W56HZV-23-R-L005 Responses to Vendor Questions 2023-06-01.docx

Solicitation No: W56HZ-23-R-L005 CMH Design MATOC Responses to Questions – 01 June 2023

1. I am assuming that without additional information, attachments A001 through A0012 have been included as examples of future task orders and are for reference. If they are meant to be filled out, will additional information be supplied?

Do attachments Exhibit A CDRL A001 through A012 need to be returned with our proposal?

ANSWER: Offerors are not required to fill out or provide any of the CDRLS A001-A012 currently. This is the standard format for identifying potential data requirements in a solicitation and deliverable data requirements in a contract.

2. Section L.2.1.1 indicates that Volume 1, Past Performance Factor, has a 4-page limit (not including returned Performance Questionnaires and contract documents for the two past projects). If I understand correctly, there is no opportunity to present images of the two projects or to describe our other previous project experience or qualifications beyond the two recent projects required in the RFP. Do I have that correct? Can we provide supporting images of the two projects (that exceed the 4-page limit), or provide additional project experience as appendices at the end of Volume 1? I want to make certain I provide everything I can to support our proposal – but not get knocked out of the running by violating the 4-page instructions.

ANSWER: The page limit only applies to the requested written narrative of the Volume 1 required in L.4.1.3 (a) through (l). All the narrative sections combined are limited to 4 pages. PWS/SOW/Past Performance Questionnaires/Images shall be submitted as stand-alone attachments with no page limits and will not count toward the page limits for Volume 1. For the Past Performance Factor, provide information for up to 2 recent contracts performed by the offeror as the prime contractor that the offeror considers to have relevance.

3. Will each Task Order involve ALL of the discrete tasks listed in section C-1.3.1 to C-1.3.6, or will some Task Orders be limited in scope?

ANSWER: Some task orders will be limited and not include all the tasks listed in section C-1.3.1 to C-1.3.6. A Performance of Work Statement (PWS) will be provided with each Task Order Proposal Request(s).

4. Re C-1.5.8: Please confirm that the Contractor is not required to attend the Periodic Progress Meetings if not actively engaged in fulfillment of a Task Order.

ANSWER: The contractor will only be required to attend progress meetings if actively engaged in fulfillment of a Task Order.

5. Re C-4.1.3 Task Order Issuance and H.1.2: Please confirm that Contractors will have the opportunity to submit a Firm-Fixed Price proposal for Task Orders and will not be assigned Task Orders without the ability to review the required schedule and propose an appropriate Level of Effort and associated cost.

ANSWER: Yes. All Task orders will be competed on a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) basis among the contractors who are awarded Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Multiple Award Task Order Contracts (MATOC) as a result of this solicitation. Generally, offerors will be allowed one week to respond to a request for a Task Order proposal. The basis for award will be identified in the Task Order Proposal Request(s). See section H.1 Ordering For Multiple Awards of the solicitation for more details.

6. Re H.1.3(a): Please provide a projected average dollar value of anticipated Task Order Awards. For instance, will the majority of Task Order Awards be less than the $3,500 threshold, between $3,500 threshold and $50,000, or greater than $50,000 in value to Contractors.

ANSWER: The majority of Task Order awards are anticipated to be greater than $50,000 each.

7. Please confirm that all exhibit content, including research, text, FPO and high-resolution image files, and all other appropriate reference and content material, will be provided directly to the Contractor by UACMH/AME, and that no content development services of any kind are required as a part of the planned Task Orders.

Can you confirm that interpretive content will be provided by AME on all task orders under this IDIQ?

ANSWER: Yes, AME will provide interpretive content on all Task Orders under this contract.

8. Please describe the format of the content materials that will be proved to Contractors by USACMH/AME for each Task Order. For instance, will projects begin with fully developed storylines, artifact lists, image matrices and draft text, or will this material be developed by USACMH/AME over the course of the project as the design evolves?

ANSWER: The contractor who receives an award for a Task Order will receive an Exhibit Plan that includes photographs of all artifacts (and their dimensions), images of all graphics (sometimes low-res images in the initial Exhibit Plan document, but later, at a date mutually agreed on in the production schedule, hi-res ones for the designer’s final drawings package), and spreadsheets listing all reproduction clothing, accessories, and other items called for in mannequin or diorama displays, as well as draft text sufficient to determine the number and length of text plaques. The final text may be provided later for insertion at a date mutually agreed upon by AME and the design contractor at the design kickoff.

9. With regard to L.4.2.4.1 and Attachment 0002 Use of Existing Government-Furnished Property, please identify the specific type of GFP that USACMH/AME imagines being specifically relevant to the Contractor’s work and which should therefore be taken into account in our proposal.

Does Attachment 0002 - Use of Existing Government-Furnished Property need to be returned with our proposal?

ANSWER: Use of existing Government Furnished Property is not required. However, if it will be included in a contractor’s proposal, please provide the details listed in L.4.2.4.1 and IAW Attachment 0002.

10. Are you doing any site visits?

ANSWER: Site visits are not being conducted at this time. This solicitation is for IDIQ MATOCs for a broad range of museum exhibit design projects at multiple Army Museum Enterprise (AME) locations. Project details and locations will be identified in future Task Order Proposal Request(s).

11. Our team’s content expert can serve in many different capacities—independent research, content review, script editing, and other functions. How do you see this role playing out?

ANSWER: Most Task Orders will not involve use of the contractor’s content expert(s). In some task orders, limited use is envisioned, perhaps script writing and/or editing.

12. Is there a “core group” identified for key decision-making/review?

ANSWER: Per C-1.5.9, a Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) will be identified. The COR monitors all aspects of the contract and assists in contract administration. The COR is authorized to perform the following functions: assure that the contractor performs the technical requirements of the contract; perform inspections necessary in connection with contract performance; maintain written and oral communications with the contractor concerning technical aspects of the contract; issue written interpretations of technical requirements, including Government drawings, designs, specifications; monitors the Contractor's performance and notifies both the Contracting Officer and Contractor of any deficiencies; coordinate availability of government furnished property; and provide site entry of contractor personnel.

13. There is no mention of community/stakeholder meetings, mockup/testing, or evaluation. Can you confirm that these services will not be needed for the entirety of the IDIQ contract?

ANSWER: Stakeholders are involved in the development of the initial storyline and its refinement into an Exhibit Plan. These occur prior to award of a Task Order. After an award is made, contractor will attend an on-site design kickoff meeting within one month of the award and 1-2 other update meetings specified in the Task Order, in which they will brief stakeholders on design development.

14. There is no mention of fabrication and administration services. Can you confirm that these services will not be needed for the entirety of the IDIQ contract?

ANSWER: Fabrication and administration services will not be needed for this contract.

15. Do you know who on the architectural teams we should contact to discuss coordination?

ANSWER: If the exhibit being designed is for a new building, or a facility recently renovated, AME will provide a contact for that Task Order. If in doubt on a question, the AME Facility Manager can be contacted.

16. How much travel will be required?

ANSWER: There is an on-site design kickoff meeting within one month of each Task Order award, and 1-2 periodic review meetings.

17. Will content/design deliverable dates be detailed in the Task Order?

ANSWER: Deliverable dates will be detailed in Task Orders.

18. Are there any restrictions on using Dropbox to send us materials? We can set up a folder for you to add relevant resource information, research, etc.

ANSWER: The Government will send materials using DoD Safe, the Department of Defense’s vehicle for large file transfer. Dropbox is blocked on Government computers.

19. Will each Task Order have a set budgeted amount allocated for image acquisitions?

ANSWER: Image acquisition is undertaken by AME outside the contract, except possibly for some audio-visual programs requiring film rights.

20. Our firm uses Filemaker Pro to manage our content database. Is this an acceptable database to use for this project?

ANSWER: Yes, Filemaker Pro is acceptable.

21. RFP Part C.6, Page 18-19: As part of this proposal, do you require names, resumes, or any other information about the personnel we plan to use for these labor categories?

ANSWER: Names, resumes, and other information about personnel are not required.

22. We plan to return the following sections of document W56HZV23RL005 with our proposal (Volume 3-Administrative): SF 1449, Section A, Section K, and signed copies of any Amendments. Do you require the return of W56HZV23RL005 Sections B through J, or Sections L-M with our proposal?

ANSWER: Volume 3 – Administrative shall include a signed copy of the SF 1449 cover page, a copy of all completed fill-ins required by the solicitation in Section K, and a signed copy of all Amendments to the solicitation. Other sections are not required to be returned with the proposal.

23. Will exhibit design contractor be permitted to bid on the fabrication and installation of the exhibits in task orders?

ANSWER: This solicitation is for the design of AME museum exhibits. Separate IDIQ MATOCs exist for the fabrication and installation of exhibits. The recipient of a design award is NOT disqualified from competing for fabrication of that same exhibit under the separate Fabrication/Installation MATOC.

24. Do you anticipate multiple projects/task orders at the same time?

ANSWER: The period of performance for multiple Task Orders may overlap.