Questions & Answers to draftRFP FA8900-09-R-0002

Additional Questions/Answers - - draft' Request For Proposal (RFP) FA8900-09-R-0002 Q. 1. Will the government provide additional Labor Categories for specialized positions (i.e. cardiologist, neurologist)? ANSWER #1: The two labor categories you cite have been included in the list of Labor Categories. Yes, we added in cardiologist and neurologist. Q. 2. Will the government provide subcategory breakouts (i.e., Senior, Journeyman, Junior) within appropriate labor categories? ANSWER #2: No. We have levels I, II up to IV in some cases. Further subdivisions are not anticipated. Q. 3. (a) "Will the government provide specific mandatory certification, experience and/or current requirements for labor categories?" Current in this case refers to how current does an individual's experience have to be in order to qualify for the position. Let's take a "Pulmonologist" or Physician III as an example. (b) Will the government require relevant experience within the last 3 years, or can a Doctor (still licensed) have been retired for the last ten years, but still be bid in response to a task order? ANSWER #3: (a) All labor categories include descriptions and required certifications. Additional certifications are specified at the task order level. (b) For past performance criteria the government will require relevant experience for the past three (3) years at the basic award level as well as at the task order level. (see Volume III, Past Performance 5.0 through 5.7 of Section L and Factor 3.0, Factor 2, entitled Past Performance of Section M. Q. 4. Will you consider a formal SBA approved joint venture between and 8(a) company and other companies a valid entity to bid for this solicitation? ANSWER #4: Yes, SBA must approve joint venture prior to award of any contract. Q. 5. Will you consider an informal joint venture between and 8(a) company and other companies a valid entity to bid for this solicitation? ANSWER #5: Yes, Title 13, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 125, Section 125.6, paragraph (h)(i), (13CFR 125.6(h)(i)) allows for the cooperative efforts of joint venture (formal or informal) in meeting the requirements of FAR 52.219-14. An informal joint venture would be the typical prime-subcontractor relationship which has a teaming agreement between the two submitted with the proposal. At a minimum, the teaming agreement shall include: official names of parties to the joint venture and their respective signatures; statement as to whether the joint venture is formal or informal; purpose of the agreement; and the effective dates/performance period for the agreement. The prime may only utilize their first tier small business subcontractors to help them met the requirements of FAR 52.219-.14. Q. 6. As this is a 8(a) set aside competitive solicitation, would you please verify that the 8(a) firm or formal SBA approved 8(a) joint venture will be required to perform at least 51% of the work? ANSWER #6: FAR 52.219.14, Limitations of Subcontracting, states that under a Services contract, at least 50% of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the concern. Title 13, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 125, Section 125.6, paragraph (h)(i),(13CFR 125.6(h)(i)) allows for the cooperative efforts of joint venture (formal or informal) in meeting the requirements of FAR 52.219-14. An informal joint venture would be the typical prime-subcontractor relationship which has a teaming agreement between the two submitted with the proposal. At a minimum, the teaming agreement shall include: official names of parties to the joint venture and their respective signatures; statement as to whether the joint venture is formal or informal; purpose of the agreement; and the effective dates/performance period for the agreement. The prime may only utilize their first tier small business subcontractors to help them met the requirements of FAR 52.219-.14. Q. 7. We recently were informed by the staff of the Aeronautical Systems Center that CAPS II at WPAFB will include the labor categories needed to support the 711th HPW. We have been told by AFRL that the 711th HPW A&AS solicitation covers a five year period of performance. Is the government's intent to only consider transition of the 711th A&AS work to CAPS II after the five year POP or could you switch to CAPS II in September 2011 when the contract support for the 711th A&AS work at Brooks transitions to WPAFB? What issues do you anticipate in program continuity created by having a team mate on the executing contract be aligned with a competing CAPS II team?. Would this not create a significant amount of non-productive firewalling so that what is occurring during execution of the 711th HPW A&AS contract doesn't leak across and create OCI issues for those bidding this same work under CAPS II? ANSWER #7: Our intent is to use the entire 5-year period of performance on these basic contracts. We cannot know what the people in charge will decide to do in 2011, nor do we have any insight into the CAPS II effort.