Solicitation N0018921Q0096 Questions and Answers Final.pdf

Solicitation N0018921Q0096 Questions and Answers

1.) Task Area 5.0.9 speaks to a signed NDA. Is that something we need to submit as part of the proposal or is that something the government will be asking for after award?

A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) will be signed and submitted after award with the requiring activity.

2.) Who is the incumbent?

The previous contract was held by VOX OPTIMA, LLC and the contract number is N0018920P0155.

3.) Which company, consultant, employee (in terms of role), etc. has performed this scope of work, in part or whole, during the last 18 months?

See response to question #2 above.

4.) Are there any incumbent contractor employees whom the awardee should consider for “right of first refusal”?

No.

5.) How many years has each incumbent contractor employee(s) worked in their current and/or similar roles?

The previous contract included a 6-month base with one 6-month extension option. The total period of performance was 28 February 2020 - 27 February 2021.

6.) Is there no-cost parking that is within walking distance to the government’s worksite? If no, what are the parking options?

As specified in section 4.01 of the PWS, and in the solicitation description on Beta.SAM.gov, work shall take place remotely with teleconference calls conducted as needed.

7.) How often may personnel telework during COVID-19? Or will work be 100% remote for the duration of the contract, as specified in PWS 4.01?

See response to question #6 above.

8.) How often, if it all, are personnel required to work onsite during COVID-19? Or will work be 100% remote for the duration of the contract, as specified in PWS 4.01?

See response to question #6 above.

9.) How often may personnel telework during normal business operations? Or will work be 100% remote for the duration of the contract, as specified in PWS 4.01?

See response to question #6 above.

10.) Can the offeror’s proposed key personnel start work before the government completes its public trust investigation and renders a positive adjudication? Or can the offeror’s personnel only start work after they receive a positive adjudication?

No. Due to the SECRET clearance requirements detailed in PWS section 5.07, proposed key personnel must possess and maintain at least a SECRET security clearance at the time of award to continue for the life of this requirement. Furthermore, apparent awardee must also possess at least a

SECRET facility clearance at the time of award to continue for the life of this requirement, along with the CONTRACTOR personnel.

11.) Is this an RFQ or an RFP? References are made to both a proposal and a quote.

This solicitation is a Request for Quote (RFQ).

12.) Please confirm that offerors can invoice the government for Federal Holidays and employee time off since this is a firm fixed prince (FFP) contract?

This is a FFP solicitation. Invoicing will be a fixed amount per month. Federal Holidays and employee time off should be included in the FFP quote.

13.) Since this contract is Firm Fixed Price (FFP), please confirm that offerors will invoice by dividing the

Annual Firm Fixed Price contract value by 12 months? In other words, if the award value was theoretically

$120,000.00 the awardee would invoice the government $10,000.00 every month for the period of performance. If this is not the invoice approach, please detail the invoice approach for this contract?

Yes. The above invoice approach would be correct.

14.) Please confirm that offerors can invoice the government for Federal Holidays and employee time off since this is a firm fixed prince (FFP) contract? If no, please revise the contract to be Labor Hour (LH) or Time

& Materials (T&M) since the awardee will only be able to invoice for hours worked.

Please see response to question #12 above.

15.) In reference to section 52.222-42, is the government suggesting the $70.00 per hour rate as what the offeror should pay its proposed personnel?

Clause 52.222-42 is a statement of equivalent rates, it is not what the quoter is required to pay proposed personnel. The wage rates and benefits are to be in accordance with the provided wage determination.

16.) In reference to section 52.222-42, is the government’s suggested $70.00 per hour rate inclusive of all benefits, or is it restricted to wages?

See response to question #15 above.

17.) Is this contract being competed, in effect, as Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA)?

Yes. See solicitation clause 52.212-2.

18.) What should offerors include in their proposal as proof of a “facility clearance”?

The offeror shall provide proof/verification that it possesses a current Secret Facilities clearance at time of proposal submission. The proof/verification shall be in the form of Defense Security Service verification obtained within 30 days prior to close of solicitation and shall include the following: Cage

Code, Facility Name, Physical Location, Facility Clearance Status/Level, Status Date/Issue Date, Safeguarding Level, Authorized Access To, FCL Limitation, Facility Security Officer, Facility

Security Officer Phone Number, DSS Field Office, and DSS Field Office Phone Number.

19.) What are the evaluation criteria? Although section 52.212-2 refers to past performance as the only evaluation criterion, but Section 5.0 requires a resume, which implies that resumes are considered part of the evaluation.

PWS section 5.0 details 10 technical requirements that must be met for the quote to be technically acceptable. Clause 52.212-2 identifies Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) language for evaluation purposes.

20.) May the offeror’s personnel start work two weeks after contract award if s/he needs to provide a two week’s notice to their current employer?

Yes. However, the awardee should not invoice the government until work begins.

21.) If the offeror’s personnel needs to provide their current employer a two week’s notice prior to starting work, would the government adjust the contract’s period of performance to account for the employee’s actual start date?

Yes. See response to #20 above.

22.) When is the offeror’s personnel expected to start work?6

The Government intends for the POP to start on 2/28. However, contractor employees shall fill the position as soon as possible.

23.) Has the government already begun the 2020 Command Operations Report?

Yes. The government has begun compiling raw inputs for the 2020 OJAG and NLSC Command

Operations Reports.

24.) What are the government’s expectations for the offeror’s personnel to put together the 2020 Command

Operations Report if s/he is presumably joining this initiative relatively late in the publication lifecycle?

The government currently is collecting raw inputs for the 2020 OJAG and NLSC Command

Operations Reports. The awardee’s personnel will track down missing inputs, draft narratives, compile raw information, and edit final reports. This project will require both writing and editing skills.

25.) How many federal employees and/or contractor personnel comprise NLSC’s public affairs team?

The JAG community public affairs team currently includes two full-time employees. The awardee’s personnel will supplement that team.

26.) Will the Government allow invoicing via WAWF?

Payment will be made via WAWF.