Amendment 0001 - 12444324Q0062.pdf

(x)

12444324Q0062 x x

1 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted ; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE

RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR

OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted , such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

x

ATLANTA GA 30309-2449

STE 876S

1720 PEACHTREE ST NW

USDA-FS CSA EAST 5

09/05/20240001

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended , by one of the following methods: (a) By completing

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

08/15/2024

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation data, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not is required to sign this document and return __________________ copies to the issuing office.

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

ALF Environmental Response BPA.

Amendment 0001 - The purpose of this amendment is to share a questions and answers document. Please see attachment below for Q&A document.

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

CAROL D. NORTHROP

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

Previous edition unusable

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9 A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect .

Questions and Answers 12444324Q0062

1. I would like to confirm if the project mentioned above is considered as a potential new requirement or is there an incumbent contract currently performing these services?

a. There is no incumbent currently performing these services this is considered a new requirement.

2. Environmental Response BPA for the Allegheny National Forest that is listed as a small business set-aside. Within the RFQ it states that multiple awards are intending to be awarded. Will any of these awards be set-aside and obligated for disadvantaged business such as 8(a)s, EDWOSBs, or SDVOBs? Or is the intent to simply have a pool of small business contractors.

a. This procurement is set aside for Small Businesses (see applicable NAICS code in RFQ). The intent is to award multiple BPA’s. See “BPA Call Issuance Procedures” and “Call Order Competition” sections in the RFQ for more information on how call orders will be competed among the BPA holders.

3. On PDF page 2 of Attachment 1 Schedule of Items – Scope of Work, there is a table that list labor categories (Environmental Technician, Heavy Equipment Operator, and Forestry Technician) to provide pricing information. Are there other labor categories that should be submitted as part of the response?

a. No, as stated in attachment 1, “The labor categories listed may only be a small sample of the different personnel needed to complete work under this BPA.”

“The rates your firm proposes will be used for award evaluation purposes.”

4. Should attachment 4 be submitted as part of the response? If so, is it intended to provide the required information for Factor 1: Past Performance and Relevant Experience and Factor 2: Experience And Qualifications of Key Personnel?

a. As stated in the RFQ under 52.212-1, “Government Provided Technical Proposal Forms are a separate attachment to this solicitation and may be used for some of your technical proposal submission.” Please refer to FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors provision in the RFQ for what needs to be submitted with your quote.

5. On page 5 of the RFQ under Price proposal is states “b) Price Proposal – Include the following: 1) the completed Schedule of Items from Section B of this solicitation”. Can you clarify the reference to Section B?

a. This is a typo, it should state “the completed Schedule of Items from attachment 1 of this solicitation”. Attachment 1 is where you would complete the vendor name, vendor UEI, proposed services activities table, and the labor categories table and submit as part of your quote.

6. Would you be able to provide a job description for the Environmental Technician and the Forestry Technician?

a. The U.S. Department of Labor, Service Contract Act Directory of Occupations, 5th Edition describes the following,

b. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNICIAN - The Environmental Technician conducts tests and field investigations to obtain data for use by environmental, engineering and scientific personnel in determining sources and methods of controlling pollutants in air, water, and soil, utilizing knowledge of agriculture, chemistry, meteorology, and engineering principles and applied technologies. This worker conducts chemical and physical laboratory and field tests according to prescribed standards to determine characteristics or composition of solid, liquid, or gaseous materials and substances, using pH meter, chemicals, autoclaves, centrifuge spectrophotometer, microscope, analytical instrumentation, and chemical laboratory equipment. This worker collects samples of gases from smokestacks, and collects other air samples and meteorological data to assist in evaluation of atmospheric pollutants; collects water samples from streams and lakes, or raw, semi-processed or processed water, industrial waste water, or water from other sources to assess pollution problem, and collects soil, silt, or mud to determine chemical composition and nature of pollutants. This worker prepares sample for testing, records data, and prepares summaries and charts for review, sets monitoring equipment to provide flow of information, installs, operates, and performs routine maintenance on gas and fluid flow systems, chemical reaction systems, mechanical equipment, and other test instrumentation. This worker may operate fixed or mobile monitoring or data collection station, may conduct bacteriological or other tests related to research in environmental or pollution control activity, may collect and analyze engine exhaust emissions to determine type and amount of pollutants, and may specialize in one phase or type of environmental pollution or protection and be identified according to specialty.

c. FORESTRY TECHNICIAN - The Forestry Technician requires the use of technical knowledge acquired through formal training or equivalent experience to examine forest area and reports findings. Duties include one or more of the following: inspecting reforestation work such as planting, thinning, or site preparation to determine compliance with contract; examines and measures stands of trees to collect and record data on ground vegetation, soil condition, and size, growth, and condition of trees; taking measurements and making calculations to estimate timber yield from sample plots (cruising). At tree progeny sites, the Forestry Technician performs layout, staking, and mapping, identifies planting spots and seedlings by pinning and tagging and records position numbers and growth data identifies superior specimens of trees for cone and scion (sprouts or shoots for grafting) collection. Excludes workers required to have a degree in forestry.

7. The RFQ states that as part of the Technical Proposal and Past Performance and Relevant Experience the contractor will provide a list of similar projects completed in the last 3 to 5 years. However, the Past Performance and Experience Form provided in Attachment 4, states to list projects over the last 3 years. Should we assume that projects performed in the last 5 years are eligible to be included in Attachment 4 based on the RFQ?

a. Yes, you may list projects performed in the last 5 years on that form also.

8. Attachment 1 – Schedule of Items – Scope of Work: Can the Government please provide definitions for Environmental Technician, Heavy Equipment Operator, and Forestry

Technician, including type(s) of task(s) to be completed by each and years of experience?

a. See answer to question 6 and,

b. HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR - The Heavy Equipment Operator operates heavy equipment such as cranes, clamshells, power shovels, motor graders, heavy loaders, carryalls, bulldozers, rollers, scrapers, and large industrial tractors with pan or scrapper attachments. Equipment is used to excavate, load, or move dirt, gravel, or other materials. Operator may read and interpret grade and slope stakes and simple plans, and may grease, adjust and make emergency repairs to equipment.

9. Attachment 1 – Schedule of Items – Scope of Work includes example labor categories and rates. When developing and providing labor categories and rates, we assume that providing labor categories and corresponding burdened labor rates for each year of the proposed five-year contract is acceptable. Please clarify that this is acceptable.

a. We are only requesting the labor category rates now to be used for award evaluation purposes. Individual call orders will specify evaluation criteria.

10. Attachment 1 – Schedule of Items – Scope of Work: Should labor category rates be provided if the staff are only employed by the Prime or is it acceptable to provide rates for subcontractor staff?

a. Both are acceptable.

11. Attachment 1 – Schedule of Items – Scope of Work: Activity I includes reference to well plugging. Can the Government define what type(s) of wells may need to be plugged (ex., monitoring wells, abandoned and orphaned oil & gas wells, UIC wells, etc.)?

a. All of the above. Well plugging would include monitoring wells, active and abandoned/orphaned oil and gas wells and UIC wells.

12. Attachment 4 – Government Provided Technical Proposal Forms: Are Offerors permitted to provide additional project descriptions forms to supplement the project information presented within the Past Performance and Experience Form that was included in the solicitation?

a. As stated in the RFQ under 52.212-1, “Government Provided Technical Proposal Forms are a separate attachment to this solicitation and may be used for some of your technical proposal submission.” Please refer to FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors provision in the RFQ for what needs to be submitted with your quote. You may certainly provide additional forms and information as this is just an example form to assist for some of your technical proposal submission.

13. Attachment 4 – Government Provided Technical Proposal Forms: Are Offerors permitted to provide additional personnel resumes to supplement the information presented within the Personnel Form that was included in the solicitation?

a. Yes

14. Attachment 4 – Government Provided Technical Proposal Forms – Equipment Form:

Should equipment listed in a Contractor's response include items such as hand-held meters, vehicles, and heavy equipment or just heavy equipment?

a. List all equipment that will be used to complete the project requirements.

15. Attachment 4 – Government Provided Technical Proposal Forms – Equipment Form:

Regarding equipment, should contractor only list equipment we own or should we list all equipment we intend to use that might be rented or owned by a subcontractor?

a. List all equipment that will be used to complete the project requirements.

16. Does this proposed environmental services BPA replace a similar past or similar ongoing

BPA or contract that supports Region 9? If so, please provide a listing of the contract number and awardee(s)

a. There is no incumbent currently performing these services this is considered a new requirement.

17. Approximately how many BPA’s does USFS anticipate awarding for this opportunity?

a. The Government expects to make multiple awards from this solicitation.

18. Under “Technical Capability”, USFS is requesting that Offerors address “available equipment for the projects”. We rent a portion of our environmental project equipment, we purchase certain related consumable items for our environmental projects, and we own and maintain only a small complement of project equipment. Is USFS seeking a detailed equipment list from offerors? Or will an abbreviated list, accompanied by some narrative satisfy this evaluation criteria?

a. List all equipment that will be used to complete the project requirements. An abbreviated list accompanied by a brief narrative is acceptable.

19. How many contractors will be awarded this solicitation? Are there current BPA partners, and how many?

a. There is no incumbent currently performing these services this is considered a new requirement. The Government expects to make multiple awards from this solicitation.

20. Could you please clarify the inclusion of the 'Forestry Technician' labor category in the SOW, given that there appears to be no forestry-related work outlined in the scope? Is this category essential for the evaluation, or could it be replaced with a more relevant one?"

a. We recommend you provide pricing for the three categories listed in the schedule. All call orders will be firm fixed price therefore labor rates won’t be requested. These are requested only on the BPA solicitation for award evaluation purposes. Additionally as stated in attachment 1, “The labor categories listed may only be a small sample of the different personnel needed to complete work under this BPA.”

21. Should we include any additional labor categories in our proposal now, considering that the scope of work might involve roles such as Project Manager, Professional Engineer, or Geologist? If so, please specify which categories should be included at this stage.

a. See answer to question 3.

22. Are we permitted to propose additional labor categories and corresponding rate beyond those listed in the SOW at the call order proposal level?

a. All call orders will be firm fixed price therefore labor rates won’t be requested.

These are requested only on the BPA solicitation for award evaluation purposes.

23. Please clarify the level of detail requested for Item B of the Technical Capability requirements. Does the service want a narrative description of our technical approach to the scope of work?

a. Yes, although you will be selecting the activities you can do under this BPA on the PROPOSED SERVICE ACTIVITIES table in attachment 1, please provide a brief narrative addressing your technical approach for those activities also.

24. The solicitation files refer to “Schedule of Items,” and “Price Schedule.” Is the table below from Attachment 1 the Schedule of Items/Price Schedule?

a. Please refer to attachment 1 for the Schedule of Items/Price Schedule.

Attachment 1 is where you would complete the vendor name, vendor UEI, proposed services activities table, and the labor categories table and submit as part of your quote.

25. If the above referenced table is the Schedule of Items/Price Schedule, please confirm that offerors to add labor categories as appropriate?

a. We are requesting you complete the unit prices column of this table.

26. Will a list of all questions and answers be posted to the Contract Opportunity page of

SAM.gov for the subject solicitation or distributed in some way?

a. A Questions & Answers document will be posted to SAM.GOV by approximately 09/05/2024, if applicable.

27. We respectfully ask the government to consider extending the proposal due date to

09/24/2024 to allow for development of the highest quality technical proposal. This will allow Offerors sufficient time to incorporate the answers to questions that are expected for release on 09/05/2024.

a. At this time we are not extending the offer due date.

28. Is there a limit on the amount of information that can be provided for each Key

Personnel? For example, is there a limit on the number of words or pages for each Key Personnel.

a. No word or page limit is included in this solicitation.

29. Is there a limit on the number of Key Personnel that the offeror can provide?

a. No

30. Is there a limit on the amount of information that can be provided for each project? For example, is there a limit on the number of words or pages for each project.

a. No

31. Is there a limit on the number of projects that the offeror can provide?

a. No

32. Please confirm past performance and relevant experience from team subcontractors can be included in addition to past performance from the prime offeror as documented in Attachment 4.

a. As stated in FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors provision in the RFQ, If a company does not have past performance information available, information may be provided for predecessor companies, key personnel, or subcontractors.

33. Should the Labor Categories (Environmental Technician, Heavy Equipment Operator and Forestry Technician) be identified as Key Personnel in the offeror’s Technical Proposal?

a. Who you choose to list as key personnel to be used on the project may depend on which activities you state you can do under this BPA. From the RFQ - This information is used to determine the acceptability of personnel and also to ascertain your understanding of what is needed to adequately complete this project.

34. Item b. states that “Activities covered by the contractor. See the scope of work for the eight activities included in this Solicitation” should be included in the Technical Capability section of the Technical Proposal. Should the offeror simply indicate if they are proposing to perform this Activity under the BPA?

a. Although you will be selecting the activities you can do under this BPA on the PROPOSED SERVICE ACTIVITIES table in attachment 1, please provide a brief narrative addressing your technical approach for those activities also.

35. Should the offeror include response times for Activities III through VIII?

a. Please address the response times for activities I and II. Individual call orders will have more specific information on required response times, start, and end dates for that specific project.

36. The RFQ requires a Technical Proposal to include a list of key personnel: a) names, resumes, and locations and b) name, experience, and qualifications of staff support. Are these requirements to be addressed as part of the BPA program or are they for specific project work that will eventually be assigned? For example, the RFQ is requesting names to complete the project to include a site visit and records research, however it is unknown what the project will be.

a. Provide a list of key personnel you anticipate to be used on the project (including sub-contractors on the project) and their qualifications. This information is used to determine the acceptability of personnel and also to ascertain your understanding of what is needed to adequately complete this project. Call orders may have more specific requirements.

37. Is completion of Attachment 4 (Personnel Form) sufficient to demonstrate assigned key personnel or does an offeror need to complete both Attachment 4 and address key personnel requirements in the Technical Proposal which consist of a) names, resumes, and location of individuals and b) names of support staff?

a. Resumes may be submitted also, please see FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors provision in the RFQ for more information also.

38. The RFQ requests a Technical Proposal for Experience and Qualifications of Key Personnel yet also requests names of Support Staff. Is there a fundamental distinction between these two categories of Personnel? Does Attachment 4 need to distinguish between Key Personnel and Support Staff?

a. We recommend you provide information for both Key Personnel and Support Staff.

39. Does the completion of Attachment 4 (Personnel) suffice to summarize key personnel and support staff or is additional information required (e.g., resumes)?

a. Resumes may be submitted also, please see FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors provision in the RFQ for more information also.

40. This section indicates that projects completed over the past three to five years are allowable. However, Attachment 4 (Past Performance & Experience Form) indicates projects must be completed over the past 3 years. Please confirm the allowable timeframe for projects.

a. You may list projects performed in the last 5 years on that form also.

41. Can projects that are substantially complete (>75%) be allowable to meet the definition of completed?

a. You may list projects still in progress as part of the Past Performance and

Relevant Experience requirement with an approximate completion percentage also.

42. Is the Forestry Technician labor category defined as a Certified Arborist? If not, can the government please define this labor category? Additionally, can the government please provide scope items anticipated under this labor category?

a. See answer to questions 6 and 8.

43. Can the government please define the Environmental Technician labor category (years of experience, degree, etc.)

a. See answer to questions 6 and 8.

44. Can the government please define the Heavy Equipment Operator labor category (years of experience, degree, etc.)?

a. See answer to questions 6 and 8.

45. The SOW mentions reporting as a key scope element, but no Professional Labor

Categories are included. Are we to assume that these labor categories will be required at task order level?

a. All call orders will be firm fixed price therefore labor rates won’t be requested.

These are requested only on the BPA solicitation for award evaluation purposes. Additionally as stated in attachment 1, “The labor categories listed may only be a small sample of the different personnel needed to complete work under this BPA.”

46. How much funding does the government anticipate being available per year under this

BPA?

a. The Forest Service will not be providing our government estimate as part of this RFQ. As mentioned in the RFQ, The total amount of call orders among all BPA holders will not exceed $7,000,000.00.

47. Will there be a SF 1449 or 1442 to complete for this bid package?

a. No

48. RFQ states that Activity VII may include radiation surveys. What type of radiation, and what were the source materials that will be surveyed?

a. My understanding is that TNORM is a byproduct/waste of the oil and gas industry and may be present in and around the forest. (TNORM = Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radiation) Oil and gas drilling and development activities would be the likely source.

49. Is it required to submit a separate set of the provided forms for each Activity upon which we are bidding, or should information applicable for all scopes be included in one set of forms?

a. One set of forms please.

50. Can the provided forms be expanded to include additional resumes/projects/etc. or should responses be limited to five each?

a. Yes, the forms can be expanded to include more information.

51. Would the contracting team prefer for personnel information to be submitted only via the provided forms or should full resumes be included additionally?

a. Resumes may be submitted also, please see FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors provision in the RFQ for more information also.

52. Section “a” of “Experience and Qualifications of Key Personnel” references only “site visit, records research, interviews, and development of the report” as the assigned activities for which resumes should be provided. Is this accurate?

a. It also states, that will complete the project including the site visit, records research, interviews, and development of the report. These are just a few examples.

53. Are Environmental Technician, Heavy Equipment Operator, and Forestry Technician the only roles for which specific quotes should be provided?

a. We are only requesting these labor rates at this time. This may only be a small sample of the different personnel needed for projects under this BPA. More specific information may be requested at the call order level.