Attachment 6 - Answers to Industrys Questions_Amendment 2.pdf

Attachment 6, Answers to Industry's Questions_Amendment 2 W9124921R0001, Cyber CDID MA IDIQ

Question # Source Doc/ Reference Additional Reference Questions/Comment Govt Responses/Notes

1 L.2.1.

"This procurement will be solicited using restricted competition procedures (Total 8(a) Set-Aside)". However, the

RFP also includes FAR Clause 52.219-31 Notice of Small Business Reserve, which we understand to only be used when market research indicates that a total or partial set-aside is not feasible. Could the government please clarify its intent for either a total 8(a) set-aside or a reserve for 8(a)?

This is a total 8(a) set-aside competitive action. FAR clause

52.219-31 has been removed from the solicitation.

We would like to request the government consider a small business set-aside with a reserve for 8(a) on this IDIQ.

The government could have a more diverse group of small business contractors, particularly given the dollar value and scope of this IDIQ, while also maintaining the flexibility to direct award or set-aside orders to the 8(a)s at the order level

The acquisition strategy remains unchanged. This is a total 8(a) set-aside.

3 PWS 5.2 (page 32 - 35) Task Area 2 It appears that RHN-E Systems Engineering has been removed from the requirements. Does the government plan on adding this later after award?

No.

4 L.4.1.7

Tab G, Adherence to DD Form 254 Are our teammates/subcontractors required to have a TS facility clearance or just the prime Offeror? The Facility Clearance (FCL) is required of the prime Offeror, except see answer to question #12 for Joint Ventures.

Attachment 2 - DD Form 254 provides additional information for subcontractor requirements.

5 L.4.2 (page 45) Volume II - Mission Capability/Risk Are we allowed to provide an executive summary and will it count towards tab D & E 25 page count? You may but it will count against the page limitation.

6 L.4.3.1.1 (page 47) Tab B - Consent Letters Consent letters are only for our subcontractor, teaming partners, and /or joint venture partners only if we are using their past performance correct?

Correct. The RFP has been updated to clarify this requirement.

7 L.4.3.1.3 (page 47)

Tab D - Organization Structure Change History Are we to provide Organization Structure Change History for our subcontractor, teaming partners, and /or joint venture partners for those that we are using their past performance or all regardless of using their past performance?

This is required for those that are being used for past performance references.

8 L.4.3.1.4 (page 47) Tab E - Past Performance Reference Can the Government please clarify are we to provide a total of 3 past performance references total or are we to provide three from the Prime Offeror and three from our teaming partners for a total of 6?

Factor 3 requires three (3) past performance references in total.

L.4.3.1.4.4.1(page 48) &

Attachment 4 (page 1).

Clarification

Past Performance Questionnaire and Attachment 4 (page 1) Per section L.4.3.1.4.4.1 it states that our PPQs are due no later than the closing date and time identified in block

9 of the SF33. However, Attachment 4 pages 1 states that the PPQs are due no later than December 10th. Can the government please confirm which date our PPQs need to be submitted by?

Please adhere to the due date listed in RFP para L.4.3.1.4.4.1.

Attachment 4 was updated on December 2, 2020 and posted to betasAM to reflect this correction due to time sensitivity.

10 M.3.5.2 (page 51)

M.3.5.2. Factor 2 - MA IDIQ Staffing and Management Approach. The Government will evaluate the

Offeror’s proposed MA IDIQ Staffing and Management Approach to determine completeness and the extent to which the Offeror has clearly demonstrated an understanding and ability to successfully perform the PWS staffing and management requirements. The Government will evaluate the Offeror’s proposal to determine if the Offeror has provided a comprehensive approach to plan, execute, and manage multiple TOs simultaneously; recruit, train, and retain a qualified workforce; and provide qualified key personnel that adhere to the Government’s requirements and as required in this solicitation. TO specifics are identified in outlined in PWS paragraphs 5.1 – 5.6; Special qualification requirements are identified in PWS, Appendix A

Are we to write to all of these PWS paragraphs or just 5.2 per section L? Factor 2 applies to the entirety of the IDIQ, not just 5.2.

Blocks 13 and 14 refer to

SCI Addendum.

DD254, Blocks 13 and 14 We were unable to locate the SCI Addendum. Will the Government please provide a copy? The addendum to attachment 2 has been added.

A TOP SECRET Facilities clearance is required for this requirement as stated in the DD 254. The offerors cannot satisfy clearance requirements with just the required personnel clearances at the SECRET/TS level.

12 L.4.1.7. (pg 45), Tab G

The Offeror shall state its Level of FCL and any other information required by Attachment 2, DD Form

254, Contract Security Classification Specification. In accordance with PWS para 4.2, the contractor shall possess and maintain a TOP SECRET facility clearance from the Defense Security Service

(DSS). If the Offeror does not have the appropriate FCL at time of proposal submission or a certified statement from DSS that the FCL will be granted prior to the ordering period beginning, the proposal will not be evaluated and the Offeror will be excluded from the competitive range determination, if discussions are held, or will not be considered for award if the Government makes award from initial proposal submission.

The new revisions to 13 CFR § 121.103(h)(4) - Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 201 / Friday, October 16, 2020, page 66180 - states, "A joint venture may be awarded a contract requiring a facility security clearance where either the joint venture itself or the individual partner(s) to the joint venture that will perform the necessary security work has (have) a facility security clearance." For an 8(a) Joint Venture (JV), can the government confirm they will accept FCL status (Top Secret) from each of the partner (member) companies of the JV?

The Government will adhere to the updated FCL regulations as stated in the revised 13 CFR § 121.103(h)(4)(i) and 13 CFR §

121.103(h)(4)(ii) which depends on the specific work being performed. The performance requirements under this IDIQ are considered to be primary and vital requirements of the contract

(i.e.: 13 CFR § 121.103(h)(4)(i)).

13 L.4.3.1.4.4.1 (pg 48) states, “For all contracts identified by the Offeror as a past performance reference, the Offeror shall forward a copy of the Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) and Cover Letter (Attachment 4) to the points of contact responsible for monitoring performance under such contracts.”

The policy of our Government COR is to NOT complete PPQs when CPARs are available. We have no control over this policy and cannot force the Government to comply with these instructions. Our CPARs rate performance in terms of Quality, Schedule/Timeliness, Cost Control, Business Relations/Management, and

Customer Satisfaction. Will the government accept CPARs in lieu of PPQs?

As the PPQ has been tailored to the Cyber CDID MA IDIQ requirement, a PPQ is required for each reference regardless of

CPAR status.

14 M.3.6.4.2.2. (pg 54)

“The measure of the similarity of the dollar value of actual performed work that exists between the

PWS and the Offeror’s references. Magnitude will consider the dollar amount of work actually performed on the recent past performance references. The Government generally considers a past performance reference with a total contract value greater than or equal to $6.5 million to be more similar in magnitude, while a past performance that is less than $3.0 million to not be similar in magnitude.”

This threshold exceeds the value of the task orders on the current CDID contract , and may inadvertently limit 8(a) small business competition, to include even incumbent contractors.

Can the government consider reducing the “more similar in magnitude” contract value metric to

“greater than or equal to $2 million” to foster more small business participation in the spirit of the

SBA 8(a) program, as well as more appropriately align with anticipated future task order values?

RFP para M.3.6.4.2.2 has been revised to adjust the magnitude threshold.

15 252.219-7009

Can the government confirm that this a competitive procurement set aside for 8(a) businesses?

This is a competitive, total 8(a) Set-Aside. The clause in question is included in accordance with DFARS prescription at

219.811-3(1).

16 L.4.5.4.5

Tab D, page 49. Cost realism may be appropriate to determine whether Offerors meet the intent of the TCPPE, which is to ensure stability of labor by providing a fair wage that will not adversely impact staffing. Can the government confirm it intends to perform BOTH cost reasonableness, which addresses whether rates are too high, as well as cost realism?

The TCPPE will be evaluated in accordance with FAR

Provision 52.222-46.

Attachment 3, Wage

Determination, Revision

12, 2015-4465.

On Aug 21, 2020, 2015-4466 -

Revision 13 was posted by SBA to the Wage Determination lookup on Beta.Sam.Gov and replaces

Revision 12, which was provided with the Solicitation.

Can the government update the Wage Determination to Revision 13, 2015-4466? The Wage Determination originally posted with the solicitation is 2015-4465 not 2015-4466, which remains current.

L.4.1.5. TAB E, OCI (pg

45)

The Offeror shall disclose all organizational and/or personal conflicts of interest to the Contracting

Officer as soon as possible so that potential conflicts can be analyzed in accordance with FAR Subpart

9.5.

Are Offerors who have not identified any organizational and/or personal conflicts of interest still required to submit an Organizational Conflict of Interest Mitigation Plan?

No, Offerors who have not identified any organizational and/or personal conflicts of interest do not need to submit an

Organizational Conflict of Interest Mitigation Plan.

L.4.3.1.2 Client

Authorization Letters (pg

47)

In Volume III, Tab C of its Proposal, the Offeror shall provide a Commercial Client Authorization

Letter authorizing the Government to request information from the Commercial Client regarding the

Offeror's and/or or Teaming Partner’s performance when Commercial Clients are used.

Can the Government clarify that "commercial client' refers to the prime contractor on a past performance example an Offeror is submitting with its CDID proposal? For example, if company C performed as a subcontractor under company B on a past performance example it is submitting with its CDID proposal, would company B provide and sign the client authorization letter as the "commercial client"?

The provided sample would require a Tab B - Consent Letter. A

"commercial client" is a non-Government entity that services were provided for in a past performance reference.

M.3.6.4.2 (Past

Performance) Relevancy

(pg 54)

The Government will assess each recent past performance reference submission in order to determine its similarity in scope and magnitude relative to this requirement. In establishing the extent of relevance for this acquisition, consideration will be given to those aspects of an Offeror’s contract history that have the greatest ability to measure whether the Offeror will satisfy the current requirement.

When evaluating relevancy, would the Government provide a total aggregate rating for all three submitted past performance references?

No, a total aggregate relevancy will not be provided. Each reference will be assessed in accordance with the solicitation and then one (1) overall performance confidence assessment rating will be given to each proposal.

21 Section 1.6.10 (pg 10)

The contractor shall provide program managers/site-leads as specified in individual task orders who shall be responsible for the performance of the work.

Do contractors have to provide Key Personnel for evaluation of the IDIQ submission or for execution of each specific task order? Is the expectation that personnel featured are representative or that these individuals would be executing against the task orders?

There will be no Key Personnel evaluations associated with the

IDIQ RFP. Key Personnel, along with the evaluation process of

Key Personnel, will be identified at the task order level.

22 Various

Obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance. Anticipate specified contractors shall require Top

Secret Security Clearance with SCI eligibility based on program requirements as defined in specific

Task Orders.

Because there is a potential delta in the rate between Secret and TS/SCI cleared staff, would the Government clarify which specific labor categories would be expected to be TS/SCI?

Appendix A of the PWS provides the projected security clearance requirements for each labor category.

PWS Pg. 10: Paragraph

1.6.10 "Key Personnel"

Section 1.6.10 states, "The contractor shall provide program managers/site-leads as specified in individual task orders who shall be responsible for the performance of the work."

Would the Government please provide the number of program managers/site-leads that will be required?

The required program managers/site leads will be identified at the task order level.

PWS Pg. 26: Paragraph

4.1 "General"

Section 4.1 states, "The contractor shall furnish all supplies, materials, equipment, facilities, services, and utilities required to perform work under this contract that are not listed under Section 3 of the PWS or specified in task orders issued under the contract."

Would the Government please provide a list of items that the contractor is responsible to furnish?

If any specific items are required, they will be identified at the task order level.

PWS Pg. 28: Paragraph

5.1.7

Would the government please clarify what is meant by "Provide Knowledge Management Support?" PWS para 5.1.7 has been revised to clarify Knowledge

Management Support requirements.

PWS Pg. 29: Paragraph

5.1.12, 5.1.12.1-5.1.12.2

Would the Government please confirm that contractor personnel will directly support the Network Enterprise

Center? Historically, this has been a Government performed function.

ACM NS contractors do not provide direct support to the NEC.

For the ACM N&S portion, the contract personnel provide support to ACM N&S. However, there are instances where personnel, in particular the IANO, will coordinate with the NEC for user accounts, security inspections, accreditation, network access, network connectivity, etc.

PWS Pg. 35: Paragraph

5.4

Will the Government confirm that the ACM Networks and Services will do more than develop requirements under this IDIQ?

While developing requirements is our primary function, there are other functions that must be performed in the development of those requirements and the subsequent fielding and support of the capabilities that meet those requirements. ACM N&S performs functions that relate to the areas of Doctrine, Organization, Training, Material, Leadership, Personnel, Facilities and Policy (DOTMLPF-P) as they relate to the development of capability requirements and the subsequent capability management.

PWS pg. 53: Appendix A

Specific Qualification

Requirements, A-9

Would the Government please confirm that the Knowledge Manager position is a new requirement? This requirement is not new; it has existed in some, but not all

TCM contracts to include Networks & Services and Cyber.

PWS pg. 53: Appendix A

Specific Qualification

Requirements, A-9

Would the Government confirm that the Knowledge Manager role listed in Appendix A is intended to support an experimentation function?

No, the Government will not confirm that this role is restricted to supporting an experimentation function

PWS pg. 53: Appendix A

Specific Qualification

Requirements, A-9

Would the Government clarify if the Knowledge Manager role is intended to support the TRADOC Management

Offices directly? Historically, this has been a Government performed function.

This position supports ACMs and CDID Headquarters (HQ).

The position resides in CDID HQ/Operations/Program

Management Division

L.4.1.6. TAB F,

Subcontractor

Information.

For reference, the new text of 13 C.F.R. § 124.513(e) states: “(e) Prior approval by SBA. (1) When a joint venture between one or more 8(a) Participants seeks a sole source 8(a) award, SBA must approve the joint venture prior to the award of the sole source 8(a) contract. SBA will not approve joint ventures in connection with competitive 8(a) awards (but see § 124.501(g) for SBA’s determination of

Participant eligibility). (2) Where a joint venture has been established for one 8(a) contract, the joint venture may receive additional 8(a) contracts provided the parties create an addendum to the joint venture agreement setting forth the performance requirements for each additional award (and provided any contract is awarded within two years of the first award as set forth in § 121.103(h)).” (emphasis added)

In light of the SBA’s new rules (effective 11/16/2020) set forth in 85 Fed. Reg. 66146, 66194 (Oct. 16, 2020) revising 13 C.F.R. § 124.513(e) to remove the requirement for SBA to approve joint ventures prior to award of a competitive 8(a) award, can the Government please confirm that no approval of the 8(a) joint venture is required prior to award of this competitive 8(a) contract so long as the joint venture has created the necessary addendum to their existing Joint Venture Agreement?

The Government will adhere to the referenced revised regulation as well as 124.501(g) which states, "Before a Participant may be awarded either a sole source or competitive 8(a) contract, SBA must determine that the Participant is eligible for award. SBA will determine eligibility at the time of its acceptance of the underlying requirement into the 8(a) BD program for a sole source 8(a) contract, and after the apparent successful Offeror is identified for a competitive 8(a) contract."

Pg. 43: Paragraph L.3.5

"Text Requirements"

Section L.3.5 does not indicate a font preference (e.g. Times New Roman).

Would the Government please confirm that Times New Roman is required?

The Government will not dictate a specific font to use other than what is stated in RFP para L3.5. However, Times New Roman is the typical font submitted in proposals.

Pg. 48: Paragraph

L.4.5.1

Section L.4.5.1 states, “Subcontractors may submit their proprietary pricing (spreadsheet and narrative) directly to the POCs cited in L.1.3 if they choose.”

Would the Government please clarify if subcontractors are also required to submit a Total Compensation Plan for

Professional Employees as outlined in Section L.4.5.4.5. "TAB D – Total Compensation Plan for Professional

Employees"?

This information is required from subcontractors for labor categories where the subcontractor’s rate is used to establish the

IDIQ ceiling rate.

Pg 49: Paragraph L.4.5.4

"TAB C - Attachment 5

Pricing Workbook"

Section L.4.5.4 states, “Should a contract be issued to the Offeror, the proposed total billable labor rates proposed by the Offeror will become part of the contract (considered to be binding) and be the maximum rate allowable (ceiling rate) for that labor category when pricing task orders and task order modifications under the MA IDIQ contract, and shall be applicable to all contractor employees including subcontractors.”

If the labor rates proposed by the Prime Offeror will be the maximum rate allowable (ceiling rate) and will be applicable to all subcontractors, would the Government confirm that subcontractors/teaming partners are not required to submit separate Attachment 5 Pricing Workbook files and Total Compensation Plans?

See answer to question #33.

Pg 49: Paragraph L.4.5.4

"TAB C - Attachment 5

Pricing Workbook"

If a prime Offeror provides substantiating cost detail and a Total Compensation Plan for all labor categories, will the Government please confirm that subcontractors are not required to provide additional Attachment 5 and Total

Compensation Plan documents?

See answer to question #33.

Attachment 5, Tab

"Instructions"

Heading "Instructions"

Paragraph "General"

The instructions state, "This is a required flow down requirement, and therefore shall be submitted for the prime

Offeror AND for any subcontractors/teaming partners proposed to perform effort in response to this solicitation."

This requirement appears to conflict with the requirement that prime Offerors submit ceiling rates that are incorporated into the final contract.

Would the Government please remove the flow down requirements?

See answer to question #33.

Attachment 5, Tab

"Instructions"

Heading "Fixed Price

Labor Detail Worksheet"

Paragraph "NOTE 3"

Tab "Fixed Price Labor"

Columns H-N

Will the Government confirm that Offerors with DCMA/DCAA approved indirect rates may provide the total fringe percentage in lieu of individual elements in Columns H-N of the "Fixed Price Labor" tab?

The information in Columns H-N are required regardless of

DCMA/DCAA approved indirect rates.

Attachment 5, Tab

"Fixed Price Labor"

Column C "Total

Estimated Hours"

RFP Section L.4.5.3.2 states that a productive labor year is 1920 labor hours. However, the Fixed Price Labor

Worksheet has several LCATS that are not multiples of 1920 hours in Column C.

Will the Government confirm the accuracy of the labor hours that are not multiples of 1920 hours?

The estimated hours have been updated in Attachment 5.

Attachment 5, Tab

"Fixed Price Labor"

Column C "Total

Estimated Hours"

Will the Government confirm the accuracy of the hours 3414 and 3413 in Column C (e.g. rows 33 through 49)? See answer to question #38.

Attachment 5, Tab

"Fixed Price Labor"

The breakout requested in Attachment 5 varies in format and substance from how we compute our fringe rate.

Would the Government please allow us to use our computed fringe rate if we provide the pool and base expenses on which it was computed?

No. Please use what's in attachment # 5

252.232-7998 Supplier

Self-Service Pilot

(Deviation 2018-A0001)

(DEC 2017)

(1) This solicitation has been selected for possible inclusion in a pilot to test an alternate approach to electronic invoicing. Participation in this pilot is voluntary….

If a company opts in for this voluntary pilot, may they later opt out? No, opting out after award is not an option with the system at this time.

PWS 1.6.10 Key

Personnel:

The contractor shall provide program managers/site-leads as specified in individual task orders who shall be responsible for the performance of the work.

Is there an indication of which of the employee class positions of the RFP Wage Determination Table or those identified at PWS Appendix A will be considered as Key Personnel?

No, Key Personnel requirements will be identified at the task order level.

43 L.3 (pg 42)

Reference: Table L.1 Volume Organization Question: Does the government want each Tab to be its own file or is a Tab considered a section in the Volume?

The TAB is consider as part of the Volume.

44 PWS

Is the Offeror required to provide a Program Manager for each Task Area as part of the proposal response or is this required after award?

No Program Managers are identified at the IDIQ level. Task orders will indicate what specific area would require a PM.

L.4.2.4. Tab D- Factor 1

(pg 46)

Reference: The Offeror shall provide a narrative of its proposed methodology to perform Task Area 2 only of the PWS Task Areas. The proposed methodology shall demonstrate the Offeror’s clear understanding and the capability to perform functions supporting Task Area 2 successfully. The

Offeror shall provide a chart summarizing the source of the expertise (prime and/or teaming partner).

The Offerors shall identify any risks associated with its approach and provide a plan to mitigate the identified risks

Is Task Area 2 an awardable task? It does have a key personnel requirement – is the Offeror required to propose a PM?

No, there are no 'live' task orders associated with this solicitation.

L.4.2.5. TAB E – Factor

2 – MA IDIQ Staffing and Management

Approach (pg 46)

The Offeror shall prepare a Staffing and Management Approach which demonstrates its understanding of and ability to successfully perform the PWS staffing and management requirements as it pertains to all six (6) task areas.

Question: Is the government asking for anticipated FTE for each?

- Given the size, scope and complexity of this effort, recommend a requirement added that a prime must demonstrate experience executing a prime DOD MATOC contract. This reduces execution risk and helps provide a best-value solution to the Government

No, the Government is not asking for anticipated FTEs for each.

RFP para L.4.2.5.1. requires an IDIQ Contracting Management plan that describes its understanding and ability to plan, execute, and manage multiple TOs simultaneously under the MA IDIQ.

Specific experience may be provided but it is not an evaluation criteria.

L.4.3.1.4.4.

/L.4.3.1.4.4.2. (pg 48)

Reference: For all contracts identified by the Offeror as past performance references, the Offeror shall provide a copy of all completed performance assessment reports from the Contractor Performance

Assessment Reports System (CPARS). Teaming Partners may submit completed performance assessment reports directly to the points of contact responsible for receiving proposal submissions identified in paragraph L.1.3 of this solicitation no later than the closing date and time identified in block 9 of the SF 33. Submission requirements of paragraph L.1 of this solicitation apply to the submission of CPARs information from Teaming Partners. The Offeror shall identify in its proposal whether CPARS for a past performance reference will be separately submitted by a Teaming Partner as described above. Failure to submit these requirements may render a reference unusable and will not count against the required number of references as the Government may not be able to consider how well the Offeror performed work on the past contract.

Question: If CPARS are not available because the Offeror or teammate performed the work as a subcontractor, will the Government still evaluate that reference based on favorable PPQ responses ?

Yes, the Government will still evaluate the past performance reference.

48 L.4.2.4 (pg 46) Reference: The Offeror shall provide a chart summarizing the source of the expertise (prime and/or teaming partner).

question: Can the Government please clarify chart format? Can this requirement be in table format? Yes, table format is acceptable. This reference has been updated in the solicitation.

49 PWS

The scope for Task Area 2 has been significantly reduced from the time of the DPWS release to the

FRFP. Given the breadth and complexity of scope of contracts being combined and in order for the

Government to gain a comprehensive and more complete understanding of a contractor teams’ experience, ability and capability to execute task orders under the IDIQ, we request scope be added back in to Task Area 2 of the PWS to address.

Question: As a minimum, will the Government add the Regional Hub Node requirements back into PWS Task

Area 2? This is a key function of the Cyber Battle Lab and essential for a contractor Team to support under the

IDIQ.

No, this will not be added back to the PWS.

50 B.2.2 (pg 4)

Reimbursable Travel: Authorized travel expenses will be reimbursed consistent with generally accepted accounting principles, cost accounting standards, and Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

31.205-46. Fee or profit on travel expenses is not an allowable reimbursement.

1. Question: Is a material handling fee allowed for Reimbursable Travel? Yes, see the updated CLIN language.

Section 52.204-24 and

Page 35 52.204-26

2. Question: Is there a requirement to include any updated “provision” clauses? This question isn't entirely clear. The provisions in question are

52.204-24 and 52.204-26. These provisions must be filled in appropriately and provided with the proposal in accordance with

L.4.1.4.

L.4.3.1.4 Tab E – Past

Performance References, sub paragraph

L.4.3.1.4.4 (pg 47)

The Offeror shall demonstrate the quality of work performed by the Offeror, or its Teaming

Partner(s), for each past performance reference by providing the two (2) requirements described below.

The two (2) identified requirements are a Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) and Contractor

Performance Assessment Reports System (CPARS). Typically, the Government request either one or the other but not both.

3. Will the Government remove the PPQ requirement for those Past Performance References that have a CPARS?

4. Since some contracts do not have a CPARS, how does the Government want Past Performance References that do not have CPARS identified?

No, the PPQ is required for every reference.

The PPQ will suffice in lieu of a CPAR that did not meet the reporting threshold requirements.

53 L.4.5.4.5. Tab D pg 49)

A TCPPE shall consist of a separate narrative and a completed Attachment 5. Professional Employee labor categories are marked with a ‘(PE)’ in the Fixed Price Labor tab of Attachment 5. Recently, the

Government has provided an Employee Total Compensation Plan attachment.

5. In the absence of this attachment, will the Government consider the submission of a Single Sample Template using a single sample salary to allow the vendor to demonstrate how the Employee Total Compensation Plan is calculated as all numbers in the table are multiples from the Direct Labor or Base Rate. Note: Completing one

Total Compensation Plan worksheet for each of the 58 labor categories will impose and unnecessary administrative burden on industry.

Columns H-S shall be provided for ALL labor categories in

Attachment 5. However, additional information to support the

Total Compensation Package may be provided in a consolidated response.

M.3.6.4.2.1 Scope. (pg

54)

The measure of services similarity to the requirements identified in the solicitation. Scope will be assessed by comparing the referenced past performance examples to the requirements outlined in the

PWS Task Area 2.

6. As this requirement includes support across various Tasks in addition to Task Area 2, will the Government modify this paragraph to state “The measure of services similarity to the requirements identified in the solicitation. Scope will be assessed by comparing the referenced past performance examples to the requirements outlined in the PWS?

No, this section will only be applicable to Task Area 2.

Attachment 5, Pricing

Workbook

General: Each Offeror is to provide a price proposal and accompanying narrative as part of its proposal in response to the solicitation. FAR 15.403-5(b) allows the contracting officer to specify the format of cost or pricing data or data other than certified cost or pricing data. The completed enclosed spreadsheets shall be part of the price proposal. This is a required flow down requirement, and therefore shall be submitted for the prime Offeror AND for any subcontractors/teaming partners proposed to perform effort in response to this solicitation.

7. Does the Government require all subcontractors to provide a separate price proposal and accompanying narrative or only the subcontractors that desire to submit their “unsanitized pricing” directly to the Government?

See answer to question #34

Attachment 5, Pricing

Workbook

8. Are you only requesting the BLS Occupation Code for those Labor Categories identified as BLS in Column D? Yes.

Attachment 5, Pricing

Workbook

9. Is the Government requestion Occupation Code (Column E) to be populated for all Labor Categories? No, a code is only applicable to PE labor categories and labor categories the Offeror has deemed as SCLS applicable. Exempt positions do not require this information. See Note 2 in

Attachment 5.

DD254, Page 2, SCI

Addendum

10. Will the government please provide the referenced SCI Addendum? See answer to question #11.

RFP 9124921R0001,

page 46, L.4.2.4, Tab D, Factor 1.

Question: Can the government please clarify whether Offerors should demonstrate an understanding of

Task Areas 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6? Rationale: The instructions require that the Offeror “demonstrate experience supporting requirement developments . . . “ This requirement is contained within Task Area 4 vice Task Area 2.

Requiring the Offeror to demonstrate an understanding of each task area will allow the government to differentiate proposals in order to select the Offeror best able to perform tasks across the PWS.

No, Factor 1 is only evaluating Task Area 2. Demonstrating experience supporting requirement developments is an underlying/inherent function to adequately perform Task Area 2, it is not necessarily an identified subtask to be performed under

Task Area 2.

RFP 9124921R0001,

page 47, L.4.3.1.1.

Question: Can the government please clarify that Offerors need to provide consent letters for all members of our team, or only for the team members that provide past performance references in the proposal?

See answer to question #6.

RFP 9124921R0001,

page 49, and Attachment

5, L.4.5.3.2.

Question: Can the government please verify that all labor categories in Attachment 5 should be in multiples of

1,920 hours? Rationale: This section states that Offerors shall use 1,920 hours for a productive labor year (as reflected in Attachment 5), but there are several labor categories in Attachment 5 that have labor years that are not in multiple of 1,920 hours.

See answer to question #38.

PWS Appendix A, page

59 and 86, and

Attachment 5

Question: Can the government please clarify the following Labor Categories: A-18, A-50? Rationale: A-18 is titled “Communications Requirements Editor (Architecture)” in the PWS and titled “Cyberspace Operations

Requirements Editor (PE)” in Attachment 5. A-50 is titled “Modeling and Simulation Analyst” in the PWS and not found in Attachment 5.

The labor categories in Appendix A of the PWS and Attachment

5 have been reconciled.

RFP 9124921R0001,

page 43 Table L.1, and page 47, L.4.3.1.4

Question: Would the government please consider increasing the recent & relevant past performance references from 3 to 5, and increasing the corresponding page count from 10 to 15?

No. The Government will retain 3 past performance reference and will not increase the page count.

RFP page 1 (SF33) and

Attachment 4

Question: Can the government please clarify the due date for Past Performance Questionnaires? (Dec 10 vs. Dec

18)

See answer to question #9.

65 Section L.4.1.7

Please confirm the facility security clearance(FSC) required by this effort (RFP Section L.4.1.7) is ancillary to the principal purpose of this procurement, and therefore, an SBA-approved Mentor-Protégé Joint Venture will satisfy the Government’s requirement for a FSC if the partner doing the work has the FSC, regardless of whether that partner is the Mentor or Protege.

See question # 12

66 L.4.3.1.4.4.1 states the PPQ must be returned to the points of contact responsible for receiving proposal submissions no later than the closing date and time identified in block 9 of the SF33. However, the Attachment 4 cover letter states the

PPQ must be received no later than December 10, 2020. Can you please confirm the PPQ due date is block of 9 of the SF33 and therefore December 18, 2020?

See answer to question #9.

67 L.4.3.1.4.4.2

Is there a waiver/alternative for a CPAR on a project that may have not been completed yet?

For all contracts identified by the Offeror as past performance references, the Offeror shall provide a copy of all completed performance assessment reports from the Contractor Performance Assessment Reports System

(CPARS).

There is no waiver as alternate for CPARS.

68 L.4.2.4

Is the specific task referred to in L.4.2.4 the task identified in the PWS 5.2, page 32 accurate, and is it the only task that needs to be addressed in the proposal technical volume?

The Offeror shall provide a narrative of its proposed methodology to perform Task Area 2 only of the PWS Task

Areas

Yes, L.4.2.4 refers to all of Task Area 2 located that starts at

PWS para 5.2.

Attachment 5- Pricing

Workbook

Instructions Note 2 Request the Government to please identify which solicitation Labor Categories are subject to the Wage

Determination (WD) guidelines under the Service Contract Labor Standards (SCLS)?

See Note 2 under the Instructions tab on Attachment #5.

Based on SCA WD, the Top-Secret Security (TS) Clearance and TS with SCI requirements in Annex A, can additional labor categories and rates be included to the Pricing Worksheet to capture TS and TS SCI rates?

No, additional labor categories will not be accepted other than those listed in the solicitation.

52.222-42

STATEMENT OF

EQUIVALENT RATES

FOR FEDERAL HIRES

(MAY 2014)

Can the government provide clarification regarding whether the Employee Class and Monetary Wage information under “52.222-42 STATEMENT OF EQUIVALENT RATES FOR FEDERAL HIRES (MAY 2014)” is for cleared or uncleared personnel?

The rates provided in 52.222-42 are the base rates, considering locality, that would be expected to paid to a Federal employee performing the same work. This is for informational purposes only and not a wage determination. The clearance level is negligible as it pertains to this clause.

72 , L.4.3.1.4.1 it states that the Offeror can subject more than one IDIQ task order award consecutively for the same requirement as a single past performance. Will the government consider the same TO that was consecutively procured and award across different MAIDIQ contract vehicles as a single past performance? Customers moved their requirements across GWAC contract vehicles to meet their acquisition strategy but the requirement remained intact.

Yes, as long as the Offeror demonstrates that the Offeror received more than one task order award consecutively for the same requirement that required the same level of performance.

73 L.4.3.1.4.3.2 it states the relevant must be similar in scope and magnitude where is measure of similarity of dollar value of current requirement. Can the Government identify the minimum dollar threshold; annually or total value;

to meet the past performance evaluation criteria?

Reference RFP para M.3.6.4.2.2 for a magnitude dollar threshold range.

L.4.3.1.4.4.2. &

Attachment 4

Submission requirements of paragraph L.1 of this solicitation apply to the submission of CPARs information from Teaming Partners. (December 18th). Please complete the enclosure and return to

MICC – Fort Eustis, no later than 3 days after receipt of request or by 2 pm EST on December 10, 2020, whichever occurs first.

Will the Government please clarify whether PPQs are due on December 10th or the 18th? See answer to question #9.

75 L.4.2.4.1

Additionally the Offeror's experience shall exhibit direct involvement with documenting CDID visions, strategies, concepts, and Capabilities Based Analysis (CBA) into appropriate Joint Capabilities Integration and

Development Systems (JCIDS) products.

The Government cannot determine the specific question being asked.

76 B.2.2.

Reimbursable Travel – Applicable Indirect Rates. REFERENCE TEXT: “Reimbursable Travel:

Authorized travel expenses will be reimbursed consistent with generally accepted accounting principles, cost accounting standards, and Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 31.205-46. Fee or profit on travel expenses is not an allowable reimbursement. CLIN 0002, Travel, NTE amount for the

5-Year Ordering Period is $9,550,000.”

QUESTION: Please confirm that reasonable and allocable indirect costs are allowable in the charge for direct travel expenses?

Yes, see answer to question #50.

77 L.4.5.3.2., Attachment 5

REFERENCE TEXT: “ Offerors shall use 1,920 hours for a productive labor year, as reflected in

Attachment 5. An Offeror may decide to deviate slightly from the 1,920 productive labor year hours in its technical execution, but for purposes of price evaluation the Government will use the 1,920 amount. If an Offeror decides to deviate from the 1,920 productive labor year hours, it shall fully describe its reasoning in the Price Narrative, Volume V Tab B, and the calculations shall be clearly shown in the Pricing Workbook.“ “Once all information has been provided, enter the total billable labor rate for the listed labor categories and calculate the total value for each labor category for each year using the estimated hours provided. A total evaluated price is located at the bottom that shall be a sum total of all labor categories for all 5 years with the specified number of hours.”

QUESTION: Please confirm that for Price Proposal evaluation purposes all Offerors must utilize the Total

Estimated Hours values present within Attachment 5 and may not make any independent adjustments to the Total

Estimated Hours values as presented within Attachment 5.

Yes, the vendor must use the Total Estimated Hours values present within Attachment 5.

78 Section J , Attachment 3 REFERENCE TEXT: “Attachment 3: Wage Determination for Fort Gordon, GA – Richmond County, GA – Service Contract Act (SCA).

QUESTION: Please confirm that Offerors shall use the most current Wage Determination for Richmond County, Georgia (i.e. WD# 2015-4466 REV# 13

See response to question # 17.

79 L.3.9.2.

REFERENCE TEXT: “The following page content does not count towards a Volume’s page limit:

covers for volumes, tables of contents, glossary of abbreviations and acronyms, indices, title pages, list of tables and drawings, cross references matrices, signed teaming agreements, Contractor Performance

Assessment Reports (CPARs), Consent Letters, and Client Authorization Letters.”

QUESTION: The cited reference identifies “signed teaming agreements” as being exempt from a proposal volume’s page limit. Section L does not contain any explicit instruction or requirement for Offerors to include signed teaming agreements within the proposal. Please confirm that signed teaming agreements are not required to be included within the proposal.

Signed teaming agreements are not required to be included with the proposal. This has been removed from L.3.9.2

80 L.4.3.1.1.

REFERENCE TEXT: “In Volume III, Tab B of its Proposal, the Offeror shall provide Consent Letters.

authorizing the release of past performance information executed by each proposed or anticipated subcontractor, teaming partner, and/or joint venture partner for this contract requirement. The

Government requests consent before disclosing subcontractor present and past performance information to the prime contractor and/or requesting such information about the prime contractor from references.”

QUESTION: Please confirm that the Prime contractor is not required to complete and submit with the proposal a

Consent Letter and that this requirement applies solely to anticipated subcontractor, teaming partners, and/or joint venture partners.

See answer to question #6.

81 1.6.13 / B.2.2.

REFERENCE TEXT: “The contractor shall perform official contract travel to CONUS and OCONUS locations as required by task orders under this contract. Additionally, the contractor shall be able to maintain any required host nation authority, licenses, or other permission to operate within the country.” “Authorized travel expenses will be reimbursed consistent with generally accepted accounting principles, cost accounting standards, and Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 31.205-

46. Fee or profit on travel expenses is not an allowable reimbursement.”

QUESTION: Please confirm that all direct costs associated with Government-approved OCONUS performance will be allowable, cost-reimbursable ODCs under the resultant contract and task orders.

See PWS para 1.6.13.7 for ODC information.

82 L.4.5.4.

REFERENCE TEXT: “In Volume V Tab C of its Proposal, the Offeror shall submit a completed

Attachment 5, Pricing Workbook in Microsoft Excel format.”

QUESTION: Please confirm that the reference to “Volume V” is intended to be “Volume IV”. Section L.4.5.4 has been corrected to read Volume IV.

83 L.4.5.4. / L.4.5.4.4.

REFERENCE TEXT: “In Volume V Tab C of its Proposal, the Offeror shall submit a completed

Attachment 5, Pricing Workbook in Microsoft Excel format.”

QUESTION: Section L.4.5.4. instructs Offerors to include a completed Attachment 5, Pricing Workbook in

Microsoft Excel format within Tab C of the Price Proposal Narrative. The Price Proposal Narrative will be presented in MS Word or PDF format. Please confirm that Offerors shall submit Attachment 5 as a separate, standalone Microsoft Excel file and that Attachment 5 shall not be included within the MS Word or PDF format Price Proposal Narrative.

Yes, Offerors shall submit Attachment 5 as a separate, standalone Microsoft Excel file and that Attachment 5 shall not be included within the MS Word or PDF format Price Proposal

Narrative.

84 L.4.5.4., Attachment 5

QUESTION: Attachment 5 does not presently include any field(s) for Year 2 of 5, Year 3 of 5, Year 4 of 5, and

Year 5 of 5 Total Billable Labor Rates. Please confirm that Offerors shall add columns within Attachment 5 to present the Total Billable Labor Rate(s) proposed for Year 2 of 5, Year 3 of 5, Year 4 of 5, and Year 5 of 5.

Yes; the Offeror may add columns or tabs with attachment # 5 to provide this information.

Attachment 5 - Pricing

Workbook_11 9 2020

Note 2

REFERENCE TEXT: “Please specify whether the Offeror has deemed a specific labor category to fall under the Service Contract Labor Standards by stating 'SCLS' and providing the selected SCLS occupation code in the applicable columns. For labor categories the Government has deemed to be

Professional Employees, a Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupation Code shall be provided. These labor categories have already been entered as 'BLS' in the applicable column. If a labor category does not fall under either category, please insert an 'NA' in the SCLS/BLS column.”

QUESTION: To ensure that the Government receives MA IDIQ proposals that may be meaningfully compared, please designate each of the MA IDIQ labor categories as either: 1) FLSA and SCLS Exempt; or 2) FLSA and SCLS Non-Exempt. Permitting each Offeror to independently make this determination will yield wildly different proposals and inhibit a meaningful comparison of all proposals received.

No, the Offeror is responsible for selecting whether non-PE labor categories are exempt or non-exempt.

PWS Appendix A /

Attachment # 5

Reference: A-50 Modeling and Simulation Analyst is missing from Attachment 5 Pricing Workbook. Question: Will the government provide a revised Attachment 5 Pricing workbook to include LCAT A-50? LCAT A-50 has been converted in the PWS to RESERVED.

87 Attachment # 5 Note 3

Reference: NOTE 3: Complete all columns for all labor categories, regardless of SCLS or Professional

Employee status. For any labor categories deemed as SCLS, the direct rate, fringe benefit detail, and other information will be used to validate SCLS rate requirements (e.g.: health and wellness requirements) and may be used for future REAs were an increase in labor rate be required. Once all information has been provided, enter the total billable labor rate for the listed labor categories and calculate the total value for each labor category for each year using the estimated hours provided. A total evaluated price is located at the bottom that shall be a sum total of all labor categories for all 5 years with the specified number of hours.

Question: Are the Total Estimated Hours of 366,720 provided in the Fixed Price labor Tab, the same number of hours by LCAT to be used for each contract year, Base and option years?

Yes.

Attachment 5 - Pricing

Workbook_11 9 2020

Reference: The Pricing Workbook does not include a separate Tab or Sheet to provide the labor breakdown of the Fully Burdened Rates for the Option Years, and the escalation applied in option years.

Question: Can the Offeror insert Tabs/Sheets within the Attachment 5 Workbook, with the same format as the

Base Year, to provide a breakdown of the Fully Loaded Rate for the Option Years, or will the government provide a revised Attachment 5 template to accommodate the build-up of the Option Year Rates?

See answer to question # 84

Attachment 5 - Pricing

Workbook_11 9 2020 section b / PWS B.2.2, B.2.3 and B.2.4

Question: Are the NTE Cost Reimbursable travel and ODC Numbers inclusive of Indirect Rate burden in accordance with the Offerors accounting practices?

Yes, see answers to questions # 50 and #76.

90 M.3.6.4.2.2

M.3.6.4.2.2. Magnitude – The measure of the similarity of the dollar value of actual performed work that exists between the PWS and the Offeror’s references. Magnitude will be consider the dollar amount of work actually performed on the recent past performance references. The Government generally considers a past performance reference with a total contract value greater than or equal to

$6.5 million to be more similar in magnitude, while a past performance that is less than $3.0 million to not be similar in magnitude.

Question: The governments current average Delivery order on CDID is $2,272,012 in obligated funds. Currently this value is far less than the total contract value required to meet magnitude. We request the government lower this threshold to at least the minimum of an 8a sole of $4.4 million as prescribed in the 2021 NDAA.

See answer to question #14.

91 Attachment # 5

The Instructions Tab of Attachment 5, Note 1 indicates that the government has selected specific categories as "Professional Employees" and requires that Offerors assign an Occupational code for those positions. Note 2 requires that Offerors select this categories covered by SCLS and associate with those categories Occupational codes from the associated WD.

Question: For categories that are not selected as SCLS by the Offeror and not selected as Professional Employees by the Government, it is not clear how Offerors are to complete the occupational column of the spreadsheet. Will the Government clarify what actions to take with regard to these positions, if any?

See answer to question #57.

92 Attachment # 5

Attachment 5, Att. 1, Appendix A: Attachment 1 PWS provides Appendix A - Specific Qualification

Requirements. The first position identified is the Program Manager, typically a Professional position.

However, the Government has not identified this in Attachment 5 as a Professional Employee (not marking same with "PE".

Can the Government confirm that this position is considered Professional and therefore should be marked in