Q-A08t0004.doc

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

TO

SOLICITATION N68836-08-T-0004

Q. Who is the incumbent?

Q. I am writing to inquire if there is an incumbent or a new requirement for Solicitation N68836-08-T-0004 Military Tactical Training Course?

Q. Can you please advise as to whether there is an incumbent contractor for this requirement? If so, could you please provide the contractor name and the contract number that was awarded?

ANS: This is a new requirement.

Q. What is the current Military Technical Training instructor and Lead Instructor rates of pay and benefit packages?

ANS: At a minimum, the positions are equivalent to GS-7/WG-7 and GS-9, respectively.

Q. On page 38 of the SOW the Vol I has a 25 page limit, on page 39 the SOW indicates 20 pages for the

Vol I Technical Capability. Which is correct?

Q. The Proposal Submittal Requirements on page 39 of 39 state that the page limit for Volume I: Technical Capability is 25 pages in the table, and 20 pages in the narrative. Please clarify.

Q. Solicitation page 38 of 39, Proposal Submittal Requirements, states a page limit of 25 pages for Volume I, Technical Capability; however, on page 39 of 39 the Volume I instructions states a maximum of 20 pages. Please clarify.

Q. Page 38 of the RFP limits Volume II of the proposal to 15 pages. Is there a desired number of cited Past Performances?

ANS: Volume I should be 25 pages. Solicitation will be amended to reflect the correct number of pages. The solicitation requires past performance information from the past three years. The number to be submitted is the contractor’s decision.

Q. Page 15 of the RFP states that Technical and Past Performance, when combined are more significant when compared to price. The following paragraph states that the resulting contract shall be awarded on a lowest price technically acceptable basis. These two statements are conflicting, please de-conflict.

ANS: The paragraph will be revised to indicate that technical and Past Performance is less significant than price.

Q. Solicitation page 39 of 39, Volume III RFQ and Price Proposal, the instructions appear to be missing. Can you please supply this input?

ANS: The solicitation will be amended to incorporate pricing instructions.

Q. At the end of each task the SOW indicated a number of "actions", could you define what an "action" is?

Q. If "actions" are synonymous with "hours", it would appear there is a disparity between the SOW and the Section B (starting on page 3 of 39) ANS: Actions refers to the various subtasks of the task. Actions are not synonymous with hours.

Q. We understand that on page 36 of the SOW it indicates that the government will provide all equipment and facilities for the performance of this RFQ. Does that include providing weapons ranges for the field activities?

ANS: Yes the Government will provide if needed.

Q. The CLIN’s for the Lead Instructors is clear on their face, however, in paragraph 13.0 (Non Personal Service Statement) it states: Contractor employees performing services under this order will be controlled, directed, and supervised at all times by management personnel of the contractor. Contractor management will ensure that employees properly comply with the performance work standards outlined in the statement of work. Are you implying that the only management of employees you want is by a Lead Instructor? Could you please clarify the type of Management Plan you are requesting?

ANS: SOW Task 1 describes the Lead duties. This is a non-personal services contract, which means the government can only provide guidance/direction to contractor personnel. Paragraph 13.0 is reemphasizing the contractor versus the government responsibility for supervision of contractor personnel.

Q. Without clarification to the questions, we will submit a proposal with numerous assumptions. To ensure the most accurate and complete response, would the Government consider granting an extension to allow for contractors to address the answers given sufficiently?

ANS: The solicitation will be extended.

Q. Please schedule a Pre-Proposal conference/site visit for the Naval Construction Battalion Center, Gulfport, MS and Naval Base Ventura County, Port Hueneme, CA to allow bidder’s to inspect the two sites and ask questions of the 20th SRG and 31st SRG in order to better address RFP requirements.

ANS: A conference/site visit is not required for this action.

Q. Does a full-time equivalent (man/yr) equal 1,976 hours? If yes, can the number of hours specified for CLIN 0001AG and 0002AG be adjusted to reflect 21,736 each? (That would equal 11 full-time equivalents for each CLIN.)

ANS: For purposes of this requirement a fulltime equivalent is equal to 1920 hours.

Q. If 11 full-time equivalents are required for each CLIN 0001AG and 0002AG, does the government require 80 over-time hours per each full-time equivalent? If yes, recommend the over-time be adjusted to reflect 880.

ANS: The amendment will incorporate the adjustment.

Q. Is CLIN 0002AK duplicative of CLIN 0002AD?

ANS: CLIN 0002AK is not a duplicate of 0002AD. The solicitation will be amended to correct CLIN 0002AD.

Q. Page 36 of the RFP estimates travel and per-diem to be $165,000.00.

· Is this an estimate for year one of the contract or year one and two combined?

· Should this number be used as a plug number for CLIN 0001AJ and/or CLIN 0002AJ?

· What portion of the $165K in travel funds will be allocated for the transition phase?

ANS: The $165,000 travel estimate is an annual estimate. The $165,000 should be inserted in the travel CLIN’s. No travel has been allotted for the transition phase.

Q. In order to accurately estimate the CONUS and OCONUS other direct costs, can the government provide an estimated number of annual trips, the number of personnel per trip, the duration of each trip, and the destination(s)?

Q. What is the expected number of overseas hours?

Q. If the need does arise for OCONUS travel will:

a. The government provide the transportation from the instructors’ location to OCONUS site?

b. The government provide transportation from a Naval base to OCONUS site, with the contractor responsible for transportation to the Naval base?

c. The contractor needs to provide transportation from contractor’s location to OCONUS site?

ANS: An estimate is not available because travel is based upon unit training cycles. Travel will be reimbursable in accordance with the Joint Travel Regulations. The estimated $165,000 per year travel was established to fund required travel. Responsibility for OCONUS travel arrangements will be determined after contract award.

Q. There are no CLIN Line Items for the training overseas in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. Will this be priced out separately from this award if training is required in these locations?

ANS: The solicitation will be amended to allow pricing for performance is those locations.

Q. What is the estimated number of personnel that will require passports?

ANS: An estimate was not established by the government. All personnel must be able to obtain passport.

Q. Will contractors’ assigned to overseas training be allowed to carry weapons during performance in combat zones?

ANS: No.

Q. Will trainers be provided military escort for force protection purposes while in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait?

ANS: If the need arises to deliver in-country training, escort arrangements will be handled by the Area Commander prior to anyone traveling.

Q. Are the assessments, counseling sessions, and administration actions considered deliverables?

ANS: They are part of the Course of Instruction required of all instructors and included in Course Completion Packages provided by each SRG.

Q. The hours listed for the Labor CLIN’s look like full time positions. Is this a FFP LOE contract?

ANS: Yes

Q. Is this contract subject to the Service Contract Act and do wage determinations apply for Harrison County, MS and Ventura County, CA? If so, please provide the applicable wage determinations by position description for this contract.

ANS: The labor, as a minimum, is equivalent to GS-7/WG-7 and GS-9 positions.

Q. What constitutes “proof of certifications” as discussed on Page 38 of the RFP?

ANS: See Guidelines 4.0. Certifications from current instructional staff are a plus.

Q. The RFP identifies the Military Tactics and Weapons Employment courses to be taught under this contract, however there is no reference made to the annual training tempo loading (i.e., the number of each course, duration of each course or scheduling of the courses with respect to each other that is anticipated for each year of the contract). Please provide this information to allow bidder’s to anticipate instructor loading needs and provide a better proposal to the Navy.

ANS: The contract is for manpower. Instructors will be part of the SRG Training Staff. Staff assignments will be made upon contract award.

Q. Page 33 of 39 – “Contractor must have prior documented Tactical Training experience/expertise with US Armed Forces”. We understand that to mean specific experience training US Armed Forces, not just working in the same environment. Please clarify.

ANS: Solicitation states documented “Tactical Training Experience”. This does not mean just working in the area or environment (i.e. cook, supply or administrative support does not fit the bill).

Q. Are costs for the Background Investigations billable to the government?

ANS: No, it should be a part of the cost to operate.

Q. Are all the estimated numbers provided for instruction action, assessments prepared, etc. the total for both sites?

ANS: Yes, unless otherwise stated.

Q. Is there an estimated number for field instruction and FEX?

ANS: The estimated number is three per site.

Q. What equipment will be GFE vs. CFE? (Safety equipment, weapons, ammunition, uniforms, transportation to and on-site during FEX)

ANS: All, except uniforms.

Q. Will billeting and meals be provided to instructor staff during FEX?

ANS: Billeting and meals shall be in accordance with the JTR rate for civilian employees.

Q. How often will courses be conducted? Do they overlap? How many students per course?

ANS: This is based on each SRG Training schedule, which is fluid. The SRG’s will provide the information after contract award.

Q. On Page 31 a. - Task 1- Project Coordination/ Lead. It states the lead shall be the on site representative and implies a single point of contact. With one training location in CA and the other in MS it would require one Lead in each location if training is conducted during the same time period.

ANS: Yes. See section of task that refers to project management and coordinated actions. Actions are projected for each site.

Q. What is the government’s desired (preferred) ratio of instructors to students?

ANS: This is outlined in each Course of Instruction. SRG’s will provide upon contract award.

Q. What is the total number of courses to be conducted? (The solicitation states the total number of hours and states the two locations and the percentage of hours per location, but does not list the number of training courses to be completed.)

Q. What is the expected number of students per course? Is this a fixed number or is there a range of students per course, and if so what is the minimum and maximum student load?

Q. What is the expected or desire number of training days per course?

ANS: We are contracting man years. Courses are based upon SRG Training Schedule, which changes.

Q. Does the government desire costing data based on total instructional hours or hours per course, or on per course based on student load?

ANS: The requirement should be priced in accordance with the schedule.

Q. Is there an expected daily stop and end time for training?

ANS: See Statement of work, paragraph 6.0.

Q. Will billeting and messing be available on base for instructors?

ANS: No. This is a contractor responsibility.

Q. Is travel from contractor site to CONUS site(s) part of the travel estimated cost, or is that only for OCONUS travel, or is it for all travel relating to the SOW? (Solicitation states—“Travel and per-diem is estimated to be $165,000.00”) ANS: Travel related to the SOW as authorized by the government.

Q. The task is specified as 55% percent in Gulfport, MS and 45% in Port Hueneme, CA; does this mean that the Training Specialist would have to travel to MS for the duration of their training support and then to CA for the remainder of the base period and vice versa?

Q. If traveling between MS and CA is not required; is the requirement to have a cadre at each location to support local units?

Q. What is the projected size of the cadre required from the contractor?

ANS: Personnel are fixed at each site. See level of effort projection.

Q. Will the Government consider adding a separate CLIN for OCONUS work assignments to account for the additional requirements for visas, hazardous pay and insurance etc?

ANS: The solicitation will be amended to allow for a rate for hazardous pay. Cost of insurance and visas should be operating costs.

Q. Reference: Page 7, CLIN 0001 AJ, and Page 12, CLIN 0002AJ, the travel, Per Diem and other expenses CLIN appears to be listed as an FFP type CLIN. The offeror requests this be revised from a FFP CLIN to a cost reimbursable CLIN to ensure the offeror is only reimbursed for actual travel, per diem and other expenses incurred.

ANS: These costs will be shown as estimates.

Q. Reference: Last sentence on page 36 of Paragraph 12.0, Reimbursable Travel and Per Diem Expenses, is it the Government’s intent to have the awarded contractor submit travel claims directly to the government as a method for contractor reimbursement instead of reimbursement via contractor invoices, “Travel claims shall be submitted no later than five working days after completion of travel”? If not, the offeror requests this sentence be removed from the RFP.

ANS: Reimbursement will be via contractor’s invoice. The paragraph will be amended.

THE REVISED SOLICIATION IS FORTHCOMING. THE DATE AND TIME FOR RECEIPT OF OFFERS IS EXTENDED TO 31 JAN 2007 AT 3:00 PM ET.

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