69--Answers to Questions from Industry

Provided below is a list of questions from industry and answers provided by the government. Please note that the Government shall not be held liable or accountable for answers to questions or direction given unless directed by the Contracting Officer through the RFP or RFP Amendments. Question 1 CLIN 0001, MOBILIZATION, for all four sites. Both Section F and the SOW state that the period of performance for the mobilization effort is one month, 1 Jan 2009 through 31 Jan 2009. However, each of CLINs 0002 through 0011 calls for 12 months of services to be supplied. Section F also shows the period of performance to include the month of January 2009. Should this quantity/period of performance be 11 months since mobilization occurs during January 2009? Should the Contract Start Date (CSD) then be identified as 1 February 2009? ANS. The period of performance for the Mobilization and the Contract will be revised in the final RFP. Question 2 CLIN 0005 and CLIN 0006 are for SWET and MAET training, respectively, at Camp Lejeune. However, no MAET facility or equipment is currently located at Camp Lejeune so only SWET training is presently being conducted there (CLIN 0005 structure). CLIN 0005 is the only CLIN that separately calls out and separately prices SWET training. CLIN 0006 is representative of the other three bases, which train both MAET and SWET requirements. Based on this structure, we assume that CLINs 0005 and 0006 are mutually exclusive. Is this assumption correct? If the Camp Lejeune MAET facility is not ready by 1 January 2009, will the Government exercise CLIN 0005 only for the period that the facility is not ready? How much notice will the Government provide when transitioning from CLIN 0005 to CLIN 0006? ANS. the CLIN will be revised in the final RFP. Question 3 CLIN 0011 calls for IPHABD Repairs and Refurbishment. This CLIN does not distinguish between sites. Is this CLIN intended to capture the repair and replacement costs for all contract sites? Is this CLIN intended to account for all costs associated with the IPHABDs; i.e., labor, supply support, and other direct costs? ANS. In the final RFP there will be additional CLINs to cover each site for IPHABD repair and refurbishment. CLIN is all inclusive. Question 4 CLIN 0014 calls for Sea Repair and Refurbishment. This CLIN does not distinguish between sites. Is this CLIN intended to capture the repair and replacement costs for all contract sites? Is this CLIN intended to account for all costs associated with Sea; i.e., labor, supply support, and other direct costs? ANS. Refer to answer on question 3. Question 5 CLINs 0015 through 0030 deal with the acquisition of MAET Reconfigurable Panels. The QUANTITY and UNIT identified in these CLINS are 1 and EACH respectively. Does 1 EACH identify one set of panels for the MAET or one individual panel? ANS. One set. CLIN 0030 identifies the UNIT as LOT, but the other panel-related CLINs identify the unit as EACH. Should the unit be EACH? If not, please explain LOT. ANS. The CLIN will be revised to read Each Question 6 CLIN 0032, TRAVEL. We assume this FFP CLIN is intended to fund the twice yearly Site Manager Conferences. Where will these conferences be held? ANS. At any of the four sites. Question 7 CLIN 0231, SURGE PERSONNEL, is the first occurrence of the requirement to price a Surge requirement. The UNIT for this CLIN is LOT. Does the Government require the capability to exercise surge personnel prior to Year 3 of this contract? Please explain LOT. Since this CLIN is not site specific, does the Government request a single contract surge rate or a rate by site? What is the difference between the Surge Personnel CLIN and the Over & Above requirement CLIN? ANS. In the final RFP, there will be no Surge Personnel CLIN. SECTION C Question 8 Section C.1, STATEMENT OF WORK, states, The Contractor shall furnish the necessary services, supplies, facilities, and materials . . . Since all of the efforts associated with this contract are conducted on Government-provided facilities, what facilities does the Government expect the contractor to supply? ANS. None Government provides facilities. SOW will be revised. SECTION F Question 9 Section F.1, CONTRACT PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE, does not indentify the CSD in Lot I. Since the mobilization period is identified as 1 Jan 31 Jan 2009, it is assumed that CSD is 1 February 2009. Is this correct? ANS. Refer to answer on Question 1. SECTION H Question 10 Section H.1, OVER AND ABOVE WORK REQUESTS, paragraph (a) states that this clause may only be used to support requirements that fall outside the total labor hours for one or more sites. Please clarify, what are the total labor hour requirements for each site? ANS. the paragraph will be revised to say, outside the operational hours in the final RFP. SECTION I Question 11 Clause 252.217-7001, SURGE OPTION, paragraph (a) (1) calls for an increase of supplies or services under the contract by no more than [ ] percent. Please identify the percent increase of supplies or services that the Government expects under the surge option clause. ANS. The Clause will be changed to 252.217-7001, para. (a)(2). SECTION L Question 12 Section L.1, ANTICIPATED AWARD DATE, identifies the anticipated award date as 1 January 2009. This date is also the mobilization start date. 1 January 2009 is also a federal holiday. Please clarify the expected contract award date. ANS. The contract award date will be identified in the final RFP. Question 13 Section L.5, TIME, DATE AND PLACE FOR RECEIPT OF SUBMITTALS, paragraph (a) indicates that final proposals will be due on 5 September 2008 at 1600 hrs EST. Is this the correct date and time for final proposal submittals? ANS. The due date for final proposals will be identified in the final RFP. Question 14 Section L.6.1, ORGANIZATION AND CONTENT, VOLUME I, FACTOR 1, states that the offeror shall provide resumes of key personnel as described in SOW Paragraph 3.4. The referenced SOW paragraph only implies that the Site Manager is the key employee. At the same time, Paragraph 3.4 references the qualification requirements of site personnel as delineated in Appendix C. However, Appendix C does not identify any key personnel. Please identify which employees are key personnel? ANS. All employees at each of the traininig sites are key personnel. See SOW para 3.4, and appendix C. See SOW parAns. 3.2.1. Question 15 Section L.6.1, ORGANIZATION AND CONTENT, VOLUME I, FACTOR 3: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, SUBFACTOR 3.2: SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION PLAN, establishes a requirement for the contractor to identify and document its commitment to small business organizations. This acquisition is identified as a small business set-aside. By definition, the prime contractor must perform at least 51% of the labor effort associated with the program. Is the government requesting a small business participation plan that quantifies small business participation beyond the efforts that will be accomplished by the prime contractor? ANS. this will be removed from Section L. Question 16 Section L.6.1, ORGANIZATION AND CONTENT, VOLUME I, FACTOR 4: PANEL REPLACEMENT PROGRAM, reference to SOW paragraph 3.6 should instead reference SOW paragraph 3.9. ANS. Will revise. Question 17 Section L.6.1, ORGANIZATION AND CONTENT, VOLUME III: PRICE, provides an example of how panel costs will be evaluated. The CLINs referenced in the example, CLINs 0108, 0109, and 0110, are incorrect. The example CLINs should be 0115, 0119, 0123, and 0127. ANS. Will revise. Question 18 Section L.11, LESS THAN FIVE PERCENT SMALL DISADVANTAGE BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTING GOAL. Is an SDB subcontracting goal associated with this acquisition? ANS. This will be removed from Section L. STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW) Question 19 Paragraph 1, SCOPE, the third paragraph, first sentence states: Additionally, the Contractor shall provide a source for optional panels for the MAET (configurations such as MV-22) and variations of the MAET (SVET) and shall adapt training to meet the requirements for training with those panels. What is meant by adapting training to meet the requirements with the new panels? PM will change to shall modify/adapt training and/or curricula as required to include additions/modifications/panels, etc. to the training device. Is the contractor required to make curriculum changes to the MAET course of instruction?Yes. Who is the USMC MAET curriculum approval authority? TECOM. Will the Government provide the contractor the government-approved MAET course of instruction with this RFP? No Question 20 Paragraph 1, SCOPE, in the first paragraph the initial period is identified as 1 January 2008 through 31 December 2008. Dates should be 2009. ANS. Will revise. Question 21 Paragraph 1.3.1, BASIC LOTS, identifies three contract options. Section F identifies four contract options. We assume the reference in paragraph 1.3.1 should be to four contract options. ANS. Four contract option years. Question 22 Paragraph 1.3.3, CONTINGENCY PLANS, and Paragraph 1.3.4, SURGE CAPABILITY. What is the contractual or performance difference between the two plans referenced in these paragraphs? Both paragraphs require the submittal of plans to handle doubling the number of courses for the two-day curriculAns. Paragraph 1.3.4 also references paragraph 3.9 for the definition of the surge period. This reference is incorrect. ANS. Paragraph 1.3.3 is an overall contingency plan in case of an emergency which will be delivered as a CDRL. Paragraph 1.3.4, Surge Capability, will be required on a case by case basis when the government actually experiences a surge of personnel. Reference of para. 3.9 will be corrected. Question 23 Section 2, APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS, there is no reference to the MAET Technical Data Package (TDP). What constitutes the MAET TDP and where is it located? When will it be provided to the bidders, as indicated in SOW Paragraphs 3.1.9 and 3.2.6. Also in Section 2, and in Appendix B of the SOW, reference is made to MCO 1510.25, Individual Training Standards for Marine Combat Water Survival Training (reference only). Does this document contain the Government-approved training performance requirements and associated curricula? When will this document be provided to the bidders? ANS. These paragraphs are being revised. Paragraph 2.2, NON-GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS, the two referenced documents were not included with the draft RFP package. When will these documents be provided to the bidders? ANS. Will post the two ITSs with the final RFP. Question 24 Paragraph 3.1.4.1, PRE-CSD MEETING, the 30-days-prior-to-CSD requirement to conduct this meeting does not align with the stated contract award date, mobilization date, or implied CSD. Please clarify when the Government expects to conduct the pre-CSD meeting? Ans. Will be clarified in the final RFP. Question 25 Paragraph 3.1.4.3, SITE MANAGERS/PROGRAM MANAGER REVIEW MEETINGS, where will these meetings be held? Ans. At all of the four training sites. Question 26 Paragraph 3.1.5.1, CONTRACTOR INSTALLED MODIFICATIONS. This paragraph states that it is within the scope of the contract for the contractor to install any and all COR/Government-approved modifications. As it is written, this is an unbounded requirement, as there are no identified limits of what systems or components this requirement applies to. For example, there may be costs for providing necessary skilled labor that exceeds the capabilities of the MAET on-site staff. There may be subcontractor or ODC costs. There is an inherent assumption that the installation of these modifications will not impact training; therefore, it is feasible that overtime will be needed in order to accomplish the installation. Please provide definitization of the requirement. ANS. The COR cannot make any changes to the contract, only the Contracting Officer. This para. Will be revised. No overtime will be allowed. Question 27 Paragraph 3.1.7.1, SUPPLY SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS, states that the contractor is not required to provide replacement items for GFE/GFM items associated with each training device. We assume that this statement is indirectly referencing Appendix D of the SOW. That is, the contractor is not responsible for replacing any of the items that are listed in Appendix D. Is this correct? ANS. That is correct. Question 28 Paragraph 3.1.7.3.1, REPLENISHMENT LIABILITY LIMITATION, there is no liability cost limit established in Section H. Please clarify. ANS. Clarification will be provided in the final RFP. Question 29 Paragraph 3.1.7.6, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. Can the contractor use base HAZMAT resources? ANS. Contractor shall not rely on government HAZMAT resources. Question 30 Paragraph 3.1.8.1, PROVISIONING, there are no training devices listed in the SOW. Please clarify. ANS. See para. 1.1 Question 31 Paragraph 3.1.9, TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION, there is no Technical Documentation (TD) listed in the respective appendices for the training devices. Please clarify what TD will be provided for each of the training devices and all its support equipment. ANS. See answer to question 23. Question 32 Paragraph 3.1.9.3, CLEANING, please clarify that the contractor is not responsible for maintaining the facility pools. There are no training system/device appendices provided in the SOW. Can the Government provide facility floor plans that identify the contractor spaces and what areas they are required to maintain? ANS. Government is in charge of pool maintenance. The PM will consider providing facility floor plans that identify the contractor spaces and what areas they are required to maintain. Question 33 Paragraph 3.1.9.11, CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, does this requirement include a continuous review of the MAET curriculum? ANS. Yes Question 34 Paragraph 3.2.1, TASK 1, states: The contractor shall provide the necessary personnel: to deliver appropriate SWET, MAET, SVET, IPHABD and SEA underwater egress training as well as surface water survival training . . .. Paragraph 1, SCOPE, second paragraph states: . . . the Contractor shall provide a program which focuses on the capability of training Marines who may or may not be strong swimmers in the same setting as strong swimmers without any remedial swim training. Paragraph 1 states that remedial swim training is not required, but Paragraph 3.2.1 states that surface water survival training is required. All surface water survival training courses entail some degree of remedial swim training. Please clarify to what extent the contractor is responsible for remedial/surface water survival training as part of this contract. ANS. This is egress-centric training. See para. 1 Scope. Question 35 Paragraph 3.2.1, TASK 1, we assume that the term MAET, as used in this draft RFP and SOW, is a generic term used to describe the USMC Modular Amphibious Egress Trainer (MAET) requirement and not the XXXXXX industry trademark that they have associated with their product. Subparagraph d. of 3.2.1 identifies a Certified OEM Level III Technician-MAET/SVET Maintenance & Operation. Neither the SOW nor the draft RFP provides any explanation of why an OEM-certified Level III Technician is required or what the professional qualifications of this individual are. Since XXXXXX is the incumbent, it is not reasonably to be expected that they will freely provide information clarifying what this certification entails, why it is unique, or how long and what it costs to certify personnel to operate the XXXXXX MAET training device. The MAET training device and associated control station are a run-of-the-mill gantry system with some routine cable system controls to lower and rotate the system in the water. Please clarify why the MAET operator must be OEM certified. If the position must be manned by an XXXXXX-certified technician, please identify the certification requirements and the length of time and costs required to certify personnel to meet the stated requirement. Subparagraph c and e of Paragraph 3.2.1 use the word trained relative to instructors and safety divers. We assume that trained refers to individuals who have experience and training in egress from submerged aircraft and submerged vehicles, and not to specific training or certification from XXXXXX. Is this correct? ANS. The PM will revise. Question 36 Paragraph 3.2.6. TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION/TRAINING MATERIALS, when will the Government make available copies of the MAET TDP and training materials? ANS. These documents will be made available with the final RFP. All will be provided on the NECO website on or around 8/18/2008. Question 37 Paragraph 3.3, COURSE CURRICULA, this paragraph states . . . The Government will furnish all approved curricula and materials including lesson plans, slides, films, and exams. The Contractor shall demonstrate a proven capacity to expand the training curriculum to include training in the MAET/SVET with full personnel equipment and gear. To what standards must the new or modified curricula material be developed? To the current standards per the PM. Is this development considered in scope of this contract? Yes. How many lessons or hours of deliver training are deemed in scope? Two-Day training, minimum 16 hours. Who is to provide the Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to evaluate the curricula changes? The Government. Question 38 Paragraph 3.6, MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS, states that the Government shall provide all the special tools for the MAET/SVET for all sites. Please provide a list of these tools. ANS. Will provide. Question 39 Paragraph 3.9, FUTURE PLANNED PANELS/MODULES REFURBISHMENT OF SYSTEM, will the Government provide specifications for the existing panels? Will the Government provide specifications for the new panels? (Note: Reference the earlier question associated with paragraph 3.3 and demonstrated capability to expand the training curriculum. The same question applies to the last sentence of paragraph 3.9.) ANS. The current system is a COTS system. Panels are also COTS. Question 40 Appendix C Personnel/Instructor Qualification for Egress/Dunker Training We assume that the term MAET, as used in this draft RFP and SOW, is a generic term used to describe the USMC Modular Amphibious Egress Trainer (MAET) requirement and not the XXXXXX industry trademark that they have associated with their product. Otherwise, the specificity of MAET OEM (XXXXXX) certifications and training in the Appendix C qualifications lends itself to limiting competition as it pertains to this acquisition. ANS. The PM will revise Appendix. Egress training is presently provided by a number of organizations other than XXXXXX. One of the largest underwater egress programs in the world is run by the US Navy (NOMI). This program is highly successful and has numerous personnel who are highly qualified MAET instructors, safety divers, EMTs, and system operators. The specificity of OEM-only certifications in this case XXXXXX, who is also the incumbent contractor in Appendix C would deem these more than qualified US Navy and civilian professionals as unacceptable to work on this program because they do not have the XXXXXX certification or experience. The following questions point to some specific qualifications questions: Paragraph 1. a.1)C)states that the Supervising Instructor must hold a valid certificate in Surface Water Survival. What organization(s) certify the Supervising Instructor as Surface Water Survival competent? What are the professional requirements for Surface Water Survival certification? Paragraph 1.a.1)D) states that the Supervising Instructor must hold a valid certificate in MAET/SVET instruction. What organization(s) certify the Supervising Instructor as MAET/SVET instruction competent? What are the professional requirements for MAET/SVET instruction certification? Paragraph 1.a.1E) states that the Supervising Instructor must have a minimum of 2 years experience in MAET Operations for passengers. Is this experience requirement limited to USMC MAET experience? Paragraphs 1.a.2, PRIMARY INSTRUCTOR and Paragraph 1.Ans.3, ASSISTANT/SECONDARY INSTRUCTOR, have similar certification and experience requirements. The questions above are also relevant to these positions. Paragraph 1.a.4) C), SAFETY DIVER, states that this individual must hold a valid certificate in MAET/SVET Safety Diving. What organization(s) certify the Safety Diver as MAET/SVET Safety Diving competent? What are the professional requirements for MAET/SVET Safety Diving certification? Paragraph 1.a.5) C) states that the Medical Staff must be trained and qualified and/or certified as a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician. Please clarify the differences between trained and qualified EMT and certified EMT? Paragraph 1.a.6) A) states that the Simulator Operator must hold a valid OEM Level III Technician certificate. Neither the SOW nor the draft RFP provides any explanation of why an OEM-certified Level III Technician is required or what the professional qualifications of this individual are. Since XXXXXX is the incumbent, it is not reasonably to be expected that they will freely provide information clarifying what this certification entails, why it is unique, or how long and what it costs to certify personnel to operate the XXXXXX MAET training device. The MAET training device and associated control station are a run-of-the-mill gantry system with some routine cable system controls to lower and rotate the system in the water. Please clarify why the MAET operator must be OEM certified. If the position must be manned by an XXXXXX-certified technician, please identify the certification requirements and the length of time and costs required to certify personnel to meet the stated requirement. ANS. The PM will revise the SOW in terms of level of training and certs required.