Attachment_G_-_Questions_and_Answers_(A003).xlsx
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- AF Advisory and Reporting Services
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- SAQMMA16R0197
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Attachment G - Questions and Answers (A003)
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Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Attachment_C_-_Sample_Task_Order_(A003).docx | DOCX document | |
| SAQMMA16R0197_(A003).pdf | ||
| SAQMMA16R0197_-_Sections_B-M_(A003_-_Track_Changes).docx | DOCX document | |
| SAQMMA16R0197_-_Sections_B-M_(A003_-_Clean).docx | DOCX document | |
| SAQMMA16R0197_A002.pdf | ||
| SAQMMA16R0197_A001.pdf | ||
| SAQMMA16R0197.pdf | ||
| Attachment_B_-_Equipment_List.docx | DOCX document | |
| SAQMMA16R0197_-_Sections_B_-_M.docx | DOCX document | |
| Attachment_F_-_PP_Customer_Satisfaction_Survey.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Attachment_E_-_PP_Contract_Profile.docx | DOCX document | |
| Attachment_C_-_Sample_Task_Order.docx | DOCX document | |
| Attachment_A_-_Labor_Categories.docx | DOCX document | |
| Attachment_D_-_Pricing_Tables.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet |
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| Reference | Question | Answer |
| page 48, Section B – Supplies or Services and Prices/Costs (e): "Any award resulting from the competition under this Solicitation will preclude award under Solicitation Numbers SAQMMA15R0022 (AFRICAP) and SAQMMA15R0318 (ACOTA)." | Please clarify if this pertains to both the prime contractor and their sub-contractors bidding on SAQMMA16R197? | Clause H.12 has been updated to include the following: Any award resulting from the competition under this Solicitation will preclude awardees from accepting AFRICAP or ACOTA subcontracts. |
| Incumbent Contract(s) | Is this work currently being performed? | The services provided under this solicitation are substantially broader than any current DOS contract and includes multiple program areas that have not been previously supported. |
| Incumbent Contract(s) | Is this work being performed under another contract? | Refer to comment 5. |
| Incumbent Contract(s) | If this work is currently being performed, could you please provide: 1) the name of the incumbent performing the work, 2) the dollar value of the contract, 3) how long the company has been performing the work? | Refer to comment 5. |
| page 48, Section B – Supplies or Services and Prices/Costs (e): "Any award resulting from the competition under this Solicitation will preclude award under Solicitation Numbers SAQMMA15R0022 (AFRICAP) and SAQMMA15R0318 (ACOTA)." | Can a company be awarded the AF Advisory and Reporting Services contract and also be awarded the AFRICAP and/or ACOTA contracts? In other words is there any OCI issues if holding the AF Advisory and Reporting Services contract and one or both of the AFRICAP and ACOTA contracts? | No. Refer to Clause H.12. An award of an AF Advisory and Reporting Services IDIQ contract will preclude award of an AFRICAP or ACOTA IDIQ contract. |
| page 48, Section B – Supplies or Services and Prices/Costs (e): "Any award resulting from the competition under this Solicitation will preclude award under Solicitation Numbers SAQMMA15R0022 (AFRICAP) and SAQMMA15R0318 (ACOTA)." | Would the Government consider granting an extension until after the awards of ACOTA and AFRICAP. | An extension of this RFP pending award of the AFRICAP and ACOTA IDIQ contracts will not be granted. |
| page 48, Section B – Supplies or Services and Prices/Costs (e): "Any award resulting from the competition under this Solicitation will preclude award under Solicitation Numbers SAQMMA15R0022 (AFRICAP) and SAQMMA15R0318 (ACOTA)." | Would the government consider completing evaluation of AFRICAP and ACOTA prior to eliminating potential bidders based on award of the Advisory and Reporting Services contract? This will allow the potential awardees to decline the award of the Advisory and Reporting Services contract in favor of an award on ACOTA and/or AFRICAP. | Refer to comment 6. |
| page 48, Section B – Supplies or Services and Prices/Costs (e): "Any award resulting from the competition under this Solicitation will preclude award under Solicitation Numbers SAQMMA15R0022 (AFRICAP) and SAQMMA15R0318 (ACOTA)." | Will the government consider holding discussions with potential awardees of the Advisory and Reporting Services contract who have bid on either or both ACOTA or AFRICAP? These discussions would offer the potential awardees a chance to “opt out” due to the known OCI issues between the Advisory and Reporting Services contract and AFRICAP/ACOTA. | Offerors, who have submitted proposals to both this RFP and either the AFRICAP or ACOTA RFP, may rescind proposals submitted in response to the AFRICAP and ACOTA RFPs, or to Advisory and Reporting Services RFP. Apparent successful offerors will be contacted prior to award, and be given the opportunity to rescind their proposal. Pursuant to clause H.12(e), and H.12(f), any award resulting from the competition under this Solicitation will preclude award under Solicitation Numbers SAQMMA15R0022 (AFRICAP) and SAQMMA15R0318 (ACOTA). |
| Page 99, Paragraph L.19.4.1 & Page 100, Paragraph L.19.4.2 | In which Volume do you want Offerors to address the narrative associated with these two paragraphs; L.19.4.1 and L.19.4.2. | Provision L.17, L.18, L.18.1 and L.19 have been revised and Provision L.19.4 has been added to include Volume IV -- Business Volume. Offerors shall include the Standard Form 33 (SF33) and Business Systems, Joint Venture, and Policies in Volume IV -- Business. |
| Attachment D_Pricing Tables. Worksheet or Tab 5. | Background: For the base year, the Gov't Requested 51 units of equipment. Option Years 1, 2, 4, and 5 only request 13, while option year 3 requests zero. Was this the Government’s intent? | Yes. This is based on an estimate of equipment attrition. |
| Page 6, Paragraph B.7 | Will the Government please provide a complete list of countries to which contractor employees will travel in support of? | Contractor must be prepared to support Task Orders across [sub-Saharan] Africa. Temporary travel may be required to other locations outside of Africa. Additional places of performance will be determined at the task order level. |
| Page 104 - 106, Paragraph M.9.1 | Will the Government provide the relative weighting of the non-price subfactors within the evaluation factors? | Evaluation shall be conducted in accordance with M.4, Evaluation Factors. |
| Page 96, Paragraph L.19.3.2 #15 | Will the government consider providing Offerors Detailed Pricing Tables (Microsoft Excel)? | Provision L.19.3.2 has been renumbered and revised. All references to "Detail" have been removed. Refer to Attachment D, Pricing Tables. |
| Page 85, Paragraph L.9 | Would the Government please confirm the number of copies required for the price proposal? | Refer to Provision L.9, Proposal Delivery. The Contractor shall provide one (1) original and five (5) hard copies, and two (2) CDs for each Volume in Provision L.17. |
| Incumbent Contract(s) | What is the value of the current contract? | Refer to comment 5. |
| Incumbent Contract(s) | Who is the incumbent contractor? | Refer to comment 5. |
| Section L.18 of the RFP, page 87 | “The original and each copy comprising each of the three volumes shall include a signed and dated cover letter.” Section L.18.1 states that a cover letter is excluded from the page count in Volume I, however it does not mention cover letters for Volumes II or III. Understanding that Volume III does not have a page restriction, are the Cover letters for Volume II also excluded from the page count? | Yes. The cover letter for Volume II is excluded from the page count. L.18.1 has been updated to include "Cover Letter" in Volume II. Refer to L.18.1, Volume III is excluded from the page limitation in its entirety. |
| Section L.18 of the RFP, page 87 | Can you please confirm that Volume II does not have an imposed page limit? | Refer to Provision L.18.1. There is no page limitation on the submission requirements for Volume II. Cover Letter, Past Performance Contract Profiles, and Customer Satisfaction Surveys are excluded from the page limitation. |
| Section L. 19.1 of the RFP, page 90 | The RFP makes mention of “Operational SLAs.” Can you please provide a definition of what an Operational SLA entails? | An Operational Service Level Agreement includes key performance measures to ensure delivery of quality services within specified timelines. |
| 3, Attachment C, Sample Task Order. The contractor shall provide the advisor with all necessary logistical and life support to fulfill those requirements, as outlined in Section C.4 and Clause H.8 of the IDIQ. | The number of advisors is critical to the Technical Approach, as a number of under 10 simply requires renting accommodations, life support, transportation, etc. from vendors located at Mogadishu International Airport (Bancroft Global Development’s two compounds, SKA, S2, etc.). If the Department of State envisions more than 10 advisors – and the effort is scalable, as the USG increases support to other capabilities development within the scope of the War Fighting Functions and DOTMLPF (with an increase in advisors, vehicles, EOD Dogs, security, motor pool and maintenance facilities, etc.) then a different approach must be taken. Does the DoS envision each task order having more than 10 advisors? | Refer to Section 3.0 of the revised Sample Task Order. The Sample Task order refers to one (1) advisor. |
For purposes of the IDIQ, the number of advisors will be determined at the Task Order level.
| UNSCR 2244 (2015) extended the UN mandated arms embargo. Resultantly, it is illegal to import vehicles (especially B6 and B7’s), PPE (specifically body armor and helmets), and some other items that might be required to facilitate the contract. | Will DoS facilitate discussions with the United Nations regarding items that may be on the embargoed list? If not, is this the contractor’s responsibility? | For the purposes of the Sample Task Order, notification and waiver requests are the responsibility of the USG, and not the contractor. Refer to Section 3.1 of the revised Sample Task Order. For the purposes of task orders issued under the IDIQ, other Arms Embargo requirements will be specified at the task order level. |
| 6.1.3.3, Attachment C, Sample Task Order. The advisor shall coordinate with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somali National Army for all force protection requirements when operating outside of the confines of the Mogadishu International Airport/AMISOM Halane base. | In Afghanistan, for example, a contractor is likened to a U.S. serviceman, and is therefore required to travel in armored vehicles when conducting movement; is subject to the “Golden Hour” restriction – wherein a wounded or injured contractor must be evacuated by vehicle or air to a life-sustaining medical facility within 60 minutes of the report of injury. Will contractors be required established guidelines with regards to Force Protection? | For the purposes of the Sample Task Order, security will be provided by AMISOM for all transportation to and from the MOD and when traveling off MIA. The SNA will provide all security on-site at the Ministry of Defense complex. Within these broad USG requirements, the contractor is permitted to establish further FP guidelines at their discretion. Refer to Revised Sample Task Order 3.2. and 3.3. |
| The threat when with AMISOM is al Shabaab; when with the SNA, it is the “insider threat” – a SNA soldier who for reasons of religion, offense, pay or compulsion (i.e., al Shabaab is threatening his family) that turns on you with intent to kill. One could argue that a concealed pistol, at a minimum, would be appropriate. | Are the contractors to be armed (when necessary – as when out in the field)? | Refer to 3.2 and 3.3 of the revised Sample Task Order. Security will be provided by Host Nation and AMISOM. Contractors will not be armed for purposes of the Sample Task Order. For purposes of task orders issued under the IDIQ, security requirements will be specified at the Task Order level. |
| General | Are contractors required to rent facilities or build their own facilities? (necessitating the generation of a land use agreement with the GoS, obtaining vehicles, building a chow hall, obtaining containers, air conditioning units, etc.? | For purposes of the sample Task Order, the contractor will be required to rent secure accomodations facilities for housing personnel at Mogadishu International Airport. All other task order requirements will be performed at existing Partner Nation facilities. Refer to Section 3.4 of the revised Sample Task Order. For the purpose of task orders issued under the IDIQ, facility requirements will be determined at the Task Order level. |
| General | Can the government provide the start date of the period of performance? | The Period of performance will begin upon Contracting Officer's signature. For pricing purposes, the offeror shall use the following date of award: June 1, 2016. Refer to revised and renumbered Provision L.19.3.2. |
| RFP Section L.19.3.2 Price Proposal Instructions, paragraphs 15 through 22 | Reference RFP Section L.19.3.2 Price Proposal Instructions, paragraphs 15 through 22 . There is no “Detail Pricing Tables” attachment/exhibit in the RFP. | Refer to comment 16. Provision L.19.3.2 has been renumbered and revised. References to "Detail" have been removed in Provision L.19.3.2. Refer to Attachment D, Pricing Tables. |
| Reference RFP Section L.19.3.2 Price Proposal Instructions. In the Detail Pricing Tables, offerors shall show for each contract period the breakdown of the travel costs estimated in Pricing Table 5. The breakdown shall consist of the following: |
a. RFP-specified estimated direct travel cost
b. Each applicable indirect cost rate description (e.g., G&A)
c. Each applicable ceiling indirect cost rate
d. Each ceiling indirect cost
e. Each fee percentage
f. Each fee dollar amount
g. Subtotal
| For travel cost in Pricing Table 5, the government provided an annual direct travel amount of $2,500,000. Can the government please clarify what breakdown of travel costs is expected from the bidders as a performance location was not provided in the RFP? | The $2,500,000 represents the “RFP-specified estimated direct travel cost.” Offerors shall not provide any other direct travel cost. Thus, offerors shall identify only “$2,500,000” under instruction “a,” and carry out the instructions contained in letters “b” through “g” as they relate to the $2,500,000. |
| Reference RFP Section L.19.3.2 Price Proposal Instructions, paragraph 24. “ In the Supporting Information, offerors shall submit evidence to support the provisional billing indirect cost rates proposed in Pricing Table 1. Offerors shall submit such at least one of the following pieces of evidence, pursuant to the following order of Government preference: |
a. Current forward pricing rate agreement with the offeror’s cognizant Federal agency official
b. Current other negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (that contains forward pricing indirect cost rates) with the offeror’s cognizant Federal agency official
c. Current forward pricing rate recommendation letter issued by the offeror’s cognizant Federal agency official
d. Current provisional billing rate agreement with the offeror’s cognizant Federal agency official
e. Current provisional billing rate recommendation letter issued by the offeror’s cognizant Federal agency official.
f. Most recent (within the last two years) audit report from the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) or other qualified external auditor
g. Most recent (within the last two years) audit report from a qualified internal auditor
h. Current indirect cost rate proposal submitted to the offeror’s cognizant Federal agency official and cognizant audito
i. Identification of the indirect cost pools and respective allocation bases, and breakdown of the cost elements/costs comprising such pools and bases. The Government prefers that the offeror submit such evidence in a format similar to the applicable schedules in Enclosure 6 (Incurred Cost Proposals) of DCAA’s Information for Contractors, which may be found on DCAA’s Web site (www.dcaa.mil) under the “Audit Process Overview – Information for Contractors” link under the Guidance tab at the top of the homepage. “
| Are the subcontractors required to submit the information requested above with this submission? If the answer to the above question is “yes” and given the proprietary nature of such information, can the subcontractors submit the information directly to the government ? | No. Proposed and negotiated provisional billing indirect cost rates apply to (prime) offerors only. |
| Section L.17 ORGANIZATION OF VOLUMES and Section L.18.1 indicates that the proposal shall consist of three (3) separate volumes: |
• Volume I – Technical Proposal
• Volume II – Similar Experience and Past Performance
• Volume III – Cost/Price Please confirm that the Similar Experience and Past Performance section is Volume II. Provision L.19 has been updated to include the following format:
L.19.1: Volume I – Technical Proposal L.19.2: Volume II – Similar Experience and Past Performance L.19.3: Volume III – Cost/Price L.19.4: Volume IV – Business
| General | Leahy Law Vetting - will it be required? If so - who executes for sample task order since USG has not been present in Somalia for 2 decades? | For purposes of task orders issued under the IDIQ, Leahy vetting requirements will be specified at the Task Order level. For purposes of the sample Task Order, refer to Section 3.5 of the revised Sample Task Order. All personnel will be Leahy vetted prior to the initiation of advisory activities. |
| General | What restrictions for Third Country Nationals (TCN)? | For purposes of the Sample Task Order, refer to Section 6.3 and C.5.4. in Attachment A to the RFP. There is no restriction for TCNs in the Sample Task Order. For purposes of task orders issued under the IDIQ, refer to the qualifications in section C.5 of Attachment A. TCNs will not be precluded, unless otherwise specified at the Task Order level. |
| General | Multi task of advisors? Several SME tasks can be rolled into single person - can we multi-task? | This question is unclear. Refer to Section C of the IDIQ for anticipated contract activity. For purposes of the Sample Task Order, refer to section 3 of the revised Sample Task Order. The contractor shall assign one (1) advisor to provide these services. |
| General | Language requirements? | For the purposes of task orders issued under the IDIQ, langauge requirements will be determined at the task order level. For the purposes of the Sample Task Order, refer to Section 3.7 of the revised Sample Task Order. Advisory services shall be provided in English. |
| General | Where will embassy based advisors/specialists be based? Who will supervise within embassy? Diplomatic or Official passports? NIPR/SPIR access? Ability to use GFE computer equipment for embassy based personnel vs. company issued laptops (compatibility/security issues) | For purposes of task orders issued under the IDIQ, the place of performance will be specified at the Task Order level. Supervisory chain will be specified at the Task Order level. Passport requirements will be specified at the Task Order level. Official passports may be furnished where proper justification exists. NIPR/SIPR access will be specified at the Task Order level. CAP or GFE requirements will be specified at the Task Order level. For the purposes of the Sample Task Order, Advisor will be based at the partner nation facility. Refer to Section 4 of the Sample Task Order. No direct supervision will be provided by the Embassy. No diplomatic or official passport will be issued. The advisor will not have NIPR/SIPR access. The company shall provide all CAP required to complete the Task Order requirements, including laptop. |
| General | Identification of contractors - issuance of US Embassy access badges? | Refer to Section H.17, Department of State Personal Identification Card Issuance Procedures. |
| General | Resumes - RFP prefers Somalia experience but outside of past performance - does not require resumes. | For purposes of the Sample Task Order, refer to Provision L.19.1, Sub-Factor 2. The offeror shall not submit resumes for key personnel for the Sample Task Order. For purposes of task orders issued under the IDIQ, any requirement for resumes will be determined at the task order level. |
| General | Key personnel - see above - RFP is seeking “old Africa hands” yes does not request identification of key personnel by-name. | Refer to comment 36. Pursuant to Clause H.7, Key personnel will be determined at the task order level. |
SA
| Office | Reference | Question | Answer | Final Answer | |
| 1 | AQM/SA | 3, Attachment C, Sample Task Order. The contractor shall provide the advisor with all necessary logistical and life support to fulfill those requirements, as outlined in Section C.4 and Clause H.8 of the IDIQ. | The number of advisors is critical to the Technical Approach, as a number of under 10 simply requires renting accommodations, life support, transportation, etc. from vendors located at Mogadishu International Airport (Bancroft Global Development’s two compounds, SKA, S2, etc.). If the Department of State envisions more than 10 advisors – and the effort is scalable, as the USG increases support to other capabilities development within the scope of the War Fighting Functions and DOTMLPF (with an increase in advisors, vehicles, EOD Dogs, security, motor pool and maintenance facilities, etc.) then a different approach must be taken. Does the DoS envision each task order having more than 10 advisors? | The Sample Task order refers to a single advisor. | |
| 2 | SA | UNSCR 2244 (2015) extended the UN mandated arms embargo. Resultantly, it is illegal to import vehicles (especially B6 and B7’s), PPE (specifically body armor and helmets), and some other items that might be required to facilitate the contract. | Will DoS facilitate discussions with the United Nations regarding items that may be on the embargoed list? If not, is this the contractor’s responsibility? | In the case of the Somalia Arms Embargo, notification and waiver requests are the responsibility of the USG, and not the contractor. Requirements for other Arms Embargo regimes may vary, and will be specified at the task order level. | |
| 3 | SA | 6.1.3.3, Attachment C, Sample Task Order. The advisor shall coordinate with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somali National Army for all force protection requirements when operating outside of the confines of the Mogadishu International Airport/AMISOM Halane base. | In Afghanistan, for example, a contractor is likened to a U.S. serviceman, and is therefore required to travel in armored vehicles when conducting movement; is subject to the “Golden Hour” restriction – wherein a wounded or injured contractor must be evacuated by vehicle or air to a life-sustaining medical facility within 60 minutes of the report of injury. Will contractors be required established guidelines with regards to Force Protection? | In the case of the Sample Task Order, the contractor shall coordinate with AMISOM for all transportation to and from the MOD and off MIA, and with the SNA for all security while working at the MOD. Within these broad USG requirements, the contractor is allowed to establish further FP guidelines as necessary. | |
| 4 | SA | The threat when with AMISOM is al Shabaab; when with the SNA, it is the “insider threat” – a SNA soldier who for reasons of religion, offense, pay or compulsion (i.e., al Shabaab is threatening his family) that turns on you with intent to kill. One could argue that a concealed pistol, at a minimum, would be appropriate. | Are the contractors to be armed (when necessary – as when out in the field)? | Not under the Sample Task Order. In a more general sense, security requirements will be specified at the Task Order level. | |
| 5 | SA | General | Are contractors required to rent facilities or build their own facilities? (necessitating the generation of a land use agreement with the GoS, obtaining vehicles, building a chow hall, obtaining containers, air conditioning units, etc.? | The contractor shall undertake the best value approach. Based on historical experience, it is anticipated that in most cases, the contractor will rent facilities. | |
| 6 | SA | General | Leahy Law Vetting - will it be required? If so - who executes for sample task order since USG has not been present in Somalia for 2 decades? | For the general question: Leahy vetting requirements will be specified at the Task Order level. For the sample Task Order: the contractor can assume personnel will already been Leahy vetted for prior U.S. assistance. Leahy vetting is the responsibility of the U.S. Mission to Somalia. | |
| 7 | SA | General | What restrictions for Third Country Nationals (TCN)? | Will be specified at the Task Order level. | |
| 8 | SA | General | Multi task of advisors? Several SME tasks can be rolled into single person - can we multi-task? | Will be specified at the Task Order level. | |
| 9 | SA | General | Language requirements? | Will be specified at the Task Order level. | |
| 10 | SA | General | Where will embassy based advisors/specialists be based? Who will supervise within embassy? Diplomatic or Official passports? NIPR/SPIR access? Ability to use GFE computer equipment for embassy based personnel vs. company issued laptops (compatibility/security issues) | Embassy-based advisors are anticipated to be based at the Embassy, although exact location will be specified at the Task Order level. Supervisory chain will be specified at the Task Order level. Passport requirements will vary based on specific country security conditions/employment regulations, and will be specified at the Task Order level. Official passports may be furnished where proper justification exists. NIPR/SIPR access will be specified at the Task Order level, based on specific requirements. Whether the advisors are required to utilize CAP or GFE will be specified at the Task Order level. | |
| 11 | SA | General | Resumes - RFP prefers Somalia experience but outside of past performance - does not require resumes. | The lack of resume requirement is due to the fact that this is a Sample Task Order. Resumes will be required for most Task Orders issued under the IDIQ, once awarded. | |
| 12 | ? | General | Key personnel - see above - RFP is seeking “old Africa hands” yes does not request identification of key personnel by-name. | Key personnel are not required at the IDIQ level. | |
| 13 | AQM/SA | Page 6, Paragraph B.7 | Will the Government please provide a complete list of countries to which contractor employees will travel in support of? | No. Contractor must be prepared to support Task Orders across Africa. TDY travel may be required to other locations outside of Africa. | |
| 14 | AQM/SA | Attachment D_Pricing Tables. Worksheet or Tab 5. | Background: For the base year, the Gov't Requested 51 units of equipment. Option Years 1, 2, 4, and 5 only request 13, while option year 3 requests zero. Was this the Government’s intent? | This is based on a rough estimate of equipment attrition. |
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