Questions and Answers W564KV-21-Q-CCAB.pdf

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Questions and Answers

W564KV-21-Q-CCAB

USAG Rheinland-Pfalz (USAG-RP) ACS Cross-Cultural Adaptation Technician- Baumholder

Q1. The PWS has the Alternate Cross-Cultural Adaptation Specialists listed under ‘Key Personnel’ on page 40. However, it is not listed as a requirement under ‘Instructions to Offerors.’ Please indicate whether it is required to provide an Alternate candidate as part of the Technical Evaluation.

Answer 1: We do not require the name and curriculum vitae for an alternate Cross- Cultural Adaptation Technician (CCAT) before contract award. Name and Curriculum Vitae for an alternate CCAT must be provided and approved before an alternate CCAT can provide services. The alternate CCAT is required to have the required qualifications.

Q2. Page 29 of the PWS (52.228-3 WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE (DEFENSE BASE ACT) (JUL 2014)) states that the contractor must provide workers’ compensation insurance. This contract however allows for the employment of local nationals meeting the eligibility requirements. Please confirm that in the event that a local national hired under the Host Nation system are exempt from this requirement.

Answer 2: The Department of Labor has a Defense Base Act waiver for Germany. Local nationals will be covered by the Compulsory Workers' Compensation Laws.

Q3. Page 35, paragraph 1.5.1.d. states, “How will the Contractor monitor and ensure staff qualifications remain current and valid including DOCPER processes/approvals throughout contract performance?” Since this contract does not provide logistical support, please verify that DOCPER processes/approvals are not applicable.

Answer 3: Since this contract does not offer logistical support, the focus is requiring the contract personnel to maintain their access credentials to allow their work on Army installations.

Q4. Page 51, paragraph 5.3.2. states, “Multi-Cultural Activity Club/German Culture & Customs:

The Contractor shall coordinate and lead multi-cultural club activities...” Please confirm that these events are held during the normally scheduled workday. If not, will the contractor be provided compensatory time for hours dedicated to this task?

Answer 4: Under the PWS, these services will be performed during normal contract hours, which include 2 days a week from 0800-1700 & 3 days a week from 1100-2000 with 1 hour lunch breaks. Actual final schedule will be worked with COR, Contractor and Relocation Program Manager. These services will be rendered during the contractor’s normal hours i.e.

either on a 0800-1700 or 1100-2000 day. There is no compensatory time. The contract tasks must be accomplished according to a schedule coordinated with the Program Manager.

Q5. Page 52, paragraph 5.14.2 states, “Unplanned Absence/Backfill: In the event the Contractor has an unplanned illness or emergency, the Contractor shall notify the COR in accordance with ACS standing operating procedures. The Contractor shall provide a backfill for any unplanned absence of greater than one working day. Unplanned absence without a backfill of greater than one (1) day per month or two (2) per quarter (whichever is less) will cause a Non- Conformance Report to be generated.” Please clarify the highlighted section.

Answer 5: The “whichever is less” statement will be deleted from the Final Contract Version of the Performance Work Statement. If a contractor is absent for more than one day per month and this absence is unplanned and an alternate is not provided starting on the 2nd day, a NCR will be generated. If the contractor is absent for more than 2 days per quarter and the absence is unplanned and an alternate is not provided a NCR will be generated. In other words, there cannot be neither a break in services for more than one day per month nor a total break in service of more than 2 days per quarter.

Q6. The PWS does not refer or provide information on the current COVID-19 situation. The pandemic may affect the performance of duties of the contractor and the government must clarify how these situations will be resolved. Questions include but are not limited to:

Answer 6: Section 8 covers Contingency Operations which would include those pertaining to the current COVID pandemic.

Q6a. Will the government provide a computer and authorization for the contractor to work from home when necessary? If so, this should also apply to the “backfill”.

Answer 6a. The Government can provide a computer, preferably a laptop. Accountability is the responsibility of the Contractor.

Q6b. Local area tours are subject to German government restrictions and are currently unauthorized…can the contractor provide a “virtual” tour?

Answer 6b: Virtual tours are a possibility when local area tours are not allowed due to restrictions, however that time may be coordinated with the Program Manager to focus on scheduled time for other classes that talk about local area information, additional German Language classes potentially in different formats, Culture classes, cooking classes or any other cultural adaptation classes. Since this is time for performing services, we would like to be able to determine what may work as alternate services when unable to perform live tours.)

Q6c. If a contractor is under either quarantine due to being infected themselves or having been exposed to someone who is, will they be allowed to work from home?

Answer 6c. This would have to be a case-by-case situation based on the circumstances.

Blanket authority to work from home will not be given. There are several reasons why a contractor might have to quarantine to include personal choices they make on travel, etc.

Quarantine based on contractor’s personal choices (i.e. travel) is not a reason to allow telework.

When work from home is not authorized, a qualified backfill is required.