Solicitation QA.pdf

Solicitation N0018926QW258 Q&A

1. Is the instructor required to be physically present on-site at NAVSOM Monday through Friday for the full standard workday regardless of the number of scheduled instruction hours on a given day or is on-site presence limited to scheduled instruction periods and directly associated administrative time only?

Answer: Per paid-by-hour contracts we currently have, the instructor will not be required to be on-site the full workday, just the scheduled hours as needed by

NAVSOM.

2. What is the anticipated timeline between contract award and the NAVSOM Commanding Officer's candidate approval and onboarding? Is the contractor expected to have an approved and on-boarded instructor ready to begin performance on September 24, 2026, or will there be a transition and review period after award before instruction begins?

Answer: The contracting office will plan to have the award in place 30 days prior to the period of performance start date.

3. Is the Instructor Certification period included within the Period of Performance and compensable under CLIN 0001, or does it occur prior to the contract start date and at the contractor's expense?

Answer: The Instructor Certification specific to NAVSOM curriculum delivery and records keeping will occur within the Period of Performance, while other prerequisite skills are expected prior to the contract as described in the Performance Work Statement.

4. Section 3.10.2 references an annual two-week NETC scheduled shutdown during which contractor services will not be required. The solicitation does not specify when this shutdown occurs during the contract year. Please provide the scheduled NETC two-week shutdown dates for the base year period of performance (September 24, 2026 through September 23, 2027) so that offerors can accurately calculate compensable performance days and price accordingly.

Answer: The holiday leave shut-down will commence COB Friday, 18 December 2026 and end 0700, Monday, 4 January 2027

5. a) Who initiates the background investigation process — the contractor or the Government — and what is the anticipated timeline for clearance approval following contract award?

b) Will the instructor be permitted on-site in an escorted capacity while the clearance is pending, or must clearance be fully completed before any on-site performance begins?

Answer: Instructor will be allowed on-site prior to completing clearance with NAVSOM CO letter authoring it. This has been approved by CSS for the start of current percussion contract.

6. What WAWF document type should the contractor use for monthly invoice submission under this contract — Invoice 2in1 or another specified type — and will the completed Routing Data Table be provided at time of award?

Answer: In accordance with the solicitation the WAWF section will be completed at time of award.

7. Is the contractor required to maintain a qualified substitute instructor available on standby throughout the period of performance? If so, must the substitute instructor undergo and complete the NAVSOM Instructor Certification process described in Section 3.1 prior to being called upon to perform?

Answer: No

8. Is there any incumbent/recompete or this is a brand-new project? If yes, could you please provide us with their award number or even if the customer bought similar services in the past.

Answer: No, this is a new requirement.

9. Paragraph 1.1.1.2 identifies an estimated 500 hours of audio engineer training. Does the 500-hour estimate represent only direct student instruction, or does it include all contractor labor, such as assessments, ensemble support, administrative work, curriculum maintenance, required training, equipment checks, and quality-control activities?

Answer: The estimated 500 hours includes all listed in the question.

10. What is the anticipated number of contractor hours per week, standard daily duty schedule, and approximate number of students requiring instruction?

Answer: Weekly schedule varies greatly based upon student population, audio engineer students onboard, and number of ensembles rehearsing. Estimating 10-20 hours weekly.

11. Paragraph 3.2 requires one to two individual lessons weekly, while the Performance Requirements Summary states that each student must receive a minimum of two individual lessons per week. Should quoters price and staff for two lessons per student each week?

Answer: Yes, two lessons per week.

12. Must the candidate materials listed in paragraph 8.6—including the application letter, CV, portfolio link, three recommendation letters, and three additional references—be included with the initial quotation?

Answer: Yes, these will be needed in the vetting process to ensure needed credentials are satisfied for NAVSOM to make an informed decision for the most suited candidate.

13. Is the Quality Control Plan required with the quotation, or will it be required only from the successful contractor after award?

Answer: Quality Contral Plan is a process of observed lessons and ensemble support happening throughout contracted time after it’s awarded.

14. Must the proposed instructor already possess the required Non-Critical Sensitive eligibility or security determination at quotation submission, or will the Government initiate the applicable suitability and access process after award?

Answer: Once the contract is awarded, our ASM (CMC) will initiate the screening process.

15. Is there an incumbent contractor or historical staffing information that may be provided, including previous annual labor hours and whether any collective bargaining agreement or successor employee requirements apply?

Answer: No, this is a new requirement.

16. Could you please provide the anticipated number of students and/or musicians participating in each class or ensemble?

Answer: As outlined in the Scope of Work 1.0, contractor will provide instruction and support among other duties. Ensemble support varies by type: from 1 (solo vocal), small ensembles of 3-5, and large ensembles upwards of 50; “A” and “C” school production concepts classes have 16, 12, and 6 students respectively. Class size and number of ensembles varies depending on current student population and rehearsal division requirements.