Questions_&_Responses2.pdf

Questions and Responses to Solicitation 12-1NTS-20-Q-0001

1. Is the Past performance form required to be submitted directly to you from the client, or we will submit alongside the required documentation for this solicitation. The past performance information should come directly to me from the 3rd party (your client). The other required documentation will be submitted to the CO by the surveyor company/offeror.

2. The updated solicitation document states Nov 8th 2019 as potential contract start date, but the solicitation says Dec 1st 2019 - Jan 31, 2020 as when the cargo will arrive. Can you clarify, if we will be needed to mobilize before the Dec 1st? The contract will be awarded on November 18, 2019; however, the earliest date that commodity could arrive at discharge port is December 1, 2019. Therefore, the successful surveyor will need to ensure that staffing is available at the required location(s) and ready for work once a Task Order is issued.

3. Will our operations be restricted to only the discharge ports, or will it include verification at the inland final destination? Staffing will need to be in both locations.

4. If we are to inspect at the inland final destination, do you know the potential delivery locations in Niger Republic? We require this for logistics expenses as these have to be included in the rate sheet which we are to populate. At this time, we do not have a definite inland location. Rates submitted in the surveyor’s offer should encompass multiple/numerous inland locations in Niger.

5. According to section 3 of the Solicitation, which mentioned the need to include the applicable rates for sampling and analysis, we noticed there is no additional section on the rates schedule for this. Can you advice how you want us to include the pricing? The rates for testing and analysis should be submitted under separate cover. Please refer to section L of the solicitation:

a. ADDENDA TO FAR 52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS—

COMMERCIAL ITEMS (OCT 2018)

i. a. Addendum to paragraph (b) – Submission of Offers.

1. vi. A statement must be submitted, certifying that the offeror has access to an accredited laboratory to use in the event that damaged cargo requires analysis along with prices for the following tests: Moisture, Silver Nitrate, and Fit for Human Consumption.

6. What will be the payment structure for this solicitation? Please see solicitation Section C.3. “ A task order will be issued for each originating, vessel/voyage with the same discharge/ETA and a survey will be required of every Ocean Bill of Lading (OBL). Multiple surveys may be required per task order. A task order will contain one type of conveyance (bulk, breakbulk, or containerized) and one booking type (through bill of lading, discharge only, devan at port, etc). Price paid for each task order is based on total quantity (number of containers or MT) for entire task order.” Once the surveyor has completed work and submitted all required documentation to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), an invoice will be created and submitted for payment. Payment will be disbursed according to the rate and price listed on the applicable Task Order.

7. Is it your intention for a USA based Marine Survey Company to be awarded this work or a local NIGER company? The survey company will be awarded based upon the evaluation criteria outlined in the solicitation. The solicitation does not require the survey company to be US based or otherwise. The reason I ask is that since NIGER is a land locked country a local Marine Surveyor may be difficult to find.

8. In addition, in evaluating and submitting our pricing how should we account for travel and per-diem? Travel and per diem are not separate evaluation factors. These should be included in overall pricing.

9. Another question is it the expectation that the Marine Surveyor would be deployed to NIGER on a semi-permanent (for example six months at a time) or potentially travel from the USA to complete the task order and return upon completion during the length of the contract?

Historically, there have not been sufficient shipments to warrant a deployed surveyor.

However, there is no way to project how frequent commodity will be shipped to the location.

Please see the requirements in the solicitation. The surveyor will need to ensure that staffing is available at the discharge port and at the delivery location upon the arrival of the commodity and throughout the duration of the survey/inspection process.

10. Would the TO’s be frequent enough to support a forward deployed surveyor? Historically, there have not been sufficient shipments to warrant a deployed surveyor. However, there is no way to project how frequent commodity will be shipped to the location. The surveyor will need to be able to ensure staffing is available at discharge port and delivery location upon receipt of a task order.

11. Are containerized shipments in 20ft or 40ft containers? There is the potential for either or both.

12. Will hotel expenses be required in the body of the proposal? The surveyor company will be responsible for all expenses. The overall rates should reflect those expenses. Will the quantity be 2700 mts for every shipment? Quantities and timeframes of shipments are indefinite/unknown until a task notification is issued to the contractor/surveyor. The quantities that are listed in the solicitation are estimates.

13. In light of holidays and amendments that have been released, can the proposal due date be changed to a later date? Yes, an amendment will be released to extend the proposal due date to Thursday, October 24, 2019 at 4:00pm central. In addition, the award date will be moved to Monday, November 18, 2019 at 4:00pm central.

14. For the performance questionnaire, are there any particulars on who should be completing this form? The past performance questionnaire should be completed by a client for whom the surveyor company has completed similar services. Services should include tallying, inspections, and working with like cargoes. For instance, does this need to be completed by customers in Niger only? No, the questionnaire does not have to be completed by customers in Niger; however, the services that are being reported on should be similar in scope to the services outlined in the solicitation. Additionally, does the customer who completes this form need to have worked with BV on the specific products mentioned in this tender? No, the products do not need to be the same, but the services should be similar in scope.

15. For the rate schedule, if we can extend reduced rates for a multi year contract (various options), should I submit a form for each option? At the top of the rate sheet, there are boxes that identify the multiple years. If rates apply across all years, check all of the boxes. If there are different rates for each year, complete the rate sheet for each year and check the applicable box. For example, if all years will be $10, the section will look like the following:

✔ Base Year - ✔ Option 1 - ✔ Option 2 - ✔ Option 3 - ✔ Option 4 -

If Option Year 3 and Option Year 4 will have different rates from the first three years, then a second rate sheet should be submitted with applicable values for those final two years. Rate sheets should be submitted for each year if there are different values.

Cita D. Trice Contracting Officer 816.926.1438 Cita.trice@usda.gov mailto:Cita.trice@usda.gov mailto:Cita.trice@usda.gov