1204H119Q7000_-_Amendment_001_-_Weed_Washing_Q&A.PDF

Solicitation: 1204H119Q7000 Amendment: 001 Full list of Questions and Answers

Question: When priority dispatch is not used during initial attack, are these resources replaced immediately after initial attack using priority dispatch ranking?

Answer: Pursuant to the National Mobilization Guide, March 2019 a weed washing unit does not fall within the definition of initial attack. Weed washing units are considered logistical resources and ordered at the discretion of the Agency Administrator or equivalent once an incident has exceeded the first operational period.

Question: What is the criteria for the Forest Service using unoperated and non-mobile washing facilities?

Answer: VIPR I-BPA’s are agreements and there is no guarantee or promise of work. The agency has the right to seek other avenues to best meet the requirements given location of the incident, number of resources in need of the requirement and overall best value to the agency.

Question: Are the subsystems the specifications require high pressure low volume the hand-held wands and the underbody washer?

Answer: The Government does not address how the wash system is configured, or identify any subsystems. The system proposed by the contractor must meet the stated specifications outlined in section D.2.1.

Question: Why don’t the specifications require a nozzle placement of 45 degrees to the vertical, when that is the optimum orientation for cleaning both vertical and horizontal surfaces?

Answer: The 45 degree nozzle placement requirement has been removed from the specification as any nozzle placement that meets the performance criteria is deemed acceptable to meeting the requirement.

Question: Why do the specifications require underbody washer pressures that require nozzles that are unsuitable for washing trucks?

Answer: The solicitation does not address specific “underbody washer” requirement. Any high pressure low volume system shall have pressure not exceeding solicitation requirements in section D.2.1 –

CONTRACTOR PROVIDED EQUIPMENT.

Question: My understanding is that when you say “underbody surfaces”, you are requiring “all” underbody surfaces. Is my interpretation correct?

Answer: Pursuant to the specifications the solicitation D.2.1.1 – MINIMUM EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS: (2) Underbody washer. The underbody washing system must provide water spray at such an angle to ensure complete coverage of underbody surfaces and must be suitable to wash all underbody surfaces that contain soil, mud, caked dirt, plant parts, seeds, and vegetative parts.

Question: Will the unduly restrictive requirement for underbody washer minimum pressure and maximum capacity be deleted?

Answer: The Government doesn't specifically address minimum pressure requirements for the underbody wash system. A system can either be high pressure and low volume or high volume low pressure. The Government has not designed the requirements and specifications to be unduly restrictive.

Question: If fixed underbody washer nozzles are used, specifications need to require 4 sprays at 45 degrees to the vertical forming 4 continuous walls across the full width of the vehicle one each angled

Full list of Questions and Answers toward the front, rear, left-to-right and right-to-left. Nozzles also need to be positioned in the path of the tires to cover the area outside the trucks’ frames. Will the specifications be modified to include this?

Answer: No, the specifications will not be adjusted.

Question: Please clearly define “thoroughly wash and clean” so there is no misunderstanding as to what the government will require in this contract. Percent removal is impossible to determine in field conditions. What contractors and inspectors need is: What is required when looking under the vehicle from the side and laying under the vehicle looking up in an area 45-degrees to the vertical to the front and rear along the length of the vehicle.

Answer: Solicitation states as follows. “Thoroughly” washed includes removal of soil, mud, caked dirt, plant parts, seeds, and vegetative parts.

Visual inspection shall conclude there is removal of, but not limited to, soil, mud, caked dirt, plant parts, seeds, and vegetative parts off of the undercarriage, cross members, frame, skid plates, belly pans, wheels, treads, tracks, suspension, bumpers, wheel wells, radiator grills, and the ledges on the inside of rear and front bumpers. Pursuant to the solicitation section outlined below.

D.2.1 – CONTRACTOR PROVIDED EQUIPMENT

(e) The contractor shall:

(1) Thoroughly wash vehicles and equipment to remove soil, mud, caked dirt, plant parts, seeds, and vegetative parts. Vehicles and equipment include, but are not limited to fire engines, heavy equipment, logging equipment, transports, pickups, SUVs and sedans;

(2) Ensure that contractor services include remove of, but are not limited to, soil, mud, caked dirt, plant parts, seeds, and vegetative parts off of the undercarriage, cross members, frame, skid plates, belly pans, wheels, treads, tracks, suspension, bumpers, wheel wells, radiator grills, and the ledges on the inside of rear and front bumpers.

Question: What are the inspection procedures that will be utilized in this contract to ensure compliance with the performance specifications?

Answer: Pursuant to the solicitation section outlined below.

Per D.2.1 – CONTRACTOR PROVIDED EQUIPMENT

(d) The Government:

(5) May conduct inspections of washed equipment at the Governments discretion to ensure that the wash station meets agreement requirements. If the wash station does not meet the requirements of the government, it may be determined to be noncompliant and replaced with a different system in accordance with D.18 -- NONCOMPLIANCE AFTER ACCEPTANCE AT THE INCIDENT.

Additionally, all vendors offering resources under this solicitation in Region 6 – Pacific Northwest must complete and pass a pre-award inspection. All incident inspections will be conducted using the inspection check list located on the VIPR website here; https://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/equipment.php?tab=tab_d

Question: The specifications requiring portable power washers, high pressure and low volume hand wands are unduly restrictive. Will they be deleted?

Answer: Portable power washers are inexpensive, widely available, and portable and meet the pressure requirements. The requirement is not unduly restrictive, because a portable power washer is not https://www.fs.fed.us/business/incident/equipment.php?tab=tab_d

Full list of Questions and Answers specially designed nor does it require special permitting to obtain one. This specification will not be deleted.

Question: The Forest Service should modify the specifications to require night operation only when absolutely necessary. Contractor provided work lights should not be required. If the Forest Service is going to require night operation, they need to provide light towers that place the lights well above the operator’s line of sight and do not cast shadows on the ground. The government also needs to make sure operators have time for dinner, a shower, and 8 hours off duty time prior to beginning the next shift or make arrangements to hire a second shift. Will these changes be made to the specification?

Answer: Double shifting is not authorized under this equipment category. Additional operators cannot be ordered. All personnel working under the agreement is subject to the NWCG Interagency Incident Business Management handbook for excessive shift length and meal breaks. No changes will be made to the specifications.

Question: Does the Forest Service require pre-award inspections?

Answer: Yes, pursuant to the solicitation section D.16 – PRE-AWARD INSPECTIONS. Region 6 requires all contractors submitting a quote to an open solicitation have a pre-award inspection completed before award. This is per direction set by Pacific Northwest Wildfire Coordinating Group (PNWCG) in efforts to ensure contractor provided equipment meets agreement specifications prior to award.

Question: Contracting officers do not receive copies of weed washing contractors’ performance evaluations. How can contracting officers evaluate contractor performance when awarding contracts and placement on the dispatch priority list without this basic information?

Answer: Yes, Contracting Officers do receive performance evaluations and in accordance with B.3 -- BASIS OF AWARD this information is reviewed prior to award.

B.3 -- BASIS OF AWARD (e) Past performance dependability risk will be assessed as high, low, or unknown (high indicating significant probability for poor future performance) based upon customer satisfaction as reflected in evaluations received for the quoter on incidents and other related experience within the past 36 months, compliance with Federal, state, and local laws and regulations, and quoters history of reasonable and cooperative behavior. Pursuant to FAR 42.1501 the contractors record of integrity and business ethics, and generally, the contractors business-like concern for the interest of the customer will be a consideration of past performance.

(f) I-BPAs will be awarded only to quoters with:

(1) reasonably priced resources

(2) operationally acceptable resources

(3) a low or unknown performance risk

Question: Do we have to recycle the water and reuse it, or will tenders be able to keep us supplied with fresh water?

Answer: Pursuant to the solicitation, you are required to have a system that recycles water. The agency will provide fresh water for you to recycle.

D.2.1 -- CONTRACTOR PROVIDED EQUIPMENT

(b) Self-Contained with Recycling Water System

(d) The Government:

(2) Will provide wash water to the wash site

Question: Are we able to use our own porta tanks for fresh water and waste water?

Full list of Questions and Answers

Answer: Pursuant to the solicitation, you are required to provide storage capabilities for both fresh and waste water.

D.2.1.1 -- Minimum Equipment Requirements.

(3) A wash water storage tank. The wash water storage tank shall have adequate capacity to operate the wash system continuously for a minimum of two hours.

(4) Waste water shall be contained by the wash system.

Question: Will grey water trucks draft out of our porta tanks to dispose of waste water?

Answer: The agreement requires the government to remove the waste water, however, it does not specifically indicate the method how it will be removed.

D.2.1 -- CONTRACTOR PROVIDED EQUIPMENT

(d) The Government:

(3) Will remove waste water

Question: Is waste water required to be filtered to 100 microns before it is disposed of?

Answer: Yes.

D.2.1.1 -- Minimum Equipment Requirements.

(5) Wash water shall be filtered to a 100 micron particle size or less, or use a clean water final rinse.

Contractor is responsible for maintaining the quality of the recycled water to ensure clean and safe washed equipment. Contractor shall maintain the containment system in a functional condition at all times. Prior to disposal, all waste water shall be filtered to 100 microns or smaller particle size. Waste water shall be disposed of in accordance with wastewater requirements of the authority having jurisdiction.