QA 1004.docx

Q&A

W91QF0-21-Q-1004

General Questions-1004 & 1006

1. Since the period of performance start date is listed as 14 July 2021 on page 67, will the winning instructor be assigned a SRC seminar to teach in 2021?

a. No, SRC in the base year will be for AY22.

2. Given the number of corrections, if Contracting issues a new PWS for these solicitations, would you please issue it with track changes clearly marked in the updated PWS to make it easier to see what was changed in context of the document?

a. Yes.

3. In solicitation Q-1006, paragraph 5.2 – Adds CLIN 0002 and subsequent CLINS X002, “Core Courses,” on page 28, but Q-1004 does not on its page 28, the latter in line with previous years’ solicitations. Both solicitations, however, include the text of 5.2 in their Core Course sections. This new CLIN, Core Courses, seems to rearrange admin tasks that previously were under the Writing and Forum CLINs, things like monitoring and advising students, entering evaluations, analyze course objectives, maintain professional currency, and participate in training sessions. This change is NOT reflected in the accompanying spreadsheets from Contracting, as there is no separate “Core Course” line for either solicitation. What is FYS’s intent?

a. In case of conflict, the solicitation rules. However, the spreadsheet has been corrected to match the solicitation.

4. Per para 6.0 – Will a single directory or other method be set up for reference by all faculty that includes all “Applicable Publications,” much like DDE had set up a single folder on Blackboard for links to all mandatory training?

a. No. Applicable publications will remain at different locations in Blackboard, the DDE homepage, etc. based on the publisher.

5. In the supplied CLIN spreadsheets, both solicitations include a line for CLINs “Develop Global and Regional Issues and Interests Course” (Part 1 of DE2304), however Q-1006 does not include this in the PWS, which throws off the CLIN numbering in the spreadsheets, and makes it seem like this CLIN needs to be bid. Essentially both solicitations supplied spreadsheets are identical, even though the solicitations are different.

a. CLIN template has been corrected.

6. Page 57 CLIN 3014 shows a quantity of 2 training events, but para 5.13 states that only the base year and option years 1 and 2 will have training events totaling 32 hours. Same problem on page 64, CLIN 4014. To confuse the situation further, on the supplied CLIN spreadsheets, CLINs X014, Faculty Training, show a quantity of four events in all the options years. To make matter worse Q-1004 states there are 48 hours for training in para 5.14 with its CLIN 4014, for example, on page 64 showing 2 training events. What should these read? This seems like a CLIN that should be standard across both solicitations.

a. CLIN template and solicitation have been corrected. It is 4 for base year, 2 for option years for both.

1004-only questions

1. Paragraphs 4.1.7 and 4.1.9 are nearly identical entries concerning training for technology in the classroom. Should para 4.1.7 instead be the Personnel Security Requirements” Information Assurance paragraph 4.1.8 as found in Q-1006? Is it true that the intent of FYS was that all of section 4.0 be identical in the two solicitations? Starting with para 4.1.7 the numbering and ordering seemed to have unnecessarily strayed from one another.

a. PWS corrected.

2. Is it FYS’s intent that the contractor executes both CLINs “Develop Global and Regional Issues and Interests Course” (Block 1 of DE2304) AND the CLIN “Course Development Regional Studies” (Block 2) in the same year, or will just one OR the other of these two CLINs be activated? NOTE: Both, along with the added PRP, graduate seminar, and elective CLINS will easily create a contract that covers more than one man-year of effort if all are activated. Creating two different CLIN numbering systems for each solicitation also makes tracking and bidding for both more difficult than it should be.

a. The determination of whether it will be necessary for the contractor to execute both CLINs “Develop Global and Regional Issues and Interests Course” (Block 1 of DE2304) AND the CLIN “Course Development Regional Studies” (Block 2) in the same year will be made at an unknown date based on input of the DE2304 course director.

b. CONTRACTING: All items labelled “At the option of the Government” can be used in any given year or not, depending on that year’s needs. In addition, under FAR Provision 52.204-22 ‘Alternative Line Item Proposal’, a vendor is allowed to propose an alternate CLIN structure.

3. Paragraph 5.8, DE2304 Global Issues (Part 1) – Will the first year an FI teaches the course be allowed to charge a higher development rate (as is done in Q-1004 para 5.11.5, Electives; Q-1006 para 5.10.5, Electives; and is also done in SYS Q-1005 para 6.7.5, Electives; and 6.6.5, Graduate Seminar), if this CLIN is not exercised in the base year? This is asked since all are CLINs developing a course in which much of the work is frontloaded and should have a different cost than maintaining actions found in the option years’ CLINs.

a. This is a Firm Fixed Price contract, the price of the CLINs will not be negotiated based upon use (or non-use) of another year.

4. Paragraph 5.9.2 (Q-1004) under regional studies – “The Contractor shall attend a faculty training session lasting up to three hours that is conducted by the Course Director for the Battlefield Staff Rides.” Is this a valid requirement levied by the DE2304 course director, or a misplaced paragraph?

a. This 3-hour training session is related to Battlefield Staff Rides and not DE2304. PWS has been corrected.

5. Paragraph 5.10 Graduate Seminar (and Q-1006 paragraph 5.9, Graduate Seminar) – Will the first year an FI teaches the course be allowed to charge a higher development rate (as is done in Q-1004 para 5.11.5, Electives; Q-1006 para 5.10.5, Electives; and is also done in SYS Q-1005 para 6.7.5, Electives; and 6.6.5, Graduate Seminar), if this CLIN is not exercised in the base year? This is asked since all are CLINs developing a course in which much of the work is frontloaded and should have a different cost than maintaining actions found in the option years’ CLINs.

a. This is a Firm Fixed Price contract, the price of the CLINs will not be negotiated based upon use (or non-use) of another year.

6. If, per paragraphs 5.13 Meetings and 5.14 Training, FIs will only be paid for attending meetings and training synchronously, if so scheduled, will all synchronously scheduled meetings and training have at least one alternate synchronous meeting to attend to fulfill this requirement? At the very least such meetings should be scheduled at least one week in advance to de-conflict schedules.

a. There will be no alternate synchronous meetings.

7. For paragraph 5.17, Additional Tasks – Since mandatory training is mandatory, shouldn’t there be a separate CLIN to cover this for about 15 hours total? This could be a government option CLIN like Training and Meetings, since not all hours may be used.

a. The requirement for 10 additional training hours is unlikely to be needed, but is there in case of unexpected mandatory training (such as the OPSEC training mandated by SECDEF). It has been implemented across the USAWC, and will not be given a separate CLIN.