Attachment_A_-_Questions_and_Answers-RFQ_140G0226Q0185_0002.pdf

Attachment A

Questions and Answers

RFQ 140G0226Q0185

Purchase one (1) new 5,000-pound capacity, liquid propane gas powered forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic

Science, Cortland, NY

Question # Question USGS’s Responses

1. Mast Height Discrepancy:

The specifications list a maximum fork height of 185" and a maximum extended mast height of 177". Since the extended mast height is normally greater than the fork height, could you please clarify the intended maximum extended mast height?

The important feature is that it has a minimum lift height (fully extended) of

185” Amendment 1 has been issued to correct this, please see amendment 1.

2. Capacity at Maximum Lift

Height: Forklift capacity is typically derated at maximum lift height and when a side shifter is installed. Is the

5,000-lb capacity required at a

24" load center at ground level (nameplaterating), or must the unit lift 5,000 lb to the full 185" height with the side shifter installed?

Yes, I understand that the side shifter will reduce the capacity as you move the load away from the center and the capacity decreases as the mast goes higher. The truck needs to be rated for 5000 pounds at ground level. (Nameplate capacity)

3. Lowered Mast Height: Is the

85" lowered mast height a maximum (e.g., a clearance limit), or will units within a small tolerance (e.g., 86") be considered technically acceptable?

Please see revised specifications as

Attachment 1.

4. Fork Length: Are 42" forks a firm requirement, or would standard 48" forks be acceptable?

Please see revised specifications as

Attachment 1.

5. Tires: Please confirm that

"solid pneumatic tires" means solid (puncture-proof) tires on a pneumatic-style rim, and

Yes. Solid pneumatic tires. Your description is accurate.

forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic that air-filled pneumatic tires would not be acceptable.

6. Load Weight Indicator: Is an integrated LCD display showing load weight required, or would an after-market load weight indicator installed by the dealer be acceptable?

The unit shall be equipped with an OEM load weight monitor.

No aftermarket products must be new by the OEM. Not allowed must be new, manufacturer-certified, this is stated in the

RFQ. On page 29 of the RFQ under Basis for Award it states “All quoted products must be authentic, manufacturer-certified or manufacturer-warranted, and delivered in original, unopened manufacturer packaging. Gray-market, counterfeit, refurbished, or resale items are strictly prohibited and will not be considered for award.

On page 29 of the RFQ under Quotation

Submission Instructions to Vendors under number 2. Product Information it states

“All quoted products must be authentic, manufacturer-certified or manufacturer-warranted, and delivered in original, unopened manufacturer packaging.

Gray-market, counterfeit, refurbished, or resale items are strictly prohibited and will not be considered for award.”

The intent of the “resale items” prohibition is to prevent refurbished, used, or previously owned items from being offered as “new.” It does not prohibit a reseller or dealer from supplying legitimate new equipment acquired directly from an authorized manufacturer or its authorized distribution channel.

7. Nonmanufacturer Rule: Given the anticipated dollar value, please confirm whether the

Based on the anticipated dollar value, the

Nonmanufacturer Rule does not apply to this acquisition. Although the requirement forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic nonmanufacturer rule applies to this small business set-aside.

is for a supply under NAICS code 333924 and is set aside for small business concerns, the anticipated award value does not exceed the Simplified Acquisition

Threshold. Under 13 CFR 121.406(c) and

FAR 19.104-3(e), the Nonmanufacturer

Rule does not apply to a general small business set-aside at or below the

Simplified Acquisition Threshold.

Therefore, the absence of forklifts from the

Small Business Administration class waiver list does not affect this acquisition, and an individual waiver is not required.

8. Delivery: Is there a loading dock or forklift available at the site to offload the unit, or must the vendor provide offloading? Are there specific delivery hours or advance notice requirements for the facility?

The vendor shall deliver the unit to 3075

Gracie Road Cortland NY. M-F between the hours of 7am and 2pm. The vendor will need to deliver it either with a rollback truck or a trailer with ramps. Tunison does not have a loading dock.

9. May we ask if you will accept weigh forks, which have an integrated scale and monitor?

If so, could you please provide the following information about the loads/materials the forklift will be picking up:

• Approximate load size/dimensions

• Fork pocket dimensions (length, width, and height)

This information will allow the us to confirm that the weigh forks will properly fit the loads being handled.

Weigh forks are not acceptable. My understanding of weigh forks is that they are an “add on” and not part of the of the original equipment. We do not need to know the exact weight of the items we are moving. What’s important is a monitor that tells us that we are lifting items to various heights safely. The system should be integrated.

forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic

10. One of our suppliers has requested an on-site visit to evaluate the location and determine the appropriate specifications and configuration for the 5,000 lb capacity forklift required at the USGS Tunison

Laboratory of Aquatic

Science.

The site visit would allow the supplier to review the operating environment and confirm the necessary parameters so they can provide an accurate quote and ensure the proposed forklift is suitable for the intended application.

Could you please confirm whether an on-site visit can be accommodated? If so, please provide the available dates and times for the site visit, along with any requirements or procedures that the supplier would need to follow for site access.

Your confirmation will help us coordinate with the supplier accordingly.

No on-site visit required.

11. Does the prohibition on

“resale items” permit a prime supplier to provide a brand-new forklift obtained through an authorized manufacturer/dealer, with the

On page 29 of the RFQ under Basis for

Award it states “All quoted products must be authentic, manufacturer-certified or manufacturer-warranted, and delivered in original, unopened manufacturer packaging. Gray-market, counterfeit, forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic original manufacturer warranty and traceability?

refurbished, or resale items are strictly prohibited and will not be considered for award.

On page 29 of the RFQ under Quotation

Submission Instructions to Vendors under number 2. Product Information it states

“All quoted products must be authentic, manufacturer-certified or manufacturer-warranted, and delivered in original, unopened manufacturer packaging.

Gray-market, counterfeit, refurbished, or resale items are strictly prohibited and will not be considered for award.”

The intent of the “resale items” prohibition is to prevent refurbished, used, or previously owned items from being offered as “new.” It does not prohibit a reseller or dealer from supplying legitimate new equipment acquired directly from an authorized manufacturer or its authorized distribution channel.

12. Are the 85-inch lowered mast and 185-inch lift heights exact dimensions, or maximum/minimum limits? Is a factory or manufacturer-approved load-weight display acceptable?

Please see question numbers 1 and 3 above.

13. Please confirm the applicable nonmanufacturer/source-of-manufacture requirements or any waiver for this small-business supply acquisition.

Please see question number 7 above.

14. For cash-flow planning, is payment due 30 days after receipt of a proper IPP invoice and Government acceptance, whichever is

Yes, payment is due 30 days after receipt of proper IPP invoice and when the

Government inspects and accepts the product. Deposits and/or advance payments are not allowed.

forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic later? Are any deposits or advance payments permitted?

15. Could you please clarify whether the Nonmanufacturer

Rule applies to this acquisition and whether an

SBA class or individual waiver applies to the forklift being procured?

Please see question number 7 above.

16. If no waiver applies, please confirm whether the forklift offered by a nonmanufacturer must be manufactured in the

United States by a small-business manufacturer.

On page 29 of the RFQ under number 3.1, bullet 2 it states “Include the country of origin in the quote (The place of manufacturing/country of origin)

(manufactured outside of US or manufactured in the US).

The Buy American Act (41 U.S.C. 8301-

05) is the primary federal procurement law providing a preference for domestic goods and manufactured products. Vendors described product shall either be mined, produced or manufactured in the U.S. in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities of satisfactory quality.

Vendors must fill out the Buy American

Act Certificate in accordance with FAR provision 52.225-2 as stated on page 25 of the RFQ and submit it with the quotation package.

17. To ensure our quote reflects the current requirement, please confirm: Whether delivery to the USGS Tunison

Laboratory in Cortland, NY includes unloading or inside delivery requirements beyond standard freight delivery.

Please see question number 8 above.

forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic

18. Regarding the required 185-inch maximum fork height, will USGS accept a technically compliant forklift with a maximum lift height slightly greater than 185 inches, such as 187–189 inches, provided all other requirements are satisfied?

Please see question numbers 1 and 3 above.

19. Please confirm that RFQ

140G0226Q0185 is a Total

Small Business Set-Aside.

SAM.gov identifies the opportunity as a Total Small

Business Set-Aside, while language appearing within the solicitation package appears potentially inconsistent.

The solicitation inadvertently omitted clause 52.219-6. Therefore, clause

52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business

Set-Aside (RFO Deviation JAN 2026) (15

U.S.C. 644), is hereby incorporated into

RFQ 140G0226Q0185. This confirms that the requirement is a Total Small Business

Set-Aside.

20. The solicitation includes language stating that resale items are prohibited. Please confirm whether this restriction is intended to prohibit used, refurbished, gray-market, previously owned, or secondary-market equipment, and whether

(vendor name redacted) may furnish a brand-new OEM forklift procured through an authorized manufacturer/dealer with the original manufacturer warranty and supporting documentation.

Please see question number 11 above.

21. Buy American documentation. Please confirm the required Buy

Please see question number 16 above.

forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic

American treatment and documentation for the forklift end product so (vendor name redacted) can obtain the appropriate country-of-origin and domestic-content information from the proposed manufacturer/dealer.

22. Mast height: Section b.1 lists a lowered mast height of 85 inches and a maximum lift height (forks)of 185 inches.

Should 85 inches be read as a maximum lowered height and

185 inches as a minimum lift height? Standard manufacturer triple masts are typically offered at 187 to 189 inches of lift. Would a unit with a higher maximum fork height be considered compliant, provided the lowered height does not exceed 85 inches?

Please see question numbers 1 and 3 above.

23. Authorized dealer supply: The

Basis for Award prohibits resale items and requires delivery in original, unopened manufacturer packaging.

Forklifts are typically delivered uncrated after a manufacturer-required pre-delivery inspection by an authorized dealer. Please confirm that a new, unused unit supplied through a manufacturer-authorized dealer channel, carrying the

Please see question number 11 above.

forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic full manufacturer warranty, satisfies this requirement.

24. LP cylinder: Should the quoted price include an LP fuel cylinder, or will the

Government supply its own?

Vendor should provide a new LP cylinder.

25. Delivery: Is there a loading dock or any specific offloading, access, or delivery-hour requirement at the Tunison Laboratory site?

Please see question number 5 above.

26. Mast and Capacity:

Amendment 0001 removed the 177-inch maximum extended mast height. Please confirm the remaining mast requirements are: triple-stage mast, lowered mast height of

85 inches, and maximum forklift height of 185 inches.

Please see question numbers 1 and 3 above.

27. Mast and Capacity: Is the 85-inch lowered mast height a maximum

(must not exceed 85 inches for door/clearance reasons), an exact dimension, or acceptable if the manufacturer’s published collapsed height is within a stated tolerance (for example

83–85 inches)?

Please see question numbers 1 and 3 above.

28. Mast and Capacity:

Is the 185-inch maximum forklift height a minimum the truck must achieve, an exact mast, or acceptable if the published lift height is 185 inches or greater (for example

Please see question numbers 1 and 3 above.

forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic

187–189 inches on a standard triple)?

29. Mast and Capacity:

Must the truck retain a full

5,000 lb rated capacity at the

185-inch fork height and 24-inch load center, or is 5,000 lb required only at the standard/lower lift height shown on the OEM data plate?

Please see question numbers 1, 2 and 3

30. Mast and Capacity:

Please confirm whether a load backrest is required and, if so, whether backrest height is included in or excluded from the 85-inch lowered and 185-inch lift measurements.

A load backrest is required.

31. Required Features:

Does “LCD monitor with load weight indicator” mean an onboard scale that displays the actual weight of the load in real time, or is a standard instrument display showing selected capacity/status acceptable.

Please see question number 9 above.

32. Required Features:

If an onboard scale is required, must it be OEM-integrated, or is a manufacturer-approved aftermarket scale acceptable if it is new, warranted with the

Please see question number 6 above.

forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic truck, and shown on the specification sheet?

33. Required Features:

Please confirm “solid pneumatic tires” means solid

(non-pneumatic) tires on a pneumatic-shaped/pneumatic-rated chassis for mixed indoor/outdoor use, and that cushion/press-on tires are not acceptable.

Solid pneumatic tires" means solid

(puncture-proof) tires on a pneumatic-style rim, and that air-filled pneumatic tires would not be acceptable.

34. Required Features:

Are wet disc brakes required on both the drive axle service brakes and the parking brake, or only on the service brakes?

Only the service brakes.

35. Required Features:

Must the side shifter be an integral carriage side shifter, and is a fork positioner required in addition to side shift?

A carriage side shifter allows the whole carriage to be moved left or right. No hydraulic for positioner is required.

Although the forks should be able to be moved manually.

36. Required Features:

Are 42-inch forks a required exact length, or are 42-inch forks the minimum? Are

Class II or Class III forks/carriage required?

Please see question number 4 above regarding 42-inch forks.

The required fork carriage class is whichever class corresponds to a standard

5,000-pound capacity forklift.

37. Required Features:

Must LED lighting include headlights, tail/brake lights, and a rear work light, or are

The unit shall have front and rear LED work lights.

forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic front and rear LED work lights sufficient?

38. Required Features:

Is a propane tank required to be delivered with the truck? If yes, what tank size and mounting(vertical/horizontal) is required? Is dual-fuel

(LP/gasoline) acceptable in addition to dedicated LPG?

Vendor will provide a new propane with the unit. Dual fuel is not acceptable.

39. Condition, origin, and authenticity:

Please confirm that only new, current-production trucks are acceptable and that demo, “new leftover,” used, refurbished, gray-market, or dealer-rebuilt units will be rejected.

Please see question number 11 above.

40. Condition, origin, and

For Buy American / 52.225-2, please confirm how the

Government will treat a truck that is assembled in the

United States from both domestic and foreign components versus a fully foreign-manufactured truck.

Will a domestic end product be required for award, or is a qualifying country / eligible foreign end product acceptable if disclosed?

Under FAR 52.225-2 and FAR Subpart

25.1, the Government evaluates country-of-origin based on whether the offered item qualifies as a domestic end product versus a foreign end product. A truck assembled in the United States using both domestic and foreign components may still qualify as a domestic end product, provided it meets the FAR definition

(manufactured in the U.S. and the cost of domestic components exceeds 55% unless another threshold applies).

A fully foreign-manufactured truck, by contrast, is treated as a foreign end product.

When comparing technically acceptable offers that differ only by country of origin, the Government will apply the Buy forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic

American price evaluation preference rather than awarding solely on lowest price. A foreign end product may be considered only if the lowest-priced domestic offer is found unreasonable or another FAR 25 exception applies.

Please also see question number 16 above.

41. Condition, origin, and

If two technically acceptable quotes differ only on country of origin, will the

Government apply the Buy

American price evaluation preference, or award solely on lowest quoted price?

If a domestic end product is already the lowest-priced, technically acceptable quote, it receives preference automatically, and the Government will award to that domestic end product.

If a foreign end product is the lowest-priced, technically acceptable quote, the Contracting Officer must apply the Buy American Act price-preference evaluation factor to determine whether the domestic end product’s price is unreasonable in accordance with FAR

25.105, 25.106 and FAR 25.5.

If only foreign end products are offered and no domestic end products are available, and is the lowest-priced, technically acceptable quote, the

Contracting Officer must pursue a Buy

American Act non-availability waiver.

42. Condition, origin, and

Please confirm that manufacturer specification sheets and brochures may be

OEM electronic catalogs/spec pages, and that a line-by-line compliance matrix prepared

Manufacturer specification sheets and brochures must be submitted as readable

PDF documents. OEM electronic catalog pages or specification pages are acceptable only if they are converted into PDF format.

Web-based content, hyperlinks, or any other electronic forms that require online access will not be accepted. A vendor-prepared line-by-line compliance forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic by the vendor may accompany those documents.

matrix may accompany the PDF documents.

43. Delivery and site:

Delivery is FOB Destination to 3075 Gracie Road, Cortland, NY 13045 within

180 days ARO. Does the site have a loading dock, and is the contractor responsible only for delivery to the dock/ground, or also for offloading, placement, and startup?

Please see question number 8 above.

44. Delivery and site:

Are there site constraints the truck must meet that are not in the specification (door height, aisle width, floor loading, indoor emissions limits, noise limits)?

No

45. Delivery and site:

Must the contractor provide on-site startup, operator familiarization, or OEM training, or is delivery of the truck with OEM manuals sufficient?

Yes, the contractor provides on-site startup, operator familiarization. Manuals must be included with the unit.

46. Delivery and site:

What documentation is required at delivery for acceptance (data plate photo, specification sheet matching the delivered serial number, operator/service manuals, Data plate, specification sheet matching the delivered serial number, operator/service manuals, warranty card, certificate of origin.

forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic warranty card, certificate of origin)?

47. Warranty, parts, and payment:

Beyond the commercial warranty in FAR 52.212-4, is a minimum OEM warranty period required (for example

12 months / 2,000 hours)?

Must warranty service be available in the

Cortland/Syracuse area?

Standard warranty with options. Service should be available in the Cortland, Ithaca, Syracuse, Binghampton area.

48. Warranty, parts, and payment:

Is a spare LP tank, extra forks, or any other accessory required, or is the truck as specified the complete deliverable?

Just 1 LP tank is required. No other accessories are needed. The truck as specified the complete deliverable.

49. Warranty, parts, and payment:

May vendors offer optional line items (extended warranty, additional tank, training) so long as the evaluated price is the required configuration only?

Optional line items are not requested under this RFQ and will not be considered in the evaluation; vendors must quote only the required configuration.

50. Warranty, parts, and payment:

Please confirm invoices are submitted only through IPP after Government acceptance at destination, and that no progress or advance payments will be made.

Please see question number 14 above.

51. Evaluation and submissions:

Please see question number 49 above.

forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic

Will the Government evaluate only the required configuration price, and reject quotes that bundle extra options into a single lump sum without a breakout?

52. Evaluation and submissions:

If a quoted model meets every listed specification except one published dimension that differs by a small amount (for example collapsed height 83.5 inches versus 85 inches), will that quote be technically unacceptable, or may the vendor request a deviation in the quote?

Vendors may not request a deviation to the quote.

53. Evaluation and submissions:

Please confirm quotations must include: signed SF-18, acknowledgement of

Amendment 0001, product brochure/spec sheets, firm-fixed FOB Destination price with manufacturer model/part number, country of origin, 52.219-1 representations, and

52.225-2 certificate.

Yes, all must be submitted with quote.

54. Evaluation and submissions:

Are alternative models from the same OEM acceptable if the vendor identifies the exact mast/tire/brake/scale configuration that will be delivered?

Please see question number 49 above.

forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic

55. Evaluation and submissions:

Will late questions after 29

Sep 2026 be answered only by amendment, and is the quote due date still 9 Oct

2026, 2:30 PM MDT?

Yes, questions and responses to those questions will be posted as an amendment to the RFQ.

On page 30 under Questions – Cutoff states

“Questions relating to this RFQ shall be presented by e-mail to the Contracting

Officer, Lisa D. Williams at lisa_williams@ios.doi.gov no later than close of business 2:30 p.m. Mountain

Daylight Time (MDT) on September

29, 2026. The Government will evaluate the questions, and if needed, an

Amendment will be issued. If further questions arise following the outcome of answers provided to initial questions, the

Contracting Officer has sole discretion to determine if a new question closing date will be required. If a new question closing date is approved, an amendment will be posted.”

56. Do you want the forklift to be equipped with solid cushion tires (Primarily indoor only type)? Solid pneumatic tires

(larger outdoor/indoor type)?

The solid pneumatic tires forklifts are a bit more expensive but worth the couple extra thousand dollars in the long run.

Please see question number 5 above.

57. Do you give special consideration for SDVOSB companies?

No, this is a total small business set-aside.

58. Small Business Set-Aside:

The SF18 cover page identifies the RFQ as “not a small business set-aside,”

The very first page on top of the SF30 has been checked as “This RFQ IS A SMALL

BUSINESS SET-ASIDE”. On page 2 of the RFQ number 3 states “The solicitation forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic while the continuation sheet states that the solicitation is a

Small Business Set-Aside under NAICS 333924. Please confirm whether the procurement is being conducted as a Total Small

Business Set-Aside.

is a Small Business Set-Aside. Therefore, this is a total small business set-aside.

59. Nonmanufacturer

Requirement: For a small business offeror acting as a nonmanufacturer/distributor, please confirm whether the end-item manufacturer must itself qualify as a small business under the applicable

Nonmanufacturer Rule, or whether products manufactured by an other-than-small-business manufacturer may be offered for this procurement.

Please see question number 7 above.

60. Buy American / Country of

Origin: The solicitation requires country-of-origin information and incorporates

FAR 52.225-1 and 52.225-2.

May an offeror quote a foreign end product that is properly identified under FAR

52.225-2 and evaluated in accordance with FAR Part 25, or is the Government requiring the offered forklift to qualify as a domestic end product?

Please see question number 40 above.

61. May (Vendor name redacted) bid as a supplier sourcing a

A vendor may submit a quotation as a supplier sourcing a brand-new, unused forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic brand-new, unused forklift through an authorized dealer, with the full manufacturer’s warranty? Or does that restriction require the offeror itself to be the manufacturer or an authorized dealer?

forklift through an authorized dealer, with the full manufacturer’s warranty, as long as all requirements for authenticity, certification, warranty, and original packaging are met. The restriction does not require the vendor itself to be the manufacturer or an authorized dealer, but the vendor must ensure compliance and provide supporting documentation.

Shipping must be FOB Destination.

62. Wet disc brakes: most 5,000 lb LP pneumatic-tire forklifts come standard with drum brakes, and wet disc is limited to a few models. Is wet disc a firm requirement, or would standard hydraulic drum brakes be acceptable?

Wet disc brakes are required.

63. Load weight display: is an integrated LCD load weight indicator required from the factory, or is a dealer-installed load weight system acceptable?

An OEM unit is required.

64. Mast: with Amendment 0001 removing the extended mast height limit, please confirm the only mast limits are 85 in lowered height and 185 in maximum fork height. Is a fork height above 185 in (for example 189 in) acceptable if the lowered height is 85 in or less?

Please see question numbers 1 and 3 above.

65. Is there a required fork length tolerance, or must forks be exactly 42 in?

Please see question number 4 above.

forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic

66. Does the Nonmanufacturer

Rule (FAR 52.219-33) apply to this small business set-aside? The clause does not appear in the solicitation, and all 5,000 lb forklift manufacturers we know of are large businesses.

Please question number 7 above.

67. Does the Government need operator training or delivery setup (LP tank filled, pre-delivery inspection) at

Cortland?

When the unit is delivered to Cortland it will be fully functional. The vendor will familiarize staff regarding the operation and the features of the unit.

68. Does the statement that

“resale items are strictly prohibited” mean that used, previously owned, refurbished, gray-market, or non-authorized items are prohibited, while a new forklift supplied by an authorized OEM dealer/reseller with full OEM warranty is acceptable?

Please see question number 11 above.

69. Because a forklift normally receives dealer assembly and pre-delivery inspection, does the “original manufacturer packaging” requirement permit normal authorized-dealer preparation and assembled delivery of a new unit?

The requirement for “original manufacturer packaging” is intended to ensure that the

Government receives a new, unused, non-refurbished unit directly from the

OEM supply chain. This requirement does not prohibit normal authorized-dealer assembly or pre-delivery inspection that manufacturers typically rely on their dealers to perform before a forklift can be safely operated.

Accordingly, a new forklift that is

OEM-authorized, carries the full OEM warranty, and is prepared/assembled by an authorized dealer in accordance with forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic standard OEM practices is acceptable. The unit must still be delivered as new, with no prior use, and must not involve any resale, refurbished, gray-market, or non-authorized sourcing.

70. After Amendment 0001 removed the 177-inch extended-mast-height bullet, must the remaining185-inch maximum fork lift height be exact, or may an offered mast meet or exceed 185inches (for example, 189 inches) while still meeting the 85-inch lowered-mast-height requirement?

Please see question numbers 1 and 3 above.

71. Page 29 prohibits “resale items.” May a small-business prime contractor offer a factory-new, unused forklift sourced through an authorized

OEM dealer, with the original manufacturer’s warranty and direct delivery to USGS?

Please clarify whether this restriction concerns previously sold/used equipment or also excludes new equipment supplied through a reseller.

Please see question numbers 60 and 11 above.

72. The same page requires original, unopened manufacturer packaging. Is normal OEM/dealer pre-delivery inspection and functional testing acceptable, followed by delivery in the manufacturer’s normal

Please see question numbers 60 and 11 forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic protective shipping configuration?

73. Amendment 0001 retains a lowered mast height of 85 inches and maximum fork lift height of 185 inches. Are these exact dimensions, or is a lowered mast height of no more than 85 inches and fork lift capability of at least 185 inches acceptable?

Please see question numbers 1 and 3 above.

74. For this total small-business set-aside, please confirm whether the nonmanufacturer rule applies, including whether the acquisition is at or below the simplified acquisition threshold. If the rule applies, please identify any applicable waiver.

Please see question number 7 above.

75. For the triple-stage mast requirement specifying a maximum fork height of 185 inches, will the Government accept a commercially available forklift with a 189-inch maximum fork height, provided the unit meets or exceeds all other dimensional and technical requirements of the solicitation?

Please see question numbers 1 and 3 above.

76. Capacity basis. Please confirm whether the required

5,000 lb capacity is the nominal rated capacity at a

24-inch load center, or the net residual capacity at the full

185-inch maximum fork

Please see question numbers 1, 2, and 3 forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic height with the side shifter fitted. Manufacturer technical guidance treats lift heights above 171.5 inches as high lifts that require reduced capacity, so a 185-inch mast on a nominal 5,000 lb truck is derated. The answer determines whether offerors should quote a 5,000 lb or a

6,000 lb class truck.

77. Resale items. Please confirm that the statement "resale items are strictly prohibited" addresses the condition and provenance of the equipment

(used, refurbished, gray-market or counterfeit units), and does not exclude authorized resellers supplying new, factory-warranted units.

Please see question number 11 above.

78. Mast dimensions. Reference

Section B.b.1, Triple Mast

Configuration, as amended by

Amendment 0001. Please confirm that the stated 85-inch lowered mast height is a maximum and the 185-inch maximum fork height is a minimum, rather than exact dimensions. Commercially available three-stage masts in this capacity class step in fixed increments, with maximum fork heights of 183, 185, 187, 188 and 189 inches and lowered heights between

83 and 86 inches, and no forklift for the U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS), Tunison Laboratory of Aquatic standard mast lands exactly on both stated figures.

Confirming the tolerance will let all offerors quote on a common footing.