W15QKN-16-R-0056_Questions_-_ANSWERED.docx

W15QKN-16-R-0056

The purpose of this Amendment is to answer the below questions from potential bidders. The questions resulted in a review of the RFP. As a result of the review, Section C is updated. In addition, some of the answers necessitated changes to RFP documents. The following documents have been updated and included in Section J as a result of the questions: “Attachment 0001,” “Attachment 0012.”

Question 1:

The RFP does not appear to include a due date for questions. We recommend that questions be due no later than 20 September 2016 to provide the Government time to respond and give offerors enough time to adjust their proposals based on the Government’s responses.

Answer 1:

The last day for questions will be 28SEP2016 Question 2:

The proposal due date included on the RFP’s SF33 is 7 October 2016 at 4:30 p.m. This date conflicts with the due date of 14 October 2016 at 4:30 p.m. published on the Federal Business Opportunity page. Please confirm that the due date included on the SF33 (7 October 2016 at 4:30 p.m.) is the correct due date.

Answer 2:

The due date will be 14 OCT. The Federal Business Opportunity Page will be updated to reflect this.

Question 3:

On Page 3, Section 52.215-4004, Identification of Work Performed at a Government location, the RFP states, “Offeror will specify in his proposal the place(s) of his performance of the work” as well as specific information (letters a. through g.) “where the place (s) of performance includes, in whole or part, a Government location, installation, facility, office space, etc.” Where should this information be included within Offeror’s proposal?

Answer 3:

Wherever the offer determines is appropriate.

Question 4:

Page 17, Section 3.15.3, Bullet Number 14, includes a representative list of systems/applications. Please clarify what the acronym CGS stands for.

Answer 4:

This is a typo. Section C is updated to read the following: “Administer a large variety of systems/applications (representative list: Cognos Business Intelligence, QlikView, ColdFusion, SLICwave, LiveLink, AppDynamics, SYBASE, Oracle, and Teradata, Team Foundation Server (TFS), .NET, Java, JavaScript, xHTML, PHP, ASP, CGI, SSL, SSH, and SFTP)”

Question 5:

Page 32, Paragraph 11.1.4, states, “At a minimum, the contractor shall provide/assign nine (9) personnel under the labor categories below who possess Secret clearance and an SSBI.” With the requirement for the SSBI, should the DD254 require a Top Secret Clearance rather than a Secret Clearance?

Answer 5:

No, SSBI is required to support security and suitability determinations for sensitive and/or critical-sensitive positions, and to support security.

Question 6:

Page 32, Section 11.1.5, Certifications, states that “the contractor personnel assigned to the following labor categories and skill levels shall comply with current published DoD 8570.01-M.” None of the positions described merit an IAM level III certification. The role of an IA Manager III is typically reserved for ISSO and ISSM duties. We recommend that none of the labor categories require IAM certification.

Answer 6:

As a result of this question, the chart is be updated to require IAM level I for #5 and #6 in section 11.1.5 Certifications. See Section C.

Question 7:

Page 32, Section 11.1.5, Certifications, states that “the contractor personnel assigned to the following labor categories and skill levels shall comply with current published DoD 8570.01-M.” While it would be reasonable to require at least one IAT level III certified individual, it should be noted that, in accordance with 8570, Section C2.2.6, having multiple IAT Level III individuals should not be required for a non-enclave environment (e.g. not managing a data center or enclave accreditation). Additionally, the IAT Levels do not correlate to the level of experience. We recommend that only one of the Key Personnel FTEs (one of the Engineer III FTEs) require IAT Level III certification.

Answer 7:

The Engineer III, Computer Systems Analyst III and Computer Programmer III all require IAT level III.

Question 8:

The description for Computer Systems Analyst (Senior) III on page 34 of the solicitation states, “For the Computer Systems Analyst III position, Offerors shall propose for both FTEs at a Government site as well as a Contractor Site.” Attachment 0001 allocates 13,440 hours to the Computer Systems Analyst III labor category. Please provide the number of hours for Computer Systems Analyst III position at the Government site and at the Contractor site.

Answer 8:

5760 hours @ government site, remainder at contractor site. Attachment 0001 is updated to reflect this.

Question 9:

The Educational Requirements for the Computer Programmer Intermediate (II) and Computer Programmer (Entry/Junior) I on pages 36 and 37 of the solicitation require enrollment in a listed “commercially available certification program.” Would it be acceptable for candidates in these labor categories to complete the required certification programs within twelve (12) months of award?

Answer 9:

Answer: No. Unfortunately this is not acceptable.

Question 10:

The experience requirements for the Administrative Assistant position on Page 40 of the solicitation state that the Administrative Assistant shall have “at least eight (8) years of recent experience.” Would a candidate with a Bachelor’s Degree and four (4) years of recent experience be an acceptable substitute?

Answer 10:

Answer: Yes

Question 11:

Page 47, Paragraph 8, Software Process Improvement Initiative (SPII), item (a), states “the requirement that Offerors submit a proposed Software Development Plan (SDP) with their proposals…which shall follow the framework of…IEEE Std 12207”. Please confirm that, as indicated on page 101, Section L.4.4, this Software Development Plan should be included within Volume IV of the Offeror’s response.

Answer 11:

Yes, the SPII language requires a DRAFT SDP be provided Question 12:

Page 92, Section L.2.2, Paragraph 2, states, “…questions and proposals shall be submitted via email;” however, Page 93, Section L.2.3.1, Paragraph b, states, “The Offeror shall submit three (3) electronic CD copies of the Technical Volume; Two (2) electronic CD copies for the Past Performance Volume and Three (3) electronic CD copies for the Price Volume”. Please identify the method of delivery for electronic copies of these files (email, CD, or both).

Answer 12:

Both (CD and Email) are acceptable; or one or the other (CD or Email) is acceptable.

Question 13:

Page 93, Section L.2.3.1, Paragraph b, does not indicate the requirement for hard copies of any of the proposal volumes. If the Government does require printed proposal volumes, please identify how many copies of each volume should be provided.

Answer 13:

The quantity of volumes is listed in Section L.

Question 14:

Page 93, Section L.2.3.1, Paragraph b, states, “Process flows may be delivered in hard copy if not compatible with the above software.” Please confirm that hard copies of process flows are only required if they are not compatible with the software identified in the RFP.

Answer 14:

Confirmed.

Question 15:

Page 93, Section L.2.3.1, Paragraph c, states, “…all Offerors must submit Reps/Certs data into the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov/ and provide one (1) hard copy and one (1) electronic copy (on CD) submitted as an .XPS file.” Because hard copies of other proposal material are not required, would a screen capture of the SAM Reps/Certs data on CD be acceptable instead of the hard copy?

Answer 15:

Yes.

Question 16:

Page 93, Section L.2.3.1, Paragraph c, states, “…all Offerors must submit Reps/Certs data into the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov/ and provide one (1) hard copy and one (1) electronic copy (on CD) submitted as an .XPS file”. If a hard copy of the Reps/Certs is required, please identify how that hard copy should be provided to the Government.

Answer 16:

Yes.

Question 17: Page 93, Section L.2.3.1, Paragraph b, states, “The Offeror shall submit three (3) electronic CD copies of the Technical Volume; Two (2) electronic CD copies for the Past Performance Volume and Three (3) electronic CD copies for the Price Volume.” Please confirm that no hard copies of these volumes are required.

Answer 17:

Confirmed.

Question 18:

Page 95, Section L.4.1, Paragraph 3, states, “The Personnel Matrix for key personnel shall be submitted with all fields completed. All information within this table shall be completed for each candidate and in the format provided with the RFP.” Attachment 0012 states “For Key Personnel Only.” Please confirm that the Personnel Matrix should be completed for all personnel – key and non-key.

Answer 18:

Answer: All personnel. Key Personnel chart Attachment 0012 is updated.

Question 19:

Page 98, Section L.4.3.4.1, states, “Each Offeror must submit a minimum of one fully loaded direct labor rate for each category of labor.” Many labor categories include multiple FTEs (for example, Engineer III Labor Category includes 22 FTEs). Is it acceptable for the offer to provide a different rate for each of the 22 Engineer III FTEs?

Answer 19:

The offeror should be proposing blending, weighted or composite rates.

Question 20:

Page 98, Section L.4.3.4.1, states, Each Offeror must submit a minimum of one fully loaded direct labor rate for each category of labor.” Please clarify whether the requested labor rates are Government Site rates or Contractor Site rates.

Question 20:

Answer: All are Government except for Computer Systems Analyst (Senior) III, which is both. See updated Attachment 0001 for hour allocation.

Question 21:

Typically for a Solicitation of this size and complexity the government provides for a thirty (30) day response timeframe. The subject Solicitation was released on 9/14/2016 and is due on 10/7/2016 according to Block 9 of the SF33. Would the government consider a one week extension with proposals due 10/14/2016?

Answer 21:

Answer: YES. RFP response date is 10/14/16.

Question 22:

Page 3, regulatory citation 52.215-4004 states “Identify any Government locations, buildings, room numbers, areas etc. where that part of the work will be performed.” This requirement provides a significant advantage to the incumbent. Does the government intend to have a walk-through of all spaces by potential bidders so that all contenders are provided with the same information?

Answer 22:

There will be no walkthrough. The clause itself is not evaluated directly in Section M, so there is no competitive advantage as a result of meeting clause requirements.

Question 23:

Attachment 1 – the instructions state “Complete Ordering Periods 1-2” but L.4.3.3 states Attachment 1 must be completed for all 5 periods. Can the government confirm that Attachment 1 should be completed for all 5 periods?

Answer 23:

Confirmed. Attachment 0001 is updated to reflect 5 ordering periods.

Question 24:

Page 32, Paragraph 11.1.5 Certifications, lists that Engineer 1 requires IAT1 certification, however, no Engineer 1 is listed in Attachment 0001 Labor Chart. Does the government intend for an Engineer 1 to be bid?

Answer 24:

No.

Question 25:

Does the government intend that Engineer I, Computer Systems Analyst I and Computer Programmer I; Engineer II, Computer Systems Analyst II and Computer Programmer II; and Engineer III and Computer System Analyst III have both and IAT and an IAM certificate?

Answer 25:

Yes, the technical positions require both the technical certification and the cyber certification.

Question 26:

Does the government intend that Engineer I, Computer Systems Analyst I and Computer Programmer I; Engineer II, Computer Systems Analyst II and Computer Programmer II; and Engineer III and Computer System Analyst III have both and IAT and an IAM certificate?

Answer 26:

Yes, the technical positions require both the technical certification and the cyber certification.

Question 27:

Does the government intend that Engineer I, Computer Systems Analyst I and Computer Programmer I; Engineer II, Computer Systems Analyst II and Computer Programmer II; and Engineer III and Computer System Analyst III have both and IAT and an IAM certificate?

Answer 27:

Yes, the technical positions require both the technical certification and the cyber certification..

Question 28:

On page 3, under 52.215-4004, the Offeror is asked to 1) specify the place of performance for the work and under 2a) specify which work will be performed at a Government location and which will be performed at a contractor location. On page 21, under para 7.1, it states that Work in support of this PWS shall be primarily performed at Patuxent River, MD. Since the Offeror has distinct indirect rates for government-site vs contractor-site work, can the government confirm that the work will be performed on government-site, and therefore pricing should be based on using government-site indirect rates?

Answer 28:

All are contractor site work accept for computer system analyst. See question 8 above.

Question 29:

There is no Summary tab in this file to summarize the total of all 5 periods. Does the government want a summary page added?

Answer 29:

The Government is computing this computation. The Government does not want a summary page added.

Question 30:

There is no Summary tab in this file to summarize the total of all 5 periods. Does the government want a summary page added?

Answer 30:

The Government is computing this computation. The Government does not want a summary page added.

Question 31 Attachment 1 - Since this RFP is CPFF, labor detail must be supported by payroll schedules, salary surveys, etc. For labor categories where there are multiple FTES, and therefore there is a potential to have individual labor rates for each FTE, can additional lines be added for each labor category to show individual labor rates?

Answer 31:

The offeror should be proposing blending, weighted or composite rates.

Question 32:

Should the Cost Breakdown Detail schedule be included as an additional tab in Attachment 1, or should it be submitted as a separate MS Excel file? Answer: Attachment 1 has blank cells that should be filled out for the base and all options years.

Answer 32:

Attachment 1 has blank cells that should be filled out for the base and all options years.