Questions_and_Answers_for_N00421-16-R-0047.docx

Questions and Answers for N00421-16-R-0047 as of 16 December 2016

Question (1) -The final solicitation requirements for Key Personnel changed significantly from the previously released draft to include very specific experience with AMS tools. For example several categories now have a requirement for "experience in AMS software development testing support on tools such as PMT, CDRL, etc." Such changes favor the incumbent since AMS is a tool in use by AIR 1.7 and only those currently supporting would have that experience.

Answer (1) – The Government appreciates your feedback. Per Amendment 2, the Government has revised its minimum labor qualifications under the following key and non-key labor categories:

(1) Software Engineer, Senior (1 FTE) - Experience in AMS software development and testing on tools such as PMT, CSPT, CDRL, or AP will be required for one (1) year vice two (2) years.

(2) Computer Specialist- Experience in AMS software development testing support on tools such as PMT, CDRL, etc. will be required for key personnel (1 FTE) and now desired for non-key personnel (2 FTEs).

(3) Computer Programmer IV- Experience in AMS software development and testing on tools such as PMT, CDRL, etc. will be required for one (1) year vice two (2) years. Experience in AMS software development testing support on tools such as PMT, CDRL, etc. will be required for key personnel (2 FTE) and now desired for non-key personnel (2 FTEs).

(4) Project Support Specialist, Senior – The desired experience for non-key personnel (4 FTE) has been revised to: “At least one (1) year of experience in AMS software development support on tools such as PMT, CSPT, or CDRL…”

(5) Computer Programmer II – Under desired experience for non-key personnel, the following language has been deleted: “or system of similar complexity and architecture.”

Question (2) - Desired qualifications were also added that are very detailed and favor the incumbent. For example "Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Project Management Institute-Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)." Request the government reconsider the required labor qualifications that are specific to the system in use or provide an allowable substitution for experience on similar systems that use such software development tools. Also request the government reconsider the desired labor qualifications to provide for allowable substitutions such as having a PMP or PMI-ACP but not both.

Answer (2) – The Government appreciates your feedback. Per Amendment 2, the Government has revised its minimum labor qualification for the Project Analyst key labor category. The desired qualification for Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Project Management Institute-Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) will be changed to PMP “or” PMI-ACP.

Question (3) - Is the prime required to have a facility clearance at time of award? At time of proposal submittal?

Answer (3) - A contractor facility clearance is not required as all the work will be completed on-site at Government location.

Question (4) - Does the prime have to have the facility clearance? Or may a subcontractor's or team member's facility clearance be used by the team to meet this requirement?

Answer (4) - A contractor facility clearance is not required as all the work will be completed on-site at Government location.

Question (5) - If a CTA is formed, is it compliant if any member of the CTA has the clearance?

Answer (5) – A contractor facility clearance is not required as all the work will be completed on-site at Government location.

Question (6) - Will NAVAIR sponsor the facility clearance for the awardee if they do not have one?

Answer (6) – As a Facility clearance is not required, NAVAIR would not need to sponsor one.

Question (7) - If NAVAIR is providing work stations and GFE for contractor staff on Navy site, why is the contractor required to have a Secret facility clearance?

Answer (7) – A contractor facility clearance is not required as all the work will be completed on-site at Government location.

Question (8) - RFP states that Key Personnel are required to have a minimum of an interim Secret clearance upon contract start date. Is contract start date the same as contract award date?

Answer (8) - The contract start date is 1 December 2017 as stated in Section F of the RFP. The award date is the date the Contracting Officer signs the contract. Per Amendment 2, Section C, para. 10.2.1, the Government has revised the requirement as follows: “All Key personnel shall have, at a minimum, an approved interim Secret clearance within 60 days after contract award.”

Question (9) - Is it feasible for key personnel of the awardee to be granted interim Secret clearances by Navy between contract award date and contract start date?

Answer (9) - Per Amendment 2, Section C, para. 10.2.1, the Government has revised the requirement as follows: “All Key personnel shall have, at a minimum, an approved interim Secret clearance within 60 days after contract award.”

Question (10) - Does this mean that Key Personnel must essentially have at least an interim clearance at the time proposals are submitted?

Answer (10) – Please be advised key personnel are not required to have at least an interim clearance at the time of proposal submittal. Per Amendment 2, Section C, para. 10.2.1, the Government has revised the requirement as follows: “All Key personnel shall have, at a minimum, an approved interim Secret clearance within 60 days after contract award.”

Question (11) - What is the lead time nowadays for obtaining an interim Secret clearance?

Answer (11) – Once an award is made, the successful Offeror shall provide the Government with all applicable paperwork for its proposed personnel. At present, lead time for obtaining an interim Secret clearance may take up to 60 days.

Question (12) - Is the scope of the current RFP the same as the scope for the incumbent contract? If not, please identify the specific changes.

Answer (12) – The current RFP reflects the scope of the Government’s requirement.

Question (13) - How many FTEs are presently supporting the incumbent contract?

Answer (13) –See Section L, Government Furnished Information, subparagraph 3.7.2, for the Government’s estimated hours.

Question (14) - Section 1.10 indicates: “The transition period is following contract award and is estimated to be 60 days. Please note that there is no CLIN associated with the transition period, as the Government will not be reimbursing the contractor for costs associated to the transition efforts. Transition costs are considered overhead costs that are not charged to the Government, as the incumbent contractor is still performing the tasking under the previous contracts during this time.” Please consider making the transition effort a priced CLIN that is not included in the cost evaluation, to eliminate the unfair competitive advantage to the incumbent contractor.

Answer (14) – The Government does not intend to make the transition effort a priced CLIN that is not included in the cost evaluation. Please propose in accordance with the RFP.

Question (15) - Section 1.1.1 indicates: “The offeror is forewarned it may receive a weakness if it proposes a predominance of a labor category or SOW section tasking using prospective or contingent hire employees and the evaluation team deems this a risk to successful performance.” We understand that not having 100% of staff on board at time of proposal submission may cause the Government to perceive a risk. However, we recommend that the Government evaluate whether a company has identified strong key personnel and possesses a track record of successfully starting up new projects, as well as a mature transition processes, in order to more accurately evaluate staffing risk. In addition, the Government should note that small businesses do not typically have 29 resources on the bench, so the statement that a ‘weakness’ will be identified for contingent staff appears to tilt the evaluation heavily toward the incumbent, which has the full complement of staff on board.

Answer (15) – The Government does not intend to revise Section M, 1.1.1 of the RFP. Please note that the RFP advises offerors that they “may receive a weakness;” as such, a weakness will not be automatically assessed. The Government will consider the staffing plan in its entirety. Past performance will also be evaluated in accordance with the RFP.

Question (16) - In Section 3.3(a), the Government states: “Demonstrate that the unit prices and the total proposed price/cost are reasonable, realistic, and commensurate with the work required by the solicitation and the technical and management approaches identified in the Technical Volume of the proposal.” The Government also includes 52.22.46, which indicates, in part: “(c) The Government is concerned with the quality and stability of the work force to be employed on this contract. Professional compensation that is unrealistically low or not in reasonable relationship to the various job categories, since it may impair the Contractor's ability to attract and retain competent professional service employees, may be viewed as evidence of failure to comprehend the complexity of the contract requirements.” Given these statements, and the critical nature of the work, would the Government please clarify how it will determine price reasonableness? In addition, we request that the Government provide information on the range of rates that the Government considers to be reasonable for each labor category.

Answer (16) – The Government will evaluate price reasonableness in accordance with FAR requirements. Per Section M, paragraph 3.2.2 “Normally, competition establishes price reasonableness. In limited situations, additional analysis will be required by the Government to determine reasonableness. However, in accordance with FAR 15.404-1, the Government may use any of the analytical techniques in that section either alone or in combination with each other to determine that the final price is fair and reasonable.” The Government does not provide the range of rates that it may utilize to determine cost realism.

Question (17) - Many highly qualified Senior Software Engineers have similar experience to that which is listed under the Labor Category/Key Personnel description on Page 32 of the Solicitation, but they lack experience on AMS and the domain-specific tools that are referenced (e.g., PMT, CSPT, CDRL, and AP). As such, this requirement seems to heavily favor the incumbent contractor. Will the government consider removing this requirement so that bidders can submit the best candidates available with the required background, knowledge, education, and training? In our experience, a lengthy 60-day transition period provides ample time for senior software engineers to get up to speed on domain-specific requirements.

Answer (17) – The Government appreciates your feedback. Per Amendment 2, the Government has revised its minimum labor qualification for the Software Engineer, Senior key labor category (1 FTE) as follows: Experience in AMS software development and testing on tools such as PMT, CSPT, CDRL, or AP will be required for one (1) year vice two (2) years.

Question (18) - The Project Support Specialist, Senior labor category description on page 35 states that non-key candidates are required to have at least one year of experience with domain-specific tools and technologies. This requirement also seems to heavily favor the incumbent contractor. Will the government consider removing this requirement so that bidders can submit the best candidates available with the required background, knowledge, education, and training? In our experience, a lengthy 60-day transition period provides ample time for Senior Project Support Specialists to get up to speed on domain-specific requirements.

Answer (18) – The Government appreciates your feedback. Per Amendment 2, the Government has revised its minimum labor qualification for the Project Support Specialist, Senior. The AMS experience is corrected to read “desired” vice “required.”

Question (19) - The Computer Specialist labor category description on page 37 states that 1 key and 2 non-key candidates are required to have at least one year of experience in “AMS software development testing support on tools such as PMT, CDRL, etc.” This requirement also seems to heavily favor the incumbent contractor. Will the government consider removing this requirement so that bidders can submit the best candidates available with the required background, knowledge, education, and training? In our experience, a lengthy 60-day transition period provides ample time for Computer Specialists to get up to speed on domain-specific requirements.

Answer (19) - The Government appreciates your feedback. Per Amendment 2, the Government has revised its minimum labor qualification for the Computer Specialist labor category. Experience in AMS software development testing support on tools such as PMT, CDRL, etc. will be required for key personnel (1 FTE) and now desired for non-key personnel (2 FTEs).

Question (20) - The Computer Programmer IV labor category description on page 38 states that 2 key and 2 non-key candidates are required to have at least two years of experience “in AMS software development on tools such as PMT,CDRL, etc.” This requirement also seems to heavily favor the incumbent contractor. Will the government consider removing this requirement so that bidders can submit the best candidates available with the required background, knowledge, education, and training? In our experience, a lengthy 60-day transition period provides ample time for Computer Specialists to get up to speed on domain-specific requirements.

Answer (20) – The Government appreciates your feedback. Per Amendment 2, the Government has revised its minimum labor qualification for the Computer Programmer IV labor category. Experience in AMS software development and testing on tools such as PMT, CDRL, etc. will be required for one (1) year vice two (2) years. Experience in AMS software development testing support on tools such as PMT, CDRL, etc. will be required for key personnel (2 FTE) and now desired for non-key personnel (2 FTEs).

Question (21) - The Computer Programmer II labor category description on pages 39-40 states that 4 non-key candidates are required to have at least one year of experience “in AMS software development on tools such as PMT, CSPT, CDRL, AP or system of similar complexity and architecture.” Can the Government please provide additional specificity around the issue of application “complexity and architecture?” Only the incumbent contractor will be able to provide Computer Programmers with experience working on the AMS development tools listed, so prospective bidders will need to have a firm understanding of the complexity and architecture in order to provide suitable alternative programmers.

Answer (21) – The Government appreciates your feedback. Per Amendment 2, the Government has revised its minimum labor qualification for the Computer Programmer II labor category under “desired” experience. The AMS experience for “the requirement for “or system of similar complexity and architecture” is hereby deleted. Please propose in accordance with the RFP.

Question (22) - The Training Specialist I Labor Category description on Page 42 states that desires bidders to propose 1 key and 3 non-key personnel with “at least one year of experience training one of the AMS Tools such as PMT, CSPT, CDRL, AP.” Again, this requirement seems to heavily favor the incumbent personnel on site today. Please consider removing this requirement.

Answer (22) –The Government does not intend to change the minimum labor qualification for the Training Specialist I labor category. Please propose in accordance with the RFP.

Question (23) - Will sealed packages be required from companies that are bidding as subcontractors?

Answer (23) – Sealed packages sent directly from subcontractors to the Government are permissible.

Question (24) - NAVAIR stated in Section 1.10 that it will not reimburse the winning bidder for any transition costs, while the incumbent contractor "is still performing the tasking under the previous contract." This suggests that NAVAIR heavily favors the incumbent contractor, and that responses to this procurement will not be judged in a vendor-neutral manner. Will the Government consider adding a priced CLIN that is not included in the overall cost evaluation, to eliminate the competitive advantage to the current incumbent?

Answer (24) – The Government does not intend to make the transition effort a priced CLIN that is not included in the cost evaluation. Please propose in accordance with the RFP.

Question (25) - NAVAIR states that proposals including contingent hire staff members will be evaluated as having a "risk to successful performance." (See Section 1.1.1) Only the incumbent contractor can be expected to have the full complement of staff members available to support this project, given the restrictive labor category descriptions provided. Will NAVAIR consider revising Section 1.1.1 to reflect the fact that companies with previous success transitioning projects that have identified outstanding contingent-hire key personnel will not be considered "a risk" to the government?

Answer (25) – The Government does not intend to revise Section M, 1.1.1 of the RFP. Please note that the RFP advises offerors that they “may receive a weakness;” as such, a weakness will not be automatically assessed. The Government will consider the staffing plan in its entirety. Past performance will also be evaluated in accordance with the RFP.

Question (26) - Several Labor Category descriptions associated with this procurement (e.g. Training Specialist I, Computer Programmer II, Computer Programmer IV, Computer Specialist, Sr. Project Support Specialist, and Senior Software Engineer) include language stating that both key- and non-key personnel are required to have varying degrees of experience supporting AMS tools and development, including PMT, CSPT, CDRL, and AP. This requirement places bidders at a competitive disadvantage to the current incumbent contract. Will the Government please consider revising the labor categories so that bidders have the opportunity to submit resumes of highly qualified technical resources that do not have domain-specific experience?

Answer (26) – The Government has revised requirements for the Computer Programmer IV, Computer Specialist, Project Support Specialist, Senior, Software Engineer, Senior and Computer Programmer II labor categories per amendment 02.

Question (27) - Can you tell me if a facility clearance is required for the prime prior to contract award?

Answer (27) – A contractor facility clearance is not required for this procurement, as all the work will be completed on-site at Government location.

Question (28) - Please provide the name of the incumbent contractor and contract number.

Answer (28) – The incumbent contractor is Precise Systems and the current contract number is N00421-15-C-0007.

Question (29) -In Section 1.10, the government states that there will be no CLIN associated with the transition, and that the Government does not intend to reimburse the new prime contractor for costs associated with the transition. This Section seems to give the incumbent contractor an unfair competitive advantage. We respectfully request that NAVAIR change this requirement accordingly.

Answer (29) – The Government does not intend to make the transition effort a priced CLIN that is not included in the cost evaluation. Please propose in accordance with the RFP.

Question (30) -In Section 1.1.1, NAVAIR mentions that proposing prospective or contingent hire employees will be deemed "a risk to successful performance." This statement gives the incumbent contractor a significant competitive advantage over other bidders. Can NAVAIR modify the solicitation to instead evaluate whether bidders have identified strong personnel, and that they have successfully transitioned projects in the past, in order to more fairly evaluate staffing risk?

Answer (30) – The Government does not intend to revise Section M, 1.1.1 of the RFP. Please note that the RFP advises offerors that they “may receive a weakness;” as such, a weakness will not be automatically assessed. The Government will consider the staffing plan in its entirety. Past performance will also be evaluated in accordance with the RFP.

Question (31) - NAVAIR has included a requirement that proposed personnel - both key and non-key personnel - have specific experience with AMS' software development methodologies, processes, and tools, such as PMT, CSPT, CDRL, and AP. Will the Government revise the Labor Category descriptions to ensure that all bidders have equal opportunity to submit highly qualified personnel for NAVAIR's consideration, even if they do not have domain-specific experience? As currently written, the Labor Categories for Training Specialist I, Computer Programmer II, Computer Programmer IV, Computer Specialist, Sr. Project Support Specialist, and Senior Software Engineer suggest that the incumbent staff will automatically receive higher evaluated ratings.

Answer (31) – The Government has revised requirements for the Computer Programmer IV, Computer Specialist, Project Support Specialist, Senior, Software Engineer, Senior and Computer Programmer II labor categories per amendment 02.