Questions_and_Answers_N62387-15-T-9005_Amendment_2.xps

The following are answers to questions received from potential quoters under RFQ N62387-15-T-9005

1. Please confirm that the Pricing Spreadsheet calls for 2 full-time staff (1920 hours for 6 months).

ANSWER: The pricing spreadsheet does not dictate a specific number of individuals. 1920 hours are provided for guidance and do not dictate staff requirements. 1920 hours represents one man year including holidays.

2. This seems like a lot of tasking in the PWS for 2 individuals. Please confirm that only 2 FTE are being requested by the government.

ANSWER: The government is not requesting a specific number of FTEs. It is the responsibility of the quoter to develop a technical approach to satisfy the requirements of the PWS.

3. Should there be three (or more) positions?

ANSWER: Contractors are to submit quotes that include their proposed staffing approach to satisfy the requirements.

4. How many FTE are currently being utilized?

ANSWER: This information cannot be disclosed.

5. Is the tasking the same as currently being utilized? If there is a difference between current staffing levels and the staffing requirement in this RFP, kindly explain why there is such difference.

ANSWER: The tasking has been reduced due to MSC reorganization efforts.

6. Are all FTE covered by the SCA?

ANSWER: Personnel covered by the SCA depend on the technical approach to the task proposed by the contractor.

7. Some of the tasking requires management/supervision. Should this position be exempt from the SCA?

ANSWER: Personnel covered by the SCA depend on the technical approach to the task proposed by the contractor.

8. Since classified tasking is required (possibly from day one), please confirm that contractor must have a Facility Clearance (FCL) to at least the SECRET level at time of award.

ANSWER: Correct, the contractor must have a Facility Clearance (FCL) to at least the SECRET level at time of award.

9. Since classified tasking will be required (possibly from day one), please confirm that contractor personnel must have Personal Security Clearance to at least the SECRET level at time of award.

ANSWER: Correct, contractor personnel must have Personal Security Clearance to at least the SECRET level at time of award.

10. In order to promote more and fairer competition, will the government kindly remove the requirement that the contractor-furnished vehicle be included in the FFP. Will the government instead provide a not-to-exceed amount for the vehicle? (Otherwise, contractors that already have a vehicle will have a considerable and unfair advantage over those contractors that do not possess such asset).

ANSWER: No.

11. What are the requirements/specifications for the contractor-furnished vehicle? Will a car (compact or sedan) suffice?

ANSWER: Quotes should address how the proposed vehicle satisfies the requirement. Yes, a compact or sedan will suffice.

12. Please confirm that the government will use price/cost realism in evaluating the price proposals?

ANSWER: Realism will not be used in evaluating quotes.

13. Please confirm that, in accordance with the W&D, the government requires the payment of $4.27 per hour in Health and Welfare benefits to all personnel covered by the SCA (i.e., all positions for this effort). As well, please confirm that such amount (and amounts for payroll taxes, insurances, and other required costs) must be included in the price proposal and will be evaluated by the government.

ANSWER: Yes, the Wage Determination provided includes the payment of $4.27 per hour or $170.80 per week or $740.13 per month for all occupations listed on the Wage Determination. Contractors are required to comply with the WD to be considered for this purchase and will be evaluated accordingly.

14. In Section 16.1 of the RFP, the Key Personnel are "TBD". Kindly provide what Key Personnel the government requires.

ANSWER: Contractors are to submit quotes that include their proposed technical approach, including key personnel, to satisfy the requirements.

Key personnel are considered “To be determined,” until the purchase order is issued. Section 16.1 will be populated with the proposed key personnel of the successful quoter.

15. What are the educational/experience qualifications required for the Key Personnel?

ANSWER: Quotes should address how the proposed personnel can meet the requirements of the Performance Work Statement.

16. The RFP states that questions will be accepted until September 22. However, the proposal due date is September 23. Therefore, will the government kindly extend the due date to October 5 to allow time for (a) the government to answer the questions and publish such answers, and (b) for the contractors to incorporate such answers into their proposals?

th ANSWER: Due to required start date an extension to October 5 cannot be provided. An extension to 29 September has been issued via Amendment Two.

17. Are the proposals to be mailed or emailed?

ANSWER: 52.212-1 Addendum has been updated. Quotes may be emailed to lisa.turlington@navy.mil

18. What was last option year's contract total value?

ANSWER: $190,267.26

19. How many years have the current employees each worked at the postal center under this contract and with any prior contractors?

ANSWER: This information cannot be disclosed.

20. 3.1.2. "...Contractor shall maintain the mailroom with sufficient office supplies." Are these supplies to be purchased at our expense and if so, can I please have a list of supplies and estimated quantities needed per calendar year, month, etc.?

ANSWER: Office supplies to be provided are for the contractor operation of the mailroom. The supplies needed are determined by the contractor and included in the firm fixed-price of the quote.

21. 3.1.8. ".the contractor shall distribute printed material.." Does this require transportation or will the distribution take place inside the mailroom?

ANSWER: Distribution of printed material will take place inside the mailroom.

22. 3.3.1. ".the contractor shall make deliveries/pickups twice daily to offices within the Washington-Baltimore." Are these deliveries at a specific time of day? Are there any tolls throughout these locations, and if so, can I know the estimate yearly, monthly, etc. toll expense? Also, if there are tolls, should this be something we include into our rate or billed separately?

ANSWER: There is not a specific time of day for deliveries and there are no tolls.

23. Why have the terms of this solicitation changed to a two (2) year requirement form the five (5) year commitment of previous bids?

ANSWER: It is not anticipated there will be a requirement for MSC DC office mailroom operations after 2 years.

24. To be in compliance with Executive Order 13495 “Non-displacement of Qualified Workers Under Service Contracts” can we have contact information for the current employees whom may function as key personnel to gather resumes to submit with our proposal?

ANSWER: The government is unable to provide this information prior to issuance of the purchase order.

Managerial and supervisory employees are excluded from Executive Order 13495.

25. Will a site visit be permitted? If so, we would like to schedule one for the week of 9/21.

th ANSWER: A site visit can be provided on Friday September 25, 2015. Contractors will need to get a pass from security for base access. Please contact the COR to coordinate site visits.

26. Is the 9/22 deadline for questions correct and will answers to all questions be posted?

ANSWER: Yes, 9/22 is the deadline for questions and responses to all questions will be posted.

27. Is this an incumbent contractor? If so what is the contract number?

ANSWER: Please see the information provided in the FBO posting.

28. Who is the incumbent and are they eligible to bid?

ANSWER: This requirement is open to all small businesses. The incumbent is listed on the FBO announcement.

29. Will incumbent employees be available to transfer to the successful contractor to continue on the contract?

ANSWER: It is possible for the current employees to transfer, see FAR 52.222-17 for more information.

30. What is the total value of the current contract?

ANSWER: $906,880.88

31. Please confirm the desired start date of work under the new contract.

ANSWER: Performance will commence on Monday 19 October 2015.

32. Will interim Secret clearance be acceptable to the Navy for assigned personnel?

ANSWER: No.

33. Is the SOW provided in the solicitation the same as the work that is being performed under the current contract?

ANSWER: No, requirements have been reduced in light of a re-organization.

34. Will an interim facility clearance be acceptable at the time of award?

ANSWER: No.

35. Vehicles: As vehicles are to be provided by the contractor, please provide the following information:

35a. Make, model, and year of the vehicles used under the current contract

ANSWER: This information cannot be disclosed.

35b. Mileage per vehicle per year ANSWER: The government does not know this information.

35c. Will overnight and weekend parking be available (free to charge) at the work site for contractor vehicles?

ANSWER: There is no overnight or weekend parking available.

35d. Are current contractor vehicles outfitted with any special equipment such as tie down bars, lift gates, back up cameras, GPS units, cages, etc.?

ANSWER: No.

36. Will the successful contractor be permitted to apply corporate signage to each vehicle that supports the resulting contract to include the company’s logo, phone number, email address, and corporate graphics?

ANSWER: Yes.

37. With respect to the 35% of mail that requires research to determine the correct routing, is this mail opened to determine to whom it should be delivered? What are the criteria for deciphering the best routing for this mail?

ANSWER: Yes, mail is opened to identify the recipient if the envelope does not address it. The contractor determines the best route to meet the delivery schedule and requirements of the PWS.

38. Please confirm that hard copy logs are used to track Express, Registered, Certified, and Insured Mail.

Is there an automated accountable mail tracking system in place?

ANSWER: Yes, hard copy logs are used to track Express, Registered, Certified and Insured Mail.

ANSWER: There is not an automated accountable mail tracking system in place.

39. i. Key Personnel: In this section a resume for Key Personnel is requested. In Section 16.1, Substitution of Key Personnel, General Provision, Key Personnel positions are listed as “TBD” (to be determined.) Please clarify if a key personnel resume is to be submitted with the proposal.

ANSWER: For personnel the contractor determines “key” in their proposal, a resume is to be submitted.

40. Is it a requirement for all contract personnel to be full time?

ANSWER: The proposed staffing approach is up to the contractor.

41. Reference PWS paragraph 3.3.1: could the Government please provide the route for deliveries and pickups?

ANSWER: There is not a specific route for deliveries and pickup.

42. Reference PWS paragraph 16.1, the solicitation states “The following positions/individuals are considered as Key Personnel: TBD”. Will the Government provide a list of the Key Personnel?

ANSWER: The proposed staffing approach is up to the contractor.

43. Are there any requirements with regard to proposal font size, type, margins, etc.?

ANSWER: FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors,(Addendum) has been revised to include this information.

44. Reference FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors and 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors (Addendum).

Could the Government please provide the volume numbers, order, and content details for how offerors should submit their proposals?

ANSWER: Quoters are to submit quotes IAW 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors (Addendum). The content details are provided under number 4. The preferred order and volumes are listed in 4a-f.

45. Reference PWS Paragraph 3.3, Task 3. Offsite Deliveries/Pickups. Could the Government please confirm if any Classified mail will be picked up or dropped off by the offeror?

ANSWER: Yes.

46. Could the Government please provide the anniversary dates (or just the anniversary month) of the incumbent personnel in order to appropriately identify owed vacation under the Service Contract Act (SCA)?

ANSWER: The current contract ends in October.

47. What are the labor categories/codes from the W&D are being requested by the government?

ANSWER: The government is not requesting specific labor categories/codes. Contractors are to submit quotes that include their proposed technical approach to satisfy the requirements.

51. Do we use our own software for the production and maintenance of the master distribution list or does MSC have software we must use?

ANSWER: MSC does not have software for the production and maintenance of the master distribution list.

52. Is there a specific format that is required for the list that must be maintained electronically for the production of address labels, or is a simple Excel spreadsheet in MSV format sufficient?

ANSWER: There is not a specific format for the address label list. A simple Excel spreadsheet is sufficient.

53. Is the Contractor required to pickup incoming USPS mail from the post office or is the mail delivered to the mailroom?

ANSWER: USPS delivers the mail.

54. Does the Contractor provide or only arrange for the unscheduled and emergency Navy Mail and Messenger services? How many requests are received per month?

ANSWER: The Contractor does not provide or arrange for the unscheduled and emergency Navy Mail and Messenger services. Paragraph 3.5.2 of the PWS has been deleted.

55. Will the Overnight Mail Service Justification form be provided be provided electronically?

ANSWER: No.

56. What are the fees for CACs? How often do they have to be renewed, and is there a fee each time for renewals?

ANSWER: The CACs will be provided by the government and are required once for the duration of this work. There is no direct fee to obtain CACs, however, any resources used by the contractor to prepare documentation to obtain CACs should be included in the contractor’s firm fixed-price.

57. In Attachment 4, rate table, the government has a total for hours as 1,920 for each period of performance. Does this imply that the government wants offerors to bid a total of 1,920 hours for each period? It seems that the ability to staff the mailroom during working hours, perform the delivery and pick-up of mail, and perform the off-site deliveries/pickups, there would need to be more than 1,920 man hours in a 6 month period of performance.

ANSWER: Contractors are to submit quotes that include their proposed technical approach to satisfy the requirements. Contractors are allowed to propose the number of hours and personnel necessary to meet their proposed technical approach.

58. In the event of the government providing answers to industry questions, can the government extend the period of performance after the release of questions and answers and any amendments to ensure a minimum of 4 business days for offerors to incorporate the answers and amendments into their proposals?

ANSWER: The period of performance cannot be revised.

59. Is it the government’s intent to have the offeror include the price information (including Attachment

4) in the same volume as the technical proposal?

ANSWER: Pricing information cannot be on the same page as technical information.

60. Is the price spreadsheet included in the 25-page limit?

ANSWER: Yes.

61. Will the Navy exclude the DD254 (Attachment 3) from the 25-page limit?

ANSWER: Yes. 52-212-1 Addendum has been revised.

62. PWS paragraph 16.1 indicates, " TBD" for the key personnel; an actual position is not identified. Is it the offeror’s responsibility to determine the key personnel to be assigned to the contract?

ANSWER: Yes.

63. Will the Navy consider adding a T&M CLIN for overtime work to be executed as needed?

ANSWER: No.

64. What are the current security processing procedures in place (i.e., x-ray, biological containment screening, etc.)?

ANSWER: The security processing procedures is done by the Naval District Washington (NDW) Mail Services, once mail is secured, NDW distributes the mail to the MSC buildings (Mailroom).

65. What is the current process for handling mass mailings, is it a manual process or with a unit capable of stuffing, labeling and metering?

ANSWER: There are no mass mailing in this mail room.