MESF High Risk Training- Only Seeking RFP Responses from Current Seaport-NxG Contract Holders

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding Solicitation N0018926RL001 for High-Risk Training and Instructor, and Learning Standards Officer Support Services.

• Staffing: The contractor is responsible for proposing the appropriate labor mix; the government has provided the historical level of effort.
• Wage Determination: FAR 52.222-42 includes the appropriate Wage Determination for pricing and SCLS compliance. Instructors fall under Technical Instructor/Course Developer (15095) and LSO under Educational Technologist (15060).
• Size Standard: The small business size standard for NAICS 541330 is $47M.
• Incumbent Information: The requirement is currently supported by R3 Strategic Support Group under task order N0018921F2011. Services are consistent with the current requirement.
• Award Date: The government anticipates awarding no later than June 16, 2026.
• Performance Start Date: Performance is expected to be ready on Day 1 (July 16, 2026).
• Instructor Qualifications: Weapons qualifications should be held at the time of proposal submission. Personnel awaiting final Government certification may not perform duties involving podium instruction or range responsibilities.
• OCONUS Travel (Bahrain): The government will not sponsor contractors for visas, commercial registration, or licensing; these are the contractor's responsibility. Contractor personnel must coordinate with the COR for base access.
• DBA Insurance: Contractors must comply with all incorporated clauses, including Defense Base Act (DBA) insurance requirements.
• Convening Frequencies: PWS Section 4.2 convening frequencies are planning estimates, subject to change based on operational demand, and not firm minimums.

Several clarifications were made regarding staffing, wage determinations, size standards, and specific requirements for personnel qualifications and OCONUS travel. Offerors should review these responses carefully to ensure their proposals accurately address the solicitation's requirements. The award date has been clarified as no later than June 16, 2026.

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0001) addresses questions received during the solicitation's question and answer period.

• Block 11: Clarifies that offers must acknowledge receipt of the amendment.

• Block 14: States the purpose of the amendment is to address Q&A.

• Addendum to 52.212-1:

  • Clarifies the procurement is under FAR Subpart 16.505, not FAR Part 15.
  • Provides submission instructions for questions, including deadlines and contact information (Justin Clark and Sherell Brown).
  • Details proposal submission requirements via email, including subject line format.
  • Outlines page limitations for proposal volumes and specific sections.
  • Specifies requirements for Volume I (Non-Price Proposal) including Facilities Clearance, Technical Approach (Staffing and Performance/Management), and Past Performance.
  • Specifies requirements for Volume II (Price Proposal), including estimated travel amounts and a note on G&A/OH indirect costs.
  • Identifies NAICS code 541330 and the small business size standard of $47,000,000.00.
  • States eligibility requires the Offeror to be a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and a Seaport NxG contract holder.

• Clause 52.222-42 (Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires): Modified to include specific wage rates for Technical Instructor/Course Developer ($34.90/hour) and Educational Technologist ($40.49/hour), and references Wage Determination No 2015-4341 Revision No 32.

• Clause 252.204-7025 (Notice of Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Level Requirements): Modified to specify CMMC Level 1 (Self) is required prior to award for systems processing FCI or CUI. It also details requirements for CMMC status in SPRS and the need for a plan of action and milestones if the status is Conditional. Offerors must provide CMMC UIDs.

• The deadline for submitting questions is April 7, 2026.

• Proposal submission instructions and format requirements have been detailed.

• Page limitations for various proposal sections are specified.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation (N0018926RL001) is for MESF High Risk Training. The government is procuring support services from Subject Matter Experts experienced in specialized Maritime Expeditionary Security Force skills and operations. The primary goal is to execute High Risk Training, create curriculum, and support MESF companies, platoons, and special purpose maritime security teams in various operations.

• Provide Subject Matter Experts for Maritime Expeditionary Security Force skills and operations.

• Execute High Risk Training and create curriculum.

• Support maritime security operations including HVU protection, tactical vehicle and convoy operations, Expeditionary Designated Marksman (EDM), Ground Operations, Small Unit Tactics, Embarked Security Team (EST), and Aircraft Security Teams (AST).

• Travel to off-site training ranges, facilities, conferences, and meetings as required.

• Compliance with Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 1 (Self) or higher for information systems processing FCI or CUI.

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) task order.

• Period of Performance: Base Year (16 Jul 2026 - 15 Jul 2027) with four option years and a potential extension under FAR 52.217-8.

• Estimated Value: NAICS code 541330 with a size standard of $25,500,000.00.

• Proposal Submission Deadline: 16 April 2026, 10:00 AM Local Time.

• Proposals to be submitted via email.

• Evaluation Criteria: Two-phase process. Phase I: Facilities Clearance (Acceptable/Unacceptable). Phase II: Technical Approach (Factor II), Past Performance (Factor III), and Price (Factor IV). Non-price factors are significantly more important than price. Factor II is more important than Factor III. Within Factor II, sub-factors are weighted equally.

• Evaluation Ratings: Outstanding, Good, Acceptable, Marginal, Unacceptable.

• The offeror must be a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and a Seaport NxG contract holder under NAICS 541330.

• Small business concerns must have had an average annual receipt less than $47,000,000.00 over the previous three fiscal years.

• The solicitation incorporates FAR clauses by reference and in full text, including those related to Service Contract Labor Standards, Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, and limitations on subcontracting.

• Attachments include Performance Work Statement, Contract Discrepancy Report, Contract Administration Plan, Past Performance Information Form, and Past Performance Report Form.

Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To acquire experienced and qualified contractor personnel to support MESTEU-2 in delivering High-Risk Training (HRT), curriculum development, and Learning Standards Officer (LSO) support. The contractor will provide personnel capable of delivering high-quality training across specialized maritime security operations.

• Deliver specialized training in maritime security operations, tactical road movement, combat shooting, and advanced skills.

• Support analysis, design, and development of MESF-related programs, policies, and curriculum.

• Serve as assessors during Unit Level Training (ULT) and certification events.

• Provide LSO support for quality of instruction and curriculum.

• Assist in developing exercise scenarios and provide White Cell support.

• Train Active Component (AC) and Reserve Component (RC) squadrons, High Value Unit (HVU) Escort Detachments, and Forward Deployed Naval Force (FDNF) Embarked Security Detachments.

• Support Mobile Training Teams (MTTs) and weapons training courses.

• Adapt to evolving MESF missions and training requirements.

• Instructors and Assessors (Estimated 9 FTEs): Deliver classroom and practical instruction, prepare training areas, maintain weapons, and manage PQS.

• Learning Standards Officer (LSO) (Estimated 1 FTE): Oversee instruction quality, curriculum development, training program management, and instructor support.

• On-Site Lead (Estimated 1 FTE): Serve as the primary interface with the Government, manage contractor personnel, provide logistical coordination, and assist with training facilities.

The contractor shall support various courses including:

• MESF CAT II/CAT III Small Arms and Crew-Served Weapons Qualifications

• MESF Command Training Team Training

• MESF Embarked Security Combat Skills

• MESF Patrol Boat (PB) Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced

• MESF Mission Planning

• MESF Tactical Road Movement Training

• MESF Water Survivability Training

• MESF Embarked, Aircraft, and Position Defense Security

• Optional On-Demand Training: MESF Expeditionary Designated Marksman (EDM) and MESF Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Operator.

• Travel to designated training locations, both CONUS and OCONUS (Bahrain for FDNF training).

• Specific locations include Virginia Beach, VA; San Diego, CA; Groton, CT; Newport, RI; Jacksonville, FL; Fort Pickett, VA; Fort A.P. Hill, VA; Quantico, VA; Moyock, NC; and Bahrain.

• All contractor personnel must maintain a current Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) issued SECRET clearance.

• A SECRET Facilities clearance is required.

• Annual training includes Cyber Security Awareness, Derivative Classification Training, and NCIS Counter-Intelligence training.

• Contractor personnel must possess required security certifications and training.

• Common Access Card (CAC) issuance and use procedures.

• Key and key card control procedures.

• Compliance with physical security requirements and insider threat awareness training.

• Travel reimbursement based on Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) and not-to-exceed amounts per period.

• Deliverables include Working Group Meeting minutes, Progress Reports, Monthly Status Reports, and a Final Report.

• Government-furnished equipment and vehicles will be provided.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a "Past Performance Information Form" intended for offerors to provide details about their past performance on similar contracts. This information is crucial for the government to assess an offeror's ability to successfully perform the work required by the solicitation.

• Offeror Information: Name, Contract Number/Identifier, Customer Name & Location, Customer Point of Contact, Telephone Number, and Email Address.
• Effort Details: Total dollar value broken into annual increments, and for ordering vehicles, the annual estimated contract amount and actual amounts performed.
• Period of Performance: Specific dates for the performance period, with a requirement that at least one year of performance must have been completed prior to the solicitation's closing date.
• Personnel: Average number of Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) performing per year.
• Work Description: A detailed description of the work performed, demonstrating its relevance to the solicitation's scope. For Helpdesk work, specific metrics like user population supported, number of trouble tickets, and average turnaround time are requested.
• Scope and Magnitude: Fields to describe the scope and magnitude of the work.
• Subcontractors: Information on subcontractors utilized, the extent of their work, and the annual dollar value of subcontracts.

Bidders must complete this form accurately and thoroughly to provide the government with the necessary past performance data. This data will be used as part of the evaluation process to determine the offeror's capability and likelihood of success on the current opportunity. Failure to provide complete information may negatively impact the evaluation.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation, N0018926RL001, issued by NAVSUP FLT LOG CTR NORFOLK, is for MESF High Risk Training. The government is procuring support services from Subject Matter Experts experienced in specialized Maritime Expeditionary Security Force skills and operations. The primary purpose is to execute High Risk Training, create curriculum, and support MESF companies, platoons, patrol boat crews, and other special purpose maritime security teams.

• Support services for Maritime Expeditionary Security Force skills and operations.

• Execution of High Risk Training.

• Creation of curriculum for MESF companies, platoons, patrol boat crews, and special purpose maritime security teams.

• Training in Coastal Maritime operations, HVU protection, combat shooting techniques, tactical vehicle and convoy operation, Expeditionary Designated Marksman (EDM), Ground Operations, Small Unit Tactics, Embarked Security Team (EST), and Aircraft Security Teams (AST).

• Travel to off-site training ranges, facilities, conferences, and meetings as required.

• Compliance with Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 1 (Self) requirements.

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) task order.

• Period of Performance: Base Year (16 Jul 2026 - 15 Jul 2027) with four Option Years and an Option to Extend Services (FAR 52.217-8) and Option to Extend the Term of the Contract (FAR 52.217-9).

• Estimated Value: Not explicitly stated in the provided pages, but NAICS code 541330 has a size standard of USD 25,500,000.00.

• Proposal Submission: Via email to Justin Clark and Sherell Brown by 10:00 AM EST on April 7, 2026.

• Evaluation Criteria: Two-phase evaluation. Phase I: Facilities Clearance (Acceptable/Unacceptable). Phase II: Technical Approach (Factor II), Past Performance (Factor III), and Price (Factor IV). Non-price factors are more important than price. Within Factor II, Staffing Approach and Performance/Management Approach are weighted equally and are more important than Factor III. Factor II is more important than Factor III.

• Past Performance: Offerors must identify up to three (3) most relevant contracts performed within five (5) years of the solicitation issuance date, with at least one year of completed performance.

• Price Proposal: Must include completed solicitation documents, representations and certifications, and a detailed price breakdown.

• The offeror must be a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and a Seaport NxG contract holder under NAICS 541330.

• Small business concerns must have had an average annual receipt over the previous three fiscal years less than $47,000,000.00.

• The solicitation is being conducted under FAR Subpart 16.505, not FAR Part 15.

• Offerors are cautioned not to alter the solicitation.

• Hand-carried proposals are not authorized.

• Attachments include Performance Work Statement, Contract Discrepancy Report, Contract Administration Plan, Past Performance Information Form, and Past Performance Report Form.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Contract Discrepancy Report (CDR) form. It is used to formally document and address discrepancies or problems observed in contractor performance.

• Contract Number: Identifies the specific contract affected.
• TO (Task Order): Specifies the Task Order, with a field for the Contractor Task Manager or on-site representative's name.
• FROM (Name of COR): Identifies the name of the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR).
• Date and time observed discrepancy: Records when the issue was first noted.
• DISCREPANCY OR PROBLEM: A section for a detailed description of the issue and identification of any supporting attachments.
• Corrective action plan: Indicates whether a written corrective action plan is required. If required, it specifies that the plan will be provided within a certain number of days after receipt of the CDR.
• Prepared by: Field for the COR's name.
• Signatures: Fields for the Contracting Officer's Representative and the Contractor Task Manager or on-site representative to sign and date.

This form is relevant for bidders as it outlines the formal process for reporting and addressing performance issues. Understanding this process is crucial for maintaining contract compliance and managing performance expectations. The CDR can be initiated by the COR under several conditions, including exceeding defect limits for a performance standard, critical unacceptable performance, or an unfavorable trend in contractor performance.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a Past Performance Report Form used by the U.S. Naval Supply System (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk (FLCN) to evaluate a contractor's past performance on previous contracts. This evaluation is crucial for determining the probability of successful accomplishment of work required by the Government for a new contract award.

The form requests information from the entity that previously contracted with the offeror, not the offeror themselves. It is to be completed and returned by the closing date of solicitation N0018926RL001.

Key sections include:

• Requester Information (to be filled out by the entity completing the form).
• Questions regarding:
  • Quality/Meeting Contract Requirements (customer satisfaction, rework, deficiency reports, innovative applications).
  • Quality/Timeliness (delivery schedule adherence, causes of variances, timeliness of information submission and invoicing).
  • Contractor Responsiveness (response to concerns, problem isolation and resolution, corrective actions).
  • Contractor's cost control (delivery at agreed price/cost, reasons for contract value changes).
  • Additional Observations/Information (strengths, weaknesses, satisfaction with the contractor, awareness of similar efforts, and recommendations for other contacts).

While this form is not directly filled out by the bidder, it is a critical component of the evaluation process for the associated solicitation (N0018926RL001). Bidders should be aware that their past performance will be assessed using this type of report. Understanding the questions asked can help bidders prepare to discuss their past performance with previous clients or ensure that their past clients are prepared to provide positive feedback.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document outlines the Contract Administration Plan (CAP) for fixed-price contracts, detailing the roles and responsibilities of various government personnel involved in contract administration. It serves to expedite contract administration by clearly defining points of contact for questions, clarifications, and information.

• Procuring Contracting Officer (PCO): Responsible for pre-award duties, inquiries, and changes to contract terms.
• Contract Administration Office (CAO): Handles administrative matters as specified in FAR and DFARS.
• Paying Office: Responsible for processing invoices after acceptance.
• Contracting Officer's Representative/Task Order Manager (COR/TOM): Serves as the primary liaison with the contractor, providing technical advice, monitoring performance, ensuring quality assurance, and managing government-furnished property and security. The COR is the point of contact for technical aspects but cannot issue contractual changes.
• Technical Assistant (TA): Provides routine administration and monitoring support to the COR, assisting with reviews and reports but without authority for technical direction.

This document is crucial for bidders as it identifies the key government personnel they will interact with post-award. Understanding these roles and responsibilities, particularly the COR's function as the primary technical interface and the limitations on their authority to issue changes, is essential for effective communication and contract management. It clarifies who to contact for specific issues, such as technical questions (COR) or contract modifications (PCO/CAO).