Questions - Answers Final v2.pdf

SFAC Writers Questions & Answers

1. Can writing services be provided remotely or do they have to be onsite?

On site.

2. Is this a new requirement or is it an existing contract?

This is a new requirement.

3. If it is an existing contract, who is the incumbent and what is the current contract number?

N/A

4. Page 48-49 under proposal content speaks about evaluating proposed writers and SME experience. I am assuming that this means resumes will be required. Will the resumes count towards the 10-page limit?

Resumes are not required but can be provided. The contractor need only address qualifications, education, experience, personnel security clearances, facility clearance, and certifications as required by the solicitation.

5. Will a DD254 be forthcoming? The solicitation mentions one, but it was not included in the documents on sam.gov.

Draft DD254 has been uploaded to this solicitation

6. Pg 49 (2) mentions an attachment 1- sample labor matrix, however there was no attachment provided in the documents on sam.gov. Will this be included in an update to the solicitation?

The proposed Pricing Matrix should contain data that allows the Government to validate the proposed CLIN pricing. Attachment 1 – Sample Pricing Matrix Template has been uploaded and can be modified as necessary to represent the offerors pricing.

7. Are writers’ conferences located at Ft. Liberty?

Yes

8. Paragraph 1.1.1. states “This contract covers the writing of four publications for the SFAC G3; however paragraph 5.1.1 states “This contract covers the writing of three publications for the SFAC G3.” Will the Government please confirm whether the number of publications to be written is three or four?

Four

9. Paragraph 1.1.1. states “The SFAC will have two writers’ conferences consisting of military and DA Civilian personnel that will develop the raw content for the documents;

however, paragraph 5.1.1 states “The SFAC will have three writers’ conferences consisting of military and DA Civilian personnel that will develop the raw content for the documents.” Will the Government please confirm whether the number of writer’s conferences is two or three?

Three conferences per document (publication).

10. Paragraph 1.6.3. states “The Contractor shall submit their QCP as part of the Contractor’s proposal.” Is the QCP to be included in the 10-page limitation for Tab A?

The QCP is not part of the 10-page limit.

11. PWS 1.17.2.1 Duties and Responsibilities states “the Co-Authors will consolidate information provided to them into the products. The SME/Co-Authors must be from different WfF (e.g., Infantry, Logistics, Signal) to provide a cross section of branch experience.” Paragraph indicates SME and co-authors must be from different WfF [Warfighting Functions]. In parentheses, it states “e.g., Infantry, Logistics, Signal”. The Army’s Warfighting Functions include Movement and Maneuver, Intelligence, Fires, Sustainment, Protection, and Command and Control (C2). Infantry, Logistics, and Signal are branches of service in the Army, not WfF. Branches of service normally align under specific WfF. For example, Maneuver and Maneuver includes the branches of Armor, Aviation, and Infantry; Protection includes Engineer, Chemical, and Military Police. To allow the bidder a wider pool to recruit from and result in more qualified personnel, will the Government please clarify that SME and co-authors must have operational experience from different WfF and not mention specific branches of service?

Intent is to have SMEs from the different Warfighting Functions (WfF), ideally with operational experience in an SFAB, but since that is potentially unrealistic, there is no requirement for operational or SFAB experience. Requirement is NOT to have all the SMEs be from the same WfF, but to have diverse WfF backgrounds. Nor, do we want the SMEs to come from the same branch.

12. Do completed Section K Representation and Certifications need to be included in Tab 2?

Representation and Certifications can be submitted however the responder sees fit as long as it is included.

13. Will the Government allow for a reduced 10-point font size in tables, figures, exhibits and call out boxes?

10-point font for tables, figures, exhibits and call out boxes is allowed. Other text needs to follow the 12-point font guidance in the solicitation.

14. A. Proposal Format states “All submitted documents should be in Microsoft Excel (unprotected), and/or Microsoft Word format and the total submission shall not exceed 10 pages. Will the Government please confirm this is just for Tab A and does not include the information required in Tab B (pricing table, Signed SF 1449 and acknowledgement of solicitation amendments)?

Tab B – 1449 can be submitted in PDF format.

15. Will the Government please confirm the cover page (indicating volume and Tab) and table of contents are excluded from the 10-page limitation?

Cover page and table of contents are excluded from the 10-page limitation.

16. B. (s) Proposal Content states “For purposes of qualification evaluation of W91247-24-R- 9002, Writer experience, the contractor shall provide documentation that indicates or demonstrates the required qualifications described in Performance Work Statement Section 1.17 in duties similar to those which the personnel will be performing under this contract.” Will the Government please provide clarification around the types of documentation required to indicate/demonstrate the required qualifications described in Performance Work Statement Section 1.17?

The contractor need only address qualifications, education, experience, personnel security clearances, facility clearance, and certifications as required by the solicitation.

17. Will the Government please confirm that the signed SF 1449 can be included as a PDF document?

The signed 1449 can be included as a PDF.

18. Tab B – Price Submission (2) states “Attachment 1 provides a sample labor matrix”;

however, in PART 7 Attachment/Technical exhibit listing, Attachment 1 is described as Government Furnished Property which is actually included in Part 3 on page 18 of 51.

Will the Government please provide the sample labor matrix?

Attachment 1 – Sample Pricing Matrix Template has been uploaded and can be modified as necessary to represent the offerors pricing.

19. The solicitation states that the total page limit is 10 pages. Does this include the Technical Volume and Price Volume? Is this limit per volume? What pages are included in this page count? Are title page, table of contents, list of acronyms excluded from count?

The 10-page limit is for the Technical Volume (TAB A). Title page, table of contents, & list of acronyms do not count towards the 10-page limit.

20. The PWS states that the contractor will submit a monthly damage report to the

COR/ACOR. Request additional information on what type of information would be included in this report.

Requirement removed from PWS

21. The instructions to bidders indicates that the Technical Volume should be submitted in Microsoft Word format. Request USG accept PDF format also.

Tab B – 1449 can be submitted in PDF format.

22. Is the contractor required to have an FCL at the Secret Level before contract start?

Yes, clearance at the Secret Level is required for all contractor personnel to obtain access to Marshall Hall. Without at least a Secret level clearance a contractor cannot fulfil the requirement for access to the worksite location.

23. Can you please explain the difference between "(1) Pricing Table" and Section B -

Supplies or Services and Prices on Page 3?

Pricing Table is included in the sample labor matrix.

24. The paragraph states, "...the total submission shall not exceed 10 pages". Does this include, the QCP as stated in page 6, para 1.6.2., Tab A and Tab B combined? If not, can you clarify the page limits and what counts towards the page limits?

The 10-page limit is for the Technical Volume (TAB A)

25. Can you please provide page and paragraph number to the requirements all personnel must meet, IAW DoDD 8140.01 "CYBERSPACE WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT"?

Requirement removed from PWS. N/A

26. "Contractor personnel shall be required to obtain a CAC at least ten (10) workdays prior to start of base contract period or prior to performance under this contract, whichever comes first." Are we going to have a TA immediately upon contract award to sponsor us through TASS ?

27. Will the USG consider providing the QCP within 5 working days of contract award with

5 days for any revisions required by the KO/COR?

28. The solicitation refers to two writers conferences. Is this the “Initial” and “Final” conferences referenced later? Are these conferences scheduled? When does the government expect to do them? Is it the government’s intend to cover all items in a single writer’s conference (i.e., 350-1, RSOP, or TACSOP)?

Yes, writers’ conference are schedule for each publication

29. Will the government require travel for the contractors? If yes, does the government intend to issue a second CLIN?

The contractor will NOT travel in support of this contract

30. Is the DD Form 1449 and CLIN Pricing (e.g., First three pages of the solicitation that has to be filled and signed) part of the 10 pages?

The 10-page limit is for the Technical Volume (TAB A)

31. We respectfully request extending the submission due date to December 18, 2023 to ensure there is adequate time to incorporate responses to questions and provide the Government with sufficient information and our best terms from a technical and price standpoint.

Extension has been granted for 18 December 2023 at Phase in 1-29 Feb 2024, PoP is 1 Mar 24 – 31 Jan 25

32. Please confirm that this is a firm fixed price (FFP) contract?

This will be a FFP contract.

33. Technical Exhibit 2, page 26, provides the list of publications to be developed. For cost estimating purposes, can the government provide the estimated number of pages?

No, pages vary per document. Publications, if printed, will be printed at the government’s expense.

34. Would the government provide an estimate of the level of effort required for each LCAT, e.g., project manager, lead SME, 3 SMEs (co-authors)? How many hours per month do you expect for the project manager? How many hours per month do you expect for the lead SME? How many hours per month do you expect for the 3 SMEs?

Lead SME 160 hours per month max (5 days/week 8 hours/day) SMEs: 3 SMEs at 160 hours per month per SME (5 days/week 8 hours/day per SME)

35. What is the estimated value of this contract?

Government will not provide this information.

36. Section 1.6.3 states to submit a Quality Control Plan (QCP) as part of our proposal, including the information identified in sections 1.6.4-1.6.10. The instructions and evaluation factors do not address the QCP. Should we submit this as a separate volume (tab) or as part of Tab A-Technical Content?

QCP Plan can be submitted as a separate word document.

37. Section 1.18.5 indicates that the Key Personnel on this contract as the Program Manager and the Alternate Program Manager. Section 1.18.6.1 lists the PM/APM qualifications, Section 1.18.6.1.2 lists the Lead SME qualifications, and 1.18.6.1.3.1-4 lists the SME qualifications. Can qualified personnel be dual-hatted as a Lead SME/SME and

PM/APM?

Yes – but expect four contractor personnel onsite

38. Tab A, items 2 and 3 state to provide required and desired personnel qualifications for personnel for PWS 1.7 . We plan to show specific quals for our candidates mapped to the PWS requirements. Can complete resumes be provided as an attachment excluded from the page count?

The 10-page limit is for the Technical Volume (TAB A). Resumes do not count towards this page limit.

39. Proposal format states that the total submission shall not exceed 10 pages. We request 10 pages for Tab A - Technical Capability, with resumes excluded from page count. We request Tab B - Pricing not be page limited. We request the QCP be excluded from page count.

The 10-page limit is for the Technical Volume (TAB A). Resumes, TAB B – Pricing and QCP do not count towards this page limit.

40. The requirement states that the Pricing Table shall be prepared using Microsoft Excel.

Should this Pricing Table be submitted as a separate Excel file or inserted into the Tab B - Price volume?

Pricing Table is included in the sample labor matrix.

41. If our subcontractor does not have a facility clearance, are you willing to sponsor a DD 254 for them?

No