Responses_to_Questions_Attachment_5_0002.pdf

Responses to Questions - Solicitation 140F0S24R0015 – Interpretive Services

Because large materials and design for large kiosks vary immensely, and that affects cost, can the site share their design concepts to help with pricing? Yes, attached are the designs for the most common USFWS kiosks. However, all vendors should note that USFWS sites may prefer a different design than the ones shown in the attachment.

Q2) The original artwork is varied and costly. Approximately how many pieces of original art are expected, or do you foresee using photos more than artwork? In general, photos are used in majority of USFWS interpretive designs. Original artwork (sketches, paintings, etc...) will likely make up a small portion of the graphic designs requested by USFWS. Since this is a BPA, any BPA vendors can choose not to bid on task orders that have original artwork.

Is this referring to the design development phases, (Yes) where USFWS would see multiple (at least two) draft design submittals? Yes. What the USFWS is wanting the contractor to provide is the industry standard for the bare minimum number of design drafts. i.e., The contractor will propose a draft design for panel X (that's #1). The USFWS reviews the draft design and requests changes.

Then the contractor will make the needed changes and submit a revised draft design for panel X (that's #2). The USFWS will review and if needed, will note any changes to that draft design. The contractor then makes any needed changes to design draft #2 to create the "final design".

Section 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors o Does this section completely outline everything that is required for submission for this solicitation? Yes o Past performance is mentioned. What kind of past performance are you looking for? Are you looking for references from former clients, or moreso samples of work of past jobs with similar scopes to the sample scope? Or something else? Any clarity on this would be much appreciated. Past performance would include projects of similar or same requirement contained in the solicitation with a contact name.

In the Sample Scope of Work, it is called out to do “at least two draft design submittals for each submittal”. I reviewed the Sample Scope of Work and the quoted language doesn't exist. I could only find the word "submittal" in two places in the Sample Scope of Work.

Here is what the Sample SOW actually says under Graphics and Layouts: "The contractor will develop the graphics and layout for the panels and provide the USFWS with a minimum of two draft submittals to review and comment on." And under Review and Approval: "USFWS National Wildlife Refuge staff must review and approve at least two draft design submittals for each panel, the panel stands, and the kiosk."

I am confused about your mailing address and not your email address.

Please confirm what is correct delivery address for notice ID above.

• 5275 Leesburg Pike Falls Church VA 22041

• 1011 EAST TUDOR ROAD, MS 381 ANCHORAGE, AK 99503-6199

This is for a national BPA that include all 50 states and territories and no set delivery address. The addresses that are on the solicitation is where the Contracting Officer works out of in Falls church, VA and the Anchorage address is where the Project person works out of. There is no set location for this requirement it can be in any of the states. You would have to provide in your proposal which states you are willing to work in.

As there is a lot of PDF files attached to this contract, I am unsure as to what all you would need from me in terms of, graphic design résumé/proposal? This information can be found on page 14 in the solicitation, "52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors" See Excerpts below.

Offeror shall be required to submit a written Technical Capability Statement. The Technical Capability Statement should include your company’s overview, core competencies/capabilities, past performance, and contact information Any submission must adhere to the Statement of Work. Attachment (1).

Note: Please indicate in your proposal whether you are willing to work in all fifty (50) states and territories, and if not please indicate which states you are willing to work in.

Yes _____ No _____ (indicate which ones) Please complete the sample Blanket Purchase Agreement Call and provide pricing. (Attachment (2)

Item 1a: Document Clarification In the document “A04_PWS_National_BPA_Interpretive_Panel_and_Wayside_Graphic_Design .pdf” the introductory sentence denotes “…provide interpretive media, including graphic design and fabrication for indoor and outdoor interpretive panels, trail waysides, and kiosks…” It is clear to Terrabilt what “interpretive panels” and “trail waysides” are, but the term “kiosk” is ambiguous without a visual example. Terrabilt uses the term kiosk for products utilizing a roof to protect the panels from UV and weather. A three-panel kiosk can take many forms and will vary greatly depending on the desired design. The USFWS has document, "USFWS Kiosk Design Guide, which is being posted to the BPA solicitation. It has the sizes and styles of the most popular USFWS kiosks in use today.

Does the USFW have a desired assembly configuration, or is the configuration up to the submitting firm? It will be difficult to compare apples to apples without an example to follow.

The smaller wayside interpretive panels (24” x 16”) ½” thick DHPL with threaded inserts assumes the panel will be attached to a fabricated assembly with a metal backing plate to create stiffness. Does the USFW have an example of this structure that bidders are to follow, or is this design at the bidder’s discretion? To give the greatest flexibility to all contractors, the USFWS will leave it up to the contractor/bidders discretion on what they are familiar and comfortable providing.

In the document named above, under item C. DESIGN OF INTERPRETIVE MEDIA – subheading, Design and Production of Indoor and Outdoor Signs/Panels and Structures (Page 4), there is a lengthy list of options for material substrates. We are familiar with all these substrates, and each has a place in this market, however pricing for each substrate varies enormously. Are bidders expected to provide pricing for all options? USFWS realizes that not all BPA vendors may be able to fabricate and provide all the substrates required for specific USFWS projects. So the USFWS will allow the bidder to.

Item 1b: Document Clarification We are looking for clarification of the purpose of the two sample PDFs.

The files in question are: (B08__Attachment_3_Sample_Project_proposal_worksheet3.pdf, and 8_Attachment_2_Sample_Scope_of_Work_for_Interpretive_Kiosk_and_Wayside_Panels.pdf Are these, as the titles imply, just samples, or are these indeed the items that will be used for pricing comparison between other bid submissions? The bidder, using the Attachment #2 Sample Project narrative is calculate and provide estimates for the project segments (Design, Materials, Fabrication, and Shipping) listed in Attachment #3. These are only estimates, not bids, thus they will not be used to make price comparisons among contractor BPA proposals. The purpose of the Attachment #3 is to gage that an individual contractor proposal grasps the financial phases of the sample project.

Item 2: Design Services Creating attractive, cost-effective interpretive exhibits with unique content from scratch can range in time and cost greatly. In some cases, the concept may very simple and can be completed with stock photos or illustrations and take only a few hours to complete, in others it may require custom illustrations or photo shoots and the concepts may take many hours to distill. The project would be easier to estimate if the structures and panel production were provided separately from the design services (writing, illustration, photographic, graphic design layout, proofing, etc.)

Would USFW consider restructuring the bid documents in a way that allows an hourly rate for services and cost for product and production? For this BPA soliciation the bid structure to be used by all contractors is laid out in B08 Attachment #3. This allows contractors to estimate, from the sample project provided, the cost of design, material costs, fabrication of all elements, and shipping. Once a pool of BPA contractors exist the bid structure may change.

Item 3: Shipping Shipping services in the past 4 years have been a moving target. In most cases our shipping providers only guarantee estimates for 72 hours. Shipping a single interpretive exhibit assembly will usually cost more than shipping several to the same location. Terrabilt uses the “best method” practice always. We are committed to sustainability on all fronts and shipping is a part of this practice. Depending on the size and location of an order, we may ship components direct from our suppliers to the delivery location to avoid longer lead times and cost of shipping production twice. At Terrabilt we do our best to reduce our carbon footprint. Is there an alternate method of pricing shipping that would allow us to accurately price a project? No, there is no alternative identified for this BPA or sample project. What Terrabilt provided in the lead up to the question is the type of shipping detail BPA contractors would possibly put in their proposal.

It is appropriate for the contractor's proposal to describe their shipping methodology.

How can I register to receive information on the contract. I received a 4 part package from SAM.gov, but we have not received additional info that may include other bidders' questions submitted or the response from contracting. Responses to questions will be an attachment to the solicitation that will be posted today. Please check the solicitation on Sam.gov for any new amendments.