19R3009_WATSON_QA3___37_thru_52.pdf

MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND

N32205-19-R-3009 WATSON Operation & Maintenance

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS # 3

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

37. Page 135, C-3.2.2 states that “The contractor shall possess and maintain a facility clearance at the Secret level. The contractor shall have a GSA approved Class 6 document safe that has an approved electronic combination locking device at each of their facilities that handle classified material.” However, this conflicts with the DD 254

(Attachment C), box 1b. Please clarify if the DD 254 will be revised.

ANSWER: The Government will make the necessary changes to the DD-254. These changes will be reflected in a forthcoming solicitation amendment.

38. On page 137, the RFP states “C-3.7.2.1. Security Clearances for Shore Side

Personnel - The contractor shall provide key shore side personnel who are US citizens and possess an active SECRET security clearance.” The list of key shore side personnel is extensive, do you want clearances for all personnel on that list?

ANSWER: Yes, all key shore side personnel shall be US citizens and possess an active

SECRET security clearance IAW section C-3.7.2.1.

39. The key shipboard personnel are mentioned throughout the RFP. However, nowhere are the shipboard personnel listed, only the Electronics Officer. We need this information for KBAs, vessel crew overlap and familiarization.

ANSWER: See Answer to Question #21 (Q&A #2).

40. On page 137 & 138 of the RFP, the Qualifications for Port Engineers says “Possess five years’ total experience that is comprised of one or more of the following” and

Qualifications for Assistant Port Engineer says “Possess a minimum of seven years’ experience that includes one or more of the following”. Should these qualifications be reversed?

ANSWER: The Government will revise the Port Engineer and Assistant Port Engineer years of total experience in a forthcoming solicitation amendment.

41. Page 3, Section B-1.7.1 states: “Ammo Bonus Surge Ships. In the event the

Government places explosives in sufficient quantity onboard any ship causing the

Contractor to pay the crew a required "explosives bonus," the Contractor will reimburse the actual bonus cost. A properly certified invoice citing this paragraph and including the language from the union agreement or other applicable document requiring payment of the bonus shall be submitted for payment.”

Please confirm that MSC will reimburse the contractor for the ammo bonus upon submitting a properly certified invoice.

ANSWER: The Government will revise Section B-1.7.1 to read “In the event the

Government places explosives in sufficient quantity onboard any ship causing the

Contractor to pay the crew a required "explosives bonus," the Contractor will be reimbursed for the actual bonus cost.” In addition, see Answer to Question #18 (Q&A #2) regarding Ammo Bonus. These changes will be reflected in a forthcoming solicitation amendment.

42. Page 85 of the RFP states: “C-1.8.5. Drills, General

The contractor shall conduct drills required by federal law, international agreements, and required by MSC in applicable regulations. The contractor shall perform all drills in a safe, practical and reasonable manner to simulate as closely as possible that of an actual emergency. The contractor shall critique the crew participation and performance during after each drill in order to: (a) validate preparatory training that was conducted on board ship; and (b) validate the ship’s emergency bills and procedures. Required drill periodicities are minimums and do not preclude the conduct of drills more frequently in order to ensure the readiness posture of the ship to meet emergency situations.”

Is the contractor expected to be present for every drill in order to fulfill this requirement?

ANSWER: The Government will revise Section C-1.8.5 to read “A licensed crew member of the contractor shall critique the crew participation and performance during the drill in order to: (a) validate preparatory training that was conducted on board ship;

and (b) validate the ship’s emergency bills and procedures.” These changes will be reflected in a forthcoming solicitation amendment.

43. Page 74 states, “C-1.6.2. Control and Escort Visitors

The contractor shall only permit approved visitors to board ships. United States Military and Civilian Government personnel possessing a valid background investigation do not require screening/vetting. The contractor shall screen/vet all other visitors. Contractor provided gangway watches shall log all visitors on and off the ship.”

In the past, the EPIC system was used which is no longer a viable solution. Are there any specific vetting protocols that will be required from contractors?

ANSWER: Sections C-1.6.2.1 through C-1.6.2.4 address all the requirements for ship access.

44. Page 161 states, “C-5.4.1.4 Technical Manual Requirements

The contractor shall procure or create an equipment technical manual for all equipment procured under this contract. The equipment technical manual shall be electronically type-written and the cover shall be durable enough to withstand frequent handling and exposure to oil and water. The binding shall permit the addition and removal of pages.

Creating technical manuals is a lengthy process. In order to properly price this additional work, please estimate how many would be created per year?

ANSWER: The Government will revise Section C-5.4.1.4 to read, “The contractor shall provide an equipment technical manual for all equipment procured under this contract.”

These changes will be reflected in a forthcoming solicitation amendment.

45. Page 78-79 “C-1.7.3.1. Travel to/from Diego Garcia

It is stated that travel costs are reimbursable, yet you estimate the costs for AMC flights to Diego Garcia. Please confirm travel costs to Diego Garcia, vice wages, are reimbursable so long as they meet the requirements of the RFP.

ANSWER: IAW C-1.7.3 (Crew Rotations) The Government will reimburse all reasonable and allowable transportation, lodging, meals and incidental expenses. This includes travel costs to Diego Garcia as long as they are reasonable and allowable IAW the limitations set forth in FAR 31.205-46. These changes will be reflected in a forthcoming solicitation amendment.

46. Page 244 states: Minimum Technical Requirements Proposal shall not exceed 30 pages and it shall include:

There is no page limit requirement stated for the Technical Proposal. Is it your intent that the 30 pages covers both the MTRs and the Technical Proposal?

ANSWER: See Answer to Question #11 (Q&A #2).

47. The days per year shown in Section F-1 Period of Performance on page 168 of the

RFP are different from the days per year shown on Form D. Section F-1 has 365 days for the Firm Period and each of the Option Years, except Option Period Three which has

366 days. Form D includes 365 days for the Firm Period and each of the Option Years, except for Option Period One which shows 366 days. This is true for the Form D for all vessels, except for RED CLOUD which shows 365 days for the Firm Period and each

Option Year. Please adjust the days shown on Form D for each vessel to match the

Period of Performance per Section F-1.

ANSWER: The Government will revise the table at F-1 and Attachment L Form D. The performance periods will be updated in a forthcoming amendment to match the correct

PoP.

48. Due to the sheer volume of information needed to submit this proposal, and because we are still waiting for Collective Bargaining Agreements, we respectfully request a 2-week extension. The new proposal due date would be July 15th, 2019.

ANSWER: The Government will amend the solicitation closing date to 16 July 2019. The new date will be reflected in a forthcoming amendment.

49. In C-3.8.6 Qualifications of Contract Administrator, one of the requirements is for

DAWIA Level II certification in contracting. DAWIA certifications are only available to

DoD employees, military and (APF) civilians assigned to an acquisition coded position as well as select military officers whose career development will include assignment to acquisition coded positions. In the commercial industry, top level Contract

Administrators are certified as a Certified Federal Contracts Manager (CFCM). Please consider the requirements of the years of experience associated with DAWIA Level II be acceptable, and a CFCM would exceed the minimal requirements.

ANSWER: Section C-3.8.6 provides an option to meet the Contract Administrator qualifications without obtaining DAWIA Level II certification. Further, there are companies that provide DAWIA/DAU equivalent training, which would be acceptable.

The Government will revise Section C-3.8.6 to add the Certified Professional Contract

Manager (CPCM) Certification to the list of other Contract Administrator qualifications.

This change will be reflected in a forthcoming solicitation amendment.

50. In C-3.8.3 Qualifications of Port Captain, it states: “Possess a minimum of five years of experience serving aboard commercial or government owned ocean going ships as Master or Chief Mate, unlimited tonnage restriction,”. Please confirm that

“government owned ocean-going ships” includes U.S. Navy vessels. This should not be unlike the Port Engineer requirements that allows serving active duty in the military performing duties substantially the same.

ANSWER: Government owned ocean-going ships include U.S. Navy Vessels.

51. In C-3.7.2.a. Contract Specific Key Shoreside Personnel: Are resumes required for all positions in the table, or just for those marked “X” in the final column “Key(kba)”

ANSWER: See Answer to Question #22 (Q&A #2).

52. In C-3.8.1 Qualifications for Port Engineer: The contractor shall provide Port

Engineers who meet at least one of the following qualifications:

Possess a minimum of three years' experience as a Port Engineer having managed and negotiated at least two shipyard dry-docking availabilities with and value greater than three million dollars. Experience gained while employed by a shipyard or while serving active duty in the military may be applicable towards meeting this requirement if the duties and responsibilities of the positions are substantially the same as a Port Engineer. This experience shall demonstrate their ability to effectively manage and negotiate complex projects such as shipyard dry dock overhauls and other types of repairs.

Possess a minimum of four years’ experience serving aboard Government or commercial ocean-going ships of not less than 4,000 HP as either a Chief Engineer or a

First Assistant Engineer. This experience shall demonstrate effective management of maintenance and repair of ocean-going ships.

Possess five years’ total experience that is comprised of one or more of the following:

o An engineering related degree (e.g. Marine Engineer, Marine

Architecture; Mechanical Engineering). A bachelor’s degree will count for three years’ total education experience. A Master’s degree will count for four years’ total education experience. A doctorate degree will count for four years’ total education experience.

o Experience gained while employed by a shipyard in a management position o Serving active duty in the military performing duties substantially the same as a Port Engineer

The way we interpret this, the only qualification we would have to meet is one sub bullet of: Possess five years’ total experience that is comprised of one or more of the following:

Therefore, a bachelors degree and 2 years’ experience will meet this requirement. This is somewhat the same for the Assistant Port Engineer requirements.

ANSWER: The Government will revise Bullet 3 of Sections C-3.8.1 and C-3.8.1.1. to read

“A Master’s degree or higher will count for an additional one year of experience.

Therefore, engineering degree(s) will count for no more than four years’ total experience.” These changes will be reflected in a forthcoming solicitation amendment.