QA_W9124J-20-R-0020_7 Aug 2020_final.pdf

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

ADDITIONAL QUESTION & ANSWERS 7 AUGUST 2020

## CATEGORY REFERENCE QUESTION ANSWER

1 I have a questions about whether or not there is proprietary software from a company that IMCOM may be using and perhaps a possibility of a company providing comparable software?

NO, there is proprietary software from a company that IMCOM is using. The software is ATSsim by ATS (https://appliedtrg.com/), but it is not sold to 3rd parties. This software is NOT a brand name requirement, and the Government will accept the equal software with comparable functions, listed in edited PWS Para 5.2.2.14.

2 Q&A page 4, question 13 The question was: "The chart indicates a frequency of M&S Support of 24-30 FSE events annually. Does each FSE require MES?" The government's answer was "No, each FSE does not require a MES."

Does the government have an estimate as to how many of the FSEs will require MES?

No, the government does not have an estimate on how many FSEs will require MES. This requirement is situationally driven.

3 Page 59, section (5) "CLINs X007 and X007 -the travel hours for Surge Labor are provided estimated hours for potential TDY. The amount of TDYs can vary .

Those CLINs will be exercised as mission required on the Task Order Level."

Does the government mean "CLINs X007 and X008"?

Yes, the Government mean "CLINs X007 and X008". The RFP has been corrected.

4 Page 59, section (6) "The Offeror is required to submit full burden labor rates for all labor categories on the separate tab in Attachment #2 “CLIN Pricing” dated 30 July 2020. Those rates will be used

Does this requirement apply to all labor-related CLINs (i.e.

CLINs X001, X005 and X006 as well?).

Yes, this requirement apply to all labor-related CLINs (i.e. CLINs X001, X005, X006, X007 and X008) https://appliedtrg.com/ for the exercising Task Orders for CLINs X007 and X008."

5 Page 61, Evaluation Criteria, Technical Capability (Factor 1), Subfactor 1 (Technical Experience)

"The Offeror’s technical experience will be evaluated for:

i. demonstrated technical and functional knowledge related to the tasks listed in the PWS Part 5.1;

Will the offeror's technical experience be evaluated for all tasks listed in PWS Part 5.2.2.?

Addenda to Far 52.212-1 and 52.212-2 has been changed to “demonstrated technical and functional knowledge related to the tasks listed in the PWS Part 5”

6 Q&A page 3, question 11

The question was: "Are CLINs X007 and X008 surge labor for FSEs to augment white cell with workstation operators/SMEs?" The government's answer was "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."

Do CLINs X007 and X008 include labor both for exercise surge support, and for time that exercise surge support travels to/from exercises?

For the evaluation purpose of the pricing volume, CLINs X007 and X008 include labor for travels to/from exercises only.

7 Q&A page 3, question 11

The question was: "Are CLINs X007 and X008 surge labor for FSEs to augment white cell with workstation operators/SMEs?" The government's answer was "Yes, , it is not for surge labor for travelling . CLINs X007

In the previous PWS for this work, the government gave specific guidelines for amount of personnel to support different events i.e., "The Contractor should base the level of effort estimations on the identified number of on-site planning

Due to pandemic situation, the travel remains unknown. Therefore, for the evaluation of pricing, CLIN 007 and X008 will be evaluated for the labor during travel only, given the estimated travel hours. Additionally, the Offerors shall provide the full burden labor rates for all labor categories for all labor-related CLINs (i.e. CLINs X001, X005, X006, 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."

events (consisting of 3-6 days inclusive of travel) and FSEs (consisting of 6-10 days inclusive of travel) both within Continental United States (CONUS) and Outside CONUS (OCONUS) (Estimate: 30 exercise planning events x 2 Facilitator/Technical Staff and up to 30 FSE events x 6-8 Facilitator/Technical Staff)".

Does the government intend to keep those same levels of support for this contract?

and X008). When travel resumes, the provided labor rates will be used for calculating the cost of labor during the travel to/from and exercise surge support at the Task Order level.

8 Q&A page 3, question 12

The question was: "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?"

The government's answer was "Yes, 6 FSE will not have any planning events supported by the contract."

If 6 of the 30 FSEs per year do not have planning events supported by the contract, who will be conducting the design and development for those events?

The installation exercise team will conduct the design and development for those events

9 Q&A page 2, question 9

The question was "Does the government have minimum functionality requirements for DMS and MES?". The government's answer was "The PWS has been edited.

PWS Para 5.2.2.14 to reflect

What are the specific functional requirements for simulations and analytical tools that are included in the DMS (Disaster Management Simulation) capability that will need to be provided to integrate in order to

The PWS Paragraph 5.2.2.14 has been edited to include the following: Currently, IMCOM is using ATSsim software by ATS (https://appliedtrg.com/). This software is NOT a brand name requirement, and the Government will accept the equal software with comparable functions. The PWS the requirement for the software ad listed minimum functionality requirements for DMS and MES are as follows:" followed by 18 requirements for what appear to be applicable to media emulation (MES) software.

establish and maintain the synthetic learning or training environment?

Paragraph 5.2.214 include the minimum functional capabilities for the Disaster Management Simulation Software (DMS) and Media Emulation Software (MES).

10 Q&A page 2, question 9

The question was "Does the government have minimum functionality requirements for DMS and MES?". The government's answer was "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:" followed by 18 requirements for what appear to be applicable to media emulation (MES) software.

Does the Disaster Management Simulation (DMS) functionality include a requirement for a web-based Master Scenario Events List (MSEL) tool that automates the sending of injects and allows for collection of observations for AAR purposes, and is accessible by all training partners?

Yes, the Disaster Management Simulation (DMS) functionality does include a requirement for a web-based Master Scenario Events List (MSEL) that automates the sending of injects and allows for collection of observations for AAR purposes, and can be is accessible by a few training partners, not all.

11 Q&A page 5, question 20

The question was "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?" The government's answer was "Yes, they are

Does this mean that if actual travel requirements for support of 24-30 FSEs and associated planning events exceed $170,000 that the government will increase funding to meet the actual travel requirements?

Yes, if actual travel requirements for support of 24-30 FSEs and associated planning events exceed $170,000 that the government will increase funding to meet the actual travel requirements.

plug numbers for the proposal purposes. They will be funded at the task order level as needed."

12 PWS page 80, paragraph 5.2.2.4

5.2.2.4 The contractor

shall coach, teach, and mentor installation participants by providing feedback using an After Action Report / Improvement Plan (AAR/IP) that, at a minimal, identifies strengths and areas for improvement, as observed during the exercise.

Determine the root cause of all identified deficiencies.

HSEEP will be used in the design, conduct, and evaluation of exercises

Is the awardee responsible for collecting observations, writing and delivering an After Action Report/Improvement Plan, or for supporting another contract that has the responsibility for FSE AAR/IPs?

No. The PWS Paragraph 5.2.2.4 has been edited with additional language: “The awardee will not be responsible for collecting observations, writing and delivering an After Action Report/Improvement Plan. However, the awardee will be responsible for collaborating with the evaluation “team and providing feedback and input.