RFI Responses 10Feb.pdf

1. Request the Government review the standards of 5.2.1 Weekend/Solemn Holy Day Mass. Currently, the PWS (consistent with current Chapel schedule) requires three weekend services, however only 24 events are provided over the course of the year’s performance. In calculating three weekend services over 52 weeks, there are actually 156 units/234 hours each year for Sunday Mass. Additionally, Holy Days of Obligation for Catholics (8 throughout the year) must also be factored (8 units/12 hours). Please note associated Technical Exhibit 3, Estimated Workload Schedule, Item 2.

Gov Response : PWS and associated standards will remain as is. Offerors should understand the contract is for part time support to supplement an Army Chaplain. The contracted Priest will only cover part of the communities’ needs during the period of performance. This is why the number of units are set below number of total events

2. Request the Government review the standards of 5.2.4 Confession (and associated Technical Exhibit 3, Estimated Workload Schedule, Item 4). Currently, the Chapel offers a weekday and a weekend Confession schedule. Therefore, the 52 units/52 hours might be increased to 104 units/104 hours to support the soldiers, their families, and other personnel attending Mass during the week.

Gov Response: PWS and associated standards will remain as is. Offerors should understand the contract is for part time support to supplement an Army Chaplain. The contracted Priest will only cover part of the communities’ needs during the period of performance. This is why the number of units are set below number of total events

3. The solicitation 5.1.2 states “Contractor shall comply with the policies defined in the Minimum Requirements for the Pastoral Care of Catholic Personnel as published by Archdiocese of Military Services, USA”. These requirements are summarized as follows:

1. Core elements in the life of Catholic personnel that are required for a Catholic Program.

1.1 Catholic priests with the endorsement and/or faculties of the Archdiocese for the Military Services to serve Catholic personnel are to ensure implementation and support of these elements in the interest of the Free Exercise of Religion.

1.1.1 Sunday, Holy Day, and daily Mass.

1.1.2 Comprehensive Religious Education and Sacramental

preparation, with an emphasis on youth character formation, individual moral development, and military family cohesion and readiness.

1.1.3 Comprehensive Sacramental Ministry. This includes the

sacraments of baptism, penance, First Communion, confirmation, anointing of the sick, and matrimony.

1.1.4 Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).

1.1.5 Young Adult Ministry focused on spiritual readiness for active duty (18–29 years of age).

1.1.6. Spiritual Enrichment programs (e.g., faith formation

retreats, Life Teen, Troops Encounter Christ, marriage enrichment, etc.).

1.1.7. Pastoral Counseling

Please note that the PWS Specific Tasks/Technical Exhibit 3 include only one of these Core elements (1.1.1), pertaining to the celebration of the Sunday and daily Mass. Request Government include, at a minimum, responsibilities for Sacramentals Ministry 1.1.3 in the Specific Tasks, and all other required functions for the AMS requirement for a Catholic program (i.e., 1.1.2; 1.1.4, 1.1.5) that are assigned to the priest. Additionally, within that Pastoral Care guidance, it is presumed that the Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE) will handle tasks specific to 1.1.2 and 1.1.4 while the senior Catholic Chaplain assigned to Fort Belvoir will serve as the Director of Religious Education (DRE). See below:

7.1. The Director of Religious Education (DRE) is the priest. He has the vested responsibility as pastor of souls to provide catechesis within his area of responsibility (cc. 773 and 776).

This responsibility flows from his bishop (the Military Ordinary) who is the teaching authority within his territory (c. 753).

Gov Response: The contract is only for the services requested. The remaining elements of the “Minimum Requirements for the Pastoral Care of Catholic Personnel as published by Archdiocese of Military Services, USA” are provided by an active-duty chaplain and Director of Religious education.

4. Price Submission L.3.2 requires a burdened hourly rate. However, the price schedule is a FFP contract with monthly pricing, rather than a labor hour contract. If, as the sole practitioner of an LLC, the Contractor performs all functions contained in the contract, shouldn’t the labor hour rate be based upon the FFP annualized price and hours projected in complying with contractual performance requirements?

Gov Response: Contract is written so that the contractor can bill by unit of service. This is done since units will not be evenly distributed during the period of performance. Bids should be based on price per service.

5. PWS 1.5 Period of Performance suggests a January 2026 start date, while the Solicitation indicates a March 2026 start date. Please confirm that the POP begins in March

Gov Response: Confirming March PoP start date.