Answer_to_Questions_02.docx

Answer to Questions 02

1. Please confirm that this contract is firm-fixed-price, not firm-fixed-price level-of-effort.

· This is a Firm-Fixed-Price contract. This is not a Firm-Fixed-Price Level-of-Effort contract.

2. Will the Government sponsor a company that does not currently have secret clearance?

· No.

3. Since the due date has been extended to September 6, 2018, I the expected start date still September 17 as stated in the response to question 5?

· The expected award date is 17 September 2018.

4. As this is a new requirement with no incumbent personnel and no phase-in, will there be time allotted for the successful offeror to hire the necessary personnel between Notice of Contract Award and Notice to Proceed?

· The expected award date is 17 September 2018. The expected Period of Performance is 01 October 2018 – 30 September 2019 for the base year. This will allow two additional weeks for the successful contractor to hire qualified personnel.

5. The answers to questions 2 and 3 for the previously posted Answers to Questions state that Past Performance is required. As no Instructions to Offerors were released, please clarify what information the government requires for Past Performance submittal.

· Instructions to Offerors are referenced in the solicitation. Please thoroughly read the solicitation and reference the provisions listed in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). The FAR can be found here: http://farsite.hill.af.mil/

· For more assistance with understanding the FAR and its function, please visit this website: https://wakizashi.www.sba.gov/contracting/contracting-officials/federal-acquisition-regulations-far .

6. According to FAR 52.212-1,(b) Submission of offers, subparagraph (10), Past Performance information is required if it is part of the evaluation criteria. As the evaluation criteria listed in the FBO posting does not contain information on how Past Performance will be evaluated, please explain how Past Performance will be evaluated so offerors can make sure the information provided is technically acceptable.

· Past Performance will be used as an evaluation factor to ensure the contractor is technically capable of providing the work. All vendors that are determined to be technically acceptable will then be evaluated based on the lowest price technically acceptable. The award will go to the contractor who is technically acceptable and the lowest price technically acceptable.

· For further details, please reference FAR 12.206 – Use of Past Performance.

7. Will the Government confirm that if a company doesn't have a relevant past performance, they can be evaluated natural/acceptable?

· If a company does not have relevant past performance, they will not be automatically excluded from consideration. However, they should provide past performance on other successful contracts if possible. Past performance does not need to be with the Government on a federal level. Past performance can be through State Government or the Private Sector.

· If there is no past performance of any kind, please submit a signed memorandum for record (MFR) stating that there is no past performance of any kind available, and describing how your company will be demonstrating their capability to complete the requirement.

8. The statement listed in the FBO posting regarding the evaluation of submittals states that this will be LPTA and that the “technical evaluation will be a determination based on information furnished by the vendor in the submitted quotes. The Government is not responsible for locating or securing any information which is not identified in the offer.” However, no specific instructions have been posted to direct offerors as to what information to provide. Please provide specific instructions as to what is to be submitted and how that information will be evaluated.

· Please see the answers to questions 6 and 7.

9. Reference Q&A #26. The answer to this question states “the awardee will invoice based on actual hours performed”. Is the Government stating that the awardee will only be paid for productive hours – thereby excluding the pay that covers vacation, holiday and sick leave as shown in the incorporated wage determination?

· Please see answer to question 11.

10. Reference Q&A #30 and A02 Bid Schedule. The answer to #30 states that the annual total hours is 2080. If we use that as our starting point and deduct 80 hours for vacation, 80 hours for holidays and 56 hours for sick leave (IAW EO 13706), we end up with 1864 hours rather than the 1880 per person shown in the revised Bid Schedule. Please clarify how the 1880 hours was derived.

· The Government concurs and the bid schedule has been adjusted to reflect the 1864 hours.

11. Additionally, where/how is the contractor reimbursed for the fully loaded vacation, holiday and sick leave pay that the employees are due in accordance with the Wage Determination?

· Vacation, Federal Holidays, and Sick time are the responsibility of the Contractor. The Government is not responsible for payment of these legal requirements.

· These and all other business cost are the responsibility of the contractor.

12. As the Contractor is not required to provide safety gear for personnel, please confirm that the Government will provide all necessary personal protective equipment (PPE).

· Yes.

13. Answers to Questions #28, and #30: The answers to #28 and #30 do not appear to be in concert. The answer to #28 reads: "The five positions will report during the normal working hours stated in the performance work statement, part 7.0." An analysis of PWS Part 7.0 would indicate there are 2000 work hours in a year (2080 hours - (10 holidays * 8 hours = 80 holiday hours)). In order for five personnel to be on-site during Normal Work Hours, the contractor must provide additional manpower to backfill during absence of personnel who are absent or on leave (vacation/sick/bereavement/etc.), so please clarify why we are to price an hourly rate for 1880 hours when according to question #28 there are actually 2000 hours to be covered annually.

· The Service Contract Act requires 10 days for Vacation, 10 days for Federal Holidays, and 7 days for sick. Please reference the wage determination.

14. Bid Schedule: The number of hours has changed, but the description has not. Please confirm that is the Government's intention.

· Yes.

The Q&A period is now closed. Thank you for your interest in this requirement!