Q As-_13_July_2016.docx

52. Will a franchise tax or any other type of taxes be incurred when the ships are in Texas? If so, will this be reimbursable?

A. We are not aware of a franchise tax in Texas. PM3 ship operators are provided a Tax Exempt letter to be used when purchasing services and supplies that are reimbursable under the contract.

53. Section 1.1.6.2 on page 11 states that “The Contractor hereby assumes all risks for increased costs associated with any change in anticipated operating tempo of the ships, whether or not such anticipated operating tempo is a result of representations made by the Government herein or elsewhere”. Section 1.1.15.3 on page 15 states that “The cost to transition from ROS-5 to FOS and return and from ROS-5 to RAV and return will be reimbursed. Properly includable transition costs include, but are not limited to, additional crew wages, crew transportation costs, messing and berthing if applicable, and other costs (e.g. fuel, tugs, pilots, etc.).”

These two sections seem to conflict. Please provide examples of the types of increased costs that are being referred to in 1.1.5.3 that would be for the Contractor’s account. Please clarify.

A. The paragraphs are not related. Section C-1.1.6.2 is specific to the OPTEMO of ships (which corresponds to fixed price ship per diem for FOS, ROS-5, and RAV) while Section C-1.1.5.3 refers to additional costs (such as crew transportation, messing and berthing) incurred to transition a ship from ROS-5 or RAV to FOS, which are reimbursable. The projected OPTEMPO of the ships is not guaranteed. Variations to the number of FOS, ROS-5 or RAV days shall not be the basis of a claim for increased cost to the Contractor.

However, reimbursable transition costs are negotiated on a case-by-case basis.

54. 1.3.2.5 Costs of Food and Hotel Services - Does this section apply only to the forward deployed FOS vessels?

A. Please see Solicitation Amendment 000,1 revised paragraph 1.3.2.5 requirements, which are only applicable to Marine Corps LMSR ships.

55. 1.7.7.2 OCONUS Crew Rotations Surge Ships only - This section states that travel wages are not reimbursable. How are we to price this cost when we do not know when these vessels will activate, how long they will activate for, and what ports they will visit? We have no possible way of identifying travel time. Please consider making this a reimbursable cost.

A. This language is standard for surge ships. Contractors are expected to price any contingencies into their offer. The OPTEMPO for ROS-5 ships is 95% in port. Thus, it is likely OCONUS crew rotations will be limited.

56. G-6 states that the Contractor shall attend a post-award conference. Are the costs to attend this conference reimbursable?

A. Attendance at the post-award conference is not specifically reimbursable, however, offerors may count the post-award conference as one of the six meetings per year the contractor is obligated to attend per Section C-3.9.

57. Is Worker’s Compensation insurance (Defense Base Act) required?

A. FAR Clause 52.228-3 Worker's Compensation Insurance (Defense Base Act) is included under Section I of the solicitation.

58. L-13 Are the Offers to be submitted in paper copies or Compact Discs (CDs)? There appears to be conflicting language throughout this section. Please clarify.

A. This language (L-13.C) was revised under Amendment 0001

59. Can offers be submitted in PDF format?

A. No, offers must be submitted in MS Word 2010 format. See response to Q.33 posted to FEDBIZOPPS on 28 Jun 2016.

60. L-13 C. & H. Are the electronic copies of the proposal to be formatted in Microsoft 2007 or 2010? There is conflicting language in these sections.

A. Conflicting language was revised under Amendment 0001. Also see response to Q.33 posted to FEDBIZOPPS on 28 Jun 2016.

61. L-13 C. 2. Past Technical Performance This section states that the narratives shall not exceed 10 pages in length (Times New Roman font size 12). Separate narratives shall be provided for each of the past technical performance experience subfactors above.

Is the 10 page limit for each individual subfactor or 10 page limit in total? Please clarify.

The 10 page limit is not a page limit for the entire proposal. The 10 page limit applies to each area listed under L-14.B.IV. Past Technical Performance.

62. L-14 pgs. 163-164 III. Small Business Participation. The contractor must provide a percentage of the total effort to be performed by large and small businesses. Does “total effort” refer to the estimated contract price (evaluated proposal) or does total effort refer to the total amount to be subcontracted?

A. The subcontracting effort includes any subcontracting opportunities included in the fixed price as well as subcontracting opportunities projected for reimbursable expenses.

63. Does the Government’s Estimate of Reimbursable Expenses listed in Tables include only items that offer further subcontracting opportunities? If not, what percentage of reimbursable expenses offer subcontract opportunities. Not all reimbursable expenses offer subcontract opportunities.

The values provided are based on reimbursable expenses from prior years as well as projected reimbursable expenses for the new contract period and is provided as a tool for offerors to use as a baseline for developing a Small Business Participation Plan. Actual subcontracting opportunities will vary based on business decisions made by individual contractors. The actual dollar value should not impact the percentage of the effort that will be performed by large and small businesses. (Also see response to Q.38 posted to FEDBIZOPPS on 28 Jun 2016.)

64. Section M states that the Government may award 2 contracts. Will a single bidder be considered to receive both awards, if appropriately qualified?

Lot one may be awarded to either a small or large business. Lot two is a small business set-aside. Thus, it is possible for a small business offerorto be awarded 2 contracts.

65. Attachment G, Invoice “Expenditure Report” states that reimbursement is after goods or services delivered, not at time of “cash - out”? Please clarify.

A. Vendor invoices are not eligible for reimbursement until after payment to the vendor has been made by the Contractor ("cash out"). This is specified in Section G-3(f), which includes requirements for the submittal of “invoice[s] for reimbursement of expenses paid by the Contractor for the account of the Government" as a condition for payment.

66. Attachment K-4 tables appears to be same as K3 table. Please clarify.

A. Attachment K will be revised in a future Amendment.