12639526R0007 Questions_Answers.pdf

Questions and Answers Solicitation 12639526R0007

*Duplicate/similar questions are combined to remove redundancy.*

1. Is there a previous contract? If yes, what is the contract and incumbent information?

A: Contract Number: 12639526C0033 Contractor Information: Dynamic Aviation Group, Inc. (UEI: Q9BRLCMRLN5)

2. The PWS states that aircraft designated for pupae transport must have a minimum fuel autonomy of 6 hours. Does this requirement apply uniformly to all transportation routes, including shorter domestic legs such as Edinburg TX to Arizona and Edinburg TX to Florida? Or is the 6-hour requirement specific to longer international routes such as Panama to McAllen?

A: See Section 4.1.5, in Attachment 2 - Performance Work Statement _ NWS Transportation ServicesRev1. Exception will be provided for U.S. domestic flights.

3. The PWS identifies Arizona and Florida as distribution destinations for domestic transportation legs but does not specify airports at either location. What are the designated base airports in Arizona and Florida? Will flights always operate to fixed airports at these locations or will destinations vary by task order?

A: The PWS states, “Pupae pickup and delivery flight may include these routes or as designated by the COR or Authorized USDA Representative”. Airports have not been designated for the two destinations. Airport designation will be specified in task orders.

4. May an offeror submit a proposal covering only domestic US transportation legs without covering international routes such as Panama to McAllen? Will a domestic-only transportation proposal be evaluated and considered for award?

A: We are looking for contractors who can provide both international and domestic transportation services on an as needed basis.

5. Clarification if this was intent for Transport or Aerial Dispersal or both.

A: Yes, the contract is structured so vendors may propose Transportation Services, Aerial Dispersal Services, or both, and USDA may make multiple awards. See CSS

_12639526R0007_NWS Aerial Release and Air Transportation, A. Statement of Requirement and C. 2 Notes to Offerors.

6. The flight plans and routes for the Transport of the Pupae will be along established ICAO airways. Is Ag-NAV a requirement for the Pupae Transport only aircraft or will contractor's onboard organic flight tracking system be sufficient?

A: AG-NAV is not required for pupae transport aircraft operating strictly on established ICAO airways. For transport missions, a contractor’s organic onboard flight-tracking system is sufficient. AG-NAV, or Government approved substitute, is only mandated for sterile insect dispersal operations where precision guidance and polygon-based logging is required. See Section 4.3.1 in Attachment 2 - Performance Work Statement _ NWS Transportation Services Rev1.

7. The PWS requires return of all empty transport coolers to the production facility of origin. Is it the intent of the Govt. for the return transport of coolers to the origin facility to occur on the same flight day as the pupae delivery flight? Can the government also clarify that the coolers will be delivered to the airfield, and government will transport to production facility?

A: The Government requires all empty transport coolers to be returned to the production facility of origin, but this does not require the return trip to occur on the same day. Scheduling of cooler returns will follow operational needs and COR direction. Coolers will be delivered to the aircraft at the airfield by USDA/COPEG personnel. As written, the PWS places the default responsibility on the contractor to return coolers to the origin facility, however, USDA or COPEG may pick up coolers at the airfield when operationally appropriate. See Section 3.1 in Attachment 2 - Performance Work Statement _ NWS Transportation Services Rev1.

8. Do SCA Wage standards apply to FFP contract for services? The T&M for this effort is for fuel reimbursement and the labor would be part of the FFP rate.

A: Yes, SCA Wage standards apply to all service contract over $2,500 unless an exemption applies. Contractors must pay at least the SCA-determined wages and fringe benefits to covered service employees, regardless of the fixed total contract price. The SCA wage determination is included to ensure compliance for covered service employees. It is the contractor's responsibility to determine covered service employees under the contract and certify they’re paid and classified properly under the SCA. See additional resources here: https://webapps.dol.gov/elaws/elg/sca.htm https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.222-41.

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/prevailing-wage-resource-book/coverage-sca-pca-flsa

9. FAR 52.216-18 states that orders may be issued from December 15, 2026 through June 14, 2031, while Attachments 1 and 2 show Option Year 4 continuing through December 14, 2031. Please confirm the intended final ordering date. If June 14, 2031 is correct, please clarify how the final six months of Option Year 4 are intended to be ordered and performed.

A: The correct period of performance is 12/15/2026 through 12/14/2031. See updated FAR clause 52.216-18 Rev1.

10. Attachment 2, Section 4.1.2 lists 180 transportation flight hours per week in the base year (9,360 hours at 52 weeks) and 252 hours per week in each option year (13,104 hours annually). Attachment 4 instead lists 7,600 hours in Year 1, 9,360 hours in Year 2, and 13,104 hours in Years 3 through 5. Please identify the Government-estimated quantities that should govern proposal preparation and price evaluation.

A: The estimates in Attachment 4 are correct. See Section 4.1.2 in Attachment 2 - Performance Work Statement _ NWS Transportation Services Rev1.

11. Attachment 4 instructs offerors to fill green cells only and states that calculations will auto-populate, but the Optional Arizona Mobilization Fee item total (cell G10) and annual total cells (G14, G21, G28, G35, and G42) do not contain formulas. The solicitation also states that no changes to the price schedule or CLINs will be accepted. Please confirm whether the Government will issue a corrected workbook or whether offerors should enter formulas in these cells.

A: Attachment 4 has been revised. Formulas in spreadsheet can be updated if there are errors, but no changes can be made to contract line items (i.e. adding additional contract line items).

12. Attachment 1, Section 4.1.8 states that additional release bases may include Arizona, Florida, and Tampico, Mexico. Attachment 4 includes an optional mobilization line only for Arizona. Please clarify how mobilization to Florida, Tampico, or another future release base will be priced and ordered, such as through a new CLIN, task-order pricing, or inclusion in the proposed hourly rates.

https://webapps.dol.gov/elaws/elg/sca.htm https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.222-41 https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/prevailing-wage-resource-book/coverage-sca-pca-flsa https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/prevailing-wage-resource-book/coverage-sca-pca-flsa

A: Since it is unknown at this time whether there will be additional bases established for dispersal operations, the Arizona mobilization line item will be revised to cover all additional bases. A FFP price will be negotiated at the task order level, and a FFP task order will be issued against this line item as needed. See Attachment 4 - Price Proposal Spreadsheet Rev1.

13. Attachment 1, Section 3.3 states that Government-furnished equipment will be delivered within 14 calendar days before performance begins, while Section 8.4.1 states that the insect release machines will be delivered within 10 to 15 days after contract award. Please describe the intended delivery timing and the period available for modification and installation before the December 15, 2026 performance start date.

A: Both statements reflect general timelines. At this time, we are able to deliver up to six release machines within 10-15 days after contract award. Additional release machines may take longer to fabricate and deliver to contractors after contract award.

The timeframe for aircraft modification and installation does not need to happen before contract period of performance start date. The government will allow contractors to modify and install release machines after contract award and during the period of performance. The period of performance start date can be flexible.

14. Attachment 5 states that there are no separate submittal requirements for Factor 3, Past Performance, while completed Specialized Experience Questionnaires are required under Factor 1, Subfactor #4. Please confirm that the questionnaires and other information provided for specialized experience are the only offeror-submitted materials required for Factor 3, or identify any separate past performance narrative or documentation required.

A: Per Attachment 5 - Technical Proposal Submission Requirements for Factor 3:

“The Government may use information provided by the offeror in its proposal and information obtained from other sources for projects performed within the past five

(5) years.” and “There are no separate submittal requirements for this evaluation factor.”

15. For pricing and invoicing purposes, please clarify the intended pricing structure for each CLIN. We understand the flight-hour rates for aerial dispersal and pupae transportation to be fixed unit rates, with fuel and airport charges identified separately for reimbursement. Please confirm the intended billing basis for those separately identified charges and whether other costs not included in the proposed fixed rates, including costs arising from Government-directed requirements, changes in operating locations, or other separately incurred operational expenses, may also be separately reimbursed or otherwise addressed through an equitable adjustment or contract modification, as applicable. Please also clarify what, if any, information or supporting data is required with the proposal under FAR 52.216-31.

A: See Section 8.6 in PWS (Attachments 1 and 2) that billing/invoice frequency and what shall be included with each invoice.

See Attachment 4 (Amendment 1), Schedule Notes that go over what shall be included in each CLIN. Information on additional dispersal operational bases are now addressed.

A request for equitable adjustment (REA) can occur when there’s a change to the contract price under a clause providing for such an adjustment (FAR 52.212-4 (d) changes). Contractor may submit an REA for review and consideration.

No other information is needed under FAR provision 52.216-31.

16. Attachments 1 and 2, Section 6.5, reference compliance with FAR 52.228-5 and FAR 52.245-1 Alternate I; however, FAR 52.228-5 is not identified as an applicable clause in the solicitation and Alternate I to FAR 52.245-1 is not selected. Please clarify whether these provisions are intended to be incorporated into the resulting contract and identify the insurance and Government-property requirements applicable to offerors if they are not.

A: See updated CSS_NWS Aerial Release & Air Transportation Rev1

17. Attachment 1, Section 8.1.6, and Attachment 2, Section 8.1.4, state that the Contractor or Program Manager and the COR or USDA Representative will sign the daily aircraft records on a weekly basis, while Section 9.0, Deliverable 1, requires a signed daily aircraft record at the end of each operational day. Please clarify whether the daily aircraft records must be signed each day or may be signed weekly, and separately identify when those records must be submitted to the Government.

A: USDA clarifies that flight records must be filled out and signed daily, as a required deliverable each operational day. The weekly signature requirement refers only to the joint COR/Contractor review and co-signature of the compiled week’s records, not a delay in daily sign-off.

18. The PWSs identify potential U.S. performance locations outside Hidalgo County, including Arizona and Florida. Please confirm the specific counties for which offerors should request additional wage determinations.

A: At this time, we are unsure of the specific location/counties. The contracting officer will provide the applicable wage determination for any additional operational bases when additional bases are confirmed.

19. Attachment 5 identifies the Program Manager as Key Personnel for both NWS release and transportation missions. Attachment 1, Section 5.1, requires the Program Manager to be present at the work site whenever release work is performed, while Attachment 2, Section 5.1, permits an authorized onsite representative when the Program Manager is absent. Please clarify whether one Program Manager may support both service lines during concurrent or geographically separated operations through authorized onsite representatives, or whether the Program Manager must be physically present at each active work site.

A: The Program Manager may support both service lines during concurrent or geographically separated operations through authorized onsite representatives.

20. The task-order procedures state that aircraft and crew availability will be considered as part of the task-order evaluation. For planning purposes, could you please clarify whether IDIQ contract holders are expected to respond to every task-order opportunity for which they are solicited, or whether a contractor may elect not to submit a proposal or quotation when aircraft or crew capacity is unavailable?

We would also appreciate confirmation that, in those circumstances, the Government may look to other IDIQ contract holders to meet the requirement.

A: A contractor holder may elect not to respond to a task order RFP/RFQ. As stated in section 3.3 (c), “Orders will be issued to all IDIQ contract holders for varying flight hours or to one IDIQ contract holder based on” factors listed.

21. FAR 52.219-16, Liquidated Damages Subcontracting Plan, is identified as applicable, while FAR 52.219-9, Small Business Subcontracting Plan, is not. Please clarify whether FAR 52.219-9 was intended to apply and whether offerors are required to submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan. If no subcontracting plan is required under this solicitation or resulting contract, please confirm that FAR 52.219-16 will not apply.

A: FAR 52.219-16 will not apply since 52.219-9 does not apply. See CSS_NWS Aerial Release & Air Transportation Rev1.

22. Attachment 2, PWS Section 4.1, Item 1 states that all NWS transportation flights must be conducted during daylight hours under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). Because similar daylight/VFR language applies to aerial release operations in Attachment 1, please confirm whether the VFR-only restriction in Attachment 2 is intentional for long-distance transportation missions. Specifically, may transportation flights be conducted under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), when operationally necessary, while continuing to comply with any applicable daylight, delivery-window, Air Traffic Control, and airport-procedure requirements? If transportation flights must remain both daylight-only and VFR-only, please clarify the operational basis for that restriction.

A: Yes, VFR-only applies to sterile insect dispersal missions, while transport operations may operate IFR whenever required. Transport flights may operate IFR when required while still complying with daylight-delivery windows, ATC instructions, and airport procedures. See Section 4.1.1 in Attachment 2 - Performance Work Statement _ NWS Transportation Services Rev1.

23. Attachment 1 PWS § 3.2 requires the Contractor provide "a vehicle that can operate inside the airport as backup." Please clarify the intended purpose, required capabilities, quantity, and location of this vehicle, including whether it is intended for maintenance response, aircraft movement, release-machine support, or another function.

A: This vehicle is intended as ground support to ensure that the dispersal aircraft can be supported on-site with release box loading or logistical movement of release-machine components.

24. Attachment 1 PWS § 3.2 requires fixed-wing twin-engine airplanes, while Attachment 1 PWS § 4.2 permits a single-engine or multi-engine fixed wing airplane.

Please confirm whether all aircraft proposed for Aerial Release Services must be twin-engine aircraft.

A: Yes, the contractor must provide twin-engine airplanes for Aerial Release Services. See updated section 4.2 in Attachment 1 - Performance Work Statement_ NWS Aerial Release Services Rev1.

25. Attachment 1 PWS § 4.3 requires a test flight after specified maintenance before the aircraft resumes contract service. Please clarify the required notification, documentation, and Government verification process, including whether the aircraft logbook entry and maintenance records will be sufficient or whether separate COR approval is required before return to service.

A: Prior to returning the aircraft to contract service, the contractor shall provide the Government with the logbook entry and maintenance documentation for review by the COR or COR designee. Separate COR preapproval is not required, provided that the documentation is complete and accurate.

26. Attachment 1 PWS § 4.4.4 requires a course deviation indicator (CDI) or course-deviation light bar positioned within the pilot’s direct or peripheral vision. Please confirm whether an integrated CDI presentation on an approved current-generation AG-NAV display satisfies this requirement, or whether a separate externally mounted CDI/light bar is required.

A: This requirement will be removed. See section 4.4.4 in Attachment 1 - Performance Work Statement_ NWS Aerial Release Services Rev1.

27. Attachment 1 PWS § 6.4 states that the Contractor must comply with 14 CFR Part 135 and related FAA requirements. Attachment 2 applies Part 135 to pupae transportation flights, which is consistent with the nature of that work. Aerial release flights seem to differ in that they are special-purpose, low-altitude operations conducted under Government direction, and the PWS contemplates their designation as Public Aircraft Operations.

Applying Part 135 to aerial release aircraft would require each offeror to place release aircraft on a Part 135 operating certificate, establish Part 135 maintenance programs for those aircraft, and train and qualify maintenance personnel to those programs. These costs would be carried into the proposed hourly rates and would narrow the number of offerors able to compete, without changing the mission that these aircraft perform.

Would the Government consider an amendment to § 6.4 to require that aircraft performing Aerial Release Services be operated under 14 CFR Part 91 or as Public Aircraft Operations, as designated by the Government, and maintained in accordance with 14 CFR Part 91 under an inspection program meeting 14 CFR 91.409, with Part 135 requirements retained for Attachment 2 transportation flights?

If Part 135 is intended to apply to aerial release operations, could the Government please clarify whether the requirement is for operation under a Part 135 certificate, maintenance to Part 135 standards, or both?

A: USDA’s intent is that transportation aircraft operate under 14 CFR Part 135 as civil commercial operations, not as Public Aircraft Operations (PAO). PAO designation applies only to Sterile Insect Dispersal missions, which may be flown under Part 91 when classified as PAO. See Attachment 1 and Attachment 2 PWS Rev1.

28. Would the Government consider revising the minimum pilot qualifications to require

1,200 hours of total flight time and 50 hours of night flying? These thresholds are consistent with USDA requirements for other SIT dispersal programs and, given that operations are conducted with FAA qualified two-pilot crew, provide an appropriate level of cockpit experience and safety while supporting reliable staffing throughout the contract period.

A: For U.S. domestic Public Aircraft Operations, New World Screwworm aligns its pilot-qualification requirements with established APHIS aviation standards to ensure consistency and an appropriate level of safety for contracted flight operations.

29. Attachment 1 PWS § 8.4.1 states that damaged or malfunctioning Government-furnished release machinery must be reported and returned for repair. Please clarify if maintenance and repair of GFE are intended to be covered under this contract? If so, what CLIN will handle these?

A: The contractor’s obligation is to report issues and return/deliver the GFE to the designated USDA facility, but repair work itself is Government-funded, and those costs are not borne by the contractor.

30. Reference Attachment 5, Evaluation Factor 1, Subfactor 4, which states that projects submitted for specialized experience "must be at least 75% complete."

Would the Government clarify (a) the basis on which percent complete is measured, for example period of performance elapsed, contract value invoiced, or units or flight hours delivered; and (b) the date as of which percent complete is assessed, for example the proposal closing date or the solicitation release date?

A: Part a) period of performance elapsed

Part b) proposal closing date

31. Attachment 7, Part A, Question 3 provides fields for both a Contract Number and a Delivery/Task Order Number. For an indefinite delivery contract, would the Government confirm whether an individual completed delivery or task order may be submitted as a discrete "project" for purposes of the minimum three and maximum five project requirement and the 75% completion threshold, or whether percent complete is assessed against the parent indefinite delivery contract?

A: Individual completed delivery or task order will be accepted as a “project”

32. Please identify the process, if any, for offerors to submit assumptions, clarifications, exceptions, or proposed revisions to the solicitation, PWS, FAR/AGAR clauses, or other terms and conditions with their proposals, including the required format and location and how such items will be considered during evaluation and any negotiations prior to award.

A: Proposal assumptions and exceptions can be included on the last page of the Technical Proposal in any format for government review. However, offerors must accept all terms and conditions without exceptions (CSS_NWS Aerial Release & Air Transportation Rev1). Please refer to AGAR 452.203-72 Unenforceable Supplier Terms (MAY 2026) in the CSS_NWS Aerial Release & Air Transportation document Rev1 (page 2 and 9-13).

As stated in the CSS_NWS Aerial Release & Air Transportation, solicitation clarifications and questions shall be submitted no later than 9/24/2026. No further proposed revisions to the PWS, FAR/AGAR, and other terms and conditions will be considered after the question submission deadline.

Any clarifications required during proposal evaluation will be conducted in accordance with FAR 15.202 (a)(2).

33. Please clarify whether accepted or negotiated assumptions, clarifications, and exceptions contained in the successful offeror’s proposal will be incorporated into the resulting IDIQ contract and applicable task orders and identify the applicable order of precedence among the solicitation, amendments, PWSs, pricing schedule, task orders, and incorporated portions of the successful offeror’s proposal.

A: See answer to question 32. Please refer to AGAR 452.203-72 Unenforceable Supplier Terms (MAY 2026) in the CSS_NWS Aerial Release & Air Transportation document Rev1 (page 9-13).

Assumptions, clarifications, and exceptions will be reviewed prior to award. The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible Offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The Government intends to award without discussions but reserves the right to do so (FAR provision 52.212-1 (d)).

34. The solicitation states that each awarded IDIQ contract may have a different contract maximum amount, up to the stated cumulative maximum of $650,000,000 per contract. Please describe how the individual maximum amount applicable to each IDIQ contract will be established and communicated at award.

A: The IDIQ cumulative maximum as mentioned in the CSS_NWS Aerial Release & Air Transportation document (page 19) will be determined based on contractors proposed Contractor Proposed Max Quantity that is provided in Attachment 4 – Price Proposal Spreadsheet. IDIQ contract SF1449 will state contract cumulative maximum.

35. The PWS provides for invoice deductions for contractor-controlled delays, a 15% hourly-rate deduction for certain missed flights, equitable price reductions or adequate consideration for nonconforming services, reimbursement for lost NWS flies, withholding of payment, termination for default, and other remedies under FAR 52.212-4. For purposes of evaluating contractual risk and preparing the proposal, please clarify whether these remedies are intended to be cumulative for the same event or loss, whether overlapping monetary recoveries will be offset to prevent duplicate recovery, and whether any aggregate limitation applies to such deductions, reimbursements, or other monetary remedies.

A: Equitable price reduction or adequate consideration for acceptance of nonconforming services for missed flights and improper release/flights are defined in Section 6.1 of both PWS. Reduction will be applied to each incident or each missed scheduled flight. See examples provided in Section 6.1.

Additionally, monetary consideration may be deducted from money due the Contractor for any loss of flies that directly resulted from contractor’s failure to perform (missed flight) as stated in Section 8.4 of each PWS.

A missed flight may result in loss of flies. This means there can be a reduction due to missed flights and monetary consideration for loss of flies as a result of the missed flight. There is no aggregate limitation for deductions and monetary consideration.

36. The Main Solicitation, Section C.2, permits an offeror to submit a proposal for both aerial dispersal services and air transportation services, or for only one of the two services. The Solicitation Information – Award Type provision also states that the Government reserves the right to make multiple awards for different line items. If an offeror submits a proposal for both services, may the Government make a partial award to that offeror for only Aerial Release Services or only Air Transportation Services? Please confirm whether the two services will be evaluated and awarded independently and whether the technical and price proposal for each service should be structured to stand alone.

A: Yes, the government may accept all or part of an offer per FAR 52.212-2 (c) and services will be evaluated independently based on factors outlined in FAR 52.212-2 (a). One IDIQ contract will be issued regardless of whether the offeror is selected for one or both services.

37. Attachment 5, Factor 1, Subfactor #3 requires the name and resume of the proposed “contract manager” and references Attachment 1 and Attachment 2, Section 5.0, which identify a “Program Manager” as Key Personnel. Please confirm whether the “contract manager” referenced in Attachment 5 is intended to mean the Program Manager identified in the PWSs, or whether the Government requires a separate Contract Manager position and resume.

A: Yes, Contract Manager and Program Manger are intended to mean the same thing (Section 5.1in both PWS)

38. Specialized Experience - prime vs. team (Attachment 5, Subfactor 4). The prime must submit three to five projects "for itself" and at least one for each major subcontractor. May a prime that serves as operational integrator meet its three-project minimum with projects performed by a major subcontractor or teaming partner that will perform the dispersal or transportation work, provided that partner's questionnaires are submitted and its role is committed in the proposal? If not, will the Government evaluate the team's specialized experience in its entirety?

A: The prime contractor and the major subcontractor may submit the same project if they have worked together before. However, each of the questionnaires should clearly explain the prime and major subcontractor roles and responsibility that demonstrate specialized project experience.

39. Specialized Experience - transportation lane. The exclusion of pesticide/insecticide spraying is stated for dispersal operations. For an offeror proposing transportation services only, what experience qualifies as specialized? Specifically, will international air transport of time- and temperature-sensitive biological or live cargo (with chain-of-custody and customs clearance) be considered similar, or must the experience involve sterile insects?

A: For transportation services, specialized services mean any work involving international and domestic air transportation of temperature sensitive biological cargo. See Attachment 5, Technical Proposal Submission Requirements Rev1

40. Major subcontractor threshold. Is "25 percent or more of the proposed effort" measured by proposed price, proposed flight hours, or another measure?

A: Measured by proposed price.

41. Fuel CLIN. The Schedule Notes base the fuel not-to-exceed amount on an "average fuel burn rate of 100gal/hr." Does that assumption apply to both release and transportation aircraft regardless of type? Will fuel and airport charges be reimbursed at actual invoiced cost, with any handling or administrative charge allowed?

A: Yes, the burn rate applies to both release and transportation services.

Attachment 4, schedule notes states: “The line item will cover fuel & Airport Charges. Will be based on contractors proposed flight hours, average cost of fuel per gallon, and average fuel burn rate of 100gal/hr.”

42. Evaluated price and proposed maximum quantity. Total evaluated price is calculated on the offeror's Proposed Max Quantity. Will an offeror whose proposed maximum hours are below the Government estimated quantity be considered technically acceptable? How will the Government compare offerors of materially different fleet capacity when making multiple awards?

A: Offeror’s that propose max quantity less than government estimated quantity are considered technically acceptable. The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible Offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered.

43. Mobilization. Is there any mobilization CLIN for transportation services?

A: No.

44. Transportation - importation and permits. For pupae moved from COPEG (Panama) and Metapa (Mexico), who acts as importer of record, and will APHIS or COPEG obtain the import permits and coordinate Panama and Mexico overflight and landing authorizations, or are these contractor responsibilities?

A: APHIS Veterinary Services (VS) is the importer of record for U.S. bound sterile pupae shipments. VS also holds the APHIS import permit for sterile pupae. The commercial broker for the carrier coordinates landing rights and if overflight exemptions are needed.

45. Transportation - return and personnel. PWS Attachment 2 notes routes "may include return trip" and that the optimal load of up to 800 kg "can be distributed with more material or personnel." Are return legs and carriage of Government personnel billed under the same Pupae Transportation Hourly Rate?

A: Under the solicitation, return legs are already considered part of transportation operations, as routes may include a return trip. As such, return legs are billed under the same Pupae Transportation Hourly Rate.

46. Proposal format. Attachment 5 sets no page limit, font or file format for the Technical Proposal. Please confirm there are no page limits and state any maximum email attachment size for submission.

A: There are no page limits and font restrictions. Attachment 5 - Technical Proposal Submission Requirements paragraph two goes over technical proposal organization and labeling.

47. Current contract. Is the current requirement being performed under contract 12639526C0033, and what is its current period of performance end date relative to the 12/15/2026 start?

A: Current contract (12639526C0033) ends 12/14/2026 but may be extended at the government’s discretion.

48. Maximum order. Clause 52.216-19(b) sets a maximum order of 65,520 hours for a single item or combination of items. Since the Year 3-5 dispersal estimate alone is 65,520 hours, does the Government intend this limit to apply separately to dispersal and transportation, or on a per-order basis?

A: The limitations in the clause have been updated to reflect transportation hours as well. Clause 52.216-19 outlines what the limits apply to.