1. Multi-divisional Engineering, Design, Analysis Lab-wide Support (MEDALS)
Industry Day
Ginger Loesch
Subcontracts Manager, Labor and Task Services Subcontracts
December 16, 2014

2. Industry Day Agenda 2:30 – 3:00: Introduction to JPL
3:00 – 3:30: Historical Information and Statement of Work Overview
3:30 – 4:00: Request for Proposal (RFP) and Selection Process Overview
4:00 – 4:30: Question and Answer Session

3. Introduction to JPL
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) and NASA field center located in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County, California, United States.
Headquartered in Pasadena on the border of La Cañada Flintridge and Pasadena.
JPL is managed by California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Laboratory's primary function is construction and operation of robotic planetary spacecraft
Also conducts Earth-orbit and astronomy missions
Responsible for operating NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN)

4. Located in Pasadena, California
About JPL
Located in Pasadena, California
5,300 employees
$1.6 billion business base
$721 million in annual subcontract and purchase order commitments
177 acres
139 buildings
673,000 net square feet of office space
906,000 net square feet of non-office space (e.g., labs)
(Data as of FY 2013)

5. Roles: Caltech operates JPL for NASA

6. Our Mission: Robotic Space Exploration for NASA
Mars
Solar system
Exoplanets
Astrophysics
Earth Science
Interplanetary Network

7. JPL Funding and Expenditures Where Some of the Funding Goes (FY 13)
JPL Workforce
Infrastructure
$1,600,000,000
JPL Business Base
$721,000,000
Procurement Awards
45% of Business Base

8. What We Buy and How
The Acquisition Division is responsible for managing the process to purchase goods and services.
Comprised of six primary sections and 13 work groups
Commodity Purchasing Section
Acquisition Planning and Compliance
Services and Institutional Support Subcontracts
Flight, Project and Program Subcontracts
Project Acquisition Management and Business Opportunities Office
University Subcontracts

9. Common Items Procured

10. Awarding Work

11. Small Business Award Distribution (FY13)

12. Background Historical Information
MTESS (Mechanical and Thermal Engineering Support Services) was predominately used by Div. 35 with some usage by Div. 38
Complemented the JPL workforce in support of flight and non-flight activities.
Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) Research and Development Subcontract with Subcontract Work Orders (SWOs).
Began in 1997, Awarded to Swales as a small business set-aside
Recompeted in 2002 as a small business set aside, awarded to Swales.
Recompeted in 2007 as open competition, Swales (SB) and Alliance SpaceSystems (SB) both given awards
ATK (LB) purchased Swales in 2007, MDA (LB) purchased Alliance SpaceSystems in 2008

13. Organizational Structure for the Engineering and Science Directory

14. MTESS Background Information
Following information is provided to show the history of the current MTESS subcontracts, with both subcontractors:
The peak number of personnel was 64 in Spring 2009
JPL anticipates that JPL may exceed the peak levels of 2009.
Current Subcontract ceiling:
ATK: $20,525,467.69, 211 SWOs issued
MDA: $12,506,119 SWOs issued
Current Subcontracts end 7/31/2015

15. SWO Examples

16. Statement of Work Overview
Objectives of MEDALS:
To provide task support to a broad range of engineering and technology disciplines
Speed up the acquisition process of task support so that JPL can respond quickly to identified tasks
To provide excellent customer service to JPL by responding to customer and client needs and requests, with advance knowledge and experience
Provide a systems and processes that incorporates industry standard tools and practices compatible with JPL tools
Capability to provide support for Top Secret Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearance requirements

17. Statement of Work Overview
The selected Subcontractor shall provide the labor, materials, facilities, and equipment necessary to perform tasks and provide services in support of non- flight and flight areas of engineering, technology development, hardware development, test development and operations support. Tasks will span both formulation and flight development activities and will include efforts relating to requirements definition, concept definition, tradeoff studies, hardware design, modeling, simulation, analysis, review support, mechanical and electrical fabrication, inspection, assembly and integration, and technical documentation support.
15 Major Engineering Disciplines
Work will be authorized by JPL through issuance of Subcontract Work Orders (SWOs).

18. Statement of Work Overview (cont.)
Provide a Program Manager
Weekly Status Meetings
Travel as required on the SWO
Use a web-based work flow tool to provide status and load proposal documents
Provide Mission, Reliability and Quality Assurance in accordance with the SWO
Provide Flight Systems Safety support in accordance with the SWO

19. Statement of Work Overview (cont.)
Provide Computer Security for systems connecting to the JPL network, in accordance with Exhibit 2
Provide training as follows:
JPL will fund training for JPL specific technical skills
The subcontract will train their employees to maintain general job skills
Maintain a property management system appropriate for handling Government Furnished Property (GFP)
Provide Management Report in accordance with Paragraph 8.0

20. Statement of Work Overview: Exhibit and Provisions
2 Exhibits incorporated into the Specimen Subcontract
Cost Reimbursement with Commercial Organizations Subcontract General Provisions (GP) and 11 Additional General Provisions (AGP) included in the Specimen Subcontract
3 Special Provisions and 6 Alteration Provision also include in the Specimen Subcontract
All GPs and AGPs can be found on the Acquisition Website:

21. Statement of Work Overview: Period of Performance and Award Term
Five year Basic Subcontract
Performance based Award Terms
Addition Award Terms available
10 year maximum
JPL will issue an Award Term Plan
JPL will provide Award Term metrics as an attachment to the final Award Term Plan, which will further define the Award Term process
Award Term determinations will be made in accordance with Article 5

22. Procurement Schedule 12/10/2014 - Draft RFP released
12/16/ Industry Day Meeting
1/20/ Issue first RFP Volume 1 & 2
2/3/ Volumes 1 & 2 and Past Performance due
2/26/ RWO (second RFP) Problems issued
3/12/ RWO Technical and Cost Proposals due
3/23 – 3/27 - Oral Presentations and Fact Finding Discussions
4/17/ Submit to Source Selection Official
5/19/ Complete Negotiations
6/30/ Subcontracts executed

23. Draft Request for Proposal (RFP)
All comments regarding the Draft RFP must be submitted electronically to Ginger by 5:00 PM local time December 31, 2014
Areas of focus for comment:
RFP Instructions
Evaluation Instructions
Cost Instructions
Specimen Subcontract
All comments will be taken into consideration prior to release of the RFP
JPL may not provide a formal response to Offerors
Offerors are not required to provide comments

24. Request for Proposal (RFP) Overview
A two step RFP process will be used
First RFP submission will be Technical and Management Proposal (Volume 1) and the Past Performance Questionnaire plus Related Experience (Volume 2)
If Subcontractor meets Mandatory Qualifications, the proposal is evaluated
Competitive Range is determined and down select is made
Only selected proposers receive the second RFP which is the Representative Work Orders, requiring a Technical Proposal (Volume 3) and Cost Proposal (Volume 4)
JPL evaluates the technical and cost proposals
Orals conducted with the remaining proposers in the competitive range
This competition is expected to result in 2 to 4 awards.

25. Request for Proposal (RFP) Overview: Mandatory Criterion
Proposers must show verification by DCAA or other federal audit agency, of an accounting system that has been audited and determined adequate for determining costs applicable to this contract, in accordance with (Federal Acquisition Regulation) FAR (a)(1).
Proposers must have had at any one time, within the last 18 months prior to the issuance date of this RFP, a minimum of 50 bona fide employees employed in labor categories of similar nature to those required by JPL. Evidence shall include payroll records specifying: payroll week ending date, employee name, and job title.
Proposers must provide financial qualification evidence, as indicated by having financial resources capable of making a payroll equivalent to $2,000,000 for a period of 3 months. Evidence of financial resources may include: copies of banking statements, lines of credit, cash on hand or any such other method of proving financial sustainability.
Proposers must provide contact information for an individual that can provide verification that the proposer has performed work with personnel with Top Secret Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) security clearances either directly or through a demonstrated relationship with a lower-tier subcontractor.
Note: No safeguarding of classified information under this effort will be required, so a facility clearance is not required.

26. Request for Proposal (RFP) Overview
Volumes 1 & 2 are due first
Past Performance on A-14 is verified but not evaluated and scored.
Once Volume 1 & 2 are evaluated and scored, JPL may elect to down-select
Down-select
Based on initial evaluation of meeting the Mandatory Qualification criteria
Formal review and scoring of Volume 1 & 2 criteria, and analysis of Past Performance.
Based on the number of interested offerers, a down-select may be performed
The highest scoring proposers will be moved on to receive the Representative Work Orders, Volumes 3 & 4.

27. Representitive Work Orders (RWOs)
The RWO response will make up the basis for the questions for Volumes 3 & 4
There will be 3 RWOs that will be released to the proposers at the same time and all three RWO responses will be due by the deadline date.
JPL will provide the Representative Work Orders (RWOs) for the vendors to propose against. It is not intended as actual work against the subcontract, but it will test the capability of the companies and their partners/subcontractors to create a response within the time requirement in the Specimen Subcontract in Article 1, Paragraph 6.3
The RWO exercise is intended to demonstrate management capability to evaluate, price and manage multiple SWOs at the same time, similar to how the work will be performed on the subcontract.
The tasks on the RWOs will focus on specific technical issues that allows JPL to validate a degree to which the subcontractor is proficient.

28. Request for Proposal (RFP) Overview: Evaluation Criteria
Volume 1 – Technical and Management
Technical Criterion T-1 through T-3
Technical Capabilities of Personnel – Criterion T-1
Personnel meeting the disciplines in the SOW, including cleared work
Qualifications of Program Manager and Key Technical Personnel
Technical disciplines which will be augmented through partnerships
Technical Capabilities of Hardware and Software – Criterion T-2
Detail computer hardware and software available for use on this contract (e.g. CAE tools)
Knowledge and experience of data translation protocol
Internal procedures for meeting the hardware and software security requirements
 Technical Capabilities of Facilities and Equipment – Criterion T-3
Facilities and equipment satisfying the work required by the SOW

29. Request for Proposal (RFP) Overview: Evaluation Criteria (cont.)
Management Criterion M-1 through M-3
Management Controls and Subcontract Management – Criterion M-1
Ability to monitor, control and report at the total subcontract level and SWO level
Subcontract Management - Criterion M-2
Manage work performed by partners and implement a transition plan from prior subcontractors
Assurance Management Plans – Criterion M-3
Mission, Reliability, and Quality Assurance Management Plans
Weighted at 300 points

30. Request for Proposal (RFP) Overview: Evaluation Criteria (cont.)
Volume 2: Related Experience Criterion P-1
Experience in providing engineering task services
Experience in engineering flight hardware
Key Personnel have worked on similar contracts
Experience in providing classified support
Experience of the prime having an established relationship with their subs
Weighted at 300 points

31. Request for Proposal (RFP) Overview: Evaluation Criteria (cont.)
Volumes 3 & 4 – Representative Work Orders Technical and Cost Proposals
Technical Understanding – Criterion R-1
Understand the requirements and technical challenges associated with the RWO objectives
Have the capability with regards to the technical requirements
Demonstrate an understanding of Mission, Reliability, and Quality Assurance
Address critical issues, including risk and ways to mitigate these risks
Management Understanding – Criterion R-2
Organizational approach to managing and tracking performance
Other resources such as facilities and equipment, travel and materials necessary to accomplish the RWO
Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate cost elements for the RWO
Demonstrate subcontractors used effectively
Schedule Understanding – Criterion R-3
Schedule for completing the effort, including key milestones
Skill mix of labor types and level of support for meeting technical requirements and schedule
Weighted at 400 Points

32. Request for Proposal (RFP) Overview: Volume 4 Cost Proposal Instructions
Proposal Pricing
Volume 4 will consist of ROMs for each RWO
Proposal shall be submitted on JPL Form A-15
Supplement Business/Cost Information
Submit a copy of annual financial statements for the last 3 years
Include a copy of a letter of credit from your bank, if available or applicable
Identify any third parties who may have security liens on your intellectual property, personal property, or general intangibles.
Demonstrate the financial resources to handle a subcontract of the dollar value anticipated.
Accounting Calendar
Furnish an accounting calendar for each year in which work is anticipated
Attachments in Group A

33. Request for Proposal (RFP) Overview: RFP Attachments
Group A Attachments: Forms to complete and attach to proposal
A-1: Acknowledgment (Form JPL 2384)
A-2: Does not apply if classified as a Small Business
A-6: Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (Form JPL 4022)
A-14: Past Performance (Form JPL 0358-A14)
A-15:Cost Element Breakdown – Long Form (Form JPL 0549-A-19)
A-20: Evidence of Adequacy of Accounting System (Form JPL 7370)
A-21: Supplier Information Request (Form JPL 7255)

34. Request for Proposal (RFP) Overview: RFP Attachments
Group B Attachments: Provided for information purposes only
B-1: Waiver of Rights to Inventions (does not apply to small business)
B-2: Summary Work Breakdown Structure
B-5: Notice of Req. for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Oppt.
B-7: Security Requirements for a Classified Subcontract (Form JPL 2891)
B-12: Unescorted Access - Subcontractor Badging Instructions and Requirements
B-19: Additional General Provision—Safety and Health

35. Questions?

36. Questions Submitted Prior to Industry Day
Question 1: What drove the significant scope change of this procurement?
Answer 1:
There is an expected increase in work for the 5-10 years
MTESS has been effective in quickly responding to JPL’s support task needs
Goal to keep JPL core competencies in-house and send out task services to industry partners

37. Questions Submitted Prior to Industry Day
Question 2: Is the NAICS code for this procurement still ?
Answer 5: Yes

38. Questions Submitted Prior to Industry Day
Question 3: Is a signed statement from an external accounting firm sufficient to demonstrate an accounting system is adequate for accumulating costs for a cost-plus contract? 
Answer 3: JPL is reviewing this requirement with our Subcontract Audit and Compliance Organization. We will clarify this requirement for the final RFP.

39. Questions Submitted Prior to Industry Day
Question 4: In reference to the statement below:
What is meant by a “… demonstrated relationship …“? 
Answer 4:
A demonstrated relationship could be any contracts that shows that: either you as the prime or you as the subcontractor, have preformed work with a Top Secret Sensitive Compartmented Information TS/SCI security clearance. JPL will likely clarify this requirement prior to the final RFP

40. Questions Submitted Prior to Industry Day
Question 5: Is this essence of this requirement that the proposer must be able to prove they can provide TS/SCI cleared staff either directly or indirectly through a subcontractor?
Answer 5: Yes

41. Questions Submitted Prior to Industry Day
Question 6: Further, should the proposer assume that all TS/SCI work will be performed at JPL’s cleared facilities?
Answer 6: Yes

42. Questions Submitted Prior to Industry Day
Question 7: Does the RFP Attachment A-2 CAS Notice and Certification apply to this procurement? 
Answer: 7: Attachment A-2 was included by default. If you are a small business, it is self deleting.
Likely it will be removed from the final RFP

43. Questions Submitted Prior to Industry Day
Question 8: Under the RFP’s Cost Instruction Section, several RFP Attachments are called out but are not included in the RFP Attachment package (e.g., A-19, B-10, B-13).  How will this be rectified in the Final RFP?  What is required?
Answer 8: All the attachments can be found at

44. Questions Submitted Prior to Industry Day
Question 9: Section of the Draft RFP suggests that 51% (or more) of the work be performed by the prime contractor.  Are the terms “Proposer” and “Prime Contractor” synonymous?  Could a combination of small businesses on the proposing  team perform 51% (or more) of the work or does the Proposer need to cover the 51% minimum themselves?
Answer 9: The requirement is that 51% of the work (by cost) must be performed by the small business that the subcontract is written with. Partners or subcontractors can not make up more that 49% of the work

45. Questions Submitted Prior to Industry Day
Question 10: Given the change/expansion in scope since the RFI with the addition of elements 1.1 Systems Engineering Support, 1.2 Electronics Design and Performance Analysis, 1.13 RF/Microwave Engineering, 1.14 Guidance Systems Engineering and 1.15 Control Systems Engineering will JPL go through a second round of RFI?
Answer 10: No. An RFI is requested for information. JPL has developed a strategy that takes that information into account, but an additional RFI would be unlikely to change our strategy.

46. Questions Submitted Prior to Industry Day
Question 11: For the Past Performance (PP) volume, is PP to be provided by only the Proposer or also from subcontractors to the Proposer?  What's the cutoff in years for "recent" past performance and how many (minimum to maximum) contracts are requested?
Answer 11: JPL will request that past performance be provided for both the proposer and any partners/subcontractors. The wording will be clarified in the final RFP.
Form A-14 specifies 5 past performance references

47. Questions Submitted Prior to Industry Day
Question 12: What's the anticipated size of MEDALS in terms of expected funding per year or per Specimen Subcontract Ceiling Amount?
Answer 12: The ceiling amount on the subcontracts (Article 2) will based on a projection of $10M per year divided equally by the number of awardees. Actual ceilings and funding will be determined on the SWOs

48. Questions Submitted Prior to Industry Day
Question 13:  Is it JPL’s goal to make more than one award and does JPL expect to make more than two awards?
Answer 13: JPL intends to make multiple awards. The expectation is that the number of awards would be between 2-4, however JPL reserves the right to determine the number of awardees, based on what would be in JPL’s best interest

49. Questions Submitted Prior to Industry Day
Question 14: Of the 15 technical areas listed in the Specimen Subcontract Article 1, what is the expected percentage of work in each of the 15 areas?
Answer 14: JPL does not have any historical data to relay on and therefore does not have any percentages.

50. Questions Submitted Prior to Industry Day
Question 15: In section of the Draft RFP, we do not see any requirement to demonstrate the ability of the proposer to perform work in each of the 15 technical areas specified in the Specimen Subcontract, other than “Provide a general description of the personnel that meet the disciplines in the SOW.”  Does JPL intend to have the Contractor provide more concrete evidence of the ability to perform work in each area, and if so, will this be made more clear in the final RFP?  
Answer 15: This is an evaluated procurement. JPL will be evaluating the proposers’ ability to perform the work on the Specimen Subcontract. We will consider if we would like the proposers to address each area of emphasis separately.

51. Questions Submitted Prior to Industry Day
Question 16: JPL states mandatory requirements for the “Proposer.”  Are there any mandatory requirements for subcontractors or partners to the Proposer?
Answer 16: No

52. Questions Submitted Prior to Industry Day
Question 17: In a previous communication, it was stated, “The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code(s) applicable to this Subcontract is ”  Is this still the case, and if so, which employee limit size for applies?
Answer 17: The size standard of 1000 employees will be used for this effort, as MEDALS will be in support of "Space Vehicles and Guided Missiles, their Propulsion Units, their Propulsion Units Parts, and their Auxiliary Equipment and Parts".

53. Questions Submitted Prior to Industry Day
Question 18: Under of the RFP, what is meant by the “overall socioeconomic goals”?
Answer 18: It is required that the Prime (small business) will perform 51% of the work. This requirement asks for the proposer to identify how that will be accomplished and the size and classification for any partners/subcontractors.

54. Questions Submitted Prior to Industry Day
Question 19: Under SOW Element 1.4 Mechanical Hardware Design and Engineering, should it be assumed that this area includes fabrication and assembly and assembly of structures, deployment mechanisms, and mechanical devices?
Answer 19: Yes, JPL may require this work as specified on the individual SWO.

55. Reminders Read and Follow Directions very carefully
Check the Due Dates for various submittals
Check the format, number of copies and page limitations
Make sure you meet the Mandatory Qualification and provide the evidence
Keep checking the Website: for the updates on the RFP

56. Questions?
Submit via to Ginger.E. or place in question box