Questions and Answers.pdf

Q.1. What is the required number of Administration Technicians?

A.1. In accordance with the Performance Work Statement (PWS), two (2) Administration Technicians are needed as follows:

a- 1 Accounting Technician (PWS Paragarph 2.1) b- 1 Travel Assistant (PWS Paragarph 2.2)

Q.2. The number of working hours per day

A.2. 8 Hours

Q.3. The total number of working days per week.

A.3. In accordance with the PWS paragraph 3.5, “The contractor is responsible for conducting business at the times of business in Egypt, Sunday through Thursday“.

Q.4. CONTRACT START DATE DISCREPANCY

Section 3.1 (Page 8) states: "Period of Performance begins 30 September 2025"

Section F (Pages 24-29) states: "Period of Performance: From 30 Mar 2026 To 29 Mar 2027"

QUESTION: Please confirm the correct contract start date.

A.4. See revised PWS and paragraph 3.1. The correct contract start date is 30 March 2026.

Q.5. ANNUAL TRAVEL BUDGET.

Section B CLINs (0002, 0102, 0202, 0302, 0402) specify $10,000 NTE annual travel budget.

Section 3.12.3 states: "The annual estimated travel amount is $20,000."

QUESTION: What is the contractual annual travel budget ceiling - $10,000 or $20,000?

A.5. The annual estimated travel amount is $10,000.00. See revised PWS paragraph 3.12.3.

Q.6. CENTCOM CONTRACTOR VETTING STATUS

We submitted our CENTCOM contractor vetting application via JCCS on 13 February 2026.

QUESTION: Must CENTCOM vetting be fully approved by the quote submission deadline (3 March 2026), or is pending/in-process status acceptable if approval is obtained before contract award?

A.6. Pending/in-process status is acceptable to submit the quote. In order to be considered for award, vendors must submit documentation verifying that their company has been vetted through CENTCOM.

Q.7. U.S. EMBASSY SECURITY CLEARANCE

Section 3.7 requires contractor personnel obtain U.S. Embassy clearance (Egyptian Nationals).

QUESTION A: What is the typical processing timeline for U.S. Embassy security clearance for Egyptian nationals at NAMRU EURAFCENT?

A.7. NAMRU EURAFCENT will take care of the security clearance with the U.S. Embassy for the selected candidates after contract award.

Q.8. Can the contractor initiate Embassy clearance processing for proposed candidates before contract award to facilitate the contract start date?

A.8. No, as the U.S. Embassy will need a copy of the contract to start the clearance process for the selected candidates.

Q.9. INCUMBENT CONTRACTOR TRANSITION

QUESTION: Is there a current incumbent contractor performing these services, and if so, will they be available for knowledge transfer during transition?

A.9. Yes, there is an ongoing contract for the same services and there are current incumbent contractor’s employees performing these services. They will not be available for knowledge transfer during transition because they will not be allowed to enter the facility and access the systems after the end of the current contract.

Q.10. Will the contractor be required to work on-site full-time during the whole period of performance, or is any hybrid/remote support permitted?

A.10. In accordance with the paragraph 3.6 of the PWS, “3.6 Place of Performance: The work to be performed under this contract shall be performed, at NAMRU EURAFCENT (Egypt) offices, in Cairo, Egypt or as mentioned for special cases”.

Q.11. Is there an expected transition period for the required two positions, and if so, what is the estimated timeframe?

A.11. No. The contractor shall be ready to start performance on 30 March 2026.

Q.12. In our previous similar contracts, the government provided the details and quantities and average main workload required. Can NAMRU clarify the quantity, for example 1) the number of travel requests processed per month and in particular overseas to/from the place of performance that require Visas, number of countries anticipated for travel, number of financial transactions/reconciliations per month, the frequency of reporting deliverables?

A.12. An average of 15 travel requests, and about 10 countries to be visited, half of them need entry visas and the travel reports are submitted monthly.

Q.13. Can the client confirm whether two FTEs are expected onsite for the full period of performance or will they also be required to travel and work while on travel? If any travel is required, are there approximate number of times/countries to be travelled per year?

A.13. They are required to travel and work while on travel, and if any travel is required, it can be one to two times per year and within their PWS.

Q.14. Will contractor personnel require any security clearances or background checks, and if so, what type/clearance level?

A.14. Yes, contractor will require a security clearance from the Regional Security Office (RSO) at the US Embassy in Cairo. NAMRU EURAFCENT will take care of the security clearance with the U.S. Embassy for the selected candidates.

Q.15. In our other contracts with similar laboratory/research facilities, our personnel were required to have certain training/certifications to work in such environment. Are there training or certification requirements beyond those listed as minimal requirement/qualifications?

A.15. No other training or certification are required. Only refer to paragraph 2.2.1 Minimum Qualification of PWS.

Q.16. Does the Government anticipate any Egypt In-Country travel for the contractor personnel?

A.16. No.

Q.17. Is the contractor allowed to offer additional support for staff (e.g., technical support staff with specific expertise in financials, training etc., surge/back-up personnel), or must the team remain limited to the two specified positions and provide cost within the two positions?

A.17. No, the team remains limited to the two positions specified in the PWS.

Q.18. On Page 7, Section 2.1.2.10. The contractor shall submit reports which includes expense elements list (Supplies, services, etc., reconciliation report, active documents report; status of funds for Ghana Detachment;

and quarterly contract status to Comptroller as requested. Will the contractor be provided with information in order to provide information about Ghana program?

A.18. Yes, the contractor will be provided with the information needed.

Q.19. Is there an existing workflow or Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) that the contractor must follow, or should the contractor propose new processes that they have used in similar environment?

A.19. Yes, there is an existing SOP to follow.

Q.20. Page 1 of the solicitation SF 1449 s Item 8 States that “offers due date/Local time” is 03 March 2026 at 10:00 AM local time. Can the government confirm whether “local time” refers to Naples, Italy (issuing office) or Cairo, Egypt (place of performance) or other time zones?

A.20. Local time refers to Naples, Italy (issuing office) time.

Q.21. Is there an incumbent to the Administration Services at Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU) in Egypt or similar services offered by another contractors/consultant or this is a new requirement?

A.21. Yes, this is not a new requirement.

Q.22. On Page 9, SECTION 3.8 Organizational Conflict of Interest: state that “Contractor personnel performing work under this contract may receive, have access to or participate in the development of proprietary or source selection information (e.g., cost or pricing information, budget information or analyses, specifications or work statements, etc.) or perform evaluation services which may create a current or subsequent Organizational Conflict of Interests (OCI) as defined in US FAR Subpart 9.5.”

In a similar engagement, the new staff were required to sign Organization Conflict of Interest prior to starting their respective positions for the purpose of being aware.

Q.22a. Does this apply to the contractors already working at NAMRU or the new offeror?

A.22a. Yes. It applies to all contractor personnel.

Q.22b. Will the awardee be required to have the new hire be informed/sign provision of the Organization Conflict of Interest?

Q.22b. Yes.