TES Industry Day One-on-one Q and A.pdf

Technical and Engineering Services (TES)

Industry Day One-on-one Q&A

As of 2/24/2022

General Questions

1. What are the major risk areas and/or execution challenges that the Government sees for this effort?

RESPONSE: The greatest risk area and execution challenge that the Government sees for this effort is talent acquisition. Obtaining and retaining qualified individuals with the necessary skills and experience will be critical to executing the work covered by the scope.

2. Is the Government considering a multiple award contract?

RESPONSE: As briefed during the Industry Day presentation, this will be a single award task order contract.

3. What is the projected allocation of support and hours needed for each of the three directorates that participated in the presentations for Industry Day?

RESPONSE: The Government anticipates that the allocation of support will be roughly 40% GVR, 25% SEC, and 25% VEA, with the remaining 10% for other. However, this is just a projection.

4. Will there be an opportunity for, or has the Government considered the possibility for, a distributed workforce going forward?

RESPONSE: It will depend on the Task Orders and projects, but a distributed workforce may be considered where the Task Orders or projects can accommodate such an arrangement.

5. What is driving the growth of this requirement and the exponential increase in hours relative to the existing contract?

RESPONSE: The exponential growth of this contract is due to an increase in work being directed to GVSC following the current realignment under Army Futures Command (AFC). There has been an increase in the number of Ground Combat and Tactical vehicle platforms sustained by GVSC. The Army has prioritized electrification and robotics modernization research.

6. What kind of remote work will be allowed by the contract?

RESPONSE: It will depend on the Task Orders and projects, but remote work may be considered where the Task Orders or projects can accommodate such an arrangement.

7. When will the Government provide the dates and nature of other industry engagements, to include the release of the draft RFP and associated comment period?

RESPONSE: The Government will continue to provide opportunities for industry engagement throughout the RFP development phase. Please monitor SAM.gov for any opportunities as they arise.

Industry is invited to send feedback to the TES mailbox at any time (usarmy.detroit.acc.mbx.technical-engineering-services-correspond@army.mil).

Requirements/Scope Questions

8. Will the three directorates that included presentation material as part of Industry Day be the exclusive focus of this effort, or will this effort include work from the other directorates and PEO/PM offices?

RESPONSE: The three directorates and their stakeholders will be the primary users. However, there may be a small amount of work from other directorates and PEO/PM offices.

9. Will the support required by the contract be more focused on on-site direct support or focused on workforce depth and reach-back capability?

RESPONSE: It will depend on the Task Orders and projects, but off-site support (workforce depth, reach-back, etc.) may be considered where the Task Orders or projects can accommodate such an arrangement.

10. Per the virtual tour link provided, will the PIF be used for prototype integration?

RESPONSE: It will depend on the Task Orders and projects. If the scope of the Task Order or project allows for its use, the Government may elect to utilize the PIF.

11. In relation to the requirement’s transition, will there be a gradual ramp up or will there be an expectation of full capacity for the entire requirement at the end of the transition phase? If there is a gradual ramp up, what kind of ramp up will be required and/or can be expected?

mailto:usarmy.detroit.acc.mbx.technical-engineering-services-correspond@army.mil mailto:usarmy.detroit.acc.mbx.technical-engineering-services-correspond@army.mil

RESPONSE: There will be a gradual ramp up of the requirement. There is no expectation to transition all of the work at once. A time phased chart demonstrating the anticipated number of FTEs that will be required during the first FY of the contract is being prepared and will be provided at a later time.

12. A previous RFI noted a transition plan, which was not briefed in the Industry Day charts. Has the requirement changed? If yes, how?

RESPONSE: The transition plan requirements are still in draft and may change in the final RFP. The Government will take all feedback regarding the transition of workforce into consideration.

13. Would the government consider a phased and coordinated transition proposal that ensures successful transition of the workforce in 90 days instead?

RESPONSE: The Government will take all feedback regarding the transition of workforce into consideration.

14. Will the scope require a contractor to perform pre-production design and maturation?

RESPONSE: It will depend on the Task Orders and projects.

15. For testing as described by the scope, will the test facilities be determined by the Government, by the contractor, or in partnership between the two?

16. Within the Software DevSecOps, are there training requirements? Will that be part of the contract as a whole or will it be brought on as part of a Task Order?

RESPONSE: Task Orders and projects will be focused on the work, which may include training(s).

17. In regards to Software Testing, will all projects be incorporated into DevSecOps or will there be projects that are not DevSecOps?

RESPONSE: It will depend on the Task Orders and projects. Not all projects automatically go to DevSecOps. New starts are encouraged to go that route, but existing projects might not.

Specific Section C Clarifications

Paragraph Relevant PWS Language Request C.3.8 The contractor shall perform the work under this contract at Detroit Arsenal, Warren, MI;

Selfridge Air National Guard Base (SANG), Harrison Twp., MI; Contractor Location; and other CONUS and OCONUS location as defined by the individual TIs.

Clarify: which OCONUS locations are likely?

RESPONSE: The OCONUS locations may include areas of operation or contingency environments, and will be determined by individual task orders/task order projects.

C.4.2.1 The contractor shall perform … cost modeling.

Clarify: cost modeling requirement Assumption: total cost to develop, produce, integrate, test, release, and train, maintain, operate, and support.

RESPONSE: The Government will provide a response at a later date.

C.4.2.3 The contractor shall develop models, simulations, operational vignettes, and use cases to analyze systems

Clarify: models Assumption: of the type and detail represented in standard DoDAF documents (e.g., CV, OV, SV), and not a mathematical model or simulation.

RESPONSE: The Government may need the DoDAF documents and mathematical models or simulations, as determined by individual task orders/task order projects.

C.4.8.1 The contractor shall develop test plans, test descriptions, software test code, and test reports for testing of manned and unmanned military ground vehicles and dismounted soldier systems. (CDRL A002)

Clarify: Which dismounted soldier systems are anticipated?

RESPONSE: This could include any dismounted soldier system utilized by the Army, and will be determined by individual task orders/task order projects.

C.4.9.2 The contractor shall perform technology upgrades into existing systems including modifying and debugging hardware and software required to maintain operation of manned or unmanned military ground vehicles and dismounted soldier systems.

Clarify: “existing systems”, and “maintain operation” Assumption: “Systems” includes development and test hardware and software, but not the vehicles and dismounted soldier systems themselves.

RESPONSE: It could mean either development and test hardware and software, or vehicles and dismounted soldier systems, depending on the task order/task order project.

C.4.10.1 The contractor shall … perform logistical activities; perform shipment and movement of vehicles; perform system operation

Clarify: perform Assumption: coordinate with other entities to accomplish

RESPONSE: The contractor will perform required duties as defined in the task order/task order project, which may require coordination with other entities and GVSC.

C.4.13.1 The contractor shall design, develop, integrate, test, and sustain Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) capabilities on ground combat systems.

Assumption: These activities are related to prototype and developmental C5ISR capabilities, and not tactical capabilities.

RESPONSE: The C5ISR may be related to prototype, developmental, and/or tactical capabilities. The contractor will perform required duties as defined in the task order/task order project, which may require coordination with other centers.

Contractor-Owned Facility Questions

18. What is the intent behind the contractor-owned, contractor-operated facility?

RESPONSE: The intent behind the contractor-owned facility is to accommodate anticipated mission requirements over the next several years. Space is at a premium at GVSC and GVSC anticipates the need for additional space to perform integration, fabrication, etc. The contractor-owned facility will provide the Government the opportunity to surge if necessary.

19. Will the Government be willing to sponsor the Facilities Clearance License for the facility?

RESPONSE: The Government will sponsor the FCL post award.

20. For the facility requirements (i.e. power requirements/exhaust requirements) will offerors be allowed some time to outfit the facility to these requirements after award?

RESPONSE: The Government will consider the requirements and make a determination of whether time can be permitted to outfit the facility properly after award

21. For the contractor-owned facility requirement, if the Government is going to allow a prime to subcontract the facility rather than require them to own the facility, with there be some sort of minimum threshold hours that primes will be allowed to charge?

RESPONSE: The Government is currently researching this matter. A response will be forthcoming.

22. Regarding the facility and the three primary directorates, what will be the distribution of projects between Government facilities and the contractor-owned facility?

23. Will the contractor-owned facility be directly reimbursable to the Government, i.e. will offerors be able to charge the government for the facility?

RESPONSE: The Government Furnished Pricing Model (GFPM) used to craft the proposal will incorporate the use of the facility as a component of the Indirect Rates.

24. Will a site visit of the contractor-owned facility be part of the evaluation criteria or performed as part of the proposal evaluation?

RESPONSE: No, the Government will not perform site visits. Offerors will be required to provide evidence of their ability to provide and/or obtain the facility at the time of proposal. Failure to provide this evidence may result in the Government not evaluating the offeror’s proposal.

25. In reference to the facility requirement in section H.10, how does the government anticipate industry recouping cost for facilities carried by industry through the bid and evaluation phase, and to include a potential protest period?

RESPONSE: It is the responsibility of the contractor to determine how it will recoup facility costs.

26. In reference to requirement H.10, would the government consider stating the requirement in functional terms allowing industry the opportunity to provide innovative solutions to fulfilling the requirement?

RESPONSE: The Government has an enduring need for specific space requirements to facilitate the Ground Vehicle Systems Center mission. Similar facility space requirements have been included as part of the TES requirement throughout its procurement history. The Government anticipates this requirement will continue throughout the PoP of this anticipated contract.

Contract Structure

27. Considering the Cost plus Fixed Fee model of the contract, will it be a pool of hours with a fee-per-hour basis or will it be an overall fixed fee for the contract? Will the Task Orders be Term (Level-of- Effort), Completion, or a combination of the two?

RESPONSE: It is anticipated that the overall contract will consist of a pool of hours, with the fixed fee provided on a per-hour basis. Individual Task Orders and projects will be a mix of term and completion efforts. Completion efforts will be used in cases where the Task Order or project envisions a completed product.

28. Would the awardee be prohibited from any follow-on production efforts?

RESPONSE: Offerors should familiarize themselves with FAR 9.505 (Organizational and Consultant Conflicts of Interest), DFARS 252.209.5 (Organizational and Consultant Conflicts of Interest), and DFARS 252.209.571 (Organizational conflicts of interest in major defense acquisition programs) in order to understand what might prohibit them from participating in follow-on production efforts.