W564KV-23-R-0003 Attachment 02 RFP Questions and Answers.pdf

Tri-Services RFP W564KV-23-R-0003 Questions and Responses – Question period ending COB 23 February 2023

1. Re: FAR 52.212-1, Submission of Offers, para 2, (d), (2), (b) “The identified page limits do not include, and the Government will not count: manpower charts, table of contents, cover pages, glossary for abbreviations, section dividers, resumes, and indices.”

Question: Will degree program brochures and University catalogs be included in the page limits? In other words, can we include such documents in the proposal as attachments and not as part of the 25-page limit narrative?

Response: Degree program brochures and University catalogs would be included in the 25-page narrative limits if they are submitted. They will not be excluded from the page limits.

2. Re: PWS 1.6.6 “Utilization of Electronic Mail – Contractor employees shall use their official military email address when corresponding with the Government representatives.”

Question: Can a statement be included in this paragraph stating that the government will offer technical support for contractor personnel to be able to access the military E-mail system?

Response: No changes will be made to the PWS in response to this question. Refer also to PWS 1.6.3.2 for information on Common Access Cards and Trusted Agents.

3. Re: Organizational Logistical Support PWS 1.20.2

Question: Will mail privileges be free of charge?

Response: Mail privileges will be In accordance with current regulations and United States European Command (USEUCOM) policies, including the most recent version of USEUCOM guide 8710.05, which currently authorizes only correspondence and textbooks between Educational Institution (EI) branches and USEUCOM personnel to be shipped free, and are subject to change. You may coordinate with the COR to consider occasional Exceptions to Policy.

4. Re: PWS 1.5.1.2 Annual Review

Question: Are the In-Process Reviews (IPRs) intended to be mid-academic year (February) to check on the Contractor’s progress or end of academic year (August) to review the previous academic year’s accomplishments, any concerns, and review key data?

Response: The IPRs will be held after the conclusion of each academic year, August/ September, to review the previous academic year’s accomplishments, review key data, and to address any concerns that were not addressed during the previous academic year.

5. Re: PWS 1.6.6 Utilizing Electronic Mail

Question: Will the government consider removing the requirement to use Army.Mil email for all correspondence with the government (adjusting for PII, sensitive, and contract-required reporting). Is the expectation that not only Contractor leadership but also all Field Representatives adhere to this requirement? As an EI, non-Government computers are utilized, and experience with this shows it is difficult or not feasible to access the Army.mil during travel, for Field Representatives (without CACs), if/when the military mail system goes offline, and in several other circumstances. Contracted EIs have been having regular and ongoing issues with the .mil system. This requirement will be a hindrance to timely and effective communications with the government.

Response: No changes will be made to the PWS in response to this question. All correspondence with PII or CUI information must be encrypted. During the Army’s change from mail.mil to army.mil last year we experienced difficulties utilizing other means of sending encrypted messages. This requirement continues to apply.

6. Re: PWS 1.9 Government Personnel

Question: Will the government provide on-site Navy POCs/representatives the EIs can work with at sites that primarily serves Navy students?

Response: There is no indication that the Navy will provide Government representatives to work at Navy sites. Navy command at each site supports the education center with facilities and utilities and all contractors have an assigned government Trusted Agent.

7. Re: PWS 1.14 Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI)

Question: What is meant by an OCI Mitigation Plan? Can the government provide any examples of their concerns and/or clarify this in the PWS?

Response: The FAR 2.101 definition is “Organizational conflict of interest means that because of other activities or relationships with other persons, a person is unable or potentially unable to render impartial assistance or advice to the Government, or the person’s objectivity in performing the contract work is or might be otherwise impaired, or a person has an unfair competitive advantage.” An OCI Mitigation Plan is the way an organization intends to ensure its impartiality in such a situation. This is more likely to occur in contracts involving, as stated in FAR 9.502, (1) Management support services; (2) Consultant or other professional services;

(3) Contractor performance of or assistance in technical evaluations; or (4) Systems engineering and technical direction work performed by a contractor that does not have overall contractual responsibility for development or production. FAR 9.508 lists examples of

OCI.

PWS 1.14 informs the offeror that, should such a situation develop, the plan would be subject to KO review and determination.

8. Re: Attachment 2 Service Locations

Question: Must the contractor submit the proposal to service all 43 locations listed in Attachment 2? Or can the contractor submit the proposal for a selection of the locations listed?

Response: The Contractor submits the proposal to offer degree programs in the European Command as a whole. Location of each program will be determined by the size of the military community, historical data, and current and future needs assessments. The Education Services Officers will then determine which educational programs should be offered in each location.

The purpose of the needs assessment is to either confirm or refine current offerings in each location. PWS Section 1.5.5 has been revised to reflect this intent.

9. Re: 52.217-9(c)

Question a: According to 52.217-9(c), the contract is not to exceed 60 months (+4 months for phase in process. Will the contractor be authorized to re-bid for future contracts to then potentially extend its contract?

Response: The term of this contract is limited to the time listed. Requirements for future contracts have not yet been determined. In the event future contracts are required, all policies and procedures to enable competition in contracting will be followed. There is no extension to this contract planned, but see the response to Question b, below.

Question b: Are add on options available to extend the contract?

Response: No add on options to extend the contract are available. This solicitation does include FAR 52.217-8 which allows for a total extension of performance for a period not to exceed 6 months, at the Contracting Officer’s discretion.

10. Re: Classrooms

Question: How many classrooms will be available to the contractor at each location?

Response: Refer to PWS 3.2.2. The size of Education Center facilities varies by location but, generally speaking, there is no shortage of classrooms. Each Education Services Officer is responsible for ensuring that classrooms are available in his/her location.

11. Re: Science Labs

Question: Are science labs available for use, and if so, at which locations?

Response: Refer to PWS 3.2.2. Science labs are available in some locations, generally larger installations, such as Ramstein Air Base (Germany), Spangdahlem Air Base (Germany) and Aviano (Italy) have science labs available.

12. Re: Course offerings

Question a: Will courses be limited/controlled based upon competing competitor course offerings? For example, if an associate degree school is one of the selected contractors, will they be they only school who can offer general education courses?

Response: DoDI 1322.25 Para 2. GUIDELINES FOR ESTABLISHING, MAINTAINING, AND OPERATING VOLUNTARY EDUCATION PROGRAMS, Section a. (5) specifies that duplication of course offerings on a DoD installation should be avoided. However, the availability of similar courses through correspondence or electronic delivery will not be considered duplication. In the example question above, the contractor who is selected for the Lower and Upper Level Liberal Arts / Science College Programs as listed in Attachment 1 is the only contractor who can offer general education courses.

Question b: Will the current primary contractor, UMGC, continue its current support to the service locations?

Response: This will be a new contract and any current contractors who are interested in being selected must submit a proposal for evaluation for possible award. UMGC’s current contract ends 31 July 2023. If and when UMGC is awarded a new contract, they may or may not continue to support current locations depending on the awarded degree programs.

Question c: Will all 5 contractors be offering the same listed degree programs in the RFP?

Response: Please see RFP Section 52.212-1(b)2.h.

Question d: Are contractors required to provide all listed degree programs? If one program is not currently offered, does that make the school ineligible for award?

Response: In accordance with RFP Section 52.212-1(b)2.h, offerors may propose on any or all of the lots.

13. Re: Commercial Internet

Question: Where is commercial internet not available in relation to the listed service locations?

Is this data available?

Response: Commercial Internet is available in all listed locations.

14. Re: Phase-In period

Question: Is the phase-in period only authorized from May 12 to July 31, 2023: Is this the total time for the phase-in period or is it 4 months?

Response: As listed in the RFP Delivery Information section, CLIN 0013; the Period of Performance for the phase-in is 12-May-2023 to 31-Jul-2023.

15. Re: Period of performance Start

Question a: Is the contract expected to begin on ground courses beginning at all service locations?

Response: The contract is expected to begin with each contracted school offering college classes in an on-site, hybrid, and/or online formats, in any combination of these formats, at all service locations in accordance with PWS 5.2.3 and 5.2.4.

Question b: Is there a list of prioritized locations to phase-in ground courses?

Response: There is no list of prioritized locations to phase-in face-to-face courses.