Questions and Answers FINAL v2 - RFI - OSS - BOD.docx

Biometrics Operations Division (BOD) Request for Information (RFI) Number W15QKN20R0106 Questions and Answers

RFI Closes: 11:00 AM EST on 30 July 2020 Question 1: What is the government’s anticipated acquisition schedule for this effort, should it go forward-particularly the RFP date, RFP response duration and anticipated award date?

Answer 1: Should there be solicitation and resulting award from this RFI, the anticipated award date is late September 2020. Other information, such as the RFP release and response dates are subject to many variables and cannot be provided at this time.

Question 2: Is the current program a small business set aside or was it competed as full and open?

Answer 2: Current program was competed full and open.

Question 3: Can the government provide the number of full time employees (FTEs) on the current program?

Answer 3: Currently the contract has 2 Metric Analysts, 13 Watch Desk (Management Analysts) and 6 Interface Control Specialists. The Interface Control Specialist are subject matter experts for biometric data flow for US DoD Biometric Operations, Interagency Operations (DOJ, DHS, DOS…..) and DoD International Partners.

Question 4: Task 1 states, “The highly technical nature of the services provided by the BOD, require the personnel assigned to be integrated in all operations functions in order to provide subject matter expertise (SME) support in the identification of current system capabilities and limitations.” What SME skills are required?

Answer 4: The Government, through the Performance Work Statement (PWS), lists the requirements and tasks that must be met through the performance period. It is up to each Offeror to assess whether or not they are capable of performing the tasks outlined in the PWS in responding to the RFI with their capabilities as well as provide the required SMEs via labor categories/FTEs which responding to the resulting solicitation/RFP.

Question 5: Task 2 requires, “…provide SME and decision support for biometrics and forensics integration within the BOD. The contractor shall support the development and collection of all documentation pertaining to biometric and forensic initiatives.” Can the customer identify the type of skills required in supporting this section of work?

Answer 5: See answer to question number 4.

Question 6: Task 2 states, “Deliverables for Task 2 will be strategic, analytic, and technical advice in the form of issue papers, point papers, concept papers, white papers, technical reports, presentations, technical engagement meetings in accordance with the direction of the BOD IAW CDRL G001 (DI-MGMT-81892 NOT 1).” Can the customer quantify or estimate how many of these deliverables are required within a 12 month period of performance? We need this understanding to develop an appropriate cost model.

Answer 6: Within a 12-month period of performance, approximately 10-15 deliverables will be needed for this CDRL.

Question 7: Task 3 requires, “The contractor shall provide technical support at national and international technical groups, conferences, strategic planning groups and other forums.” Approximately how many of these events will the contractor support within a 12 month period of performance?

Answer 7: Within a 12-month period of performance, it is estimated that approximately 20-30 events will be required.

Question 8: With the lack of estimated numbers for deliverables (Task 2) and forums (Task 3), may the contractor suggest a contract structure wherein some task areas are CPIF versus FFP?

Answer 8: Due to the services being commercial, in nature the contract type set to be used is a FFP contract type.

Question 9: Task 5 states, “Deliverables for Task 5 will take the form of strategic, analytic, and technical advice in the form of issue papers, point papers, white papers, technical reports, presentations, other adhoc reports in accordance with the direction of the BOD.” Can the government estimate the number of these types of deliverables within a 12 month period of performance?

Answer 9: Within a 12-month period of performance, approximately 10-15 deliverables. Refer to PWS section 3.5 and CDRLs G001 (DI-MGMT-81892 NOT 1), B001 (DI-MISC-80508B), and E001 (DI-MGMT-81607) for the specifics on what shall be delivered; how and the format of each delivered. CDRLs will be posted with the solicitation.

Question 10: Section 4.4 Phase In/Phase Out. The government requirement identifies a 15 calendar day transition. Given the current Covid-19 global pandemic situation, would the customer consider a longer transition period?

Answer 10: No. Due to the timeline for estimate award, there isn’t sufficient time remaining to increase the amount of the transition period, thus the government’s requirement of a 15 calendar day transition period remains.