SF30 Continuation Page A004.docx

SF30 Continuation Page Amendment A004 U.S. Department of State

S-AQMMA-11-R-0186

Supply Chain Management

A. Additional Solicitation Changes

1. Page 3, Paragraph B.2 (b) (table). The “Reference” cell under CLIN X009 is hereby amended to delete the phrase “Reference L.16.2 (37).”

2. Page 3, Paragraph B.2 (b) (table). The “Reference” cell under CLIN X010 is hereby amended to delete the phrase “Reference L.16.2 (38).”

3. Page 3, Paragraph B.2 (f). The paragraph was deleted in entirety and the following is hereby substituted in lieu thereof: Time portion of time-and-materials (see FAR 16.601) = Payment at negotiated fixed fully-loaded hourly labor rates multiplied by the number of allowable actual incurred hours. Negotiated fixed fully-loaded hourly labor rates includes unloaded hourly labor rates, fringe benefits (if not included in applicable indirect costs), bonus cost (if not included in applicable indirect costs), applicable indirect costs, and profit.

4. Page 5, Paragraph B.4 (c), and Exhibit A-Pricing Table 3(note 2). The paragraph was deleted in entirety and the following is hereby substituted in lieu thereof: The negotiated ceiling indirect cost rates will be compared to the respective established final indirect cost rates, and the Government shall pay the lesser of the negotiated ceiling indirect cost rates and the respective established final indirect cost rates. See Section B.3(f) for the other usage of the negotiated ceiling indirect cost rates.

5. Page 5, Paragraph B.4 (d). The paragraph was deleted in entirety.

6. Page 5, Paragraph B.4 (e). The paragraph became Paragraph B.4 (d).

7. Page 8, Paragraph B.7 (i). The paragraph was deleted in entirety and the following is hereby substituted in lieu thereof: Each negotiated fixed fully-loaded hourly labor rate consists of an unloaded hourly labor rate, fringe benefits (if not included in applicable indirect costs), bonus cost (if not included in applicable indirect costs), applicable indirect costs, and profit amount. It does not consist of any other costs. Any other costs that are part of the Contractor’s established compensation plan and consistent with FAR Part 31 shall be allocated as a material under CLIN X010 (Other Supplies).

8. Page 103, Paragraph L.16.2 (10) and Exhibit A-Pricing Table 1(10). The paragraph is hereby added as follows: “In Pricing Table 2, the proposed provisional billing rates shall not exceed the ceiling indirect cost rates proposed in pricing Table 3.”

9. Pages 104 and 105, Paragraph L.16.2 (24) (formerly 23) and Exhibit A-Pricing Table 1(24) (formerly 23). The paragraph was deleted in entirety and the following is hereby substituted in lieu thereof: “In Pricing Table 6, each proposed fixed fully-loaded hourly labor rate shall consist of a proposed unloaded hourly rate, fringe benefits (if not part of applicable indirect costs), bonus cost (if not part of applicable indirect costs), applicable indirect costs, and profit. It shall not consist of any other costs. [Any other costs that are part of the Contractor’s established compensation plan and consistent with FAR Part 31 may be allocated during contract performance under CLIN X010 (Other Supplies). Furthermore, any cost elements included in the proposed and negotiated fixed fully-loaded hourly labor rates shall not be allocated elsewhere under this contract.

10. Page 107, Paragraph L.16.2 (45) (formerly 44) and Exhibit A-Pricing Table 1(45) (formerly 44). The paragraph was deleted in entirety and the following is hereby substituted in lieu thereof: “In Detail Pricing Table (for Pricing Table 6), offerors shall show for each performance year the build-up of each fixed fully-loaded hourly labor rate proposed in Pricing Table 6 (see exception under item 66 below). Offerors shall identify on the build-up schedule:

a. proposed unloaded hourly labor rate

b. each proposed fringe benefits description (if not included in an indirect cost pool)

c. each proposed fringe benefits cost (if not included in an indirect cost pool)

d. proposed bonus cost (if not included in an indirect cost pool)

e. each proposed indirect cost rate description (e.g., Overhead, G&A)

f. each proposed indirect cost rate

g. each proposed indirect cost

h. proposed profit percentage

i. proposed profit dollar amount

j. proposed fixed fully-loaded hourly labor rate “

11. Pages 108 and 109, Paragraph L.16.2 (49) (formerly 48) and Exhibit A-Pricing Table 1(49) (formerly 48). The paragraph was deleted in entirety and the following is substituted in lieu thereof: In Detail Pricing Table (for Pricing Table 7), for CLINs X001, X002, X006, and X007, offerors shall show for each contract year the breakdown of each proposed firm-fixed-price. The breakdown shall consist of at least the following:

Labor

a. Each labor category

b. Number of positions for each labor category

c. Proposed number of hours per position

d. Proposed unloaded hourly labor rate per position

e. Each proposed fringe benefits description (if not included in an indirect cost pool)

f. Each proposed fringe benefits cost (if not included in an indirect cost pool)

g. Proposed bonus cost (if not included in an indirect cost pool)

h. Each proposed indirect cost rate description (e.g., Overhead)

i. Each proposed indirect cost rate

j. Each proposed indirect cost

k. Proposed profit percentage

l. Proposed profit dollar amount

m. Subtotal for each labor category

n. Subtotal for Labor (sum of subtotals for all labor categories)

Non-labor

a. Each proposed cost element

b. Proposed unit cost per cost element

c. Proposed unit of measurement per cost element

d. Proposed quantity per cost element

e. Each proposed indirect cost rate description (e.g., G&A)

f. Each proposed indirect cost rate

g. Each proposed indirect cost

h. Proposed profit percentage

i. Proposed profit dollar amount

j. Subtotal for each cost element

k. Subtotal for Non-labor (sum of subtotals for all cost elements)

Labor and Non-labor

a. Proposed firm-fixed-price (sum of subtotals for Labor and Non-labor)

B. Vendor Questions and Answers

1. C.4.3.3Within the Solicitation Supply Chain Management A003 Aug 1 2011 document, Section C.4.3.3 a table is provided that indicates quantities, and varying complexities of the Concept of Operation documents the contractor is to provide. However, in Appendix J-1 Projected Workload Table A002 the quantities of Concept of Operation documents for Section C.4.3.3 were removed.

Question: Does the Government intend the contractor to use the Table and the associated quantities within the Solicitation Supply Chain Management A003 Aug 1 2011 document to be the basis for estimate? If yes, will the Government amend Appendix J-1 Projected Workload Table A002 to reflect the table in Section C.4.3.3 Solicitation Supply Chain Management A003 Aug 1 2011? If no, will the Government amend Section C.4.3.3 in the Solicitation Supply Chain Management A003 Aug 1 2011document to match the Appendix J-1 Projected Workload Table A002?

Answer: Appendix J-1 Projected Workload Table is hereby amended to inserted the deleted workload for C.4.3.3. The workload depicted for C.4.3.4, C.4.3.7 and C.4.3.8 has been updated.

2. Within Appendix J-1 Projected Workload Table A002 there is a value of 3760 for the Base year and each of the four Option years for C.4.3.14. Question: Can the Government provide some resolution on what this value represents. (e.g. labor units, projects, task orders, etc.)

Answer: The 3,760 is the number of labor hours projected for that task by performance period. The unit has been updated to reflect "hours."

3. Within Appendix J-1 Projected Workload Table A002 there are values for “Online Equipment and Reference Library (EARL)” within Section C.4.3.10. Question: Can the Government provide some resolution on what this value represents. (e.g., document data entry, document management, etc.)

Answer: The numbers reflect an approximate number of new documents uploaded to the EaRL website that must be correctly tracked, routed, organized, and stored to ensure availability to customers.

4. At what point can material be invoiced for? Is it when it is shipped to the final destination, and therefore the shipped item can be invoiced at the regular billing cycle, or when the material is received at destination?

Answer: Purchase requisitions shipped via the Diplomatic Pouch can be invoiced for upon delivery to the State Department Pouch Processing Center. Purchase requisitions shipped commercially can be invoiced upon delivery to the final destination with proof of delivery documentation. Page 50, Paragraph G.7. The following have been added as new bulleted items.

· Product shipped via the Diplomatic Pouch - The Contractor shall provide by product number, the associated purchase requisition number and the Diplomatic Pouch registry numbers assigned to the product.

· Products shipped commercially - The Contractor shall provide by product number, the associated purchase requisition number and proof of deliver at the final destination.

5. With the extensive changes, will the government consider extending the submittal due date to Monday, 29 August?

Answer: No, at this time no extension is anticipated.

6. F.4 Deliverables, Page 47; and C.4.7.2 Consolidating Receiving Point (CRP), Page 36. The deliverables chart lists a requirement for assembly and testing reports and references Section C.4.7.2 which is the CRP for Product Staging. C.4.7.2 does not appear to contain any work scope related to testing. Please clarify the testing and reporting requirement and to which section of the Performance Work Statement it pertains.

Answer: Page 47, Paragraph C.4.7 has been amended to delete "Assembly and Testing Reports" and include the correct CRP design drawing deliverables. See attached change page 47.

7. C.4.1.4 Warehouse Facility Requirements, Page 23. C.4.1.4, part 6 states the DME First Responder resupply point will need to be accessible on a 24/7/365 basis.

Does requirement dictate the resupply point must be staffed on a 24/7/365 basis?

Answer: No.

If not what is the acceptable response timeframes for access by DME personnel?

Answer: Page 22, Paragraph C.4.1.4, Number 6 is hereby amended. Reference change page 22.

Will DME personnel be allowed unaccompanied access into the Contractor Warehouse Facility?

Answer: Unaccompanied access should be dictated in the ACA between the DME contractor and the SCM contractor.

8. L.19.3.5 Transportation, Page 118. Can we assume that Transportation Exhibits B and C are not included in the page count for the Technical Proposal?

Answer: Transportation Exhibits B and C are not included in the Technical Proposal page count.

9. C.4.6 Order Fulfillment, page 34. Regarding Priority Level Timeframes, what interval do these timeframes cover specifically? Shipment to delivery at the shipment destination? PO issuance to shipment? PO issuance to delivery at shipment destination?

Answer: Page 34, Paragraph C.4.6 specifically states, " The PR shall be assigned pre-established priority levels associated with the timeframes required for the Contractor obtaining and entering the quoted prices into CMMS."

10. C.4.8 Transportation, page 37. "...provide the ordering activity with the bill of lading, commercial invoice, and customs clearance invoice no later than one (1) week prior to the scheduled delivery".

Would the contractor necessarily have to hold shipments and possibly incur demurrage costs by waiting one week between customs clearance and delivery?

Answer: Page 37, Paragraph C.4.8 has been amended to deleted the one (1) week prior to scheduled delivery requirement. See change page 37.

Does this requirement refer to fully completed and cleared customs paperwork (clearance by foreign customs completed) or does it refer to the customs package transmitted from US customs at the start of the transport?

Answer: See change page 37.

Please clarify the purpose of the one week waiting requirement. Would government be better served by immediate delivery after foreign customs clearance?

Answer: See change page 37.

11. C.4.8 Transportation. Do provisions of the Fly America Act only apply to travel by persons and their baggage or does it also apply to cargo shipments? If the Fly America Act is applicable to cargo shipments, if no US flagged carrier is present or able to fly into destination what type of waiver of exemption process would required to remain compliant?

Answer: The Fly American Act is applicable for all air travel and cargo transportation services funded by the United States Government. The Waiver process will be provided at the time of award.

12. C.4.1.4 Warehouse Facility Requirements, Page 22. Does the 26,000 square feet space requirement for inventory storage include any space for contractor-owned inventory?

Answer: No, this is based on the Government’s inventory storage space requirements only.

13. Exhibit A - Tab 5. There are 255 items on the current list of parts requirements that have a unit of measure that is not defined (see attached). Will the government provide unit of measure information, e.g. quantity per unit?

Answer: No. However the part nomenclature in some instances includes the quantities, and the information is available from the manufacturer.

14. L.19.8 Past Performance and Experience, Page 120. Following information is requested for each contract: "Contract Size (Number of personnel employed by contract year per labor category) and dollar value". Question: Can we assume that the Government is looking for total number of labor categories and total number of personnel employed by contract year?

Answer: Yes.

15. L.15 Proposal Instructions, Page 101. Can we assume that foldout (used for graphics or tables) is counted as single page?

Answer: Yes

16. I.1 Clauses Incorporated by Reference, Page 77. Does FAR 52.247-63, Preference for U.S. Flag Air Carriers, apply only to travel by persons and their accompanying baggage or does it also apply to cargo shipments, i.e. delivery orders for equipment shipped under this contract?

Answer: Yes per the Fly American Act. Reference Question 11.

17. B.3 Provisional Billing Rates, Page 3; B.4 Ceiling Indirect Cost Rates, Pages 4-5; and L.16.2 Price Proposal Instructions (#13), Page 104. If your company has separate organizations priced for the proposal that are covered under separate CAS segments with separate provisional billing rates and forward pricing rates, can you propose separate provisional billing rate and ceiling rate schedules for each company organization/ CAS segment priced in the proposal?

Answer: No. The offeror must consist of one organization/segment/business unit. As such, the offeror must submit one set of proposed provisional billing rates and ceiling indirect cost rates for Exhibit A-Pricing Tables 2 and 3, respectively, and this set must be attributed to the offeror [see L.16.2(9), (11), and (13)].

18. C.4.5. Sourcing and Procurement, Page 3. Regarding the second paragraph which states that the Contractor shall comply with the Government’s security requirements applicable to procurement and purchase of purchase all items destined for use overseas in Controlled Access Areas (CAAs), for planning purposes, can the DoS provide a estimate of CAA equipment procurement in relation to all equipment procurement? For example, what percentage of all equipment procurement based on dollar value does CAA represent?

Answer: Reference Appendix J-1, Paragraph C.4.8.

19. H.1 Security Requirements, Page 52. Regarding the second paragraph which states that all Contractor personnel performing on this contract are required to have Secret personnel security clearances to have access to classified material and/or enter into areas requiring a security clearance; all Contractor employees must have Secret security clearance prior to contract performance; specifically designated personnel will be required to have Top Secret personnel security clearances; and individual clearances shall be maintained for the duration of employment under this contract, or until access requirements change:

Q.1. Can DoS clarify whether all Contractor personnel performing on this contract must have a Secret clearance or just those that are going to have access to CRPs, will be procuring CAA material, or accessing other areas requiring a security clearance?

Answer: All Contractor personnel performing on this contract must have a Secret Clearance but may start performance with an Interim Secret Clearance.

Q.2. Can DoS identify which are the "specifically designated personnel" that will be required to have Top Secret personnel security clearances?

Answer: Not at this time.

20. H.6.2 Key Personnel, page 60; H.7 Personnel Requirements, Page 61; and H.7.8 Maximo Support Specialist. Section H.6.2 notes that the CMMS/Maximo Expert is considered to be a key person under the contract. Section H.7 does not appear to specify the requirements for this labor category. Could the DoS confirm that the Maximo Support Specialist description (H.7.8) applies to this position.

Answer: Page 60, Paragraph H.6.2 has been amended to delete "CMMS/Maximo Support" and insert "Maximo Support Specialist" in lieu thereof. See change page 60.

21. Per the inclusion of FAR 52.225-1, Buy American Act-Supplies, in Amendment 0002, will the Government please provide the list of foreign articles that will treated as domestic for this Contract?

Answer: All items are available as commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) and are therefore considered domestic.

22. Question 141, DoS provided information for nine of the ten kits in question. Will the Government please provide a listing of component parts comprising Part # 1582, Item HNT001 REV1, Tool Kit for Vehicle Barrier?

Answer: Part Number 1582, Item HNT001 is hereby deleted in its entirety.

23. Exhibits B&C are now a part of Volume 4, will these spreadsheets count towards the page limitation?

Answer: No, Exhibits B and C do not count towards the page limitation, see question 8.

24. We request confirmation that the maximum fixed fee that is withheld under CLIN X004, X005 and X008 CPFF CLINs will be as prescribed under FAR 52.216-8 “reserve not to exceed 15 percent of the total fixed fee or $100,000, whichever is less”.

Answer: Yes, the maximum fixed fee that is withheld under CLINs X004, X005, and X008 will be as prescribed under FAR 52.216-8 (Fixed Fee) (June 2011) (i.e., not to exceed 15% of the total fixed fee or $100,000, whichever is less).

25. Section I – Clause I.3.1 (d) fixed price deduction. Would the Government consider removing this clause? If not, please provide confirmation that this clause is applicable only to CLIN 2 and CLIN 7, and only for employees providing a service at a Government location, and not applicable to the CLINs 1 and 6 because the performance location is not a Government facility. What is the maximum deduction that can assessed and how is that assessment calculated?

Answer: Section I, Paragraph I.3.1 is only applicable to employees providing a service at a Government location. The maximum deduction and the assessment calculations are described in sub paragraphs one (1) and two (2) of subject clause.

26. Section I – Clause 52.219-16. Since the Liquidation Damages Clause 52.211.15 was removed, will the Government confirm that this clause H-8 will also be removed, and if not, please provide the calculation of how the damages will be assessed.

Answer: Clause H.8 is Contractor Commitments, Warranties and Representations, the first paragraph is hereby amended to read as follows, " Any written commitment by the Contractor within the scope of this contract shall be binding. Failure to fulfill any such commitment can be considered as non-performance by the Contractor under the terms of this contract. For the purpose of this clause, a written commitment by the Contractor is limited to the proposal submitted by the Contractor, and to specific written modifications to the proposal. Written commitments by the Contractor are further defined as including:"

27. Section B.5 (d) – Clause FAR 52.216-8 is referenced but not listed in Section I. Please confirm that this Clause will be added to Section I?

Answer: Yes, FAR Clause 52.216-8 is hereby added to Section I.

28. Section B. Can the Government please explain in detail the criteria/basis of ‘satisfaction’ on which the contractor will be judged. Will the Government provide the measurable and quantifiable performance indicators on which the contracting officer will be ‘satisfied’?

Answer: Contracting officer satisfaction will be based on the contractor meeting the performance standards in Appendix J-2.

29. CLIN X001 – Program Management. Please confirm that the tasks that the Program Management CLIN are to be priced under are bound to the scope of work in C.4.1, C.4.2, C.4.4, H.1-H.3, H.4(2nd paragraph), H.4.1, H.6.2, and H.10-H.13 only?

Answer: As stated in the "Reference" column under CLIN X001 (Program Management) in Section B.2(b), the following sections are to be priced under CLIN X001: C.4.1.1, C.4.1.2, C.4.1.4 (excluding last 3 paragraphs), C.4.2, C.4.4, C.4.10, H.1–H.3, H.4 (excluding 1st paragraph), H.4.1, H.6 (1st paragraph), H.6.2, and H.10–H.13. Performance under this CLIN is limited to the scope of work required under these sections.

30. CLIN X002 – Technology Development. Please confirm that the tasks that the Technology CLIN are to be priced under are bound to the scope of work in C.4.3 only?

Answer: Yes, performance under CLIN X002 (Technology Development) is limited to the scope of work required under Section 4.3.

31. Section B, Solicitation Supply Chain Management, B.7. The labor categories in the table are listed as Sub-CLIN X0007. Question: Should they be changed to Sub-CLIN X0009?

Answer: The change was reflected in Solicitation Supply Chain Management A003 issued under Amendment A003.

32. Section G, Required Invoice Information, G.7. Time sheets are required for the Firm-Fixed-Price CLIN X007. Question: Should this CLIN reference be changed to CLIN X0009?

Answer: The CLIN references in the second sentence under Section G.7 now read, "CLIN X004, X005, X008, X009, and X010." Also, the RFP reference in the fourth bullet was changed to "B.9(e)."

33. Section I, Clauses Incorporated by Reference, I.1. The Government has added FAR 52.225-1 & -2 Buy American clauses in the amendment. Do the clauses apply to FUP list or will the Government apply the requirement to only items not currently listed within the catalogue?

Answer: The clause applies to all current and any future items listed in the catalog.

34. Section J, APPENDIX J-1 PROJECTED WORKLOAD, Special Projects. Special Projects Workload Amount = 3,760 per year. Question: Please clarify that this means 3,760 metric hours are to be worked?

Answer: Yes, the 3,760 represents labor hours. Reference the attached Appendix J-1.

35. Section L, Program Management, L.19.2.1. Bullet 2 reads: Provide organizational and functional charts reflecting all lines of management responsibility, including corporate management (including names and telephone numbers).

Corresponding bullet in original RFP read: Provide organizational and functional charts reflecting all lines of management responsibility, including corporate management (including names and telephone numbers) above the level managing this contract.

Question: Is it still necessary to provide names and telephone numbers of corporate management above the level managing this contract?

Answer: Page 115, Paragraph L.19.2 states, " Provide organizational and functional charts reflecting all lines of management responsibility, including corporate management (including names and telephone numbers)." Please provide the requested information as stated.

36. Exhibit A, Pricing Table 5. Question: Many items on the IML are highly volatile due to sensitivity to unpredictable fluctuations in commodity raw materials. OEMS are not able to hold pricing for a year for such product sets, forcing bidders to artificially increase the sell price to the government of such to the cost increases from OEM cost. Upon documentation being provided to the Government documenting such rise in OEM costs, will the Government allow for adjustments outside of the option year updates in such particular circumstances.

Answer: No, this is a competitive solicitation and the Contractor shall use their best business judgment when preparing their offer to account for all variables as referenced. The Government will not allow any price adjustments outside of what is allowable under Federal Acquisition Regulation.

37. SF30 Continuation Pages, B. Questions and Answers, Answer to question #8, item b. The solicitation states, " For CLINSs X003-X005, X008 and X010, offerors shall propose the types of quantities of RFP-specified labor categories that would be allocated indirectly." Question: If contractors do not have labor categories that can be allocated indirectly per their disclosed accounting practices to support CLIN 0003 sourcing/staging activities, where should direct labor cost in support of these activities be proposed?

Answer: All labor costs that support the CLIN X003 requirements shall be included in the proposed firm-fixed-unit-prices.

38. SF33 Continuation Pages, B. Questions and Answers, Question #34. Answer is truncated. Question: Can you provide the complete answer?

Answer: The last sentence of Question 34 should read, "CMMS captures and reports the date and time the purchase request was assigned to the Contractor as well as the shipment date.

40. SF30 Continuation Page – B. Questions and Answers, Question #2. Answer states that TIER III call volume has been added to Appendix J-1, however we cannot find the referenced data in the conformed J-1. Question: Where is the referenced TIER III call volume data?

Answer: Reference Appendix J-1 Projected Workload Table A004, C.4.13 for Technical Assistance.

41. SF30 Continuation Page – B. Questions and Answers, Answers #9. Although a description of Project Coordinator duties has been eliminated from the Section H.7 Personnel Requirements, a line item for Project Coordinators is still included in the Pricing Tables.

Question: Has the government eliminated the Project Coordinator position from its overall personnel requirements, and therefore this position should also be removed from the pricing tables?

Answer: The Project Coordinator labor category has been removed from the Exhibit A-Pricing Tables and Section B.7(c).

42. SF30 Continuation Page – B. Questions and Answers, Answers #24 and #32. Will the Department of State provide all current test equipment used in the Equipment Repair Shop via 1149 Transfer of Government Property? We assume all required tool kits will be provided by the contractor.

Answer: No

43. RFP section L does not specify inclusion of Front Matter – Table of Contents, List of Figures, Acronym List, and RFP Compliance Matrix. For ease of Government reviewers can we include Front Matter and assume that this is excluded from 200 page count in Volume 4?

Answer: Yes, the Table of Contents, List of Figures, Acronym Lisa and RFP Compliance Matrix can be excluded from the 200 page count in Volume 4.

44. Exhibit A Section L.16.2 Compliance Checklist tab Page 41, please clarify whether the Government is looking for indirect rate and profit percentages for Table 5, Firm-fixed-unit-prices. If this information is requested, would the Government please consider providing a format to break this information out in?

Answer: See Section L.16.2(42).

C. Amendment Instructions

1. Delete Solicitation Supply Chain Management A003 in its entirety and substitute the attached Solicitation Supply Chain Management A004 in lieu thereof.

2. Delete Appendix J-1 Project Workload Table A002 in its entirety and substitute the attached Appendix J-1 Project Workload Table A004 in lieu thereof.

3. Delete Exhibit A Pricing Tables A002 in its entirety and substitute the attached Exhibit A Pricing Tables A004 in lieu thereof.