Attachment_0010_Combined_Q&A.pdf

Q1. It appears the Government is focusing on certain requirements for past performance and public affairs is not one of them. Is this an accurate interpretation?

A1. Per Section L.7 of the solicitation, the offeror is to submit past performance for all recent and relevant Government contracts. Per Section M.11, “The Government will focus its inquiries on the Offeror’s (and major subcontractor’s/Joint Venture members’/new entities with parent companies) record of performance as it relates to all solicitation requirements.” Additionally, per Section M.11.2.2, Relevancy includes efforts related to the “scope and magnitude of effort and complexities this solicitation requires.” As stated in the cited sections, past performance is evaluated for the full efforts of the requirements of this solicitation.

Q2. The RFP states that there will be 0 FTE's for PAO in the base year. Is it still accurate that PAO support will not be utilized in the base year of the contract?

A2. No, that is no longer accurate. Since the contract will not be awarded until fiscal year (FY)

18, PAO will require support in the base year (FY18) of the contract. PWS Section 5.4.8 has been updated to reflect this change.

Q3. PWS Paragraph 5.1.11 states "Government anticipates approximately 2.0 to 2.5 FTEs being needed to accomplish the tasks outlined in the paragraphs of 5.1." This number of FTEs does not appear to be sufficient to implement the EVMS requirements outlined in the solicitation paragraphs I-140 and L-9. Was it the intent of PWS Paragraph 5.1.11 to include FTEs to cover

EVMS? If not, under what Task should the offeror show these labor hours?

A3. The EVMS Clauses 252.234-7002 and 252.234-7001 are removed from the solicitation.

Q4. Solicitation Paragraph M.12.2 defines the Small Business goals of 32% for the contract. These goals are very aggressive given the EVMS requirements outlined in the solicitation paragraphs I-

140 and L-9. Will the Government consider waiving the EVMS requirement for small businesses or reducing the Small Business goals?

A4. The EVMS Clauses 252.234-7002 and 252.234-7001 are removed from the solicitation.

Q5. Solicitation Paragraph L.7.1 Subfactor 1 - Personnel Management requests key resumes in the proposal and in the next paragraph the solicitation states, "Upon the completion of the

Competitive Range determination, if applicable, the PCO may request Offerors to submit a by name resume for each key position within five days of notice." It is unclear whether the Government wants the resumes for the key positions in the proposal or to submit them upon request.

A5. The Government wants the resumes for the key positions included in the proposal. Section

L.7.1 has been updated to reflect this change.

Q6. PWS Paragraph 5.1.1 Contract Management Plan (MP) requires a draft MP to be submitted with the proposal, IAW CDRL A001. Section L of the proposal does not indicate where the MP should be included. Also CDRL A001 states that the draft MP should be submitted 30 days after contract award. Please clarify whether the MP is be to included in the proposal and if so which Volume it should be included in.

A6. The MP is not required as part of the proposal. PWS paragraph 5.1.1 has been edited to align with 5.5.3.5.1 and CDRL A001: "The Contract MP shall include, at a minimum: planned activities, financial information, schedules, and quality control. The contractor shall deliver the planned approach for performance of this task IAW CDRL A001. The contractor shall develop a planned approach within 30 CDAC start date. The Government will respond with comments or approval within

14 calendar days after receipt of the draft plan. The contractor shall submit the final plan within 30 days of approval by the Government. The final planned approach shall be included."

Q7. SF33 p.46 L-9 EVMS requirement. DFARS Par 234, which prescribes the EVMS requirement, applies to Major Systems Acquisition. As this acquisition is not for systems, not does it entail a significant development component, will the government consider removed of this requirement as it is restrictive of competition, especially for small business concerns?

A7. The EVMS Clauses 252.234-7002 and 252.234-7001 are removed from the solicitation.

Q8. Please confirm the required Small Business Subcontracting Plan is considered as an "Other items indicated for each Volume" and excluded from the 25-page restriction of Volume V?

A8. The Small Business Subcontracting Plan is excluded from the page limit in Volume V. Section

A.9 was updated to reflect this change.

Q9. Please confirm the required three ISRs are considered as "Other items indicated for each

Volume" and excluded from the 25-page restriction of Volume V?

A9. The ISRs are excluded from the page limit in Volume V. Section L.10.3.2 was updated to reflect this change.

Q10. Please confirm the required OCI Plan is considered as an “Other items as indicated for each

Volume” and excluded from the 25-page restriction of Volume II? Please also confirm that the following statement is valid: “Any previous submission of OCI plans will not be considered by the

Government and shall be updated as desired and submitted with the proposal.”

A10. The OCI Plan is excluded from the page limit in Volume II. Section L.7.2, Organizational

Conflict of Interest, was updated to reflect this change. Also, the statement mentioned in the question is valid.

Q11. Per the instruction of L.9.1., the prime offeror is to submit “past performance information on up to five recent and relevant Government and/or commercial contracts.” If the prime offeror consists of JV, would the JV submit a total of five past performances or would each team member of the JV submit up to five past performances?

A11. The total past performance information inputs for the offeror is five and each major subcontractor is three. In the case of a joint venture, the total number of performance inputs provided is limited to five inputs plus three for each teaming partner (as if they were a subcontractor), with no individual contractor providing more than five. For example, if the offeror is a joint venture of two team members, one contractor may submit up to five past performance information inputs and the other may submit up to three, or each contractor may submit up to a total of four each. If the offeror is a joint venture of three members, one team member may submit up to five and the other two team members up to three each, or two team members may submit up to four each and the other up to three. If a joint venture also had subcontractors, each subcontractor would be limited to three past performance information inputs.

Q12. Please clarify the period of performance. Is the period of performance as stated in Section

A: “…a base year and nine one-year option periods” or in Section M: “…base year and nine one-year option periods, and a six-month extension period”?

A12. The period of performance is as stated in Section A, a base year and nine one-year option periods. The “six-month extension period” is removed from Section M.13.

Q13. Per the RFP instruction, the offer is to complete and sign “…copy of the solicitation including Sections A–K….” Please confirm if a signature at the end of a completed section is sufficient to meet the signature requirement?

A13. Provide a signed copy of the solicitation and any amendments.

Q14. Per the instruction, resumes “…shall identify the minimum qualifications the offeror will employ over the life of the contract for all key personnel.” For the submission due on August

4th, please clarify if we are to provide ‘named resumes’ for specific individuals who meet the listed job title/function in the PWS or to define the minimum qualifications (e.g., minimum education, type of degree, licenses/registration, type of experience, year of experience, etc.)

for the required title/function over the life of the contract in the PWS?

A14. Potential bidders are to provide by-name resumes for specific individuals who meet the listed job titles/functions in the PWS. Section L.7.1 has been updated to reflect this change.

Q15. Please indicate in which volume of the offeror’s submittal should the required L-9 information (i.e., Notice of Earned Value Management System) be presented? In addition, will this information be considered as “Other items as indicated for each Volume” and be excluded from page count limitation?

A15. The EVMS Clauses 252.234-7002 and 252.234-7001 are removed from the solicitation.

Q16. May we use Arial Narrow, 10-point font for tables and graphics?

A16. Per Section L.3.3. of the solicitation, the Offeror shall use Arial, not Arial Narrow, font.

10-point font may be utilized for tables and graphic displays.

Q17. If we are to submit the proposal prior to the August 4th due date, do we schedule an appointment with the PCO to receive our submission and to obtain proof of receipt from the PCO?

A17. Do not need to schedule an appointment with the PCO if submitting prior to due date.

Submittal for proposals shall be as stated in L.5.

Q18. Is the stated delivery address the same for postal mail, UPS/FedEx and courier? Are there any special instructions based on the mode of delivery?

A18. The delivery address is the same for all mail deliveries.

Q19. Section L.3.1 states, “The electronic copies shall be submitted using Microsoft Office (MS)

Word, MS Excel (for the Cost/Price Volume only) and Adobe Acrobat software (SF33 signature page and any other RFP pages, as required.) All copies of an individual volume shall be identical.”

Please confirm that bidders can submit all proposal volumes in PDF format, excluding Attachment

003 Cost-Price Matrix, which should be submitted in MS Excel.

A19. You can submit proposal volumes in PDF except Attachment 0003 which will be submitted as an

MS Excel document.

Q20. The EVMS requirements in Solicitation Paragraphs I-140 and L-9 will require a significant investment and a resultant financial burden/hardship. It is our understanding that DFARS Part

234, requires EVMS compliance on Major Systems Acquisition. As this contract is not for systems, and does not entail a significant development component, will the Government consider removal of this requirement as it restricts competition, especially for small business concerns?

A20. The EVMS Clauses 252.234-7002 and 252.234-7001 are removed from the solicitation.