Q&A.02.pdf

SOLICITATION NUMBER N00173-19-R-WR01

Questions and Answers #02

The following questions were submitted relating to this solicitation and are answered as follows:

Question 1: Request the Government clarify if the labor categories marked with an asterisk in Attachment 2, which indicates “key personnel,” includes all of the personnel levels associated with that labor category.

Answer 1: No. The key personnel required for this effort will be clarified in Amendment 0001 to the RFP. Section H-2(d), Attachment 2 and Attachment 3 will be revised in Amendment 0001 to the RFP.

Question 2: Request the Government clarify the format and information the Offeror must provide to “cover” qualifications for non-key personnel. As written in the RFP, the Government does not require resumes for non-key personnel nor offers specific direction on information the Offeror must provide.

Given this, does the Government require “generic resumes” that provide no names but detail qualifications relative to the labor categories and skill levels?

Answer 2: There is no defined format. If an Offeror elects to propose an individual(s) for one, some or all non-key personnel, the Offeror shall identify the individual and demonstrate that they meet the qualifications for their associated labor category. Qualifications for any proposed non-key personnel may include certifications, training, education and experience, security levels, etc. Resumes are not required for proposed non-key personnel; however, that does not exclude a vendor from submitting them.

Question 3: Request the Government clarify its definition of an FTE. If the number of hours (2231 or apparent multiples) is the required LOE in Attachment 3, request the Government clarify if they expect the Offeror to provide FTE’s plus part time personnel to satisfy the annual hourly requirements associated with each labor category level? How does this impact the calculation of the required number of Key Personnel based on 1,920 hours per FTE?

Answer 3: FTE’s are required only for the six key personnel labor categories. It’s up to the Offeror to propose all labor hours in Attachment 3 as they see fit. No overtime is required for this effort. See answer to Question 1.

Question 4: Key Personnel positions are designated with asterisks. Many of the key positions have multiple levels within the labor category. Are all of the position levels considered key positions?

Answer 4: See answer to Question 1.

Question 5: Section H-2(d) lists 1,920 hours/year for each FTE, while the LOE table lists 2,231 hours/year for individual positions. In addition, the hours listed for several positions do not add up to multiples of 2,231 or 1,920. Please verify the hours/year data in Attachment 3.

Answer 5: See answer to Question 1.

Question 6: The Administrator Level 2 and System Analyst Level 2 are listed twice at the bottom of the table. It also appears the second instances are not included in the total hour count. Please confirm those two rows should not have been included in the table or provide a corrected document with any additional hours.

Answer 6: Correct. This was a mistake and these two rows will be deleted. Attachment 3 will be revised in Amendment 0001 to the RFP.

Question 7: (1) Please confirm that since this acquisition is anticipated to be less than $100 million, that an EVMS is not required. (2) Please confirm that the remaining requirement (K-23, 2b) should be presented in the Contract Documentation volume and is outside of page count.

Answer 7: EVMS is not required for this procurement as this is a non-schedule based effort. Sections K-13, K14 and K-23 will be removed from the RFP in Amendment 0001.

Question 8: Please confirm that the term “offeror” includes the Prime contractors and any/all of its subcontractors (i.e. that past performance from our subcontractors may be submitted).

Answer 8: Offeror includes the Prime and may include subcontractors. In accordance with FAR 15.305(a)(2)(iii), the evaluation should take into account past performance information regarding predecessor companies, key personnel who have relevant experience, or subcontractors that will perform major or critical aspects of the requirement when such information is relevant to the instant acquisition.

Question 9: Please clarify which level(s) within each key LCAT is the key position.

Answer 9: See answer to Question 1.

Question 10: Please confirm that we may define what is equivalent; or provide specific clarification of what would be acceptable. Currently that guidance is only provided for the Test Engineer LCAT.

Answer 10: Educational requirements for all labor categories in this document may be substituted using related work experience as defined on the revised page 2 of Attachment 2. Attachment 2, page 2 will be revised in Amendment 0001.

Question 11: The ODC line does not match the values provided in the RFP section L-7(1), page 67.

Please clarify which values are correct.

Answer 11: This was a mistake. The table in Section L-7(1) and Attachment 8 will be revised in Amendment 0001 to the RFP.

Question 12: Please clarify why Option Years 3 and 4 are blacked out.

Answer 12: This was a mistake. Attachment 8 will be revised in Amendment 0001 to the RFP.

Question 13: Please confirm that the staffing plan and transition plan are outside of page count.

Answer 13: An Offeror’s staffing plan and transition plan do not count towards the page count. Section L-3, paragraph 3 will be revised in Amendment 0001 to the RFP.

Question 14: Please confirm that the letters of commitment and/or payroll records are outside of page count.

Answer 14: Letters of commitment are outside of page count. Section L-3, paragraph 3 will be revised in Amendment 0001 to the RFP.

Question 15: Please confirm that letters of commitment should be provided with salaries redacted for the technical volume; but with salaries shown in the pricing volume.

Answer 15: Yes. Salaries or any other information relating to pricing shall be redacted in Volume I and be included in Volume IV. See Section L-3(2).

Question 16: The table showing the required ODCs by CLIN states that the above plug amount includes all applicable indirects. However, the pricing attachment appears to indicate that the burdens should be shown separately (as an additional cost). Please clarify and correct either the instructions or the spreadsheet (if we are to back out the loading on ODCs – the spreadsheet will need to be modified).

Answer 16: The total proposed ODCs including applicable indirects shall be broken out in the cost proposal and equal the ODC plug amounts per year listed in Section L-7. Attachment 8 and the last paragraph in Section L-7(1) will be revised in Amendment 0001 to the RFP.

Question 17: Solicitation section L-11 indicates the contract type is CPFF. However, clause H-6 is the Level of Effort clause. Will the government please clarify whether the contract type is CPFF or CPFF- LOE? If CPFF, please confirm that the Attachment 3 LOE by labor category is for planning purposes only and that the contractor may propose its own staffing approach?

Answer 17: This effort is anticipated to be a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee, Term contract. The Offeror shall propose the level of effort stated in Attachment 3. Section L-11 will be revised in Amendment 0001 to the RFP.

Question 18: May an Offeror propose a different “distribution of effort” amongst the provided labor categories?

Answer 18: See answer to Question 17.

Question 19: Please confirm offerors at a minimum are required to provide at least 95% of the level of effort required in paragraph (a).

Answer 19: In accordance with Section H-6, Offerors agree to provide the level of effort in sentence 2 of paragraph (a).

Question 20: Are letters of commitment and/or payroll records included in page count for Volume I? If not, may offerors submit the letters of commitment and/or payroll records as an Appendix to Volume I?

Answer 20: See answers to Question 14 and 15.

Question 21: All appropriate markings, including those prescribed in accordance with FAR 52.215-1(e), Restriction on disclosure and use of data, and FAR 3.104-4, Disclosure, Protection, and Marking of Contractor Bid or Proposal Information and Source Selection Information. This reads as an incomplete sentence. Please provide clarification regarding this requirement.

Answer 21: This sentence is revised to Be sure to apply all appropriate markings, including those prescribed in accordance with FAR 52.215-1(e), Restriction on disclosure and use of data, and FAR 3.104-4, Disclosure, Protection, and Marking of Contractor Bid or Proposal Information and Source Selection Information. Section L-3(6) will be revised in Amendment 0001.

Question 22: If CPARS are available for contracts, are Offerors required to also have customers submit past performance questionnaires for the contracts?

Answer 22: No; however, it doesn’t preclude them from being submitted.

Question 23: Offeror’s shall provide all other transmittal letters in this section for all relevant efforts within the last five years as of the date of this solicitation release. Please clarify what other transmittal letters would be acceptable for verification of past performance.

Answer 23: If an Offeror proposes past performance information in any form other than CPARS reports or NRL Past Performance Questionnaires, transmittal letters for this past performance shall be submitted in accordance with this section.

Question 24: The RFP refers to a “table below,” which is not included in Section L-6. Please clarify which table this is in reference to.

Answer 24: The reference to the “table below” will be removed. Section L-6(1)(B) will be revised in

Question 25: The SBCs (prime offerors and small business subcontractors) proposed quantitative participation in terms of the value of the total acquisition (total contract value). This reads as an incomplete sentence. Please provide clarification regarding this requirement.

Answer 25: This paragraph will be deleted. Section L-6(1)(C) will be revised in Amendment 0001 to the

RFP.

Question 26: Offeror’s shall make an affirmative statement that no OCI exists, if applicable. Where within the proposal should Offerors make statements regarding OCI?

Answer 26: Volume V. Section L-8(2) will be revised in Amendment 0001 to the RFP.

Question 27: The Offeror's assertions, including the assertions of its subcontractors or suppliers or potential subcontractors or suppliers shall be submitted as an attachment to its offer in the following format, dated and signed by an official authorized to contractually obligate the Offeror: Where within the proposal should Offerors attach assertions?

Answer 27: Volume V. Section L-8(2) will be revised in Amendment 0001 to the RFP.

Question 28: Are Past Performance Questionnaires, CPAR Reports, and Transmittal Letters included in page count for Volume II Past Performance? If not, may offerors submit the questionnaires, CPAR reports and Transmittal letters as an Appendix to Volume II?

Answer 28: They are not included in the page count. Yes. Section L-3, paragraph 3 will be revised in

Question 29: Does the government intend for offerors to detail cost and indirect (e.g. G&A or Material Handling as appropriate) components that combined make up the plug numbers provided in the RFP?

Answer 29: See answer to Question 16.

Question 30: Does the government intend to disallow fee on ODCs?

Answer 30: In accordance with Section L-7(1) paragraph 3, total costs proposed for ODCs (including applicable indirects), shall not include fee.

Question 31: Attachment 2 provides qualifications for Levels 1, 2 and 5 for the Infrastructure Engineer labor category. Please provide 4 as to match the requirements of Attachment 3.

Answer 31: The infrastructure engineer level 4 qualifications will be added and level 5 will be deleted in Attachment 2. Attachment 2 will be revised in Amendment 0001.

Question 32: Attachment 2 provides qualifications for Level 2 for the Technical Writer labor category.

Please provide Level 3 as to match the requirements of Attachment 3.

Answer 32: The technical writer level 3 will be revised to technical writer level 2 in Attachment 3.

Attachment 3 will be revised in Amendment 0001.

Question 33: The Administrator position descriptions lists one level within the position (Level 1) in Attachment 2, while Attachment 3 lists Level 2. Please provide the years of experience required for Level 2.

Answer 33: The administrator level 1 will be revised to administrator level 2 in Attachment 2.

Attachment 2 will be revised in Amendment 0001.

Question 34: The Test Engineer position descriptions in Attachment 2 lists one level within the position (Level 3), while Attachment 3 lists Levels 3 and 4. Please provide the years of experience required for Level 4.

Answer 34: The test engineer level 4 will be added and defined in Attachment 2. Attachment 2 will be revised in Amendment 0001.

Question 35: The Administrator 2 and Systems Analyst 2 Labor categories are listed multiple times within Attachment 3. Should they only be listed once?

Answer 35: See answer to Question 6.

Question 36: Total labor hours per year is listed at 118,450 hrs. The actual sum of total labor hours provided within Att. 3 is equal to 131,744 hrs. Is the 118,450 hours the correct annual LOE? If so, please update the LOE distribution on Att. 3.

Answer 36: Yes 118,450 hours the correct annual LOE. Attachment 3 will be revised in Amendment 0001.

Question 37: Is the current contract’s annual LOE 118,450 hours?

Answer 37: See answer to Question 36.

Question 38: Will the government update the cost proposal template to account for the travel plug costs and their respective indirect burdens?

Answer 38: Edits to the spreadsheet to comply with an Offeror’s accounting system/estimating practices are allowed. Section L-7(1) paragraph will be revised in Amendment 0001 to the RFP.

Question 39: Does NRL anticipate requiring Contractor personnel to physically support other NRL locations, e.g., Stennis Space Center or Monterey, CA, with direct assigned personnel via this contract?

Answer 39: No.

Question 40: What is the anticipated value of this effort?

Answer 40: The Government does not intend to provide the anticipated value of this effort.

Question 41: Based on the FTE hours identified for Key personnel set at 1,920 hours per year, does the 2,231 hours identified in Attachment 3 support the requirement for an additional part time employee? Or, does this indicate a requirement for uncompensated overtime?

Answer 41: See answer to Question 3.

Question 42: "In Section H of the RFP, the Government identified Six (6) Key Labor Categories requiring Resumes. Attachment 3 identifies multiple levels with Five (5) of those Key Labor Categories.

In some instances identified hours supporting more than one (1) person for a labor category and identified level, e.g., Software Engineer 2, 11,063 hours.

Answer 42: See answer to Question 1.

Question 43: Does the Government want to see a resume for each individual filling an identified Key Labor Category or just one per Key Labor Category from the identified senior level? "

Answer 43: See answer to Question 1.

Question 44: "The Test Engineer Labor Category identifies years of experience in lieu of a Degree. This supports hiring and employing Veterans who may have years of experience and security clearances with possibly some college courses completed but no degree. Will the Government consider providing years of experience in lieu of a degree for all or additional Labor Categories."

Answer 44: See answer to Question 10.

Question 45: "In Attachment 3, the LOE table identifies Labor Categories Administrator 2 and Systems Analyst 2 twice, at the top and bottom of the table. This duplication results in 129,513 yearly hours versus the 118,450 yearly hours identified. Is this duplication an error?"

Answer 45: See answer to Question 6.

Question 46: "Attachment 2 to the RFP lists the PQs for Administrator 1. Attachment 3 (LOE) identifies Administrator 2. What are the qualification requirements for an Administrator 2?"

Answer 46: See answer to Question 33.

Question 47: "Attachment 2 to the RFP lists the PQs for Infrastructure Engineer Levels 1, 2, and 5.

Attachment 3 (LOE) Identifies Infrastructure Engineer Levels 1, 2, 4, and 5. What is the years' experience requirement for an Infrastructure Engineer Level 4?"

Answer 47: See answer to Question 31.

Question 48: "Attachment 2 to the RFP lists the PQs for Test Engineer Level 3. Attachment 3 (LOE) Identifies Test Engineer Levels 3 and 4. What is the years' experience requirement for an Test Engineer Level 4?"

Answer 48: See answer to Question 34.

Question 49: "Attachment 2 to the RFP lists the PQs for Technical Writer Level 2. Attachment 3 (LOE) specifies Technical Writer Level 3. What is the years' experience requirement for an Technical Writer Level 3?"

Answer 49: See answer to Question 32.