Questions and Responses.docx

RFP 12805B24R0001 Requests for Additional Information / Clarification

1. SF1442 indicates the proposal is due on September 03 at 6:30 AM CT. Would the USDA consider a short extension, even until later in that day, given that September 3 is the day after the Labor Day holiday?

Proposals will be due as indicated on the SF1442

1. Offerors will have to have their proposals complete by August 30 in order to meet the currently scheduled due date and time. Will USDA provide an extension to allow offerors adequate time to incorporate any RFI responses into their proposal if RFI are not answered by August 23, which is 7 days prior to anticipated completion need?

Proposals will be due as indicated on the SF1442.

1. If an offeror is a joint venture, is a joint venture agreement or any other supporting documentation required as part of proposal submission? If so, where should offerors include the joint venture agreement and/or other supporting documentation? (i.e. is it a separate response item or an attachment to one of the response Items 1-9 already identified.)

Please provide the joint venture agreement if a joint venture contractor.

1. Please confirm that there are no FOCI requirements (CFR 117.11) or facility clearances needed for this contract, and that all security requirements are as addressed in Attachment 10.

FOCI will not apply to this contract.

1. Is it the intent of USDA to award to only one contractor or none, or is it possible that an award to two or more contractors may be considered?

Only one contract will be awarded.

1. If more than one award will be made, please confirm contractors will not be asked to compete task orders.

Only one contract will be awarded.

1. What percent of work is anticipated to be in containment areas?

Normal working hours is 30%, other than normal working hours is 10%.

1. Will this contract be available for other USDA facilities, or solely for the use of NBAF This contract is for the NBAF facility only.

1. Is the Construction Task Catalog in Attachment 13 unique to NBAF, including specialized materials and logistics and the associated costs, or is this a standardized book and offerors will need to account for these extra costs through their coefficient?

The CTC is unique to NBAF, but offerors will need to account for these extra costs through their coefficient, per the Big Note.

1. Does NBAF/USDA have an estimated annual volume for the contract (e.g. is it anticipated that the $20 million is evenly distributed across all five years)?

The estimation is $4M annually.

1. If the contract maximum is reached prior to the expiration of the five year term, will the USDA be able to obtain additional funding, or will the contract need to be reprocured?

The contract will need to be reprocured.

1. Referencing Attachment 10, are there restrictions on who can be badged and who can serve as an escort? For example, may subcontractor personnel be badged and escort their own crews?

Prime Contractor shall serve as the main escort for crews. If the same subcontractor personnel will be utilized on a majority of projects, they can request to get a local credential PIV, but it is the responsibility of the Prime Contractor to oversee all work taking place.

1. What is the licensing costs that the contractor will be required to pay to Gordian for use of the JOC System Software?

USDA has contracted with Gordian, there will NO charge to utilize the JOC Software System.

1. Referencing C.3, Will local building and trade permitting be required for the work associated with this contract?

Require Federal, State, and Local Laws and Regulations Permits may be project specific and will need to be outlined as needed within scope and negotiation development. Costs associated with these requirements should be covered as part of CTC items or added if not inclusive. Required Federal, State and Local Laws Requirements for Trade Licenses are not the responsibility of the Government and should be covered by Trade Contractors Overhead.

1. Is it anticipated that escorting services will be required for all task orders? Or will these requirements apply only within certain areas?

Anytime within the footprint of the NBAF facility and outbuildings.

1. Are the costs associated with escorting to be applied to each project as a line item (since the number of escorts may vary depending on the scope of work of the project and the size of each crew) or is escorting to be included in the coefficient?

Applied to the coefficient

1. Will the government allow trade agreements to be used as a part of the Buy American Act?

Yes

1. Please confirm that the installation and maintenance of critical and bio containment barriers task order specific and included in each task order as needed as line items, and that these requirements are not considered to be in the contractor's coefficient.

Yes, use CTC tasks that best fits the detailed scope of work. If the specific barrier or even its salient characteristics are not found in any of the pre-priced tasks in the CTC, then use NPP.

1. C.2.6 states “The task order Statement of Work (SOW) shall identify the entire need and address those needs with statements describing the required design and construction in terms of output.” What level of design may be issued under this contract and how will the various design elements be priced?

Level of design will be task specific and outlined within the SOW. Any Task requiring design provide by the Government and has not already been developed and stamped by an A&E will be subject to completion under the specific task order and the CTC will quantify A&E Services if not already incidental to CTC items.

1. SOW 1.1.6.1 reads Contractor must provide a Professional Engineer or Registered Architect, registered in the State where work is being performed and seal all required Design Analysis and Drawings. How often are these services anticipated as a requirement?

01 22 20 00-0049 in the CTC has rates for A/E Services that will be used on a task order basis if needed. Anticipated quantity is unknown. See response to question #19 for additional information.

1. Please elaborate further on what is considered to be part of the incidental engineering and architectural services included within the coefficient? Are design analysis, stamped drawings and calculations considered incidental?

– As a general rule, anything from 0 to 4 hours (1/2 day) may be incidental.

We consider all the following types of Tasks to be incidental with review and stamps by a registered engineer licensed in the State of Kansas.

(a) Design calculations to substantiate appropriate equipment or material selection/ sizing, component assembly, and proposed layout and sizing of utilities and structural elements. The contractor shall at a minimum supply the following calculation:

(b) Mechanical: HVAC load analysis and unit sizing, pipe sizing, duct sizing, and test and balancing data.

(c) Electrical: Electrical system capacity, conductor, conduit, protective devices, and other equipment sizing and numbered circuits.

(d) Structural: Structural system and foundation sizing. All Structural system and foundation drawings will be reviewed and stamped by a registered engineer licensed in the State of Kansas.

(e) Fire Protection: All fire protection drawings and designs will be reviewed and stamped by a registered fire protection engineer licensed in the State of Kansas

(f) Life Safety: All work will conform to the most current Life Safety Codes.

(g) Pavement/Site Work: Area run-off quantities, drainage capacities, and grading slopes.

(h) Lighting: Lighting level analysis and lumen/foot-candle levels for each room or area.

(i) Energy: If requested in the statement of work the contractor will provide energy savings and Return on Investment (ROI).

1. C.2.7 states that potentially the majority of task orders could be issued in the 4th (final) quarter of the fiscal year. What percent of work is likely to be issued in the 4th fiscal quarter?

30% would not be out of line.

1. C.2.9 indicates the task order limitation on acceptance is $2 million. Is it anticipated that all task orders will fall under $2 million, or may the Government request larger task orders if the contractor agrees to accept?

A large majority of the task orders will be under $2M. There may be an instance where this price is higher, but certainly will not be common.

1. C.2.11 indicates that part of the contractor’s task order proposal will include a list of “anticipated Subcontractors including a MBE/WBE Certification.” Given the specialty nature of work at NBAF, it may be difficult to identify MBE/WBE firms capable of providing the attention to detail and safety required. How often is it anticipated that task orders will require MBE/WBE certifications for subcontractors and what are the anticipated participation percentages that will be applied?

This is not applicable.

1. If MBE/WBE requirements are included in a task order, will evidence of good faith efforts be accepted if an offeror is unable to identify a qualified MBE/WBE subcontractor?

This is not applicable.

1. Will the Construction Task Catalog be revised throughout the contract period to add those items that are utilized frequently as NPP items (e.g. once an item is used 3 times, it will be added to the pre-priced CTC.)

CTC will be updated annually

1. C.2.11 discusses price development. Are contractors required to select “the lowest of three subcontractor quotes” or, recognizing the mission of NBAF, will contractors be permitted to submit a justification of acceptance of higher price based on safety, past performance, ability to meet schedule, etc.?

The Government will review contractor justifications, but will ultimately make the final decision.

1. C.2.13 indicates that annual updates of the Construction Task Catalog will be provided at the anniversary of contract award. Our understanding is that the CTC is not contract specific and as such, may have been updated on a different timeline. Will the CTC be updated at the same time, or will offerors being using a book with pricing that is potentially several months old?

CTC will be updated annually. The Construction Task Catalog® issued with the proposal will be in effect for the first year of the Contract. Thereafter, on the anniversary of the Contract, a new Construction Task Catalog® will be provided.

1. Referencing C.2.15, will USDA allow contractors to obtain single “blanket” P&P bonds against which task order bonding is applied, rather than requiring separate bonds for every task order?

Bonds will be provided for each task order issued.

1. Please clarify the requirements for Supervision. C.9 indicates that “at least one superintendent for every four task orders” will be required. At the site visit it was indicated that each task order must have a separate and distinct Superintendent. Please clarify the requirements for on-site supervision for each task order. May a Superintendent manage multiple projects based on size, location, and complexity of work, provided there is adequate escort coverage?

Yes, Superintendents can manage up to four concurrent contracts provided they maintain oversight of the work taking place and adequate escort coverage is maintained by the prime contractor.

1. Does USDA have any approved escorting services for NBAF that the contractor may hire to accommodate fluctuations in need, rather than needing to have a high number of escorts to address the fluctuations in volume between work issued in the fourth fiscal quarter and other times of the year?

No

1. C.13 states that the QC Plan shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer for approval 10 working days prior to the start of contract performance. Is this referencing a task order level QC plan or should it read within 10 days of award of the contract? It is unclear when offerors are to provide a QC plan when the contract has not yet been awarded.

A QC plan will be reviewed 10 days after the JOC IDIQ award itself.

1. C.15 indicates the period of performance of this contract is from 9/16/2024 through 9/15/2029. Is it USDA’s intent to award this contract by that date? If award is delayed, will the period of performance be adjusted or will it still end on 9/15/2029, short of 5 years?/ The five year ordering period will remain, but will be adjusted to actual contract award date.

1. H.20 indicates that either Primavera 6 or Microsoft Project Scheduling software formats will be required, depending on task order. How often is it anticipate that Primavera P6 will be necessary?

A P6 schedule will be required for medium-large projects that involve design, construction and/or phasing. A Microsoft project schedule would be acceptable for small repair tasks and services. A P6 schedule is acceptable any time as well. All projects shall provide either a Detailed P6 or Microsoft Project schedule provided to the government showing anticipated dates of work taking place and shall be subject to a minimum bi-weekly update.

1. SOW 1.8 states Normal work hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday, Please confirm this is meant to read 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. as indicated in several other areas of the solicitation.

Normal work hours are 8:00 am CST to 4:30 PM CST.

1. Section L.9, Item 9. Construction Task Catalog Example Project Submission indicates it will be part of the evaluation process. Under which of the three Evaluation Criteria listed in M.2 will this be evaluated?

Technical Approach – last paragraph for Factor 1

1. What is included in the evaluation criteria for Technical Approach? Is it only the offeror’s response to L.9 Item 7?

Yes

1. Please confirm that the offeror’s submission should be comprised of 9 separate files aligned with Items 1-9, and that these are not to be combined into a single document?

Submit as separate documents

1. Is each item 1-9 response to be submitted via separate email, or may multiple responses be submitted in a single email?

Submit in one email to ensure all are received.

1. What is the size limitation on email attachments? May offerors submit their proposal via multiple emails if needed?

If multiple emails are submitted, it is the contractor's responsibility to ensure all are received. One email with all submission documents is preferred.

1. Section L.9.4. Attachment 5. Past Performance Questionnaire requires offerors to provide a maximum of 3 completed PPQ projects within the past 4 years. Please confirm that the past performance required here is intended to be provided at the project level for individual stand-alone projects or task orders completed under a JOC or IDIQ contract.

Individual stand-alone projects or task orders under a JOC or IDIQ contract.

1. Please confirm that PPQs are not required for the JOC and IDIQ contracts provided in response to Section L.9.8. Past Performance.

Not required

1. Please confirm that the PPQ in response Item 4 do not need to reference the same experience, or have occurred on the same contracts as submitted in response Item 8.

Do not need to reference same

1. For Submission Item 4 in L.9, it states Offeror’s responses shall be limited to information on and provided with the PPQ document. Is any other information to be provided or allowable within the proposal to support evaluation, such a list of the points of contact/projects for which PPQ were requested, or a copy of the first page of the PPQ?

No other information will be allowed

1. For Submission Item 4 in L.9 it is indicated that offerors unable to obtain PPQ responses from other federal agencies in the time required may submit PPQ responses submitted on other procurements, if they are within one (1) year. Please clarify the one year restriction. We read this to say that, for example, project completed 3 years ago that was evaluated shortly after completion would not be eligible for inclusion because the evaluation of that project would be older than one year? Since our performance on that project will not have changed, please consider allowing older evaluations provided the date of the project falls within an acceptable range.

Projects cannot be older than 1 year.

1. L.9, response Item 7 instructions offerors to “provide the qualifications of the members of the staff and their responsibilities should the offeror receive the contract award (including resumes, excluding names).” Please clarify this request. Are offerors to provide minimum hiring standards, resumes of representative personnel performing in similar roles on similar contracts that demonstrate the level of quality expected by the contractor, or are redacted resumes of actual team members proposed for the contract to be provided?

Redacted resumes are acceptable, however must meet the required qualifications.

1. Is Attachment 15 an actual project to be awarded on this JOC or is it used only to demonstrate that offerors understand how to use the CTC?

Understand how to use the CTC, not a project to be awarded.

1. Are offerors to apply their proposed coefficient to the detailed list of the appropriate construction tasks for the project from the CTC in L.9 response Item 9? If not, what coefficient should offerors use in the example project?

There is no pricing for attachment 15, just select the appropriate line items and quantities and use a coefficient factor of 1.0.

1. Does the project in Attachment 15 represent the type of work anticipated on the contract, or will the work issued on the JOC be more focused on interior renovations of NBAF facilities?

Focus will be the NBAF facility, interior and exterior renovations/repairs.

1. Is escorting applicable to the Example scope of work in Attachment 15?

No, it is strictly a measure to determine if appropriate line items and quantities are selected from the CTC.

1. When should offerors assume work in the Example project in Attachment 15 will be / was awarded in order to accommodate weather conditions within the progress schedule and sequence of work.

Assume there will be no weather delay conditions.

1. Section L.9.4. Attachment 5. Past Performance Questionnaire requires offerors to provide a maximum of 3 completed PPQ projects within the past 4 years. Please confirm that the past performance required here is intended to be provided at the project level for individual stand-alone projects or task orders.

Project/task order level.

1. Please confirm that PPQs are not required for the JOC and IDIQ contracts provided in response to Section L.9.8. Past Performance.

They are not.

1. Section L.9.9. Construction Task Catalog Example Project Submission requires “1. A detailed list of the appropriate construction tasks for the project from the CTC, including a progress schedule of work for major activities, and the sequence of work to be performed in accordance with Attachment 15.” and “2. A detailed progress schedule of work for major activities, duration of activities, and sequence of work to be performed that accurately reflects the sequencing of work to be performed in accordance with Attachment 15.” Please confirm that that progress schedule referred to in item 1 is the same as the progress schedule in item 2.

Same.

1. Section L.9.9. Construction Task Catalog Example Project Submission requires “3. A detailed submittal register clearly itemizing all deliverables and submittals.” Are offerors required to submit a submittal register in a specific format? If so, will the Government please provide the intended format for the offeror’s submittal register?

There is no standard template for the submittal register.

1. Referencing H.25 Off-Site Parking, we understand that we “shall have the ability to park off-site and van pool employees over to the NBAF Facility”. Because this will vary based on the size of crews working at any given time, will the government allow for pricing driver(s) and vehicle(s) to be assigned to the individual task orders using line items?

No, this will be a coefficient expense.

1. Will offerors be given access to the Gordian software to prepare their estimate for the example project? If not, is there a preferred format for the list of line items to be submitted for the CTC Example project in L.9, item 9.1?

Access will not be granted for the sample project. There is no standard template.

1. Please clarify if bond costs are to be included in the coefficient.

See attachment 4.

1. The solicitation states that the contractor shall employ a scheduling professional. Please confirm that another staff member, such as the Project Manager, can fill this role, and that a separate scheduler is not required.

This person can be dual hatted, i.e. PM, etc.

1. Which coefficient (Facilities in Containment, Facilities out of Containment,) is to be used for projects in “containable areas”?

See attachment 12 for Containment Definitions

1. Page 10 of the solicitation states, “In the event the Contractor is required to work in a secured facility or location where labor, materials, and equipment must be inspected, the Contractor will be permitted to add labor hours to the Task Order Price Proposal to account for lost time as a result of such inspection.” Please confirm this would likely apply to all projects at NBAF.

It will be applicable to all projects at NBAF. It will be negotiated at the task order level.

1. Page 10 of the solicitation states, “In the event the Contractor is required to work in a secured facility or location where labor, materials, and equipment must be inspected, the Contractor will be permitted to add labor hours to the Task Order Price Proposal to account for lost time as a result of such inspection.” We expect the time required for labor, material, and equipment inspection may vary depending on the project and daily conditions at NBAF. Will the contractor and NBAF come up with a reasonable estimate for expected lost time when creating the joint scope of work, then create a change order for any significant deviations from the expectations?

It will be applicable to all projects at NBAF. It will be negotiated at the task order level.

1. Page 10 of the solicitation states, “In the event the Contractor is required to work in a secured facility or location where labor, materials, and equipment must be inspected, the Contractor will be permitted to add labor hours to the Task Order Price Proposal to account for lost time as a result of such inspection.” Does this apply only to trade labor hours, or can contractor supervisory staff hours lost to security inspections also be added to the Task Order Price Proposal?

Contractor’s Supervision and Management is specifically a cost included in the coefficient. Regarding the trade labor hours, as mentioned in the above two questions, it will be applicable to all projects at NBAF. It will be negotiated at the task order level.

Second Group of Questions 12805B24R0001

1. Will USDA provide a copy of the slides presented at the pre-proposal site visit?

USDA you can provide the slides sent before the pre-bid meeting. I have attached it to this email for your use.

1. It is our understanding Gordian will be contracted directly to USDA, and that Gordian’s annual software fees are to be excluded from the contractor’s coefficients. Please confirm.

Do not include Gordian’s fee in contractor’s coefficient.

1. Regarding the CTC, USDA indicated that Gordian will be responsible for addressing the contractor’s questions/RFIs throughout contract term. Based on prior experience with USDA, turnaround times for task order proposals are very short. Thus, Gordian will needs to answer contractor questions in a prompt manner. From a contractual standpoint, how long does Gordian have to respond to the contractor’s questions/RFIs pertaining to CTC pricing? Will the contractor be given more time to submit a proposal should Gordian take longer than anticipated to answer the contractor’s questions/RFIs?

It will depend on the question. If it requires further research from the CTC team, it may take longer than 3 business days. Otherwise, the question will be answered in a timely manner, no more than 3 business days.

1. Please confirm USDA will be providing Project Exemption Certificates for all task orders under the JOC. Or is the contractor responsible for covering applicable taxes within their coefficient? This can be costly given the tax rate is ~10%.

State of Kansas Project Exemption Certificates will be submitted for all task orders issued.

1. According to Attachment 4 – Definition of Coefficient, the contractor’s coefficients are to include “incidental engineering and architectural services.” How does USDA define these services?

As a general rule, anything from 0 to 4 hours (1/2 day) may be incidental.

We consider the following types of Tasks to be incidental:

(a) Design calculations to substantiate appropriate equipment or material selection/ sizing, component assembly, and proposed layout and sizing of utilities and structural elements. The contractor shall at a minimum supply the following calculation:

(b) Mechanical: HVAC load analysis and unit sizing, pipe sizing, duct sizing, and test and balancing data.

(c) Electrical: Electrical system capacity, conductor, conduit, protective devices, and other equipment sizing and numbered circuits.

(d) Structural: Structural system and foundation sizing. Structural system and foundation drawings will be reviewed and stamped by a registered engineer licensed in the State of Georgia.

(e) Fire Protection: All fire protection drawings and designs will be reviewed and stamped by a registered fire protection engineer licensed in the State of Georgia

(f) Life Safety: All work will conform to the most current Life Safety Codes.

(g) Pavement/Site Work: Area run-off quantities, drainage capacities, and grading slopes.

(h) Lighting: Lighting level analysis and lumen/foot-candle levels for each room or area.

(i) Energy: If requested in the statement of work the contractor will provide energy savings and Return on Investment (ROI).

1. In Attachment 1 – Coefficient Proposal Form, USDA is requesting coefficients for work occurring in and out of containment. At NBAF, however, work productivity (and corresponding labor costs) can vary widely depending on the specific level of containment (i.e. BSL-2, BSL-3, BSL-4). For example, work in BSL-3 and BSL-4 containment areas (where significant human infection potential exists) require crews to pass through an initial security checkpoint, possibly shower in/out, don the appropriate PPE, and pass through multiple sealed doorways. Depending on circumstances, this can translate to just a few hours of productive work in an 8-hour workday. In comparison, the BSL-2 lab spaces have less stringent requirements. A single coefficient representative of all three BSL areas does not seem plausible. Will USDA consider updating Attachment 1 to require separate coefficients for BSL-2, BSL-3, and BSL-4?

Provide two coefficients for containment (normal working hours and other than normal)

1. How does USDA define “other than normal working hours”? Will there need to be coefficients specific to afterhours (evenings) during the week versus work on weekends and holidays?

See attachment 12, Containment Definitions. Anything after 4:30 PM CST until 8:00 AM CST, Monday thru Friday (and Saturday, Sunday, Holidays) is considered “Other than Normal Working Hours.

1. Regarding the non pre-priced (NPP) coefficient, we noted USDA’s plug number is $2M out of $20M, or $10% of the total cost distribution. In our professional opinion, the equipment and materials of construction represented in the CTC will have limited applicability to many of the specialized construction and repair needs at NBAF. For example, during the site visit, USDA brought up the need for repairs to one of the Thermal Tissue Autoclaves (TTA). These repairs will require OEM service technicians and specialized parts/equipment not covered in the CTC. As a result, we anticipate encountering NPP situations more than 10% of the time. Please confirm USDA be flexible on allowing NNP line items when these types of situations are encountered?

USDA will determine the flexibility of NPP as those situations arise.

1. Regarding NPP items, will USDA waive the requirement to acquire three (3) quotes when the parts, materials, or equipment are only available from one source/vendor (i.e. proprietary or highly specialized equipment)?

USDA will review the requirement for three quotes when the situation arises.

1. The labor costs built into the CTC unit rates are likely based on “standard” construction work in/around Manhattan, KS. Thus, they will not adequately account for the much lower productivity when working at a high security, specialized lab facility such as NBAF. Although not specifically listed under “Business Costs,” should this scenario be factored into the contractor’s bid coefficients?

The contractor needs to capture their costs for executing work at the facility.

1. What will be the required turnaround time for generating a proposal? For example, from the day we receive the RTOP, will the contractor have 5, 7, 10, 15 etc. days to provide a proposal to the government?

The number of days will be determined at the Joint Scope Meeting and extensions may be granted by the Contracting Officer, if necessary.

1. Price Variations are the contractor’s responsibility, but the statement is vague on the calculation of the “Adjustment Factors” accordingly. Please elaborate on this or is this “Adjustment Factor” defined as being included in the coefficient?

Adjustment Factor. Used interchangeably with “Coefficient” is a competitively bid adjustment to be applied to the Unit Prices listed in the Construction Task Catalog.

1. 22 13 16 00-0002 - Sanitary Waste and Vent Piping lists “fittings are assumed every 10 ft” as part of the assembly description. Why is this not specified in all assemblies, for example; PVC, Copper, Cast, etc. Please clarify if all Assemblies are based on a one for every 10’ fitting count. Note, this is not the case in a plumbing chase between (2) restrooms where there are multiple fittings on average of one (1) every 4”-6”.

No, they are not. The requirements if not defined will be subject to code requirements for the specified installations. If field conditions require additional fittings beyond the standard of assembly, adjustments will be negotiated to account for the difference.

1. Regarding work/tasks within contaminated areas, please confirm the government is responsible for providing the contractor the appropriate PPE to work in that defined area. If not, is the contractor responsible for covering these costs in their coefficient or will these costs be included in the CTC or as a non-pre priced item? If contractor’s responsibility in coefficient, please provide a detailed list of what all will be required.

This should not be accounted for as part of the Coefficient, PPE beyond standard task items that are specific to a lab area will be outlined on the individual task orders and if not government provided or covered under an existing CTC item pricing for the identified task, will be priced based on CTC PPE if available or if necessary addressed as a NPP.

1. Regarding work in BSL 3 and BSL 4 areas, how will tools be decontaminated upon entry and leaving? Will the decontamination process harm or decrease the lifespan of the tool? If so, will the government pay for tool damage and decreased lifespan or is this to be covered in the contractor coefficient? Does the CTC cover incidental costs associated with this scenario?

USDA anticipates that most work will take place in decontaminated/cleaned lab spaces on task orders, and the decontamination method will be based on the current Bio-Risk Management determinations of the space. This typically involves a chemical wipe being used to wipe down tools and equipment which should not affect the lifespan of the tools. If it is determined that the tool must be decontaminated another way that would damage the tool and render it unusable for future projects, this may fall under a consumable item that the government will include in the scope and would be required to be turned over to the government in containment in working condition at the end of the performance period and prior to any decontamination. Specialty tools or equipment necessary in containment may be furnished by the government on an as needed basis and clearly defined in the Scope of Work and is subject to a release of liability signed by all parties.

1. In high containment areas, will tools be allowed to leave the containment area or will there be a designated area within that containment level where the tools will remain? If tools are to remain, how is the contractor to recoup costs associated initial tool purchase? Further, it is unknown what all type of tools need to be purchased to store in said area. Also, does the CTC cover vendor/subcontractor costs associated with having to purchase tools and leave them in containment? Or again is this all to be covered in the coefficient?

USDA anticipates that most work will take place in decontaminated/cleaned lab spaces on task orders, and the decontamination method will be based on the current Bio-Risk Management determinations of the space. This typically involves a chemical wipe being used to wipe down tools and equipment which should not affect the lifespan of the tools. If it is determined that the tool must be decontaminated another way that would damage the tool and render it unusable for future projects, this may fall under a consumable item that the government will include in the scope and would be required to be turned over to the government in containment in working condition at the end of the performance period and prior to any decontamination. Specialty tools or equipment necessary in containment may be furnished by the government on an as needed basis and clearly defined in the Scope of Work and is subject to a release of liability signed by all parties.

1. Does the CTC include inefficiency costs of getting materials screened before entry to site?

No

1. How often will the CTC be updated if there are times of extreme price fluctuation (i.e. recent market inflation)?

Annually

1. Will the facility provide work radios to be used in containment areas where no phones are allowed or where cellular reception is poor? If not, are these costs to be covered in the coefficient?

Radios will be provided as needed by USDA

1. At the site visit it was mentioned, the government would typically decontaminate a space within BSL 2, 3, and 4 labs before work construction tasks would be conducted. How will rooms be contaminated? Will vaporized hydrogen peroxide be used and proof tested for decontamination via various biological indicator strips with Bacillus stearothermophilus (or other sporous biological)? Biological indicator test results can help prove to the contractor the work area is sterilized. The contractor is just concerned for worker safety and would like to have an idea on how workers will be protected and how the contractor will be provided proof of decontamination before entry.

Specified decontamination methods are on a case-by-case basis and subject to review by USDA’s Bio-Risk Management (BRM) Team. All decontaminated areas will be reviewed and confirmed through the methods determined by BRM and will be accompanied by a confirmation document specific to the area. This confirmation document will be provided to the contractor prior to entry.

1. Regarding price negotiations, will the contracting officer or government be involved, or will the contractor be negotiating with Gordian?

Contracting Officer and NBAF Team

1. Will the contractor get to review the Independent Government Estimate after the contract has been negotiated?

No

1. Does the CTC include a waste percentage in the calculated values? If so what percentage and is this across all systems or just subsets? If subsets, which ones?

Waste is included in the material component cost of the CTC. The amount of waste included in costs are based upon the product; for instance – the waste factor for drywall, based upon industry standards, is different from the waste factor for a door.

1. Will the contractor get to see what labor source was used to development the government’s cost estimate for a task? The concern is during negotiation, the government’s estimate may have been based on a general laborer when actually the task requires more skilled labor.

Government estimate is built utilizing eGordian, selecting quantities only.

1. Will all scopes of work provided to the contractor for pricing be very detailed or will they be rough scopes that require contractor involvement on fine tuning for more detailed pricing? Developing fine tuned scopes can require a significant amount of time and effort from the contractor and that labor would need to be covered in the coefficient.

A Joint Scoping meeting will occur and after this meeting, a detailed SOW will be provided by the USDA.

1. When provided scopes of work require drawings for clarification and/or as-built development, will the government provide the appropriate drawings? Or will the contractor be required to comb a consolidated database to try and determine which drawings are applicable to the work area?

Specific task orders may include general reference drawings or detailed 3rd party developed design documents which will be specified in the Scope of Work. It is the responsibility of the prime contractor to review a consolidated database to determine which drawings are applicable to the work area.

1. In relation to the question above, what if the provided drawings do not match the installed layout, will the contractor be recouped for costs associated with developing an updated drawing for construction?

General reference drawings or documents consolidated by the prime contractor are for reference only and it is the responsibility of the contractor to verify field conditions, adjust as necessary and update as necessary for the as-built package.

1. Under this contract will the contractor be required to update BIM modeling? If so, who controls the model and what is their contact information?

No, BIM modeling updates are not required. However, task specific orders may require as-builts to be provide in electronic AutoCAD format.

1. Will there be work areas involved in this contract that require government escort on top of the contractor Superintendent escort (ie. containment)? If so, what is the escorts ratio on number of people they can escort and does the CTC include costs associated with this further inefficiency of work as crews will be at the mercy of having a government escort available?

Yes, at this point all work in containment will require government escort. The Government’s escort ratio may be subject to adjustment based on necessary security measures however the general standard is 5 to 1. The government will ensure the necessary coverage is available and expects that any anticipated inefficiency of work withing containment is accounted for in the contractor’s coefficient.

1. Regarding government provided escorts (as required), is the contractor responsible for providing PPE appropriate for protecting the government escort from possible harm related to the task? If so, is this cost to be covered in the coefficient?

No

1. Will the contract allow for pricing templates to be created? I.e. a template with pre-populated line items that will be applicable to almost every task order where the contractor just needs to quantify. This would be for items such as trash, dray, stock materials offsite, transport over a specific distance, etc.

In eGordian, users are able to use Task Collections to create individual user templates. Task Collections can be shared with other users in same company. Tasks within task collections can then be added to both an estimate or proposal when needed. These are user-defined, and not contractual, but they help support efficiency in estimating, particularly for repetitive tasks.

1. Will Gordian provide training to the government and contractor separate on how to use the program? Contractor is inquiring because we feel it is important to see how end users and contractor are using the system differently for pricing.

Gordian will provide training.

1. Can tasks/projects be rejected due to disagreement or price inadequacies?

No

1. Regarding completion of contract tasks, please confirm the prime contractor is required to always have a Site Superintendent on-site during construction, repair, maintenance, etc. Further, if multiple tasks are occurring at the same time in the facility, please confirm the contractor is required to have a Site Superintendent staged at each task (i.e. a single person cannot overlap multiple projects).

Yes, Superintendents are required to be onsite at all times, but can manage up to four concurrent contracts provided they maintain oversight of the work taking place and adequate escort coverage is maintained by the prime contractor.

1. Regarding waste generated from projects within containment, please provide detailed information on how waste is to be disposed? Will it be the responsibility of the facility to decontaminate and/or incinerate all waste generated?

Packaging Waste brought into containment shall be minimal as all materials coming into containment shall be unpackaged prior to entry unless determined otherwise as necessary for protection of items. Construction debris and waste will be subject to removal and the movement, handling, staging of this material and final disposal for material not incinerated is the responsibility of the contractor. The actual decontamination and incineration process will be the responsibility of NBAF Personnel. Specific decontamination method will be on a case-by-case basis and determined as part of the specific task order to define contractor handling responsibilities.

1. During a typical work shift, hypothetically a worker needs to use the restroom. Given the escorting requirements and maintaining line of site, will the escort and all those they are escorting be required to accompany said individual to the restroom? The contractor understands it is a strange question, but this instance would be common and would impact work efficiency and possible number of Superintendents and escorts needed to be available on site.

Yes, line of sight escort required at all times.

1. Please confirm the CTC provided is the actual one the contractor will be using to start off the contract and not just an example CTC.

Yes, it is.

1. We understand the current requirement for escorting is a 5-to-1 ratio of escort to non-badged personnel. Does the CTC pricing include the additional escort manpower needs on a project that has more than 5 workers where a second or third, etc. prime contractor provided Superintendent/escort is required? Or is this required to be provided in the coefficient?

No, the CTC pricing does not include pricing specific to the number of workers. This should be accounted for in the coefficient.

1. Do the unit prices in the CTC account for BUY AMERICAN - CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS (FAR 52.225-9)?

In most cases. Contractors are responsible to ensure they buy materials compliant with Buy American.

1. In the situation where the contractor is required to furnish an “incidental” design detail or drawing, will the government recognize the contractor’s detail/drawing as an approved document for construction? If so, it is our understanding the contractor’s approved detail/drawing may be used for cost estimating purposes. In this scenario, we further understand that the CTC allows the estimate to be based on component tasks instead of assemblies. Is this interpretation correct?

The contractor’s detail/drawing shall be submitted in accordance with incidental design requirements and is subject to approval should a standard assembly not be applicable for the specific scenario. Component tasks are only applicable for approved assemblies that are necessary for the specific task and cannot be achieved with a standard CTC assemblies modified by CTC add-ons.