W91QEX-16-Q-0037-0001_Q A.pdf

SOLICITATION W91QEX-16-Q-0037-0001

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

08 JUL 2016

USSOCSO J3 REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT BRANCH SUPPORT SERVICES

HOMESTEAD AFB

PoP: 07 AUG 2016 - 06 AUG 2017

Question 1:

Are there any incumbents previously providing this work? If there are, could you please provide the contractor and contract numbers associated?

Answer 1:

Contractor: Booz Allen Hamilton Delivery/Task Order: W91CRB-11-D-0003-0013

Question 2:

Reference: Pg. 13/PWS 1.6.10 Key Personnel, "Proficiency in speaking, reading and writing Spanish/Portuguese fluently is highly desirable," and Pg. 14/PWS 1.6.13 Contractor Travel, "Must be fluent in Spanish (a minimum of 2/2 on the DLPT or equivalent)" Will the Government confirm that fluency in Spanish is not required?

Answer 2:

The requirement for Spanish/Portuguese is highly desired at that qualification level, but not required. A solicitation amendment shall revise PWS Paragraph 1.6.13 will be revised with the changes highlighted for reference purposes accordingly.

Question 3:

Reference: Pg. 69, Page Limitations and Format, "The Offeror shall comply with the following format and page limitations for each respective volume in accordance with the following table" Will the Government exclude tables of contents from the page limitations?

Answer 3:

Yes, a Table of Contents will be excluded from the page limitations associated with a submittal. A solicitation amendment modifying the instructions under the Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 will illustrate this change with changes highlighted for reference purposes accordingly.

Question 4:

Reference: Pg. 69, Page Limitations and Format, "SF 1449 CLIN Structure" Can the Government verify that the Overtime Support Pricing Sheet does not count against the page limitation for Volume 3?

Answer 4:

Yes, the Overtime Support Pricing Sheet submission does not count against the page limitation for Volume 3.

Volume 3 page limitations will only be limited to the signed first page of the solicitation with signed first pages of any subsequent amendments, all filled in pages of the solicitation CLIN structure, the filled in Overtime Support Pricing Sheet, as well as the optional (should the offeror not have a valid and accurate representations and certifications under their SAM profile) filled in representations and certifications under FAR 52.212-3.

Question 5:

Reference: Pg. 69, Page Limitations and Format, "SF 1449 CLIN Structure" Can the Government confirm that Offerors are also required to submit the complete SF 1449 with all pages?

Answer 5:

See “Answer 4” for required submittal and limitation of pages as it relates to an Offeror’s Price Proposal.

Question 6:

Reference: Pg. 70, "Subfactor 1 - Experience: The Offeror shall submit a maximum of one (1) contract reference for which the Offeror was the prime contractor, subcontractor, or Joint Venture (JV) Partner," Will the Government also accept contract references from offerors' subcontractors?

Answer 6:

No, the Government will only accept contract references where the Offeror’s (Prime Proposing Contractor) direct experience as a prime contractor, subcontractor, or joint venture partner (SBA Approved Joint Venture Partnership Only) is submitted. This requirement is pursuant to the SBA ostensible subcontractor rule (13 C.F.R. § 121.103(h)(4)). In this instance, the prime and teaming partner or subcontractor may NOT use their experience combined as part of their proposal submittal both for their Technical Experience and Past Performance Proposal submission. Each prime contractor’s experiences should be evaluated solely in determining if a Offeror is technically acceptable. Unless there is an approved SBA joint venture and/or mentor-protégée in place, evaluation of prime and subcontractor technical competency cannot be combined due to affiliation rules that pertain to the Ostensible Subcontracting Rules.

Question 7:

Reference: Pg. 72, “Documentation must be furnished as part of this submittal for verification of appropriate clearance levels and active status" Is the Government willing to receive clearance verification from the Offeror if the Offeror provides a candidates date of investigation and adjudicating agency in each candidate’s resume.

Answer 7:

Yes, the Government is willing to accept this information as an option to fulfill the requirements under Factor 1, Technical, Subfactor 3, Staffing Plan & Resumes, Part 3, Contractor / Service Personnel Security Clearances. This will provide the Government a means to technically assess the clearance status of any/all proposed candidates per Key Personnel position and is considered a proper verification method of appropriate clearance levels accordingly.

In addition, the Offeror shall provide a clearance status on each candidate’s resume stating whether the clearance is “active” or “interim”. A solicitation amendment shall be issued with highlighted changes to the Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 to illustration these changes.

Question 8:

Reference: Pg. 72, VOLUME 2 – Factor 2 Past Performance, "The Offeror shall submit complete and accurate Past Performance Questionnaires for a minimum of two (2) and a maximum of three (3) contracts for which the Offeror was the prime contractor, subcontractor, or Joint Venture (JV) Partner" Will the Government also accept contract references from offerors' subcontractors?

Answer 8:

No. See “Answer 6” for more information this topic. This requirement is pursuant to the SBA ostensible subcontractor rule (13 C.F.R. § 121.103(h)(4)). In this instance, the prime and teaming partner or subcontractor may NOT use their experience combined as part of their proposal submittal both for their Technical Experience and Past Performance Proposal submission. Each prime contractor’s experiences should be evaluated solely in determining if a Offeror is technically acceptable. Unless there is an approved SBA joint venture and/or mentor-protégée in place, evaluation of prime and subcontractor technical competency cannot be combined due to affiliation rules that pertain to the Ostensible Subcontracting Rules.

Question 9:

Reference: Pg. 72, VOLUME 2 – Factor 2 Past Performance, "The Offeror shall submit complete and accurate Past Performance Questionnaires for a minimum of two (2) and a maximum of three (3) contracts for which the Offeror was the prime contractor, subcontractor, or Joint Venture (JV) Partner" Will the Government confirm that offerors are to include a copy of what was sent to contract points of contact as their volume 2 - Past Performance?

Answer 9:

It is unnecessary to include a copy of what was sent to the contract points of contact; however, it is the offerors responsibility to assure the contract points of contact submit their completed past performance questionnaire(s) in a timely manner.

Question 10:

Reference: Pg. 72, VOLUME 2 – Factor 2 Past Performance, "The Offeror shall submit complete and accurate Past Performance Questionnaires for a minimum of two (2) and a maximum of three (3) contracts for which the Offeror was the prime contractor, subcontractor, or Joint Venture (JV) Partner" Will the Government confirm that the completed past performance questionnaires will be sent from the customer point of contact directly to the Government?

Answer 10:

Yes, completed past performance questionnaire(s) should be sent directly from the customer point of contact to the Government. Please note; however, it is the offerors responsibility to assure the contract points of contact submit their completed past performance questionnaire(s) in a timely manner.

Question 11:

Reference: Pg. 74, Addendum to FAR 52.212-1: ATTACHMENT 1, "Respondent Information Rating Sheets – Offeror should put name, contract number(s), and any other information as indicated in red text below and ensure it is on every page for identification purposes" Will the Government consider reducing the requirement to offeror name and contract numbers only?

Answer 11:

No. The information requested is to provide relevant contract and point of contact information.

Question 12:

Reference: Pg. 75, B. IDENTIFICATION OF OFFEROR’S REPRESENTATIVE, "Name: Title: Date:"

Will the Government please provide clarification of "Date"?

Answer 12:

“Date” refers to the date the Offeror’s Representative identified in the past performance reference initiates and/or completes the questionnaire.

Question 13:

Reference: Pg. 13, Key Personnel, ""Shall possess a BS/BA Degree" Will the Government accept 10 years of experience in lieu of a BS/BA degree?

Answer 13:

No, the Government will not accept tradeoffs or exceptions to the requirement. A BS/BA degree is required and therefore the minimum acceptable criteria accordingly.