Question_and_Answer_Log_N00421-15-R-0034.xps

SOLICITATION: N00421-15-R-0034

BIDDERS' QUESTIONS

Below are the questions and answers received as of 19 March 2015, 1100. If you have submitted a question and it is not listed below please check the e-mail address and resend.

Quest Ktr Question

Gov't Response

Question Questions ion # Submittal Answered Date Date 1 Will the client sponsor the Facility Clearance, or The Govt will sponsor the need for the request.

3/13/2015

3/19/2015 does the contractor have to already possess it in order to bid/award?

2 For the interim Secret for staff, same as above, The Govt will sponsor the need for the request.

3/13/2015

3/19/2015 will the client sponsor the team members?

3 Please confirm that the RFP uploaded on "Advanced Planning Notice" was removed on 3/13/2015

3/19/2015

FedBizOps this morning is the final RFP. Under 3/16/2015 the Scope in the Notice Details, it states it is an Advance Planning Notice.

4 Has a contractor performed similar work to this Please see Section L 2 Para. 3.0 for Incumbent 3/16/2015

3/19/2015 for the government in the past? If available, Information.

please provide the incumbent contract number.

5 If you are unable to provide a contract number, Please see answer to question number 4

3/16/2015

3/19/2015 is it safe to assume this is a new requirement for the government?

6 Is the subject solicitation for new services or is Please see the answer to question 4. The government 3/17/2015

3/19/2015 there an incumbent contractor? If the latter, is unable to give the dollar amount or current who is the incumbent contractor, under what billeting information of the current contracts. The contract # are they providing the services, what government will not contact any current contractors is the amount of the contract, and are all the for interested parties for this solicitation.

contract positions currently filled. Also, if I may, if there are incumbents currently occupying those positions, can we contract them either directly or through you, and if so, what is your preferred method?

7 Please clarify the allowable substitution Please see amendment 0001 for clarification

3/18/2015

3/19/2015 requirement for an AS or AA degree for the program analyst (key) labor category. Page 56 of the solicitation states “Education: BS or BA degree in Business or Management.

ALLOWABLE SUBSTITUTION: An AS or AA degree in a Business, Management; OR no degree and an additional eight (8) years of experience in program management, technical, or business analysis discipline may be substituted for a BS or BA degree.” The substitution allowing for an AS or AA degree appears to be an incomplete sentence. Is an additional four (4) years of experience the allowable substitution? Other labor categories such as the financial analyst allow for an AS or AA degree and an additional four (4) years of experience. Please clarify the allowable substitution for the program analyst (key) labor category.

8 The labor category qualifications for some Please see amendment 0001 for clarification

3/18/2015

3/19/2015 positions have allowable substitutions that we would appreciate clarification on, for example:

Program Analyst, Senior requires an MS/MA degree in Business/Management -- however, a BS/BA degree in Business/Management is an allowable substitution with no additional years of experience requirement. As a BS/BA is directly able to be substituted for an MS/MA, please clarify why MS/MA is included (it would appear the minimum qualification requirement, for no additional years experience, is actually for a BS/BA)? Is holding an MS/MA just preferred?

Program Analyst requires a BS/BA degree in Business/Management -- however, an AS/AA degree in Business/Management is an allowable substitution with no additional years of experience requirement. As an AS/AA is directly able to be substituted for a BS/BA, please clarify why BA/BA is included (it would appear the minimum qualification requirement, for no additional years experience, is actually an AS/AA)? Is holding a BS/BA just preferred?

9 The functional duties of Program Analyst This will be reviewed and if changed will be provided 3/18/2015

3/19/2015

(Junior, Mid, and Senior) and Financial Analyst in amendment 0001.

could be supported by an individual with a technical degree. It seems overly restrictive to limit qualifying degrees to business/management disciplines only. Would the Government consider expanding the allowable degrees for Program Analyst (all levels) and Financial Analyst labor categories to include technical disciplines (or other non-busines/management disciplines)?

10 For Program Analyst (Senior and Mid-level) and H experience is only a desired experience and is 3/18/2015

3/19/2015

Financial Analyst the labor category experience not mandatory. It is the Government's position that requirement states "H-60 experience desired."

"desired" experience does not provide an unfair The duties for these categories follow standard competitive advantage to the incumbent.

regulations that are applicable to all ACAT programs -- DoD 5000, FAR, FMR, etc. These regulations, along wth the associated documentation and handling, and processes -- CDRLs, PIDs, security, PPBE, estimating, memo preparation, briefs, etc -- are standard requirements for all programs (for example, a Program Analyst supporting a different platform would have the same knowledge of how to fulfill the functional duties). Stating that "H-60 experience is desired" for non-engineering fields provides a direct advantage to an incumbent team and will unfairly impact competition. Will the Government please consider removing "H-60 experience is desired" from Program Analyst (Senior and Mid-level) and Financial Analyst labor categories as these functions can be performed equally as well by those without direct H-60 experience but rather in-depth knowledge of the standard documents, processes, regulations, etc applicable to program management in an ACAT environment.

11 Presently, offerors will be proceeding with At this time the government does not anticipate an 3/19/2015

3/19/2015 preparing a proposal/offer consistent with the extension. However, if circumstances change that specifications/requirements (including labor would warrant an extension the Government will categories) as currently written and issued. In reconsider.

the event the specifications/requirements, such as labor category qualifications, are changed, such change can negate a substantial amount of an offerors proposal (both within the technical -- proposed individuals/P1/P2/etc --and the cost/price volumes). To ensure maximum competition and allow offerors sufficient time to prepare quality proposals and respond to changes in requirement s(and update proposals as necessary to reflect revised labor category qualifications, if changed), will the Government consider a two week extension from the release of the amendment in the event labor category qualification requirements are modified?

12 With Senior Program Analyst and Program This question will be answered by COB 24 March 3/19/2015

3/19/2015

Analyst labor categories designated as key, that reflects over 50% of the workforce being classified in a key role. Would the Government consider designating only certain positions within these labor categories as key vs the entire labor category?

13 On the P2 several SOW elements that do not Please see P2 Updated 19 March for corrections

3/19/2015

3/1 9/2015 exist within the SOW are assigned to positions, for example:

Program Analyst, Senior (GFE) [Row 4] - SOW list ends in "4" -- what specific SOW task should this be?

Program Analyst, Junior (GFE) [Row 8] - There is no SOW 4.7 Program Analyst (Ops) [Row 14] - There is no

SOW 4.3.5

Program Analyst (CM) [Row 15] - There is no

SOW 4.3.5

Program Analyst (CM) [Row 16] - There is no

SOW 4.3.6

Program Analyst, Senior (CM) [Row 17] - There is no SOW 4.3.7 Program Analyst (Ops) [Row 20] - There is no

SOW 4.3.5

Could you please verify the SOW elements for each position on the P2?