Attachment 9 - QA 3 Sep 2025.docx

1. We recognize the Management Plan requirements as defined in Section L-Volume I Subfactor 3: Management Capability and therefore assume the information in item (4) Draft Contractor's Management Plan included in Section L-4-Volume II – Past Performance Information (p.56) was an editing error. Is the draft CMP a requirement under Past Performance or should it be omitted entirely?

Answer: The draft contractor’s management plan under past performance has been removed.

2. Reference from the RFP – SECTION L-3 VOLUME I - TECHNICAL PROPOSAL - Subfactor 2: Personnel Qualifications, 2. The Offeror's proposal shall demonstrate the Offeror's ability to provide personnel to carry out the SOW in accordance with Attachment 2. Offeror's proposals shall document the following, specifically: 1. The experience of all proposed key personnel; 2. The qualifications of proposed key personnel; 3. The availability of all personnel to support the effort on a full-time permanent basis (for all full-time employees only); and 4. The proposed personnel's ability to span the total requirements (60 months).

a. Referencing items 3 and 4 above, can the government please clarify if these requirements apply only to key personnel OR do they apply to ALL personnel and/or any named personnel, in addition to the key personnel?

Answer: The requirements apply to all personnel

b. Specifically, are Letters of Commitment required for key personnel or all personnel?

Answer: The requirement is for the Offeror to Document the required information. Documentation will vary depending on the required item. A letter of commitment is not the only acceptable solution, for example, a narrative in the cost proposal explaining the intended ability of the required personnel would likely be sufficient.

3. Reference Section B: Holding SLINs 0001AA, 0002AA, etc. state: “The listed Estimated Cost and Fixed Fee indicate the amount remaining for obligation”;however, the header of Section B doesn’t request the Cost and Fee to be listed separately. It requires a Qty, Unit, Unit Price and Amount.

a. Question: Should the ‘Amount’ for the Labor CLINs be the total proposed amount to include cost and fee combined? Or should we modify the table to separate out the cost and fee and enter the combined total as the ‘Amount’?

Answer: Offerors shall propose the CLIN amounts on the base CLINs (0001, etc.), and the values should be listed with Cost, Fee, and total CPFF per CLIN. Modify the cells as necessary to fill this in.

4. Reference Section B: CLIN 0003 states: “Data - Base and Option Years – Not Separately Priced. The Contractor shall furnish all data as required by the Contract Data Requirements List, DD Form 1423 (Exhibit A)”. However, there wasn’t a DD-1423 Contract Data Requirements List included with the RFP. The only CDRL reference is in the SOW.

a. Question: Can you please provide the DD-1423 Contract Data Requirements List?

Answer: The CDRLs have been added via this amendment

5. Is the Introduction listed as part of the Past Performance volume's content count toward the volume's 20-page limit?

Answer: Yes

6. RFP States: 6. Management Plan: The Offeror's proposal shall detail the Offeror's management plan, which should include a description of how the different tasks can be effectively and efficiently managed with minimum demands upon Government personnel. It should include, as applicable: management experience and involvement, quality control, risk management, systems engineering, hardware development, configuration management and subcontract management. And (4) Draft Contractor's Management Plan

a. Question: The two referenced items seem to duplicate the same requirement. Can the Government please confirm that the Management Plan is only required in Volume I Technical and that the plan is excluded from page count?

Answer: The draft management plan requirement in the past performance section is hereby removed.

7. Contractors are asked to provide a description of Hardware development as part of the Management Plan. Can the Government confirm that “hardware development” should be “software development?”

Answer: Yes, that is hereby changed to “software development”

8. "Proposals shall include specific examples and documentation of qualifications such as certifications, training, past contracts, joint research, and industry participation." Do offerers need to provide copies (content) of the cited documentation, or merely a reference/listing of such documentation?

Answer: References/listings are acceptable.

9. Will the Government please exclude the Supporting Evidence from the 48 page limitation for Volume I – Technical Proposal?

Answer: No, that information is included within the page limit

10. Can the Government clarify that the reference to Level of Effort L-12 should be Level of Effort L-8?

Answer: Yes, this correction has been made

11. Can the Government confirm that Names are only required for Key Personnel?

Answer: Yes, names are only required for key personnel.

12. (8) PROPOSAL PREPARATION BY NON-EMPLOYEE… The certification shall be provided in Volume V. Can the Government please confirm that this information should be provided in Volume VI – Contract Information vs Vol V – Cost Spreadsheet?

Answer: No, this information should be included in Vol V, Cost Proposal

13. Given that this is an electronic only proposal delivery, would the Government consider removing the Tab requirement?

Answer: The reference to “Tabs” has been removed

14. While we respect the Government’s desire to have a dedicated workforce, it is unrealistic to expect a contractor or employee to sign a document to commit an individual (identified or contingent) for a full five-year period. There are a wide variety of practical, legal and real-life events that support this to be an unrealistic commitment. As such, we respectfully request the Government change this to a 12-month period most commonly used for key personnel commitments in Government solicitations.

Answer: See answer in 2b, above.

15. “Non-key personnel shall be available for work efforts within 30 days after the contract period of performance start date.” Can the Government please confirm that named non-key personnel are not required as stated in L-3(1)a.Subfactor 3?

Answer: Only key personnel are required to be named.

16. Staffing Plan Narrative. Can the Government confirm that “proposed personnel” is referring to only proposed Key Personnel?

Answer: The staffing plan requirement may necessitate information and references to both key, and non-key personnel.

17. Can the Government confirm that they want both a written narrative for Volume III addressing the items requested in Section L and the completed Attachment 5 – SBPCD with each proposal?

Answer: Yes, both are required.

18. RFP States: (1) Information including the name, title, and actual hourly rate shall be provided by the Offeror for each individual proposed for the labor categories identified in Section L (Offerors are to propose on the labor categories and hour estimates provided as the Level of Effort, L-12.

a. Can the Government clarify that the reference to Level of Effort L-12 should be Level of Effort L-8?

Answer: Provided above in question 10.

b. Can the Government confirm that Names are only required for Key Personnel?

Answer: Names are only required for key personnel, however if a offeror is substantiating a pay rate with an actual employees salary, that name would need to be listed.

19. There are numerous references to SOW 2.1-2.3 within the position qualifications. Can the Government please confirm that these references should be for SOW 4.1-4.3 including subsections?

Yes, the Personnel Qualifications attachment has been updated.

20. C.10 Software Quality Assurance Engineer. Experience Level III 3. The experience level indicates there are 3 positions, Can the Government confirm the quantity of this position is 1 at 10,000 total hours?

Answer: That position should be 1 FTE, the Personnel Qualifications attachment has been updated.

21. Can the Government provide a copy of the actual CDRLs?

Answer: CDRLs are added as an Exhibit.

22. Can the Government provide their organizational chart for the offices supporting the SESRD requirement?

Answer: No, this will not be provided.

23. Can the Government provide a bidders library with governing engineering processes to which the contractor must comply?

Answer: No, NRL will not be providing a bidders library. Relevant technical documentation varies from project to project.

24. "Technical Approach: Offerors shall describe their technical approach to fulfilling all aspects of the SOW." Can the government clarify that this technical approach only needs to address section 4 of the SOW (Tasks), and not other sections such as GFP, security, export control, etc?

Answer: All sections should be addressed, some may require only a minimal narrative.

25. Is it acceptable to address Technical Approach, Experience and Capabilities, and Supporting Evidence for each SOW section separately? Or does the government require Technical Approach for the entire SOW, then Experience and Capabilities for the entire SOW, then Supporting Evidence and Assumptions for the entire SOW?

Answer: Offeror’s may prepare proposals in an organized manner they find to be most suitable, assuming it follows all the requirements of the RFP.

26. Can the Government identify the positions on this contract that fall under the requirements of the Cyber Security Workforce (CSWF)?

Answer: The Lead System Administrator (1 Key Required) position falls under the requirements of the Cyber Security Workforce (CSWF).

27. The SOW States: 4.3.1.2 The contractor shall provide Configuration Management and Defect Tracking for all software (CDRL A0), procedures, documentation, plans, and other components used in the performance of the preceding requirements. Can the Government clarify the CDRL number and contents?

Answer: CDRL A006, the SOW has been updated.

28. Table 2: Combined Technical Risk/Ratings to be used for Factor 1 state that demonstrating a "significant strength" is required to achieve an "Outstanding" or a "Good" adjectival rating. Term definitions in the preceding Table 1 only address "Strength." Will the Government please provide a definition of "Significant Strength."

Answer: Added

29. For a Joint Venture (JV), if the JV partner performing the accounting is using their accounting system, which has been deemed adequate in an audit by DCAA, and we supply the DCAA audit letter with our proposal, will this meet the requirement in RFP Section L.7(2) on page 59: “Accounting System: In order to obtain a cost-reimbursement type contract, the Offeror's accounting system must be considered adequate by the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA).”?

Answer: Yes, if it is clearly stated and explained in the proposal.