Question_and_Answers_N6230619R0008_3.pdf

N6230619R0008 Attachment A

Questions Request Form

# SOW/PWS

Reference

Question Answer

Q8. PWS

Section 11.1

Section 11.1 (Travel and Overtime) “glider launch and recovery and EARS deployments that support EDI requirements”. We assume “EARS” refers to Environmental Acoustic Recording System. This is the first mention of EARS in the PWS, e.g. not referenced under Section 4.0. Could you please define the EARS requirement regarding deployment, recovery and data processing under the EDI program?

A8: Work cards lining out the steps for any instrument maintenance, deployment and recovery operations are provided by NAVOCEANO. Vendor just needs to show experience in performing at sea ocean instrument operations.

Q9. What specific level of EARS technical competencies are desired? Is there an estimate in the number of 30 day deployments per year as well as an estimated level of effort per deployment? “

A9: This will be provided at the task order level.

For IDIQ purposes, the CLIN is an NTE. Vendor needs to show competency in supporting vessel instrument and recovery operations.

Q10. RFP

Section M

2.1 – 2.2

How will the gov’t evaluate the degree of an offeror’s technical or past performance capability if the only criteria for evaluation is acceptable or unacceptable?

A10: In order to be rated acceptable (see chart on page 61 for adjectival rating definitions) under Factor 1 the technical approach must meet all requirements in Sec M 3.2.2.

Under Factor 2, in order to be rated acceptable (see chart on page 62 for adjectival rating definitions) evaluation team shall consider the recency, relevancy, and quality of performance, see 3.3.2. - 3.3.4.1.

Q11. RFP

Section M 3.4

How will the gov’t distinguish the labor categories and fully burdened labor rates between offerors if the gov’t does not provide specific labor categories with which to submit?

A11: Business Approach will determine the labor catagories required to meet the Government's requirement, which will then determine if the business approach will be considered technically acceptable/unacceptable.

Q12. RFP

Section B, H

How will the gov’t evaluate among offeror-submitted labor categories if the labor categories are not specifically identified in the RFP/PWS?

A12: Labor categories will be based on the company's business approach, in response to the tasks listed in the PWS. The Government will not define the business approach for the company. Business approach will be reviewed for acceptability by the Technical review team.

Q13. RFP

Section M 3.4

How will the gov’t evaluate a fair and reasonable price if each offerors proposes different labor categories in their proposal submissions?

A13: Business approach and Labor Categories will be determined Acceptable. Prices of Labor rates will be evaluated for reasonableness.

Q14. RFP

Section M 1.2

How will the gov’t award the contract on a best value basis if both the technical and

A14: In accordance with the DoD Source Selection Guide, in the best value continuum described in FAR 15.101, an agency can obtain past performance criteria are either acceptable or unacceptable?

best value in negotiated acquisitions by using any one or a combination of source selection approaches. In this source selection award shall be be made to the Offeror whose proposal represent to most advantageous offer to the Government. See Sec L 2.3 and 2.4.

Q15. RFP

Section M.1

SELECTION

PROCESS

2.2.3

Assume this shall read “Unacceptable” vice “Acceptable”

A15: shall read Acceptable

Q16. PWS

4.0.11

The PSW states “Contractor shall provide parachute rigging services (attachment and detachment) on the Alamo configuration of profiling floats as necessary.” Alamo profiling floats do not require a parachute for air deployment, while APEX profilers in air deploy configuration may require parachute rigging. Please clarify the requirement for parachute rigging services.

A16: This is a type “O”, it should be an APEX.

Q17. PWS

Section 4.0.12

PSW states “Contractor shall work with NAVO to acquire and register iridium modems for remote sensing platforms and encrypt instrument data collection.” Remote sensing platform manufacturers typically procure iridium modems and registration is performed by NAVOCEANO personnel. Also, encryption may be delivered as a platform feature and cannot be installed post-delivery. Please confirm whether these activities are required by this PWS and if so provide further clarification with respect to specific sensing platforms.

A17: These are activities performed by NAVOCEANO and the instrument vendor.

Contractor will support communication testing, turning on the modem and checking for transmit and receive data using NAVOCEANO provided applications, performed when preparing instruments for shipping.

Q18. RFP CLIN

0001-4004

For all CLINs referencing Job as the Unit. Is a Job equivalent to a single CONUS/OCONUS deployment?

A18: Job is not specific to deployment functions, refers to any required support function based on the PWS scope. Vendor is to provide a burdened cost of the CLIN based on vendor’s estimate to provide the PWS services related to the CLIN.

Q19. PWS 4.1 PWS states “The support will consist of the receiving, storing and moving of remote sensing systems such as profiling floats and AUV gliders . . .” Please clarify whether or not the contractor will be responsible to provide equipment required to receive and move, and facilities required to store remote sensing systems.

A19: All equipment will be GFE.

Q20. PWS 4.1.2 PWS states “ . . . knowledgeable in the shipment of sensitive systems to OCONUS locations.” Please clarify the sensitive nature of systems to be shipped.

A20: International Traffic and Arms Regulations and Export Control requirements.

Q21. PWS 4.0.10 PWS states “. . . support equipment and sensing system repairs . . .” Please the scope of support and whether the contractor is responsible to conduct the repairs without support. Please clarify the equipment and sensor systems to be repaired.

A21: This will be defined in more detail at the Task Order level based on the type of support required at the time. Contractor is to show general troubleshooting and maintenance competency with various ocean instruments.

Q22. PWS 10.0 RFP Section B.1 of the Schedule of Supplies and Services states “The contractor shall furnish all personnel, facilities, equipment, materials, supplies, and services (except as may be expressly set forth in this indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract or any task order (TO) against this IDIQ contract . . .”

Draft PWS section 10.0 addressing GFE states “The Government will provide . . . tools, meters, test equipment, and requisite consumable materials,”

Please clarify whether materials in B.1 include “tools, meters, test equipment, and requisite materials" identified in the draft

PWS.

A22: All equipment is GFE. The clause is in there should it be necessary to provide off-site support which is not anticipated at this time.

Q23. Note: Only the offeror's company name shall be provided on the cover page. Offeror is only allowed to put company name in the footer of the submitted proposal and is not allowed to be embedded throughout the proposal. Will the company logo be allowed as well on the cover page and in the header of proposal pages?

A23: Logos are not permitted.

Q24. If we submit resumes would the resumes count toward Vol II page count?

A24: Resumes are not part of the page count but should be limited to 3 pages or less.

Q25. How will the subcontractors submit their pricing data to the gov’t?

A25: Prime contractor shall include subcontractor pricing in their fully burdened estimate.

Q26. Given that 5/27/19 is Memorial Day and there was a 10 day delay in receiving the PWS will the Government grant an extension for the due date?

A26: An extension to May 31 will be granted.

Q27. SF33/§2.5 Should our proposals be addressed to Mr.

Kevin H. Harriel but delivered to Ms. Lisa K.

Brown? Per page 1 of SF33, our offer is to be address to Mr. Harriel, but per page 57 – Section 2.5, proposals shall be delivered to Ms. Brown.

A27: Address proposals to the KO (Ms. Lisa K.

Brown) and Deliver to LTC Kevin H. Harriel

Q28. §2.5/§2.6 Is an electronic copy of the proposal required? Page 57 – Section 2.5 states, “In addition to the paper copy, the Offeror shall submit all proposal information in identical format(.)” Following Section 2.6 refers to the treatment of conflicts between the paper and electronic copies submitted.

A28: No electronic copies required.

Q29. §3.4.2.1 In Volume I, is the Proposal Cover Sheet to be the first page of the volume (as per p. 58

– Section 3.4.2.1), Tab 4 (as per p. 57 – Table 1), or both?

A29: Page 59 is an outline Vol I, Tab4, Proposal Cover Sheet

Q30. §3.4.2.2 Page 58 – Section 3.4.2.2 states, “The Offeror shall provide a statement that the proposal and Labor Categories and Fully Burdened Labor rates provided in Volume III

– Labor Categories and Fully Burdened Labor Rates, are valid and will remain in effect for sixty (60) calendar days after the RFP closing date.” SF33 Solicitation, Offer and Award Page 1 Box 12 states, “In compliance with the above, the undersigned agrees, if this offer is accepted within _______ calendar days (60 calendar days unless a different period is inserted by the offeror) from the date for receipt of offers specified above, to furnish any or all items upon which prices are offered at the price set opposite each item, delivered at the designated point(s), within the time specified in the schedule.” Is the submission of completed SF33 Page 1 with a wet signature sufficient to satisfy the requirement noted in p. 58 – Section 3.4.2.2?

A30: Yes, signing the SF33 meets this requirement.

Q31. §2.5 Is the submission date supposed to be 27 May 2019 (Memorial Day)? If so, will offices be open for acceptance of proposals on Memorial Day?

A31: Response date is extended until 31 May 2019.

Q31. §2.5 Will the submission deadline be extended? A32: Response date is extended until 31 May 2019.

Q32. Factor 3 Are you able to provide any clarification as to which CLINs you expect us to address in Factor 3?

A33: CLINs: 0001, 0002AA, 0002AB, 1001, 1002AA, 1002AB, 2001, 2002AA, 2002AB, 3001, 3002AA, 3002AB, 4001, 4002AA, 4002AB

Q33.

PWS 9.0

Will all company personnel have the DoD secret clearance at the start of the contract?

Will you be able to sponsor our personnel to apply for clearance needed after the start of the contract?

A33: Clearance will be needed to start work.

Sponsoring will need to go through the NAVOCEANO security office.

Q34.

RPP

3.4.3.2.2

Please confirm that the reference of the offeror performing as prime contractor for past performance (PP) only applies to prime offeror.

A34: Yes, Offeror must have performed as Prime Contractor for contracts submitted for past performance.

Q35.

3.4.3.2.1

Should the 3 Past Performance discussed be provided in the S03_Att_B_Relevant Experience Matrix format? 1 page matrix per Past Performance for a total of 3 one page matrices?

A35: Discuss past performance in Experience Matrix format.

Q36.

Section 2.2 page 56 of 63 and

Section 2.2 states the submission requirement of 5 copies of the proposal.

Section 2.6 discusses font size, spacing, etc., as well as the government’s desire to be able

A36: Electronic copies referenced erroneously in Sec L 2.6. Electronic copy is not required.

Section 2.6 page 57 of to evaluate the proposal sections without removing them from the binders. The instructions appear to indicate 5 hard copy submissions, however at the end of section

2.6 it also states, “In case of conflict between the paper and electronic copies submitted, the original paper version shall take precedence.”

Can you clarify what if anything is to be submitted electronically?