Amendment003_QA.docx

– QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS –

SAQMMA12R0316 9/19/2012

Training

1. Will the Government reimburse contractor all associated Pre-Deployment Training?

2. Will the government pay for training individuals here in the states so they are ready to go or grant waivers?

Answer: Yes, all training costs will be covered under the ODC CLIN, with the exception of actual time of the individual (labor hour), which will be covered by the Contractor’s corporate training policy and compensation plan. The Government does not expect to pay labor hours or to be invoiced on an individual’s training time. Those costs are to be borne by the Contractor as it is their employee receiving the benefit of the training and their workforce that is improving at the Government’s expense for costs associated with training.

3. Reference Section H.8.2 Training Waiver. Will qualified in Iraq incumbents be granted waivers? If not what is the timeframe to obtain the various trainings?

Answer: Yes, qualified in-Iraq incumbents will be granted temporary waivers but must complete the required training the next time they return to the United States.

· Reference pg. 33 – H.8.3 Training Overview for High Threat Posts. It states “the Government shall directly fund FACT training registration/tuition fees. The Contractor shall be responsible for all other costs, including travel, lodging, per diem, and labor to be billed back to the contract accordingly.” It also states that training runs Monday through Friday: Two days are spent at the DSTC and three days are spent at Bill Scott Raceway (BSR) in Summit Point, West Virginia. The Department provides transportation to West Virginia. Hotel reservations will be made for students in West Virginia, however, students must individually pay for their rooms.

4. When is this training initiated?

Answer: The Government GTM, COR, RSO or CO will coordinate this type of training as available with your firm’s management teams in the U.S. and at post.

5. How far in advance do they have to program for this course?

Answer: Specifics regarding advance planning will be worked out with the awardee after award. FACT training is offered regularly but seats are limited.

6. How many personnel can we move thru this course at a given time?

Answer: Specifics regarding how many personnel can be moved through the course will be worked out with awardee after award. FACT training is offered regularly but seats are limited.

7. How do we factor this into our transition plan?

Answer: With regards to transitioning, the information given is for your firm’s information purposes only. Each offeror can use their best business judgment on how best to apply or reference it in draft transition plan.

8. Is travel to DC from home of record reimbursable?

Answer: Travel associated with this is reimbursable and would be covered in CLIN 008 under federal travel regulation.

Security Clearance – Embassy Vetting

9. Reference Section 1. D. – What does the “Embassy Certification” consists of in regard to the clearance requirement for Local National Security Liaisons?

10. Linguist (Vetting) in Iraq, Erbil, and Basrah – Secret Clearance. What are the vetting requirements for these linguists? Is there a vetting process for local nationals before they can start on the contract?

Answer: The vetting process for local nationals involves a subject interview, background checks through various databases, and, possibly, a polygraph examination. Local national vetting packages will be provided after contract award.

11. Reference Section 1. H.2. – H.2. states that all Key Personnel must have an Secret clearance. Are any of the Local National positions considered Key Personnel?

Answer: One resume in the response must be offered for the local national position as a Key Person; however, the Government will waive that position from having a secret clearance as local nationals cannot obtain clearances.

12. Would the Government consider requiring a Top Secret Facility Clearance for this requirement?

Answer: No, not at this time.

13. Is the contractor required to have a SECRET cleared facility in the US, or in Iraq?

Answer: See Bidder’s DD-254 Form attached to Amendment 002. A company either has a facility clearance or not, performance locations go on the DD-254 form. Company holds the clearance, and locations go on the form.

Work Hours – Holidays

14. Reference RFP Section 1 and RFP page 58, 652.237-72. Section 1 hours are calculated based on all days in the performance period, which are inclusive of the holidays identified on page 58 (652.237-72) of the RFP. However, the paragraph on page 58 states that ‘All work shall be performed during regular Embassy Operating hours except for the holidays identified’. This guidance implies that the Section 1 hours would have been reduced by the hours associated with holidays. Please clarify the Government’s expectations in terms of accounting for the holiday time.

Answer: All holidays must be accounted for and will be paid by the Contractor in accordance with each firm’s holiday corporate policy and compensation plans. The Government will only pay the fully loaded rates on normal business days for actual work performed. Any compensation an employee receives for being off on holidays is borne by the Contractor. Those holidays should not be invoiced to the Government for labor hour payment.

15. CLIN 0006, Security Liaison (Local National) hours do not add up. If the work week is based on 48 hours, the 20,592 hours translates to 8.25 positions, not 7.

Answer: This will be an IDIQ labor hour type of contract. The hours may fluctuate and may not add up perfectly to the staffing requirements listed for number of positions per category. For pricing purposes, please price to the staffing requirements/number of positions identified per category. Also, local nationals assigned to Erbil have different work schedules than those assigned to Baghdad (see Section D.1.1).

16. Did the Government intend for the Program Manager (PM) and Deputy Program (DPM) Manager estimated labor hours to be different? If the Government intended for the labor hours for the PM and DPM to be different can the Government provide an explanation?

Answer: Yes. The DPM is a working member of the linguist work force, with the collateral duty of assisting the PM with administrative and managerial issues.

17. How many R&Rs are linguist authorized under this requirement annually?

Answer: There is no limitation or Government requirement for R&R. It is to be competitively solved by commercial industry.

18. Page 2, 3, and 4 CLIN Tables. Under CLINs 0004, 1004, 2004, 3004, and 4004 Linguist (Local National) does not include any labor hours. Can the Government clarify this is NOT a current requirement but a placeholder for possible future needs? Also, should we price this position for future consideration?

Answer: Yes, this is just a placeholder. As Iraq stabilizes over the next five years, some positions may convert to local nationals. Please price for future consideration it will not count for or against total bottom line price offered.

Solicitation and Proposal Submittal

19. Is the Offeror to complete and return Section 5 – Representations and Certifications of the solicitation? If yes, in what Part should the completed Section 5 be provided in the Offeror’s proposal response?

Answer: Yes, FAR 52.212-3 first paragraph is clear on what to complete, and FAR 52.212-1, which was incorporated by reference, is clear on this matter on submission. Please read those terms carefully.

20. The Offeror acknowledges there are five (5) Parts required for their email submission in response to the solicitation. Is the Offeror to submit each Part as a standalone file or consolidate all Parts into one file for submission? In what format should the Parts be submitted (i.e., MS Word, PDF, etc.).

Answer: This is a standard commercial solicitation and response. Please use best business judgment and employ methods that would be standard commercially. MS Word and PDF are acceptable as that is what was utilized to communicate the requirements via FBO.gov.

21. Does the page limit include the key personnel? Is there a page limit?

22. We have to submit 6 resumes for our Key personnel, does all key personnel resumes counts towards the total number of the pages?

23. Is there a page limit or size limit for electronic submission?

24. On page 62, regarding Addendum to FAR 52.212-1, the government outlines 5 parts and several addendums that must be included in the proposal. Is there a page count or are there page limitations associated with each section and/or the entire proposal?

Answer: There are no page limits. Keep in mind commercial procedures were set-up for streamlining of contracts. Be efficient with responses and make sure it is in accordance 52.212-1 (and Addendum to 52.212-1). Also consider our electronic submittal request, so you want your electronic files to be small enough to be transferable.

25. Since the time to respond from receiving Answers to the Questions is so short (<2 weeks), will DoS consider an extension to the due date?

26. It looks like the Solicitation was issued on September 12, 2012, and you have a response date of September 26, 2012. That only allows two week to prepare a response. Is there any chance that this date could be or would be moved to later date?

Answer: See Amendment 002 Q&A published for response, this timeline is at the discretion of CO, given two weekends and around 10 business days, the Government finds this timeline reasonable given we are asking for pricing on six (6) labor categories and a Baghdad, Iraq only life support price, note Basra and Erbil per this amendment will be Government furnished life support and Medical, Emergency dental and fuel will all be Government furnished.

27. Is this a new or existing requirement?

Answer: This is a new requirement. It consolidates and updates four (4) existing requirements that are being performed to lesser specifications by three (3) incumbent Contractors.

28. If this is an existing requirement, is there an incumbent in place?

Answer: There is no firm currently performing all the specifications as outlined in this solicitation for this end-user program at this time.

29. If this is an existing requirement, is the incumbent firm eligible to bid on this solicitation?

Answer: This requirement is in the Small Business Administration 8(a) Program. Any offeror or incumbent in the 8(a) program is eligible to offer on this competitive opportunity.

30. If there is currently an incumbent in place with all these capabilities and billing the US Government, it would seem somewhat of a disadvantage to other contract bidders not in place with these existing capabilities. Because these requirements are so limited, and costs would seem fairly fixed to support this requirement, are these costs available for our consideration?

Answer: Each firm offering has only their expertise, knowledge of the performance location and best business judgment to draw from as this is a competitive requirement. There is no firm currently performing all the specifications as outlined in this solicitation for this end-user program at this time, so no such costs are available to offer.

31. Reference pg. 60 – 652.242-73 Authorization and Performance (pg. 36 – H.13 Permits). (a) (1) and (2) state contractor has already obtained authorization and permits; pg. 36 H.13 Permits states once the TO is awarded the Embassy will assist contractor in obtaining permits and licenses as necessary. Please clarify if contractor must already have all licenses and permits prior to award.

Answer: Prior to award – No; prior to performance – Yes. Each firm’s draft transition plan must address these types of issues.

32. Reference pg. 64 - 652.206-70 Competition Advocate/Ombudsman. No Ombudsman contact information is provided. Will an Ombudsman be provided and when?

Answer: Point of Contact: Dan Walt A/OPE, (703) 516-1696 email – WaltDJ@state.gov, will be included for all via Amendment 003.

33. Page 78, Attachments indicates three attachments, all of which were not included with Amendment 1. Attachment b and c were included as a PDF with the original solicitation document. Attachment a (DD-254) has been provided in Amendment 2. Can the Government please provide Word versions of Attachment b and c?

Answer: Yes, those attachments will be provided with Amendment 003 in WORD.

34. Kindly confirm if any official bonds and/or licenses are required for the performance of this contract.

Answer: See section H.12 and H.13 of the attached solicitation, and use your industry expertise/experience and best business judgment, industry must solve.

35. Page 1, Block 10 states Set-Aside for 8(a), please advise if this a 100% set-aside.

Answer: Yes, the referenced requirement is 100% set-aside to only small businesses participating in the 8(a) small business program.

36. Is this a single or multiple award contract?

Answer: This is a single award.

37. While it seems that a specified number of personnel must be in place for the duration of the contract, the mention of task orders is confusing. How exactly will work be awarded?

Answer: All of the base services identified in the solicitation can be either funded on the base contract or the Government may issue separate task orders to fund the requirement at our convenience for internal oversight purposes, we may have an order to be administered by one office, or a separate order for another office. And if there are additional requirements that come up, more than likely they will be put on separate task orders or added via modification to the base contract at the rates listed in the contract for labor categories. The Government will use that flexibility as needed for administrative purposes.

Language Proficiency

38. Reference Section D.5.4 states that evidence of language proficiency must be presented before candidates are considered for a position under this contract. What is the allowable timeframe for an acceptable language test score?

Answer: Test scores from as far back as five (5) years ago will be acceptable.

39. Are personnel that are currently working with the RSO in Iraq waivered with respect to this language testing requirement?

Answer: At the current time, yes. This will be worked out in transition with awardee. We anticipate having any and all incumbents tested officially if they cannot provide some proof within the last five years they have been tested, and the Government will allow a limited amount of time to meet this requirement, as applicable.

40. Reference Section F.6.4.e, QCP, "The reviewer must be a native speaker in the language(s) being reviewed and proficient in the English language.” Is a Native Speaker defined as only being a Local National?

Answer: Use Commercial practice understanding/definitions of the terms if not outlined in solicitation already. A “native speaker” is one’s primary/first learned language. A “local national” is any employee hired to work or volunteer inside their home country, or country of citizenship.

41. Section D.5.3 states that the language testing is to be measured on the Department of State’s standard testing schedule, as classified by the ACTFL; however, the chart in D.6.3 provides an ILR scale as the numerical rating. Will ILR scores from a certified testing agency be acceptable?

Answer: Yes.

42. Reference pg. 17 – D.5.4 Language Proficiency Testing. It states “the requirement states that evidence of tested language(s) proficiency must be presented before candidates are considered for a position under this contract. The Contractor shall submit in their proposal a plan for language testing. Any Linguists and Liaisons that are tested and approved at the levels stipulated below within five (5) years of performing will be acceptable.” However in the performance objectives chart located on page 22, it states that “All personnel must be trained and can provide proof of certifications and testing within 365 days of Notice to Proceed”. Can you clarify when proof of testing and certification must be done?

Answer: This is a transition issue. The 365 days after a notice to proceed is issued allows time for awardee to survey incumbents and determine which incumbents require or don’t require further proof or testing. Any incumbent with proof of testing/certification within 5 years will be considered proficient. All new staff will need proof of the testing/certification prior to starting and being approved by the COR. All incumbents without proof will have one (1) year to be brought into compliance. So this is more for “grandfathering-in” incumbents that are not currently held to this standard under existing contracts, not for new personnel the awardee may bring on to replace incumbents that refuse to accept awardees offer at beginning of performance.

43. Page 16, D.4.3 the RFP states that linguists are required to have a demonstrated language proficiency for English and the target language of at least a level S4 and R4 as classified by the U.S. Department of State’s School of Language Studies or at the ACTFL Superior level. Would the Government consider accepting any other testing organization’s proficiency scores (i.e. DLPT, ALTA, etc…)?

Answer: Yes, all commercially available testing/proficiency will be acceptable so long as it can be shown to be an equivalent at the levels stipulated.

44. Also, what specific documentation needs to be provided to meet the “demonstrated” requirement?

Answer: Each firm will use their best business judgment, industry expertise and standard commercial understanding of the industry to supply sufficient evidence that the employee can perform at the required levels for your Corporation to meet commercial contract specifications.

45. Does DOS’ School of Language Studies provide testing for contract personnel?

Answer: No, commercial industry will provide the testing. The commercial standard testing that must be met is outlined in the solicitation, and each offeror must use their expertise in the field to find solutions.

46. The ACTFL does not currently administer an Arabic reading test. Does this mean the Government will only accept the U.S. Department of State’s School of Language Studies’ proficiency results for this particular test?

Answer: See http://www.actfl.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3642. Commercial standards are acceptable.

Key Personnel and Staffing Requirements

47. Section H.15 delineates the key personnel requirements; however, the locations are not defined for the linguists and security liaisons. Please clarify what location these key personnel would be assigned to.

Answer: The Key Personnel are identified mostly for evaluation purposes (one per category). The PM and DPM will be assigned to Baghdad. The other four (4) categories will be assigned with most of the positions to work at the Embassy Baghdad, Iraq. A few will work at consulates Basrah and Erbil, locations can be found online under Embassy and Consulates for Iraq.

48. Section H.15 states that one key personnel must be a Local National Linguist; however, Exhibit One does not state that there is a requirement for Local National Linguists, only Security Liaison Local Nationals. Please clarify.

Answer: At this time or in the near future, there is no requirement for local national linguists providing the services, however over the next five years (life of contract) the Government anticipates adding or converting the U.S. linguists to local national linguist positions as Iraq stabilizes further. This labor category is a place holder for future scoping. Offerors are required to provide requested information on it however it will not be counted for or against overall technical or price evaluation. The informaton provided now will be used to assist future administration with awardee.

49. Section D.3.3.2 states that linguists and security liaison contractor personnel must be in good physical condition and the attached appendix medical waiver provided. Will this medical waiver be waived for incumbent personnel currently performing under this effort?

Answer: Yes, at this current point in time for solicitation and evaluation purposes, however the Government will work out a solution for incumbents with awardee during transitioning meetings, and this decision may change at a later date as operations stabilize.

50. Can the Government provide an estimate of how many linguists will be required for the first Task Order?

Answer: For solicitation and evaluation purposes, please utilize the base requirements as stated in Exhibit 1 to be considered the first task order.

51. Reference pg. 23 - F.3 Personnel Rotation. It states the contractor may be required to provide replacement personnel to ensure 100% staffing; to ensure sufficient coverage, the Contractor shall submit an R&R rotation plan for COR approval. The Contractor shall not bill for any time an employee is on R&R, however the Department will reimburse the Contractor for reasonable travel expense associated with this trip. In past experience, DoS contractors were authorized reimbursable travel for one annual trip back to the US and two local region R&R travel reimbursable trips. It seems R&R for 7 days is costly to have a replacement in-processed and in place for 7 days. What is the minimum time of R&R that requires a replacement?

Answer: Replacements are currently not required during periods of R&R. The Government will coordinate the requirement for replacement personnel should this be necessary in the future.

52. What are the current DoS travel reimbursable trips, and if there is one to the US, what is the authorized location, home of record, or point of entry to the US?

Answer: Travel is reimbursed to the home of record.

53. Page 30, Medical Support provides in part “the Contractor must submit to the COR a completed “Medical Certification Form for Contractors” “Attachment C” for each individual.” Does the Medical Certification requirement apply to Local National employees?

Answer: No, that form will only be applicable to U.S. Citizens. Local National employees must be physically capable of performing required duties and will fall under and any applicable corporate policy your firm may have.

54. The solicitation states the following: “All contract personnel currently performing under labor categories on the existing contracts will be given the “right of first refusal”, awardee is required to offer incumbents opportunity to stay provided they meet all new criteria under this contract, before replacing personnel with awardee personnel.” This approach does not seem to correspond with a later requirement for providing names and resumes for key personnel. In other words, it seems possible that key personnel positions may be filled by incumbent contractor personnel on the ‘right of first refusal basis’. Can the Government please clarify whether or not the ‘right of first refusal’ applies to key personnel?

Answer: There is currently no direct billed project management on the existing contracts. Key Personnel include the PM and DPM, so that right of “first refusal” does not apply to PM and DPM. Regarding the other four (4) categories, we are asking each firm to provide their number one recommended candidate to fill a position under each of the other four (4) categories, this will be for evaluation purposes of technical capability among other things. These candidates recommended will be considered each firm’s best representative for that category and we will look to fill that candidate after award at a minimum. Other candidates will be needed if incumbents refuse to continue service with awardee.

55. Can the Government please confirm that key personnel must be named and resumes provided?

Answer: As instructed each company interested will submit their best candidate for each labor category referenced, these top resumes will be used for evaluation purposes and will be considered key to the awardees team to start the effort.

56. In the event that a person has been named and their resume provided for a key position, but there is also an incumbent contractor who wants to remain in that position, which person should be given preference?

Answer: Incumbent personnel will be afforded the opportunity and given preference first, and we will work to get the top candidates placed thereafter. Since it is an IDIQ we can accommodate more as well. Realistically, we do not anticipate 100% transition of all incumbents; the top six (6) key personnel (one from each category) offered will be utilized and will make up the team, all others thereafter will be worked out during transitioning between PM/DPM, incumbents and the Government.

57. Does the Government expect the contractor to maintain a pool of ‘replacement personnel’?

Answer: The Contractor can use their best business judgment on how they determine to meet the requirements; we are not limiting any approaches. It is expected that all terms will be met once performance begins. We anticipate awardee to have resources and recruitment potential along with viable solutions to meet the requirements, should issues arise whether they are surge or cutback requirements, the contract is an IDIQ to account for these flexibilities we expect the partner to be flexible as well.

58. Does the Government expect the ‘replacement personnel’ to go through the same training, vetting, clearing, etc. processes as regular personnel?

Answer: Replacement and Substitution personnel should meet all minimum requirements outlined for the position they are assuming duties under.

59. Will the contractor be required to compensate ‘replacement personnel’ by retainer or otherwise?

Answer: The Government expects normal commercial industry practices to dictate whatever the standard is in the market to apply. We are not limiting any approaches a firm may have to meeting the requirements in any way.

60. Regarding the Government’s preference to keep incumbents and give them ‘right of first refusal’, aren’t bidders at a disadvantage to the incumbent contractors because they can propose key personnel who are already in the positions?

Answer: Not necessarily on this requirement only because these specifications are new and updated requirements not currently in the existing contracts. In most cases, the incumbents may not qualify as they are currently held to different standards. That is why a transition and phased in approach is needed as the awardee PM and DPM will likely have to start immediately to crosswalk all proposed, available and incumbent personnel to the new specifications along with bringing on personnel as needed to replace/substitute as needed.

Housing and Life Support

60. Section H.4 states that the contractor shall provide the listed life support and billeting items. Please confirm that this applies to those contractor personnel located in Erbil and Basrah.

61. Life support in Basrah and Erbil – as it stands now our team’s folks are strictly forbidden to live outside of embassy housing, as there is no ‘international zone’ in either of these two cities. Is this existing standard changing?

62. Does the Government require life support be priced for Erbil and Baghdad?

63. Will the Government provide housing at the New Embassy Compound for any Contractor personnel?

64. In the Solicitation, Section H.3. Billeting and Life Support, the government states: “The Government intends for the Contractor to provide services identified in this section. All responses to this section should be summarized in the Proposed Housing/Life Support Plan demonstrating how your firm will meet the stated requirements.” However, in Section H.4. Billeting and Associated Services, the government states: “The RSO has the authority to deny on-compound housing and hours of accessibility to all personnel requiring access to the embassy.” Question: Can the government provide clarification concerning paragraphs H3 which states that the contractor will provide housing and paragraph H4 which implies that on compound housing will be made available to contract personnel?

65. If on compound housing is available? How many positions of the 51 total will be billeted and housed on the compound?

66. Reference pg. 10 - C. Performance Work Requirements/pg. 29 – H.4 Billeting & Associated Services. Because of the security environment in Iraq, and based on specific language in the contract, we want to clarify the intent of this contract in regards to US citizens working on this contract on behalf of the Department of State. After reading the below citations from the contract, it is not clear if the requirement allows for US citizens to be housed on one of the DoS man camps or in the Embassy housing. Past experience with DoS, contractors were housed in RSO approved locations and with the site in C below, it seems there is an option for the RSO to determine if US citizen contractors would be allowed billeting in the DoS facilities. Please clarify.

67. In C.1.1. OVERVIEW, the stated responsibility of the mission of Regional Security Offices (RSOs) is to provide a secure environment for the conduct of U.S. diplomacy and the protection of Americans and American interests in their respective regions.

68. Further in paragraph C.1.1 and again in paragraph C.1.2. it is stated that all personnel shall work under the operational management of the Regional Security Officer and/or his designee.

69. Section H-4 states the Regional Security Office (RSO) will determine if the individual meets criteria established by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and the RSO to occupy living quarters in the compound, and the RSO has the authority to deny on-compound housing and hours of accessibility to all personnel requiring access to the Embassy.

70. Page 29, H.3 and H.4 Billeting and Life Support directs Contractor to provide billeting and life support. H.4 further provides “The RSO will determine if the individual meets criteria established by the Bureau…..and the RSO to occupy living quarters in the compound if provided by the U.S. Government? Will the Government provide living quarters for contract personnel in all performance locations, so long as they are meet all designated criteria OR is it contractor’s responsibility to provide billeting for all performance locations?

Answer: The vendor must provide housing and all associated life support for personnel assigned to Baghdad, Iraq only. If required for operational need, the Government may opt to provide housing and life support for a limited number of contractor personnel at any location at any time. However, firms should plan and price for providing these services to all personnel in Baghdad. Government Housing and associated life support will be provided for personnel assigned to Erbil and Basrah.

71. Are there approved medical and dental practitioners in Iraq, to ensure our personnel will receive the best care while deployed.

72. Reference pg. 30 – H.4.3 Medical Support. Does DoS have an approved list of contract vehicles that provide in country medical and dental and other life support requirements that existing contractors are using?

Answer: Medical Support: The Government shall provide, in accordance with post policies, limited medical support through CHS Government clinics in Iraq at no charge to U.S. citizen personnel residing on and off-site, working on Chief of Mission property, including treatment for minor illnesses and injuries, follow-up of an ongoing problem (e.g. blood pressure check), and critical care, when required. Continuing treatment for complicated ongoing medical problems is not provided. The contractor shall provide medical evacuation capabilities for personnel requiring a higher standard of care than available at Government provided health facilities. Documentation of medical evacuation insurance or agreements must be submitted to the COR prior to initial contract performance.

Dental Support: The Government shall provide, in accordance with post policies, limited dental support on an as-available basis. Dental support is limited to emergency treatment; the Government will not provide routine dental care.

Pharmaceutical Support: The Government shall provide, in accordance with post policies, limited pharmaceutical support on an as-available basis. Pharmaceutical support is limited to illnesses attributable to the deployed environment. Pharmaceutical support is not provided for known, routine prescription drug needs of personnel. Personnel requiring prescription or non-prescription drugs should bring a sufficient supply of medication for their anticipated tour of duty (at least three-month supply; one-year supply recommended).

73. Can the Government confirm that Life Support is required from the PM and DPM only?

Answer: Life support is required for all contractor personnel directly operating under this contract as a billable labor category while performing in Baghdad Iraq only.

74. Will the Government allow for contractor to bill for Security with Life Support?

Answer: Yes, that is expected.

75. Reference pg. 29 - H.4 Billeting and Associated Services. It states contractor shall provide billeting and associated life support, dining service, laundry service/facilities, morale, welfare, and recreation facilities, transportation within the assigned country, but Sections H.4.2 – H.4.5 state contractor shall provide in accordance with post policies. Please clarify.

Answer: Amendment 001 cleared up this matter on September 13, 2012, please refer to that amendment at https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=c004fec5a12f1b607ed7de1b8a36db19&tab=core&_cview=1 and be sure to pull the most up to date solicitation information offered on FBO.gov. “In accordance with post policies” references have been removed in entirety from all section referenced.

76. Reference pg. 29 Billeting and Associated Services. If there is no option for secure billeting on an RSO approved DoS compound, does the DoS have a list of RSO approved secure compounds currently under contract that we would be able to negotiate for billeting?

Answer: At this time, there is no such list. Industry must draw upon expertise and provide solution to the Government. Should something change, industry will be notified.

77. Due to the requirement for Life Support will the Government allow for 1 vehicle to be priced into the contract?

Answer: This is a competitive commercial solicitation; the Government is not requiring nor prohibiting any possible life support solution offered by industry in response to this solicitation. Each offeror must use its own best business judgment in responding; price is a factor for evaluation.

78. In Section H.6.3 the government states: “The Government is not obligated to provide a vehicle or transportation of any kind in support of this effort.” However, in Section H.6.4 the government states: “Unless stated otherwise, the Government shall provide the following for personnel deployed under this contract: Transportation within the assigned country as required for performance of official duties (such as transiting from one work site to another).” Will the government or the contractor be providing transportation for contract personnel?

79. What scope transportation will need to be provided by the contractor (i.e. point of embarkation to work site, daily travel to work site, etc.)?

Answer: During normal duty hours in order to perform services, the Government has linguists and security liaisons that travel with them to and from sites to conduct normal business. After hours, prior to work and after work, the Contractor is responsible for offering transportation solutions via the “life support” CLIN. Any other Government directed travel will be covered by the travel guidance/regulations and the ODC CLIN when conducting “official business” that falls outside of the normal duty hours scenario described.

80. Reference pg. 29 - H.4 Billeting and Associated Services. It states that “The Contractor shall provide the following for personnel deployed under this contract: Transportation within the assigned country.” Please confirm/clarify that transportation when on official missions, regardless of location are provided by the US Government, and this statement is in regards to providing travel to the three locations listed, Baghdad, Basrah, and Erbil? What are the current authorized travel options between the Airport, and Baghdad and Bagdad and Erbil/Basrah? Are there other locations not identified in the statement of work that we must take into consideration and be prepared to calculate into travel costs?

81. Reference pg. 32 - H.6.4 Duty Related Services, Equipment, and Supplies. Bullet 4 states government will provide transportation for transiting from one work site to another, but pg. 29 - H.4 Bullet 5 states contractor will provide transportation. Please clarify.

Answer: During normal duty hours in order to perform services, the Government has linguists and security liaisons that travel with them to and from sites to conduct normal business. After hours, prior to work and after work, the Contractor is responsible for offering transportation solutions via the “life support” CLIN. Any other Government directed travel will be covered by the travel guidance/regulations and the ODC CLIN when conducting “official business” that falls outside of the normal duty hours scenario described. The Contractor is responsible for travel to assigned duty locations throughout Iraq, including those personnel assigned to Erbil and Basrah.

82. Page 6, A.4.2 Travel Costs provides “Travel costs are authorized for travel beyond a 50-miles’ radius of the Contractor employee’s local place of performance, whenever work is required to be accomplished at a remote work site….No travel costs (or associated labor time during travel) shall be allowable for work performed at a Contractor’s local office or any other work site within a 50-miles’ radius of the Contractor employee’s local place of performance (official duty station). Given the non-traditional operating environment in Iraq and surrounding area, will the Government provide or reimburse for transportation for contract personnel, should they be required to travel for contract related tasks or Government directed meetings, within a 50 mile radius of their normal duty location; not to include normal daily commuting between residence and local Government provided work location?

Answer: When the contractor personnel are working during regular duty hours or hours extended by the RSO, COR/CO, the Government will assist with transportation that is Government directed, as the linguists and security liaison positions typically travel with the Government in order to perform their duty. All other exceptions will be handled on case by case basis given situation, contract terms and travel regulations.

83. Page 29, H.3 directs the contractor provide the services listed in Section H. Section H.3 requires “Transportation within the assigned country.” Section H.6.4 states the Government will provide transportation within the assigned country, as required for performance of official duties. Will security be provided by the Government for contractor personnel travelling between to/from work locations or is this a contractor responsibility? Also, can the Government clarify who will be responsible for contractor transportation for official business? If it is contractor’s responsibility to provide transportation for official business, can the Government provide some idea of the various work locations and how many times per week they will travel? This information is needed to accurately price this requirement.

Answer: The Government will not escort/drive contractor personnel between locations prior to or after work. It is contractor’s responsibility to get to work each day and get back to the life support location offered. All “official business” or travel, if not with Government during normal performance hours will fall under the ODC CLIN which we are not asking offerors to price and standard travel regulations/terms as stated in solicitation will apply. Current requirements are being met by car pool and or company furnished transportation solutions to give unfamiliar firms an idea.

84. Page 31, H.6.3 provides “For Contractor personnel performing work on Government premises located….the Government shall provide on-site office space, office furniture, telephone…” For OCONUS contract requirements, will the work required in Baghdad, Erbil, and Basrah be located on Government premises, wherein the Government would provide required office space, OR is the contractor required to provide office space for its employees at any of these locations?

Answer: The Government will provide office space at all locations.

85. Page 2, 3, and 4 A.1 Price CLIN Tables. CLIN 0007, 1007, 2007, 3007, and 4007 is for “Life Support (Meals, Housing, Medical/Dental, Transportation, Recreation, Laundry, etc…).” Offeror understands the on-site, in-country medical and dental are included in these CLINS. Should the cost for “pre-deployment medical, dental, and drug screening” be included in these CLINs or in the ODC CLINs (0008, 1008, 2008, 3008, and 4008)?

Answer: Should be included in “Life Support” 007, 1007, 2007, 3007 and 4007.

86. Page 2, A.1 Price provides “These rates shall cover all costs associated with interpretation, translation, and transcribing, validating, and summarizing requirements, including preparation….including materials.” Page 32, H.6.4 Duty-Related Services, Equipment, and Supplies provides “the Government shall provide the following for personnel deployed under this contract….Office space, equipment, and supplies….” Is it the Government’s intent to provide all materials necessary for contractors to perform their interpretation and translations duties OR is that a contractor responsibility? If so, are these materials to be included in CLIN 0008 Other Direct Costs or is it the Government’s intent to include these materials in the fixed rate labor CLINS, which are 0001 through 0006?

Answer: It is the Government’s intent to provide all materials necessary for contractors to perform while on duty. Everything else is the contractor’s responsibility to be in loaded labor rate, or “Life Support” CLINs. The ODC is only for reimbursable travel, training and other items not anticipated that the Government may require during performance.

Pricing, Billing, and Funding

87. There is no profit on ODC’s, however, is a fee allowance for labor positions.

Answer: Yes, that is correct. Given the Life Support is a fixed monthly cost, that can be burdened with profit and other loadings as well.

88. The contract does not allow for Hazardous Duty Pay nor Post Differential, does this mean that contractor personnel are not considered Chief of Mission?

Answer: This solicitation calls that “incentive compensation”. Contractors are allowed “incentive compensation” and are encouraged to propose competitively. There will be no Government standard imposed on industry for such “incentive compensation”; therefore commercial industry can use their best business judgment in offering such. See page 5 of the solicitation at A.4. (1) for further clarity if needed.

89. When does an individual become billable under this contract?

Answer: After Award, when a notice to proceed is issued to awardee to activate a CLIN or individual and a performance schedule is set, billing can commence against that CLIN in accordance with terms in the solicitation.

90. Reference pg. 5 A.4 Payment states contractor shall not submit invoice for payment until all requirements identified in contract have been completed and delivery to COR is complete. Does this mean that we have to wait until completion of contract to submit invoice? Please clarify.

Answer: No, payments will be offered in accordance with the invoicing of costs incurred after the notice to proceed is issued. Until a firm receives the Notice to Proceed, no costs can be incurred to be billed back to the contract.

91. Reference pg. 5 – A.4 Payment (1) Incentive Compensation. It states that the contractor personnel are not authorized post differential and hazardous duty ("danger") pay under the terms of this contract. In past experiences with the DoS, US citizen contractors were authorized these payments under the Department of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR) that allows 25% or 35% of base pay for each category, and this pay was compensated and charged as an ODC. Does this paragraph signify a change and that it is no longer authorized, or is the intent of this paragraph to prevent contractors from claiming this as a compensation of this type, but bill it as some other incentive pay?

Answer: The intent of this paragraph is to prevent contractors from claiming this as a Government directed reimbursable, and instead place the burden on commercial industry to come up with their own incentive compensation to be included in loadings and for adequate competition to determine what is fair and reasonable. The normal differential and hazardous duty pay percentages are set to change soon and we don’t want to deal with equitable adjustments on this, so no government standard is imposed, we are requesting competitive commercial solutions.

92. Reference pg. 10 - 5 Data Other than Certified Cost or Pricing Data. This paragraph is post-tense for Contract Award. Please explain/clarify.

Answer: That provision is put in most competitive solicitations in “post-tense;” it is for auditors during administration well after award or at close-out. Since it is an after award, administrative provision it is put in a tense that will be applicable at contract end, mostly for information purposes only.

93. Reference pg. 34 – H.11. This section first paragraph states the Contractor shall, at no additional expense to this contract provide and maintain see (g) DBA insurance. Please clarify as this is usually an ODC and billable.

Answer: DBA insurance should go against the ODC for future billing purposes; awardee must disclose the rate for DBA in response when proof of insurance will be required prior to performance.

94. Reference pg. 57 - 52.232-19 Availability of funds for the next fiscal year. States that “Funds are not presently available for performance under this contract beyond Sept. 30 of the current calendar year.” Please clarify.

Answer: For further clarity, the Government is about to cross fiscal years on September 30th, 2012. October 1, 2012 is the first day of fiscal year 2013. Funds are available for fiscal year 2012, there are no funds available for FY 2013 until congress approves budget, given election year who knows. When funds come available the requirement can be fully funded and or funded through anticipated performance years.

95. Does the Government mean that no invoice can be sent until the contract is finished? If that is not the intent, when are invoices to be submitted, and with what frequency?

Answer: No, payments will be offered in accordance with the invoicing of costs incurred after the notice to proceed is issued. Until a firm receives the Notice to Proceed, no costs can be incurred to be billed back to the contract. See Page 39 paragraph (g).

Transition

96. The Government stated that the transition period shall not exceed two hundred forty (240) days. How many days after award of contract will the Notice to Proceed is issued?

Answer: This is dependent on the offers received, each firm may have issues to work out prior to full performance (i.e. clearances, subs, licenses, permits, etc), and as described in the solicitation incumbents will be phased in. We anticipate having a notice to proceed immediately for possibly the PM and or DPM to work with the end-using office so there can be dedicated management bridging the transition period and communication issues between DOS in the United States, DOS at Post, and the three (3) incumbent contractors. The remaining will be worked out after award with the awardee given the transition plans and operational challenges imposed or as they arise.

97. Reference pg. 23 - F.2 Phased Deployment of Personnel. There is a chart that reflects 31 March 2013 as what the Government may authorize or direct phased deployment of personnel. Is this the current planned initiation date for the 240 day contract transition?

Answer: That chart represents the maximum no later than by March 1, 2013 should full transition be completed by or offered. It does coincide with max 240 days an offeror can reference in a draft transition plan. Any firm offering longer than March 1, 2013 in a draft transition plan will be considered non-responsive and unsatisfactory for this opportunity.

98. Is the Government looking to transition the majority of the current incumbent linguists to this contract?

Answer: Yes

99. What are the % requirements for phased transition/deployment?

Answer: This depends on responses and offers received, each firm will offer the ability to phase or deploy at different times based on their experience, current operations and industry expertise, these will be determined after announcement of award with the awardee in accordance with their draft transition plan offered.

100. On what date does the transition period begin?

Answer: This is dependent on draft transition plans received from industry. Immediately after award announcement, the awardee and Government will begin planning a finalized transition with detailed dates to be worked out between Government, incumbents and awardee.

101. How long is the transition period?

Answer: That depends on the drat transition times offered and accepted. Industry will respond with, and we will work with what is offered in the draft plans received for evaluation. At a minimum we’d like to afford all firms at least 60 days to get all in place but we could go up to 120-160 days depending on many factors (March 1, 2013 might be latest date, awardee PM and DPM may get activated immediately to facilitate transition).

102. On what date does the contract begin?

Answer: Award will be made. Then when the awardee is granted a notice to proceed, all identified performance will commence at…