QA_02_21RLM01_.docx

Research, Development, & Engineering Support for Specialized Aerospace Systems RFP No.: N00173-21-R-LM01 Q&A No.: 02

RFP N00173-21-R-LM01

QUESTONS & ANSWERS 02

1. Is it the Government's intent to provide GFP for this contract: office space, computers, software, etc.?

Reference:

Section F- Place of performance: Per page 23, "The principal place of performance of this contract shall be Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, D.C. 20375."

Section L – GFP: Per page 57, "No material, labor, or facilities will be furnished by the Government unless requested by the Contractor and provided for in any Task Order under this contract."

The DD 254 indicates that classified information cannot be stored at the contractor's facility.

Government Response:

The government provides office space, computers, software as required to support tasks on-site. An individual supporting a task under this contract may be asked to perform work that requires computer support or office space. This is provided by the government with COR as the custodian. Work space on-site is provided based on request from government task program managers. Software required to support a task is provided by the government and utilized only on government controlled computer systems.

No Amendment information.

2. Does the Government anticipate releasing a current DD 254? Are we to assume that the final DD 254 issued with the contract will have the exact same language?

Attachment 3: The DD 254 is dated July 9, 2018 and block 2.c. lists the contract PR# 82-2040-18.

Government Response:

The Government will provide an updated DD254 prior to award (attachment 3).

3. Does the Government anticipate releasing additional task orders? If so, what is the anticipated number of FTEs and when will the additional TO requests be issued?

Pg. 64 TO LOE: The TO LOE is estimated at 23.5 FTE (45,120 hours/year). The draft Anticipated Distribution of Labor indicated 57.4 FTE (110,300/hours/year).

Government Response:

Yes, the government does intend on releasing future task order throughout the five-year ordering period. Contractors are required to refer to the current RFP, most recent amendments, and any applicable attachments issued against this RFP.

4. How are non-incumbent contractors to price the 90-day transition period? Is the period of performance separate from the initial task order? Who is responsible for performance during phase-in, the incumbent or new contractor?

Section B: The CLIN structure and the pricing spreadsheet do not include a provision to price the 90-day transition period.

Section L Cost/Price instructions are silent on the 90-day transition period.

Government Response:

All Offerors shall propose the level of effort as provided in the “Task Order level-of-Effort (LOE)” in chart in Section L.

The 90-day transition will include performance by both the incumbent and a new awardee at award of the new contract. The incumbent will be responsible for the transition of information and be available to a newly awarded Prime to ensure smooth transition to limit any interruptions to ongoing efforts. A newly awarded Prime will be responsible for performance immediately after Task Order award and fully staffed to perform within 90 days.

5. Is the government going to release an amended solicitation with an updated due date?

SF-33, Block 9: The SF 33 still states proposals are to be delivered by 30 January 2021. This date is in the past.

Government Response:

Revisions made to include RFP due date in Section L

See Amendment 0002 – RFP – Section L; “INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS/OFFERS”, “Offerors must submit proposal by Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at 1:00 PM EST as indicated on Beta.SAM.”

6. Are the 4 capabilities the only capabilities required for the contractor facility, or are fabrication, test, and storage of unique fixtures and support equipment also required, and if so, will the Government be providing the facility size requirements for such tasks?

Section 3, paragraph 5: Point 5 states "The contractor shall be capable of providing and staffing facilities for the fabrication, test, and storage of unique fixtures and support equipment." then states 4 specific capabilities.

Government Response:

At this time, this contract does not require the contractor to supply their own facility for fabrication, test or storage of unique fixtures.

As the tasks supported by this contract vary the Prime shall be capable of performing at own or subcontractor facility when required. NRL will provide guidance on the need for specific facilities via Technical Direction Memorandum if the required facilities are not available on-site at NRL.

7. Can the government clarify the requirement of the contractor to be able to store and handle classified material at the contractor facility?

Section 3, Para. 5 states a requirement for classified storage space in a contractor facility, but para 4 in 3.1 states that the contractor shall not be a custodian of any classified documentation

Government Response:

The contractor will not store classified information. SOW revised to remove “Classified”.

“Office space, meeting facilities and classified storage space located within the normal commuting distance from the Washington, DC locale”

See Amendment 0002 – RFP - Section C – SOW, Section 3 General Task Requirements, paragraph(i).

8. Is the government going to release an Attachment 7?

Reference:

Level of Effort: Section states" The breakdown by labor category of the total level of effort is provided in Attachment 7 within this RFP. There is no Attachment 7 included in the solicitation package

Government Response:

“Attachment 7” is removed and replaced with “Section L” See Amendment 0002 – RFP – Section H; Level of Effort, paragraph (j)

9. Can the government clarify what it means in this paragraph, and if this applies for all efforts, or just those not covered by each Task Order?

Reference:

Pg. 57 GFP: Paragraph states "No material, labor, or facilities will be furnished by the Government unless requested by the Contractor and provided for in any Task Order under this contract." The RFP also states that the Place of Performance is at NRL, a government facility.

Government Response:

The government will provide computers, software and on-site office space as required for specific tasks supported by this contract. All items are under the custody of the government via the COR. The government does not provide material or facilities for the contractor to manage the execution of this contract, as in administrative efforts.

No Amendment information

10. Will the government be providing an amendment to the RFP that includes the closing date and time, as well as the designated email address?

Reference:

Pg. 57 Instructions for Submission of Proposals/Offer: Paragraph 2 states "Offerors must submit proposal by the closing date and time listed in Block 7 of the SF33. To be timely, an email proposal must be received in its entirety in the designated email inbox…" There is no closing date and time listed in Block 7 of the SF33, and no designated email address listed

Government Response:

Revisions made to include RFP due date in Section L

See Amendment 0002 – RFP – Section L; “INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS/OFFERS”, “Offerors must submit proposal by Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at 1:00 PM EST as indicated on Beta.SAM.”

11. Will the government be releasing an update to the RFP revising the anticipated award date?

Reference:

Pg. 57 Instructions for Submission of Proposals/Offers: Paragraph 6 states "The anticipated award date for solicitation purposes is September 2021

Government Response:

Revised date in amendment 0001 (pg.22/33), Amendment 0001, Section L - INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS/OFFERS stated the following:

“The anticipated award date for solicitation purposes is February 2022.”

12. Will the government consider releasing an amendment that calls for the Transition Plan to be an Appendix or Attachment to Volume I so that those pages are not confused as part of the total page count of that volume?

Pg. 58 Proposal Organization, Page Limit Notes: Note states that the Transition Plan is not included in the page count, but is required in sub-factor 2. Having the plan embedded in the tech volume could cause confusion on whether the contractor has met or exceeded the page limit for Volume I

Government Response:

Contractors shall account for the transition plan in a way to not cause confusion. An appendix or Attachment to the Volume I is an acceptable method.

No Amendment information

13.

Does the Gov’t intend to receive separate and full cost/price proposals from a team's major subcontractor(s)? Or what specifically does the Gov’t require from those Major Subcontractors?

Pg.63-64 Cost/Price Proposal: RFP states that…."It is the responsibility of the Prime Contractor to ensure that ALL MAJOR SUBCONTRACTORS provide information at this same level of detail regardless of the subcontract pricing arrangement."

Government Response:

The Government requires Major Subcontractors to provide a completed Attachment 04 – CPSS, to the Government. (See Section L – COST/PRICE PROPOSAL)

The Government will request any specific information directly from the subcontractor to support their costs, if necessary.

No Amendment information

14.

Will the Government release track changes and conformed versions of the RFP?

Sections H and L (RFP and Amendment 0001): The recently reissued RFP and Amendment 0001 Sections H & L have different language.

Government Response:

Amendment 0001 changes will be provided in an attachment to Amendment 0002.

See Amendment 0002 – Attachment - Changes from Amendment 0001

15. There are several differences between the information provided in the Task Order Level-of-Effort table on Page 29 of RFP Amendment 0001 and the Personnel Qualifications provided in RFP Attachment 01. Would the Government please provide clarification for the following discrepancies between the two documents?

1) Labor Category D2: Intranet and Networking Specialist - The personnel qualifications lists category D2 as Non-Key. The Task Order LOE table shows that it is a Key position for the first of two D2 FTEs.

2) Labor Category D7: Information Technology Engineer/Software Engineer - The personnel qualifications lists category D7 as Level III. The Task Order LOE table shows category D7 as Level IV.

3) Labor Category D9: Reaction Control Systems Engineer (Aerospace Engineer) - The personnel qualifications lists category D9 as Level IV. The Task Order LOE table shows category D9 as Level III.

4) Labor Category D10: Technical Writer/Editor - The personnel qualifications lists category D10 as Level IV. The Task Order LOE table shows category D10 as Level III.

5) Labor Category D12: Technical Writer/Editor - The personnel qualifications include category D12 for a Level III Technical Writer/Editor. Labor Category D12 is not included on the Task Order LOE table in RFP Amendment 0001.

6) Labor Category D14: Mission Assurance/Materials Engineer - The personnel qualifications lists category D14 as Level IV. However, the Task Order LOE table shows category D14 as Level III.

Reference:

VOLUME III – COST/PRICE PROPOSAL, TASK ORDER LEVEL-OF-EFFORT (LOE), Page 29 (RFP, Amendment 0001) & Attachment 01 - Personnel Qualifications

Government Response:

See Amendment 0002, Section L - TASK ORDER LEVEL-OF-EFFORT (LOE) and revised Attachment 01 – Personnel Qualifications for the following revisions.

1) “Labor Category D2: Intranet and Networking Specialist - The personnel qualifications lists category D2 as Non-Key. The Task Order LOE table shows that it is a Key position for the first of two D2 FTEs.”

A. Task Order LOE corrected to match PQs

2) “Labor Category D7: Information Technology Engineer/Software Engineer – The personnel qualifications lists category D7 as Level III. The Task Order LOE table shows category D7 as Level IV.”

A. Task Order LOE corrected to match PQs

3) “Labor Category D9: Reaction Control Systems Engineer (Aerospace Engineer) - The personnel qualifications lists category D9 as Level IV. The Task Order LOE table shows category D9 as Level III.”

4) “Labor Category D10: Technical Writer/Editor - The personnel qualifications lists category D10 as Level IV. The Task Order LOE table shows category D10 as Level III.”

5) “Labor Category D12: Technical Writer/Editor - The personnel qualifications include category D12 for a Level III Technical Writer/Editor. Labor Category D12 is not included on the Task Order LOE table in RFP Amendment 0001.”

A. D12 removed from Personnel Qualifications

6) “Labor Category D14: Mission Assurance/Materials Engineer - The personnel qualifications lists category D14 as Level IV. However, the Task Order LOE table shows category D14 as Level III.”

A. Task Order LOE corrected to match PQs