Amd1_QA_Flooring_260917_4pp_0001.pdf

140FGA26Q0074

Questions (Q) and Answers (A) 1

Q1. Is this a request for proposals or is the project already funded?

A1. This project is funded. The Government is soliciting bids and intends to make an award to complete the required work.

Q2a. Per the project information the work is expected to be completed during business hours. Does it need to be phased to allow for normal operations to continue during demo and re-install? Who handles furniture removal and reset? Who handles computer and electronics removal and reset?

Q2b. Will the furniture, desks, and other contents be removed from the work areas before installation, or should the contractor include moving, protecting, and replacing them?

A2a/b. Yes, the work will need to be phased to allow normal operations to continue. The Government is flexible and will coordinate the phasing plan with the awarded contractor.

The Government will handle the removal and reset of furniture, computers, and other equipment.

Q3a. Are there blue prints currently available to be emailed? This is a convenience for the site visit not a requirement.

Q3b. Is a floor plan or room-by-room dimension schedule available for determining the cove-base linear footage?

A3a/b. No. Blueprints or a detailed floor plan are not available.

Q4. The date bids are requested to be presented? Is email acceptable? US Mail?

A4. Please email your quote to nicole_johnson@ios.doi.gov. Quotes are due 23 September at 1700 EST.

Q5. Will you accept a quote without an active SAM number? I would work to get it re-activated upon award.

A5. An active SAM.gov registration is required to be considered for award. If you intend to submit a quote, please begin the renewal process immediately, as processing times vary and delays may affect award.

Q6a. In the Davis Bacon sheets there are no wage listing for floor covering installers. (either rolled carpet, tile carpet or resilient tile or planks) To the best of my knowledge there is not a state designation either. Have you made a determination of the wage levels for the installer and installer helper categories? In Montana installers are usually self employed and bill quote / invoice by piece work, by the square foot or the square yard. No union scale to compare with.

A6a. The applicable Davis-Bacon wage decision is MT20260057 (Building Construction).

It does not include a specific classification for floor-covering installers. Contractors may use the closest applicable classification.

Q6b. In the past we have used the rate code for a carpenter for installers and construction laborer for helpers.

A6b. Using the carpenter classification for installers and construction laborer for helpers is acceptable. Additionally, installers who own at least 20% of their business and are true owner-operators are not subject to Davis-Bacon wage requirements; these apply only to their employees.

Q7a. Would like to confirm that you are requesting a performance bond.

A7a. For bonding: A payment bond is only required if the award is over $35,000. A performance bond is only required if the award is over $150,000. As this project is expected to be under $25,000, bonds will not be required unless a quote exceeds these thresholds.

Q7b. The question of bonding was from Solicitation page #1 lines 12a & 12b. There is no qualifier on project size related to bonding.

A7b. Thank you for pointing this out. The solicitation form does not include the standard reminders regarding bonding thresholds due to the low expected project magnitude. The form was marked so that, if bonding became required based on the thresholds above, bonds would be due within 14 calendar days of award.

Q8. Question on starting 14 days from award. Is that ordering material or having a person on site? It will likely take 2-3 weeks for the flooring to arrive, no sense starting a project without material in place.

A8. The 14-day start period begins upon issuance of the Notice to Proceed (NTP), not at award. This period is intended for planning and ordering materials. On-site work does not need to begin within 14 days if materials have not yet arrived.

Q9. Is there a Buy American clause with this contract? The Evoke Luxury Vinyl Plank Dukes is not made in the US. My belief that the AMB 2000 barrier is also imported. I have requested a country of origin statement from the Evoke field rep.

A9. Yes, the Buy American requirement applies. Because Evoke Luxury Vinyl Plank and AMB 2000 barrier are foreign construction materials, the brand-name-or-equal specification has been removed. Please propose Made-in-USA products meeting the Government’s requirements. The statement of work has been updated accordingly.

Q10. Is the existing carpet glue-down? If so, should the contractor include removal of the old adhesive and associated substrate preparation in the demolition scope?

A10. The Government cannot confirm the carpet installation method based solely on visual inspection. A small section of carpet was lifted near an air vent, showing faint markings consistent with adhesive, but it lifted with minimal resistance. This is not sufficient to determine whether full adhesive removal or additional substrate preparation will be required. Contractors are strongly encouraged to schedule a site visit to verify existing conditions and determine the appropriate demolition scope.

Q11. Has an asbestos report been done?

A11. The Government is not aware of any asbestos report for the building. The facility was constructed after asbestos-containing materials were in use, and such materials are not expected to be present. Section H of the solicitation has been updated to remove references to asbestos where not applicable.

Q12. Attachment 3, Quote Schedule, states the place of performance as Lake Andes, South Dakota. Please confirm the correct place of performance is Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge, Malta, Montana, and issue a corrected attachment if appropriate.

A12. Yes, the correct place of performance is Bowdoin NWR, Malta, Montana. Please see corrected attachment 3.

Q13. Section L.2.1.3(c) requests proof of a current Montana Contractor's License. FAR 52.236- 7, Permits and Responsibilities, is incorporated in Section I and makes obtaining necessary licenses a responsibility of the Contractor during performance. Please confirm whether the license must be held by the offeror at the time of quote, or by the performing contractor prior to commencing work, and whether a licensed subcontractor satisfies the requirement.

A13. The Montana Contractor’s License does not need to be held at the time of quote. It must be held by the performing contractor before work begins. A subcontractor’s Montana license is acceptable to meet this requirement.

Q14. Past Experience — attribution to the performing subcontractor Section L.2.1.4 requests references and three examples of projects similar in size, scope, and complexity completed within the last three years, on Attachment 4. Under the same team arrangement described above, may the offeror satisfy this factor using the performing subcontractor's directly relevant project references, either in addition to or in lieu of the offeror's own?

A14. Yes. The offeror may rely on the performing subcontractor’s directly relevant project references to satisfy Section L.2.1.4, either in addition to or instead of its own.