Posted_Questions_and_Answers.docx

SOLICITATION W91QEX-17-R-0007-0001

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

7 July 2017

J3 Support Services Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH)

From Contractor 1:

Who is the incumbent contractor?

Government Response: W91QEX-16-P-0071- Bowhead Logistics Solutions, LLC. (Cage Code: 4NFX9) From Contractor 2:

Is the level of effort for this procurement less than, more than, or approximately the same as the incumbent contract?

Government Response: The level of effort for this procurement is slightly more than the incumbent contract.

From Contractor 3:

Could a team of more or less than the 17 Man Years as listed in Attachment 3 – Estimated Workload Data, still be considered as “technically unacceptable?” 17 Man Years is an estimated forecast only.

Government Response: No it will not be deemed technically unacceptable.

From Contractor 4:

Regarding PWS 1.6.11.1, it states that “the follow personnel are considered key personnel by the government: Senior Contract Program Manager (SCPM)/Alternate.” Other Sections of the RFP refer to all staff as Key Personnel. Can the Government clarify who it considers Key Personnel?

Government Response: Key Personnel is only considered as the Senior Contract Program Manager SCPM and the Alternate.

From Contractor 5:

Regarding PWS 1.6.7.3 Personnel Security Clearance Requirements, for an individual to be considered for a Top Secret, they will require and SSBI investigation. A NAC only is required for a secret clearance. Please specify if the individual is required to have secret issued through an SSBI?

Government Response: SSBI is only required for personnel that are allocated at the Top Secret Level

From Contractor 6:

Regarding Sub-factor 2 – Corporate Experience, if offerors present relevant corporate experience from key personnel and proposed subcontractors, but not from the prime contractor, can we still be considered “technically acceptable.”

Government Response: Yes, if Offerors present relevant corporate experience from key personnel and proposed subcontractors. The Offeror can still be considered “technically acceptable.”

From Contractor 7:

Regarding Attachment 3 Estimated Workload Data, it states the total annual hours as 1449. Can the Government confirm this workload data is for the 9-month Base Period only? If Base Period only, can the Government provide estimate Workload Data for the Option Periods?

Government Response: 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.

From Contractor 8:

Regarding Attachment 3 Estimated Workload Data, in some cases, it states multiple man years (such as 4 man years for Battlewatch Section), yet the Total Annual Hours remains 1449. Is it the Government’s requirement for a staff of 4 to divide the work across 1449 hours for the year (in the case of the Battlewatch Section)?

Government Response: The 1449 hours are based on a singular basis from the current contract historical data and labor categories which includes four personnel. Since this is performance based, it is at the Contractors discretion how many people they propose to perform these services. Dependent on the contractors proposed performance based number of positions that constitutes their Battle watch team.

From Contractor 9:

The DD 254 was not included in Attachment 4 with the RFP.

Government Response: The DD 254 has been attached with the Amendment in FBO.GOV

From Contractor 10:

Attachment 3 shows 1,449 total annual hours per man year.

We assume that the 1,449 is the pro-rated annual hours for the 9-month base period based on 1,920 hours per man

Government Response: See From Contractor 7.

From Contractor 11:

We recommend that the Government update Attachment 3 to include the total annual hours per man year for the four (4) option periods and instruct each Offeror to bid the annual hours per man year, thus enabling the Government to do an apples-to-apples comparison of total price.

Government Response: See From Contractor 7.

From Contractor 12:

CLIN 0001-Phase-In period this line item has no description or requirements listed in the RFP or PWS.

Government Response: See Section Paragraph 1.6.19.1 in PWS for description.

From Contractor 13:

1.6.11.3, IA/IT Training Certification This paragraph calls for specific certifications for those individuals supporting IA/IT. We recognize that all personnel will have an Information Assurance responsibility, and will leverage Information Technology. However, we understand that the certificate requirements are for individual with direct and primary IA/ IT support tasks. If this understanding is correct, please identify what positions in this RFP (and specifically Attachment 5) require these certifications

Government Response: IA/IT certification is required for all positions. This certification can be accomplished during the Phase in Period, but is required for access to government computers.

From Contractor 14:

1.6.14, Contractor Travel This section states the contractor shall not exceed $80K for Travel.

a. Is this dollar amount for one year or for the entire contract?

Government Response: No, The Government estimate is $41,000.00 for the Base YR and all Out Years is estimated at $80K.

b. So we can validate we will not exceed this dollar amount, please provide the details of locations and length of the 50 annual trips we will be required to take.

Government Response: Since this is Government Estimate the contractor should follow the instructions listed for the Travel CLIN(s) and changes to Paragraph 1.6.14 – Contractor Travel of the Revised PWS.

From Contractor 15:

RFP, Section L. A. - Proposal Submittal and Inquires the RFP does not define the method of delivery (Digital, Hard Copy, etc.) specific delivery instructions, or production requirements (i.e. number of Hard Copies and disks).

Please provide the details for the method of delivery and provide the details for hand-carrying delivery.

Government Response: Offeror responses should be submitted electronically through FBO.GOV.

From Contractor 16:

RFP, Section L, Factor B, Past Performance This section does not prescribe or limit the number of Past Performance references by Primary or Subcontractor.

We understand that the limit on citations is only constrained by the 25 page limit and that the Prime offeror can determine the break down between Prime and Subcontractor Past Performance references.

Government Response: Page limit has been removed. The contractor can submit Prime and Subcontractor Past Performance reference data.

From Contractor 17:

PWS Section 1.6.11 (Key Personnel) This section states that the “following key personnel are designated as key…” and only lists the Senior Contract Program Manager and Alternate. However, attachment 5 and Table 1 (section 1.6.12) list all personnel as Key.

Which is correct?

Government Response: See From Contractor 4.

From Contractor 18:

Subfactor 1 Personnel Qualifications and Experience and section L, Sub paragraph B, General Instruction. We strongly recommend the number of resumes required be changes to reflect a sampling of the workforce by task area (i.e. a single PM, Battlewatch, and Regional Fusion, and DRSS resume). This reduces the potential for excessive turnover.

Government Response: See Revised Section L and M of the RFP for changes.

From Contractor 19:

Section 1.6.7.4 Background Checks This section states: The Contractor shall ensure contractor employees and subcontractor employees performing services under this contract have passed a security check conducted by the Host Nation Police Department of their residence or the State Police Department of their U.S. residence.

Please confirm, if personnel hold security clearances and contractor conducts a local and national background check upon hire, there are no additional background checks required.

Government Response: The Government performs its own background check before any personnel enters a military installation.

From Contractor 20:

Section 1.6.11.2 and Section L Technical Proposal Sub-factor 1. This section states: All contractor personnel shall meet the education and certification standards as identified in para 1.6.12, Table 1. A copy of their Professional Certifications, degree, and/or transcripts shall be submitted to the COR during the Evaluation Phase of the acquisition process and be maintained for life of contract.

Question: The National Student Clearing house is used by thousands of the nation's largest employers, recruiters and background search firms to perform secure, online academic verifications. Please confirm if the contractor performs education verification through the National Student Clearinghouse and provides written confirmation this will meet the Government’s requirement stated in 1.6.11.2 and Section L Technical Proposal Sub-factor 1.

Government Response: If contractor prefers to utilize The National Student Clearing house and provide documentation as a means of validating meeting requirement this would be acceptable to go alongside the resume. If this is not feasible, requirement is simply a copy of their professional certifications, degree, and/or unofficial transcripts.

From Contractor 21:

Requires Certificate of completion for one or all of the following classes or courses: MS WORD, EXCEL and/or POWERPOINT Question: Not everyone has received formal training but can be very proficient with these software programs and we would not want to rule out highly qualified candidates. Therefore, due to the short turn around on this RFP, will the government allow personnel to take these courses after contract award during Phase One?

Government Response: Completing during Phase in Period is acceptable. This requirement is not for a formal Microsoft based training certification, but simply a continuous learning/proficiency level.

From Contractor 22:

Section 1.6.7.3, attachment 5, and sections L/M- Clearance requirements. Section 1.6.7.3, attachment 5, and sections L/M conflict on security clearance requirements.

We recommend each section be revised to require designated Secret Clearance positions be in place within 30 days of hire, and all TS Clearances be in place before hire.

Government Response: See Changes per Paragraph 1.6.7.3 Personnel Security Clearance Requirements, Section L/M, and Attachment 5.

From Contractor 23:

There are numerous discrepancies between PWS requirements and those listed in Attachment 5.

We recommend the government review and ensure consistency across the document.

Government Response: Changes have been made to PWS and Attachment 5.

From Contractor 24:

In Attachment 5, the Government requires the AT/FP specialist to “have past completion through Defense Critical Infrastructure Program (DCIP (Risk Assessment/Risk Response/Critical Asset Identification Process) with ability to maintain currency.” Is “past completion” referring to a specific course or program of instruction preferred by the Government? If so, will the Government clarify the course or program of instruction to which it is referring?

Government Response:

Defense Critical Infrastructure Program (DCIP) Course is to provide a basic understanding of the DCIP and how it supports the execution of the National Security Strategy. This course provides an overview of; Program Strategy; Policy and Guidance Documents; Key Definitions & Concepts; DCIP Organization; Roles of DCIP Components; DCIP Risk Management Process; Risk Management Model; Risk Assessment; Risk Formula; Criticality Analysis (CAIP) Process; TCA & DCA Characteristics; TCA Dependencies & Interdependencies; Threat Assessment (ID Threat/Hazards; Enhanced Threat & Hazard Assessment (ETHA)); the Risk Management Decisions; Monitoring & Reporting Process; and lastly, what are the roles and responsibilities for leadership.

Specific Courses are as follows:

Defense Critical Infrastructure Program (DCIP) Risk Assessment Course; the purpose of this course is to provide an overview of the Defense Critical Infrastructure Program (DCIP) and processes, and focuses on Risk Assessment.

Defense Critical Infrastructure Program (DCIP) Risk Response Course; the purpose of this course is to provide an overview of the Defense Critical Infrastructure Program (DCIP) and processes, and focuses on Risk Response.

Defense Critical Infrastructure Program (DCIP) Critical Asset Identification Process Course; the purpose of this course is to provide an overview of the Defense Critical Infrastructure Program (DCIP) and processes, and focuses on the Critical Asset Identification Process.

From Contractor 25: In reviewing RFP 5.3, offeror found no specific tasks for the AT/FP specialist related to DCIP. Would the Government clarify the AT/FP specialist’s DCIP-related tasks?

Section C.5.3 (Page 32

Government Response: 5.3 is correct as stated. DCIP provides the foundation behind task identified particularly regarding Risk Assessment, Risk Response, and Critical Asset Identification Process.

From Contractor 26: In RFP 5.7, the Government refers to the “Program Support Manager” as the labor category with responsibility for logistics support. However, in RFP 1.4 and 5.0, this position is referred to as the “Property Support Manager.” In attachment 3, this position is also referred to as the “Program Property Manager.” What is the Government’s preferred title for this labor category?

Section C.5.7 (Page 35)

Government Response: Program Support Manager is the preferred title.

From Contractor 27: Are the Microsoft coursework certificates and the education transcripts within the page limit for Volume II?

Section L.D, Sub-factor 1 (Page 94)

Government Response: Yes.

From Contractor 28:

Should Sections 1 and 2 be submitted for each citation as one Reference?

Past Performance (Pages 95-96)

Government Response: At discretion of contractor.

From Contractor 29:

Should the proposal be submitted in a paper or electronic format?

No page reference

Government Response: See From Contractor 15.