Questions Responses-W15QKN-16-R-0027-PASS-SB-11-FebruaryJC.pdf

Questions are copied from emails, spread sheets and word documents as they were submitted

1. I have been notified that there has been a modification to PASS-SB (W15QKN-16-R- 0027). I have done some research and only found that the modification is to update the pre-solicitation notice. Are there any documents that have been changed or added?

Response – From the date of your question there is no modification to the announcement.

2. Has a contractor performed similar work to this for the Government in the past? If available please provide the incumbent contract number?

Response – Similar work has been performed. Contract numbers are W91WAW-08-D-0009, W91WAW-08-D-0010, W91WAW-08-D-0011, W91WAW-08-D-0012, W91WAW-08-D-0013 and W91WAW-08-D-0014.

3. If you are unable to provide a contract number, is it safe to assume this is a new requirement for the government?

Response – N/A

4. I wonder if there is any chance the government might consider an additional 7-10 days be added to the RFP submission due date? As a small business, we are flat in our organization and therefore constrained in terms of personnel experienced in performing proposal preparation activities. The published due date of 15 January means the heart of the work will need to occur during the final two weeks of December - which will have a significant, negative impact on our people (and those of other small businesses). Our employees have already made holiday plans that will in many cases now need to be changed or cancelled at significant personal and financial expense to meet the demands of a very extensive proposal preparation effort.

While I fully understand the government’s interest in moving the proposal effort forward as quickly as possible, I truly appreciate your consideration of this request, and hope a few extra days fits into the “art of the possible” in this case.

Response – Solicitation will be extended.

5. Please confirm the size standard for this contract. Is it $15M or $38.5M?

Response – The size standard is 38.5M

6. In reading this information it appears you are trying to limit this to small business. We are a large for-profit company but partner with many small companies to support government programs. We are trying to figure out if it would be a possibility for use to bid this with one of our partners. Would this be acceptable for consideration or is this strictly small only?

Response – This is a total small business set aside; companies can perform as sub-contractors to small businesses.

7. Section K(a)(1) and (2) on page 111 provide the NAICS code of 541330 with an associated size standard of $35,000,000.00. According to the Small Business Administration (SBA) website the size standard for the 541330 exceptions has been increased from $35,000,000.00 to $38,500,000.00. Please confirm that the appropriate size standard for this procurement is $38,500,000.00.

Response - See response to question 5

8. Past Performance Questionnaire - If a contract has a current CPARS report would the government consider waiving the PPQ requirement?

Response – The Government will not waive the PPQ

9. Based on the historical timeline for the PASS-SB RFP, would the Government please consider a two week extension on the proposal due date.

Response - See response to question 4

10. We are humbly requesting that due to the size and magnitude of this proposal package and the holidays that the government extend the due date till 30 January.

Response – See response to question 4

11. Page 3 Section No. 4. Procurement Information Paragraph 2 - The applicable SIC/NAICS codes are: 541330", our question to the Government applies to the aforementioned. Could the Government please provide clarification on the Size Standard Value for 541330?

The Government release of the RFP on FBO.gov, which states the following in the third paragraph "The North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) code 541330 has been assigned to this acquisition, which applies a $38.5 million size standard for small businesses."

However, Small Business Administration (SBA) Table of Small Business Size Standards states the Size Standards in millions of dollars for 541330 Engineering Services is $15 million size standard for small businesses. However, it contains Exceptions to the rule are 1) Military and Aerospace Equipment and Military Weapons; 2) Contracts and Subcontracts for Engineering Services Awarded Under the National Energy Policy Act of 1992; or 3)Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture. Therefore, does this solicitation follow one of the exception clauses? If so, please clarify the exception.

Response – See response to Question 5

12. Page No. RFP-125 Section L; 2. Proposal Submission Files; C. (ii) - Does the Government intend for Industry to provide resumes only for Senior Key Personnel listed in Section L & M of the RFP, or for Industry to provide resumes for all Key Personnel identified in Attachment 0005? Please clarify the labor categories and number of resumes vendors are required to provide.

Response – Solicitation Page 125; Volume II Management Subfactor: This is a representation of Key Labor Categories for the overall contract and require at least two (2) resumes for the following Senior Level/Key Labor Categories: Program Manager, Project Lead, Logistician Senior, Operations Research Senior, Information Technology Specialist Senior, and Facilitator/Trainer Senior. This provides the Government confidence that the Offeror can provide the appropriate level management staff.

13. The sample task clearly states that the government DOES NOT intend to award the task order associated with the solicitation. However, offerors are required to submit a complete PRM addressing the positions to complete the task order. Small Businesses do not maintain deep benches of personnel by the nature of the being small and agile. By requiring a PRM for a fictitious task order, you are requiring industry to pursue candidates and complete contingent hiring offers for personnel that won’t be hired. That’s not fair to the companies or the individuals.

We request the Government remove the requirement for a completed PRM to be submitted and that the government only require companies to identify the labor categories that are required to complete the sample task order. Labor category rates are required to be submitted with the solicitation. This would allow the government to make a determination based upon cost and would not levy an unrealistic recruiting burden on Small Businesses to recruit for fictitious positions.

Response – Requirement will remain.

14. We respectfully request the government extend the due date for responses by at least three (3) weeks to February 5, 2016 to allow sufficient time for vendors to respond after receipt of answers to the questions due December 21, 2015. We are not able to begin writing to the sample task without clarification on several questions. Furthermore, given the requirement to mail hard copies of the proposal the timeframe for development of responses is further truncated.

Response – Please see response to Question 4

15. On page 125 of the solicitation under Volume II MANAGEMENT SUBFACTOR, Major subcontractors are defined as “the three (3) subcontractors who will be providing the highest percentage of the total proposed price”. How is the Government defining “highest percentage of the total proposed price”? Is this based on the prime’s allotment of hours to the subcontractor for the overall pricing or does it include allocations in the Sample Task or both?

Response - Based on overall contract pricing.

16. On page 123, the solicitation states “Prime contractor shall incorporate a sheet to include the names of sub-contractors but this page will not count towards the page count on any volume when included”. Does this sheet only require a list of names of sub-contractors, or is there specific information that should be included for each sub-contractor (i.e. DUNS, CAGE Code, etc.)?

Response – Subcontractor Name, POC, Address, Email, Phone, Fax, DUNs and Cage Code shall be incorporated and the sheet shall be in Volume II Management Sub factor & Volume III Past Performance.

17. On Page 125, Volume II MANAGEMENT SUBFACTOR, the solicitation states “Offerors shall provide their PASS-SB Management Plan for their organization and each major subcontractor”. Is the 30 page limit of the Management Subfactor inclusive of the Prime management plan as well as the management plans of the major subcontractors, or is there a 30 page limit for each subcontractor’s management plan as well?

Response –PASS-SB is 30 page Management Plan to include the Prime and Major Subcontractors responses.

18. An Integrated Master Schedule is listed as a requirement of the Sample Task Response.

Should the Integrated Master Schedule include resource names and allocations?

Response - No – Resource Names and allocations would be listed in the Sample Task PRM.

19. Pages 126 through 127, Volume IV COST/PRICE FACTOR does not provide instructions regarding subcontractor pricing. Are ALL subcontractors required to submit cost/price data?

Response Offerors must propose one rate for each labor category, per year, and determine what blend of prime/subcontractor labor is appropriate for them.

20. On Page 125, Volume II MANAGEMENT SUBFACTOR, the solicitation states “Offerors shall provide their PASS-SB Management Plan for their organization and each major subcontractor”. Are major subcontractors only required to provide a management plan approach that addresses the 4th paragraph regarding staffing?

Response – See response to Question 17

21. Page 48, paragraph 10.6a references the submittal of a Software Development Plan. Is the SDP a requirement of the proposal? If so, in what volume should the SDP be included and what is the page allocation?

Response - It may be required at an Individual Task Order Level. It is not required at the IDIQ contract level.

22. Page 42, paragraph 7.21 references providing a Transition Plan. Is the Transition Plan a requirement of the proposal? If so, in what volume should the Transition Plan be included and what is the page allocation?

Response - It may be required at an Individual Task Order Level. It is not required at the IDIQ contract level.

23. Section K(a)(1) and (2) on page 111 provide the NAICS code of 541330 with an associated size standard of $35,000,000.00. According to the Small Business Administration (SBA) website the size standard for the 541330 exceptions has been increased from $35,000,000.00 to $38,500,000.00. Please confirm that the appropriate size standard for this procurement is $38,500,000.00.

Response - See response to Question 5

24. The sample task references 14 Program offices and 26 T/M/S. Please provide a list of each that are a part of this sample task.

Response - Please use the following link to guide your responses to the Sample Task:

http://www.navair.navy.mil/

25. The sample task fictional program says it consists of two focus areas and then names it the “Equipment readiness and cost assessment”. Are the two focus areas:

a. (1) Equipment readiness and (2) cost assessment, or

b. (1) Equipment readiness assessment and (2) cost assessment

Response – (1) Equipment readiness and (2) cost assessment

26. Answer a. implies that something beyond just assessment will be applied to readiness. If so, what? Improvement?

Response - The answer is solution dependent.

27. Answer b. implies more clearly that the program will just assess readiness and cost.

Response – N/A

28. Can we include personnel in the Program Management Labor category with PMP in progress who will receive it prior to award of contract?

Response - Yes, prior to contract award; please provide effective date.

29. Will the Government accept DAWIA Level II or III PM Certifications as a substitute for the PMP requirement in the Program Management labor category?

Response - Program Manager will require PMI Certification or DAWIA Level III PM Certification. Labor Category will be revised accordingly.

30. Can fonts for titles and subtitles be other than Times New Roman (12 pt or larger) to improve readability?

Response - No

31. Will awarded orders under this contract provide for hours for personnel to complete EWCMR, a requirement specified as CLIN 1005?

Response – CLIN 1005 is NSP (Not Separately Priced)

32. Will the questions that have not been answered from the draft solicitation be answered in the future?

Response –The questions that you reference were submitted late and no response will be provided

33. IS CLIN A001 supposed to be named A001 while CDRLS A001 through H001 are on it?

Response – CLIN A001 consist of all CDRLS

34. Are all CDRLs available for all ordering periods?

Response – Yes

35. Page 28 C-3 5152.225-5904 Monthly Contractor Census Reporting, what CDRL is this part of? Same for C-4?

Response – There is no CDRL for this requirement. This will be determined at the Task order Level

36. Considering the magnitude of this effort and the confusion on the release of a draft RFP versus an official solicitation, will the Government extend the due date to 60 days from RFP release? The large business RFP was originally released with a 45 day proposal deadline.

Response – See response to Question 4

37. Please define the term “offeror”. In certain areas of the solicitation, offeror appears to be the Prime Contractor, in other areas it appears to be the Prime Contractor and its Team of Subcontractors.

Response - Both; could vary based on where in the solicitation it is used.

38. In Section L, L-12 page 121, it states that the offeror shall provide with its offer a written plan describing how it will continue to perform the essential contractor services, Mission Essential Contractor Services, listed in the attachments during period of crisis. Where in the proposal, by volume, should this be submitted?

Response - A written plan addressing this requirement is required at the task order level

39. Will you also accept personnel who hold a “current, but not active”, secret clearance?

Response – Personnel must have a current and active clearance.

40. Request for Clarification/Question: Proposal instructions for Volume II Management Subfactor require 2 resumes for each of 7 Key labor categories (LCs). Instructions for the Sample Task Subfactor require resumes for Key LCs, and make no reference to needing 2 resumes per LC; however, in Attachment 0003, Sample Task Cost, 12 categories are identified as Key (the 7 named in the Management Subfactor instructions plus an additional 5).

Would a viable interpretation of this conflict in direction be:

1. Submit the required 2 resumes per LC in the Management Subfactor/Volume for the 7 Key LCs identified there.

2. Complete the Sample Task by selecting one resume from each of the 7 from the Management Subfactor/Volume, and also provide one resume for each of the additional 5 LCs unique to the Sample Task.

Response - 1 – Yes 2 – Response – Complete the Sample Task PRM with the appropriate personnel to complete the Sample Task and provide resumes for the Key Personnel proposed. Resumes are required for all Key Personnel

41. On page 111 of the solicitation W15QKN-16-K-0027 it states that the size code standard is $35.0M for NAICS 541330 Engineering Services. Can you confirm that the solicitation is correct?

Response - See response to Question 5

42. Can you provide a list of the contractors who are supporting the current Army IDIQ Program and Systems Support contract

Response – No, as this contract has not been awarded

43. Attachment 5 – Labor Cats - Lists Qualifications for a SME-Master Level (Key) labor category (11.1) and SME-Senior Level (Key) labor category (11.2).

Attachment 1 – Labor Categories and Rates - does not list these two (2) SME labor categories that are listed in Attachment 5.

Please clarify if the SME labor categories in Attachment 5 should be included in Attachment 1.

If so, will an amendment be issued in order to revise Attachment 1?

Response - SME is not a labor category and will be deleted

44. Attachment 5 – Labor Category Qualifications

The experience substitution for a Bachelor’s degree as listed in the RFP is inconsistent and in some cases more years of experience is required for a Mid and Jr Level than a Sr level. It is requested that the Government clarify/revise if needed the experience substitution for the education requirement for the following labor categories.

Senior Logistician Senior BS/BA or 5 years experience

Mid-Level Operations Research Analyst Mid-Level BS/BA or 8 years experience Acquisition Analyst Mid-Level BS/BA or 8 years experience Information Technology Specialist Mid-Level BS/BA or 4 years experience Logistician Mid-Level BS/BA or 5 years experience Configuration/Data Mgmt (CDM Support) Mid-Level BS/BA or 8 years experience Financial Mgmt/Comptroller Support Mid-Level BS/BA or 8 years experience Management Analyst Mid-Level BS/BA or 4 years experience Technical Writer/Editor/Illustrator Mid-Level BS/BA or 4 years experience

Junior Level Operations Research Analyst Junior BS/BA or 8 years experience Acquisition Analyst Junior BS/BA or 8 years experience Information Technology Specialist Junior BS/BA or 4 years experience Logistician Junior BS/BA or 5 years experience

Configuration/Data Mgmt (CDM Support) Junior BS/BA or 8 years experience Financial Mgmt/Comptroller Support Junior BS/BA or 8 years experience Management Analyst Junior BS/BA or 4 years experience Technical Writer/Editor/Illustrator Junior BS/BA or 4 years experience

Response – The years of experience are also Labor Category dependent, not just level dependent, so it can vary. Please refer to substitution wording in each labor category.

45. Subject Matter Expert categories include no substitution for education; it is our experience that Subject Matter Experts in certain areas often have extensive operational/military experience but lack a degree, request the government consider a substitution for these categories.

Response – See Response to Question 43

46. Technical Writer / Editor / Illustrator labor category requires a “bachelor's or postgraduate degree in a relevant technical discipline such as: mathematics, statistics, or a business or management discipline such as business administration, accounting, finance, economics, or management information technology” – it is our experience that a degree in English or Journalism provides more relevant educational experience for this category, request the government consider including these majors as acceptable for this labor category.

Response - This is acceptable to the government. Labor Category will be revised.

47. The Large Business companion contract included both FFP and CPFF Labor CLINS but the Small Business contract only includes FFP Labor CLINs; can the government please confirm that this it is their intent to only award FFP Labor task orders under the Small Business contract.

This appears to unfairly limit Small Business participation in future task orders since task orders not suitable for FFP will be forced to be competed on the Large Business contract even if their size and scope would make them candidates for Small Business set asides. Recent history at NAVAIR has shown that a significant portion of the contracting has been set aside for small businesses but nearly 100% of those have been CPFF contracts.

Response – This effort is FFP Labor only

48. Since only FFP rates are being proposed, is there a requirement for contractors to submit detailed rate buildup to include subcontractor rates?

a. If so, (1) are subcontractors required to submit sealed packages to the government providing the same level of detail? and (2) is this required of all subcontractors or only “Major” subcontractors?

b. If detailed rate buildup is not required can the government please clarify how are we to determine which subcontractors are “major” (i.e. provide the highest percentage of the total proposed price)?

Response – Section L does not require a detailed rate buildup. Offerors shall identify its major subcontractors based on its internal assessment of the workshare its subcontractors are likely to perform based on alignment of subcontractor capabilities to PWS tasks.

49. Clause L-12 :Notice of Continuation of Essential Contractor Services” has been included in the RFP which requires contractors to “provide with it’s offer a written plan describing how it will continue to perform the essential contractor services…”; can the government please clarify whether this is applicable to the initial proposal or if this is intended to be supplied at the task order level? If required for the initial proposal please indicate which section this should be included in and whether will count towards the page limits for that section.

Response - See response to Question 38

50. The RFP requires 2 resumes for each of the following labor categories: Program Manager, Project Lead, Logistician Senior, Operations Research Senior, Information Technology Specialist Senior, Acquisition Analyst Senior, and Facilitator/Trainer Senior. Is it the government’s intent to require 2 Program Managers, it is our understanding that a single Program Manager will be required for the overall contract and individual task orders will be lead by Project Leads.

Response - Task Orders may require a Program Manager and/or Project Lead etc. This will be based on requirements set forth in Individual Task Orders.

51. For the labor category “Senior Acquisition Analyst” the labor category requires “5 years must be in a Defense acquisition program as either a Program/project manager, IPT Lead, or sub- IPT Lead” – it appears that this requirement could only be fulfilled by former civil servant or military personnel, can you please clarify whether a role as Program/Project manager for a Contract or Task order is sufficient to satisfy this requirement?

Response - Yes; the intent would be the equal counterparts on the Contractor side in DoD Acquisition Programs.

52. Instructions for the Management Subfactor state that “Offerors shall provide their PASS- SB Management Plan for their organization and each major subcontractor” – is there a requirement for major subcontractors to submit separate management plans or just that Prime contactors discuss how each major subcontractor will execute under the resulting contract? If separate management plans are required will they count against the 30 page limit for this section?

Response - See Response to Question 17

53. Given that the RFP was issued in mid-December (just prior to the holiday season) with a requirement for hard copy proposals to be mailed (which further shortens the proposal development timeframe to allow time in transit) and NAVAIR recently typically allows 45 days for proposal response, would the govt consider extending the due date to 30 Jan? This would facilitate better proposals.

Response - See response to Question 4

54. We respectfully request the government extend the due date for responses by at least three (3) weeks to February 5, 2016 to allow sufficient time for vendors to respond after receipt of answers to the questions due December 21, 2015. We are not able to begin writing to the sample task without clarification on several questions. Furthermore, given the requirement to mail hard copies of the proposal the timeframe for development of responses is further truncated.

55. We respectfully request the government strike Clause C-3, Monthly Contractor Censure Reporting, on page 28 of the solicitation as this requirement places an undue administrative burden on small businesses.

Response – This will be determined at the task order level for OCONUS requirements and is currently a required clause.

56. Please clarify Section L on page 125 in regards to Volume II Management Subfactor where it states “Offerors shall provide their PASS-SB Management Plan for their organization and each major subcontractor.” Is the government requesting a management plan for the Prime’s organization plus a management plan from each of our major subcontractors for a total of four

(4) management plans? Must each of those four (4) plans then detail each organization’s management roles and responsibilities, communication and work distribution; coordination and execution of multiple concurrent tasks at various locations; staffing and training processes? Or is the government only requesting a Management Plan for the Prime that includes information on how we will use that plan to manage our major subcontractors?

Response – See response to Question 17.

57. Please clarify the end point of the Sample Task described in Attachment 0006. The last paragraph reads “The contractor shall develop detailed requirements derived from the above attributes. The contractor shall document current NAVAIR business environment constraints (such as disparate transactional systems and unique solutions for data analysis) and COTS IT compliance requirements. Upon completion of the detailed requirement analysis, the contractor shall query industry and investigate potential COTS solution(s) availability that meet ERCA functional and technical requirements in a common and standardized methodology. This information will be utilized in the government Market Research process.” Is the government looking for us to include in our sample task approach and integrated master schedule the actual eliciting of requirements from customers and market research of vendors? If so, what assumption should we make on the number of COTS vendors that will be solicited to respond to market research requests and the timeframe for doing so? Or is the government stating that the final task of the integrated master schedule is the delivery of detailed requirements that would then be used to conduct market research?

Response - The sample task should include the latter. The sample task delivery should include the detailed requirements that would be used to conduct market research

58. Please clarify the government’s role in the execution of the ERCA process that is to be created in the sample task. Will the government execute the ERCA tasks that the Prime creates or is the Prime to execute the ERCA process.

Response - Please respond to the sample task as if the Prime will execute the ERCA process.

59. In the sample task, who is to collect the data between task 2.3.1 to develop the ERCA process and step 2.3.2 to data triage? The government or the Prime?

Response - Please respond to the sample task as if the Prime will collect the data.

60. For the sample task, is the Prime to develop the ERCA process or augment or replace an existing process?

Response - The ERCA process being evaluated in the sample task should be comprehensive and include all applicable processes.

61. For the sample task, are we developing requirements for the government to buy services to build the automated system to support the ERCA process or are we developing requirements for the government to buy a system (product)?

Response - Please respond to the sample task by developing requirements for the entire system.

62. For the sample task, are we to assume there is not any form of an ERCA process in place or are we to assume there is a process in place but it is deficient? If a process is in place, what are its weaknesses?

Response - For the sample task, please assume there is no form of ERCA process is in place.

See response to Question #60.

63. General Comment: The Government intends to award only firm fixed price task orders for contract labor services with cost reimbursable CLINs for ODCs, materials and travel.

However, there are FAR/DFARS contract clauses cited tin this RFP which should only apply to cost reimbursement task order types. Therefore we request deletion of such clauses; or, the Government’s written concurrence that all such referenced clauses are self-deleting. Examples of some of these contract clauses follow:

o 52.246-5 Inspection of Services -- Cost-Reimbursement o 52.232-4001 Contractor vouchers – cost Reimbursement Contracts o 52.216-11 Cost Contract – No Fee o 52.243-2 Changes – Cost Reimbursement o 52.249-6 Termination (Cost Reimbursement)

Response – 52.246-5 will be deleted, 52.243-2 will be corrected to 52.243-2 Alt II

64. With reference to Section 3.10 Status Reporting, Second Paragraph: The intent of the Government is to award firm fixed price task orders under the resultant IDIQ contracts. As such, a breakdown of labor categories and hours expended is not typically a reporting requirement for contractor performance under a firm fixed price contract and/or task order.

Would the Government please provide clarification?

Response – It is a requirement under this solicitation.

65. With reference to Section 7.1.1 states “In accordance with 52.222.-2 Payment of Overtime Premiums, paragraph (a), the amount of overtime authorized, if necessary, under the contract for the Cost Reimbursement effort will be determined at the Task Order level. Approval to use overtime described in paragraph (a) shall be approved by the Contracting Officer prior to performance. Requests for overtime described in paragraph (b) must be submitted to the COR and approved by the Contracting Officer prior to performance”. This requirement appears to be inapplicable to contractor performance under firm fixed price task orders. Therefore, we request deletion of this clause.

Response – Paragraph 7.1.3 will be deleted and changed to reserved

66. With Reference to Section L-9 52.216-1 Type of Contract states: “The Government contemplates award of a Firm Fixed Price and Cost Reimbursement, no fee contract resulting from this solicitation”. Does the Government’s reference to “cost reimbursement” refer solely to ODCs, materials and travel costs incurred under the IDIQ contract? Also, would the Government please confirm that the resultant task orders for contract labor services will be awarded based on a firm fixed price and not on a firm fixed price level of effort?

Response – This requirement is Firm Fixed Price Services and Cost Reimbursement, no fee contract for material, ODC’s and travel.

67. Section L, paragraph 2.c.ii on page 125 defines major subcontractors as those “who will be providing the highest percentage of the total proposed price.” The FFP labor categories and rates Attachment 0001 does not distinguish subcontractors cost as the attachment is for a Team wide ceiling rate only and does not break out costs for different team members. How will the Government confirm the 3 proposed major subcontractors who provide the highest percentage of the total proposed price if there is no indication of a subcontractor’s percentage of price in Attachment 0001?

Response – See response to question 48

68. Attachment 6, Section 1.0 on page 2. The sample task states that it typically takes the Government 30 days for data triage and 30 days for data analysis. What is not provided is how long and how many FTEs were required to develop the ERCA Workbook and Brief Out. We request the Government provide this information.

Response - This is dependent on multiple factors. The sample task response should reflect knowledge and expertise on which to evaluate the Offeror’s submission.

69. Attachment 6, Section 1.0 on page 2. The sample task states the ERCA process is to be performed across all 14 Program Offices and 26 TMS. Later, in Section 2.3, the sample task states the ERCA process is to be executed for 26 TMS. As a point of clarification, will we develop 40 or 26 NAE ERCA workbooks and leadership briefs in Section 2.3.4?

Response - There will be a total of 26 ERCA workbooks and leadership briefs. The 26 TMS are a subset of the 14 program offices (i.e. some Program Offices own multiple TMS).

70. Attachment 6, Section 2.3 on page 3. The sample task states that “NAVAIR seeks the development of a … ECRA process execution for 26 TMS and planning for the DEVELOPMENT of an automated business solution.” Later, in Section 2.3.5, the sample task explicitly states the desire to acquire a COTS solution. The process to DEVELOP is markedly different from the process to ACQUIRE a business solution. Please clarify the document, are we being asked to help the Government develop a GOTS application or acquire a COTS application?

Response – The government is looking for an automated solution to the problem as posed in the sample task. The response to the sample task would include a technical approach to the solution including a “roadmap” to get to a single, systematic COTS solution. See Sample Task paragraph 2.3.5.

71. Attachment 6, Section 2.3. The government articulates that offerors must develop the ECRA process in Section 2.3.1 and then triage the data from the ECRA process in 2.3.2. The sample task is silent on who will be conducting the ECRA process to collect the data across all 14 Program Offices and 26 TMSs. Is the Government going to perform this fictional task or do bidders have to provide an approach, allocate time in the IMS, assign resources in the IMS, and price this data collection effort? And if so, under what section of the sample task is that effort performed?

Response - See response to Question 59

72. Attachment 6, Section 2.2.b on page 3. Please define “Flight Hours Executed” and “Required Hours”? The titles are not sufficient to understand the difference between the two.

Response – Flight Hours Executed” – Actual (Past) or Budgeted(Future) Flying Hours performed. “Required Hours” – Planned or Required Flying Hours. For analysis purposes use budgeted “Flight Hours Executed” for future requirements.

73. Attachment 6, Section 2.2.b on page 3. Is the depicted O&S cost profile included in the sample already reflecting that a 10% reduction in the FHP CPFH has been applied and appearing in the figures? If so, in what year does the 10% reduction begin?

Response - The included profile does not reflect the 10% reduction in the FHP CPFH. Per NAE guidance and for the sample task, the 10% reduction would begin in FY19.

74. Attachment 6, Section 2.2.c on page 3. The Government states “the focus of the equipment readiness and cost assessment process will be solely on the Equipment pillar of the readiness PESTO. Please provide a descriptive document of the Equipment Pillar of PESTO that finitely defines “equipment”. For instance, is “equipment” a specific BUNO? Is “equipment” all of the support equipment, tooling, fixtures, AVDLR allowance, etc. for a squadron by TMS?

Response - Equipment is defined at the Weapon System level and includes all Flying Hour Program (FHP) equipment costs (e.g. support equipment, tooling, fixtures, AVDLR allowance, etc). It includes, but isn’t limited to, any item that is a functional part of a system or subsystem and is required to perform mission operations.

75. Attachment 6, Section 2.3.5, last paragraph on page 5. In this paragraph, is the Government directing bidders to provide an approach, allocate time in the IMS, assign resources in the IMS, and price the effort to “develop detailed requirements derived from the above attributes”? The paragraph is unclear if this is a tasking to propose the PROCESS to perform this effort or if we are being directed to actually offer potentially hundreds of possible requirements in our proposal.

Response - Yes, consideration will be given to the Offeror’s expertise, innovation and solution capabilities to respond to the actual task orders from a process standpoint.

76. Attachment 6, Section 2.3.5, last paragraph on page 5. In this paragraph, is the in the IMS, and price the effort to “document current NAVAIR business environment constraints and COTS IT compliance requirements”? The paragraph is unclear if this is a tasking to propose the PROCESS to perform this effort or if we are being directed to document these constraints and compliance requirements.

Response – See response to Question 75

77. Attachment 6, Section 2.3.5, last paragraph on page 5. In this paragraph, is the in the IMS, and price the effort to “query industry and investigate potential COTS solution(s) availability that meet ECRA … requirements”? The paragraph is unclear if this is a tasking to propose the PROCESS to perform this effort or if we are being directed to conduct a market research as part of our bid and offer that to the Government within our 30 page limit.

Response – See response to Question 76

78. Since the RFP gives no indication of the place of performance to assume for the OCONUS rates, please confirm what specific location should be assumed.

Response – OCONUS labor has been removed from Attachment 0001. Attachment 0001 will be revised to remove OCONUS labor. OCONUS efforts will be priced out in each task order

79. Following from the above, we’re unclear on the applicability of danger/hardship premium. Section H-14 of the RFP says “If the contractor includes danger and/or hardship pay in their fully loaded labor rates on individual Task Orders, the offeror shall not exceed the rates stipulated in the Department of State Post (Hardship) Differential at Caution-http://aoprals.state.gov/Web920/hardship.asp < Caution-http://aoprals.state.gov/Web920/hardship.asp > and/or Danger Pay Allowance at Caution-http://aoprals.state.gov/Web920/danger_pay_all.asp < Caution-http://aoprals.state.gov/Web920/danger_pay_all.asp > . That indicates that the OCONUS rates we provide now should not include danger/hardship pay. However, the pricing spreadsheet says “Fully Loaded Labor Rates: Each offeror shall submit one CONUS Government-site fully loaded FFP labor rate, one CONUS Contractor-site fully loaded FFP labor rate, and one OCONUS fully loaded FFP labor rate for each category of labor, for each ordering period. The FFP rates are on a Not-To-Exceed basis. It is anticipated that the offerors proposed Government-site fully loaded labor rates will be lower than the Contractor-site rates since the government is providing office space, equipment, utility services, etc. Contractors will have the opportunity to propose lower fully loaded FFP labor rates for competitive orders but may not exceed what is incorporated into the basic contract.” This seems contradictory. Please provide clarification.

Response – See response to Question 78

80. The danger/hardship premium rate applicable to certain countries (part of the “war risk rider”) is based on the number of days the employee is in the country. So, in order to develop the OCONUS rates not only will contractors need to know what country to assume but (if the country a contractor should assume falls under the “war risk rider” provision) also how many days to assume.

Response – See response to 78

81. The RFP includes FAR 52.228-3 (WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE (DEFENSE BASE ACT)), so we assume that DBA should be factored into the OCONUS rates.

Please confirm.

Response – See response to 78

82. It appears, there is an error in the formula equation on Attachment 0001_FFP_Labor Categories and Rates, specifically at Cell K38 (Administrative Assistant Junior – ID of AH).This error neglects to include the OCONUS Labor Rate to the total for this particular labor category.

Upon review of the totals for the other labor categories, this OCONUS labor dollar amount is added. This error is evident in all Ordering Periods on Attachment 0001. There is no similar error on Attachment 0003 Sample Task Cost. Please advise if this will be rectified.

Response – See response to Question 78. See Revised Attachment 0001.

83. On Page 125 states the following “offeror shall provide their PASS SB Management plan for their organization and each major subcontractor”. Is it the intent the management plan is provided only by the Prime to include their management of the three major subcontractors or is it the intent that each major subcontractor submit their own management plan to address their PASS SB management?

Response – See response to Question 17.

84. When pricing the Sample Task, is the LOE for each labor category used limited to the LOE provided in Attachment 0001 PASS-SB Labor Categories & Firm Fixed Price (Rates)?

Response – No. IAW paragraph Section L, paragraph (iv) Volume IV COST/PRPICE FACTOR, subparagraph (6.1), offerors shall propose the same loaded labor rates proposed in Attachment 0001 in the sample task.

85. Attachment 0006, Sample Task, page 2, paragraph 2 states “It would typically take the Government two (2) months to perform each TMS assessment which includes 30 days for the data analysis (approximately six (6) Full Time Equivalents (FTEs)) and 30 days for the data analysis (approximately six (6) FTEs)…”. Does this consist of 2 separate teams of 6 FTEs (12 Total FTEs), or is this one group of 6 FTEs?

Response – “It would typically take the Government two (2) months to perform each TMS assessment which includes 30 days for the data triage process (approximately six (6) Full Time Equivalents (FTE’s)) and 30 days for the data analysis (approximately six (6) FTE’s) then the build of the ERCA workbook and brief out.” This would be solution dependent based on the Offeror’s approach and staffing.

86. On Page 124, paragraph c. Content Requirement, it states “Each file of the proposal shall consist of a Table of Contents, Summary Section, and the Narrative discussion” Does the Summary Section count toward the page count?

Response – The table of contents (and summary section) WILL NOT COUNT TOWARDS THE PAGE LIMITATION for any Volume. Each VOLUME shall have a table of contents and summary section, not each file. The table of contents and summary section shall be submitted in .doc format. The Solicitation will be amended to note this revision.

87. The due date for questions is December 21, 2015, and it is stated that “Any issues that were identified during the Question and Answer process that require an amendment to the PASS- SB Solicitation, will be done so after the Question and Answer process is complete”. Due to the fact that there are two Federal Holidays immediately following the posting of questions, we are concerned that there will not be time for answers to questions to be posted to allow ample time to incorporate those answers into our proposal response. Would the Government consider an extension of the proposal due date to January 29, 2015 in order to adequately accommodate?

Response – See response Question 4

88. Can any of the DWIA Certified Acquisition Professional, Program Management, Levels 1, 2 or 3 substitute for a PMI certification?

Response – See response to Question 29

89. Paragraph L-12 (b) (252.237-7024 NOTICE OF CONTINUATION OF ESSENTIAL CONTRACTOR SERVICES) states: “The offeror shall provide with its offer a written plan describing how it will continue to perform the essential contractor services listed in the attachments, Mission Essential Contractor Services, during periods of crisis.”

a. Where should offerors place this plan in their proposals?

b. What is the page limit?

Response - See response to Question 38

90. The Final Section L requirement for Volume II Management Subfactor states: “Offerors shall provide their PASS-SB Management Plan for their organization and each major subcontractor.” In the draft RFP posted last year, the Government had a requirement for the three major subcontractors to each provide a 5-page plan.

a. Is it the intent of the Government that the offeror’s proposal response for the Management Sub-factor be composed of four distinct Management Plans, one for the Prime and one for each

Major Sub (as was the intent in the draft RFP) or should offerors provide one blended Management Plan for the team covering the prime and major subs?

Response – See response to Question 17

91. There were approximately 200 questions asked by offerors based on the Draft RFP.

Responses to those questions are not available now that the ASFI website has been disabled. We request the Government make those responses available.

Response – The response will not be reposted. The solicitations requirement has changed and thus some of the questions and responses are not valid to the current solicitation.

92. We respectfully request the Government provide a 3-week extension to the proposal due date for this requirement. This RFP was posted with a 4-week turnaround during a period that includes 2 major Federal Holidays. The requirement to produce and ship hard copies further reduces offeror’s time available to author the proposal by one week. The Final RFP requirements have substantially changed from the last draft RFP that was posted over a year ago and a new complex sample task requirement has been added. Additionally, offerors will require time to adjust responses based on the Government responses to questions. Considering these factors, we request the Government extend the due date by three weeks to provide offerors adequate time to produce responsive proposals.

93. Does OCONUS include locations in a Combat/Hazard Zone? If yes, should hazard pay be included as a direct or an indirect/ODC cost?

Response – See response to Question 78

94. We're encountering some difficulty developing OCONUS rates, since the RFP gave no indication of what location to assume and this information is needed due to possible premiums which are dependent on the specific location. Could the Government therefore please provide clarification on the following points:

What specific location should be assumed when developing OCONUS rates?

Response - See response to Question 78

95. Following from the above, we’re unclear on the applicability of danger/hardship premium. Section H-14 of the RFP says (emphasis added) “If the contractor includes danger and/or hardship pay in their fully loaded labor rates on individual Task Orders, the offeror shall not exceed the rates stipulated in the Department of State Post (Hardship) Differential athttp://aoprals.state.gov/Web920/hardship.asp and/or Danger Pay Allowance athttp://aoprals.state.gov/Web920/danger_pay_all.asp. That indicates that the OCONUS rates we provide now should not include danger/hardship pay. However, the pricing spreadsheet says (emphasis added) “Fully Loaded Labor Rates: Each offeror shall submit one CONUS Government-site fully loaded FFP labor rate, one CONUS Contractor-site fully loaded FFP labor rate, and one OCONUS fully loaded FFP labor rate for each category of labor, for each ordering period. The FFP rates are on a Not-To-Exceed basis. It is anticipated that the offerors proposed Government-site fully loaded labor rates will be lower than the Contractor-site rates since the government is providing office space, equipment, utility services, etc. Contractors will have the opportunity to propose lower fully loaded FFP labor rates for competitive orders but may not exceed what is incorporated into the basic contract.” These seem contradictory. Can you please provide clarification on whether the OCONUS rates proposed now establish ceiling rates for the overall vehicle or whether OCONUS rates will be proposed on a task order basis? If the former is true and the intent is to establish ceiling rates now, how exactly will that work during performance and what should the OCONUS rates proposed now assume? We're unclear about the implications during execution since it seems that the rates proposed now would have to assume a specific location, however, during performance the tasking may involve an entirely different location so the proposed rate would not be based on the correct assumptions.

96. The danger/hardship premium rate applicable to certain countries (part of the “war risk rider”) is based on the number of days the employee is in the country. So, in order to develop the OCONUS rates not only will we need to know what country to assume but (if the country we should assume falls under the “war risk rider” provision) we'd also need to know how many days to assume. Could the Government please provide clarification on how this should be approached during OCONUS rate development?

97. The RFP includes FAR 52.228-3 (WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE (DEFENSE BASE ACT)), so we assume that DBA should be factored into the OCONUS rates.

Please let us know if this is not the case.

98. The RFP requires 14 key personnel resumes. This requirement includes a commitment letter for each person with an agreed salary and fringe benefits included in the letter. Given that at least 50 bidders will be involved in response to this RFP, there will be in excess of 700 key personnel resumes to be created and submitted. Given the specific requirement for personnel to be available in August of 2016 for application to the contract and there will be 10 or more IDIQ’s issued, how will the government manage the personnel process involving 140 key personnel. The requirement to hire 14 people in under 45 days when the government takes 6 or more months to hire personnel appears to be excessive. This leads to several questions:

a. On award will all 140 people be paid by the government, since each of the 10 contractors will be required to have 14 key personnel on staff?

b. Has the government considered the time it takes to hire staff at this level when compared to the government’s own processes?

c. Can you define a small business that can complete this requirement?

Response – a. No, the key personnel will not be paid by the Government at award. The Government is requesting resumes of key qualified personnel

b. Yes

c. See Question 5

99. The Sample task calls for the development of a 30 month ERCS plan without a definition of the current end to end business process other than it takes 60 days for six people to complete a single instance. Aviation maintenance and repair which the ERCS process appears to measure, has some very specific requirements depending on the type of aircraft. Fixed wing Jets, helicopters and fixed week prop driven planes each require a different set of procedures at the four basic phases of maintenance used in the aircraft industry. Each of these type of aircraft have very differing process for operation as well as maintenance. Historically, the biggest cost driver for aviation operation has been the four phases of maintenance and the cost of fuel. The maintenance processes are a fixed component of the aircraft operation requirements.