U--Competitive award of ID/IQ requirements contract to provide Cultural Awareness Training services at Fort Riley, KS. Evaluated price $476,224.00

09 April 2007 (1) Is there an incumbent for this? Answer-No a. If so, who is it and what/when was award amount? N/A (2) Our instructors are seasoned instructors with over two decades of DOD instructional background, most are PhDs and authors of several books, TV programs, have experience in theater as well as testifying in front of Congress on Afghanistan, Iraq, Arab Is raeli Issues, etc. Our audiences include the gamut of agencies and operational units as well as most SF organizations. Are you saying our trainers and instructors need to be certified by the government as outlined in 5.2.3 and 5.3.1 in grammar, attention , eye contact, gestures, etc? Answer-Yes a. Additionally, we utilize many well known individuals as well for our training when their availability allows such as XXXXX, XXXXX, XXXXX, XXXXX, as well as many others with this level of experience. Are you saying these people would also require certi fication? Answer-Yes (3) Specifically, what security clearances are needed for this contract? At p.14, #25 you state the contractor will maintain clearance prior to task orders yet you dont specify what level of classification we need. This implies that the contracting offi cer issuing task order directs what level clearance will be needed for the training. Yet, there are no specifications included. The task order could specify TS/SBI or SCI, simple Secret to even Mystic. Specifically, what clearances  if any  are needed on the part of the instructors? Answer-a NACLC or better (4) Finally, at p. 14, #27 you ask for a completed, favorably adjudicated NACLC check for every instructor. Yet, in the next paragraph you say NACLC processing takes 6 months. Is this accurate? Answer-This was accurate at the writing of the clause perf ormed by the security subject matter expert (SME). The SME included in discussion that the regulations cited provided for an interim NACLC in a shorter time frame. a. If the government wants a small business to take this contract and there is very little lead time, how can this requirement be amended  if at allto allow a small business to compete? Answer- This is the minimum mandatory clearance requirement to p erform this work. A secret or higher clearance trumps a NACLC for the purposes of this solicitation. 11 April 2007 5. The SOW indicated the Lead Instructor is Full-Time. Does that mean the Lead Instructor will be required to perform their duties at Fort Riley? Answer-Yes a. If yes will the work location be government furnished? Answer-No office space will be furnished, and as the solicitation states there will be no class rooms furnished. Government will provide a training location for each class and may provide a desk or other accommodation for the lead instructor on a space available basis. 6. Is there a current contractor for this service? Answer-No a. If yes what is the company name? N/A 7. What is the evaluation process and what documents are required for submission for evaluation? Answer-The answers are in the combined synopsis/solicitation document at http://www.riley.army.mil/view/article.asp?id=739-2007-04-04-34419-75 . Paragraph 55 contains the instructions and Paragraph 56 contains the evaluation factors. 8. The sample execution matrix for class #18 indicate a class size of 751. Based on the student to instructor ratio of 50 students to 1 instructor this class would require 15 instructors. Is this a correct? Answer- The solicitation provides multiple me thodologies for use by the successful bidder. This allows the contractor the flexibility to develop cost-effective solutions that provide effective solutions in answer to the government's needs in a variable training environment. 9. What is the transition period? Answer-No transition period has been established. 10. Will there be a post award conference? Answer- There will be a post award conference held for the awardee, the c ontract administrative staff, and the activity proponent. 12 April 2007 11. Please advise on the length of the classes in hours per day and number of day/s per session. Answer-Class length per day is 8 working hours, not including a 1 hour lunch period. 3 class days equals 1 session. 12. Are we correct in our assessment that the peak number of instructors needed at one time would be 4? [751 participants, in groups of 50 for 4 sessions?] Answer-The solicitation provides multiple methodologies for use by the successful bidder. This allo ws the contractor the flexibility to develop cost-effective solutions that provide effective solutions in answer to the government's needs in a variable training environment. 13. Are we correct in our assessment that a full time lead instructor/project manager is requested and required? Answer-Yes 14.Are we correct in our assessment that the instructor/project manager will be one of the instructors? Answer-The lead instructor/project manager may be one of the instructors. That is an acceptable solution the successful offeror may propose. 15. Are we correct in our assessment that the government will pay for the training time and travel for the instructor's preparation? Answer-No. All of that cost will be part of the firm fixed price captured in the per additional class session and the PM/Le ad Instructors monthly firm fixed price.