AMENDMENT_02_ATTACHMENT_7_SVED_Questions_and_Answers.docx

SVED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. Can the government confirm this is LPTA as Page 98, basis for award, states that this is a Best Overall (i.e Best Value) award?

Government Response: Yes, the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) approach is being used to evaluate proposals for SVED. LPTA is a sub-set of the Best Value Continuum FAR 15.101-2. Please reference page 99, “Evaluation and award of this contract will be made in accordance with the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) Source Selection Process as described in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.101-2”.

2. Can the government clarify the level of effort for this opportunity? According to the PWS, page 38, there are 35.5 Number of personnel identified, however, in attachment 3, cost model, only 18 are identified.

Government Response: PWS, Page 38 reflects the labor categories eligible under the Single-Award contract holistically, of the categories listed. The level of effort indicated may or may not be used, but is available if needed. The actual startup level of effort will be dependent on the work needed when the contract is awarded. Amendment 2 Attachment 3, cost model identifies 24 FTEs (3 FTEs for Labor – Firm Fixed Price and 21 FTEs Labor – Cost Plus Fixed Fee) to be proposed for the single-award contract.

3. In order to maximize competition, will the government require redacted resumes to be presented for fair and open resume evaluation?

Government Response: No, the Government will request all names be visible on the resumes submitted and match the corresponding Letter of Intent.

4. Will the government clarify if we need a General Engineer IV or VI for pricing and resumes as the PWS and Attachment 3 is contradictory? In attachment 3, the cost model Excel, we see a General Engineer IV and V, however, in the PWS (page 38) we see a General Engineer V (with S) and a General Engineer VI (TS), and no General Engineer IV.

Government Response: There were several typographical errors in the PWS. Those errors are hereby corrected by changing the solicitation, as follows:

Is industry supposed to provide (2) resumes for 3 key positions (2.5.3) (For a total of 6 resumes) or (2) resumes for each of the 9 identified key personnel (2.5.3) (for a total of 18 resumes)?

Government Response: Attachment 6 (Past Performance Questionnaire; inadvertently omitted from the FedBizOpps posting) is now posted on FedBizOpps.

7. Will the government confirm that the Place of Performance for Attachment 3, Cost Model, is ON-SITE at ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD. This has a direct impact on cost.

Government Response: The place of performance will be OFF-SITE.

8. The solicitation package is silent on the proposal due date, and FBO provides two different proposal due dates: 1) 5:00 pm EST on 3 May 2018 and 2) 1:00 pm EST on 4 May 2018. Please clarify the proposal due date?

Government Response: The original proposal due date was 1:00 pm EST on 4 May 2018. The proposal due date was extended to 1:30PM Eastern Time on 18 May 2018. This is being extended to 1:30 PM Eastern Time on 24 May 2018.

9. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) Safe Access File Exchange (SAFE) website is reflected on page 85. Offerors shall submit a written proposal before or by the date and time specified in Block 9 of the Standard Form (SF) 33 is reflected on page 86. Please clarify the desired proposal submission method, electronic or hard copy?

Government Response: Proposals must be submitted through the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) Safe Access File Exchange (SAFE). The term “written proposal” shall not be construed as a requirement to submit a hard copy proposal.

10. PWS 2.5.3 Key personnel for this requirement are Cyber Security Analyst II (2), General Engineer II (2), and Program/Systems Analyst II (2). A minimum of two (2) key personnel for each position will be required to start on day one (1) of the contract, for a total of six (6) key personnel. PWS 2.5.4 Provide two (2) resumes for each key personnel labor category and a signed letter of intent with direct labor rate data. The signed letter of intent shall confirm that each proposed key person will perform at the start of the contract, which is the first day of support. The resume(s) shall also confirm that all Key Personnel currently have a Secret level security clearance, with the exception of the General Engineer VI to currently have a Top Secret level of security clearance. Key Personnel are identified in the reference table below: (in the table listed on page 11, there are nine (9) Labor Categories listed as key, these include: Cyber Security Analyst II & III, General Engineer II & III, Program/Systems Analyst II, Scientist Engineer II & III, and Systems Engineer II & III).

Page 89, Key personnel for this requirement are: Cyber Security Analyst II, General Engineer II; and Program/Systems Analyst II. All three (3) key positions only require a “SECRET” clearance, but must be able to obtain a “Top Secret” clearance if required. Provide three (3) resumes total, one for each key personnel labor category, and a signed letter of intent for each resume with direct labor rate data redacted to confirm that key personnel will be available to perform at the start of contract, which is the first day of transition-in support.

Page 101, Proposals key personnel resumes will be evaluated to determine if the proposal meets the qualification requirements of PWS Exhibit A, Labor Category Qualifications. Key personnel for this requirement are: Cyber Security Analyst II, General Engineer II; and Program/Systems Analyst II. All three (3) key positions only require a “SECRET” clearance. PWS Exhibit A – Labor Category Qualifications of the PWS contains the job descriptions and qualification requirements for the key personnel labor category positions and other labor categories included in the pricing template. All personnel proposed must meet or exceed the requirements specified. Page 86 and 88, the number of pages allocated for Volume I, Tab A, Factor 1, Personnel Credentials, Experience and Qualifications is 12. Please clarify the number of key personnel résumés to be provided.

Government Response: See response to number 5 above.

11. Attachment 3 Cost Model FFP Labor Tab, Column I asks for a "Fully Burdened T&M Labor Rate (Note 5). Column I of the Cost Model appears to contradict the rest of the proposal by specifying a T&M Labor Rate rather than a Firm Fixed Price Labor rate. Should this label be T&M or FFP?

Government Response: Column I has been revised to reflect Firm-Fixed Price. The revised Cost Model is provided with this Amendment.

12. Key Personnel Table at Page 11 contains no General Engineer IV. Personnel Security Classification Table at page 38 contains no General Engineer IV. Attachment 3 Cost Model FFP Labor Tab contains no General Engineer VI. Please reconcile the various personnel tables with the Cost Model as appropriate.

Government Response: Please see responses to number 5 above.

13. Regarding the DD 254 security requirements (Attachment_4a_-_DD254_SVED) for solicitation W91CRB-18-R-0037, can a teammate/subcontractor hold the required TS Facility and TS Safeguarding facility clearance?

Government Response: No, the prime must hold the TS facility clearance.

14. The Executive Summary of the RFP states that "Proposals will be evaluated utilizing Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) Source Selection Process described [sic] in FAR Part 15.101-2. Section A. Basis for Award (Section M) states "The award will be made based on the best overall (i.e., best value) proposal that is determined to be the most beneficial to the Government with the requisite consideration...". Is it the Government's intent to evaluate proposals based on Best Value?

Government Response: See answer to Question #1 above.

15. Section 2.5.3 of the PWS states "Key personnel for this requirement are Cyber Security Analyst II (2), General Engineer II (2), and Program/Systems Analyst II(2). A minimum of two (2) key personnel for each position will be required to start on day one (1) of the contract, for a total of six (6) key personnel.” Section L, Volume I, TAB A-Factor 1 states "All three (3) key positions…". Section M, C., Factor 1. Personnel Credentials states "All three (3) key positions only require a "Secret" clearance…". Would the Government clarify how many key positions are required as well as which labor categories are identified as key?

Government Response: See Government Response to Question #5 above.

16. Section 2.5.4 of the PWS states "Provide two (2) resumes for each key personnel labor category and a signed letter of intent with direct labor rate data. Section L, Volume I, TAB A-Factor 1 states "Provide three (3) resumes total." Would the Government clarify how many resumes are required to be submitted for evaluation? Also, the chart is Section 2.5.4 shows 9 key personnel.

Please clarify the number of key personnel, labor category, and total resume requirement.

Government Response: See Government Response to Question #5 above.

17. Why [was] this opportunity …released outside of the current AEC IDIQ?

Government Response: A separate contract was determined to be the best approach to fulfill this requirement, considering that the ordering period and period of performance under the existing AEC Omnibus vehicles is winding down.

18. Will this be a multiple award IDIQ?

Government Response: No, a single-award contract is contemplated. See Executive Summary, page 2 of the solicitation.

19. How is this opportunity allowed to be LPTA per the recent NDAA ruling and FAR 15.101-2?

Government Response: FAR 15.101 states that “An agency can obtain best value in negotiated acquisitions by using any one or a combination of source selection approaches.” FAR 15.101-2 (a) states that “The lowest price technically acceptable source selection process is appropriate when best value is expected to result from selection of the technically acceptable proposal with the lowest evaluated price.”

20. Is the government open to extending this RFP 30 more days?

Government Response: As stated in #8 above, the proposal due date is being extended to 1:30 PM Eastern Time on 24 May 2018.

21. Does the Government require the Contractor to possess Top Secret facility clearance at the time of submission?

Government Response: Yes. The DD Form 254 specifies that a Top Secret facility clearance is required. Proposals must demonstrate that the prime contractor currently possesses a Top Secret facility clearance. See also Government Response to #13 above.

22. Paragraph 2.5.3. The paragraph is not consistent with the Key Personnel Table on page 11. Para 2.5.3 Identifies Key personnel as Cyber Security Analyst II (2), General Engineer II (2), and Program/Systems Analyst II (2). The table identifies Key personnel as Cyber Security Analyst II, Cyber Security Analyst III, General Engineer II, General Engineer III, Program/Systems Analyst II, Scientist Engineer II, Scientist Engineer III, Systems Engineer II, and Systems Engineer III. Which list of Key Personnel is correct?

Government Response: See answers to Question #5 above.

23. Paragraph 2.5.4. The tables that specify personnel and labor categories in the RFP (pages 11 and 38) list a General Engineer VI and no General Engineer IV. The cost model (spreadsheet) lists a General Engineer IV and no General Engineer VI. Does the government want General Engineers IV, VI or both? If the General Engineer VI is required what are the number of hours required for the base and option years?

Government Response: The labor categories in the cost model are correct. Changes implemented via this Amendment to the solicitation are now consistent with the labor categories in the cost model.

24. Paragraph 2.5.4 directs the offer to provide two (2) resumes for each key personnel labor category and a signed letter of intent with direct labor rate data, a total of six (6) resumes. The Instructions for Tab A Factor 1 (page 89 of 108) direct offerors to provide three (3) resumes total, one for each key personnel labor category. What is the correct number of resumes for an offer to submit, six or three?

Government Response: See answers to Question #5.

25. Note 1 (page 87 of 108) instructs that each resume shall not exceed 3 pages in length. Note 4 (page 87 of 108) reads that the page count includes all pages including but not limited to; body and all appendices. Cover sheets, table of contents, and resumes do not count toward page limits. Which instruction is correct?

Government Response: See answers to Question #5.

26. Section J, Attachment 3 – The cost model spreadsheet lists hours by labor category that do not match with the estimated FTEs found in the Personnel Security Classification table page 38 of the RFP. Were the cost model and table supposed to match? If not, can the government please clarify which document we’re to use.

Government Response: See answers to Question #2.

27. Page 2 of the RFP states the contract will be awarded Firm Fixed Price (FFP) - “This solicitation is for a single-award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, with Firm Fixed Price (FFP) and Cost Reimbursable Travel Contract Line Items (CLINs).” Also, Section B, CLIN 0001 confirms that SVED Labor will be awarded FFP. In the government provided cost model spreadsheet (Attachment_3_-_Cost_Model_SVED_FFP.xlsx), Tab titled “FFP Labor” - Column I (Cell I8) asks for Fully Burdened T&M Labor Rates. If the RFP states the contract will be awarded FFP, and never mentions T&M rates, why does the Cost Model Spreadsheet ask for Fully Burdened T&M Labor Rates?

Government Response: The reference to “T&M” has been removed from the cost model. Also, please note that the reference to an IDIQ contract has been removed from the Executive Summary. For clarification, the Government does NOT contemplate an IDIQ contract. The Government DOES contemplate a single award contract, comprised of a base year and four (4) one-year options.

28. Section J, Attachment 4 – DD254. The DD254 designates both Top Secret Facility Clearance, as well as Top Secret Level of Safeguarding. Historically, safeguarding requirements have not surpassed the SECRET level. Will the government consider reducing the safeguarding requirement to that of SECRET?

Government Response: No.

29. Section J, Attachment 4 – DD254. Can the Safeguarding requirements be fulfilled by a Major Subcontractor or Teammate?

Government Response: See Government Response to Question #13 above.

30. The Instructions for Tab A Factor 1 (page 89 of 108) direct offerors to provide three (3) resumes total, one for each key personnel labor category. The limitation for resume page length (Page 86 for 108) instruct that resumes shall not exceed 3 pages in length. Three – 3 page resumes would use nine of the 12 page limitation. What is the intended use for the additional 3 pages?

Government Response: See answers to Question #5.

31. Volume 1: Factor 4 – Past Performance. Can the government please provide the required Past Performance Questionnaire form?

Government Response: See #6 above.

32. Volume 4 – Solicitation, Offer, and Award Documents and Certification/Representations. Can the Government provide instructions as to what is to be included in this volume? Does it simply contain the completed SF33, SF30(s), and Section K?

Government Response: Yes.

33. Can we get a new coy of attachment 2, Potential OCI that does not include all the drop downs for responding prime?

Government Response: Yes; a revised Attachment 2 without the previous drop-downs is provided with this Amendment.