QnA Response.pdf

Question # Nature of Question Reference Document Reference Paragraph (if applicable) Question/Comment Government Response

1 PWS PWS; Draft PWS Section 7.1

Facility Clearance at the Joint Venture Level:

Draft PWS Section 7.1 requires the prime contractor to possess and maintain a minimum Top Secret Facility Clearance (FCL) at the time of proposal submission.

Given that the Government is contemplating an SDVOSB set-aside, will the Government consider this requirement satisfied where the offeror is an SBA-compliant joint venture (including a mentor-protégé joint venture under 13 C.F.R. §

125.9 and § 128.402) and the requisite FCL is held by the joint venture or by a joint venture member that will perform the classified work, consistent with 32 C.F.R. Part 117 (NISPOM)? We respectfully note that requiring the SDVOSB concern itself to independently hold a TS FCL at proposal submission would materially narrow the SDVOSB competitive field, since an FCL cannot be self-initiated and requires Government or cleared-prime sponsorship.

The initial guidance from our Industrial Security team: For Joint Ventures in which all parties of the JV have a FCL at the same level, the JV is considered a “Covered JV” and the JV itself does not require a FCL. If one of the parties does not have the required FCL level, the JV will need to be sponsored for a

FCL.

2 PWS PWS; Past Performance

Past Performance Evaluation for Joint Ventures:

Will the Government evaluate the past performance and experience of SDVOSB joint venture offerors in accordance with 13 C.F.R. § 125.8(e), i.e., considering the experience of the individual joint venture members (including the mentor in a mentor-protégé JV) where the JV entity itself lacks independent past performance?

Yes. Past Performance evaluation will include performance from both members of the JV and/or the JV entity itself.

3 PWS PWS; Industry Engagement

Does the Government anticipate hosting an industry day, one-on-one sessions, or a draft RFP comment period prior to solicitation release? If so, will the Government publish anticipated dates so interested SDVOSBs can plan teaming discussions accordingly?

The Government has not yet determined if a pre-solicitation conference, Industry Day, or one-on-one sessions will be held.

Any future industry engagement opportunities will be officially announced on SAM.gov.

4 PWS

PWS;Compiled Questions and Responses; PWS 3.2 Types of Services

PWS States: "...The Prime contractor and sub-contractors for this contract will have daily access to requirements, resourcing, and acquisition information that, if used improperly, would result in an unfair competitive advantage in competition for other SOF contracts." The answer to Q2 states: "...the resulting award may prevent the awarded prime contractor from performing work on other USSOCOM or SOF AT&L contracts as a prime or subcontractor. Currently, the Government is in the process of finalizing the OCI requirements."

Would the Gov clarify that if a company receives a SEPS contract award, they would be precluded from receiving a SOF GSD contract award?

In accordance with FAR 9.5, the overarching advisory and acquisition support services required under SEPS II create inherent Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI). Therefore, the Government intends that the SEPS II awardee will be precluded from competing on or performing other USSOCOM contracts to prevent impaired objectivity and unfair competitive advantages.

5 Administrative/General RFI/Sources Sought Notice;

The RFI lists NAICS 541611 (Administrative Management and General Consulting Services). Given the substantial systems engineering, T&E, data science, AI/ML, and technical documentation content described in the draft PWS (Sections 4.1 and 4.5), will the Contracting Officer consider NAICS 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services) or an engineering-services code as more representative of the requirement, given that 541611's size standard does not reflect the revenue profile of firms capable of performing the diversified technical scope described?

The designated NAICS code for this requirement is 541611, based on the PWS's overarching management and advisory functions. The Government encourages all interested parties whose capabilities align with the PWS to respond, regardless of their primary NAICS code.

6 Administrative/General PWS;

Will a full draft PWS be released prior to solicitation, or is the RFI's summary of the five service categories the extent of information available at this stage?

The information provided in the RFI and its attachments represents the most current information available for market research purposes. The Government has not yet determined if a draft PWS or draft solicitation will be released prior to the final solicitation.

7 PWS PWS; 3.4.1

Section 3.4.1 requires COR approval for telework on a case-by-case basis. Is there an expected baseline telework allowance (for example, 1 to 2 days per week) typical across task orders, or is full onsite presence the default assumption?

Full onsite presence is the default operational requirement for this contract. Telework is not guaranteed and will be considered by exception only, subject to Contracting Officer Representative (COR) approval on a case-by-case basis.

8 PWS PWS; 5.5.1

For the 30-to-60-day Transition-In period is the specific duration set at the task order level, and what is the Government's tolerance for partial staffing during that window before performance penalties apply?

The specific duration of the Transition-In period will be defined within each individual task order. The Government requires the contractor to be 100% staffed with fully qualified personnel on day one of full performance, as stipulated in PWS Section 5.5.1.

9 PWS PWS; 5.1.1

Is the IDIQ Program Manager resume required at proposal submission, or only upon award?

To evaluate an offeror's capability and commitment, the Government anticipates requiring the IDIQ Program Manager's resume and qualifications upon IDIQ award.

10 PWS PWS; 5.4.1

How many positions across the anticipated task order mix are expected to require DoD 8140 certification , and at what proficiency levels?

The Government cannot provide a precise number of positions requiring DoD 8140 certification at this time. Specific certification and proficiency level requirements will be defined at the individual task order level based on the technical scope of work.

11 PWS PWS; 3.1

Given the firewall and NDA requirements, is there an expectation that OCI-affected personnel be organizationally or physically separated, or is an NDA-based mitigation sufficient?

Offerors must propose a comprehensive OCI Mitigation Plan detailing the specific controls, such as firewalls and NDAs, that will be implemented. The Government will evaluate the sufficiency and credibility of the contractor's proposed plan to ensure objectivity is maintained.

12 PWS PWS; 3.1

Given that OCI firewalls are required for personnel supporting SOF AT&L, SOFM, J4, J8, and PPBE, will a contractor's existing performance on other USSOCOM task orders outside those specific offices (for example, J2 or J3 intelligence and operations support) be treated as a conflict requiring mitigation, or as directly relevant past performance?

All Organizational Conflicts of Interest will be evaluated based on the principles of FAR Subpart 9.5. The Government's primary concern is mitigating impaired objectivity and unfair competitive advantages related to the specific functions listed in PWS Section 3.1; work outside of these areas is less likely to create a conflict.

13 PWS PWS; 3.1

Will the Government provide a template or minimum required elements for the OCI Mitigation Plan due 15 days post-award (CDRL A003), or is the format entirely offeror-defined?

The Government will not provide a specific template for the OCI Mitigation Plan. The format is offeror-defined, but it must be comprehensive and address, at a minimum, all requirements of FAR Subpart 9.5 and the elements described in the PWS.

14 PWS PWS; 4.5.4

Are there existing data science or ML pipelines, models, or codebases the incoming contractor would inherit, or is this new development?

The contractor's scope may include both the sustainment and modernization of existing government systems as well as new development efforts. Specifics regarding any systems to be inherited will be defined at the individual task order level.

15 Administrative/General RFI/Sources Sought Notice;

For evaluation of past performance, will the Government give equal credit to professional services contracts of smaller scope and value performed well, or is there a minimum contract value or position count below which past performance is considered non-comparable?

As the Government is currently in the market research phase, specific evaluation criteria, including the methodology for assessing the relevance and size of past performance, have not yet been determined. If a solicitation is released, the detailed instructions and evaluation criteria for past performance will be fully outlined therein.

16 Administrative/General RFI/Sources Sought Notice;

Will corporate quality certifications such as ISO 9001:2015 or CMMI-DEV Level 3 be considered as evaluation factors or discriminators in the technical approach, or only as a pass/fail responsibility determination?

The Government has not determined what role, if any, corporate certifications will have in a future evaluation. Any forthcoming solicitation will detail the complete evaluation criteria.

17 Administrative/General RFI/Sources Sought Notice;

Is the government specifically looking for SDVOSB companies to respond to the market research or can other companies (WOSB, SB) respond?

The SAM.gov posting explicitly states this is a "Service- Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Set- Aside (FAR 19.14)." This means that only eligible SDVOSB concerns (including compliant JVs) may compete for the award, and the Government intends for this acquisition to be a 100% SDVOSB set-aside.

18 Administrative/General RFI/Sources Sought Notice;

Acquisition description, SDVOSB set-aside paragraph

What experience or past performance requirements, if any, will apply individually to the protege member of an SBA-approved mentor-protege joint venture offeror?

The Government will evaluate the past performance of the joint venture as a whole, considering the experience of both the mentor and the protégé members in accordance with 13 C.F.R. § 125.8(e). There are no separate past performance requirements that apply only to the protégé.

19 Administrative/General RFI/Sources Sought Notice;

NOTE: IAW FAR 9.5, Organizational Conflict of Interest

Will the Government accept organizational conflict of interest mitigation plans prepared in accordance with FAR Subpart 9.5 in lieu of exclusion from award or from individual task orders?

Due to the nature of the advisory and assistance services performed under SEPS II, the Government has determined that mandatory preclusion from other USSOCOM contracts is the only acceptable method to mitigate the inherent Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI). OCI mitigation plans alone, in lieu of preclusion, will not be considered sufficient.

20 Administrative/General RFI/Sources Sought Notice;

Acquisition description, SDVOSB set-aside paragraph

Will the Government evaluate the experience and past performance of a mentor-protege joint venture offeror in accordance with 13 CFR 125.8(e), considering the individual experience and past performance of each joint venture member where the joint venture entity itself has limited performance history?

Please see the response to Question 2.

21 Administrative/General RFI/Sources Sought Notice;

NOTE: IAW FAR 9.5, Organizational Conflict of Interest

Does the Government consider current performance on existing USSOCOM enterprise support requirements, whether as a prime or subcontractor, to constitute an organizational conflict of interest with respect to SEPS II?

Due to the nature of the advisory and assistance services performed under SEPS II, the Government has determined that mandatory preclusion from other USSOCOM contracts is the only acceptable method to mitigate the inherent Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI). Therefore, the SEPS II awardee will be precluded from performing on other USSOCOM contracts.

22 Administrative/General RFI/Sources Sought Notice;

Anticipated contract structure paragraph (single award IDIQ, ceiling value yet to be determined)

Does the Government anticipate using a Highest Rated Technical Offer (HRTO) self-scoring evaluation methodology, similar to that used for the SEPS solicitation (H9240022R0008)?

Because the Government currently anticipates a single-award IDIQ structure for SEPS II, a Highest Rated Technical Offer (HRTO) self-scoring evaluation methodology will not be utilized. The evaluation methodology will be tailored to a single-award source selection and will be fully detailed in the forthcoming solicitation.

23 Administrative/General RFI/Sources Sought Notice;

Notice paragraph (no solicitation is available at this time)

Does the Government intend to release a draft solicitation, including the anticipated evaluation criteria, for industry review and comment prior to the final RFP?

The Government has not yet determined if a draft solicitation will be released for industry review. Should the Government decide to do so, it will be announced via SAM.gov.

24 Administrative/General RFI/Sources Sought Notice;

Anticipated contract structure paragraph (single award IDIQ, ceiling value yet to be determined)

What volume of USSOCOM knowledge-based services requirements currently performed on other contract vehicles does the Government anticipate transitioning into SEPS II as those requirements conclude their periods of performance?

The Government cannot forecast the specific volume of requirements that may transition from other contracts.

However, for planning purposes, the current SEPS IDIQ has a ceiling of $150M, and the Government anticipates the SEPS II vehicle will have an increased ceiling.

25 Administrative/General RFI/Sources Sought Notice; RFI Submittal Instructions

Does the Government intend to provide industry engagement opportunities, such as an industry day or one-on-one sessions, prior to RFP release?

This question is substantively the same as Question 3. Please see the response provided for Question 3.

26 Administrative/General Admin / General;

Will offerors be permitted to propose equivalent experience in lieu of formal education where appropriate?

As the Government is currently in the market research phase, the specific personnel qualification requirements have not yet been determined. Should a solicitation be released, the baseline requirements will be defined, with any further specifics detailed at the Task Order level.

27 Administrative/General Admin / General;

Can the Government provide historical CONUS and OCONUS travel costs?

The Government cannot provide historical travel data, as future requirements will be determined by mission needs. All travel will be managed on a cost-reimbursable basis in strict accordance with FAR 31.205-46, and authorized at the individual task order level.

28 Administrative/General Admin / General;

Can the government confirm is there are any FTE requirements at the TSOCs and/or Components, or if the entirety of the work is supported at HQ USSOCOM MacDill?

This requirement supports the entire USSOCOM enterprise, which includes HQ USSOCOM, its four Components, JSOC, and the Theater Special Operations Commands (TSOCs) as detailed in the PWS. While the primary place of performance is MacDill AFB, the specific places of performance and any FTE requirements will be identified within individual task orders.

29 PWS PWS;

Section 8.1 – General Security and Clearances

Section 8.1 states that the prime contractor shall possess and maintain a Top Secret Facility Clearance at the time of proposal submission. Is this requirement intended to require an active FCL at proposal submission, or would offerors that have initiated the FCL process through appropriate sponsorship prior to award be considered eligible?

Please see the response provided for Question 1.

30 Administrative/General RFI/Sources Sought Notice;

Is SEPS anticipated to be structured as a single-award or multiple-award SDVOSB IDIQ under FAR Part 19.14?

The SAM.gov posting (Description section) states, "At this time, it is anticipated the SEPS II contract will be a single award Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract."

31 PWS PWS; 3.1

Given the OCI mitigation requirements outlined in the PWS, does the Government anticipate restricting participation from firms currently performing PPBE, budget, or requirements-generation support elsewhere within the DoD, or will an approved OCI Mitigation Plan with appropriate safeguards be considered sufficient?

The mandatory preclusion on future work is specific to other USSOCOM requirements. However, offerors must address all potential Organizational Conflicts of Interest, including those arising from existing contracts across the DoD, in their comprehensive OCI Mitigation Plan as required by the PWS.

32 PWS

RFI/Sources Sought Notice; Section 4.0 – Requirements

Will task orders generally encompass the full breadth of PWS requirements, or does the Government anticipate individual task orders being aligned primarily to specific Knowledge-Based Service (KBS) portfolio areas? Can you provide more information on the KBS?

The Government anticipates that individual task orders will generally be aligned to the specific Knowledge-Based Services (KBS) portfolio areas. The five KBS portfolios for this requirement are defined in Section 4 of the PWS and summarized in the RFI notice.

33 PWS PWS; PWS §8.1

Recognizing SBA/ISOO's October 2023 joint guidance that an unpopulated small business joint venture does not itself require an FCL where the JV member performing classified-access work holds the requisite clearance, would USSOCOM consider a proposal from an SDVOSB-led joint venture structured this way as satisfying the Top-Secret Facility Clearance requirement in PWS §8.1?

Please see the response provided for Question 1.

34 PWS PWS;

Will the government provide floor rates for the LCATS for the solicitation?

The IDIQ solicitation will not contain priced labor categories.

Pricing will be established at the individual task order level, at which time the Government may consider providing floor rates or ranges depending on the specific requirement.

35 PWS PWS;

What is the expected distribution of labor by functional area?

The Government cannot provide an expected distribution of labor by functional area at this time. The specific labor mix will be driven by the requirements identified in future individual task orders.

36 PWS PWS; 4.5.3 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Support.

Will USSOCOM require delivery of all training datasets associated with AI models?

Based on the current version of the PWS, Yes. In accordance with PWS Section 3.5 (Government Rights to Intellectual Property and Data), the Government shall retain unlimited rights to all deliverables, which explicitly includes all training data associated with AI and ML models. The Government will review the PWS prior to a draft/final RFP.

37 PWS PWS;

3.5 Government Rights to Intellectual

Property and Data.

Does "Unlimited Rights" apply to contractor-developed pre-existing tools incorporated into solutions?

The Government’s unlimited rights apply to all data, code, and deliverables developed or modified under this contract. If an offeror proposes to integrate any pre-existing or proprietary tools, they must identify them in their proposal and negotiate the appropriate government purpose rights in accordance with the DFARS.

38 PWS PWS; 5.6 Surge Capability.

Can USSOCOM provide historical examples of surge events?

Specific historical details of surge events are not available for release. However, for planning purposes, surge capacity is contractually defined as operational requirements requiring additional work hours in excess of normal duty hours to support operational needs or contingencies, typically executed through compensatory scheduling within the 1,872 hours per FTE, incremental funding for on-contract overtime, or temporary additional manpower.

39 PWS PWS; 5.6 Surge Capability.

Will the 10% surge requirement apply individually to task orders or contract-wide?

The surge capability requirement of up to 10%, as described in PWS Section 5.6, is applicable at the individual task order level.

40 PWS PWS; 8.5 Cybersecurity and CUI Protection

How will CMMC requirements be applied to offerors and subcontractors?

The Government is monitoring the evolving CMMC landscape and current Department of War directives. Specific cybersecurity compliance and certification requirements will be determined and finalized if a solicitation is released

41 PWS PWS;

3.1 Organizational Conflict of Interest

(OCI).

Are there specific functional areas where USSOCOM anticipates heightened OCI concerns beyond SOF AT&L, SOFM, J4, J8, and PPBE?

The functional areas listed in PWS Section 3.1 represent the Government's primary areas of OCI concern. However, all potential OCIs will be evaluated in accordance with FAR Subpart 9.5, regardless of the specific functional area in which they may arise.

42 PWS PWS;

3.1 Organizational Conflict of Interest

(OCI).

Will OCI determinations be performed at the task-order level or contract level?

The SEPS II IDIQ as a whole is considered to have inherent Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI) due to its advisory nature. Only requirements that involve OCI will be placed as task orders under this contract, at which time the Government will assess any specific conflicts.

43 PWS PWS; 3.2 Types of Services.

Does USSOCOM anticipate mandatory exclusion from future procurements as a result of supporting requirements generation or acquisition planning activities?

Yes. Please see the responses provided for Question 4 and Question 19.

44 PWS PWS;

Will task orders generally be FFP, T&M, LH, or Cost Reimbursement?

While all contract types will be available for use, the Government anticipates that the majority of task orders will be awarded on a Labor Hour (LH) basis. The contract type will be selected based on the specific nature of each individual requirement.

45 PWS PWS;

Does USSOCOM anticipate a single-award or multiple-award IDIQ structure for

SEPS II?

This question is substantively the same as Question 30. Please see the response provided for Question 30.

46 PWS PWS;

Will task order competitions utilize best-value tradeoff, LPTA, or a combination of evaluation methods?

As the Government anticipates a single-award IDIQ structure for SEPS II, task orders will not be competed among multiple awardees. Task orders will be issued in accordance with the ordering procedures established in the base contract.

47 PWS PWS;

What socio-economic categories are expected to participate (8(a), SDVOSB, HUBZone, WOSB)?

This question is substantively the same as Question 17. Please see the response provided for Question 17.

48 PWS

Draft PWS Sec. 3.1;

Sec. 6.4; Table 6.8

3, 10-12

Will the final solicitation include a Government-preferred OCI mitigation plan template, minimum required plan elements, or evaluation criteria for assessing OCI mitigation plans?

The Government will not provide a preferred template. Offerors are responsible for developing a comprehensive OCI Mitigation Plan in their own format; however, it will be evaluated as part of the proposal and must, at a minimum, address all requirements of FAR Subpart 9.5 and the elements described in the PWS.

49 PWS

Draft PWS Sec. 3.1;

Sec. 6.4; Table 6.8

3, 10-12 Will the Government provide a process for pre-clearing task-order-level OCI issues before performance begins, including a mechanism for identifying restricted programs, affiliates, subcontractors, and firewall requirements?

The Governement will not provide a process for pre-clearing OCI issues. An Offeror may chose to include something like this in their proposed OCI-mitigation Plan

50 PWS

Draft PWS Sec. 3.4;

Sec. 3.4.1

4-Mar The PWS states that telework must be approved case-by-case by the COR and that classified work is prohibited while teleworking. Will the Government identify which labor categories, task types, or deliverables are expected to be eligible for routine telework, if any?

Full onsite presence is the default operational requirement for this contract. Telework is not guaranteed and will be considered by exception only, subject to Contracting Officer Representative (COR) approval on a case-by-case basis.

51 PWS

Draft PWS Sec. 4.0;

Sec. 4.5.2-4.5.4; Sec.

5.1.1

4, 7-9

Will management of AI/ML, data science, and IL5-or-higher technical support be evaluated at the base IDIQ level, at the task-order level, or both?

An offeror's overall corporate capability and approach to managing AI/ML and data science support will be evaluated at the base IDIQ level. The specific application and technical solution for a given requirement will then be evaluated at the individual task order level.

52 PWS

Draft PWS Sec. 4.0;

Sec. 5.1; Sec. 5.4-5.7

4, 9-10

Will the Government release representative sample task orders, historical labor mix, incumbent staffing data, or anticipated initial task-order requirements to help industry assess staffing, transition, recruiting, pricing, and teaming strategy?

The Government will not provide historical labor mix or incumbent-specific staffing data. However, to support proposal and transition planning, relevant Government Furnished Information (GFI), and potentially a sample task order, may be provided with any forthcoming solicitation.

53 PWS

Draft PWS Sec. 4.5.2- 4.5.4; Sec. 6.6

7-8, 11 Will the Government define whether AI/ML development environments, MLOps pipelines, data repositories, and IL5/IL6 cloud environments will be Government-furnished, contractor-furnished, or task-order-specific?

The Government will provide access to the necessary Government-furnished cloud environments (e.g., IL5/IL6), data repositories, and MLOps pipelines required for performance.

54 PWS

Draft PWS Sec. 3.5;

Sec. 4.5.2-4.5.4; Sec.

6.6

4, 7-8, 11

Will offerors be permitted to propose reusable AI, data, automation, MLOps, management, or reporting tools if the Government receives appropriate license or use rights, while the contractor retains ownership of pre-existing intellectual property?

The Government’s unlimited rights apply to all data, code, and deliverables developed or modified under this contract. If an offeror proposes to integrate any pre-existing or proprietary tools, they must clearly identify them in their proposal and be prepared to negotiate the appropriate government purpose rights in accordance with the DFARS.

55 PWS

Draft PWS Sec. 5.1.1 9 The PWS identifies an IDIQ Program Manager requiring a Top Secret clearance, DoD program management experience, and appropriate formal education or DAWIA Level III/PMP certifications. Will the Government identify any additional key personnel positions, minimum qualifications, or required letters of commitment in the solicitation?

The IDIQ Program Manager is the only key person anticipated to be required at the base contract level. Any additional key personnel requirements will be defined at the individual task order level, and their resumes will be subject to review and approval by the Government.

56 PWS

Draft PWS Sec. 5.7 10 Will the Government provide the standardized labor category matrix, including minimum qualifications, experience, education, certifications, clearance levels, and work-location assumptions, before the draft or final solicitation?

All labor category qualifications and specific requirements will be defined within the Statement of Work of each individual task order.

57 PWS

Draft PWS Sec. 5.5;

Table 6.8

12-Oct

Will the Government provide incumbent staff capture information, position roster access, transition coordination procedures, or incumbent communication guidance to support continuity of operations during the 30-to-60-day transition-in period?

To facilitate a smooth transition, the Government will require the incumbent contractor to develop and execute a Transition- Out plan. The Government will act as the coordinating entity to facilitate communication between the incoming and outgoing contractors, but will not provide incumbent personnel rosters directly.

58 PWS

Draft PWS Sec. 8.1- 8.4

13-Dec

What minimum facility clearance and personnel clearance levels will be required at proposal submission, award, task-order issuance, and start of performance?

At the time of proposal submission, the Prime contractor must possess a Top Secret Facility Clearance. Individual personnel clearances will be specified at the task order level; while some may only require a SECRET for base access, offerors should anticipate that many positions will require a Top Secret or TS/SCI clearance on day one of performance.

59 PWS

Draft PWS Sec. 8.1 12

Will a draft DD Form 254 be released with the draft or final solicitation?

The base IDIQ contract will have its own DD Form 254, which will be provided at time of award. Each individual task order will then have its own separate DD Form 254 tailored to the specific security requirements of that task.

60 PWS

Draft PWS Sec. 8.5 13 Will CMMC Level 2 certification be required at proposal submission, award, task-order issuance, or start of performance?

This question is substantively the same as Question 40. Please see the response provided for Question 40.

61 PWS

Draft PWS Sec. 3.1;

Sec. 6.4; Table 6.8

3, 10-12

How will the Government evaluate OCI mitigation plans, and will subcontractors and outside experts be required to submit separate OCI certifications or mitigation plans?

The prime contractor is fully responsible for the performance and compliance of its subcontractors. Therefore, the prime contractor's OCI Mitigation Plan must address how it will manage and mitigate any potential conflicts arising from its subcontractors and team members.

62 PWS

Draft PWS Table 6.8 12-Nov Will the Government define what constitutes a mission-critical position versus a standard position for purposes of the 15-calendar-day and 30-calendar-day vacancy fill standards?

Yes. The determination of whether a position is mission-critical or standard will be made at the individual task order level, and the applicable vacancy fill standard will be specified therein.

63 PWS

RFI Anticipated Period of Performance; Draft PWS Sec. 5.5

RFI; PWS 10

Please confirm the anticipated period of performance, including whether the five-year ordering period includes transition-in and whether task orders may extend beyond the IDIQ ordering period.

The anticipated five-year ordering period is 17 May 2027 to 16 May 2032. This does not include a separate 45-day transition-in period. Task orders may be issued with performance periods that extend beyond the end of the IDIQ ordering period as specified in the individual order.

64 PWS

RFI acquisition strategy; Draft PWS Sec. 5.0-5.7

RFI; PWS 9-10

Can USSOCOM provide an estimated ceiling, historical annual spend, expected annual ordering value, or anticipated number of task orders for SEPS II?

The Government anticipates the total estimated ceiling for SEPS II will be approximately $250M over the five-year ordering period. The Government cannot provide historical spend or an anticipated number of task orders, as this will be dependent on future mission requirements.

65 PWS

RFI acquisition strategy; Draft PWS Sec. 7.0 / Table 6.8

RFI; PWS 11-12

Will the future solicitation use self-scoring, traditional technical evaluation, confidence ratings, oral presentations, scenario-based evaluation, or another source-selection methodology?

As the Government is currently in the market research phase, the specific source selection methodology and evaluation criteria have not yet been determined. If a solicitation is released, the detailed instructions and evaluation approach will be fully outlined therein.

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