Amendment 2 Attachment 1.pdf

Question 1: Could you please confirm the total number of awards anticipated for this requirement?

Answer: The Government’s intent is that this solicitation will result in the award of a multiple award Task Order Contract. Number of awards will be based on proposal quality and best-value considerations. Any references to a single award are hereby deleted.

Question 2: Can the Government provide clarification regarding the Solicitation response structure versus the Task Order Response? It appears that Vol 2 of the Response consists solely of the Task Order Response. If this interpretation is correct, the Technical Volume will contain both Technical AND Management response for the TOR. But the Solicitation Section L shows a page count for Vol 2 of 25 pages, while the TOR shows the task order being a total of 30 pages with 15 pages for Technical and 15 pages for Management.

Answer: TOR 0001 is hereby converted to a sample task for proposal evaluation purposes only. The intent of this change is to evaluate an offeror’s technical and management approach. The table with page counts in L.1.7 is revised to read as follows:

Volume and Evaluation Factors Page Limitations

1. Management 30 + 15 for the sample task

2. Technical 25 + 15 for the sample task

3. Past Perfomrnace See paragraph L.2.3.1

4. Cost No Page Restrictions

5. Cover Letter 5 Pages

Table of Contents, Resume, Letter of Commitment, and list of acronyms are excluded from page counts. The sample task is the PWS that was provided as an attachment in TOR 0001.

Offeror’s are instructed to follow the submission instructions in the solicitation and there are no changes to the file naming convention.

Question 3: Under 3.3.1 of TOR 00001, the instructions say to "break out and detail all costs..." Under the PWS Task 12 it says, "The Contractor shall be issued funds for stipends, travel and relocation (housing)..." can the Government confirm that these costs are to be excluded from the price proposal?

Answer: TOR 0001 is hereby converted to a sample task for proposal evaluation purposes only. The intent of this change is to evaluate an offeror’s technical and management approach, not their ability to price a hypothetical scenario.

Consequently, offerors are instructed not to propose costs for Other Direct Costs (ODCs). This exclusion applies to all variable, non-labor costs such as (but not limited to) participant travel, stipends, housing, event facility fees, workshop materials, and other logistical expenses. Any questions related to the specific quantities, locations, timelines, or costs for these types of items are not applicable to this proposal.

Instead, the Government will evaluate the offeror’s proposed technical and management solution to successfully execute the full scope of tasks described in the sample PWS. Offerors must propose the fully burdened labor costs associated with the personnel and level of effort required for their unique proposed solution to the sample task.

All specifics regarding ODC types, quantities, and funding mechanisms will be defined within individual Task Order Requests issued against the IDIQ contract. For evaluation purposes, the sample task has a twelve (12) month base period with no options.

Question 4: Under 3.3.1 of TOR 00001, the instructions say to "break out and detail all costs..." Under the PWS Task 13, can the Government confirm that travel, lodging, per diem, and event ODC and travel costs are to be excluded from the price proposal?

Answer: Please see the response to Question 3.

Question 5: Under 3.3.1 of TOR 00001, the instructions say to "break out and detail all costs..." Under the PWS Task 15, can the Government confirm that event ODC and travel costs are to be excluded from the price proposal?

Question 6: Under section L.2.1 of the Solicitation, the Government has identified one key personnel and states, "The Offeror shall provide a resume not to exceed three (3) pages for each employee or prospective employee designated to fill a key position" TOR 001 section 3.2.3, states that offeror shall provide a resume not to exceed three (3) pages for each employee or prospective employee proposed. Are offerors to provide only key personnel resumes, or a resume for each proposed employee?

Answer: As indicated in Question 3, TOR 0001 has been converted to a sample task. The only resume that is required is for the Program Manager as identified L.2.1 of the solicitation.

Question 7: Under TOR Section 1.6, Are participant volumes expected to scale across option years, or remain relatively consistent throughout the period of performance?

Answer: The Government does not guarantee specific participant volumes or a predictable scaling model year-over-year, as program needs are expected to fluctuate based on funding and mission priorities. All participant numbers will be defined at the individual task order level. In their Management Volume, offerors should describe a management approach that is flexible and inherently scalable to effectively accommodate a range of participant volumes as may be directed by future task orders. Refer to sample task for sample participant volume.

Question 8: Under TOR Section 3.2.3 For the Program Manager position, will the Government consider demonstrated, relevant program management experience managing comparable federal STEM, internship, or outreach programs as an acceptable substitute for a specific academic degree requirement, provided the individual otherwise meets the management and leadership expectations of the role?

Answer: TOR 0001 has been converted to a sample task as indicated in the Government’s answer to Question 3. Requirements for the Program Manager are outlined in L.2.1.

Question 9: Under TOR Section 3.1 and 3.2.3 Can the Government clarify whether resumes are evaluated strictly under the Technical factor, or also considered under the Management factor when assessing staffing strategy and leadership capability?

Answer: The only required resume is for the Key Personnel (Program Manager) identified in L.2.1. Please see question 3 regarding the sample task.

Question 10: Under Solicitation Section A, Paragraph 8, TOR Section 3.3 – Cost/Price Proposal, Given the prohibition on including assumptions in proposals, can the Government confirm how Offerors should address cost elements that depend on Government-provided inputs not specified in the TOR (e.g., stipend amounts, participant counts, travel frequency, housing/relocation limits)? Specifically, will the Government provide standardized planning figures for pricing purposes, or should Offerors price to a common not-to-exceed framework provided by the Government?

Answer: Please see answer to question #3.

Question 11: The TOR requires submission of resumes in Volume II, Technical (Section 3.2.3), while the Management evaluation criteria (Section 5.1) state that Key Personnel will be reviewed “to include a review of resumes.” Can the Government confirm whether resumes are to be submitted only in the Technical volume and evaluated under both the Technical and Management factors, or whether Offerors are expected to include resumes or resume summaries in both the Technical and Management volumes?

Answer: The only resume to be submitted is for the Program Manger as shown in L.2.1. Please see Question 3 regarding the sample task.

Question 12: Solicitation states the Contractor must possess or obtain a Secret FCL prior to contract award.

Please confirm whether an offeror without an existing FCL is ineligible for award, or whether award can be made conditional upon the offeror obtaining the FCL after selection (and if conditional, provide required milestones/timeframes). A): To maximize competition (including new WOSB primes), will the Government accept proposals from Offerors that do NOT hold an active Secret FCL at the time of proposal submission, provided the Offeror commits that (i) the Government will sponsor initiation of the Prime’s Secret FCL immediately upon identification as the apparent successful offeror, (ii) the Prime will obtain the Secret FCL prior to performing any work requiring access to classified information, and (iii) the Prime will perform only unclassified tasks (and/or use a cleared subcontractor enclave if needed) until the Prime’s FCL is granted? B):

If the answer is no, please confirm whether a fully adjudicated Secret FCL is required at proposal submission or only prior to base contract award, and whether a subcontractor’s Secret FCL may satisfy any portion of the classified-access requirement during the Prime’s FCL processing period.

Answer: A Contractor does not need and FCL to be active upon award; obtaining the FCL is a conditional requirement. The Prime contractor may leverage a sub-contractor with an FCL for the sub-contractor to fulfill classified requirements, once the offeror is sponsored and obtains an interim FCL. DCSA is the agency responsible for the FCL process. Please review DCSA’s website at https://dcsa.mil/FCL for references and reach out to DCSA for any specific questions relating to the process.

Question 13: For an offeror that does not currently hold an FCL, please clarify the Government’s expected sponsorship path to initiate DCSA processing (e.g., which Government activity serves as sponsor) and what proposal evidence the Government expects to see regarding security readiness (FSO identified, security plan, etc.).

Answer: Please see Question #12

Question 14: Will the Government accept a structure where the prime does not currently have an FCL and performs only unclassified functions while a cleared subcontractor performs any work requiring classified access, given the requirement that the Contractor must have a Secret FCL prior to award?

Answer: Please see Question #12.

Question 15: Please confirm what aspects of performance are expected to involve classified information (deliverables, meetings, facilities access, etc.), the highest classification level anticipated, and whether a DD Form 254 will be issued at award and/or at the task order level.

https://dcsa.mil/FCL

Answer: DD254s will be processed and provided at the task order level as required.

Question 16: Please confirm whether contractor personnel must hold Secret clearances prior to performance start and whether interim eligibility is acceptable for any roles.

Answer: Secret Clearence for individual employees is not required at the IDIQ level but may be applicable on a case-by-case basis at the task order level.

Question 17: The PWS directs entry of selectee information into JPAS, while the solicitation references DISS for Visit Access Requests (VARs). Please confirm the correct system(s) to be used (JPAS vs DISS) and the contractor’s responsibilities (data entry, VAR submission, investigation initiation, etc.) Also please clarify the contractor’s responsibilities for JPAS/DISS entry, VAR submissions, and any clearance-processing support versus Government sponsorship described in RFP Section C PWS 1.11.

Answer: The Draft PWS references legacy systems and processes. The Defense Information System for Security (DISS) is the current system of record for personnel security, replacing the Joint Personnel Adjudication System (JPAS). The contractor shall use DISS for all personnel security actions, including initiations and VARs, as required by individual task orders. Government sponsorship for clearances and access will be provided in accordance with Section H of the Draft PWS.

Question 18: The solicitation references processing of “T3 clearances” where necessary. Please define what “T3” means in this context, who initiates/submits the packages, expected Government/contractor responsibilities, and whether the contractor must budget labor for this security-processing support.

Answer: A Tier 3 (T3) investigation is the standard background investigation required for access to Secret-level classified information. As stated in the Draft PWS, the Contractor is responsible for processing required clearances. The contractor, through their Facility Security Officer (FSO), shall initiate and submit the necessary packages via DISS. The contractor will act as the sponsoring agency. Offerors should propose labor necessary to meet the security requirements outlined in the solicitation and the sample task.

Question 19: The solicitation states foreign nationals are not authorized (with a limited distribution statement exception). Please confirm whether this restriction applies to (a) contractor employees, (b) program participants/students, or (c) both-and what documentation is required to validate eligibility.

Answer: As stated in Section 1.5.1 of the Solicitation, "Foreign Nationals will not be authorized to work on this contract." This restriction applies to both contractor personnel and any student participants who may be hired or compensated through the contract. The Contractor is responsible for verifying the citizenship eligibility of all participants and personnel.

Question 20: Please clarify CAC/PIV sponsorship and prerequisites for contractor personnel and/or participants (who sponsors, required investigation level, lead time, and whether CAC is required for all contractor staff or only those requiring facility access).

Answer: As stated in Section H of the Draft PWS and Section 1.6.1 of the Solicitation, the Government will sponsor the appropriate credentials, including Common Access Cards (CACs), for contractor personnel requiring access to DoD facilities or networks. An employee must have, at a minimum, a favorably adjudicated Tier 1 (T1) investigation to be issued a CAC. CACs are not required for all contractor staff but only for those whose duties require it as defined in Section 1.6.1 of the Solicitation.

Question 21: Please confirm DD Form 254 applicability and responsibilities: Will the prime be required to generate/maintain subcontract DD254s (e.g., in NCCS), and at what point (proposal, award, or post-award)?

Answer: Please see Question 15.

Question 22: Please confirm Past Performance evaluation treatment for offerors with no recent/relevant corporate past performance: Will such offerors receive Neutral Confidence and not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably?

Answer: As stated in the solicitation: If no relevant/recent past performance, Offerors will receive neutral/unknown confidence rating and will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably.

Question 23: For a newly formed corporate entity, the solicitation allows submission of prior contracts involving officers/employees with details on roles and letters of commitment. Please confirm how the Government will weigh this information relative to corporate past performance examples.

Answer: Any past performance listed will be evaluated following the guidance in M.4.5

Question 24: Will the Government consider relevant past performance from major subcontractors/teaming partners? If yes, please confirm how it will be evaluated (under prime’s Past Performance factor vs separate consideration), whether any minimum percentage of work is required for consideration, and required documentation (PPQs/CPARS/POCs).

Answer: Submitted past performance needs to be from the Offeror (M.4.5.1) or from a predecessor company if that is the only examples of relevant past performance (M.4.5.5)

Question 25: When claiming past performance from a parent/affiliate/subsidiary, please clarify what evidence is sufficient to demonstrate that the same management, workforce, and resources will perform this requirement (so the Government can reasonably attribute performance to the offeror).

Answer: L.2.3.3 states if the past performance is from a parent, affiliate, or subsidiary, will need to identify the parent, affiliate, or subsidiary, describe the relationship, and indicate which entity or company will perform the effort. This information shall not exceed one (1) page.

Question 26: Please confirm limitations on predecessor/“future relationship” past performance. Specifically, what documentation is required when claiming predecessor past performance that will be considered, and confirm that performance from entities that might become part of the offeror in the future will not be considered.

Answer: L.2.3.4 states to provide the information for the recent and relevant contract of the predecessor company and document the history of the evolution from the predecessor. Any corporate experience of a company that in the future might, but not yet, become a part of the Offeror's company, including but not limited to any pending novation agreements, mergers, and, acquisitions will NOT be considered.

Question 27: The solicitation states the base ordering period is five years and order periods of performance are set at the task order level. Please confirm the TOR 0001 period of performance structure (base and option periods, if any) and whether TOR 0001 options are exercised solely at the Government’s discretion.

Answer: Please see question #3.

Question 28: The solicitation indicates task orders are performed at contractor sites (CONUS), but the TOR/PWS includes extensive coordination with host labs and participant onboarding/access. Please confirm required on-site presence by contractor staff (locations, frequency, and badging requirements).

Answer: Please see question #3 for information.

Question 29: How should Offerors comply with the prohibition on submitting assumptions/exceptions while also responding to the instruction to 'identify any exceptions/deviations' and 'assumptions used'? Is the Government requesting only cost-estimating assumptions (e.g., basis of estimate) while prohibiting performance-condition caveats/exceptions? If so, please confirm that a statement of 'No exceptions;

estimating assumptions only' is acceptable.

Answer: Please see Question 3.

Question 30: Website scope and compliance: the PWS requires a website with online application intake, Government access, and SSL. Please confirm the cybersecurity and privacy requirements for the contractor-developed website/application portal and applicant database, including whether the system will process/host CUI and whether compliance with DFARS 252.204-7012 / NIST SP 800-171 (or other standards) is required. Will the Government provide the hosting/environment, or is contractor-provided hosting required?

Is an Authority to Operate (ATO) or other security authorization required prior to going live?

Answer: The website and associated database will host and process Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and application data, which is considered CUI. Therefore, the contractor-provided solution must comply with the cybersecurity standards outlined in DFARS 252.204-7012, DFARS 252.204-7021, and NIST SP 800-171. An Authority to Operate (ATO) may be required depending on the final system architecture and hosting environment, and details will be specified at the task order level.

Question 31: For Government access to applications, please clarify the access model: number of Government users, roles/permissions, MFA/CAC requirements, and whether access must extend to multiple labs/organizations.

Answer: The system must support role-based access for an unspecified number of Government users across multiple DoW laboratories and organizations for the purposes of application evaluation and selection. The system must support multi-factor authentication (MFA).

Question 32: The PWS states that past applicant/participant information is in Government possession and must be kept confidential. Please confirm what historical data will be provided (fields, volume, format), when it will be delivered, and whether data cleansing/migration is in scope Also, what is the process for Government updates to participating lab/contact information during performance?

Answer: Historical data necessary for program execution will be provided by the Government upon award of a task order. The format and volume of this data will be specified at that time. The contractor will be responsible for any data cleansing/migration into their proposed system. The government updates the participating lab/contact information during progress reviews.

Question 33: Please identify the specific PII/CUI handling requirements expected for applicant/participant data, including any applicable DFARS/DoD privacy requirements and whether applicant/participant PII will be treated as CUI for storage/transmission.

Answer: Please see Question 3. Specific requirements would be identified at the task order level, when solicited through a task order request.

Question 34: Please provide the NDA template/requirements referenced for handling applicant/participant information and clarify whether all contractor personnel (including subcontractors) must execute the NDA prior to receipt of any data.

Answer: The Government does not provide a standard NDA template for this solicitation. The contractor is responsible for ensuring its personnel comply with the non-disclosure requirements inherent in the data protection clauses already cited in the contract. If a specific, Government-formatted NDA is required for a particular task, it will be provided at the task order level.

Question 35: Please provide expected annual quantities for pricing, including: number of applicants processed, number of selected participants/interns supported, number of participating labs supported, expected workshops/events per year, and expected year-over-year growth. Additionally, please provide any standard stipend rate ranges/duration assumptions and expected participant travel and tuition/fee ranges (if applicable) for TOR 0001.

Answer: Please refer to question 3 response.

Question 36: The PWS requires assisting 50 potential applicants in the first year. Please clarify whether 50 is a minimum, target, or ceiling, and whether it refers to completed applications, eligible applicants, or assisted contacts.

Question 37: The PWS states that a panel of R&D experts/managers may be convened “if required.” Please clarify when a panel is required, expected panel size, number of occurrences per year, and whether panelists are Government personnel, contractor personnel, or external SMEs.

Answer: Per Task 8 of the Draft PWS ('Application Evaluation & Selection Support'), the contractor is responsible for convening and coordinating the R&D expert evaluation panels. The labor to perform this function is a core requirement of the sample task and must be included in your price proposal. However, any associated ODCs, such as travel costs for the expert panelists themselves, are to be excluded in accordance with the response to Question 3.

Question 38: The PWS notes security clearance may be required and participation is limited to U.S. citizens.

Please clarify the exact participant eligibility rules (citizenship, clearance, background checks), required documentation, and whether eligibility differs by lab/technical area Additionally, Task 6 notes that 'some restrictions may apply to permanent residents regarding eligibility.' Please clarify whether permanent residents are eligible to participate in positions that do not require a clearance, and what restrictions apply (e.g., documentation, access limitations).

Answer: Core eligibility requirements, such as United States citizenship, are defined in the base Performance Work Statement and solicitation documents (e.g., Section 1.5.1 of the Solicitation and Task 6 of the Draft PWS). Offerors should base their management and recruitment approach on these foundational requirements. Any additional, cohort-specific eligibility criteria, such as particular fields of study, security clearance needs, or required academic levels (e.g., undergraduate, graduate), will be clearly defined in each individual Task Order Request.

Question 39: The PWS states the contractor will be issued funds for stipends, travel, and relocation/housing and will process stipends bi-weekly through payroll. Please confirm whether the Government will provide these dollars in advance or reimburse the contractor after disbursement, and specify invoice substantiation requirements Also confirm whether tuition/fees (if applicable) are handled similarly, whether the contractor is expected to make payments directly to participants and/or universities, and whether any Government-furnished payment mechanism/system is provided.

Answer: The specific funding mechanism for Other Direct Costs (ODCs), including whether funds for items like stipends and travel will be provided in advance or on a cost-reimbursable basis, will be specified in each individual Task Order Request. Offerors should possess financial systems capable of managing both funding profiles as may be required by different task orders

Question 40: Stipend rate-setting: the PWS references an “agreed upon amount.” Please confirm whether stipend amounts/rates are fixed by the Government, proposed by the contractor and negotiated, or vary by participant attributes (degree level, location, duration).

Answer: Please see question 3.

Question 41: Participant compensation mechanics: since stipends are processed through corporate payroll, please clarify whether participants are treated as contractor employees (W-2), stipend recipients (1099), or another status, and confirm any Government expectations regarding taxes/withholding/fringe/insurance.

Answer: The precise legal classification of participants for tax purposes (e.g., W-2, 1099, or other status) and the resulting IRS reporting requirements are dependent on the offeror’s approved accounting system and corporate policies. Offerors must propose an approach that is compliant with all applicable federal and state tax laws. The Government will not dictate the specific tax treatment.

Question 42: Relocation and travel within stipend: the PWS states the stipend includes potential relocation and travel. Please define allowable relocation/travel cost elements, caps/limits, receipt requirements, and whether unused relocation/travel amounts are returned or may be reallocated.

Question 43: RFP travel/JTR references. Please identify the applicable travel CLIN(s) and ceilings for TOR 0001, and clarify whether participant travel and contractor staff travel are separate CLINs and which costs are allowable under each.

Question 44: Travel booking/payment: please confirm whether the contractor is expected to book travel and pay vendors directly, reimburse participants after incurring costs, and/or use Government travel systems (e.g., DTS), and clarify per diem/lodging rules applicable to participants versus contractor staff.

Answer: The labor to administer travel logistics must be included in your sample task proposal. The specific method (direct booking vs. reimbursement) will be defined at the task order level, while the travel costs themselves are ODCs and should be excluded per the response to Question 3.

Question 45: TOR 0001 states that travel within 50 miles of the offeror’s primary business location is not reimbursed. Please clarify whether this applies only to contractor staff travel, or also to participant local travel near a lab/site Please also clarify whether participant (student) travel that the contractor administers is reimbursable regardless of the contractor’s location, and whether local travel (e.g., within the NCR) is reimbursable when required by the PWS.

Question 46: Fee/profit restrictions: TOR 0001 states no fee/profit on travel for prime and subs, and the solicitation limits fee on ODCs (including stipends/travel). Please confirm exactly which elements are cost-no-fee for TOR 0001 (participant stipends, participant travel, housing, contractor travel, other ODCs).

Answer: Per the response to Question 3, your sample task proposal must exclude all ODCs

Question 47: Housing arrangements: the solicitation states the contractor will obtain housing arrangements for participants. Please clarify whether the contractor must sign leases/master agreements, whether specific providers are mandated/approved, and any liability expectations.

Answer: Proposal should include the labor to administer housing support. The specific level of this support will be defined at the task order level. Please refer to Question 3.

Question 48: Workshop/seminar travel: the solicitation indicates participants are funded for one workshop during tenure and contractor coordinates travel/per diem. Please clarify expected number of participants traveling per year, typical locations, and whether Government facilities/meeting space are provided at no cost.

Answer: Workshop cost should be excluded as annotated in question 3. Administrative labor should be addressed regarding the number of interns identified in sample task.

Question 49: Reporting frequency conflict: the PWS requires monthly stipend status reporting and quarterly financial status reporting, but Exhibit A indicates “Once per Iteration.” Please confirm the controlling frequency for each CDRL and define what the Government means by “iteration.” Please define 'iteration' for CDRLs A001-A004 and confirm the required report frequency and due dates for each report.

Answer: The deliverable frequencies are specified in Section B of the Draft PWS and will be further defined at the task order level. The Stipend Status Report is monthly, and the Financial Status Report is quarterly.

"Iteration" in Exhibit A (CDRL) should be interpreted as the frequency specified in the PWS (e.g., monthly, quarterly).

Question 50: Please provide any required report templates and specify the required data fields/level of detail for stipend status reports and financial status reports (including whether reconciliation to invoices is required).

Answer: Specific templates are not provided. The required data elements for each report are detailed in Section B of the Draft PWS and will be further defined at the task order level. The contractor shall propose a format that includes all required information.

Question 51: Exhibit A (CDRL delivery remarks). Exhibit A references delivery via FTP/CD-ROM/DVD-ROM “media selected by Government.” Please confirm the preferred delivery method (e.g., secure electronic transfer such as SFTP) and whether physical media delivery is still expected.

Answer: The preferred method for deliverable submission is secure electronic transfer. Physical media is not the expected primary method of delivery. The CDRL draft has been updated.

Question 52: Subcontracting consent: please clarify any consent-to-subcontract thresholds and expected KO lead times for approving key subcontractors under this requirement.

Answer: If any subcontracts are proposed, and included in the initial proposal, base IDIQ award would authorize the subcontract.

Question 53: TOR 0001 requires a cost analysis supporting subcontractor pricing and disclosure of dollars/percent subcontracted. Please clarify whether this applies to all subcontractors or only major subs, and whether any certified cost/pricing data is expected at any threshold.

Answer: Cost analysis would be required for any subcontractor. Certified Cost and Pricing data is required if the threshold in FAR 15.403 is exceeded.

Question 54: For offerors receiving Neutral Confidence due to no corporate past performance, please confirm how the Government will weigh Technical/Management approach and key personnel qualifications in the overall best-value tradeoff.

Answer: As stated in the solicitation (M.2.1), this is a best value source selection. Management Factor is most important factor, with the Technical Factor being more important than Past Performance. If offerors receive a Neutral Confidence, then Past Performance will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably.

Question 55: For an offeror without an existing FCL, what specific proposal evidence would the Government consider adequate to demonstrate security readiness (FSO identified, security SOPs, subcontract DD254 process, DISS/VAR procedures, interim measures, etc.)?

Answer: Please see Question #12.

Question 56: Please identify which labor categories/roles must hold Secret clearance (and/or require access to classified spaces/information) and which may remain uncleared, to enable compliant staffing and pricing.

Answer: The Program requirement is that the contractor shall be required to have a SECRET facility clearance. Secret clearance for individual employees are not required at the IDIQ level but may be applicable on a case by case basis at the task order level. The need for individual security clearances will be defined and articulated in the task order request.

Question 57: Please confirm the official TOR 0001 dates (issue date, questions due, proposal due date/time) and the proposal submission method. If a web-based submission system is allowed/required, what is the system name/link and submission instructions? If email submission is required, please confirm the TO proposal email address(es), required subject line format, and whether multiple emails are permitted when files exceed the 10MB limit.

Answer: Please see Question 3

Question 58: For the Task Order 0001 response submitted with this solicitation, should Offerors follow (a) the RFP’s 5-volume structure and page limits, or (b) TOR 0001’s 3-volume structure and 15-page limits for Volumes I and II? If the RFP volumes govern, where should TOR Volume I (Management) content be addressed (RFP Volume 1 vs. separate attachment), and what are the applicable page limits for the TOR-related content?

Answer: Please see Questions 2 and 3

Question 59: For Task Order 0001, may Offerors propose either CPFF or FFP as stated in RFP L.2.4.1.10, or must Offerors propose CPFF as indicated on the TOR 0001 cover page? If FFP is allowable, are there any constraints (e.g., which CLIN(s) would be FFP) and is the pricing template different?

Question 60: Please clarify how the four-year application retention requirement will be handled if it extends beyond the end of the task order period of performance. Is the contractor required to retain data after POP end (and if so, under what contract mechanism/funding), or should the contractor transfer the records/database to the Government at closeout to satisfy the retention requirement?

Answer: As stated in Task 1.3.7.1 of the Solicitation, records of selected individuals shall be preserved following the conclusion of their participation or transferred to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) upon completion of the task order. All other application records must be retained for four years from the date of application. At contract closeout, the contractor will be required to transfer all program data to the Government or a successor contractor.

Question 61: Please provide planning assumptions for the in-person workshop and the two Opportunity events/webinars, including expected number of events per year, duration, target audience size, location (e.g., Gov facility vs contractor-provided), and whether the Government will provide speakers/venue/security support. Also confirm whether the 'annual CCDC ARL Outreach Workshop' referenced in evaluation is the same event as the PWS in-person workshop, or an additional requirement.

Question 62: Are the After-Action Report (Task 13) and Event Summary (Task 14) considered formal deliverables requiring Government acceptance (and if so, should they be added to Exhibit A/updated CDRLs), or are these informal communications (e.g., emailed summaries) not subject to CDRL requirements?

Answer: Task 13 and 14 are not subject to CRDL requirements.

Question 63: Please confirm the maximum page count for the Cover Letter (Volume 5): 3 pages per the Volume table, or 5 pages per L.2.5. Also confirm whether attachments/exhibits to the cover letter (e.g., signed

SF 1449, reps/certs) are excluded from the cover letter page count.

Answer: Please see question 3 and L.2.5.

Question 64: The TOR 0001 PWS states the Contractor “shall be issued funds for stipends, travel and relocation (housing)” and shall process stipend payments bi-weekly through corporate payroll and make payments for participant travel/other expenses. Please clarify the intended funding/payment mechanism: (a) will the Government provide these funds to the Contractor in advance (e.g., via a funded CLIN and/or other advance payment mechanism) for disbursement to participants, or (b) is the Contractor expected to pay stipends/travel costs first and then invoice for reimbursement? Additionally, please confirm whether any Government travel or payment system (e.g., DTS or other Government disbursing system) will be used to pay participants directly, or whether all payments to participants must be made directly by the Contractor.

Question 65: Does the government have a pricing sheet it would like for Offerors to use? If not, does the government want to see each labor category set up as a CLIN for cost detail purposes? Are there other elements that we must ensure we include in the cost proposal?

Answer: There is no pricing sheet as each Offeror will be pricing its own solution. Offerors should use its approved or acceptable accounting system to create its cost proposal.

Question 66: Would the Government please advise whether there is an incumbent for the requested services? If so, would the Government please provide the contract number and the associated contract value?

Answer: There is an existing multiple award IDIQ under contracts W911NF-21-D-0003 through W911NF-21- D-0007. All contracts have a ceiling value of $25,000,000.00.

Question 67: What are the LCATS the government is expecting to see outside of student interns and program manager.

Answer: Please see question 3. Offerors should propose the labor categories it feels are needed to complete the tasks outlined in the sample task.

Question 68: This section states that the interns work on government site and all other staff support will work on contractor site. Please confirm the Program Manager will not be expected to be onsite.

Answer: Offeror Program Manager is not expected to be on site.

Question 69: If the Program Manager is not expected to be on-site, how often is the Program Manager expected to be on-site for contractor-incurred cost and planning purposes?

Question 70: Section J, List of Attachments, references “Attachment 3 – TOR 1.” However, among the attachments provided, there is only a single document titled “TOR 1.” Please confirm whether the document titled “TOR_0001” is intended to serve as Attachment 3.

Answer: Please see Questions 2 and 3.

Question 71: Please confirm that offerors only need to supply resumes (1) for the key personnel in accordance with the instructions of the solicitation, and not the TOR_0001 Attachment.

Answer: Please see question 3. Additionally please see L.2.1 for Key Personnel (Program Manager) resume requirements.

Question 72: Please confirm that offerors only need to submit one resume, Program Manager, for this response.

Answer: Please see Question 71.

Question 73: Please confirm that the resume and information regarding the key personnel (Program Manager) are to be included in the Management Volume. The TOR_0001 attachment lists the key personnel in the technical volume.

Question 74: Please confirm offerors are to follow the page limitations for the Management Volume and Technical Volume listed in the solicitation (30, 25) and not the Tor_0001 attachment (15, 15).

Answer: Please see Question 2.

Question 75: The Government will only accept one (1) proposal from each Corporation. For example, if ABC Corporation has multiple divisions, the corporation must decide which division will submit a proposal. Failure to adhere to this term may result in all proposals from the Corporation being rejected: Will the government please advise if this impacts Joint Ventures (JV)? Can a JV bid and a member of the JV bid separately on this response?

Answer: An offeror that is part of a JV is not able to bid separately.

Question 76: Solicitation_-_W911NF26RA002 Section C - Description/Specifications/Statement of Work Task 7; 1.3.7.1.: Please advise what tools or software are currently being used? Is there a database currently or would this be developed from scratch?

Answer: As stated in Section 1.3.7.2 of the Solicitation, the government-designated application and selection database platform of record is currently Zengine. Offerors must propose an approach to operate and maintain this platform or an alternative commercial platform that meets all government requirements specified in the PWS and solicitation, subject to Government approval.

Question 77: Solicitation_-_W911NF26RA002 Section C - Description/Specifications/Statement of Work Task 7; 1.3.7.3.: Can the Government provide an example of a custom application that has been used in support of this program previously?

Answer: The Government is not able to provide an example of a previously used custom application.

Question 78: Solicitation_-_W911NF26RA002 Section C - Description/Specifications/Statement of Work Task 10; 1.3.10.: Please advise what is the frequency of these workshops (annual or is there more than one per year)?

Answer: The PWS workshop is once a year. Each Task Order Request may have a different workshop requirement and would be identified at the task order level

Question 79: Solicitation_-_W911NF26RA002 Section C - Description/Specifications/Statement of Work,

1.10 Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) : Will the government please provide a copy of the QASP

Answer: The Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) is a Government-internal document used to monitor contractor performance. It is developed based on the awarded contractor's proposed quality control plan and is not provided to offerors during the solicitation phase.

Question 80: Solicitation_-_W911NF26RA002 Section L - Instructions, Conditions, & Notices to Offerors or Quoter; L.1.7 *Written Consent of Major Subcontractors, Letter of Commitment, Manpower chart (Organizational chart), and Past Performance Questionnaires are excluded from the page count: Please advise if the Letter of Commitment is for personnel, subcontractors, or both?

Answer: Letter of Commitment is required for the Key Personnel and Major Subcontractors. The only key personnel identified is the Offeror’s Program Manager. See question 2 for additional page count information.

Question 81: Solicitation_-_W911NF26RA002 Section L - Instructions, Conditions, & Notices to Offerors or Quoter; L.1.7 Page limit is viewed as total pages within a file including, but not limited to, table of contents, cover page, glossary page, etc.: Will the government consider excluding the cover page and table of contents from page count as these are usually not a part of volume page counts? If not, please confirm that a table of contents is not a requirement for any of the volumes.

Answer: Please see Question 2. The Cover Page and Table of Contents will not be counted against this page limitation.

Question 82: Solicitation_-_W911NF26RA002 Section L - Instructions, Conditions, & Notices to Offerors or Quoter; L.2.1 Volume 1: Factor 1-Mangaement: In conjunction, the offeror shall: (1) Articulate their understanding/ability to manage day to day needs of the program elements to include intellectual property (IP) and PII; (2) a plan for providing time sensitive deliverables as defined in the Performance Work Statement;

(3) provide a plan for evaluating each program element of the PWS; (4) provide a plan for subcontracting work to other businesses; (5) provide an annual evaluation of the qualifications and credentials of personnel and businesses involved in the management and execution of the DEVCOM ARL Outreach; and (6) provide a robust Quality Control/ Quality Assurance plan that are compliant with federal regulations and requirements.

:Please advise what the government means by "evaluating"? Is this in relation to quality context, volume, or productivity?

Answer: An Offeror’s submitted Management Volume will be evaluated in accordance with M.4.1 and M.4.2

Question 83: Solicitation_-_W911NF26RA002 Section L - Instructions, Conditions, & Notices to Offerors or Quoter; L.2.1 Volume 1: Factor 1-Mangaement: Key Personnel: The Offeror shall provide a resume not to exceed three (3) pages for each employee or prospective employee designated to fill a key position. The resumes shall be provided in the following format and provide sufficient information for the Government to be able to assess Key Personnel capabilities with respect to technical knowledge and expertise and management leadership and experience.”: Will the government consider excluding resumes from the page count, as this is typically not part of page count?

Answer: Please see question 2.

Question 84: Solicitation_-_W911NF26RA002 Section L - Instructions, Conditions, & Notices to Offerors or Quoter; L.2.1 Volume 1: Factor 1-Mangaement: Key Personnel: The Offeror shall provide a resume not to exceed three (3) pages for each employee or prospective employee designated to fill a key position. The resumes shall be provided in the following format and provide sufficient information for the Government to be able to assess Key Personnel capabilities with respect to technical knowledge and expertise and management leadership and experience”: Please confirm there is only one key personnel (Program Manager) for which a resume is required as there are references to "resumes" but we do not see any other key personnel positions listed?

Answer: The Program Manager resume only applies to the solicitation. The three-page limitation on the resume is excluded from the page limitations for the management volume.

Question 85: Solicitation_-_W911NF26RA002 Section L - Instructions, Conditions, & Notices to Offerors or Quoter; L.2.1 Volume 1: Factor 1-Mangaement: Key Personnel Minimum Education: Master's degree (related field of study) Minimum Experience: 10 years total.: Please confirm that it is acceptable to substitute years of experience for degrees (i.e., 4 years of experience in place of a Masters degree)?

Answer: The requirements for the Program Manager is listed in L.2.1 of the solicitation.

Question 86: Solicitation_-_W911NF26RA002 Section L - Instructions, Conditions, & Notices to Offerors or Quoter; L.2.3 Volume 3 Offerors shall complete and submit Attachment 01, entitled Past Performance Questionnaire and Survey: Please confirm that Offerors are to collect the completed forms from their customers and include with their proposal response.

Answer: Past Performance Questionnaires can be sent to Ms. Mia Steele and Mr. William Creech. Past Performance questionnaires shall be received no later than the proposal due date.

Question 87: Solicitation_-_W911NF26RA002 Section L - Instructions, Conditions, & Notices to Offerors or Quoter; Volume 4 L.2.4.1.2.1 The Offeror shall identify and explain any exceptions or deviations Additionally, identify any assumptions used in the TOR preparation (if applicable).: In both Volume 5 in section L.2.5 bullet c on page 104, as well as Section M.5 on Page 119, it clearly states no exceptions or assumptions can be submitted. Are pricing assumptions acceptable?

Answer: Please see answers to questions 2 and 3.

Question 88: Solicitation_-_W911NF26RA002 Section L - Instructions, Conditions, & Notices to Offerors or Quoter; Volume 4 L.2.4.1.8: If applying G&A to travel is part of our approved accounting practices can they be applied to travel costs under the resulting contract?

Answer: Please see answer to question (3).

Question 89: Solicitation_-_W911NF26RA002 252.204-7025 Notice of Cybersecurity Maturity Model

Certification Level Requirements, (b)(1) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) level. The CMMC level required by this solicitation is: ____ [Contracting Officer insert: CMMC Level 1 (Self); CMMC Level 2 (Self); CMMC Level 2 (C3PAO); or CMMC Level 3 (DIBCAC)]. This CMMC level, or higher (see 32 CFR part 170), is required prior to award for each contractor information system that will process, store, or transmit Federal contract information (FCI) or controlled unclassified information (CUI) during performance of the contract.:

Please confirm that CMMC Level 1 (Self) is the required level for this solicitation.

Answer: This requirement requires the handling of Federal Contract Information (FCI) and Personally Identifiable Information (PII), which is a form of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). As such, CMMC Level 2 is required. Please refer to DFARS Clause 252.204-7021 and Section 1.3.7.3 of the Solicitation. The specific assessment requirements (Self-Assessment or C3PAO) will be determined by the type of information handled under each task order.

Question 90: Solicitation_-_W911NF26RA002 Section M - Evaluation Factors for Award, M.4.2 Factor 1:

Management Approach “The offeror shall demonstrate the database management system will be maintained accurately and comprehensively to provide information to Army, DoD, and Congressional personnel in a timely manner regarding the program's demographics, minority participation, attrition, follow-on research opportunities and program finances.”: Please advise how the government would like us to demonstrate this?

Please advise if it is a requirement to already have the database management system?

Answer: Offerors should describe their proposed database management system, processes for data entry and validation, quality control checks, and reporting capabilities in their Management Volume, as required by

Section M.4.2 of the Solicitation. This description should demonstrate the ability to meet the requirements for accuracy, comprehensiveness, and timeliness. This capability is in the current data management system.

Question 91: Solicitation_-_W911NF26RA002 Section M - Evaluation Factors for Award, M.4.3 Factor 2:

Technical Approach: “In order to receive a rating of Acceptable in the technical factor an Offeror must include resumes of the number of personnel that supports the Offerors approach.” Section L states that only resumes for key personnel are required. Would the government please clarify this statement, which seems to contradict that instruction?

Answer: Only resume that needs to be included is the resume for the key personnel (Program Manager).