Amendment 2 - Questions Answers (N39040-24-R-0145) Update 6-25.docx

Question 1.

Section C 9.1.2 Key Personnel references NAVSEA Clause 5252.237-9106 titled “Substitution of Personnel." However, Page 39 references C-237-H002 Substitution of Key Personnel (NAVSEA) (OCT 2018). Will the Government confirm which clause is applicable for this solicitation?

Answer to Question 1.

Clause C-237-H002 (NAVSEA)(OCT 2018) is applicable. The reference to Clause 5252.237-9106 in SOW § 9.1.2 has been replaced.

Question 2.

Section L.1.1 Submission states proposals, “shall be submitted Electronically, using email or PIEE Solicitation Module.” Will the Government confirm an offeror may use either of these two options?

Answer to Question 2.

Offerors may submit proposals using email (L.1.1.1) or the PIEE Module (L.1.1.2). Offeror shall use only one method. Offerors may not submit proposals using any other method.

Question 3.

Will the Government confirm that a Past Performance Customer Assessment Form may be completed by a prime contractor for a subcontractor and submit to the Government on behalf of the subcontractor?

Answer to Question 3.

An Offeror may provide a customer assessment for one of its subcontractors if the Offeror was the subcontractor’s Customer. Note, an Offeror’s assessment of its subcontractor’s past performance is, by its nature, of less value as compared to the disinterested assessment provided by third parties.

Question 4.

Will a Christmas shutdown occur during the Period of Performance of this solicitation? If so, can the Government also provide dates for the shutdown?

Answer to Question 4.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) anticipates reducing or shutting down operations on dates that federal Holidays are observed and on curtailment days. See Clause G-242-H002, Hours of Operation and Holiday Schedule. OPM generally identifies when federal Holidays are observed. PNSY has scheduled the following curtailment dates during the anticipated period of performance:

Thanksgiving Day after (November 29, 2024) Christmas Day to New Years Eve (December 26,27,30,31, 2024)

Question 5.

Will the Government confirm its intent to pay personnel during this shutdown?

Answer to Question 5.

Normally, under Clause G-242-H002(d), when Federal employees are excused from work due to a holiday or a special event (that is unrelated to severe weather, a security threat, or a facility related problem) (here, curtailment day), on-site contractors are required to continue working established work hours or to take leave in accordance with the contractor’s policy. If PNSY shuts down operations on a federal Holiday or curtailment day, the Touch Labor contractor cannot continue working established hours and shall take leave. “Those contractor employees who take leave shall not direct charge the non-working hours to the contract.”

Question 6.

In Section L, page 80 under for Past Performance, the requirement includes Past Performance Reference and CPARs. There are sufficient instructions regarding the Reference but none for the CPARS. Is it sufficient if the offeror includes the ratings for each CPARS issued possibly as a table such as the example below?

Answer to Question 6.

Section L.3.0, Technical Proposal Content, identifies the content for the Factor 2 - Past Performance proposal. Offerors who elect to submit CPARS are required to submit copies of the entire CPARS; the ratings, alone, are not sufficient.

Question 7 Since the contractor is required to provide a “Safety Inspector/Fire Marshal” to perform daily inspections of the contractor’s work sites (page 28, C-223-H002, para (b)), is that labor category considered an “Approved Labor Category” (page 17, para 3.8) that can be invoiced?

Answer to Question 7 Page 45, C-223-H002 (b) states that the Contractor is responsible for providing an experienced Safety Inspector/Fire Marshal who will accomplish daily inspections of the Contractor’s entire work area on the ship, together with the Contracting Office’s Safety Representative. This requirement is commonly used for discrete work where a contractor is assigned a specific segment of work in a specific compartment(s). For touch labor, where contracted workers are embedded in Shipyard work crews, a contracted Safety Inspector/Fire Marshal would then become responsible for Shipyard controlled worksites.

It is NOT the Government’s intent to transfer worksite safety inspection responsibilities from the Government to the Contractor.

Question 8 Will the Shipyard delete the requirement in paragraph (b) in Clause C-223-H002, Safety, Health and Fire Requirements for Ship Repair (NAVSEA)((JAN 2019) contractors to provide

Inspectors/Fire Marshals, since, in practice, it will increase the cost of executing the RFP and do nothing to increase safety at the work site?

Answer to Question 8 See Answer to Question 7

Question 9 RFP R3904024R0145 has eliminated the Project Manager (or Task Order Manager) as a key person and part of the contractor management team. Paragraph 9.1.2 of the previously awarded MAC IDIQ, N3904018D0003 of 7 March 2018 and the solicitation for the follow on MAC IDIQ (N3904023R0008) paragraph 9.1.2.2 both have the Project Manager as a key person in addition to the Program Manager. This position aligns management executing touch labor delivery orders with the Shipyard’s own hierarchy of waterfront Supervisor, Zone Manager and Assistant Project Superintendent which has been a successful leadership model at PNS for decades.

Will the Shipyard add the Project Manager (or Task Order Manager) as a key position for RFP N3904024R0145?

Answer to Question 9 The Government will only designate the Program Manager and on-site supervisors as key personnel under this contract. Offerors may use other personnel to manage their performance under the contract, but the Government will not evaluate those individuals as key personnel. All positions in the SOW that state Contract Manager will be referred to as Program Manager for evaluation under this contract.

Question 10 Section M, paragraph M.1.0, basis for award, is lowest price technically acceptable. The previous PNS MAC IDIQ (N3904018D0003) and the follow on PNS MAC IDIQ solicitation N3904023R0008 both used “best value” as the basis for award. Although price needs to be considered, disregarding safe execution of quality work is in direct conflict with executing work shipboard on nuclear submarines with highly skilled mechanics. Recommends replacing the two-tiered rating of acceptable and unacceptable on Page 88, M.3.0 with the previously used rating system of outstanding, good, acceptable, marginal and unsatisfactory. This is fundamental to evaluating best value and providing the customer (i.e. shops and projects) with high quality, well experienced mechanics to help them execute work with first time quality to meet schedule commitments. The focus needs to be on completing submarine overhauls and returning them to the fleet. Will the Shipyard change the basis for award from Lowest Price Technically Acceptable to Best Value?

Answer to Question 10 The Basis for Award will not change. This requirement is clearly defined and describes the work to be performed using objective measures and standards. Minimal value will be realized from evaluating proposals that exceeds the minimum technical or performance requirements.