Questions_and_Answers_ATC_2Nov2026_W91CRB-27-R-A005.pdf

W91CRB-27-R-A002 | Q&A 2 Nov 2026

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG)

Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland

Questions and Answers

Solicitation Number: W91CRB-27-R-A002 Welding, Machining, Painting, and Fabrication Support Services – Aberdeen Test Center (ATC)

NAICS: 333992

Date: 2 November 2026

This document consolidates industry questions received in response to the Draft Request for Proposal (DRFP) and the Government’s responses provided in the ATC Updates of 2 November 2026. Contractor-identifying information has been removed.

Questions are presented in a single sequential list. These questions are in addition to those previously answered on 29 October 2026. Contractor-identifying information has been removed.

Question 1

Question: To ensure compliance with the submission requirements and allow adequate time for delivery before the submission deadline, please clarify whether there are any file size limitations for individual email attachments or cumulative email sizes. Additionally, if the proposal volumes and supporting documentation exceed the allowable email size, may offerors submit the proposal in multiple emails, and are there any specific file-naming or email subject line conventions that must be followed to ensure all submissions are properly received and associated with the proposal?

Government Response: File size limits are described within Section L of the solicitation. Should files not fit within one email multiple emails may be sent.

Question 2

Question: Please clarify whether offerors are required to submit each proposal volume in both searchable PDF and Microsoft Word formats, or whether submission in either one of these formats is sufficient to meet the requirement.

Government Response: Submissions in searchable pdf are preferred. Should a offeror not be able to provide searchable pdf, Microsoft word will be acceptable.

Question 3

Question: Please clarify throughout Section L how the documents are to be packaged and submitted.

The Native Electronic Format requirements in Paragraph 1.1.2.B and the instructions in 1.1.3.C appear to contradict the requirements in Paragraph 2, File Packaging (that files shall be in read-only PDF files).

Government Response: Submissions may be made through either searchable PDF or word formats.

Question 4

Question: Given the page limitations imposed on the Technical and Past Performance volumes, which must accommodate all required information, kindly request the cover sheet, table of contents, and table of figures be excluded from the page count for both volumes.

Government Response: Cover sheets and table of contents may be combined but shall still count toward page counts.

Question 5

Question: Please clarify whether the use of the standard Microsoft Word Table of Contents feature, including its automatically generated hyperlinks, is permissible under this requirement. Section 1.1.1 A states, "The use of hyperlinks in proposals is strictly prohibited." However, Section 1.1.3 C.1 requires the Table of Contents to be created using the Table of Contents feature in Microsoft Word, which automatically generates hyperlinks.

Government Response: Use of hyperlinks generated by Microsoft Word that will direct the government to external websites or documents is prohibited. Links to internal paragraphs, pages or figures are permissible.

Question 6

Question: Given the page limitations imposed on the Technical and Past Performance volumes, we respectfully request that the Summary Section for each volume be excluded from the applicable page count, allowing up to five pages for each summary in addition to the established volume page limits.

Government Response: Summary sections are to be brief.

Question 7

Question: Please clarify whether the requirement that each file of the proposal shall consist of a Table of Contents, Summary Section, and the Narrative discussion applies to Volume IV, Solicitation, Offer and Award Documents, and Certifications/Representations. If applicable, please identify the information expected to be included in the Summary Section for this volume, given that it consists primarily of completed solicitation forms, certifications, and representations rather than a narrative technical response.

Government Response: Volume IV does not require a table of contents, summary section or narrative discussion.

Question 8

Question: To assist offerors in preparing their Past Performance volume and ensuring compliance with the solicitation requirements, would the Government please provide the Contract References Form in advance of the final RFP release?

Government Response: Contract Reference Form has been removed as a requirement. We complete Volume II Past Performance as described in section L.

Question 9

Question: Please confirm that completed Past Performance Questionnaires are to be submitted directly to the Contracting Officer by the respective POCs and are not required to be included in the offeror's proposal submission.

Government Response: Past Performance Questionnaires are to be completed and sent directly to the contracting officer by respective POCs and are not required to be included in the offerors proposal submission.

Question 10

Question: Will the Government consider allowing the Past Performance Questionnaire to be sent to the prime contractor responsible for managing the contract, rather than exclusively to the Government contracting activity and technical representative, when the prime contractor is better positioned to provide a comprehensive assessment of the subcontractor's performance? This would help ensure the questionnaire captures meaningful, firsthand feedback regarding the offeror's actual performance and contributions to the contract.

Government Response: Past Performance Questionnaires must be provided to the Government and not the prime contractor.

Question 11

Question: Please clarify how an offeror proposing to perform the requirement entirely with its own workforce and no subcontractors should address the requirement to describe its approach to assigning, coordinating, and performing work "between the prime contractor and any subcontractors, if used," followed by requirements for an operational plan and staffing plan. Are the operational and staffing plans required of all offerors, regardless of whether subcontractors are proposed, with the prime/subcontractor work-allocation discussion applicable only when subcontractors are used?

Government Response: Operational and staffing plans are required even if no subcontractors are being used.

Question 12

Question: Please clarify how the Government anticipates offerors will provide a qualified Alternate PM when no corresponding labor category or other position with comparable minimum qualifications is provided. Suggest eliminating the resume requirement and allowing offerors to designate a working leader to act as PM in the PM's absence in their General Management Plan (Section 1).

Government Response: Alternate PM can be designated after contract award. Alternate PM must meet same requirements as primary PM.

Question 13

Question: Section L identifies the Welder Working Leader under Key Personnel and states requirements for AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) with NDT experience. However, the Labor Categories and Qualifications file states one position must be certified by AWS as a Certified Welding Inspector and possess 5 years experience in NDT, and one position must be certified to operate bridge cranes up to 15 ton capacity. These requirements appear to indicate that two separate positions may be required, although Section L identifies the key personnel title in the singular. Please clarify whether the Government requires one or two Welder Working Leader key personnel. Specifically, are offerors required to submit resumes for two individuals to satisfy the separate CWI/NDT and bridge crane operator certification requirements, or may one individual satisfy both requirements?

Government Response: The position of the Welder Working Lead Key Personnel is made up of two positions, not one. One must be certified by AWS as a Certified Welding Inspector. The second one must be certified to operate a bridge crane up to 15 tons in capacity.

Question 14

Question: The solicitation lists the Painter Leader as a Key Personnel; however, the Labor Categories and Qualifications document does not. Please clarify whether the Painter Leader is a Key Personnel. We recommend that this position not be key, allowing the successful offeror to retain the trained, experienced incumbent for mission continuity.

Government Response: Painter Lead is a Key Personnel.

Question 15

Question: The key personnel requirements have very unique and specific minimum qualification requirements we believe unfairly favors the incumbent and will severely restrict competition on the contract. In situations like this, the incumbent employees almost always transition to the successful offeror thereby minimizing any performance risk to the Government. In order to mitigate the unfair advantage of the incumbent and encourage competition, we respectfully suggest that the required resumes be restricted to one – the Program Manager position.

Government Response: No changes will be made to the required resumes.

Question 16

Question: Given the extensive past performance information required in the Past Performance Volume and the applicable 15-page limit, kindly request the Government consider excluding the written consent and letters of commitment required for major subcontractors from the page count.

Government Response: Concurred. Written consent and letters of commitment will be excluded from Volume II page count.

Question 17

Question: Please confirm the evaluation treatment when an offeror timely transmits a questionnaire request but the Government POCs do not return the questionnaire by the proposal due date, including whether the Government will evaluate other information sources or consider the past performance citation incomplete.

Government Response: The government will accept this as the offerors good faith effort to fulfill the requirement. Past Performance evaluations shall be completed in accordance to section M.

Question 18

Question: Which CMMC level and assessment type will the solicitation specify: Level 1 (Self), Level 2 (Self), Level 2 (C3PAO), or Level 3 (DIBCAC)? Given the 13 July 2026 suspension of CMMC Phase 2, will a Level 2 (C3PAO) status be required as a condition of award, or will a Level 2 self-assessment with a current SPRS score and affirmation satisfy award eligibility? Will the requirement apply at award, or at option exercise?

Government Response: CMMC Level 1 (Self) will apply at award.

Question 19

Question: Will performance require the Contractor to receive, generate, or handle CUI? If so, will the CUI be processed on Government-furnished systems (GFE/GFI) or Contractor information systems?

Government Response: If the contractor is required to receive or handle CUI it will be on GFP information systems. No CUI will be handled on contractor systems.

Question 20

Question: The draft solicitation only identifies DFARS 252.204-7012 as a safeguarding requirement.

Does the Government anticipate including any of the following additional clauses: DFARS 252.204-7020 (or 252.240-7997), 252.204-7021, 252.204-7025, 252.204-7000, 252.225-7048, and FAR 52.204-21 (or 52.240-93)?

Government Response: Clauses: 252.204-7021, and 252.204-7025 have been added to the final solicitation.

Question 21

Question: Since at least 2017, ATC has not tasked nor allowed the contractors on the predecessor contracts to perform lead abatement from any platform or system with lead. In the referenced documents, the Government requires that the Painter Leader be certified to perform lead paint abatement. Will the government consider removing the requirement for the Painter Leader to be certified to perform lead paint abatement, if in fact this person will never be allowed to perform this role?

Government Response: PWS updated to make requirement "Can be certified to perform lead paint abatement if required."

Question 22

Question: The Government's response to Question 50 states, "CLIN 0001 and CLIN 0006 are for phase-in and phase-out, respectively. The Government does not expect full core staffing during those periods."

We do not believe that the Government customer anticipates less than full coverage during the Phase-out period, which is usually covered by the incumbent contract.

Government Response: The incumbent is expected to have full core staffing to support PWS activities during the phase-out period.

Question 23

Question: Question 53 asked if a CBA was associated with this work. The Government's response was, "The Government does not maintain a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for this requirement." While the Government may not "maintain" a CBA for this work, this work is in fact under a union contract with a CBA. Will the Government be providing the current CBA as an attachment to the final solicitation?

Government Response: The Government does not maintain a CBA for this requirement but a CBA between the contractor workforce performing this work and their management company does exist.

Current CBA will not be posted as part of the solicitation.

Question 24

Question: Regarding the Government's response to Question 68 about the discrepancy in the period of performance dates: The incumbent contract currently ends on 1/20/27. Even with a 45 day Phase-in period, the awardee's period of performance for the 5 Year contract would not start until 1/21/27. The pricing spreadsheet is set up with full-time hours for every year of the 5 year period of performance. That would seem to make CLIN 0002 (T&M CLIN) have an actual period of performance of 1/21/27 - 1/20/32 and we believe that this is the period of performance that should be priced out and shown in the Attachment D LOE spreadsheet.

Government Response: PoP is 5 years from date of award. Estimated award is 9 December 2026.

Phase in and out periods are inclusive to the base PoP and will not fall outside the 5 year PoP.