Attachment VII - Questions and Answers Amendment.docx

1. May we use a smaller font (as pictured in Section B) for our completed Section B in our price narrative of the proposal volume? Times New Roman, 12-point font is quite large for the Supplies/Service descriptions.

A. There are no font requirements for the completion of Section B or for Volume II.

2. Will the Government consider adding hours for program management?

A. Yes, the PWS has been updated accordingly.

3. In reference to "(4) In the event any person who is not a bona fide employee of the quoter participated in the creation, formulation, or writing of any portion of the quote, a certificate to this effect shall be included in the quote which shall be signed by an officer of the quoter. Such certificate shall identify the name of the person who is not a bona fide employee, that person's employment capacity, the name of the person's firm, the relationship of that firm to the quoter, and the portion of the quote in which the person participated.", which volume shall the offeror include this information and does it count toward the page count? If this is not applicable, do we still need to include a certificate?

A. The information should be provided in Volume II; Per the solicitation, Volume II does not have a page limitation.

4. In reference to “The Government states the front cover should include "identification of original signature copies." Because this is an electronic submission (no actual signatures), is this necessary? Do we need to write the word original copy on the front cover?

A. Yes

5. Does the Times New Roman, 12-point font apply to the tables, charts, graphics, and figures, or may we use a smaller font (10-point font)?

A. Solicitation clear on its face.

6. With respect to final Important task area, should this just say 4.3.5 Student Affairs Liaison? (The Government has previously asked for Student Support Coordinators in a previous section.)

A. Solicitation clear on its face.

7. Is the offeror required to use Tahoma, 10-point font for the past performance information form or Times New Roman, 10-point font?

A. Solicitation is clear on its face.

8. The qualifications for the SLIC Director appear to be incorrect. Will the Government provide an updated PWS with the correct description?

A. The PWS has been updated accordingly to provide proper qualifications.

9. The qualifications for the Barracks Personnel appear to be incorrect. Will the Government provide an updated PWS with the correct description?

A. Solicitation clear on its face.

10. In reference to "In the event any person who is not a bona fide employee of the quoter participated in the creation, formulation, or writing of any portion of the quote, a certificate to this effect shall be included in the quote which shall be signed by an officer of the quoter. Such certificate shall identify the name of the person who is not a bona fide employee, that person's employment capacity, the name of the person's firm, the relationship of that firm to the quoter, and the portion of the quote in which the person participated.", Can the government confirm if this includes subcontractors?

A. Yes

11. The solicitation states that the highest level of security required under the task order is Top Secret as designated on the DD Form 254, while the PWS states the contractor shall possess and maintain a SECRET facility clearance. Please confirm whether the prime contractor must possess a Top Secret Facility Clearance or whether a Secret Facility Clearance is sufficient.

A. Only the N58 and Regional Engagement Branch FTE require a Top Secret security clearance.

12. If the prime contractor currently holds or can obtain a Secret Facility Clearance, but does not currently hold a Top Secret Facility Clearance, is the prime still eligible for award, assuming it can meet all personnel and performance requirements?

A. Only the N58 and Regional Engagement Branch FTE require a Top Secret security clearance.

13. Please clarify whether the required facility clearance level must be in place at quote submission, time of award, contract start, or prior to any performance involving classified access.

A. This needs to occur prior to any performance involving classified access.

14. If a Top Secret Facility Clearance is required, may an offeror satisfy that requirement through a cleared subcontractor or teaming partner, or must the prime contractor itself hold the required facility clearance?

A. As long as the subcontractor has the Top Secret clearance it is fine.

15. Please confirm whether the Draft DD Form 254 is intended to require contractor access to Top Secret information, or whether Top Secret only reflects the classification level of Government facilities or systems where performance may occur.

A. Only the N58 and Regional Engagement Branch FTE require a Top Secret security clearance.

16. Will the Government provide a final or readable DD Form 254 prior to the proposal due date so offerors can confirm facility clearance, safeguarding, storage, and personnel clearance requirements?

A. This is anticipated to provided the day before the current contract ends, 18 September 2026.

17. Will the contractor be required to store, generate, receive, transmit, or safeguard classified material at the contractor’s own facility, or will all classified work occur only at Government facilities?

A. All classified work will be at Government Facilities.

18. If all classified access and performance occur at Government facilities, please confirm whether the contractor may perform without a contractor-site Top Secret safeguarding capability.

A. Only the N58 and Regional Engagement Branch FTE require a Top Secret security clearance. All classified work is conducted at Government Facilities.

19. Please identify which labor categories require Top Secret, which require Secret, and which only require CAC/NIPRNET access or suitability screening.

A. Only the N58 and Regional Engagement Branch FTE require a Top Secret security clearance, which is required before starting the position. All the rest of the positions need to have a Secret clearance in order to have access to the rooms where meetings are held in the units buildings.

20. The PWS includes at least one position requiring an “Active Top Secret clearance or ability to obtain.” Please clarify whether “ability to obtain” is acceptable at quote submission, or whether the individual must already possess an active Top Secret clearance.

A. Only the N58 and Regional Engagement Branch FTE require a Top Secret security clearance, which is required before starting the position.

21. The PWS states that all contractor personnel performing work must hold a minimum SECRET clearance at time of proposal submission. Does this apply to every proposed employee, only key personnel, or only personnel proposed for classified duties?

A. Yes, it includes every employee

22. Will resumes be required for all proposed labor categories, or only for Key Personnel positions identified within the solicitation?

A. Resumes are not required.

23. Please clarify what percentage of proposed personnel must be identified at the time of quote submission versus permitted to be recruited or finalized after award.

A. The identification of personnel is not required.

24. Beyond English language proficiency, please identify any foreign language requirements anticipated under this effort, including the most commonly required languages, expected proficiency levels, and which labor categories may require multilingual capability.

A. Solicitation clear on its face.

25. Will the Government accept personnel with interim Secret or interim Top Secret eligibility for performance, or must final adjudicated clearances be in place before employment under the contract?

A. This needs to occur prior to performance.

26. Will the Government accept contractor personnel possessing interim Secret or interim Top Secret clearances during contract performance, or are fully adjudicated final clearances required prior to personnel beginning work under the task order?

A. This needs to occur prior to performance.

27. What clearance documentation must be submitted with the quote, if any — for example, clearance level, investigation date, DISS verification, letters of commitment, resumes, or certification by the Facility Security Officer?

A. Standard documentation must be submitted: clearance level, dates, and verification.

28. Please identify which positions or duties are expected to require SIPRNET access, and whether Government-furnished SIPRNET workstations/accounts will be provided.

A. Learning Standards Officer, N58, Regional Engagement Branch, Operational and UXS Instructors, SLIC, MCF, admin support, course lead, business intelligence and analytics specialist. Government will provide SIPR equipment

29. Please clarify whether the contractor’s FSO must maintain DISS ownership of all cleared personnel, or whether the Government will service or sponsor personnel for access to Government facilities and systems.

A. Contractor FSO must maintain DISS ownership.

30. The PWS references contractor support for classified document control, classified material inventories, debriefing agreements, and security-related documents. Please clarify whether these duties require a dedicated contractor security specialist or FSO-level support onsite.

A. FSO can be offsite.

31. If an otherwise qualified proposed individual is awaiting clearance upgrade from Secret to Top Secret, will that individual be considered acceptable if the proposal explains the transition plan and timing?

A. Interim works.

32. Will the Government provide a transition-in period for onboarding, clearance verification, CAC issuance, network account creation, and SIPRNET/NIPRNET access before full performance begins?

A. Award is anticipated to allow for a 30-day ramp period before services begin .

33. The RFQ notes appear to allow quote submission by email, while Section L references physical delivery and physical media. Please confirm the required quote submission method, acceptable file types, and whether electronic email submission alone is acceptable.

A. Electronic submissions is acceptable as detail in the RFQ.

34. Please confirm whether failure to possess the required facility clearance or personnel clearances at quote submission will make an offeror ineligible/nonresponsive, or whether the Government will evaluate a proposed plan to obtain or upgrade clearances before performance.

A. We need the positions to have the clearances prior to award.