Set_5_Anwsers_of_W9124P19RA026_-_Questions_(11_MAR_19)_Anwsers_to_Questions.docx

Questions Solicitation Number: W9124P19RA026 Redstone Arsenal Photo Studio

1. There are conflicting proposal due dates for this solicitation. The SF 1449 states 19 Feb 2019, and the FBO posting lists both 22 Mar 2015 and 25 Mar 2015. Please clarify the correct due date.

The due date is 22 Mar 2015.

2. The FBO posting says that questions are due by Monday, March 15, 2019, 2:30p.m. CT. Could you clarify whether the due date is Monday, March 11 or Friday, March 15?

The due date for questions is 15 March 2019.

3. Is this new work or is there an incumbent already performing this work? If not new, could you provide the name of the incumbent contractor?

No this is not new work. The current vendor is MSB Analytics.

4. Will the Service Contract Act (SCA) apply to this contract?

Yes the Service Contract Act (SCA) apply to this contract

5. Can the Government provide historical workload data for the work/requirements identified in the PWS? Without adequate workload data, it is very difficult to accurately bid the number of personnel necessary to support the requirements and to determine the costs for expendable items needed (photo paper, DVDs/CDs, printer ink, etc).

Annually, the Redstone Arsenal Photo Studio takes in approximately 1200 photo appointments for studio photography. This consists of Department of the Army (DA) Photos and DA Portraits. DA Portraits are also known as Command (head and shoulders) Photo.

6. The ODC CLINS (0002, 1002, 2002, 3003, and 4002) are listed as Firm Fixed Price (FFP). Would the Government consider changing these to Cost Reimbursable vs FFP? There is no way for the contractor to foresee/predict the types and amount of equipment that needs to be replaced each year, especially with no equipment list provided (to include age and condition of existing equipment) or workload data. Additionally, there is no way to accurately predict the associated costs of expendable items with no workload data. A Cost Reimbursable CLIN seems to be the most equitable solution as the contractor would only invoice actual costs for these items, thus eliminating potential risk to the contractor in underbidding these items and risk to the government if the contractor overbids.

No, a FFP is preferred as the service performed is an Army mandated product. The agency this contract supports is budgeted for this service based on the position and not the number of photos taken. It also incorporates supporting expenses for 1200 work requests to include equipment lifecycle management.

7. Page 12, Paragraph 3.2 states: “Other geographical areas may be supported due to base closures, mission changes, or directives …”.

a. Can the government provide any additional information on expected location, frequency, and duration of these situations?

b. Will the government provide vehicles/transportation to move GFE to the “other geographical areas” or will the cost of this be the responsibility of the contractor?

This is a legacy mission of this activity prior to a de-scoping of its overall mission. Studio Photography is the only portion of the mission that remains. No location, documentary, or evidentiary photography will be performed. Travel or transport is not a part or a business day.

8. Page 13, Paragraph 4.2 states: “The Contractor shall perform still photographic services in color, black and white, in a studio and field environment.” Additionally, Page 14/15, Paragraph 4.2.3.1 states: “The Contractor shall perform studio and location photographic services …”. Will field/location photography potentially occur while the contractor is also performing studio photography or more specifically, how many simultaneous photo shoots will the contractor be required to support?

This is a legacy mission of this activity prior to a de-scoping of its overall mission. Studio Photography is the only portion of the mission that remains. All photography will take place in Building 3434.

9. Page 14, Paragraph 4.2.2 and Page 16, Paragraph 5.0 state that the operating hours are 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Tuesdays thru Thursdays, and Page 17, Paragraph 5.5 states that the operating hours are 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Tuesdays thru Thursdays. Can the Government please clarify the correct operating hours?

Hours of Operation reflect customer service hours. The core hours of 0700-1700 provides a window in which Customer Service Hours, Lunch, and any paid breaks are factored in to the total work day. The number of appointments anticipated result in the Studio being available Tuesdays through Thursdays only.

10. Page 15, Paragraph 4.2.3.1.1 states: “The Contractor shall perform photographic services outside regular work hours IAW approved work requests.” Can the Government provide historical workload data for expected work outside regular hours?

This is a legacy mission of this activity prior to a de-scoping of its overall mission. Studio Photography is the only portion of the mission that remains. All photography will occur within standard business hours.

11. Page 15, Paragraph 4.2.3.1.2 states: “The Contractor shall be on call after standard operating hours and may be required to work on a 24-hours-per-day, 7-days-per-week basis.”

a. Will there be periods where the contractor will be required to provide continuous 24x7 photography services or is this just saying that the contractor will have personnel on-call 24x7 to support unscheduled work?

b. Are there any policies or governance that provide clear guidance to the KO/COR as to when an on-call photographer can be called for support?

This is a legacy mission of this activity prior to a de-scoping of its overall mission. Studio Photography is the only portion of the mission that remains. All photography will occur within standard business hours.

12. Page 15, Paragraph 4.2.5 is titled “CATEGORIES OF PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES”. Sub-Paragraph 4.2.5.1, Studio Photography, is the only category listed, and its associated sub-paragraphs relate to official photos that would be taken in the studio. However, the verbiage in Paragraph 4.2.5.1 mentions other types of photographic services that would most likely be field/location shoots (i.e. equipment tests, documentary photos, trial exhibit photos, crime evidence photos, etc.). Should the PWS include a separate category for field/location shoots and their associated requirements that may differ from studio photography?

This is a legacy mission of this activity prior to a de-scoping of its overall mission. Studio Photography is the only portion of the mission that remains. All photography will take place in Building 3434.

13. Page 16, Paragraph 5.3 states: “The Contractor may be required to attend meetings, conferences, or trips outside Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.”

a. Will required travel in support of the contract be cost reimbursable?

b. If not, can the Government provide estimates of the travel that will be required so it can be included in the ODC CLINs?

This is a legacy mission of this activity prior to a de-scoping of its overall mission. Studio Photography is the only portion of the mission that remains. No location, documentary, or evidentiary photography will be performed. Travel or transport is not a part or a business day. No additional CLINs for travel are needed.

14. Page 21, Paragraph 5.10.1 states: “The Contractor shall design and update the content of the VI production and services web sites …”. Can the Government provide a list of the web design tools currently being used to design and update the associated web sites and whether or not these tools will continue to be furnished by the Government on this contract?

This is a legacy mission of this activity prior to a de-scoping of its overall mission. Studio Photography is the only portion of the mission that remains.

15. Page 21, Paragraph 5.10.2 states: “Networks designed and used for the transmission and exchange of work product, external communications, operation and maintenance of Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) will be maintained by the Contractor.”

a. Can you elaborate on what the contractor’s responsibility is in maintaining the networks described and what level of networking skills are required?

b. Since the contractor’s normal duty hours are Tuesday thru Thursday, will maintenance support for the networks be required on Monday and Friday as well? If so, will contractor personnel be on call to provide this support?

This is a legacy mission of this activity prior to a de-scoping of its overall mission. Studio Photography is the only portion of the mission that remains.

16. Page 27, Paragraph 6.5.1 states: “The Contractor shall provide a Strike Contingency Report to the KO …”. Are the employees currently performing this work part of a union/collective bargaining agreement?

This may be a boiler-plate provision that contracts must have.

17. Page 31, Appendix A, Production Equipment paragraph states: “The Government will provide the Contractor production equipment identified in the Government Furnished Equipment and Government Furnished Property listing Attachment D.” Attachment D was not provided with the solicitation documentation.

a. Does the Government plan on making Attachment D available to bidding contractors prior to the proposal submission date?

The equipment listing is available on Solicitation W9124P19RA026

b. Is all production software (i.e. Adobe Photoshop, etc.) also Government furnished?

This is an expense that will be covered by a CLIN for Other Direct Costs.

18. Page 32, Appendix A, Phase-In Period says that the contractor will have a 31 calendar day phase-in period. Given an anticipated 1 April 2019 contract start date, will there be an abbreviated phase-in period, or will the month of April be considered the phase-in period?

The documentation for this was ready for solicitation in mid-January. The fact it is out now will cause an abbreviated Phase-in.

19. Page 32, Appendix A, Phase-In Period, says that during the phase-in period the contractor shall obtain required personnel security clearances. Can the Government provide additional information on personnel security clearance requirements in support of this contract? There is no DD 254 provided and the solicitation documentation makes no other mention of personnel security clearances.

No security clearance is needed (or anticipated) for this contract. Studio Photography has no exposure to any classified material.

20. Page 60, L-1 Proposal Format, Paragraph B says that Part 1 of the proposal “shall consist of the SF33 (Solicitation, Offer, Award) …”. Since the solicitation was released on an SF 1449, should this be changed to read as such?

Subject has been changed to “shall consist of the SF1449 (Solicitation, Offer, Award” on solicitation.

21. Page 60, L-1 Proposal Format, Paragraph C.3. appears to incorrectly refer to a contract that had to do with personnel moves and shipping of household goods. Could the Government clarify the requirements of this paragraph as they pertain to this solicitation?

, L-1 Proposal Format, Paragraph C.3. has been removed from solicitation.