One-on-One Q A Posted.docx

TH-57 CLS Pre-Solicitation Conference, Site Visit, and One-on-One Industry Questions and Government Responses (20-21 March 2012)

PLEASE NOTE: SHOULD THERE BE ANY DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT’S WRITTEN RESPONSE AND A RESPONSE PROVIDED ORALLY AT THE 20/21 MARCH PRE-SOLICITATION CONFERENCE, THE WRITTEN RESPONSE WILL TAKE PRECEDENCE.

1. Q: The fill-in for NAVAIR clause 5252.228-9500 - ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS WITH RESPECT TO “GROUND AND FLIGHT RISK” is listed as “TBD at contract award”.

A: The fill-in will be applicable to both prime and subcontractor locations.

2. Q: The PWS describe a support role for engineering which we believe means the contractor will not be liable for any engineering changes to the aircraft and it components. Therefore, we assume that the contractor is not required to have Engineering Professional Liability insurance. Is that assumption correct?

A: It is up to an individual contractor to determine if it should purchase individual liability insurance.

3. Q: Do the existing maintenance personnel retain their training, certifications and licenses upon transfer from one company to another?

A: Any contractor-provided certifications will have to be renewed by the incoming contractor.

4. Q: Which logbooks are subject to FAA standards and which are subject to the NAMP?

A: The aircraft logbook is maintained to FAA standards and the engine logbook is maintained IAW the NAMP.

5. Q: What is the overall goal for small business? Will the goal be based on Total Contract Value or Subcontract Value?

A: Section L, Part B, 2.4 Small Business, states to provide targets, expressed as dollars and percentages of total contract values and percentages of total subcontract values, for Small Business Concerns and each subcategory of Small Business. The Government has not established minimum subcontracting goals for this contract, but will look at the proposed percentages of subcontract value and compare with DoD subcontract target levels and establish reasonableness based on the rationale provided in the Offeror’s proposal. The DoD subcontracting goals can be found at http://www.acq.osd.mil/osbp/.

6. Q: CLIN XX01 – How will SLINs be evaluated as part of the evaluated price?

A: The Total Evaluated Price definition can be found in Section M, paragraph D, Price. A sample calculation is provided in Section L, Part B, 5.3 Price/Cost Proposal Instructions, and Section 5.

7. Q: CLIN XX03 – When does the Government want this?

A: See PWS paragraph 5.6.6.9, Additional Aircraft Requirements.

8. Q: How does CLIN XX03 relate to the flight hour CLIN (CLIN XX06)?

A: The flight hours flown for additional aircraft ordered under CLIN XX03, will be ordered/invoiced under CLIN XX06.

9. Q: Are historical supply chain records/usage data available?

A: Releasable supply chain records/usage data will be provided in the Competition Library.

10. Q: Is there any Government-owned Material Handling Equipment (MHE) that is located at Whiting field and not listed in Attachment 7 or Attachment 8?

A: No. An updated Attachment 7 & 8 with all applicable Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) should be provided in the Final RFP.

11. Q: PWS paragraph 10.3 lists CDRL A042. We noticed one was not provided. Will the Government be providing CDRL A042?

A: Reference to CDRL 42 has been removed.

12. Q: Can the successful Offeror assume that the total number of aircraft required IAW the applicable ordered XX01 SLIN, can be met by the reissuance of a lesser number of total aircraft?

A: No, under PWS 5.6.5.1.1, the Government may retain aircraft from time of issue until field closing.

13. Q: Do the H-1 Performance Measurement Framework clause and the H-2 Adjustment of Payment for Aircraft Not Received clause represent a double decrement for the same thing?

A: No. The H-1 clause is a disincentive. The H-2 clause is a reduction in price for ordered aircraft not provided.

14. Q: How does the recently released PMA 273 Request for Information (RFI) regarding the TH-57TS relate to this effort?

A: The recently released RFI and this TH-57 CLS requirement are unrelated and do not impact each other in any way. The Government does not anticipate that any action taken from the aforementioned RFI will impact this solicitation.

15. Q: The IUID clause is listed in the contract. What are the IUID requirements?

A: IUID has already been identified at the airframe level. There are no other IUID requirements.

16. Q: PWS Enclosure 3 - The MSM is listed as an applicable document. Will the ACI Specification be published?

A: Yes, it will be published in the MSM in the Competition Library.

17. Q: What is the date for NALCOMIS Conversion?

A: NALCOMIS is expected to be in place before award of the new contract.

18. Q: The MIS was taken out as an Evaluation Factor. We believe the MIS should have its own separate CLIN.

A: NALCOMIS is expected to be in place before contract award, so no Government requirement for a MIS system is anticipated. Any MIS the Offeror requires to successfully manage the requirements will be the responsibility of the Offeror.

19. Q: Would NAVAIR consider combining experience and past performance?

A: NAVAIRINST4200.39B prohibits combining experience and past performance to ensure that the evaluation of how well the Offeror performed (Past Performance) and whether or not similar work was performed (Corporate Experience) are clearly separate and distinct evaluations.

20. Q: Would NAVAIR consider grading the total of Past Performance and Experience as equal to Program Management/Maintenance Approach?

A: The Source Selection Organization has developed the draft evaluation criteria order of importance and believes it to be the appropriate balance to obtain the best value for the Government.

21. Q: Can the Government re-evaluate the incentive/disincentive structure? The PMF seems out of proportion for the incentive. It seems to be heavily weighted to the disincentive. Will the Government consider eliminating the disincentive component of the PMF?

A: The Government purposefully created the PMF structure to reward exceptional performance and discourage unsatisfactory performance. An Offeror’s proposed price should cover all contract minimum requirements as defined in H-1 of the RFP. The incentive is for performance above the contract performance minimums.

22. Q: Has the Government considered undesired consequences of the Sustainment metric of the PMF?

A: Yes. The Government is reevaluating the Sustainment metric. The Final RFP will reflect any changes the Government deems necessary.

23. Q: Would the Government consider revising contract POP to reflect 2-yr base, two 2-yr options and l-yr incentive option?

A: The Government considered a variety of duration options and concluded that a base year plus four one-year options met the TH-57 program requirements.

24. Q: Would the Government allow at least 12 months before implementing decrements to the PMF or to the FFP CLIN?

A: The Government does not implement the PMF decrement during the transition period or the first two months of full performance. Adjustment for aircraft not received (H-2) will be effective beginning with full performance under the base period.

25. Q: Will usage details be provided in the “Competition Library" in sufficient time to allow bidders to analyze the data?

A: Releasable usage data will be provided in the Competition Library with access concurrent with release of the Final RFP.

26. Q. When does the Navy plan to populate the PMA Competition Library with the following data:

• A V3M reports to include maintenance data associated with all required fields of form 4790/60 (MAF)

• Monthly Maintenance Plans (MMP)

• Current Building information with detailed drawings in square footage A: Releasable maintenance and MMP data will be provided in the Competition Library concurrent with release of the Final RFP. NAVAIR does not have any detailed drawings of the buildings. However, please see Section J Attachment 7, Real Property, for available square footage data.

27. Q: Will the Navy please post a current CBA, including NAS Patuxent River, to the Competition Library?

A: All current applicable CBAs are attached to the RFP. See Attachment 10.

28. Q: For DRFP Paragraphs 5.7.6.1 through 5.7.6.20, which special audit procedures (e.g. CSEC and/orAS9100) will the Navy recommend for all NAMSOP related programs?

A: PWS paragraph 5.7.6 lists the contractor’s responsibility.

29. Q: Will the contractor be allowed to use other than contractor pilots for ground turn operations?

A: NAVAIRINST 3710.1F requires “Helicopter and tilt-rotor ground engine operations [to] only be performed by pilots current and qualified in the aircraft. The restriction does not apply to helicopter APU operation.” Currently a waiver exists to allow other than pilots to perform ground turn operations, but Offerors for this solicitation should bid to the requirements listed in DFAR 252.228-7001 (to include NAVAIRINST 3710.1F) and should not anticipate a waiver nor should they expect Government pilots to assist with ground engine operations.

30. Q. When will the Navy provide a time frame and implementation schedule for OOMA (Para5.11.1.1) and who has the authority to confirm implementation training is complete and that the SPAWAR team has fulfilled their requirement?

A. OOMA is expected to be in place before this contract award.

31. Q. Does the Navy intend to provide an additional OOMA host for detachments (Paragraph 5.11.7)?

We highly recommend a back-up host to mitigate duplicate effort to back-fill MAFs.

A. If a detachment is stood up, OOMA requirements will be considered at that time.

32. Q: For Experience, is each team member evaluated as an individual company or are they evaluated as a collective whole?

A: Each team member shall be evaluated based on its individual corporate experience compared to its proposed role and responsibility.

33. Q: Can Past Performance extend past 5 years? Can any experience past 5 years be discussed in the proposal?

A: Any Past Performance beyond 5 years in the Executive Summary would be assessed as not relevant and thus not considered in the Past Performance assessment. However, Corporate Experience may contain corporate experience references beyond 5 years. Recent experience, though, will be considered more relevant than older experience.

34. Q: Are OEM maintenance publications available?

A: All OEM maintenance publications are available via subscription.

35. Q: Depot tooling – Who owns it?

A: The Navy does not own any TH-57 Depot level tooling.

36. Q: Do the wages have to be held to certain levels?

A: The controlling CBA and applicable AWD are attachments to the Draft RFP. Per DOL regulations, these rates must be used during the base period.

37. Q: Has there ever been a work stoppage due to union issues?

A: Yes.

38. Q: Is the union International Association of Machinists (IAM)?

A: The union is listed on the CBA, which is an attachment to the Draft RFP.

39. Q: Saw that the estimated quantity of labor hours on CLIN XX08 is 65,000. How does this relate to XX12? And what was the basis of this estimate?

A: Labor in support of Depot work can be proposed under CLIN XX08 if the Prime is performing the work or CLIN XX12 if a subcontractor is performing the work. The basis of estimate was calculated from historical data.

40. Q: For the Over and Above, what was the basis of this estimate?

A: The basis of estimate was calculated from historical data.

41. Q: If the contractor proposed enhanced performance and reliability, would that be considered a strength relative to standard performance?

A: The Government will evaluate all aspects of the offeror’s proposal; however for an aspect to be considered a strength it must have merit or exceed the specified performance or capability requirements in a way that would be advantageous to the Government during contract performance.

42. Q: Is there engine reliability data that can be provided?

A: Releasable engine data will be provided in the Competition Library.

43. Q: How is the evaluation made if an Offeror proposes warranties?

A: In this effort, the Government has not required warranties be provided by the contractor. Typically, special approval would be required to incorporate warranty clauses (i.e. NAVAIR clause 5252.246-9535). However, the Offeror is free to propose warranties as it sees fit. As a result, the Source Selection Evaluation Team will evaluate any proposed warranties accordingly to determine their value/benefit to the Government for this effort. If the proposed warranty is deemed to be valuable/beneficial, the Government would request it be incorporated into the contract as an H clause to ensure it is contractually binding.

44. Q: How are engines repaired – as whole engines to be replaced, or as parts of the engine to be repaired?

A: Engines are replaced and repaired IAW the Rolls-Royce publications.

45. Q: Is mission capable defined in the contract?

A: The definition of mission capable is included in the Mission Essential Systems Matrix (MESM).

46. Q: Is there a location requirement for the depot facilities?

A: There are no geographical limitations for location of the depot facility.

47. Q: Are the maintainer's toolboxes personal equipment?

A: Yes, maintainer's toolboxes are personal equipment. There is some Government Furnished Property (GFP) required for this contract. GFP is identified in Section J Attachment 8 of the Draft RFP.

48. Q: Will the Government provide Maintenance to Flight Hour data?

A: Releasable maintenance data will be provided in the Competition Library.

49. Q: In the case of past performance contracts where an Offeror acts as a subcontractor to a current competitor, should questionnaires still be sent to the competitor?

A: In this case, past performance questionnaires should still be sent to the prime (anticipated competitor) but may also be sent to the ultimate Government customers.

50. Q: Can the Government describe NALCOMIS, its capabilities and limitations?

A: COMNAVAIRFORINST 4790.2A Chapter 13 details capabilities of NALCOMIS and OOMA.

51. Q: Does the Government expect the Contractor to provide a Management Information System (MIS) system with, or in place of, NALCOMIS?

A: No. All data needed by the Government will be in NALCOMIS/OOMA or in CDRLs. Any MIS the offeror requires to successfully manage the requirements will be the responsibility of the offeror.

52. Q: Does the Depot facility need to be an OEM authorized repair facility?

A: For the airframe - All airframe depot work and Aircraft Condition Inspections (ACI) shall be accomplished by either an FAA certified Part 145 Repair Station with a Limited Airframe rating for the Bell Helicopter 206B, or a Bell Helicopter approved 206B Customer Service Facility.

For dynamic components - All dynamic component depot work shall be accomplished by either an FAA certified Part 145 Repair Station with a Limited Accessories rating for the Bell Helicopter 206B using Bell Helicopter specifications (applicant developed specifications are not acceptable), or a Bell Helicopter authorized 206B dynamic component repair facility.

For the engine - All engine depot work shall be accomplished by either a Rolls-Royce Repair & Overhaul Facility; Authorized Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul Center; or Authorized Maintenance Center.

For the avionics - All avionics depot work shall be accomplished by the box OEM authorized depot repair facility.

53. Q: Does the Government want insight to the indirect costs for subcontractors?

A: Yes. Information is required for tier-one, principle, and critical subcontractors. Subcontractors’ proposals may be submitted as a sealed bid from the subcontractor directly to the Government.

54. Q: How is a subcontractor’s past performance contract relevancy viewed and evaluated by the Government?

A: The relevancy for each subcontractor’s past performance reference will be assessed according to aspects of relevance such as the type of effort, type of requirement, service similarity, service complexity, contract type, contract dollar value, the division of the company doing the work, and subcontract/teaming, in comparison to its role and responsibility detailed in the Past Performance Volume and the Offeror Summary Table in the Executive Summary Volume.

55. Q: Is the corporate experience effort for “launch recovery and aircraft line functions in a high tempo operating environment…” (Section L, para 4.2b) required to be in a training environment?

A: No.

56. Q: Is a DD 254 a requirement for this effort?

A: No. This is an unclassified contract.

57. Q: Does the Government intend to exercise all four of the options?

A: The evaluation and contract award does not bind the Government to purchase any of the options. The Government may extend the contract by the exercise of options in accordance with FAR 52.217-9 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract.

58. Q: Is the H-1 Performance Measurement Framework clause new to the TH-57 CLS effort and is the source data unique to the TH-57?

A: Yes, the H-1 Performance Measurement Framework clause is new to the TH-57 CLS effort. The incumbent contract does not have this clause in the current contract. The solicitation’s source data for the H-1 PMF is unique to the TH-57, although the PMF concept is not.

59. Q: Considering potential risk of organizational conflict of interest, are there any restrictions or concerns with teaming approaches, both prime and sub, for Associate Contractors (5252.245-9520)?

A: The Government has no such restrictions.

60. Q: Does the Government embrace Lean Six Sigma?

A: Lean Six Sigma is not a requirement of this solicitation. Any continued process improvement is at the discretion of the Offeror.

61. Q: Is there a system in place to manage obsolescence?

A: There is no Navy system in place to manage TH-57 obsolescence.

62. Q: As part of the PMA273 Competition Library documentation, will the USG release the data and rationale that served as the basis for the PMF calculations for the TH-57 Program?

A: No. The PMF rationale promotes optimum performance and benefit to the Government.

63. Q: Were all operations spaces for the TH-57 Program visited during the site visit.

A: Yes all operations spaces for the TH-57 Program were visited during the site visit. There are no other Government facilities where GFP is located. On the site visit, support equipment normally located near the flight line was not visited during the tour. The support equipment is listed as Section J Attachment 8, Government Furnished Property, of the RFP.

64. Q: What is the purpose of establishing contract overhead rate caps in G-3 INVOICING INSTRUCTIONS FOR CLINs XX12, XX13, and XX14?

A: The purpose of this clause is to hold the successful Offeror to the proposed rates during execution.

65. Q: Was there an historical trigger to capping overhead rates and if so, can the United States Government (USG) describe these circumstances?

A: No, there was no historical trigger to capping overhead rates.

66. Q: Did you consider the use of sample questions as part of the evaluation process?

A: Yes, they were considered, however the solicitation does not utilize sample tasks.

67. Q: As part of a proposal response, will the USG require evidence of a formal non-disclosure, proprietary information or other teaming agreement (PIA/NDA/TA) between offerors and Associate Contractors?

A: The Associate Contractor clause 5252.245-9520 provides a guide for the information to be included in each association contractor agreement.

68. Q: Section H, Reference: NAVAIR clause 5252.216-9500, on page 145 of the RFP, allows the PCO to direct the prime contractor to provide supplies or services unilaterally, and the prime contractor is obligated to perform, but the USG has no obligation to pay the prime contractor prior to completion of negotiation. If negotiations aren’t completed within 60 days, the USG will issue another unilateral mod establishing the USG estimated cost for the order. Will the prime contractor be allowed to invoice based on the second unilateral mod? Will the prime contractor be obligated to continue performance if the cost exceeds the USG estimated cost?

A: The answer would depend on the facts and circumstances surrounding the inability of the Government to reach a negotiated agreement. However, in most circumstances, the prime contractor would be allowed to invoice based on the second unilateral modification (paragraph d) if contractor action was not the cause of the delay to reach the negotiated agreement.

69. Q: Is this effort a Small Business set-aside?

A: No. This requirement will be a full and open competition.

70. Q: What IT hardware is the successful Offeror required to provide?

A: An updated Attachment 7 & 8 with all applicable Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) should be provided in the Final RFP.

71. Q: Are aircraft and engine logbooks electronic or manual?

A: Logbooks are maintained in manual form.

72. Q: Can other service’s (i.e., Army, Air Force) CLS contracts be considered very relevant as past performance?

A: Yes, taking into consideration factors such as the type of effort, type of requirement, service complexity, contract type, contract dollar value, and place of performance. Additionally, there is not a limit on the number of relevant contracts submitted for past performance.

73. Q: When will the Final RFP be released?

A: The Government anticipates releasing the Final RFP by the end of April.

74. Q: How long will Offerors be given from Final solicitation release to proposals due?

A: The Government anticipates the period of time for proposal development will be from 30 to 45 calendar days.

75. Q: What is the current Collective Bargaining Agreement?

A: The current controlling Collective Bargaining Agreement is an attachment to the Draft RFP.

76. Q: Why is it required that the depot facility be OEM certified?

A: The Government is reviewing the requirement for OEM certification. Any change to this requirement will be reflected in the Final RFP.

77. Q: Is the ‘O’ level maintenance facility Part 145 certified?

A: No.

78. Q: What role will DCMA play in the resultant awarded contract?

A: NAVAIR will delegate contract administration to DCMA.

79. Q: Regarding supply duties, will the contractor be responsible for procurement actions and paying for supply requisitions with its own funds?

A: The Government will pay for all parts and repairs via Task Orders.

80. Q: Regarding the requirements and/or certifications necessary to accomplish Depot Level maintenance, is the Navy looking for a Bell Customer Service Facility or is Bell being part of the team to provide oversight, engineering, and other support acceptable – as a team member with a teaming agreement signed?

A: The Government is reviewing and its determination will be reflected in the Final RFP release. If the determination is available prior to Final RFP release, it will be posted in FedBizOpps as a separate Q&A document.

81. Q: What are the contractor’s specific responsibilities in the Life Support (e.g. ALSS) area, i.e. on-aircraft, aircrew, and in-shop?

A: Please see paragraph 5.1 and 5.2.7 of the PWS.