Q A.pdf

Solicitation N00173-13-R-RV11 Amendment 0001

Questions and Answers

Q1. Please clarify the total page count limit for Volume II. For example, if proposing two functional areas, is the total page limit for Volume II, for both Subfactor A and B, 20 pages? Or does the 10-page limit only apply only to each Sample Task Order response included in Subfactor B? If the latter, is there a page limit for Subfactor A?

A1. In the example provided, the total page limit would be 20 pages.

Q2. Page 8, Section C-3(b) references a transition plan to be submitted as part of the proposal. Is this reference to a transition plan for personnel, equipment, information, an existing work effort, or all of the above?

A2. See Amendment 0001.

Q3. Where should the transition plan be included in the proposal submission? If the transition plan was included in the solicitation as an oversight within the proposal, please advise if it can be omitted.

A3. See Amendment 0001

Q4. Please advise as to which Volume information related to OCI, or lack thereof, as required of Section L–18 of the solicitation, should be included in the proposal.

A4. The OCI plan and/or certification should be included in Volume V – Contract Documentation.

Q5. Will the Government accept CPARs in lieu of Past Performance Questionnaires if a copy of the CPARs is provided with the proposal in the Past Performance section?

A5. No. However the CPAR may be provided in addition to the questionnaire. However it should be noted that these documents should be provided separately from the Past Performance Volume.

Q6. Will the Sample Task Orders be awarded or are they for evaluation purposes only?

A6. Evaluation purposes only.

Q7. Will work under this IDIQ require performance in a government laboratory, and will this space be provided by NRL?

A7. Yes

Q8. What GFE/GFI will be provided for the performance of each sample task order?

A8. Standard laboratory instruments and equipment. Specialized equipment (non standard) will be listed as GFE in a statement of work.

Q9. What are the detection platforms that will be tested under Sample Task Order 5?

A9. There are several platforms currently in different phases of development that include the NRL developed Multi-sensor Towed Array Detection System and NRL developed Broadband multi-aspect acoustic scattering

Q10. Will the detection platforms for Sample Task Order 5 be provided as GFE?

A10. Yes GFE exists for work under this sample task order.

Q11. For Sample Task Order 3, what matrix types should be considered as environmental samples?

A11. Soil, sediment, and fresh to marine water

Q12. For Sample Task Order 3, what sorts of targets are being looked for in the environmental samples?

A12. TNT and daughter products as well and biological agents such as microorganisms

Q13. Is there any equivalency to the M.S. Degree with 15 years experience qualification for the "Program Manager" Labor Category?

A13. See Amendment 0001.

Q14. For the purposes of preparing the cost volume, is it accurate to assume that the Government wants the 5 sample task orders priced but there are no values for the contractor to fill in for the CLINs shown in Section B?

A14. Correct

Q15. Section B-4(b) of the RFP reads, “Reimbursable travel costs include only that travel performed from the Contractor's facility to the worksite, in and around the worksite, and from the worksite to the Contractor's facility.” This seems to be in conflict with the travel called for in the sample task orders.

Please clarify.

A15. Travel required to test locations or other sites during performance of the task order is considered part of the worksite.

Q16. Section G-8(e) discusses the need for five years’ worth of rate caps. Since the main purpose of a CPFF contract is to afford the contractor an opportunity to recover its actual, allowable and allocable direct and indirect costs, under what specific regulatory or statutory authority is NRL invoking this provision.

A16. The government enters into cost-reimbursement contracts because there is too much cost uncertainty for fixed-price contracting, but that does not mean that the level of cost uncertainty is the same across all components of cost. For example, when it comes to labor costs there may be a great deal of uncertainty about the number of labor hours that will be required to perform the work or about the labor mix, but there may be relatively little uncertainty about labor rates. A contractually stipulated cost cap is not a standard of cost reasonableness. Adherence to a contractually stipulated cost cap is not a matter of cost reasonableness. Adherence to a contractually stipulated cost cap is a matter of consistency with a term of the contract. See FAR 31.205-2(a), item (4). A cost in excess of a contractually stipulated cost cap might otherwise be reasonable, but it is unallowable by mutual agreement.

Q17. Are the rate caps required by Attachments 6 and 7 going to be part of the Government’s evaluation of offerors’ cost volumes? If so, how?

A17. Correct. As stated in paragraph M-2(c)(3), the Government will perform a cost analysis on each of the proposed sample task orders. To determine if each task order Cost/Price is realistic, the cost analysis will include an evaluation of the extent to which the proposed costs are sufficient for the work to be performed, reflect a clear understanding of the requirements, and is consistent with the unique methods of performance and materials as described in the Offeror’s technical proposal (FAR 15.404-1(d)(1)).The rates listed in Attachments 6 and 7 will be evaluated as a part of the cost realism.

Q18. What justification will the government seek from the offeror when evaluating the offeror’s out-year indirect rates in Attachment 7?

A18. The Government may seek information necessary to determine that the proposed costs are fair, reasonable, and realistic for the nature of the work to be performed under this contract.

Q19. What is the anticipated start date for award? Can the offeror change the headings (such as FY 2013) in Attachments 6 and 7 to reflect the anticipated start date or to show “Year 1”, “Year 2”, etc.?

A19. The Gov’t anticipates award in February 2014. The Offeror may revise the column headings to read “Year 1”, “Year 2”, etc.

Q20. On Attachment 7, what is the difference between a Contract Labor Category and a Solicitation Labor Category?

A20. The column should read “Contractor Labor Category”

Q21. On Attachment 7, if a contractor chooses to no-bid one or more of the functional areas, should the offeror delete that Solicitation Labor Category from the sheet?

A21. No, rather the Offeror should state “No Bid” for that particular labor category.

Q22. Does the Government want offerors to provide burdened or unburdened rates on Attachment 7? If burdened, inclusive or exclusive of fee?

A22. Unburdened.

Q23. Section L-15(f)(v) discusses material backup to include with the pricing. Considering the Government has already provided a materials budget for each sample task order, is it correct to assume this provision does not apply to sample task order pricing?

A23. Correct, unless the Offeror is deviating from the Gov’t provided estimate.

Q24. Section L-16 requires the proposal to include, “… a signed copy of the Master Contract and Section’s A through K” but then it goes into specifics and skips Sections B thru E. Do we not send in B thru E?

A24. Incorrect. Sections B through E should be included.

Q25. Does the Government intend to award one or more task orders based on the offeror’s response to the sample task orders?

A25. No, these task orders are sample task orders.

Q26. Considering an Engineer I is discussed in Attachment 1 to the RFP, did the Government inadvertently not include that category on Attachment 7?

A26. Yes

Q27. Where should the OCI plan and/or certification fit into the proposal?

A27. The OCI plan and/or certification should be included in Volume V – Contract Documentation.

Q28. Is the corporate overview referenced in L-13 (b)(1)(ii) part of and specific to each Sample Task response (should each Sample Task Response have a separate “corporate overview” within it)?. Or, should it be a separate, overarching write-up under its own heading (Corporate Overview)? If the corporate overview is a separate, general write-up, where does it belong in the Technical Volume, and what is its page limit?

A28. The corporate overview should be specific to each task order.

Q29. Does the Government want to see resumes for non-Key personnel?

A29. No

Q30. Reference: Section L-13, Volume II: Technical Volume, Paragraph (b)(3)(B) states "The Offeror shall identify the following personnel positions for the basic IDIQ performance period and each task order:

i. Task Manager

ii. Senior Electrochemistry and Corrosion Scientist/Engineer (Required For Functional area 1)

iii. Senior Biochemistry Scientist/Engineer (Required For Functional area 2)

iv. Senior Sensor and Analytical Platforms Scientist/Engineer (Required For Functional Area 3)

v. Senior Power and Energy Scientist/Engineer (Required For Functional Area 4)

vi. Senior Unexploded Ordinance Detection Scientist/Engineer (Required For Functional Area 5) Question: Because this is a task order based IDIQ contract and because the positions referenced above are task order specific, please confirm that key personnel will be proposed at the task order level and not at the IDIQ level A30. Incorrect. Key personnel should be proposed at the IDIQ level.

Q31. On page 26, paragraph (e) clearly indicates that certain “key personnel” positions are mapped to specific functional areas. Please confirm that offerors will only propose “key personnel” for applicable functional areas and that “key personnel” do not need to be proposed for functional areas not being proposed.

A31. Correct.

Q32. Please confirm Clause H-3 on page 25 applies only at the task order level?

A32. Incorrect. This clause applies to the basic contract.