N64498-24-R-4007 Questions_Answers 1-22.pdf

N64498-24-R-4007 Q&A

1. Q: What is the last day questions can be submitted?

A: IAW L-215-H007 SUBMISSION OF QUESTIONS BY OFFERORS, the deadline for receipt of questions is 20 NOV 2023. However, the Government will make efforts to answer all questions before the close of this RFP.

2. Q: Clarification is needed on the page count. The table on page 153 indicates that there are three Volumes. Volumes 1 and III indicate there is no page limit. Volume II indicates it has a 35-page limit. However, underneath the proposal table it states “The entire proposal shall not exceed thirty-five (35) pages in length.

A: The 35 page limit is intended for the Volume II submission. Volumes I and III have no limits required and are not considered part of this 35 pages.

3. Q: For Volume 1: Proposal Documents there is a statement that the Offer’s contractual commitment, complete in every respect and ready for acceptance by the government. Does the government want the whole 173-page solicitation submitted or just the SF-33 and section “K”?

A: The offeror has the option to submit the full solicitation or just the fills ins. IAW Section L3.4 Fill- INS:

“Offerors must fill in all areas of the solicitation that contain Offeror fill-ins. In accordance with 52.252-1 Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference, in lieu of submitting the full text, the Offeror may identify the provision by paragraph identifier and provide the appropriate information with its quotation or offer or they may elect to submit a completed solicitation document in its entirety. (Note - This information is exempt from the font and spacing requirements identified under Paragraph L.2.1).”

4. Q: Would the government consider an extension?

A: The solicitation close date has been extended via Amendment 0002 to 15 December 2023.

5. Q: If the contractor has ISO 9001:2015 and NAVSEA QMS policies and procedures in place, and is in the review processes for official certifications, will that suffice since upon award we expect to attain such certifications and letters of approval.

A: The ISO 9001:2015 is called out as applicable in the reference documents as being required which means approved and certified. So therefore the answer is no this will not suffice. However, it will be taken into consideration that documents are in the review cycle for conformance during the evaluation.

6. Q: Government asks offeror to list 4 relevant contracts within the last 3 years but does not specify number of relevant contracts examples for subcontractors. Should industry imply that the total of 4 includes Prime and Subs PP examples? If so, is there a minimum number of citations required of the Prime?

A: The requested four (4) relevant contracts are inclusive of Prime and Subcontracts.

It is up to the offeor on the number of Prime/Subcontracts ratio provided. However, up to four (4) relevant contracts shall be submitted.

7. Q: IAW L.3.1.1 Transmittal/Cover Letter - Reference #8 (h), would the Government please confirm if approvals of accounting disclosure statement and purchasing system are requirements for award?

A: If the offeror has approval of accounting disclosure statement and purchasing system, please reference under Volume I. If not, please state/provide an exception as to why.

8. Q: IAW L.3.1.1 Transmittal/Cover Letter - Reference #8 (h), "The Offer shall reference the dates of the most recent approvals of the Offeror's cost accounting disclosure statement and the Offeror's purchasing system and include copies of the approvals."

A: If the offeror has approval of cost accounting disclosure statement, please reference under Volume I. If not, please state/provide an exception as to why.

9. Q: IAW L.3.1.1 Transmittal/Cover Letter - Reference #8 (i), would the Government please confirm if the adequacy of the property management system is a requirement to receive an award?

A: If the offeror has approval of property management system under Volume I, please reference. If not, please state/provide an exception as to why.

10. Q: How will Level I/II procedures be evaluated if there is no Section L requirement to submit the Offeror’s QMS?

A: N64498-24-R-4007 Amendment 0001 updated Section M.2 EVALUATION FACTORS, Element: 1E - Quality Assurance. Element: 1E - Quality Assurance will be evaluated using the below Table (Section M Page 170 of Page 172).

Factor 1 – Technical (Elements 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E) Rating Description

Acceptable Proposal meets the minimum requirements of the solicitation.

Unacceptable Proposal does not meet the minimum requirements of the solicitation.

11. Q: The table under section 12.3 lists 7 Key Personnel but there are only 6 positions identified in Section 12.4 that require resumes. Will the Government please confirm if there are 6 or 7 Key Personnel Resumes required for the Technical response?

A: The following six (6) resumes are required for Key Personnel:

1. Program Manager (1 Resume) (eCRAFT MANP2)

2. Site Foreman (2 Resumes) (eCRAFT MANP1)

3. Quality Assurance (QA) Specialist (1 Resume) (eCRAFT QAOR1)

4. Planner & Estimator (1 Resume) (eCRAFT SCE)

5. Program Financial Manager (1 Resume) (eCRAFT ANFS)

12. Q: Will the Government allow 10 point Times New Roman Font for graphics, Tables, Graphs, resumes?

A: IAW L.2 PROPOSAL FORMAT, “the font shall be Times New Roman with a font size of 12 throughout the document.” IAW L.2.1 PAGE NUMBERS AND LIMITS, The referenced Solicitation paragraph states the following:

The following are not included in the page limitations:

a. Title/Cover pages

b. Tables of Contents

c. Glossaries of abbreviations and acronyms

d. Subcontracting/Teaming/Consulting Agreements, letters of intent for key personnel

e. Proposal Cross-Reference Tables

f. Past Performance References

g. Resumes

h. OCI Mitigation Plan (if applicable)

i. Quality Assurance Plan

13. Q: Will the Government please confirm that offerors are only required to provide Letter copies of their DCMA approved accounting system in Volume I and not within Volume

II?

A: Offerors shall submit any DCMA/DCAA documents under Volume I.

14. Q: Are offerors required to submit Attachment 1 with their proposal submission? If so, can the Government please provide direction if this should be submitted as a standalone document or within a Volume?

A: Attachment 1 – List of Key Personnel should be submitted as a standalone document.

15. Q: L.3.2 Volume II: Factor 1 – Technical, Element 1E - Quality Assurance requires, “The Prime Contractor shall provide its Quality Management System (QMS) Level 1 and Level 2 Procedures meeting the requirements of ASQ/ANSI/ISO 9001:2015.” Will the Government allow this to be submitted as a standalone document as Plans are often several hundred pages in length.

A: IAW L.2.1 PAGE NUMBERS AND LIMITS, (i) The following are not included in the page limitations “Quality Assurance Plan”.

16. Q: Section B, Clause B-216-H006, Please confirm this table can remain blank for the proposal submission since no pricing is required.

A: Clause B-216-H006 Fill in will be determined at Task Order Level.

17. Q: Section C, 12.4.1, States, “The Contractor shall allow as many personnel as practicable to remain on the job to help the successor maintain the continuity of services required by this Contract in accordance with Clause 52.237-2 Continuity of Services (JAN 1991) in the basic contract.” Please provide the name of the incumbent.

A: This language applies as the Task Order level in which incumbent would be provided or identified, if applicable.

18. Q: The referenced Solicitation paragraph states the following, “Affiliate companies, sister companies, teaming arrangements, joint venture agreement, etc., will be considered provided that sufficient documentation is included in the proposal. Please advise within which Volume this documentation should be provided.

A: Offerors shall submit Section L.3.3, Past Performance under Volume III.

19. Q: Section M.2, Element 1B – Management Approach, Bullet numbers 1-3 are missing from the list as presented. Please confirm the list is misnumbered or provide the missing Evaluation content.

A: The list under Section M.2, Element 1B is misnumbered (4, 5 & 6) and should read (1, 2& 3) on page however, no content is missing.

20. Q: L.2.1 PAGE NUMBERS AND LIMITS, The referenced Solicitation paragraph states the following:

“The following are not included in the page limitations:

a. Title/Cover pages

b. Tables of Contents

c. Glossaries of abbreviations and acronyms

d. Subcontracting/Teaming/Consulting Agreements, letters of intent for key personnel

e. Proposal Cross-Reference Tables

f. Past Performance References

g. Resumes

h. OCI Mitigation Plan (if applicable)

i. Quality Assurance Plan

Please confirm (e) and (i) are not required and the reference should be removed?

A: It is up to the offeor if they would like provided “Proposal Cross-Reference Tables”.

The Quality Assurance Plan relates to Element: 1E - Quality Assurance.

21. Q: Section L.3.2.5, Element 1E Quality Assurance AND Section M.2, Element: 1E – Quality Assurance. Please confirm that Offerors may submit their QMS acceptance letter meeting the requirements of ASQ/ANSI/ISO 9001:2015 from a Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) QMS Acceptance Authority or appropriate directorate in lieu of their QMS Level I and II procedures. Please also confirm that a Quality Control Plan is not required to be submitted.

A: Please review N64498-24-R-4007 Amendment 0001. IAW Section M, Element 1E Quality Assurance, “The Offeror’s QMS Level 1 and Level 2 Procedures relevant to the requirements of the solicitation, including the SOW, will be evaluated based on whether their content meets the requirements of ASQ/ANSI/ISO 9001:2015”. A Quality Control Plan is not required, just have to acknowledge they have one meeting the requirements.

22. Q: Please confirm if one partner of a Joint Venture/Mentor Protégé meets the requirement for business systems (accounting, purchasing, government property) that this will suffice and be deemed compliant.

A: This question needs more details in order to be answered. The following will need to be considered: 1. An exception may apply 2. Type of agreement (contract) / Dollar Value… etc.