Attachment 5 - Questions and Answers.pdf

Questions and Answers Solicitation: W91249-20-R-0016

1. Page 94, Subfactor 1B, states, in part, “…The Offeror’s staffing plan shall describe its plans for recruiting and retaining personnel with all of the qualifications necessary to perform this requirement. The Offeror shall provide the names of all personnel performing under this contract and proof of their certifications, security clearances, and other qualifications required for their designated positions…”

Question: Is it the Government’s intent to list all employees in the proposal staffing plan, or after the Government defines the locations and requirements after award?

Government Response: It is the government intent to see a list of all employees in the proposed Staffing plan.

2. Question: How do the requirements listed in paragraph 5.3.1 related to the qualifications stated in paragraph 1.6.8.1, et al.?

Government Response: Instructor qualifications are listed in paragraph 1.6.8.1 and 5.3.1 are specific subjects in lesson plan to be instructed.

3. Reference. CDRL #A006 states that the offeror shall deliver the initial quality control plan with the offeror’s proposal. Within the four volumes, the logical location is the Technical Volume. However, the twenty-page limitation is restrictive to include required components and a quality control plan.

Question: Will the Government allow the QCP to be an annex to the Technical Volume and not count against the page limitation?

Government Response: QCP does not count against the page count; therefore, it can be a standalone document.

4. Reference. Page 93, TAB D states that the offeror shall include Offeror Representations and Certifications “submitted thoroughly completed.”

Question: Does the Government want other “to be completed” clauses in the same tab?

Question: Can offerors complete only paragraph b of the clause of the offeror has completed the annual representations and certification electronically in the System for Award Management (SAM)?

Government Response: In response to both questions, it must be completed in accordance with the Instructions outlined in TAB D in the solicitation.

5. Reference: Proposal Preparation Instructions, pg. 91

Question/Request for Clarification: Times New Roman Font, size 11 is required for proposal text.

Will the government allow a size 9 or 10 font for graphics?

Government Response: Yes. Fonts may be smaller for graphics.

6. Reference: Addendum 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors; C. Proposal Preparation Instructions; (

c) Volume III – Past Performance; page 96 paragraph 1 – “Past Performance information described herein is required on the offeror and all subcontractors, teaming partners, and/or joint venture partners proposed to perform 51% of the proposed effort based on the total proposed price.”

Question/Request for Clarification: Is it the government’s intent that a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 past performances be submitted per proposal in total – or in the case of an offeror that has a teaming partner is it the Government’s expectation that a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 10 past performances be submitted (i.e., 3 for Prime + 3 for each teaming partner)?

Government Response: The maximum is 5 including any past performance for teaming partner.

7. Reference: Subfactor IB, Section 1.6.8.2, Section 1.6.11. Subfactor 1B states that resumes and Letters of Commitment are required for Key Personnel. However, Subfactor 1B also states that “The Offeror shall provide the names of all personnel performing under this contract and proof of their certifications, security clearances and other qualifications required for their designated positions”.

The RFP only names the Program Manager as Key Personnel.

Question/Request for Clarification: Please clarify the submission requirements. Is the submission requirement only for a resume and Letter of Commitment for the Program Manager or are names, certifications, resumes, etc. also required for all personnel?

Government Response: The submission requirement of a resume, letter of commitment, and Certifications is for all personnel.

8. Reference: Proposal Preparation Instructions, Volume III Past Performance, pg. 95. The RFP states “The Offeror shall include documentation regarding their relevant past performance as it directly relates to the work being procured under this solicitation.”

Question/Request for Clarification: Please clarify what is meant by including documentation, is this just a reference to our write-up or is something additional required?

Government Response: Yes, it is a reference to your write in the Specific Relevant Contract Reference Sheets.

9. Reference: Attachment 2 – Specific Relevant Contract Reference Sheets

Question/Request for Clarification: Are Offerors required to use Attachment 2 or is allowable for Offerors to use their own formatting as long as the same information is provided?

Government Response: Offerors are required to use the Attachment 2 – Specific Relevant Contract Reference Sheet

10. Reference: Wage Determination. 15050 Computer Based Training Specialist/Instructor; 15095 Technical Instructor/Course Developer

Question/Request for Clarification: Normally Wage Determination rates do not apply to highly specialized positions such as the ones represented within the RFP. Is it the Government’s intent that Offerors use the rates within the Wage Determination provided? Specifically 15050 and 15095.

Government Response: All positions are considered to be professional.

11. Reference: Subfactor 1B states that “The Offeror shall provide the names of all personnel performing under this contract and proof of their certifications, security clearances and other qualifications required for their designated positions”. The RFP only names the Program Manager as Key Personnel.

Question/Request for Clarification: Would the government clarify which certifications need to be provided?

Government Response: There are no certification requirements; however, all qualifications listed in 1.6.8.1, 1.6.8.2 and 1.6.8.3 must be met.

12. Reference: Section 1.5, Period of Performance

Question/Request for Clarification: What is the expected lead time between date of award and contract start date?

Government Response: 7-10 days

13. Reference: Section 1.5, Period of Performance

Question/Request for Clarification: Is it the government's intention that all personnel be in-place by contract start date? If so, would the government be willing to waive this requirement, so long as performance is being achieved IAW PWS requirements?

Government Response: Yes, all personnel must be in place by contract start date. No, this cannot be waived due to mission requirement this cannot be waiver or altered.

14. Reference: PWS, Part 1, 1.6.8.1.1, and 1.6.8.1.2 General Information, Information Security and Operating Systems Instructor/Writer.

Government identifies three or more years of experience with the use of cloud-based Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), however there is no mention of IaaS IN PWS 5.3.1.

Question: Can the Government provide an example of an IaaaS topic that we would be required to train?

Government Response: Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) is an instant computing infrastructure, provisioned and managed over the internet. It’s one of the four types of cloud services, along with software as a service.

This POI is classified

15. Reference: PWS, Part 1, 1.6.8.1.1General Information, Information Security and Instructor/Writer. Government identifies experience requirements.

Question: Is there a requirement for contractors to have graduated from military instructor training courses or attain instructor certification within allotted timeframe?

Government Response: Yes, 60 days from start of contract. Government may waive this requirement, if instructor training courses are not scheduled/provided by the installation Faculty and Staff due to health and or safety concerns.

16. Reference: PWS, Part 1, 1.6.8.5 Government Provided Training, 1st sentence.

Government states that "contractors attending Army Training will not be charged a tuition fee for mandatory training."

Question: What is considered mandatory/required for this contract?

Government Response: Instructors performing on this contract are required to attend Common Faculty Development Instructor Course and Installation Support Cadre Training Course

17. General: Question: Who is the incumbent and what is the contract number?

Government Response: This is a new requirement.

18. Reference: Technical Exhibit 3, pg. 80

Question: The Workload Data in Technical Exhibit 3 indicates 1871 hours as productive hours for one FTE. These hours are low based on normal working days.

Question: Would the government consider 1920 hours as productive work hours and if not why are the estimated hours so low?

Government Response: No. 1871 is typical direct labor for a full time position, this excludes leave (Holidays - 80hrs, Annual—80 hrs., Sick - 56hrs.)

19. Q. There is no designated place to put Facility Clearance verification in the volumes. Shall offerors include the Industrial Security Facilities Database printout in Volume I?

Government Response: Yes, that is fine.

20. Q. Page 80, Exhibit 3 states that the estimated hours for the Program Manager are only 60 hours per year. Page 59, paragraph 1.6.11, states that the Program Manager shall be available between 0800 and 1700 daily (M-F). Further, page 52, paragraph 1.6.5, says that the offeror shall perform the work at Fort Gordon.

Question: Is the Program Manager expected to be located in the Fort Gordon area?

Government Response: Yes, Fort Gordon is the duty location, however, the government is willing to waive this requirement, provided 5.1 of the PWS is accomplished.

Question: Will the Government please clarify why the Program Manager has so few estimated hours (about 70 minutes per week), yet is the only key person on the contract?

Government Response: The Contractor shall provide complete program management and administrative tasks to ensure the requirements of the contract are met and to ensure the Contractor adequately controls and supervises its personnel who provide the deliverables described within this PWS. The government included 60 PM hours to accomplish administrative task.

21. Reference: The pricing spreadsheet (Tab “Pricing – Fully Burdened”), what type of data is the

Question: Government looking for in Columns B, C, and D?

Government Response: Column B – State if labor category is Exempt /Non-Exempt, Column C, number for FTEs for the particular labor category, and Column D, labor hours (i.e. PM – 60hrs, others 1871)

22. Reference: The pricing spreadsheet (Tab “Pricing – Fully Burdened”) states that 208 estimated hours (“holiday, vacation, sick, training, etc.”) are subtracted from the 2,080 available hours annually.

Question: Will the Government clarify how the 208 hours are divided between holiday, vacation, sick, training, etc.?

Question: Does the Government consider 1,872 hours to be a full-time contract equivalent? Also, the same tab states, “Total paid to vendor based on 1871 hours.” Please clarify the total number of hours per FTE.

Government Response: In response to both questions, please refer to question 18 and Attachment 4 – Pricing Worksheet for update.

23. Reference: Page 50, paragraph 1.6.1, states that the offeror shall deliver a quality control plan (QCP) with the proposal. Page 51, paragraph 1.6.2, states the Government shall evaluate the offeror’s performance per the Government’s Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP).

Question: Will the Government publish the QASP and allow additional space/location for the offeror’s QCP?

Government Response: QCP will be a standalone document. Government will not publish the

QASP.

24. Reference: Page 51, paragraph 1.6.1, references DOD Manual 8570 or 8140. Since DOD 8140 has superseded 8570.

Question: Does the Government still intend on using the 8570 standard?

Question: Will the Government clarify which approved baseline certifications apply to which contract labor categories?

Government Response: The DoD CIO has approved an enterprise waiver for DoD Manual 8570 qualification requirements to accommodate personnel facing COVID-19 related restrictions. DoD Directive 8140 continues to use 8570.01-m to identify the requirements. DoD 8570.01- is still in use and actively managed by the DoD. A DoD 8140 manual is expected to be released in the next Year.

25. PWS. Clearance. Question: Will the Government consider personnel with SECRET clearance, or "eligible to receive TS"?

Government Response: No. Training is sensitive in nature and all personnel must meet the security requirement at the work start date

26. General. Incumbent Question: Are there Government Contractors currently supporting this effort, under what contract number and Prime? What is the current LOE?

Government Response: This is a new requirement.

27. Past Performance: References:

Past Performance information described herein is required on the offeror and all subcontractors, teaming partners, and/or joint venture partners proposed to perform 51%.

Question: Will the Government accept Past Performance examples from subcontractors, teaming partners, and/or joint venture with greater than 35% workshare?

Government Response: See solicitation for update.

Question: This section states historical levels, can the government share the incumbent who is performing these historical levels?

Government Response: This is a new requirement.

28. Technical Exhibit 3: Explanation. "Offerors are advised that the staffing approach may be affected by the conversion of this effort to a performance-based contract and by inclusion of the Instructor-to- Student (ITS) ratio of 1:10 in the TRADOC POIs."

Question: Can the government explain this reference i.e. how this will convert to performance-based contract and how will the staffing approach change? Will there be a greater need for instructors based on the ITS ratio?

Government Response: This statement is in error and has been deleted. Refer to Technical Exhibit 3 in the PWS for update.

29. Volume III, Page 80. Past Performance. For each identified effort for a commercial customer, the offeror shall also submit a client authorization letter, authorizing release to the Government of requested information on the offeror's performance.

Question: Can the government provide a format for the Client Authorization Letter to be used for commercial past performance?

Government Response: Refer to Attachment 6

30. Contractor currently performing the work. Contractor personnel performing work under this contract shall have a Top Secret Security Clearance with SCI eligibility at time of the proposal submission, and shall maintain the level of security required for the life of the contract.

Question: If a bidder is not currently performing the work, can the government explain this reference to contractor performing the work? If work is being performed with contractor personnel currently possessing these credentials, can the government share the incumbent?

Government Response: The statement is not referring to past or present work performance on a previous or existing contract, as this is a new requirement. It is simply stating the Contractor personnel shall have and maintain a Top Secret Security Clearance with SCI eligibility and Contractor shall have and maintain a Top Secret Facility Clearance at the time of proposal submission.

31. Technical Exhibit 2, Page 78. Deduction in contract for services not performed plus cost of lost training time (vacant contractor position(s) multiplied by course costs per day/hour per CME on contract multiplied by days affected for each class over the allowable performance deviation). IAW FAR 52.246-4 Inspection of Services – Fixed Price. Any defect over allowable performance deviation will result in a NCR and may negatively affect CPARS evaluation.

Question: Can the government further explain the deduction formula? What is a CDR?

Government Response: Please see update in Technical Exhibit 2.A CDR is a Contract Deficiency Report; however, it is now called a NCR, which is a Nonconformance Report.

32. Technical Exhibit 3, page 80. Estimated Staffing Matrix. The customer identifies following positions, Level of Effort and Hours: Information Security Instructor/Writer 4 LOE, 7484 hours. -- TRAP - Networking Instructor 2 LOE, 3742 hours TRAP - Operating Systems Instructor 2 LOE 3742 hours.

Question: Dividing the LOE by the number of hours equals 1,871 hours which is less than typical for a Full Time Equivalent hours which is 1,920 hours, can the government share how they derived the total hours for each full-time position?

Government Response: Based on a 2087 annual total, 1871 is typical direct labor for a full time Position, this excludes leave (Holidays - 80 hrs. Annual—80 hrs. Sick- 56 hrs.).

33. Pg 52. Shift Work may be required. Day Shift 0800-1700, Swing Shift 1530-0030, Midnight

Shift 2300-0800.

Question: For proposal purposes can the Government provide a frequency and duration for Swing Shifts and Midnight Shifts notated, so all bidders are using same assumption?

Government Response: No, not at this time. The requirement for additional shifts are based on student load and class room/resources availability during the contract period of performance.

34. Pg. 51, Pg. 76. QCP. Conflict Pg. 52 “The initial Quality Control Program (QCP) shall be delivered with the Contractor’s proposal.” Pg. 76 states “NLT 30 days after award or within 5 days of receipt of notification to revise.”

Question: Will the Government reconsider this to instead be due after contract Kick-Off (30 days ACA, not with Proposal) so would be more relevant with customer input? Otherwise, will the Gov please advise which volume of the proposal the QCP should be included and if counts towards page count limit?

Government Response: No, the QCP requirements outlined in the solicitation on pages 51, 76, and 86 remain the same.

35. Pg. 94. Cross Reference Matrix. Question: Can the Government provide a list of columns to include in the matrix for what is being cross referenced?

Government Response: As the Offeror, that is determined by you.

36. Instructions and Evaluation. Personnel Names, Certs, etc. Subfactor 1B page 94 Instructions.

The Offeror shall provide the names of all personnel performing under this contract and proof of their certifications, security clearances and other qualifications required for their designated positions.

Subfactor 1B page 101 Evaluation. The proposal clearly demonstrates that the Offeror has offered properly qualified personnel in the appropriate labor categories to perform this requirement.

Statement: This requirement results in undue restriction of competition most favorably to the incumbent and will limit the viability for proper competition amongst an already limited pool of SDVOSBs. This is further emphasized with just a 2-week window from RFP release to proposal submission. Suggest this to be changed to at contract award.

Government Response: This is a new requirement; however, there is a short suspense due to Government training requirement.

37. Reference: Solicitation Page 73, Subfactor 1B: “The Offeror shall provide the names of all personnel performing under this contract and proof of their certifications, security clearances and other qualifications required for their designated positions.” A few sentences down, it states “The Offeror shall provide letters of intent (signed within 60 days of proposal submission) and resumes for key personnel. Resumes and Letters of Commitment are not included in the page count."

Question: Is the offeror required to provide name and resume for only key personnel (defined as the PM in the PWS) or “all personnel” on the team?

Government Response: Offeror is required to provided names and resume of all personnel.