BPA Questions Responses_RC_EW_AP.pdf

BPA Questions & Government Responses

Government responses are below in red.

1. Section B: Schedule of Items - The second sentence of the first paragraph states, "Fully loaded rates for the key personnel/staff/skills for this 3-year BPA must be identified in the technical proposal." Should the fully loaded rates be identified in the price proposal and not the technical proposal?

Yes, the fully loaded rates for key personnel should be addressed in the price proposal section and not the technical proposal.

2. Section C.8 Materials Testing: Is material testing required to be performed by the CM firm, or is the intent of this contract to provide only quality assurance oversight?

Additionally, are there any specific certifications required for sampling and testing?

The material testing shall be provided by the Contractor Inspection vendor. As noted in the Schedule of Items, “Material testing” is a negotiated pay item. Therefore, it’s not required to fill out the “material testing” pay item since it’s a negotiated pay item. The BPA Call Order(s) issued under this BPA will be based on scopes of work defining specific requirements for those individual projects. If Material Testing is required for a specific project, then the Government will provide a pay item for that individual project’s material testing with the requirements.

3. Section I 52.216-18 (a) - The last sentence states, "Such orders may be issued from 14 July 2019 through 15 July 2024." Can the USDA confirm the ordering dates? //

Refer to amended Section I.

4. Section I 52.216-19 indefinite Quantity Agreement (d) - The last sentence states, "The contract must govern the Contractor's and Government's rights and obligations with respect to that order to the same extent as if the order were completed during the contract's effective period; provided, that the Contractor must not be required to make any deliveries under this contract after 1 March 2023." Can the USDA clarify this date?

Refer to amended Section I.

5. Section 6.7 3. Volume II - Price Proposal Instructions (c) - This section states, "Offerors shall submit Firm-Fixed Ceiling Rates for all work described in the RFP package. The ceiling rates shall apply for the full five (5) years, for payment purposes." Can the USDA confirm that this should state three (3) years rather than five (5) years?

Refer to amended Section L.

6. Can we use CPARS in place of PPQ forms?

Yes, the vendor can use CPARs or the PPQ Form and/or a combination of them both.

7. Attachment 1, Page 44: Is the Experience Questionnaire (Attachment 01) the same thing as the Completed Administrative Information page?

No it is not, this is a separate document that needs to be filled out by the contractor.

8. Section L. Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors, L.9 Submission of Offer

– Proposal Organization and Format, Item 1. Volume I – Technical Proposal (Page 41) and Volume II – Price Proposal (Page 42): Will a cover page and any section dividers count in the page limit for Volume I and II?

Refer to amended Section L.

9. Section L. Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors, L.9 Submission of Offer

– Proposal Organization and Format, Item 1. Volume I – Technical Proposal, Page 41:

Will the cover letter count in the page limit for Volume I?

10. Section L. Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors, L.9 Submission of Offer

– Proposal Organization and Format, Item 1. Volume I – Technical Proposal, Page 41:

Will the Completed Administrative Information page count in the page limit for Volume I?

11. Attachment 1, Page 44: Should the 3 projects listed on the Experience Questionnaire be the same as 3 of our 5 projects that we are submitting PPQs for or can they be 3 different projects?

Yes, the three (3) projects could overlap with 3 of the 5 on the PPQ

12. Attachment 1, Page 44: On the Experience Questionnaire (Attachment 01), can you provide clarification for Item 8. D. Estimate rate of progress (such as 2.0 acres per day)?

Removed this part of the questionnaire.

13. Section L. Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors, L.9 Submission of Offer

– Proposal Organization and Format, Item 2. Past Performance, Page 41: Can CPARS be used in place of PPQs?

14. Section L. Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors, L.9 Submission of Offer

– Proposal Organization and Format, Item 3. Volume II – Price Proposal, Page 42: Do we need to include a copy of our Reps and Certifications or will a statement suffice if we have an active registration and our Reps and Certifications are up to date at www.SAM.gov?

15. In Section L. Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors, L.9 Submission of Offer – Proposal Organization and Format, Item 1. Volume I – Technical Proposal, Page 41: Under Item C. iv. Technical Capabilities Statement, can you please clarify what roles are considered key personnel?

16. Under Section B: Schedule of Items, B.1 Blanket Purchase Agreement (first paragraph), Page 5, it states that the ceiling rates shall apply for the full three (3) years, but in Section L. Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors, L.9 Submission of Offer – Proposal Organization and Format, Item 3. Volume II – Price Proposal, Page 42, Item C. states the ceiling rates shall apply for the full five (5) years, for payment purposes. Which is correct, 3 years or 5 years?

Refer to amended Section B.1 and Section L.

17. In Section L. Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors, L.9 Submission of Offer – Proposal Organization and Format, Item 1. Volume I – Technical Proposal, Page 41: Under Item C. iv. Technical Capabilities Statement, can you please clarify what you would like to see for “personnel by type”?

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18. Page 27 Section 452.237-74 Key Personnel (a) indicates that key personnel (KP) will be determined for each call order. However, in other sections the SOW (e.g.

L.9.1.c.iv) indicates that the offerors proposal shall address Key (assigned) Personnel. Which KP (if any) does the government expect offerors to identify in their proposal?

It is required that the vendor submit their Key Personnel as required in this solicitation for further evaluation. If the vendor wants to update their Key Personnel during a Request for Proposal, or during performance of a Call Order, then the vendor shall submit an updated Key Personnel(s) to the Contracting Officer.

Examples are Building inspector, Bridge inspector, road inspector and Concrete inspector.

19. Page 5 Section B.1. indicates that ceiling rates must cover three (3) years of performance. But on Page 42 Section L.9 Part 3.C indicates that ceiling rates must cover five (5) years of performance. Is the government asking for rates to cover three years or five years of performance?

Refer to amended Section B.1 and Section L.

20. Page 5 Section B.2 Schedule of Items, does not list a Task Manager rate, but the scope of work indicates that the consultant is expected to manage the staff. Will the government accept a consultant adding a Task Manager rate?

The vendor shall provide all personnel, transportation, supervision, supplies and supporting inspection tools and incidentals to perform Call Order’s work in accordance with the terms, requirements, conditions, and provisions of this solicitation, the contract, subsequent laws, rules, and OSHA regulations.

21. Page 42 Section L.9 Part 3.F - refers to Section K Reps and Certs. But the solicitation we downloaded from SAM.GOV does not include a Section K. Is being registered SAM.GOV sufficient to meet this requirement?