W91QEX-17-Q-0014-0001_Q&A.pdf

SOLICITATION W91QEX-17-Q-0014-0001

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

22 MAY 2017

COMMAND HISTORIAN/KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES

US SOUTHERN COMMAND (USSOUTHCOM)

PoP: 05 JUL 2017 - 06 MAR 2022

Question 1:

Throughout the PWS there is no specific number of each type of tasks/deliverables to be completed. Is it the government’s intension to specify the number of each task and deliverable to be completed or are the personnel simply required to produce as many as are needed in their 1920 hrs. per year?

Answer 1:

The intent is for the contractor to produce/quote as many personnel as needed to perform the tasks listed throughout the PWS using 1920 hours per year. The current contract historical data and labor categories are listed in Attachment 3 of the PWS.

Question 2:

Reference: Page 12, PWS paragraph 1.4 Scope reads “The Contractor shall provide non-personal services (Knowledge Management and Historical services) to include expertise in historical research and writing, knowledge management, knowledge engineering, and should additional funding be provided to support records management, content preservation, database management, information access, and training development methods to fulfill all the tasks associated with this PWS in support of SOUTHCOMs Area of Responsibility (AOR)…”

Should the contractor assume that the “additional funding” in not included as part of this PWS and that the tasks should additional funding be provided, need not be addressed, or should we provide this information and associated costs as some type of option?

Answer 2:

All verbiage referencing “additional funding” has been deleted from the PWS.

Question 3:

Reference: Page 20, PWS paragraph 1.6.18.1 Phase-in/Phase-out Period, what is the anticipated date to begin the 15-day Phase-in period following the contract award?

Answer 3:

See Page 44, CLIN 0001 Delivery Date (POP) of W91QEX-17-Q-0014.

Question 4:

Reference: Page 18, PWS paragraph 1.6.11.3 Education Requirements reads “Knowledge Management/Knowledge Engineering (KM/KE) Specialist: Must have at minimum a Bachelor’s Degree with a college-level major in at least one of the following: English, Knowledge Management, Library Science, Project Management, Psychology, General Education, and/or Political Science.”

Many KM Specialists come from the computer science discipline. Is a computer science degree an acceptable major?

Answer 4:

Yes

Question 5:

Reference: Page 14, PWS paragraph 1.6.6 mentions “a cost reimbursable CLIN for surge hours…”

How will that reimbursement work as none of the CLINS in the PWS address surge hours?

Answer 5:

Surge CLINs have been added to address this concern.

Question 6:

Reference: Page 17, PWS paragraph 1.6.8 read, “The Contractor shall attend any post award conferences, workshops, and seminars convened by the contracting activity or contract administration office in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 42.5.”

Can these be attended electronically?

Answer 6:

Yes; however, the situation will dictate.

Question 7:

Reference: Page 18, PWS paragraph 1.6.11.3 Education Requirements makes reference to “Section L” for further details. There doesn’t appear to be a “Section L” in this document or otherwise provided. I did find additional clarification on page 86 under “Sub-Factor 1: Personnel”

Should we use that criteria or another yet to be provided?

Answer 7:

This language has been deleted from the referenced paragraph.

Question 8:

Reference: Page 28, PWS paragraph 3.2 Facilities. Are the Historians and KM Engineer required to work in a facility that requires Top Secret clearance for access?

Answer 8:

Yes

Question 9:

Reference: Page 31, PWS paragraph 5.2.1 reads “All data shall be classified, stored, managed and maintained on the SOUTHCOM SharePoint.”

Will the determination of classification levels for the data be provided to the contractor?

Answer 9:

Yes, and mandatory ‘classification’ training will be provided.

Question 10:

Reference: Pages 32 and 33, the PWS refers to “The Historian Contractor” and the “The Knowledge Management Specialist Contractor”. Yet on page 43, the table for Estimated Workload Data shows 3 personnel: “Program Manager/Historian, Historian Specialist, and Knowledge Management Specialist”. In Part 5 Specific Tasks, it does not specify how many of each deliverable, making it difficult to judge the number of personnel required to accomplish the tasks.

Please confirm whether the tasks in Part 5 are to be accomplished by only the three people listed in the table on page 43.

Answer 10:

No, this cannot be confirmed. This requirement is a Performance Based Service Acquisition in accordance with FAR Part 37.

Question 11:

Reference: Page 86, paragraph a) under Quote Submission Format, it reads “The offeror shall submit two separate quotes” – one with company info on each page and one without company info, logo, personnel. Is that double submission only for Volume 1 Technical or for all Volumes?

Answer 11:

The solicitation has been amended to remove the requirement for submitting two separate quotes.

Question 12:

Reference: Page 86, Quote Submission Format, it reads “Volume I – Technical; Volume II –Price Schedule; Volume III – Past Performance.” However on pages 87 and 90, it reads Volume II as Past Performance. Further, on pages 88 and 91, it indicates that Volume III is Pricing. Please clarify which volume is supposed to contain what information.

Answer 12:

Page 86 has been corrected. All other pages are correct.

Question 13:

Reference: PWS page 87, Factor B, Past Performance. In which volume(s) does the government desire Past Performance to be addressed? In other words, should Past Performance be included in the Technical Volume as well?

Answer 13:

No, Past Performance should be included in Volume II only.

Question 14:

Reference: DD-254 Block 10e(1), SCI. Both “Yes” and “No” are checked. Would you please clarify?

Answer 14:

Please see revised DD-254.

Question 15:

Reference: DD-254 Block 13 reads “See DD254 Continuation Sheet”. Is the DD254 continuation sheet available?

Answer 15:

Please see revised DD-254.

Question 16:

Reference: DD-254 Blocks 14 and 15 read “See SCI Addendum”. Is the SCI addendum available?

Answer 16:

Please see revised DD-254.

Question 17:

Reference: Given that the candidates have 5 years’ experience, and corporate past performance requirements are 3 years’ experience, is it reasonable to mandate the contractor has a 5 years’ experience level meeting the performance requirement of the contract?

Answer 17:

No, please see amended solicitation for changes.

Question 18:

Reference: Page 15, PWS paragraph 1.6.7.4, “At least one contract Historian and one Knowledge Management/Knowledge Engineering Specialist shall hold a Top Secret security clearance from the Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office. All others shall hold at least a Secret security clearance prior to contract award.

These clearances shall be in the Joint Personnel Adjudication System (JPAS) at time of the proposal submission, and must maintain the level of security required for the life of the contract.”

Will the government accept contract personnel with Secret clearances eligible for Top Secret after award?

Answer 18:

No

Question 19:

Reference: Page 87, Sub-Factor 2, Experience, Will the government accept one year of corporate experience as adequate to the requirement for experience?

Answer 19:

Yes

Question 20:

Reference: Page 87, Sub-Factor 2, Experience, Will the government accept experience not directly supporting SOUTHCOM as acceptable?

Answer 20:

Yes

Question 21:

Reference: Page 87, Factor B, Past Performance, Will the government accept past performance not directly supporting SOUTHCOM as acceptable?

Answer 21:

Yes

Question 22:

Reference: DD254 Block 14 and Block 15. The DD254 states “See SCI Addendum” but the solicitation does not appear to include the referenced Addendum. Request government provide SCI Addendum or provide clarity on the reference.

Answer 22:

Please see revised DD-254.

Question 23:

Reference: Page 40, reference Attachment 2. Which deliverables (e.g. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)) are already in existence and only require updates and which deliverables need to be created from scratch?

Answer 23:

The contractor will need to uncover that information for all of SOUTHCOM.

Question 24:

Reference: Page 23, PWS paragraph 1.6.21.5 and 1.6.21.6. Will DNA, medical travel requirements and any similar requirements be reimbursable?

Answer 24:

No

Question 25:

Reference: Page 87, reference paragraph 5 and Factor A Sub-Factor 2. Given the nature of this solicitation and requirements (e.g. dedicated staff performing on government site), is it acceptable to use the experience of offered staff in the experience section response to Sub-Factor 2?

Answer 25:

No, but see amended solicitation for changes.

Question 26:

Reference: Who is the incumbent?

Answer 26:

Contractor: Celestar Corporation

Question 27:

Reference: What is the value of the current contract?

Answer 27:

$1,049,045.78

Question 28:

Reference: Page 29; Part 4, CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, 4.2 Secret Facility Clearance:

a. For a submitting contractor team, if the Prime does not have a Secret facility security clearance due to not being a prime contract-holder, will the Gov allow the Prime the required time period to gain the necessary security facility clearance from DSS, if the Prime is the awardee.

b. And as an addendum, will the Gov allow the team to use the Sub's TS facility security clearance to satisfy the security facility clearance requirements; in the interim?

Answer 28:

a. Yes; however, a prospective Prime Offeror that does not have a Facility Clearance (FCL) must be sponsored by the Government, who submits a request to clear the prospective Prime Offeror. Personnel from the Facility Clearance Branch at Defense Security Service (DSS) evaluate the request and assure that the request is valid. Part of this validation includes confirmation that the facility has a reputation for integrity and lawful conduct in its business dealings. Further, the contractor and its key managers must not be in a "barred" status from participating in Government contracts.

b. No

Question 29:

Reference: Page 29; Part 4, CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, 4.2 Secret Facility Clearance: For a submitting contractor team, if the Prime does not have a Secret facility security clearance due to not being a prime contract-holder, can the Sub's TS facility security clearance satisfy the security facility clearance requirements?

Answer 29:

No

Question 30:

Reference: Page 86, QUOTE SUBMISSION FORMAT

The “Quote Submission Format” states that the “quote shall consist of the following sequential volumes: Volume I

– Technical; Volume II – Price Schedule; Volume III – Past Performance.”

Immediately below in “b) Detailed Instructions on Preparation of Quote,” the outline is ordered as follows: Factor A Technical (Volume I) , Factor B Past Performance (Volume II) and Factor C, Price Schedule (Volume III).

Page 88 – Basis of Award states volumes are: Factor A, Technical (Volume I); Factor B, Past Performance (Volume II); Factor C, Price Schedule (Volume III).

Please confirm the organization of the volumes.

Answer 30:

Page 86 has been corrected. Page 88 is correct.

Question 31:

Reference: Page 86, QUOTE SUBMISSION FORMAT

The format instructions do not indicate page count allowed for any of the Factors.

What is the maximum page count allowed?

Answer 31:

There is no page limit; however, only the required information will be evaluated.

Question 32:

Reference: Page 1, SF1449

The instructions provide a time and location for proposal delivery.

Please confirm that the proposals are to be delivered electronically via e-mail to Mr. Axley or Mr. Mosley IAW RFQ “Note to Offerors” (Page 10).

Answer 32:

The language has been changed to reflect proposal submittal using www.fbo.gov in lieu of email.

Question 33:

Reference: Page 87, SUBFACTOR I, PERSONNEL

The instructions state that we must submit at least one of the following: A copy of two professional research papers written in English or a copy of a published product.

What is the maximum page count allowed for these products?

Answer 33:

There is no maximum page count.

Question 34:

Reference: Page 87, FACTOR B, PAST PERFORMANCE

The offeror shall provide a list of any relevant contract(s) and subcontract(s) held within the last five years which are similar to that which is detailed in this solicitation.

What is the minimum and maximum numbers of contracts/subcontracts that are required?

Answer 34:

There is no minimum or maximum.

Question 35:

Reference: Page 87, SUBFACTOR 2, Experience

The instructions require contract listing for relevant experience.

What is the minimum and maximum number of contracts/subcontracts requested?

Answer 35:

There is no minimum or maximum.

Question 36:

Reference: Page 86, QUOTE SUBMISSION FORMAT

The instructions state that offerors must submit two separate quotes- one providing all corporate data and the other redacting all corporate/personnel information

Assuming that quotes are being submitted electronically, how would the government like to receive the two separate quotes? Is labelling sufficient?

Answer 36:

The solicitation has been amended to remove the requirement for submitting two separate quotes.

Question 37:

Reference: Page 86, QUOTE SUBMISSION FORMAT

The instructions for Factor A, Technical (Volume I) – Sub-Factor 1, Personnel, a. Knowledge Management Specialist(s): 1.Education Transcripts and b. Historian(s): 1. Education Transcripts http://www.fbo.gov/

Are actual transcripts from educational institutions required or just degree certificates required?

Answer 37:

Yes, Official Transcripts are required; however, Unofficial Transcripts will be accepted until an Official Transcript is received and submitted to the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) no later than 6 weeks after contract award.

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Question 38:

Reference: Pages 87 and 88, QUOTE SUBMISSION FORMAT

The instructions for Factor B, Past Performance (Volume II): Past Performance Contracts, k) A detail synopsis of relevant performance, segregated by areas, which occurred under each contract not to exceed one page in length.

Is the one (1) page in length limit specific to each area or the entire synopsis?

Answer 38:

The page length verbiage has been deleted.