Q&A N66001-17-R-0079 Final.pdf

Questions and Answers

1. Section L-317.2.1.(a) requires offerors to identify direct labor categories and individual names (if known) intended for use under the contract. This statement suggests that the names of key personnel are not required to be submitted with the offer if those persons are not yet known.

However, Section 3.0. Factor 1.(a) requires the Personnel Qualification Matrix (Attachment 3) to be completed and submitted with the offer. Please confirm if key personnel names must be identified on the Personnel Qualification Matrix and/or the direct labor categories at the time of offer submission.

Answer: Names must be identified ONLY on the Personnel Qualification Matrix because a person’s name must match the name on the license. The following labor categories shall have names identified in the proposal: Program Manager/Craftmaster, Mate/Navigator, and Chief Engineer.

2. Section L-317.2.7.(a) requires a Forward Pricing Rate Agreement (FPRA) and/or DCAA audit report to be submitted with the offer. However, our company currently does not have a FPRA and have not been subject to a DCAA audit. Therefore, please confirm that it is acceptable to respond to this Section 2.7.(a) as “not applicable.” If not acceptable, please advise what other acceptable methods are permissible to address the intent of this requirement.

Answer: “Not applicable” is not an acceptable response. Offerors must state the reason why the company hasn’t been audited by DCAA.

3. Section L-317.2.7.(b).(2) lists numerous functional items (subsections a. through o.) that must be provided by the company’s accounting system. Our company’s accounting system does not currently provide for several of these functional items. However, we intend to implement an accounting system that will provide these functional items. Please confirm that submission of a plan with our offer addressing how the intended future system will provide these functional items is acceptable to meet the requirements of this Section.

Answer: Section L-317.2.7.(b).(2) (subsections a. through o) must be positively addressed and included in your proposal. As a Cost-type contract, the awardee’s accounting system must be determined adequate per FAR subpart 16.301-3(a)(3)prior to award.

4. Section L-317.3.0 Factor 2.(a) and (b) requires submission of up to three Reference Information Sheets (Attachment 1) with the offer in order to explain the offeror’s past performance since January 1, 2012. We envision a situation where the offeror/company has performed contracts that are not relevant to vessel operations, maintenance and repair, or logs. However, the company has individuals/employees who do have extensive experience in the relevant areas. Therefore, please confirm if a Reference Information Sheet(s) citing the past performance of individuals/employees of the company is acceptable in lieu of a Reference Information Sheet(s) citing the past performance of the company itself.

Answer: No, Reference Information Sheet(s) citing the past performance of the company is necessary. This is in lieu of Factor 2, determining past performance of the company itself.

Questions and Answers

5. Factor 2.(a) states the requirement to “cite at least one reference from the prime offeror, no more than one from any subcontractor and no more than three references total.” We interpret this statement to mean that the minimum number or Reference Information Sheets to be submitted is only one, and it must reference our experience performing work as a prime offeror (not from the prime offeror). Please confirm that our interpretation is correct.

Answer: The first portion of the interpretation is Correct; the minimum number of Reference Information Sheets to be submitted is one. Regarding the second portion - The reference ‘from the prime offeror’ must describe work performed by the company submitting as the prime offeror to this solicitation, regardless of whether it was performing as a prime or subcontractor.

6. We also interpret the statement “no more than one from any subcontractor” to mean that, although not required, we may choose to submit a Reference Information Sheet referencing our experience performing work as a subcontractor (not from a subcontractor). Please confirm that our interpretation is correct.

Answer: Incorrect. ‘No more than one from any subcontractor’ is referencing no more than one Reference Information Sheet describing work performed by a company proposing as a subcontractor to your company in response to this solicitation.

7. Due to the anticipated response time for above questions, we respectfully request extension of the offer due date to April 28, 2017.

Answer: At this time we find that 30 days is sufficient to submit an offer.

8. Will the government accept CPARS in lieu of the Past Performance Questionnaire?

Answer: Yes.

9. Please confirm the due date and time - Friday, March 7th @ 11:59pm.

Answer: Proposal due date is 12:00 PM (PST), 07 APRIL 2017.

10. Is it possible for the government to provide MS Word versions of the forms, specifically, Attachment 1 (since Offerors are not to change the spatial structure of this form, i.e. borders, block size, etc.), Attachment 2, and Attachment 3?

Answer: Yes, Attachment 2 and 3 will be provided as word doc.

11. Will the government please confirm that the submission time is 12:00PM?

See Answer to #9

Questions and Answers

12. Attachment 3 Minimum Requirements for Key personnel. Will the government please confirm that offerors are required to provide supporting documentation in Volume III (e.g., USCG License) to demonstrate compliance with the minimum required qualifications cited in Attachment 3 and to satisfy the evaluation criteria noted in Step 1?

Answer: Yes, supporting documentation shall be provided to demonstrate compliance with the minimum required qualifications.

13. Attachment 1, Box 15; Section L, 3.0, Factor 2(b). There is conflicting page limitation guidance for the Past Performance summary description of contract work. Section L, paragraph 3.0(b) specifies that the not to exceed page limit for the summary descriptions is three single-sided pages. The Past Performance Reference Information Sheet (Attachment 1) Part 15 states that the summary description of contract work is not to exceed five additional single-sided pages in length for each cited reference. Will the government please confirm that the not to exceed page limit for the summary descriptions required for each past performance citation is five single-sided pages in accordance with Attachment 1?

Answer: Not to exceed page limit for the summary descriptions required for each past performance citation is three single-sided pages. See revised Attachment 1 to state not to exceed 3 pages.

14. Attachment 4, paragraph 11.E states that because the contract is for operations and maintenance aboard a government-owned research vessel, cleared personnel are required to perform the service since access to classified information may not be avoided in confined work spaces.

Additionally, Section C, paragraph 4.1 of the RFP states that the Craftmaster and Mate shall have access to Secret information and are required to attend Secret meetings. Will the government confirm that a clearance level of SECRET is a Minimum Required Qualification for the Craftmaster and Mate at the time of contract award?

Answer: Yes, clearance level of SECRET is a Minimum Required Qualification for the Craftmaster and Mate at the time of contract award.

15. Description of work and responsibility of the following labor categories:

(PM/Craftmaster, Mate/Navigator, and Chief Engineer) Will the government please confirm that the description of work and responsibility for the PM/Craftmaster, Mate/Navigator, and Chief Engineer on pages 4 & 5 of Attachment #3, Personnel Qualifications Matrix was included for informational purposes and does not require a response from the offeror?

Answer: Correct, offeror does not need to respond to description of work and responsibility of the labor category stated on pages 4 & 5 of Attachment #3.

16. Based on the number of hours will there be two shifts? If so, does the government require Personnel Qualifications for two individuals in each of the key personnel to be evaluated?

Answer: No, there are not two shifts. There should only be one (1) Craftmaster/PM, one (1) Mate/Navigator, and one (1) Chief Engineer, proposed for be evaluation.

Questions and Answers

17. For Section B there are only (6) Item numbers 0001 – 0006 are we only supposed to fill in the base year and one option year?

Answer: Yes, fill in Cost and Fee for Items 0001 and 0004; and Cost for Items 0003 and 0006.

RFP has been revised to show period of performance for base and option year.

18. Attachment 5 has a comment box stating: ‘Hall, Lynda F CIV SPAWARSYSCEN-PACIFIC, 22410: Contractor proposes more than 1 FTE or named individuals are, what are we looking for?’

Was this left in error?

Answer: Attachment 5 has been revised to remove comment/ box.