Q_AND_A__5.pdf

MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND

N32205-16-R-3101 SBX-1 Operation & Maintenance

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS # 5

The following are answers to questions received from potential offerors. The answers provide clarification only and DO NOT constitute an amendment to the solicitation.

1. Question 24 from QA2 references Section C-1.7.1.1 which states, "Crews will work twelve hours per day, seven days a week." The answer to Question 24 states "In FOS, the 84 hour-mandated work schedule is all part of Contractor's fixed price, regardless of whether or not it is considered partially as overtime as per the Contractor's CBA. All overtime beyond 12 hours in any one (1) day or 84 hours in any one week reimbursable with prior approval from the COR." This is in conflict with section 1.7.11.3 which states

".Per Diem rate shall include the full wages for each crew member for an eight-hour workday, seven days per week (including weekends and holidays), 365 days per year (56 hours per week per person) during

FOS. All overtime that is incurred beyond the eight-hour workday shall be reimbursable in accordance with Section CONTRACT SECTION G-7 ." Please clarify if the fixed price per diem is to include a 12 hour day or an 8 hour day.

Answer: the fixed price per diem is to include a twelve-hour day. The second sentence in section C 1.7.11.3 will be amended in a forthcoming solicitation amendment as follow: “The

Contractor’s fixed priced FOS Per Diem rate shall include the full wages for each crew member for a twelve-hour workday, seven days per week (including weekends and holidays), 365 days per year (84 hours per week per person) during FOS. All overtime that is incurred beyond the twelve-hour workday shall be reimbursable in accordance with section G-7”

2. Section L.C(a)i, Small Business Participation Plan – Reimbursable expenses listed in Section B-10 include expenses which do not offer subcontract opportunities, i.e., capital hire, war risk bonus, additional insurance, legal fees, MM cadet wages/travel, contractor overtime, additional crew wages, etc. Does the

Government’s estimate of reimbursable expenses listed in Table 1 include only items that offer further subcontracting opportunities? If not, what percentage of reimbursable expenses offer subcontract opportunities.

Answer: Section B-3.1 will be added to section B in a forthcoming amendment which will include a chart breaking down the estimated reimbursables to enable offerors to better determine subcontracting opportunities.

Adding the following chart in section B:

FY17 FY18 FY 19 FY 20 FY 21

Category

22012-EXPRESS

SHIPMENTS

$164,800 $169,744 $174,836 $180,081 $185,484

21011-NON-PCS

PERSONNEL TRAVEL

$278,100 $286,443 $295,036 $303,887 $313,004

25131-TRAINING $13,802 $14,216 $14,643 $15,082 $15,534

EXCEPT CIVMAR

2522K-OTHER

PORT/CANAL

CHARGES

$284,280 $292,808 $301,593 $310,640 $319,960

2521G-CONTRACTOR

OVERTIME

$1,826,807 $1,881,612 $1,938,060 $1,996,202 $2,056,088

2521R-OTHER

LEASE/CHARTER

COST

$46,350 $47,741 $49,173 $50,648 $52,167

25232-OVERHAUL $8,918,366 $9,185,917 $8,422,382 $48,177,462 $12,429,822

25235-INDUSTRL ASST

INC TRVL

$1,627,607 $1,676,435 $1,626,303 $4,376,854 $1,725,345

2523A-HAZ MAT

DISPOSAL

$41,200 $42,436 $43,709 $45,020 $ 46,371

2528B-CONTRACT SVC

NOT CLASSFD

$41,200 $42,436 $43,709 $45,020 $46,371

26013-

TRAINING/MEDICAL

SUPPLIES

$27,810 $28,644 $29,504 $30,389 $31,300

31011-SHIP SPARES $795,675 $819,545 $844,132 $869,456 $895,539

TOTAL $14,065,997 $14,487,977 $13,783,079 $56,400,742 $18,116,985

3. Section L.C(a)iii, Small Business Participation Plan – Will the scheduled ROH period in Option 3 be restricted to Hawaii?

Answer: It is unknown at this time if the scheduled ROH period in Option 3 will be restricted to Hawaii.

4. Section L.C(a)i , Small Business Participation Plan – Table 1 - What is the estimated value of ROH costs (Option period 3)?

Answer: The estimate for the ROH during option period one is $52,554,316.00

5. Is Section M in compliance with the new DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Source Selection

Procedures, Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement Procedures, Guidance and Information

Subpart 215.3-- Source Selection, dated March 31, 2016?

Answer: The new source selection procedures are only required for procurement packages approved after 01 MAY 2016. SBX-1 was approved before this date; therefore the new source selection procedures are not applicable.

6. Will Non-Key shipboard crew personnel be required to participate in RAPIDGate for credentialing registration & issuance for base access in Hawaii? If so, will the RAPIDGate cost incurred be reimbursable?

Answer: Non-Key shipboard crew personnel will not be required to participate in RAPIDGate for credentialing registration & issuance for base access in Hawaii.

7. Technical Manual Section 19 Manning, will a storekeeper be required during ROS status?

Answer: In accordance with Technical Manual Section 19, Manning, a storekeeper is not required during ROS status.

8. The following questions are in reference to Questions and Answers #2:

a. Q&A #2, Question 3: The original question was two parts, with the second part being "if the answer is yes, are training wages to be paid to Mariners attending these classes reimbursable as well?" We believe the training wages relating to the training being discussed in this question are

NOT reimbursable, and therefore they are for the account of the Contractor. Please confirm that this is a correct interpretation of this question and answer.

Answer: The training wages relating to the training being discussed in Q&A #2, Question #3, are NOT reimbursable, and therefore they are for the account of the

Contractor. In accordance with 1.8.3.1, the government will only reimburse: 1) travel and per diem, and 2) actual course cost, if any.

b. Q&A #2, Question 16: The specific question being asked was whether the Contractor would have to pay back the government for sponsor personnel meals below the 66 that must be included in fixed fee, but no status was specified. This was not adequately answered in Question 51 that was referenced. It is clear that this would not be an issue at all in ROS or RAV, since all meals of crew and sponsor are reimbursable in those statuses; but there was no answer to this question for when in FOS status. Please address the issue of sponsor meals repayment when sponsor personnel total is below 66 in FOS.

Answer: Sponsor meals are not required to be repaid when sponsor personnel total is below 66 in FOS. This answer will be incorporated into section 1.3.4.1 in a forthcoming solicitation amendment.

c. Q&A #2, Question 25: The answer says that "in ROS, the 84 hour-mandated work schedule is all part of Contractor's fixed price . . . " However, in multiple other places, the RFP and in the

Q&A state that ROS wages and fringes are reimbursable, which would include overtime. Please clarify or amend this answer.

Answer: See answer to question 1 above.

9. The following questions are in reference to Questions and Answers #3:

a. Q&A #3, Question 15 - Regarding berthing of personnel:

(i) If there ever is an occurrence where Unlicensed Personnel are required to share berths and the additional daily amount is paid per man per day as required by the CBA, will this be reimbursable if/when it occurs? Our CBA requires an additional payment of $15.00 per man per day when this occurs. Please address and clarify.

(ii) We have reason to believe that this has occurred in the past and could potentially occur during the performance of the new contract. Will this be included in the forthcoming solicitation amendment?

Answer: If there ever is an occurrence (as previously answered in Q&A #3, question #15, this is unlikely and has not occurred under the current SBX-1 operation & maintenance contract) where unlicensed personnel are required to share berths and the additional daily amount is paid per man per day as required by the CBA this cost is reimbursable with prior approval COR or authorized Approving Authority approval. Section C-1.3.2.1 Shared Berths will be added to the solicitation in a forthcoming amendment to incorporate the answer to this question.

b. Q&A #3, Question 8, Section C-1.4.2.2: Why is First Advantage the only acceptable provider of personnel casualty reporting services?

Answer: First Advantage is not the only acceptable provider. Section 1.4.2.2 will be amended in a forthcoming solicitation amendment as follows:

1.4.2.2 Provide Medical History. Crewmembers shall not be accepted for employment if previously repatriated for a medical condition, unless a complete report from a physician provides verification that the predisposing condition has been corrected or cured, and such report has been approved by the Contractor's designated licensed physician. The Contractor shall not supply crewmembers with existing health conditions that constitute a hazard to the person or to others onboard ship, unless it can be demonstrated the condition is controlled and being monitored by the crewmember's physician who has rendered the crewmember Fit for Duty (FFD). A high-risk medical condition shall subject the individual to immediate repatriation. The

Contractor shall subscribe to a maritime personnel casualty reporting service.

10. Question & Answer #2 Question #8 states that ROS crew will be per Section 19 of the Technical

Manual. Since that is the case will section B-7 be removed from the solicitation and please confirm that

ROS wages are not reimbursable and will be included in fixed price per diem.

Answer: Section B-7 was revised in amendment 0001, posted to FEDBIZOPPS on 06 MAY 16.

The amended section B-7 addresses this question.

11. Amendment #1 to the SBX-1 RFP includes the original SIU CBA signed 2/2/11 with 2011 pay rates including 3% TLC. Please forward the Addendum A that includes 10/1/15 pay rates for verification purposes. The 10/1/15 fringe rates were already included. Thank you and best regards.

Answer: The SIU CBA wages are 2012 wages. There is an escalation clause below the wage chart that shows a 3% increase each year of the contract. To determine the 2015/2016 wages you must extrapolate the multiplication.

12. Crewmember travel to and from the vessel is a complicated element to price. The CBAs provide a complex pay schedule for travel to and from the vessels exceeding 24 hours along with the uniquely short

Tour of Duty ranging 65-75 days for Officers. Since the operation area of the contract is unknown other than Pacific Ocean 33% of the year will the Government consider making any travel pay in excess of 24 hours (including crew wages and fringe) a reimbursable item?

Answer: See answer to question 13 below.

13. Concerning certain solicitation provisions regarding the reimbursement of expenses related crew rotation, (Section C-1.7.4). It is our position that the provisions which limit reimbursable travel expenses

(Travel Per Diem) to only 5 days and do not permit reimbursement of "travel wages” should be reviewed by you. We request that you review the necessity of the pay (employee wages and benefits during travel to/from the vessel) and determine this provision is not a reasonable allocation of contract risks.

Answer: SBX-1 currently does not have a supply vessel assigned to it for crew changes;

therefore crew rotations do not currently occur at sea. Section 1.7.4 Crew Rotations will be amended in a forthcoming solicitation amendment as follows to address the question:

1.7.4 Crew Rotations. All crew travel & per diem associated with crew rotations are reimbursable in accordance with the DOD Joint Travel Regulations in effect at the time of travel. The Contractor shall make every effort to minimize travel time associated with crew rotations. Crew rotations will normally occur when the vessel is in Pearl Harbor, HI. Costs for one-way travel in excess of five (5) days per crew member will not be reimbursed without written justification for COR or authorized Approving Authority approval.

Crew rotations shall be undertaken in a manner that does not compromise vessel safety and ensures personnel and operational continuity: Prior to arrival onboard, all crew will have completed all required training.

• The maximum crew rotation per billet per vessel for Government reimbursement in any operational status is six (6) times per year

• The Contractor shall endeavor to ensure there shall be at least 30 days between the rotation of the Master and Chief Mate, and at least 30 days between the rotation of the Chief

Engineer and 1st Assistant Engineer

• The Contractor shall not change out/rotate more than 50% of the crew in one evolution

• Land/Air travel wages are reimbursable only after the first 24 hours of travel. This is highly unusual for a Pearl Harbor, HI crew change and requires prior COR or authorized

Approving Authority approval.

Vessel travel wages are reimbursable as follows: If mission requirements increase and an

Off-Shore Supply Vessel (OSV) is regularly assigned, the contract will be modified to include reimbursable overlapping wages for crew changes at sea. In the event an OSV with crew change capability is chartered on an interim basis, overlapping crew change wages will be handled as a reimbursable item requiring prior COR or authorized Approving Authority approval.