Attachment 4 - Compiled Solicitation Questions with Answers.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 16 KB Posted
- Solicitation number
- W9124G_CEAD_FY24
About this file
This document is a compilation of questions and answers related to a federal contract opportunity for Concept Development and Experimentation Support for the Army's Combat Capabilities Development Command.
Key details include: the proposal due date of 10:00 AM CST on April 22, 2024; the government's intent to use a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable source selection method; the identified key personnel positions of Site Manager/Contract Lead and Specialist/Analyst (Concepts/Experimentation); clarification that travel should be priced as a separate CLIN with a not-to-exceed amount of $20,000; and the government's willingness to accept CPARS in lieu of Past Performance Questionnaires. The incumbent contractor is System Studies & Simulation, Inc. under contract W911S0-19-D-0007, Task Order W911SF-19-F-0100.
View the file
Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| W9124G-24-R-0004 Revised 03-Apr-2024.pdf | ||
| Attachment 2 - Past Performance Questionare Revised 03-Apr-2024.docx | DOCX document | |
| Attachment 3 - Pricing Schedule Revised 03-Apr-2024.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Attachment 1 - Performance Work Statement Revised 03-Apr-2024.pdf | ||
| W9124G-24-R-0004 Amendment 0002.pdf | ||
| W9124G-24-R-0004 Amendment 0001.pdf | ||
| W9124G-24-R-0004.pdf | ||
| Attachment 3 - Pricing Schedule.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Attachment 1 - Performance Work Statement.pdf | ||
| Attachment 2 - Past Performance Questionare.docx | DOCX document |
On GovTribe
Work with this file
- Download the original file
- Contacts named in this file
- Similar government files
- Ask GovTribe AI about this file
Text version
Sheet1
| Question Number | Question | Answer |
| 1 | The 1449 in block 8 indicates the Offer due date of 10:00 AM 29 Mar 2024 and the instructions state that the proposal due date is 10:00 AM, Central Standard Time (CST), 22 April 2024. Please confirm the correct date and time. | Proposal Due Date: 10:00 AM, Central Standard Time (CST), 22 April 2024. |
| 2 | The language in this paragraph isn’t clear on if resumes for key personnel are required. The Key Personnel definition in the glossary does state the a firm commitment is required, but that is not stated anywhere else that we could see. Recommend the government require submission of resumes and commitment letters for key personnel. | The Government does not require resumes; however, Offerors may submit resumes of key personnel along with their offers. The Offeror is responsible for ensuring the personnel hired are capable of completing the required deliverables. |
| 3 | Please confirm that the following are Key Personnel: |
1.6.11.1. Site Manager/Contract Lead
| 1.6.11.2. Specialist/Analyst (Concepts/Experimentation) Support | Confirmed. Additionally, Site Manager/Contract Lead is also the Concept Development and Experimentation Senior Analyst. | ||
| 4 | RFP states that “this is a lowest price technically acceptable source selection conducted in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)”. Ask that the government change to a “best value” basis of award. | Basis of Award will be Lowest Price Technically Acceptable. | |
| 5 | Paragraph L6.4 (b) states: “A contract will not be awarded to a contractor whose price is not determined to be fair and reasonable.” If the government does not change to “best value” basis of award, recommend the government adds a reference to conducing Price Realism Analysis to ensure an offeror’s price is not impractically low. | Offerors may be required to submit additional data other than certified cost or pricing data for the Contracting Officer to determine price reasonableness. | |
| 6 | There is no reference to the structure of the pricing volume. We assume a pricing narrative, table of contents, etc. are acceptable. | The Price Volume shall include proposed unit and extended prices for each Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) and SUBCLIN in the SF 1449 Continuation Sheet. Provide pricing on Attachment 3- Pricing Schedule. | |
| 7 | Will the Government issue the DD-254 to permit bidder review? | Yes. | |
| 8 | Was there additional information or protections regarding Lock Combination security that the Government planned to include in 1.6.7.3? | No. Any contract employee that needs combination access will be briefed at the time of combination issue. | |
| 9 | Will the Government clarify if the ‘Site Manager/Contract Lead ’ is the only ‘Key Personnel’ on the contract? | No. Specialist/Analyst (Concepts/Experimentation) is also considered Key Personnel. | |
| 10 | Will the Government confirm what the requirement is associated with the first portion of that last sentence “Participation as a direct team member in the Army Aviation Operations Capabilities Based Assessment (CBA)…”. Should this sentence add “required” or “preferred” to fully define the Government expectation? | The requirement is that the contract employee will be required to participate as the primary action officer for the effort. At times, the contract employee will be the sole representative of CEAD within the effort. | |
| 11 | Will the Government confirm that travel is not to be included in the ODC CLIN since travel is priced as a separate CLIN? | Travel should be priced as a separate CLIN (0003, 1003, 2003, 3003, & 4003). | |
| 12 | Will the Government identify the supplies and equipment to be priced as ODCs? Conversely, will the Government provide an ODC estimate all bidders use? | ODC supplies are on an as needed basis. The supplies are usually small items needed for experimentation equipment (IT related) such as cables, connectors, adaptors, memory chips, etc. The amount will be a Not To Exceed amount. For planning purposes, $20,000 is the amount we try to stay under. | |
| 13 | Since the Government says in paragraph 2.1.6 that the ‘key personnel are used as an evaluation factor in best value procurement’, should Section M be amended to reflect this a ‘best value trade-off procurement’ to ensure bidders can attract and retain key personnel with the defined the high qualification requirements? | Basis of Award will be Lowest Price Technically Acceptable. | |
| 14 | Will the Government identify the supplies and equipment to be priced in Part 5, Specific Tasks, or in Attachment 3/Technical Exhibit 3 – Estimated Workload Data? | ODC supplies are on an as needed basis. The supplies are usually small items needed for experimentation equipment (IT related) such as cables, connectors, adaptors, memory chips, etc. The amount will be a Not To Exceed amount. For planning purposes, $20,000 is the amount we try to stay under. | |
| 15 | Should the bidder infer that all contractor personnel on this contract will travel to each designated location, for the designated number of days each trip, for the designated number of trips per year? | No. The number of travelers will depend on the requirement. For planning purposes, one contract employee will be required to travel for each of these events. | |
| 16 | Will the Government provide a link to this volume since the Washington Headquarters Services website (https://esd.whs.mil) no longer lists this volume in the DoD Publications & Manuals section with the other three volumes? | DoD Manual 5200.01, Volume IV no longer exists. Information concerning CUI has been incorporated into Volumes I thorough III. | |
| 17 | Will the Government clarify whether the Questions are due on March 27th or on the third day after the site visit? Has the Government set the Site Visit date and time? | Offerors may email written questions pertaining to this RFP to the addresses below. The Government will answer questions received no later than March 27, 2024, 1:00 p.m. Central Standard Time. Amendment 0001 provides the details for the Site Visit. Questions pertaining to the site visit are due by 1700 Central Standard Time (CST) on Friday, April 5, 2024. | |
| 18 | Would the Government consider contract performance of at least six months on an ongoing contract valid for citation? | The minimum standard shall clearly reflect that the Offeror has at least five (5) years of experience in the type of service with the same or similar scope, size and complexity as required by the PWS, attachments and technical exhibits. | |
| 19 | Would a completed CPARS be acceptable in lieu of PPQ since they have formally attested comments and POC data for the COR and KO? | The Government is willing to accept completed CPARS evaluations in lieu of the PPQ, if the completed CPARS evaluations are for contract performance within the last three years. | |
| 20 | Will the Government clarify when PPQs are due back to the MICC Contracting Office to be considered in the evaluation of offeror’s past performance? | Past Performance Questionnaires Due Date: 10:00 AM, Central Standard Time (CST), 22 April 2024. | |
| 21 | Does the Government plan to have all bidders use a ‘travel plug number’ for all X003 Travel CLINs? If not, will the Government amplify the table in paragraph 5.2.14 to include the number of personnel on each trip to permit bidders to develop more accurate travel estimates? If not using a ‘travel plug number’ will X003 Travel CLIN values be included in the contractor’s total contract value for comparison in the ‘lowest cost, technically acceptable’ evaluation? Does the Government plan to conduct any price realism analysis to prevent bidders from artificially reducing their Travel CLIN pricing to reduce their total contract value and increase their competitiveness in a ‘lowest price, technically acceptable’ evaluation? | No. The number of travelers will depend on the requirement. For planning purposes, one contract employee will be required to travel for each of these events. Government POC will request the appropriate support for each event. The Contracting Officer's Representative will review and validate travel funding. As travel funds will be allocated on a Not to Exceed basis, no travel will be required without available funding. | |
| 22 | Past Performance Information Retrieval System was retired in 2019, does the Government plan to use the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) as a resource in Source Selection? If so, will the Government permit submission of CPARS in lieu of PPQs to demonstrate the quality of their company past performance? | The Government is willing to accept completed CPARS evaluations in lieu of the PPQ, if the completed CPARS evaluations are for contract performance within the last three years. | |
| 23 | Since the Government provided Attachment 3 – Pricing Schedule and directed its use in L6.4, does the Government also expect a pricing narrative that includes a proposal crosswalk of labor categories and other data to justify pricing as fair and reasonable? Does reference to “master contract cap rates” require comparison to some GSA schedule pricing or pricing from another IDIQ/GWAC? | Offerors may be required to submit additional data other than certified cost or pricing data for the Contracting Officer to determine price reasonableness. The Government reserves the right to analyze offers using comparison tools commonly used for GSA contracts. | |
| 24 | Can the Government identify if there is an incumbent currently undertaking the specified work. If so, we request the Government to disclose the name of the company and the contract number under which the work is executed. | The current contract is W911S0-19-D-0007, Task Order W911SF-19-F-0100 with System Studies & Simulation, Inc. | |
| 25 | Can the Government confirm the key personnel designated for this contract. Are they identified as 1) Site Manager/Contract Lead; 2) Concept Development and Experimentation Senior Analyst; and 3) Specialist/Analyst (Concepts/Experimentation)? | Yes, those are considered Key Personnel. | |
| 26 | Could the Government specify whether the Table of Contents, Glossary, and Summary Page(s) are counted towards the 40-page limitation for Volume II, Technical Proposal? | A Table of Contents and Glossary will not be counted towards the 40-page limitation for Volume II, Technical Proposal. | |
| 27 | Could the Government specify the number of Key Personnel required for this contract and whether resumes are necessary for each individual? | No. The number of personnel are determined by the Offeror based on the required deliverables and the Workload Estimate. The Government does not require resumes; however, Offerors may submit resumes of key personnel along with their offers. The Offeror is responsible for ensuring the personnel hired are capable of completing the required deliverables. | |
| 28 | Section M.C.1. Factor 1: Technical Approach states “The purpose of the Technical Approach Evaluation Factor is to assess the Offeror’s proposed approach, as detailed in its proposal, to satisfy the Government’s minimum requirements as stated in the Performance Work Statement (PWS). (Presented as Volume I). Section L identifies the Technical Approach as Volume II. Could the Government revise Section M to ensure consistency with Section L? | The Government will publish an Amendment to clarify the Volume numbering. | |
| 29 | PWS Section 1.6.7 outlines that contractor personnel engaged in this contract must possess a SECRET clearance at the time of proposal submission. This stipulation may disadvantage small businesses lacking staff with such clearances not already allocated to projects. It seems to benefit the incumbent uniquely. Might the Government consider modifying this requirement to state that contractor personnel must obtain a SECRET clearance before initiating work on the contract? | All personnel must have a SECRET clearance on the first day of the start of the contract. The Government will publish an Amendment to clarify this PWS requirement. | |
| 30 | In Section L.6.3, the Past Performance Proposal is identified as Volume II, which appears to be a clerical discrepancy given that Section L.5 designates this Volume as Volume III. We request the Government to rectify this inconsistency and amend Section L.6.3 accordingly to ensure accuracy. | The Government will publish an Amendment to clarify the Volume numbering. | |
| 31 | Section M.3, Factor 3: Price, states that an offeror's price must be deemed fair and reasonable and should not exceed established master contract cap rates. Could the Government provide further clarification on the specific master contract cap rates being referred to? | The Government reserves the right to analyze offers using comparison tools commonly used for GSA contracts. | |
| 32 | Section M.3, Factor 3: Price, indicates that the price submission will be evaluated based on a proposal's crosswalk of labor categories from its staffing matrix to those in its pricing matrix. However, Section L does not require offerors to submit a proposal crosswalk of labor categories or a staffing matrix. Could the Government provide detailed staffing requirements to ensure offerors can meet the evaluation criteria effectively? | No. The labor catagories are determined by the Offeror based on the required deliverables and the Workload Estimate. |
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .