N6264519R0006_Amendment_0001_22_Jan_2019.docx

N6264519R0006

N6264519R0006

Section SF 30 - BLOCK 14 CONTINUATION PAGE

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. Section C.2.2 on page 3 says that employees should have a security clearance up to Secret but that no facility level clearance is required. Please clarify? A company cannot initiate a clearance request for an employee at the Secret level unless the company has a Facility Clearance at the Secret level or higher. Did you mean that there is no safeguarding requirement related to the cleared employees (e.g., that no classified information will be held or maintained at the company’s facility)?

Answer: The Security Manager at NAMRU-D will initiate all clearance requests. Please note that the successful offeror must submit the required paperwork to the Security Manager at NAMRU-D in accordance with the requirements of the RFP.

2. The “Substitution of Key Personnel” clause on page 19 of the RFP indicates that: “(b) All proposed substitutes shall have qualifications equal to or higher than the qualifications of the person to be replaced.” We request the Government consider revising this requirement such that key personnel replacements must be “fully qualified” to perform the duties of the key position. By requiring each replacement candidate to have qualifications “equal to or higher” than the qualifications of the person being replaced, there is an upward spiral of qualification being created. For example, if the initial Key Person is a PhD with 30 years of experience, it might be impossible to find a specific candidate who is at least that qualified, yet the position might not really require someone with a PhD or with that many years of experience. A candidate with an MS or with 10 years of experience might be fully qualified, but because the initial Key Person happened to have so much experience, a qualified substitute candidate could be denied. We believe the true test should be whether the replacement candidate is “fully qualified.” Will the Government consider revising this requirement?

Answer: The text in Section H for Substitution of Key Personnel will remain unchanged.

3. The Section L instructions require offerors to submit a small business participation plan and, if the offeror is not a small business, they must also submit a small business subcontracting plan. The instructions table on page 76 indicates these two plans have a total page limit of 20. The instructions also indicate that if offerors have a “master subcontracting plan” it can be included as an attachment and does not count against the page limit. For companies that are not small businesses but do not have a “master subcontracting plan,” please clarify whether the 20-page limit includes both the small business participation plan and the subcontracting plan?

Answer: Per the table in L8.2.1, the page limit for Volume I: Subpart V Small Business Participation Plan and Subcontracting Plan is combined 20 pages for both documents (the small business participation plan and the subcontracting plan).

4. The Section L instructions on page 81 state: “The direct labor rates (from the successful offeror) for all labor categories awarded under the initial task order will be incorporated into the base contract award and utilized in future cost evaluations of subsequent task orders.” Please confirm this does not mean the direct labor rates proposed in the initial task order will constitute ceiling rates for use under the contract? Our understanding is that the Government intends this to mean that when evaluating future task orders, they may refer back to the original task order direct labor rates for the purposes of evaluating new proposals.

Answer: As stated in the RFP, the direct labor rates (from the successful offeror) for all labor categories awarded under the initial task order will be incorporated into the base contract award and utilized in future cost evaluations of subsequent task orders. Utilization of these incorporated rates does not constitute a rate ceiling per se, however the Government will use them as a basis of comparison and negotiation if rates submitted for the same or highly similar labor categories on subsequent task orders are higher (with year to year rate escalation taken into consideration).

5. On page 80-81 of the RFP, the instructions state: “If subcontractors are unwilling to submit their direct labor rates (only) to the prime contractor, they shall submit those rates directly to the Government utilizing the same proposal submission instructions and due date and time located in this section.” Please clarify what the Government means by “direct labor rates (only)”? Subcontractors may be willing to share direct rates which are specific to this solicitation but are unwilling to share indirect rates which can be applicable to many other solicitations. Please confirm if subcontractors don’t want to share either direct or indirect rates they may submit their supporting proposals directly to the Government as indicated in this section?

Answer: Section L has been revised via this amendment to allow the submission of their direct labor rates, indirect rates or supporting rate agreements to NMLC directly. Subcontractor submissions shall include the RFP number and prime contractor information in their email and shall be submitted before the proposal submission date and time outlined in Section L.

6. In the Additional Qualifications section related to Key Personnel on page 3 of the Initial Task Order, the qualifications indicate the Program Manager must have: “Demonstrated experience in consultant and vendor sub-contracting establishment.” Please clarify this requirement? Does this mean the Program Manager candidate must have worked for a consultant or vendor subcontractor at some point, or that the candidate must have experience working for a company that used consultants or vendor subcontractors, or something else?

Answer: The PM must demonstrate experience in establishing subcontracts with consultants and vendors.

7. L.9.6.4. Section 2 – Other Information c. Purchasing System Page 81 Regarding the requirement to show evidence of an approved purchasing system in Section L.9.6.4, what should an offeror submit if the offeror meets the threshold for a purchasing system review but for who a review has not been conducted yet? We have discussed this issue with our DCMA ACO previously and have completed a CPSR questionnaire at his request. As of yet, DCMA has not selected us for a purchasing system review. We do have an opinion letter from an outside accounting firm indicating that our purchasing system, including our policy and procedure manual, is in compliance with DFARS 252.244-7001. This DFARS clause is used when the FAR clause 52.244-2 SUBCONTRACTS is also included in the solicitation. FAR 52.244-2 is included in the solicitation and it sets out a two-tiered system for the approval of subcontracts depending on whether the prime contractor does or does not have an approved purchasing system, but it does not exclude prime contractors that don’t have an approved system. We assume the Government does not intend to exclude offerors from receiving an award if they do not yet have an approved purchasing system, particularly since the instructions in Section L.9.6.4 allow for the inclusion of offerors who do not currently meet the threshold for a purchasing system review as stated in FAR 44.3?

a. Will offerors who do not have an approved purchasing system, including those who do not meet the threshold for a review, be evaluated using the same criteria as offerors who do have an approved system? If not, how will the evaluations differ?

Answer: Purchasing system approvals by a Federal Government agency will be accepted. If a non-Federal Government entity purchasing system review is submitted, it is the responsibility of the offeror to provide sufficient information for the Government to document that 1. the non-Federal Government entity documentation provided is able to be accepted as proof of an approved purchasing system by the Government in lieu of a Federal Government agency purchasing system approval and 2.the offeror’s purchasing system meets the requirements utilized by the Federal Government to approve a purchasing system.

If the delay in receiving a Federal Government agency review of the offerors purchasing system is for the most current review, but the offeror’s purchasing system has been approved in the past, the offeror shall provide documentation of past approvals.

The Governments sole purpose is to be in accordance with the FAR and DFAR regulations. FAR 44.3 provides the threshold at which a purchasing review is required. The instructions at Section L.9.6.4 allow for the inclusion of offerors who do not meet the threshold for a purchasing system review because if they do not meet the threshold, then the requirement does not apply.

All offerors will be evaluated consistently as to if they possess an approved purchasing system (if they meet the threshold in FAR 44.3).

8. Section 4.1 on page 5 of the RFP states that the contractor shall provide “direct on-site supervision of all contractor personnel and provide direct on-site management functions for contractor employees such as timekeeping, leave, pay, benefits, performance reporting, and all related human resourcing, supervision, and management functions.” Can the government confirm that the direct on-site supervision outlined in section 4.1 is to be provided by the Program Manager that has been identified as key personnel in section 2.2 of Attachment V Initial Task Order Performance Work Statement?

Answer: The Government does not dictate which labor category (or categories) will carry out these tasks. Offerors should propose a labor mix and level of effort (and designate which labor category (or categories) will provide on-site supervision and management functions) that is in accordance with their management approach.

9. Can the government confirm whether attachments count towards the total page count of the Non-Cost Volume proposal response? For example

a. Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) Mitigation Plan

b. Human Use Documentation for Prime Offeror and potential subcontractors

c. Indemnification and Medical Liability Insurance (IAW with Section H- “Patient Care and Medical Liability Insurance” and FAR 52.237-7)

d. Liability Insurance (IAW Section H – “Standard Liability Insurance” and FAR 52.228-7”)

e. Subcontractor past performance consents

f. Documentation verifying the capability to initiate employee clearance requests

Answer: Please refer to Section L. L.9.2 states that “Attachments listed below do not count towards the overall page limit for Subpart II.” These attachments include Attachment A: Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) Mitigation Plan, Attachment B: Human Use Documentation, Attachment C: Indemnification and Medical Liability Insurance and Attachment D: Liability Insurance.

Please refer to Section L.9.4.2, as this section had been revised via this amendment to state the following: Written consent (from a subcontractor, partner, etc. to disclose their Past Performance information to the contractor) does not count towards the overall page limit for Subpart IV.

By “Documentation verifying the capability to initiate employee clearance requests”, the Government believes that you are referring to L.9.1.3. SECTION II: VERIFICATION OF SECURITY CLEARANCE LEVEL. There are no attachments referenced in L.9.1.3.

Section L provides where attachments are allowed in an offerors proposal and when they do or do not apply against page limits.

10. Please confirm that searchable Adobe Acrobat is an acceptable file format for all written Non-Cost and Cost Volumes (excluding the detailed pricing that will be submitted in MS Excel)? Many companies are now using specialized proposal software to avoid the formatting problems with large MS Word files.

Answer: Adobe Acrobat is not an acceptable file format. Please refer to Section L.8.2.1.

11. The ITO PWS does not provide instructions for presenting vendors’ proposed approach to the ITO. What if any information beyond the background; position/objective description; level of effort, education, and experience of the staff; and QASP does the government seek in the proposal?

Answer: Please refer to section L.9.3. VOLUME I, SUBPART III: EVALUATION FACTOR II: TECHNICAL APPROACH/RISK FOR THE INITAL TASK ORDER.

12. Due to the number of labor categories involved and the Key Personnel requirement, as well as the need to wait for the responses to some questions, will the Government provide a brief extension to the proposal deadline to February 8th?

Answer: The proposal due date and time will remain unchanged.

13. The RFP indicates on page 3 in Section 2.7 that the contractor “shall possess medical liability and indemnity insurance.” Please confirm or clarify the following issues:

13a. Confirm this requirement from Section 2.7 is the same insurance requirement as more fully stated in the clause labeled “Patient Care and Medical Liability Insurance” on page 20?

13b. If these are not the same requirements, please clarify how the coverage required in Section 2.7 is different than the requirement in 52.237-7?

13c. Confirm that the Government does not require contractors to carry clinical trial liability insurance that would cover injuries to participants due to their participation in the study (i.e., the type of insurance that the sponsor of a clinical study carries, and which is not the same as medical liability coverage required under 52.237-7)?

Answer (a): Medical liability and indemnity insurance (as referenced in Section 2.7 of the RFP PWS, Patient Care and Medical Liability Insurance in Section H of the RFP, FAR clause 52.237-7 INDEMNIFICATION AND MEDICAL LIABILITY INSURANCE (JAN 1997), and Section L.9.2) are the same requirement.

Answer (b): Not applicable, please see the answer to question 13a.

Answer (c): The medical liability and indemnity insurance, that offerors are required to provide proof of is referenced in Section 2.7 of the RFP PWS, Patient Care and Medical Liability Insurance in Section H of the RFP, FAR clause 52.237-7 INDEMNIFICATION AND MEDICAL LIABILITY INSURANCE (JAN 1997), and Section L.9.2.

14. Can the government provide the name of the laboratory each position supports so offerors can better define management approach?

Answer: The list of labor categories provided in the base contract PWS is a sample of the labor categories that could be requested by the Government at the task order level. The information requested could vary by task order and is not available at this time.

15. Can the government provide a list of the current research projects conducted in each laboratory, so offerors can accurately confirm the appropriate labor mix? Knowing where positions may fall and understanding which labs and what projects people work on will allow offerors to more appropriately answer the span and control requirement identified in the RFP.

Answer: The Government provides an estimated level of effort in the Attachment V-Initial Task Order PWS. It is expected that the offeror will propose the labor categories necessary to perform the tasks identified in the ITO PWS (and in accordance with their technical approach).

16. Can the government confirm that the key personnel, Program Manager, will have dedicated office space in the NAMRU-D facility?

Answer: Yes, key personnel will have dedicated space at NAMRU-D.

17. Section M - Evaluation Factors for Award M.3.2. Please clarify Resume/Key Personnel criteria. In other RFPs, the following guidance has been provided: Missing Language from RFP / Section M.3.2:

Resumes/ Key Personnel: The Government will evaluate the degree to which the Offeror demonstrates an ability to provide the required Key Personnel with the experience and capabilities required to successfully perform the work outlined in this TOPR through the review of proposed resumes. The offeror shall provide resumes for all of the key personnel outlined in the initial task order PWS.

Question: Does this language apply for this effort?

Answer: Please see the revised Section M.3.2.

18. PWS section 1. Subsection 1.2. The PWS states, for purposes of constructing your cost proposal, offer shall use the following figures for Other Direct Costs and travel. The estimated amounts are for the 12 month Period of Performance of the initial task order.

Question: Is it the government's expectation that the total pricing submitted with the proposal is for the 12-month period of performance for the ITO only or is it the government’s expectation that the offeror price the ITO for all 5 years of the IDIQ?

Answer: Please refer to Section 1.2 of the Attachment V-Initial Task Order PWS, which states “For the purposes of constructing your cost proposal, offeror shall use the following figures for Other Direct Costs (ODCs) and travel. The estimated amounts are for the 12 month Period of Performance (POP) of the initial task order.” Please also refer to Section 1.3 of the Attachment V-Initial Task Order PWS.

The sole pricing requested in the RFP is for the ITO and the ITO has a POP of 12 months. Offerors shall only provide the pricing requested in the RFP.

19. L.8.2.1 The page limits described below do not include Title Page, Table of Contents, and Glossary.

Question: Is a glossary mandatory, and if so, may bidders include only those words not already provided in the solicitation?

Answer: The use of a glossary is not required.

20. L.9.5…Small Business Participation Plan has a page limit of 20 pages excluding attachments. All offerors shall submit a small business participation plan. M.3.4… All offerors (both large and small businesses) will be evaluated on the level of small business commitment that they are demonstrating for the proposed acquisition, and their level of commitment to utilizing small businesses in performance of prior contracts.

Question: Given that this evaluation factor is a pass/fail, how are small business bidders evaluated, given they have not been required to participate in small business subcontracting (historically)? That is, how will small businesses with minimal small business contracting history be affected by this evaluation factor?

Answer: Please see Section M.3.4. EVALUATION FACTOR IV: SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION PLAN and Section M.4.3. Rating Standards for Small Business Participation Plan, which have been revised per this Amendment.

21. PWS 2.2 Resumes shall be provided with the offeror’s proposal for the key personnel position only. There is only one (1) key personnel position under this task order and this position is the Program Manager.

Question 21.a: Is the Government expecting the full-time Program Manager to be local in Dayton, OH?

Answer: 21.b: As stated in the Initial Task Order PWS, 2.3.1. Program Manager, the Program Manager shall “Provide on-site administrative oversight of contract personnel, to include pay, promotions, leave, work hours, conflict resolution, and disciplinary actions.” The Government does not dictate the residency of personnel.

Question 21.b: If so, will the Government provide on-site office space for the Program Manager?

Answer: 21.c: Please refer to question 16.

22. L.9.4.1. The offeror may include contracts that demonstrate the prior experience of key personnel or subcontractors/teaming partners who will be performing in support of the contract resulting from this solicitation; such contracts shall be clearly identified to show the relationship of the past performance entry to the offeror.

Question: Please verify that past performance contracts, on which proposed key personnel worked, may be submitted even if the contract was owned by another company (not the bidder).

Answer: Yes, per L.9.4.1, “The offeror may include contracts that demonstrate the prior experience of key personnel or subcontractors/teaming partners who will be performing in support of the contract resulting from this solicitation; such contracts shall be clearly identified to show the relationship of the past performance entry to the offeror.

Please note that “such contracts shall be clearly identified to show the relationship of the past performance entry to the offeror.”

Also from L.9.4.1, “The PPIS shall be clear as to the company that is the awardee, the company that performed the services (if different than the awardee) and the relationship of both to the offeror or their proposed subcontractor. The name and Cage Code shall be provided for all parties. Offerors that are proposing past performance where the awardee or performer does not match their name and Cage Code (or the name and Cage Code of a proposed subcontractor) because the awardee or performer is a subsidiary/separate division within their company or “Doing Business As” (DBA), shall clearly describe the connection of all listed parties (along with Cage Codes). If the submission does not clearly detail the specific relationship under a contract, it will be determined not relevant.”

22. RFP 9 Methods of Quality Assurance Surveillance TO PWS p. 11 Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) Question: Is it the government’s intention to include two QASPs in the solicitation (one in the RFP and one in the TO PWS)?

Answer: Yes.

23. RFP Access to DoD Information Technology (IT) System (beginning on p. 11) Question: Please verify that on day one of this contract, all contractor personnel are categorized as IT-II level?

Answer: All contractor personnel provided in the Initial Task Order PWS are categorized as IT-II level.

24. N62645-19-R-0006 RFP, 2.0 Assumptions and Constraints Solicitation Text: Each task order will not have a Period of Performance (POP) of more than twelve (12) months (without exercising an option period).

Question: Please provide the anticipated award date for the IDIQ contract.

Answer: Please refer to Section L.3.5, “The Government will distribute the initial task order simultaneously with the contract award.”

Please refer to Section M, which has been revised via this amendment to include to include the anticipated award date.

25. N62645-19-R-0006 RFP, 2.0 Assumptions and Constraints Solicitation Text: Each task order will not have a Period of Performance (POP) of more than twelve (12) months (without exercising an option period).

Question: Please confirm that the POP for the IDIQ contract is a one-year base with four, one-year options.

Answer: The base IDIQ contract will be awarded with a sixty (60) month ordering period (without options at the base contract level).

26. Reference: N62645-19-R-0006 RFP 2.0 Assumptions and Constraints Solicitation Text: Each task order will not have a Period of Performance (POP) of more than twelve (12) months (without exercising an option period).

Question: Please provide the anticipated award date for the Initial TO.

Answer: Please refer to Section L.3.5, “The Government will distribute the initial task order simultaneously with the contract award.”

27. Reference: N62645-19-R-0006 RFP, 2.0 Assumptions and Constraints Solicitation Text: Each task order will not have a Period of Performance (POP) of more than twelve (12) months (without exercising an option period).

Question: Please provide the anticipated award date for the Initial TO.

Answer: Please refer to question 26.

28. Reference: N62645-19-R-0006 RFP, 5.2 General Qualifications Solicitation Text: The contractor shall ensure that all contractor employees assigned to this contract acquire and maintain all training, certification, and medical requirements.

Question: Please confirm that costs to maintain certifications will be reimbursable through ODCs.

Answer: Costs to maintain certifications are not reimbursable through ODCs.

29. Reference: N62645-19-R-0006 RFP, Section G(a), Reimbursement of Travel, Per Diem, and Special Material Costs Solicitation Text: Area of Travel - Performance under this contract may require travel by contractor personnel. If travel, domestic or overseas, is required, the contractor is responsible for making all necessary arrangements for its personnel. These include but are not limited to: medical examinations, immunizations, passports/visas/etc., and security clearances.

Question: Please confirm that costs related to "medical examinations, immunizations, passports/visas/etc." will be reimbursable through ODCs.

Answer: Medical examinations, immunizations, passports/visas/etc. are not reimbursable through ODCs.

30. Reference: N62645-19-R-0006 RFP, General Solicitation Text: N/A Question: Please confirm that the Government will consider health-related requirements not mentioned in the RFP (e.g., occupational health screenings, titers) to be reimbursable costs through ODCs.

Answer: The Government will not consider health-related requirements not mentioned in the RFP (e.g., occupational health screenings, titers) to be reimbursable costs through ODCs.

31. Reference: N62645-19-R-0006 RFP, L.8, Proposal Preparation Instructions Solicitation Text: Type shall be Times New Roman and no smaller than a font size of eleven (11) and shall have 1.0 line spacing. Type for graphics, tables and reproductions shall be no smaller than a font size of 10 with a minimum of 1” margins.

Question: Please confirm that proposals may include Government-standard sans serif fonts (e.g., the Arial family of fonts) for graphics, tables, and reproductions.

Answer: Text will be Times New Roman as stated in L.8.

32. Reference: N62645-19-R-0006 RFP, L.9.4.1, Past Performance Information Sheets (PPIS) Solicitation Text: Additional Four Pages - If necessary, the second four pages afford the offeror a venue to include any contract or contracts listed on a PPIS terminated for cause or default (in whole or in part) during the past three (3) years (to include those currently in the process of such termination). Please provide a brief background, issues with contract performance, any cure notices or show cause letters received and description of any corrective action taken.

Question: If the offeror does not require the additional four pages to address terminated contracts, may the offeror use the additional four pages to provide supplementary narrative regarding the PPISs submitted?

Answer: No, the four pages shall only be utilized to discuss “any contract or contracts listed on a PPIS terminated for cause or default (in whole or in part) during the past three (3) years (to include those currently in the process of such termination).”

33. Reference: N62645-19-R-0006 RFP, L.9.6.4, Section 2 – Other Information Solicitation Text: If subcontractors are unwilling to submit their direct labor rates (only) to the prime contractor, they shall submit those rates directly to the Government utilizing the same proposal submission instructions and due date and time located in this section. The information shall be provided on an MS Excel spreadsheet showing all cost elements, amounts, and the application of direct and indirect rates.

Question: Please confirm that if subcontractors provide a sealed package to the Government, they are not required to provide the prime contractor-specific information in L.9.6.4 Section 2 - Other Information.

Answer: Section L.9.6.4. Section 2 – Other Information, is applicable to the prime offeror only.

34. Reference: Attachment V - Initial Task Order PWS, Paragraph 2.1, and N62645-19-R-0006 RFP, Sections 3.1 and L.9.3 Solicitation Text: 2.1 - Research performed under this contract is broad in scope, and encompasses a range of disciplines. The contractor shall provide administrative, graphic, logistic, statistical, training, and technical support to complete research and development activities. Examples of technical support include but are not limited to: assistance with interrogatories, medical and scientific authoring and editing of research proposals, human use protocols, animal use protocols, and technical and scientific reports; workshop and conference administrative, scientific, and technical support and management; coordination of technical review meetings and the preparation and presentation of point papers, technical reports, and other briefings resulting from these meetings; preparation and support of technical summaries and publications resulting from research activities; support in development of Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols for human use research; preparation and support of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) protocols for animal research; presentation of research findings at scientific meetings and professional conferences; writing, reviewing, editing, and submitting peer-reviewed articles and technical reports. All documents that contract employees assist in drafting are subject to final Government review and approval.

Question: The Initial Task Order Task Position/Objective Description (paragraph 2.1) aligns directly to the RFP PWS Scope of Work Task 3.1, General Research Support Services. Please confirm that the initial task order response should address only General Research Support Services, not Aerospace Medical Research Support (RFP Section 3.2) or Environmental Health Effects (RFP Section 3.3).

Answer: Please refer to section 2.3 of the Attachment V-Initial Task Order PWS, “This section delineates the estimated positions for the stated objectives. All personnel performing under this task order will perform their duties in accordance with section 3.0 of the base IDIQ contract PWS.”

Section 3.0 of the RFP PWS includes “3.1 General Research Support Services (Command Wide)”, ‘3.2 Aerospace Medical Research Support” and “3.3 Environmental Health Effects Support”. Furthermore, under ITO PWS section 2.3 and more specifically under each of the position listed at 2.3.1.-2.3.27. state “Scope: In accordance with section 3.0 of the base IDIQ PWS the contractor shall…”.

The initial task order response should address all three areas under Section 3.0 of RFP PWS, as the successful awardee will be proving support in all of these areas.

35. Reference: Attachment V - Initial Task Order PWS, Paragraph 3.1 Solicitation Text: 3.1 - The estimated combined total number of hours required for the Level of Effort (LOE) in this task order is 128,640 hours. The LOE, education, and experience for each of the specified positions/objectives (listed in Section 2 above) are shown in the table below. The Government counts an FTE as 1920 hours per twelve (12) month POP.

Question: The Estimated Staffing table lists 128,640 hours, which equates to 67 FTEs. Within this total, are there any vacant positions?

Answer: The Estimated Staffing table is an estimate for the Governments requirement during the 12 month POP of the Initial Task Order PWS and may not be an exact representation of the contractor LOE presently providing services at NAMRU-D. Vacant positions that may or may not be currently present at NAMRU-D are not relevant because the current LOE may not represent the Governments estimated needs under the POP covered by the Initial Task Order.

36. Reference: Attachment V - Initial Task Order PWS, Paragraph 3.1 Solicitation Text: 3.1 - The estimated combined total number of hours required for the Level of Effort (LOE) in this task order is 128,640 hours. The LOE, education, and experience for each of the specified positions/objectives (listed in Section 2 above) are shown in the table below. The Government counts an FTE as 1920 hours per twelve (12) month POP.

Question: If there are vacant position in the 67-FTE total for the Initial TO, please provide a list of vacancies that includes the position title and the number of FTE vacancies within that position.

Answer: Please refer to question 35.

37. Reference: Attachment V - Initial Task Order PWS, Paragraph 3.1 Solicitation Text: 3.1 - The estimated combined total number of hours required for the Level of Effort (LOE) in this task order is 128,640 hours. The LOE, education, and experience for each of the specified positions/objectives (listed in Section 2 above) are shown in the table below. The Government counts an FTE as 1920 hours per twelve (12) month POP.

Question: The Estimated Staffing table lists 128,640 hours that equates to 67 FTEs. Please provide a breakdown by location for the 67 FTEs in the estimated Level of Effort.

Answer: The location of performance is provided in the RFP.

38. L.8.2.1 Electronic Proposal Electronic Proposal submission instructions state to submit the volumes as separate files. Should the subparts be separate files, or should the subparts be incorporated into the volume?

Question: Can cooperative agreements, grants, and OTAs be used for PPIS?

Answer: The offeror seems to have submitted two questions about the same RFP reference that do not seem to both be related to that RFP reference.

Subparts should be incorporated into their respective volume, if it possible to do so and the individual volume size will allow submission via an email while complying with the 5 megabyte limit found at L.5.

Cooperative agreements, grants, and OTAs can be submitted on a PPIS, but they have to meet the same requirements (as outlined in Section L/M) as a contract submitted on a PPIS.

39. L.8.2.1 Electronic Proposal L.9.6.1 Volume II, Subpart I: Solicitation Documents and Reps and Certs L.9.6.2 Volume II, Subpart II: Evaluation Factor V: Cost Proposal for the Initial Task Order Question: L.8.2.1 states that Volume II, Subpart I is the Cost Proposal for the Initial Task Order. However, section L.9.6 states that Subpart I is Solicitation Documents and Reps and Certs. Can you clarify the order for Volume II?

Answer: Please refer to question 50.

40. L.9.6.3 Section I – Cost Breakdown Question: If subcontractors are willing to accept the fully burdened labor rates from prime offeror, then will the government accept the cost breakdown from the prime offeror versus the subcontractor having to submit a separate cost breakdown?

Answer: Offerors proposals shall include the required cost breakdown and support as described in L.9.6.2. - L.9.6.5.

Examples include (but are not limited to-refer to section L) a “breakdown that shows the application of direct labor hours, direct labor rates, overhead and other indirect cost rates, subcontract costs, other direct costs, and fixed fee.” All rates submitted (regardless of Prime/ Subcontractor) must be broke out and supported in accordance with Section L.

If the subcontractor will provide a breakdown of direct labor rates, overhead and other indirect cost rates etc.., to the prime offeror for submission with the prime offeror’s proposal, then the subcontractor does not need to submit this information separately. The text regarding subcontractors and separate submission of their cost breakdown is included solely for situations where the subcontractor is unwilling to share this information with the prime offeror. The text provides instructions for separate submission of this information in those circumstances.

41. L.9.6.4.b Question: Due to the delays obtaining DCAA reviews of accounting systems, will the government accept a review of a prime offeror’s accounting system by a third-party auditor if it is completed in accordance with DCAA/DCMA requirements?

Answer: Accounting system approvals by a Federal Government agency will be accepted. If a non-Federal Government entity accounting system review is submitted, it is the responsibility of the offeror to provide sufficient information for the Government to document that 1. the non-Federal Government entity documentation provided is able to be accepted as proof of an approved accounting system by the Government in lieu of a Federal Government agency accounting system approval and 2.the offeror’s counting system meets the requirements in FAR part 16 and as such the offeror is eligible to receive a cost type contract.

If the delay in receiving a Federal Government agency review of the offerors accounting system is for the most current review, but the offeror’s accounting system has been approved in the past, the offeror shall provide documentation of past approvals.

42. L.9.6.4.c Question: Due to the delays obtaining DCAA reviews of purchasing systems, will the government accept a review of a prime offeror’s purchasing system by a third-party auditor if it is completed in accordance with DCAA/DCMA requirements?

Answer: Please refer to question 7.

43. L.9.4.1 Past Performance Information Sheets (PPIS) Can the prime offeror use grants and cooperative agreements for past performance?

Answer: Please refer to question 38.

44. Reference: Section C- Descriptions and Specifications, 5.0 Labor Categories and Qualifications, 5.1; Page 6 - PWS 5.1 states that Task orders issued under the base IDIQ contract may include the labor categories outlined in the table below. The list is a sample and the Government is not limited to these labor categories. The exact labor categories and the corresponding qualifications (education)/experience and duties are delineated at the task order level.

Question: Please confirm pricing for the labor categories listed in table PWS 5.1 will be required at the time of task order, and not to be separately priced and included with this proposal submission.

Answer: Pricing is not required for the sample labor categories provided in the RFP PWS. Only pricing for the labor categories supporting the Initial Task Order PWS (Attachment V) are required (please see L.9.6.2., for the pricing/cost requirements of this RFP).

45. Reference: Section H-Special Contract Requirements; Page 25 - Reimbursement of Travel, Per Diem, and Special Material Costs. (a) Area of Travel. Performance under this contract may require travel by contractor personnel. If travel, domestic or overseas, is required, the contractor is responsible for making all necessary arrangements for its personnel. These include but are not limited to: medical examinations, immunizations, passports/visas/etc., and security clearances.

Question: Would the government clarify if the costs associated with medical examinations, immunizations, passports/visas/etc., and security clearances are reimbursable under ODCs?

Answer: Medical examinations, immunizations, passports/visas/etc., and security clearances are not reimbursable under ODCs.

46. Reference: Section H- Special Contract Requirements, Government Installation Work Schedules, paragraph (a); Page 28 - paragraph (a) states, "The contractor is responsible for conducting business during the command's normal business hours (0630-1800) Monday thru Friday except Federal holidays or when the Government facility is closed due to local or national emergencies, administrative closings, or similar Government directed facility closings. The Contractor will not be reimbursed when the Government facility is closed for these reasons".

Question: Can the Government please clarify the language "The Contractor will not be reimbursed when the Government facility is closed for these reasons?" Does reimbursement refer to reimbursement as a direct cost, indirect cost, or both? This appears to conflict with Government approved contractor Cost Accounting Standard (CAS) disclosure statements identifying various types of leave as either a direct or an indirect expense in accordance with the Contractor's disclosed statements and cost accounting practice. Please advise.

Answer: Contractors will not provide services and will not be reimbursed for time that NAMRU-D is closed due to Federal Holidays, local or national emergencies, administrative closings, or similar Government directed facility closings.

The contractor will not reimbursed either directly or indirectly.

The Government is unable to affirm that this language conflicts with an individual offeror’s CAS disclosure statement. If an offeror believes this language conflicts with their CAS disclosure statement, they shall provide a statement affirming this fact and supporting documentation in their cost proposal. The cost proposal has no page limit.

47. Reference: Section H- Special Contract Requirements, Government Installation Work Schedules, paragraphs (d) and (e); Page 29 - Paragraphs (d) weather/emergency closings and (e) furlough have the same language: Unless otherwise authorized by a defense appropriations bill, contractors will not be reimbursed by the Government for services not rendered during a Government furlough. In the event of a Government furlough, the Commanding Officer will determine which contract employees are considered essential and therefore must report to work. Contract employees deemed essential shall be compensated for services rendered during a furlough. All other contract employees shall be furloughed until the Government shutdown ends or they are notified by the Contracting Officer's Representative that they have become essential employees.

Question: Can the Government please identify which positions are considered essential?

Answer: The Government cannot identify which positions would be or could considered “essential” at this time. Such a determination would be made at the time of a potential furlough.

48. Reference: Section H-Special Contract Requirements, Task Order Ordering Process; Page 37 - c. A price analysis and a cost analysis will be conducted (IAW FAR 15.404) on every proposal received in response to a NMLC issued TOPR. The direct labor rates (from the successful offeror) for all labor categories awarded under the initial task order will be incorporated into the base contract award and utilized in future cost evaluations of subsequent task orders.

Question: would the government clarify if the 12-month labor rates for all labor categories awarded under the ITO will be used in future cost evaluations of subsequent task orders awarded in the ongoing years (year 2- year 5)?

Answer: Please refer to question 4.

49. Reference: Section J-List of Documents, Exhibits and Other Attachments; Page 49 - Table of Contents Attachment I: Contract Administration Plan (CAP) Attachment II: GFP Checklist (External Attachment at the task order level) Attachment III: DD254 (External Attachment at the task order level) Attachment IV: Initial Task Order PWS (External Attachment) Attachment V: Past Performance Information Sheet (PPIS) Question: Attachments II and III are missing. Could the government provide these attachments?

Answer: Attachments II and III will be attached to the task order at time of award.

50. Reference: Section L-Instructions, Conditions and Notices to Bidders; Page 76 - L.8.2.1 Electronic Proposal. Double column pages are not allowed. Separate electronic files shall be used for Volume I and Volume II. Reference: Section L.9.6.1. Volume II, Subpart I: Solicitation Documents and Reps and Certs; Page 79 Question: The table for volumes and number (page 76) listed Solicitation Documents and Reps and Certs in Subpart II of the Volume II rather than Subpart I indicated in L.9.6.1. Could the government clarify what subpart of Volume II the contractor should list Solicitation Documents and Reps and Certs at?

Answer: Please refer to the revised Section L. The table in L.8.2.1 has been revised to match L.9.6.2 and L9.6.3.

51. Reference: Section L.9.6.2. Volume II, Subpart II: Evaluation Factor V: Cost Proposal for the Initial Task Order; Page 80 Question: The table for volumes and number (page 76) listed Cost Proposal for the initial task order in the Subpart I of the Volume II rather than Subpart II indicated in L.9.6.2.

Could the government clarify what subpart of Volume II the contractor should list the cost proposal for the initial task order at?

Answer: Please refer to question 50.

52. Reference: Section L.9.6.3. Section I-Cost Breakdown; Page 80 -The offeror shall prepare and submit the cost support in accordance with "Table 15-2-Instructions for Submitting Cost/Price Proposals When Certified Cost or Pricing Data Are Required", located at FAR 15.408. The offeror will not be required to certify this cost support.

Question: Would the government confirm that it is not mandatory for the offeror to use the Table 15-2-Instructions for Submitting Cost/Price Proposals since certified cost or pricing data will not be required for this effort?

Answer: The text in L.9.6.3.will remain unchanged.

53. Reference: Section L.9.6.3 Section I- Cost Breakdown; Pages 80-81 - Offerors are responsible for determining which of their proposed labor categories are covered by the Service Contract Labor Standards (SCLS) and they shall specify if any SCLS covered labor categories in their price proposal along with providing the applicable wage determination schedule and revision number. If the successful offeror determines that their proposed labor categories are covered by the SCLS, the appropriate clauses will be added at award.

Question: Can the Government confirm wither FAR 52.222-41 Services Contract Labor Standards is applicable to this Solicitation or is the majority of the work considered professional and admirative in nature and therefore exempt?

Answer: Please refer to Section L.9.6.3, “Offerors are responsible for determining which of their proposed labor categories are covered by the Service Contract Labor Standards (SCLS) and they shall specify if any SCLS covered labor categories in their price proposal along with providing the applicable wage determination schedule and revision number. If the successful offeror determines that their proposed labor categories are covered by the SCLS, the appropriate clauses will be added at award.”

54. Reference: Section H- Special Contract Requirements, Standards of Conduct; Page 29 - This provision, in part, requires that "contractor employees must follow the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch (codified in 5 C.F.R. Part 2635 and as amended at 76 FR 28547) (the "Standards") and local command policy in addition to the standards of conduct policies of the contractor" and "if a contractor employee is uncertain whether contemplated acts or conduct may violate the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive Branch or local command policy, the contractor employee must contact the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) before engaging in such acts or conduct."

Question: Would the Government please provide guidance as to the applicability of these provisions, including specifically:

a) Please clarify how a contractor would apply the Standards and local command policy (which apply to government employees) to its own employees (e.g., seeking other employment, outside activities, etc.).

b) Who is responsible for training contractor employees on the Standards and local command policy (as these requirements apply to government employees)?

c) Please consider that requiring contractor employees to seek advice from the COR with respect contemplated conduct that may violate the Standards seems somewhat inconsistent with the government requirement in 4.0 that contractor employees bring problems/issues to contractor's management and should not be discussed with government employees.

Answer 54.a) In an effort to promote professional standards in the workplace and ensure commonality for ethics rules for everyone working at the stated worksite, the Government decided to require contractor employees performing under the contract on site to comply with the federal ethics laws and regulations. With that said, this requirement does not prevent contractor employees from moonlighting on other contractor projects or seeking and obtaining employment with another government contractor. Given the Government’s heavy reliance on contractor personnel at the site, the Standards of Conduct help ensure the Government retains proper awareness of its ethical risks in the workplace, which is why the Government requires contractors to inform the COR of any such potential ethical issues or concerns as this helps ensure the Government remains compliant with its ethical obligations.

The above mentioned language does not preclude or prevent a contractor from establishing internal procedures and reporting requirements (in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations).

Answer 54.b) The contractor is responsible for training their employees.

Answer 54.c) Please refer to question 54a.

55. Reference: Section H- Special Contract Requirements, Confidentiality Agreement (Non Federal Employee); Page 30 Question: Would the Government consider the following changes to the Confidentiality Agreement, which we respectfully suggest:

a) The removal of the reference to DoD 5500.7-R, Joint Ethics Regulations (JER), Chapter 5, Conflicts of Interest as the JER applies to federal government employees not contractor employees.

b) In lieu of "I will immediately notify the NMLC Office of Counsel in writing of this possibility," substitute "I will immediately notify the responsible officer identified in my organization's Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct, or similar governing document, in writing of this possibility."

Answer 55. a) and b): The text will remain unchanged. Also, please refer to question 54.

56. Reference: Section L.9.2. Volume I, Subpart II: Evaluation Factor I: Management Approach/Risk, Attachment A: Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) Mitigation Plan; Page 77 - The Offeror shall propose an OCI Mitigation Plan in response to an actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest associated with performance of this requirement.

Question: Is the OCI Mitigation Plan the same Mitigation Plan required by Section 1.8 and 2.11 of the Initial Task Order Performance Work Statement (Naval Medical Research Unit Dayton-Research Support Services)? In other words, please confirm that only one OCI Mitigation is to be included in the Proposal and that such OCI Mitigation Plan is for the Initial Task Order.

Answer: The requirement is only for one OCI mitigation plan and the plan should include all actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest associated with performance of this requirement (including under the Initial Task Order). The OCI mitigation plan shall be included as part of the offeror’s response to Evaluation Factor I: Management Approach/Risk (as outlined in Section L).

57. Reference: Section L.9.3.