NST_QA1.pdf

Number Question Answer 1 Does the Government market research support that this could not be achieved by a small business via a set aside? Market research supported soliciting this effort under full and open competition.

Offerors will not be providing pricing within their Proposals. Should offerors in submitting their Small Business Participation Plan and SB Subcontracting Plans utilize the solicitation ceiling value of $246,761,679.00 to represent the “whole dollars” in their submission of the SB plans? Yes, please utilize the total ceiling value.

Is it the Government’s intent that the Offeror submit four (4) separate Volumes: Factor I – Corporate Experience; Factor II – Technical: Staffing Plan and Scenario Solution; Factor III – Technical: Small Business Participation Plan; and Small Business Subcontracting Plan, comprising four separate Word documents? Please see Amendment 1. Offerors may submit as one (1) volume comprising of the entire proposal.

Will the Government allow Offerors to submit the Small Business Participation Plan and associated Small Business Subcontracting Plan in a single volume as the documents are related and should be evaluated together? Please see Question 3.

Will the Government clarify whether the Period of Performance is the Period of Performance reflected on page.5 under Delivery Information, or the anticipated Award date set forth in the Duration of Contract Period, paragraph (a)?

Please see Amendment 1 which corrects the Duration of the Contract Period.

If the Offeror has on-going and recent transformations that will meet the “completed work” requirement past performance by award date, will the government allow offerors to submit Corporate Experience strategic transformation qualifications that exceed the stated completed work threshold ($25M) by the award date? The only recency criterion is that the work was performed within five (5) years of the RFP closing.

Will an effort that is listed in more than one (1) subject area, while fulfilling the requirements of each subject area, be counted as multiple efforts (1 per subject area), or would it be counted as a single effort? Please clarify.

As stated in the RFP, "Please note that one (1) reference may fulfill the requirements of more than one (1) subject area."

Given that the Government has not requested Pricing volumes, rate cards or labor categories for this MAC RFP, does the government expect offerors to provide PROPOSED LCATS for the scenario, or will the government be amending its RFP to either include LCATS to propose against, or remove this requirement?

Yes, the Government is requesting the offeror's identification of personnel (by labor category) required to complete the task. The Government will not be revising the RFP to provide labor categories or remove the requirement.

Is the gov't able to support a 2 week extension on the proposal submission deadline from 06 APR to 20 APR to allow for additional time to confer and confirm confidentiality disclosure requirements with commercial clients being referenced as part of the Corporate Past Performance ? Please see Amendment 1.

Can NAVSUP further expound upon the definition of an “End to End Supply Chain Integration. Does the integration start at the deployed (disconnected) ship/submarine level or some point after that? Does the E2E integration integrate into an OEM's supply chain system?

End to End is a broad term that includes the program office, upstream industry partners, and all other participating supply chain entities all the way down to the Last Tactical Mile (LTM). The LTM represents the last steps to physically getting a part or service to its final destination/point of need.

Can NAVSUP further define what is meant by the Last Tactical Mile. Are we to assume (LTM) include commands, units or does it cover platforms, Ships, aircraft, submarines, and mobile special ops units operating at FOBs?

Please see Question 10. With this definition of LTM, it could include all of the examples provided in the question.

12 Is there an incumbent/how many incumbents? This is a new requirement.

13 If there are incumbents, how many contracts was awarded in previous RFP? See Question 12.

Is the government going to award multiple contracts for N0018921R0016?

Per the Addendum to FAR 52.212-2, "The Government intends to award to each and all Technically Acceptable Offerors for NAVSUP Strategic Transformation (NST) with a five (5) year ordering period. The Government reserves the right to make some or no awards at all."

Can the Government confirm if offerors should submit completed representations and certifications with proposals? If so, could the Government confirm which volume offerors should provide them in? Please see Amendment 1. Please see question 3 regarding volumes.

In the Evaluation Criteria on page 13 of the RFTOP, Sub-factor III: Small Business Participation Plan states the Contracting Officer will evaluate the Small Business Participation Plan as follows: The extent of commitment to use small business concerns (for example, enforceable commitments will be weighted more heavily than non-enforceable ones). If a bidders has a signed teaming agreement with a small business subcontractor, would that be considered an ‘enforceable commitment’ and therefore weighted more heavily in the evaluation process? Please see Amendment 1 which removes that enforceable commitments will be weighed more heavily.

In the Evaluation Criteria on page 13 of the RFTOP, Sub-factor III: Small Business Participation Plan states the Contracting Officer will evaluate the Small Business Participation Plan as follows: The extent of commitment to use small business concerns (for example, enforceable commitments will be weighted more heavily than non-enforceable ones). Is it possible that a bidder could be deemed Unacceptable if they don’t provide evidence of ‘enforceable commitments’ with small business subcontractors?

Please see question 16.

Sub-Factor III: Small Business Participation Plan (Page 13) states “The Contracting Officer will evaluate the Small Business Participation Plan as follows: The extent of commitment to use small business concerns (for example, enforceable commitments will be weighted more heavily than non-enforceable ones)”. Can the Government please provide examples of “enforceable and non-enforceable” commitments? Is a Letter of Commitment considered an enforceable commitment? Please see question 16.

Section 7.0, Security: (Page 50). The RFP does not indicate a Security Clearance is required for personnel on this contract. Is a Security Clearance required for work on this contract? If so, what type? Is an Interim clearance acceptable? Is there any requirement for security clearances upon IDIQ award? Security clearance is not required.

RFP, 1 GENERAL (page 72) states “the proposal shall consist of the following separate factors”. Factor II Technical lists “Sub- Factor III: Small Business Participation Plan”. Also listed separately is “Small Business Subcontracting Plan”. Are these separate sections that should be written to separately? Please provide an explanation of what is expected to be addressed in each section.

Subfactor III will be evaluated IAW the Addendum to FAR 52.212-2 while the small business subcontracing plan will be reviewed IAW FAR 19.704 to ensure that all apparently successful offerors have an acceptable plan.

Page 75 indicates the Government intends to contact identified POCs and states “The Government will not ask proprietary questions. This is a reference check only”. Private sector clients, frequently, do not want individual’s names divulged. To assuage potential concerns by private sector clients, can the Government please indicate the types of questions to be asked as part of the reference check?

Questions will be asked in reference to the quality of performance and validation of performance. In accordance with FAR 15.505(e), the names of individuals providing reference information will not be divulged.

Technical Approach, Sub-Factor I Staffing Plan (Page 75) states “Offerors shall provide its turnover rate for professional services and demonstrate its plan for maintaining a turnover rate at or below 20% as required in the NAVSUP Strategic Transformation PWS” Can the Government please provide more detail on the 20% turnover metric (e.g. for the life of the IDIQ, annually, etc.)? The 20% turnover rate will be determined based on the task orders that the contractor receives.

Small Business Contracting Plan (Page 76) requires large prime contractors to include in the Small Business Contracting Plan, “small business contracting goals expressed in term of whole dollars and percentage based on total planned subcontracting dollars. Of the total planned subcontracting dollars, the Small Business Subcontracting Plan shall include goals for Small Businesses, Small Disadvantaged Businesses, Woman-Owned Small Businesses, HubZone Small Businesses, Veteran Owned Small Businesses and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business”. At Proposal Submission, offerors do not know the value of Task Orders (total whole dollars) the offeror will win, offerors are not able to provide either the “small business contracting goals expressed in term of whole dollars” nor “total planned subcontracting dollar goals for Small Businesses, Small Disadvantaged Businesses, Woman-Owned Small Businesses, HubZone Small Businesses, Veteran Owned Small Businesses and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business”. Also, the percentage of subcontracting by socio-economic category depends on the Task Order requirements and the specific capabilities of each small business.Consequently, will the Government consider

(1) eliminating the requirement for small business subcontracting goals expressed in terms of whole dollars and (2) eliminate the total planned subcontracting dollars by socio-economic category; instead, accepting the target percentage of work to be performed by small business and requiring awardees to report the “percent of total work planned for subcontracting to small business by socio-economic category”? Please see question 2.

Has the steering committee referenced in 2.1 of the solicitation been formed? If so, what are the titles / positions of these members?

"The NSS-Supply will be governed by a steering committee co-chaired by the VCNO. It will bring together all key supply chain leaders in order to elevate strategic supply chain decision making" This information is not available at this time.

Is there equivalent focus on each of the 6 pillars of the NSS-Supply?

" 1) Achieve E2E integration, 2) Establish demand management, 3) Optimize Working Capital Fund Allocations, 4) Shape Industrial Base, 5) Expand Organic Repair and 6) Increase E2E velocity." Yes, the focus is equal between the pillars.

Can the government provide any pre-defined metrics for the 6 pillars of the NSS-Supply in addition to those referenced below:

"NAVSUP is constantly looking to reduce Average Customer Wait Time (ACWT) and Logistics Response Time (LRT) with a specific focus on optimizing forward positioning of material and reducing Last Tactical Mile (LTM) time segment to improve supply chain responsiveness in support of readiness objectives."

NSS-Supply has established some standardized metrics, but is willing and interested to consider other metrics that achieve the desired goals.

Bidding an SBA Approved 8(a) or SDVOSB Mentor Protégé JV. As we review the NAVSUP NST PWS, it appears NAVSUP is limiting the use of SBA approved Mentor Protégé Joint Ventures. Can NAVSUP confirm if SBA approved 8(a) or SDVOSB Joint ventures may bid on this solicitation? Can NAVSUP further confirm that if an approved 8(a) or SDVOSB Joint Venture is proposing, the Corporate Experience of either of the members of a joint venture in a mentor protege joint venture, including work that was performed BEFORE the Joint Venture was formed will be evaluated? Below are a few rulings related to the Mentor Protege JVs:

Under SBA rules, small businesses can pair up with larger businesses in a mentor-protege joint venture (MPJV). Congress amended the Small Business Act at 15 USC § 644 (q) (1) to require procuring agencies to consider the past performance and capabilities of the individual members of the MPJV when the MPJV as a whole did not demonstrate sufficient capabilities or past performance experience to be considered for award. The Small Business Administration (SBA) promulgated regulations implementing the change at 13 C.F.R. § 125.8 (e) which establishes that a procuring activity must consider work done individually by each partner to the MPJV as well as work done by the joint venture itself previously.

This procurement is not “set aside or reserved for small businesses” as described in 13 CFR 125.8(e). Thus, per the Addendum to FAR 52.212-1, "If a Joint Venture is proposing, the Corporate Experience will need to be experience performed as the Joint Venture to be evaluated. Work that was performed BEFORE the Joint Venture was formed will not be evaluated."

This section notes that small businesses are not required to submit a subcontracting plan but are required to submit a small business participation plan. Earlier in the paragraph the solicitation defines the small business participation plan as addressing both the extent of commitment to use small business concerns and past performance regarding compliance with FAR 52.219-8 and 52.219-9, which specifically is a reference to the use of small business subcontracting plans. Can NAVSUP please clarify what it expects for contents within the small business participation plan for small business offerors?

Small businesses are required to submit a participation plan which includes the extent of commitment ot use small business concerns and past performance in complying with FAR 52.219-8.

29 Is there a maximum Task Order size for this solicitation? The maximum is $246,761,679.00.

Can government confirm that the fastest it will seek to staff a project is five days from contract award?

At this time the Government is unable to confirm that the fastest it will seek to staff a project is five days from award.

Is the 20% turnover rate reference a yearly turnover rate? If not, what is the period of time referred to for the turnover rate? Please see question 22.

Does the government have specific priorities or focus areas for the transformation tasks that fall under other ancillary services? There are no specific priorities for the ancillary services and are considered equally important.

33 Does the government plan to designate any personnel as "Key" at the IDIQ level? No.

Will the government accept representative resumes that do not count against the page-limit of individuals who may be designated as Key at the Task Order level? This is not a submission requirement and unless it falls under an evaluation factor, will not be evaluated.

What portion of the response should offerors include their completed SF1449, Contract Clauses, and Representations and Certifications? Please see Amendment 1.

The SF1449 Continuation Sheets appear to require pricing. Please confirm that no pricing is required for this IDIQ submittal. Offerors are not to submit any pricing.

We believe the Government should provide a separate CLIN for Travel/ODCs that would be Cost Reimbursable at the IDIQ level to be able to include these CLINs at a Task Order level. The Government will not be including a separate travel CLIN.

38 Are offerors required to submit a Key Executive Contact List at the IDIQ level? Offerors will provide this list upon award.

Page 55 – 9.1 Key Personnel - The Government shall not be billed for key personnel positions left vacant over 10 calendar days unless the vacancy is due to Government delay and otherwise approved by the CO. We request that the Government remove this requirement/stipulation since this IDIQ will have FFP Task Orders as it puts an unnecessary administrative burden on the Government and Contractors to comply. The Government will not be removing this requirement.

Please confirm the IDIQ Kick-off meeting/agenda will be conducted either 10 days after award announcement or effective date of the IDIQ Award.

Upon award of the IDIQ, the government will schedule and coordinate an IDIQ kick-off meeting no later than (NLT) ten (10) calendar days after the initial award.

Please clarify agenda items for the initial IDIQ Kick-off meeting. The current agenda includes items that would be addressed at a Task Order level consistent with 9.10.1. The items listed in 9.9.1 is correct.

42 Please confirm that offerors are not required to submit a Quality Control Plan for the IDIQ level. In accordance with 9.9.1 of the PWS, the QCP is an agenda item for the kick-off meeting.

Can NAVSUP provide their definition for the three (3) acronyms used in the scenario? (pg. 76) 1. Average Customer Wait Time (ACWT)? 2. Logistics Response Time (LRT)? 3. Last Tactical Mile (LTM)?

ACWT - Average Customer Wait Time - The average time elapsed between generation of a parts requirement until the delivery of part to the requestor.

LRT - Logistics Response Time - Is a subset of ACWT metrics removing some of the admin wait time on both the ordering and receiving side.

LTM - Last tactical mile - last steps to physically to getting a part or service to its final destination/point of need.

Can NAVSUP provide clarity on, “inventory positioning re-baseline approach”? Is there a current baseline and are there any current metrics? What are the perceived shortcomings of the systems being used?

The Navy has no published baseline and is interested in understanding different approaches that reduce ACWT and LRT.

In order to achieve the highest benefit and lowest risk outcomes through transformation, we recommend that NAVSUP consider a requirement for the following key personnel and experts to be presented as part of Offerors' Staffing Plans. Corresponding CVs/bios could be presented as part of an appendix that does not count against page allocations. (a) 2 overall account executives to be single point of accountability (key personnel) (b) Individuals with experience leading transformations in Fortune 100 companies (c) Individuals with experience leading transformations in the DOD/National Security domain (d) Individuals with experience bringing private sector best practices to federal agencies (e) 1-2 supply chain transformation experts (f) 1-2 organizational and change management experts (g) 1-2 supply chain IT / digital solution experts (h) 1-2 Senior industry advisors The Government will not be including this requirement at the IDIQ level.

Many Offerors utilize tools and other pre-existing intellectual property to enhance the quality of support provided to their clients. As the commercial licenses associated with each tool may differ based on the tool used, please confirm that the Government will negotiate appropriate data rights and licensing terms at the Task Order level, when applicable. Data rights will be defined and detailed at the task order level.

For this contract, does the Navy have an overall target for the % of spend directed to small businesses?

The Government is not establishing goals, but all acceptable offerors will be required to have an acceptable subcontracting plan prior to award.

For this contract, does the Navy have a target for the mix of spend directed to sub-categories of small businesses (WOSB, VOSB, etc.)? Please see question 47.

49 In which volume should the offeror submit their representations and certifications? Please see question 15.

50 In the Scenario Solution, is the Navy looking to use forward positioning of materials to reduce ACWT and LRT for both CONUS and OCONUS requisitions? Or should the offeror’s technical approach focus on OCONUS requisitions only?

The sample task does not specifically focus on either CONUS and OCONUS on purpose. NAVSUP is interested to understand how either one or both of those scenarios can be improved.

Requirements for Proposal Content, Factor I: Corporate Experience, pages 74 and 75, Table: Corporate Experience Minimums and Maximums states: “Private sector strategic transformation (Fortune 1-100) (shall reflect a value of $25M of completed work per reference)” QUESTION: The requirements of Fortune 100 experience combined with revenues exceeding $25M with no price evaluation provides vendors executing existing NSS contracts and J&As a significant competitive advantage. Will the government consider changing the corporate experience requirements and evaluating price at the IDIQ level to ensure competition and best value.

The Government will not be evaluating price at the IDIQ level in accordance with Section 825 of the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

52 QUESTION: As stated and required on page 72 of the solicitation, there is no offeror response requirement for pricing or the opportunity for the offeror to provide a basis of estimate to substantiate the government prescribed ceiling of $246M. Lacking any cost data at the initial contract level, how will the government ensure competition and without pricing at the IDIQ level, evaluate for best value?

Per the Addendum to FAR 52.212-2, "There are no tradeoffs for this source selection. Offerors are either Acceptable or Unacceptable when reaching contract award decision. The Government seeks to award to the Offeror(s) that give(s) the Navy confidence that it will meet the requirements. The Source Selection Authority (SSA) shall select the Offeror(s) whose proposal(s) are Acceptable in accordance with the established criteria in this Source Selection (described below)." The Government will not be evaluating price at the IDIQ level in accordance with Section 825 of the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

QUESTION: May a cover letter be excluded from page count?

Per the Addendum to FAR 52.212-1, the following are not included in the page count: a cover sheet, list of tables, list of figures, list of acronyms, compliance matrix, and table of contents.

QUESTION: Please confirm that the required contract documentation for Factor I, may be included as separate files in the final submission. Please see question 3.

55 QUESTION: Please confirm that the Small Business Subcontracting Plan is part of the Volume II – Cost/Price proposal. Please see question 3.

RFP pg 12 of 76 Subfactor #2 – RFP states the Scenario Solutions will be rated as acceptable or unacceptable. Below the table is the definitions of Strengths, weaknesses, significant weakness, deficiency and risk. These rating elements have been used on previous RFPs to be gradated between multiple proposal where a single winner is selected. In this case where all technically acceptable proposals will be accepted, what is this rating scale being used to evaluate and how will it be used to determine the acceptable / unacceptable rating?

The rating tables have been tailored for this requirement and incorporate the use of strengths, weaknesses, etc.

Thus, evaluation will be in accordance with the Addendum to FAR 52.212-2 and the rating tables therein.

57 Will the government require offerors to submit any pricing volume at the IDIQ level? No.