12970223R0002-0001 QA.pdf

Questions and Answers Solicitation 12970223R0002

Question No. Reference Point Question Answer

1. General Q: Who are the incumbent contractors?

A: There are no currently active contracts for these activities, and this solicitation is different from previously awarded contracts. The predecessor contractors that provided work similar to this requirement are: ERRG, Inc;

NRC Environmental Services, ECM, Broadbent Associates, and Sierra West Consultants.

2. General Q: What has been the total dollar spent to date on the expiring contract per region?

A: We do not have an apples-to-apples comparison, as the activities awarded in previous contracts are not the same as the activities being awarded under this solicitation;

however, the previous IDIQs were awarded a maximum value of $7M.

3. General Q: What is the total potential value of the contract?

A: the Government estimates the potential total value for the multi-year/award contract to be between $15M and $30M.

4. General Q: Please provide copies of the current contract.

A: Awarded contracts are proprietary and therefore are ineligible to be shared with the public by the Government.

Any information that is public for the previous contracts may be found on SAM.gov under Contract Opportunities or Contract Data. Offerors may reference solicitation number AG-91S8-S-17-0001. As the Forest Service does not control the availability of information posted to SAM.gov, the Federal Helpdesk is the point of reference for any additional inquiries.

5. General Q: Please provide copies of the current contractors’ proposals.

A: Contractor’s proposals are proprietary and therefore, ineligible to be shared with the public. Any information pertaining to the expired contract files that is available to the public may be found on SAM.gov under Contract Opportunities or Contract Data by searching solicitation number AG-91S8-S-17-0001. As the Forest Service does not control the availability of information posted to SAM.gov, the Federal Helpdesk is the point of reference for any additional inquiries.

6. General Q: What is the relative weights of the evaluation criteria, including the cost table?

A: Please see Section E.2 of the Solicitation document for information on how proposals will be evaluated.

7.

Proposal Schedule Page: 2 of 54

Q: Can you please extend the due date for Phase I submittal by 1 or 2 weeks?

A: Yes, the Government will extend the due date for Phase I and all event items by two (2) weeks. Reference amendment one (1) of the solicitation terms. The new Phase I proposals due date is 03/17/2023.

8. Section B.8, Task Order Issuance Page: 22 of 54

Q: How many contractors do you expect to have in each region to choose from for each task order?

A: The Forest Service anticipates the award of two to four (2-4) contractors per region to ensure adequate coverage/availability and competition for task orders.

Contractors may be awarded multiple regions but the ideal number of contractors per region is 3.

9. Section B.8, Task Order Issuance Page: 22 of 54

Q: Do selected contractors have to compete for every task order over $20k?

A: Yes, selected contractor will be expected to compete for every task order, regardless of dollar value, except if an exception to the fair opportunity process applies such as an agency need is urgent and fair opportunity would result in unacceptable delays). The Forest Service guidance is in accordance with FAR Part 16.505(b)(1)(i), which states that the contracting officer must provide each awardee a fair opportunity to be considered for each order exceeding the micro-purchase threshold ($10k) issued under multiple delivery-order contracts or multiple task-order contracts.

10. Section C – Contract Clauses, 452.228-71 Insurance Coverage for Aircraft Public and Passenger Liability Page: 37 of 54

Q: Due to the unusual nature of the "Aircraft Public and Passenger Liability" insurance requirement, can the contractor submit this expense as part of TO Cost/Price?

A: The Government has considered this. The vast majority of the TOs will not require aircraft/helicopter support.

Therefore, the Government has added language in Section B.6 and under the clause to stipulate the expense as part of the TO Cost/price.

11. Section: Section E.1.1, Proposal Format Page: 39 of 54

Q: May we include an organization chart in our Qualifications section?

A: Yes, an organization chart may be included in the qualifications section.

12. Section E.1.2 Proposal Content

Table Page: 40 of 54

Q: Are Appendices (Field protocols and Standard Operating Procedures) included in the 20-page limit for Volume I: Technical Capability? Our SOPs and Field Procedures are detailed and lengthy documents that exceed the 20-page limitation. We respectfully suggest that these documents be excluded from the 20-page limit.

A: Appendices are NOT included in the 20-page limit; the Solicitation document has been updated to reflect that change.

13. Section E.1.2 Proposal Content Table Page: 40 of 54

Q: Is the 20-page limit for Technical Capability for all three Activities combined, or is it 20 pages per Activity? If the former, that could provide an unfair advantage to bidders responding to fewer Activities.

A: The 20-page limit for Technical Capability should include all three (3) Activities combined. Offerors are required to address all three (3) Activities as this Solicitation will NOT be awarded by Activity. Offerors are encouraged to engage in partnerships that will be most advantageous to the entity and the Government in fulfilling the requirements of this work.

14. Section E.1.2 Proposal Content Table Page: 40 of 54

Q: What is the page limit for non-resume information? May our Qualifications section include a 2-page narrative to describe our firm’s and subcontractors’ qualifications, as well as identify our subcontractors and their points of contact?

A: Yes, the Government will accept a 2 page-limit for non-resume information. The solicitation terms under E.1.2 have been amended to address this inquiry.

15. Section E.1.2 Proposal Content Table Page: 40 of 54

Q: If we choose to provide 8 or 9 projects, may we use the extra 1 or 2 pages for an introduction to our relevant past experience?

A: An offeror may use any extra space to provide any information relevant solicitation response that will support the offerors proposal once the minimum requirements responsive requirement have been met as long as the maximum page limits are not exceeded.

16. Section E.1.2 Proposal Content Table – Phase II Page: 40 of 54

How does the “5-page limit for each Scenario provided” apply in the cases of the “Example Activity Scenario” provided for Activities II and III? These attachments

A: Where an activity has multiple scenarios, the 5-page limit applies to each individual scenario (example, Activity I has a 5-page limit while Activity II has a total 10-page limit) both present two scenarios (Activity II, Scenario A and Scenario B, and Activity III, Scenario 1 and Scenario 2). For example, is the requirement 5 pages for each scenario (A and B total of 10 pages), or 5 pages for the two scenarios combined?

17. Section: Section E.1.3.1, Technical Capability Page: 41 of 54

Q: For the Activities under this contract, the total response time will vary not just with location but according to the needs of each Task Order (e.g., complexity of the work plan, the number of activities and potential risks to be covered by the HASP, coordination with regulators, permits, etc.). It is appropriate to include response times in the Activity Scenarios as they will be based on the specific scope required to be completed; however, it is unclear how response times should be generally addressed for each Activity in the Technical Capabilities section. Does the Forest Service simply want (a) drive times from our nearest office or equipment yard to each California Service Area, (b) typical response times for an ordinary project, or

(3) fastest time achievable for a rapid response project with no external coordination requirements?

A: The Government requires all the items addressed in this question. Considerations are as follows: Some Task Orders under this IDIQ may be emergency, regulatory or climate driven. It is anticipated that the offerors response times and capabilities will be affected by location (e.g, offeror proposing to service the Northern California Service Area who is based in Southern California), partnerships and/or reliance on subcontractors, etc. Therefore, understanding the factors for the geographic areas offered is relevant to the Governments risk evaluation and confidence determination as part of the evaluation considerations for this solicitation.

18. Attachment D.5 Section A Cont – SOI – Fillable

The SOI indicates it is a “continuation of SF 1449”. Is there an SF 1449 we should be signing and returning?

A: The SF 1449 is not included or required in response to this solicitation. However, before a contract can be finalized, the SF 1449 will require the signature of the contractor’s POC and the Government Contracting Officer.

All documents required in response to this solicitation can be found in Section E of the solicitation terms.

19. Attachment D.5 Section A Cont –

SOI – Fillable For the base contract price submittal, is the Schedule of Items applicable?

A: Yes, in accordance with Section E.1.6 of the solicitation, price proposals must utilize Attachment D.5 Section A Cont

– SOI – Fillable for pricing for each example Activity Scenario. Attachment D.5 has been updated to separate out workbooks for each scenario.

20. Attachment D.5 Section A Cont – SOI – Fillable

For the base contract price submittal, are there particular laboratory analyses you want described per the “ANALYTICAL & SUBCONTRACTED SERVICES” section?

A: It is expected that Firms review the state and federal regulatory guidelines which are applicable to scope of environmental site investigation and remediation services outlined in the solicitation and present their “ANALYTICAL & SUBCONTRACTED SERVICES” costs according to those requirements.

21. Attachment D.5 Section A Cont – SOI – Fillable

For the base contract price submittal, what non-laboratory items should be listed in the sections called “ANALYTICAL & SUBCONTRACTED SERVICES” other and

“OTHER COSTS”?

A: The intent of the “other” line item is the allow firms to include personnel and equipment line-item costs which their firm uses that may be missing from the Schedule of Items.