DDE 2nd Yr (2) 24-29 Questions and Answers.docx

Questions:

Q1: Can I submit: ONE Copy Volume 1; ONE Copy Volume 2 with 3-4 resumes; and ONE Copy Volume 3 with One Sheet One Contractor and Second Sheet Two Contractor prices.

OR THREE Separated EMAILS/VOLUMES

A1: We need one email per position. Any resumes that are on one email will be considered part of a “team”.

Q2: Paragraph 1.9, Post Award Conference – May these meetings be attended virtually?

A2: YES

Q3: Paragraph 1.23, Required Training; A. Paragraph 1.23.4.1, Information Assurance (IA) Training. What does this training entail besides registering for ATCTS?

A3: PWS amended, please see blue highlights in para 1.23.4 and in Deliverable 6.

Q4: Where does an FI register for ATCTS? Understanding the requirement better by seeing the website will help to gauge the amount of time this will take to complete.

A4: After the contractor is issued their CAC, they will be able to use the link below to register for their ATCTS account. Should only take a few minutes to fill out the request. There is help on the ATCTS page. https://atcts.army.mil/iastar/registration.php (added to PWS, blue highlights)

Q5: Paragraph 1.23.4.2, IA Website – Anti-terrorism Level 1 Training (1.23.1) and OPSEC Training (1.23.3) have website training associated with each. Is there an equivalent website training for IA?

A5: https://public.cyber.mil/training/cyber-awareness-challenge/ is acceptable to individuals who do not have a CAC card, otherwise the Army’s official site is required to be used.

Q6: Paragraph 1.23.7, Additional Training Requirements – Does “not to exceed 10 hours” imply for the life of the contract or for each contract year?

A6: For the life of the contract. PWS updated and highlighted.

Q7: Paragraph 4.2, Equipment – Where does an FI find the list and location to download the “… necessary root certificates and or other software as defined or mandated ….”? Understanding the requirement better by seeing the website will help to gauge the amount of time this will take to complete.

A7: This information will be provided after award. This is a 5-15 minute task at most.

Q8: Paragraph 5.2.2.3, Formative Assessment. How much time does SYS expect it takes to complete a typical formative assessment?

A8: This is not the decision of the Government- the Contractor must make that determination for themselves.

Q9: Which courses have assessments?

A9: Per PWS, Core Courses and Second Resident Course have assessments.

Q10: How many assessments are anticipated per course?

A10: Each core course has 3 evaluated events-two forum/exercises and a paper. In total, over four core courses they have 8 forums/exercises and 4 essays. In SRC, they have the one graded exercise. (This is subject to slight changes as needs of the government Change. Major changes will be done via modification.)

Q11: Paragraph 5.2.3.1 Exercises – Experience shows that such events take far more time than the Training CLIN allows, but the nature and extent of these exercises are not known during the bidding process, so may not be properly compensated in the Forum or other CLINs. Where is time spent training for large events like the Joint Overmatch exercise accounted for?

A11: Accounted for in training CLIN that goes with SRC. 8 hr. and 4 hr.

Q12: What exercises are anticipated during the term of this contract, and the amount of time anticipated in training and conducting each exercise?

A12: In person exercises are anticipated for FRC and SRC. Online exercises are anticipated for other courses.

Q13: Paragraph 5.2.6, Advanced Study – Creating an advanced study course requires much work upfront and less when simply updating in subsequent years. If an advanced study course is not exercised in the base year, but is instead started during an option year, how does an instructor re-coup the time needed to build a course, when the option year CLIN was costed for updates only? We suggest two CLINs per year, either of which can be exercised as a government option.

One CLIN would be for advanced study course development and the other for updating the course.

A13: Can go with this ideal as long as we (government) can chose to exercise these options. Development CLIN as separate. Not attached to particular year.

Q14: Paragraph 5.2.7, Elective – Creating an online elective course requires much work upfront and less when simply updating. If an online elective course is not exercised in the base year, but is instead started during an option year, how does an instructor re-coup the time needed to build a course, when the option year CLIN was costed for updates only? We suggest two CLINs per year, either of which can be exercised as a government option. One CLIN would be for advanced study course development and the other for updating the course.

A14: Same answer as A13.

Q15: Paragraph 5.3, Service Contract Reporting – Since no service contract reporting is required, does that mean there are no reports required from the contractors to the CORs concerning their activities?

A15: That is correct.

Q16: PWS pages 36-61, Quantity [for all CLINs] – Each of the CLINs listed has a quantity double that of what is listed in QUOTE Template DDE 2nd Yr Instructors FY 24-20.xlsx. It looks as if the PWS requires two contracts to cover four seminars in order to bid. What is the correct quantity expected of each CLIN for an individual bid?

A16: Amended CLIN structure attached to solicitation. The Excel spreadsheet is correct.

Q17: Where can I find the ALT 1 (DEV) versions listed in the solicitation.

A17: https://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/class_deviations.html

Q18: Could you please specify the desired cadence of training sessions for this contract? Understanding the frequency and duration of training sessions will help us better plan and prepare our proposed training program.

A18: Please be advised that these are not traditional military trainings- these are classes in a fully credentialed program resulting in a masters degree. With exception to FRC (5.2.4) and SRC (5.2.5), all learning will be asynchronous, as the students are located around the world.

Q19: What is the anticipated number of students per training session for this contract? Clarifying the expected student capacity will allow us to determine the appropriate instructor-to-student ratio and ensure an optimal learning experience for participants.

A19: See PWS Part 5

Q20: Are there any specific certifications or qualifications that instructors must possess to be eligible for this contract? Knowing the required credentials will assist us in selecting qualified instructors who meet the contracting agency's standards and requirements.

A20: See Attachment 1 Key Personnel Qualifications

Q21: Will the curriculum for the training program be provided entirely by the contracting agency, or are vendors expected to develop their own curriculum? Understanding the extent of curriculum development required will enable us to allocate resources and expertise accordingly.

A21: See PWS Part 5

Q22: Is the training delivery limited to on-site instruction, or is virtual or hybrid delivery also permissible? Clarifying the preferred delivery mode will help us tailor our proposal to meet the contracting agency's logistical and operational needs.

A22: The majority of instruction will be virtual as a Distance Instructor. Only some events are on-site: FRC (5.2.4) and SRC (5.2.5)