N62387-15-R-8027-U0003.doc

N62387-15-R-8027

Questions and Answers

1. The RFP states the solicitation issue date is August 18, 2015 however the solicitation was issued on September 1, 2015. Will MSC consider moving the due date from September 17, 2015 to Oct. 1st?

ANSWER: This was an administrative error on the original version of the RFP and has since been corrected.

2. What is the due date for questions?

ANSWER: The deadline for questions is 15 days prior to the due date for proposals.

3. Will MSC amend the DD254 form to reflect the actual place of performance is the Naval Base Norfolk?

ANSWER: We do not anticipate any contractors working on site, but the DD254 will be updated to reflect the most current and correct information. We expect contractors will be working primarily in their own facilities.

4. Instructions to Offerors. Will MSC identify page limitations for each Factor?

ANSWER: No.

5. PWS 4.1.1 Knowledge Management. What Enterprise Portfolio Management tool(s) is being used to facilitate MSC N6 capital planning and investment control process, such as preparing visualization data and managing workflows for planning and decision making?

ANSWER: We use various Microsoft available products. Office, Visio etc.

6. PWS 4.1.2 IT Governance. Would the government please share information pertaining to MSC IT investment governance bodies and guidance?

ANSWER: The governance for MSC IT investment is driven by the Clinger Cohen Act of 1996.

7. PWS 4.1.3 Data Management. What is the underlying COTS or GOTS tool/product being used to support MSC/N6 centralized data repository?

ANSWER: MSC utilizes SharePoint and all of its features as centralized data repository.

8. PWS 4.3.2 EA Content Management. What COTS or GOTS tools/products used to support MSC EA repository and modeling/visualization artifacts?

ANSWER: IBM Rational System Architect

IBM Rational System Architect DoDAF plug-in

IBM Rational System Architect Publisher

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Visio

Adobe Acrobat

9. Factor 1 – Technical.

a. Will MSC identify and describe any subfactors; for example technical capability and management (to include key personnel, QA, staffing plan, and transition plan)?

ANSWER: MSC has addressed this in the PWS.

b. Does MSC require key personnel resumes or letters of intent (or both) to be included in the technical proposal?

ANSWER: MSC does require that key personnel resumes be included with the technical proposal.

10. Factor 2 – Past Performance

a. How many past performances will be required and how current do they have to be, i.e., completed within the last 3 years, 5 years, etc.?

ANSWER: Offerors are requested to provide information on up to three previous Government contracts whose effort is/was recent and relevant to the effort required by this solicitation.

a. “Recent” is defined as a contract in-progress or completed within the last three years. If the offeror has not had three Government contracts within the last three years, information on recent and relevant subcontracts and/or commercial contracts may be submitted.

b. “Relevant” is defined as a contract that is of similar scope, magnitude, and complexity to the requirements as set forth in this solicitation.

i. Scope: Experience in the areas defined in the PWS.

ii. Magnitude: The measure of the similarity of the volume, dollar value and duration of the work actually performed under the offeror’s submitted contracts to the PWS.

iii. Complexity: The measure of the similarity of technical difficulty, managerial intricacy and/or required coordination of efforts and disciplines performed by the offeror in its submitted contracts to the PWS. For complexity, not only will the tasks performed by the offeror be considered, but also the offeror’s ability to coordinate tasks (e.g., concurrent performance requirements).

b. How many past performances are required to be submitted by the prime and subcontractors, assuming MSC will allow subcontractor past performance?

ANSWER: Subcontractor past performance submittals are allowed.

c. How many pages will be allowed for each past performance reference?

ANSWER: No limit. Please focus on recent and relevant information.

11. Factor 3 – Price (1)

a. A reference is made to Attachment 20? Will MSC make the attachment available?

ANSWER: A Supplemental Pricing Sheet will be provided.

b. Offerors are required to include labor categories, rates and hours as part of the calculation of total price for all performance periods. Will MSC provide estimated annual labor categories and hours? PERFORMANCE BASED FIRM FIXED PRICE, CONTRACTORS RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE

ANSWER: MSC will not provide estimates for labor categories/hours for a Performance Based Firm Fixed Price Contract.

c. Are offerors required to explain their overtime rate formula?

ANSWER: No.

d. Will MSC provide an estimated annual ODC and/or Travel amount?

ANSWER: Yes. MSC estimates $15,000 for Travel and $20,000 for Other ODCs during the base year of performance.

12. Will MSC have any content/format requirements for cover letters?

ANSWER: Yes. Section A – Proposal Cover Letter

The following information shall be provided in the proposal cover letter:

Authorized Offeror Personnel: Provide the name, title, telephone number, facsimile number, and e-mail address of the individual who can obligate your company contractually. Also, identify those individuals authorized to negotiate with the Government and who can answer questions regarding your proposal.

Company Information: The name, address, telephone number, Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, and Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code of the offeror.

Agreement with Terms: A statement specifying the extent of agreement with all terms, conditions, and provisions included in the solicitation. Offerors are to clearly detail any exceptions taken and the rationale for the exceptions taken to the solicitation. Exceptions taken to the solicitation may render the proposal unacceptable to the Government.

13. Will MSC provide a description of how proposals will be evaluated (normally described in Section M)?

ANSWER: Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with FAR 52.212-2. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers:

Factor 1 – Technical

Factor 2 – Past Performance

Factor 3 – Price

14. Will MSC provide instructions on how offerors should submit proposals?

ANSWER: Proposals shall be only hand delivered or mailed.

Hand delivered and mailed proposals shall be sent to the following location and must be received there prior to the due date and time for proposal submission:

Military Sealift Command

Attention: LCDR Jarred Henley, Code N1023

914 Charles Morris Ct., SE, Building 157

Washington Navy Yard, DC 20398-5540

Access to the Washington Navy Yard is restricted. Offerors and couriers and other delivery services may encounter unpredictable and lengthy delays or denied access when attempting to enter that facility. Similarly, mailed proposals may encounter unpredictable and lengthy routing delays. In all cases, Offerors are responsible for the risks associated with the chosen delivery method and for ensuring that the Government receives the complete proposal at the appropriate designated location prior to the due date and time for proposal submission.

Proposals shall be presented in two (2) separately bound volumes:

· Volume I (Technical)

· Volume II (Past Performance, Price, and Solicitation Documents)

Three hard copies of Volume I and one hard copy of Volume II shall be provided. Additionally, one electronic copy each of Volume I and Volume II shall be provided. The electronic copies shall be in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF) and shall be provided on a CD. If there is a discrepancy between the hard copy and the electronic copy, the hard copy will prevail. Volume I shall not contain any pricing data.

Each volume of the proposal shall be clearly marked as to the volume number, the solicitation number, and the Contractor’s name.

15. Section 8 references a Performance Assessment Plan. Will MSC provide access to this document?

ANSWER: The Performance Assessment Plan will be shared with the winning offeror.

16. Section 14.1 asks that key personnel must be employees of the company or have a signed letter of intent to work for the contractor. Does MSC plan to award all TOs together at the time of award, thus assuring that all key personnel (identified in PWS 12.1) would be used starting on the first day of contract award?

ANSWER: MSC requires all task orders begin on the first day of the period of performance.

17. Section 14.2 states that key personnel will be added at the time of award and be based on the proposal? Is it possible that individual task orders will add key personnel?

Section 15 states that minimum qualifications for non-key personnel are included in the Performance Work Statement (PWS). Will MSC amend the PWS to include non-key personnel minimum qualifications?

ANSWER: It was never our intent to list requirements for non-key personnel. If guidance is needed we need something similar to the lead, but not necessarily the experience level.

18. Section 14.4 references Attachment 1 for resumes. Will MSC provide Attachment 1?

ANSWER: We would like the resumes limited to only requested experience

19. Section 15 states that minimum qualifications for non-key personnel are included in the PWS. Will MSC amend the PWS to include minimum qualifications for non-key personnel?

ANSWER: It was never our intent to list requirements for non-key personnel. If guidance is needed we need something similar to the lead, but not necessarily the experience level.

20. Section 19 identifies MSC right to disapprove any potential subcontractor. Will this right be a factor for MSC to determine technical acceptability?

ANSWER: Yes.

21. The SF1449 on page 1 states that this acquisition is set aside 100% for small businesses under NAICS code 541611 with a size standard of $6.5M. According to the most recent "Table of Small Business Size Standards" published by the Small Business Association, the 541611 NAICS code has a size standard of $15M. Would the government please confirm that $15M is the correct size standard?

ANSWER: The size standard should have been $15 million and will be updated.

22. Please confirm that resumes are required for all Key Personnel.

ANSWER: Resumes are required for all Key Personnel. Resumes are not required for non-key personnel.

23. Page 34 states that "Attachment 1 contains the Resume Format", but there does not appear to be an Attachment 1 in the solicitation package. Please provide the referenced attachment.

ANSWER: In place of a provided Resume Format, please provide one-page resumes for all Key Personnel.

24. There does not appear to be an Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) clause in the solicitation. Considering this contract includes access to financial, acquisition, and investment-sensitive information, we request that the government include an appropriate OCI clause to prevent Contractors from engaging in other contractual or other activities which could create an organizational conflict of interest with its position under this contract.

ANSWER: The Government is taking this under advisement.

25. Are offerors required to submit the NDAs as part of our proposal or upon award?

ANSWER: No, NDAs will be completed after award.