PWS_WSOTS_II_Q&As_4Dec17.pdf

WIDEBAND SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS (SATCOM) OPERATIONS AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT II

WSOTS II

04 December 2017

Industry Question

PWS

Para

Government Response

1. For RMCE fly-away locations how many trips per year can be forecasted per site location?

1.2 On average, 2 trips to each RMCE locations is

estimated for maintenance or technical assistance. In addition, one week for annual training is estimated at each RMCE location.

2. Please provide further definition of “preproduction”. Does preproduction mean during the overlap period between new and old systems? i.e., GSCCE legacy and GSCCE EVO.

2.2.1 Correct. Preproduction includes the overlap

period between new and old systems. In addition, preproduction support will be required for any new control systems. PWS revised to clarify.

3. What Ao formula will be used to calculate Ao? 2.2.1 The Ao formula is defined as MTBM/ (MTBM + MDT). MTBM is the mean time between maintenance, all corrective and preventive Maintenance. MDT is the mean downtime, which includes the actual time to perform maintenance and accounts for any delays in getting the needed personnel or parts, number of spares on hand, etc.

4. The example says CNPS is part of DOSS, but the table seems to contradict. Please clarify.

2.2.2 At this time, CNPS is in the DOSS rack, but has

its own technical manual. CNPS will eventually reside in its own rack at the WSOCs, as captured in the PWS.

5. What MTTR formula will be used to calculate MTTR? 2.2.2 MTTR (Mean Time To Repair) is the time it takes to run a repair after the occurrence of the failure. MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) is a metric that concerns the average time elapsed between a failure and the next time it occurs.

6. Will this be a monthly performance summary requirement? 2.2.3 Yes, PWS has been updated to include CDRL reference.

Para

Government Response

7. Does the Government prefer a responsive maintenance approach or a predictive maintenance approach?

2.3 The Government will not dictate the

maintenance approach. Maintenance approach is dependent on the bidder’s technical approach.

8. In cases of inclement weather, is there a different response time for the On-Call Response requirements?

2.6.2 In case of inclement weather, the response

time may be changed on a case-by-case basis.

9. This para says RMCE sites are not considered remote under this definition and are covered under para 2.10, yet are covered by the same 15 minutes and 2 hours response requirements?

2.6.4 PWS 2.6.4 and 2.10 are separate

requirements. 2.6.4 allows for remote administration and 2.10 is for technical support for RMCE and JMOS.

10. Does the Government have any estimates on WGS SME travel to support technical meetings?

2.11 Trip estimates will not be provided to

bidders in order to submit a proposal. The SME travel cost will be provided as a cost reimbursable Government plug number.

11. Does the Government have any estimates on SME travel to support technical meetings?

2.13 See answer 10.

12. Does the Government have any estimates on the number of trips per site?

2.17.2 See answer 10.

13. Appendix 2, WSOMS Fielding Plans Tab. The Appendix 2 file is a PDF and no tabs are visible. Please clarify where in this file the referenced data is located.

3.1.1 Page 6 of Appendix 2 is the Fielding tab. This

document will be updated to clarify.

14. What is the frequency of CCBs? Will the Government provide the current CCB process?

3.11.2 Frequency of configuration control boards

(CCBs) is unknown. If participation is required, PM WESS (Product Manager Wideband Enterprise SATCOM Systems) has an internal CCB process.

15. Is the Government furnishing backup processes, procedures, and devices, or will the contractor be expected to provide a backup system and process?

3.12 It is the responsibility of the contractor to

develop and maintain all backup procedures, processes and devices.

Para

Government Response

16. The PWS does not contain an Appendix 8. Please provide. 3.7 and 3.25

PWS has been updated to correct reference.

17. Please resolve references to App. 7 and 8.

3.7; 3.25;

4.1.1

PWS has been updated to correct reference.

18. Appendix 8, locations for documentation support. PWS paragraph 3.25 states "The contractor shall deliver the following items for locations identified in Appendix 8" however, this appendix has not been provided. When will the Government provide this information?

3.25 PWS has been updated to correct reference.

19. Will Contractor be provided eMASS access? 4.1 If required, the Government will provide access to eMASS.

20. In Paragraph 6.2 states “track the calibration status of all TMDE”. Does this mean that the Depot will be responsible for tracking the calibration status of all TMDE at all sites (including remote)? Will site baseline inventory and calibration date data be provided to begin this process?

6.2 No, not for all sites, only equipment in the

contractor depot. Therefore, the calibration will not be provided.

21. The last sentence in Paragraph 6.11 states, “There is currently no requirement for HAZMAT restrictions or special handling.”

However, many COTS items contain lithium batteries, and therefore require special handling. Will Dangerous Goods (HAZMAT) support be required on WSOTS II?

6.11 There may be HAZMAT. FAR Clause 52.223-3

will be included to address hazardous materials and the PWS has been revised.

22. Frequency of PMRs. PWS paragraph 7.2.4 states "Contractor shall schedule and conduct contract-wide PMR meetings as coordinated with the PM, semi-annually." However, PWS paragraph 7.4 states "The Contractor shall schedule a quarterly consolidated PMR". Please clarify the required PMR frequency.

7.2.4 and 7.4

PWS has been revised.

Para

Government Response

23. Does the Government plan to release qualifications requirement for Key personnel? Will these be representative of current staff?

8.0 The Government does not intend to release

separate qualification requirements from the PWS. The Government intends for the bidders to propose key personnel qualifications as part of their technical approach.

24. Please confirm the total number of Key Personnel. 8.0 The PWS does not dictate the total number of key personnel. The number of key personnel is dependent on the bidder’s technical approach.

25. Suggest the Government does not require resumes for all key personnel because non-incumbents are unlikely to be able to show resumes in this depth, so the requirement favors the incumbent.

8.2 Input noted. Vendors are reminded that the

acquisition strategy has not been approved;

and therefore, key personnel resume requirements could change before final solicitation issuance.

26. Key Personnel: Where are these people located?

8.2.2;

8.2.3;

8.2.4;

8.2.6;

8.2.11

Location of personnel is not dictated by PWS in the referenced sections. The contractor shall propose the technical approach to meeting these PWS requirements.

27. SATCOM transmission control SME: How many of these are required?

8.2.3 The number of SATCOM transmission control

SME is dependent on the bidder’s technical approach.

28. Does the Government have any estimates on DSCS SME travel to support technical meetings?

8.2.4 Trip estimates will not be provided to

bidders in order to submit a proposal. The SME travel cost will be provided as a cost reimbursable Government plug number.

Para

Government Response

29. "Unrestricted rights" in connection with International MOUs.

Can the Government further clarify the scope and nature of the "unrestricted rights to use and disclose information" that contractors must provide to the U.S. Government in connection with International MOU's? Will the Government be providing relevant sections of the MOU's so contractors can understand the intended scope?

11.1.2.2 Paragraph 11.1.2.2 relates to materials

produced in support of International MOUs and releasability of project information, contract information, security information, controlled unclassified information, third party sales and transfers, and amendment, termination, entry into effect, and duration, of the MOUs. During contract performance, only information relevant to the project will be released to the participants under the MOUs.

30. Allowable costs. Please confirm that facilities costs are reimbursable under this contract.

11.6 The Government intends to include the depot

facility support within a cost-plus-fixed-fee type Contract Line Item Number (CLIN).

Reference FAR Part 31, Contract Cost Principles and Procedures for determining allowability of these costs.

31. Are WSARs considered as part of the total contract value? If so, will the Government please estimate what percentage of the total contract value is considered to be WSARs? If not, please provide an estimated cost percentage of WSARs outside of the total contract value.

11.8 WSARs are included in the total contract

value. A percentage estimate cannot be provided due to the year to year fluctuation in WSAR requirements. The Government will provide an estimated WSAR ceiling plug number for each contract year in the final solicitation.

32. For WSARs, will the Government estimate the percentage of WSARs that is development work and the percentage that is direct labor?

11.8 See answer to item 31 above.

33. The small business participation goal of 36% is very high.

Suggest 20%.

11.31.1 PWS has been revised. However, vendors are

reminded that the acquisition strategy has not been approved; and therefore, goal could change before final solicitation issuance.

Para

Government Response

34. PWS 11.31.1 states that small business goals are listed as percentages of total contract value, but then also states that minimum goal percentages are percentages of total subcontracted dollars. Please clarify whether minimum goals (total and categories) are stated as percentages of total contract value or percentages of total subcontracted dollars.

11.31.1 PWS has been revised to correct

inconsistencies.

35. The stated small business goal of 36% seems unnecessarily high and outside of industry standard. If the Government is looking to increase its small business participation, we respectfully suggest the Government consider making the WSOTS II acquisition a small business set-aside in NAICS 541715 with a size standard of 1,250 employees. This would still ensure a low-risk program execution from a small business with the resources and team in place to be able to support a program of this size, while ensuring the Government receives at least 50% for its small business goals with the limitations on subcontracting clause. Otherwise, we respectfully suggest the Government lower the 36% small business requirement to 20% to ensure the Government receives companies with the resources and capabilities to be able to execute the program at a low risk.

11.31.1 See item 33 above.

36. Please provide PWS Table A2.6 11.40.1 Information was included in page 5 of Appendix 2. PWS has been revised to correct reference.

37. Minimum On-Site Ao%, is this a Monthly, Quarterly, semi-annual, or annual Ao% requirement?

Table 2.2 Annual requirement.

38. Do the number of workstations in Ft Detrick and Ft. Meade WSOCs include the shop stock and supply management support?

Appendix

Yes. PWS Appendix 2 has been revised.

Para

Government Response

39. RFMOW is TBD for Fort Gordon, GA. When will the Government determine the need for RFMOW maintenance, service, and technical support for RFMOW equipment at this location?

Appendix

RFMOW was recently installed at Ft. Gordon.

Appendix 2 has been revised.

40. Site Visits. Would the Government consider doing virtual site visits for the UK and Australia sites?

General No. The Government intends to offer site visits to several other locations that exemplify the WSOTS II requirements.

41. Does the Government plan to release a staffing matrix? General No. The staffing is dependent on the bidder’s technical approach.

42. Is the current Government timeline for a FRP release still March/April 2018?

General As information becomes available, the Government will update the anticipated acquisition milestones on the FBO website.

43. How much material purchases are required? Is there any historical data?

General Material purchases are unpredictable from year to year. Therefore the historical data on material purchases will not be provided. For the purpose of the solicitation material costs will be provided as a cost reimbursable Government plug number.

44. What type of ODCs are required? Is the Contractor-provided depot facility considered an ODC?

General Reference PWS section 11.6 for types of ODCs required. The Government’s intent is not to purchase a depot facility as an ODC.

45. Will the Government either facilitate or allow discussions with the tactical level mission owners?

General No.

46. Will the Government allow visits and/or discussions with the affected sister-service units, particularly those aligned to Colorado Springs and Omaha (21 SW; HQ AFSPC;

USSTRATCOM; etc.)?

General No.

47. Will the Government provide their version of the WSOTS II-focused OV-1?

General No.