OMS DRAFT RFP Q&A.pdf

OMS DRAFT RFP Q&A

Question Number

Document Page Number

Section Paragraph Question / Comment Government Response

1 Draft OMS RFP 68

Volume I - A Volume V -

A

L.9.3.1.1.5 L.10.3.3.1.1

L.9.3.1.1.5 refers to the requirement to deliver a SEMP with submission of Volume 1, Management Approach. It does not state that these system engineering management plan processes are to be written in Volume 1, Section A. Is it the intent to require Offerors to provide a SEMP overview in Volume 1, Section A in addition to providing the SEMP with the submission of Volume 1?

Is the SEMP also required to be re-delivered with additional content and subsequent submission with Volume 5, Sustainment as outlined in L.10.3.3.1.1? Is it also the intent to require Offerors to describe their system engineering processes in Volume 5, Section A? Please clarify if L.10.3.3.1.1, second paragraph, is indeed referring to the Sustainment Plan, and not the Systems Engineering Management Plan as one may infer from the section title.

Offerors must submit two artifacts: 1) a Systems Engineering Management Plan (SEMP) to address corporate level SE processes under Volume I Section A, and 2) A tailored SEMP to address which SE processes apply to implement the scope of the OMS contract under Volume V Section A.

Section L.10.3.3.1.1 second paragraph correctly references the Sustainment Plan.

2 Draft OMS RFP 71

Volume II Volume IV -

B

L.9.3.2 L.10.3.2.2

Past Performance recency is defined as 5 years. This may be in conflict with Corporate Experience recency which is defined as 3 years.

No, they're not in conflict because they are two different things.

3 Draft OMS RFP 66 L.9.2 Table Please clarify the requirement to deliver the following with proposal submission, and update Section L.9.2 as may be required to align: Program Management Plan, Staffing Plan, Quality Assurance Plan

The tables in sections L.9.2 and L.10.2 will be clarified in the final RFP.

4 Draft OMS RFP 73 L.10.2 Table Please clarify the requirement to deliver the following with proposal submission and update Section L.10.2 as may be required to align: Software Sustainment Life-Cycle Plan.

The word "software" will be removed from the requirement and deliverable in the final RFP. The Government requests a Sustainment Life-Cycle Plan.

5 TO 3 PWS 6 2.0 2nd to last When will the OMS Document Library be made available to bidders? Once a secured location and process to place sensitive information has been established it will be made available.

6 TO 3 PWS 6 2.2 1st When will the OMS bidder's library be made available to bidders, and is this different from the Document Library?

It's the same. The title will be changed to "OMS Acquisition Library" in the final RFP.

7 TO 3 PWS 7 3.1 PWS-TO3-GS01 This section requires delivery of an Extended Maintenance Plan (PWS-TO3- GS20) as a part of, or in conjunction with, the Sustainment Plan (PWS-TO3- GS01), however the description of GS20 is not an Extended Maintenance Plan.

The reference will be corrected to GS17 in the final RFP.

8 TO 3 PWS 8 3.1 PWS-TO3-GS02 "Shall document and deliver a detailed Sustainment Project Plan [Deliverable] that contains a project plan for each of the legacy ground systems for Government approval". Please clarify if one Sustainment Project Plan is required for each or shall they be combined into one submittal with multiple sections.

The Sustainment Project Plan is combined into one submittal with multiple sections.

9 TO 3 PWS 9 3.1 PWS-TO3-GS05 "The Contractor shall conduct a Sustainment Inventory Baseline [Deliverable] of sustainment assets for each of the ground systems detailed in Table 2-1. This information shall be documented in the Sustainment Plan where an initial draft is submitted with the proposal response and a final delivered within 120 days after contract award." Please clarify what system inventory information will be made available to Offerors with RFP release to support generation and submittal of the Inventory Baseline.

Initial inventory baselines can be extrapolated from the OMS Acquisition Library and other external sources as available to the offeror; final baseline inventories would occur after discovery is conducted over the 120 days after contract award.

Some of the legacy systems may be obsolete by contract award.

Question Number

Document Page Number

Section Paragraph Question / Comment Government Response

10 TO 3 PWS 11 3.1.1 PWS-TO3-SE02 "A Sustainment Requirements Baseline [Deliverable] shall be delivered as an initial draft submitted with the proposal response and a final delivered within 120 days after contract award." Will the existing Requirements Baseline be provided to Offerors with the RFP release to support this submission?

Initial requirements baseline can be extrapolated from the OMS Acquisition Library and other external sources as available to the offeror;

requirement baselines will be finalized after discovery is conducted over the 120 days after contact award. Some of the legacy systems may be obsolete by contract award.

11 TO 3 PWS 16 3.1.2.1 PWS-TO3-SS03 Will the NOAA Standard No. S24.806 and OSGS Software Development Life- Cycle (SDLC) documents be provided to Offerors with RFP release to support generation of the Software Sustainment Life-Cycle Plan?

Yes, they will be provided.

12 TO 3 PWS 11 3.1.1 5 "PWS-TO3-SE04: The Contractor shall provide a Sustainment Life-Cycle Cost Prediction Report [Deliverable] for sustainment ground systems to be delivered within 120 days after award. The Contractor shall support OSGS in supplying data and artifacts when requested." This CDRL is not listed in Appendix A.

Sustainment Life-Cycle Cost Prediction Report SE06 was in Appendix A; the title in Appendix A included the word "Software sustainment life-cycle." The word software will be removed in the final RFP.

13 Attachment J-12 1 c This form requests information for each prime Offeror. By filling out the form as specified, small business commitments made on behalf of a subcontractor will not be included. Please clarify how sub-tier small business commitments shall be conveyed and contributed toward NOAA goals.

Please refer to 13 CFR 125.3 for information regarding sub-tier commitments.

14 Attachments J-13 through J-16

Table CLINs for each TO pricing template reuse the same numbering sequencing (0001, 1001, et al). Suggest that each TO pricing table have unique numbering for ease of evaluation and use.

The CLIN number sequencing will remain as is.

15 Attachment J-15 Table For T&M CLINs 0002, 1002, 2002, 3002, and 4002, are Offerors required to provide pricing, or like other T&M CLINs will NOAA be specifying a NTE ceiling?

Offerors will be required to provide pricing.

16 Attachment J-16 Table For T&M CLINs 0002, 1002, 2002, 3002 and 4002 subCLINs A-C, and CLINs 0003, 1003, 2003, 3003 and 4003, are Offerors required to provide pricing, or like other T&M CLINs will NOAA be specifying a NTE ceiling?

Offerors will be required to provide pricing.

17 Attachment J-1

IDIQ PWS

9 1.3 The referenced Government Furnished Equipment does not include development and test environments. Should Offerors assume that what is needed for program execution will be provided as GFE?

Yes, but it will still need to be approved by the Mission Configuration Control Board as a part of the system inventories.

18 Attachment J-5 9 I.2 c "The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed 5 years, 6 months." Shouldn't this be "10 years, 6 months"?

No. The duration is referring to the task order, not the IDIQ.

19 Attachment J-6 12 I.2 c The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed 5 years, 6 months. Shouldn't this be "10 years, 6 months"?

No. The duration is referring to the task order, not the IDIQ.

20 Attachment J-7 12 I.2 c The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed 5 years, 6 months. Shouldn't this be "10 years, 6 months"?

No. The duration is referring to the task order, not the IDIQ.

Question Number

Document Page Number

Section Paragraph Question / Comment Government Response

21 Attachment J-8 11 I.2 c The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed 5 years, 6 months. Shouldn't this be "10 years, 6 months"?

No. The duration is referring to the task order, not the IDIQ.

22 General Request the RFP include a list of the enterprise tools for which each Offeror shall propose support.

Enterprise tools are listed in the TO 2 PWS under section PWS-TO2-OP23.

23 General Is NOAA requiring a labor category rate table from each Offeror separate from the Task Order Pricing Breakdown files for each CLIN to support invoicing?

Labor rates are not required at the IDIQ level.

24 OMS Draft Request for Proposal

66 L.9.2 Format for Step 1 Proposal

Submission

Table We request the IDIQ-level Work Breakdown Structure be excluded from the Section A page limit.

The WBS will be excluded from the page count in the final RFP.

25 OMS Draft Request for Proposal

89 M.3.2.1.2.6 Factor 1

Evaluation Criteria; L.

9.2 Format

for Step 1 Proposal

Submission

The Section M Criteria states "The Government will evaluate the overall adequacy of the Offeror’s Quality Assurance Plan to ensure it can be used to meet contract requirements." To fully demonstrate the adequacy of our Quality Approach, we request the Quality Assurance Plan be excluded from page count.

The Quality Assurance Plan will be excluded from the page count in the final RFP.

26 OMS Draft Request for Proposal

68 L.9.3.1.1.5 Systems

Engineering Management

Plan

The DRFP states that offeror's "SEMP shall comply with NESDIS Systems Engineering Processes and Procedures." 1) Will the Government provide NESDIS systems engineering, operations, maintenance, and product/application related processes and procedures in the Bidders Library, 2) when will the Bidders Library be available?

The OMS Acquisition Library will contain NESDIS references and representative procedures.

The library will be available once a secured location has been established.

27 OMS Draft Request for Proposal

68 and 80 L.10.3.3.1.1 Systems

Engineering

Section 1st and 2nd paragraph

Step 1 response to L.9.3.1.1.5 Systems Engineering Management Plan requires offerors submit a SEMP complying with NESDIS systems engineering processes and procedures. Step 2 response to L.10.3.3.1.1 also requires offerors submit a SEMP tailored to the NOAA OMS contract. Could the Government clarify the difference between the SEMP required in Step 1 and that in Step 2.

The government will provide in the OMS Acquisition Library NESDIS system engineering policy references. Offerors must submit two artifacts: 1) A Systems Engineering Management Plan to address corporate level SE processes. 2) A tailored SEMP to address which SE processes apply to implement the scope of the OMS contract.

28 Task Order 2 PWS for O&M

6 3.2 Contract Transition

Section 1st paragraph TO2 Section 3.2 Contract Transition states TO2 transition activities should be performed under TO1. Is it correct that offerors TO 2 staffing response (required by DRFP section L.10.3.2.3.2) should NOT include staffing for the TO 2 transition activities?

The PWS will be updated in the final RFP with the following language, "Transition related requirements for Task Order 2 activities are specified and are to be managed by the Contractor under Task Order 1."

29 Attachment J-1;

Task Order 2 PWS;

Task Order 3 PWS

J-1 p. 5, 6, 20, 29; TO2 p.15, 20;

TO3 p. 39

J-1 Appendix

A; TO3

Appendix C

1.1 Table 1.1-1.

3.3.8

Antenna O&M and Sustainment is called out in multiple requirements in the documentation. Attachment J-1 Appendix A and Task Order 3 Appendix C Antenna Sustainment requirements include Ground Systems/Antenna at the NSOF, FCDAS and WCDAS locations, while Task Order 2 para 3.3.6 Antenna Operations Support and para 3.4.5 Antenna Maintenance requirements appear to be limited to the NSOF antennas. Please clarify which Ground Systems/Antenna Assets are included in the scope of work of OMS?

The list of antennas to be sustained under Task Order 3 can be found in Appendix C, Sustainment Antenna Matrix. Task Order 2 is NSOF antennas only; however, there may be sustainment activities at the other sites.

30 Draft OMS RFP, Attach J13-16

65 L L.8.2 Will the government please provide attachments J-13, J-14, J-15, and J-16 in Microsoft Excel format to insure offerors are able to adhere to the format instructions outlined in L.8.2?

Excel files will be provided with the final RFP.

31 Draft OMS RFP 69, 79, 81, L L.9.3.1.2.3; L.

10.3.2.3.2; L.

10.3.3.3.2; L.

10.3.4.3.2

Please provide historical workload data to develop the staffing estimates for Task Orders 1-4.

Historical workload data will be provided in the OMS Acquisition Library where possible.

Question Number

Document Page Number

Section Paragraph Question / Comment Government Response

32 OMS Draft Request for Proposal and

Task Order 3 PWS for Sustainment

DRFP p. 80 and TO3

PWS p. 7-8

L.10.3.3.1.1 Systems

Engineering and PWS-

TO3-GS01

L.10.3.3.1.1 2nd paragraph and PWS-

TO3-GS01 all

L.10.3.3.1.1 states that offerors are to provide "a Sustainment Plan tailored to the Task Order 3 requirements. The Sustainment Plan shall include the following areas: …. ". L.10.3.3.1.1 goes on to list specific areas that offerors’ sustainment plan response should include. Task Order 3 PWS-TO3-GS01 lists specific subsidiary "plans, documents and reports" identified in a bulleted list that includes, the Sustainment Project Plan, Integrated Sustainment Schedule, Software Sustainment Plan, etc. Are initial drafts of all of the "plans, documents and reports" identified in the bulleted list at PWS-TO3-GS01 due with the Step 2 proposal?

Yes.

33 OMS Draft Request for Proposal

65 L L.9.1 Submission of Step 1 Proposal

If the Offeror is submitting FOUO material as part of Step 1, what email address should we use for submission?

The email address for submission is the same.

34 OMS Draft Request for Proposal

65 L.8.2 Format Instructions

First bullet May offerors use 11 x 17 sized pages, equivalent to two 8 1/2 x 11 pages, for large graphics and tables?

No, only 8.5" x 11" pages are acceptable.

35 Draft OMS RFP 69, 79, 81, L L.9.3.1.2.3; L.

10.3.2.3.2; L.

10.3.3.3.2; L.

10.3.4.3.2

To assist in developing the staffing estimates required for Task Orders 1-4, can the Govt please provide 1) current year (2019) and past 2 years of direct labor rates (salary averages) for each labor category for incumbent workforce and 2) breakout of workforce (# of staff by labor category) currently supporting incumbent operations across Operations and Maintenance, Sustainment, and Product Support activities.

No, this should be part of each Offeror's solution.

36 Draft OMS RFP 8 & 15 B.2

ORDERING

PERIOD and

F.2.1 CAR

1352.270-70

1 B.2 Contains the following statement, "This contract consists of a ten (10) year base ordering period" F.2.1 " Period of Performance (APR 2010)

(a) The base period of performance of this contract is from TBD 2021 through TBD 2031". However, the individual task orders state only a five year period of performance with an option to extend for 6 months. Please clarify.

The IDIQ has an ordering period of 10 years.

Task orders will not exceed 5 years. New task orders will be issued as needed.

37 Draft OMS RFP 9 B.4.4 Other Direct Costs Other Direct

Costs (ODCs)

1 This section discusses pre-approval of travel. However, there is no mention of materials. Please provide necessary information.

Section B.4.4 states that all ODC's require pre-approval.

38 Draft OMS RFP 64-65 L.8.2 3 Are foldouts acceptable, as an exception to the 8.5" x 11" page size parameter? No.

39 Draft OMS RFP 64-65 L.8.2 3 Will the Government include 3-4 pages under Step 1 Management Approach so that offerors can provide an effective “Executive Summary” type response?

No.

40 Draft OMS RFP 66 L.9.2 2 Would the Government consider revising the page count for Step 1: Management Approach? Rationale: The amount of draft RFP requirements seems to suggest nearly double the current 20-page limit for both Sections A and B. For example, within the current 15-page limit in Section B, offerors are required to provide the Task Order 1 Solution, which includes Resumes (excluded from page count);

Program Management Plan (PMP) with seven sub-elements (included in page count); the Task Order 1 Phase-in Transition Plan (included in page count); a Staffing Plan (included in page count); Systems Engineering Management Plan (excluded from page count); Integrated Master Schedule (excluded from page count); Risk Report (excluded from page count), and Quality Assurance Plan (included in page count). To adequately address the requirements for the (1) PMP,

(2) Transition Plan, (3) Staffing Plan, and (4) Quality Assurance Plan, we respectfully request that the four Plans be excluded from page count or given separate page limits outside of the 15 allotted pages, and are added to the Table in L.9.2 for clarification.

The Quality Assurance Plan and WBS will be excluded from the page count in the final RFP.

Section A within Volume I will be increased to 8 pages and Section B within Volume 1 (to consist of the PMP, TO 1 Phase-in Transition Plan, and TO 1 Staffing Plan) will be increased to a page limit of 25.

Question Number

Document Page Number

Section Paragraph Question / Comment Government Response

41 Draft OMS RFP 66 L.9.2 3 Will CPARS be utilized? If so, will the Past Performance Questionnaire still be required?

The last sentence of section L.9.3.2 states "The Government reserves the right to contact any number of references and use sources other than those provided by the Offeror to obtain information related to past performance." This is not in lieu of the past performance questionnaires.

Past performance questionnaires are still required.

42 Draft OMS RFP 70 L.9.3.1.2.4 4 The IMS Requires O&M Schedules (service, hardware, and software maintenance agreement renewals; weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual maintenance schedules; antenna maintenance schedule; COOP deployments). This requirement is too restrictive. Only the current Incumbent Contractor would have this information. Building an IMS without having specific tasks identified makes the evaluation very subjective since you will get a variety of tasks in the IMS, and it will not be an apples to apples evaluation. Recommend either identifying the task or not have this evaluated or weighted.

The note at the end of L.9.3.1.2.4 states: "NOTE:

This is only meant to be used for proposal evaluation purposes. The IMS should only represent sample work activities, not a full or exact set of OSPO operational activities."

Therefore this is not information only available to the current Contractor.

43 Draft OMS RFP 70 L.9.3.1.2.4 5 There is reference to a bidders library, which has not been made available to date.

The documents, such as, CM plan, NOAA IT Security Manual, NESDIS IT Security Policies, etc. are also part of the overall requirements. These should have been available when the DRFP was posted. Will the government please make the bidders library available?

Once a secured location and process to place sensitive information has been established it will be made available.

44 Draft OMS RFP 72 L.10.2 1 Volume IV - Operations and Maintenance and Volume V - Sustainment each has a 30 page limit; Volume VI Products and Applications has a 25 page limit. Please consider increasing the page limit for Volume VI to 30 pages.

The page count for Task Order 4 will remain as is.

45 Draft OMS RFP 73 & 77 L.10.2; L.

10.3.1.9

2 Signed copies of Teaming Agreements are required for all teaming arrangements, as stated in Section I - Small Business Participation. Teaming Agreements are not represented in the L.10.2 Format for Step 2 Proposal Submission table. Please verify that these Teaming Agreements are excluded from any page count restrictions.

Teaming agreements are part of Section I, which is excluded from the page limit.

46 Draft OMS RFP 79 L.10.3.2.3;

L.10.3.3.2;

L.10.3.4.2

3 Recency for Corporate Experience is defined as 3 years from the Step 2 Proposal Due Date. Recommend changing this to 5 years from the Step 2 Proposal Due date, to be consistent with the recency of the Past Performance profiles submitted in Step 1, which are 5 years from the proposal due date.

They are two different things. The instructions will remain the same in the final RFP.

47 Draft OMS RFP 87 M.3.2.1.1.2 1 The evaluation criteria contains the following statement, "The Government will also evaluate the degree to which the Offeror’s approach promotes subcontractor competition over the life of the contract." As this statement is vague, could you please provide more detail? Will you be evaluating how we obtain competitive pricing over the life of the contract or replacement of subcontractors as requirements evolve?

The Government will be evaluatinng how the Offeror will promote competition for ODC's throughout the contract. A new section B.4.5 will be added in the final RFP to address subcontractor competition for ODC's at the TO level.

48 Draft OMS RFP 88 M.3.2.1.1.5 1 The Government will evaluate the degree to which the SEMP demonstrates how the Offeror will apply Systems Engineering Tools (SET) and principles to support OMS. Please provide all NOAA Systems Engineering documents.

All systems engineering documents pertinent to this procurement will be part of the OMS Acquisition Library.

49 Draft OMS IDIQ

PWS

6 Table 1.1-1 1 The specific assigned systems will be defined at the task order level. Individual system inventories, drawings, descriptions and interfaces are available in the OMS document library. When will the OMS document library be made available?

Once a secured location and process to place sensitive information has been established it will be made available.

50 Draft OMS IDIQ

PWS

14 & 20 1.4.8 Cloud Computing

& 3.3.9 Cloud

Services

1 The PWS states, "Any future OMS tasks for cloud implementations shall utilize Government-approved contract vehicles placed in service to procure cloud services". Will the OMS contractor or the Government be responsible for obtaining these cloud services?

The Government anticipates the use of negotiated NOAA or NESDIS wide agreements. These would be budgeted-for and paid for by the Government.

Question Number

Document Page Number

Section Paragraph Question / Comment Government Response

51 Draft OMS IDIQ

PWS

21 3.4.2 Sustainment

Support

1 Narrative states "Sustainment activities are part of a 5-year Government plan associated with scheduled technology refresh windows, enterprise convergence and shared services implementations." Does a 5-year Government Sustainment plan currently exist, or is this a joint effort between the contractor and the Government?

No, there is no overarching 5 year sustainment plan. There are currently various sustainment contracts that exist as a joint effort between the contractor and Government.

52 Attachment J-2 Labor Category

Descriptions

5 Labor Category

Description

6 Attachment J-2 Labor Category Descriptions does not specifically designate a Contracts Manager. The Project Manager Labor Category mentions "Under general supervision, work to assist in all aspects of field and/or task-level project performance (i.e., technical, contractual, administrative, financial)" responsibilities. Please consider adding a Contract Manager labor category to J-2.

A Contracts Manager doesn't directly bill to the contract, so it will not be a labor category under the contract.

53 Attachment J-5 PM Task Order #1 T&C;

Attachment J-6 O&M Task Order

#2 T&C;

Attachment J-7

Sustainment Task Order #3 T&C;

Attachment J-8

Products & Applications Task

Order #4 T&C

2 B.2 Contract Type

1 Might the government consider Cost plus Fixed Fee instead of T&M? No.

54 Attachment J-5 PM Task Order #1 T&C;

Attachment J-6 O&M Task Order

#2 T&C;

Attachment J-7

Sustainment Task Order #3 T&C;

Attachment J-8

Products & Applications Task

Order #4 T&C

2--5 B.3 Contract Structure

1 B.2 of the DRFP Contains the following statement "This contract consists of a ten

(10) year base ordering period" F.2.1 " Period of Performance (APR 2010)

(a) The base period of performance of this contract is from TBD 2021 through TBD 2031". However, the individual task orders state only a five year period of performance with an option to extend for 6 months. Please clarify.

The IDIQ has an ordering period of 10 years.

Task orders will not exceed 5 years. New task orders will be issued as needed.

55 Attachment J-10;

Draft OMS RFP

1--6 L.9.2 3 The instructions suggest that the Past Performance volume consists of only the 5 copies of Attachment J-10, one for each referenced Past Performance contract.

Since every referenced contract will not cover all PWS areas, we respectfully suggest that the Past Performance volume include a page allowance for a brief introduction that permits offerors to demonstrate that their experience, over all five contracts, covers the full range of OMS PWS elements.

No, a page allowance for this will not be provided.

56 Attachment J-10;

Draft OMS RFP

2--5 L.9.2 3 The L.9.2 Format for Step 1 Proposal Submission table specifies a 5-page limit for Past Performance Section A, and Attachment J-10 is currently formatted to be 5 pages. However, it contains considerable unuseable blank space, as well as fixed section headings that may restrict the presentation of material. We respectfully suggest permitting offerors to reformat Attachment J-10 (while retaining the original order and specific content; for example, adjusting the relative space used for subsections) for improved presentation.

Attachment J-10 will be provided in word format with the final RFP, and vendors will have the flexibility to vary the length of each area within Section A as long as it is within the 5 page limit.

57 OMS Request for Proposal

8 B.1 2 Can the Government clarify the competition strategy? Is the government looking at applying socio-economic status to the full and open competition, per the small business NAICS code indicated in the Draft RFP?

This acquisition will use full and open competition with no exclusion of sources.

58 OMS Request for Proposal

20 G.9 1 Can the government define the word "competitions" as used in the following statement. "Additionally, the Contractor’s purchasing system shall support subcontractor competitions at the Task Order level."

It shall support competitions held for ODC purchases. A new section B.4.5 will be added in the final RFP to address subcontractor competition for ODC's at the TO level.

Question Number

Document Page Number

Section Paragraph Question / Comment Government Response

59 OMS Request for Proposal

49 K1.1 2 According to SBA.gov the current size standard for NAICS code 541519 is $30m effective 8/19/19.

The size standard will be revised to $30m in the final RFP.

60 OMS Request for Proposal

60 L.3.2 1 Change "beat.SAM.gov" to beta.SAM.gov This will be corrected in the final RFP.

61 DRAFT OMS RFP 78 L.10.3.1.10 1 Is the compensation plan as outlined in the RFP to include contract participants outside of the prime (i.e. JV, subcontractors)?

The Total Compensation Plan shall include the prime/joint venture and first-tier subcontractors.

62 Attachment J-13, J- 14, J-15

2 The pricing attachments require identification of workshare (prime/sub) by labor category. Does the government anticipate workshare adjustments will be permitted post-award?

Yes.

63 Draft OMS Request for Proposal (DRFP)

71 L.9.3.2 1 The government is requiring no fewer than 3 past performance references from the prime or JV and no more than 2 for those subcontractors expected to accomplish the work. However, on page 87, in section M.3.2.1.1.2 Task Order Management, the government evaluation criteria includes the evaluation of the extent to which the offeror’s approach promotes competition among the subcontractors and section M.3.2.1.1 indicates that the government will evaluate the adequacy of the processes used in the selection and management of subcontractors.

Given the complexity of the requirements, if an offeror is evaluated on the competition among subcontractors, we believe that subcontractor past performance is an important factor for consideration. Will the government consider reducing the number of past performances required for the prime/JV and increase the number of past performances that will be permitted from significant subcontractors?

No, there will be no change to this requirement in the final RFP.

64 Draft OMS Request for Proposal (DRFP)

67 L.9.3.1.1 L.9.3.1.1.4 Since the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) is linked with the WBS, would the government consider removing the WBS from the Management Approach page limitation? In addition, would the government consider excluding Quality Assurance from the 15-page count but rather include as an appendix?

The final RFP will be updated to reflect that the WBS and Quality Assurance Plan are excluded from the page count.

65 Draft OMS Request for Proposal, Attachment J-1, and Task Orders 1, 2, 3, DRFP (Pg.

70); TO-1

(Pg. 3); TO- 2 (Pg. 5)

DRFP L.

9.3.1.2.4;

TO-1, TO-2,

TO-3, TO-4

Sec. 2.2

N/A The government refers to the OMS Bidder’s Library which includes a series of reference documents necessary to respond to the solicitation. Will the government provide virtual access to the OMS Bidder’s Library? What is the virtual address and when will it be made available? Early access is encouraged to allow bidders to develop comprehensive solutions.

Once a secured location and process to place sensitive information has been established it will be made available.

66 Task Order 1 PWS for Program Management

11 3.1.5.2 PWS-TO1-ICS04 Please provide a list of assigned systems with the FISMA classifications, outstanding POA&Ms, and current ATO status? In addition, does this contract include providing ISSO support or will it interface/support another contract that performs the ISSO work for the systems? What tool(s) are used to maintain NIST/FISMA System Security Documentation?

All systems are listed in the appendix of the IDIQ.

All Systems successfully retained its ATO status with either Low or Moderate Risks. POAM status changes monthly and will not be provided. All systems except MSL are consider High Value Asset Mission Systems. ISSO support is covered by the OSPO IT Security BPA contract. The OSPO IT Security Team uses CSAM for the Security Documentation.

67 Task Order 2 PWS for O&M

8 3.3.1.1 PWS-TO2-OP06 Please provide information on approximate how many times a year Operations Training Support is provided, where they are conducted, the format of the training and delivery methodology?

The Government estimates formal training to be needed approximately 6 times per year and informal approximately 12 times per year. Format of the training and delivery is covered in the requirement.

Question Number

Document Page Number

Section Paragraph Question / Comment Government Response

68 Task Order 2 PWS for O&M

9 3.3.2 PWS-TO2-OP13 The following are questions pertaining to Mission Support Services Help Desk Operations:

• Is there a consolidated help desk or are there multiple help desks? If the latter, how is it organized?

• Is it possible to consolidate multiple help desks? Would the government be open to consolidation of multiple help desks?

• What is the automated tracking system?

• What are the ticket volumes by Tier? Size of help desk staff?

• Is the government open to recommendations on leveraging industry tools such as ServiceNow to improve the efficiency/productivity of Help Desk staff?

MSS Helpdesk is a new Operations Support helpdesk for the users at NSOF and College Park.

There is a separate NESDIS Admin LAN helpdesk and NOAA NSDesk for administrative workstation support, not part of OMS. There is also an ESPC Helpdesk that is being renamed under OMS as the Satellite Product Customer Service Desk to match its function better. All of OMS will be using a single CM and Helpdesk System under a tool called ECMT. Ticket Volumes are provided within the PWS. Task Order 2 covers the traditional MSS Operations Helpdesk (12/5) Tickets and Task Order 4 covers the ESPC or Satellite Product Customer Service Desk (24/7). OMS will continue to use ECMT as its helpdesk tracking tool.

69 Task Order 2 PWS for O&M

14 3.3.3.1 PWS-TO2-OP17 Operational and Back-up Sites: What tools are used for storage administration and back up? Where are backups stored?

COMMVault is one tool used for backups however some backups must be performed by other means. Backup media is stored off-site.

70 Task Order 2 PWS for O&M

20 3.4.1 PWS-TO2-M01 and

PWS-TO2-M06

Network & Systems Administration: What are the types systems used, i.e., Linux, Windows, VMs (VMware/Hyper-V), Cloud infrastructure? Please provide the number of systems.

A systems inventory will be provided with the OMS Acquisition Library.

71 Task Order 2 PWS for O&M

20 3.3.8 PWS-TO2-OP28 The following questions pertain to Continuity of Operations (COOP):

• Is it active/active, active/passive, or other?

• Has a Business Impact Analysis been performed? If yes, how recent, and are all critical systems identified with defined RTO and RPO?

Some systems are operated simultaneously at both the COOP and primary site (not just during a COOP but continuously) and require minimal effort to take over the operation from the primary site. Other systems require a greater level of effort to activate them such as persons from one site physically going to the other site for COOP activation. A complete COOP activation exercise is done yearly for each mission, performance is assessed for each, a report made and changes/corrections made. Failovers of some functions are done as often as weekly for some subsystems. A Business Impact Analysis is part of the security control assessment, which is done annually and managed via the OSPO IT Security

BPA.

72 Task Order 2 PWS for O&M

24 3.4.1.4 PWS-TO2-M05 How are the government Network Operations Center (NOC) and Security Operations Center (SOC) organized, i.e., are these organized separately? Are they integrated? And how the NESDIS NOC interact with the enterprise NOC and how does the NESDIS NOC and SOC interact with each other?

The NESDIS NOC and SOC are outside of the scope of the OMS Contract and Section 3.4.1.4 deals with responsibilities within the networks which support, and are a part of, the Assigned Systems. Support under OMS may interact with the NOAA NOC and SOC. NESDIS does not have its own NOC or SOC. The individual mission systems interact directly with NOAA and the ISSO.

73 General N/A N/A N/A Is NOAA using ITIL in the current environment and, if so, is there a desire to expand ITIL practices to the OMS contract to ensure consistent and high-quality IT service management best practices throughout relevant scope areas?

No, ITIL is not being used in the current environment. ITIL would only be an option for the MSS Helpdesk support areas in TO2.

Question Number

Document Page Number

Section Paragraph Question / Comment Government Response

74 Task Order 3 PWS for Sustainment

11 3.1.1 PWS-TO3-SE03 Would the government provide access to their Systems Engineering Lifecycle (SELC) process documentation? How does the government transition work from Sustainment to O&M and vice-versa?

The Government doesn't have Systems Engineering Lifecycle (SELC) referenced in TO3.

However, it does reference NESDIS-PR-1110.1 System Engineering and OSGS software-development life cycle which will be available in the OMS Acquisition Library.

Task Order 3 encompasses Technology refresh (upgrades) to designated legacy ground systems and subsystems and Technology refresh (upgrades) of legacy infrastructure (e.g.

operational tools) applicable to the legacy ground systems and subsystems; these are for systems identified in Table 2.0-1. Sustainment activities are typically larger scale and pre-planned activities performed to develop, modernize, or enhance components of the system.

75 Task Order 4 PWS for Products Services and Applications

13 3.4 N/A The following questions pertain to Software Maintenance Requirements:

• Would the government provide access to their Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) process documentation?

• What development systems & testing tools are used and available to contractors?

The Satellite and Products Review Board Process document will be included in the OMS Acquisition Library. Development, and Integration and Test (I&T) environments are available for all operational missions.

76 Attachment J-1

OMS IDIQ PWS

40 Appendix B N/A Please provide clarification (if any) regarding any security requirements on off-site contractor Sustainment facilities (e.g. scanning / patching requirements).

Requirements analysis for each sustainment project should include security requirements associated with that specific project.

77 Attachment J-1

OMS IDIQ PWS

40 Appendix B N/A Please provide clarification regarding pre-shipment processes for IT equipment to be delivered to covered OMS facilities (from off-site OMS Sustainment facilities).

Requirements analysis for each sustainment project should include security requirements associated with that specific project.

78 Attachment J-1

OMS IDIQ PWS

40 Appendix B N/A Please provide clarification on the roles and responsibilities for OMS contractor versus the governments OSPO IT Security Program regarding the security of off-site facilities, and pre-shipment/post-shipment processes for delivered IT equipment.

Pre and post shipment requirements should be established for each sustainment project as a part of the requirements analysis.

79 OMS Task Order 3

PWS

5 2 2 The government states, “Table 3.1-1 details technology refresh schedules for each of the legacy ground systems supported by this task order.” However, we cannot locate this table within the Draft Task Order. Please provide or indicate whether it refers to another table internal or external to the task.

The document will be updated in the final RFP to reflect table 4.0.

80 OMS Task Order 3

PWS

5 2 Table 2-1 Different designations have been used to refer to GOES Indian Ocean. Both GOES I/O and GOES IO have been used. Which is correct?

GOES IO is correct; this will be corrected in the final RFP.

81 OMS Task Order 3

PWS

5 2 Table 2-1 Neither the GOES-R nor JPPS ground systems are listed in Table 2-1. Does this mean that neither system will be covered by the OMS for Sustainment support, or is it possible that these systems may be added at a later date?

Sustainment of GOES-R and JPSS ground systems are not within the scope of TO3.

82 OMS Task Order 3

PWS

5 2.2 References The government states that "NOAA Standard S24.806 must be adhered to for OMS Sustainment work". Can the government provide additional information regarding this standard, including version number, and the latest revision date?

NOAA/OSD3-1998-025R1UD0 April 19, 1994, DCN 0

83 OMS Task Order 3

PWS

9 3.1 PWS-TO3-GS05 This requirement calls for an Inventory Baseline to be included in the initial draft Sustainment Plan to be submitted with the proposal response. This requirement is reiterated in Appendix A “Deliverables”. Since this requires a detailed knowledge of the up-to-date inventory of the covered systems (Table 2-1), along with the status of past refreshes, will the government provide additional inventory and refresh documentation to aid the bidders in their responses?

Yes, this information will be available in the OMS Acquisition Library.

Question Number

Document Page Number

Section Paragraph Question / Comment Government Response

84 OMS Task Order 3

PWS

14 3.1.1.2 PWS-TO3-PM04 The government states, “The implementation of changes from the release backlog provides the priority for implementing sustainment activities within funding constraints.” Please provide additional information regarding the scope of the “release backlog”. Is this strictly for desired software enhancements?

The scope of the release backlog is for all sustainment activities conducted under Task Order 3.

85 OMS Task Order 3

PWS

20 4 Table 4.0 Table 4.0 is somewhat confusing, since most of the refresh planned completion dates are either in the past or will be past at contract inception. However, the planned end dates for these missions go out as far as 2026. For the sake of the Sustainment Plan, what should bidders assume regarding IT upgrade cycles?

Three years? Five Years?

The primary ground system ESPC technical refreshes will occur every 5 years following the initial purchase of the hardware/software. Note that since different parts of the hardware and software were acquired over different periods of time over the period of performance of the contract, technical refreshes will be necessary almost every fiscal year. This will be necessary to replace hardware that is considered end-of-life and no longer supported by the manufacturer.

86 OMS Task Order 3

PWS

24 4.1.3 PWS-TO3-PM04 The government states “Future tasks may be written under the OMS contract to implement ground system product processing into the cloud environment.” Would cloud migrations include systems not related to product systems?

Cloud migrations may include systems not related to product systems at a future date.

87 Attachment J-1

OMS IDIQ PWS

and OMS Task Order 4 PWS

IDIQ (Pg.

23); TO-4

(Pg. 18-19)

IDIQ Sec.

3.4.4 and TO-4 Sec.

3.8

N/A IDIQ Section 3.4.4 states “The Contractor shall provide and maintain an interactive website which contains spacecraft events and spacecraft changes”.

Does this requirement correlate with the Table of Websites in TO-4 Section 3.8?

If so, please identify which Website Name does this requirement correlate?

www.ospo.noaa.gov

88 OMS IDIQ PWS Appendix A NOAA 5003 WBU equipment is still listed. Is the equipment still within scope, given plans to utilize some or all of it to support GOES-IO?

The new Wallops Backup Facility for NOAA 5003 is the CBU. The IDIQ will be changed to reflect this in the final RFP.

89 Task Order 2 for O&M

16 3.3.6 PWS-TO2-OP22 Antenna Operations Support: Should HRIT (GOES-R class spacecraft) be included here?

References to LRIT in this section will be changed to HRIT in the final RFP.

90 Draft OMS RFP 89 B.5.2; M.

3.2.2

Factor 2 – Past Performance

Relevancy contract dollar value/size

Please confirm that the government will evaluate past performance (similar and relevant) TCV at $70 million per year or $350 million for the 5-year period of performance for the OMS Advisory down select.

The Government will evaluate past performance based on the criteria set forth in M.3.2.2. Offerors should determine what is recent and relevant based on the definitions provided in the RFP.

91 Draft OMS RFP 89 M.3.2.4 Factor 2 – Past Performance

Relevancy contract dollar value/size

Based on the past performance requirement of three (3) highly relevant (size, scope and magnitude) past performance citations from the prime, it appears only very large businesses will be able to prime OMS thereby limiting competition from mid-tier corporations with strong management, science and engineering and technical solutions. If this is not NOAA’s intent, we recommend reducing the past performance requirement to two (2) past performances from the prime and 3 past performances from their subcontractor team.

No, that is not NOAA's intent. However, the past performance requirements will remain as is in the final RFP.

92 Draft OMS RFP 2 B-2 Contract Type

1 Please confirm if all training required to be supported in the PWS is priced under the ODC’s per section B “consist of training and travel”. This is a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) and Time & Material (T&M) hybrid order. Labor CLINs x001 are FFP and Other Direct Cost (ODC) CLINs x002 are T&M. ODC’s consist of training and travel.

All training is included in the ODC CLINs.

93 Task Order 2 PWS for O&M

20 3.4.1 PWS-TO2-M01 This section entitled Network & Systems Administration requires support of “all Government operational networks and components” for various facilities. Please provide sizing information that will enable Offerors to the estimate the level of effort associated with this section.

A systems inventory will be provided in the OMS Acquisition Library.

94 Task Order 2 PWS for O&M

43623 2 Table 1.1-1 When the maintenance contracts for GOES-R and JPSS ends, is it assumed that these systems will roll into the OMS contract. Please provide information that will allow Offeror’s to consider staffing requirements.

At this time, it is anticipated that a new task order will be issued if and when GOES-R or JPSS O&M support is conducted under the OMS Contract.

95 OMS IDIQ Draft RFP and

IDIQ (Pg.

8); IDIQ

(Pg. 15);

B.2, F.3 N/A We understand that the OMS contract will consist of a ten (10) year base ordering period, but as a multi-year contract, purchase of supplies/services is limited to no more than 5 years. In light of this, does the government expect past performance citations with periods of performance of 5-years or 10 years?

The Government does not have any expectations of what Offerors should submit. Offerors shall submit recent and relevant past performance per RFP section L.9.3.2.

http://www.ospo.noaa.gov

Question Number

Document Page Number

Section Paragraph Question / Comment Government Response

96 OMS IDIQ Draft

RFP

64-65 L.8.2 3rd Paragraph, 6th bullet

The format instructions indicate that font size for “Tables and Illustrations may use a reduced font size not less than 8-point”. Since Attachment J-10, Past Performance Questionnaire, is a table, does the government agree that the font used to complete this form will be "at a reduced font size not less than 8-point", in accordance with L.8.2?

No, Offerors may use no less than 10 point font when completing Attachment J-10.

97 Attachment J-10 1st Page of Section A

Part II N/A Attachment J-10 Past Performance Questionnaire currently identifies the “Government Contracting Officer / Commercial Procuring Activity’s Contact” as a reference. In most contracts, the Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR) is responsible for monitoring progress in fulfillment of the contract requirements and, as such, is able to better assess performance rather than the CO.

Will the government accept references from either the CO or the COTR?

"COR" will be added in the final RFP.

98 OMS IDIQ Draft

RFP

69 L.9.3.1.2.3 N/A As Offeror's prepare for Step 2, adjustments to Step 1 staffing plan and associated staffing FTEs and hours, may be required. In light of the note in Section L.

9.3.1.2.3 which indicates "The final Staffing Plan due after contract award shall consolidate all task order Staffing Plans”, please confirm that Offerors are able to revise labor hours and labor mix in Step 2?

Proposal revisions will only be allowed if the Government enters into discussions and the Offeror makes it into the competitive range. If it is decided that a competitive range will be set, it will be done so AFTER Step 2.

99 OMS IDIQ Draft

RFP

73-74 L.10.2 N/A The Task Order response instructions does not specifically address and allocate page count for the Performance Requirements Summary associated with each Task Order. Would the government consider removing the Performance Requirements Summary from the 30-page count and include in an appendix per Task Order.

This will be clarified in the final RFP.

100 General N/A N/A N/A Is ITIL a framework currently being used in the NOAA OMS environment? How mature is the ITIL implementation?

No. The current O&M team is not using ITIL. The focus has been more on Operations and System Admin, not on Helpdesk. OMS integrates more helpdesk.

101 Task Order 4 PWS for Products Services and Applications

18-19 3.8 N/A How does the NOAA Web Application Center interact with the website support and web applications required in the RFP?

The WOC is a Web Farm hosted by the NOAA CIO. Web Applications monitoring the Operations do not run on the WOC. Only the public facing data is hosted on the WOC.

102 Task Order 4 PWS for Products Services and Applications

All Sections All Sections N/A Can the government provide an organizational view of how Products & Applications is currently managed? Are all the requirements under Task Order 4 supported within the Products & Application group or outside? If outside, please identify which functions work under what group?

All the requirements for Task Order 4 are supported within SPSD and MOD.

103 Task Order 4 PWS for Product Services and Applications

13 3.4 Software Maintenance Requirements

Can the government provide a listing of all Product Services and Applications that are supported under this contract? And, can the government provide average annual historical statistics for the following:

1. Number of Reactive software maintenance requests and LOE/request

2. Number Routine Software Maintenance requests and LOE/request

3. Number Adaptive Software Maintenance requests and LOE/request

A listing of all operational applications will be made available in the OMS Acquisition Library.

Customer Service Tickets are provided in Table 2.2.3-1.

104 Task Order 4 PWS for Product Services and Applications

15 3.5 Satellite Product Maintenance

Can the government provide a listing of all databases that are supported under this contract?

Can the government provide average annual historical statistics for the number database maintenance requests and LOE/request?

There is a very limited use of databases within Product Applications; a majority of the operations utilizes flat files. Some of the newer environments such as NDE are using databases, but historical information is not yet available for these products.

105 OMS IDIQ PWS 26 3.5.1 Information Cyber Security and Support

Please confirm the virtual reading library will provide volumetric historical data to allow contractors to accurately size the cybersecurity requirements?

System Inventories will be added to the OMS Acquisition Library; Cybersecurity requirements are outlined in Task Order 1; O&M Security Support requirements are outlined in Task Orders 2 and 4.

Question Number

Document Page Number

Section Paragraph Question / Comment Government Response

106 OMS Draft RFP 8

B F I

B.2 F.2.1 (a)

I.2.2

Section B.2 states that "this contract consists of a ten (10) year base ordering period.