SAQMMA17R0106_QUESTIONS_AND_ANSWERS.pdf

SAQMMA17R0106 – A005

Reference Question Answer

L.1 Past Performance Question: Is the USG only considering IDIQ's with dollar value of $5.000.000.000.00 or more, where the aforesaid IDIQ has demonstrated past performance in the 5 functional areas defined in Draft RFP Attachments, 1‐5 as being relevant Question: What is meant by Similar in the evaluation criteria, particularly in regard to Small Businesses ($38.5M size standard) for example, would a 10 Million dollar Task Order or Contract with he same functional areas be similar and meet the Factor 1 and Factor 2 Evaluation Criteria?

Question: What is the dollar value of an IDIQ with the exact similar scope and magnitude where the government will no longer view the past performance as relevant in dollar value?

Please see amended solicitation.

L.1 Past Performance Question: Will the USG consider multiple Task orders awarded under one single IDIQ, when aggregated in the past performance of attachment 11 and 12 to be considered relevant?

Question: Is it the intent of the USG to define relevant companies with respect to past performance, that have 3 past performance example of IDIQ's totaling equal to or more than 10 Billion Dollar value?

Please see amended solicitation

B.5 Labor Rates Question Are these the only labor categories that will have ceiling rates? If they are not, please provide a list and description of the additional labor categories and identify where Offerors are to price the additional labor categories.

The Government is seeking innovative solutions from the Offeror and will not limit the Offeror’s proposal preparation decisions.

B.5 Labor Rates Question Is the Government looking for the offeror to prepare a schedule of all the possible labor categories that may be utilized to satisfy the requirements of the solicitation?

The Government is seeking innovative solutions from the Offeror and will not limit the Offeror’s proposal preparation decisions.

B.5 Labor Rates Question Will the Government please this Section to include Fringe as it is a mandatory cost and normal part of a bidders’ disclosed accounting practices?

Please see amended solicitation.

B.6 Travel The Schedule does not include a CLIN for Travel. Please confirm that Travel CLINs will be added and priced at the Task Order level as appropriate.

See clause B.6 which may be incorporated into task orders as appropriate.

B.6 TRAVEL The Government states that Reasonable associated costs...”are also generally allowable.” However, the Government does not specifically state that the Contractor’s associated General and Administrative (G&A) or other associated burden costs are also allowed. Question a. Since these costs are applied in accordance with our disclosed accounting practices and are part of Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP), will the Government also allow these costs when billing approved travel costs? Question b. If a subcontractor under a Task Order incurs travel in performance of a Task Order, will their G&A and the Prime's associated burdens be allowable costs under the contract and Task Orders?

The allowability of indirect costs will be determined following the contract cost principles and procedures in FAR Part 31.

B.6.Travel Recommend the Government changes to read “Contractor’s costs for obtaining and maintaining passports and/or visas, and required associated costs, will be generally allowable…” If this change in wording is not acceptable, request that the Government further detail stipulations as to why visa costs, specifically, might not be allowable.

The allowability of travel costs will be determined following the contract cost principles and procedures in FAR Part 31.

B.6. Travel States the Government will not reimburse the Contractor for use of private visa procurement services provided by a third party. Given the administrative burden of visa processing, especially with surge requirements or deployment under tight timelines, request the Government consider allowing such costs. Additionally, using a third party procurement service can drastically reduce time required to understand processing requirements for the many potential countries of performance.

The Government has considered the recommendation. No changes have been made to the requirement.

B.7 Differentials And Allowances

The Government does not state that associated burden costs are allowable.

Contractor's associated Fringe, Overhead, and G&A or other associated burden costs

The allowability of indirect costs will be evaluated following the contract cost principles and procedures in should also allowed as applied to the costs in this Section. Question Since these costs are applied in accordance with our disclosed accounting practices, and are part of GAAP, will the Government also allow these costs when billing approved Differentials and Allowances costs as allowed per our disclosed accounting practices?

FAR Part 31.

B.7 Differentials And Allowances

Question If a subcontractor under a Task Order incurs travel in performance of a Task Order, will their G&A and the Prime's associated burdens be allowable costs under the contract and Task Orders?

The allowability of indirect costs will be determined following the contract cost principles and procedures in FAR Part 31.

Schedule . Question Will the Government provide the completed Option Year 8 and 9 CLINs?

Yes, please see amended solicitation.

Schedule Question Do the 4 provided LCATs/CLINs represent positions that will be billable to the agency upon IDIQ award, regardless of whether a Task Order has been awarded?

No

Schedule Question How will the Offeror price our proposed Key Personnel to manage the overall IDIQ as opposed to Key Personnel who are under the TO based CLINs?

The Government is seeking innovative solutions from the Offeror and will not limit the Offeror’s proposal preparation decisions. See provisions 52.215‐1 Alt II and provision L.4

Schedule Items are noted as Option Year 8 and Option Year 9 respectively. Prior CLINs denote 4 separate LCATs. Question How are these CLINs to be priced? Should the contractor assume similar LCAT CLINS for Options Years 8 and 9 and add to Section B?

Please see amended solicitation

Schedule Question Will the Government proivde the quantities against each labor category to be priced?

No, the Government is seeking innovative solutions from the Offeror and will not limit the Offeror’s proposal preparation decisions.

Schedule Page 8 identifies 4 CLINS: Project Manager, Contract Manager, Task Order Manager, and Task Order Site Manager. Are these considered or required to be "key personnel" for this opportunity? If not, will the government identify the key personnel for this opportunity?

The Government is seeking innovative solutions from the Offeror and will not limit the Offeror’s proposal preparation decisions.

Schedule Given that a specific contingency area or area of the world is not yet specified, offerors may recommend or desire to change the Task Order ‐ Site Manager based on Task Order scope for specific country or area of the world the Task Order pertains.

The Government is seeking innovative solutions from the Offeror and will not limit the decisions.

C.1.1 Introduction Can the government therefore define the countries in the AOR it considers "in the locations and operating environments".

DoS anticipate a large portion of the contract work to be performed in locations in the Middle East and South Central Asia contingency environments: however, the places of performance will not be limited to any one region of the world.

See attachment 1

C.2.1 Technical Requirements

Question Will the food be supplied to DFAC by another contractor?

Question Or should Offerors include a Food Supplier on their team, to meet the Government requirements?

See clause G‐00B Task Order Request for Proposals (TORP) ‐ DiPSS. Requested information will be provided in task order as appropriate.

C.2.1 Technical Requirements

Question In a High Threat (as defined by State) environment, will the Government provide force protection and security of contractor personnel, and of vendors and subcontractors of the contractor operating in theater?

See clause G‐00B Task Order Request for Proposals (TORP) ‐ DiPSS. Requested information will be provided in task order as appropriate.

C.2.1 Technical Requirements

Question In a High Threat (as defined by State) environment, will the Government provide US Army Convoys, or should contractor include Private Security company to support movement of contractor fleet convoys?

See clause G‐00B Task Order Request for Proposals (TORP) ‐ DiPSS. Requested information will be provided in task order as appropriate.

C.2.1 Technical Requirements

Question Will the Government expect the contractor to operate and maintain Burn Pits and Landfills?

See clause G‐00B Task Order Request for Proposals (TORP) ‐ DiPSS. Requested information will be provided in task order as appropriate.

C.2.1 Technical Requirements

Question Will the Government expect the contractor to operate and maintain

HAZMAT/HAZWASTE?

See clause G‐00B Task Order Request for Proposals (TORP) ‐ DiPSS. Requested information will be provided in task order as appropriate.

C.2.2.1 Project Planning

Question 1 Can the Government clarify what is meant by subsidiary plans?

Question 2 And if separate plans for subsidiaries exist, can provision of these plans be excluded from the page count for Volume II?

Question 1 ‐ Please refer to

PMBOK

Question 2 ‐ No.

C.2.2.3 Selection of Key Personnel

Section C.2.2.3 states that “Contractor must identify key personnel for the contract and for each Task Order”. Please confirm that no task order key personnel are required in response to this solicitation.

See amended solicitation Task orders will be subject to the terms and conditions of the IDIQ contract. See clause 52.216‐18

C.2.2.4 Staffing Project Personnel Policy Handbook is noted as Draft CDRL, but does not define Final CDRL requirements

Please see amended solicitation.

C.2.2.4 Staffing States “…the Contractor shall qualify the key personnel in the following areas: c.

Completion of all pre‐deployment personnel actions, including hiring, orientation and training.” Section C.2.4 also states “The Contractor shall deploy permanent replacement personnel to the place of performance upon completion of pre‐ deployment orientation and training course.”

Please confirm that this is orientation and training to be provided by the Contractor.

Please also confirm that there will not be any required in‐person State Department orientation or training that might affect deployment timelines.

There is no Section C.2.4 in the solicitation document.

Task orders may identify additional pre‐deployment orientation and training requirements as necessary.

C.2.2.4 Staffing The timelines in this section seem to be applicable to IDIQ award or TO award;

however, the references to “award date” and Notice to Proceed” do not make a distinction.

Task orders will be subject to the terms and conditions of the IDIQ contract. See clause 52.216‐18

C.2.2.4 Staffing Question What is the duration of time between award data and NTP?

The duration between the award date and the NTP may vary based on operational requirements, contractor completion of pre‐ performance contract requirements and others.

C.2.2.4 Staffing The Contractor shall attain a 70% retention rate of project personnel throughout the period of performance.

Please verify that this retention rate is calculated for each TO, not cumulative across all TOs or the IDIQ.

The employee retention rate will measure the contractor performance under each task order, and cumulatively across all task orders the contractor performance of the IDIQ.

C.2.2.4 Staffing How will contractor personnel (American, TCN and especially HCN) be trained when obligated to use DoS or other agency systems, processes, regulations? (e.g., some courses would be DoS specific and provided by DoS Bureaus and/or the Foreign Service Institute; some training by other agencies would be required.)

Contractor access to Government systems and training for these systems will be identified in task orders.

C.2.2.4 Staffing Please clarify whether the reference to a Class 1 Medical Clearance requires DoS MED to review and approve each candidate’s physical and mental health suitability or is the provision of clearance from certified medical authorities the responsibility of the contractor.

Please see amended solicitation.

C.2.2.8 Contractor Safety Plan

Section C.2.2.8 notes that Project Safety Program Plan is due 15 days after contract award in Draft, with Final due 15 days following USG comments on Draft. Section F.1 (Deliverables) notes that Project Safety Plan is due within 30 days of award, with Final 60 days following receipt of USG comments.

solicitation

G.00B Task Order Request for Proposals

Question Does the Government have an estimated timeline for when each of these proposals will be required?

Task order request for proposals will identify the due date for submission of proposals.

H Special Contract Requirements

Section H goes from H‐000, H.1 thru H.29, then picks up again with H‐004 thru H‐ 037 (i.e. missing H‐001, H‐002, H‐003, with numerous other paragraphs missing.

Please clarify missing paragraphs.

There are no missing clauses.

DoS employ unique paragraph numbering schemes to identify the source of the requirement.

H.1 Key Personnel Question Is the Offeror allowed to bid Key Personnel that do not have a SECRET Clearance at the time of proposal submission?

H.1: “Key personnel must possess SECRET clearance throughout the period of performance of this contract.”

H.17 Industrial Security Requirements

Please clarify the requirement for subcontractors to have security clearances. The Section states, "the Prime Contractor and any subcontractors must be able to obtain the required security clearances prior to performing work under this contract or any Task Order".

Many subcontractors and vendors will be local national service or product providers, depending on the task to be performed. Please confirm that this does not apply to ALL subcontractors, only those that will be performing tasks that require security clearances.

Please see amended solicitation

H.19 Personnel Security Requirements

1st paragraph states "a clearance issued by the Defense Security Service….";

however, DSS does not grant PCL's.

Please clarify if this should be Diplomatic Security Services with DoS or if the meaning is a clearance issued by the Department of Defense.

Please see amended solicitation

H.19 Personnel Security Requirements

3rd paragraph indicates JPAS summary sheets issued by the Defense Security Service must be attached to all VARs;

however our understanding is that DoS does not house their clearances in JPAS.

Please clarify if these candidates need to be processed for a DoS clearance or will their DoD clearance be sufficient?

Please see amended solicitation

H.20 Moderate Risk Public Trust (MRPT) Certification Processing

Request the government clarify which positions will require MRPT certifications and the general timeline for DoS issuance of interim MRPT certifications.

Positions requiring MRPTs will be identified in task orders.

H.4 Firearms The solicitation scope statement suggests limited security may be required, and Section H authorizes weapons carry for contractors. Provision of armed security services in overseas contingency environments such as Afghanistan and Iraq requires the Prime Offeror to ANSI ASIS PSC.1‐2012 certification.

Question Will the USG confirm that this certification is required for Prime Offerors?

Task orders will identify requirements for arming contractor staffs.

H‐016 Key Personnel Section states, "[Names to be inserted by Offeror at time of proposal submission]".

Please confirm or clarify that this information is to be provided in Volume III Price and included as part of the List of Items included in the Volume III Price proposal

Please see amended solicitation

H‐033 Organizational Conflict of Interest Special Clause

Question As this section references Subcontracts, can the contractor reasonably assume that this is only relevant for submission at time of Task Order bid and/or award?

No. See H‐033 (b) for description of the scope of the clause.

H‐035 Use Of The Synchronized Pre‐ Deployment Operational Tracker (SPOT)

No services are selected under H‐035. It is our expectation that for Task Orders issued in any of these areas that services would be identified within the TORFP.

Question Can the Government please confirm this expectation?

Confirm

H‐035 Use Of The Synchronized Pre‐ Deployment Operational Tracker (SPOT)

Question 1. Can the Contractor then assume that all logistics and life support functions are contractor provided for these two regions?

Question 2. Does this translate to any/all other regions that DiPSS may operate?

Question 1. No, Task orders will identify Government furnished services.

Question 2. Task orders will identify Government furnished services.

H‐035 Use Of The Synchronized Pre‐ Deployment Operational Tracker (SPOT)

Question Can the Government confirm that “Authorized Weapon” and “Local Access Badge” will be checked, at a minimum, on relevant Task Orders, regardless of the provision of life support?

Task orders will identify Government furnished services..

H‐036 Recruitment Of Third Country Nationals For Performance On Department Of State Contracts

Question Given that the dollar value in this clause is not guaranteed, can the Government confirm that this information will be required as part of a Task Order proposal and not for response to this solicitation? Please also confirm that a housing plan is also not a requirement of this solicitation and will be requested as part of Task Order proposals.

No, please see amended solicitation at provision L.1 Proposal Instructions, Management Approach, Staffing.

The Government is seeking innovative solutions from the Offeror and will not limit the Offeror’s proposal preparation decisions

H‐036 Recruitment Of Third Country Nationals For Performance On Department Of State Contracts

Question In what volume should the Recruitment Plan be included, and does it count against the page limit?

Please see amended solicitation at provision L.1

H‐036 Recruitment Of Third Country Nationals For Performance On Department Of State Contracts

Question Is the requirement in Section H‐ 036 to submit a recruitment plan for third country nationals applicable only to proposals for the Task Order level?

No, please see amended solicitation at provision L.1 Proposal Instructions, Management Approach, Staffing.

The Government is seeking innovative solutions from the Offeror and will not limit the Offeror’s proposal preparation decisions

52.219‐13 Clause is for notification of set‐aside orders Please amended solicitation

52.230‐1 Clause is for Cost Accounting Standards Notices and Certification. It notes clause not relevant for Small Business

Cost Accounting Standards requirements apply to negotiated contracts and subcontracts. Non‐exempt subcontracts entered into by the contractor must comply with the clause.

52.232‐32 Question Can the USG provide date/days for this fill‐in?

Please see amended solicitation

652.225.72 Question 1 Can the USG confirm this is only

required for Iraq and Afghanistan?

Question 1 – Yes.

Section I ‐ Contract Clauses

Question Will the Government insert a Special Contracting Requirement in Section H that allows for those successful small businesses supporting DiPSS that are no longer able to rerepresent as small after five years to “On‐ramp” to the unrestricted track?

Delete Clause 52.219‐28

Attachment 1 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, And 10; Attachment 11, Part I, Block 2 And Part II Block 1; RFP Section B Tables; RFP Section L.5;

And RFP Section L.9, Page(S) All

Question Will the Government replace references to solicitation number SAQMMA16R0106 throughout the solicitation documentation with the correct solicitation number, SAQMMA17R0106?

Please see amended solicitation.

Attachment 1 thru 8, 10 thru12

These attachments reflect an incorrect solicitation number, SAQMMA16R0106.

Please see amended solicitation

Attachment 11 Question Please confirm if we are to use Attachment 11 as is or change the margins, font and font size in accordance with the Proposal Instructions?

The Government has formatted the form. Please use the form provided without reformatting.

Attachment 11 Question 1 Is this intended to suggest that the 3‐6 Past Performance references requested are different than the 10 relevant experience projects?

Question 2 Are the PP references to be supplied by the Prime, and the Relevant experience projects to reflect team (i.e.

subcontractor) work?

Question 1 –Please see amended solicitation at provision L.1, Relevant Experience. The Government will not limit the Offeror’s proposal preparation decisions.

Question 2 – Please see amended solicitation at provision L.1, Attachment 11 General Instructions state that contractor is to provide additional information requested by the agency. Question Can this be used to provide additional information not requested by the agency?

No

Attachment 11 Question As there is no executable work at the IDIQ level, can the USG confirm what any expected subcontractor role and commitment might include?

The Government will not limit the Offeror’s proposal preparation decisions.

Attachment 11 Relevant Experience Questionnaire notes that the Resume section for each proposed Key Personnel should note where the person currently works and that it should correspond to one of the firms noted in Section C. This seems to suggest that no proposed Key Personnel could be other than current employees of the Prime or “key subcontractors”

Please see amended attachment.

Attachment 11 Please confirm that all listed experiences must be in the last 5 years only, in Part II, Block 10.

The text in block 10 reads, “Profile of Firm's relevant experience and annual average revenue for last 5 years”

Attachment 11 Question Can the Government confirm that no additional information (qualification data) is required with regard to resumes of key personnel beyond Section E of Attachment 11?

Please see amended solicitation

Attachment 11 Question Is there any restriction on listing a project performed by the Offeror more than 5 years ago in Section F?

Please see amended solicitation

Attachment 11 Question Is there any additional information that the Agency requires under Section H?

Please see amended solicitation

Attachment 11 Directions indicate, "Present as many projects as requested by the agency, or 10 projects, if not specified." Small businesses in the NAICS code may have difficulty providing 10 relevant projects.

Request DoS consider specify either a range or a smaller number.

Please see amended solicitation

Attachment 11 Will offerors be able to add needed subcontract team members to their teams based on the requirements of Task

See clause G‐00B, Task Order Request for Proposals (TORP) which reads, in part, "Each

Orders at the Task Order level given that a specific contingency area or region of the world is not specified at this time. The need for teammates with specific area expertise may be necessary depending scope of task orders.

TORP will include, at a minimum:

e. Instructions for submitting proposals for the TORP;

f. A description of the source selection criteria for awarding a Task Order;

Attachment 11 Please clarify and define "key subcontractors".

Also the General Instructions for this form in Part II states "Prepare a separate Part II for each firm that will be part of the team proposed for the DiPSS contract and submitted with Part I." Please clarify requirements for submission of Part II.

The Government will not limit the Offeror’s proposal preparation decisions. Key subcontractors must be identified by the Offeror.

The General Instruction for Attachment 11 read in part, "Prepare a separate Part II for each firm that will be part of the team proposed for the DiPSS contract and submitted with Part I. If a firm has branch offices, submit a separate Part II for each branch office that has a key role on the team. " Specific Instructions for Part II read in part, "Prepare Part II for the specific branch office seeking work if the firm has branch offices."

Attachment 11 States to attach an additional sheet in the same format as Section C if needed.

Question Should the additional sheet be added under the existing Section C, or at the end of the document?

insert additional sheets for section C under section C

Attachment 11 Question Should the Offeror give exactly 10 project examples, or may there be more than 10?

Please see amended solicitation at provision L.1

Attachment 11 Attachment 11 ‐ Section F instructions state "Complete one Section F for each project. Present ten projects, unless otherwise specified by the agency."

Please confirm that 10 projects are being requested.

Please see amended solicitation at provision L.1

Attachment 11 Attachment 11 ‐ Please confirm that the offeror can include projects where it's key

Though the question does not identify the applicable personnel have worked together, even if the projects cited were under a contractor other than those of the offeror or it's proposed subcontractors.

section of attachment 11, the following information is provided.

See instructions to Part I, Section F requests information about experience of project team members.

Section C, requests information to identify proposed project team members.

Sections E and G request information about key personnel.

Attachment 11 Attachment 11 Section E ‐ Can the government confirm that under Section E, Item 13 the offeror should list the name of the firm where the contingent hire employee would work.

Yes

Attachment 12 Question Can any of the Past Performances be for a company that is a subcontractor on the present bid rather than the prime?

Please see amended solicitation

Attachment 12 Question Given that Attachment 12 is to be sent to customer POCs by the Offeror and then submitted by each customer to the Government confidentially without the Offeror seeing it, what if anything should be included in Volume I regarding Past Performance?

Please see amended solicitation.

The proposal must include copies of the survey forms sent to Offeror’s referees.

The proposal should not contain the customer responses

Attachment 12 Does the government desire offeror's to reformat this spreadsheet to 8.5 x 11 prior to sending to government respondents?

Please confirm these survey responses are not considered part of the 55 page allocation for this section as the responses are not available to offerors for inclusion in submitted proposals.

The Government has formatted the form. Please use the form provided without reformatting.

Past Performance Survey forms are included in the page limit for Volume 1

Attachment 12 Proposal directions state, "The Offeror may provide, for the Government's consideration, information on problems encountered on the identified contracts, and information on corrective actions taken by the offeror". As Attachment 12 is the only allowable place for offeror's to submit past performance informaiton please confirm that Part 1 Block j. is where the government desires offeors to provide this information.

Attachment 12 The response to these forms are not available to offerors to submit as their past performance section as required by Section L direction. This submission should not be considered part of page count as offeror's have no control over final size and content of these submissions.

The Government has considered the recommendation.

Past Performance Survey forms are included in the page limit for Volume 1

Attachment 3 Question Is the Small Business set‐aside threshold of $20 million referring to the task order total amount of $20 million or $20 million per year?

The total amount of the task order.

Attachment 3 Attachment notes that, “SB’s will participate in all (at CO’s discretion) task orders above and below $20M dollars”.

Question Can the USG please clarify whether this is intended to mean that SB’s may bid on Large Business (LB) IDIQ Task Orders?

Attachment 3, paragraph 3 states, in part, "SB’s will participate in all (at CO’s discretion) task order above and below $20 million dollars."

SB = small businesses

Attachment 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Question1. Are there “standards for all service requirements,” Question 2. what is Service Category 3 and should the two Service Category 3s be combined?

Question 1 – Standards for service requirements will be identified in task orders.

Question 2 – please see amended solicitation

Attachment 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11 Question Can you confirm if the Disciplines and Experience Categories listed in Attachment 11 may need to be provided by the Contractor?

Attachment 11 provides a list of disciplines and function codes to be used when completing the questionnaire.

Attachment 3: Question 1 Can the USG confirm that TO’s issued for TO Management Services will not, in fact, be DoS/agency acquisition support services that may cause any OCI for Offeror?

Question 2 Is this service category meant to support Offeror PMO activity?

Question 1 ‐ no Question 2 ‐ Attachment 3, paragraph 4 reads, in part, "Task Order Management Service Descriptions" The Government is seeking innovative solutions from the

Offeror and will not limit the Offeror’s proposal preparation decisions.

Attachment 4 In the statement, “Large companies on DiPSS will service & generally participate only in efforts above $20 million.”, please clarify if this statement means: 1) Large Businesses may not be allowed to propose on some efforts that exceed $20 million (i.e., it is possible some efforts that exceed $20 million will be set aside for Small Business), or 2) Large Businesses may be allowed to propose on efforts that are below $20 million (i.e., it is possible that not all efforts that are at or below $20 million will be set aside for Small Business).

Attachment 4 does not contain the text identified in the question.

Attachment 4 & Attachment 5, Attachments 4 and 5 are both titled Service Category 3 ‐ please clarify.

Please see amended attachments

Attachment 4 Attachment 3 is Service Category 1, Attachment 4 is Service Category 3 (should this be 2?), Attachment 5 is Service Category 3.

Please see amended attachments

Attachment 5, Question Will the Government provide service descriptions that may make up Service Category 3?

The service descriptions for service categories will be detailed at the task order level.

Attachment 6 Question For CADD drawings, does DoS anticipate that all design requirements shall be performed by OBO approved design firms or is this a TORP by TORP requirement (Attachment 6)?

Task Orders will identify requirements for CADD drawing services

Attachment 7 Please list the posts/missions that normally fall under the High Threat Posts (not in contingency environments), Medium Threat Posts, and Low Threat Posts designations.

Task orders will identify posts and missions to be supported

Attachment 7 What types of goods and services does the USG anticipate requiring procurement services?

Task orders will identify the types of goods and services requiring procurement services

652.228‐70 DEFENSE

BASE ACT ‐ COVERED

CONTRACTOR

EMPLOYEES (FEB 2015)

Question In Section K, the Government asks for a certification of Defense Base Act‐ Covered Contractor Employees (Feb 2015).

In this certification, the Government asks for the number of individuals covered as well as the performance country. Since this is an Indefinite Delivery – Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with no quantities or locations at the IDIQ contract level and quantities will be determined at the Task Order level, how are the offerors to complete this certification?

Certification requirements for this provision will be incorporated into task orders by reference to the IDIQ contract.

652.228‐70 DEFENSE

BASE ACT ‐ COVERED

CONTRACTOR

EMPLOYEES (FEB 2015)

Question Is the intent of this certification for the Government not to pay for such coverages that are not covered by worker's compensation laws but required per FAR 52.228‐4?

No

52.204‐8 Annual Representations And Certifications, Page(S)

The solicitation designates the NAICS Code as 561210 and states the size standard is $38M. The 26 February 2016 SBA Size Standards Table shows the size standard for this NAICS Code as $38.5M. Please confirm that the small business size standard for this solicitation is $38.5M.

652.245‐70 Question As this is an IDIQ, are offerors expected to address 652.245‐70 in their response to this solicitation or in TO proposal responses where property management will be required?

see amended solicitation

652.245‐70 Question As there are no additional Section L instructions, or Section M evaluation criteria associated with this requirements, can the offeror assume this requirement may be provided in Volume III, Price Proposal?

see amended solicitation

L.1 Compliance Checklist

Question Since the Government requires the submission of a compliance checklist, will the Government please number the solicitation sections in a consistent manner or provide another means of marking to

Use the current numbering scheme of the solicitation to prepare the compliance checklist.

facilitate referencing?

L.1 Content No provision is mentioned for inclusion of Table of Contents and a Glossary/List of Acronymns for each Volume as is standard practice.

Table of Contents and Glossary/List of Acronyms will not count against the proposal page limitations.

The Government will not limit the Offeror’s proposal preparation decisions;

however, the page count limitations throughout provision L.1 will be applied.

L.1 Corporate Capabilities & Management

The Corporate Capabilities and Management Volume requires inclusion of the Offeror’s code of conduct and ethics standard.

Question As this document is lengthy, can it be excluded from the volume page count and provided as an annex?

Please see amended solicitation

L.1 Cover Letter L.1 Compliance Checklist

Question Does the Government want the cover letter and compliance checklist submitted as a standalone document or included as prefatory information in one of the other volumes?

Please see amended solicitation

L.1 Ethics, Code Of Conduct, And Personnel Policies

Question A copy of an Offeror’s complete policy could consume a significant portion of the 85 page limitation, will the USG confirm that this requirement is not included in the page count?

Please see amended solicitation

L.1 Ethics, Code Of Conduct, And Personnel Policies

Question Is the Government requesting that offerors reformat these documents to comply with the RFP?

No

L.1 Format Question If any 8.5 X 14 pages are needed, do they each count as one page or more than one page? If any 11 X 17 pages are needed, do they each count as one page or more than one page?

L.1 reads, in part as follows, "Page size for text content shall be “Letter” (8.5 X 11). Page Size for diagrams, tables, graphs and worksheets must be page size appropriate to view proposal information (i.e., readable at 100% Zoom of the software application)"

L.1 Format “Font and font size for diagrams, tables, graphs, and worksheets may be Arial font, no smaller than 10 point.” Question Alternatively, may they be 10‐point Times New Roman?

no

L.1 Format Question When attachments are included in the responses, should Offerors use the forms “as is” or change them to meet the 1‐inch margin requirement?

The Government has formatted the form. Please use the form provided without reformatting.

L.1 Format States that Page size for diagrams, tables, graphs and worksheets will be page size appropriate, but does not confirm that all page sizes count as one proposal page (e.g.

11 x 17 counts as one page)

L.1 reads, in part as follows, "Page size for text content shall be “Letter” (8.5 X 11). Page Size for diagrams, tables, graphs and worksheets must be page size appropriate to view proposal information (i.e., readable at 100% Zoom of the software application)"

L.1 Key Personnel Question Since the Government will be potentially evaluating multiple offers, will the Government please provide each labor category's job description as well as education, experience and certification requirements so that all proposals received will be evaluated on the same requirements?

Please see amended solicitation The Government will not limit the Offeror’s proposal preparation decisions.

L.1 Key Personnel Question Are the resumes, employment agreements, contingent hire agreements, and/or recent signed certificate of non‐ disclosure and conflict of interest statements included in the Volume page limits?

Please see amended solicitation

L.1 Key Personnel Question Where in the RFP structure are signed employment agreements, contingent hire agreements, and/or recent signed certificate of non‐disclosure and conflict of interest statements submitted, with the resumes in Volume I [Attachment 11] or in Volume II)

Please see amended solicitation

L.1 Key Personnel Question Should the Resumes be submitted in Volume I or extracted from Attachment 11 and submitted with Volume

II?

Please see amended solicitation

L.1 Key Personnel Please clarify if copies of the Volume 1 Attachment 11 Resumes are to be provided in both Volume I and Volume II.

Please see amended solicitation

L.1 Key Personnel Section states, "Contingent agreements must specify position title and proposed salary." This would constitute providing cost information in the volume which is prohibited by earlier direciton. Also salary information is considered proprietary and personal informaiton and may or may not be related to the actual contract rate for a given position. Recommend and request delete requirement to provide salary information.

L.1 Key Personnel Section states "The Contractor shall provide a recent signed certificate of non‐ disclosure and conflict of interest statement for each employee." Please clarify that this is for proposed key personnel only.

Please see amended solicitation

L.1 Key Personnel Please verify that for members of a Joint Venture, contingent hire agreements are not required for direct Joint Venture member employees.

Please see amended instructions for Attachment 11

L.1 Key Personnel Question Will the Government remove the requirement for the salary information to be included in the contingent agreements or allow the salary information to be provided in the price Volume?

Please see amended solicitation

L.1 Past Performance Question Must all Past Performance submitted with our proposal be from the Prime Contractor or is Past Performance from team members acceptable?

Please see amended solicitation.

L.1 Past Performance Question Does the term offeror refer to the proposed Prime Contractor or the entire team, Prime Contractor and subcontractors?

FAR 2.101, Definitions Offeror means offeror or bidder.

L.1 Past Performance Question Can the USG please clarify whether these are to be treated as PPQs and forwarded to clients only? Or whether some or all of the content for these PP surveys should be provided in Contractor PP Volume response?

Question If these are to be provided as PPQ’s, can the USG confirm whether any narrative is required for Volume I beyond the Relevant Experience Questionnaire?

Currently the blank forms that are a part of Volume I relevant experience take up over 40 pages before they completed or filled in.

Questioner has not defined the acronym PPQ .

L.1 Past Performance Question Since Part II of the Past Performance Survey (Attachment 12) is to be completed by the customer, does the Government want the offeror to provide the completed Part I of the Past Performance Survey with the proposal and ask the customer to submit the fully completed Past Performance Survey directly to the Government?

Yes, This submission must include copies of the survey forms sent to Offeror’s customers. Though this submission will not contain the referees’ responses, it is the Offeror’s responsibility to ensure the referees respond in a timely manner

L.1 Price Question Will the Government please clarify specifically what should be included in the completed schedule for Supplies or Services and Prices/Costs?

Please see amended solicitation

L.1 Price Pricing Volume instructions note inclusion of completed SF33, Section B, and Section K. There are, however, additional fill‐ins required in the contract (i.e. H‐016).

Please see amended solicitation

L.1 Price Under Price Volume the following criteria is provided, “a completed schedule for Supplies or Services and Prices/Costs (See pages 8 through 11)”.

Question Can the Government confirm the pages referenced are accurate.

Please see amended solicitation

L.1 Price Solicitation is for an IDIQ contract. The instructions request Offerors to propose a quantity of labor hours for each IDIQ CLIN.

Question 1 Does the Government intend to award and fund these CLINs to each successful Offeror?

Question 2 If not, for what purpose will the proposed hours be utilized?

Question 1 – no Question 2 – Please see amended solicitation at M.3

L.1 Price Question Is the term “Project” referring to a Task Order or the IDIQ overall?

Project, for this reference, refers to the IDIQ contract, but see clause 52.216‐18

L.1 Price It is difficult to develop a price proposal workbook detailing the Total Cost of each period of performance and the Total Cost for the Project without additional information. If the term “Project” is referring to the IDIQ contract overall, please provide sufficient detail (number, complexity, type of effort, location, etc.) of the anticipated task orders to be issued each contract year under the IDIQ that will

See Clause B.2, Type of Contract. The contract type resulting from the solicitation will be an Indefinite Delivery‐ Indefinite Quantity contract.

The appropriate type of indefinite‐delivery contract may be used to acquire supplies and/or services when the exact times and/or exact allow Offerors to develop the requested cost estimate by period of performance.

quantities of future deliveries are not known at the time of contract award. An indefinite‐ quantity contract provides for an indefinite quantity, within stated limits, of supplies or services during a fixed period.

The Government places orders for individual requirements.

The details of anticipated task orders will be provided as requirements become known.

See clause G‐00B Task Order Request for Proposals (TORP) ‐ DiPSS

L.1 Price Volume does not denote page count See provision L.1 There are no page limitations on the price proposal

L.1 Price Completed Price Proposal Workbook is noted, but not provided

The Government will not limit the Offeror’s proposal preparation decisions beyond requiring the offeror to follow instructions provided.

L.1 Price Section states that price proposal shall include “a completed schedule for Supplies or Services and Prices/Costs (see pages 8 through 11)” Question We believe the USG meant these pages to be the Section B fill‐ ins pages 3‐6, if the USG can please confirm?

Yes, please see amended solicitation

L.1 Price Section states that “DoS encourages creative solutions in proposing Quantity of personnel to satisfy the solicitation requirements” Question 1 As there are 4 CLINS provided, is the USG asking for a quantity of FTE?

Question 2 Is the USG implying that these are the required key personnel that must be priced?

Question 3 Will additional CLINS be provided at the Task Order Level?

Question 4 If additions of CLINS are necessary at the IDIQ level, how should contractor assume edits for Section B?

Question 1 – The unit identified in the contract Schedule is hour “HR” The Government is seeking innovative solutions from the Offeror and will not limit the Offeror’s proposal preparation decisions.

Question 2 –Clause H‐016 requires the Offeror to identify key personnel proposed. The Government is seeking innovative solutions from the Offeror and will not limit the decisions.

Question 3 ‐ Task orders may identify CLINs that may be unique to the task order.

Question 4 See provision 52.215‐1 Alt II

L.1 Price This section states "DoS encourages creative solutions in proposing quantity of personnel needed to satisfy the solicitation requirements."

Question Since what is being priced are the four labor categories provided under Section B, should this statement be removed?

The Government has considered the recommendation. No changes have been made to the requirement.

L.1 Price Question Will the Govt provide the referenced workbooks or detailed insutructions regarding details required?

No, instructions for preparing the Price Proposal Workbook are stated in provision L.1"

L.1 Price Question Will the Government be providing associated quantities/hours for evaluation purposes or should the offeror provide only the format requested with no quantities/hours included?

No, the Government will not limit the Offeror’s proposal preparation decisions. The offeror must propose the quantities.

L.1 Price Question Will the Government please provide a template for both requirements including the quantities required for evaluation purposes?

No, instructions for preparing the Price Proposal Workbook are stated in provision L.1"

L.1 Project Management

Question How will the memberships in professional Project Management organizations be evaluated?

Memberships in professional Project Management organizations will be evaluated as a part of the offeror’s corporate capabilities.

Please see amended solicitation

L.1 Project Management

Question We are familiar with professional Project Management organizations that an individual may be a member of but what professional Project Management organizations can a company be a member of?

The Government will not limit the Offeror’s proposal preparation decisions.

Offerors may wish to review sources found at http://www.infogoal.com/pmc /pmcorg.htm

L.1 Quality Management

Question Will the USG change the language in this section to “synopsis”?

No, please see amended solicitation.

L.1 Quality Management

This section requests the contractor to “Provide copies of the proposed framework for the project Quality Management Plan and subsidiary plans.” Please verify that “proposed framework” is a description of the OPAs and not copies of the OPAs that that make up the framework. Question Will the USG change the language in this section to “synopsis”?

No, please see amended solicitation

L.1 Relevant Experience Question Are résumés of key personnel, i.e., Section E of Attachment 11, required to be included in both Volume I and Volume II, or should they be included only in Volume I and then just mentioned in Volume II with a reference back to Volume I?

Please see amended solicitation

L.1 Relevant Experience Question As the Instructions do not mention subcontractor Past Performance offerings, can the USG confirm they want only Prime PP references?

Please see amended solicitation

L.1 Relevant Experience Page(S) 66

Question Will the Government provide a replacement Relevant Experience Questionnaire that meets the 1" margins?

The Government has formatted the form. Please use the form provided without reformatting..

L.1 Relevant Experience L.1 Past Performance

The Relevant Experience & Past Performance Volume (I) and Corporate Capabilities & Management Volume (II) each requires inclusion of key personnel resumes and other administrative information. Question 1 ‐Can these documents be excluded from the bidder’s Volume page count for each volume?

Question 2‐Or alternately can the Bidder include key personnel only in the Relevant Experience & Past Performance volume?

Question 1 ‐ No.

Question 2 ‐ yes

L.1 Security Question Will the USG please change the language in this section to “synopsis”?

Please see amended solicitation

L.1 Small Business Utilization

Question Given this solicitation is a small business set aside and there is no evaluation criteria for small business utilization, is the Small Business Utilization section required?

L.1 Small Business Utilization

Question Did the Government intend for there to be small business utilization requirement that apply to the Set Aside

RFP?

Please see amended solicitation

L.1 Small Business Utilization

For the Small Business set aside solicitation, Section C paragraph C.2.2.2. is marked "Reserved" which deletes Small Business Utilization Requirements; the Section M paragarph Sub Factor a) is also marked "Reserved" deleting the evaluation criteria for Small Business Utilization. However the Section C paragaph under the Management Approach retains the Small Business Utilization directions. Is this an oversight?

Please see amended solicitation

L.1 Small Business Utilization

Question Is the offeror for the small business set‐aside award category required to also submit the small business utilization Section within the Management Approach in Volume II?

Please see amended solicitation

L.1 Staffing It is not clear what is meant by framework that is different than the organization process assets and corporate knowledge bases that will be used to perform staffing activities.

See references listed in Attachment 3

L.1 Staffing Question Will the USG please verify that “proposed framework” is a description of the OPAs and not copies of the OPAs that that make up the framework?

See references listed in Attachment 3

L.1 Staffing In this staffing section the government requires that persons on the team who interact with Local national Government officials be Local national or American nationals. Unless there is a compelling requirement to restrict this interaction, we think this is unduly restrictive.

Please see amended solicitation

L.1 Staffing Question How will the requirement that all persons on the team who interact with Local national Government officials be Local national or American nationals be evaluated?

Please see amended solicitation

L.2 Amendments to Proposal

Question Can the Government confirm that the information included under L.2 will apply for any revisions that are made after submission of proposals?

L.6 Oral Presentations Question Will the USG extend the notification to 45 days as recommended herein?

No. See section L.6, Oral Presentations, which reads, in part: "Offerors will receive a minimum of five (5) business days’ notice prior to the requested time for presentation.

L.6 Oral Presentations M.4 Oral Presentations

How will…