B08 Attachment 007 - Industry Days AITD Questions and Answers.xlsx

Questions
Answers
Response to previous questions increased Past
Performance page limitation from 10 to 12 pages.

Discussion: However, the requirement to begin
each new PP summary on a separate page remains
and may unnecessarily increase page count.

Question: Please consider removal of the
requirement to begin each new Past Performance
Summary on a separate page.
The requirement remains unchanged.
Text states that the Contractor shall provide one (1)
staff support personnel per aircraft platform for the
creation, modification, and staffing of MNG
regulations, publications, and documents as required,
and support Command Standardization and Evaluation
requirements.

Discussion: Requirement per platform may be
misinterpreted.

Question: Please clarify that it is the Governments
intent for the Contractor to provide one person per
aircraft fleet (i.e., AH-64E, UH-60M, AH-6i, and
MD530F) to support Standardization and Evaluation
requirements and processes.
The Contractor to provide one person per aircraft type for a total four (4) to support Standardization and Evaluation requirements and processes.
Text states that The Training Services Contractor
shall provide UH-60M, AH-64E, MD530F and AH-6i
Rated and Non-Rated Flight Crewmembers to perform
duties as Instructors, Examiners, and Non-Rated
crewmembers (NCM) in support of MNG
Modernization training plan IAW applicable
regulations.

Discussion: The text uses the term Examiners
which can refer to Instrument Examiner or
Maintenance Examiner. However, the text does not
include Maintenance Test Pilot in the list even though
an MTP can instruct maintenance student pilots
(cannot evaluate another maintenance pilot).

Question: Please clarify if the Governments intent is
to exclude Maintenance Test Pilots from this list.
MTPs are not excluded.
Text states The contractor shall provide OJT to MNG
AVN personnel, currently 10 level certified, in achieving
20 level certifications within 18 months; and provide OJT
to MNG AVN personnel with 20 level to 30 level
certifications training within 12 months.

Discussion: Text establishes a uniform requirement to
move personnel with dissimilar tasks or specialties to the
next skill level using OJT. This may not account for the
differences and complexity of the required tasks for each
job specialty and for the density of personnel to be
trained.

Question: What training standard or precedent does the
Government base the OJT requirement to move 20-level
mechanics to 30-level in only 12 months?
The requirement remains unchanged.
The text states that Flight instruction shall include a
minimum of 180 flight hours (including 30 simulator
hours) . . .

Discussion: The text further stipulates that each
aircraft course will have identical hour requirements
for each phase of training, disregarding the differences
in aircraft complexity, equipment packages, and
mission. The text does state that the Contractor can
recommend changes subject to MNG approval
(meaning after award).

Question: Request the Government consider
changing the stated flight hours to more realistically
represent training requirements for each aircraft, as
these numbers eventually drive labor and cost
estimates.
The requirement remains unchanged.
Text shows in the flying hour syllabus 20 hours of NVG
time for all aircraft fleets.

Discussion: Aircrews of UH-60M Blackhawks operate
and employ their systems under Night Vision Goggles.
Aircrews of AH-64E and AH-6i aircraft must use their
on-board Night Systems as well as Night Vision Goggles.

Comment: No Question. The above reinforces previous
suggestion that the Government consider more realistic
presentations of aircraft qualification programs.
No Question.
Text states, On the Job Training and the sub-paragraphs
refer to 16 aircraft maintenance specific jobs for initial
training and coordinate OJT.

Discussion: None of these aircraft maintenance specific
jobs are included in Table 2.2.9.3. Additionally, it is our
understanding that the maintenance of aircraft will be
conducted under a separate contract called Intermediate
Maintenance Support Services (IMSS) and that we will
see that Request for Proposal at a later date.

Question: Are you asking the contractor to develop
additional POIs that align with these 16 paragraphs? Are
you asking the contractor to provide OJT to these 16
aviation maintenance specific jobs even though that work
aligns with another contractors scope of work? And if
the answer is yes, what MOS proficiency levels OJT will
the AITD contractor instruct (10, 20, 30)?
PWS updated to remove OJT requirements from AITD.
Text states, Contractors Lead Flight Examiner shall advise
MNG on aviation standardization issues and identify trends
that require immediate action by MNG AVN or the USG
Flight Representative (GFR).

Discussion: Text previously stated in PWS Paragraph
2.2.4.2 that Contractors Standardization Instructor Pilot
shall act as advisor on all flight training standardization
issues . . .

Question: Please standardize references to this advisor
as the SIP (SP) rather than Lead Flight Examiner. SP is
the doctrinally correct term.
No Question.
Text states that The contractor shall establish an
integrated baseline for the program base period. Any
variance in cost or schedule exceeding 5% shall be
reported to the KO and COR within two (2) business
days.

Discussion: Although this contractor agrees with this
type of fidelity and responsiveness in managing costs
and scheduling, this clause seems to have been takenfrom a past contract when the type of contract was Cost
Plus.

Question: Request the Government revise this
statement to more accurately accommodate reporting on
Firm Fixed Contract.
The PWS has been updated.
Text in 2.3.1.1.4 states that The contractor shall
recommend report formats for KO approval 30 days prior to
first reports. Text in 2.5.2.1 states, The contractor shall
submit proposed report formats to the COR for review,
remarks, or approval within 15 calendar days after
award.

Discussion: These two references appear to conflict on
timeline for submission of recommended formats.

Question: Please clarify when report formats are due to
the Government and to which POC.
The PWS has been updated.
Text states that the Contractor designated key personnel
positions must be fully staffed within 60 days within 60
days of award; and that positions designated later by the
Government must be staffed within 30 days and
performing on contract within 90 days of notification.

Discussion: Some confusion exists in what is meant by
fully staffed (e.g., candidates accepted by MNG and
OPM-SANG) as the Governments requires its positions to
be staffed in 30 days and allow 90 days for the employee
to be on contract. Text appears to be unclear.

Question: Please clarify what the Government means by
fully staffed since the Government directed positions
must be staffed in half the time of other key personnel but
still have 90 days to be assembled on station.
The requirement remains unchanged.
Text for these paragraphs that addressed Vision 2030 in the previous DRAFT PWS and the hiring of Saudi
citizens has been removed and replaced as Reserved. The previous DRAFT PWS text stated "The contractor
should optimize their staffing plan to align with the Saudi Arabian Governments Vision 2030 and Saudization" and "Whenever possible positions should be filled by qualified Saudi Citizens."

Discussion: The previous PWS paragraphs did not appear to be directive and used the word "should" when
discussing Vision 2030, Saudization, and hiring qualified Saudi Citizens (whenever possible). Vision 2030 has been Saudi Law since 2015 and has been incorporated into each of the Saudi Ministries for
execution. Additionally, the Saudi Nationalization Scheme (Nitaqat) mandates a Saudization percentage of
27% for this size of contract, and further directs which positions must be Saudi. If the Contractor fails to meet
these mandates, the law imposes a loss (or reduction) of Work Visas, assesses possible fines, and makes the hiring of Expatriates and Other Countries Nationals (OCNs) nearly impossible.

Although the Responses to the Questions submitted for the AOM & AITD Site Visit and Industry Day better
define the requirement to follow Host Nation Law in accordance with DFAR 252.222-7002, they do not fully
define the offerors responsibilities.

Question 1: Please indicate if the USG intends to publish an additional change to the PWS to include
appropriate instructions for adhering to Vision 2030 and Saudi legal requirements.

Questions 2: Will the offerors need to provide proof in their proposals that they comply with Host Nation Law
and specifically the Saudi Nationalization Scheme (Nitaqat)?

Question 3: One of the Answers in the 8/2/2022 Government Responses states that Offerors must comply
with and certify to DFARS 252.222-7002. Please clarify what the offeror is expected to certify to.
Question 1: No.

Questions 2: No.

Question 3: The requirement remains unchanged.
Text states that The contractor shall provide immediate
replacement of key personnel found not qualified by the
Government or who are no longer performing on the
contract.

Discussion: In an OCONUS assignment, family issues
back home can sometimes cause the unexpected voluntary
termination of an employee, even key personnel. In
previous paragraphs, the Contractor has received time (30 or60 days to staff a position). Also, Paragraph 2.3.2.5.3 states,
The Contractor shall identify and hire personnel for vacant
key positions within 30 days and performing on site within
90 days.

Question 1: Please clarify what is meant by the
requirement to provide an immediate replacement for a
vacant key personnel position and how this differs from
language in Paragraph 2.3.2.5.3.

Question 2: Since the only way to immediately and
physically replace an unexpected departure from contract
overseas is to pull some other qualified employee or
manager from a