SOLICITATION_QUESTIONS_&_ANSWERS.pdf

SOURCE SELECTION SENSITIVE

QUESTION ANSWER

Under “Description” section on page 1: Does the Government intend to issue task orders through either a competitive process among those contractors receiving IDIQ awards or another process requiring the contractor to submit a task order technical and cost proposal? If so, can the Government direct us to the solicitation sections or FAR clauses that describe and clarify the intended process for awarding task orders? If not, please describe and clarify how task orders will be awarded and what input will be required from the contractor(s).

Task Orders will be issued under the procedures found at FAR Subpart 16.505 – Ordering. Fair Opportunity will be granted to all IDIQ Contract Holder to submit proposals. A Task Order Request for Proposal (TORFP) will be issued when needed and the Government may use either the Best Value Trade-Off method, or if appropriate, a Lowest-Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) method. The relative importance of Technical and Price Factors will be defined in each TORFP if the Trade-Off method is utilized.

Under “Description” section on page 1:

Solicitation indicates that awarded contracts will share an estimated capacity of $2,000,000.00. Does this capacity extend to the entire three years of the contract, or just the base year?

The estimated ceiling for this entire requirement, base plus all options is $2,000,000.00. There is no guarantee the Options will be exercised. The Governments estimates approximately 1/3 of the ceiling to be utilized each year but this is subject to the needs of USACE customers and may be more or less.

This section of the solicitation has been updated for clarity.

Under FAR 52.216-22 “Indefinite Quantity (Oct 1995)” on page 10-11: The copy appearing in red on page 11 implies that the Government could issue task orders during the final option year that would require deliverables up to 18 months after the contract expires. This timeframe would extend far past the established rates for Option Year 2. The implication of this FAR clause and the one that follows (FAR clause 52.217-9, “Option to Extend the Terms of the Contract”) is that pricing provided by the vendor for Option Year 2 should be valid for a 30 month period (12 +18). Is that statement correct?

52.216-22 has been changed to 12 months. All orders placed prior to the expiration of the final year will be at that year’s approved rates, regardless of the duration of the task order.

Can the proposal include external links to material available on the Internet?

Only materials within the proposal will be evaluated.

Materials not presented in proposals will not be evaluated (i.e., materials found through links that the Government has to click on will not be evaluated).

Section 4.1.1 Local Security Policy: Regarding initiating required investigations on page 19:

what is the Government’s estimated timeframe in total days for completing these requirements and granting access? Will the contractor be able to bill the Government directly for time needed to fulfill these requirements?

Access for Contractor personnel without a CAC, who are pending an investigation may still have access to Government facilities if escorted by a Government sponsor. Security investigations are conducted by the Government at no cost to the contractor. The contractors shall not separately bill the Government for this requirement.

HECSA Security will initiate all NACI investigations at the request of the COR or Contracting Officer.

Contractors are not expected to have access to classified information.

Section 4.1.2 OPSEC Procedure/Plan on page 20: How many hours does the Government estimate it will take for the Contractor to complete this plan? Will contractors bill the Government directly for the plan development?

OPSEC plans are typically 7-9 pages in length, but may vary depending on the complexity of the work. There is no estimate the Government may provide for the amount of time it will take the contractor to develop the plan, however a Guide for Integrating OPSEC into contracts has been uploaded for contractor use in preparing plans. The guide contains a sample template that may be useful. All costs associated with the plan must be integrated into the fully burdened labor rates proposed. The contractors shall not separately bill the Government for this requirement.

Section 4.1.3 OPSEC Training on page 20: What is the average amount of time required for contractor employees to complete the training? Will contractors bill the Government directly for the training time?

OPSEC Training is available through a web link that will be provided to the contractor and takes approximately 60 – 90 minutes to complete. Costs for training should be calculated into the fully burdened Labor Rates proposed. The contractors shall not separately bill the Government for this requirement.

In 1.1 Scope, lists library services, but Attachment A does not have a labor category.

Please advise whether that is a required Labor Category.

“Library Service” is not a required labor category. See attachment A – Labor Categories for the labor categories to be used in conjunction with this requirement.

Factor 1: Relevant Experience: The offeror shall provide a narrative description that clearly describes how the company’s experience is relevant and supportive of their ability to complete the work described in sections 3.1.3 to 3.1.11 of the PWS.

Shall the offeror describe relevant experience per task 3.1.12 also?

The Solicitation is amended to read: “Offerors shall describe their relevant and supportive experience to complete the work described in sections 3.1.3 to

3.1.12 of the PWS.”

10 Can the Project Manager be dual-hatted with a non-key personnel role?

Yes

The technical proposal is limited to 75 pages in total, including resumes. Resumes are required for the Key Personnel. Attachment A - Labor Categories also lists that work samples be provided for two key (Supervisory Archivist and Supervisory Historian) and five of the non-key personnel. Please advise if the work samples are required for submission in the proposal for the Key and/or Non-Key Personnel and whether those samples, if required, will count towards the page limitation.

Samples are required for submission in the proposal and will not count towards the page limitation. The Page limit is also increased to 100 pages. Solicitation has been updated to reflect this.

This is a Firm-Fixed-Price, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC). It appears that we bid a fixed price for hours/LCAT designated in RFP and awardees

See Question Number 1. Price will always be a factor in task order award.

will then compete for task orders. What will the selection task orders awards be based on (relevant experience, technical approach, staffing mix, number of hours bid, etc.)? Will price be a factor in task order award?

How much of the work effort will be performed at contractor site?

The government anticipates that much of the work in support of historical support services 3.1.4 (research and writing); 3.1.5 (graphic design, layout, and publication services): 3.1.6 (editing services); and the design and fabrication elements of 3.10 (development of historical displays); and 3.1.12, develop web pages or web sites can be performed at the contractor’s site, with only occasional work performed at a Government facility. The location of the work to be performed will be specified in the task orders issued under the resultant contract.

Does USACE expect personnel to work full-time during the task order period of performance or will task orders be completion type in which the contractor manages staffing and scheduling to make deliverables by required dates?

Orders will be issued under Firm-Fixed-Price terms so are not considered “completion or term form” task orders. Contractors will manage their own schedules to supply deliverables or perform tasks in accordance with the Task Order Performance Work Statement

(PWS).

Is there an incumbent currently performing this work at this location?

There are no incumbent/s performing these task under an IDIQ contract currently. There have been purchase orders to fulfill some requirements throughout the USACE areas of responsibility and all have been Firm-Fixed-Price.

Does USACE have a firm plan for work to be conducted under this contract, including a schedule for work to be performed and the release/award to task orders?

The government does not have a definitive plan for the work to be conducted under the resultant contract or a schedule under which that work will be performed.

How many task orders are expected to be released/awarded over the course of the contract?

The issuance of task orders is subject to the needs of the government and the availability of funds. There is no estimate available.