RFP_Questions_&_Answers_(W56JSR170005)_5_June_2017.pdf

RFP Questions (W56JSR-17-0005) Platform Mission Equipment Software Branch (PMESB) 5 June 2017

Question Number

Section Reference

Question Answer

In the Solicitation, Section L.15, Volume III, Section 2.d

States that letters of commitment are required for key personnel not currently employed.

However, no Key Personnel are defined.

Question: Are Critical and Key personnel considered the same?

Answer: Yes, they are the same.

Solicitation, Section 3.1.6, Personnel Qualifications

Defines critical and non-critical personnel.

Question: If so, are resumes required for key personnel? If so, are they excluded from page limitations?

Answer: No, resumes are not required in responses to the solicitation, but for surveillance, the contractor’s personnel resumes are subject to verification by the COR during contract performance.

Solicitation, PWS Section 3.1.6, Personnel Qualifications

There is no Program Manager (PM) position listed. The PWS states that the contractor is to provide Contract Management in paragraph 3.2.1

Question: In light of the desire to have a single point of contact between the contractor and the COR, and the size of this procurement, will the Government add the labor category of Senior PM and designate this as a critical position under CLIN 0004?

Answer: No, the Government does not desire to include this position.

Section Reference

Question Answer

RFP, Section L, VOLUME I

TECHNICAL

PROPOSAL,

Key Point 1 Domain Knowledge

“For more information on data rights, see PWS Appendix F Data Rights.” However, no Appendix F is provided.

Question: Will Appendix F be provided?

Answer: The reference to appendix “F” is mistake and shall be removed. Data rights information is identified in contract clause section “I,” 252.227-7013, 252.227-7014, 252.227- 7030, 252.227-7037.

33 General

It is our understanding that the Government does not want Section B of the solicitation filled out.

Question: Is our understanding correct?

Answer: Yes this is correct. The prices and cost ceilings proposed in the cost workbook will be incorporated into section B of the contract.

34 General

Question: Does the Government want Offerors to complete Section B of Task Order 0001, or will Attachment 12 be sufficient since it has the identical information?

Answer: Offeror’s should not compete section B, attachment 12 will suffice.

Section Reference

Question Answer

Section B of the Solicitation

Defines Units as 40 hours of level of effort.

Attachment 12 – Cost Element Workbook, Tab Labor – Cost Detail provides the Productive Hours for each labor category which we understand to be the Units for the Sample Task. PWS 3.2 Performance states: “Level of Effort: The Government anticipates a total level of effort (LOE) of 69,120 hours for this task order (0001)

CLIN 0011 requires offerors to extend the Units to at least 3 decimal levels to produce the 19,200 hours needed.

Question: Are offerors expected to use the extended Units or will the Government adjust the Productive Hours rounded to exclude any extensions so that the Productive Hours for the Software Developers equals 40?

CLIN 0012, when using the Productive Hours to calculate the hours by labor category do not produce the required number of hours (21,160) for the Software Engineers. Using the given Productive Hours to calculate the hours by CLIN is short by 237.2 hours in total primarily due to the

Answer: The IDIQ Section “B” CLIN structure encompasses labor pools. The labor pools are a combination of related services packaged and ordered as required at the task order level. Consequently, each pool’s unit of measure equals 40 hours of labor per one unit (1 EA = 40 hrs.). The Government did not provide a sample task, task order 0001 is a bona fide requirement placed upon the IDIQ contract award.

Task Order 0001 section “B” identifies the first need expressed as units of measure outlined within IDIQ section “B” pricing methodology. For example, task order 0001 CLIN

Section Reference

Question Answer

Software Engineer (Senior/Lead) having exactly 16 Productive hours unlike the 16.47059 for the Software Developer (Senior/Lead). As a result of this shortfall in hours, the dollar amounts in the Section B tabs are understated.

Question: Does the Government want Offerors to bid the Productive Hours as stated? Are Offerors expected to make the adjustment; or, will the Government issue a corrected Attachment 12?

0012 quantity equals 504 units. Thus 504 multiplied by 40 equals an anticipated level of effort of 20,160.

Answer: In accordance with Note 2 of the instructions for attachment 0012, “Cost Element Workbook”, Offerors are not to modify the hours under Column. The workbook will automatically generate the pool totals for both the “Section B” and “Task Order 0001 Section B” Tab.

Section I contains clauses

52.222-41 Service Contract Labor Standards May/2014

52.222-43 Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Labor Standards--Price May/2014 Adjustment (Multiple Year And Option Contracts)

52.222-44 Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Labor Standards--Price May/2014

It is our assessment that none of the labor categories in the Solicitation are considered non-exempt employees.

Section Reference

Question Answer

Question: Will the Government delete these clauses as all labor categories are exempt employees?

Answer: No

Section I Clauses

Section I does not include the referenced FAR Clause 52.222-62, which is applicable to all contracts awarded after 1 January 2017

Question: Will the government incorporate this clause into the solicitation?

Answer: Yes the Government shall include contract clause

52.222-62 IAW FAR 22.2110

Attachment 0012 Cost Element

Workbook “Sample

Fringe-OH Worksheet’ and “Sample G&A

Worksheet

Question: Are offerors to complete these tabs inside the spreadsheet or can this information be provided in a separate file?

Answer: Offerors shall complete tabs inside the workbook and submit the information as one file.

Section Reference

Question Answer

39 CLIN Structure

There is a concern that some CLINs include several skill levels for labor categories (entry, intermediate, journeyman, and senior). Since the staffing mix may vary over the term of the contract, in the event this shift requires higher cost individuals, capping the CLIN amounts would either cause the contractor to lose money or require a modification reflecting the change in scope of support. Since this is a CPFF contract, the unit cost of these CLINs must reflect the cost as incurred.

Questions: Will the Government establish a separate CLIN for each of the skill levels; or, remove the capping of the unit costs in order to avoid potential modifications to the resultant Task Orders?

Answer: The Government has anticipated the risk of such occurrence but shall not identify separate CLINs nor remove the capping at this time.

Section Reference

Question Answer

Task Order CLINs 0014, 1014 & 2014 Travel & Other Direct Cost Option Period 2 states: “IAW TO 0001 PWS Section 3.1.5” - there is no paragraph

3.1.5 in the PWS.

Question: Will the Government provide paragraph 3.1.5?

Answer: The noted CLINS should say “IAW IDIQ Base PWS Section 3.1.5.”

Task Order CLIN 0015 Transition-in Plan states:

“IAW TO 0001 PWS Section 3.1.4” - there is no paragraph 3.1.4 in the PWS.

Question: Will the Government provide paragraph 3.1.4?

Answer: This CLIN should say IAW the IDIQ Base PWS section 3.1.4.

Section 2, the first

IMPORTANT

NOTE states

Section B identifies Contract Item Numbers (CLINs) for each of the Supplies and Services, such as Budget Support, Electronics Support, etc., however there are no corresponding descriptions in the ID/IQ or Task Order 0001 PWS Section 3.0 for these services. After our review, the only CLINs that are addressed are 3.2.1 Contract Management (CLIN 0004), 3.2.2. System(s) Engineer Support (CLIN 0009), and 3.2.3 Software Engineer Support (CLIN 0010). The balance are missing.

Section Reference

Question Answer

Question: Can the Government please provide the support requirements for the missing services as this will ensure the staffing and associated CLIN caps are realistic and reasonable.

Answer: Each CLIN represents a general type of support, which may require services from more than one labor category. The general descriptions are located throughout the IDIQ PWS section 3.1.6.

Section 2, the first IMPORTANT NOTE states “Proposed unit costs are binding for the successful offeror and will represent the maximum per unit cost ceiling and fee amount throughout the ordering period Years 1-5 of the resultant contract.”

Question: Since this is a CPFF contract what is the rationale for the Government to cap the unit costs?

Question: Wouldn’t a Time and Material (T&M) contract be more appropriate and in line with this stated intent?

Capping the Unit costs for years 2 through 5 under a CPFF contract is not consistent with the Cost type contracts as DCAA will be determining final indirect rates for billing purposes on an annual basis.

Answer: The Government considered all contract types and selected the FFP, CPFF, and cost arrangement as the appropriate type for the contract. The per unit cost ceiling amounts are associated with the base IDIQ section “B” pricing methodology only. The total estimated hours that may be ordered by the Government are indefinite. The Government desires to expedite the award of future orders, thus is requesting a pricing method conducive to doing so.

Section

Question: Will the Government at least uncap the out year unit prices to keep some semblance of a CPFF contract?

Answer: No, the Government does not desire to remove the ceiling amount.

Section 2, after second

IMPORTANT

NOTE

The offeror shall ensure that the information submitted in this volume is consistent with and fully supports the amounts outlined in the SF33 and continuation sheets.” There are no amounts provided in the sheets following the SF33.

Question: There are no amounts provided in the sheets following the SF33. What amounts are the Government referring to?

“m. For proposal preparation purposes, the expected or approximate date for initiation of contract performance is 06 November 2017, commencing with a 60 day transition phase- in period.” In Section 1, paragraph 1. The start date for Task Order 0001 is 07 December 2017.

Question: The start date for Task Order 0001 is 07 December 2017. Which date is correct?

Answer: The SF 33 sheet is page 1 of the solicitation. Every additional page, i.e. 2 through 101, are considered a continuation sheets. Additionally, all attachments located in section "J" of the solicitation, (other than those noted for removal upon contract award), shall be incorporated into the contract. Consequently, section "J" attachments 0011 and 0012 are reserved for proposals and cost element workbooks, thus shall become part of the contract upon award.

Answer: It is the Government’s intent to provide Offerors with an estimated period of performance for proposal purposes. These dates are estimates only. The 60 day

Section Reference

Question Answer

The period of performance and pricing for Task Order 0001 is for twelve (12) months and the Phase-In period is for sixty (60) days within that same twelve month period. The pricing of Task Order 0001 is, using the Unit base of 40 hours and the Productive Hours in the “Labor – Cost Detail” tab calculates the productive hours to be 1,920 for a Full Time Equivalent.

Question: If the contract / Task Order start dates and the Phase-In both cover the first sixty days, isn’t the inclusion of a price for the Phase-In period double counting the costs?

transition period is estimated to start 6 October 2017, with the transition period completed and the contractor at full performance by the estimated start of 07 December 2017, the 60 day.

In response of this question the Government shall separate the transition-in period (CLIN 0015) from the rest requirements.

The Government shall issue two task orders concurrently with the IDIQ Base contract award. Task order 0001 shall include the transition-in requirement only (CLIN 0015), and task order 0002 shall include all other requirements, CLINs 0001 through 0014, including options.

Answer: No, the Government recognizes tasks associated with the Phase-in period are different than tasks associated with contract performance.

Section Reference

Question Answer

Question: How is the contractor to invoice the Government for the first sixty days?

Question: Will the Government only reimburse the contractor for the first sixty days under FFP CLIN 0015 for the Phase-In period, or will costs under the other CLINs be allowed?

Answer: The contractor shall invoice IAW 252.232-7006 Wide Area Workflow Payment Instructions. Consequently, the incoming contractor shall not be responsible for requirement tasks during the 60-day Phase-in period, IAW 3.1.4 of the IDIQ PWS. Whereas it’s stated, “during the Phase-in Period, the incoming contractor is not responsible for completion of task order requirements.”

Instructions in the solicitation Attachment

“Please enter the requested data in the light blue shaded areas in the Labor-Cost Detail spreadsheets and in the Supporting Labor Detail spreadsheets.”

There is no tab for the “Supporting Labor Details”

Question: will the Government be providing an amended spreadsheet with this tab or are Offerors to insert this tab to provide the needed information?

Answer: No the Government will not be providing an amended spreadsheet. The information should be included in the labor –cost detail spreadsheets and in the supporting indirect rates (Fringe-OH, G&A etc.) Spreadsheets.

Section

Solicitation, Volume Section 3, Subcontracts

“This section will further include written consent of major subcontractors to allow the disclosure of their subcontractors past performance information to the Offeror. Also, letters of commitment shall be included for all major subcontractors.”

Question: Will the Gov’t allow these subcontractor written consent and commitment letters to be excluded from page count?

Answer: Yes

VOLUME III

COST/PRICE

PROPOSAL,

Section 1 Phase-In, m.

For proposal preparation purposes, the expected or approximate date for initiation of contract performance is 06 November 2017, commencing with a 60 day transition phase- in period.”

However, the answer to Question 27 on the Q&As released on 25 May states “The Phase-in period is estimated (emphasis added) to start 07 DEC 2017 with a 60 day phase-in period there forward. For example, if the contract effective date is 07 DEC

Section Reference

Question Answer

2017 the phase-in period would start 07 December 2017 and end 05 February 2018.”

Question: What are the correct dates for the start and end of the phase-in period?

Answer: Refer to answer 43.

CLIN numbers do not match in “Section B” tab and “Task Order 0001 Section B” Tab for period 2 and onwards. While “task Order 0001 Section B” tab looks correct, We believe period 2 CLINs on “Section B” tab should start from 1001 to 1014 instead of 2001 to 2014. Same thing applies for period 3, 4, & 5 as well. Similar issue with CLINS for Section B, Page 17-41 of RFP.

Question: Why don’t the CLIN numbers match?

Answer: The CLIN structure identified in Section B of the base IDIQ and Task Order 0001 are correct as noted and released by design. The IDIQ CLIN structure signifies a five-year ordering periods. Consequently, order period 2 starts with 2001. Conversely, task order 0001's CLIN structure signifies one base period and two options.

Section

The CLIN designs are a means of providing a comprehensible notation that identifies the difference between an “ordering period” and “option.”

48 Task Oder

CLIN 0016

Is for CDRL while CLIN 0016 on page 9 of RFP, Section B is for Manpower reporting & CLIN 0017 is for CDRL.

Question: Can the Government please clarify?

Answer: The base IDIQ B structure includes an additional CLIN entitled 0015 “Accounting for Contractor Services” which applies to every task order, (as noted in the CLIN), thus repeating in each task order is not required. Consequently, task order 0001’s CLIN number scheme is in sequence.

Section Reference

Question Answer

Question: Does period 1 start after the 60 day Phase-in period, or does both occur in parallel?

Answer: The five year ordering period for the base IDIQ will commence at contract award. The 60 day Phase-in period relates to task order 0001, and is captured as the first 60 day period. However, the 60 day Phase-in period is part of task order 0001's 12 month base period of performance.

Question: Does the Letter of Consent to release subcontractor past performance information and the Letter of Commitment required on Page 93 count against Volume 2 page limits?

Answer: Refer to answer 45

51 Section L Section 3

Requires an outline of how the effort required by the RFP will be assigned for performance including all subcontractors. It sets a limit at 10% of the total proposed cost/price for subcontractors.

Question: Did you mean 20% - a major subcontractor?

Section Reference

Question Answer

Section L and Page 98, Section M.

Relevant contracts and contract relevance are defined in two ways. Section L states “Relevant contracts are those that demonstrate management, cost, and technical experience with system/software engineering support to MIL-STD- 1553, aviation navigation, communications, ground support avionics, tactical Air Traffic Control, and Command and Control systems.”

Section M states “Relevance is defined as those contracts, (whether performed as a prime or as a major subcontractor), software and system engineering, manufacturing, or developmental support services related to aviation systems, ground support avionics, tactical air traffic control, position/navigation/terrain systems, and command and control systems.”

Question: Can you clarify to which requirement the effort will be evaluated?

Answer: Proposals shall be evaluated IAW section “M” entitled Basis of award.

Section Reference

Question Answer

Task Order 0001 Section B

The table lists Units/Hours for each CLIN but gives no guidance for the particular LCATs for the following CLINS: 0006, 0011, and 0012.

Question: Will the government be guidance on the labor mixture?

Answer: The Government has not made any LCAT references. CLINs 0006, 0011, and 0012 are IAW PWS sections 3.0 through 3.2 including all subsections.

Consequently, all CLINS are category pools required to provide services associated with performance-based tasks.

54 Section L Volume

This volume shall contain only past performance information regarding relevant contracts. This Volume shall not exceed 15 pages, excluding Past Performance Questionnaire Forms. Offerors shall provide information on previous United States Government Agency contracts that are relevant to the effort required by this solicitation, to include major subcontractors defined as any subcontractor that is performing integration work or any subcontractor that is performing more than 20% of the total contract value.

The statement says that "Offerors shall provide information on previous United States Government Agency contracts"

Section Reference

Question Answer

Question: Can commercial past performance be submitted in Volume II?

Answer: No

3.1.4 Phase-In

and Phase- Out

Transition Plan is in Section C, Section L has it in Volume III Cost/Price Proposal, page 93, & not at all in Section M.

Question: Will this be evaluated within Volume III Cost/Price proposal standards?

RFP 3.1.4

Phase- In/Phase Out

The Phase-in and Phase-out are part of the cost proposal and are referenced in the RFP 3.0 requirement; however, it is not addressed in Sections L and M.

Question: Should Offerors address Phase-in in the Technical Volume? If so, where should the Phase-in content be located inside the Technical Volume?

Answer: No Offerors should not address the Phase-in and Phase-out in their technical volume, rather Offerors shall adhere to the terms and conditions noted in IDIQ PWS section 3.1.4.

Section Reference

Question Answer

Section L, Volume II Past Performance

Requirement: Section L states, "Offerors shall provide information on previous United States Government Agency contracts that are relevant to the effort required by this solicitation, to include major subcontractors defined as any subcontractor that is performing integration work or any subcontractor that is performing more than 20% of the total contract value."

Question: The term “integration” is generically used in software engineering domain for many types of activities. So, is the Government intending to allow offers to use past performance of any of their subcontractors who are proposed to be performing a small amount of “integration” work (say 5%) for PMESB System and Software Contract Task Order 0001?

Question: Also, can the Government Clarify as to the rationale for equivalency amongst “integration work” and “any subcontractor that is performing more than 20% of the total contract value”?

Answer: The Government in this instance finds “intergration work” of such critical importance to warrant this type of work relevant to the effort required by this solicitation. As so, the Government desires to attain related past performance information on previous United States Government Agency contracts.

Section Reference

Question Answer

Question: Is there a particular definition/scope being implied / attributed to “integration work”?

Answer: Integration is the means of piecing together elements to develop a cohesive whole.

RFP

Attachment 12 Section B Tab

The Cost Element Workbook (A01 – Attachment 12), Section B tab, Unit Price cell is not linked to the Cost + Fee cell for each of the CLIN pricing elements (e.g. CLIN 0001, Cell E6 should equal Cell F9).

Question: Should these be the same and thus linked?

Please confirm since no edits are to be made to the Section B tab by offerors per instructions.

Answer: No, the Government needs to identify the separation of all cost elements to evaluate cost and build a contract within the Procurement Automated and Document System (PADDS).

PWS 3.1.4

Phase-In and Phase-Out

During the Phase-In period there is a 60 day overlap with the start of Task Order 0001 both estimated to start on 07 DEC 2017 per Q&A question #27 dated 25 MAY 2017.

Section Reference

Question Answer

Question: Will the incumbent (outgoing) contractor be required to bid FFP pricing for the Phase-In period since they will be required to be on contract during this time to transition work to the incoming contractor? This appears to give the incumbent contractor an advantage over other bidders, since the overall cost to the Government might be reduced by re-hiring the incumbent.

Answer: Yes, the incumbent shall provide a Firm Fixed Price for the Phase-in period. Additionally, the Government recognizes the inherent advantages an incumbent contractor has when bidding on future contracts, however, in this instance the cost/price evaluation factor is the least important evaluation factor.