Attachment 4-Questions and Answers.docx

Questions and Answers for solicitation 12305B24Q0128- Maintenance Management Contract

1. Is the USDA looking to have preventive maintenance services provided under this contract, or is it just for repairs?

PMs are not to be included under this contract, but parts for PM can be ordered through the contract.

2. What is the pricing structure the USDA is looking for? Is it an hourly and travel rate, percentage above the actual costs of repair, firm fixed pricing per instrument system, or something different?

The Mass Spectrometer is the only instrument that has full service. This includes everything that you listed above and the repair costs can go beyond the fixed price of the annual contract for this instrument (I think it was about 25k). For the remaining instruments on the contract (and the 20k), they will provide remote support and repair parts. If the pricing is for time and material calls, the pricing for each service will vary greatly depending on the nature of the call, actual problem and individual instrument manufacturer’s different labor/travel rates.

3. How would the USDA recommend to quote this, and how will offers be evaluated, considering the variations?

The Mass spectrometer is covered under a typical warranty contract. Just like any other warranty contract that is provided by a manufacturer.

the rest of the instruments are covered by a blanket contract that will be covered up to a cost of 20k. if something on one of these instruments breaks that costs more than 20k or we have multiple instrument issues in which repairs total more than 20k, we are on the hook to pick up the additional costs. The idea here is that the combination of historical expenses and the labs ability to repair instruments in house has not been greater than 20k, so that amount should cover all the rest of the instrumentation.

4. Can you provide a complete listing of the equipment that is to be potentially covered?

Please see Attachment 5-Equipment List. The first item in row 2 (bold) is the mass spectrometer that is covered under a full-service contract. the rest of the equipment is covered under the blanket contract for 20k.

5. Can you please send over an equipment list and be more specific of diagnosis and repairs?

Diagnosis of issues will be done inhouse by lab staff at the first level. if the issue is something that cannot be determined, then a order will be placed for remote support by a qualified instrument technician. Once the issue is determined, the repair parts can be ordered and sent to the lab, where they will be installed inhouse.