CBL Solicitation Amendment U0002 (9-2-21).pdf

W9124921R0015

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

30-105-04EXCEPTION TO SF 30

APPROVED BY OIRM 11-84

STANDARD FORM 30 (Rev. 10-83) Prescribed by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

The purpose of this amendment is to provide: 1. follow -up responses to industry Questions 2. Incorporate Past Performance Questionnaire (Attachment 6) into the RFP and provide revisions to CDRL B001.

1. CONTRACT ID CODE PAGE OF PAGES

S 1 83

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

16C. DATE SIGNED

BY 02-Sep-2021

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA15C. DATE SIGNED15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

(Signature of Contracting Officer)(Signature of person authorized to sign)

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., Street, County, State and Zip Code) X W9124921R0015

X 9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

12-Aug-2021

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

X The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offer is extended, is not extended.

Offer must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN

REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required)

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS.

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE

CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(B).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return copies to the issuing office.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

10A. MOD. OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO.(If applicable)

6. ISSUED BY

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

02-Sep-2021

CODE

MICC - FORT EUSTIS

705 WASHINGTON BLVD

FORT EUSTIS VA 23604

W911S0 7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than item 6)

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.

CODE

See Item 6

FACILITY CODECODE

EMAIL:TEL:

SECTION SF 30 BLOCK 14 CONTINUATION PAGE

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

SECTION SF 1449 - CONTINUATION SHEET

The following have been added by full text:

ATTACHMENT 6

Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) and Cover Page – This document will be uploaded seperately.

CBL - FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS

Follow-up Questions

1. Question: Will you go back to the 5 year period for relevant past performance? There are small businesses that have relevant past performance that is over 3 years old who are capable of performing. The 3 year past performance constraint unnecessarily limits competition for this opportunity.

Government Response: No, with the ongoing changes in technology especially the Government believes that maintaining 3 years ensures relevancy.

2. Reference: C- Volume III, Element – Personnel Management, page 107 Question: Would the Government reconsider their request of resumes for key positions? The positions will not be filled until April. It is highly unlikely the contractors will be able to provide the key personnel proposed in April. Additionally, the key resumes would provide an advantage to the incumbent contractor and subcontractors.

Government Response: No, the Government will not reconsider the resume requirements for Key Positions.

3. Reference: Pricing Workbook Question: "Page 12 section 1.6.8 states “it is the Contractor’s responsibility to propose and deploy the correct labor types, mix, number and hours required to satisfactorily and professionally meet all PWS requirements.” However, Page 68 Section 7.3 of the Solicitation regarding the Estimated Work Load Data states that “the following information does not constitute a definitive requirement, and is included to ensure that industry participants compete for this award on a common basis.”

Will the Government please clarify whether Offerors may adjust the hours in the Total Estimated Hours Column B on the tab titled ""Fixed Price Labor"" of the CBL Pricing Workbook to match the Offerors proposed staffing approach?"

Government Response: It is the Contractor’s responsibility to deploy the correct number of hours. The projected number of hours does not constitute a definitive requirement, and is included to ensure that Industry participants compete for this award on a common basis.

4. Reference: Volume 1- General, Tab C

Question: "(Supplies or Services and Prices/Cost) - It shall be submitted fully completed and error free. It shall contain the Offeror's prices for the established Contract Line Items Numbers

(CLINS).""

Please clarify what the government would like included in Tab C."

Government Response: This tab is your proposed CLIN amounts.

5. Reference: Amendment 1 Question 29 Question: This solicitation paragraph requires the submission of all completed CPARs. Most relevant contracts with performance greater than 6 months but less than a year will not have a completed CPARs. Request the government allow the submission of Past Performance Questionnaires to support assessment of Past Performance citations without a completed CPARs to provide even playing field assessment of these citations.

Government Response: The Government will allow for the submission of Questionnaires to capture relevant work completed greater than 6 months but less than a year with no completed CPARS. The Questionnaire Sample will be provided in Amendment 2.

6. Reference: Solicitation Question: This paragraph includes a reference to "a dollar value equal to $3 Million or more".

Given the specific nature of the work and similarity of work to other COE Battle Labs, many very relevant contracts exist that would be excellent past performance citations but are below the $3 Million level. Request the government lower the threshold to $2 Million to be able to include very relevant past performance citations at other COEs.

Government Response: No. The dollar value threshold will remain at $3 Million.

7. Reference: Amendment 1 Question: The government provided an updated PWS with Questions attached however there is no updated RFP. Will the Government be issuing a conformed copy of the RFP/solicitation based on the answers to the Q&A? If so, when?

Government Response: A conformed copy of the PWS will be provided in Amendment 2.

8. Reference: Instructions to Offerors In the RFP Amendment 1, the Government addressed several questions in the Q&A around the Past Performance Requirement. However, the Government has not updated Section INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS or EVALAUTION to reflect the changes in their Q&A. Can the government please update section INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS, VOLUME 4 Item 10, AND EVALAUTION, to reflect the evaluation of the past performance volume should a CPARS record not be available, such as in the case of an instance performed as a subcontractor?

Government Response: The Government will update Instructions to Offerors to reflect the following:

“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 6) to the points of contact responsible for monitoring performance under such contracts. The PPQ cover letter includes instructions to return completed PPQs by electronic mail to the points of contact responsible for receiving proposal submissions identified in Instructions to Offerors paragraph 4. of this solicitation no later than the closing date and time identified in the in block 8 of the SF1449. The Offeror shall identify when, and to whom (with contact information), each PPQ and Cover Letter were sent.

9. Reference Amendment 1 – Quality Control Question: In the RFP Amendment 1, the Government addressed several questions in the Q&A around the Quality Control Plan (QCP). PWS paragraph 1.6.1 now references language from the CDRL 001 which states an initial QCP shall be delivered with the proposal submission, however Section INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS does not describe the requirement to submit a formal QCP. Can the Government please clarify in an updated Section INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS, if a formal QCP containing the elements described in PWS paragraph 1.6.1 is required within the existing page count?

Government Response: A QCP Plan shall be delivered within 30 days of Contract Award.

CDRL B001 will be updated and provided in Amendment 2 of this Solicitation.

10. Reference Amendment One Staffing and Personnel Qualifications; Functional Area Expert (Information Advantage Analyst) requirements:

Question: "Experience: In at least one of the following three areas: (1) as a branch or division leader at the Service headquarters level; or (2) as an Army division or above (or Joint service equivalent) staff officer (command select list or central board selected optional but preferred); or

(3) as a branch or division leader in a capability development position.

Question - Are the three listed in priority, have any weighted preference or simply go/no-go requirement?"

Government Response: The PWS states “at least one of the following three areas”

11. Reference: Reference Amendment One Staffing and Personnel Qualifications; Functional Area Expert (Information Advantage Analyst) requirements:

Question: "Requirement: Certification & Training, CE, day 1: 1 of 3, either (1) EW Certifications (Military MOS qualified or Commercial);or (2) Bachelor of Science four year degree in Electrical Engineering or Physics, or (3) equivalent job experience.

Are the three listed in priority, have any weighted preference or simply go/no-go requirement?"

Government Response: The PWS instructions are self-explanatory. “Certification & Training, CE, day 1: 1 of 3, either (1) EW Certifications (Military or Commercial);or (2) Bachelor of Science four year degree in Electrical Engineering or Physics, or (3) equivalent job experience.

12. Reference: Experimentation Branch Support – Electronic Warfare (EW) Analysis Question: "EW contractors shall work closely with ACM EW to inform, develop, and validate requirements within the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS). EW Analysts shall inform and validate requirements through experimentation. EW contractors shall evaluate JCIDS requirement documents independently or in coordination with ACM-EW. EW contractors shall analyze current Army EW requirements and determine future experimentation needs. EW contractors shall assess EW risks and vulnerabilities and recommend countermeasures. The EW contractors shall plan, lead, and/or coordinate meetings as needed to ensure completion of all project objectives.

Neither 1.6.8.18 nor 1.6.8.22 resume requirements address familiarity with the JCIDS process or knowledge of the associated Army Capabilities Managers, their processes and procedures or current EW requirements. Will the government consider adding these requirements to the RFP?"

Government Response: The Government will not make any changes to PWS paragraphs 1.6.8.10 and 1.6.8.22.

13. Reference: Experimentation Branch Support – Information Advantage (IA) Capability Analysis.

Question: "IA analyst shall work closely with the Army Program Office for IA, and Cyber- CDID to inform, develop, and validate requirements within the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS). IA contractors shall inform and validate requirements through experimentation. IA contractors shall analyze current Army Information requirements and determine future experimentation needs. The IA contractors shall assess risks and vulnerabilities and recommend countermeasures to operations and capabilities within the information environment. The IA contractors shall plan, lead, and/or coordinate meetings as needed to ensure completion of all project objectives.

1.6.8.23 Functional Area Expert (Information Advantage Analyst) resume requirement does not list familiarity with the TRADOC Program Office for Information Advantage. Will the final RFP reflect a desire for IA contractors having an understanding of current Army Information requirements in order to determine future experimentation needs?"

Government Response: The Government will not make changes to the PWS paragraph 1.6.8.23.

14. Questions: “Per Q&A 83, the Revised PWS identifies 1.6.8.30 as not a Full time position, but there is no 1.6.8 paragraph explicitly defining the qualifications for the Information Assurance Computer Scientist-BLCSE labor category in PWS 7.3 and pricing Attachment 1 worksheet.

Please confirm if PWS 1.6.8.29 Information System Security Officer (ISSO) for BLCSE CESC is the qualifications for this labor and update the PWS and/or Attachment 1 appropriately.

Government Response: See PWS Technical Exhibit 3 in Solicitation amendment 1 for the updated labor categories.

15. Reference: Government answer to questions 31, 32, and 57 issued with Amendment 1, stating all subcontractors shall submit fully disclosed Volume V, to include narrative and completed Attachment 1. (e) Volume V – Factor 4: Price (3)(a) Price (ii). "The Offeror shall identify subcontractor proposed fully burdened direct labor rates in Attachment 1, Pricing Worksheet, and provide supporting information in the price narrative portion.

Question: “Given that the CBL Experimentation Support is solicited as a Single-Award IDIQ, the labor category fully burdened rates are used to establish maximum labor category rates for the IDIQ. Then, based on Task Order (TO) specific requirements during IDIQ contract execution, the prime contractor will be responsible for determining subcontractor utilization for a TO(s). As a result, subcontractor pricing at the IDIQ level may not be reflective of subcontractor utilization at the TO level. While primes are responsible for incorporating subcontractor pricing when establishing their IDIQ ceiling rates, they cannot necessarily allocate hours, by labor category, to subcontractors at the IDIQ level because exact subcontractor utilization is determined for each TO. Accordingly, requiring subcontractor pricing, by hours and labor category, for IDIQ level pricing will not result in pricing that accurately reflects how the work would be performed, or the price of that work, for a TO. Suggest the government to reword the

(ii) sentence FROM "The Offeror shall identify subcontractor proposed fully burdened direct labor rates in Attachment 1, Pricing Worksheet, and provide supporting information in the price narrative portion." TO “The Offeror shall identify all subcontractor cost the offeror’s proposal is dependent on subcontractor execution in Attachment 1, Pricing Worksheet, and provide supporting information in the price narrative portion."

Government Response: The Prime contractor’s fully-burdened rates shall be used to establish maximum labor rates for the IDIQ.

The following have been modified:

ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-1

INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

A. Proposal Submittal and Inquiries.

1. All Offerors are required to submit proposals by the closing date and time identified in the SF 1449 in accordance with the instructions provided below. All the requirements specified in the request for proposal (RFP) are mandatory. By submitting a proposal, the Offeror is representing that its firm is capable and committed to performing all the requirements specified in the solicitation. Offerors shall demonstrate their capability, understanding, and willingness to satisfactorily perform all requirements as described in the PWS. Capabilities may be established within either the Offeror’s corporate structure or through Offeror teaming arrangements. The proposal shall be valid for one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days from date of initial proposal submission.

2. It is the Offeror’s responsibility to ensure that the entire proposal is submitted prior to the proposal due date and time. Failure of an Offeror to submit its proposal by the date and time deadline or in the manner specified in the solicitation may result in a determination that the Offeror is ineligible to be considered for award.

Partial proposals or attachments submitted late will not be considered. Proposals will be handled in accordance with (IAW) FAR 15.207. Late proposals will be handled IAW FAR 15.208.

3. Proposals shall be submitted via electronic email only. Electronic submissions via facsimile will NOT be accepted. For Internet email account such as Outlook.com or Gmail, the combined file size limit is 20 megabytes (MB) and for Exchange accounts (business email), the default combined file size limit is 10 MB.

4. Address all questions and concerns to the Contracting Officer, Mrs. Natisha Felix

(Natisha.m.felix.civ@mail.mil) and Contract Specialist, Mr. Bryan William (William.s.bryan6.civ@mail.mil).

All questions regarding this RFP shall be submitted in writing via email. The Government discourages multiple submissions of questions from a single Offeror. All questions shall reference document, section and/or page number for ease of response. All question regarding this solicitation shall be submitted by 20 August 2021 at 10:00 AM EST. Answers to questions will be posted on sam.gov website (https://sam.gov/) without Offeror identification. Questions received after the deadline may not be answered.

5. Offerors are required to meet all solicitation requirements. Proposals shall clearly and convincingly demonstrate that the Offeror has a thorough understanding of the entire requirement and the resources necessary to meet the requirement. Statements that the Offeror understands, can, or will comply with the requirements, and statements paraphrasing the requirements or parts thereof without supporting information/narrative are considered inadequate and unsatisfactory. Mere reiteration of the requirement or standard reference material is discouraged and is considered inadequate and unsatisfactory.

6. If the Offeror finds necessary to take exception to any of the requirements specified in this solicitation, the

Offeror shall clearly identify the applicable Volume and exceptions with a complete explanation of why the exception was taken, what benefit accrues to the Government (if any), and its impact, if any, on the performance, schedule, and specific requirements of the solicitation. Each exception shall be specifically related to each paragraph and/or specific part of the solicitation to which the exception is taken. Offerors are cautioned that taking an exception may render the Offer ineligible for award.

7. To be eligible for award of a contract hereunder, the Offeror must be determined to be a responsible prospective Offeror by the Contracting Officer in accordance with FAR 9.103 and 9.104-1.

8. Proposals shall not contain classified information.

9. Site Visit. The Government will not hold a site visit for this requirement.

B. General Instructions

1. The selection of a source for award purposes will be conducted utilizing source selection (negotiated) procedures as delineated in FAR Part 15.3. Offers will be evaluated using the criteria under FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation--Commercial Items under Addendum - Evaluation Factors for Award Evaluation Factors for Award, Standard Form 1449 Solicitation/Contract/Order for Commercial Items. Noncompliance with the Request for Proposal (RFP) requirements may hamper the Government's ability to properly evaluate the proposal and may result in elimination of the proposal from further consideration for contract award.

2. The Offer. The submission of the documentation specified below will constitute the Offeror's acceptance of the terms and conditions of the RFP, concurrence with the Performance Work Statement, and contract type.

3. It is the Government’s intention to award without discussions. Offerors are encouraged to present their best technical proposal and prices in their initial proposal submission. However, IAW FAR Part 15.306, should discussions become necessary, the Government reserves the right to hold them. If this occurs, a competitive range will be determined and Offerors notified. The competitive range may be limited for purposes of efficiency IAW FAR Part 15.306 (c)(2).

4. Instructions outlined in paragraph C below, prescribe the format for the proposal and describe the approach for the development and presentation of proposal data. These instructions are designed to ensure the submission of necessary information to provide for the understanding and comprehensive evaluation of proposals.

5. If an Offeror believes that the requirements in these instructions contain an error, an ambiguity, omission, or are otherwise deemed unsound, the Offeror shall immediately notify the KO in writing with supporting rationale. The Offeror is reminded that the Government reserves the right to award this effort based on the initial proposal, as received, without discussion.

6. In accordance with FAR Subpart 4.8 (Government Contract Files), the Government will retain one copy of all unsuccessful proposals.

7. All referenced documents for this solicitation are available on the SAM.gov website at https://sam.gov/.

Potential Offerors are encouraged to subscribe for real-time e-mail notifications when information has been posted to the website for this solicitation.

8. Debriefings. If a competitive range is established. The KO will promptly notify Offerors of any decision to exclude them from the competitive range, whereupon they may request and receive a debriefing in accordance with FAR 15.505. The KO will notify Offerors who were in the competitive range of the source but were not selected for award in accordance with FAR 15.503(b). Upon such notification, unsuccessful

Offerors may request and receive a debriefing in accordance with the requirements of FAR 15.5.5 or FAR 15.506, as applicable.

C. Proposal Preparation Instructions

1. Offeror’s proposal shall consist of five (5) separate volumes: (1) General, (2) Technical, (3)

Management and Staffing, (4) Past Performance, and (5) Price.

2. Proposal Format

(a) Offerors shall submit proposals in accordance with paragraph (c) below of their proposal.

(b) Exceptions. Offerors are required to meet all solicitation requirements, such as terms and conditions, representations and certifications, and technical requirements, in addition to those identified as evaluation factors or Elements. Failure to meet a requirement may result in an offer being ineligible for award. If the Offeror finds it necessary to take exception to any of the requirements specified in this solicitation, the Offeror shall clearly identify the applicable Volume and exceptions with a complete explanation of why the exception was taken, what benefit accrues to the Government (if any), and its impact, if any, on the performance, schedule, cost, and specific requirements of the solicitation. Each exception shall be specifically related to each paragraph and/or specific part of the solicitation to which the exception is taken. Offerors are cautioned that taking an exception may render the offer ineligible for award. It is recommended that the Offeror contact the Contracting Officer immediately/prior to solicitation closing upon identifying an area that may result in an exception. This information shall be provided in the format below.

Table 1 - Solicitation Exceptions Solicitation Document

Page/ Paragraph

Requirement/ Portion Rationale & Impact

PWS/SOO/ SOW,

Addendum 52.212-1 and FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation-- Commercial Items under Addendum - Evaluation Factors for Award etc.

Applicable Page and Paragraph Numbers

Identify the requirement or portion to which exception is taken.

Describe The rationale and impact of the exception.

Table 2: Proposal Volume and Format

VOLUME

TITLE

PAGE

LIMITS

I

General

Tab A - Exceptions/Assumptions Tab B - Section Solicitation, Offer and Award (SF 1449) Tab C - Services and Prices/Costs Tab D - (Representations, Certifications, and other Statements of Offeror).

Tab E - Offeror Points of Contact & Other Information.

N/A

II

Technical Capability

Tab A - Element 1 Tab B - Element 2 Tab C - Element 3

III Management and Staffing Capability

Tab A - Element 1 Tab B - Element 2 Tab C - Element 3

IV Past Performance 20

V Price

Tab A - Pricing Workbook (Attachment 1).

Tab B - Price Narrative.

N/A

(c) The proposals shall be organized into five (5) volumes. Each volume shall have a cover sheet clearly marked as to volume number, title, solicitation identification and the Offeror's name. All text shall be single spaced. Printing shall be easily readable (12-pitch type or 10 point proportional spacing). File names should be “Company Name – Volume #, Initial” for the first submission. File name of later submissions (if necessary), shall be “Company Name – Volume # Revision X’ with X indicating the number of the revision.

(d) Proposal Limitation. The proposal shall not exceed the limits stated above. If the page limits are exceeded, the pages in excess of the limit shall be removed and returned, unread, to the Offeror.

The Government will not accept any changes to the Offeror’s proposal after the closing date of the solicitation (See FAR 15.208 for further information regarding late proposals). If discussions become necessary, page limitations may be placed on responses to Evaluation Notices (ENs). The specified page limits for EN responses will be identified in the letters forwarding the ENs to the Offerors.

(e) Page Limit Includes: All appendices, charts, graphs, diagrams, tables, photographs, drawings, etc.

(f) Page Limit do not include covers for volumes, tables of contents, glossary of abbreviations and acronyms, indices, title pages, cross reference indices, consent letters, resumes, commercial client authorization letters, CPARS, and Past Performance Questionnaires. Organization Structure change history information, and section dividers/tables if they are inserted solely to provide ease to the reader in locating parts/sections of the proposal. Pages will be counted if they contain any other information, i.e., diagrams, extraneous data, etc. Pages marked “This page intentionally left blank” will not be counted.

(g) What Counts As A Page? A page shall be an 8 ½ X 11” sheet of paper. When both sides of a sheet display printed material, it shall be counted as two pages. Letter size and spacing requirements for illustrations and tables can be at the discretion of the Offeror, but not less than 8-point standard business font (Arial, Times New Roman, Courier New) and must be easily readable. Fold-outs will be counted as the appropriate number of pages based on an 8 ½” X 11” sheet of paper.

(h) Margins shall be at least 1 inch on the top and bottom and 3/4 inch on the side. The Offeror shall number each page in order to eliminate any confusion. In the event Offeror creates an ambiguity in their numbering of pages, the Government may exercise its own discretion in counting pages. In the event Offeror creates an ambiguity in their numbering of pages, the Government may exercise its own discretion in counting pages.

(i) Indexing. Each volume shall contain a more detailed table of contents to delineate the subparagraphs within that volume.

(j) Glossary of Abbreviations and Acronyms. Each volume shall contain a glossary of all abbreviations and acronyms used, with a definition for each.

(D) Proposal Content

(a) Volume I – General.

Offerors are required to submit a completed SF 1449 (Solicitation, Offer and Award) (including acknowledgment of Amendments), SF 1449 continuation sheet, Representation and Certifications, and other statements of Offerors.

Failure to follow the below Contract Proposal preparation instructions may cause your proposal to be deemed unacceptable by the Government. The General Volume shall be organized as follows and contain the identified information.

TAB A, Exceptions/Assumptions (if required) - Identification and explanation of any exceptions or deviations. Additionally, any assumptions used in the proposal preparation must be identified.

TAB B, Solicitation, Offer and Award - The SF 1449 shall be submitted fully completed. The Offeror is cautioned that the SF 1449 must contain an original signature in block 30a of the form. The Government will consider an electronic signature provided in a PDF. The Offeror shall acknowledge any amendments to the RFP in accordance with the instructions on the SF 1449 and with Addendum FAR 52.212-1, Instruction to Offerors – Commercial Items. The Offeror shall provide the name, title and telephone number of the company/division point of contact regarding decisions made with respect to your proposal and who can obligate your company contractually. Also, identify those individuals authorized to negotiate with the Government.

TAB C, (Supplies or Services and Prices/Costs) - It shall be submitted fully completed and error free. It shall contain the Offeror’s prices for the established Contract Line Items Numbers (CLINS).

TAB D, (Representation, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offerors) – The Offeror shall ensure that this section is thoroughly completed with all blocks in each certification/representation completed truthfully and completely.

TAB E, Offeror Points of Contact & Other Information. The Offeror shall provide their Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS), and Contractor and Government Entity (CAGE) code.

(b) Volume II – Factor 1, Technical Capability

The Technical Capability Volume shall be clear, concise, and include sufficient detail for effective evaluation and for substantiating the validity of stated claims in the Offeror’s proposal. Legibility, clarity, and coherence are very important. Your responses will be evaluated against the Technical Capability factors/elements defined in FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation--Commercial Items under Addendum - Evaluation Factors for Award. The proposal should not simply rephrase or restate the Government's requirements, but rather shall provide convincing rationale to address how the Offeror intends to meet these requirements. Offerors simply providing general statements or paraphrasing /parroting the PWS in whole or in any part shall result in a rating of unacceptable. Statements that the Offeror understands, can, or will comply with the PWS (including referenced publications, technical data, etc.); statements paraphrasing the PWS or parts thereof (including applicable publications, technical data, etc.); and phrases such as “standard procedures will be employed” or “well known techniques will be used,” etc., will be considered unacceptable. Offerors shall assume that the Government has no prior knowledge of their facilities and experience, and will base its evaluation on the information presented in the Offeror's proposal. Elaborate brochures or documentation, binding, detailed art work, or other embellishments are unnecessary and are not desired. Volume II shall not include any pricing information.

The Technical Capability Volume shall, at a minimum, be prepared in a format consistent with the Performance Work Statement (PWS) and the evaluation criteria for award set forth FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation-- Commercial Items under Addendum - Evaluation Factors for Award of this solicitation. This section shall be prepared in an orderly format and in sufficient detail to enable the Government to make a thorough evaluation of the Offeror’s technical competence and ability to comply with all the contract task requirements specified in the PWS. The Offeror’s proposal shall provide evidence of the Offeror’s and/or its team members' or subcontractors' experience in all three (3) Elements, provide a clear understanding of the solicitation requirements and provide a concise description of its experience. The Offeror shall address as specifically as possible the actual procedures you would use for accomplishing the PWS tasks. The volume shall be organized according to the following general outline:

Table of Contents List of Table and Drawings

Cross Reference Matrix Glossary Exceptions/Assumptions (Identification and explanation of any exceptions or deviations).

Additionally, identify any assumptions used in preparing the proposal.

Factor 1 – Technical Capability:

Factor 1: Technical Capability

Element 1: Current and Futures CO/EW/DODIN-A/IA Experimentation Event Element 2: Experimentation Environments Support Element 3: Battle Lab Collaborative Simulation (BLCSE) Network Operations Security Center (NOSC)

Element 1: Current and Futures CO/EW/DODIN-A/IA Experimentation Event Execution

This Element evaluates the Offeror’s experience and proposed approach to support CO/EW/DODIN- A/Information Advantage for Live and Future Experimentation execution support to the Cyber Battle Lab (CBL).

The Offeror shall provide a clear understanding of and description of its experience in the following elements:

Provide Experimentation experience and support within all phases of Cyber Operations Experimentation, Electronic Warfare Experimentation, and Current Tactical communication networking Experimentation, and Information Advantage to include:

Learning Demand development Event Design Scenario Development Planning Implementation Management Execution Data Collection Analysis Reporting

Element 2: Experimentation Environment Support

This element evaluates the Offeror’s experience and proposed approach to support the CBL’s experimentation event execution with appropriate tools are resources. The Offeror shall provide a clear understanding of and description of its experience in the following elements:

Modeling and Simulation Tools (CO/EW/NETWORKS/IA) development, testing, integration and maintenance and managing models

Distributed simulation support

Model-ready data development Installation, operation and maintenance (IOM) satellite node, networks, modems, etc.

Systems engineering and bandwidth management IOM Tactical Radios and antennas IOM closed experimentation networks, servers, routers and IT equipment Cyber Security and accreditation support

Element 3: Battle Lab Collaborative Simulation (BLCSE) NOSC

This element evaluates the Offeror’s experience and proposed approach to support the Battle Lab Collaborative

Simulation (BLCSE) NOSC support to the CBL. The Offeror shall provide a clear understanding of and description of its experience in the following elements:

Installation, operation and maintenance for a closed, SECRET wide area network Systems engineering, troubleshooting and real-time network monitoring Collaboration services Customer/helpdesk support Cyber Security and accreditation support

(c) Volume III – Factor 2, Management and Staffing Capability

The Management and Staffing Capability Volume shall be clear, concise, and contain sufficient detail for effective evaluation and for substantiating the validity of stated claims in the Offeror’s proposal. Legibility, clarity and coherence are very important. Your responses will be evaluated against the Management and Staffing Capability factor defined in FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation--Commercial Items under Addendum - Evaluation Factors for Award. The proposal should not simply rephrase or restate the Government's requirements, but rather shall provide convincing rationale to address how the Offeror intends to meet these requirements. Statements that the Offeror understands, can, or will comply with the PWS (including referenced publications, technical data, etc.);

statements paraphrasing the PWS or parts thereof (including applicable publications, technical data, etc.); and phrases such as “standard procedures will be employed” or “well known techniques will be used,” etc., will be considered unacceptable. Offerors shall assume that the Government has no prior knowledge of their facilities and experience, and will base its evaluation on the information presented in the Offeror's proposal. Elaborate brochures or documentation, binding, detailed art work, or other embellishments are unnecessary and are not desired.

The Management and Staffing Capability Volume shall, at a minimum, be prepared in a form consistent with the Performance Work Statement (PWS) and the evaluation criteria for award set forth FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation-- Commercial Items under Addendum - Evaluation Factors for Award of this solicitation. The section shall be prepared in an orderly format and in sufficient detail to enable the Government to make a thorough evaluation of the Offeror’s technical competence and ability to comply with the contract task requirements specified in the PWS. The Offeror shall address as specifically as possible the actual methodology you would use for accomplishing the PWS tasks. The Management Capability volume shall be organized according to the following general outline:

List of Table and Drawings Cross Reference Matrix Glossary Exceptions/Assumptions (Identification and explanation of any exceptions or deviations). Additionally, identify any assumptions used in preparing the proposal.

Factor 2 - Management Capability Factor consists of three Elements

Element 1: Contract Management Element 2: Project Management Element 3: Personnel Management. This volume shall also contain items outlined in the Performance

Work Statement

Element 1: Contract Management

The Offeror shall provide a clear understanding of the solicitation requirements and provide a concise description of contract management in the following elements:

The Offeror shall provide a concise description and clear understanding of how its proposed processes, procedures and approaches, and innovation will provide cost savings and efficiencies over the life of the contract to include use of innovations for process reengineering, emerging technologies and management of cross-organizational processes.

The Offeror shall provide a concise description and clear understanding of how the QC plan will be implemented as a stand-alone document, how the project at the demand maintenance order level will be managed, and how the services and integration of subcontractors will be validated. The Contractor shall describe how its quality control approach fits into the organization’s environment.

Element 2: Project Management

The Offeror shall provide a clear understanding of and description of its experience in the following elements:

The Offeror shall provide clear descriptions of the Project Manager (PM) and the Alternate Project Manager (APM) duties and responsibilities, and ensure they commensurate with their qualifications and experience.

The Offeror shall provide a concise description and clear understanding on its ability to plan, execute, and manage multiple Task Orders (TO) simultaneously.

Element 3: Personnel Management

The Offeror shall provide a clear understanding of the solicitation requirements and provide a concise description of personnel management in the following elements:

The Offeror shall provide a concise and clear understanding of how it will recruit, hire, retain (to reduce employee turnover), and manage personnel with the required knowledge, skills, education, experience, and applicable position descriptions, certifications, training (to include refresher training), and licenses required to support specific positions (including unique and emerging technology used in specialty areas) identified in the base line staffing data.

The Offeror shall provide a concise and clear understanding of how the Offeror will adjust and support changing priorities, timelines, and effectiveness, and will reprioritize work and reintegrate the interrupted work back into service.

The Offer shall provide Resumes of proposed Key Personnel to ensure that their skills, qualifications, security clearances, and certifications, commensurate their duties IAW the PWS.

(d) VOLUME IV – Past Performance Volume

1. The Government will perform a Confidence Assessment of the Offeror’s past performance to arrive at a confidence rating. The Confidence Assessment represents the evaluation of an Offeror's past work record to assess the Government's confidence in the Offeror's probability of successfully performing as proposed. The Past Performance evaluation will be accomplished by reviewing aspects of an Offeror's recent and relevant Past Performance, focusing on and targeting performance which is relevant to the effort as it directly relates to the work being procured under this solicitation and as defined in FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation--Commercial Items under Addendum - Evaluation Factors for Award. Past Performance information described herein is required on the Offeror and all subcontractors, teaming partners, and/or joint venture partners proposed to perform on this proposed effort based on the total proposed price. The Offeror shall submit, along with the information required in this paragraph, a consent letter, executed by each subcontractor, teaming partner, and/or joint venture partner, authorizing release of adverse past performance information to the Offeror so the Offeror can respond to such information. 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. For each past performance reference, the Offeror shall provide the following information: Name of effort, contract and/or task order number, period of performance, Government point of contact responsible for monitoring performance under the contract (name, phone, email, address), Administrative Contracting Officer (name, phone, email, address), dollar value of work actually performed during the three (3) years prior to the date for receipt of offers, and the specific primary task area(s) for which the Offeror believes the reference demonstrates relevancy and quality of services performed under the reference.

2. The Offeror shall include documentation regarding their relevant past performance as it directly relates to the work being procured under this solicitation. The Offeror SHALL NOT go back any farther than 3 years for services for the submitted data. The past performance data shall document a successful history of past contract performance.

3. To be recent an effort must have performed for six (6) months or longer during the three (3) years prior to the date for receipt of offers. Evaluation will focus only on work experience already performed. Yet-to-be performed work and experience prior to the last three (3) years will not be considered.

4. To be relevant, the effort must be similar in scope and magnitude to the services being procured under this solicitation. Scope is the measure of the services similarity to the task requirements identified in PWS Part 5. Magnitude is defined as combined OR individual (Prime, Sub-contractor or Business Relationship) work effort that demonstrates that the Offeror has managed performance similar to the tasks in the PWS with a dollar value equal to $3 Million or more. Magnitude will be evaluated using the dollar amount of work actually performed on the past performance reference during the three (3) years prior to the date for receipt of offers.

5. The Offeror’s Proposal must demonstrate the quality of each past performance reference.

6. In conducting the Past Performance evaluation, the Government reserves the right to use both the information provided in the Offeror’s Past Performance Volume and information obtained from other sources.

7. The past performance data shall document the Offeror’s history of past contract performance. For any contracts that the Offeror did not/do not meet original requirements with regard to cost, schedule, or technical performance, the Offeror shall provide a brief explanation of the reason(s) for such shortcomings and any demonstrated corrective actions taken to avoid recurrence. Offerors may include a discussion of efforts accomplished by the Offeror to resolve problems encountered on prior contracts as well as past efforts to identify and manage program risk. The Offeror is required to clearly address management actions employed in overcoming problems and the effects of those actions, in terms of improvements achieved or problems rectified.

8. Offerors are reminded that both independent data and data provided by Offerors in their proposals may be used by the Government to evaluate Offerors past performance. However, the burden of providing thorough, complete, and current past performance information as requested in this paragraph remains with the Offerors. Proposals that do not contain the information requested by this paragraph risk rejection or a less than acceptable performance rating by the Government. In the case of an Offerors without any relevant past performance history, Offerors without a record of relevant past performance or for whom information will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on past performance and, as a result, will receive an " Unknown/Neutral Confidence" rating for the Past

Performance factor. A strong record of relevant present and past performance may be considered more advantageous to the Government than an "Unknown/Neutral Confidence" rating.

9. All past performance comments received will be taken into account and could affect the overall rating. The overall past performance evaluation is a subjective decision based on the each individual Past Performance whole of all data received. Offerors with no past performance may provide the equivalent information on company officials and/or personnel proposed for this action. If the Offeror has no relevant past performance, they will be rated as “Unknown/Neutral Confidence” rating.

10. For each past performance reference, the Offeror shall provide a copy of all completed Contractor Performance Assessment Reports (CPARs). Teaming Partners may submit CPARs directly to the points of contact responsible for receiving proposal submissions no later than the closing date and time identified in block 8 of the 1449. 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.

11. 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 6) to the points of contact responsible for monitoring performance under such contracts. The PPQ cover letter includes instructions to return completed PPQs by electronic mail to the points of contact responsible for receiving proposal submissions identified in Instructions to Offerors paragraph 4, of this solicitation.

PPQs shall be received no later than the closing date and time identified in the in block 8 of the SF1449. The Offeror shall identify when, and to whom (with contact information), each PPQ and Cover Letter were sent.

12. Submission Requirements. The Offeror shall submit a Past Performance Volume containing the following:

Summary Page: Describing the role of the Offeror and each subcontractor, teaming partner, and /or joint venture partner that the Offeror is required to provide Past Performance.

Consent Letters: The Offeror shall provide Consent Letters authorizing the release of past performance information executed by each subcontractor, teaming partner, and/or joint venture partner. The Offeror shall also provide Consent Letters authorizing the release of past performance information executed by each subcontractor, teaming partner, and/or joint venture partner who are performing major, or critical aspects of the requirement when such information is relevant to the instant acquisition. Past performance information concerning subcontractors cannot be disclosed to or requested from a private party without the subcontractor’s consent. Because a prime Offeror is a private party, the Government requires consent before disclosing subcontractor present and past performance information to the prime Offeror and/or requesting such information about the prime Offeror from references. In an effort to assist the Government’s Past Performance Team in assessing an Offeror’s past performance relevancy and confidence rating, the Government requests that a consent form be completed for each reference identified in your proposal. The completed consent forms should be submitted as part of the Past Performance volume.

Client Authorization Letters: The Offeror shall provide, for each identified past performance reference, 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. The format of the Client Authorization Letter shall be determined by the Offeror.

Specific Relevant Contracts Format - Sheets in accordance with Attachment 4. The offeror shall provide documentation outlining the offeror’s past performance with contracts, as a prime or major subcontractor, which is the same or similar in nature, size, and complexity to the services being procured…