Question and Answer List GRIDS IV Solicitation (Amendment 1)_15FEB24 (Final).xlsx
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- Amendment 0001- Geospatial, Research, Integration, Development and Support - GRIDS IV Federal contract opportunity
- Solicitation number
- W5J9CQ-24-R-0002-0001
About this file
This amendment provides changes to the solicitation for the Geospatial, Research, Integration, Development and Support (GRIDS) IV contract. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Army Geospatial Center is procuring geospatial support services including coordination, integration and synchronization of geospatial information requirements and standards across the Army, developing geospatial enterprise enabled systems, and direct geospatial support to the Warfighter. Changes include answers to questions on the draft solicitation, extending the response date to March 1st, separating materials and other direct costs into separate contract line items, and clarifying requirements for key personnel, labor categories, cost proposals, and small business participation.
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Other files for this federal contract opportunity
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Solicitation Amendment 1(Final)_GRIDS IV W5J9CQ24R0002_15FEB24.pdf | ||
| Attachment 10 - Initial Task Order Section B CLINs (GRIDS IV) (Amendment 1).pdf | ||
| Attachment 1 - Intial Task Order PWS_GEOINT_Final (Amendment 1).pdf | ||
| Attachment 8-Task Order Cost Proposal Spreadsheet (Amendment 1).xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Attachment 13-Letter of Commitment for Key Personnel (Amendment 1).docx | DOCX document | |
| Attachment 2-W5J9CQ24R0002 GRIDS IV Labor Categories (Amendment 1).xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Attachment 3-IDIQ Ceiling Rates W5J9CQ-24-R-0002 (Amendment 1).xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Attachment 5-DD254_GRIDS IV (Amendment 1).pdf | ||
| Attachment 14-Letter of Commitment for the Subcontractors or External Parties (Amendment 1).docx | DOCX document |
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Q&As W5J9CQ24R0002
| Question No. | Page No. | Section of Document for Reference | Issue/Concern | Question / Comment | Answer to Question |
| 1 | 104 | Volume IV, Subfactor 4.1 IDIQ Hourly Rates | Please confirm that the IDIQ ceiling rates only cover the Offeror and do not cover all potential IDIQ subs. | RFP states: "The FFP and CPFF labor rates proposed in Attachment 3 IDIQ Ceiling Rates will be binding and will be used by the successful awardees as the maximum allowable rates for task orders issued during the ordering period." |
| Since Offerors are required to provide the basis of all proposed rates (e.g. FPRA, FPRR, etc.), the rates can only be based on the data available. It is very likely that additional subContractors has need to be added to the team after award in order to accommodate Government requests as technology evolves. If the IDIQ Ceiling Rates have to also cover subContractors, this will limit a Prime's ability to bring on a specialized/niche subContractor if they can't fit under the IDIQ rates. | Amendment 1 added the following clarification in Section B and Section L, Volume 4, Subfactor 4.a: "These binding maximum rates are applicable to the Prime Offeror only. SubContractors are required to submit detailed and unredacted cost proposal and cost proposal narrative to substantiate rates and be evaluated to establish fair, reasonable, and realistic rates at the Task Order level. The Offeror's invoices submitted under Task Orders will be required to demonstrate traceability of SubContractors' rates." | |||||
| 2 | N/A | Attachment 3 & 8 | Offeror needs to add worksheets to Attachment 3 & 8 | Is the offeror allowed to add worksheets to Attachment 3 & 8 in order to have traceability and show calculations for rates by contract period? This is necessary for an offeror to show how the dollar values are calculated. We also need to add worksheets in order to align the Government's template to our FPRR, etc. in order to show traceability. | Amendment 1 included an "Instructions" tab in Attachment 8. The instructions will clarify what may/may not be edited. Crosswalk of labor categories shall be provided if FPRA/FPRR/FPRP rates are used to substantiate rates. The crosswalk must be consistent with submissions to DCMA/DCAA. | |
| 3 | 6 | CONTRACT MAXIMUM RATES (d) | No fee is allowed on Other Direct Costs, Material, or Travel. Indirect cost elements such as G&A and/or material handling may be applied to ODCs, Material, or Travel but may not include fee. | Would the Government consider allowing fee on directed/required ODCs and Materials in the execution of GRIDS Task Orders? If not, will directed/required ODCs and Materials be Government Furnished Equipment (GFE)? | No, as identified in the Solicitation, CLIN 0003 ODCs and CLIN 0004 Materials are identified as Cost CLINs, and are not fee bearing CLINs. | |
| 4 | 92 | Identification of Assertions and Use ((d) | The Offeror's assertions, including the assertions of its subContractors or suppliers or potential subContractors or suppliers shall be submitted as an attachment to its offer … | To what volume should the "Identification and Assertion of Restrictions" be attached? | Offeror shall submit this in Volume V where all other Reps/Certs shall be included. | |
| 5 | 96 | L-B.1.d | ||||
| Volume descriptions | Volume II Past Performance - Cover page shall not exceed one page | Please confirm the contents of the "Cover Page" consists of the information under page 100 Section 1 - Contract Description; and Section 2 - Performance, Section 3 - Utilization of SubContractor Past Performance Information. Section 4 - CPARS fall under "no page limit". | Confirm that the contents of the "Cover Page" for Past Performance consist of Sections 1-3 under Past Performance. Section 4 CPARS fall under "no page limit". Amendment 1 increased the page limit for Past Performance Cover Page to two pages. | |||
| 6 | 9 | C.1.5.4.3.1 Contractor Task Order Management Plan: | Contractor’s proposed Task Order Management Plan shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer via the COR for review within ten (10) days after date of task order award (CDRL A029) | The ITO PWS states The Contractor shall provide the initial PMP within the task order proposal with updates provided quarterly. | ||
| CDRL A022-Project Management Plan; Initial due 15 days after TO award. Please clarify the required delivery date and CDRL number. | The Program Managment Plan (PMP) is identified as CDRL A022, and shall be submitted with the task order proposal. The Task Order Managment Plan is identified as CDRL A029, and is required 10 days after Task Order award. Refer to respective CDRLs for content requirement under each CDRL. Amendment 1 updated the Initial Task Order to include the initial delivery of CDRL A022 with the proposal. CDRL A022 PMP can be submitted as attachment/appendix of the Task Order Technical Proposal and will not count against the page limit. CDRL A022 is not part of the Technical factor evaluation and will not affect Technical rating. | |||||
| 7 | 8,11,17,18,19, 28, 33 | CDRL A006 | RFP references A006 multiple times, for example: Reporting of Analysis of QC and Timeliness of Submittals, CAC, Training, PRS#1, Performance objective for each task order. | A006 is not listed in the Initial Task Order (ITO); will it be a required CDRL for the ITO? | Amendment 1 updated the Initial Task Order to include CDRL A006 as a required CDRL. | |
| 8 | 96, 97 | B.1.d |
B. 3 Content Requirement B.1.d - Table of VOLUME, TITLE, MAXIMUM PAGE LIMIT - does not list "Summary Section"
| B.3 - RFP states: "Each file of the proposal shall consist of a Table of Contents, Summary Section, and the Narrative discussion. The Summary Section shall contain a brief abstract of the file." | Please specify the maximum page limit for the "Summary Section" and if it is included in any of the stated factor/subfactor page limits. | The summary section is included in the page limit specified for each factor/subfactor. | ||
| 9 | 99 | VOLUME II, Factor 2 - Past Performance | RFP states: "The PPQ shall be received by the contracting office before the solicitation’s closing date and time to be considered. " |
RFP states: " Offerors must provide a cover page for each project that does not exceed one page and one completed CPARS for PPQ for each of the projects provided with no page limitation." Is the Offeror required to provide a completed PPQ with the proposal in addition to submitting the completed PPQ to the contracting office?
| Should the sentence replace "for" with "or" and read as: "Offerors must provide a cover page for each project that does not exceed one page and one completed CPARS or PPQ for each of the projects provided with no page limitation." ? | The completed PPQ can be submitted either directly from the POC completing the PPQ to the contracting office, or with the proposal. Either way, it has to be received before the solicitation's closing date and time to be considered. Amendment 1 corrected the typo and replace "CPARS for PPQ" with "CPARS or PPQ". | |||
| 10 | 104 | Volume IV, Subfactor 4.a | RFP states: "The FFP and CPFF labor rates proposed in Attachment 3 IDIQ Ceiling Rates will be binding and will be used by the successful awardees as the maximum allowable rates for task orders issued during the ordering period." |
Since Offerors are required to provide the basis of all proposed rates (e.g. FPRA, FPRR, etc.), the rates can only be based on the data available. It is very likely that additional subContractors has need to be added to the team after award in order to accommodate Government requests as technology evolves. If the IDIQ Ceiling Rates have to also cover subContractors, this has limit a Prime's ability to bring on a specialized/niche subContractor if they can't fit under the IDIQ rates. Are the IDIQ ceiling rates only applicable for the Prime?
Do subContractors have to fit under the Attachment 3 ceiling rates?
| If the IDIQ ceiling rates DO have to cover all subContractors, please provide instructions on how this should be shown in Attachment 3 CPFF section since only the unburdened direct labor rates are binding. | Amendment 1 added the following clarification in Section B and Section L, Volume 4, Subfactor 4.a: "These binding maximum rates are applicable to the Prime Offeror only. SubContractors are required to submit detailed and unredacted cost proposal and cost proposal narrative to substantiate rates and be evaluated to establish fair, reasonable, and realistic rates at the Task Order level. The Offeror's invoices submitted under Task Orders will be required to demonstrate traceability of SubContractors' rates." | |||||
| 11 | 104 | Attachment 3 & 8 | Offeror needs to add worksheets to Attachment 3 & 8 for traceability. | Is the offeror allowed to add worksheets to Attachment 3 & 8 in order to have traceability and show calculations for rates by contract period? This is necessary for an offeror to show how the dollar values are calculated. We also need to add worksheets in order to align the Government's template to our FPRR, etc. in order to show traceability. | Amendment 1 included "Instructions" tab in Attachment 8. The instructions will clarify what may/may not be edited. Crosswalk of labor categories shall be provided if FPRA/FPRR/FPRP rates are used to substantiate rates. The crosswalk must be consistent with submissions to DCMA/DCAA. | |
| 12 | 104 | Volume IV, Subfactor 4.a - IDIQ Hourly Rates | Subfactor 4.a references "CPFF Ceiling Unburdened Hourly Rates" tables and "FFP Ceiling Burdened Hourly Rates" tables. | Will the Government please provide these referenced tables? If Attachment 3 is intended to cover these tables, would the Government revise Attachment 3's title and also revise the column from "Unloaded Rate" to "Unburdened Hourly Rate" for consistency. | Amendment 1 updated some cells in Attachment 3 from "unloaded" to "unburdened", and "loaded" to "burdened" for consistency. Attachment 3's title will remain the same to cover both ceiling FFP and ceiling CPFF rates under the IDIQ. | |
| 13 | 5 | Labor Rates | "The fixed price and cost reimbursement labor rates proposed by the offeror in Attachment 3 IDIQ Ceiling Rates are binding cost elements." | Please confirm that the "binding cost elements" are the FFP Loaded Rate and the CPFF Unloaded Rate per Attachment 3. | Yes, the binding cost elements are the FFP burdened rates and the CPFF unburdened rates in Attachment 3. Amendment 1 updated some cells in Attachment 3 from "unloaded" to "unburdened", and "loaded" to "burdened" for consistency. | |
| 14 | 104 | Volume IV, Subfactor 4.a | Please confirm that IDIQ-only subContractors are not required to submit a sealed package to the Government. | Since Amendment 1 added clarification that the IDIQ Ceiling Rates (the binding maximum rates) only apply to Prime Offeror, IDIQ-only subContractors are not required to submit a sealed package with unredacted cost proposal to the Government. However, SubContractors are required to submit detailed and unredacted cost proposal and cost proposal narrative to substantiate rates and be evaluated to establish fair, reasonable, and realistic rates at the Task Order level. | ||
| 15 | 4 | Section B, CLIN 0003 | CLIN 0003 is designated as "ODCs and MATERIALS". Several States, including Virginia, make "materials" purchases taxable on a USG contract, unless the materials are on their own dedicated CLIN. If ODCs are on the same CLIN, then all materials become taxable, which has increase the cost to the Government. The resale exemption can apply to materials purchased and used in performance only if they are charged to a specific “materials” CLIN/order where the stated purpose of the CLIN/order on the award is for hardware, maintenance hardware, or some other “material” type purpose (rather than a service). | Will the Government create a separate CLIN for Materials in order to avoid unnecessary tax costs? | Amendment 1 separated Materials and ODCs into two CLINs on both the IDIQ and the Initial Task Order. NTE amount are provided for both CLINs on the Initial Task Order. | |
| 16 | 98, 105 | L.B.i. (3) subfactor 1.c, para (e) Initial Task Order Staffing plan; |
L.B.iv.(d) subfactor 4.b;
| Attachment 9 | Section L (3) subfactor 1.c, para (e) states: "Offerors shall propose a staffing plan for the Initial Task Order" | |||
| L.B.iv.(d) subfactor 4.b states: "An estimated LOE based on historical performance is provided as Attachment 9 – Initial Task Order Estimated LOE for reference" | This task order appears to be modeled on the current GRIDS III GEOINT SEIS task order. Please provide the current number of FTE's on this task order. | Attachment 9 contains the Initial Task Order estimated LOE for reference. It is irrelevant to provide the number of FTEs on the current task order as the tasks are somewhat different. | ||
| 17 | 6 | Contract Maximum Rates | The RFP states: "(a) Maximum Pass-Through Rates Fee/Profit Rates |
The pass-through fee rate is defined as the fee rate the Prime Contractor charges against the total cost paid to the subContractor. The pass-through profit rate is defined as the profit rate the Prime Contractor charges against the total price paid to the SubContractor."
The FAR allows fee on total burdened costs. Therefore fee is allowed on the subContractor's raw cost to the prime (i.e. "total cost paid to the subContractor"), plus the prime Contractor's applicable indirect burdens. Here is an example: SubContractor charges $100. Prime's indirect burdens are 5%. The applicable profit rate is 10%. Fee/Profit would be calculated as [$105 * 10% = $10.50]. (1) Please amend the RFP to state "The pass-through fee rate is defined as the fee rate the Prime Contractor charges against the total cost paid to the subContractor, plus the Prime Contractor's applicable indirect burdens. The pass-through profit rate is defined as the profit rate the Prime Contractor charges against the total price paid to the SubContractor, plus the Prime Contractor's applicable indirect burdens."
| (2) Also, Attachment 8 needs to be revised in the SubContractor Pass Through Analysis section to reflect this correction. | Amendment 1 provided updated language for Maximum Prime Fee/Profit Rates on Subcontract and updated Attachment 8 revising the pass through analysis. | ||||
| 18 | 6 | Contract Maximum Rates | "(c) The Contractor agrees that the maximum fixed fee rate shall not exceed 8% for non-experimental/developmental/research work; and shall not exceed 10% for experimental, developmental, or research work." | (1) Is the Government's intention for this to read as non-experimental, developmental, or research work" or does the Government intend "non-experimental, non-developmental, non-research"? As written, it is unclear what the "non" applies to. |
(2) Please provide examples of non-experimental, etc. in the PWS so that offerors can better understand the Government's definition.
(3) Does the Government view the ITO as non-experimental or experimental?
| (4) Will the Government define each post-award TO RFP as "non-experimental..." or "experimental...", which will be be necessary for an offeror to build a business case. | Amendment 1 updated the language to "non-experimental, non-developmental, and non-research work" for question (1). For questions (2)-(4), the Offeror has discretion to propose with either 8% or 10% fee cap for the ITO. On any future TO, if preponderance of the work is designated as non-experimental, non-developmental, or non-research, the Government will clearly identify on the TO RFP. | |||||
| 19 | 6 | Contract Maximum Rates | The RFP states: "(c) Contractor compliance with the maximum fee rate on CPFF CLINs is applicable at the time of task order award and is based on the ratio of fixed fee to the estimated cost." | Please show the calculation for the "ratio of fixed fee to estimated cost" so we can ensure that we do not exceed the "Maximum Fee Rate". For example, is "estimated cost" the total cost before FCCM and Fee? | Amendment 1 will update the language to "the ratio of fixed fee amount to the total Prime Contractor labor estimated cost". The formula for Prime Fee Analysis in Attachment 8 reflects the calculation method. | |
| 20 | 6 | Contract Maximum Rates | The RFP states: "(e) Cost Plus Fixed Fee Term Level of Effort Type Task Orders" | What percentage of the TOs to be awarded under the IDIQ does the Government anticipate will be Term LOE-type? This information is necessary for offerors to build a business case since Term/LOE-type requires additional effort for management and tracking and also since the total fee is not fixed. | The Government cannot provide accurate estimate at this time, but it should be a small percentage based on historical information. | |
| 21 | 14 | C.1.13 | The RFP states: "1.8 Post Award Conference/Periodic Progress Meetings:...These meetings shall be at no additional cost to the Government. | Please confirm that the offeror should include/account for the cost of performing Post Award Conferences/Period Progress Meetings in accordance with the PWS in its bid and that these will be allowable costs. | Amendment 1 removed the following sentence, "These meetings shall be at no additional cost to the Government" from both the IDIQ PWS and the Initial Task Order PWS. Any required travel shall be included in the travel element, associated ODCs shall be invoiced to the ODCs, and labor shall be invoiced against the labor CLIN. | |
| 22 | 15 | C.1.13 | "The Contractor may be authorized travel expenses at rates no higher than the substantive provisions of the Joint Travel Regulation (JTR), IAW FAR Part 31.205-46." | Please confirm that a Prime/Sub with a DCMA-approved accounting system will be permitted to also invoice its applicable DCMA-recommended burdens in accordance with its accounting system and the FAR. | Section B provides that "Indirect cost elements such as G&A and/or material handling may be applied to ODCs, Material, or Travel but may not include fee." | |
| 23 | 17 | C.1.18 | The RFP states: "1.18 Non-Disclosure Statements: The Contractor shall provide signed non-disclosure agreements to the Government no later than 10 Days (CDRL A025) prior after to commencement of work. | Typo. Is it 10 days prior or 10 days after commencement of work? | Amendment 1 updated the language to, "The Contractor shall provide signed non-disclosure agreements to the Government no later than 10 Days (CDRL A025) after Contract/Task Order award and prior to commencement of work under the IDIQ contract or subsequent task orders where sensitive information will be disclosed. | |
| 24 | 44 | Section G | The RFP states: "b) Invoice Submission. ...The Contractor’s Final invoice shall be submitted within 45 days after the final delivery date specified in the contract." | Please change this requirement to 60 days after Contractor receives its final audited rates covering the period of performance of each TO. Any cost reimbursement CLINs will need final DCAA audited rates. | Amendment 1 updated the language to "The Contractor's Final invoice shall be submitted within TBD at award." The Government will fill in the insturction at the time of Award. | |
| 25 | 65 | Section I | The RFP states: "52.217-8 OPTION TO EXTEND SERVICES (NOV 1999)" | What is the maximum number of months a TO can extend beyond the IDIQ POP? We need to know this since the Government is capping labor rates at the Year 5 rates. The IDIQ POP can extend to 5 years and 6 (six) months (66 months). How many months beyond the 66 months can a TO extend? For example, can the Government issue a 24 month TO in month 66 of the IDIQ? | Amendment 1 provided clarification language in Section B under Labor Rates to allow reasonable escalation on TO performance period beyond the 66 months of IDIQ award. (HL) | |
| 26 | 95 | L.B.a | The RFP states: "f) No Cost/Price information shall be submitted in Volumes I, II, III, and V." However, Volume III, Page 102 requires a table that includes dollar values. | Please amend the RFP to address this conflict. | The dollar values required in the table on page 102 is not considered Cost/Price information. The value is calculated based on the Small Business percentage of the Total Contract Value, $499M. | |
| 27 | 97 | L.B.2 | The RFP states: "All of the proposal files shall be submitted as separate uploads in their native format, e.g., docx, xlsx, pptx , etc. Files shall be in read-only format, using PDF files. | Which files need to be in PDF format? For example, does the Government want the Excel pricing files converted to PDF? | Amendment 1 updated the language to state all files shall be submitted as PDF (with the exception of the Excel files for pricing). | |
| 28 | 97 | L.B.2 | The RFP states: "Each file shall be labeled with the volume number, date, and the offerors name." | Is the labelling required on the worksheet, or is it required in the file name? Or both? | Labeling is required on both the worksheet and on the file name. | |
| 29 | 97 | L.B.3 | The RFP states: "3. Content Requirement. All information shall be confined to the appropriate file. The offeror shall confine submissions to essential matters, sufficient to define the proposal in a concise manner, to permit a complete and accurate evaluation of each proposal. Each file of the proposal shall consist of a Table of Contents, Summary Section, and the Narrative discussion. | Please confirm that "Each file of the proposal" should be "Each Volume of the proposal..." Or does the Government require that offerors include a Table of Contents, Summary Section, and Narrative discussion in the Excel pricing files? | Amendment 1 updated the language to "Each Volume of the proposal…". | |
| 30 | 102 | L.B.iii. Volume III (d) | The RFP states: "(d) Identify the Prime Offeror and type of service/supply that the Prime has provide. Then list each of the intended subContractors and principal supplies/services to be provided by that subContractor. | Are we required to list every subContractor that we intend to use on the IDIQ? | Yes, as stated in the solicitation, under Volume III (d) | |
| 31 | 104 | L.B.iv. Volume IV (a) | "The offeror may not alter a cost requirement, etc., within the worksheets as it may prevent the Cost Team’s ability to evaluate the cost proposal effectively." | Please define what the Government means by "cost requirement" in the context of the Excel files. |
| What are offerors allowed to alter? What are offerors prohibited from altering? | Amendment 1 included an "Instructions" tab in Attachment 8. The instructions will clarify what may/may not be edited. | ||||
| 32 | 104 | L.B.iv. Volume IV (b) | Attachment 11 requires that we "Conduct appropriate cost or price analysis to establish the reasonableness of proposed subcontract prices" | We will have a proposed subcontract price at the ITO level. Is analysis only required at the ITO level? |
| Is the analysis required to be submitted or do we just provide an statement of fair and reasonable? | This analysis would only be at the ITO level. Offerors are expected to provide a thorough response to each section of the subcontract analysis requirement, as broken out in Attachment 11. | |||||
| 33 | 104 | L.B.iv. Volume (c) | The RFP states: "The FFP and CPFF labor rates proposed in Attachment 3 IDIQ Ceiling Rates has be binding and has be used by the successful awardees as the maximum allowable rates for task orders issued during the ordering period." | Please confirm that the unburdened direct labor CPFF IDIQ rates are used for bidding purposes only and that the offeror is permitted to invoice its actual costs incurred IAW the FAR's allowability provisions. | The Ceiling Rates are binding cost elements and shall establish the maximum allowable rates for task orders. They are not just for bidding purposes only. Amendment 1 updated the language in Section B under Labor Rates to state that "the fixed price rates" and "the direct labor rates" "proposed and awarded on a task order may be less than those proposed in the offeror's Attachment 3 IDIQ Ceiling Rates of the IDIQ contract but may not exceed the maximum rates included in the basic IDIQ contract." | |
| 34 | 104 | L.B.iv. Volume (c) | The RFP states: "The FFP and CPFF labor rates proposed in Attachment 3 IDIQ Ceiling Rates has be binding and has be used by the successful awardees as the maximum allowable rates for task orders issued during the ordering period." | Please confirm the statement should read "The FFP ceiling burdened and the CPFF ceiling unburdened labor rates proposed in Attachment 3 IDIQ Ceiling Rates has be binding..." | Amendment 1 revised the sentence to state, "The FFP Ceiling Burdened Hourly Rates and the CPFF Ceiling Unburdened Hourly Rates proposed in Attachment 3 IDIQ Ceiling Rates will be binding and will be used by the successful awardees as the maximum allowable rates for task orders issued during the ordering period". | |
| 35 | 107 | L.B.iv. Volume (d) Direct Labor Rates | "For any position for which no candidate has been identified by name, Offeror and subContractors shall provide payroll data for a comparable position and an analysis of how the proposed position is comparable to the position corresponding to the payroll data supplied." | Our DCMA-approved estimating system allows us to propose both named employees (but only in very specific situations, such as Key Personnel) and unnamed employees. When proposing unnamed employees, our system uses bid levels per our DCMA FPRR. Payroll data is employee-specific. Therefore it isn't possible for us to show payroll data for a "comparable position" since payroll isn't based on a position; it is only based on a named employee. Similarly, we can only provide DCAA audit data at the named employee level. Will the Government amend this requirement such that a DCMA FPRR or FRPA will serve as sufficient backup for unnamed employees? |
| If the Government does not allow the use of an FPRR or FPRA for this requirement, what other data can be provided since payroll data does not exist for unnamed employees? | For named employees, payroll screenshots or payroll verification are required to substantiate the proposed rates. Amendment 1 updated language under Cost Proposal Narrative to allow salary survey and/or DCMA FPRA/FPRR information to substantiate rates for unnamed employees if no comparable position data can be identified. However, a detailed crosswalk shall be submitted to map the labor categories, bid levels, qualifications, and labor rates, etc. and the crosswalk shall be consistent with information submitted/disclosed to DCMA/DCAA. | ||||
| 36 | 9 | C.1.5.4.3 Contractor Support Hours | The Contractor shall provide support during the Government facility office hours. The Contractor shall always maintain an adequate workforce, for the uninterrupted performance of all tasks defined within this PWS when the Government facility is not closed for the above reasons stated in paragraph 1.5.4.1. When hiring personnel, the Contractor shall keep in mind that the stability and continuity of the workforce is essential. For other than firm fixed price contracts, the Contractor has not be reimbursed when the Government facility is closed for the above reasons. | Please confirm that this section is only applicable to work that can ONLY be performed at a Government facility. |
| Please confirm that Contractor support is also authorized outside of Government facility office hours. For example, Contractor support for writing and delivering unclassified deliverables is not limited to Government facility hours. | Amendment 1 added under Para 1.5.4.3, "The GRIDS task orders may require Contractors to work at Contractor sites and/or at OCONUS sites, not tied to a specific Government facility. Contractor reimbursement should be at the discretion of the COR and/or as specified by TO, and may not always be directly tied to Government facility hours." | |||||
| 37 | Response to DRFP Qs | Line 33 | Response references "Amendment forthcoming" | What is the anticipated date of release of the forthcoming amendment? What is the anticipated date for questions on the amendment? | N/A | |
| 38 | 96 | L.B.1.d Table | RFP states "Two (2) resume limit for Subfactor 1a." | Please confirm the two resumes required are for the two key personnel identified in RFP Section C.1.10.1: Technical Program Manager Senior and Alternate Technical Program Manager Senior. | Amendment 1 updated the language for IDIQ PWS para. 1.10.1 to only one Key Personnel, the Technical Program Manager Senior. The Alternate Technical Program Manager Senior is not required for proposal. Resume requirement in RFP Section L was updated to one resume required under Subfactor 1.b vs. 1.a. | |
| 39 | RFP pg. 96; | |||||
| Response to DRFP Qs | L.B.1.d Table; | |||||
| Response to DRFP Qs #48, #94 | RFP: Volume II Past Performance - "Cover page for each project shall not exceed one page" |
Response to Q's #48: "A cover page is required for each cover page and the cover page shall contain all the information required under this volume: Sections 1-3. There is a 1 page limit for Volume II "Cover Page". Section 4 CPARS do not count against the page limit. Language changed to reflect such in solicitation dated 5 Jan 2024."
| Response to Q's #94: "The Government will increase the cover page to 2 pages in the forthcoming amendment" | Please confirm the Volume II "cover page" has increased to 2 pages. | The Government increased the Cover page limit to 2 pages in Amendment 1. | ||
| 40 | 95, 99 | L.B.1.d Table; | ||
| L.B.1.ii | The RFP's use of the term "Cover Page" changes throughout the RFP. For example, "Cover Page" is the Cover Page of each Volume and separately "Cover Page" is used for each Past Performance project. But these have two different sets of requirements. | Please revise the RFP to clear up this issue. | The term "Cover Page" is used throughout the solicitation. There is an explanation for the use of the "Cover Page" in each area throughout the solicitation. | |
| 41 | 16 | C.1.15 Data Rights | The RFP states: "The Government's rights for this IDIQ and any task orders awarded under it in non-commercial technical data and software deliverables... As indicated in DFARS 252.227-7017(e), an Offeror's failure to submit, complete, or sign the aforementioned Data and Software Rights Assertions with its offer may render the offer ineligible for award." |
Based on the IDIQ PWS, it is not possible for an offeror or its subContractor team to assert data rights at the IDIQ level. Data rights assertions need to be at the TO level based on the TO-specific PWS. The TO-level PWS specificity is needed in order for an offeror to determine the technical data or computer software necessary to complete the effort. Please correct the RFP to state that data rights assertions are at the Task Order level only.
| If the Government requires an IDIQ-level assertion from the offeror and its subContractor team, please confirm that the offeror has been permitted to provide a revised Assertion with each TO. | Amendment 1 updated the IDIQ PWS para. 1.15 to specify that DFARS 252.227-7017 shall be completed and submitted with proposal for each task order, and DFARS 252.227-7013 and 252.227-7014 will be completed at the Task Order level. | |||
| 42 | 6 | A. Contract Maximum Rates | The RFP states: "(c) Maximum Fee Rate...The maximum fee rate being proposed at the task order level by the prime Contractor shall flow down to all subContractors/consultants included as part of the Prime proposal." |
In the Draft Q&A, Item #21, the Government's response was "The fee structure is determined based on DoD-wide best practice and GRIDS III historical data and lessons learned. Fee does not impact the ability to hire the best staff since labor cost is reimbursable. Fee and labor rate are different elements..."
Since the Maximum Fee Rate applies to both the prime and the subContractors, fee is a factor in determining a business case for both the prime and the subContractors. Primes and subContractors may elect to no-bid task orders due to the low fee rates. In the RFP, the Government is limiting fee rates to 8% non-experimental/10% experimental, which is significantly below the FAR thresholds established in 10 U.S.C. 2306(d) and 41 U.S.C. 3905 (10% for other /15% for experimental). By capping fee rates at 2% below and 5% below the FAR, respectively, the Government is effectively discouraging offerors from investing their B&P dollars on this contract versus on another contract where the FAR thresholds are recognized. Arbitrary maximum fee rates should not be imposed. Instead, to ensure AGC receives both the best value and the most desired subContractor technologies, AGC should review TO-specific requirements. When these fee caps are compounded by the fee-on-labor-only requirements in the RFP, the total effective fee (total fee dollars divided by total costs) is expected to be in the under 6% range using GRIDS III as a basis.
| Will the Government amend the RFP to remove the RFP fee caps and instead revert to the FAR thresholds? | This is a DoD contract and therefore is further governed by the DFARS rules. The fee structure and caps are based on multiple factors and best practices. The Government will not remove the fee caps. | |||
| 43 | 95 | L.B.1.a | The RFP states: "Each volume shall include the following: | |
| a) A cover page shall include the volume number, solicitation number, firm name, and address, business size, Cage code, names and Cage codes of all subContractors and a point of contact for all correspondence related to the proposal (include phone number and email address)" | Please confirm that this applied only to subContractors proposed on the ITO. |
| If we are required to list all of this information for all possible IDIQ subContractors, then we will need additional pages. Since cover pages don't count towards page count, please remove the page limit restriction. | For all subContractors proposed, only names and Cage codes are required. Other information required for the cover page is for the Prime offeror. Amendment 1 restructured this paragraph to make it clearer. The amendment also increased cover page limit to 2 pages. | |
| 44 | We request the technical documents submitted under the current GEOINT Systems Engineering and Integration, Intelligence Applications & Mission Command User Enterprise (IAMCUE) GeoINT Support Task Order be provided with the final solicitation. |
| Based on feedback in the Draft Q&A, these documents are marked "CUI" and presumably marked with Distribution Statement D. Distribution Statement D allows distribution to U.S. DoD Contractors. | Please provide the technical documents submitted under the current GEOINT Systems Engineering and Integration, Intelligence Applications & Mission Command User Enterprise (IAMCUE) GeoINT Support Task Order. This information will enable offerors, other than the incumbent, to have access to more detailed information on the current effort to provide a more accurate proposal, timeline and milestones for the ITO. | The Government cannot provide the current technical documents due to the safeguarding of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Offerors possessing GEOINT knowledge have the ability to provide competitive proposals according to the Initial Task Order PWS descriptions of requirements. | |||
| 45 | 99 | L.B.ii Volume II, Factor 2 -Past Performance, para 8 | RFP States “The offeror shall also submit the written consent of its subContractors to allow the disclosure of its subContractors past performance information to the Offeror.” It does not explicitly state where this is to be added or if it counts against page count. | Can the written consent be attached as an appendix at the end of the Past Performance Citation, immediately following the CPAR or PPQ information.? |
Can the written consent be an email or does it need be formal letter?
| Please clarify that the Written consent “Does Not” count against the page count. | Yes, the written consent can be attached as an appendix to Volume II Past Performance. Amendment 1 revised to clarify that the written consent be provided as a formal letter and will not count against page limits. | |||||
| 46 | 42 | Attachment 1 - ITO PWS, Section 7.3 Attachment 1 GFE | The table (Attachment 1) identifies several items slated for destruction | Will the Awardee be required to receive and process these items for destruction? If so, will they be replaced with newer equipment? | The awardee may be required to receive and process the items for destruction as listed in Attachment 1, page 42. The items listed have been replaced and no additional equipment is necessary for work on the task order. All GFE needed will be provided at the start of the task order. | |
| 47 | Attachment 10; CLIN X002 | The Section B ITO CLIN X002 description states: "The Contractor shall provide services for the management of multiple task orders simultaneously at multiple locations. Work has require extensive knowledge and has coincide with one or more of the geospatial functional areas identified in sections 5.1.1 to 5.1.10." | Please revise and make it specific to the ITO since under the ITO an offeror has not be managing multiple TOs simultaneously. | Amendment 1 revised the language for Attachment 10 CLINs X002 to remove "multiple task orders simultaneously at multiple locations" and will state, "The Contractor shall provide services for the management of the task order." | ||
| 48 | Attachment 10; CLINs X003 | Attachment 10 does not reference the $120,000 per year ODC and Material NTE. | Please revise to include the $120k per year ODC and Material NTE value. | The Contract writing system does not reveal the amount on Solicitations. It will only show on the Contract/TO award documents. Offerors shall complete Attachment 10 for the relevant CLINs with the NTE amount prescribed in the Solicitation. Amendment 1 updated Attachment 8 to have the NTE amounts filled in. | ||
| 49 | Attachment 1, Section 1.9 | Contractor Travel Requirements |
The Government has provided an NTE value for Materials and ODCs. However the RFP requires an offeror to price ITO travel. Since the Materials and ODCs are an NTE, should the Travel also be an NTE, since different offerors has have vastly different travel budgets depending on their location?
| For example, there are 90 trips to Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) per year. Therefore an offeror who is not within easy driving distance has be disadvantaged on the evaluated price since their travel costs has be much higher. | Please revise the RFP to make travel an NTE number for the ITO in all applicable RFP locations. | Amendment 1 changed Travel from Offeror proposing to setting an estimated NTE amount. Solicitation language related to Travel, Attachment 1 Initial Task Order PWS, Attachment 8 Task Order Cost Proposal Spreadsheet, and Attachment 10 Initial Task Order Section B CLINs were updated accordingly. | ||||
| 50 | Attachment 10; CLINs X007 | CLIN is associated with transition-in only, ITO PWS 5.3 is associated with transition-in and transition-out. | Phase in Period (FFP) states “The Contractor shall furnish phase-in services for up to 30 days after this contract is awarded. The Contractor is only allowed to charge to this CLIN within the first 30 days.” This is in conflict with PWS 5.3.2 asking for a Transition Out plan at the end of the POP, which is well beyond 30 days after contract award. Please confirm that the Government's intent is that transition out has be part of the task order execution and not priced separately. | The Transition-out plan will be part of the regular task order execution and should be priced under the CPFF CLIN. Amendment 1 revised Attachment 1 ITO PWS to include CPFF reference for subsection 5.3.2. | ||
| 51 | Attachment 13 (LOC for KPs), |
Attachment 13 (LOC for Subs),
| and Attachment 5 (DD254) | These attachments have a different RFP number (W9J9CQ-24-R-0002 or W5J9CQ23-R-0001) than the Solicitation (W5J9CQ24R0002) | Please revise these attachments to reflect the correct number. | Amendment 1 updated Attachment 13, Attachment 14, and Attachment 5 to reflect the correct Solicitation number (W5J9CQ-24-R-0002 OR W5J9CQ24R0002). Both solicitation numbers (W5J9CQ-24-R-0002 OR W5J9CQ24R0002) can be used interchangeably. | |||
| 52 | 97 | Section L.B.3 | FRFP | Is the Summary Section (Abstract) required at the beginning of each Volume count in the page count requirements or is it treated similar to Table of Contents? | The summary section is included in the page limit specified for each factor/subfactor. | |
| 53 | 96 | Section L.B. | FRFP | Are Individual Letters of Intent/Commitment Letters required for all of the offeror’s key people or only for those that are contingent hires? Are Letters of Intent/Commitment Letters required for all teammates’/subContractors’ key people that are bid or do we only need them for only those that are contingent hires? | Please refer to the Solicitation. Letter of Intent is for contingent hire as specified on page 106. Letter of Commitment for Key Personnel is for Key Personnel, and Letter of Commitment for SubContractors & External Parties are for subContractors and external parties, as defined in various places throughout the Solicitation. | |
| 54 | Attachment 9 | Could you please clarify the Government intent and expectations regarding the inclusion of Attachment 9 (LOE Estimate Spreadsheet) within the final RFP? Specifically, does the Government intend for this attachment to establish mandatory minimum LCAT and FTE counts, or does it merely serve as an advisory estimate, as the title suggests? | Attachment 9 serves as an advisory estimate of the LCAT and FTE. As stated on page 105 of the Solicitation, "Offerors are not restricted to these labor mix and hours. Offerors have the flexibility and are encouraged to propose necessary labor mix and hours based on their technical approach and proposed solutions". | |||
| 55 | Attachment 9 | Can the Government please clarify their answer to Question #97 in the Q&A from the draft RFP? |
Question #97: In what Volume of the proposal should the IDIQ SPECIFIC TASKS (5.1 and 5.1.1 - 5.1.10) be addressed, or are they not evaluated?
Government Answer: The technical Volume of the proposal should be addressed under the IDIQ specific tasks (5.1 and 5.1.1-5.1.10). The technical proposal for the IDIQ tasks will be evaluated under Subfactor 1.a and 1.b. The Government answer is still unclear. These instructions are not mentioned in Section L or Sect M. If we are to address the ten (10) IDIQ technical topics, we need to know what section they should be addressed in and we has need additional page count to that assigned section. Suggest 10 additional pages to address these additional requirements.
| Since the IDIQ tasks are technical requirements that may be proposed against for task orders, the Government is not asking for specific technical answers to these requirements, rather the Government asks for the management approach and staffing plan that will support the management of these types of work in the execution of multiple task orders utilizing these requirements. Section M 4.2 Factor 1 Technical: Subfactor 1.a. 1), "The degree to which the Offeror’s management strategy, organizational structure, and management systems and support functions (e.g., human resources, finance, legal, procurement, etc.) align with and support implementation of its concept for achievement of the requirements contained in Section 5 of the IDIQ PWS., and Subfactor 1b. – Staffing Plan: 1), "The Government will evaluate the value of the proposed staffing plan for the offeror's organization(s), subContractors and external parties and the extent to which it effectively promotes accountability in execution of the PWS requirements." | |||||
| 56 | Attachment 2 | FRFP | Are the Minimum Years of Experience for the GIS Specialist Jr & Journeyman reversed? | Amendment 1 corrected the Minimum Years of Experience requirement for GIS Specialist Junior and Journeyman in Attachment 2. | |
| 57 | Attachment 2 | FRFP | The Minimum Years of Experience for the Training Instructor Technical needs to be clarified. | Amendment 1 updated the Minimum Years of Experience requirement for Training Instructor Technical Junior in Attachment 2. | |
| 58 | Initial Task Order PWS | Security Requirements | Will the Government provide additional page count for Section 1.c. or consider allowing the Security requirements to be addressed in an Attachment and not count against page count? | Security requirements shall be part of the proposal and is limited by the page count for Subsection 1.c. | |
| 59 | 97 | All of the proposal files shall be submitted as separate uploads in their native format, e.g., docx, xlsx, pptx , etc. Files shall be in read-only format, using PDF files. | Are you requesting two copies of each volume? One in native format and one in PDF format? If two files, do you want the Microsoft version to be read only as well? | Amendment 1 updated the language to state all files shall be submitted as PDF (with the exception of the Excel files for pricing). | |
| 60 | 95 | p95 - Each volume shall include the following: |
b) Table of Contents
| p97 - A Table of Contents should be created using the Table of Contents feature in Portable Document Format (PDF). PDF files shall use the following page setup parameters: | Table of Contents are created within the volumes using MS Word feature. Documents are then converted to PDF in which tagging is used for links within the table of contents. Is the customer also asking for a Separate Table of Contents to be created using PDF? Or ensuring that bookmarking is available within the PDF? | Ensuring bookmarking works in PDF would be sufficient. | |||
| 61 | 95 | Each volume shall include the following: | |||
| a) A cover page shall include the volume number, solicitation number, firm name, and address, business size, Cage code, names and Cage codes of all subContractors and a point of contact for all correspondence related to the proposal (include phone number and email address) | Does the Government want all of the CAGE codes of the subContractors or just the prime Contractor on the cover? If all are required, can a page with a table be added after the Table of Contents for Names, CAGE codes and POCs for all subContractors instead of having them on the cover page? The list of all subContractors to include their CAGE codes is a requirement of Volume III. | For all subContractors proposed, only names and Cage codes are required. Other information required for the cover page is for the Prime offeror. Amendment 1 restructured this paragraph to make it clearer. The amendment also increased cover page limit to 2 pages. | |||
| 62 | 96 | The table states that each Volume is to have an Acronym Listing and Definitions. | Please confirm this is one Table with both the Acronym and the Definitions. If two tables, please provide additional information regarding what definitions are required. | This can be used as one or two tables as there is no page limit nor is it considered as part of evaluation. Please refer to solicitation Section C PWS Part 2 Definitions & Acronyms for a sample. | |
| 63 | 106 | For each contingent hire in the cost proposal spreadsheet, Offeror and subContractors shall clearly indicate named contingent hires and shall provide a signed letter of intent (LOI) that explicitly lists the agreed upon annual salary for the named individual. The cost proposal narrative shall fully explain all pertinent data about the LOI information. The LOIs shall be on Offeror’s or subContractor’s letterhead with both the prospective employee’s and the employer signatures, and state that the LOI is for GRIDS IV. | Per the instructions cost data should not be included in any volume except Volume IV. Please confirm the LOIs should be submitted in Volume I (with salary data for contingent hires) and not in Volume IV or please consider removing the requirement to include the salary data. | The LOIs are required as stated in the solicitation Section L, Volume IV, Subfactor 4.b, under the Direct Labor Rates. LOIs are not to be submitted in Volume I. | |
| 64 | 97/98 | Page 97 indicates that "Subfactors 1.a and 1.b apply to the IDIQ PWS." |
| Page 98, Section 2, Subfactor 1.b, bullet a implies staffing at the task order level be referencing "project" and "task order execution". | Can the Government please provide additional guidance if they want a staffing plan and organizational chart in this section based on the IDIQ level? If related to the initial task order can this bullet be moved to subfactor 1.c? | Organization chart and staffing plan required under Subfactor 1.a and 1.b apply to the IDIQ level to address how the offeror manages task orders in general. Subfactor 1.c asks for a staffing plan for the Initial Task Order. | ||||
| 65 | 30&96 | Technical Exhibit B (Page 30) and L.B.1.d (page 96) | CDRL A004 Contractor’s Risk Management Plan: Required for each Task Order | |||
| Frequency: As part of Task Order Proposal | Technical Exhibit table indicates Risk Management Plan should be submitted with proposal but it is not listed as part of the submitted proposal material in L.B.1.d. Can the Government please clarify if this is required by either changing the Frequency value on Page 30 or adding it to the deliverables in L.B.1.d? | Amendment 1 updated the Initial Task Order PWS to include CDRL A004 Risk Management Plan and the initial delivery with the proposal. CDRL A004 can be submitted as attachment/appendix of the Task Order Technical Proposal and will not count against the page limit. CDRL A004 is not part of the Technical factor evaluation and will not affect Technical rating. | ||||
| 66 | 31&96 | Technical Exhibit B (Page 31) and L.B.1.d (page 96) | CDRL A022 Program Management Plan: Required for each Task Order | |||
| Frequency: As part of Task Order Proposal | Technical Exhibit table indicates Program Management Plan should be submitted with proposal but it is not listed as part of the submitted proposal material in L.B.1.d. Can the Government please clarify if this is required by either changing the Frequency value on Page 30 or adding it to the deliverables in L.B.1.d? | Amendment 1 updated the Initial Task Order PWS to include the intial delivery of CDRL A022 with the proposal. CDRL A022 PMP can be submitted as attachment/appendix of the Task Order Technical Proposal and will not count against the page limit. CDRL A022 is not part of the Technical factor evaluation and will not affect Technical rating. | ||||
| 67 | 96 | GRIDS IV Solicitation, B. Proposal Submission Requirements, Pages 96 , Table 1d | Factor 2 Past Performance Shall not exceed five (5) projects. |
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