Flank Speed QA.pdf

1. I have a question regarding the requirement to submit a Facilities Clearance as Volume 1, attachment 1. Can this requirement be fulfilled after the contract award?

Drafted Answer: Please refer to the Volume I, Factor I language in the FAR 52.212-1 addendum.

2. Regarding: Solicitation, Instructions to Offerors, Pages 37-38, Factor III: Past Performance.

Reference: To demonstrate its past performance, the offeror shall identify up to three (3) of its most relevant contracts performed within five (5) years of the solicitation issuance date. Those contracts must also reflect one year of completed performance by the closing date of the solicitation. Offerors shall provide a detailed explanation demonstrating the relevance of the contracts to the requirements of the solicitation.

Question: In June 2021, the Navy initiated the transition of its workforce to Flank Speed. Given that the incumbent may be the sole entity with "Very Relevant" past performance—attributable primarily to the incorporation of Flank Speed support services into an existing contract, followed by a direct award—this creates a potential imbalance in the evaluation of past performance among offerors. This imbalance could unduly disadvantage other competitors.

In order to create a fair evaluation process, we respectfully request the removal of the stipulation that "Contracts must also reflect one year of completed performance by the closing date of the solicitation" from Factor III. This recommended adjustment is justified, as other companies supporting the Navy have commenced support for Flank Speed operational requirements within the last year. These companies may possess past performances that are

"Very Relevant" or "Relevant." Allowing these more recent past performances to be considered and will enable a broader range of offerors to demonstrate relevant experience, promoting a more competitive and fair selection process, ultimately benefiting the Navy.

Drafted Answer: The offeror is solely responsible to select its most relevant past performance for its proposal submission. Past performance will be rated in accordance with the rating tables provided in FAR 52.212-2. The minimum requirement of at least one year of completed performance by the closing date of the solicitation must be met.

3. Regarding: RFP, Instructions to Offerors, Pages 37, Factor III: Technical Approach, Sub-Factor II –

Performance and Management Approach

Reference: The offeror shall demonstrate an understanding of, familiarity with, and ability to perform the specific technical requirements and tasks in PWS paragraphs 6 through 10, to establish to the Government that the offeror is capable of fully providing these services at the level of quality required. The offeror’s approach shall provide a plan that clearly describes the management controls, techniques, and procedures that will be used to ensure required work is performed in a timely, responsive, professional, and efficient manner and clearly details how this effort will be managed within the offeror’s corporate organizational structure. Additionally, the offeror should describe any risks associated with the solicitation, including the PWS and any risks associated with implementation of the offeror’s performance approach; describe any techniques and actions to mitigate such risks; and explain whether the techniques and actions identified for risk mitigation have been successfully used by the offeror in the past.

Question: When the Government asks for offerors to “demonstrate an understanding of, familiarity with, and ability to perform the specific technical requirements and tasks in PWS paragraphs 6 through 10,” does the Government intend for offerors to specifically address the list of duties for each labor category (bullets under “Contractor Shall” header) located on pages

13-23?

Drafted Answer: Offeror’s are responsible for determining how to address this language. The

Government will not provide additional guidance to offeror’s on how to address this language.

4. Regarding RFP, Page 71 of 100

Reference: As prescribed by FAR 22.1006(b), FAR 52.222-42, Statement of Equivalent Rates for

Federal Hires, is included within the solicitation on page 72 of 100. This clause identifies the classes of service employees expected to be employed under the resultant contract.

The term “service contract,” as it relates to the Service Contract Labor Standards (SCLS) is defined at FAR 22.001 as “…any Government contract, or subcontract thereunder, the principal purpose of which is to furnish services in the United States through the use of service employees, except as exempted by 41 U.S.C. chapter 67, Service Contract Labor Standards; see

22.1003-3 and 22.1003-4). See 22.1003-5 and 29 CFR 4.130 for a partial list of services covered by the Service Contract Labor Standards statute.”

The term “service employee,” as it relates to the SCLS is also defined at FAR 22.001 as “…any person engaged in the performance of a service contract other than any person employed in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity, as those terms are defined in 29

CFR part 541. The term ‘service employee’ includes all such persons regardless of any contractual relationship that may be alleged to exist between a contractor or subcontractor and such persons.”

Question: FAR 52.222-42, as included within the solicitation, identifies two (2) classes of service employees expected to be employed under the resultant contract: 14072 – Computer

Programmer and 14170 System Support Specialist. Additionally, Wage Determination 2015-4341

Rev. 25 is included within the solicitation package, FAR 52.222-41, Service Contract Labor

Standards is incorporated by reference, and FAR 52.222-41, FAR 52.222-42, and 52.222-43 are marked as incorporated by reference within FAR 52.212-5.

However, all of the labor categories cited within the PWS unequivocally qualify for exemption from the SCLS based on the bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity exemption(s) found at 29 CFR Part 541.

Improper application of the SCLS principles may have the unintended consequence of steering prospective offerors to propose the Wage Determination hourly rate(s) for some or all labor categories, which is unrealistic and may result in the Government receiving unrealistically low labor rates / prices for the work required by the PWS and jeopardization of mission success and operational continuity.

Question: Please confirm that the identification of SCLS applicability and inclusion of Wage

Determination 2015-4341 Rev. 25 was an administrative error and that the resultant contract will not be subject to the SCLS.

Drafted Answer: If the proposed labor category is exempt from SCLS, the offeror shall state that in the proposal and additional supporting information may be requested before award decision is made.

5. Regarding: N0018924R0005, Performance Work Statement, Page 12 of 100

Reference: “GOVERNMENT QUALITY ASSURANCE SUVEILLANCE: This plan is primarily focused on what the Government must do in order to ensure that the contractor is performing in accordance with the performance standards.”

Question: Presently, there are no performance standards identified within the PWS. Are performance standards intended to be identified within the PWS?

Drafted Answer: Performance standards are identified in the QASP Matrix.

6. Regarding: Performance Work Statement, Page 19 of 100

Reference: “Cloud Service Support Engineer… This position has been designated as a Cyber

IT/Cybersecurity Workforce position in Specialty Area 46 and as a condition of employment incumbents of the position is required to comply with the DON Cyber IT/CSWF Program requirements of SECNAV M-5239.2.”

Question: Please confirm that the reference to “Specialty Area 46” is intended to be “Specialty

Area 461.”

Drafted Answer: Yes. Area will be revised to 461.

7. Regarding: Performance Work Statement, Page 20 of 100

Reference: “Cloud Application Administrator… This position has been designated as a Cyber

IT/Cybersecurity Workforce position in Specialty Area 45 and as a condition of employment incumbents of the position is required to comply with the DON Cyber IT/CSWF Program requirements of SECNAV M-5239.2.”

Question: Please confirm that the reference to “Specialty Area 45” is intended to be “Specialty

Area 451.”

Drafted Answer: Area will be revised to 461.

8. Regarding Performance Work Statement, Page 21 of 100

Reference: “E-Discovery Administrator (Security/FOIA/CAPSTONE) …This position has been designated as a Cyber IT/Cybersecurity Workforce position in Specialty Area 75 and as a condition of employment incumbents of the position is required to comply with the DON Cyber

IT/CSWF Program requirements of SECNAV M-5239.2.”

Question: Please confirm that the reference to “Specialty Area 75” is intended to be “Specialty

Area 751.”

9. Regarding: Performance Work Statement, Page 22 of 100

Reference: “Identity and Entitlement Administrator… This position has been designated as a

Cyber IT/Cybersecurity Workforce position in Specialty Area 75 and as a condition of employment incumbents of the position is required to comply with the DON Cyber IT/CSWF

Program requirements of SECNAV M-5239.2.”

Question: Please confirm that the reference to “Specialty Area 75” is intended to be “Specialty

Area 751.”

10. Regarding: Performance Work Statement, Page 25 of 100

Reference: “AT COST training will have funding provided for training by the Contracting company and will be coordinated through the Technical Lead and COR to ensure appropriate coverage is provided to complete the expected level of work without exception.”

Question: Presently, there are no CLINs established to accommodate AT COST Training. Does the

Government intend to establish any AT COST Training CLINs?

Drafted Answer: The statement is to clarify that the Government will not provide any AT COST training to the contractor. If the contractor requires its employees to perform at cost training away from their regular job duty, the contractor shall coordinate with the Government to ensure appropriate coverage is provided.

11. Regarding: Solicitation, Page 77 of 100, DFARS 252.204-7017

Reference: DFARS 252.204-7017 states “The Offeror is not required to complete the representation in this provision if the Offeror has represented in the provision at 252.204-7016, Covered Defense Telecommunications Equipment or Services--Representation, that it “does not provide” covered defense telecommunications equipment or services as a part of its offered products or services to the Government in the performance of any contract, subcontract, or other contractual instrument.”

Question: Presently, DFARS 252.204-7016, Covered Defense Telecommunications Equipment or

Services—Representation, is not included within the solicitation. Is this provision intended to be included within the solicitation?

Drafted Answer: DFARS 252.204-7016 is not required when using FAR 52.204-7. DFARS

252.204-706 is required to be completed in SAM.gov.

12. While this is a Firm Fixed Price contract, the government references a price breakdown for each labor category proposed. To ensure an apples-to-apples cost comparison, we recommend the government issue a uniform pricing sheet, prepopulated as a template for the pricing breakdown the government is requiring from vendors. Specifically:

• Can the government please further articulate the price breakdown, or if there is a mandated form, methodology or Microsoft Excel template that is required for the Pricing

Proposal?

• If the government requires a particular form, methodology, or template, we respectfully request a one-week extension to ensure we comply with the revised pricing requirements.

Drafted Answer: The Government is not providing a uniform pricing sheet. In accordance with the RFP, the offeror is responsible for submitting sufficient information to enable the

Government to fully evaluate its price proposal.

13. On page 9, the government identifies the phase in period as 3 weeks, but the Period of

Performance Table on Page 9 specifies the dates of 11 September 2024 – 02 October 2024, which is 16 business days. Can the government please clarify whether to price a 15- or 16-day period for Item No 0001?

Drafted Answer: The Period of Performance table correctly identifies the Phase-in Period as 11

September 2024 – 02 October 2024. Offeror’s shall propose a phase-in period using this

Period of Performance.

14. Can the government provide an expected number of required Azure Virtual Desktop users projected over the period of performance?

Drafted Answer: Current number of AVD/NVD users is 132,501 as of 2/27/2024, with a maximum provision-able accounts at 150K.

15. With proposals due in less than 48 hours, not having access to the answers from our and other offerors questions will impact our ability to turn in our highest quality proposal. Do you foresee answers being released today? Also, will an extension be granted so offerors can adjust their proposals based on the final answers being released?

Answer: The solicitation is expected to be extended. Please refer to the forthcoming amendment for details.

16. Our Facility Clearance is marked as CUI. Currently, our proposal has a cover page with all our pertinent information regarding the solicitation and our company. The question is if we include a

CUI Cover Page in addition to our proposal cover page, will that be counted as two cover pages, or is the CUI cover page not counted?

Answer: There is no page limit for Facility Clearance. The CUI cover page is part of the Facility

Clearance. Please refer to the Volume I, Factor I language in the FAR 52.212-1 addendum.

17. Our Facilities Clearance Verification form received from DCSA’s NISS is categorized as CUI from

NISS. We’re looking to see how the government would prefer to receive the email: Option 1) We encrypt the email itself through the Microsoft email encryption capabilities. Option 2) We encrypt the files itself and sent the password in a separate email. Or, Option 3) You can pass certs over to a member of our team and we can encrypt the whole email that way.

Answer: In accordance with the FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors, proposals shall be submitted electronically to the email addresses listed no later than the due date of the solicitation. Offerors are responsible for selecting the option that complies with security requirements and delivers the proposal prior to the solicitation closing time.