W91QV120R0001_Q_A_(002).DOCX

1. Will the Government remove this requirement, since the PMP certification is not something typically acquired by marketing and visual information professionals and seems irrelevant to recruiting a strong team leader?

A: No. The senior analyst only, is required to have a PMP.

2. Will the Government allow the Senior Analyst to acquire the PMP certification following award?

A: Yes.

3. If the incumbent currently has a PMP certified Senior Analyst in the position, would the Government provide the hourly compensation rate?

A: No

4. What are the current web platforms in use today?

A: Web service language is HTML5, CSS. Microsoft IIS web services, no SQL back end DB.

5. Who is the incumbent contractor?

A: Creative Business Solutions, Inc.

6. Can this opportunity be extended?

A: No, proposals are due as stated in Block 9 of the SF 33 and posted information on FBO.

7. Page 31, Section C Part 3.1, GFI: Neither Part 3 or Part 4 specifically address contractor computer workstations. Will the Government supply computer workstations for contractor staff, or will these be supplied by the contractor?

A: Government will supply computer work stations.

8. Page 60, 52.219-4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns is unchecked. This opportunity is LPTA and 8a: please confirm there is no price evaluation preference being extended to 8a companies that are also HUBZone.

A: Confirmed, there is no preference being extended for HUBZone.

9. Page 49 Place of Performance and Page 21 1.6.5 Place of Performance: PoP is in the DC Metro area, which has a very high cost of living. The solicitation states that limited telework and temporary station assignments at other DC Metro locations are acceptable, indicating the Government understands that some job functions do not require face to face interaction. As a cost savings measure and to open the opportunity to more 8a vendors, will the Government change the Place of Performance requirement to allow offerors to propose some of the positions be remote employees outside DC Metro, with an appropriate rationale included in their proposals?

A: It is suggested that personnel should work no more than 50 miles outside of the DC metro area. Many personnel live in Maryland and south of the northern Virginia area (Woodbridge, Manassas, etc.) which have lower costs of living. Public transportation is abundant in both train, metro, and buses. Would consider 1-2 days of alternate worksite.

10. PWS, Description of Services: Does the government network hinder access to any social media or web development platforms where access is required in performance of the contract?

A: No

11. PWS, Description of Services: If the government network does prohibit access to social media platforms, will the contract staff have access to off-network internet? And, if so, will this be provided by the government or contractor?

A: The government network does not hinder access to social media or web development platforms required to perform the services stated in the contract.

12. Can you please confirm the incumbent is Creative Business Solutions?

A: Yes.

13. Or can you confirm there is an incumbent 8(a) contractor?

A: Yes.

14. Have there been any challenges or lessons learned the government can share?

A: No.

15. Performance Work Statement 5.2.7 Analytics: “The Senior Analyst, Marketing Specialists and Social Media Manager shall track, maintain and provide monthly comprehensive metrics to assess the effectiveness of communication plans and initiatives. Contractor will submit to the Functional Representative electronically monthly; 10 days following the preceding month.” Does the office currently maintain or require any third-party analytics software and/or expertise (e.g., Python, Tableau, R)?

A: No

16. Performance Work Statement 5.10.6. Web Developer: “Provides web development for WCT online presence, using current software and techniques to satisfy program brand and design objectives. Assess current technology used and make recommendations to ensure technology achieves program objectives. Provides programming expertise recommendations only, with respect to existing software and social media applications. Oversight support for systems programs with respect to access methods, access time, device allocation, validation, checks, organization, protection and security, documentation, guidelines and statistical reporting. All website hosting, and hosting support activities are conducted by outside military services, such as DMA (Defense Media Activities).” Does the contractor have to host the website? Or is the task strictly development and content management? What content management system is used to maintain the website?

A: The website is government hosted. No CMS is used. A standard method of updating the content on the site is done by creating or editing content using the file itself and a text editor

17. Performance Work Statement Section 1.6.7.5.3 “Contractor Personnel performing work under this contract will have a valid/active Public Trust (NACI) level of security required for the life of the contract…Work performance that requires access to sensitive communication security (COMSEC) information will require a final security clearance at the requisite level. The required security clearances and SCI access indoctrination, as specified, shall be submitted at time of proposal and shall be in force or submitted with no issues that would prevent the issuance of an interim clearance for all assigned personnel at contract start date. “Please verify with client if this project will be classified or unclassified.

A: Unclassified

18. FedBizOpps.Gov: “This is a competitive 8(a) set-aside. An award will be made based on a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) basis in accordance with FAR 15.101-2.” Given the nature of this work, complexity of scope, and impact to our nation’s Soldiers, would the government consider best value?

A: No, this will remain LPTA.

19. 1.6.7.5.2 “Perform operations on, have access to, or handle data and information that contain sensitive, proprietary, or Privacy Act information or data. The Contractor shall handle sensitive information in accordance with the provided DD Form 254, Department of Defense Contract Security Classification Specification.” No DD FORM 254 is provided with solicitation. Will you be providing this form? If the 8a prime contractor has a subcontractor to sponsor their facility clearance, will this be acceptable?

A: No DD254 is required – no facility clearance is required.

20. Would you mind clarifying section 1.6.7.5.3? The section states “The required security clearances and SCI access indoctrination, as specified, shall be submitted at time of proposal and shall be in force or submitted with no issues that would prevent the issuance of an interim clearance for all assigned personnel at contract start date.” Is the government requiring that we submit information from JPAS to show that all FTEs already have a security clearances and SCI access indoctrination at the time of proposal submission? If so, would the government accept a memo on a company’s letter head that include the level of clearance, adjudication date, etc…?

A: Only NACI is required

21. Is SCI access indoctrination still required even though the PWS stated that a NACI is needed?

A: No, only a NACI is required.

22. SF 33 is a PDF form. Government stated to submit Volumes I & II in MS Word. Please clarify if Offerors are allowed to take a screen capture of SF 33 and insert into Volume I.

A: Yes.

23. Price Volume: Government stated to submit Price in MS Excel. Does the Government require Offeror to complete Section B using the Solicitation? If yes, what is the required format since Section B is currently in PDF? Do you want Offeror to recreate Section B in Excel?

A: Section B is required to be filled in and does not need to be recreated in Excel. The Excel is to outline the labor categories with their respective hourly rates.

24. Volume II: Please clarify if the 9 page limit excludes Cover Page, Table of Contents, Cover Letter?

A: Yes.

25. Part 3/ Page 31: Please clarify if Government furnished “office machines” will include computers for proposed staff.

A: Yes

26. Lead Writer Writing Sample/Page 75: The Government stated the writing sample “must include the name of the writer in the byline.” It is common practice not to have a writer’s name in the byline, especially on Government websites. Will the Government allow the proposed Lead Writer to sign a statement that he or she was the writer of the article if we do not have a sample with a byline?

A: Yes

27. Section M - Evaluation Factors - Resumes Graphic Designer (CLIN 0003): The evaluation factor states that the candidate will be "Knowledgeable of applicable industry and government standards, with appropriate certifications that demonstrate graphic design skills are on par with current standards." Web and software development are not skills typically held by or required of a Graphic Designer. Is this mandatory for this position? Would you consider removing this requirement, considering Web Developer would have these skills?

A: Yes

28. Senior Analyst (CLIN 0006): The evaluation factor states that the candidate will have "...demonstrated knowledge of Department of Defense communication standards, government statutes and regulations." If the proposed candidate has demonstrated knowledge of government standards/statutes/regulations—not specific to DOD—will this fulfill the requirement as long as the Prime Contractor has the DOD-specific knowledge?

A: No.

29. Web Developer (CLIN 0007): To clarify the skillset of this role: Are there specific front-end coding languages the Developer should know such as Node.JS or Angular? Are there specific large scale databases the developer should know, such as Oracle 12c, MySQL, Microsoft SQL, PostgreSQL or MongoDB? Are there specific software applications you're currently using that the Developer should know?

A: Web service language is HTML5, CSS. Microsoft IIS web services, no SQL back end DB.

30. If we submit as a prime and subcontractor, would past performance from a subcontractor be considered as part of the prime contractor’s submission? Or would all past performance have to come from the prime contractor? Past performance information is not a requirement or evaluation factor.

31. Whether companies from Outside USA can apply for this? (like, from India or Canada) No, please reference clauses concerning System for Award Management and Offeror Representations and Certifications.

32. Whether we need to come over there for meetings? No, please reference the Performance Work Statement.

33. Can we perform the tasks (related to RFP) outside USA? (like, from India or Canada) No, please reference the Performance Work Statement.

34. Can we submit the proposals via email? Yes, please reference Block 9 and Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 of the SF33 and posted information on FBO.

35. Is there an incumbent? If so, what is the contract number? W91QV117C0017