Questions_on_Final_RFP_as_of_18_March_2016.pdf

Questions on Final RFP as of 18 March 2016

1. Does the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation under solicitation number N0042116R0005 contain requirements similar to a current contract? If possible, please provide the current contract number. Or, is this a new requirement for the government?

Answer: This is not a new requirement. This is a follow-on requirement to Contract

N00178-05-D-4520 M802.

2. Proposal Submittal: There appears to be a discrepancy in the number of requested copies. The cover page indicates an original plus 4 copies, while the Section L instructions specify an electronic copy and 3 hard copies. Can the government clarify how many hardcopies of the proposal to submit?

Answer: Three hardcopies and one (1) electronic copy is required for this solicitation;

Amendment 1 will correct this.

3. Restrictive Requirements: In prior exchanges with industry regarding the Draft RFP, concerns were raised about overly restrictive requirements. However, the final released

RFP retains and in some cases adds further restrictive requirements that appear to unfairly favor the incumbent. Request that the government examine RFP requirements to determine if they are too restrictive and could ultimately result in a de facto sole-source award for the incumbent. Specific items of concern are:

a. Key Personnel: The unusually high number of key personnel in the RFP is approximately 45% of the labor effort in the base year. Furthermore, this includes a complex mix of part-time key personnel that would make staffing unrealistic for a non-incumbent small business bidder.

Answer: Please see Amendment 1 for further defined Key Personnel requirements.

b. Award Date: Other than an incumbent with in-place personnel, other small businesses could not be reasonably expected to ensure availability of the high number of key personnel for nearly a year until award.

Answer: Please see Amendment 1 for further defined Key Personnel requirements.

c. Acquisition Specialist, Senior Labor Category: The Draft RFP requirement for major weapons systems acquisition experience was changed to a more restrictive requirement of at least 10 years experience with Airborne Anti-Submarine Warfare

Acquisition, which appears to strongly favor the incumbent. Will the government consider reversing this change to foster competition?

Answer: The number of years’ experience has not changed from the Draft RFP to Final RFP.

Please see Amendment 1 for further defined Personnel requirements.

d. Acquisition Specialist Labor Category: The Draft RFP requirement for major weapons systems acquisition experience was changed to a more restrictive requirement of at least 6 years experience with Airborne Anti-Submarine Warfare Acquisition, which appears to strongly favor the incumbent. Will the government consider reversing this change to foster competition?

Answer: The number of years’ experience has not changed from the Draft RFP to Final RFP.

Please see Amendment 1 for further defined Personnel requirements.

e. Transition Plan: No management capability is requested other than a transition plan limited to two pages. Other than an incumbent needing only a minimal transition plan, the complexity of transition would be high given the substantial number of key labor categories and associated labor requirements.

Answer: Per RFP Section L, the Transition Plan shall address how offerors intend to meet the Top Secret Facility Clearance upon contract award and the required personnel security clearances. Please see Amendment 1 for updated information on the Key Personnel requirements.

f. How can the government reasonably assess the stated section M evaluation criteria for “extent to which the proposed approach will ensure successful accomplishment of the tasks described in Section L”?

Answer: This is a typographical error and has been corrected in Amendment 1.

4. Are resumes required for all hours in the four key labor categories, including option

CLINs? Meaning:

a. For Program Analyst, Senior, are a total of 4 resumes required to cover 1.3 FTEs in Pax, 1 FTE in San Diego and 1 FTE in the option CLIN?

Answer: Please see Amendment 1 for further defined Key Personnel requirements. No resumes are required for any of the Optional Labor Requirements.

b. For Acquisition Specialist, Senior, are a total of 4 resumes required to cover 2.5

FTEs in Pax and 1 FTE in option CLIN?

c. For Systems Engineer, Senior are a total of 3 resumes required?

d. For Engineer/Scientist, Senior are a total of 2 resumes required?