QUESTIONS and ANWSWERS from solicitation - .docx

1. The RFQ states that the vendor must have the ability to accept cash and credit/debit payments on-site. What would the vendor be accepting payment for if they would be invoicing the govt for payment of services?

ANSWER: As per the Combined Synopsis Solicitation, CLIN 0001 - Administration fee for providing Pop Up food service to the NIST Gaithersburg Campus will be firm fixed price. The administration fee will be paid per day of Pop-up Food Service. Prices for Pop-up food service meals shall be set by contractor and shall be reasonable and appropriate, however they shall not be incorporated into purchase order. Payment for each meal will be paid by individual employees, and guest to the NIST campus directly to the contractor, so the contractor’s ability to accept cash and credit/debit payments on-site is mandatory.

CLIN 0002 is different and will be per meal/item as stated in the Combined Synopsis Solicitation as per the billing schedule.

2. Will the NIST organization seek services from a mobile food truck outside of the building (having customers come to the food truck) or would they like meals setup inside the facility?

ANSWER: This requirement is for indoors. As per the SOW page 1, bullet #6 - 6) Provide indoor Pop Up food service.

3. Are meals for the catering services described on page 10 of the RFQ paid under a PO or will these also be purchased by the staff/guest?

ANSWER: CLIN 0002 will be paid under a PO and the contractor will invoice the Government for each item provided during a Catering Service event. That is why CLIN 0002 has a breakdown of the meal prices on the Billing schedule.

4. Is this a renewal, and if so who can you please provide me with the contract detail for the last service provider, including the dollar amount? and the name of the incumbent.

ANSWER: No, this is not a renewal.

5. What is the estimated number of persons expected to be service per day per breakfast, lunch, and dinner?

ANSWER: The Pop-Up food service is only for lunch. The Catering Event will have a different number of attendees for each event and the number of attendees will be provided when the catering is scheduled.

We do not have an estimated number of persons expected to purchasing lunch, however, we can provide the following information on sales from food trucks.

Current Campus Population: 1800-2000 Food Truck daily averages since late spring early/summer: 37 lunches (daily average) and $534 in sales (daily average)

6. Do you have access to any data that shows an average number of people (of the 1800-2000 staff) served each day under the previous kitchen? I know you shared the volume of sales under the food-truck, but we need to this information to determine what our minimum food, staffing, and administrative costs are and if they can be met.

ANSWER: The previous cafe closed in Spring 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Campus Population pre-COVID was around 4000 Former Cafe Average Check for Lunch pre-COVID: $6.14 Number of Café Customers for lunch pre-COVID: 768

7. Can you please provide the average occupancy each day Monday-Friday currently for the Gaithersburg campus?

ANSWER: Current Campus Population on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday: 1800-2000. There are a couple hundred less on Mondays and Fridays.

8. Are most employees onsite at one building? If yes, how many employees work out of that building? Is that where the pop-up would be located?

ANSWER: Staff are spread out throughout the various buildings on the Gaithersburg campus. The Pop-Up would be setup on the main floor of our administration building (Bldg. 101) near the lobby. The setup is in close vicinity to the former cafeteria (now closed for renovation). Staff would typically walk to 101 from multiple buildings that are connected by indoor walkways as well as the other buildings on campus.

9. What are the current food offerings on campus (a different pop-up, food truck(s), micro market)? What day(s) are those offerings available?

ANSWER: Variety of food trucks on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday

10. Is there any return to office plan being implemented at the beginning of 2023 to bring more employees onsite? If yes, what is the expected headcount onsite?

ANSWER: Not at this time.

11. What is the ideal per person spend for lunch you would be looking for?

ANSWER: Prices for Pop-up food service meals shall be set by contractor and shall be reasonable and appropriate, however they shall not be incorporated into purchase order. It is up to the contractor to determine pricing for lunch service.

12. How long do employees typically have for lunch?

ANSWER: Lunch is minimum of ½ hour, and typically scheduled anytime between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

13. Will there be another site visit held?

ANSWER: No

14. Is a call scheduled for COR Q&A?

ANSWER: No

15. Can you clarify if the Contractor is responsible for providing all kitchen appliances (equipment)?

ANSWER: Contractor is responsible for providing all equipment.

16. Question concerns pricing on page 5 regarding item 0001. The description requests pricing per day for service. In section IV on page 9 the request is to provide lunch service from 11am - 2pm. However later in section IV, there is a clause that the government reserves the right to add a breakfast service Tuesday through Thursday. Can I provide a daily price for lunch only and provide a second price for days when you would require both breakfast and lunch service?

ANSWER: Quote should be priced for lunch only for CLIN 0001 and breakfast will be negotiated after award should the need arise.

17. Question refers to section V on page 10. This section contains the statement "The aggregate value of all catering events shall not exceed the amount identified in the line-item schedule for each one year period". I do not understand what this statement refers to. I would really appreciate your clarification as to what the not to exceed aggregate value is.

ANSWER: The total amount of CLIN 0002 (the NTE amount) should be the total cost of all catering.