Questions and Answers - Sol 1232SA25Q0709.pdf

USDA ARS

Janitorial Service Contract, Raleigh, NC

Solicitation Number: 1232SA25Q0709 Questions and Answers

1. Question: Can the Government please clarify if it imposes any formatting requirements (e.g., page limitations, font size, etc.) on Offeror’s responses? There are no formatting requirements or page limit.

2. Question: Is there an incumbent currently performing this work? If so, can the government please provide the incumbent total action obligations/ total contract value for the incumbent contract? This is a new requirement.

3. Question: Can the government please provide historical workload data for all positions? All information required is in the SOW/PWS. Additional information will not be provided.

4. Reference: Government Furnished Property/Equipment Question: Will the government be providing all equipment necessary, to include computers, workstations, etc. for contractor personnel to accomplish these tasks? The government will not provide equipment.

5. Question: Can the government please provide all updates in red or a highlighted font within the amended solicitation to clearly demonstrate the exact changes made? Questions and answers will be posted to the solicitation but with no special highlighting.

6. Question: Can the government please ensure that all questions provided to the government are responded to? We understand that some may appear to be duplicates between vendors, however this help ensures all questions are accounted for. Questions and Answers will be posted for all RFI’s.

7. Reference: SAM.gov Description for Notice ID 1232SA25Q0709 “1) …a Quote on company letterhead detailing the item description, unit price per item, discounts, total price and valid for at least 60 days after receipt of quote; and…” Question: Would the government please provide an Excel pricing sheet for offerors to use to ensure all responses include the same items required? The government will not provide a spreadsheet.

Submit quote per the solicitation instructions.

8. Reference: SAM.gov Description for Notice ID 1232SA25Q0709 “1) …a Quote on company letterhead detailing the item description, unit price per item, discounts, total price and valid for at least 60 days after receipt of quote; and…” Reference: SAM.gov Description for Notice ID 1232SA25Q0709 “Quotes should include pricing as indicated below….”

Question: Can the government please provide details as to what items are required to be included in the Price Volume as the “pricing indicated below” within the SAM.Gov posting and PWS only includes a breakdown of the contract years and does not include “item description, unit price per item, discounts,” etc.? Please provide a quote for all items required in the solicitation.

9. Question: Can the proposal volumes be submitted in PDF format? Yes

10. Reference: SAM.gov Description for Notice ID 1232SA25Q0709 “The Government anticipates award of a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose quote conforms to the specifications that will be the most advantageous to the Government in accordance with FAR 13.106-2 considering three major areas: technical acceptance, past performance and price.”

Reference: Service+Clauses+and+Provisions+(Solicitation)-2, Page 11, 52.212-2 ‒ Evaluation ‒ Commercial Products and Commercial Services. (Nov 2021)

“(a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose quote conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: Technical Specifications, Price” Question: Can the Government confirm whether past performance is required and to be considered as part of the Government’s evaluation of quotes? If so, could the Government please specify what they will evaluate within the Clauses and Provisions document? No past performance receives a neutral rating.

11. Reference: Service+Clauses+and+Provisions+(Solicitation)-2, Page 11, “This award shall be made on Lowest Price / Technically Acceptable Selection. …….As the technical merits of the quotes become more equal, price may become the determining factor.”

12. Reference: SAM.gov Description for Notice ID 1232SA25Q0709 “The Government anticipates award of a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose quote conforms to the specifications that will be the most advantageous to the Government in accordance with FAR 13.106-2 considering three major areas: technical acceptance, past performance and price.”

Reference: Service+Clauses+and+Provisions+(Solicitation)-2, Page 11, 52.212-2 ‒ Evaluation ‒ Commercial Products and Commercial Services. (Nov 2021) “(a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose quote conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: Technical Specifications, Price”

13. Question: Can the government please clarify if this is an Lowest Price/Technically Acceptable evaluation or a Best Value evaluation? Stating “the price may become the determining factor implies that it is not the main determining factor. This is a Lowest Price/Technically Acceptable evaluation.

14. Reference: Janitorial Contract_PWS 2-4-22 (Rev 4), Page 1, Section 1.3 Scope Question: Would the Government confirm that Offerors are only required to submit firm fixed pricing using the format provided in the PWS and within the SAM.Gov post? The solicitation will result in a firm fixed price contract.

15. Reference: Janitorial Contract_PWS 2-4-22 (Rev 4), Page 11, 4.6 Biobased Products Requirements, “The Contractor shall submit with the initial proposal a complete list of biobased products, indicating the name of the manufacturer, cost of each material, and the intended use of each of the materials that are to be used in carrying out the requirements of the contract.

Additionally, the winning Contractor on each anniversary date of the contract shall compile a complete list of biobased products, including the information above, purchased to carry out the contract requirements. The Contractor shall list volume to be used and total cost for each individual product. This information will be used for reporting purposes.”

Question: Can the Government confirm the list of biobased products is required with vendors’ price quote/pricing narrative, in addition to the completed pricing schedule? SEE https://www.biopreferred.gov/BioPreferred/faces/pages/ProductCategories.xhtml

16. Reference: Janitorial Contract_PWS 2-4-22 (Rev 4), Page 11, 4.6 Biobased Products Requirements Question: Would the Government please provide (if possible) the historical data for, or an approved listing of the biobased products used in the current contract so that Offerors provide an accurate estimate of materials? This is a new contract.

17. Reference: Janitorial Contract_PWS 2-4-22 (Rev 4), Page 2, “The Contractor shall establish a written quality control program to assure the requirements of the contract are provided as specified.

A copy of the program will be provided to the Government.”

https://www.biopreferred.gov/BioPreferred/faces/pages/ProductCategories.xhtml

Reference: Janitorial Contract_PWS 2-4-22 (Rev 4), Page 12, “5 Deliverables – Reserved” Question: Can the Government please confirm if the written quality control program is to be provided post award (deliverable) or within Offerors’ proposal submission? This will be postaward deliverable.

18. Reference: Janitorial Contract_PWS 2-4-22 (Rev 4), Page 3, 2.5 Contractor Personnel, Disciplines, and Specialties, “The contractor shall accomplish the assigned work by employing and utilizing qualified personnel with appropriate combinations of education, training, and experience. The contractor shall match personnel skills to the work or task with a minimum of under/over employment of resources. The contractor shall ensure labor rates are adhered to. The Contractor shall provide the necessary resources and infrastructure to manage, perform, and administer the contract. The Contractor will have adequate staff to provide service when regular staff is out sick or on annual leave.”

Question: Can the Government confirm whether Offerors are required to provide a formal level of effort (i.e., labor categories, labor hours, rates, etc.) within their proposal response? If so, could the Government please advise if there are any education, training, and experience requirements for “qualified personnel” to accomplish the assigned work? The contractor should provide all information necessary to support capability to fulfil requirement in the PWS.

19. Reference: Service+Clauses+and+Provisions+(Solicitation)-2, Page 11, 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Products and Commercial Services (SEP 2023) “This is a requirement to establish a Firm-fixed price purchase order for Hazardous and non-hazardous waste removal in accordance with the attached Statement of Work (SOW). … Please document the required technical expertise and knowledge required to successfully complete the requirements identified in the SOW and complete pricing schedule.”

Reference: Janitorial Contract_PWS 2-4-22 (Rev 4), Page 1, “Performance Work Statement

(PWS)”

Question: In order to best reference in our proposal response, can the Government please clarify if Offerors should refer to a Statement of Work (SOW) or the Performance Work Statement (PWS) when citing tasks in the proposal? Referencing PWS/ SOW is acceptable.

20. Question: In order to best reference in our proposal response, can the government please confirm the official contract title for this procurement? Using the title and solicitation number referenced in the www.sam.gov solicitation announcement is acceptable.

21. Question: In order to effectively respond to the solicitation, can the government please provide a one-week extension once the Q/As are posted? There will not be an extension to the due date.

22. Will the Government be providing the vendor sign-in sheet on who attended the site visit? No