Industry_Q A.doc

N68936-14-R-0022 Questions & Answers

1. The pdf version of the RFP appears to have been created with MS Word “Track Changes” turned on and the result is a very small font print copy. Would you please re-issue the RFP without the additional right margin space to allow for a normal/ larger size print?

Answer: Amendment 1 of the RFP should fix this issue.

2. Exhibit A is password protected and cannot be printed. Please remove the password and re-issue so that we may print the document.

Answer: To view Exhibit A please click “Read Only.” The password cannot be removed.

3. The Government states on p. 14 of the Solicitation, Section 3.9.2 Security, “The contractor shall maintain sufficiently cleared personnel to perform the task required by this PWS IAW the DD Form 254, and the contract. How does the offeror know the required security level of each position/labor category for completing Attachment 6, without having access to DD Form 254?

Answer: A Secure Link on the FBO website has been created for access to the DD 254. The link is https://www.fbo.gov/fedteds/TDPN6893614R0022.

4. The Government states on p. 64 of the Solicitation, 2.0 Proposal Format, “The Offeror must present proposal information in a manner that facilitates a one-to-one comparison between the information presented and this Proposal Instruction. Proposal information must be structured such that its paragraph number/letter is identical to the proposal instructions paragraph number to which it is responding, although the Offeror may add lower tier subparagraphs. The Offeror must provide reasons it will not provide information for a particular paragraph. The proposal information instructions are structured by paragraph numbers where first, second, third, and fourth parts correspond to the volume, book, section, and element, etc., in Offer's proposal.” The Government’s Proposal Instructions don’t seem to consistently follow the organization as identified in the instructions on p. 64 across all five Proposal Volumes. For example, how will this requirement be met for subsections listed in a bullet format within the Solicitation Instructions (e.g. p. 68 for subsections of the Technical and Management Approach sections of the Technical Volume)? Will the Government please explicitly identify the paragraph numbers/letters (and expected content) offerors are required to use in their response? Please clarify.

Answer: See Revised Section L

5. The Government states on p. 64 of the Solicitation, 2.0 Proposal Format, “proposals must be formatted using a Times New Roman 12 pt normal font (no reduction permitted).” Will the Government also consider a font size smaller (e.g. 10 pt) for headers and footers of the proposal, graphics, tables, and Cover Pages? Will the Government also consider a font size larger than 12 pt for Covers, Headings, and Title Pages?

Answer: See Section L, font size remains as instructed.

6. The Government states within instructions for CD-ROM submission on p. 64, Section 2.0 Proposal Format, 2nd paragraph, “The Offeror will provide one complete copy of the proposal on 2 CD-ROMs to the Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO) as electronic files fully compatible with Microsoft Office 2010” and also “The Offeror will ensure that the Price/Cost Volume is provided on a separate CD-ROM.” Is it the Government’s intent to receive Volumes 1, 2, 3, and 5 on 2 CD-ROMs and Volume 4 on 2 CD-ROMs for a total of 4 CD-ROMs to comply with this requirement? Please clarify.

Answer: Please see Revised Section L. The referenced language was removed. Please refer to the Table in Section 3.0 for Guidance.

7. The Government states on p. 65 of the Solicitation, Section 3.0 Proposal Content and Volumes, 1st sentence, “Each volume of the proposal shall be submitted as one original and additional copies as specified in the table below.” Does the Original constitute both an additional “hard” and “electronic” document to what is identified in the table on p. 65?

Answer: The original is 1 hard copy.

8. The Government identifies on p. 65 of the Solicitation, Section 3.0 Proposal Content and Volumes, Table, a 1 page limit for Volume 1: Executive Summary. On p. 67 under 1.0 Volume 1: Executive Summary, the Government lists the contents of the Executive Summary to include an Abstract of the Offeror’s Strategy; Offeror Summary Table; Signed SF33 or SF1449, Amendments, and Clauses; Affirmation of Exceptions, Deviations or Waivers; and Guarantee of Proposal Validity all within the context of a 1 page limit. Will the Government exclude the Signed SF33 or SF1449, Amendments, and Clauses from the Executive Summary page count, given that these documents alone will constitute 1 page or more? Will the Government please increase the page limit for the remainder of the Executive Summary?

Answer: See revised Section L. Please note your question indicated it had been one page when Section L. had stated 10 pages. Also see the additional exceptions to the page limit noted under the Table in Section L, Paragraph B Specific Instructions, 1.0 Volume 1: Executive Summary

9. The Government identifies on p. 65 of the Solicitation, Section 3.0 Proposal Content and Volumes, Table, under the Page Limit Column for the Technical Capability section that Resumes are excluded from the page count. What resumes are required for the Technical Capability section that are not covered under the Resume instructions for the Personnel Resources section on p. 69? Please clarify.

Answer: Please see the revised Section L, Section 3.0 Proposal Content and Volumes Table.

10. The Government identifies on p. 65 of the Solicitation, Section 3.0 Proposal Content and Volumes, Table, a Section titled “Reference Data Table,” under the Past Performance Volume that does not have a page count associated with it. On p. 70 of the Solicitation there is a Past Performance Matrix table, on p. 71 of the Solicitation there is a table under Section 3.2 Past Performance Data Requirements, and there is also the Attachment 2 Past Performance Matrix that is a part of the Solicitation. Which table/matrix is being referenced on p. 65 as the “Reference Data Table?” Please clarify.

Answer: Please see revised Section L. Section 3.0 Proposal Content Table. Also, in lieu of the table Past Performance Matrix table listed under 3.1 use Section J. Attachment 2. In lieu of the first table under Section 3.2 use Section J. Attachment 3.

11. The Government identifies on p. 65 of the Solicitation, Section 3.0 Proposal Content and Volumes, Table, a Section titled “Performance Questionnaire,” under the Past Performance Volume that is Excluded from the Page Count and requires an Original, 3 Hard Copies, and 1 email to Contract Specialist per Reference for Submission. It is understood within the instructions on p. 69 and 70 that Questionnaires will be sent directly to the Government by the Offeror’s applicable Customer POCs. Can the Government please identify and clarify the instructions related to the “Performance Questionnaire” section of the Past Performance Volume that is identified on p. 65?

Answer: See revised instructions in Section L, 3.1.

12. The Government identifies on p. 65 of the Solicitation, Section 3.0 Proposal Content and Volumes, Table, a Section titled “Summary Past Performance Proposal,” under the Past Performance Volume that has a 10 page count and requires an Original, 3 Hard Copies, and 6 Electronic Copies for Submission. On p. 69 – 71 of the Solicitation there is no mention of a “Summary Past Performance Proposal” section. Will the Government please identify and clarify the instructions for the “Summary Past Performance Proposal” section of the Past Performance Volume?

Answer: The summary past performance proposal is merely the title of the Past Performance Volume.

13. The Government identifies Submission Requirements for Volume 5: Exceptions, Deviations and Waivers within the Table on p. 65 of the Solicitation. If the Offeror has no exceptions, deviations or waivers related to the Solicitation is the Offeror required to submit anything for Volume 5? Please clarify.

Answer: See Section L., Part B Specific Instructions, Volume 1.0, Volume 1: Executive Summary. Specifically, please note the footers under the table in this section which address this. If no exceptions, deviations or waivers related to the Solicitation will be included, the offeror must include an affirmative response in their proposal so stating.

14. The Government identifies within the Offeror Summary Table on p. 67 of the Solicitation, a column identified as “% of Total Proposed Price.” Since the distribution of Travel and ODC costs among the prime and any subs will largely be determined by the exact nature of the Government's requirements and is out of the Offeror's control, will the Government consider renaming that column % of Total Labor Cost to reflect the work share distribution which is within the contractor's control?

Answer: Section L. remains unchanged for this question.

15. The Government states on p. 68 of the Solicitation, Section 2.0 (a.) Technical, last bullet, “In order for offerors to demonstrate a working understanding of the Live Fire Test & Evaluation (LFT&E) mission and a working understanding of the contract requirements the government will require offerors to submit a sample LFT&E test plan..” What is the desired test article and objective the offeror should write to or is the offeror to choose an objective and test article? Please clarify.

Answer: The offeror should choose an objective and test article.

16. The Government states on p. 68 of the Solicitation, Section a. Technical, 4th bullet, “Describe your approach to System Safety, paragraph 3.4 of the PWS.” Paragraph 3.4 of the PWS, on p. 11 of the Solicitation, describes Test Site Preparation. Is it the Government’s intent for the Offeror to write an approach to System Safety for Test Site Preparation in response to this requirement? Please clarify.

Answer: See revised Section L. The 4th bullet has been deleted.

17. The Government states on p. 69 and 70 of the Solicitation, Section 3.1 General, 3rd paragraph, “For contracts that have CPARS Reports or similar reports that are more than six months old, e.g., the completion date is more than six months before the due date for this Past Performance Volume, the Offeror will forward a copy of the CPARS Update Questionnaire (Attachment 7) to that contract customer's Program Manager. For all contracts identified which do not have CPARS Reports, the Offeror will forward a copy of the Past Performance Questionnaire (Attachment ( 3 ) to that contract customer's PCO, Administrative Contracting Officer, and Program Manager.” If the contract reference is for performance as a Subcontractor, who does the Government require the Offeror to send a Past Performance Questionnaire to? Please clarify.

Answer: Send to the cognizant Administrative Contracting Officer (ACO), Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO) or the cognizant Contract Specialist.

18. The Government states on p. 70 of the Solicitation, 1st paragraph, “All questionnaires shall be forwarded within two weeks from the RFP release date with enough lead-time so that responses can be received by the Government concurrently with the Government’s receipt of the Offeror’s Past Performance information submitted as per paragraph 4.1 and 4.2.” What is the Government referencing related to paragraph 4.1 and 4.2? Please clarify.

Answer: Please see revised Section L.

19. The Government states on p. 70 of the Solicitation, (a) Contract Data, “Provide all the information identified below separately for each contract.” If the Offeror has 7 references is it the Government’s intention to receive 7 separate Past Performance Matrix tables or are all 7 references to be included in 1 Past Performance Matrix table? Please clarify the instructions for completing and submitting the Past Performance Matrix table.

Answer: See the table under 3.0 PROPOSAL CONTENT AND VOLUMES.

20. The Government references on p. 70 of the Solicitation, Footnote 2 under the Past Performance Matrix, the PPAIS. Did the Government intend to reference PPIRS, as mentioned on p. 69, last paragraph, instead? Please clarify.

Answer: This was an error and has been revised.

21. The Government states on p. 70 of the Solicitation, Footnote 3 under the Past Performance Matrix, “Only list efforts performed within five years of the date of the RFP release.” How does the Government instruct the Offeror to fill out the Recency cells of the Past Performance Matrix? Does the Government want Offerors to include contracts that are older than 5 years, but within 10 years as identified on p. 69, under section 3.1 General, in the Past Performance Matrix displayed on p. 70? Please clarify.

Answer: Footnote 3 has been revised to make the guidance consistent.

22. The Government lists CD-ROM instructions for components of the Proposal to include the Past Performance Matrix on CD-ROM on p. 70 of the Solicitation, Section (a) Contract Data; The Customer’s Points of Contact data in a Table on CD-ROM on p. 71 of the Solicitation, Section 3.2 Past Performance Data Requirements; and Section B Prices on CD-ROM on p. 72 of the Solicitation, Section 4.1 Volume Content, paragraph (a). Are these CD-ROM references separate from what is identified on p. 65 of the Solicitation in the Table under Section 3.0 Proposal Content and Volumes for Electronic Copies? Please clarify.

Answer: the Table under Section 3.0 is the main guidance to follow for digital and hardcopies.

23. The Government states on p. 71 of the Solicitation, Section 3.2 Past Performance Data Requirements, 1st sentence, “Provide all the information identified below separately for each contract.” The Government also states in the 3rd sentence, “Include an electronic copy of this table in MS Word on a CD.” If the Offeror has 7 references is it the Government’s intention to receive 7 separate Tables or are all 7 references to be included in 1 Table? Please clarify the instructions for completing and submitting the Table identified in Section 3.2 Past Performance Data.

Answer: Please refer to the Government’s response to Question #19.

24. The Government identifies on p. 72 and 76 of the Solicitation instructions for “4.0 VOLUME 5: PRICE/COST PROPOSAL” and “5.0 VOLUME 6: EXCEPTIONS, DEVIATIONS AND WAIVERS.” Is this the intended identification of these Volumes as they seem to contradict the identification of the Volumes listed within the table on p. 65 of the Solicitation, under 3.0 Proposal Content and Volumes?

Answer: This has been revised.

25. The Government states on p. 72 of the Solicitation, 4.1 Volume Content, 3rd sentence, “The Offeror shall submit a fully completed Attachment 9.” An Attachment 9 document was not included as part of the Solicitation. Will the Government please identify or make available the correct document?

Answer: This has been corrected. There is no Attachment 9.

26. The Government states on p. 73 of the Solicitation, Section 4.3 Price/Cost Information, paragraph (d), 2nd to last sentence, “The proposed subcontractors are required to submit their DCAA information and payroll verification under their prime contractor.” Will the Government provide clarification that allows subcontractors to submit corporate sensitive financial information under separate cover to the Government?

Answer: Yes, appropriate language has been added to this section.

27. The Government states on p. 76 of the Solicitation, Section 5.0 Volume 6 – Exceptions, Deviations and Waivers, 2nd paragraph, last sentence, “If there are no exceptions, deviations or waivers, the Offeror shall provide a one-page Volume 6 in the Executive Summary stating so.” What is a one-page Volume 6? Please clarify.

Answer: Also see the answer to question #13. This has been corrected to Volume 5. It was just to note that even if there are no exceptions, deviations etc. you still have to include a Volume 5 even if just a one-page stating there are no exceptions etc.

28. The Government included Attachment 2 Past Performance Matrix as part of the Solicitation package. Is this intended to be filled out and completed as part of the Offeror’s Past Performance Volume submission? If yes, please clarify the instructions for completing and submitting this document.

Answer: Please see the Government’s response on Question 10.

29. Referencing Attachment 8 Cost Spreadsheet, are Offerors allowed to modify this spreadsheet to comply with their approved accounting systems and Section L requirements related to the Price/Cost Proposal?

Answer: No, please submit in accordance with your approved accounting systems for the Cost Volume but translate this information into the Attachment 8 Spreadsheet without altering the format/setup of the Attachment 8 Spreadsheet.

30. Referencing Attachment 8 Cost Spreadsheet, are ODC and Travel estimates direct costs, which the Offeror may add an indirect burden cost if it chooses?

Answer: Yes, the ODC and Travel numbers are direct costs. However, reference the Government response to Question 29.

31. Does the Period of Performance listed in the Solicitation cover weekends between Contracts and Option periods when support may be required?

Answer: Please note the Government’s response to Question #33.

32. Referencing Attachment 6 Workforce Qualifications, Attachment 8 Cost Spreadsheet, and the table found on p. 7 of the Solicitation, Labor Positions don’t map consistently across each document. For example, on p. 7 of the Solicitation and Attachment 8 Cost Spreadsheet there are listing for Engineering Techs II – V, but on Attachment 6 Workforce Qualifications these positions are listed as Fabrication Techs II – V. Another example is on Attachment 8 and p. 7 of the Solicitation there is a reference to an Engineering Tech VI, but on Attachment 6 the position is listed as Engineering Tech V. Which list of RFP labor category references is correct? Please clarify.

Answer: The labor categories listed in clause 5252.211-0503 match the labor categories in Attachment 8 Cost Spreadsheet. The labor categories in these two documents are correct. When Offerors submit their proposal, please submit Attachment 6 Workforce Qualifications with the correct labor categories.

33. RFP page 39, Clause 52.222-2. Please verify that that the fill-in of “zero” for Overtime premium is correct.

Answer: Yes, this is correct.

34. RFP page 63, Section L, Clause 5252.215-9505 Exclusive Teaming Arrangements Which Inhibit Competition. RFP requires offerors to “provide a copy of all teaming arrangements…” Please provide direction on where to include the copies of the teaming arrangements.

Answer: See Section L. Part B. Specific Instructions 1.0 Volume 1: Executive Summary

35. RFP page 64, Section L, Part A, 1.0 General. RFP states “Recency is defined as performance within 5 years of the date of this proposal submission.” However, RFP page 69, Section L, Part A, 3.0 Past Performance states “contracts performed within ten years of the RFP release date.” Please clarify if we are to use the 5 or 10 year date.

Answer: See the revised Section L

36. RFP page 64, Section L, Part A, 2.0 Proposal Format. RFP states “Proposal information must be structured such that its paragraph number/letter is identical to the Proposal Instructions paragraph number to which it is responding, although the Offeror may add lower tier subparagraphs.” Other than the Volume number/title, there are no other paragraph numbers. Please clarify how you would like us to number our proposal response.

Answer: See the Government’s response to Question 4.

37. RFP page 64, Section L, Part A, 2.0 Proposal Format. RFP states “All pages should be numbered with section and page numbers.” It also states “the proposal information instructions are structured by paragraph numbers where first, second, third and fourth parts correspond to the volume, book, section, and element, etc.” Being that there are no paragraph numbers after the volume name, therefore no real “section number” please clarify how you would like us to number our pages.

Answer: See the Government’s response to Question 4.

38. RFP page 64, Section L, Part A, 2.0 Proposal Format. RFP states “Offeror will provide one complete copy of the proposal on 2 CD-ROMs to the Procuring Contracting Officer…..” Is this in addition to the CD copies required in Section 3.0 Table?

Answer: See Government’s response to Question 22.

39. RFP page 65, Section L, Part A, 3.0 Proposal Content and Volumes. RFP states “proposal shall be submitted as one original and additional copies as specified in the table below…..” The table list 3 hard copies for each volume. Is this 3 copies total (1 original, 2 copies)?

Answer: Yes

40. Request removal of the table under 3.2 Past Performance Data Requirements as it is repetitive.

Answer: Please refer to the Government’s response to Question #10.

41. Please clarify if Section B is to be provided on a separate CD, separate from any of the other pricing CDs.

Answer: Please refer to the Government’s response in Question #22.

40. RFP page 65, Section L, Part A, 3.0 Proposal Content and Volumes. The table shows a breakdown of each of the volumes with the detail in Part B. However, the breakdown in the table of Volume 3 Past Performance is completely different than the detail breakdown in Part B. Please clarify how to format our Volume 3 Past Performance submission.

Answer: See Revised Section L.

41. RFP page 65, Section L, Part A, 3.0 Proposal Content and Volumes. Under the Past Performance section of the table, under Performance questionnaire, RFP states “1 e-mail to contract specialist – per reference.” Does this refer to the return of the completed questionnaire? If so, does this also apply to the CPARS update?

Answer: See Revised Section L

43. RFP page 70, Section L, Part B, 3.0 Volume 3: Past Performance, (a) Contract Data Matrix. Footnote 3 under the table states “only list efforts performed within five years of the date of the RFP release.” There is a discrepancy between the 5 years noted here and the 10 years noted in paragraph 3.1. Please clarify if we are to use 5 or 10 years.

Answer: See Revised Section L.

44. RFP page 75, Section L, Part B, 4.5 Other Costs. Paragraph 4.5 Other costs is almost duplicate of paragraph 4.6.6 Other Costs under. Believe this was erroneously included under Government Furnished Information on page 76, please clarify.

Answer: See Revised Section L

45. RFP page 69, Section L, Part B, 2.0 Volume 2, paragraph c. states “For each key personnel, include resumes…” We cannot find where the Government has specified the key personnel positions for the contract anywhere in the RFP. Is the offeror to select and identify the key positions?

Answer: See the asterisk under the table in clause 5252.211-9503. Offeror should identify key personnel.

46. RFP page 69, Section L, Part B, 2.0 Volume 2, paragraph c. addresses the completion of the Workforce Qualification Worksheet. We cannot find where the Government has provided minimum qualifications for any of the contract positions in the RFP. Will that data be provided?

Answer: No additional data will be provided other than what’s in the RFP and the associated attachments.

47. RFP Attachment 8 – Cost Spreadsheet. Will the Government accept alternate staffing methodologies or are all offerors required to bid the exact hours and labor categories as provided?

Answer: Bid using the labor hours and categories provided in the Attachment 8 Cost Spreadsheet.

48. Based on the copies required column, it appears that the government wants a total of 9 hard copies and 12 e-copies of this volume (3 major sections). Please clarify if the government will allow offerors to provide:3 hard copies of the entire Past Performance volume with tab dividers6 e-copies of the Past Performance volume Answer: Please see revised Section L.

49. In reference to Pg. 75 “If the Offeror proposes/requires the use of additional Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) or Government Furnished Information (GFI), in addition to what is provided in Section J. Attachment 5, then the Offeror shall provide. . .”

Since this information is available only to the incumbent contractor and as such, presents an unfair advantage, we request that this requirement either be removed or ask that the government provide to all offerors a list of all available GFE pertaining to this requirement.

Answer: See Section J. Attachment 5-All Government Property is included is in this list is for all Offerors to have access to. However, please see the related section of Section L which has been revised.