Attachment 7 Consolidated Question_Comment_Form_R1.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 58 KB Posted
- Attached to
- ARNORTH CSTA Training Support Services Federal contract opportunity
- Solicitation number
- W900KK24R0023
About this file
This document is a compilation of industry questions and government responses related to a federal contract opportunity for the U.S. Army North (ARNORTH) Civil Support Training Activity (CSTA) Training Support Services (TSS). The solicitation is for a firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract to provide training, planning, evaluation, and validation exercise support services for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) skills training.
Key details include: the government made multiple updates to the solicitation documents, including changes to past performance requirements, staffing plan instructions, and pricing workbook details. The government extended the proposal due date to May 10, 2024. The contract has a 15 July 2024 start date with an 11-month base period. The procurement is an 8(a) set-aside under NAICS code 541990. The government will sponsor the contractor's request to obtain a secret facility clearance. The contractor is required to provide FTE and exercise support services subject matter expertise support.
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Sheet1
| RFP DOCUMENT REFERENCED | LOCATION OF VERBIAGE REFERENCED | INDUSTRY QUESTION(S)/COMMENTS | INSUSTRY CONCERN(S) | INDUSTRY | ||
| RECOMMENDATION(S) | Government Response |
| 1 | W900KK24R0023_CSTA_Solicitation.PDF | Page 58, Section L.5.2.2, Paragraph 1 | Verbiage Referenced - "The offeror's proposed Past Performance shall be submitted using Solicitaiton Attachment 4, Past Performance Rating Form and shall address the following ARNORTH CSTA Core Experience areas" QUESTION - Is it the Government's intent to have the Past Performance Rating Forms, Attachment 4, requested from the prior customers and returned to the Contractor for inclusion in proposal Volume II - Past Performance? Or should the raters return their forms directly to a Government contact by a speific date? | The Past Performance Rating Forms, Attachment 4 has been RESERVED and is no longer required. |
| 2 | W900KK24R0023_CSTA_Solicitation.PDF | Page 58, Section L.5.2.3, Paragraph 1 | Verbiage Referenced - "Offeror shall submit Past Performance References using the attached Past Performance Workbook". QUESTION - If the Past Performance Rating Forms are to be returned and included in the contractor's Volume II - Past Performance response are they considered as part of the 35 page maximum page count? | Past Performance Rating Forms, Attachment 4 has been RESERVED and is no longer required. |
All references to the Past Performance Reference Workbook has been removed.
| 3 | W900KK24R0023_CSTA_Solicitation.PDF | Will similar experience in the past performance count in place of the CBRN requirements? | All Offerors Past Performance that is determined “Recent” and “Relevant,” as defined in attached Solicitation and PWS, will be evaluated. The Past Performance Projects you put forth as part of your proposal do not necessarily need to be related to Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) training exercises. However, Past Performance Projects that are the “same” or “similar,” as defined in Solicitation section M.4.2.3., and projects which align more with the PWS, will likely be rated higher on Table 2 – Past Performance Relevancy Ratings.” | |
| 4 | W900KK24R0023_CSTA_Solicitation.PDF | The past performance requirements as listed in the CSTA solicitation document under paragraph L.5.2.2 limiting past performance to a single $5 million dollar annual contract or an IDIQ with multiple related TOs totaling $5 million annually. Is this correct? If so, This statement effectively excludes most small businesses in the NAICS category. | The Past Performance Relevancy contract criteria is changed to NO ANNUAL LIMIT. | |
| 5 | DD254 Attachment 2 | 1.a. Level of Facility Clearance | If the selected Prime Contractor does not currently hold a Secret Facility Clearance, will the Government sponsor the Contractor's request to obtain one? Note: Section 4.2 of the PWS addressing Secret Facility Clearance is "Reserved." (page 42 of 72). | Yes. The government will sponsor the contractor's request to obtain a Secret Facility Clearance. |
| 6 | Performance Work Statement (PWS) | Part 7 Technical Exhibits (Subsections 7.1 through 7.6) page 72 of 72. | Technical Exhibits A through F are not included in the PWS or in any of the files associated with the RFQ. These include the Performance Requirements Summary (PRS Attachment A). | ALL CSTA PWS Technical Exhibits were included in the original posting to SAM.gov on 1 Apr 2024. |
| 7 | Solicitation | Section L.5.2.3 page 58 of 77 | Where is the "Past Performance Referance Workbook" as cited in this paragraph located? It is not located in the Solicitation. | All references to the Past Performance Reference Workbook has been removed. |
| 8 | Solicitation | Section L.5.2.5 page 58 of 77 | Where is the worksheet mentioned in this item? Please describe the "applicable verification documents" that are identified in the worksheet. | L.5.2.5 has been deleted. |
| 9 | Solicitation | Section L.5.2.6 page 59 of 77 | If a CPARS is not available, should proposals include a completed Attachment 4 CTSA Past Performance? | Yes, if CPARS is not available, "the Offeror shall ensure other supporting documentation is included which clearly annotates a customer assessment of Satisfactory or better for all requirements executed within the applicable Past Performance Reference." |
Attachment 4 Past Performance Rating Form has been RESERVED and is no longer required.
| 10 | Solicitation | Section L.5.2.7 page 59 of 77 | What can be included in a "Factor 2 Past Performance Overview"? Are there page constraints or would they be considered to be part of the 35 pages allocated for Past Performance. | Additional verbiage for this section has been added. The Past Performance Overview has been changed to the "Executive Summary" and is not included in the page count for Past Performance. | |
| 11 | Solicitation | Section L.5.2.7 page 59 of 77 | The requirement that references performed by major subcontractors can only be included when the major subcontractor performed the work as a prime contractor will restrict the ability of small businesses to demonstrate their capabilities in the proposal. Would the Government reconsider this requirement so that small business capabilities can be fully reflected in proposals? | L.5.2.7 has been deleted | |
| 12 | Solicitation | Section L.5.3.8 part 1) b) | |||
| page 61 of 77 | What specific "labor nomenclature provided by the Government" is this item referring to. Please provide a more specific location reference. How does the "nomenclature" align with the terms and definitions contained in PWS Section 1.10 Personnel Requirements (PWS page 18 of 22). | Verbiage for this area has been update include ", X002 and X003 as required in Attachment 5 Labor Pricing Workbook. | |||
| 13 | Solicitation | Section L.5.3.10 page 63 of 77 | Would GSA Schedule Labor Categories / MAS Rates that the offeror has be considered "sufficient justification" if mapped to the appropriate CSTA labor category? | No GSA Schedule Labor Categories will not be permitted. | |
| 14 | Performance Work Statement (PWS) | Section 1.10.2 | |||
| page 21 of 72 | Section 1.10.2 is missing. The sections go from 1.10.1 to 1.10.3. Is there content missing? | 1.10.2 has been added as "RESERVED" | |||
| 15 | Performance Work Statement (PWS) | Title Page | The ttle page states that the Performance Requirements Summary (PRS) is included in the PWS. There does not appear to be a Technical Exhibits attached to the PWS as 7.1 Technical Exhibit A – Performance Requirements Summary. | The Performance Requirements Summary is included in the Part 7 Technical Exhibit listing of the PWS. See 7.1 Technical Exhibit A – Performance Requirements Summary. | |
| 16 | Solicitation document (W900KK24R0023_CSTA_Soliciation.pdf) | Section L.5.1.1 Subfactor 1.1 | "L.5.1.1. Subfactor 1.1L Program Management Plan. The Program Management plan shall be submitted as a standalone documentand…". Is it the correct assumption that the Government wants this Program Management Plan to be a section within the overall Program Management Volume as a part of the 50 page page count? Or is the Government asking for the Program Management Plan to be a seperate standalone document submitted outside of the Program Management Volume? | L.4 Proposal Format Table (pg 54) depicts that the Program Management Plan is part of Volume I and is included in the 50 page count. | |
| 17 | Solicitation document (W900KK24R0023_CSTA_Soliciation.pdf) | Section L.4 Proposal Format Table | "*Note: Microsoft Project or Excel files, Table of Contents, CPARS Reports and/or Cross Reference Matrix Spreadsheets will NOT be included as part of the page count limits in above referenced Volumes."Will the Government also exclude the cover page from the page counts of Volume I and Volume II? | Cover page has been added to the excluded page count in the "Note". | |
| 18 | Solicitation document (W900KK24R0023_CSTA_Soliciation.pdf) and PWS (Attachment 1 PWS_USARNORTH_CSTA_CBRN_Training 1 April 24.pdf) | Section L (No specific verbiage to reference). Attachment 1 PWS Section 1.10.1 | The PWS cites Key Personnel in section 1.10.1 Key Personnel. Section L of the Solicitation/RFP document makes no reference to Key Personnel. Hiring for these positions is challenging and not having key personnel identified prior to contarct award could present significant risk to contract performance. Please consider requiring each Offerors to include resumes in Vol I Program Managent for all or some of the key personnel positions for the Government to properly assess program management approach and risk for each Offeror. And if Offerors want to include resumes regardless, can resumes be included as an appendix outside of the 50-page Vol I page count? | L.5.3.9. subparagraph states " The Offeror shall provide Bid codes (applicable codes used to identify a labor category in the Offerors accounting system), employee names and/or other documentation (such as assigned letter of commitment for key personnel not currently employed by the Offeror) to support the rates proposed shall be provided. The Offeror shall provide letters of commitment clearly identifying the prospective employees’ pertinent conditions of employment. | |
| 19 | Solicitation document (W900KK24R0023_CSTA_Soliciation.pdf) | Section L (No specific verbiage to reference). Attachment 1 PWS Section 1.10.1 | For the Staffing Plan, Section L states "Within Microsoft Project or Excel, the Offeror shall provide, as an attachment to this volume, a Staffing Plan with all proposed labor categories..." This denotes that the staffing plan is a MS Prohect or Excel file. But the section later says "The Offeror shall submit a Staffing Plan describing how they will achieve and maintain the following:..." Is the Government asking for a Micorsoft Project or Excel file PLUS a write up in the Vol I page count? | Yes, The Staffing Plan has two part. Additional verbiage has been added. The MS Project document is NOT part of the page count. | |
| 20 | Solicitation document (W900KK24R0023_CSTA_Soliciation.pdf) | Section L.5.1.3.1.a, page 57 | "A 30-day Phase-In plan with timeline/Schedule of events and Communications/Interfaces (shall be submitted in Microsoft Excel as an Attachment to this Volume)." If the offeror can include this timeline in proposal body within the 50 page Program Management volume page count, can the offer not submit a seperate Microsoft Excel attachment? | No, the Phase-In Plan shall be submitted in Microsoft Excel as an Attachment to this Volume. | |
| 21 | Solicitation | L.5.2.2 | "Relevancy: Past performance will be considered relevant if it was for providing training, planning, evaluation, and validation exercise support services for CBRN skills training with a contract portfolio of $5M or more annually."- Does 'anually' refer to calendar year or fiscal year in this instance? | "Annual" in this context refers to a particular offerors annual year, which can vary from offeror to offeror (i.e., If the offeror's annual year spans from 1 June 2024 to 31 May 2025, as a result of their internal corporate accounting year, then 1 Jun 24 - 31 May 25 represents that particular offeror's "annual" year). | |
| 22 | Solicitation | L.5.2.3 | Reference titled 'Past Performance Reference Workbook' was not included as an attachment for Offerors to use. Does Government intend to provide this document? | All references to the Past Performance Reference Workbook has been removed. | |
| 23 | Attachment 3 CSTA_GFP_List | Non-Serially Managed Items | Is the GFE of 17 laptops (mix of HP Elitebooks and Lenova Thinkpad) all of the GFE that is part of the program? | YES. The government anticipates that the laptop computers will be the only GFP provided for contractor use. | |
| 24 | Solicitation | SF33 | The date in Block 5 Date Issued is 12 Jun 2023. Please update this date. | Date updated to 1 April 2024. | |
| 25 | Solicitation | SF33 | Block 9 does not provide the proposal due date. Please confirm the due date and time are 1 May 2024 at 1200 ET. | Block 9 has been updated. The Proposal Instructions are also in Section L of the Solicitation. | |
| 26 | Solicitation | Section B; CLINs 0007, 1007 2007, 3007, 4007 | CLINs X007 reference Section J Exhibit A- DD Form 1423 Contract Data Requirements List (CDRLs). The solicitation document provided with the CDRLs is not labeled an Exhibit (CSTA_CDRLs_Portfolio). Exhibit A is the Performance Requirements Summary. Please update the reference. | X007 CLINs descriptions for CDRLs have been updated to read "Attachment 10 CSTA CDRLs Portfolio." Also Section J has been updated to match the reference. | |
| 27 | Solicitation | Section J (p.44) | Please update the List of Documents, Exhibits, and Other Attachments with all Solicitation Exhibits and Other Attachments as well as the Dates for each document. | Section J has been updated. | |
| 28 | Solicitation | L.5.1.1 (p. 55); M.4.1.1 (p.70) | Section M includes a section for Joint Venture/Teaming or Major Subcontracting Arrangements under Subfactior 1.1 section for Management Methodology. Section L does not include this section in the Program Management Plan. Both Volumes III and IV require discussion of any JV arrangement. Please confirm whether this section is required in the Program Management Plan. | Reference to JV in Section M.4.1.1 has been removed. | |
| 29 | Solicitation | L.5.2.2 (p.58); Att 4 | "The Offeror's proposed Past Performance shall be submitted using Solicitation Attachment 4 'Past Performance Rating Form'…" Please identify who the Rater for this form should be. This type of form is typically sent to the Contracting Office for completion and submission directly to the government. | Attachment 4 Past Performance Rating Form has been RESERVED and is no longer required. | |
| 30 | Solicitation | L.5.2.2 (p.58); Att 4 | If the Rater for the Past Performance Rating Form is the KO or other government contract representative, please confirm the Rater should return the completed Form to the offeror for inclusion in the proposal. | Attachment 4 Past Performance Rating Form has been RESERVED and is no longer required. | |
| 31 | Solicitation | L.5.2.2 (p.58); Att 4 | "The Offeror's proposed Past Performance shall be submitted using Solicitation Attachment 4 'Past Performance Rating Form' and shall address the following ARNORTH Core Experience areas…" The topics in the Rating Form are inconsistent with the list of CSTA Core Experience Areas. Please confirm how offerors are to address the CSTA Core Experience Areas in coordination with the Past Performance Rating Form. | Attachment 4 Past Performance Rating Form has been RESERVED and is no longer required. | |
| 32 | Att 4 PP Rating Form | Cover | The Past Performance Rating Form bears a CUI cover sheet and CUI/FEDCON markings in the headers and footers. Please confirm this form is to be handled as CUI. | Attachment 4 Past Performance Rating Form has been RESERVED and is no longer required. | |
| 33 | Solicitation | L.5.2.5 (p.58) | "The Offeror shall include all applicable verification documents identified in the worksheet and any other documentation required to unambiguously and sufficiently validate the individual Past Performance references submitted." Please provide the referenced worksheet or provide an explanation of the types of documentation required to validate Past Performance references. | All references to the Past Performance Reference Workbook/worksheet has been removed. | |
| 34 | Solicitation | L.5.3.6.1 (p. 60); L.5.4.4 (p.66) | Both Vols III Cost/Price and IV Administration Information require any JV Agreement be attached. Please confirm the JV Agreement should be attached to both Volumes. | Yes, JV should be attached in both Volumes per the Solicitation. | |
| 35 | Solicitation | L.5.1.1 (p. 55); M.4.1.1 (p.70) | The Staffing Plan requirement in Section L provides a list of topics to be included in an attached Project or Excel document: "Each Staffing Plan shall identify, for the proposed labor categories, clearly defined lines of responsibility, clearly defined levels of decision authority, reporting structures, location of personnel, and the communications/interfaces..." Section M provides an additional list of topics to be evaluated: |
"a) Proposed labor categories, broken out by PWS section
b) Proposed position descriptions for each labor category
c) Proposed qualifications (experience, specialized education, and certification(s)) for each labor category
d) Proposed number of personnel for each labor category, broken out by PWS section
e) Proposed number of hours proposed for each category, broken out by PWS section"
| Please clarify whether the topics listed in Section M are to be addressed in the Project/Excel attachment or in the proposal narrative. | Staffing Plan for Section L and Section M have been updated. | ||||
| 36 | Solicitation | L.5.2.7 | Can a major subcontractor use a past performance performed as a subcontractor on an IDIQ where the subcontractor performed all requirements of a specific task order? If so can we use a Prime Contractor Quality Report instead of a CPARS? | Yes. | |
| 37 | CSTA PWS TECHNICAL EXHIBIT D Historical Workload Data | Page 15, Historical Material and Equipment Utilization (ODCs) | The Historical Material and Equipment Utilization (ODCs) chart mentions "Dog". Can Government clarify if this is a simulation dog? | The intent is to have the contractor provide a real live trained Service Animal (dog) to replicate government provided service animals during mass casualty Decontamination Operations. | |
| 38 | Att 1 -PWS | Para 4.4.1 | FEMA Incident Command Post - Will the contractor be required to provide the facility that the ICP will operate from in the field environment or will the Government provide a facility? | The Government intent is to provide the ICP facility in the field. | |
| 39 | Att 1 -PWS | Para 4.4.1 | FEMA Incident Command Post - will the Government provide the ICP COP software and/or licenses? | No. The contractor is expected to provide ICP COP software. | |
| 40 | Att 1 -PWS | Para 5.2.2.5.5 | Search & Rescue Equipment - "Contractor Shall build, prepare and reset technical rescue venues for search and rescue training/evaluations. The technical rescue props are built by the contractor to ensure they are safe to have Soldiers working in. The props may include large concrete bridge expansions, 40 foot containers, old junk cars, concrete slabs and culverts, trenches (heavyequipment is typically used to build these props)." Is this cost included in CLIN 004-4004 specified cost identified in Att 8, TEP as the plug cost per CLIN? | Yes. This is included in the plug costs for this CLIN 005 Materials/ODC. | |
| 41 | Att 1 -PWS | Para 5.2.2.5.5 | Search & Rescue Equipment - "The contractor may also need to provide urban search and rescue equipment (FEMA C25 rescue equipment) if the units can’t or don’t have their own equipment, or if something breaks down at the training site. The contractor coordinates with city/county/municipality/state locations to obtain training locations and equipment support." Is this cost included in CLIN 004-4004 specified cost identified in Att 8, TEP as the plug cost for that CLIN? | Although this type of expense maybe authorized by the government on a case by case basis, do not use this (what if scenario) as a basis of estimate for CLIN 005. CLIN 005 Plug number should be used for cost estimate purposes. If urban search and rescue equipment (FEMA C25 rescue equipment) is required, the Government will address at that time. | |
| 42 | Att 1 -PWS | Pg 7, Para 1.2 | "CSTA requires both Full Time Equivalent (FTE) and Exercise Support Services (ESS) Subject Matter Expertise contractor support to assist the USARNORTH CSTA OC/T teams in the design, planning, preparation and execution of CBRN training events; evaluations; and validation exercises nationwide to include synchronization and logistical support." Does this require contractors assigned to the 10 OC/T teams or are existing SME personnel required to support this requirement on an as needed basis? | Yes. The government requires Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Support for the 10 OC/T teams. Additionally, the government will require Exercise Support Services SME support as required to support field training exercises. Exhibt D provides historical workload estimates. | |
| 43 | Solicitation | L.5.3.8(1)c. | "If the offeror does not have three years of historical data, the offeror shall so state and shall provide budgetary data sufficient to support the proposed indirect rates." Will Bureau of Labor Statistics mapping to National Labor Categories and Indirect build up using that hours cost bases be sufficieint budgetary data? | No, three years of historical data is required. | |
| 44 | Solicitation | Attachment 5 Labor Pricing Workbook Rev 2_23 Mar 2024.xlsx, Attachment 8 CSTA_Price_Workbook rev1 21MAR24/xlsx | Both pricing workbooks reference Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) pricing. CPFF pricing requires a DCAA audit. Because of the DCAA Audit requirement most 8(a) contracts use Firm-Fixed Price and Time & Materials pricing. Will the Government accept T&M pricing in lieu of CPFF pricing to price part-time labor? | No, the Government will NOT accept T&M pricing. | |
| 45 | PWS | Pg 42 (Par 4.4.1) | In Par 4.4.1, PWS states "The contractor must have communication capability to include portable field programmable UHF, VHF, and aviation radios (a minimum of 30 handheld portable radios…" In Par 5.2.1.3 (Phase Out) PWS states "All outgoing contractor personnel shall out-process through the designated Government personnel to ensure compliance with the Government’s requirements for closing email accounts, terminating access, turning in CACs, computers, radios, etc." Are there radios which the imcumbent would be turning in as part of their Phase Out, or is there a requirement for the contractor to provide new radios? | The incumbent is not expected to turn in any radios as a part of phase out. The government will provide hand held radios to support field training exercises as required. (PWS 4.4.1 updated to reflect this fact.) | |
| 46 | Attachment 5: Labor Pricing Workbook | Heading for each tab indicates government wants numbers per FY, and when you open the workbook it indicates 8.5 months in the first FY and 3.5 months in the second FY . The PoP (RFP page 22) runs from 15 Jul - 14 Jul of each year. Theoretically, the first FY would be 2.5 months (15 Jul - 30 Sep), and the second FY would be 9.5 months (1 Oct - 14 Jul). (1) Does the government want us to adjust the pull down for "Months of work within Fiscal Year" on each tab to indicate 2.5 months for the first FY and 9.5 months for the second FY? (2) If so, when you adjust the "Months of work within Fiscal Year" the formulas within the workbook only adjust the CLIN 0002 numbers, not the CLIN 0003 numbers. Does the government want us to adjust the formulas to correct this? | NOTE: AS A PRICING ASSUMPTION, ALL OFFERORS SHALL UTILIZE 15 JULY 2024 AS ITS 1ST DAY OF PHASE-IN (START DATE) FOR THE ARNORTH CSTA CONTRACT. ADDITIONALLY, OFFEROR'S SHALL UTILIZE 15 AUGUST 2024 AS ITS FULL PERFORMANCE START DATE. FAILURE TO DO SO MAY RENDER AN OFFEROR'S PROPOSAL INCOMPLETE AND THEREFORE REJECTED. THE PURPOSE OF SPECIFYING THESE DATES IS TO ENSURE ALL OFFERORS ARE PRICING BASED UPON THE SAME ASSUMPTION. |
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS INSTRUCTION, PLEASE CONTACT THE CS DIRECTLY.
| 47 | RFP | Pg 68 (Par M.1) | RFP states "Factor-3, Cost/Price will be evaluated, but the factor will not receive an adjectival rating". Could the government explain what they mean by "will not receive an adjectival rating"? | Per the DOD Source Selection Procedures, "no adjectival ratings shall be utilized for evaluating cost or price". No ratings of (Outstanding, Good, Acceptable, etc will be used for cost/price. |
| 48 | PWS | Page 65 (Par 5.2.2.6.1) | The PWS states "The contractor shall coordinate with CSTA Government personnel and serve as Lead Planner for Exercise GUARDIAN RESPONSE (GR), a FORSCOM Commander directed Chemical, Biological, Radiological Response Enterprise (CRE) Consequence Management (CM) Culminating Training Event (CTE) focused on the Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA) mission set. GR is designed to certify and validate the readiness of the brigade and battalion level subordinate headquarters staffs and down trace units." Does this contract also provide SME - OC/T support for the execution of GR, or is that a separate contract? | Yes. This contract provides SME OC/T support for the GR exercise. However there also is a seperate contract for additional services in support of GR from a different requiring activity. |
| 49 | PWS | Pg 50 (Par 5.2.2.2.4) | PWS states "The Contractor Shall provide exercise support service MISSION COMMAND Subject Matter Expertise, US&R ANALYST Subject Matter Expertise, CBRN DECON Subject Matter Expertise, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST for HRF events in support of the HRF/CERFP Team.", listing INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST twice. Does this indicate the government desires two full time INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALISTS on the HRF/CERFP team, or is this a redundant typo? | The HRF/CERFP CBRN Enterprise Response missions requires exercise support service Information Technology/ Network Management subject matter expertise at two levels of command. |
Accordingly, the CSTA HRF/CERFP team requires Brigade and Battalion Information Technology/Network Management Subject Matter Expertise for BDE/BN level to enable command and control mission capability at the appropriate level within the team.
| 50 | PWS | Pg 53-54 (Par 5.2.2.3.4) | The PWS states "The Contractor Shall provide exercise support service MCD GROUP SUPERVISOR (ICS), MCD SAFETY Subject Matter Expertise (ICS), MASS CASUALTY DECON OPNS Subject Matter Expertise, CBRN DECON Subject Matter Expertise, MEDICAL Subject Matter Expertise, MCD POWER & WATER Subject Matter Expertise, DISPLACED CIVILIAN ROLE PLAYER MANAGER, DISPLACED CIVILIAN ROLE PLAYER x 100, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST, CBRN RECON GROUP SUPERVISOR (ICS), CBRN RECON SAFETY Subject Matter Expertise (ICS), CBRN SURVEY EVAL ANALYST, MEDICAL Subject Matter Expertise, INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM/(MCD GROUP SUPERVISOR (ICS), MCD SAFETY Subject Matter Expertise (ICS), CBRN RECON GROUP SUPERVISOR (ICS), CBRN RECON SAFETY Subject Matter Expertise (ICS)) support for DCRF events in support of the DCRF OC/T Team", listing MEDICAL, MCD Safety, CBRN RECON GROUP SUPERVISOR, and CBRN RECON SAFETY Subject Matter Expertise twice each. Does this indicate the government desires twice the amount of MEDICAL, MCD Safety, CBRN RECON GROUP SUPERVISOR, and CBRN RECON SAFETY Subject Matter Expertise, or are these redundant typos? | The additional verbaige (MCD GROUP SUPERVISOR (ICS), MCD SAFETY Subject Matter Expertise (ICS), CBRN RECON GROUP SUPERVISOR (ICS), CBRN RECON SAFETY Subject Matter Expertise (ICS) have been removed from the PWS as it was a duplication. The MEDICAL Subject Matter Expertise is required for both groups. |
| 51 | PWS | Pg 58 (Par 5.2.2.4.4) | The PWS states "The Contractor Shall provide exercise support service MCD GROUP SUPERVISOR (ICS), MCD SAFETY Subject Matter Expertise (ICS), MASS CASUALTY DECON OPNS Subject Matter Expertise, CBRN DECON Subject Matter Expertise, MEDICAL Subject Matter Expertise, MCD POWER & WATER Subject Matter Expertise, DISPLACED CIVILIAN ROLE PLAYER MANAGER, DISPLACED CIVILIAN ROLE PLAYER x 100, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST, CBRN RECON GROUP SUPERVISOR (ICS), CBRN RECON SAFETY Subject Matter Expertise (ICS), CBRN SURVEY EVAL ANALYST, MEDICAL Subject Matter Expertise, INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM/ (MCD GROUP SUPERVISOR (ICS), MCD SAFETY Subject Matter Expertise (ICS), CBRN RECON GROUP SUPERVISOR (ICS), CBRN RECON SAFETY Subject Matter Expertise (ICS)) support for C2CRE A & B events in support of the C2CRE OC/T Team", listing MEDICAL, MCD Safety, CBRN RECON GROUP SUPERVISOR, and CBRN RECON SAFETY Subject Matter Expertise twice each. Does this indicate the government desires twice the amount of MEDICAL, MCD Safety, CBRN RECON GROUP SUPERVISOR, and CBRN RECON SAFETY Subject Matter Expertise, or are these redundant typos? | The additional verbaige (MCD GROUP SUPERVISOR (ICS), MCD SAFETY Subject Matter Expertise (ICS), CBRN RECON GROUP SUPERVISOR (ICS), CBRN RECON SAFETY Subject Matter Expertise (ICS) have been removed from the PWS as it was a duplication. The MEDICAL Subject Matter Expertise is required for both groups. |
| 52 | Solicitation, Section L | L.5.2.1 & L.5.2.7, Page 57 & 59 | In Solicitation paragraph L.5.2.1, it states that "All past performances submitted in response to this solicitation shall have been performed as a Prime Contractor or Subcontractor.". In Solicitation paragraph L.5.2.7, it states that "Past Performance References shall only include major subcontractors when the major subcontractor executed the requirements within the Past Performance Reference as the Prime contractor." |
| QUESTION: Can the Government please clarify if the Offeror is permitted to submit Past Performance References from its team (Offeror and Major Subcontractors) for both Prime and Subcontractor roles on the Past Performance Reference? | L.5.2.7 has been deleted. | |||
| 53 | Solicitation, Section L | L.5.2.4, Page 58 | In Solicitation paragraph L.5.2.4, it states that "The Offerors shall not submit an overarchoing Imndefinite Delivery / Indefinite Quality (ID/IQ) base contract, Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), or Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) as an individual Past Performance reference." |
| QUESTION: Can the Government please clarify that a Single Award ID/IQ can be submitted as an individual Past Performance Reference? | Per the solicitation, "Offerors may submit multiple orders issued from a single ID/IQ contract, BPA, or BOA as one Past Performance reference or multiple references. Each Past Performance reference shall comply with the criteria established within this solicitation." | |||
| 54 | Solicitation, Section L | L.5.2.2 | In Solicitation paragraph L.5.2.2, it states that "The Offeror's proposed Past Performance shall be submitted using Solicitation Attachment 4 'Past Performance Rating Form' and shall address the following ARNORTH CSTA Core Experience Areas: …" |
COMMENT: Attachment 4 formatting does not support the consideration/inclusion of the ARNORTH CSTA Core Experience Areas as it appears to be a "PPQ-like" document.
QUESTION: Can the Government please clarify that its intent is to:
1) Attachment 4 is meant to serve as a PPQ-like reference and is used for a Past Performance reference when CPARS is not available (Section L.5.2.6, page 59)
| 2) The Government's requirement to address the five (5) ARNORTH CSTA Core Experience Areas will be done in the Past Performance citation (Offeror format) for each Past Performance reference. | Attachment 4 Past Performance Rating Form has been RESERVED and is no longer required. | |||
| 55 | Solicitation, Section L | L.5.2.3 | In Solicitation paragraph L.5.2.3, it states that "Offerors shall submit Past Performance references using the attached Past Performance Reference Workbook." |
QUESTION: Can the Government please clarify how it wants the Past Performance Reference information provided as the Goevernment did not provide a Past Performance Reference Workbook as part of the Solicitation and Attachment 4 does not support the Government's requirements? Is it the Government's intent for the Offeror to develop/use a template that provides the required contract administrative documentation and supporting relevancy information related to the ARNORTH CSTA Core Experience areas defined in Section L.5.2.2? L.5.2.3. previous verbiage has been deleted and renumbered.
All references to the Past Performance Reference Workbook/worksheet has been removed.
56 Solicitation, Section L L.5.2.5 In Solicitation paragraph L.5.2.5, it states that "The Offeror shall include all applicable verification documents identified in the worksheet and any other documentation required to unambiguously and sufficiently validate the individual Past Performance references submitted."
| QUESTION: Can the Government please clarify as to what applicable contract documentation will sufficiently verify and validate the information provided for each Past Performance Reference submitted? Does this documentation include Award documentation, PWS/SOW, etc.? Does this documentation need to be highlighted/tahgged to provide the applicable validation sources? | L.5.2.5 has been deleted. | |||
| 57 | Solicitation, Section L | L.4 | In Solicitation paragraph L.4, it states in the Table that the page limit for Volume II - Factor 2 - Past Performance is 35 pages." It further states that "… CPARS Reports … will not be included as part of the page count limits in above referenced Volumes." |
COMMENT: Per Section L for the Past Performance Volume, the Offeror is required:
1) Section L.5.2.2: The Offeror's proposed Past Performance shall be submitted using Solicitation Attachment 4 'Past Performance Rating Form' - these forms are 6 pages in length as a template and the Offeror can submit up to 5 Past Performance References - this requirement alone necessitates at least 30 pages.
2) Section L.5.2.2: The Offeror's proposed Past Performance shall address the following ARNORTH CSTA Core Experience Areas ... - this required documentation to sufficiently provide the requisite contract administrative information and to document and support the five (5) Core Experience Areas for each submitted Past Performance Reference will require at least 3-4 pages per reference or 15-20 pages for this requirement.
3) Section L.5.2.5: The Offeror shall include all applicable verification documents identified in the worksheet and any other documentation required to unambiguously and sufficiently validate the individual Past Performance references submitted. If this required documentation to verify/validate the Past Performance reference includes Contract Award documentation, SOW/PWS documentation, and other award documents, this could easily require 15-25 pages per Past Performance Reference.
| QUESTION: Can the Government please clarify the page limitation requirement for the Past Performance Volume? A recommendation is to not limit the number of pages for the Past Performance Volume. If this is not feasible, then recommend that the following be excluded from the Page Count Limitation: CPARS, Attachment 4 (Past Performance Rating Form), and the supporting Past Performance Reference contract documentation (award document, SOW/PWS, , etc.) | Attachment 4 Past Performance Rating Form has been RESERVED and is no longer required. CPAR is already exclude from the page count. | ||||
| 58 | Solicitation, Section L | L.4, Page 54 | Can the government please clarify for example Volume I- Factor 1 - Program Management are we submitting 1 document that has all 3 subfactors or are we provide 4 files one for each of the Subfactors, one for the Table of Contents? | The Government did not stipulate this level of detail, so it is at the Offerors discretion as long as all of the required information is provided. One Volume can be a single, large file, or multiple smaller files. As indicated above, this will be left to each offeors discretion, with the caveat that all information requested in the solicitation instructions is provided. | |
| 59 | Solicitation, Section L | L.4, Page 54 | Can the government please clarify for example Volume II- Factor 2 - Past Performance are we submitting 1 document or are we to submit multiple files with the following breakout: Table of Contents, Past Performance Citations, CPARS, Attachment 4 and back up contract documentations? | Attachment 4 Past Performance Rating Form has been RESERVED and is no longer required. | |
| 60 | SF 33/PWS | SF 33 L.5.1.1, d)/PWS 5.2.1.1 | Will the Government confirm that PWS Reference: 5.2.1.1 is germane to the SF33 L.5.1.1, d) passage, "Identify risks and corresponding risk-mitigation strategies that will be employed during execution." and not the SF33 L.5.1.1, d) passage that begins with, "Staffing Plan:.."? | ||
| The Staffing Plan is next subset of the Program Mangement Plan, not part of L.5.1.1(d). | |||||
| 61 | SF 33 | SF 33 L.5.1.1, d) | Will the Government clarify what is required in the Staffing Plan as well as consider splitting the requirements into an attachment in Excel that denotes the more data-based requirements (all proposed labor categories, clearly defined lines of responsibility, clearly defined levels of decision authority, reporting structures, location of personnel, communications/interfaces), a section of the Word-based (published to PDF) Factor 1 - Program Management Volume that covers what are clearly intended to be more narrative responses describing key personnel (approach to providing qualified personnel, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to serve as Observer Controller/Trainers in a realistic field environment meeting or exceeding the certification standards identified in the PWS.), and another section of the Word-based (published to PDF) Factor 1 - Program Management Volume that covers, "a Staffing Plan describing how they will achieve and maintain the following: |
(1) Personnel staffing to support task areas:
✓ Contract Management Support
✓ Observer Controller/Trainer Team Support
• Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support Team
(WMD-CST)
• Homeland Response Force & CBRN Enhanced Response Force Package Team (HRF/CERFP)
W900KK24R0023
• Subtask Defense Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Response Force (DCRF):
• Command and Control Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Response Element (C2CRE)
• Urban Search and Rescue (US&R)
| • CSTA HQTRS Support."? | The Staffing Plan requirement has been updated. Document (1) is intended for MS Project part of the Staffing Plan and Document (2) is intended for describing how the Offeror will achieve and maintain the Personnel staffing to support task areas. | |||
| 62 | PWS | PWS 5.2.2.3.4 | DISPLACED CIVILIAN ROLE PLAYER x 100: The contractor shall provide role players to act as Displaced Civilians (DCs). …..; conduct required background checks (IAW 4.1.1); |
Questions: Does the government mean IAW with PWS 1.6.4 Background Checks?
| Will the government require background checks for all Displacesd Civilian Role Players? | The contractor is expected to provide only a local law enforcement background check for Displaced Civilian Role Players. (The PWS para 5.2.2.3.4 is updated to reflect this clarification.) | |||
| 63 | RFP | CLIN 0001 | Program Mangement support services in accordance with the Performance Work Statement (PWS). This will include all phase-in cost/prices in accordance with section L.5.3.6.2. Section L.5.3.2.6 does not exist in the Solicitation. |
| Question: What is the correct RFP section that should be referenced in CLIN 0001? | Reference updated to L.5.1.3. | |||
| 64 | RFP | Attachment 5, Reg Labor Rates | Attachment 5 shows that the Program Manager costs should be included in CLIN X002, however the RFP states that Program Manager costs should be included in CLIN X001. |
Question: Should Program Manager costs be captured in CLIN X001 or CLIN X002? For CLIN 0001, all Phase-In costs shall be included IAW PWS sections 5.2.1.2. Additionally, CLIN 0001 and subsequent Option CLINs (1001, 2001, 3001) shall include any Offsite Program Management (PM) Support (i.e., Contracts, Budget/Finance, Human Resources), of which is not dedicated to the full time (FFP) or part time (CPFF) requirements performed IAW the CSTA CBRN PWS. Offerors may (1) apply these costs indirectly as Not Separately Priced (NSP) if its internal accounting methodology dictates so, or (2) Offerors may include Phase-In/Out and Offsite PM costs directly. The Government will not dictate the methodology for pricing Phase-In/Out and Offsite PM Support, as defined above.
The final PM CLIN (4001) shall include all Phase-out costs IAW PWS sections 5.2.1.3 and 5.2.1.4. Additionally, CLIN 4001 shall include any Offsite Program Management (PM) Support (i.e., Contracts, Budget/Finance, Human Resources), of which is not dedicated to the full time (FFP) or part time (CPFF) requirements performed IAW the CSTA CBRN PWS.
65 Attachment 1 PWS Para 1.5 on page 8 of 72 The sections requires Full Time Equivalent (FTE) contractors at the primary support location and various exercise support locations. Will the Government provide the specific site location that requires FTE contractors to be on-site? Verbiage was added for clarification "These FTE SME’s will also be required at various exercise support locations on a temporary basis as a part of exercise support services."
The same FTE SME's will be used at both the primary location and the various exercise support location.
| 66 | Attachment 1 PWS | Para 1.5.6 on page 11 of 72 | 1.5.6 states "The Contractor must have access to designated locations in order to conduct training". Will the government assist in getting the contractor access? | Yes. The government will assist the contractor in getting access to government installations. The Contractor is responsible to ensure contractor employees have access to government installations. |
| 67 | Attachment 1 PWS | Para 1.6.1 on page 13 of 72 | This section requires all FTE and Information Technology (IT) support personnel providing exercise support must have a SECRET or Interim SECRET Clearance. Does this mean that no other part-time or consultant personnel supporting exercises require a SECRET Clearance? | Yes. Only FTE and IT support personnel are required to have a secret clearence. |
| 68 | Attachment 1 PWS | Para 1.6.1 on page 13 of 72 | This section states all FTE and IT. Are the IT personnel consider to be part-time or consultant personnel and not FTE? | This contract has a requirement for both FTE IT SME support as well as Exercise Support Service IT SME support. "All Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Contractor personnel and all Information Technology support personnel providing exercise support under this contract shall have SECRET Security Clearance or an Interim SECRET Security Clearance..." |
| 69 | Attachment 1 PWS | Para 1.6.4.1 on page 15 of 72 | This paragraph is titled U.S. Citizen but makes no refences to citizenship requirements. Do all contractor support personnel require U.S. Citizenship? | No. All contractor personnel are not required to be US citizens, however they must be eligible to work in the united states. (PWS 1.6.4.1 updated to reflect "US citizens (or eligible to legally work in the US)" |
| 70 | Attachment 1 PWS | Para 1.6.4.1 on page 15 of 72 | This paragraph does not address US Citizen requirements and appears to be a misplaced requirement for background checks. Will the government clarify this requirement? | All contractor personnel are not required to be US citizens, however they must be eligible to work in the united states. (PWS 1.6.4.1 updated to reflect "US citizens (or eligible to legally work in the US)" |
| 71 | Attachment 1 PWS | Para 1.6.6 on page 16 of 72 | This paragraph mentions coordinating with the USARNORTH OPSEC Program Manager, will the government provide an introduction to all pertinent points of contact within the ARNORTH organization upon contract award? | Yes. The government will provide USARNORTH OPSEC POC contact information. All other requests for pertinant points of contact will be routed through the COR. |
| 72 | Attachment 1 PWS | Para 1.8.1 on page 17 of 72 | Is the Contract Manager expected to be a FTE? | para 1.8.1 should reflect the contractor's Program manager vice Contract Manager. (The PWS para 1.8.1 was revised to reflect this change.) The contractor's Program manager is expected to be a FTE. |
| 73 | Attachment 1 PWS | General Question | Can the government tell us how many FTEs are expected on this contract? | The FTE requirements are detailed in attachment 5 (Labor Pricing Workbook) and further clarified in part 5 (Specific Tasks) of the PWS. |
| 74 | Attachment 1 PWS | Para 1.10.1 on page 18 of 72 | Is the Program Manager considered an FTE? | Yes. The contractor's Program manager is expected to be a FTE. |
| 75 | Attachment 1 PWS | Para 1.10.1 on page 18 of 72 | The management team is considered key personnel. Can the government identify what labor categories are part of the management team? Are these categories considered FTEs? | The contractor is required to identify it's chosen management team who will be responsible to provide the customer with a point of contact for operational requirements, and financial reports, if other than the program manager. |
| 76 | Attachment 1 PWS | Para 1.10.1.3 on page 19 of 72 | This restricts the Incident Commanders to only those that have experience support metropolitan areas with more than 50,000 person population. There are fully qualified incident commanders with both military and civilian incident command experience that may have never been associated with metropolitan areas of this size. Will the Government reconsider this 50,000 requirement? | PWS updated to reflect a requirement for experience in a metropolitan area of at least 25,000 person population. |
| 77 | Attachment 1 PWS | Para 1.10.1.3 on page 19 of 72 | Do all of the current contractor employees filling these incident command positions have experience supporting metropolitan areas of 50,000 person population? | The requirement for experience providing support to a 25,000 person population is only a requirement for Incident Commander or Incident Command System SMEs. There is no requirement for all contractor personnel to have this level of experience. |
| 78 | Attachment 1 PWS | Para 1.10.1.4 on page 20 of 72 | This requires 10 years of operational experience performing technical rescue operations. Will the Government consider changing this to "operational experience performing and/or training technical rescue operations? | The government requirement for 10 years of operational experience is required to ensure safe operations in a hazardous operation. |
| 79 | Attachment 1 PWS | Para 1.10.1.4 on page 20 of 72 | Do all of the current contractor employees filling these safety officer positions have 10 years of operational experience? | The current contract requires all contractor personnel performing technical rescue safety officer functions to have 10 years of operational experience. |
| 80 | Attachment 1 PWS | Para 1.10.1.5 on page 21 of 72 | Will the Government provide examples of medical credentialling agencies they may require? | The government will require Red Cross CPR/Basic Lifesaving certification. |
| 81 | Attachment 1 PWS | Para 1.10.1.6 on page 21 of 72 | The requirement that all full-time and exercise support personnel shall be accredited by either IFSAC or Pro Board seems to limit the field of potential candidates from other than specific functional area experience to include many former DOD functional areas. Will the Government consider changing this to "should be" accredited in addition to all the other requirements listed in this section | The goverment requires contractor personnel performing this function be accredited by either the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) or the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro Board). |
| 82 | Attachment 1 PWS | Para 1.10.1.6 on page 21 of 72 | Do all of the current contractor employees (full-time, part-time, 1099. etc.) filling these positions have IFSAC or Pro Board accreditations? | The requirement requires all contractor personnel filling these positions to have accredidation by either the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) or the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications (Pro Board). |
| 83 | Attachment 1 PWS | Para 1.10.3e on page 22 of 72 | This sections states "status of these key personnel" which would imply that all FTE and Exercise Support Services SME identified in PWS paragraph 1.10.1.6 are considered key personnel. This conflicts with the list of key personnel listed in PWS paragraph 1.10.1. Will the Government please explain which positions are key or if all positions are key? | The PWS has been updated to state "Key personnel identified in 1.10.1". |
| 84 | Attachment 1 PWS | Para 1.10.3 on page 22 of 72 | The paragraph previous to 1.10.3 is 1.10.1.6. There appears to be no paragraph 1.10.2. Is this on purpose or is paragraph 1.10.2 missing? | 1.10.2 has been added as "RESERVED" |
| 85 | Attachment 1 PWS | Para 1.13 on page 23 of 72 | This section identifies CONUS locations for travel. Is travel to Guam, Puerto Rico, etc. considered CONUS travel? | For the purposes of this requirement, we consider domestic US locations, (50 states, and territories) as part of CONUS. |
| 86 | Attachment 1 PWS | Para 5.2.1.1 on page 45 of 72 | This section identifies a "Project Manager". Is this position different than the one identified as "Program Manager" in para 1.10.1? | This section of the PWS is updated to reflect Program Manager vice Project Manager. |
| 87 | Attachment 1 PWS | Para 5.2.1.1 on page 45 of 72 | PWS 5.2.1.1 refers to Sublines (SLINs), but they are not contained anywhere else in the document. Will the government identify the SLINs? | Sublines (SLINS) for this requirement will be used as funding sources only and will be identified at contract award, when funding is applied to the contract. |
| 88 | Attachment 1 PWS | Para 5.2.1.1.1 on page 46 of 72 | Is the post-award conference the same as the kick-off meeting identified in paragraph 1.8? | Post award conference and kick off meeting are intended to be performed concurrently, but may be conducted seperately, if required. |
| 89 | Attachment 1 PWS | Para 5.2.2.2 on page 48 of 72 | For the HRF/ CERFP requirement, does the government want to add the reconnaissance and surveillance element? | No. The HRF/CERFP formations do not have organic Reconnaissance and Surveillance elements. |
| 90 | Attachment 1 PWS | General Question | The NORTHCOM JMEEL is referenced several times in the PWS, but not provided as a reference document. Will the government please provide more information? | The JMEEL can be provided to the contractor through the COR, post award as required. |
| 91 | Attachment 4 CSTA Past Performance | General Question | Will the Government please provide and editable version of this document? | Attachment 4 Past Performance Rating Form has been RESERVED and is no longer required. |
| 92 | Attachment 4 CSTA Past Performance | General Question | Can the government mark this blank document as not CUI? Marking it as CUI makes it a challenge for contractors to use. | Attachment 4 Past Performance Rating Form has been RESERVED and is no longer required. |
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