ADaPTS 2.0 Industry Engagement Questions (FINAL 01.16.2025)_locked.xlsx
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This is a Q&A document from an industry engagement session for the DHS Architecture, Development, and Platform Technical Services (ADaPTS) 2.0 procurement. The document primarily addresses questions about facility clearance requirements and small business participation.
Key details include: Top Secret Facility Clearance (TS FCL) is required for prime contractors, CTA members, and JV members at time of Phase 1 submission, but not for subcontractors (though subcontractors without TS FCL cannot perform TS work). The procurement includes a three-phase evaluation process, with Phase 1 being a mandatory pass/fail down-select and Phase 2 being an advisory down-select. ADaPTS 2.0 expands upon ADaPTS 1.0 by adding new scope areas including SecDevOps, ALF Support, SELC Support, Cloud Services, Security Support, AI/ML/NLP Support, and Accessibility Compliance Support. Existing task orders will be recompeted within approximately one year of BPA award. The procurement will support current DHS HQ platforms including ServiceNow, SharePoint, Dynamics, PowerPlatform, Drupal, PowerBI, Tableau, Python and Atlassian Suite. There are no specific small business set-aside percentages at the BPA level, with requirements to be determined at the call order level.
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Contractual Questions 12.16.24
| # | QUESTION | GOVERNMENT RESPONSE |
| 1 | Will the slide deck and/or the recording be posted? | Yes, the slide deck, the recording, and the complete Q&A will be posted on SAM. |
| 2 | Will the questions discussed in this presentation be delivered in writing? Or just in the recording? | The Questions will be delivered in writing. |
| 3 | Will the Government document the questions and answers provided in today's session? | Yes, DHS will document the questions and answers provided in the 12/16/2024 session. |
| 4 | Will the government be publishing the slides and answers from today's presentation? If so, when and where? | Yes, DHS will publish the slides and answers from the 12/16/2024 presentation. |
| 5 | Will a list of attendees for this session be shared also? | No, the list of attendees will not be published. |
| 6 | Is the FCL also a flow down requirement for Subcontractors? | An Active TS FCL is not required for a Subcontractor. However, if a Subcontractor does not have an Active TS FCL, they will not be permitted to perform TS work. |
| 7 | Please clarify if the only the prime or CTA lead needs the TS or if all team members require a TS | All members of the CTA are required to have an Active TS FCL at the time of Phase 1 Submission. |
| 8 | We seek clarification regarding the Top Secret Facility Clearance requirement outlined in Section 8.1, Factor 1. Specifically, for a proposed Joint Venture (JV), is it mandatory for all members of the JV to possess an active Top Secret Facility Clearance, or would it suffice if the lead member of the JV holds an active Top Secret Facility Clearance while another member holds a Secret Facility Clearance? | It is mandatory for either all members of the JV to have an active TS FCL at the time of submission. However, an Active TS FCL for the JV itself may be provided in lieu of providing Active TS FCLs for the JV Members. |
| 9 | Can you clarify what you meant in your verbal response by "if applicable" related to the security clearance requirement? | An Active TS FCL is applicable and required. |
| 10 | Can you clarify what was said earlier - that subcontractors are, or are not, required to possess top secret facility clearance at the time of proposal submission? | An Active TS FCL is not required for a Subcontractor. However, if a Subcontractor does not have an Active TS FCL, they will not be permitted to perform TS work. |
| 11 | Would the government consider reducing the facility clearance requirement to a Minimum of Secret and then let the individual Task Orders each dictate the actual requirement for that particular piece of work? | Security Classification is mandated to be at the highest level required. Thus, Top Secret is required. |
| 12 | Can the government please clarify if all subcontractors also need a TS FCL? | An Active TS FCL is not required for a Subcontractor. However, if a Subcontractor does not have an Active TS FCL, they will not be permitted to perform TS work. |
| 13 | Just to clarify, Is the FCL also a flow down requirement for all Subcontractors? | An Active TS FCL is not required for a Subcontractor. However, if a Subcontractor does not have an Active TS FCL, they will not be permitted to perform TS work. |
| 14 | We seek clarification regarding the Top Secret Facility Clearance requirement outlined in Section 8.1, Factor 1. Specifically, for a proposed Joint Venture (JV), is it mandatory for all members of the JV to possess an active Top Secret Facility Clearance, or would it suffice if the lead member of the JV holds an active Top Secret Facility Clearance while another member holds a Secret Facility Clearance? | It is mandatory for all members of the JV to have an active TS FCL Submission. However, an Active TS FCL for the JV itself may be provided in lieu of providing Active TS FCLs for the JV Members. |
| 15 | Is FCL applicable to subcontractors? | An Active TS FCL is not required for a Subcontractor. However, if a Subcontractor does not have an Active TS FCL, they will not be permitted to perform TS work. |
| 16 | For FCL TS clearance ,will we have to submit proof of clearance for all the subcontractors that will be part of the team? | An Active TS FCL is not required for a Subcontractor. However, if a Subcontractor does not have an Active TS FCL, they will not be permitted to perform TS work. |
| 17 | Will TS FCL be required for each team member, or only the prime or CTA lead/ | All members of the CTA are required to have an Active TS FCL at the time of Phase 1 Submission. |
| 18 | Do all subcontractors require a Top Secret FCL or just the Prime? | All members of the CTA are required to have an Active TS FCL at the time of Phase 1 Submission. |
| 19 | Do all teaming partners, including subcontracting teaming partners, need the TS FCL? | All members of the CTA are required to have an Active TS FCL at the time of Phase 1 Submission. |
| 20 | Regarding Facility Clearance - is every company on the team required to have a FCL? Or just the Prime? | All members of the CTA are required to have an Active FCL at the time of Phase 1 Submission. |
| 21 | For Phase 1, TS FCL, is it required only for the prime who is submitting the bid, or will subcontractors on the team be required to have it as well? | An Active TS FCL is not required for a Subcontractor. However, if a Subcontractor does not have an Active TS FCL, they will not be permitted to perform TS work. |
| 22 | Please confirm only the prime is required to have TS FCL at the time of award (not a proposed sub contractor) | An Active TS FCL is required for an agreement holder; i.e. the Prime Contractor, CTA Members or JV (or JV Members). An Active TS FCL is not required for a Subcontractor. However, if a Subcontractor does not have an Active TS FCL, they will not be permitted to perform TS work. |
| 23 | When it comes to the Top Secret Facilities Clearance (TS FCL) - can you confirm only the Prime Contractor is required to have the TS FCL at the time of proposal submission? | An Active TS FCL is required for an agreement holder; i.e. the Prime Contractor, CTA Members or JV (or JV Members). An Active TS FCL is not required for a Subcontractor. However, if a Subcontractor does not have an Active TS FCL, they will not be permitted to perform TS work. |
| 24 | Does that TS Facility requirement also apply to subs or just the prime? | An Active TS FCL is required for an agreement holder; i.e. the Prime Contractor, CTA Members or JV (or JV Members). An Active TS FCL is not required for a Subcontractor. However, if a Subcontractor does not have an Active TS FCL, they will not be permitted to perform TS work. |
| 25 | Can you explain more details about the statement that all teaming partners need a TS FCL. Is this just for JVs and CTAs and not traditional Prime/Sub relationships? | All teaming partners in the CTA are required to have an Active TS FCL. Each member of a JV is required to have an Active TS FCL. However, in lieu of demonstrating each member of the JV has an Active TS FCL, an Active TS FCL for the JV itself may be submitted. An Active TS FCL is required for the Prime Contractor. An Active TS FCL is not required for a Subcontractor. However, if a Subcontractor does not have an Active TS FCL, they will not be permitted to perform TS work. |
| 26 | Your question about FCL leads to another question. Based on the answer provided it would indicate that a subcontractor could submit a proposal without FCL and still make it through phase 1. Is that true? | An Active TS FCL is required for an agreement holder; i.e. the Prime Contractor, CTA Members or JV (or JV Members). An Active TS FCL is not required for a Subcontractor. However, if a Subcontractor does not have an Active TS FCL, they will not be permitted to perform TS work. |
| 27 | Can the government clarify if subs need a TS clearance in order for the prime to submit a final proposal in later phases. It was not clear as I understand, under Phase I, just the prime requires TS level. Please clarify and thank you | An Active TS FCL is required for an agreement holder; i.e. the Prime Contractor, CTA Members or JV (or JV Members). An Active TS FCL is not required for a Subcontractor. However, if a Subcontractor does not have an Active TS FCL, they will not be permitted to perform TS work. |
| 28 | Can you expand on the OCI concerns surrounding ADAPTs and what it will do to companies who are awarded? | OCI concerns, if any, will be addressed at the order level. |
| 29 | Do you anticipate any OCI concerns with ADaPT? | OCI concerns, if any, will be addressed at the order level. |
| 30 | Are there any OCI concerns regarding contractors that may be providing PMO and/or Cybersecurity type of services at DHS? | OCI concerns, if any, will be addressed at the order level. |
| 31 | Can an OTA contract be used in Past Performance as a citation? Thank you. | Yes, an OTA may be used as an example under Prior Experience. |
| 32 | Will there be a small business plan requirement for UNR bidders? And if so will there be a specific % for small business on each TO? | No, the Small Business Plan is required at the GSA MAS Contract level. Specific Requirements for Call Orders will be specified at the Call Order level. |
| 33 | What is any is the Small Business set-aside requirement in % of work effort? | There is no mandate at the BPA level to set aside a percentage of work in every order. Please review Section 1.0 Introduction for detail regarding Competition and the Small Business approach to be utilized for this requirement. Additional requirements may be included in individual Call Orders. |
| 34 | Can you provide additional info on the % small vs large business awards on ADAPTS 2.0? Will certain task areas be directed or only available to Small Business awardees? | There is no mandate at the BPA level to set aside a percentage of work in every order. Please review Section 1.0 Introduction for detail regarding Competition and the Small Business approach to be utilized for this requirement. Additional requirements may be included in individual Call Orders. |
| 35 | Can you explain in more detail the Phases of Quotation and how this will work for responders? | Phase 1 is a mandatory down select (pass/fail). Quoters who pass Phase 1 may continue to Phase 2. Quoters who Fail Phase 1 may not continue to Phase 2. Phase 2 is an advisory down select. Quoters without a strong chance of winning a BPA, in DHS' opinion, will be advised not to continue to Phase 3. However, all Quoters who Pass Phase 1 and submit a Phase 2 quotation may chose to submit a Phase 3 quotation. |
| 36 | Can you elaborate briefly on Q6. Are you expecting the offeror to conduct actual sessions with the government or is the interest in offerors describing how they would conduct sessions to elicit requirements as an example, post award on a real task order. | Quoters are not expected to conduct an actual session. The response to the scenarios is a written response that describes the quoters approach in accordance with the RFQ. |
| 37 | When will Govt post the updated Phase 2 Corporate experience requirement | The updated Phase 2 Prior Corporate Experience requirement will be included in the final solicitation. |
| 38 | Is the FCL required to be active after Phase 1? | Yes, even after Phase 1, the Quoter and all teaming partners and named subcontractors, if applicable, shall possess an active “Top Secret” facility clearance granted from the Defense Security Service at the time of proposal submission and must maintain the “Top Secret” facility clearance for the duration of the BPA and all applicable Call Orders. |
Technical Questions 12.16.24
| # | QUESTION | GOVERNMENT RESPONSE |
| 1 | Could you comment on the extent to which these requirements are different from the scope of ADAPTS 1.0? | ADaPTs 2.0 builds from the foundation of ADaPTs 1.0. New additions to scope include: |
• Security/Development/Operations (SecDevOps) Processes
• Acquisition Lifecycle Framework (ALF) Support
• Systems Engineering Lifecycle (SELC) Support
• Manage Cloud based commodity computing services and Shared Services
• Security Support Services
• Configuration Management Support
• Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning/Natural Language Processing (NLP) Support
• Support for other new and evolving technologies
• Electronic Content Accessibility Support
• Accessibility Compliance Support
• Technical Editor Support
| 2 | The requirements that were presented look like the existing Task Orders on the original ADaPTS contract. If that is the case can you tell us when those Task Orders will be recompeted? | All existing Task Orders that are going to be continued will be recompeted within approximately a year of award of the ADaPTS BPA. |
| 3 | How has the scope of the incumbent ADaPTS BPA evolved into ADaPTS 2.0? | ADaPTs 2.0 builds from the foundation of ADaPTs 1.0. New additions to scope include: |
• Security/Development/Operations (SecDevOps) Processes
• Acquisition Lifecycle Framework (ALF) Support
• Systems Engineering Lifecycle (SELC) Support
• Manage Cloud based commodity computing services and Shared Services
• Security Support Services
• Configuration Management Support
• Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning/Natural Language Processing (NLP) Support
• Support for other new and evolving technologies
• Electronic Content Accessibility Support
• Accessibility Compliance Support
• Technical Editor Support
| 4 | Some of the draft SOW tasks - especially Task 4, Application and Service Design, Implementation & Migration Task Requirements - refer to several dozen tool and technology stacks. We assume that the prior experience used for this task need not include use of all of these tools and technology stacks. Please confirm this is the case and let industry know which of the tools and technologies are more important to show experience with. | These are representative technology stacks and tools. This BPA will support task orders related to the current DHS HQ platforms/toolsets including ServiceNow, Sharepoint, Dynamics, PowerPlatform, Drupal, PowerBi, Tableau, Python and the Atlassian Suite. There will also be opportunities where the government expects the vendor to provide innovative solutions that can improve our capabilities so we are interested in new solutions that can improve our capability. We expect Quoters to propose the best technical solutions. COTS products that have FedRAMP approval or software that meets government standards. | |
| 5 | In reference to Overview, it states Forming a new Joint Venture or Partnership Agreement | ||
| (a FAR 9.601(1) CTA) specifically for an order is not allowed" To clarify, will the government allow a CTA (a FAR 9.601(1) CTA) to be formed for an award at the BPA level? | A CTA must be formed at the time of BPA quotation submission. | ||
| 6 | Is the DHS TRM available for those who are not current DHS contractors and if so can you post the link? | The DHS TRM is not available outside the DHS Networks. |
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