B09_Solicitation_Amendments_Amd_3_Attch_1_Q_and_A_0003.pdf

Questions & Answers Off-Range Corral (ORC) Support Services

BLM Wild Horse & Burro Program Solicitation No. 140L0125R0003 – Amendment 3

The following questions were generated during the solicitation phase. The questions and responses are incorporated into the solicitation and resulting contract. Note that the reference to bid or bidders means offer or offerors.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS:

Ref Question Response 1 Why are sites in Utah are not being considered? Are there plans to include Utah in the future?

The proposed facility must be in one of the states listed in the RFP.

The BLM strategy to solicit requirements in any given state includes many factors. BLM has many contracts for corral and pasture services. Those contracts expire at different times. Vendors should monitor SAM.gov for future opportunities.

2 The areas for consideration show the states outlined for preference but also shows other facilities in neighboring states. If my facility is in a state not outlined but holds several other facilities would my proposal not be considered after submission?

See item 1.

3 Am I not eligible to apply for RFP 140L0125R003 because I reside in the state of Iowa?

See item 1.

4 Why is Eastern Washington was excluded from this solicitation?

See item 1.

5 Can we compete for a contract with a facility in North Dakota?

See item 1

6 Clarify that awardee(s) are responsible for veterinarian services (Section C, paragraph 12.0, Health Care Services and Veterinarian, page 19).

The veterinarian services are removed from the PWS. See revised PWS (Section C).

A revised Price Schedule is also attached.

7 Can you provide more specifics on the scope of the safety plan? Is it about working around and riding the horses or is it broader than that?

Section C, Paragraph 14.0, Safety Plan, provides the minimum requirements for the safety plan.

8 The table on page 88 says to provide electronic documents but section L.1, paragraph C says to submit via mail.

Please clarify.

Paragraph L1 is a standard provision. Paragraph L9 provides “other methods” and REQUIRES electronic submission via email.

9 We are located just over the Colorado border in Utah. Can we still submit a proposal?

See item 1.

10 We are located in Billings, Montana. Can we still submit a proposal?

See item 1.

11 Can we bid 3,500 horses max, but actual max can change based on actual available sq. ft of space available to the bidder?

Proposals should reflect the maximum number your facility can support.

See also, the minimums and maximums for each AOC (page 4)

12 Do inmates have to be paid prevailing wage per FAR 52.222-3 (for both holding and training)?

Inmates are subject to Service Contract Wage Rates. See page 4.

13 Do we have to submit Volume IV if we are not a small business?

See FAR clause 52.219-9, Alternate II.

In addition, the original RFP incorrectly identified Alternate I of the clause. This is corrected to reflect Alternate II.

14 Is it the bidder’s responsibility to provide a veterinarian on premises full time?

See item 6.

https://www.acquisition.gov/far/52.219-9

15 Can we employ a veterinarian on staff and include it in the price schedule?

See item 6.

16 Can inmates/staff do inoculations with veterinarian presence, or does each inoculation have to be done directly by the veterinarian?

See Section C, PWS, paragraph 12.

17 Does BLM pay for syringes/vaccines/protein tubs separately from bid pricing?

Regarding syringes/Vaccines: See Section C, paragraph 9.0.

Regarding protein tubs: Section C, PWS, is revised at paragraph

2.1. Also see CAWP, Section 1, paragraph IV C. Supplemental

feeds should be provided to address the nutritional needs of the

WH&B.

18 Can we use a range or escalating number of trained horses in the training bid (ex. 20 horses 1st year and 50 horses by 5th year)?

No escalating price structure will be used. The estimated quantities are in the Price Schedule. The values are displayed based on the AOC selected. Unit prices may differ each year. A single unit price is required.

19 Who picks the horses that will be trained (BLM or bidder)?

See Section C, PWS, paragraph 2.2.

20 Is the bidder or BLM paying for the Brand Inspector and/or the Auctioneer?

See Section C, PWS, paragraph 2.3.

The PWS is revised.

21 If the bidder's provided veterinarian disagrees with what BLM wants to do with an animal’s care, what is the standard of care?

See item 6.

22 What happens if the bidder's veterinary care exceeds the defined $350/horse? Is BLM paying up to $350 per horse per year, or the bidder?

See item 6.

23 Can we do a flat rate on veterinary care per year instead of per horse?

See item 6.

24 Does each horse's allowance of $350/year in veterinary care have to be tracked per horse individually?

See item 6.

25 Can we submit a separate proposal for the build out of a separate facility to hold horses?

Proposals should include all requirements of this solicitation.

26 Can the bidder set a threshold that if a trained horse sells for more than the defined threshold, the bidder gets a percentage of funds past the threshold (i.e. 20% of sale price past threshold of $1,000)?

No.

27 Will the contractor have the opportunity to approve BLM staffing or volunteers that interact with the facility?

No.

28 In Volume III, when asked for the questionnaire of past performance, was that an included attachment of the RFP?

The questionnaire is provided with attachment 6.

29 Does the training proposal write up get included in Volume II? If not, where should it be included?

Include the training program in Volume II.

30 2.2.a refers to “Contractor shall provide halter/saddle training opportunities to all wild horses and pack/cart training for all wild burros placed in the facility, which have been approved by the COR.” Are ALL horses and burros supposed to be trained? If not, what is the selection criteria and expectation for the number of animals trained per year?

See items 18 & 19.

31 2.3 c. Offsite ii. Contractor may be paid for Contractor personnel to attend specified offsite adoption events. Who selects the events to attend? Is it mandatory for staff to attend? Do WHB’s have to be transported and if so, whose equipment is used for transportation? Are staff expected to show WHB’s? Is location kept within state lines?

The PWS is revised (Section C, paragraph 2.3).

32 The pricing matrix includes a 0-500 animals’ range. If we do not want to bid on less than 500 animals, do we leave that part of the pricing table blank?

Enter a unit price for all ranges up to the maximum you intend to offer.

If you are offering a maximum of 1,000 animals, then you would enter a price for the 0-500 range and the 501-1,000 range even if the price is the same.

If you are offering a maximum of 3,500 animals, then all ranges should have a price entered.

Also, see the Example tab of Schedule B and item 11 above.

33 3.4 Maintenance Corrals Specifications. 700 square ft. is required per animal for holding pens. Is there a maximum number of animals per pen as long as the square ft.

requirement is met? Are burros and horses the same square ft. per head?

Section C, PWS, paragraph 3.4 is revised. Also see paragraph and

4.0 which references the CAWP.

These requirements apply to both horses and burros.

34 Do we use grants.gov for submission or prepare our own in Word, Excel and using prepared price schedule?

Grants.gov SHALL NOT be used. Prepare proposals in commonly used electronic file formats such as MS Word, MS Excel, PDF, etc. Submission of the Price Schedule in the original MS Excel format is mandatory.

35 Is the questionnaire required to be submitted if I don’t have any previous contracts?

If there is no past performance to report, indicate such on the form or in a separate document with the same title.

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