurred up to, but not exceeding, this amount annually.

Q7. Please confirm the exact due date, time, and time zone listed in Block 8 of the solicitation.

A7. The Offer Due Date is scheduled for 1200 CST 03 March 2026.

Q8. Are there any page limits, formatting requirements (font, margins), file naming conventions, or additional required attachments beyond the technical description, résumé, active SAM registration, and CAGE code?

A8. There are no restrictions or formatting requirements for submitted offeror documentation

Q9. The solicitation lists option CLINs through 28 February 2028. Could you confirm whether the requirement includes one option year or two?

A9. This contract will include one option year

Q10. Please confirm the required clearance level(s) for personnel and whether performance will involve access to or handling classified material at the worksite.

A10. The Future Operations Specialist must have a minimum of a SECRET Clearance The Planning Support Specialist must have a minimum of a Top-Secret Clearance.

Q11. For pricing alignment, could you confirm which SCLS/Wage Determination labor categories you consider most applicable for:

(a) Future Operations Specialist

(b) Planning Support Specialist A11. Given the "operations" and "specialist" nature of this title, several categories could apply depending on the specific domain (e.g., IT, cybersecurity, logistics). The most relevant categories often fall under "Information Technology" or "Administrative Support."

Q12. Is there a current incumbent performing these services? If so, could you please provide the incumbent contractor's name and the predecessor contract number/vehicle, if releasable?

A12. There is currently no incumbent contractor, nor is there an existing contract in place that provides these specific services. This procurement represents a new requirement for these services.

Q13. The RFQ identifies Technical Capability, Past Performance, and Price as evaluation factors but does not specify proposal volumes. Will the Government please confirm that the Technical Capability and Past Performance sections should be submitted as a single technical volume?

A13. The Government requests that Technical Capability, Past Performance and Price be submitted as separate technical volumes.

Q14. Given the importance of providing highly qualified personnel to ensure successful program execution, would the Government consider granting a two-week extension to the proposal due date to allow offerors sufficient time to identify and secure the most qualified candidates in support of this requirement?

A14. The Government has not decided to extend the solicitation at this time. We will re-evaluate the need for an extension on the closing date itself. All offerors should plan to adhere to the current deadline.

Q15. What is the minimum number of years of relevant planning experience required for each role?

A15. Minimum planning experience can include a combination of scenarios. For example:

Operational Planning Specialist: 1) Maintains the 0505 MOS from attendance at an acceptable formal school plus 3 years of planning experience in a general officer level headquarters, OR 2) 6 years of On-the-Job-Training (OJT) experience in focused G-3/J-3/G-5/J-5 planner billets in general officer level headquarters. For number 1 above, this needs to be combined with some sort of Marine Corps Reserve exposure to get to this minimum level of planning experience. For number 2 above, this really needs to be an officer that worked GFM issues at the COCOM or Service-level, and has exposure to Marine Corps Reserve issues. Understand this is a high bar.

Future Operations Specialist: An 0505 MOS is not required, but a definite plus. Needs a minimum of 9 years future operations experience with at least 6 being as an action officer/division head/director in a G-35/J-35 future operations section/department at a general officer level headquarters. This time must include focused GFM and/or large-scale joint exercise design experience. If looking at someone with this minimum level of experience, there needs to be some exposure to reserve component activation authorities and planning considerations for activation of reserve personnel.

Q16. Are you expecting these to align to a specific level (e.g., former O-3/O-4/O-5 planner, GS-12/13 equivalent, etc.)?

A16. Operational Planning Specialist will execute an O-5/GS-14 level of analysis and support.

Future Operations Specialist will execute an O-5/GS-14 level of analysis and support.

Q17. Must experience be within the last X years (e.g., last 3–5 years) to be considered current/relevant?

A17. Latest experience in the last 5 years is considered relevant.

Q18. Do you require demonstrated experience supporting OPLAN/CONPLAN development/staffing? If yes, what level (Service Component, CCMD, MEF, MARFORRES, etc.)?

A18. Only for the Operational Planning Specialist. Any of the levels outlined above are acceptable with prioritization going in the following order: MARFORRES, MEF, USMC service component, Combatant Command

Q19. Is Marine Corps experience required, or is joint/other-service planning experience acceptable if the candidate is proficient in MCPP/JPP?

A19. Marine Corps experience is highly preferred but not an absolute requirement. This type of individual should be eminently qualified in other areas, however. For instance, a retired Army major with three years of OJT at a combatant command’s J-3 shop as a COPSO will not satisfy the requirement. Alternatively, a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel/Colonel with multiple tours in a J-35/G-35 (future operations) shop as an operational planner with exposure to reserve component activation in at least one of those tours and large-scale exercise development in the other would be competitive. Add graduation from SAMS and this individual becomes highly qualified without Marine Corps experience.

Q20. The PWS lists advanced planner schools (SAW/SAMS/MAWS/SAASS). Is graduation from one of these schools mandatory for each role?

A20. Not mandatory for the Future Operations Specialist. Not mandatory for the Operational Planning Specialist but this must be supplemented by exceptional qualifications in other areas and include OJT as an operational planner (0505)-equivalent.

Q21. If not mandatory, what equivalences will the Government accept (e.g., JPME I/II, MAGTF Planner Course, Joint Planner Course, operational planner billet(s), combatant command planning tour, etc.)?

A21. See notes above. Future Operations Specialist should have executed at a minimum a Career Level School (Resident Command and Staff (USMC), Command and General Staff Course (Army), etc) and future operations planner billets in relevant commands. Operational Planning Specialist may have executed meaningful and relevant operational planner billets/combatant command planning tours but must be highly qualified in other areas as outlined above to be considered as a candidate.

Q22. Do you require formal training/certification in specific planning frameworks (MCPP, JPP, JELC), or is demonstrated experience sufficient A22. Some level of formal experience is required. Command and Staff (or joint equivalent) is a minimum; Top-level school such as service war college is better; SAW/SAMS is best. If the minimum, then this must be combined with demonstrated experience.

Q23. What type of experience is most important for the Future Ops role:

A23.

· GFM/mobilization planning? #1 Priority.

· Exercise planning? #2 Priority.

· Orders production (EXORD/OPORD/PLANORD/LOI)? #3 Priority.

· Campaign planning? #4 Priority.

Q24. Is there a minimum number of years specifically in future operations, force employment, or exercise integration expected?

A24. See response to question 15 above.

Q25. Should the Future Ops planner have direct experience with MCO 3061.1 (TFMDP) and/or mobilization/execution orders or other directives assigned?

A25. Yes. Allowances can be made for direct experience with other services’ equivalent, but this individual will need to be highly qualified in other areas.

Q26. For the G-5 Plans role, what is the expected level of involvement with CCMD OPLANs/CONPLANs (primary drafter, supporting annex writer, reviewer/staffer)?

A26. Operational Planning Specialist may have executed any of the roles indicated.

Q27. Are there specific planning products you expect this role to produce (e.g., base plan updates, annexes, appendices, mobilization plans, decision briefs)?

A27. Review of apportionment tables, awareness and decision briefs on force flow considerations (and subsequent feedback to the agency that owns the CONPLAN/OPLAN), MARFORRES unit readiness/availability compared to TPFDD requirements, analysis of any and all MARFORRES force requirements and subsequent integration of these into current Service-level mobilization planning for likely major contingencies (manpower generation considerations, equipment availability considerations, staging and training area considerations during ILOC before and after transition to the gaining force commander, etc). Subsequent integration of OPLAN/CONPLAN considerations into Force-level mobilization exercises (3-5 years out) and the associated conceptual briefs/papers required to inform leadership and prompt decisions on resourcing and prioritization. Transition briefs to the MARFORRES G-35 as appropriate.

Q28. PWS 4.1.1 AND 4.1.22 specify different security levels: Secret and Top Secret;

however, under PWS sect 12 the government indicates the contractor is required to possess a Secret FCL. Will the government confirm that only a Secret FCL is required.

A28. See Q2/A2.

Q29. PWS 3.4.2 Is there an incumbent workforce, and will the Government allow site visits or Q&A with outgoing personnel?

a. Will the Government provide access to incumbent documentation, templates, or historical files?

A29. There is no incumbent workforce or contract in place. Awardees will have full access to all necesarry documentation, templates or historical files necessary to conduct assisgned taks.

Q30. Will the government provide staing level(s) they require?

A30. See Q16/A16

Q31. What information can be provided concerning:

I. Page count per volume?

II. Font type/size?

III. File type, .docx, pdf, other/max file size?

A31. See Q8/A8

Q32. PWS 3.4.2 Will the government provide transition details (milestone dates, activities to be perform, reporting.)

A32. The Government will provide necessary transition details with the awardee in accordance with the PWS

Q33. Will the Government provide Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE) beyond unclassified EUHW?

A33. We will provide an office space to conduct work, typical office supplies, a classified computer for use in the office, etc. No other GFE should be required outside what is provided.

Q34. Will the Government provide historical travel patterns or expected annual travel days?

A34. The anticipated travel within this contract is not to exceed a ceiling of $50,000.00 in accordance with paragraph 14.0 of the PWS.

Q35. Does the Government prefer a contractor who is proactive in policy interpretation or one who strictly executes Government direction?

A35. Prefer a contractor who not only actively interprets policy but can readily generate recommendations for new policy to advance operational objectives.

Q36.PWS Section 9.0 Place of Performance states "excluding (10) U.S. Federal Holidays." However, there are currently eleven (11) recognized U.S. Federal holidays. Can the Government please confirm whether only ten (10) holidays will be excluded under this contract? If so, please provide a list of the specific holidays that will apply.

A36. All 11 Federal Holdiays are excluded.

Q37. If Top Secret-cleared personnel are required, will the Government sponsor the contractor for a Top Secret facility clearance if the contractor currently holds only a Secret facility clearance?

A37. The Government will not sponsor a Top Secret Facility Clearancce, the contractor must already hold this clearance.

Q38. Is a PM required as part of this work?

A38. A PM is not required as part of this work.

Q39. PWS Section 12.0 references Attachment 2, the DD Form 254 (Contract Security Classification Specification); however, a DD254 was not included in the solicitation. Can the Government please provide the DD254 or confirm the applicable security requirements?

A39. A DD254 is formally included in the soliciation.