Mexico_Solicitation_Questions_and_Answers_Final.docx
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- Solicitation number
- SAQMMA16R0086
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Questions and Answers updating question 23
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| Final_Mexico_Pricing_Sheet.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Final_Mexico_Solicitation.docx | DOCX document | |
| Mexico_Solicitation_Questions_and_Answers_Final.docx | DOCX document | |
| Foreign_Assistance_Act_Procurement_Restrictions.pdf | ||
| Sample_Task_Order_Final_2-26.doc | DOC document | |
| Sample_Task_Order_SOW.doc | DOC document | |
| Final_Mexico_Pricing_Sheet.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| PP_Customer_Satisfaction_Survey.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Past_Performance_Contract_Profile_.docx | DOCX document | |
| SAQMMA16R0086.pdf | ||
| Foreign_Assistance_Act_Procurement_Restrictions.pdf | ||
| Final_Mexico_Solicitation.docx | DOCX document | |
| Final_Mexico_Labor_Categories.docx | DOCX document |
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Mexico Solicitation Questions and Answers
1. The solicitation identifies a 561210 NAICS code (page 91).
FAR PROVISIONS INCORPORATED IN FULL TEXT
ANNUAL REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS – FAR PROVISION 52.204-8 (JAN 2014)
(a) (1) The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 561210, Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services.
(2) The small business size standard is $38,500,000.00.
The FBO announcement posted today identifies a 561990 NAICS code.
The 2 NAICS codes carry very different small business thresholds. Our preference would be for 561210 as it provides us an opportunity to bid as a prime.
As a second item requiring clarification, the solicitation references a STO. Will a STO be sent separately?
Answer: The correct NAICS code is 561990 as clarified in the last solicitation amendment.
2. RFP page 121, section 48, requests types of information re provisional rates. P. 115 point 10 suggests such information not to be provided. Please clarify.
Answer: With occur after the CFAO has issued prior written approval of such description. Ref B.5 Provisional Billing Indirect Cost Rates.
3. Please confirm that Summary list of Deliverables listed on page 35 is applicable at the Task Order level, not at the IDIQ level (except so far as the Task Order Proposal is invoked in the first 60 pages of the overall IDIQ proposal).
Answer: Additional data deliverables may be determined at the Task Order level.
4. Key Personnel: There aren’t any defined criteria for the 2 Key Personnel positions for the IDIQ RFP. In the Task Order RFP there are the 2 Key Personnel requirements. Could INL please clarify if it intends that the Task Order RFP Key Personnel positions are in fact the same as the IDIQ Key Personnel.
Answer: They are
5. Key Personnel: Is Task Order PM expected to be full time, or can be part time? We understand PM is to be employee of Prime, but not clear if PM is to be full-time devoted/billable to only this program? Or can person be part-time on this IDIQ?
Answer: Full Time, with justification and prior CO & COR approval the PM could be billed as a percentage amount to the IDIQ contract after award.
6. Key Personnel: Since DPM is based in-country, we sense INL intends this person to be full time on the project. Is this correct?
Answer: Correct
7. Key Personnel: P. 22 suggests personnel speak Spanish. PM (DC-based) and DPM (Mexico-based) do not have this requirement stated. From this we assume the Spanish language criteria does not apply to PM and DPM. Or does INL intend the DPM to have Spanish language skills?
Answer: SEE Below Program Manager:
Minimum Qualifications.
· U.S. Citizen
· Ability to possess and obtain a Moderate Risk Public Trust (MRPT) Certification granted by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security.
· Bachelor’s Degree in Business or a related field from an accredited U.S. institution.
· Three (3) years of project or program management experience.
· Five (5) years of leadership or supervisory experience with the understanding and knowledge of management concepts.
· Strong organizational and interpersonal skills, with excellent oral and written communication skills.
Deputy PM:
Minimum Qualifications.
· U.S. Citizen
· Ability to possess and obtain a Moderate Risk Public Trust (MRPT) Certification granted by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security.
· Bachelor’s Degree in Business or a related field from an accredited U.S. institution
· Three (3) years of project or program management experience
· Five (5) years of leadership or supervisory experience with the understanding and knowledge of management concepts.
· Strong organizational and interpersonal skills, with excellent oral and written communication skills.
· Language Skills in Spanish FSI level 3/3.
· Language skills in English FSI level 4/4.
· Proficient in Microsoft Office software.
· Prior international law enforcement experience preferred.
8. In INL current experience, how long does it now take to get the MRPT clearance? We understand this process is now up to 6 months.
Answer: 40 to 60 days without complications and that the individual/s are responsive.
9. IDIQ RFP page 63 states it’s an “unclassified contract”. Task Order RFP states Prime has to have Top Secret level clearance. Please clarify intention.
Answer: This contract is unclassified. The sample task order language has been corrected staff only need an MRPT and there is no need for a TS facility clearance.
10. Please review consistency of MPRT requirements between IDIQ RFP and Task Order RFP (p. 24). Do we understand correctly that that RSO can provide a local security check instead of a MPRT? We understand that today the MPRT process is very slow, and so the MPRT requirements could really delay program implementation. The RSO-based solution can facilitate program implementation.
Answer: NO, only Local Employed Staff will be cleared through RSO vetting.
11. For proposal formatting, is it to be single or double spaced?
Answer: Single spacing
12. Please clarify how QASP is to figure within the 200 page IDIQ RFP. Is it only to appear within the first 60 pages of the overall Technical Proposal, i.e., the Task Order RFP proposal section of the overall Technical Proposal?
Answer: Shall be submitted with your proposal.
13. Page 129 denotes Past Performance within last 5 years (several places). Page 113 suggests sixty months and/or 48 months. Please confirm intent is for last 5 years.
Answer: Please provide Past Performance within the last 5 years.
14. The Task Order RFP reads, in many places, like it’s an IDIQ RFP. For example, page 4 states that “QASPs will be task order specific”, suggestive of multiple task orders. But we understand this is to be a single Task Order RFP, so that is confusing. Could we ask INL to rationalize the Task Order RFP such that it reads as a single project RFP. Otherwise it creates confusion in effort to respond to the Technical Proposal, within the broader IDIQ RFP.
Answer: The Department of State is awarding an IDIQ. The attached task order is a sample that will be used for evaluation purposes only. The government reserves the right to issue multiple task orders off of this IDIQ once awarded.
15. Task Order RFP makes numerous references to labor rates, prices, etc. But IDIQ RFP states is not to be a budget for the Task Order RFP. Could INL remove those references in Task Order RFP so that it is consistent with IDIQ RFP guidance.
Answer: The offeror should provide pricing in the pricing spreadsheet.
16. Please clarify your intended differentiation between a QASP and a QCP, as sometimes these terms are used interchangeably be different DOS officials.
Answer: A QCP is a quality control plan dealing with your management frame work to support QASP. Definitions are given.
17. Please confirm that the $2500/month stipend is in addition to any applicable post-diff, danger pay, or other such standard compensation uplifts applicable on DOS contracts.
Answer: The $2500 is in addition to Post Differential. There is NO Danger Pay
18. I have a quick question regarding the solicitation Police Advisors, Corrections Advisors and Administrative Support SAQMMA16R0086. A sample Task Order is listed in the list of attachments and is referenced heavily in Sections L and M, however this document is not a part of the package on FBO. Could you please advise on when or if this document will be made available.
Answer: A sample Task Order has been attached to the solicitation.
19. Is there an incumbent company for this opportunity? Who is presently providing these services for INL Mexico?
Answer: Olgoonik Technical Services, LLC
20. I am looking for guidance on training substance. the proposal states this is for police, corrections & specialist training. however, there is no info on subject matter. Is this up to us to offer as basic courses to the forces we will be training or is it fluid & subject to change. we can offer a variety of courses & training however some guidance might help.
Answer: At this time of solicitation NO. Curriculum is developed in house with the advisors assistance. There is NO training component in this solicitation.
21. The SF 1449 for the Solicitation SAQMMA16R0086 - Police Advisors, Corrections Advisors and Administrative Support in Mexico City and other locations throughout Mexico. Proposal Due Date - I found a site that states 2 March, 2016 but not a government document "SF 1449".
Answer: The SF 1449 is one of the attachments on the FBO solicitation announcement.
22. INL recently updated the small business size standard to $11m. In light of this adjustment, can INL update the Past Performance notation about “an overall value of at least $10m in geographically dispersed locations”? If the $10m reference is maintained, this would create a very narrow lane indeed. Meaning, that to meet the criteria for Past Performance inclusion company would have to be greater than $10m, and less than $11m. Could INL re-phrase this to be “an overall value of at least $5m in geographically dispersed location”. This would create a wider lane.
Answer: The Past Performance is for projects over 10 million dollars that the offeror has worked on, not for the small business size.
23. Given the number of clarifications being sought, we’d like to request a 14-day extension of the due date.
Answer: The government is extending the due date to March 11th.
24.
| RFP Section/ Reference |
| Page # |
| Description/RFP Text |
| Question |
| Answers |
C.1.2
| 27 |
| ACTIVITY 1 – PROGRAM MANAGEMENT |
| The government requires offerors to develop a QASP and an RMP. How many days following award are these due in final form? |
| 30 Days |
| C.1.4.1 |
| 28 |
| HEALTH AND SAFETY PLAN |
| The government requires offerors to develop an H&S plan. How many days following award is this due? |
| 30 Days |
C.1.5.2.1
See also H.28
68-69
| INVENTORY MANAGEMENT |
| This is a three-part question. 1) Will the government please inform as to the current inventory and property management system being used? 2) Will the government please also clarify whether offerors are to continue using the software or are offerors free to propose an alternative. 3) When will the incoming offeror be given access to the inventory data of the outgoing contractor? This is important in respect to the transition planning and timeline. |
| Q1: The system must be computerized software NO Excel Spread sheets, user friendly able to facilitate reports for INL in various formats. I.e. by type of equipment, monthly, yearly inventory counts. Show receiving and acceptance dates, $ value. Explanations of loss or damaged. |
Q2: Software. COR should have view access only.
Q3: 30 from NTP
| E.4 |
| 31 |
| PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE PLAN |
| The government requires a PIP. How many days post award is the document due? Also, will the government require a separate monitoring and evaluation plan or a performance monitoring plan? |
| Within 30 days of the task order NTP. |
Monitoring & Evaluation Plan.
| F.4 |
| 33 |
| CONTRACT DATA DELIVERABLES |
| The government requires the successful offeror to submit a 45 day mobilization plan seven days post award. Will the government provide a copy of the outgoing contractors demobilization plan and/or its out-transition plan upon notice of award? |
| NO |
| F.5 |
| 38 |
| PLACE OF PERFORMANCE |
| The government notes that the principle place of performance is the INL offices in Mexico City, and that additional performance locations will be in other states and provinces and other international locations. In respect to pricing requirements, will the government provide a plug for associated ODCs, or may offerors ignore pricing yet to be determined travel? |
| The additional performance locations are in reference to travel TDY for less than 30 days. Travel and ODC CLINs will be used. |
| H.18 |
| 63 |
| SECURITY REQUIREMENTS |
| L.19.1 |
| 111 |
| Sub-Factor 2: Contract Risk Analysis Plan |
| Will the government please clarify the relationship it perceives between the Risk Analysis Plan described on page 111 and the Risk Management Plan introduced in C.1.2, p 27? |
| Self-explanatory. |
| L.19.2 |
| 113 |
| SIMILAR EXPERIENCE AND PAST PERFORMANCE |
The RFP states: The Offeror shall only cite experiences that have occurred for federal, state and local, and commercial customers within the past sixty (48) months prior to the issuance of this RFP.
Will the government please indicate whether the period of performance window is 60 or 48 months?
The offeror shall provide past performance within the past 5 years.
| L.19.2 |
| 113 |
| SIMILAR EXPERIENCE AND PAST PERFORMANCE |
The government stipulates that: The offeror shall provide at least three (3) Past Performance Contract Profiles (Refer to RFP Attachment entitled “Past Performance Contract Profile” for a suggested template) that are directly relevant to the required effort and are of similar size (dollar value), scope (substantially same services) and complexity (degree of difficulty).
In this context, the government indicated that the NAICS code size limit is $11M. Given that the government has indicated this contract may evolve to the point of having 200 personnel, it is unlikely that firms meeting the size standard have performed contracts of similar size ($60M), scope and complexity.
Will the government please consider adjusting its stated approach to evaluating offerors past performance?
The government is interested in past performance of a similar size and scope and therefore cannot change this rating factor.
| Sample Task Order |
| 19 |
| Stipend |
| The government notes that U.S. FTEs will receive a monthly stipend of up to $2500. Should this policy be taken into account when pricing at the IDIQ level? |
| YES |
| Sample Task Order |
| 20 |
| Local Market Procurement |
| The government provides guidance for local market procurement. Does the government require an initial competitive bid selection from among three or more vendors? Will the government permit the offeror to establish a Purchase Order arrangement with local vendors deemed pre-qualified by virtue of the aforementioned competitive bid process? |
| YES |
| Sample Task Order |
| 20 |
| Employee Performance Awards |
| The government provides guidelines for the exercise of Employee Performance Awards. If this is a current contract norm, current employees will carry over an expectation of potential performance bonuses should their employment continue. Will the government please provide a plug figure offerors should set aside as an acceptable ceiling for such contingency funds in respect to IDIQ level pricing? Not only will this enable the government to make accurate comparisons, but the range of personnel numbers varies greatly, from 50 to over 200, thus making an accurate contingency estimate extremely difficult. |
| Price the Employee Performance Awards on a per person basis. The government will not be providing a plug number. |
| Sample Task Order |
| 24 |
| Facility Clearance |
| Will the government please clarify whether contract awardees, including subcontractors need a TS Facility Clearance or only a Secret level Facility Clearance, or does the RFP take precedence insofar as it states this is a totally unclassified contract. Similarly, on pp 5-6 of the Sample Task Order, Key Personnel requirements include holding an active Secret Clearance. |
The sample task order language has been corrected staff only need an MRPT and there is no need for a TS facility clearance.
| Will the government please provide the current FSN Pay Scale? |
| NO |
| We assume that since there is an existing labor intensive contract, an out-going transition plan is in place. Will INL provide offerors a copy, or direct the incumbent contractor to so provide? |
| NO |
| Will the government please confirm whether it intends for offerors to provide existing employees the right of first refusal? |
| YES |
| Does the government envision utilizing a 3rd party for any quality assurance and/or ongoing program evaluation? If so, will this expense be covered separately by the USG? |
| This is will be up to the bidder unless they can perform from in-house. |
Under ODC
25. Could you please clarify which of the NAICS code provided on FBO for this requirement is the correct con. The one on the FBO announcement is 561990, and the one in the Solicitation document is 561210.
ANSWER: The NAICS code is 561990
26.
| Section |
| Page Number and Paragraph |
| Solicitation Requirement |
| Question / Recommendation |
| Answers |
| L.1.2 Similar Experience and Past Performance |
| p. 113, Similar Experience |
| The Offeror shall only cite experiences that have occurred…within the past sixty (48) months prior to the issuance of this RFP. |
| Can the Government please confirm that the inclusion of the number 48 is an error? |
| Please provide past performance in the last 5 years. |
| L.19.2, Similar Experience and Past Performance |
| p. 113-114, Similar Experience |
| The Offeror shall provide pertinent examples to substantiate its recent experience in performing work that directly supports the activities identified in Section C. |
| In accordance with FAR 15.305 (a)(2)(iii), will the Government take into account past performance information regarding predecessor companies, key personnel who have relevant experience, or subcontractors that will perform major or critical aspects of the requirement when such information is relevant to the instant acquisition? |
| YES |
| L.19.2, Similar Experience and Past Performance |
| p. 113-114, Similar Experience |
| The Offeror shall provide pertinent examples to substantiate its recent experience in performing work that directly supports the activities identified in Section C. |
| Based upon GAO rulings, please confirm that the Government will permit the use of affiliated company experience and past performance if a meaningful relationship is documented in a commitment letter? |
| YES |
| L.18.1 Exclusions from the Page Limitations | |
| p. 108 | |
| “Volume I – Technical Proposal | |
| (a) | Cover Letter |
| (b) | Table of Contents |
| (c) | Dividers, Tabs, and Cover Sheets |
| (d) | Subcontracting Plan |
| (e) | Past Performance Contract Profiles |
| (f) | Customer Satisfaction Surveys” |
| Will the Government consider excluding from page count commitment letters that show the meaningful relationship between affiliated companies? | |
| No |
| L.18.1 Exclusions from the Page Limitations | |
| p. 108, (d) | |
| “Volume I – Technical Proposal | |
| (a) | Cover Letter |
| (b) | Table of Contents |
| (c) | Dividers, Tabs, and Cover Sheets |
| (d) | Subcontracting Plan |
| (e) | Past Performance Contract Profiles |
| (f) | Customer Satisfaction Surveys” |
| Please confirm that by referencing (d) Subcontracting Plan that the Government meant to exclude Sub-Factor 2: Contract Partnering/Subcontracting from the page count. | |
| Yes, Contract Subcontracting plans are excluded from the page count. |
| Attachment 2, Sample Task Order |
| p. 5, Program Manager (PM) |
| “The PM shall be based in the greater Washington D.C. area…” |
| Will the Government permit the Program Manager to be located in Mexico instead of the Washington, DC area? |
| Not on a Full Time bases. ONLY on a Part Time basis @ a two (2) to three (3) week intervals. I.e. Two (2) to Three (3) weeks with in a three (3) month period shall be acceptable to INL with COR approval. No more than four (4) trips calendar per year. |
| Attachment 2, Sample Task Order |
| p. 5, Program Manager (PM) |
| The Offeror shall propose a Program Manager (PM) for the task order…” |
| Please confirm that the Program Manager does not need to be a full time position. |
| IT DOES NEED TO BE A FT POSITION. |
With justification and prior CO & COR approval the PM could be billed as a percentage amount of time to the IDIQ contract after award.
| Attachment 2, Sample Task Order |
| p. 5-6, Deputy Program Manager (DPM), Qualifications |
| Qualifications: |
· US Citizen…
| Will the Government allow the Deputy Program Manager to be a Mexican national if he has been performing on the incumbent contract for five years? |
| No. |
| Attachment 2 Sample Task Order |
| p. 24, Security |
| “Consequently, the task order shall include a DD-254 (Contract Security Classification Specification), and the Offeror must be able to obtain a Facility Clearance at the SECRET level.” |
| Please confirm that all Offerors must be able to possess a Top Secret FCL 90 days after award. |
| The sample task order language has been corrected staff only need an MRPT and there is no need for a TS facility clearance. |
H. 18.Security Requirements
Attachment 2 Sample Task Order
p. 63, H.18.1, Additional Security Requirements
p. 24, Security, p. 46, Program Management Engineer
p. 50, Senior Program Management Assistant, p. 54 Projects Specialist, p. 53, Police Advisor, etc.
“All Contractor and Subcontractor personnel performing on this contract shall possess a Moderate Risk Public Trust (MRPT) certification…
In some cases, the American personnel (Expatriates) employed under the task order may require security clearances up to the level of Secret.”
See also qualifications for Program Management Engineer, Senior Program Management Assistant, Projects Specialist, Police Advisor, etc.
| Please confirm that all Contractor and subcontractor personnel performing on this contract shall possess a Moderate Risk Public Trust (MRPT) certification or a Secret clearance in lieu of an MRPT. |
| The sample task order language has been corrected staff only need an MRPT and there is no need for a TS facility clearance. |
| Attachment 5, Pricing Tables |
| Pricing Table 5, X015-X016 NTE Labor Rates |
| Price two CLINS for an identical position |
| Does the Government intend to duplicate CLIN X015 and X016, or to eliminate one of these cells? |
| Price for just one Specialist Advisor |
B.4 NTE Fully-Loaded Hourly Labor Rates
Attachment 5
p. 5
All
| Pricing of a 40 hour work week |
| Does the Government intend to be invoiced for a 40 hour work week, irrespective of productive and non-productive hours? Or does the government wish to be quoted (and therefore invoiced) on a productive hour basis only? |
| 40 hour work week ONLY |
| Attachment 2 Sample Task Order |
| P 10 |
| Random Drug Testing Program |
| Please confirm that the cost of the random drug testing program will be considered an ODC negotiated at the Task Order level. |
| YES |
| Attachment 2 Sample Task Order |
| P. 21 |
| Performance Evaluation Meetings |
| Please confirm that the cost of the Program Manager traveling to Mexico to meet with the COR will be considered an ODC negotiated at the Task Order level. |
| Travel CLIN |
Attachment 2 Sample Task Order
H.18 Security Requirements
Attachment 2 Sample Task Order P. 24
P.65, H.18.4 Moderate Risk Public Trust Certification Processing
P. 8, Deliverables Mobilization Plan The offeror shall currently possess or be able to obtain within 90 days of task order selection a Top Secret Clearance.
The security package must be submitted to DS/IS/IND at least 80 days prior to an individual’s proposed deployment.
The offeror shall provide a 45 day mobilization plan to effectively begin operations in Mexico.
| Please confirm that the time requirements in the mobilization plan will allow for all contract security requirements. |
| The sample task order language has been corrected staff only need an MRPT and there is no need for a TS facility clearance. |
| Attachment 2 Sample Task Order |
| p. 24, Security |
| “Consequently, the task order shall include a DD-254 (Contract Security Classification Specification), and the Offeror must be able to obtain a Facility Clearance at the SECRET level.” |
| Please confirm the contractor will have 90 days after award to possess the Facility Clearance at the SECRET level. |
| The sample task order language has been corrected staff only need an MRPT and there is no need for a TS facility clearance. |
| H.30 Invoicing Deduction Clause |
| p. 70 |
| “Invoices shall be submitted with all authorized allowable costs expended during the previous month every 30 calendar days” |
| Please confirm that invoices are due 30 days after the last day of the previous month. |
| YES |
C.1.4 Activity 3 – In Country Office
B.4, b)
p. 27
p. 6, b)
| “Contractor shall establish an in-country program management office with the appropriate number and types of staff for each task order awarded.” |
| Is the cost of the In Country Office staff, facility and supplies to be negotiated and priced as an ODC in each individual task order or is it to be priced and built as an indirect overhead cost rate applied to the NTE Fully Loaded Hourly Labor Rates in B.4? |
| Pricing for each task order will be negotiated at the task order level. The government will determine the CLIN structure at that time. |
| Fact Sheet |
| Foreign Assistance Act Procurement Restrictions |
| N/A |
| The Fact Sheet regarding the Foreign Assistance Act is included as part of the solicitation documentation but is not listed in the RFP as an attachment. Please clarify its purpose. |
| The document is now attached for your reference. |
27.
| Section |
| Page Number and Paragraph |
| Solicitation Requirement |
| Question / Recommendation |
Answers
| Final_Mexico_Pricing_Sheet |
| Tab 7, Bottom |
| There is a table for ODC / Material costs. |
| Does the Government intend to offer estimates or plug in numbers for this ODC table? If not, what should constitute a basis for estimate? Alternatively, are these ODCs intended to constitute the actual pricing for the Program Management office and such related cost only? |
| A plug number has been provided for travel as an example only. Provide your indirect costs and fees appropriately. |
Solicitation C.1.4 and Final_Mexico_Pricing_Sheet
p. 27 C.1.4;
Tab 7
| Offeror shall provide PMO office |
| Is it intended that the Cost of the Offerors PMO office is worked into an applicable Overhead percentage to be applied to indirect labor rates, or are PMO costs intended to be negotiated at the task order level or offered under a separate firm fixed CLIN basis, such as the table on tab 7? |
| PMO office costs will be negotiated at a task order level |
| Solicitation B and Final_Mexico_Pricing_Sheet |
| p. 7 e & f; pricing table Tab 5 |
| NTE hourly rates for US legal status, and LN staff at the TO level. |
| Are we to assume that for this pricing exercise, only US CONUS pricing will be enacted, and that any LN staff required in-country and under local Mexican labor contracts will all be negotiated at the task order level only? |
YES
Final_Mexico_Pricing_Sheet, various tabs
| Various Tabs |
| CLIN 15 & 16 are repeated with reference to the same position. |
| Is this CLIN intended to be repeated? The repetition of the CLIN, if removed, will also affect summation formulations. Please instruct as to this intentions of the same position being under two CLINS. |
| This has been corrected only one Specialist Advisor I is required. |
| Final_Mexico_Pricing_Sheet |
| Tab 7 |
| Column C includes FTE counts |
| Is the intention to provide NTE rate per position only, along with the respective Subtotals, or is there intention to increase the number of FTEs in column C, and if so what would be the basis for estimate of the FTE counts per CLIN? Also is the population of values between tab 5 and tab 7 intended to be automatic? |
| The intention is to provide a NTE rate per position. Tab 5 and Tab 7 are not automatic. |
| Solicitation C.1.4.1 |
| p. 28, C.1.4.1 |
| Health and Safety Plan |
| It appears that this subsection is either misnumbered or misplaced under section 1.5. Should offerors assume that this subsection will be repositioned under section C.1.4? |
| The subsection is misnumbered and should be 1.5.1 |
| Solicitation C.1.5.2 and C.1.5.2.1 |
| p. 28, C.1.5.2 and C.1.5.2.1 |
| Inventory Management and OCONUS Inventory Management |
| Should offerors assume that these sections will be renumbered as C.1.5.1 and C.1.5.1.1, respectively? |
| The numbering for these sections is correct. |
| Solicitation L.19.1 |
| p. 110, 3rd paragraph on page |
| “Candidates for contract personnel in the Attachment labeled Labor Categories will not be evaluated at the IDIQ level with the exception of the Program Manager. Resumes for contract personnel shall not be included in the technical proposal. Contractors shall propose contract personnel at the task order level…” |
| Please clarify whether offerors should identify their proposed Program Manager in the contract proposal and whether a resume is required for that person. If yes, should offerors provide the identification and resume as part of the Contract Quality Control Plan? |
| YES, and resume required. It is not required to be in the Quality Control Plan. This is a Key Position of the contract. |
| Solicitation L.19.1, Management Approach, Sub-Factor 2 |
| p. 113, paragraph (c) |
| “(c) The offeror shall disclose as part of its proposal the amount of work they intend to perform with their own resources for this order. The Offeror shall identify specific tasks in Section C anticipated to be provided with subcontract resources, in whole or in part…” |
| Should offerors assume that the phrase “for this order” will be deleted from this contract-level requirement? Or, is it possible that this instruction actually applies to the Sample Task Order and will be moved to that section? |
| The sample task order proposal will be used to evaluate this award and this specific section is referencing the task order. |
Solicitation L.19.1, 2. and Technical Approach, Sub-Factor 1, iii., and Sub-Factor 2; Solicitation M.9.1, Factor 1, Sub-Factors 1 and 2;
Solicitation C.1.2 and Attachment 2
| p. 109, L.19.1, 2.; p. 110, iii.; p. 111, Sub-Factor 2; p. 127, M.9.1; p. 27, C.1.2, third paragraph; Sample Task Order SOW, p. 5, 1st paragraph on page |
| Risk Analysis Plan vs. Risk Management Plan |
| We note that Section L refers in two cases to a “Risk Analysis Plan” while Section C.1.2 and Attachment 2 refer to a “Risk Management Plan.” For proposal purposes, should offerors assume that these different plan names should be treated as synonymous and identical in content? If not, please explain how they differ. |
| NO see definitions. |
Solicitation H. 29 Staffing Deduction Clause
H.18 Security Requirements
p. 69
P.65, H.18.4 Moderate Risk Public Trust Certification Processing
The government will consider any position NOT staffed by a person who has not received DS approval
The security package must be submitted to DS/IS/IND at least 80 days prior to an individual’s proposed deployment.
| Will the proposed deduction begin after the contract required 80 days the MRPT package must be submitted prior to an individual’s deployment? |
| The USG assumes you are referencing the invoicing deduction. If so NO, staffed is defined for this contract as in a fully deployable status. Within Mexico or internationally to include the United States. |
Solicitation H. 29 Staffing Deduction Clause
| P. 69 |
| If staffing falls below the minimum allowable, or the correct number of personnel are not deployed on time then in addition to not being able to invoice the hours/days not worked, a reduction in the award price will be made by deducting the shortage amount from the invoice reflecting the staffing shortfall. |
| Is the award price taken from the IDIQ pricing schedule or the task order negotiated rates? |
| Pricing will be taken from the task order negotiated rates |
| Solicitation H.29 Staffing Deduction Clause |
| P.69-70 – chart |
| Deductions Per Day (as percentage of 8 hour man day for labor category that is unstaffed) over Allowable Calendar Days without 100% Staffing. Maximum penalty shall not exceed 30 days. |
| Is this 30 days per month, per calendar year, or per duration of the task order? |
| Per Calendar Year |
28. H.8 Key Personnel pg 55 “The Contractor shall also provide a Staffing Plan…” Please confirm that a Staffing Plan will only be required after contract award and clarify how many days post-award the plan will be due.
ANSWER: After contract award within and NLT 15 days.
29. E.4 Performance Incentive Plan p.31 “The Contractor shall propose a Performance Incentive Plan…” Please confirm that a Performance Incentive Plan will only be required after contract award and clarify how many days post-award the plan will be due.
ANSWER: Submitted with your cost proposal.
30. H.28 pg. 68 “The contractor shall prepare a detailed plan for management of Government property…” Please confirm that a Property Management Plan will only be required after contract award and clarify how many days post-award the plan will be due.
ANSWER: After Award within and NLT 30 day
31. C.14.1 Pg. 28 “Offeror shall develop and implement a safety and health plan… [it] shall include… HAZMAT/Environmental Control Plan.
Please confirm that the Health/Safety and HAZMAT/Environmental Control Plans will only be required after contract award and clarify how many days post-award the plans will be due.
ANSWER: After Award within and NLT 30 day
32. Is this a follow-on requirement? If so, could you please provide the incumbent contract number for this opportunity? If not, is this a new requirement?
ANSWER: Follow –on. Current contract number: SAQMMA11D0123
33. Will the government accept an interim Top Secret facility clearance in the event DSS does not process the Top Secret Facility clearance within 90 days?
ANSWER: The sample task order language has been corrected staff only need an MRPT and there is no need for a TS facility clearance.
34. Section I.1 references 52-219-9 – Small Business Subcontracting Plan. Section L.18.1.d excludes a Subcontracting Plan from the page limitations of Volume I – Technical Proposal. Further, L.19.1 states “A Subcontracting Plan in accordance with Management Approach, Sub-Factor 3 is not required for the Sample Task Order technical response.” Considering “this acquisition will be a total set aside for Small Business Concerns,” please confirm that FAR 52.219-9 does not apply to small business concerns and a Small Business Subcontracting Plan is not required. Or, if 52-219-9 does apply to small business concerns, where should this Subcontracting Plan be included in Volume I – Technical Proposal? Typically these plans are only included in Price and/or Contract Documentation volumes.
ANSWER: 52-219-9 Does not apply to small business concerns
35. Solicitation section L.19.2, Similar Experience and Past Performance states that the Offeror "shall only cite experiences that have occurred for federal, state and local, and commercial customers within the past 60 (48) months prior to the issuance of this RFP." Please clarify if our project experience can date back 60 months or 48 months.
ANSWER: Project Experience can go back the past 5 years (60 months)
36. Can we submit a proposal for just the IT resource requirements, System Administrator, and Information Technology Advisors, or do we have to submit a complete proposal for all the resources required?
ANSWER: No partial submittals will be accepted.
37. Section B.4.f states, “Fully-loaded hourly labor rates for host-country/local nationals and third-country nationals, if applicable, will be negotiated at the task order level”. Will fully-loaded hourly labor rates for host-country/local nationals and third-country nationals be included in the IDIQ proposal?
ANSWER: No
38. Section F.5, Place of Performance states, “It is anticipated that requirements for services required will be in Mexico City, as well as other states and provinces located throughout Mexico, and some international locations”. Can INL please provide more detail on the other potential international locations?
ANSWER: The additional performance locations are in reference to travel TDY for less than 30 days. I.e. U.S., Canada, and the EU.
39. Section L.12, Subcontracting states, “Contractor shall provide a cost analysis for all subcontractors that demonstrates that prices are fair and reasonable and if the subcontractor has an approved purchasing system”. This reference omits the option of price analysis rather than a cost analysis per Section L.19.3.2.49. Can INL please confirm that the contractor may conduct a price analysis for subcontractors to determine fair and reasonable prices, particularly for commercial item subcontractors?
ANSWER: Refer to the FAR
40. Can INL please confirm that Commercial Item Subcontractors are allowed per clause 52.244-6, Subcontracts for Commercial Items? If so, please confirm that labor rate build up information per Section L.19.3.1.10 is not applicable for Commercial Item Subcontractors.
ANSWER: At this time, the Government does not require submission of (prime) offerors’ or subcontractor offerors’ build-up of the proposed fully-loaded hourly labor rates or unit prices, but the Government reserves the right to require such information during the source selection process, if necessary.
41. Will the Government allow different rates for in-country (Mexico) and out-of country (U.S., other)?
ANSWER: Further explanation required. What Rates are you speaking about? Labor?
42. Is the staffing level deliverable computed at the overall IDIQ level, or by each task order? Is the statistic that will drive a potential penalty computed based on Mexican Government or U.S. Government Federal work days? pg. 70 ANSWER: The Government will compute staffing level on a task order basis based on US Government Federal Workdays.
43. Although Government says no locations in Mexico qualify for Danger Pay (at present), can they provide a sampling of locations they anticipate will involve the first set of task orders that are considered high risk?
ANSWER: NONE. A contract modification will be issued if a location in the country of Mexico becomes qualified as such.
44. Will PM's for task orders be required to have Secret Clearances?
ANSWER: Ability to possess and obtain a Moderate Risk Public Trust (MRPT) Certification granted by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security.
45. In order to meet the mobilization requirement of 45 days, will the Government sponsor and facilitate gaining work permits upon award, to meet this time requirement? Pg 35 ANSWER: NO to facilitating. Sponsoring is by acceptance of the contract affiliation with DOS/INL.
46. Can the government clarify the facility clearance requirement for the prime and subs? Staff appear to only need a public trust, but contractor must be able to obtain a TS facility clearance.
ANSWER: The sample task order language has been corrected staff only need an MRPT and there is no need for a TS facility clearance.
47. What type of ITAR license must the prime contractor have? Do subcontractors also require ITAR registration and licensing?
ANSWER: An ITAR License that would cover the importation of sensitive items/equipment as noted in H.9
48. Regarding the DPM. We see that at the Task Order level the DPM is to be employee of Prime contractor. What about at the DPN at the IDIQ level? Is that individual also to be employee of the Prime?
ANSWER: YES
49. Pages 89-102, Section K, Representations and Certifications, do you require these to be completed and submitted with our proposal? If so, which Volume should they go in?
ANSWER: The certifications should go in the Technical Volume.
50. Page 105, Section L.9, Proposal Delivery, the 2nd paragraph talks about an SF-1449 containing proposal submission information. However, we were unable to locate an SF-1449 Form being used for this solicitation. Is the SF-1449 Form for SF-33 Form applicable?
ANSWER: The SF 1449 is one of the attachments on the FBO solicitation announcement
51. Page 108, Section L.18.1, Exclusions from the Page Limitations, indicates a Subcontracting Plan. Since we are a small business and the solicitation is a small business set-aside, would a subcontracting plan be required?
ANSWER:A subcontracting plan is not required
52. Page 113, Section L.19.2, Similar Experience and Past Performance, paragraph 1, asks for experience "within the past sixty (48) months prior to the issuance of the RFP." Can you verify which is correct, 60 months or 48 months?
ANSWER: Past Performance should be within the past 5 years.
53. Will INL identify any incumbents currently performing this work?
ANSWER: Olgoonik Technical Services, LLC
54. Ref. pg. 9 of Sample Task Order SOW, Work Plan. Is a draft work plan required with the submittal of the proposal? If yes, where in the proposal is it to be included?
ANSWER: Yes a draft work plan is required in the technical volume.
55. Is the Sample Task Order an awardable task order for this IDIQ contract or is it just an example for reference?
ANSWER The sample task order is for evaluation purposes only and will not be awarded.
56. Ref. Sec. C.1.1.3, pg. 27, Activity Home Office, is the requirement for the home office to be in the greater Washington, D.C. area?
ANSWER: YES or the immediate surrounding arear of the greater Washington D.C. area. Within Metro accessibility.
57. Per SF33 - Form in Solicitation is not complete. Will a new SF33 with the required information be issued?
ANSWER: Fill out the pertinent information required by the contractor.
58. Per page 105, L.9 PROPOSAL DELIVERY states "The Offeror shall include one (1) compact disc (CD) for each Volume in Provision L.17 containing all of the information submitted in the hard copy." However, on Per Page 116, L.19.3.2 PRICE PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS, it states "Offerors shall prepare on a CD-ROM one electronic file for each of the above sections. Therefore, Offeror shall prepare four files on each CD-ROM." Please confirm that for Volume II Pricing, we are to provide four CD-ROMS with one electronic file as per instructed in Section L.19.3.2.
ANSWER: Yes
59. Per Page 122 through 123, L.19.4.2 BUSINESS MANAGEMENT states "The Offeror shall submit one copy of audited financial statements conducted in accordance with auditing standards." Per Page 123, L.19.4.2 BUSINESS MANAGEMENT states "The Offeror shall also provide one copy of each corporate bank line-of-credit, including the remaining available amounts." Please confirm that the requested financial information is not subject to the open record act and may be provided in a separate sealed envelope.
ANSWER: The Federal equivalent to state Open Records Acts is FOIA, 5 U.S.C. 552. Proposals submitted in a competitive solicitation are exempt from FOIA and are not disclosed to the public. See FAR 24.202, citing 41 U.S.C. 4702.
60. Section L.19.1 Technical Proposal Format (Volume 1) pages 110-111. Given the lack of details, is providing a high level work plan acceptable in Subfactor 1 Sample Task Order?
ANSWER: Propose in line with the solicitation instructions.
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .