Industry_Questions_12Jan15.docx

1. Reference PWS paragraph 3.2.4 which cites FAR Clause 52.245-2, NAVAIR Clause 5252.217-9509 regarding liability for Government property, and FAR 52.245-1 incorporated by reference in Section I. Both FAR 52.245-2 and the NAVAIR clause make the contractor liable for loss or damage to spares, repair parts, and support equipment and for property undergoing repair. These provisions conflict with FAR 52.245-1 which generally relieves the Contractor of liability for Government property except in specific circumstances. (PWS 3.2.4 and Section H & I, pgs. 18, 43, 52) Please:

(a) Advise what, if any, property is covered by FAR 52.245-1 (h) – for example, does this apply to:

1. Facilities?

2. Furnishings?

3. E-6B Inventory?

The correct Clause is FAR 52.245-1. This has been corrected in the PWS and will be corrected in the upcoming amendment.

(b) Is the contractor liable for loss or damage to those?

Refer to the upcoming amendment.

(c) Provide the estimated value of all inventory and facilities for which the contractor is liable under FAR 52.245-2 and NAVAIR 5252.217-9509 for each location so that each Offeror can determine the appropriate cost for insurance. Without a Government estimate of the value of these items, the incumbent is the only Offeror in a position to determine the cost for insurance.

The reference to FAR Clause 52.245-2 within the PWS will be deleted in a forthcoming amendment. Refer to FAR Clause 52.245-1

(d) Provide the street address for each Government warehouse facility to be provided at Tinker AFB, OK; Travis AFB, CA; Offutt AFB, NE, and NAS Patuxent River, MD.

The Government will supply the addresses upon contract award. The government feels this question is no longer applicable based upon the Government’s response to a. through c. above.

2. Both Section L and M require evidence of a transacted Boeing Data License Letter of Intent in Volume 4 - Technical. Such a letter carries significant cost information. Should this cost information be redacted from the letter of intent in the Technical Volume? (Section L, 4.0 Volume 4 – Technical; Section M, 2.3 Technical; pgs 106,120; paragraph 4.10, 2.3 respectively) Yes

3. Section L 5.1 b. and 5.2.3 b. clearly indicate the Model Contract is to be delivered “in” Volume 6. Deliverables for Volume 6 include 1 original and 5 hard copies and 1 original and 1 CD to be submitted. Additional Section L instructions require Section e. Model Contract to be submitted as a separate hard copy and CD from Volume 6. Could the government clarify if the Model Contract bound hardcopy and CDs are to be provided separately from Volume 6 or embedded in Volume 6. If separate, please provide the quantities and markings for the hardcopies and CDs. (Section L 5.0 Volume 5 – Price Proposal; pgs 106-108, 110; Section L 5.1 b, Section L 5.2.3 b, Section L 6.e) The Model Contract is part of volume 6, but should be provided as a separate copy. Offerors should submit 1 original, 5 copies and one original cd with one copy that covers parts a-d of volume 6 and one original, 5 copies, 1 cd and one copy that just contain part e.

4. “3. TRAINING The contractor shall establish and maintain a training program to ensure all contract personnel are fully qualified and possess current knowledge of instructions and procedures concerning their duties and responsibilities. The contractor shall establish a training plan encompassing personnel whose jobs require formal certification / licensing prior to assumption of duties. The contractor personnel shall request and attend Navy-conducted training courses to maintain individual certification on a space available basis.” (PWS, pgs 12, 25, & 40)

a. Please identify the formal certification and licensing requirements within this contract. Please further identify those certifications that will be required to be paid for by the contractor versus the Government. ?

The Contractor is responsible for determining and maintaining the formal certification and licensing requirements for their proposed solution. The costs associated with the training should be a part of the ILS portion of the contract (See PWS 1.3.2).

Per solicitation Section L, Part B, Para. 4.4, the staffing plan table shall include the position title, labor category, staffing level, certification / licensing / security clearance needed, and applicable PWS reference paragraph.

b. Are special vehicle licenses (e.g., CDL) required for operation of any vehicles or SE provided by the Government under this contract? If so, will the contractor be required to pay for SE training or will this provided by the Government?

All current support equipment is listed in the IMRL attachments. Contractor personnel using Government-provided general-purpose vehicles shall possess a valid driver's license and be certified by the contractor as fully qualified to operate the vehicles to which they are assigned. Contractor personnel maintaining or operating SE must possess appropriate valid Government issued support equipment operator licenses. The contractor shall ensure that SE operator certification and licensing complies with OPNAVINST 4790.2 latest series. The costs associated with the training should be a part of the ILS portion of the contract (See PWS 1.3.2).

The types of training are indicated in PWS paragraph 4.4 through 4.6. The contractor shall ensure that SE operator certification and licensing complies with OPNAVINST 4790.2 latest series.

6. The solicitation states, “List on a separate schedule any Government owned facilities. Estimated rental factors/costs for the authorized use of the assets must also be provided in accordance with FAR 52.245-9.” (Section L, paragraph 5.2.2.(d), pg. 108)

Will the Offeror be required to pay any rental costs for operating out of Government owned facilities? If so, will the Government provide the rental costs or other factors?

The Offeror will be required to pay rental costs for additional items not listed in Attachment 8.

7. The PWS states that the Contractor shall use a Government approved sparing model for sparing analysis. Would the Government clarify the specific process and timeline for gaining the Government’s approval and what that approval constitutes? (PWS, pg 19, paragraph 3.2.5) Formal review by the COR and Program Office usually takes 90 days to determine effectiveness. The Government will provide the current sparing model upon contract award.

8. PWS states that “The contractor shall provide networked computer resources at each operational site to facilitate this effort in accordance with Annex 4.” Annex 4: This annex describes the required performance specifications and Local Area Network (LAN)/Wide Area Network (WAN) attributes for the ADP to meet the E-6B program management requirements. In addition, the Government has also provided the following related answers:

a) Will the Contractor’s IT System be expected to connect, in whole or in part, to a closed/classified network? If so, at what level is the network classified? If in part only, which part(s) of the Contractor’s IT System is(are) expected to connect to closed/classified network, and which part(s) is(are) expected to connect to an open/unclassified network?

The contractors IT system will not connect to a classified system.

b) If the Contractor’s IT System is expected to connect to any network at all, will the network be provided by the Government or is the contractor expected to build/provide connectivity between Contractor IT System nodes/endpoints?

The network will not be provided by the Government. The contractor is expected to build connectivity.

c) For parts of the Contractor’s IT System that are expected to connect to an open/unclassified network, will this network be able or expected to connect to the Internet? If so, will the costs of Internet access be borne by the Government or are they expected to be borne by the Contractor?

Yes the network is expected to be connected to the Internet. The data infrastructure costs and Internet costs will be born by the contactor for connectivity of the IT system.

d) If the Contractor’s IT System is not expected to have access to the Internet in any form, is access to the Internet prohibited? Can the Contractor propose Internet access for some or all of the endpoints of the Contractor’s IT System?

No, access to the Internet is not prohibited. Yes, the contractor can propose Internet access.

4. Annex 4 of Attachment 1 states, in part: “The contractor shall provide a web-hosted, automated database […]”. (PWS, Annex 4, pg.1, para. 1)

a) Does this mean that a web browser-based application must be deployed?

No.

b) Will use of a remote emulation tool, such as Remote Desktop or a Virtual Desktop Interface (VDI) (which can provide system access via the Internet without the use of a web browser) meet the requirements as written?

Yes.

The Government clarified the answer to question 12 in the previous set of questions and is reposting its answer below.

12. Annex 4 states, “The contractor shall…deploy and support the system, establishing LANs and/or a WAN…” (PWS, Annex 4, pg 1, P3.0) What infrastructure will be available to the contractor at each FOB and the MOB? For example, will the contractor have access to T-1 communication lines or similar?

There are communication lines available (T1 at all sites). Costs for T1 line usage under this contract are the responsibility of the contractor. (PWS, Annex 4)

For purposes of clarity, and to develop the most accurate and complete cost estimates, will the Government please confirm the following:

· What are the specific monthly/annual costs, if any, associated with T1 line usage at each of the sites?

This information is proprietary of the incumbent contractor and the Government cannot disclose this information under the Trade Secrets Act and the Procurement Integrity Act.

· Please confirm that the offeror will be allowed to utilize Government-provided terminals to connect to an offeror-provided inventory management system/database.

The Government provides NMCI computers only for accessing NALCOMIS/OOMA and the LAMS/SESS. Otherwise, as per PWS Annex 4, the contractor shall provide a web-hosted, automated database system to support the material management, Inventory control, maintenance, and supply processes necessary to meet mission requirements.

The two networks are not connected. The Contractor is expected to provide computers to access their automated database system. The Contractor is responsible for the costs of their own computers, assets, network access, and etc. The Contractor is not responsible to pay for Government (end user) personnel access.

· Are the terminals used to connect to the offeror-provided inventory management system/database, already connected to the Internet?

See above

· Are offerors required to pay any connection-to-the-Internet costs for end-user terminals so they can access an offeror-provided inventory management system/database? If so, what are those costs?

See above

· Are there any additional costs associated with utilizing the end-user terminals?

See above

· Do those end-user terminals connect to printers that offerors can utilize to print reports?

See above

9. Within Attachment 8 Contract GFE 20_Mar_2014 there are a number of wireless routers and related wireless access points listed as GFE. (Attachment 8)

a. Are these routers currently connected to NMCI or other network and is connectivity to these wireless routers available to the contractor for use in connecting to the Internet? If they are not connected to a network are they available to the contractor for use in establishing wireless network communications for contractor use in the facilities?

No. The wireless routers are used for the mobile bar-code readers.

b. Within Attachment 8 Contract GFE 20_Mar_2014 there are a number of workstations and related equipment listed as GFE. Are these workstations currently connected to NMCI or other network and are they available to the contractor for use in connecting to the Internet?

These are not authorized to be connected to the internet; they are used with the scanning system.

c. Within Attachment 8 Contract GFE 20_Mar_2014 there are a number of label printer and related equipment listed as GFE. Are these printers currently connected to NMCI or other network, or are these printers available for the contractors use in meeting printing and labeling requirements?

The printers are not connected to NMCI. They are connected to the contractor’s network. They are used for the scanning system.

d. Will the contract be allowed to access NALCOMIS and/or other related government systems which track and monitor aircraft configuration changes, parts removal, parts replacements and parts consumption histories?

No, the Contractor will only be able to view and print requisitions and support equipment maintenance.

e. If NALCOMIS and/or other related government system access is allowed for the contractor, will contractor be allowed to view not only current parts information but past consumption history as well?

No, the Contractor will only be able to view and print requisitions and support equipment maintenance.

f. Will the contractor be allowed to access NALCOMIS and other related government systems from GFE computers connected to NMCI or other government networks?

Yes

If so, will contractor only be allowed to access NALCOMIS and other related government systems from GFE computers connected to NMCI, or will external access to NALCOMIS from other non-GFE computers be allowed assuming such equipment is capable of secure access via CAC authentication.

No: external access is not allowed.

g. Will the contractor be expected / required to maintain an entire aircraft configuration file for each aircraft?

No

h. Will aircraft configuration for each aircraft be available to the contractor through some other system or source?

No

i. If this information will be furnished to the contractor through some other source, please identify the system or source of the information.

Not applicable: the contractor is not responsible for the a/c configuration.

Industry is asking a follow-up question based upon the Government’s response to questions posted to FBO. (File date noted)

15 December 2014

14. In the answers to question 14,Industry Questions dated 15 December 2014, the Government has indicated that the data referenced in the PWS, and resident in the existing Automated Database Processing (ADP) system, is owned by the Government, and that it will be provided to the awardee in electronic format. The volume of data expected by Offeror is significant, and the effort associated with converting the data for use within the transition period will vary greatly depending on the format in which the data is provided by the Government to the awardee. Will the Government please clarify specifically what electronic format the current systems’ data will be provided in (e.g. flat text files; Excel spreadsheets; key-value pairs; a Structured Query Language (SQL)-style database export; a full backup of the existing ADP system’s database; another format)? Transition cost and risk will be greatly reduced if a full backup of the existing Microsoft SQLServer database, including both operational data and system configurations, will be provided to the awardee at the commencement of the transition period. If the Government is able to provide a specific reference to the method that will be used to generate the data, such as this link: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms187510.aspx, that would allow Offeror to provide the most correct estimate for effort and cost required to transition the data into Offeror’s proposed systems.

The data will be in a portable format as per PWS Annex 4. The Government cannot provide details of the current contractor’s operational data and system configuration: it is company proprietary information.

22 December 2014

1. Offeror Question: Both Volumes 1 and 6 requires Offeror to provide a signed SF33 and signed Representations, Certifications, and Acknowledgements or Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) reference.

Would the Government please clarify that the signed SF33 and signed Representations, Certifications, and Acknowledgements, provided in Volume 1 are not included in the page count limit (10 pages)? Or, remove the requirement for inclusion in Volume 1 and instead require only in Volume 6?

Government Answer: The signed SF33 cover sheets are not included in the page limitation.

Offeror Follow-up Question: Would the Government please confirm that the Representations, Certifications, and Acknowledgements, provided in Volume 1 are not included in the page count limit (10 pages)? Or, remove the requirement for inclusion in Volume 1 and instead require only in Volume 6?

Representations, Certifications, and Acknowledgements, provided in Volume 1 are not included in the page count limit.

2. Offeror Question: The section states that the “contract shall commence on 01 November 2015 and shall continue to 30 November 2016.” But on p.117, Section L, Clause 5252.215-9503 states, “The anticipated award date for this requirement is 30 November 2015”. Would the Government please clarify this discrepancy? (Section F, pg 33) Government Answer: The PoP that included November 2015 is for CLIN 0011, the transition period which may or may not be needed by the awardee. The date in the clause is ONLY an estimate and is intended to be the latest date by which the effort will be awarded.” (emphasis added).

Offeror Follow-Up Question: Recognizing that, as noted by the Government’s response to question 2, an incumbent provider may not require a transition period, would the Government consider removing CLIN 0011 from the evaluated price to ensure fair and open competition among Offerors?

We amend our answer: Transition is required by all offerors. The transition is part of the requirement as stated in the PWS and will be evaluated as stated in Sections L & M. Please see the amendment that will change the anticipated award date in Clause 5252.215-9503 to 30 October 2015.

3. Given the number and complexity of questions submitted that have yet to be answered, and the potential significant impacts to offerors’ proposals resulting from the Government’s answers, respectfully request the Government provide offerors with a two-week extension to the February 2nd proposal due date to ensure offerors have sufficient time to fully address the Government’s requirements.

An extension has been granted, please see the amendment for the new proposal due date.