Finalized Questions and Answers.docx

Staffing and Workforce Questions

1. Is there an incumbent contractor currently performing these services? If so, can the Government provide the incumbent contractor’s name and current staffing levels by labor category?

a. Yes, it is Global Business Solutions Inc. The program is currently staffed by four (4) FTE.

2. The PWS references workload performed by five personnel. Is the Government's anticipated staffing model one Purchasing Agent Manager and four Purchasing Agents, or may offerors propose an alternate staffing approach that satisfies performance requirements?

a. Alternative staffing is permitted provided that the proposed staffing can meet the needs of the AFCOOL program. The numbers provided are a guide and the government is willing to allow the contractor to determine the best fit for the program.

3. To support a smooth transition, minimize operational disruption, and maintain continuity of service for ongoing AFCOOL operations, does the Government have a preference for retaining qualified incumbent personnel and preserving existing program knowledge? If so, will incumbent staffing information be provided to offerors to assist with transition planning and workforce retention efforts?

a. Continuity of operations without interruptions is in the Government’s interest. However, the Government will not provide contact information for incumbent personnel. Contractors must obtain information independently.

4. Are the experience requirements listed for the Purchasing Agent Manager and Purchasing Agent positions considered minimum mandatory requirements, or may equivalent experience be substituted?

a. The experience requirements listed for the Purchasing Agent Manager and Purchasing Agent positions are the minimum mandatory requirements. Please reference PWS paragraph 6.4.

5. Will any labor categories be designated as Key Personnel under the solicitation?

a. No

6. Is all work required to be performed on-site at Maxwell Air Force Base, or will limited telework be authorized for any positions?

a. Please reference paragraph 8.0 of PWS

Training and System Access Questions

7. Will the Government provide AFCOOL-specific training, AFAEMS training, and Academic Institution Portal (AI Portal) training for contractor personnel following contract award?

a. Yes

8. Will Government Furnished Equipment (GFE), system access, and workspace be provided to contractor personnel?

a. Based on the requirement of the contract, the contractor must provide computers and WIFI hotspot access. It has been found throughout the years that some/many of the credentialing agencies, payment links, and vendor websites are blocked by the DAF NIPRNet system. (Please see the PWS). However, both government systems are accessible from commercial internet without a VPN. The only requirement is CAC access which will be provided on Day 1. System access will be provided on Day 1 to the two systems (AFAEMS and AIPortal).

b. Yes, a workspace is provided along side the AFCOOL program team.

Financial and Reimbursement Questions

9. The PWS references spending authority/capability requirements for the Purchasing Agent Manager and Purchasing Agents. Please clarify whether the contractor is required to advance funds for credential purchases and subsequently seek reimbursement from the Government.

a. The contractor is expected to pay in advance and invoice the government for reimbursement.

10. What has been the average monthly credential purchasing volume during the previous twelve months?

a. The 12 month average is currently $75,886.74 per week, but this average has accounted for a two (2) month furlough due to the government shutdown and is typical.

11. What is the Government's typical reimbursement cycle from invoice submission to contractor payment?

a. The incumbent currently invoices weekly and reimbursed by the government on a NET 15 basis.

12. Are there any established spending limits or purchase thresholds that contractors should anticipate when planning financial management processes?

a. No, the funding burn rates are controlled internally by DAF policy. Spending can/does fluctuate throughout the fiscal year based on Airman and Guardian needs and industry trends.

Evaluation Questions

13. What experience areas will receive the greatest emphasis during technical evaluation (e.g., AFCOOL experience, AFAEMS experience, Air Force education program experience, customer service operations, financial transaction processing, etc.)?

a. Technical Evaluation is Pass/Fail. All technically acceptable offers will be treated equally except for their prices and performance records.

14. Will incumbent workforce retention plans or transition approaches be evaluated?

a. No.

15. Can the Government please confirm that CLINs X002 and X003 are not to be priced in the proposal and will be funded and reimbursed at the actual approved cost without fee, profit, or indirect markup? Please also confirm whether actual third-party transaction fees or payment-processing fees are reimbursable under CLIN X003.

a. CLIN X002 and CLIN X003 are not to be priced in the proposal IAW Addendum 52.212-1 (4)(b). CLIN X002 will be funded and the contractor will be reimbursed for the total actual contractor cost as stated in Para 3.6 of PWS. CLIN X003 is for travel and other direct costs.

16. Section M establishes past-performance magnitude thresholds based on service value “over the life of the contract,” while Attachment 2 directs offerors to report original and current contract value excluding unexercised options. For purposes of determining whether a past-performance effort exceeds the $5 million, $7 million, or $10 million relevancy threshold, please clarify whether the Government will use the total potential value over the contract’s full period of performance or only the value of work actually awarded / exercised as of the proposal submission date.

a. Please reference the amended PPI. The Government will use the total potential value over the contract’s full period of performance. The Government will consider unexercised options.

17. Attachment 7 evaluates past-performance magnitude based on value “over the life of the contract,” while Attachment 2 excludes unexercised options. Will the $5 million, $7 million, and $10 million thresholds be based on total potential contract value or only exercised value? Because excluding unexercised options may unduly restrict small-business competition for ongoing multiyear contracts, will the Government allow offerors to report total potential value with exercised and unexercised amounts separately identified?

a. The Government will allow offerors to report total potential value with exercised and unexercised amounts separately identified. Please reference amended PPI.

18. PWS Section 5.1 states that the contractor must provide their own computer equipment and internet access. However, PWS Section 9.0 (Computer and Network Access Requirements) outlines requirements for operating 'government furnished computer workstations or systems.' Can the Government clarify if the contractor will be provided with government-furnished computers for certain tasks, or if all tasks must be performed exclusively on contractor-provided equipment?

a. The PWS does not contain a Section 5.1. Section 9.0 also does not exist. Paragraph 11.5 talks about general requirements for government computer access, which is written broadly to include broad requirements. However, specific requirements are included in Paragraph 4.1.

19. PWS Section 5.1 requires the contractor to provide their own internet access due to restrictions on the government network. Will the Government provide a commercial internet drop/connection in the facility at Maxwell AFB that the contractor can utilize, or must the contractor procure and install their own independent commercial ISP connection (e.g., commercial line installation or mobile hotspots)?

a. Per Section 4.1 of the PWS, the contractor will be required to provide their own computer equipment and internet access. Please see the answer provided to Question #8.

20. PWS Section 3.5 states that the purchase cost shall be paid by the contractor and will be 'reimbursed monthly.' Given the high volume of pass-through credentialing expenses (historically up to $10.9M annually) and the associated cash flow burden on a small business, would the Government consider allowing bi-weekly invoicing for CLIN X002 (Credentialing Expenses) to alleviate cash flow constraints?

a. Yes.

21. PWS Section 3.5 requires the contractor to arrange and make payments using various methods (credit card, PayPal, etc.). Some credentialing vendors or payment platforms charge transaction or convenience fees. Are these vendor-imposed transaction fees allowable for reimbursement under CLIN X003 (Other Direct Costs), or must the contractor absorb these fees into their fully burdened labor rates under CLIN X001?

a. Transaction fees are paid under CLIN X002, not CLIN X003 (Other Direct Cost). See PWS paragraph 3.6.

22. In the PWS 'Workload Projection' table, a row states 'Work with five (5) personnel.' Is the Government mandating a specific staffing level of exactly five (5) FTEs for this firm-fixed-price effort, or is this provided merely as historical data, allowing offerors to propose their own optimized staffing mix to meet the performance thresholds?

a. This is provided merely as historical data, allowing offerors to propose their own optimized staffing mix to meet the performance thresholds

23. Addendum 52.212-1, Volume IV(b) instructs offerors to 'DO NOT PRICE CLINs x002 and x003' and states they will not be evaluated in the TEP. However, the SF1449 identifies these as Firm Fixed Price (FFP) with a 'Not to Exceed' designation. Will the Government provide standardized plug numbers for CLINs X002 and X003 in the final SF1449 for all offerors, or should offerors leave the Unit Price and Amount columns completely blank in their submission?

a. Leave it blank.

24. Addendum 52.212-1, Volume II(d) states the Technical Volume shall not exceed 12 total pages. Volume II must include the Management Plan and the resume for the Purchasing Agent Manager. Do resumes count toward the 12-page limit, or are they excluded from the overall page count?

a. Resume is part of the management plan and does count for the 12-page limit. See 52.212-1 Section (2).