03724_QA2.docx

Question & Answer #2 Variable Message Boards - 03724

This document is posted to capture the questions received during the question & answer period for 03724 Variable Message Boards. This document is the official response to the questions received.

Questions or responses included in this document require changes to the solicitation documents. The solicitation has been updated in WEBS as follows:

Competitive SolicitationV4 Exhibit B – SpecificationsV2 Exhibit C – Bid PriceV3 Exhibit A-2 – Bidder’s ProfileV2 Exhibit D – Purchasing AgreementV2

Any additional questions regarding this solicitation must be directed to the Procurement Coordinator listed below.

Carmen Hill DESContractsTeamCedar@des.wa.gov

When listing the "Required Price" in CELL F12, should this price encompass all items specified under the category requirements in Exhibit B – Technical Specifications? Or should the "Required Price" reflect only the price of the sign "board" as mentioned in the Exhibit C Instruction tab, with costs for mounting hardware, additional features, and accessories itemized separately in the "Not Required" section below? Please clarify.

What verification is required to confirm the mercury content amount listed by a company in CELL C15?

If no mercury-added products or processes are involved in the assembly of the product, is there any reason why "0.00" cannot be entered in CELL C15 of Exhibit C – Bid Price Sheet for Categories 1-4?

In the event of a tie, how is the mercury content preference determined?

What is the role of the clearinghouse in determining mercury content preference?

While most requirements listed in this specification pertain to a standard truck-mounted sign, the Control Center includes three items that are specific to a Trailer Mounted Signs:

· Controller must be NTCIP Compliant (Specification is listed on Trailer Mount Applications).

· Must contain a minimum of 100 pre-programmed messages from the manufacturer (Specification is listed on Trailer Mount Applications).

· Must provide space for at least 100 user-designed display messages (Specification is listed on Trailer Mount Applications).

Can you confirm if these specifications are correct for this category?

Exhibit B – Specifications have been revised.

Yes

Itemized sales data is not provided.

For any available information regarding previous spend on this contract, please refer to Section 2.3 of the Competitive Solicitation.

No

No.

No

These requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. For more information, please refer to Section 3 – Included Goods and Prices, particularly 3.2 - Ability to Modify Scope of Cooperative Purchasing Agreement:

Subject to mutual agreement between the parties, Enterprise Services reserves the right to modify the Goods included in this Cooperative Purchasing Agreement; Provided, however, that any such modification shall be effective only upon thirty (30) calendar days advance written notice; and Provided further, that any such modification must be within the scope of the Competitive Solicitation for this Cooperative Purchasing Agreement.

No

REQ ID 3,5,6,7,8

"The sign Must have a sealing gasket between the window and the cabinet that seals out the weather elements and minimizes window vibration shock" Based on the statement above, it seems like the state is concerned about the vibration shock inside the cabinet; due to the high cost of repairing or replacing damaged character panels from vibration when towing; is the state requesting vibration mounts to be installed with the electronic character panels to reduce the vibration shock?

REQ ID 6 , 7

Dimensions:

Small Size - No larger than 82” in width and 49” in height We noticed there are minimum and maximum dimensions on the mid-size and large-size message signs. Would the state be able to provide no smaller than dimensions for the small size message sign?

We would recommend the following statement:

Small Size – No smaller than 71” in width and 48” in height

The Exhibit B – Specifications document has been revised to allow your request.

Yes

REQ ID 6 , 7

Dimensions:

Small Size - No larger than 82” in width and 49” in height Mid-Size - No smaller than 83” in width and 50” in height, and no larger than 105” in width and 66” in height Large Size - No smaller than 106” in width and 67” in height, and no larger than 145” in width and 83” in height Would the state be able to accept a 2" tolerance from the given sign dimensions range?

Yes. The Exhibit B – Specifications document has been revised.

Yes

REQ ID 8

Full Matrix 5-Color Message Sign Would your team entertain a full matrix 4-color message sign?

No.

No

REQ ID 4

Board: Must have all mounting hardware needed for installation onto a pickup+ There are several different types of mounting options for LED Arrow Boards, would you please specify the requested mounting option for the pickup truck for this section? Tailgate Mount? Bed Rails? Headache Rack? Bed Mount?

· Lists: Hitch must have a lockable 2-5/16-inch ball with a three-inch inner diameter pintle combination coupler with safety chains.

o Can you provide additional clarification?

I interpret this as – we are supposed to provide a hitch (receiver that inserts in the trucks hitch) that is a pintle combination with 2-5/16-inch ball. Pintle must be able to accept a 3” Lunette ring / drawbar eye.

• Is this correct? You would like for us to include a hitch (receiver that goes on a truck?). Does this propose an issue for customers as the hitch (receiver) normally stays with the truck and not the trailer?

If the above is correct, what would you like mounted to the drawbar on the trailer? Would you want a 3” Lunette Ring or would you want a tongue that pairs to a 2-5/16-inch ball?

For clarification, the specification is only requiring the trailer hitch and chains.

No

o Lists: Must include the manufacturer’s standard mounting hardware and actuator.

Does this imply that instead of having it listed as a feature - the mounting hardware and actuator must be included in the evaluated price of the unit?

o Lists: Must have all mounting hardware needed for installation onto a pickup There are multiple ways to mount an Arrow Board to a truck. Are the mounting options supposed to be included in the evaluated price of the unit or are the mounting options supposed to be listed in the features available?

Exhibit B – Specifications has been revised to remove the mounting hardware requirement for LED Arrow Boards.

Yes

Outside of #14, is there anything else that needs to be submitted to ensure we receive the points for the Executive order 18-03 category?

No.

No

o It lists: “Bid Prices are per line item and for all required line items per category. All required line items will be added for a total bid Price that will be evaluated (Evaluated Price).”.

_______________________________________ Can you provide additional clarification? It almost interprets that this contradicts the line 35-44 statements where it says preferred features must be completed but it is not scored; however, it also says they are added into the total bid price?

Preferred Features are not scored.

The Exhibit C – Bid Price document has been revised to remove mention of Preferred Feature prices being included in an evaluated price. Please note that none of the Preferred Features will be scored.

Yes

o It’s understood that we must meet mandatory specifications as listed on Exhibit B- Technical Specifications.

· In regards to (Example – Category 5), lines:

Line 18: “Bidder is required to provide the below to be responsive.”

Line 19: “Preferred Features (NOT SCORED. Bidders MUST submit this nonscored section to be considered Responsive).”

_______________________________________Based on the mention of “bidder is required to provide” – If a feature is listed as unavailable, does that mean that we are not responsive for that category? (essentially disqualifying us from bidding that category?)

(Rev5/8/2023)

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