The information contained within the PWS are the responsibilities assumed by the contractor. No additional services are being requested in this solicitation.

Please review the CLINs, which provide the POP dates.

3 groomer/exercisers, for one year and one option year. Please review the CLIN, which contains the POP and the PWS which contains more specific information about the work schedule.

Correct. 3 Groomer/Exercisers, working 40hrs per week, for 48 weeks per year.

Number of horses will vary, but is not expected to exceed 30. The contractor will need to be wherever the horses are as needed. Please refer to the CLINs. There will be one base year and one option year. The POPs are within the CLINs. The QTY 3 is for 3 exercisers/groomers.

- Can you provide an example of how "Random Sampling" will be used for surveillance? Yes. Government personnel will, without notification to the contractor, begin conducting surveillance in accordance to the PWS, PRS and QASP at random intervals during performance of the work. - What specific steps are taken when a complaint is received regarding the Contractor/Contractor Employees? . **Nonconformance Reports (NCRs):** Please refer to section 5.1.4 of the QASP. - Can you give an example of a Level 1 (Minor) nonconformance and how it would be addressed? Levels of noncompliance are determined on a case-by-case basis, by the Contracting Officer. Upon receipt of a complaint, normally the Contracting Officer will seek to determine the validity of the complaint, review the quality control documents, PWS and contract, and then issue a non-compliance letter to the contractor if the complaint appears to be valid. For more information, please refer to section six of the QASP. - What is the process for addressing Level 2 (Major) nonconformances, including the issuance of Corrective Action Plans (CAPs)? **Data Analysis:** Please refer to section 6 of the QASP. If you have a more specific question after reviewing this section of the QASP, please feel free to ask that question before the question and answer period is over. - What kind of data is analyzed to identify trends in cost, schedule, and performance risks? All available data may be analyzed. - Could you provide an example of how negative trends noted in the data might result in issuing a Nonconformance Report? I cannot provide an example. But the Government retains the right to evaluate all available data and act accordingly within all legal and regulatory boundaries. **Acceptance of Services:** - What constitutes "documented objective quality evidence" for accepting services? Performance of the services in accordance with the contract, as documented by the COR on monthly status reports. - Are there any specific criteria that need to be met before the COR can authorize payment to the Contractor? **COR Status Report:** Under the terms of any resulting contract, the contractor will be paid for all work performed under it’s terms, as set by the Government and expressed in said written contract. - What kind of information is included in a COR Status Report, and how is it used in the monitoring process? This section can be confusing to potential contractors. The bottom line that I believe that you want is the information that is collected/reported about the contractor. This information is submitted by the COR to the Contracting team via a web based system (SPM) and this occurs on a monthly basis. A series of questions is asked of the COR such as if they conducted surveillance, and if there were any issues with contractor compliance. If the contractor is performing within the standard parameters of the PWS, PRS, and QASP this report will normally contain no other information, other than checked boxes and simple sentences stating that performance is being met. If the contractor is failing to perform in some way, that specific information will be entered. If the contractor is performing above standard, then the COR will usually report that information as well. COR status reports and monthly surveillance reports vary by Government contract, but the information contained in these reports is always limited to the performance documents that have been bilaterally agreed upon as found within the contract. - How are recommended adjustments to surveillance schedules determined? **Contractor Manpower Reporting Initiative:** - What is the purpose of the Contractor Manpower Reporting Initiative, and how does it relate to this contract? CRMI is an initiative at the Office of the Secretary of Defense level. Please refer to SAM.gov for more information on CMRI. - What are the consequences for the contractor if they fail to report manpower as required? **CPARS (Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System):** The contractor is required to comply with this and all other laws, regulations, statutes, etc. - How are CPARS ratings derived from the documented surveillance data? - What is the significance of completing CPARS in accordance with AFARS, Subpart 5142.15? **QASP Changes:** CPARS ratings are completed by the Government, not the contractor. The ratings are derived from all performance-based documentation within the contracting file. Monthly Status Reports as discussed above, any non-compliance letters, any correspondence from the COR or other Government personnel that outlines exceptional performance on the part of the contractor, etc. - Can you provide an example of a situation where changes to the QASP might be needed based on Data Analysis or contract modifications? I cannot provide an example of this, but the Government retains the right to do so if it deems it necessary.

Number of horses will vary. The total number of horses is not expected to exceed 30, currently there are significantly fewer.

The requirement is for three Groomer/Exercisers for one year. There are also two additional option years.