Amendment_1.docx

The purpose of this modification is to include Section 13, “Evaluation Factors and Award Process”, delete the requirement for Reverse Auction, extend the date in which proposals may be received, and to answer questions from prospective offerors.

1. The PWS is revised to include the following:

13. EVALUATION FACTORS AND AWARD PROCESS

13.1 BASIS FOR AWARD

The award shall be made to the responsible Vendor whose proposal is determined to be the most advantageous to the Government based on non-price factors and price considered. Award of this Task Order(s) will be made on a competitive best value basis, using “tradeoff” procedures among non-price factors and price. In evaluating proposals, non-price factors, when combined will be considered significantly more important than price.

The non-price factors that will be evaluated are Past Performance and Certifications. Past Performance is equal to Certifications.

As non-price factors become more equal in merit, pricing considerations become more important. Prospective Vendors are advised that a proposal meeting the objectives and requirements with the lowest price may not necessarily be selected if award to a higher price Vendor is determined to be most advantageous to the Government.

Proposals must demonstrate to the Government’s satisfaction that a Vendor is able to provide services that will ensure the successful accomplishment of the stated objectives consistent with the non-priced factors and management requirements in the PWS. The Government will evaluate the Vendor’s CTA proposal on the basis of the material presented in the written proposal.

The Government reserves the right to evaluate proposals and award a Task Order(s) without discussions with Vendors. Therefore, the Vendor’s initial proposal shall contain the Vendor’s best terms from a non-price and price standpoint. The Government reserves the right to conduct discussions if the Contracting Officer later determines them to be necessary. If the Contracting Officer determines that the number of proposals that would otherwise be in the competitive range exceeds the number at which an efficient competition can be conducted, the Contracting Officer may limit the number of proposals in the competitive range to the greatest number that will permit an efficient competition among the most highly rated proposals.

13.2 EVALUATION FACTORS

The non-price factors are listed below (Past Performance and Certifications). Past Performance is equal to Certifications.

13.2.1 NON-PRICE FACTORS:

1. PAST PERFORMANCE

1. CERTIFICATIONS

13.2.2 NON-PRICE PROPOSAL

1. PAST PERFORMANCE

0. The Government will evaluate the Vendor’s past performance to assess the Vendor’s probability of meeting the solicitation requirements. There are two aspects to the past performance evaluation. The first step is to evaluate the Vendor’s past performance to determine how relevant a recent effort accomplished by the Vendor is to the effort to be acquired. The second aspect of the past performance evaluation is to determine how well the Vendor performed on those contracts. The past performance relevancy ratings will be used to rate the quality and usefulness of the past performance information provided as it applies to a performance confidence assessment.

0. For the proposed effort the Government will consider the relevance of the Vendor’s past performance, the extent to which the Vendor (including Teaming Partner(s) and/or subcontractors) possess experience in performing tasks that are relevant to the requirements of a vulnerability assessment/penetration test and the Vendors’ success with projects that are similar in scope and complexity to the tasks identified in the PWS. The rating of this factor will address the relevance of the Past Performance and the Government’s level of confidence that the Vendor will successfully accomplish the requested effort based on the firm’s Past Performance. The Vendor is required to identify recent experiences in its proposal.

1. CERTIFICATIONS

1. For the proposed effort the Vendor must provide for each team member assigned to perform tasks related to this PWS a valid/current certificate of successful completion of Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) or an equivalent course. As part of the evaluation process the Government will also take into consideration the technical skill set possessed by each team member assigned to perform tasks related to this PWS.

2. The requirements for Reverse Auctions are deleted in its entirety for this acquisition.

3. The cutoff date in which offerors are permitted to submit their proposals is extended to 8 November 2013, 12:00 Hrs, EST.

4. The following questions were submitted from prospective vendors. Answers to those questions are provided.

Question 1: Please confirm the submission mode for the response i.e. whether it’s a Hard copy or email submission?

Answer 1: Email submissions only.

Question 2: Is this a new bid or re-compete?

Answer 2: Re-compete Question 3: If re-compete, who is providing these services currently?

Answer 3: Tantus Technologies Question 4: Is the incumbent eligible to bid on this?

Answer 4: Yes Question 5: What is the previous contract number?

Answer 5: SP4702-12-F-0093 Question 6: As per section 6. PLACE AND TIME OF PERFORMANCE " Functions to be performed under this PWS will be conducted from the contractor’s facility, at the CNDSP’s location in Columbus, Ohio (Defense Supply Center Columbus, Network Operations Security Center) and, at the third DLA enclave to be determined and identified on an annual basis". Please clarify whether the place of performance is at contractor facility at their own location or onsite at government facility?

Answer 6: Dependent upon the enclave chosen some aspects of the penetration test/vulnerability assessment may be required to performed from the contractor's facility, e.g., internet based attacks (see Task 1 of PWS). Additionally, the selected contractor will be given access to the internal network of a specific enclave within the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to perform the penetration test/vulnerability assessment. Hence, the selected contractor will be required to perform their assigned duties from both the contractor facility as well as a location to be determined by DLA.

Question 7: Do we need to provide a personnel with some specific security clearance & US citizenship requirement?

Answer 7: Please refer to the “Security” section of the PWS, paragraph 7.

Question 8: Please confirm the level of effort / number of key personnel requirement?

Answer 8: The selected contractor must make the determination, based on network(s) to be assessed, the number of personnel to assign to each project. Based on known requirements a minimum of three people would be required with reach back capability to the selected contractor if required/on an as required basis.

Question 9: Is it a requirement of a bidder to have prior experience providing the services within the scope of this RFP to Federal government organizations, or is past work with State and Local governments satisfy the Past Performance requirement?

Answer 9: The Contractor shall provide the past performance of their firm that most accurately relates to this acquisition.

Question 10: Is the project funded?

Answer 10: yes

Question 11: On SF1449, page 3 of 23 mentioned a quantity of 1 and unit of MO. Can you please clarify what is the Government looking to procure effort in? Number of FTEs or just fixed scope via a PWS?

Answer 11: Unit of Measure should be Year and not Month.

Question 12: What is the estimated LOE of this project?

Answer 12: Making the assumption LOE is "Level of Effort". The selected contractor must make the determination, based on network(s) to be assessed, the number of personnel to assign to each project. Based on known requirements a minimum of three people would be required with reach back capability to the selected contractor if required/on an as required basis.

Question 13: Does Government expect travel expenses to be included in the quoted price?

Answer 13: The selected contractor is not expected to include travel expenses as part of their proposal. A separate CLIN exists for travel that will cover any expenses related to travel.

Question 14: Section 6. Place and Time of Performance states “Functions to be performed under this PWS will be conducted from the contractor’s facility, at the CNDSP’s location in Columbus, Ohio (Defense Supply Center Columbus, Network Operations Security Center) and, at the third DLA enclave to be determined and identified on an annual basis.”. Please clarify if the Government is expecting the Offeror to have a contractor-owned facility at these locations versus work being performed from Government sites?

Answer 14: Dependent upon the enclave chosen some aspects of the penetration test/vulnerability assessment may be required to performed from the contractor's facility, e.g., internet based attacks (see Task 1 of PWS). Additionally, the selected contractor will be given access to the internal network of a specific enclave within the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to perform the penetration test/vulnerability assessment. Hence, the selected contractor will be required to perform their assigned duties from both the contractor facility as well as a location to be determined by DLA.

Question 15: What are the possible conflicts of interest that may occur?

Answer 15: There are none that immediately come to mind.

Question 16: Please explain the evaluation criteria of this Solicitation prior to shortlisting offerors for RA process.

Answer 16: RA will not be used on this acquisition.

Question 17: What comprises the evaluation team? Please provide discipline, title and experience levels.

Answer 17: Based on the network assessed the selected contractor will have to use their own discretion to formulate the assessment team. Based on the language contained in the PWS the selected contractor should be able to draw on their experience the skill set required to perform network penetration tests/vulnerability assessments.

Question 18: What type of information systems currently in use? Please be specific as to the developer’s name, product number and revision number.

Answer 18: Predominantly Windows with some Solaris/UNIX/flavors of UNIX Intermixed.

Question 19: What educational qualifications / certificates required for the support services / number of years of experience. Will Government consider personnel with security certifications such as CISSP, CISM?

Answer 19: Please refer to sections 12.1 and 12.3 of the PWS.

Question 20: Are all of the current systems accredited? If not all accredited, how many systems require significant accreditation work?

Answer 20: N/A to this solicitation.

Question 21: Will Government work space and Government Furnished Equipment be provided?

Answer 21: Please refer to “Government Furnished Equipment” section of the PWS, paragraph 8.

Question 22: Is the contractor required to have facility clearance?

Answer 22: Please refer to “Security” section of the PWS, paragraph 7.

Question 23: Is this a FFP or CP or T&M contract type?

Answer 23: FFP