Programmatic Post Industry Day questions and answers 15 March.pdf

The following questions were still under review when the original set of questions were reviewed during the Industry Day, or have since been revised:

Q15: Will the Government please confirm that Experience information from affiliate companies will be evaluated as part of this source selection process in Volume II in compliance with this impending DFAR amendment?

A15: The Experience factor will be revised to allow some affiliate experience to be considered.

Q40: Section L states, "Each Offeror and its subcontractor(s) shall provide whatever information is necessary to help the Government understand why the proposed costs are realistic in the xxxxCOSTNARRxxxx.docx (or PDF).". Please consider requiring separate Cost Models and Cost Narratives from only the prime offeror and major subcontractors, not minor subcontractors.

A40: This has been revised. Separate Cost Models and Narratives will not be required from minor subcontractors.

Q44: We believe that benchmark minimum direct labor rates would provide several benefits to the Government, including:

1. Ensuring that contractors are able to execute the work effectively and efficiently, which would lead to successful program outcomes.

2. Reducing the risk of personnel challenges that come from low compensation in an extremely tight labor market, such as inability to hire creating gaps on programs, retention issues, and loss of institutional knowledge.

3. Reducing the risk of cost overruns and delays due to contractors being unable to perform the work at the proposed rates.

4. Ensuring that the Government receives proposals that are comparable and based on the same assumptions, which would make the evaluation process more objective and transparent.

We request that the Government consider including minimum benchmark direct labor rates below which offerors cannot propose.

A44: The Government anticipates utilizing benchmark labor rates for this procurement.

Questions from Industry Day Chat 28 Feb 2024/post Industry Day

Q70: Understand 50 FTE. For CONUS and OCONUS...must we have personnel who are permanently stationed OCONUS to qualify?

A70: Yes, the personnel must be stationed in a foreign nation.

Q71: Does the government's definition of OCONUS include HI and AK?

A71: This wording is being revised to indicate the United States and in foreign nations.

Q72: Our personnel travel OCONUS but are not permanently stationed there. If we have 50+ FTE and personnel who travel OCONUS, are we eligible to bid?

A72: No, the requirement is for personnel to be stationed in a foreign nation. This wording is being updated.

Q73: A significant part of FMS work is done predominantly in the United States/CONUS, with limited temporary duty (TDY) OCONUS international stints. Many small businesses with the relevant FMS work operate this way in conjunction with their Government counterparts. Given the majority of this USASAC work is to be performed CONUS, we recommend USASAC allow for managing OCONUS TDY personnel to be evaluated as part of the “in more than one location, both CONUS and OCONUS” proposal requirement. Doing so would increase relevant competition for this acquisition for more substantive offers to support the best value to the Government.

A73: The Government feels that experience hiring employees in foreign countries is an important factor for this acquisition, as it requires significantly different management experience and coordination with different entities.

Q74: Must the offeror have demonstrated all of the experience requirements shown on page 52 Volume II – Experience on one contract? If so, would the Government consider allowing the “managing at least 50 employees in more than one location” experience on one contract and the OCONUS experience on a second contract?

A74: The foreign country experience can be on a different contract that the requirement for 50 employees in more than one location.

Q75: Normally, in Germany DOCPER is a requirement. Will contracting assist the SB Prime in navigating DOCPER as it can be challenging at times? And shouldn't the bidders show past experience in coordinating the DOCPER process in a timely manner?

A75: The prime contractor will be responsible for processing and completing the DOCPER registration.

USASAC and contracting will be available to answer minor questions as needed and within their expertise. Narrowing the Experience factor to require direct DOCPER experience will be too limiting.

Q76: During the industry day the Gov’t stated industry could use an IDIQ contract for the corporate experience section in relation to the managing 50 FTES and employees being CONUS/OCONUS. Given this, can contractors use a collection of task orders under the OASIS SB IDIQ to satisfy the requirements?

A76: No. An ID/IQ contract is a centrally managed contract. The Experience managing 50 FTEs must be demonstrated under a centrally managed contract. The foreign country experience can be on a different contract than the management of 50 FTEs.

Q77: What backup documentation is required to substantiate OCONUS/ experience.

A77: This factor is being revised to specify what information needs to be provided.

Q78: Given the 50 FTE & OCONUS qualification, are you confident there are enough qualified small businesses?

A78: Yes.

Q79: Was the qualification for 50 FTE CONUS/OCONUS included in the Oct 2023 RFI?

A79: The October RFI was an information request only, and didn’t include any details about the solicitation.

Q80: Will the Government accept Experience as the managing partner of a JV to meet the experience requirements?

A80: Yes.

Q81: Can Two Small businesses that are "similarly situated' under SBA regulations bid together and meet the 50 employee number together?

A81: If they are bidding as a joint venture, yes.

Q82: We request the USG reconsider its response with regards to a JV managing partner's experience.

A82: The Experience may be demonstrated by either member of a qualified joint venture.

Q83: Previous response on experience within a JV needing to be from the managing Partner's (e.g. small business's) background does not clearly align with SBA rules concerning certified JV with mentor-protege. Can you please double check on this? SBA rules allow experience from the larger "Mentor" to be used for any/all RFP requirements if part of certified JV.

A83: See Question 82.

Q84: Can an offeror use experience as the managing partner of a Joint Venture to meet the experience requirements shown on page 52 Volume II – Experience?

A84: Yes.

Q85: The support the JVI provides to meet the experience factor is a direct contract with the Canadian Government supporting their Foreign Military Sales (FMS) F-35 Aircraft program. Would they be qualified even though it is not a DoD contract?

A85: Yes.

Q86: Is the 50 Employees W2 from prime without 1099 Consultants?

A86: 1099 employees may count towards the 50 employees.

Q87: Many many contracts refer to 1099 consultants as "employees". In fact, they refer to each of these consultants as a subcontractor.

A87: See Answer 86.

Q88: Most SB contractors who fall within the size standard for NAICS 541611 do not have 50 FTE on the same contract consecutively, would the government consider reducing this to 20-30 FTE under one contract to allow for more competition?

A88: No.

Q89: The RFP states resumes are required for all key personnel. Key personnel are designated by LCAT and not position. Will any of the key personnel LCATs require more than one employee, and if so, will all employees with that LCAT be KPs?

A89: Yes, some Key Personnel LCATs will require more than one employee. Resumes will be required for all Key Personnel.

Q90: Regarding Q27, The question states: "Will the government accept representative resumes for the five key personnel? (i.e. the CV of an individual who is not currently employed by the company but possesses the qualifications and experience that align with project requirements." The Government's answer states, "Yes.". The term "representative resumes" is vague and the implication of this Q&A is that any resume for a qualified individual would be acceptable, regardless of whether that individual would be willing to fill the position for the appropriate compensation, or even whether the individual had been contacted by an offeror. To fairly evaluate the capacity of offerors to fill key positions, we recommend requiring resumes for either current personnel or "contingent hire" personnel whose resumes are accompanied by signed Letters of Intent that included agreed upon compensation rates to ensure that resumes submitted are realistic.

A90: This wording will be revised to require Letters of Intent for any Key Personnel not currently employed by the offeror.

Q91: Will all 3 past performance from the prime require at least 50 FTE to be considered and multiple locations (CONUS/OCONUS)?

A91: Only the Experience factor requires 50 FTEs/multiple locations. This is not a requirement for the Past Performance factor.

Q92: Is it up to 3 PP for the Prime, or are 3 required?

A92: Up to 3.

Q93: Will this remain as a Cost Plus contract and are Forward Pricing Rate Agreements going to be required as part of the solicitation?

A93: Yes, this will remain Cost Plus Fixed Fee. FPRAs are preferred, but not required in accordance with Section d of Paragraph 8 under Volume V – Cost Proposal.

Q94: Will DCAA Approved accounting system be required? Or can other evidence be provided to demonstrate sound accounting practices?

A94: In accordance with Paragraph 18 under Volume V – Cost Proposal, in the event that the offeror, or any subcontractor proposed on a cost reimbursable basis, has not received a determination from DCAA or DCMA on the adequacy of their respective accounting system, they may submit to the Contracting Officer a Standard Form 1408.

Q95: We acknowledge that clause 52.244-2, and by extension, clause 252.244-7001 must be included in the contract per the FAR and DFARS. However, we request that the requirement to provide "provide documentary evidence as to the adequacy of its purchasing system" be removed as the threshold for undergoing a purchasing system review is $50M in a 12-month period and this is a small business set-aside. 252.244-7001 does not require offerors to submit documentary evidence of an adequate purchasing system at the time of proposal.

A95: This will not be removed.

Q96: The draft RFP includes the clause at 252.242-7005, Contractor Business Systems. This clause is only required and applicable for contracts subject to Cost Accounting Standards per 242.7001. Please remove clause 252.242-7005.

A96: This will be removed.

Q97: Given the DCAA requirement are enough SB going to be qualified for solicitation?

A97: Yes, it is our anticipation that there will be sufficient qualified small businesses.

Q98: Can the font size for tables/illustrations be reduced from 12pt? Not addressed in Section L. Would be helpful in presenting information.

A98: Paragraph 1 under Proposal Submission Requirements states “Tables and illustrations may use a reduced font size no less than 8-point and may be landscape.”

Q99: Section L specifies that "page limits stated above do not include written consent and/or letters of commitment or resumes". Please confirm that Letters of Intent for contingent hires are also excluded from page count.

A99: Letters of Intent for contingent hires are excluded from page count.

Q100: Will today's charts be posted to SAM?

A100: Yes, these were added to the Industry Day posting after the event.