Request_for_Specification_Clarification_ANSWERS.pdf

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PARA. NO: 4.a.i.2.c.i

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CONTRACTOR POC:

REQUEST FOR SPECIFICATION CLARIFICATION

CONTRACTOR PHONE:

DATE OF REQUEST: 17 January 2019 SOLICITATION NO: N50054-19-T-0005

TITLE: MARMC Facilities Building Support Services MARMC POC: Sara Van Gorder

CONTRACTOR: MARMC PHONE: (757) 400-0328

CONTRACTOR QUESTION 1: Can you advise if a site visit is planned for this Solicitation?

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: Site Visit information has been submitted to FBO posting.

CONTRACTOR QUESTION 2: Does the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation posted as solicitation number N5005419T0005 on FBO contain requirements similar to a existing contract or will this be a new requirement?

If possible, please provide the current contract number.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: This is a follow-on requirement.

Current contract number is N50054-15-P-0009

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: All labor categories mentioned in PWS section 3.2 require personnel to maintain a Secret clearance.

CONTRACTOR QUESTION 3: Instructions to Quoters, paragraph 4.a.i.2.c.i, page 24, states: “The minimum level of security required is SECRET for personnel performing classified tasks on this project.”

Will the Government please identify, by job category, which categories require personnel to be cleared to SECRET?

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TITLE: Instructions to Quoters

PARA. NO: 4.a.ii.2.b

PAGE NO: 25

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CONTRACTOR QUESTION 5: We have a strategic partner interested in working with us on this project, and they have existing personnel in place that meet the specified clearance requirements. However, [ . . .] would like to take the lead, and while the management personnel we have would clearly qualify for clearance, the solicitation states that these clearances must be in place within 60 days of award. It is our understanding that this process typically takes longer than 60 days, so our question is whether you, as the contracting officer and sponsor, have the ability to “fast-track” the application so that we can meet the 60 day deadline.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: The Government does not have a way to "fast-track" security clearance applications.

CONTRACTOR QUESTION 4: Instructions to Quoters, paragraph 4.a.ii.2.b, page 25, requires a Resume for each candidate proposed in Staffing Matrix.

In accordance with FAR 52.222-17 (E.O. 13495) we intend to make offers of right of first refusal to all qualified incumbent employees working on the current contract. Obtaining resumes from the incumbent workforce in the time allotted before the deadline for proposal submittal is prohibitive and gives a decided advantage to the incumbent. Also, obtaining resumes from non-incumbent candidates, who are already cleared SECRET and possess the required State of Virginia certifications as outlined in the PWS, to be submitted by the proposal due date, is prohibitive and offers a decided advantage to the incumbent. Proposing job descriptions and outlining how an offeror will recruit, screen and retained qualified, cleared personnel, could be an acceptable alternative; leveling the playing field for all offerors. Will the Government please re-consider the requirement for Resumes to be submitted as part of the Technical Proposal?

-CLARIFICATION-

We are asking for the government to remove from the proposal requirements the submission of resumes for all staff members proposed in our staffing plan for the following reasons:

The RFP states that we must include, in our proposals, resumes for each candidate we are proposing in our staffing plan (4.a.ii.2.b, page 25).

However, FAR 52.222-17 (E.O. 13495) is also referenced in the RFP, requiring right of first refusal to incumbent employees.

Requiring both resumes and right of first refusal, limits competition because the RFP does not give us contact information for the incumbent workforce. Even with the contact information, the timeframe for the proposal is prohibitive for proposers to approach these incumbent employees and receive their resumes. The exception is the incumbent contractor, who presumably already has the resumes for all of its staff members on file.

There is not sufficient time to advertise for and receive resumes from all of the required, qualified non-incumbent people and ensure that they can be hired for proposed positions within the proposal timeframe.

Finally, it would be disingenuous of us to advertise for and propose nonincumbent personnel, when we know that at least some of the incumbent personnel will be hired for the contract as per FAR

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: The contractor shall comply with FAR 52.222.17, Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers. Please note that the incumbent contractor’s employees may elect to refuse any job offers provided by the successor contractor. Thus, to ensure a smooth transition, the quoters shall provide a staffing plan with resumes of possible candidates meeting the Solicitation’s minimum requirements that clearly demonstrates the quoter has the capability to begin and sustain operations at all times. Please also note that some new requirements have been incorporated in the new Performance Work Statement (PWS) to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and policies; see PWS in Solicitation for all requirements.