Staff_Ride_Questions_17_April_2017_combined.docx

Questions Regarding Battlefield Staff Ride (BSR) W912PB-17-R-3014

1. Question: Estimated Workload Data Locations

Reference Section:

Technical Exhibit C, Page 84 of 102

Reference Text:

In FY 16, 36 task orders were issued, 35 BSRs were conducted, and 1,260 students were trained

Discussion:

For pricing purposes the current contractor incumbent would be aware of the originating military unit location for each Staff Ride and the staff ride name and duration of each of the 35 BSRs that were held in FY 16. For designing staff ride pricing against the current RFP it would be helpful for competing contractor bidders to have this same type of historical information especially for calculating the logistics costs to be included in the FY 17 Staff Ride proposal (example start point, bus transportation, hotel accommodations, and meals).

Question:

Will the Government consider providing a historical listing of the names of 36 FY 16 staff rides, the originating military unit physical location (city, country) of the 36 staff rides, and the duration of days of the 36 staff rides (1 day BSR, 2 day BSR, 3 day BSR, 4 day BSR, and 5 day BSR)?

Answer:

In FY16 the following BSRs were conducted (schedule is attached):

1 day BSR-4 each; 2 day BSR-7 each; 3 day BSR - 15 each; 4 day BSR-9 each; 5 day BSR none.

7 BSRs had 25 participants (minimum class size); all the other ones added additional students.

2. Question: Bus Transportation

Reference Section:

Paragraph 5.2.3.1 Bus Transportation, Page 76 for 102 Paragraph 5.2.5 Class Size, Page 77 of 102

Reference Text:

5.2.5. Class size. Based on previous experience a comfortable class size is 25 students, however, students can be added in multiples of one to fill the capacity of the bus (minimum class size 25 students, maximum class size 45 students). NOTE: Single students in excess of 25 can be ordered against a separate CLIN under Section B.

Discussion:

Based on class size limit of 45 students, it appears that only one bus per each staff ride is required regardless of staff ride duration (1 day BSR, 2 day BSR, 3 Day BSR, 4 Day BSR, and 5 day BSR) for basic Exhibit Line Item CLINs. It appears that additional buses might be required to handle the additional student Exhibit Line Item Numbers / Pricing Schedule.

Question:

Would the Government clarify for the basic BSR ELINs if only 1 bus is required for all duration BSRs (1 day BSR, 2 day BSR, 3 day BSR, 4 day BSR, and 5 Day BSR) due to basic BSR class limit size of 45 students and pricing direction to price based on 25 students?

Answer: The basic class size is 25 students. The cost for 25 students will be paid, even if only 20 should attend. Each additional student added (up to a maximum of 45 students per BSR) will have to be paid for (that is the ELIN “additional students” for each type of BSR). If the unit wants to send 60 students, they have to order 2 BSRs. That means, the basic price for the BSR(25 students) is paid 2 times plus 10 additional students. The contractor has to provide 2 busses and 2 instructors.

3. Question: Additional Students

Reference Section:

Paragraph 5.2.7 Cost per BSR, Page 77 of 102

Reference Text:

5.2.7. The cost per BSR will be based on a class size of 25 students and the number of days and overnights required to visit and study a battlefield. The number of days required depends on the distance of travel and the number of sites to be visited. The below are the variations of the different Staff Rides as outlined in Section B.

Discussion:

Based on Government direction to price BSRs on class size of 25, it appears the additional student ELIN for Base Year of A001AB for 66 students for 1 day BSR would start at student number 26 for the additional 1 to 66 students for a 1 day BSR.

Question:

Would the Government further clarify if the additional student ELINs all start after the class size of 25 per BSR has been reached?

Answer: That is correct – the ELIN for additional student is used to cover the cost, if the basic class size of 25 is exceeded.

4. Question: Class Size Limit

Reference Section:

Paragraph 5.2.5 Class Size, Page 77 of 102

Reference Text:

5.2.5. Class size. Based on previous experience a comfortable class size is 25 students, however, students can be added in multiples of one to fill the capacity of the bus (minimum class size 25 students, maximum class size 45 students). NOTE: Single students in excess of 25 can be ordered against a separate CLIN under Section B.

Discussion:

It appears that the class limit size is 45 per paragraph 5.2.5. The Government RFP allows the Government to add additional students in separate ELINs. It is not clear about the practical effects of a class limit size on a single BSR. If the Government can add up to 200 students on ELIN E001AF for a 3 day BSR, then it is not clear what the Government means about a class limit size of 45 students.

Question:

Would the Government clarify the practical impacts of a class limit size of 45 on their expectations for contractor pricing?

Answer: The 200 students for this ELIN is not meant to be used for 1 BSR. It is meant to be used for the 3 day BSRs ordered throughout the contract year. If 10 each -3 day BSRs are ordered, each BSR could add from 1 to 20 additional students if requested. A BSR will never exceed 45 students requiring 1 bus/1 instructor

5. Question: Government Furnished Property, Equipment, and Services

Reference Text:

Part 3 page 71 of 102

Discussion:

Support to Coordination Staff in Germany

Questions:

a. Will the Government provide office space for the Program Coordinator and/or staff to work in Germany?

b. Will the Government provide automation equipment (computer, printer, copy machine access, internet access, NIPR access) for the Program Coordinator and/or staff to work in Germany?

c. Will the Government provide DOCPER accreditation for the Program Coordinator and/or staff?

d. If the Government does provide work space, which base will host the Program Coordinator and/or staff?

e. Does the Government plan to have an Industry Day for potential offerors?

Answer: The Government will not provide office space for the contractor. A classroom, and classroom equipment, i.e. overhead projector, screen, TV etc. will be provided for the Combat Leadership workshop, which is conducted the day prior at the units location. No DOCPER accreditation is provided. We do not plan to have a Industry Day for potential offerors, because we could not show you anything. The current contractor is located in the US and has his POC who coordinates all BSRs, his Logistic coordinator and instructors located throughout Europe (they live here). Some instructors fly in and leave again for BSRs they conduct. The Government will not provide a location to set up your business in Europe.

6. Question: Class Size

Reference:

Technical Exhibit C Estimated Workload Data, page 84

Discussion:

Per Exhibit C the workload was for FY 16 was 36 coordinated and 35 executed Battlefield Staff Rides with 1260 attendees. This average indicates 35 attendees per trip. Para 5.2.5 (page 77) indicates an optimal class size of 25.

Question:

Which class size should the offeror plan to support?

Answer: The basic class size is 25 students, that is what your price is based on. Each additional student is priced separately. We cannot say what the actual class size will be, but it will not exceed 45. The contractor will be notified how many personnel will attend when the training is ordered, which is at a minimum 60 days prior start date.

7. Question: Contract Type

Reference:

PWS paragraph 1.6.7, page 63

Reference Text: The government will award a USAREUR-wide Firm-Fixed Price, Indefinite Delivery Type Requirements contract.

Question:

What exactly is meant by this? We are familiar with GSA definition, but it would be useful if you would provide some more information.

Answer:

What is meant by this is that we will award a requirements type contract from this solicitation, which is a type of indefinite delivery contract. A requirements type contract does not guarantee that any orders will ever be placed or that the Contractor will be paid any monies at all. Since there is no monetary consideration, the consideration is in the fact that if any Battlefield Staff Rides in the US Army Europe area of operations are ordered, they must be ordered through the resulting contract from this solicitation and the service cannot be furnished through any other contractor.

8. Question: Quantity Definition

Reference:

Technical Exhibit D, Price Schedule, page 98

Question:

What do you mean by "quantity" what kind sort of cost estimates do you want us to provide on this?

Answer:

The quantities listed are estimates of how many staff rides will be ordered for each type (1 Day, 2 Day, etc.) and are based on historical numbers. For example, A001AA has a quantity of 5 Each. Your unit price proposal should reflect the total costs to provide 1 Each Battlefield Staff Ride to European battlefields, including a leadership workshop, en-route instruction, terrain walks and historical analysis, bus transportation, hotel accommodations and two (2) meals per day in accordance with Part 5 of the Performance Work Statement and Technical Exhibit D, Battlefields in Europe. As stated in Part 5.2.7 of the PWS, the cost per BSR will be based on a class size of 25 students. In order to accommodate additional students over that number, you will need to provided prices per student for the additional student, additional meal and additional room ELINs . The price that you provide on all ELINs will become the Firm Fixed Price portion of the contract, so please keep this in mind with relation to the different locations listed in TE D. The only thing that may change from the awarded contract are the quantities. Also the contractor has to develop and provide all course material (see section 4). Prices have to include this requirement.