SETA_QAs_thru__29_Aug.pdf

Answers to Questions submitted for the Systems Engineering & Technical Assistance (SETA) Services Solicitation (W911NF-17-R-0015) through 29 August 2017.

1. Question: The solicitation provides a list of KMP which we can price on the cost proposal.

However, the solicitation is vague in providing data about the other personnel which maybe required for successful execution of the requirement. Is there a comprehensive list of LCATS (KMP and the other personnel) which can allow us to price a more concrete cost proposal?

Answer: The labor categories (Key Personnel) are as follows: See PWS for descriptions of each category.

Program Manager (3.1.1)

Senior Research Engineer, I-V (ESD) (13.1)

Senior Research Chemist, I-V (PSD) (13.2)

Senior Research Engineer, I-V (OD) (13.3)

Senior Research Engineer, I-V (ISD) (13.4)

Senior Research Environmental Chemist, I-V (PSD) (13.5)

Senior Research Statistician, I-V (ISD) (13.6)

Senior Research Engineer, I-V (ARO-W/OSD) (13.7)

Senior Research Engineer, I-V (ESD) (13.8)

Senior Research Engineer, I-V (ESD) (13.9) (Amendment 1 to the Solicitation is updated to reflect this position. This position was not in the initial Solicitation.)

** See Section 3.1.1 Program Management **

The decision to propose additional FTE’s such as administrative personnel or other labor categories in support of the Key Personnel is at the discretion of the contractor.

2. Question: Are these FTE's the only positions required for pricing? Or are there more?

Answer: See Answer to Question 1.

3. Question: The position titles in Section B.7 are different from the position titles in the PWS.

Please clarify which position titles the Government prefers the contractor to use in response to this solicitation and confirm the key personnel.

Answer: See Answer to Question 1 (Key Personnel).

4. Question: Are labor rates to be submitted for all levels in a specific labor category or for just the categories proposed, e.g., Senior Research Chemist I-V?

Answer: Please propose labor rates for the specific labor categories that are being proposed for this award.

5. Question: The Technical Performance Volume indicates a maximum of 25 pages in section L.3 of the RFP. However, in Section L.3.4 Section II Management and Quality Assurance Plan, the RFP indicates that there is a maximum of 25 pages for this section. Please clarify if this is in addition to the 25 pages stated above, or is this another reminder that the entire volume should only be 25 pages.

Answer: Amendment 1 to the Solicitation revises the page count for each section.

6. Question: Do the Cover pages, Acronyms, Compliance Matrix and Table of Contents pages count toward the 25 page limit in the Technical proposal?

Answer: No; acronyms, compliance matrix and table of contents are not included in the page count.

7. Question: Section L.4 of the RFP indicates a page limit of 25 pages for the Cost Volume. Is this a 25-page limit for the entire cost volume or just the unburdened rate information, as Section (3) b of the Total Cost Summary indicates there is no page limit for supporting narrative?

Answer: Amendment 1 to the Solicitation revises the page count for the cost section to reflect there is no page limitation for the cost section.

8. Question: L.3.3 Section III Management and Quality Assurance Plan requires a Management and Quality Assurance Plan. Please clarify if the Government is requesting the entire plan or just a Retention Plan?

Answer: The Government is requesting both a Management and Quality Assurance Plan. The Solicitation states that the Offeror should provide the approach to managing the effort in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, and assurance of quality of work according to Performance Base Standards. **Includes evaluation of retention rates, the approach to maintain an effective staff during performance, manage transition from the current contract and provide appropriate staff by the start date.**

9. Question: Will the Government answer questions as they are received or wait until the 29 Aug.

end date for questions?

Answer: Questions will be answered as received.

10. Question: May the Quality Control Plan be submitted within 30 days after contract award since it is not specified in the section L instructions?

Answer: The Quality Control Plan will be submitted after award. The Quality Control Plan is not the same as the Quality Assurance Plan. See Section 17.1.3

17.1.3. The Contractor shall develop and submit a Contractor’s Quality Control Plan for Government approval. Upon award of the contract, the Contractor shall meet with the Contracting Officer and Contracting Officer Representative to obtain the Government’s modifications and input for the Contractor’s final QAP. The Contractor shall submit the final QCP within 30 calendar days after award. The Contractor shall review and update the quality control plan and submit for approval of changes if necessary 90 calendar days prior to the beginning of each option period.

11. Question: Is there a page limit for the QCP?

Answer: This is required for post-award with no page limit.

12. Question: Is the Offsite PM a funded/billable position?

Answer: Yes

13. Question: PWS 3.1.11.1 states that both full time and part time positions are anticipated. Which positions are full time and which are part time?

Answer: All Key Personnel are FTE’s. It is at the Offeror’s discretion if part time positions will be proposed. See response to Question 1.

14. Question: What are the number of hours for a full time position and number of hours for a part time position?

Answer: See Section 3.1.11.1; Full –time (40 hours per week). A man year is equal to 1,920 hours a year. See Amendment 1 to the Solicitation.

15. Question: Is the management and quality assurance plan page limit of 25 pages considered separate from the 25 page limit for the entire Technical/Performance Volume?

Answer: Yes. See Amendment 1 of the Solicitation.

16. Question: Resumes for Non Key personnel are limited to a max of 5 pages: Is that maximum of 5 pages per resume per Non Key personnel?

Answer: See Amendment 1 of the Solicitation. Resumes for Key Personnel and Non Key Personnel are not to exceed 5 pages per person.

17. Are the maximum of 5 pages for Non Key Personnel part of the 25 page limit for the technical/performance volume?

Answer: No, See Amendment 1 to the Solicitation.

18. Question: What is the limit for Key Personnel resumes?

Answer: Maximum 5 pages per person.

19. Question: With the potential of 8 key labor cat positions (minimum of 16 pages) within a 25 page limit, that leaves only 9 pages to address the remaining Section L and PWS requirements.

Will the Government establish a new proposal total page count?

Answer: Yes, please see Amendment 1 to the Solicitation.

20. Question: Section C does not identify which labor categories are considered key personnel.

Which labor categories are Key and Non Key?

Answer: See Answer to Question 1.

21. Question: A well detailed and thought out OCI Prevention Plan can consist of 10-15 pages. We request that the OCI prevention plan be a separate attachment to the proposal and not part of the 25 page count for the tech volume.

Answer: The OCI Prevention Plan will be a separate attachment and not part of the 25 page count.

22. Question: The phrase “with the exception of the transition and business planning development activities described below” is that in reference to the evaluation criteria identified for Management and Quality Assurance Plan section? If not, what are the activities described below in reference to?

Answer: See Amendment 1 to the Solicitation. The wording described below has been removed.

23. Question: Are Key Personnel (referred on Section L, para L3(2) Section II – Key Personnel, pg

62) not being evaluated per Section M?

Answer: Key Personnel will be evaluated as part of Section M. See Technical Factor under M.2.

Technical: Includes evaluation of the offeror’s approach and demonstrated ability to perform the tasks specified in the solicitation. Includes evaluation of the offeror’s detailed plan to execute tasks. Includes evaluation of the proposed project team, in terms of education, experience, and demonstrated ability to perform tasks. Demonstrated specific/relevant DOD and SETA or related technical experience will be considered a strength during evaluation.

24. Question: Are Past Performance Questionnaires required and if so, does the Government have a specific questionnaire that is to be completed?

Answer: The Government will check references and CPARS.

25. Question: The solicitation provides a list of KMP which we can price on the cost proposal.

However, the solicitation is vague in providing data about the other personnel which maybe required for successful execution of the requirement. Is there a comprehensive list of LCATS (KMP and the other personnel) which can allow us to price a more concrete cost proposal?

Currently the solicitation requires the interested contractor to price the following positions:

Senior Research Engineer III, Materials Scientist, Senior Research Engineer IV, Math Modeling Complex Systems, Environmental Chemist, Senior Research Scientist III (2 positions), and Senior Research Engineer IV.Are these FTE's the only positions required for pricing? Or are there more?

Answer: See Answer to Question 1.

26. Question: My accounting system has been independently approved for CPFF contracts by a CPA certified accountant. Is this sufficient?

Answer: See Section L.6 – Business Proposal

Contractor’s Accounting System: In accordance with the FAR Part 16.301-3, Limitations, (a) (3), the Offeror shall provide evidence that its accounting system is adequate for determining costs under cost reimbursement contracts. The requirements set forth in this subsection of the FAR must be met before a Cost type contract can be awarded. A DCAA approved accounting system is required prior to award; should the selected proposer not be able to fulfill this requirement, the Government reserves the right to award to the next highest rated proposal.

27. Question: Our team anticipates Secret Facility Clearance will be awarded early-September.

However delays occur and it can be pushed to September. Will this be an issue?

Answer: A Secret Facility Clearance will need to be established before award or proof of steps toward clearance approval.

28. Question: Will the Government please consider accepting documentation from a third party CPA firm that the accounting system has been setup in accordance with DCAA requirements prior to award and subsequently request an accounting system review by DCAA post or prior to award of the winning proposal? Many 8a firm do not have a DCAA reviewed/approved accounting system and this could prohibit fair competition among 8a companies.

Answer: An approved accounting system is required from DCAA and a third party CPA firm will not be accepted.

29. Question: RFP, page 10 of 69, Section B.7 says “the contractor shall assume full-time equivalents (FTE’s) for each of the anticipated Key-Personnel listed in the PWS….”, yet the labor categories listed in this section do not specifically correlate to labor categories in the PWS, including the divisions that the key personnel will support since they are also annotated in the PWS. Will the Government please clarify the key personnel requirements for resume submission and pricing?

Answer: All positions are FTE’s. See Answer to Question 1 and Amendment 1 of the Solicitation.

30. Question: RFP, page 63 of 69, Section L.6 Business Proposal (1). The instructions state that the Offeror is to submit a schedule showing total proposed hours summarized by labor skill mix per CLIN, however, there is not enough information in the PWS to make a determination as to what level of effort (hours and labor category) to propose. Section 3.1.2 of the PWS states “The contractor shall provide continuous support consistent with ARO’s mission and objectives…..”

there is no specificity as to what support is required. The PWS Section 3.1.11.1 also states “Full time (40 hours per week) and part-time positions are anticipated, yet there is no delineation as to what labor categories require part-time or full-time support.

Answer: See Amendment 1 to the Solicitation.

31. Question: Based on the above, would the Government please consider an extension to the Due date by a minimum of 14 days beyond the current due date of 12 September 2017?

Answer: The Government is extending the due date to 20 September 2017. See Amendment 1 of the Solicitation.

32. Question: Section M - Paragraph (e) states, "For evaluation purposes only, in determining probable cost for options in the out-years, wage determination rates shall be escalated three (3) percent per year." Wage determination rates typically refer to labor categories subject to the Service Contract Act and the applicable wage determination by location. The labor categories relevant to this effort are not subject to the Service Contract Act. Did the Government intend to require the use of 3% escalation for this effort?

Answer: See Amendment 1 to the Solicitation. Wage Determinations are not required for SETA Services and the Offeror is not required to propose a 3% escalation. See Amendment 1 to the Solicitation.

33. Question: Section L requires that DD Form 254 Section J be added as an attachment to the Technical Volume. Is this where the Government would like the offeror to add the Reps and Certs pages? The Offeror understands that these pages are not counted in the 25 -page limit.

Answer: Yes, Reps and Certs can be added in this Section.

34. Question: Are resumes included in the Technical volume 25-page limit?

Answer: See Answer to Question 17.

35. Question: Can the Offeror include Letters of Commitment as an attachment to the Technical Volume?

Answer: Yes

36. Question: Does the Certificate of Cost and Pricing Data apply to the Cost Volume 25 page limit?

Answer: The Section for Cost does not have a page limitation. See Amendment 1 to the Solicitation.

37. Question: Does the Government intend to award Cost Plus and Fixed Price task orders or are some CLINS cost reimbursable and other CLINS fixed price?

Answer: Fixed Price Task orders will not be issued.

38. Question: How does the Government define retention (e.g., per contract term or per company, overall) or is it up to the Contractor to define?

Answer: See Answer to Question 8.

39. Question: Will the Government consider allowing 8 or 10 point font in tables, figures and graphics as long as the items are legible and clear to the reader?

Answer: Please use 12 point font.

40. Question: Will the Government consider allowing past performance to exist outside of the 25-page limit for the technical/performance volume, as an appendix, provided each contract reference is two pages or less?

Answer: See Amendment 1 to the Solicitation.