Questions and Answers.pdf

Q1: Does the contractor provide all the dogs? Does the contractor provide kenneling? Does the contractor provide transport for the dogs? Does the contractor provide transportation for the trainees? Does the contractor provide life support for the trainees?

A1: The dogs are already trained in mine detection, in place, and will not be provided by the contractor. Kenneling and transportation does not need to be provided by the contractor for either the dogs or trainees. Contractor will be responsible for their own transportation, and kenneling of any of their own K-9s they bring for training.

Q2: Will the contractor receive briefing information and material on the location, condition and previous activities at these sites?

A2: Contractors will receive all information the Peshmerga MDD team receives in advance of clearing a field.

Q3: Will the Government provide a specific POC to the contractor?

A3: Yes.

Q4: Is there a specific nationality required for this contract?

A4: No.

Q5: Will the Government provide space for the contractor to use for classroom and training?

A5: The Peshmerga will provide a training space at their warehouse.

Q6: Please confirm the Contractor will not be lodged at the camp and will need to obtain living quarters outside the compound.

A6: Confirmed. Contractor will be responsible for their own lodging, life support, and transportation.

Q7: Will the Contractor be responsible for the procurement of vehicles for personnel travel at the contract location? Is there a requirement for soft skin or B6?

A7: Yes. No set requirement for your vehicles. There are multiple vendors in the local area that offer leased vehicles of both types.

Q7: Please provide instructions on how offerors should structure proposals. (i.e. how many references of Past Performance?, Volume structure for submission, Pricing template).

A7: For pricing, at a minimum fill out the CLIN structure outlined in the solicitation. For past performance, contractors may submit relevant information such as previous Government contracts for a similar service, relevant performance conducted in the CENTCOM/AFRICOM AOR, resumes of instructors, or anything else to showcase the contractor’s ability to excel in the performance of this requirement. No specific format is required, however, please keep the information concise, simplified and relevant to this requirement.

Q8: What is the location of the deployment center for this contract? The contractor needs to know to compute air fares.

A8: The contractor will not be processing through a deployment center. Contractor will need to coordinate travel and handle their own country clearance documentation.

Q9: Page 38, Paragraph 5.2: The instructions reference topics of instruction to include vehicles and trucks, buildings and warehouses, cargo and luggage". The PWS (Page 30), paragraph 1.4 also references explosives concealed in buildings, vehicles and luggage. These topics and objects of K9 search typically are specific to Explosive Detection Dogs (EDDs… could you please clarify the EDD-specific instructions?

A9: Will be revised in next PWS. This requirement is for MDD work only, EDD training is not expected.

Q10: Can you clarify on performance during Peshmerga holidays?

A10: If the Peshmerga are not available for training or work because of a holiday, the contractor is not expected to work as trainers or supervisors without them. The contractor need only to maintain any necessary Government correspondence, continue to submit weekly reports, and other administrative matters as needed.

Q11: Page 44, Technical Exhibit 2 states that the Contractor must email on a daily basis the CO and COR the list of personnel working on the site. Elsewhere it says that the Contractor will send weekly reports to the COR. First, does "personnel working on the site" refer to CJTF-funded contractor personnel (MDD trainer + field supervisor), Peshmerga trainees, or both? Second, would you consider allowing the Contractor to provide daily attendance data but submit the report on a weekly vice daily basis?

A11: Personnel working on site includes all contractor employees and Peshmerga trainees. Also, yes, PWS will be revised to weekly reports.

Q12: The Period of Performance listed on page 6 is December 2, 2019 - July 3, 2020. However, two of the six months (January and February) allocated for field supervision may be unsuitable for landmine clearance operations. Could you please clarify if you are open to an amended POP, different from what is listed in the solicitation?

A12: Period of Performance will be amended. Contract award is still likely to be awarded in December however, it’s uncertain if that will be on the 2nd. Also, a mobilization period will be included. Between that and the 3-week refresher course, it’s unlikely much work in the live fields will be needed in those months.

Q13: Do the MDDs Handlers have a level 3 understanding of the English language or will the Contractor be required to obtain interpreters?

A13: The contractor will need to provide a translator who can speak the local language of the Peshmerga.

Q14: Please confirm the physical location of “K-9 HQ inside the M4 Compound (Erbil, Iraq)”?

A14: The Peshmerga M4 Warehouse is located at “address/grid coordinates whatever. 8 digit grid is more than sufficient as that’s 100m^2”

Q15: Please confirm the six (6) month of field supervision is not included in the MDD handlers course and Certification period, yet, an addition to the required training evolutions for certification.

A15: 6 months field supervision is in addition to the refresher course. Handlers are already certified IAW IMAS standards. Trainer and Supervisor will need to be trained throughout the supervisory period.

Q16: Is the Supervisor to be trained a current & certified MDD Handler?

A16: Yes.

Q17: Page 44, Technical Exhibit 1: PRS 1 is listed as train and supervise six EDD handlers IOT reach their FOC. As the solicitation and CLINs discuss refresher training and field supervision for MDD handlers, could you please clarify PRS 1?

A17: PWS has been amended. The handlers have received initial training and are certified IAW IMAS standards. However, they have not yet conducted any live demining. For this phase, supervision is required.

Q18: Is the Trainer to be trained a current & certified MDD Handler?

A18: Yes.

Q19: Please confirm the type of training aids (pseudo or live) required to satisfy the certification requirement.

A19: There are no specific training aids required, just whatever aids are needed to conduct training.

Q20: Has any training been conducted with the MDD's since the termination of the original sessions in 2016? What is the operational disposition of the MDDs?

A20: Training of these handlers was last conducted through contract W56KGZ17P6086 for several months during the fall and winter of calendar year 2018. The MDD teams were certified in accordance with IMAS standards by IKMAA in November of 2018. Since that point, they have continued to train on their own in different mock scenarios, but have conducted no live mine demining.

Q21: Is there a specific certification course required?

A21: No specific course, but training must be IAW IMAS and AR190-12.