Q.A #1.pdf

Q&A #1 for Solicitation N00173-25-R-2440

Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) Systems Design and Development

Question # Question Answer 1 With a Small Business Set-Aside, a minimum of

50% the cost of the contract must go to small business concerns- FAR 19.505 (b)(1). Am I understanding correctly that at least 50% of the cost of services must be paid to a small business concern... and costs paid to small business subcontractors do count towards that 50% small business concern?

Costs paid to small business subcontractors counts towards the 50% small business concern total. The prime SB subcontract costs to non-SBs

(ie. large businesses) should not exceed 50% of all total costs. If a SB subcontractor further subcontracts work, that work counts towards the 50% non-SB subcontract costs limit. Please refer to FAR 19.505(b)(1)(i).

2 Attachment 8 Instructions to Offerors cannot be opened when pulled from SAM. Is Section L in the RFP document the same, valid Section L?

Yes, Section L of the RFP document is the same content and information as Attachment 8 Section L. Duplicate Attachment 8 was removed from Section J. Refer to Section L in the RFP document.

3 Would you be able to share the list of companies that responded to the Pre-solicitation Notice? This would allow us to engage with potential prime bidders and explore teaming opportunities.

The Government declines to provide this information.

4 We would appreciate clarification on whether the JV entity itself is required to hold a separate facility clearance to be eligible for award under Solicitation N0017325R2440, or if submission of the DD254s for both entities would be sufficient to meet the security requirements.

Yes, the joint venture would need to hold a separate facility clearance, per (DTM) 24-004, “Facility Security Clearance Requirements for Covered Joint Ventures”.

5 The listing at sam.gov indicates proposals are due July 10 at 2 p.m. The SF33 indicates proposals are due June 30 at 1 p.m. Can you clarify which deadline is correct?

Per the sam.gov RFP posting, proposal submissions are due on July 10 2025 at 2pm. The solicitation form, SF33 has been updated to reflect this date and time under Box #9.

6 At L.2 It states that "The Offer shall include a signed statement, on the Offer's letterhead, stating that the associated proposal..." In what Volume should this statement be included?

This statement shall be incorporated into the "Cover Letter" and is not within a Volume.

7 At L-4 (3) there is an enumerated list. item iii contains no content. Is this intentional?

Reference item 'iii' was erroneously included as blank. The list numbering has been updated accordingly.

8 Are the level-of-effort numbers correct in section L-3? As the table reads, for the first three key personnel roles, the annual hours would be 3,840 (2080 is full-time with no time off). For the other three roles, the annual hours would be 7,680. With the above question in mind, please also confirm the total LOE figure of 814,629 (about 78 FTEs).

The LOE table has been updated to reflect all LOE hours for both key, and non-key personnel. The hours are based on a FTE of 1,920 hours/year for 1 personnel.

9 In L-3 (1) in the proposal organization table, there is contradictory information. In the Volume # and Title column it says the cost proposal and cost spreadsheet are Volume IV, but the file naming convention in the File Name calls the file Volume V. Similarly, in the Volume # and Title column says Contract information is Volume V, but the File Name column indicates it is Volume VI. Please clarify how you would like the files named

The proposal organization table under Section L-2 has been updated to match the Volume # column to the corresponding File Name column.

10 Could you please confirm whether this opportunity is intended to be awarded to an incumbent contractor? If so, and if available, could you also provide the incumbent contractor’s name and the details of the current or previous contract?

This opportunity is a competitive, small business set-aside. The current incumbent is Analysis Computing and Engineering Solutions Inc. (ACES) performing under contract N00173-20-C-6002.

11 Given recent changes in government administration and the Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) decision to decline white papers for a separate procurement effort, we would like to confirm whether this opportunity remains viable and is still expected to proceed—or if there is a potential risk of cancellation.

This requirement is a follow-on effort for services that are currently under contract. This requirement is expected to proceed to support ongoing projects.

12 1. Attachment 8 - Instructions to Offerors, L-3, C, 3, Estimated Key Personnel LOE: The government lists a quantity of 1 for each labor category, however the LOE spanning 5 years indicates more than 1 FTE. For example, Database Engineer is listed as 19,200 hours equating to two FTEs over five years. Systems Engineer is listed as 38,400 hours equating to 4 FTEs over five years. Does the government require names/resumes for more than one key personnel per LCAT?

The labor mix for all personnel has been updated in Section L. Resumes are required for all key personnel. Key personnel are specifically identified in the labor mix table.

13 The table in Section L.2 indicates a page count of 50 for the Technical Proposal. However, in Section L.3(1).v the Government indicates "48 pages per factor each, max". Can the Government please confirm that the total page count for Volume 1 Technical Proposal

Updated page count in Section l-3 (1) to 50 pages max. for each factor.

(excluding items outside page count) is 50 and not 146?

14 The Government states, "Only Key Personnel shall be specifically identified by name in the staffing plan, all other proposed staff shall be identified by labor category." and "For any contingent hire personnel on the staffing plan, who do not currently work for the Offeror or major subcontractor, the Offeror shall provide documentary evidence of the individual's availability to support these requirements (e.g., work agreements, contracts, and letters of intent). Can the Government confirm that the documentary evidence for contingent hires is only for key personnel?

Contingent hire documentation is only required for personnel labeled as "Key Personnel".

15 CLIN 0004 is for Contractor Acquired Property (CAP); however, Section C, Section L, and Attachment 4 do not mention CAP requirements or provide a means to price it.

What are the Government's CAP requirements and how shall these items be priced?

CLIN 0004 for CAP is not a CLIN that is to be priced out. CLIN 0004 is marked "Not separately priced" within Section B. CAP is any property or materials acquired by the contractor during contract performance that would be reported to the Contracting Officer Representative.

16 CLIN 0004 is for Contractor Acquired Property (CAP); however, Section C, Section L, and Attachment 4 do not mention CAP requirements or provide a means to price it. If applicable, will the Government provide a plug number for CAP and a location to price these items in Attachment 4?

CLIN 0004 for CAP is not a CLIN that is to be priced out. CLIN 0004 is marked "Not separately priced" within Section B.

17 CLIN 0004 is for Contractor Acquired Property (CAP); however, however, this CLIN only appears in the base period. Is CAP required for each of the option periods?

CAP is only applicable if acquired by the contractor during contract performance. The CAP CLIN 0004 covers CAP for the entire period of performance of the contract.

18 CLIN 0004 is for Contractor Acquired Property (CAP); however, Section M does not mention CAP requirements. Is CAP a part of total evaluated price (TEP)?

CLIN 0004 for CAP is not a CLIN that is to be priced out. CLIN 0004 is marked "Not separately priced" within Section B.

19 CLIN 0003 is for Contract Data Requirements Listing (CDRL); however, this CLIN only appears in the base period. Are CDRLs required for each of the option periods?

Refer to Exhibit A CDRLs. CDRLs are required under each option year and delivery frequency is specified in Exhibit A for each CDRL requirement.

CLIN 0003 covers CDRLS for the base and all option years.

20 CLIN 0003 is for Contract Data Requirements Listing (CDRL); however, this CLIN only appears in the base period. Are CDRLs a part of total evaluated price (TEP)?

CDRLs are data requirement deliverables that are to be delivered to the COR. See Exhibit A for CDRL details. CDRLs are not directly priced and are marked "not separately priced (NSP)" in Section B of the RFP and final contract.

21 CLINs 0003 for CDRLs and CLIN 0004 for CAP each have a 5-year PoP while other similar Base Year CLINs have a 1-year PoP. Why does the Government fund these CLINs in Base period and keep these CLINs active throughout the entire 5-year period of performance of the contract.

CLIN 0003 and CLIN 0004 are not directly priced CLINs and will not be funded. They are marked "not separately priced (NSP)" in Section B of the RFP and final contract.

22 Section I lists FAR 52.215-23 and FAR 52.215-23 Alt 1. Which of these two clauses is applicable to this solicitation?

FAR 52.215-23 Alt 1 is applicable. The Base clause will be removed from Section I.

23 The Government's H-2(E) key personnel requirements are unclear when reviewed in context of Section L and Attachment 2.

Paragraph H-2(E) discusses individuals;

however, generic labor categories without an experience level I-V or number of individuals is listed. How many personnel at each experience level are designated as key personnel?

The labor mix for all personnel has been incorporated into Section L, with quantity of personnel per labor category.

24 L-1 requires proposals to be based on a 30 Oct 2025 start date and L-3.b.8(a) requires the awardee to complete all transition activities within 90 days after contract award. Does the transition start on 30 Oct 2025 or 90 days before on 2 Aug 2025?

The transition phase shall be completed within 90 days after contract award.

25 The requirement is to propose the skill mix, labor categories, and number of hours listed in Attachment 2 and Section L. The key personnel LOE table lists 172,800 hours. Below the table, the level of effort for all personnel indicates 814,629 hours. Attachment 2 has no hours listed. What skill mix, labor categories, and hours for each shall offerors propose?

Labor mix for all personnel has been added to Section L.

26 The requirement is to propose exactly the hours identified in Section L and any deviation could result in the offeror being determined ineligible for award. The Section l hours appear limited to 172,800 hours. How does the Government expect to assess true cost realism, reasonableness, and risk when it is basing the price competition on a mere 21% of the total hours expected on the contract?

Section L has been updated to reflect a labor mix for key and non-key personnel.

27 The requirement is to propose staffing for key personnel (by name) and non-key personnel (by labor category). The Government's Attachment 2 requirements are unclear. Must offerors name ALL PERSONNEL proposed to fill every labor category/position listed in Attachment 2 B.1-B.6 or just ONE PERSON in the most senior labor category/position?

Offerors are only required to provide names and resumes for 'key' personnel only.

28 The requirement is to propose staffing for key personnel (by name) and non-key personnel (by labor category). Among Section H-2, L-3.c.3, and Attachment 2, the Government's requirements are unclear. Will the Government please specify exactly how many individuals per labor category/experience level combination, and at what number of hours are designated key personnel for this solicitation?

The labor mix has been updated to include LOE for all personnel.

29 The requirement is to provide documentation showing immediate availability of key personnel at contract award; however, the Government's key personnel requirements are unclear. Must offerors provide documentation for ALL PERSONNEL proposed to fill every labor category/position listed in Attachment 2 B.1- B.6 or just ONE PERSON in the most senior labor category/position?

Offerors are only required to provide documentation of availability for 'key' personnel only.

30 The key personnel LOE table contains asterisks that are undefined. What is the significance or meaning of the asterisks listed in the key personnel LOE table?

The asterisk indicated the labor categories that included a 'key' personnel. The table has been updated to list all labor categories for both key and non-key personnel.

31 The second column of the key personnel LOE table shows one person for each labor category for a total of six key personnel; however, the hours in the third column indicate hours for multiple personnel per labor category. Did the Government intend to list 9,600 (1,920 hours x 5 years) hours for each labor category in the key personnel LOE table?

The LOE table has been updated to reflect all LOE hours for both key, and non-key personnel.

32 The key personnel LOE table lists 172,800 hours for five years. Below the table, the level of effort for all personnel indicates 814,629 hours for five years. The RFP does not appear to indicate LOE for the key positions below level 5 or any of the non-key labor categories. What labor and skill mix shall offerors use to price the remaining LOE?

Labor mix was updated for key personnel and non-key personnel.

33 Requirement states that Offerors should maintain the formatting of all rows and columns as found in Attachment 4. For the avoidance of any doubt, will the Government please verify that offerors are authorized to add rows to Attachment 4 so long as they maintain the formatting of the existing rows?

Rows may be added to Attachment 4, while maintaining formatting elsewhere.

34 Requirement states that Subcontracting cost must be provided at the same level of detail as the prime offeror. If the subcontractor agrees or prefers, may prime offerors include disclosed subcontractor costs as a part of their proposal (e.g., separate tabs or workbooks)?

Subcontractor costs shall be included in the Prime's proposal as a separate tab or workbook.

35 Requirement states that Subcontracting cost must be provided at the same level of detail as the prime offeror. If the subcontractor chooses to submit their disclosed cost proposal directly to the Government, must they do so using the DoD SAFE procedures outlined in L-1(3)?

Subcontractor costs shall be submitted by the Prime and shall be a part of the Prime's proposal, not separate.

36 The Key Personnel LOE table references a quantity of 1 with hours equivalent to multiple personnel (FTEs). Would the Government confirm that only 6 total resumes are required for Key Personnel?

There are only a total of 6 key personnel require for the contract. Therefore, only 6 total resumes are required- 1 for each key personnel.

37 Could the Government please confirm the anticipated FTE per year is 1920 hours?

The anticipated FTE is 1,920 hours per year.

38 Should the NTE total LOE of 814,629 be spread equally across all 5 years?

See updated LOE labor mix table in Section L.