R -- Technical Security System Program Administrative Support Services

The purpose of this amendment is to post questions and answers to Solicitation No. S-AQMPD-05-R-1006 as follows: Questions and Answers: 1. P. 4, - Estimated hours are for proposal evaluation only How will number of hours estimated be evaluated? This is not laid out in Section M. The estimated hours are evaluated by based upon price/cost which is listed in Section M, M.6 on page 66. 2. P.12, Task 1.4 references Services Level Agreements, but SLA's are not required as part of the proposal. Can this disparity be reconciled? No, it is as stated in the RFP. 3. P. 19: Task 2.9 Please scope the approximate number of databases in use, the number anticipated to be needed, etc. for this task. Also, please scope the approximate size and complexity of the databases currently in use. There are a dozen or so small MS Access databases to support administrative functions. There is also a content management system in place to support web updates. 4. In Section L.7.2, "Proposal Guidelines," the RFP lists "Handling Anticipated Changes in Workload Volume" as one of the items to include in the Management Approach. Section M.7 lists - unanticipated changes" under "Adequacy of Management Plan." Please clarify whether it is anticipated or unanticipated changes in workload. There is always a possibility of workload changes as the organization adjusts to meet desired outcomes. A dramatic change is not anticipated. 5. Section L.7.2 requests three past performance contracts. Will the Government clarify whether that is three each for the prime contractor and each proposed subcontractor or whether it is three total? Three (3) for each prime and sub. 6. Will the Government consider excluding Past Performance from the 75-page technical proposal limit? Actually, the Past Performance should be included within the 75-page technical proposal limit. 7. Will the government provide the names and contact information of contractor employees who are currently performing on the contract? No, such information must be requested in a FOIA Request. 8. What is the anticipated date of award for this contract? The contract is estimated to be awarded by September 30th. 9. Appendix C lists the current FTE support levels at each DS facility. However, it is not clear whether the quantity of personnel listed are solely dedicated to the specific task mentioned or whether they perform multiple tasks. Would the government include the number of FTEs by position as well? Personnel are not solely dedicated to the specific task. 10. Please provide a percentage breakdown of the evaluation factors - Cost and Technical None is currently listed in Section M. As stated, in Section M, M.2 - Award will not be automatically determined by numerical calculation or formula relationship between cost or price and technical merit. 11. In Section L.7.2 you describe the Proposal guidelines which state that the technical proposal is limited to 75 pages. What page margins, and font types and sizes are acceptable? Does an 11x 17 sheet count as 2 pages? Does the font type and size apply to tables and figures? 5 inch margins, 12 pitch, times New Roman font types are preferred. 11x17 sheet count as 1 page and yes the font type and size apply to tables and figures. 12. Appendix C does not properly represent the appropriate staffing levels for this contract. Will you be releasing a matrix that more accurately breaks down the current staffing for each - Required Service area? No, it's up the contractor to properly present the appropriate staffing to perform such task listed in the Scope of the RFP for the required services. 13. It is unclear to us how you want the information in the Pricing Tables in Section B.2 presented. We understand we are to provide a Labor Category for each SubCLIN. For "Estimated Hours" are we to provide our estimated annual hours for one full time equivalent? For example - If the Labor Category for SubCLIN 0002A is Secretary I and we estimate the hours for the base year to be 1940 and the fully loaded hourly rate to be $30 - the extended price would be $58,200 for SubCLIN 0002A regardless of the number of SubCLIN 0002A employees. Is this how you want the table to be filled out? This is a good example, but keep in mind its a performance based contract type and if the contractor estimated that if there are multiple positions need in this areas they should include the number of hours to cover the total of hours for the labor category. And don't forget to address the total for the base, and all option years. 14. Will the contractor be held to the rates that we propose in price proposal for the contract execution? Yes... 15. Per para M.5 Negotiation, what are the contract items/issues that may be subject to negotiation? Unknown until the Government receives your proposal. 16. It is our goal to recruit incumbent personnel who have provided sustained, high-level performance to the Department of State. Certain incumbent personnel may not fit under the representative labor categories and rates provided in para I.6. Does the contract have the ability to add labor categories and rates during the negotiation period to accommodate incumbent personnel that have different hour rates than what is specified in the table in para I.6. Para 1.6 represent the labor categories this equivalent rates for the Federal Government Employees, it is up to the Contractor to proposal their rates and categories that would represent their proposal. 17. Requirements 2.9 and 2.13 in the proposal appear to require technical skills outside of the representative labor categories provided in para I.6. Does the contractor have the ability to add labor categories and rates during the negotiation period to accommodate technical personnel that have different hourly rates than what is specified in the table in para I.6? Again its up to the Contractor on how they proposed their proposal..... 18. What are examples of representative ODCs that could be expected under the base year and four option years for CLIN 0001 and CLIN 002? ODCs mean Other Direct Costs, such as travel, material, equipment etc. Other costs of contractor's expenses which does not fit under their Direct Costs. 19. For pricing proposal, is the government looking for hour rates/estimated hours for one full-time equivalent under each labor category? Yes..Or, are we expected to estimated the number of total hours for the entire contract under each labor category? Yes, the contractor should proposed costs/prices for the base and each option year. 20. What is the cut-off date for questions? The cut-off date for questions is June 9, 2005. 21. Who is the incumbent(s)? ARTI, ManTech, and Chugach, which were GSA Contracts. 22. If there are multiple incumbents, Which SA office(s) do they support? Listed in Appendix B, Organization Structure. 23. H.6.(b)(1)(i), Could the government provide detail - ineligibility to participate clause. Is this only for the prime, prime & any subcontractors? Yes, it applies to both the prime and any subcontractors. 24. H.8 Our facility is cleared at Secret. Will Department of State sponsor for Top Security facility clearances? No, the contractor must have a Top Security at the time of award. 25. Is this solicitation an 8(a) set-aside? Yes. 26. What is the contract type? This is a time and material-labor-hour, firm fixed price, performance-based contract. 27. What is the telephone system(s) being used at each of the SA locations? Verizon service and Lucent telephones. 28. What HR actions will be tracked? All that pertain to local government staff. There are no centralized HR services performed under the contract. The Bureau and or the Department handle these type functions. 29. In Section C, C.3.2.4, How many query tables needs to be maintained in the Access applications? Not sure. 30. Will any 24 x 7 support be required? None planned. 31. Will any 24 x 7 on-call support be required? None planned. 32. Will contract staff be augmenting on-site government staff providing similar services? Or will the contractor be the sole provider of these services? The contractor will have full responsibility of the required services. 33. Can the government provide the current number of government and non-staff, by SA location, which this contract will support? No. 34. What is the anticipated award timeframe? It is anticipated for award to be made by September 30, 2005. 35. Who is the key personnel? Or is key personnel at the discretion of the contractor? Yes, it is up to the contractor to name their key personnel. 36. Is funding in place and assured? Yes, funding has been certified for this project. 37. Please confirm this is a single award. Yes this is a single award. 38. Will there be any required travel? If yes, to where and what is the duration? Domestic or local travel only is required for this requirement. All else remein unchanged.