A07_Questions_ _Anwsers_09222015.docx

Q&A’s included in this document are not considered part of the solicitation. Offerors shall abide by the instructions and terms of the solicitation. This document does not alter the terms of the solicitation. All answers to prior Q&A’s are superseded.

Question 1:

Factor 3 Past Performance references a Past Performance Questionnaire as Attachment 3 (page 81); however Section J lists Attachment 3 as the Contract Data Requirements List (CDRLs). Is there a requirement for a Past Performance Questionnaire (or Performance Risk Assessment Questionnaires)? If so, could the government please provide the Past Performance Questionnaire attachment?

Response: Attachment 6 – Past Performance Questionnaire has been added to List of Attachments in Section J and Past Performance Questionnaire reference has been corrected in Section L.

Question 2:

Section C: Descriptions and Specifications/PWS Appendix A/Personnel Requirements/Paragraph 1.4.1, Minimum Qualifications for Key Personnel - This section is silent regarding the possible substitution of advanced education (MS/PhD) for years of experience in qualification of personnel. Would the government approve the substitution of a MS degree for two (2) years experience in the labor category Management Consultant IV?

Response: Yes, although the PWS states Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of experience, we would accept a Master’s and/or PhD and 3 years of experience for the three branch lead positions.

Question 3:

Section J: List of Attachments/Attachment 1 and Attachment 5 - Attachment 1 (Workload Data) lists the estimated annual labor hours for the Senior Management Consultant (Alternate Program Manager) as 480 hours. Attachment 5 (Pricing Table) lists the estimated hours as 1920. Please verify the correct number of hours to be priced for this position.

Response: The hours for the Senior Management Consultant (Alternate Program Manager) – Attachment 5 (Pricing Table) have been corrected to read 480 hours.

Question 4:

Seciton L: Proposal Submission/Paragraph 3 - Paragraph 3 of this section states that questions shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist no later than 1:00 PM EST, October 8, 2015. This is the same deadline as the proposal submission. Please establish a schedule of offeror questions and government answers that permits analysis and action prior to the proposal submission date.

Response: All questions are due to the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist on September 25, 2015.

Question 5:

Section L: Proposal Submission/General Content of Proposals Table - The table does not include a reference to a table of contents (TOC) and executive summary for Volume III (Factor 3 - Past Performance). Is it correct to assume that a TOC and executive summary would be excluded from the page count similar to the other volumes?

Response: Yes the TOC and Executive Summary will be excluded from the page count.

Question 6:

Section L: Factor 3 - Past Performance/Dissemination of Performance Risk Assessment Questionnaires - The RFP references the Past Performance Questionnaire (Attachment 3 of the solicitation). This questionnaire is not contained or attached to the solicitation. Please provide the Past Performance Questionnaire.

Response: Refer to Question 1

Question 7:

Section L: Factor 3 - Past Performance/Dissemination of Performance Risk Assessment Questionnaires - This section states that the Past Performance Questionnaire shall be submitted to the Contracting Office "by the due date specified." Please provide the due date.

Response: The Past Performance Questionnaire must be submitted to the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist by October 8, 2015.

Question 8:

I have a question regarding the due date for bidder questions for the Combating WMD and Proliferation Policy Division RFP that just came out (Solicitation # W91CRB-15-R-A001). On page 76 in Section L, it says that questions shall be submitted no later than 1:00 pm on October 8th, 2015. But that is also the due date/time for the proposals. Would you please clarify when our questions are due to the Contracting Officer and you?

Response: Refer to Question 4

Question 9:

In the Solicitation, Section L (Factor 3 - Past Performance), it states: The offeror shall provide a copy of the Past Performance Questionnaire (Attachment 3) to the Government POCs identified in the Solicitation. Attachment 3 is the Contract Data Requirements List (CDRLs). Where is the Past Performance Questionnaire?

Response: Refer to Question 1

Question 10:

When is the Past Performance Questionnaire due?

Response: Refer to Question 7

Question 11:

What are the requirements for font type and size, page margins, etc.?

Response: The submission shall be clearly indexed and logically assembled. Each volume shall be clearly identified and shall begin at the top of a page. All pages of each volume shall be appropriately numbered and identified by the complete company name, date and RFP number in the header and/or footer. A Table of Contents should be created using the Table of Content feature in MS Word. MS Word (doc) files shall use the followingpage setup parameters:

Margins – Top, Bottom, Left, Right – 1” Gutter – 0” From Edge – Header, Footer 0.5” Page Size, Width – 8.5” Page Size, Height – 11”

Graphic presentations, including tables, while not subject to the same font size and spacing requirements, shall have spacing and text that is easily readable.

Question 12:

Clearance Requirements. In the Solicitation (Appendix A, Personnel Requirements), it states: Contract personnel conducting support to DAMO-SSD for the Open Skies Treaty (as defined in PWS paragraph 3.5) shall possess and maintain a final TOP SECRET/SCI eligibility security clearance in accordance with DD Form 254, Contract Security Classification Specification.

Contract personnel conducting support to DAMO-SSD for the New START and INF Treaties (as defined in PWS paragraph 3.6) shall possess and maintain a final TOP SECRET/SCI eligibility security clearance in accordance with DD Form 254, Contract Security Classification Specification.

Contract personnel conducting Counterproliferation support to DAMO-SSD (as defined in PWS paragraph 3.8) shall possess and maintain a final TOP SECRET/SCI eligibility security clearance in accordance with DD Form 254, Contract Security Classification Specification.

However, under Factor 2 (Section L), it states: EXCEPTION: Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearances are required at the start of the performance of the following PWS requirements: PWS 3.5 - Treaty on Open Skies Strategic Studies, Analyses and Staff Support; 3.6 - New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START Treaty/NST) and the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty Strategic Studies, Analyses, and Staff Support and PWS 3.8 - Counterproliferation Strategic Studies, Analyses and Staff Support Please advise whether TS/SCI eligibility is sufficient at contract start?

Response: Yes, TS/SCI eligibility is sufficient at contract start. However, must have actual TS/SCI clearances within 60 days after contract award.

Question 13:

Can you provide the weighting or rank order of evaluation factors, e.g., Technical more important than Price, or Past Performance more important than Small Business?

Response: This is lowest price technically acceptable, there will not be any ranking or weighting of factors.

Question 14:

Can the subcontractors that will have a letter of commitment or contingent letter provide the letter directly to the government since it will include proprietary base rate information? If so, may they email it directly to the point of contact listed in the RFP?

Response: Yes, letter may be submitted directly to the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist.

Question 15:

Please confirm that the Solicitation paragraph numbered 3.3.2.5 on page 15:

Support compilation of Army text to facilitate the drafting, publishing, and updating, as appropriate, BWC related guidance documents, to include, inter alia: should be numbered 3.2.2.5 and that the subparagraphs should be numbered 3.2.2.5.1 and 3.2.2.5.2. Should references to this portion of the Solicitation use the correct numbering or the numbering as listed?

Response: Numbering should remain as listed.

Question 16:

There is no paragraph 3.9.3 in the Solicitation. Subparagraph 3.9.2.3 is followed by 3.9.4. Should references to this portion of the Solicitation use the correct numbering or the numbering as listed?

Response: Numbering should remain as listed.

Question 17:

Please confirm that the Solicitation paragraph numbered 4.10.8 on page 29: “To avoid possible conflict of interest issues, it is recommended that the Resource Management Analyst work at the Contractor facility rather than the Government facility” should be numbered 3.10.8. Should references to this portion of the Solicitation use the correct numbering or the numbering as listed?

Response: Numbering should remain as listed.

Question 18:

Attachment 1 (Workload Data) to the Solicitation provides an estimated annual quantity of 480 hours for the Senior Management Consultant (Alternate Program Manager). However, Attachment 5 (Pricing Table) lists 1920 hours for the Senior Management Consultant. Please confirm that the correct quantity is 480 hours.

Response: Refer to Question 3

Question 19:

Attachment 1 (Workload Data) to the Solicitation provides an estimated annual quantity of 3840 hours for the Management Consultant III (NP Analyst x 2). However, Attachment 5 (Pricing Table) lists 3820 hours for the Management Consultant III (NP Analyst). Please confirm that the correct quantity is 3840 hours.

Response: Management Consultant III (NP Analyst) – Attachment 5 (Pricing Table) corrected to 3840 hours.

Question 20:

Please clarify the need for the following FAR Clause 52.215-10: Price Reduction for Defective Certified Cost or Pricing Data (AUG 2011). Since this bid is competitive, we request that it be removed. We request the addition of FAR Clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items.

Response: FAR Clause 52.215-10 will be removed from solicitation. FAR Clause 52.212-4 will not be included since this requirement is non-commercial.

Question 21:

I had a few questions regarding the effort above, I wanted to verify with you that both Questions and Proposals are due at 1:00 PM on October 8, 2015?

Response: Refer to Question 4

Question 22:

Solicitation it is listed that the Past Performance Questionnaire is provided in Attachment 3 but Attachment 3 is actually the CDRLs. I was hoping you might be able to inform me when the PPQs might be released to industry and when will the Government be requesting those to be submitted?

Response: Past Performance Questionnaire is provided under Amendment 001 and must be submitted NLT 1:00 pm, 8 October 2015.

Question 23:

Will the government consider providing page numbers in the solicitation?

Response: Page number is indicated in the upper right corner of the Solicitation.

Question 24:

Will the government clarify the submission period for solicitation questions? It is currently 8 October which is the same date of submittal.

Response: Refer to Question 4

Question 25:

Will all questions and all answers be made available to all Offerors?

Response: All questions and all answers will be made available to all Offerors, Refer to Amendment 001.

Question 26:

Reference: PWS 3.1.5.1 - Clarify if the government will provide Offerors access to view/assess the DAMO-SSD webpage?

Response: The government will provide the successful Offeror with access to DAMO-SSD webpage for this requirement.

Question 27:

Reference: PWS 3.1.5.1 - Question: Clarify if the government will provide Offerors access to the CWC AKO Portal.

Response: The government will provide the successful Offeror with access to DAMO-SSD webpage for this requirement.

Question 28:

Reference: PWS 3.1.2 - Question: Clarify what the “database management computer systems” is that is being used and referenced in 3.1.2.

Response: This means ability to use standard IT equipment and programs, so a computer, printer, scanner, and such programs as Office Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook.

Question 29:

Reference: PWS 4.6 Quality Control Requirements - The PWS stipulates that a Quality Control Plan be delivered with the final proposal submission. Within what volume is the Quality Control Plan included? What is the page limitation for the Quality Control Plan?

Response: Quality Control Plan may be submitted separately with no page limitation. This requirement has been added to Section L – Factor 2 Management Approach.

Question 30:

Reference: 5. Contract Deliverables - Will there be a reading room to view the contract deliverables?

Response: There will not be a reading room available for contract deliverables.

Question 31: Reference: Section L Proposal Submission - What software version does the government require for the electronic proposal submission for Technical and Cost?

Response: Proposal should be submitted using the most recent version of Microsoft Office.

Question 32: Reference: Section L, Table - Row 1 Introductory: Clarify what is meant by “Summaries” that are to be included in this section?

Response: Reference to “Summaries” has been removed from Row 1, Introductory.

Row 2 Volume I: Clarify if the Executive Summary is excluded from the page count.

Response: Executive Summary is excluded from the page count

Row 3 Volume II: Are Resumes excluded from the Volume II - Factor II page count?

Response: Yes, resumes are excluded from Volume II page count.

Row 4, Volume III: Clarify if subcontractor past performance citations are limited to 2 pages.

Response: Yes, subcontractor’s past performance citations are limited to two (2) pages.

Question 33: Reference: Factor 3 Past Performance - Clarify the page limit for Volume III – Factor 3 Past Performance.

Response: Page limit as indicated for Volume II; Factor 3 Past Performance.

Question 34: Reference: Factor 3 Past Performance - Clarify if the past performance matrix is excluded from the Factor III page count.

Response: Past Performance matrix is excluded from page count under Factor III.

Question 35: Reference: Factor 3 Past Performance, Performance Risk Assessment Questionnaire - Please provide a copy of the Past Performance Questionnaire (Attachment 3).

Response: Refer to Question 1-Past Performance Questionnaire has been added as Attachment 6.

Question 36: Reference: Attachment 1 Workload Data - Is the Management Consultant IV ASA (IE&E) Liaison a key position? If so, what are the education, experience and clearance criteria for this position?

Response: Refer to 1.4 of Performance Work Statement.

Question 37: Clarify the government labor category for the Lead Resource Management Analyst.

Response: Refer to 1.4 of Performance Work Statement.

Question 38: Should the Management Consultant IV (CP Analyst) be a Management Consultant III to align with the Management Consultant III CM and NP Analysts?

Response: Yes, Appendix A-Workload Data has been updated to reflect this change.

Question 39: Reference: Section M, Evaluation Approach - According to FAR 15.1, the government is required to specify tradeoff process or LPTA process in the solicitation. Please specify the evaluation approach the government intends to use consistent with FAR 15.101.

Response: Updated Section M to indicate that this requirement is a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable procurement.

Question 40: Reference: Section L, Factor 5 – Price - The RFP specifies that total compensation plans must be submitted, however it is NOT specified how subcontractors will submit this information. Please clarify how this section to include the requirement for subcontractors to submit sealed packages with this supporting compensation information since this information is proprietary/acquisition sensitive and not typically shared between companies.

Response: Subcontractors will send compensation plans directly to the Contracting Specialist via email. Refer to Section L for details.

Question 41: Reference: Section L, Factor 2 – Management Approach - In this section, the government requires letters of commitment and/or contingent letters of offer and acceptance for prospective employees. It further states that these letters “shall include unburdened labor rates” which is information that does NOT belong in a non-price section of the proposal. In addition, a letter of commitment is very different than a contingent letter of offer (specifically, we don’t include salary offer in a letter of commitment but we do include that in a contingent offer letter). Recommend that the government strike the requirement for “unburdened labor rates” from this section. Since we are required to submit supporting salary information as part of the Price volume that should be sufficient to show unburdened labor rates.

Response: The Government will not strike the requirement for “unburdened labor rates” from this section.

Question 42: Factor 5 Price and Attachment 5 – Pricing Table - The government requires an electronic MS Excel spreadsheet to be provided with the Price Volume. Attachment 5 Pricing Table is provided in MS Word. Please provide the required MS Excel spreadsheet.

Response: Price Volume should be submitted in MS Excel spreadsheet; Pricing Table will remain in MS Word format.

Question 43: In the Solicitation, Section 4.6.1.3, it states: The Contractor shall submit its QCP to the KO and COR for Government review with the proposal. However, the Performance Work Statement does not specify the location of the QCP. Please confirm that the QCP should be submitted concurrently with the proposal but as a separate document.

Response: Refer to Question 29.

Question 44: Similarly, the Solicitation does not specify the location of the Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI) Identification and Mitigation Plan that is required on page 77 of the Solicitation. Please confirm that this plan is to be submitted separately from, but concurrently with, the proposal.

Response: Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI) Identification and Mitigation Plan will be submitted separately with no page limitation, as stated in Section L, Table - Volume - Introductory.

Question 45: Attachment 1 (Workload Data) to the PWS states: These hours do not project actual requirements for the new contract. The Contractor is responsible for proposing the appropriate hours and labor mix to perform the requirements of this PWS for this firm fixed price contract. These data are provided for informational purposes only. However, under Factor 5 – Price, the Solicitation states: As part of the price proposal, all offerors shall submit Attachment 1 [sic] - Pricing Table showing the proposed fully loaded rates by hour for each labor category and the number of hours identified in Attachment 2 [sic] – Workload Data. Offerors shall not vary from these labor categories and hours. Contractors are not allowed to vary from the hours provided, and may not propose a technical approach that varies from the hours provided. Please confirm that the numbers of hours in Attachment 1 – Workload Data and Attachment 5 – Pricing Table are not-to-exceed numbers and that Contractor may propose the appropriate hours and labor mix to perform the requirements of this PWS.

Response: No, Offerors will not be allowed to change labor hours or labor categories. Attachment 1 has been updated to coincide with Factor 5 – Price.

Question 46: Section L, Factor 2 (Management Approach) - The client requires a personnel matrix that maps each contractor to the PWS tasking, respective branch within DAMO-SSD, and government labor category. What are the respective branches within DAMO-SSD other than the Counterproliferation, Nonproliferation, and Consequence Management branches referenced in the PWS? Is there a separate branch for the Resource Management Analyst?

Response: Refer to Section 4.10.8 of the PWS.

Question 47: Section L, Factor 2 (Management Approach) - The Government requires that letters of commitment and/or contingent letters of offer and acceptance be included in Volume II—Factor 2: Management Approach for the proposed Program Manager (PM) and all senior analyst positions listed in the subject Performance Work Statement (PWS), and that those letters include unburdened labor rates. Can the Government please confirm that these letters—to include unburdened labor rates—are to be submitted in Volume II—Factor 2: Management Approach? We respectfully request this clarification because this requirement means that pricing information will not be isolated to Volume V—Factor 5: Price.

Response: Section L, Factor 5 Price has been updated. Pricing shall be contained only Volume V (expect the unburdened rates that are included in the resumes).

Question 48: Appendix A, Sections 1.5.2 thru 1.5.4; Section L, Factor 2 (Management Approach) - The Management Approach section requires that contractor personnel recruited to fill the positions of PWS 3.5, 3.6, and 3.8 already possess TS/SCI access upon contract start, which would limit our recruiting to people who are employed and working in an SCI billet. However, the Personnel Security Clearance Requirements section in Appendix A state that these personnel shall have TS/SCI eligibility. Which requirement is needed at contract start?

Response: Refer to Question 12.

Question 49: Section 4.3.1.1; Appendix A, Section 1.4.1 - The Lead Resource Management Analyst is required to have a SECRET clearance. It is recommended that, for conflict of interest concerns, the Analyst work at the contractor facility rather than the government facility. Does that levy a requirement for the contract facility to maintain classified documents and have access to classified databases via SIPRNET?

Response: No, the Resource Management Analyst does not require access to SIPRNET.

Question 50: Section 4.5; Attachment 1 (WORKLOAD DATA) - Section 4.5 describes the requirement for travel both CONUS and OCONUS for contractor personnel. Attachment 1, WORKLOAD DATA, specifies only 10 CONUS trips per year for travel requirements. Is there an OCONUS travel requirement for contract employees, and is that included in the amount of 10 per year?

Response: The need for contractor OCONUS travel has never arisen, nor is it anticipated.

Question 51: Appendix A Section 1.4.1; Attachment 5 – Management Analyst IV (CP Lead) and (CP Analyst) - Are there any differences in the candidate qualifications between the Management Consultant IV (Counterproliferation Lead) and the Management Consultant IV (Counterproliferation Analyst)?

Response: Refer to Section 1. Personal Qualifications.

Question 52: Appendix A Section 1.4.1; Attachment 5 Management Consultant IVs and Management Consultant III’s - How do the candidate qualifications differ between the Management Consultant IVs and the Management Consultant IIIs?

Response: Refer to Question 48.

Question 53: Appendix A Sections 1.5.2, 1.5.3, and 1.5.4. - The solicitation states that all counterproliferation positions require a TS/SCI. The solicitation also states that all Open Skies, NST, and INF Treaty support positions require a TS/SCI. Are there any nonproliferation positions that only require a Secret? Would that be the ASA (IE&E) Liaison?

Response: Refer to Question 48.

Question 54: Attachment 1 & Attachment 5 - There is a slight difference in the estimated hours on Attachments 1 & 5 of the solicitation for the Management Consultant III (NP Analyst x 2). Can the government confirm which hours estimate is correct? Attachment 1 lists the annual estimated hours as 3840. Attachment 5 lists the annual estimated hours as 3820.

Response: Refer to Question 19.

Question 55: Section J, LIST OF ATTACHMENTS; Section L, Factor 3 (Past Performance) - The RFP states that Attachment 3 is the Past Performance Questionnaire that bidders are required to provide as part of the past performance cites. However, Attachment 3 in the solicitation package is the listing of CDRLs. When will the contracting office send out the blank PPQ documents?

Response: Refer to Question 1.

Question 56: Section L, Factor 2 (Management Approach) - The RFP directs that letters of commitment and/or contingency letters of offer and acceptance be obtained from candidates who are proposed as key personnel. Are those letters required of current company employees or only contingency hires?

Response: Commitment and/or Contingency letters will be required for all key personnel.

Question 57: Attachment 1 (WORKLOAD DATA) - Will the government consider a lower number of hours proposed in labor mix for key personnel listed on a part-time basis or as needed basis?

Response: The Workload Data matrix already indicates the Program Manager and Alternate Program Manager work on a part-time basis. The Resource Management Analyst works full-time, but not on site. All other contract personnel listed on the Workload Data matrix must be available full-time, in the Government facility.

Question 58: Attachment 1 (WORKLOAD DATA) - Will the government consider other personnel other than key personnel proposed in labor mix for reach back support?

Response: Although we do not object to the contractor providing reach back support, all contractor personnel listed on the Workload Data matrix must be physically present in the Government facility on a full-time basis, with the exception of the Program Manager, Alternate Program Manager, and Lead Resource Management Analyst. The Resource Management Analyst works full-time, but not on site. In accordance with the Workload Data matrix, the Program Manager and Alternate PM work on a part-time basis. Historically, they have worked off-site.

Question 59: Appendix A, Section 1.6.1.4 - Will subcontractors be required to meet the facility clearance requirements? Can the prime cover the facility requirements for subcontractors on the team?

Response: Yes, all subcontractors will be required to meet the facility clearance requirements.

Question 60: Attachment 1 (WORKLOAD DATA); Attachment 5 (PRICING TABLE) - There is a difference in the estimated hours between Attachments 1 & 5 of the solicitation for the Senior Management Consultant (Alternate Program Manager). Can the government confirm which hours estimate is correct? Attachment 1 lists the annual estimated hours as 480. Attachment 5 lists the annual estimated hours as 1920.

Response: Refer to Question 3.

Question 61: Section L, Factor 5 (Price); Attachment 1 (WORKLOAD DATA) - There appears to be a mixed message regarding projected labor hours in the RFP. Under Factor 5 – Price in Section L, it states regarding the hours listed in the WORKLOAD DATA attachment, “Offerors shall not vary from the labor categories and hours. Contractors are not allowed to vary from the hours provided, and may not propose a technical approach that varies from the hours provided.” Meanwhile, in the WORKLOAD DATA attachment, the following is stated: “These hours do not project actual requirements for the new contract. The Contractor is responsible for proposing the appropriate hours and labor mix to perform the requirements of this PWS for this firm fixed price contract.” Does the government want offerors to abide by the LCATs and hours specified in the WORKLOAD DATA attachment or not?

Response: Offerors should abide by the hours specified in the WORKLOAD DATA attachment.