N6227118Q1145_Vendor_Questions_and_Answers.pdf

Vendor Questions and Answers RFQ N62271-18-Q-1145

Question 1: Can companies from outside the United States apply for this (i.e. Canada or India)?

Answer 1: Yes, as long as he country/entity is not a prohibited source. However, contractor personnel must be U.S. Citizens.

Question 2: Will we need to come over there for meetings?

Answer 2: Please reference Section 7.0 Place of Performance in the Performance Based Statement of Work.

Question 3: Can we perform the tasks outside the United States (i.e. Canada or India)?

Answer 3: No. Please reference Section 7.0 Place of Performance in the Performance Based Statement of Work. Place of performance is to be at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.

Question 4: Can we submit the proposals via email?

Answer 4: Yes. Please follow the “Instructions for Submission of Quotations” in the solicitation. The submitted proposal must be in the format described in the solicitation.

Question 5: What is the amount of the contract?

Answer 5: The amount of the contract will be determined at time of award, depending on who the contract is awarded to. Please submit fair and reasonable pricing.

Question 6: This RFQ looks like its directed more for the individual interpreter. Can you please advise as to if this contract is open for small businesses to bid on?

Answer 6: This procurement is a total small business set aside. The resulting award will go to a small business. The proposal must include Contractor Key Personnel information for the individual who will be performing the service.

Question 7: With respect to PWS 3.5.1., it states that this course is scheduled from July 9, 2018 - July 20, 2018, which is 10 days. However, on page 2 of PWS, Estimated Effort Schedule of Services, this level of effort is 9 days. Please confirm if the contractor should provide 2 French interpreters for 9 days or 10 days.

Answer 7: The two (2) Interpreters will perform 9 days. There is no class on July 13, 2018 so interpretation is not needed. Please see attached Interpretation Schedule.

Question 8: Does the contractor expect overtime?

Answer 8: Overtime is not anticipated.

Question 9: With respect to PWS 3.3, it is our understanding to provide translation services and translated material review services besides the consecutive interpretation services. Is this translation related work going to be performed during the course of the training? Or should the interpreters translate evaluation form and student responses after hours?

Answer 9: Translation in task 3.3 is performed during the course of interpretation time. Printed material will be provided to interpreters at the beginning of the course, and as interpreters notice mistakes in the translation, corrections should be made directly on the printed copy.

Question 10: With respect to PWS 3.2, it is our understanding that our interpreters should translate course evaluation form and student responses. Could you provide us the estimated word counts or pages?

Answer 10: Please see attached examples of evaluations before and after translation. These will be emailed to vendor’s POC after course conclusion. There is no requirement that the evaluations be translated by the interpreters working the course.

Question 11: With respect to PWS page 15, the contractor is required to provide 2 Dari interpreters.

However, the period of performance is already past. Please confirm if PWS pages 15 - 23 are part of this solicitation and confirm the period of performance and other requirements for this effort.

Answer 11: No, the Dari Interpreters are not needed and the solicitation has been amended to remove this section.

Question 12: For the French/English Interpreters it is stated 123 hours for the level of effort, can you please confirm that it means 123 hours between the 2 Interpreters, so each Interpreter would be responsible for around 61.5 hours each over the duration of the course?

Answer 12: The anticipated effort is for the two interpreters combined. On July 20 only one interpreter would be required, resulting in the hours not being the same for each interpreter. Please see attached Interpretation Schedule.

Question 13: For the Offsite Trip to Alameda, CA, it is listed that only one (1) French/English Interpreter is needed. For that day only one (1) Interpreter is needed or would both be required to work on that day? Or does this pertain to One pair, meaning both Interpreters? Can you please also confirm the date?

Answer 13: Only one (1) Interpreter will need to travel to San Francisco/Alameda, CA that day. The travel date is July 20, 2018. The Interpreter may ride the bus with the group or meet the group at a predetermined location in San Francisco. No return to Monterey is required. Please see attached Interpretation Schedule for details.

Question 14: Is the final page for Solicitation N6227118Q1145 Page 14?

Answer 14: Yes. Page 14 ends the solicitation and Page 15 includes the form for Past Performance.

Question 15: Can you please confirm that the final date of the course is also the final date in San Diego (Aug 10th, 2018), so we would not have to bring back the Arabic/English Interpreter back to Monterey and that he/she would be discharged from the job upon conclusion in San Diego? Please advise because there did not appear to be a date on the travel schedule and no listing for a return flight back to Monterey, California.

Answer 15: The final date of the course is August 10, 2018. The interpreter will be discharged at the end of that day. No return to Monterey is required.

Question 16: For Working hours in Monterey the hours are 8:00am to 16:30pm? Is lunch an hour or a half an hour? Is lunch provided for the Interpreters or will they be responsible. Is there a place on campus to purchase lunch?

Answer 16: Please see attached Interpretation Schedule. Lunch is scheduled for 1.5 hours each day but it is possible that a session may run late and cause lunch to be shorter than scheduled. The Interpreter is responsible for his/her own lunch. There are several locations on campus for food purchase to include a cafeteria, café and Starbucks.

Question 17: What have been the biggest challenges for fulfilling services under this contract previously, and what are the challenges that you anticipate?

Answer 17: Content is advanced in academic and military nature, requiring an above-average level of interpretation. Egyptian dialect Arabic does not have direct translation for every word used, requiring understanding of the English concept in order to flesh out the Arabic interpretation.

Question 18: Volume II Price Submission – CLIN 0001 – Please clarify why the estimated Level of Effort is 123 hours? Two interpreters for 7.5 hours per day multiplied by 9 days is 135 hours.

Answer 18: The RFQ has been revised to reflect 8 hours per interpreter per day for 8 days, and 11 hours for one interpreter for 1 day. The estimated level of effort for CLIN 0001 has been changed to 139.

Question 19: Volume II Price Submission – CLIN 0003 – This CLIN states it is in support of Section 3.5.2, but there is no such section – please clarify.

Answer 19: Please reference Section 3.0 Tasks and its subsection 3.5.2 in the Performance Based Statement of Work.

Question 20: Section 11.0 Travel, page 6: Must the interpreter accompany the group on travel or can an alternate interpreter in San Diego be provided for the site visit days?

Answer 20: The same Interpreter is required to travel with the group.

Question 21: There appears to be a new, unrelated PBSOW beginning on page 15 related to a Dari assignment. Please clarify.

Answer 21: This has been removed from the solicitation.

Question 22: Does the contractor need to be a U.S. Citizen or can he/she be a permanent resident?

Answer 22: The contractor must be a U.S. Citizen. Section 11.0 in the Statement of Work has been updated and includes the following: “Contractor Personnel will be required to submit a SF-5512/1 for law enforcement checks for base access.”

Training Evaluation

1. The overall length of the training (10 Days) was just right.

1 (x3) 2 (x0) 3 (x5) 4 (x3) 5 (x5) NA (x)

2. The overall length of the daily classes (from 08:30 to 16:30) was just right.

1 (x1) 2 (x0) 3 (x2) 4 (x3) 5 (x10) NA (x)

3. The training was well organized.

1 (x0) 2 (x1) 3 (x1) 4 (x3) 5 (x11) NA (x)

4. The training instructors were appropriate and courteous.

1 (x0) 2 (x0) 3 (x0) 4 (x1) 5 (x15) NA (x)

5. The facilities where the training was held were excellent.

1 (x0) 2 (x0) 3 (x2) 4 (x4) 5 (x10) NA (x)

6. The accommodations were adequate and comfortable.

1 (x0) 2 (x0) 3 (x2) 4 (x4) 5 (x10) NA (x)

7. If my colleagues were able to take part in this course, it would be beneficial to them.

1 (x0) 2 (x1) 3 (x0) 4 (x2) 5 (x13) NA (x)

8. The information included in the welcome packet was useful and sufficient.

1 (x0) 2 (x1) 3 (x0) 4 (x5) 5 (x10) NA (x)

Course Evaluation Example Part A

1. How would you rate your agency’s capacity for collaboration with other agencies?

1 (x1) 2 (x0) 3 (x2) 4 (x7) 5 (x6) NA (x0)

1 (x0) 2 (x0) 3 (x4) 4 (x8) 5 (x4) NA (x0)

1 (x0) 2 (x0) 3 (x0) 4 (x1) 5 (x15) NA (x0)

1 (x0) 2 (x0) 3 (x0) 4 (x3) 5 (x13) NA (x0)

Please answer the following questions:

analysis Survey # 4: topic of identifying stakeholders and mechanisms reaching the objective and

Survey # 6: Topics on homeland security and cash smuggling and how to secure different borders

analysis; institutional integrity

insufficient explanation

security Survey # 4: [It could be improved] with more practical collaboration ‐ there are no topics ‐

Survey # 10: governance ‐ crisis management

Survey # 16: stakeholder network; social network analysis ‐ should focus on both of these more

methodology

combat terrorism and border security and coordinating between countries to achieve this objective

Thank you for your time!

Please evaluate each topic discussed on a scale of 1 to 5 to indicate if the topic was relevant/useful to you

1 being NOT RELEVANT and 5 being VERY RELEVANT

Monday March 6 Tuesday March 7 Wednesday March 8 Thursday March 9 Friday March 10

0830 - 0900 Interdepartmental collaboration and strategic communication Dr. Jill Thomas

Dr. Suzanne Hosifar

1 (x1) 2 (x0) 3 (x0) 4 (x2) 5 (x6)

N/A (x7)

Portable air defense systems

Mr. Tyler Hoffman

1 (x1) 2 (x0) 3 (x1) 4 (x1) 5 (x5)

N/A (x8)

Cultural day/ free time

1 (x0) 2 (x0) 3 (x0) 4 (x0) 5 (x1)

N/A (x15)

0900 - 0930 Welcome, overview, and introductions Ret. Col. Brian Greenshields

1 (x0) 2 (x0) 3 (x0) 4 (x3) 5 (x4)

N/A (x9)

Global jihad Dr. Glenn Robinson

1 (x0) 2 (x0) 3 (x1) 4 (x4) 5 (x3)

N/A (x8)

0930 - 1000 Civic Opportunities Initiative Network

(COIN) models Ret. Col. Brian Greenshields

1 (x0) 2 (x0) 3 (x1) 4 (x3) 5 (x4)

N/A (x8)

1000 - 1030 Break Break

1030 - 1100 Break Interdepartmental collaboration and strategic communication

(cont'd)

1 (x0) 2 (x0) 3 (x2) 4 (x0) 5 (x6)

N/A (x8)

Break Emerging threats Dr. Lou Blanken

1 (x0) 2 (x0) 3 (x1) 4 (x5) 5 (x2)

N/A (x8)

1100 - 1130 Networks Ret. Col. Brian Greenshields

1 (x0) 2 (x0) 3 (x1) 4 (x3) 5 (x5)

N/A (x7)

Cyber Security Dr. Majdi Kamel

1 (x0) 2 (x1) 3 (x0) 4 (x2) 5 (x5)

N/A (x8)

1130 - 1200 Lunch Lunch

1200 - 1230 Lunch Lunch

1230 - 1300

1300 - 1330 Borders from Special Forces perspective

Lt. Col. Jordan Landial

1 (x1) 2 (x1) 3 (x0) 4 (x2) 5 (x6)

N/A (x6)

Interdepartmental collaboration and strategic communication

(cont'd)

1 (x0) 2 (x0) 3 (x1) 4 (x0) 5 (x7)

N/A (x8)

Common Operational Research Environment Lab

1 (x0) 2 (x0) 3 (x0) 4 (x2) 5 (x4)

N/A (x10)

1330 - 1400 ISIS strategy Dr. Craig Whiteside

1 (x0) 2 (x1) 3 (x1) 4 (x3) 5 (x3)

N/A (x8) 1400 - 1430 Break

1430 - 1500 Department of Homeland Security and

Customs and Border Protection

Break Break

1500 –

Group summaries and review topic of day

Break Common Operational Research Environment Lab

Course Evaluation Example Part B

Special Agent Douglas Eckhart

1 (x1) 2 (x2) 3 (x1) 4 (x1) 5 (x3)

N/A (x8)

1 (x0) 2 (x0) 3 (x0) 4 (x2)

N/A (x11) zero (x1)

2 (x1) 3 (x0) 4 (x2) 5 (x3)

N/A (x9)

1530 - 1600

Review topic of day and introduce group project

Ms. Rebecca Smith 1 (x0) 2 (x0) 3 (x0) 4 (x2) 5 (x7)

N/A (x7)

Group summaries and review topic of day

1 (x0) 2 (x0) 3 (x1) 4 (x2)

N/A (x10)

1600 - 1630

Monday March 13 Tuesday March 14

Wednesday March 15 Thursday March 16

Friday March 16

0830 -

Institutional integrity

3 (x0) 4 (x3) 5 (x6)

N/A (x7)

Anti-proliferation 1 (x0) 2 (x0) 3 (x2) 4 (x4) 5 (x3)

N/A (x7)

Course summary and student presentations

(groups 1 and 2)

3 (x0) 4 (x1) 5 (x2)

N/A (x13)

Trip to San Diego – Alaska Airline Flight No. 2437 departing at

08:00

Visit Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection sites and [Calakisko]

1 (x0) 2 (x0) 3 (x0) 4 (x1) 5 (x3)

N/A (x13)

Site visits (continued)

3 (x0) 4 (x1) 5 (x1)

N/A (x14)

0900 -

0930 -

Break Break

1000 -

(cont’d)

Mr. Mark Dankel

3 (x1) 4 (x2) 5 (x6)

N/A (x7)

Human Trafficking 1 (x0) 2 (x1) 3 (x2) 4 (x2) 5 (x4)

N/A (x7)

Break

1030 -

Group 3 presentation

2 (x0) 3 (x0) 4 (x0) 5 (x1)

N/A (x15)

1100 -

Large sums of cash 1 (x0) 2 (x1) 3 (x2) 4 (x1) 5 (x7)

N/A (x5)

Handout of diplomas and closing remarks

1130 -

Lunch

1200 -

Lunch Lunch and discussion at Middlebury Institute of International Studies

3 (x1) 4 (x0) 5 (x0)

N/A (x15)

1230 -

1300 -

(cont’d)

Mr. Mark Dankel

3 (x1) 4 (x2) 5 (x5)

N/A (x8)

Fusion centers Mr. Craig Buhler

Northern California Regional Intelligence

Center

3 (x2) 4 (x2) 5 (x4)

N/A (x8)

1330 - 1400 -

1430 -

1500 -

Break Break

1530 -

Review topic of day and presentation prep

Ms. Rebecca Smith

3 (x0)

Border security threats and tunnels

3 (x1) 4 (x2)

1600 -

4 (x1)

N/A (x12)

5 (x6) N/A (x7)