AMENDMENT_0004_SOL_W15QKN16R0003_R-MAS_ATTACHMENT_0040_SOLICITATION_QUESTIONS_RESPONSES.pdf

Solicitation W15QKN-16-R-0003 Recruiting, Management, and Administrative Support (R-MAS) Attachment 0040 – Solicitation Questions/Responses -Format

SOLICITATION W15QKN-16-R-0003

RECRUITING, MANAGEMENT, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

(R-MAS)

SOLICITATION QUESTIONS/RESPONSES

Date: 26 January 2017

1. Solicitation Document: Can you tell me when the proposal is due back to you electronically?

RESPONSE: See Attachment 0041, Section L “Proposal Submission.”

2. Amendment/Solicitation Document: Is there going to be an Amendment 0001 document that can be signed by the offeror to acknowledge the amendment as part of the proposal?

RESPONSE: There is currently an Amendment 0001 document posted on

FBO for signature.

3. Attachment 0001; Basic – Performance Work Statement (PWS); Page 20: PWS paragraph 2.9.1 says “The contractor’s QC procedures shall address the areas identified in Attachment-Performance Requirements Summary [Attachment 0006].”

Half of the PRS (3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.10) appear to apply to task orders (TO), not the basic IDIQ contract. Would the Government specify precisely which PRS should be included in the QCP Deliverable, perhaps delete those relevant explicitly to task orders, and defer to the PRS within TOs, e.g., in this instance Attachment 0012 TO A, Attachment 0021 TO B, and Attachment 32 TO C?

RESPONSE: No, the QCP deliverable is applicable to all areas identified in attachment 0006 “Performance Requirement Summary.” Therefore, an Offeror’s

QCP shall address all requirements in Section 2.9.1 of the Basic PWS. The

Government intends to assess the Contractor’s performance under the base IDIQ contract by conducting a comprehensive assessment of performance under task orders and assessment of the effectiveness of business processes such as invoicing and personnel recruiting and retention

4. Attachment 0001; Basic – Performance Work Statement (PWS); Page 28: The PRS in the PWS differ from the PRS in Attachment 0006, e.g., in the PWS, PRS

3.1 says “timely proposal for 50% of requests for proposals.” PRS 3.1 in Attachment 0006 says “timely proposal for 70% of requests for proposals.” Would the Government reconcile the two sets of PRS or, delete Attachment 0006 and make Attachment 0001 the authoritative source, or delete from both 0001 and 0006 and make the PRS in Attachment 0002 basic QASP the authoritative source?

RESPONSE: The correct standard for this performance measure is 50%, with an AQL of 30%. Attachment 0006 has been revised

5. Attachment 0001; Basic – Performance Work Statement (PWS); Page 40: PWS

4.7 makes reference to the Contractor Manpower Reporting Application (CMRA) which, according to Exhibit D CDRL D003 is a basic IDIQ Contract deliverable.

Attachment 0009, TO A, Attachment 0017, TO B, and Attachment 0029, TO C also make reference to the CMRA, all to be addressed in the TO proposals’ technical approach and deliverables per Exhibit D CDRL D003. Since, unlike the QCP which will be unique to each TO, the CMRA is always the same, would the Government merely require, as a basic IDIQ Contract deliverable, a standard CMRA Plan discussing the contractor’s generic approach to performing this task, and delete the redundant requirement from the Sample TOs?

RESPONSE: The Department of Defense requires specific reporting of labor hours executed under each task order for specific periods of performance.

This requirement is applicable at the task order level only. Reporting at the base contract-level is not required.

6. Attachment 0001; Basic – Performance Work Statement (PWS); Page 38: PWS paragraph 4.4 addresses Transition Management which, according to Exhibit D CDRL D005, is a basic IDIQ Contract Deliverable. Attachment 0041, Section L Proposal Submission, also addresses, in Section 1.4, Transition Management as a requirement to be addressed in Sample TOs A, B and C proposals. Since the requirement in Attachment 0041 is identical for each sample TO, as well as future competed TORs, would the government revise the Transition Management requirements to one Transition Management Plan as a basic IDIQ Deliverable and delete the requirement from the Sample TO proposals as well as the requirement in Attachment 0041, Volume I, Sub-factor 6, removing those redundant requirements from being included in their respective page limits?

RESPONSE: The transition management plans called for in each sample task PWS apply only to specific task orders. The task order transition plans should address specific requirements of transitioning the task from one contractor to another and should address the requirements outlined in the transition paragraphs in the sample task PWSs. The transition management process plan required by base IDIQ PWS paragraph 4.4 is a description of the

Offeror’s corporate process for management of transition, both entrance and exit, on all task orders. This would include the Offeror’s approach to all aspects of transition management to ensure seamless transitions and minimize disruption to on-going operations.

7. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L; Page 7: Volume I, Sub-factor 1 Corporate Experience requires the contractor “demonstrate that it and its team combined have Corporate Experience providing services of similar scope and complexity necessary to perform the entire effort.” It also goes on to say “performance of similar tasks at more than one performance location concurrently;

and performance in 2 of the 5 major Recruiting, Management, and Administrative support task categories (PWS Section 2.2) as listed below, one of which must include the Recruiting and Retention Personnel Support task category.” First, there is no scope nor complexity provided in the R-MAS task categories, e.g., Reception. Second, the Sample TO tasks address the five Recruiting and Retention Personnel Support task categories also required in this section. Would the Government revise the requirement to demonstrate experience similar in scope and complexity to the tasks in the Sample TOs? Would the Government include their definition of “scope” and “complexity” in PWS paragraph 6.2 of Attachment 0001?

RESPONSE:

a. The scope of this requirement is defined in Attachment 0001, Basic PWS section 2.1. A description of services is provided in Attachment 0001, Basic PWS section 2.2. A more specific description of the types of services anticipated under this contract for “Distribution” is provided at Attachment 0001, Basic PWS Section 2.2.1.2. Basic PWS section numbers for the Personnel Life Cycle task categories are referenced in Attachment 0041, Section L Proposal Submission, Page 7: Volume I.

b. The Government will not restrict the Corporate Experience requirement to demonstrate experience similar in scope and complexity to the tasks in the Sample TOs. Although the sample tasks are representative of the types of services historically supported under the IDIQ, the scope of the IDIQ includes a wider range of services than the services called for under the sample tasks. This proposed change would restrict the ability of some Offerors to compete.

c. Scope can be defined as the extent of and types of services that are contemplated under this contract. The scope for this requirement is provided in Attachment 0001, Basic PWS section 2.1. Complexity can be defined as qualities that make a task more intricate or complex to manage. Examples might include factors such as the number of performance locations, wide geographic dispersion of performance locations, OCONUS location management, or the number of employees managed. These are generally understood definitions and will not be added to Attachment 0001 Basic PWS Section 6.2.

8. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L; Page 10: Volume I Sub-factors 2, 3 and 4 Sample TO, Section 1.4 addresses the requirement for Transition Plans. This implies there is an incumbent contractor with whom to transition.

Would the Government provide the names of the incumbent contractors?

RESPONSE: The incumbent contractors for the sample tasks are:

Sample Task A: Armed Forces Services Corporation (AFSC)

Sample Task B: Aerie Venture, Inc.

Sample Task C: 360 Patriot Enterprises, Inc.

9. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L; Page none: Volume I Section 1.1, Sub-factor A makes reference to PWS Section 5.5 and Section 5.7 of Attachment 0009. Those paragraphs are not in Attachment 0009. Will the Government revise either Attachment 0041 and delete reference to those paragraphs or revise Attachment 0009 and include those paragraphs?

RESPONSE: The PWS for Sample Task A has been revised.

10. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L; Page none: Volume I, Sub-factor 5 Staffing Approach requires “A description of critical corporate team members and subcontractors that will perform the work on the IDIQ contract and any future Task Orders.”

a. This implies that “critical corporate team members” are other than the Key Personnel for whom resumes are required. Is that correct, and does “critical team member” refer to individuals, e.g., corporate President, from the prime contractor as well as those of sub-contractors’ corporate staff? Is it the prime contractor prerogative to determine who the individual critical corporate team members are, or does the Government have criteria that must be satisfied?

b. The prime contractor may have more sub-contractors on its team than the major sub-contractors for whom experience citations are included in Volume I Sub-factor 1 - Experience. Descriptions of these and individuals referred to above may become voluminous. Would the Government exclude these descriptions from the Sub-factor 5 - Staffing Approach page limit?

a. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L language is revised to remove the term “critical”. The Offeror shall determine the corporate team members to include.

b. The Government will not exclude these descriptions from the Subfactor 5 – Staffing Approach page limit. The Offeror shall include descriptions of major subcontractors but may also include those of non-major subcontractors within page limitations.

11. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L; Page 11: Volume I Sub-factor 5

- Staffing Approach requires “a personnel qualification matrix identifying the appropriate skills and experience to accomplish the PWS objectives.” The objectives on page 9 & 10, paragraph 1.2 of Attachment 0001 are:

Acquire services based on clear, performance-based requirements.

Expect cost, schedule, and performance outcomes to be identifiable and measurable at the contract and task order level.

Acquire services using a strategic, enterprise-wide approach, which is applied to both the planning and the execution of the acquisition and will enable streamlined acquisition and cost savings for services contracts to achieve outcomes consistent with customer need(s).

These objectives, to “acquire” services, are government responsibilities.

Would the Government clarify what is to be addressed in the required qualification matrix?

RESPONSE:

a. Section 1.2 of Attachment 0001 Basic PWS outlines the objectives of the resultant contract. These are not contractor objectives the successful Offerors are expected to achieve.

b. The requirement for a summary of qualifications for the basic IDIQ is eliminated from Attachment 0041, Section L Proposal Submission, Factor 1-Technical, Subfactor 5, Staffing Approach. A summary of qualifications is still required for each sample task.”

12. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L; Page none: Volume I Sub-factor 5 - Staffing Approach requires the Contractor to “. . . explain the staffing methodology; staffing levels, including management and any functions that will be subcontracted; labor mix, and use of junior and senior resources.” This appears to be relevant to Task Order Staffing Plan vice the HRSS R-MAS IDIQ suite. Would the Government clarify the requirement vis-à-vis the HRSS R-MAS IDIQ Suite?

RESPONSE: This statement is relevant to how the Offeror intends to approach task order staffing from a management or planning perspective. It does not require the Offeror to provide specific staffing levels for the entire IDIQ effort.

The labor categories for this IDIQ are at Attachment 0004, Basic Labor Categories

Description.

13. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L; Page none: Volume I Sub-factor 6 - Management Approach requires “The Quality Control Plan (QCP) as required by PWS paragraph 2.9.1 shall be submitted with proposals for review with this Subfactor. The Transition Management Process Plan as required by PWS paragraph 4.4 shall be submitted with proposals for review under this Subfactor.”

May these two plans, treated as separate deliverables per Exhibit C CDRL C001 and Exhibit D CDRL D005 be excluded from this Sub-factor’s page limit?

RESPONSE: There is no page limit for the quality control plan or the transition management process plan. See Proposal Submission Requirements

Table, Attachment 0041, Section L of the RFP.

14. Attachment 0004; Basic Labor Category Descriptions: Are any labor categories included in Attachment 0004 considered by the Government to be non-exempt?

RESPONSE: The Offeror will determine which labor categories are non-exempt.

15. Attachment 0009; Sample Task A PWS; Page 27: PWS 5.3.2 says “update and maintain the MSB calculators.” PWS 5.3.2.1 requires that the Contractor “provide a [BRS] calculator” and “modify the calculator.” Does a [BRS] calculator currently exist and to be referred to the successor Contractor during Entrance Transition, or is this a new contract deliverable?

RESPONSE: Attachment 0009, Sample Task A PWS is revised to incorporate use of the calculators from by Armed Forces Services Corporation (AFSC) as a directed source under this task order.

16. Attachment 0009; Sample Task A PWS; Page30: PWS 5.4.2 refers to accomplishing the STRATCOM requirements of this PWS. Would the Government confirm that those “requirements” are indeed the PWS 5 tasks/sub-tasks or otherwise specify what the STRATCOM requirements are? There are a variety of venues listed no doubt of varying scope and duration. Would the Government provide historical data of how many of each type venue is expected each month, numbers of persons attending, and duration of each? Is the Contractor the briefer?

RESPONSE: The STRATCOM requirements of the PWS are those requirements specified in paragraph 5.4. The estimated workload for this task has been updated and is provided in Attachment 0016, Sample Task A Estimated

Workload Data. The Contractor will be the briefer.

17. Attachment 0009; Sample Task A PWS; Page30: PWS tasks 5.5 through 5.8 are missing. Will the Government revise Attachment 0009 by either restoring those tasks or renumbering the tasks to confirm nothing is missing?

RESPONSE: The PWS for Sample Task A has been revised.

18. Attachment 0009; Sample Task A PWS; Page30: PWS 5.9 makes reference to a requirement for contractors to have approved level 2 security credentials. PWS

1.9.1 says “Contractor personnel performing work under this TO shall have an initiated Tier 3 background investigation or equivalent at the time of start of work.”

Would the Government clarify the contractor security requirement?

RESPONSE: These are two different requirements. PWS para 1.9.1 addresses personnel security checks for employees. Paragraph 5.9 addresses requirements for information assurance security credentials IAW AR 25-2.

19. Attachment 0009; Sample Task A PWS; Page31: PWS 5.10 makes to the content management system. Would the Government clarify which content management system (CMS) is currently in use? Please provide information about which Facebook friends or Twitter followers have the ability to “like” or “share” content on those platforms restricted by the accounts and/or CMS. What additional social media/outreach activities fall under this requirement and what is the frequency of additional social media/outreach activities under this requirement?

RESPONSE: The CMS is “Ingeniux CMS version 6”. All Facebook friends and Twitter followers can like and share. In addition, Linked In and Instagram accounts for SFL exist. Posts to each of the four social media accounts occur about three to four times per week per account.

20. Attachment 0009; Sample Task A PWS; Page31: PWS 5.12 addresses updating SFL website.

a. 5.12.1 requires “all themes and messages discussed on SFL social media platforms are aligned with current senior leader (CSA/VCSA) intent and guidance.” Will the Government provide the contractor with current senior leadership intent and guidance?

b. 5.12.2 implies that there may be hierarchical blogs “respond to 90% of social media or blog posts within one business day for routine responses” and more substantive blogs “within four business hours of receiving an approved

Subject Matter Expert (SME) response from the COR-RA.” Who determines is a blog is routine or substantive? Is the intent of the Government for the Contractor to have Subject Matter Experts available to prepare responses to substantive blogs, of indeterminant subject matter other than related to SFL, for COR-RA approval almost instantaneously – four business hours?

c. Given there is a hierarchy of social media blogs, will the Government provide historical data regarding the frequency of each? Weekly? Monthly? Annually?

d. Is there an existing social media blog response plan? If so, is that plan available to offerors?

e. Given such a plan, is there a path to escalate responses to social media blogs to public affairs if appropriate?

f. 5.12.3 makes reference to internal and external audience. Would the Government define internal and external audience?

a. Yes, the COR-RA will provide the Contractor with CSA/VCSA intent and guidance.

a. The Contractor is expected to be able to respond to the majority of posts within one business day; however, some inquiries may require a subject matter expert response. The COR-RA will determine if an inquiry requires a more substantive response.

b. Yes. There is a historical pattern that the Contractor will follow (e.g.

three Facebook posts per week.)

c. There is not an existing social media blog response plan.

d. Attachment 0009, Sample Task A PWS section 5.12.3 is revised to clarify that the Contractor should consider any public affairs implications of proposed posts and seek approval of the COR-RA prior to posting.

e. The internal audience is Government personnel; External audience is all other.

21. Attachment 0009; Sample Task A PWS; Page31: PWS 5.13 is an optional task.

Is the Contractor required to include its proposed approach to performing this task in Section 1 and staffing in Section 2 within established page limits? Should the Contractor include its proposed pricing of this task in Volume II Pricing?

RESPONSE: Yes

22. Attachment 0009; Sample TO A PWS; Page 5: PWS 1.8.1 requires a QCP to be included as part of the proposal. Would the Government allow the QCP be excluded from the proposal page count and, instead, have it included as an attachment to proposal?

RESPONSE: Yes, Attachment 0041, Section L Proposal Submission has been amended to allow for the QCP not to count toward the page limit for all sample tasks.

23. Attachment 0009; Sample TO A PWS; Page 15: PWS 1.17.1 requires an Entrance Transition Plan. Would the Government confirm that there is an incumbent contractor and identify the vendor?

RESPONSE: Please see response to question 8 above

24. Attachment 0017; Sample TO B PWS; Page 23: PWS 5.2.2 makes reference to potential studies, estimated at 3 per year. Will the Government provide the historical data regarding the nature of previous studies in order to assess the requisite labor categories/talent, e.g., LSS, ORAS, etc.?

RESPONSE: In FY16, program planning and analysis was focused on tracking unit participation, program budgeting and program administration and analysis for future program resourcing and efficiency due to forecasted budget reductions. Offerors must determine the appropriate labor category to propose based on the task description to conduct analysis in the areas of program planning and execution.

25. Attachment 0017; Sample TO B PWS; Page 23: PWS 5.3 makes reference to YRRP program coordinators. Are the coordinators Government personnel whom the Contractor must support?

RESPONSE: Yes, YRRP program coordinators referenced in this paragraph are Government personnel.

26. Attachment 0017; Sample TO B PWS; Page 24: PWS 5.3.1 refers to event information entered in the OSD EPP 6 months prior to event start. Will the events scheduled for the first 6 months following TO start date be posted for Contractor review/execution?

RESPONSE: Yes.

27. Attachment 0017; Sample TO B PWS; Page 24: PWS 5.4.1 refers to two events, pre - and during - deployment, to be conducted in the vicinity of major airport hubs, for which a Contractor Mobile Training Team is required. PWS 5.5.1.4 refers to two 2-day post deployment events. Are these also conducted near major airport hubs or somewhere in the geographical area of the Regional Support Command to which these units/individuals are assigned? Is there a requirement for a MTT to support these events or should the Contractor anticipate the event requirement based on the EPP and deploy required assets to support the conduct of these scheduled events? What role, if any, does the RSC play in the conduct of these post deployment events?

a. Sample Task B PWS section 5.5.3 states all events will be primarily conducted at major airport hub locations. Offerors may research events, event sponsors, and locations at https://www.yellowribbonevents.org/default.

b. MTT members shall be separate from employees providing YRRP

Command coordination and provide support for Pre-deployment and

During Deployment events. The YRRP Program Manager will coordinate MTT events with the Contractor’s MTL. All other events shall be supported with contractor staff deployed at the places of performance. Please also see response to question 259.

c. The Government YRRP Program Manager is responsible for event planning, scheduling, and execution in coordination with the RSCs and Operational & Functional Commands. The RSCs will sponsor events and have overall responsibility for execution of events.

28. Attachment 0017; Sample TO B PWS; Page 26: PWS 5.5.3 (note: there are two PWS 5.5.3) refers to a Training Conference that appears to be other than the 4 deployment related events discussed earlier in the PWS. Would the Government provide a more detailed description of this event, e.g., frequency; location;

audience; number of attendees; who is trained; who conducts the training; if the contractor, if there are existing POI; guest speakers; handout materials;

questionnaires?

a. The duplicate paragraph numbers have been corrected in the revised version of this PWS (Attachment 0017, Sample Task B PWS).

b. There is one Training Conference scheduled for FY17. This training conference was conducted in the first quarter of FY17. The primary audience for this conference was unit personnel, ADOS-RC Soldiers, Command Volunteers and Contractors. The YRRP program office hosted this training to updated, familiarize and training on the way ahead for FY17. There is a leaders meeting scheduled in the third quarter for unit personnel to plan for the way ahead for

FY18.

29. Attachment 0017; Sample TO B PWS; Page 26: PWS 5.5.4 requires the Contractor to establish an operations center at Yellow Ribbon events. Does this requirement apply to all events, e.g., 4 deployment events and the Training Conference, assuming that is not part of the 4 deployment related events? Are any of the events delivered by command units or are they exclusively contractor supported?

a. This requirement applies to all 4 deployment events.

b. The contractor is required to support all events. On average, there are 12 events per month.

30. Attachment 0017; Sample TO B PWS; Page 2: PWS 1.8.1 requires a QCP to be included as part of the proposal. Would the Government allow the QCP be excluded from the proposal page count and, instead, have it included as an attachment to proposal?

RESPONSE: Yes, see response to question 22 above.

31. Attachment 0017; Sample TO B PWS; Page 14: PWS 1.20.1 requires an Entrance Transition Plan. Would the Government confirm that there is an incumbent contractor and identify the vendor?

RESPONSE: Yes, see response to question 8 above.

32. Attachment 0029; Sample TO C PWS; Page 39: PWS 5.6.5 implies that this optional task would no longer be optional in TO option Year One were executed, with no further TO modification. Is this correct?

RESPONSE: Yes, this is correct. Attachment 0029, Sample Task C PWS is revised to remove the statement that this is an optional task.

33. Attachment 0029; Sample TO C PWS; Page 12: PWS 1.14.1 says “The Contractor shall provide resumes for personnel identified to fill program management positions as part of its proposal.” May the resumes be submitted at attachments to the proposal and be excluded from the page count?

RESPONSE: Resumes will be included as part of the Sample Task C page count.

34. Attachment 0041 states that escalation rate should not be applied to out-years for LCATs that are subject to SLA Wage Determination. Since all Labor Categories are subject to SLA, please confirm that NO escalation can be applied when preparing pricing for this proposal.

RESPONSE: Not all labor categories are subject to the Service Contract

Act (SCA). The Contractor should determine which labor categories are not exempt from the SCA and not escalate proposed labor rates for those categories.

35. Solicitation requires a cross-walk between SCA and pricing schedule. How does the Government would like us to approach the mapping for categories that are priced in the cost submission but do not exist in the DOL wage determination schedules?

RESPONSE: Not all labor categories are subject to the Service Contract

Act (SCA). If the Offeror has determined that a labor category is subject to the

SCA, the Offeror may identify the equivalent SCA labor category and propose the

SCA wage rate. All other labor categories may be proposed without consulting

SCA wage determinations.

36. Please confirm that only Washington DC Wage Determination table WD 2015- 4281 should be used when pricing SCA covered LCATs (Ref. Attachment 0041, Volume II Cost and Price Factor, paragraph 4).

RESPONSE: Yes, WD 2015-4281, dated 19 Apr 2016 is the correct wage determination to use for non-exempt labor categories.

37. Ref. Attachment 0041, Volume II Cost and Price Factor, paragraph 4 states that “Offeror shall provide a schedule which includes the solicitation labor category, the SCA equivalent code and title, the wage determination number". Please confirm that this should be provided as a SEPARATE supplemental schedule to the submission, in addition to the provided pricing tables.

RESPONSE: Yes, Section L, Proposal Submission Requirements Table will be revised to include this as a submission requirement.

38. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission; Proposal Submission Requirements

Table; Page 3: Can all Volumes/Subfactors be on one CD – with 4 copies of each technical CD / 2 copies of Sample Task pricing (total of 6 CDs)? Or does the government want each subfactor and sample task on a separate CD?

tel:2015-4281 tel:2015-4281

RESPONSE: Yes, volumes one through four should be on one CD; submit

4 copies of this CD. Volumes five should be on one CD; submit two copies of this

CD.

39. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission; Volume II – Cost or Price Factor Pricing;

Page 11: Should pricing include sick time since the government is considering forcing companies to provide this benefit for 5 days per year?

RESPONSE: Offerors shall provide all information that is required in

Volume II.

40. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission; Volume II – Cost or Price Factor Pricing;

Page 11: Can 5 sick days be part of 10 days PTO (Personal Time Off)?

RESPONSE: See response to question 39 above.

41. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission; Volume II – Cost or Price Factor Pricing;

Page 11: Will contract call for 10 days vacation or can we utilize the term PTO and designate 10 PTO days which include sick days?

RESPONSE: See response to question 39 above.

42. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission; Volume II – Cost or Price Factor Pricing;

Page 11: Will any job categories fall under SCA?

RESPONSE: See response to question 14 above.

43. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission; Volume II – Cost or Price Factor Pricing;

Page 11: If job classification falls under SCA which chart should we utilize on the base rates?

RESPONSE: Assuming this question is asking where in the Cost/Price

Volume the SCA labor rates should be shown. Offerors should put rates for SCA labor categories on both worksheets listed in attachment 0041 Section L

“Proposal Submission Requirements.”

44. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission; Volume II – Cost or Price Factor Pricing;

Page 11: Does term ‘fully burdened’ include fee that is to be charged?

RESPONSE: The fully burdened rate should include profit.

45. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission; Volume II – Cost or Price Factor Pricing;

Page 11: Can pricing for all task orders and base rates be on one disc?

RESPONSE: See response to question 38 above.

46. Attachment 0001; Basic – Performance Work Statement (PWS); Page 30: Do sub-contractors have to be US citizens?

RESPONSE: See requirements in Attachment 0001 PWS Paragraph 4.1

“Security and Safety”

47. Attachment 0001; Basic – Performance Work Statement (PWS); Page 30: Do subcontractors have to be US citizens and living in the US, or could US citizens living overseas be considered as well?

RESPONSE: See response to question 46 above.

48. Attachment 0001; R-MAS Basic PWS; Page 24 Section 2.12.5.1: For the CM and ACM will the government provide two billets to maintain the clearances?

RESPONSE: No.

49. Attachment 0001; R-MAS Basic PWS; Page 24 Section 2.12.5.1: Is the government asking all small businesses to hold 2 key personnel for one year with secret clearances waiting for award? Does the government intend for the key personnel to have a current investigation and be eligible for a clearance at time of award?

RESPONSE: Key personnel clearance is required at time of contract award. The Government requires clearances prior to start of performance on this contract.

50. Attachment 0001; R-MAS PWS: Page 30 Section 4.1: Please confirm that the Key

Personnel Clearance is required at time of contract award and not at time of proposal submission.

RESPONSE: Please see response to question 49 above.

51. Attachment 0001; R-MAS PWS; Page 30: In Section 4.1 The Government states that "The contractor and any subcontractor must have or have applied for the required level of Facility Clearance (FCL), as dictated by contract performance/access requirements, prior to award of this contract. Contractors who have not received the appropriate FCL after contract award will not be eligible for award of a task order with security requirements until the FCL is received."

Please clarify that a FCL is not required for award of the IDIQ. Please clarify what

"award of this contract" means? Is that the IDIQ award or TO award?

a. An FCL is not required for award of the IDIQ; however, the contractor must have applied for the required level of FCL.

b. Award of this contract means award of the base IDIQ contract.

c. The contractor must have received an FCL in order to participate in task order competitions with security requirements.

52. Attachment 0001; R-MAS PWS; Page 30: What FCL is necessary to be awarded the IDIQ base contract?

RESPONSE: The Contractor must have or have applied for a Secret FCL at the time of award of the IDIQ contract. Please see Attachment 0003, Basic DD254, Block 1a

53. Attachment 0002 & 0006; QASP and PRS; Page 8 and 1: The QASP Appendix 3.1 states the contractor shall provide a timely proposal for 50% of task order requests for proposals issued in the mission area suite, however, the PRS section 3.1 states the contractor shall provide a timely proposal for 70% of TO requests for proposals issued in the mission area suite. Please clarify if the requirement is for

50% or 70%?

RESPONSE: Please see response to question 4 above.

54. Attachment 0002; QASP; Page 5: In reference to Section 5.5, will the Government clarify if the QASP PM is the same person as the IDIQ CM? If not, will the

Government confirm that upon award, there will be a PM assigned to the IDIQ effort?

RESPONSE: Attachment 0002, Basic QASP section 5.5 is revised to change the term Program Manager to Contract Manager, and the term Task

Manager to Alternate Contract Manager. These personnel are Contractor employees and designated by the Contractor.

55. Attachment 0005; R-MAS Basic Labor Rates; N/A: Could the Government please provide an unlocked spreadsheet?

56. Attachment 0009; R-MAS Sample Task A PWS; N/A: Is this work currently being performed under contract? If so what is the current and total contract amount and contract number? Who was the contract awarded to and do the current contract employees performing on the effort meet the same performance requirements and contractor personnel requirements as the Sample Task?

a. Yes

b. Current Contract Amount: $5,899,990.90; Total Contract Amount:

$12,533,842.26; Contract Number: W91WAW-11-D-0018-2E01

c. Please see response to question 8 above; Scope of the sample task expanded to include additional services for the Department of

Defense. Personnel qualifications are the same as those of the current task order.

57. Attachment 0009; R-MAS Sample Task A PWS; Page 30: Sections 5.5 - 5.8 are not included in the PWS. Can the Government please clarify if this was a typo or if the Sections were not included?

RESPONSE: Please see response to question 9 above.

58. Attachment 0017; R-MAS Sample Task B PWS; N/A: Is this work currently being contract number? Who was the contract awarded to and do the current contract

b. Current contract amount: $2,127,316.48; Total contract amount:

$6,357,361.28; Contract number W91WAW-10-D-0031-2T01

c. Please see response to question 8 above. Scope and personnel qualification of the sample task are the same as that of the current task order.

59. Attachment 0017; R-MAS Sample Task B PWS; Page 12: PWS 1.14 states we need to supply PM and Alt within 5 days of award, then 1.14.1 requires us to submit resumes for key personnel, please clarify the requirement.

RESPONSE: Key personnel are addressed in PWS section 1.23 which does require designation of a PM and alternate within 5 days of task order award.

There is not a section 1.14.1 that requires submission of resumes for key personnel in this Sample Task.

60. Attachment 0017; R-MAS Sample Task B PWS; Page 24: Section 5.4.1 - Please confirm that the Government will provide the actual pre and post deployment training personnel, and that we will only be required to provide planning and execution of the training events. MTT members will be provided by the

Government. Our MTT is to provide planning and execution of the event, confirm that we are not to provide actual training or SME support for pre-deployment and during deployment training.

RESPONSE: Training support and Subject Matter Experts will come from the Cadre of Speaker, DoD-level and Military and Family Life Consultants

(MFLCs). Contractors will not be used in the training capacity at YRRP events.

61. Attachment 0017; R-MAS Sample Task B PWS; Page 12: In regards to section

1.14, Will the government please provide an estimation of travel requests that we will be responsible for coordinating and processing per event? How much travel coordination and processing is required per attendee?

RESPONSE: Section 1.14 addresses other direct costs which will fund travel for contractor employees. . Estimates for events and attendees is provided at Attachment 0023, Sample Task B Estimated Workload Data.

The contractor is not responsible for travel coordination and processing of attendees but shall assist with coordination and communication to help

Soldiers, Family Members, unit administrative personnel and command YR coordinator with travel arrangements. (See PWS section 5.5.3)..

62. Attachment 0018; R-MAS Sample Task B QASP; Page 6: In reference to Section

3.3, will the Government please clarify what surveillance methods will be used, for example phone calls, online surveys, written surveys, etc.

RESPONSE: Specific information on surveillance methods planned for use are described in Appendix 1 of the QASP, in the Inspections column, under

“How”.

63. Attachment 0021; Sample Task B PWS; Page 4: In reference to Section 1.9

Security Requirements - The Government states that "Contractor personnel performing work under this contract shall have a Tier 3 background check prior to work commencement and must maintain the level of security required for the life of the TO." Could the Government confirm that current incumbent personnel have completed a Tier 3 background check?

RESPONSE: Current incumbent personnel have completed a NACLC background check which is the predecessor to the Tier 3 background check.

64. Attachment 0029; R-MAS Sample Task C PWS; N/A: Is this work currently being contract number? Who was the contract awarded to and do the current contract

b. Current Contract Amount: $2,161,238.76; Total Contract Amount:

$6,670,771.88; Contract Number W91WAW-10-D-0008-2T01

c. Please see response to question 8 above. Scope and personnel qualification of the sample task are the same as that of the current task order.

65. Attachment 0029; R-MAS Sample Task C PWS; Page 12: Section 1.14 states that the name of the PM and alternate shall be designated in writing to the KO and

CORs within five days of TO award. Section 1.14.1 states "The Contractor shall provide resumes for personnel identified to fill program management positions as part of its proposal." Could the Government please clarify if resumes are required for actual proposed PM and Alternate?

RESPONSE: Resumes are required for personnel proposed to fill program management positions in accordance with 1.14.1.

66. Attachment 0029; R-MAS Sample Task C PWS; Page 24-25: Part 3.1 states the government will supply facilities and equipment, Part 4.1 states they will be contractor provided. Please confirm the requirement.

RESPONSE: Part 4.1 states that the Contractor will provide all supplies, equipment, facilities and services required to perform work under this contract that are not listed under Part 3 of the PWS.

67. Attachment 0029; R-MAS Sample Task C PWS; Page 26: In reference to section

5.1, will the government provide current assessments in use for determination of the depth and breadth of assessments required?

RESPONSE: The Government cannot provide assessments to potential offerors prior to award. The COR-RA will provide current assessments to the awardee. However, Attachment 0034, Estimated Workload, has been revised.

68. Attachment 0029; R-MAS Sample Task C PWS; Page 26: In reference to Section

5.1, will the government provide the current USACC Strategic Plan for use in determining level of effort?

RESPONSE: The COR-RA will provide current USACC Strategic Plan to the awardee.

69. Attachment 0029; R-MAS Sample Task C PWS; Page 31: Is the analysis described in para 5.5.2.1 intended to be conducted physically at all USACC locations, including all universities and colleges and physical for all CST training events?

RESPONSE: No..

70. Attachment 0029; R-MAS Sample Task C PWS; Page 34: This task (Section

5.5.4.1) requires review of existing, new and revised training POI. In order to determine level of effort can the government provide how many POI must be reviewed?

RESPONSE: There are 8 resident SROTC course POIs.

71. Attachment 0029; R-MAS Sample Task C PWS; Page 36: Can the government provide the BOLC-B survey for determination of level of effort, to include number of survey addressees and respondents?

RESPONSE: Survey Results have been incorporated into Attachment 0034, Sample Task C Estimated Workload Data.

72. Attachment 0029; R-MAS Sample Task C PWS; Page 26: In reference to section

5.1.1.2, reference is made to SWOT analysis. Does USACC have a current strategic planning process that will remain in use and if so, can it be shared with prospective vendors?

RESPONSE: USACC does have a current Strategic Plan, but it cannot be shared with prospective vendors. Please also reference response to question 68 above.

73. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L; N/A: Are there cover requirements/restrictions for content?

RESPONSE: This question requires more information to answer. The

Government is unsure of what is being asked.

74. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L; N/A: Can we submit a cover for each volume? If so will it count against page count?

RESPONSE: Offerors shall submit their proposals in accordance with

Section L.

75. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L; Page 1: Due to the amount of missing information in the Basic IDIQ and Sample Task documents will the

Government allow a 30 day extension to the proposal due date to allow for questions to be answered?

RESPONSE: The proposal submission date has been extended to 21

February 2017.

76. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L; Page 10: Vol 1 Subfactor 5 paragraph (c) states "Offerors shall not deviate from the labor categories specified at Attachment 0004 of this solicitation." However, paragraph (d) states "A summary of qualifications should be provided for all other labor categories and should, as a minimum, cover required knowledge, skills and abilities when the contractor recruits for individuals in that category." Please define “all other labor categories” from Vol 1 Subfactor 5 paragraph (d) under the requirements for a summary of qualifications. Should the offeror provide a summary of qualifications as defined in paragraph (d) for every labor category from the PLS Attachment

0004, Labor Category Descriptions? If so, please increase the page count

(currently set at 5 pages).

This question references PLS labor categories which do not apply to this solicitation. The requirement for a summary of qualifications for the basic

IDIQ is eliminated from Attachment 0041, Section L Proposal Submission, Factor 1-Technical, Subfactor 5, Staffing Approach. A summary of qualifications is still required for each sample task.”

77. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L; Page 10: Vol 1 Subfactor 5 paragraph (c) states "Offerors shall not deviate from the labor categories specified at Attachment 0004 of this solicitation." However, paragraph (d) states "A summary of qualifications should be provided for all other labor categories and should, as a minimum, cover required knowledge, skills and abilities when the contractor recruits for individuals in that category." Please define “all other labor categories” from Vol 1 Subfactor 5 paragraph (d) under the requirements for a summary of qualifications. Should the offeror provide a summary of qualifications as defined in paragraph (d) for every labor category from the PLS Attachment

0004, Labor Category Descriptions? If so, please increase the page count

(currently set at 5 pages).

RESPONSE: See response to question 76.

78. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L; Page 10: Vol 1 Subfactor 5. In paragraph c and d in regards to the qualification matrix, is the Government referring to the management staff for managing TORS and the IDIQ or the methodology for awarded TOs?

a. Requirement for a summary of qualifications/personnel qualification matrix has been eliminated. Please see response to question 11.

79. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L; Page 11: Volume II Instructions

- How would the Government like Attachment 0038 named in the proposal?

Please confirm that the attachment will not count against page count.

a. The name should be: {company name}_Accting_Sys_Checklist.docx.

b. This document will not count against the page count limitations.

80. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L; Page 13: What is considered relevant size for Past Performance? Anything over $125K or is there a graduated scale? How are we to determine what PP reference to submit that will be considered similar size and scope?

a. There is no requirement for a relevant size under Past Performance.

b. As stated in Section L, relevant efforts are defined as services/efforts that are the same or similar to the effort (as compared to NAICS code

541612) required by the solicitation.

81. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L; Page 13: What level of detail are you expecting for PP requirements given the page count and required information? What do you expect the average page count to be per past performance?

RESPONSE: The level of detail required and instructions for submission of past performance is described in Attachment 0041, Section L Proposal

Submission, 14th Page, Paragraph titled, “Volume III – Past Performance”, Subparagraphs 1 thru 6. The Government does not have an expected average page count per past performance reference; however, the limitation is 3 pages per reference.

82. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L; Page 15: The Army has indicated that a major subcontractor is defined as a subcontractor performing greater than 25% workshare over the life of the IDIQ. For a small business team over the life of a 10 year contract it is difficult to determine who will do 25% of the workshare. Additionally, small business teams usually are made up of a larger number of subs each performing a small that 25% workshare. Would the government consider changing the criterial for a major subcontractor to a small percentage such as 15% so that we may be able to utilize more of our small business team’s qualifications?

RESPONSE: Yes, the criteria for a major subcontractor is revised to 15%.

Section L has been revised accordingly.

83. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L; Page 6: Will the Table of

Contents be included in page count? Does the Government want a TOC per volume or only one for the entire proposal?

RESPONSE: No, it will not be included in the page count. Additionally, Section L states “Each file of the proposal shall consist of a table of contents and the narrative discussion.”.

84. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L; Page 8: The RFP states only certain PWS sections (5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.7, and 5.10) had to be addressed (ref, Attachment 0041, Section L Proposal Submission, Proposal Files, Volume I –

Technical Factor; Subfactors 2, 3 and 4 - Sample Tasks A, B and C Section 1.1, Technical Approach, a) Sample Task A.). Is a cost proposal covering all PWS sections required, or just for the five PWS sections addressed in the technical approach?

RESPONSE: Offerors shall submit a complete price proposal for each sample task that addresses all aspects of the sample task requirement.

85. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L; Page 8: The RFP states only certain PWS sections (5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.7, and 5.10) had to be addressed (ref, Attachment 0041, Section L Proposal Submission, Proposal Files, Volume I –

Technical Factor; Subfactors 2, 3 and 4 - Sample Tasks A, B and C Section 1.2, Staffing Plan, is a staffing plan for all sections in the Sample Task A PWS required, or just for the five PWS sections addressed in the technical approach?

RESPONSE: See Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L, Volume I – Technical Factor, Subfactors 2, 3 and 4, Section 1.2 Staffing

Plan. Offerors shall list the labor mix and hours proposed by labor category, and by task to meet the requirements of the Sample Task PWSs.

86. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L; Page 3: Given the level of questions asked about the IDIQ management, would the Government increase the number of pages for the Staffing Approach?

RESPONSE: The Government will not increase the page limit for Staffing

Approach.

87. Attachment 0041; Proposal Submission Section L; Page 10: Vol 1 Subfactor 5. In paragraph c and d what is the difference between the personnel qualifications matric (para C) and the Summary of Qualifications (pap D) and the Summary of

Qualifications document subfactor 5 (5 page count)?

RESPONSE: Please see response to question 78(b) above.

88. Attachment 0042; Basis for Award; N/A: A company could realistically out grown the size standard due to activity in 2016 that would not reflect until 2017 after taxes are filed. A certification in 2017 would prevent a company that has grown large in 2016 from winning a contract earmarked for a small business set-aside.

Will the government require companies to certify their size standard prior to contract award (in 2017) or during proposal submission (2016)?

RESPONSE: Offerors are required to certify their size standard at time of proposing.

89. Attachment 0009; Sample Task A – Performance Work Statement (PWS); Page

30: PWS content goes from paragraph 5.4.4 Communication Outreach to 5.9

CAC/DS Logon. The instructions to offerors requires a technical approach for specific tasks MyServiceBenefits (PWS Section 5.5) and Calculators (PWS

Section 5.7). Please clarify the Sample Task technical approach requirements and/or provide the missing paragraphs.

90. Attachment 0009; Sample Task A - Performance Work Statement (PWS); Page

31: The PWS contains paragraphs 5.11 MSB Co-Browsing Solutions, 5.12 Update content on SFL website, and 5.13 MSB Mobile Platform (optional task). Is the contractor required to include technical approach for these tasks as well as the five specific tasks listed in Attachment 0041, Section L Volume I – Technical

Subfactors 2, 3 and 4?

RESPONSE: Offerors are required to address the specific tasks listed in

Attachment 0041, Section L Proposal Submission, Volume I – Technical

Subfactors 2, 3, and 4.

91. Attachment 0009, Sample Task A PWS, Pages 30-31; and Attachment 0041, Section L – Proposal Submission; Page, 8: Proposal Submission instructions for Volume I- Technical Factor - Subfactors 2, 3, and 4 and specifically for Sample Task A [8, though no page numbers included], requires a contractor to “…describe its technical approach to the following 5 tasks as detailed in the sample task Performance Work Statement (PWS).” Here the government requires contractors to address Sample Task A PWS Tasks 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.7, and…