QA_W9124J-20-R-0020_30 July 2020_v3.pdf

Army Emergency Management Exercise, Design and Simulation Services Solicitation W9124J-20-R-0020

## CATEGORY REFERENCE QUESTION ANSWER

1 Page 55, Factor 1:

Technical Capability, A.

Section 1 - Technical experience (Subfactor 1)

Can the government please clarify that we are only to write to PWS Section 5.2.2 and no other parts of the PWS (5.2.1 or 5.3)?

No, the proposal shall address all the parts in the PWS Part 5. The Addenda to FAR 52.212-1 and 52.212-2 have been corrected.

2 Page 55, Factor 1:

Technical Capability | Evaluation bullets i and ii

b. Section 2 - Staffing Plan Personnel Qualifications and Experience (Subfactor 2) Bullet i

Can the government please clarify are there 1 or 4 key personnel (PM, Exercise Design and Control Lead, Modelling and Simulation Engineer and CIRM Specialist)?

The Program Manager is the key personnel.

3 Page 56, Factor 1:

Technical Capability | Evaluation bullets i and ii

b. Section 2 - Staffing Plan Personnel Qualifications and Experience (Subfactor 2) Bullet ii

Can the government please confirm are we to provide all personnel resumes or just the key personnel?

1) The Program Manager is the key personnel. The resume for the Program Manager is required.

2) Additionally, as per Bullet ii, the resumes are required for all other personnel, i.e Exercise Design, & Control Lead, Modelling & Simulation Engineer, and CIRM Specialist

4 Page 56, Factor 1:

Technical Capability,

b. Section 2 - Staffing Plan Personnel Qualifications and Experience (Subfactor 2) Bullet iii and iv

These two bullets are the same. Should bullet iv be removed from the requirements?

Bullet iv has been corrected to “ Provide a practical staffing approach that can be implemented and demonstrates the Offeror 's ability to be fully staffed within 30-day phase-in period”

5 Page 67, Section 1.13.4 Section 1.13.4 references PWS

11.2 and 11.3

In section 1.13.4 Staffing Turnover references PWS 1.6.18, PWS 11.2 and 11.3.

There doesn’t seem to be a PWS section 1.6.18, 11.2 and

11.3 can the government please provide the section number we should be looking at?

The references in Section 1.13.4 have been corrected.

6 Page 70, Section 1.18

Section 1.18 Organizational Conflict of Interest

Are we to provide a response to Section 1.18 OCI and if so should we include it as part of our General Volume?

Yes, Addendum to Far 52.212-1 “Instructions” has additional language to the General Volume “TAB F - Organizational Conflict of Interest”.

7 Section 1.18 Organizational Conflict of Interest

Are our teammates required to provide a separate response to Section 1.18 OCI and if so should it be in the General Volume?

Yes, the teammates Organizational Conflict of Interest be addressed in General Volume “TAB F - Organizational Conflict of Interest”.

8 Page 79, Section 5.2.2.11

Can the government clarify what the "S" is in "MES"?

“S” stands for Support

9 Page 79, Section 5.2.2.11

Does the government have minimum functionality requirements for DMS and

MES?

The PWS has been edited. PWS Para 5.2.2.14 to reflect the requirement for the software ad listed minimum functionality requirements for DMS and MES are as follows:

Videos stream smoothly Ability to upload/view photos Ability to post text stories Ability to upload audio files Ability to post social media content to Facebook-like application Ability to post social media content to Twitter-like application Ability to post social media content to YouTube-like application Ability to post social media content to Blogger-like application

Government agency pages look/feel/function comparably to real world pages Mainstream media pages look/feel/function comparably to real world pages Ability to post viewer comments Links/information can be cross-posted Intuitive/understandable content management interface Note-taking feature for Observer Controllers Appropriate “government content” banner appears on log-in page Users can opt to receive notifications when new content is added Permissions correct for users and various content managers Videos stream smoothly.

10 Page 89, Technical Exhibit 3;

Page 58-59, CLIN Table;

Pricing Spreadsheet

Can the government explain how it got to Travel NTE numbers? We do not understand how you get to $170,000 for 24-30 FSEs and associated planning events.

$170,000 is estimated amount for travel expenses only, NOT including the actual labor.

11 Page 59, CLIN Chart

CLIN X007 and X008

Are CLINs X007 and X008 surge labor for FSEs to augment white cell with workstation operators/SMEs?

Yes, , it is not for surge labor for travelling . CLINs X007 and X008 is to capture the labor only during the travel and exercises.

Addendum to FAR 52.212-2 has been edited for clarification. Also, Attachment #2 “CLIN Pricing” has been updated.

12 Page 88, Technical Exhibit 2

The chart indicates a frequency of M&S Support of 24-30 FSE events annually, but only 24 Planning events annually.

Is this a typo, or does the government want 6 FSEs to have no planning event?

Yes, 6 FSE will not have any planning events supported by the contract.

13 Page 88, Technical Exhibit 2

The chart indicates a frequency of M&S Support of 24-30 FSE events annually. Does each FSE require MES?

No, each FSE does not require a MES.

14 Page 1, NAICS Code

Given the nature of DMS- MES Modelling and Simulation, the government should consider making the NAICS for this solicitation 541511.

No, the Government will not consider NAICS 541511 “Custom Computer Programming Services”. As per https://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/sssd/naics/naicsrch, the description of NAICS 541511 as follows: “this U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in writing, modifying, testing, and supporting software to meet the needs of a particular customer”.

The main focus of the PWS is on training.

15 Page 62, Section c.

Relevancy Assessment

What is the NAICS for this solicitation? Page 1 indicates 611710, but Relevancy Assessment criteria indicates 541513 "Recent past performance is defined as not more than five (5) years from the RFP release date; relevant in terms of similar nature of work, size, and complexity to the effort (as compared to NAICS code 541513, Computers Facilities Management Services) required by the RFP.

NAICS for this solicitation is 611710. Relevancy Assessment language have been corrected to reflect the correct NAICS 611710.

16 Pate 50, Section B.1.;

Page 59, A.

General Instruction;

Basis for Award

What is the basis of award?

Page 50 indicates LPTA, while page 59 indicates both Best Value and LPTA.

IAW FAR 2, “Best value means the expected outcome of an acquisition that, in the Government's estimation, provides the greatest overall benefit in response to the requirement.” IAW FAR 15.101, both, LPTA and Trade Off belong to best value continuum.

https://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/sssd/naics/naicsrch

Basis of the award is LPTA which is the best value for the current procurement.

17 Delivery Information

Given the stated start of the First Ordering Period of 9 SEPT 2020, is the Government confident that it will award prior to 8 SEPT 2020, and if not what is its backup plan?

The Government is confident that the source selection can be completed and award made prior to 8 SEPT 2020. If any adjustments must be made, the Government will make and post such decision once it is made. Please monitor beta.sam.gov for any updates, if at all.

18 Addendum to FAR Clause 52.212-1

What is the Government email file size limitation, and if so, may the Bidder submit its proposal via multiple emails to meet the file size limits; or will the Gov provide a file safe to deposit the proposal?

The size limit per email is 5 MB. The Offerors can send the proposal via multiple emails to meet the file size limits.

19 Addendum to FAR Clause 52.212-1, section C2(b) table

Please define "Sanitized version" related to the Technical volume.

Addendum to FAR Clause 52.212-1, section C2(b) table has been edited as “1 copy shall be sanitized and shall not contain any logo/ company title of the Offeror. The resume of the Offeror’s employees shall not contain any Offeror’ company title”.

20 Attachment 2 CLIN Pricing, X002 and X003

Are the amounts provided by the Government for Travel and ODCs simply plug numbers for the proposal purposes, or are they the actual amounts expected to be funded by the Government for this Contract?

Yes, they are plug numbers for the proposal purposes. They will be funded at the task order level as needed.

21 Page 77, Section 4 Section 4:

Contractor Furnished Items and Responsibility

4.8 Secret Facility

Clearance: The contractor shall possess and maintain a SECRET facility clearance from the Defense Security Service. Will the Government be issuing a

DD254?

Yes, the DD Form 254 is required to be reviewed every two years.

The program and ISS should conduct this review in coordination with the program manager of the requiring activity and KO to ensure that existing security requirements are consistent with the contract requirements.

22 Who is the Incumbent?

The incumbent is APPLIED TRAINING SOLUTIONS LLC, CAGE 50AU7

23 Can the incumbent rebid?

The Government is not aware of any information preventing the incumbent from providing the proposal.

24 Technical Exhibit 3 reflects 12 FTE. Is this the actual requirement preferred by the government, or can other options be provided (i.e. a mix of FTE and PTE personnel, a different quantity of FTE, different job descriptions, etc).

Technical Exhibit 3 has a note below the table: “…provided as estimated/historical data only and offerors are cautioned to use at own risk.” It is offeror’s decision about labor categories, FTE or PTE to propose.

25 Does the government prefer for all FTE to maintain an office at the San Antonio location throughout the contract term or can some FTE work remotely?

Yes, some employees can work remotely

26 The RFP identified HSEEP as the standard EM exercise and evaluation program for Army installations. Do all

Yes, the Army has 62 installations with staff trained in HSEEP ranging from Master Exercise Practitioner to apprentice.

Army installations have staff trained in HSEEP, and at what levels (i.e. Master Exercise Practitioner, IS 120, 146 or other

27 Section 1.13. Key Personnel:

The Program Manager (PM) is considered key personnel by the government. Does this person have to be located at the government location OR can the Senior person be designated our APM person on-site suffice?

The expectation is to have PM available on site 75% of time. APM will suffice for remaining. The PWS Para 1.13 has been edited to reflect availability of the PM on site 75% .