Description
Amendedt on 23 April 2021 to add: The Government encourages respondents to answer the additional ten questions, from the previous RFI, if they did previously provide their input. 1. The 764th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron (ESS) is seeking industry input and exploring innovative methods in procuring knowledge-based services for future requirements throughout the European Theater and other Areas of Responsibility (AORs). 2. This Request for Information (RFI) is for Market Research purposes only and shall not be considered as an invitation to bid, request for quotation, request for proposal, or as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. No contract awards will be made from this notice and no solicitation is available at this time. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of contractor submission of responses to this announcement or the Government use of such information. No funds have been authorized, appropriated, or received for this effort. 3. Interested parties are responsible for adequately marking proprietary or competition sensitive information contained in their response. Companies may be contacted if we need further information to fully understand the marketplace. The Air Force Installation Contracting Center (AFICC) 764th ESS is not seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals as a result of this RFI. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future Request for Proposal (RFP). 4. Comments and responses are due no later than COB on 04 May 2021 . Please submit your comments to both the Government points of contact indicated below. Questions: Would you company plan to put a proposal forward on an A&AS contract with USAFE-AFAFRICA with an estimated ceiling value of $500M? What factors would influence your decision? What is the typical process for recruiting an ECOPS (previously DOCPERs) position? How long does each step of the process take on average? How does the process and associated timeline differ for a Non-ECOPS position? Has your company sought alternatives to the NATO-SOFA status agreements? If so, what were they and how successful were those efforts? Can the Government include something in the contract that could streamline the ECOPS process? If so, what would that be? Other than ECOPS, what is the next biggest barrier in recruiting? Does the Government’s determination of Commerciality affect the likelihood of proposing on a contract? If so, why? What is your typical proposal preparation process? What timeframe is associate with each step? What aspects of the FOPR impact your proposal prep timeline? For those who have not competed for a contract in USAFE, what would make you consider competing for a contract in this AOR? Have you competed for a contract that used non-traditional evaluation criteria? Traditional evaluation criteria are LPTA, Past Performance Tradeoff… If so, did you compete on an HTRO? How was it? In your opinion, what are the strongest predictors for successful performance on a contract? Previous RFI Questions: Question 1: Have you ever been awarded a Task Order (TO) for knowledge-based services with performance in the USAFE-AFAFRICA AOR? If yes, please describe, including locations. Question 2: What is the largest number of personnel you have supported in an overseas location? Was an on-site program manager necessary for management of the personnel? Question 3: What is the largest number of personnel with NATO SOFA status that you have managed at one time? What were your biggest challenges with the DOCPER process? Question 4: Assuming the requirement was well defined via a robust RFI/Draft-RFP process, what is the minimum value you would consider bidding on if the requirement was Firm Fixed Price? What is the minimum value assuming Cost Plus Fixed Fee? Question 5: What is the minimum lead-time from the first RFI to projected award for your company to consider bidding on a TO (Assuming a TO value of $50M)? Question 6: What have been the key drivers of your company’s decision to pursue or not pursue contracts/orders in the USAFE-AFAFRICA AOR in the past? Question 7: What key challenges for working in USAFE-AFAFRICA has your company identified to working in an overseas environment? What could the Government do to mitigate those challenges (i.e., funding for specific ODCs, assistance with DOCPER, etc.). Question 8: Has your company submitted a proposal in response to a Fair Opportunity Proposal Request (FOPR) under the GSA OASIS contract or another GSA Schedule that included pre-established factors and/or evaluation criteria? If so, please provide samples of pre-established factors and/or evaluation criteria you felt worked well. What was your overall experience? Question 9: Contractors aren’t obligated to submit paperwork to DOCPER unless NATO SOFA status is desired for a contracted employee; however, by working outside the NATO SOFA status accreditation process, your company may have obligations associated with German labor and tax laws that may result in costs to your company for which the U.S. Government will not provide reimbursement. Would your company be willing to seek alternatives to the NATO SOFA status accreditation process (e.g., partnering with a German company, registering and obtaining a business license in Germany, etc.) and hire non-accredited personnel (i.e., individuals without independent status under the NATO SOFA) to perform in USAFE? If so, how would you recommend the contract Schedule (i.e., Section B – Supplies or Services and Prices) CLINs be structured? Question 10: In your view, what are the pros and cons of utilizing existing Government-wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs) versus an internally-created 764 ESS Indefinite Delivery / Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Multiple Award Contract (MAC)? Also, please provide any comments on your experience with innovative procurement techniques and contract vehicles, whether you believe they worked well or not, and why.