TETSS_Solicitation no.W9115123R0024_Government Responses to Questions_Posted 24 Feb 2023 -1).pdf

Document (PWS, RFP, TE)

Designation

Question / Clarification / Suggestion

Category (page#, section #)

Citation (copy in the RFP section) Comment / Question Government Response

16 RFP Question TE D See above Are Powerpoint slides to be submitted as separate attachments, or are the slides to be embedded in each TIP response?

PowerPoint Slides are part of the TIP response, but not embedded. They are to be submitted a separate attachment.

18 Amendment 0001 Question Page 2 The required response date/time has changed from 01‐Mar‐2023 01:00 PM to 23‐Feb‐2023 01:00 PM.

As the period of performance is not anticipated until April 2024 with a 30 day transition and proposal validity of 270 days from the proposal due date, will the Government provide Offerors with an adequate extension that synchronizes with a "reasonable" timeframe?

Yes, we have amended the 270 days to 406 days (Section L General Instructions Page 2).

19 Amendment 0001 Question Pages 14 Under Section L Vol. 3 Factor C‐ Cost # 8 states "Offerors shall provide Worker’s Compensation Insurance Certificate or other supporting documentation from the Contractor’s insurance company detailing how the cost of Worker’s Compensation Insurance proposed was derived. The submitted must be a Microsoft Excel document and not a flat (without formulas) file such as an Adobe PDF

Is it the Government’s intent that should an Offeror submit a Worker’s Compensation Insurance Certificate to satisfy this requirement, that the Worker’s Compensation Insurance Certificate must be submitted in a Microsoft Excel document? Please note, the Worker’s Compensation Insurance Certificate is provided by the Insurance Company in a letter/document format.

A submission of other supporting documentation must be in Excel format. If providing the Worker's Compenstation Insurance Certificate, it can be in the format you receive from the Insurance Provider.

20 RFP ‐ Attachment 5 Question Attachment 5 Cost Volume Workbook

N/A Will the Government allow bidders to make changes to all Tabs in order to capture all costs correctly.

Yes, the tabs can be modified. Propose according to your accounting system and how the Government is being charged. Ensure Attachment 5 links and cells appropriately work.

See updated Attachment 5.

27 RFP Question Page 47 Section L, C. R. i(3) TAB F, Subfactor 1 c. **Note The ** note states to submit both BASE Operation TAR TIP cost in Attachment 5, Cost Volume Workbook. Please describe how the government want offerors to separate out that costs within the existing spreadsheet tabs.

Place all cost TIP information in Attachment 5, Cost volume Workbook. Tabs for the tests have been added to Attachment 5.

28 RFP Question Page 47 Section L, C.3.i(3) TAB F Subfactor 3 (a) The instructions direct offerors to use TE D to prepare the TIPS. The instructions also imply not to provide cost data for the Test Operation TIP.

Please clarify which format/content in TE D is required in Volume I subfactor 3.

Place all cost TIP information in Attachment 5, Cost volume Workbook. Tabs for the tests have been added to Attachment 5.

30 RFP Question Page 47 Section L, C.3.i(3) TAB F Subfactor 3 (b) Can the Government provide a description explaining and clarifying the 3rd scenario, overlapping SUTs?

Initial test concepts will occasionally change. For example, the number of Engagement Operation Centers for an event may increase after initial planning or requirements for data collection/audio‐video recording equipment will increase. Consequently, short notice adjustments will need to be made based on equipment availability, manpower, acquisition timelines, etc. In addition, events might take longer to complete creating an overlap into another test event that is cxurrently going on or just starting. Meaning the contractor will need to handle the situation of continued operations on one site while adjusting to new timelines for another.

39 RFP Question Page 53 Section L, C.3.iii.3 Volume III, Other elements of cost d)

It states that a cost proposal for each TIP for each TAR in Subfactor 1 is to be provided using TE D. Please clarify if this is separate from Attachment 5 and the Cost Narrative. Government direction is unclear. Shall we list out the costs separately from Attachment 5? If so, can we add a TAB in Attachment 5 for each TIP or present the cost in the cost narrative?

Place all your cost TIP information in Attachment 5, Cost volume Workbook. Tabs for the tests have been added to Attachment 5.

43 Attachment 1 Question Sample Test TAR, Para. III b In the Additional Requirements paragraph, the Gov't makes mention of "analysts". Are these the Scientific Analysts and Systems Analysts identified in Attachments 3 & 4 (Historical Staff for Ft Bliss and Ft Sill)? Or is the Gov't envisioning the bidder to provide other types of analysts?

The term refers to Scientific Analysts, Systems Analysts, or other Analysts deemed necessary by the contractor to complete the requirement.

51 RFP, Attachment 5 Question Summary TAB the equations for TAR total have bad reference. Please correct. The bad references on the summary tab have been updated/ corrected.

52 RFP, Attachment 5 Question Please provide instructions on how we are to separate out cost for each BASE

TAR.

TABs for each test have been added to Attachment 5.

TETSS ‐ Solicitation #: W9115123R0024

53 RFP, Attachment 5 Question The Total 60 Month Ordering Period TAB has no instructions and is not conducive to roll up all the costs in the yearly tabs. Entering costs in this tab to represent the cost for all 5 years creates additional burden on offerors to get this tab to work. Recommend deleting this tab and have the Year costs be applied to the summary page where the total ordering period cost is added up

Agreed, deleted Total 60 Month Ordering Period tab. Offeror is able to use the tabs per year for increased labor rates.

54 RFP, Attachment 5 Question Subcontractors are not going to provide Prime the data for columns A thru U, just their cost to the prime offeror. Their sealed package would have that data.

However, on the Prime's cost submission, the subcontractor cost is entered.

The Yearly tabs do not provide a provision for subcontractor costs to be entered. Please provide instruction and updated spreadsheet to insert subcontractor costs to the prime within the prime's cost submission.

As a guide, a section for subcontract labor has been added with a column for the burdened labor rate provided by the subcontractor and hours. Modify the spreadsheet as necessary to include prime burdens. Ensure cells and links are working properly if Attachment 5 is modified.

67 Solicitation Volume III ‐ Cost/Price and Attachment 5

Question Pages 52, 53 Section ii (d) of the Solicitation "Other Elements of Cost" states: d) The Offeror shall provide a cost proposal with each Task Implementation Plans (TIPs) for each Task Authorization Request (TAR) identified in Subfactor 1‐Base Operations. Respond using the TIP format listed in A002, TE D.

Each of the Base TAR TIPs require cost proposals within this volume, which are to be completed within Att. 5 (Excel). However, it is unclear whether Attachment 5 is correctly set up for this information. Is it the expectation of the USG that the offeror will add additional tabs to Attachment 5 Cost Volume Workbook in this format to calculate the totals for the base TARS on the summary tab or does the USG plan to amend Attachment 5 Cost Volume Workbook to include the base TAR pricing calculations?

Place all your cost TIP information in Attachment 5, Cost volume Workbook. Tabs for the tests have been added to Attachment 5.

68 Solicitation Volume III ‐ Cost/Price and Attachment 5

Question Page 47 L‐C(3)(i)(3)(1) states, “A cost proposal is required for the Base Operation TAR for Fort Bliss, TX, (TE K) and Fort Sill, OK, (TE L) and shall be submitted in the Offeror's Attachment 5, Cost Volume Workbook, included with the Volume III for Factor 3 Cost ”

Each of the Base TAR TIPs require cost proposals within this volume, which are to be completed within Att. 5 (Excel). However, it is unclear whether Attachment 5 is correctly set up for this information. If Attachment 5 is correct with a single amount entered for each Base TAR, are the formulas correct as currently shown in the Summary tab?”

Place all your cost TIP information in Attachment 5, Cost volume Workbook. Tabs for the tests have been added to Attachment 5.

69 Attachment_5_Cos t_Volume_Workbo ok.xlsx

Question Tabs: Phase In, Total 60 Month Ordering Period, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5

May Offerors insert additional columns to include additional Fringe elements? Yes, the tabs can be modified. Propose according to the offeror's accounting and estimating systems. Ensure Attachment 5 links and cells work appropriately if Attachment 5 is modified.

71 Solicitation and Attachment 5

Question Page 5 and Tabs:

Total 60 Month Ordering Period, Year 1 Year 2 Year

Section B Should the plug figure for Item No 0006 Defense Base Act Insurance be added to the Cost Volume Workbook tabs?

Yes, added to Attachment 5.

72 Solicitation and Attachment 5

Question Page 47 L‐C(3)(i)(3)(1) “A cost proposal is required for the Base Operation TAR for Fort Bliss, TX, (TE K) and Fort Sill, OK, (TE L) and shall be submitted in the Offeror's Attachment 5, Cost Volume Workbook, included with the Volume III for Factor 3 Cost "

Attachment 5 has a line for each TAR total; however, there are no tabs in the Workbook to provide a breakdown of the proposed estimated costs for each TAR. Should the Offeror add a tab for each TAR, AMDTD Fort Bliss Base TAR and FSTD Base Fort Sill TAR?

TABs for each test have been added to Attachment 5.

73 Solicitation and Attachment 5

Question Page 51 L‐C(3)(iii)(6) "The substantiation of labor mix, direct labor hours, and full‐time equivalents (FTEs) for all labor categories shall be supported and crosswalk to the technical volume "

Should the labor proposed on each "Year x" tab of Attachment 5 be the total of the Subfactor 1 ‐ Base Operations requirements? If not, please clarify what is to be priced in each "Year x" tab.

Yes, the Mission Capability Volume 1 and the Cost Volume 3 both should match what offeror is proposing.

74 Solicitation and Attachment 5

Question Page 53 L‐C(3)(iii) Volume III ‐ Factor 3 ‐ Cost, Other Elements of Cost (d) "The Offeror shall provide a cost proposal with each Task Implementation Plans (TIPs) for each Task Authorization Request (TAR) identified in Subfactor 1‐ Base Operations. Respond using the TIP format listed in A002 TE D "

Should this information be included on additional, separate tabs of the Attachment 5?

Yes, TABs for each test have been added to Attachment 5.

77 Solicitation Question Page 33 Section J Exhibit R The Exhibit R Wage Determination 2015‐5229 Rev 19 Ft Bliss that is listed in Section J does not match the TE_R_‐Wage_Determination_2015‐ 5229_Rev_17_Bliss.pdf that was provided with the solicitation. Will the Government provide the most recent Wage Determination and update Section

The Wage Determinations was verified and it has been updated.

78 Solicitation Question Page 33 Section J Exhibit S The Exhibit S Wage Determination 2015‐5313 Rev 19 Ft Sill that is listed in Section J does not match the TE_S_‐_Wage_Determination_2015‐ 5313_Rev17_Sill.pdf that was provided with the solicitation. Will the Government provide the most recent Wage Determination and update Section

The Wage Determinations was verified and it has been updated.

80 Solicitation Question Page 34 Section J Attachment 6 was provided with the solicitation but is missing in Section J. Will the government add Attachment 6 to Section J?

Section J has been updated to include Attachment 6.

86 Attachment 1 Question Page 9 VIIII, Hours of Work The TAR states hours of work are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., although it also states there is possible 24 hour operations; can the Government verify for this TAR that data collection will only occur between 7:30‐4:30?

Operational test events include 24‐hour operational phases during Limited User Test (LUT) or Initial Operational Test & Evaluation (IOTE). Typically 3‐4 instances of 72‐96 hour mission pulses. When 24 hour operations are required it will be spelled out in the TAR and will not be determined until the test schedules are d

87 Technical Exhibit D Section iii of the Solicitation Volume III ‐ Factor 3 ‐ Cost

Question "Under no circumstance shall this information and documentation be included elsewhere in the proposal."

The TIP shall be submitted to the Government (COR) as one document, consisting of a cover letter, technical approach, power point slides, and costing attachments

This statement conflicts with the instructions for the TIP instructions in TE D.

Which instructions does the USG intend for the offerors to follow for the purposes of the proposal?

The Sample Test TAR, Attachment 1 is being updated to clarify work hours.

89 Attachment 2 Past Performance and RFP Solicitation Mod 0001 p. 12, Tab G para d

Page 2 Sample Letter of Consent Instructions for Past Performance Questionaire instructs offeror to submit Past Performance Questionairs to the Prime contractor for citations where the offeror performed as a subcontractor. In the event that the Prime contractor that would be providing the evaluation is also competiting for the TETSS contract, would the government consider allowing the offeror to submit the past performance questionniare directly to the government customer for completion. This will prevent potential competitors from erroneous reporting t f i f ti d ti

Pricing shall only be included in Cost Volume 3 and Attachment 5.

90 RFP Section L (ii) 1 Tab G d.

Question/Sugge stion

Page 49 For the contracts identified on each Specific Relevant Contract Reference, the Offeror shall forward a copy of the Past Performance Questionnaire (Attachment

2) to the points of contact responsible for monitoring performance under such contracts. The points of contact shall email the questionnaires directly to Lesa Crockett, CS, at lesa.m.crockett.civ@army.mil and Dianne K. Grimes, KO, at dianne.k.grimes.civ@army.mil not later than 1:00 pm CT, 09 March 2023. Any questionnaires not emailed directly to the CS and KO will not be reviewed or evaluated. The information contained in the questionnaires will be used to evaluate the Offeror’s past performance. New entities that have no past customers shall annotate on the Summary Page that

Because KOs and CORs are extremely busy and provide performance feedback via CPARS on most Prime contracts, for those past performance references that have CPARS, will the Government consider allowing for the submission of the latest CPARS rather than or in lieu of a PPQ submission?

RECOMMENDATION: Recommend CPARS submission as the primary means of assessing the quality performance on Past Performance submissions to enable the Confidence Assessment defined in Section M evaluation Criteria. Require Offerors to submit a copy of the latest CPARS, as applicable, for each submitted Past Performance citation.

No, PPQs are in addition to the CPARS.

97 TE+R+‐

Wage+Determinati on+2015‐ 5229+Rev+17+Bliss

Not the most current version available.

Suggest the government provide the latest WD (revision 20) as the pay rates and H&W requirements are higher.

The Wage Determinations was verified and will be updateded in the next amendment.

98 TE+S+‐

+Wage+Determina tion+2015‐ 5313+Rev17+Sill

Not the most current version available.

Suggest the government provide the latest WD (revision 20) as the pay rates and H&W requirements are higher.

The Wage Determinations was verified and will be updateded in the next amendment.

101 RFP Suggestion Section L, 2.e "What Counts As a Page? A page shall be an 8 ½” X 11” size of paper, no exceptions. …."

Recommend the Government allow the use of 11x17 page size for spreadsheets and large tables?

The Government will not change the page size of 81/2" x 11".

102 Attachment Suggestion Attachment 3 Recommend the Government provide FY20‐21 Historical data for Fort Bliss.

Providing the data (which the incumbent already has) will allow for a fai evaluation.

No additional information will be provided. The offeror can propose based on the available data.

The historical information which is provided is only for informational purposes.

103 Attachment Suggestion Attachment 4 Recommend the Government provide FY20‐21 Historical data for Fort Sill.

Providing the data (which the incumbent already has) will allow for a fai evaluation.

No additional information will be provided. The offeror can propose based on the available data.

The historical information which is provided is only for informational purposes.

113 Attachment 5 Cost Volume Workbook ‐ "Year 1 ‐ Year 5" worksheets

Question Attachment 5 Cost Volume Workbook ‐ "Year 1 ‐ Year 5" worksheets. Rows 67‐

Attachment 5 Cost Volume Workbook ‐ "Year 1 ‐ Year 5" worksheets. Rows 67‐70

The worksheets indicate a plug number for ODCs, but only allow for Material Handling to be added to that plug. Most contractor estimating practices allow for MH to be applied to materials/supplies and subcontractor costs. G&A is applied to Other Direct Costs. Attach 5 doesn't appear to allow for the correct application because materials are included in the entire plug value labeled "Other Direct Costs" and only allows for MH to be applied. Can the Gov't revise the Attach 5 to breakout Materials and ODCs separately to allow for the correct

The tabs can be modified by the offeror.

Propose according to your accounting system and how the Government is being charged.

Ensure Attachment 5 links and cells work appropriately if Attachment 5 is modfied.

115 (iii) VOLUME III – Factor 3 ‐ Cost. 9.

Defense Base Act (DBA) Insurance

Question Page 51 9. Defense Base Act (DBA) Insurance. The Offeror may apply indirect expenses to the DBA plug figure for 60‐ month ordering period and shall provide an explanation of how the indirect expense was developed. All proposed indirect rates shall be in accordance with the Offeror’s standard accounting

Attachment 5 Cost Volume Workbook doesn't include a DBA section for entry.

How are offerors to apply indirect rates to DBA plug value? DBA is considered an ODC that would get loaded with G&A instead of MH.

The award will be CPFF. Attachment 5 should be modified to represent the estimating and accounting system of the vendor. Ensure Attachment 5 links and cells work appropriately if Attachment 5 is modfied.

116 Attachment 5 Cost Volume Workbook ‐ "Phase In ‐ Year 5" worksheets.

Question Attachment 5 Cost Volume Workbook ‐ "Phase In ‐ Year 5" worksheets.

Attachment 5 Cost Volume Workbook ‐ "Phase In ‐ Year 5" worksheets.

The entire Attach 5 workbook appears to be a T&M type model instead of a standard CPFF type buildup. Generally, a CPFF buildup is more vertically aligned instead of a horizontal (with fee application at the bottom) build. Is that the Government's intent?

The award will be CPFF. Attachment 5 should be modified to represent the estimating and accounting system of the vendor. Ensure Attachment 5 links and cells work appropriately if Attachment 5 is modfied.

117 Attachment 5 Cost Volume Workbook ‐ "Phase In ‐ Year 5" worksheets.

Question Attachment 5 Cost Volume Workbook ‐ "Phase In ‐ Year 5" worksheets.

Attachment 5 Cost Volume Workbook ‐ "Phase In ‐ Year 5" worksheets.

The Attach 5 workbook requires the same type of rate buildup for exempt as non‐exempt labor. This version is accurate for non‐exempt (SCA type) builds, but not for exempt labor. Standard estimating practices of most contractors is to only apply Fringe, OH, G&A, and fee on exempt buildups, not detailed fringe buildups. Offerors can revise the two types to fit their estimating methodology, but it will not be consistently applied between all offerors making it difficult to evaluate the different offers. Can the Gov't provide an updated Attach 5 pricing model that clearly delineates between the non‐exempt and the exempt labor buildups that allows for the accurate application of indirect rates?

Attachment 5 should be modified to represent the estimating and accounting system of the vendor. If the accounting system in place accumulates and allocates costs in an exempt fringe rate or overhead rate then the proposal should reflect that instead of the element by element approach. Any rate proposed should be supported with appropriate data (3 year of pool, base, rate data or any rates approved by DCAA or DCMA).Ensure Attachment 5 links and cells work appropriately if Attachment 5 is modfied.

118 RFP Suggestion amendment 1, due date Based on complexity of the RFP, question due date of Feb 23rd, recommend moving proposal due date to March 8th.

Per Amendment 0002 date has been extended 8 March 2023 1:00 PM CST.

119 RFP Question Section L, A.3.d "All referenced documents for this solicitation shall be found on the PIEE ..."

No docs on PIEE as of Feb 1, please supply or specify official location. You should see all docs up to Amendment 0001 and supporting documents in PIEE.

120 RFP Question Section L, B.3.a.2) "... Government requires the names, company titles, Where does the Government want this data provided? Cover letter? General Vol? This should be included in the Cover Letter.

121 RFP Question Section L, B.7 (pg.

44)

"All referenced documents ..." No docs on PIEE as of Feb 1, pls supply or specify official location You should see all docs up to Amendment 0001 and supporting documents in PIEE.