Q A's_to_DLA_DRFP_published_04-12-13_(2).docx

Consolidated response to responses and questions resulting from DLA DRFP# SPE4A5-13-R-0397

DLA has revised its acquisition strategy to support F16 Wing components and decided to solicit this contract as a small business set aside. The solicitation will be released in late May and will reflect this significant change. The resultant proposals will receive a full trade off evaluation. The population of items poses significant engineering and technical, diminishing manufacturing sources and raw material acquisition challenges. DLA has determined that access to Original Equipment Manufacturing Engineering and Technical Data, as well as manufacturing plates and special tooling is essential to success. As such, Firms or teams proposing on this effort will be required to prove they have access to the required OEM data and equipment upon submission of their proposal. This proof will be a critical evaluation factor.

The new strategy includes a Customer Direct (DVD) segment that will support Ogden Air Logistics Center F-16 Wing shop. The winning contractor will be required to forecast, acquire, stock, and fulfill requirements at the Wing shop via an onsite storefront operation. The government will provide the contractor secure facilities for this operation. Facility dimensions and MHE capabilities will be provided in the RFP.

The total identified population is 441 items. Further reviews may impact this total number, but adjustments are expected to be minor (if any occur). The population is divided into two subsets with separate delivery requirements for the OO-ALC Wing shop. Subset A, consists of 161 parts, that will have a delivery requirement of 1 day to the Wing Shop. The expectation is some level of inventory for these items will be held at the storefront and the winning contractor will exercise a robust replenishment system to ensure the delivery timeframes are met. Subset B, will include 240 parts, with a delivery expectation of 180 days. The subset calculations are based on collaboration between OO-ALC Maintenance and Supply personnel based on actual and predicted replacement factors, commonality across different wing configurations and predicted inductions. This data will be provided as estimates as part of the RFP, but the winning contractor will be required to meet the actual demand generated by the Wing Shop. The list of parts and their designations (A or B) will be identified in the RFP. Inspection and acceptance requirements will be defined in the RFP.

There will also be a requirement for the winning contractor to serve as DLA’s supplier for worldwide demands for the 441 NSNs. DLA will continue to plan, forecast and store F16 Wing parts for worldwide demand. The Worldwide support requirement will be satisfied via traditional DLA Direct methods with the winning contractor assigned as source of supply. DLA will issue Delivery orders with production lead time away due dates to replenish DLA stocks.

The expectation is the contractor will meet the required metrics. Disincentives will apply if the fill rate for the OO-ALC wing shop falls below 90% and for the age of backorders. Disincentives will be applied to the price of every item during the next contract period. The RFP will document how the metrics and disincentives will be executed. There will be no financial incentives. The 3 year option period will only be awarded if performance warrants it, and should serve as incentive to the winning contractor.

Responses to Specific questions not addressed in the summary above, however some details may change prior to RFP release date:

Question: Will the inventory level (Position) be provided for kit items currently DLA has in stock as of RFP release?

Answer: DLA stock position for the required parts will be provided as part of the RFP.

Question: Will the actual DLA inventory of parts that exist at time of contract award be passed / transitioned to the contract awardee?

Answer: The strategy behind this contract has evolved. As mentioned above it is a small business set aside. The functional requirements will be to provide storefront support to the OO-ALC Wing Shop. The RFP will request a 180 day transition period to support OO-ALC demands. DLA inventory will support all demands through the transition period. At the end of the transition period, DLA inventory WILL NOT be transferred to the winning integrator, but will be available as back up for OO-ALC use - if the integrator cannot provide.

Question: Will this DLA inventory transition at no cost to the contractor?

Answer: Inventory will not transition

Question: Given that the kit component inventory could be drawn down to minimum levels due to customer actions just ahead of transition, or diminished due to minimal DLA ordering prior to transition, will a minimum inventory valuation be assured the winning bidder – either in parts value or cash – in order to share risk between government/winning bidder and assure opportunity to perform from contract start?

DLA intends to continue to stock material to support worldwide demand for these items. The transition period should allow the integrator to acquire the required material to support OO ALC Wing shop demands. The Contracting Officer may authorize progress payments during the transition period.

Question: Can the bid team include a government partner (under provisions of 10 USC 2474?)

This acquisition will be a small business set aside. If the small business prime and teammates elect to develop a Public Private Partnership with a government entity and can meet all the proposal requirements. Their proposal would be considered and evaluated.

Question: How does DLA intend to work with industry to fund this program?

DLA's decision to maintain the inventory to support worldwide demand and utilize the contractor as the source for this material has significantly reduced investment requirements. As mentioned about DLA will consider progress payments during the transition period for this contract. Once the transition is complete, funding will flow through the normal DLA Customer Direct (DVD) process.

Question: Will there be a joint inventory of parts?

There will be no inventory transfer, so no joint inventory.

Question: If demand requirements change items may migrate from Subset B to Subset A. Will there be a transition period to enable the contractor to ramp up from delivery 180 days after receipt of DO to within one day of DO.

Answer: Agree, there will be a transition period.

Question: If First Article Tests are required, contractor should be given the NSNs standard leadtime after FAT approval to meet the metrics requirements.

Answer: Agree, a First Article Test exception will be included.

Question: What is the CLIN structure?

Answer: CLIN Structure will be included in the RFP.

Question: What is the estimated value of this contract?

Answer: The contract is currently envisioned to be a 5 year base with a 3 year option. The estimated annual value of $7M.

Question: Clarify Para C.11.2 regarding buyout of remaining conforming inventory at contract closeout.

Answer: The RFP will clarify contract closeout requirements.

Question: Para C4.2.2.2.2 lists the documentation for CSI items. The documentation listed is normally required for FAT approval but not production.

Answer: RFP will clarify CSI requirements.

Question: Will consideration be given to including ground rules for Termination / Liability and Liquidation of Damages in the event that the contract is prematurely terminated for customer convenience.

Answer: Termination clauses will be included in RFP

Question: Will DLA consider eliminating material acquisition cost of source directed / source restricted items from the price evaluation of this solicitation.

Answer: DLA has determined there is adequate competition from small businesses or small business lead teams. The award will be based on a trade-off evaluation, where meeting technical requirements will be weighed more heavily than price. However, material costs for all items will be evaluated.

Question: DRFP specifies a 180 day transition period. Can offerors propose a shorter or longer transition period and if so would the government consider each in their technical evaluation.

Answer: Yes, different transition periods can be proposed.

Question: Weight and dimensional data needs to be listed for each NSN.

Answer: Weight and dimensional information will be provided in the RFP.

Question: Will the delivery order / EDI process be used to issue material from the storefront.

Answer: Yes, the delivery order / EDI transaction will be required before the contractor will issue material to the OO-ALC Wing Shop.

Question: FMS Performance is not in the Draft RFP.

Answer: The new strategy eliminates the need to track FMS requirements separately. These sections will be removed from the RFP.

Question: Is the contract type firm fixed price of FFP with economic price adjustment. What is the contract term including base period and options.

Answer: This will be is a firm fixed price contract, with a five year base and one three year option period. The RFP will require vendors to price all years.

Question: Past Performance?

Answer: Any relevant contracts from the prime vendor or partners will be considered during the evaluation process. Contracts managed by the prime vendor will be weighted more heavily that those from sub-contractors.

Question: Fee reconciliation?

Answer: Fee reconciliation has not been determined yet.

Question: How do partially filled requisitions (for more than 1 each) count in metrics calculations?

Answer: Only requisitions that are satisfied completely will count as metric successes. Partial requisitions will be treated as “misses” and be included in the backorder count.

Question: Is the Government asking the Contractor to stock and own required Monthly Wartime Rate items or are they just saying that they will be ordered in addition to the annual demands identified in attachment 1A? The contractor would not be required to stock the MWR items; MWR is standard and is in accordance with the clauses.

Question: Would it be possible to allow at least 90 days to respond once the final RFP is released?

Answer: There is a critical need to improve support to the OO-ALC Wing shop, DLA’s intent is to allow 45 days for offerors to propose.