127EAV23R0002 Region 3 CERCLA Environmental Services RESPONSES 3.8.23 final.pdf

Questions 127EAV23R0002 Region 3 CERCLA Environmental Services

1. Please confirm that the government intends to issue a Multiple Award IDIQ, as stated in the description listed on SAM.gov, “The Government intends to award a multiple award firm fixed-price IDIQ contract.”

RESPONSE: Yes, The Government intends to award a multiple award firm fixed-price IDIQ contract, two to four possible offerors.

2. Please confirm that this is a small business set aside under 562910 with an annual size standard of 750 employees, as stated in the description on SAM.gov, “This procurement will be conducted utilizing 100% Small Business Concern competitive negotiation procedures under FAR Part 15,” and “The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for this procurement is 562910 (Environmental Remediation Services) with the annual size standard of 750 employees.”

RESPONSE: Yes. This procurement will be conducted utilizing 100% Small Business Concern competitive negotiation procedures under FAR Part 15. The Government intends to award a multiple award firm fixed-price IDIQ contract.

3. The RFP indicates that “Pages that exceed the maximum page limitation will not be evaluated”, however, there doesn’t seem to be a page limit listed in the RFP, exclusive to the 3-page limit for resumes for key personnel.

RESPONSE: The Government will accept a maximum page limit of 500 pages.

4. Please confirm that when referencing ‘The Firm’, this applies to the Prime contractor and not the Team.

RESPONSE: “The Firm” applies to the Prime contractor.

5. Can you please accept a table of contents for the PRP Investigation example report? The PRP investigation reports that we have developed for our clients are highly confidential and it would likely take more than 30 days to get approval from our client’s legal department to release even a redacted version of the report. A comprehensive table of contents will provide enough information to demonstrate that a contractor understands the requirements of a PRP investigation.

RESPONSE: The Government will accept a Table of Contents for the PRP Investigation example report.

6. Section A.1: A) Personnel of the solicitation has several labor categories listed for the base year and each option years. In Attachment D.4, 2023 1112 Env Services IDIQ Schedule of Items Personnel.xlsx, includes a significantly longer list of labor categories. Please provide guidance on which list to use in the response.

RESPONSE: Please use Attachment D.4, 2023 1112 Env Services IDIQ Schedule of Items Personnel.xlsx

7. Section A.1: B) Equipment of the solicitation has several equipment categories listed for the base year and each option years. In Attachment D.2, 2023 1112 Env Services IDIQ Schedule of Items Equipment.xlsx, includes a significantly longer list of equipment categories. Please provide guidance on which list to use in the response.

RESPONSE: Please use In Attachment D.2, 2023 1112 Env Services IDIQ Schedule of Items Equipment.xlsx

8. The price listing in the SOW does not match the price lists included as the excel files. Which do you want filled out?

RESPONSE: Please use the price lists in the excel files.

9. The recent FS Region 8 opportunity allowed for submittals for only some of the Activities. Are you allowing for selected Activity responses or will only responses for all the activities be evaluated?

RESPONSE: Submittals for ALL seven (7) activities is required to be evaluated

10. Pg 85 – 4) Technical Experience and Past Performance Should we include JV projects when the amount of the project is above $15,000, if the amount coming to the submitter was less than $15,000?

RESPONSE: As stated in the solicitation, “From most recent to oldest, include a maximum of up to 25 projects for this requirement; but do not include any projects costing less than $15,000. However, if the last 25 projects are not representative of your firm’s capability – then you may include up to 10 of the 25 projects from any time within the last 3 years. “If in doubt, include the project and describe “the amount coming to the submitter was less than $15,000”.

11. Should all the projects come from the small business? Can we provide any project information from our teaming partners/subcontractors that we would use on this response?

RESPONSE: Project information should identify projects completed by the Firm (Prime contractor) and those projects completed by team partners/subcontractors.

12. Did you want 3 projects total or 3 projects for each activity?

RESPONSE: 3 projects total

13. Pg 86 – 5) Geographic Location. A firm must have at least one office in Arizona or New Mexico. Does this have to be the small business prime or can it be a teaming partner/subcontractor that will be used on this contract?

RESPONSE: It can be a teaming partner however, this shall be listed in the proposal.

14. Pg 88 – sample work plan If I am reading this correctly, we can submit a representative document for this. Can we provide a sanitized document if a client will permit?

RESPONSE: The Government will accept the Table of Contents for the PRP Search example requirement if the Firm is unable to provide a sanitized document.

15. Is there a page limit? This submittal could be hundreds of pages long. Do we have to include the QAPP, and the HASP, and not just a SAP with DQOs?

RESPONSE: From the solicitation, “Prepare a site-specific Health and Safety Plan (HSP).” The Government recognizes this requirement will include several pages; the Firm is required to submit the requirements to the CO as stated in the solicitation.

16. Pg 89 Prepare a sample report – can this report be sanitized?

RESPONSE: The PRP sample report can be sanitized as stated in the solicitation, “The sample report may be "sanitized" for confidentiality.”

17. Pg 89 Provide a PRP Search Report. – I have asked my clients if we could submit a copy of their PRP reports. All have said NO! This is a legal document it can not be provided. However we were told that we can provide the cover page and a copy of the contract. Is this acceptable?

RESPONSE: The Government will accept a cover page and/or a Table of Contents for the PRP Search report example requirement

18. Pg 89 Provide a Phase I ESA sample report There is no way to sanitize a Phase I ESA report if you include any appendices, other than to black out whole pages. Are the appendices required?

RESPONSE: The Government will accept a cover page and/or a Table of Contents for the PRP Search report example requirement.

19. Respectfully, was a map supposed to be included in the upload for the Region 3 CERCLA Environmental Services solicitation number 127EAV23R0002 (page 15, II, A), i.)? Also, I didn’t see what the projects were supposed to include (page 86, (4), a)?

RESPONSE: A map is not included in the solicitation, however, a map can be provided if Firm is unfamiliar with the forests within the Southwestern Region of the Forest Service.

The projects the Firm lists in A.4a and A.4.b, provide the following (as listed in the solicitation A.4.c):

For each project listed in A.4.a and A.4.b above, provide the following information (Not to exceed 10 lines per project):

• Briefly describe the project.

• Dates of performance

• Indicate whether you were the prime or a subcontractor.

• Award amount of contract.

• Project name, firm name, point of contact name, address and phone number.

• Place an asterisk "*" by any job which is similar to the requirements of this solicitation. (Include specific previous experience in accomplishment of similar activities for Forest Service sites within the Southwestern Region, or for other Federal or state agencies, or private industry firms.)

20. Section E.1 Instructions to Offerors, Paragraph 2: What is the maximum file size that the Forest Service’s email servers can receive?

RESPONSE: No maximum file size.

21. Section E, A. Technical Proposal (3) Specialized Experience and Qualifications of Key Personnel May we include an introduction and an organization chart in this section, in addition to the personnel resumes and service provider information?

RESPONSE: Yes, an introduction and an organization chart is accepted in addition to personnel resumes and service provided information.

22. Section E, A. Technical Proposal, (4) Technical Experience and Past Performance, item c Item A.4.c indicates that both the chronological and representative projects should not exceed 10 lines per project. Does this restriction really apply to the three representative projects identified in item 4.a.b, or may the representative projects include a more robust description?

RESPONSE: Yes, the 3 representative projects in item 4.a.b. may have a more robust description.

23. Attachment D.1 This attachment is not referred to in the solicitation instructions and evaluation criteria. Is it required? If so, is it required only for the three projects listed in response to bullet A.4.b?

Additionally, may a previously completed past performance questionnaire or CPARS be used in lieu of this form?

RESPONSE: Yes, it is required, required for the three projects listed in response to bullet A.4.b. It can be accepted however please state in proposal that in lieu of form past performance questionnaire is being submitted.

24. Attachment D.2 (Schedule of Items – Equipment) This attachment is not referred to in the solicitation instructions and evaluation criteria and the listed equipment differs from that provided in the solicitation. Is it required?

RESPONSE: Firms shall use the excel file.

25. If required, should it be provided in the price proposal in both *.pdf and excel formats?

RESPONSE: Only the excel format is required.

26. Attachment D.3 (Schedule of Items – Materials) This attachment is not referred to in the solicitation instructions and evaluation criteria. Is it required?

RESPONSE: Only the excel format is required.

27. If it is required, please provide additional information on what is intended for the following line items:

“FedEx Shipping” varies depending on weight and distance. The quantity of “Vermiculite” meant by “Each” is unspecified. The quantity and type of “Oil Absorbent” is unspecified. Additionally, should it be provided in the price proposal in both *.pdf and excel formats?

RESPONSE: Excel format only. Government recommends the Firm state in their response: “FedEx Shipping” varies depending on weight and distance”; and for “Oil Absorbent” and “vermiculite” use quantity of “1” and “EACH” for Method of Measurement

28. Attachment D.4 (Schedule of Items – Personnel) This attachment is not referred to in the solicitation and the listed personnel differs from that provided in the solicitation. Is it required?

RESPONSE: Government will require only the excel format.

29. If required, should it be provided in the price proposal in both *.pdf and excel formats?

RESPONSE: Government will only require the excel format.