N0018919QG011_Questions_and_Answers.docx

Questions and Answers:

1. Is this a follow-on contract? What is the current contract number?

A. Yes, this is a follow-on contract for N0018913PG207.

2. Who is the incumbent?

A. The incumbent is TRUSTON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

3. Under 3.2 Barrier Inspection, Maintenance and Repair; and 3.3 Barrier Boat Inspections and Maintenance:

a. Is the Contractor required to furnish any maintenance related parts or consumables? What process is in place to procure required parts for barrier and boat maintenance items listed?

A. The Contractor is required to inspect the Government-provided vessels daily. The Contractor is not responsible for barrier boat repairs. The Contractor is responsible for performing barrier inspections and routine barrier maintenance and minor repairs. All parts and supplies are procured and provided by the Government.

b. Is the Government able to provide an estimated or historical level of effort in man hours required to provide inspection, maintenance and repair services required in Section 3.2 and 3.3?

A. Inspections are conducted daily normally in the morning. The inspections normally take approximately one hour. Minor repairs are conducted as identified through inspections. Section 3.2 “Barrier Inspection, Maintenance and Repair” provides a general list of minor repairs requirements. In case of any PSB-V system deficiencies or emergent repairs that are not rectifiable by the Contractor, the Contractor will follow the reporting procedures listed in Section 3.2.

4. Under 3.7.5 Training and 3.7.3.2.2 Non-Key Personnel: Boat Captain:

a. Section 3.7.5 states, “In accordance with CNIC Instruction 3500.1, vendor personnel assigned as coxswains shall attend the five-day Shore Installation Management Basic Boat Coxswain (SIMBBC) training courses CIN#D-540-1007, or possess their U.S. Coast Guard Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel License (OUPV), commonly referred to as “the six pack” license.” However, Section 3.7.3.2.2 states Boat Captains shall possess and maintain a U.S. Coast Guard 50-ton Master License and minimum of two years’ experience as a 50 Ton Master.

The OUPV license is the lowest level Captain’s license offered by the USCG and differs significantly from a USCG 50-ton Master’s license. The two statements appear to provide conflicting minimum qualification requirements for the boat Captain/coxswain. Please clarify the minimum required licensure required.

A. The requirement is 50 ton for the Captain/coxswain to include 2nd Class Swimmer or Coast Guard STCW, and minimum SIMBBC and 2nd Class Swimmer or STCW for Crewmember.

5. Under Section 3.1.3, “The vendor shall be tasked to move other assets or perform other tasks during shift. All tasks will be prioritized by the Navy. Related tasks include, but are not limited to:

Tasks listed in Section 3.1.3 could represent a significant amount of man-hours daily. As written, the RFP does not provide any indicator of the amount of time spent on these tasks or when/how the Navy prioritizes them in comparison to barrier moves. Can the government provide a level of effort estimate for the tasks listed in Section 3.1.3?

A. Historical data shows approximately 36 asset moves per year. These asset moves are conducted during normal shift hours.

6. Under Section 3.7.6 Employment of Navy Personnel Restricted, “During performance of this contract, the Vendor shall not use as a consultant or employee (on either a full or part time basis) any active duty military, Reserve, National Guardsmen or civilian (and/or DoD or Federal Civil Service). See FAR 3.601(a) and (b). Navy personnel without the prior approval of the Contracting Officer. Such approval may be given only in circumstances where it is clear that no laws and no Department of Defense (DoD) or Navy instructions, regulations, or policies might possibly be contravened, and no conflict of interest or appearance of a conflict of interest will result. There shall be a clear distinction between Government employees and vendor employees. Vendor employees will identify themselves as vendor personnel by introducing themselves or being introduced as vendor personnel and displaying distinguishing badges or other visible identification for meetings with Government personnel. In addition, vendor personnel shall appropriately identify themselves as vendor employees in telephone conversations and in formal and informal written correspondence.”

The FAR article quoted states:

a) Except as specified in 3.602, a contracting officer shall not knowingly award a contract to a Government employee or to a business concern or other organization owned or substantially owned or controlled by one or more Government employees. This policy is intended to avoid any conflict of interest that might arise between the employees' interests and their Government duties, and to avoid the appearance of favoritism or preferential treatment by the Government toward its employees.

(b) For purposes of this subpart, special Government employees (as defined in 18 U.S.C. 202) performing services as experts, advisors, or consultants, or as members of advisory committees, are not considered Government employees unless --

(1) The contract arises directly out of the individual's activity as a special Government employee;

(2) In the individual's capacity as a special Government employee, the individual is in a position to influence the award of the contract; or

(3) Another conflict of interest is determined to exist.

3.602 -- Exceptions.

The agency head, or a designee not below the level of the head of the contracting activity, may authorize an exception to the policy in 3.601 only if there is a most compelling reason to do so, such as when the Government's needs cannot reasonably be otherwise met.

Question: The language in the highlighted passage of FAR 3.601(a) seems to draw a distinction based on ownership and/or control of the business concern. As MMSI is a privately owned company, our prospective APM would never be in a position to own or control the company. Is it the Government's intent to deny employment via this solicitation to all Reservist and National Guard personnel based on FAR 3.601?

A. The paragraph is based on FAR 3.601. If your circumstance does not apply, in accordance with FAR 3.601, then you should be good.

7. The quote page limitations chart located at the top of page 34 of 71 sets forth the arrangement of volumes as follows:

- Volume I: Factor I - Security Clearance

- Volume II: Factor II - Staffing Approach

- Volume II: Factor III - Past Performance

- Volume III: Factor IV - Price Quote

However, the instructions that follow place the volumes in this grouping:

Volume I: Technical - Factor I Security Clearance and Factor II Staffing Approach Volume II: Past Performance Volume III: Price Factor IV - Price

Question: Which of these groupings of volumes and factors does the Government wish offerors to use in their submissions?

A. That was a typo. Please use the following format below:

Volume I: Factor I - Security Clearance Volume I: Factor II - Staffing Approach (Security Clearance and Staffing Approach are both under Technical) Volume II: Factor III - Past Performance Volume III: Factor IV – Price

8. Can the Government provide the Wage Determinations for the positions described in the solicitation?

A. WD2015-0213 Rev 11 will be used.

9. Does the Government intend to post answers on NECO or FBO to all of the questions it has received?

A. We are working on posting a compilation of questions and answers on NECO.

10. While awaiting responses to previously transmitted questions, will the Government consider issuing an extension to the deadline to allow us time to alter our staffing approach and pricing once we have received the Government’s answers?

A. There is no plan on extending the solicitation period, as it stands.