QTA0016AWA0001_-_Q R__1.pdf

VETS 2 GWAC

QTA0016AWA0001

QUESTION AND RESPONSE DOCUMENT #1

Thank you for your interest in VETS 2.

In addressing questions it is the Government’s position that if the solicitation’s position is self-evident, the response to a question may simply be that the solicitation already addresses the matter in the manner the Government intended for it to be addressed, or “The solicitation is clear”.

While the Government may include one or more specific solicitation passages in a response to a question, interested parties are reminded that section L.3 of the solicitation states, “Offerors are instructed to read the entire solicitation document, including all attachments in Section J, prior to submitting questions and/or preparing an offer. Omission of any information from the proposal submission requirements may result in rejection of the offer.”

Questions were not extensively edited for grammar, punctuation or spelling. Not every question is shown. Only those questions, or portions of questions, that were deemed frequently asked and/or those that were deemed to benefit the procurement process are shown.

Questions and responses are organized into topic areas shown below. Interested parties stand to benefit from reviewing all statements, questions, and responses.

Contractor Teaming Arrangements Past Performance Proposal Submission Relevant Experience Risk Assessment SDVOSB Set-Aside

Additional Question and Response Documents will be posted to FBO as appropriate. It is the responsibility of the offerors to periodically check the solicitation on FBO for more information.

As a reminder, Offerors shall address all questions via e-mail to the VETS 2 GWAC PCO at VETS2@gsa.gov. All questions must be submitted in the format identified in L.3.5 of the solicitation.

Contractor Teaming Arrangements Q & R # Question Response

1.1

I'm interested in submitting a bid for VETS 2, but I do not have a record of past performance. However, my subcontractor (a certified small business) does have excellent past performance ratings with the GSA. Given this situation, would I qualify for the VETS 2 GWAC?

The solicitation is clear with the requirements for submitting a proposal and the elements that will be evaluated.

1.2

Are subcontractors Relevant Experience permissible for use or does all Relevant

Experience need to come from the prime offeror?

The solicitation is clear. Suggest reviewing L.5.1.3.2 for the conditions applicable to proposed subcontractors.

1.3

Are subcontractors past performance permissible for use or does all relevant past performance need to come from the prime offeror?

The solicitation is clear. Suggest reviewing L.5.1.3.2 for the conditions applicable to proposed subcontractors.

1.4

The first paragraph of L.5.5.2 makes reference to L.5.2.2 and implies that Relevant Experience can come from subcontractors. Is this correct or does all Relevant Experience need to come from the prime offeror?

The solicitation is clear. Suggest reviewing L.5.1.3.2 for the conditions applicable to proposed subcontractors.

1.5 Is it the Government’s intent that no large

companies are allowed to be subcontractors?

The solicitation is clear and stated as intended. Suggest reviewing L.5.1.3.2 for the conditions applicable to proposed subcontractors.

1.6 Please confirm that we can have small and

large businesses as subcontractors.

The solicitation is clear. Suggest reviewing L.5.1.3.2 for the conditions applicable to proposed subcontractors.

1.7

Was it the government's intent for L.5.1.3.2 Proposed Subcontractors, to only be applicable under CTA's (since it’s a sub section under L.5.1.3) or was the government's intent to permit subcontractors to be utilized within the experience section for scoring for all offerors?

The solicitation is clear. Suggest reviewing L.5.1.3 for the definition of a Contractor

Teaming Arrangement. Sections L.5.1.3.1 and L.5.1.3.2 demonstrate the applicability with each proposal volume.

1.8

If a company is responding to the VETS 2 GWAC solicitation to be considered for a prime contract award, can that company also participate as a team member on another company’s response?

Section L.3 of the solicitation states "The Offeror shall submit only one proposal.

Duplicate proposals must be identified as such. Multiple or alternate offers from the same prime contractor constitute a material nonconformity and will result in all of its offers being rejected." It is evident that the solicitation includes no restriction on submitting a proposal as a prime and also being a team member to a different prime.

Past Performance

1.9

If a project has been finished, but the government has not completed a final CPAR or PPIRS evaluation may the last interim evaluation still be used?

The solicitation is clear. Suggest reviewing L.5.3.1 that addresses interim and final ratings in PPIRS.

Proposal Submission Q & R # Question Response

1.10

Can proposed subcontractors directly submit a completed GSA Form 527 to the VETS 2 Contracting Officer or must it be submitted to the Offeror to include in the proposal submission?

As stated in Section L.4 of the solicitation, "Offerors shall include all Seven (7) electronic folders and proposal documents on a single DVD+R disk."

1.11

RFP states that Offer may provide a Table of Content, which is optional. Although the TOC is listed as part of Volume I, it may be beneficial to provide one for each volume as well. Would the government please clarify whether the Offeror can submit a TOC for each Volume?

Section L.4 within the solicitation is clear and stated in the way intended concerning the submission of a Table of Contents.

1.12

Limitations on Subcontracting Compliance Risk is on the Document Verification and Self Scoring Worksheet and discussed in Section L, but is not included in the Proposal Format Table. Would the government please confirm this should be a separate document?

As stated in L.5.5.2, "Within the J.P-5 Document Verification and Self Scoring Worksheet, the offeror shall identify if at least 50% of the projects submitted under L.5.2.2 Relevant Experience were performed by the offeror itself or another entity that is currently a service disabled veteran owned small business concern...If submitting as a joint venture or as a team with proposed subcontractors, the current SDVOSB status of the company providing each relevant experience project must be identified on Attachment J.P-6." Per L.4, the J.P-5 and J.P-6(if applicable) are to be included in Volume 1.

1.13

The dropdown feature in documents J.P-7 and J.P-8 do not work. Can the Government send documents with working dropdown features?

The proposal templates were developed in Microsoft Word 2010. The templates allow for the form fields to be completed. Through our review, the posted templates are functional.

1.14

Would the government consider releasing an unlocked version of the“J.P-7 Relevant Experience Project Template”?

The proposal templates were developed in Microsoft Word 2010. The templates allow for the form fields to be completed. Through our review, the posted templates are functional.

Relevant Experience

1.15

Section L.5.2.2 indicates that government WILL ALLOW the offerors to submit their relevant experiences and past performances where the offeror has worked as a SUB-CONTRACTOR on federal contracts? Can you kindly confirm?

L.5.2.2 is clear and is stated in the way intended.

1.16

Can a GWAC vehicle itself be used as a relevant past performance?

The definitions of a relevant experience project are provided in L.5.2.1. The minimum conditions for relevant experience projects are identified in L.5.2.2.

1.17

Do all referenced projects have to have been awarded under one of the 5 identified performance areas in order to be eligible for use as a Volume 2 - Relevant Experience?

The solicitation is clear. Suggest reviewing L.5.2.2.

1.18

Can you please clarify what is meant in L.5.2.2.5? What is considered a ‘unique’ federal customer?

The solicitation is clear. Suggest reviewing L.5.2.2.5 which clearly states that "Federal Government Customer is determined by the Funding Agency ID identified within the FPDS Report."

1.19

In Section 2, Paragraph B of L.5.2.2.1.1, the Government states that offerors must provide original contract award form. In the event that a contract modification adjusts the total contract value and/or the statement of work, would the government also consider allowing offerors to include the relevant contract modifications, if applicable?

Section L.5.2.2.1.1 identifies the verification requirements for relevant experience submissions. Suggest also reviewing the NOTE within L.3 concerning additional verifiable documentation.

1.20

In Section 2, Paragraph C of L.5.2.2.1.1, the Government states that offerors must provide the contract Statement of Work (SOW) for each relevant experience.

Because many Statements of Work could be hundreds of pages long, would the Government consider allowing offerors to submit relevant pages of the SOWs that verifies information included on the J.P-7?

L.5.2.2.1.1 is clear with the required verification documents.

Risk Assessment Q & R # Question Response

1.21

Section L.5.5.2 "Limitations on Subcontracting Compliance Risk" - Please clarify the statement that "...if at least 50% of the projects submitted under L.5.2.2 Relevant Experience were performed by the Offeror itself or another entity that is currently a service disabled veteran owned small business (SDVOSB) concern."

Suggest reviewing L.5.2.1 for the definition of a "project" as well as L.5.5.2 for application of current SDVOSB status. For example, if an offeror submits the maximum of 10 projects under L.5.2.2, at least 50% of the projects, five in this example, must have been performed by the offeror itself or another entity that is currently a SDVOSB to receive scoring for this element.

SDVOSB Set-Aside

1.22

Is a CVE/Vet Biz Certification required for this solicitation?

Please read the solicitation in which it is evident that it does not include a CVE/Vet Biz requirement. Suggest reviewing FAR 52.219-27 and 52.204-7 found in Section I.

1.23

Is this contract set-aside for Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses to be the only prime contractors or can Veteran Owned Small Businesses also be prime contractors?

As identified by FAR 52.219-27, Notice Of Total Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside, this solicitation is set-aside for Service-Disabled Veteran- Owned Small Businesses.

1.24

May an offeror propose as a Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business under the non-manufacture exception to the revenue standard for NAICS 541512 (500 employees)?

As identified in K.1, 52.204-8, the small business size standard is $27.5M.