L-1_Bidders_Question_Answers 7.31.26 Amendment 0001.pdf

Carrier and Surface Engineering Maintenance Assist Team (CEMAT/SEMAT)

SOLICITATION NO. N00024-26-R-4114

Bidder's Question Submittal Form Attachment L-1

# Question Source: (RFP, Attachment #, etc.)

Page Number and Paragraph Header from Source:

Question: Government Response:

1 All RFP Documents Not available The following attachment is listed in Section J, but was not included in the RFP files posted on SAM.

Does the Government intend to provide this file to Offerors?

• Exhibit A Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL), DD Form 1423, Glossary Added. See Amendment 0001.

2 RFP Page 36, Section I Contract Clauses Please clarify the government's intent regarding FAR 52.228-5. For offerors or major subcontractors whose CAS Disclosure Statement or established accounting practices identify the required insurance as a direct cost, does the government intend those costs to remain allowable as direct charges under this solicitation?

This is a required clause for FFP orders under CLIN 0002 that apply in the US, exceed SAT, and when work will be on a government installation (ships).

While the Goverenment does not expect many orders of this nature, vendors and subcontractors are "at its own expense" required to maintain minimum insurance requirements. It would be an unallowable cost.

3 Attachment J-11 (DD-254)

Attachment J-0 (SOW)

Pages 9-10, SOW, Section 2.9 Security Requirement

Item: 10(b) & (d) Continued states, "RD/FRD access requires a final U.S. Government clearance at the appropriate security level prior to access to RD/FRD. The highest level of classification is SECRET, with access requirements to program related information. Program related accesses, however, will require Contractor employees to have a current T5. FRD access is handled in the same manner as NSI."

Question: Item 10(b) and (d) requires Contractor employees to have a current T5 (Top Secret) investigation; however, Block 1a of the DD254 is marked Secret, and Section 2.9 of the SOW mentions only Secret clearances. Will the Government clarify what investigation level is required of key personnel on this contract.

For access to ship spaces that cannot be sanitized below the Secret level, a minimum of eight technical representatives with Government granted clearances at the Secret level shall be available to perform under this contract; with ability to go TOP SECRET if case-by-case situation arises if secondary boundary/high clasification documents access are required. Can be key/non key personnel.

4 Attachment J-12 Not available Attachment J-12 includes the wrong contract number (N00024-24-RFPREQ-PMS-312-0020) in the area above the key personnel table. Please confirm that the contract number should read "N00024-26-R- 4114".

The solicitation # is N00024-26-R-4114, which is correct in Attachment J-12.

N00024-24-RFPREQ-PMS-312-0020 is the AMS PID number for internal Government tracking purposes, and has been deleted. Attachment J-12 has been revised. See Amendment 0001.

5 Attachment L-0 Section 2.0 General Content Requirements

(p. 1) AND 3.1 Proposal Overview (p. 7)

Section L.3.1 and Table L1 of the RFP require a Table of Contents to be included in each proposal volume, following the title page. Separately, Section 2.0 calls for a Master Table of Contents. It would be unallowable.

Given that Table L1 specifies only a volume-specific Table of Contents, is it the Government’s intent that these satisfy the Master Table of Contents requirement in Section 2.0?

If not, and the Government requires a Master Table of Contents that spans all volumes, will it be acceptable to include this consolidated TOC as an appendix in each volume to preserve clarity?

The word "Master" has been deleted in Sect 2.0. See Amendment 0001.

6 Attachment L-0 Pages 2-4, Section 3.0 Submission of Proposals

Will the Government confirm that offerors can use an 11x17 foldout to count as one page per foldout when presenting complex exhibits/diagrams/charts?

Yes

7 Attachment L-0 Section 3.0 Submission of Proposals (p. 2), Section 3.1-A (Table L1), (p. 4-6), and Section 3.5.1, 1.5-B Small Business Participation Commitment Document (SBPCD) (p.16-17)

Section L states that the SBPCD section “has no page limit” and encourages offerors to include supporting evidence such as Letters of Intent and teaming agreements. However, Section L also states that, unless explicitly excluded, all pages will count toward the Volume II page limit. Will the Government clarify whether LOIs, teaming agreements, and other evidence submitted as part of the SBPCD are excluded from the 95 page Volume II limit, consistent with the statement that the SBPCD has no page limit?

Yes. SBPCD is excluded from 95 pg limit. Table L-1 clarified to add SBPCD.

See Amendment 0001.

8 Attachment L-0 Sections 3.4.1 Offer (f) (p. 10) and 3.5.1, 1.5 Small Business Participation

(p. 16)

Section L, 3.4.1 (f) instructs offerors to provide the Small Business Subcontracting Plan in Volume I.

Section L, 1.5.A. states the Small Business Subcontracting Plan should be submitted within the Cost Volume, which is Volume IV.

Question: Please clarify which Volume should include the Small Business Subcontracting Plan.

Volume I. See Amendment 0001.

9 Attachment L-0 Page 10, Section 3.4.2, General Information The RFP requires Offerors to use the Table L2 format to "provide a summary of this information," including the physical address of the cognizant Administration Office. However, Table L2 does not include a colum for physical address. May Offerors revise this table in their responses in order to provide this information?

Yes. The Government doesn't plan to revise Attachment L-3.

Bidder's Question Submittal Form Attachment L-1

10 Attachment L-0 Page 11, Section 3.5 INSTRUCTIONS FOR VOLUME II - TECHNICAL CAPABILITY, item (d)

Section 3.5 (d) states that offerors can include up to 10 pages of exhibits in Volume II's technical proposal that do not count against the 95-page limit for Volume II.

Will the Government clarify how offerors should identify these 10 pages are outside the 95-page limit within the technical proposal response? Alternately, should offerors use appendices at the end of the volume to include the additional 10 pages of exhibits?

Identification is at Offeor discretion, as long as it is clear that all 10 pages are identified as the additional pages.

11 Attachments L-0 and M-0 Section 3.5.1 - Volume II, Factor 1.0:

Management Approach (p. 12); 3.5.2 - Volume II, Factor 2.0 Technical Approach (p.

20); 3.5.3 - Volume III, Factor 3.0 Resource Capabilities (p. 21)

Section 3. TECHNICAL, PAST PERFORMANCE, AND COST EVALUATION PROCESS (p. 2-8)

In Sections L 3.5.1, 3.5.2, and 3.5.3, the Government directs offerors to address requirements "taking into account a current Government and commercial efforts under contract, the proposed effort and any other submitted proposal."

Question: Will the Government provide clarification on how offerors are to account for "any other submitted proposal" and how said information from "any other submitted proposal" would align with and respond to evaluation criteria as defined in Section M 3?

Offerors may have concurrent proposals being submitted under other projects that may be pertinent to this CEMAT/SEMAT proposal. It is up to the Offeror to decide if that data is helpful to this effort.

12 Attachment L-0 Pages 13-14, Volume II – Factor 1 (Management Approach) - Transition Plan and Organizational Plan

Section L includes two subsections labeled “1.2” under Factor 1 (Organization Plan and Transition Plan).

Can the Government confirm the correct subsection numbering and update the RFP accordingly? Corrected 1.2 to 1.3 (Transition Plan). See Amendment 0001.

13 Attachment L-0 Page 16, Section 3.5.1, 1.5-A SBSP A Small Business Subcontracting Plan is required to include specifically defined elements in accordance with FAR 19.302. Paragraph 3 (not labeled) and Paragraph 5 (not labeled) in 1.5.A require information that is not required by FAR 19.302. Examples include," information to demonstrate that the contributions that small business subcontractors make will be meaningful", "the reasons for, and advantages of, selecting the particular subcontractors", and " describ[ing] its management approach for enhancing the technical capabilities".

Question: Will the Government consider placing these requirements within the Small Business Participation Commitment Document (SBPCD) in 1.5.B? The SBPCD already includes requests for similar information.

Moved said language to SBPCD. See Amendment 0001.

14 Attachment L-0 Page 16, Section 3.5.1, 1.5-A SBSP Will the Government confirm that the 30% small business subcontracting goal is calculated based on total subcontracted dollars?

Yes

15 Attachment L-0 Section 3.5.1, 1.5-B Small Business Participation Commitment Document (SBPCD) (p.16-17)

Section 3.7.2 (4) Instructions for Section 4.0 - Other Data (p. 35)

These sections both require Offerors to include teaming agreements from all subcontractors. Will the Government clarify in which section Offerors should include subcontractor teaming agreements? Teaming agreements shall be in the SBPCD. "To support the SBPCD evaluation, Offerors should provide evidence of commitment (e.g., letters of intent, teaming agreements) and past performance in small business utilization (e.g., eSRS reports, CPARS)."

16 Attachment L-0, Attachment J-12, Attachment L-3

Pages 17-19, Section 3.5.1, 1.6 Key Labor Category

In addition to the minimum or desired LCAT qualifications for key personnel LCATS Program Manager, Project Manager and Production Manager (Attachment L-0; Section 1.6 and Attachment J-12), is it the government's intent to provide minimum or desired LCAT qualifications for non-Key Personnel LCATs listed in Attachment L-3?

Attachment J-19 Non-Key Personnel Reference Guide has been added. See Amendment 0001.

17 Attachment L-0 Page 18, Section 3.5.1 - Volume II, Factor 1.0: Management Approach, 1.6 Key Personnel Resumes (and minimum qualifications), item (c )

Please confirm that the Surface Ship Program Manager key personnel qualification requirements consist of "five years of experience on surface ship propulsion, auxiliary, electrical and damage control systems including at least three (3) years of experience in gas turbine propulsion systems. Experience should include two (2) years of actual ship auxiliary, electrical, propulsion, damage control, or distributed ship's system maintenance and operations including supervision of personnel" and do not include the qualifications preceding this text in item (c).

Confirming this is correct.

18 Attachment L-0 Page 18, Section 3.5.1, 1.6, Position 1 (a) Education

Will the Government consider expanding the minimum education and experience qualifications for the Program Manager position to include the following alternative pathway: a High School Diploma (or equivalent) with twenty-five (25) years of experience in a related engineering management field?

Many exceptionally qualified former military leaders enter the armed forces directly after high school and, over the course of their careers, acquire substantial engineering management, technical oversight, and supervisory experience comparable to that of degreed personnel. Incorporating this additional qualification option would help ensure the solicitation captures the full range of highly experienced candidates capable of supporting the program’s requirements.

Attachment L-0 and Att J-12 have been revised. See Amendment 0001.

Bidder's Question Submittal Form Attachment L-1

19 Attachment L-0 Page 22, Section 3.5.3(f) Volume II, Factor

3.0 Resource Capabilities

The RFP states, "Provide a craft/trade staffing plan for this contract POP including current contracted and projected workload; shifts; and staffing levels."

To provide a comprehensive staffing plan for this program that includes all required data, will the Government allow Offerors to include the staffing plan as an appendix outside of the 95-page limit for the Technical Capability volume?

Yes. Staffing Plan has been removed from the 95 pg. count and Attachment L-0 has been revised. See Amendment 0001.

20 Attachment L-0 Section 3.5.3 – Volume II, Factor 3.0 Resource Capabilities (f) (p.22)

Section 3.7.1 Overview (h) (3) Estimating Rationale (p. 26)

L 0 Section L, paragraph 3.5.3 – Volume II, Factor 3.0 Resource Capabilities (f) instructs Offerors to “provide a craft/trade staffing plan for this contract POP including current contracted and projected workload; shifts; and staffing levels.”

Section L 3.7 – Contractor Estimating Rationale/Cost Proposal Narrative requires supporting documentation in the form of employee payroll screen captures.

Please clarify whether the rates for non key personnel must match the documented staffing information. This would help ensure that each Offeror’s proposed workforce is accurately represented and that labor rates align with the personnel described in the technical approach. This clarification would reinforce required consistency between the technical and cost volumes and strengthen the Government’s confidence in the realism of each Offeror’s proposed solution.

Will the Government confirm that these requirements apply to all personnel specifically identified by name in the proposal and to all personnel identified by name in the staffing plan? Additionally, if the Cost Volume and staffing plan are required to be reflective of each other, will the Government require submission of Letters of Intent with stated pay rates as supporting documentation for contingent hires?

Yes. Rates and names should match the staffing plan. Only Key Personnel are required to have LOIs.

21 Attachment L-0 Page 23, Section 3.6 Instructions for Volume III - Past Performance

Section L states that Offerors may use Attachment L-2 and that CPARs are the preferred format. Would the government please confirm that submission of the applicable CPARs satisfies this requirement without the need to submit completed L-2 attachments?

If Offerors have a CPARs, there is no need for RIS PPQs. RIS PPQs were provided for Offerors (for example major subcontractors) that don’t have CPARs. Subcontracted work under Prime contracts do not always have separate CPARs.

22 Attachment L-0 Page 24, Section 3.6 Instructions for Volume III - Past Performance

RFP Section L, paragraph 3.6 states that a CPAR is preferred for submittal. Is it acceptable for the prime contractor to submit (with subcontractor concurrence) the subcontractor's past performance with the associated CPAR as part of the prime's electronic submission?

If the subcontractor has access to the Prime Contractor's CPARs and the Prime Contractor concurs, evidence of subcontractor past performance noted in Prime Contractor CPARs is acceptable.

23 Attachment L-0 Page 24, Section 3.6 Instructions for Volume III - Past Performance

The last paragraph in Section 3.6 instructs offerors to provide a list of contracts within the last three (3) years demonstrating that the Offeror has carried out the policy described in FAR 52.219-8, in awarding of subcontracts to small business concerns to the fullest extent consistent with efficient contract performance.

Question: In lieu of submitting a list of contracts, would it be acceptable to provide Summary Subcontract Reports (SSR) from the last three fiscal years (2023, 2024, and 2025)?

SSR is an acceptable method to indicate SB participation; however the list is also acceptable.

24 Attachment M-0 Page 5, Section M 3.4, Evaluation for Factor 5 (Cost)

How will the government perform the cost realism analysis on direct labor given the non-key labor categories are undefined in terms of qualifications like years of experience?

How will the government adjudicate differing offeror definitions of labor categories in the cost realism analysis (for example, Offeror A defines a Production Manager with 12 years of experience, but Offeror B is more aggressive with a Production Manager requiring 7 years of experience)?

The Government will review both the labor mix proposed (key and non-key) and compliance to the mandated labor hours. For the example provided, the Government would determine that the 7 years does not meet the 10 year requirement in carrier/surface ship experience. The 12 years of experience is also not sufficient in description as there are additional (b) and

(c) requirements called out in Attachment J-12. Attachment J-19 Non-Key Reference Guide has been added. See Amendment 0001.

25 RFP H 209 H004, Restrictions Resulting from Potential Organizational Conflicts of Interest (NAVSEA) (Nov 2022) (p. 29) & L 209 H009, Notification of Potential Organization or Personal Conflict(s) of Interest (NAVSEA) (Apr 2022) (p. 88)

This solicitation’s scope of work consists of maintenance and related services and does not involve systems engineering or advisory functions that generally create OCI concerns as related to the referenced clauses. Will the Government please remove the referenced NAVSEA clauses and revise the solicitation as appropriate?

H-209-H004 and L-209-H009 are required and will not be removed from the solicitation.

26 Attachment L-0 Section L Page 12, Section L.3.5.1 Factor 1(c)

Section L.3.5.1 Factor 1(c) states, "Major Subcontractor is defined in two ways: those subcontractors providing effort consisting of ten percent (10%) of total proposed dollars. Total proposed direct dollars is defined as all costs proposed (direct, indirect, material, travel) excluding fee." Will the Government please provide the second definition of Major Subcontractor?

Corrected Sect L. Major subcontractor to mean a subcontractor "that meets 10% or more of the total proposed costs." See Amendment 0001.

Bidder's Question Submittal Form Attachment L-1

27 Attachment L-0 Section L Page 9, Section L.3.4.1 and Page 16, Section L.3.5.1

Section L, 3.4.1 Offer item (f) states the Small Business Subcontracting Plan should be included in Volume I. Section L, 3.5.1 - Volume II, Factor 1.0: Management Approach, Factor 1, Section 1.5 Small Business Participation instructions state the Small Business Subcontracting Plan should be included with the Cost Proposal. Which volume should contain the Small Business Subcontracting Plan?

Corrected Sect L. SBSP should be included in Vol I. There should still be a narrative in Volume II to highlight Offeror's SB management strategy, SBSP and SBPCD.

28 Attachment L-0 Section L Page 16, Section L.3.5.1

Section 1.5A - Small Business Subcontracting Plan asks offerors to describe participation by Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and minority institutions (HBCU/MI) but Section 1.5B - Small Business Participation Commitment Document does not include that subcategory. As HBCU/MIs are typically only requested in NASA and R&D-type opportunities, is subcontracting to an HBCU/MI a requirement for this solicitation?

If it applies, the Government encourages all types of SBs in DoW contracting opportunities. Offerors are allowed to propose SBP/SBPCD accordingly. Att L-0 edited to remove listing and remain generic. See Amendment 0001.

29 Attachment L-0 Section L Page 23, Section 3.6

The solicitation requires past performance information on three recent and relevant contracts, and Section L.3.6 states, "As chosen by the Offeror, one Major Subcontractor's past performance should be included in the submission." Will the Government confirm that the Major Subcontractor's past performance example is in addition to three prime examples?

If Offerors propose a Major Subcontractor, 1 Major Subcontractor RIS PPQ or CPARs is required. The Major Subcontractor submission is considered part of the 3 examples. That would mean only 2 from the prime are required. Do not provide more than the total 3 required.

30 Attachment L-0 Section L Page 17, Section 1.6

The solicitation requires "Offerors who are submitting resumes of personnel who are not currently employed by the company shall submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) demonstrating the individual’s commitment to supporting the effort if awarded the contract." Will the Government accept signed contingent offer letters longer than one page that affirm the candidate's intent to accept employment contingent upon contract award?

A Contingent LOI is only required for key personnel proposed. LOIs are limited to 1 page.

31 Attachment L-0 Section L Page 13, Section L3.5.1

Exhibit A (Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL), DD Form 1423, Glossary) has not yet been provided.

Given that Section L 3.5.1 requires offerers "Discuss the data deliverable requirements of the contract including execution planning, availability progress reports and project completion reports to the Government." - will the Government consider granting a three week extension once this information is provided?

Exhibit A Glossary provided in Amendment 0001. The glossary includes standard CDRL directions. The CDRLs were provided in the initial RFP.

Proposal due date has been extended to 17 August 2026.

32 Attachment L-0 Section L Page 20, Section L3.5.2

Section L 3.5.2(e) states "The Offeror shall provide examples of maintenance experience by company-certified craftsmen, technicians, and engineers qualified in hull, mechanical, electrical, and electronic systems and equipment." Given that there are no labor hours provided for craftsman in CLIN 0001, will the Government consider removing the requirement provide craftsman experience?

The word "if applicable" has been added. If craftsmans/technicians/engineers are proposed, then the experience shall be discussed in this section. The labor hours and labor categories provided are a "best guide" estimate only in order to establish the contract ceiling. It is not all inclusive. See Amendment 0001.

33 Attachment L-0 Section L Page 22, Section L3.5.3

Section L 3.5.3(f) states "Provide a craft/trade staffing plan for this contract POP including current contracted and projected workload; shifts; and staffing levels." However, no craft/trade labor has been identified in CLIN 0001. Will the Government please remove the requirement?

The labor categories were based on an estimate. Offerors may propose any skill mix for labor categories as long as the totals line up to the Attachment L- 3 yearly distribution (also Note E) in Exhibit B. A staffing plan is still required.

Trades (for example, electrical, mechanical and hull) are provided in Attachment L-3. Craftsmen may be proposed as there is a push for more Quality Assurance, Cleanliness, Testing, Safety, and Documentation.

34 Attachment L-0 Section L Page 5, Table L1

Table L5 identifies a section 3.2 "Staffing Plan" under Factor 3: Resource Capabilities. However, Section L.3.5.3 does not provide any instructions/requirements for the Staffing Plan. Will the Government please provide them?

No further instructions will be provided. The staffing plan has no page limitations. Offerors shall present the staffing plan that best meets the requirements.

35 Attachment L-0 Section L Page 36 of 36

Requesting clarification of this statement contained Section L_0_Section_L.pdf, page 36 of 36: “The Offeror’s cost proposals shall not include the “tiering” of profit or fee on any subcontract. The Government will NOT permit any “profit-on-profit” or “fee-on-fee” on any subcontract. The only exception to this requirement is a subcontractor awarded a fixed price contract in a competitive environment where cost and pricing data was not available.” Will the Government permit Prime Contractors to apply fee to subcontractor costs where the subcontractor has a CPFF subcontract, so long as no Prime Contractor fee is applied to the subcontractor’s fee?

Yes, Prime may propose fee for the subcontractors but not "in addition to".

Please use the min and max guidance provided in Section L.

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