B09_Amend_1_ATT1_Questions_and_Answers_0001.pdf

Questions and Answers

Solicitations 140L0622R0034 & 140L0623R0001 – Amendment 0001

1. Is there a provision to hold the contractor harmless for any consequences, ie: blow out, water contamination, etc?

Answer: All applicable clauses and provisions are included in the solicitation and in accordance with the requirements of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).

2. Bonding. We understand the requirement for bond capacity letter for proposal purposes. We need to confirm bonding will be required for successful bidders PER award and at the value of the award and not for total of award.

Answer: Bonding will be required in accordance with the value of resultant task orders and not the overall IDIQ.

3. Will the Government provide/allow an inflation clause due to the volatility of the industry and material (fuel, cement, etc) within the FAR?

Answer: All equipment is priced on a dry basis and excludes fuel costs. At this time, no additional clauses are anticipated for inclusion. The established pricing in the IDIQ represents maximum contract ceiling values for individual categories; however, it is anticipated that task order awards will be awarded on the basis on fair opportunity. Offerors are encouraged to provide discounted pricing at the order level as possible.

4. Will the Government provide a list of wells within each region? This has significant impact on mob cost and the lack of it may hinder our ability to provide best value simply as a result of mobilization costs. Our minimal assumption is wells/well package information will be released upon awarded contractors bidding on the packages of wells?

Answer: Specific well information will be provided at the task order level.

5. Please confirm Number of contracts within regions 2 and 3.

Answer: As stated in the solicitation, under FAR Clause 52.216-1, Type of Contract: ‘up to four (4) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contracts (per region)’

6. Please provide Anticipated number of contract awardees per region (2 and 3).

Answer: As stated in the solicitation, under FAR Clause 52.216-1, Type of Contract: ‘up to four (4) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contracts (per region)’

7. Does the Government have an average completion timeline for the “average” well (eg those in RFP docs as representative plugging and abandonment procedures).

Answer: Well plugging timelines are highly dependent on individual site characteristics.

8. The RFP mentions additions to personnel as necessary by the bidders. We will add those personnel per industry guidelines and standards and industry best practice. What is the process for adding additional equipment to the price schedule? Two shortcomings noted were specialty gas monitoring equipment as described in industry days literature and within the RFP, and reclamation equipment also mentioned in RFP.

Answer: In accordance with Section L, offerors must provide a rate for all categories defined in the IDIQ pricing schedule. Offerors may, but are not required to, submit additional categories for pricing. Resultant Task Orders may include items not pre-priced within this contract if all applicable acquisition regulations pertaining to the purchase of the items have been followed and the ordered activity Contracting Officer has determined the price for the items is fair and reasonable.

9. The potential for interference from owners or alleged owners of wells exists. What is the expected protocol for that instance? We assume the COR will be the POC for that if it occurs?

Answer: Specific Government communication protocol will be determined at the task order level and specified by the ordering agency.

10. Attachment 7 – Limitations on Subcontracting Worksheet: There are no instructions for submitting this document in the proposal. Is Attachment 7 a proposal requirement? If YES, please advise where in the proposal it should be submitted Answer: The IDIQ Statement of Work (Attachment 2) has been edited to clarify that annual reports required from the resultant contractor(s) shall include a report that summarizes all Task Orders issued under the IDIQ each quarter and include a completed Limitations on Subcontracting Form for the ordering period. There is no proposal submission requirement for the Limitations on Subcontracting Form.

11. SF1442 Continuation Section L, Subsection D Page Limitation titles and Factor numbers do not align with Subsection F Factor and Subfactor titles and numbers. Please address the following two questions:

1. Please confirm that Factor 2 – Technical Approach, Subfactor 2 Plugging & Abandonment Plan Sample is exempt from the 40 page count. Section D Table is unclear whether or not Subfactor 2 is exempt from the page count for Volume 2.

2. Please confirm that Factor 2, Subfactor 2 has an unlimited page count, and that if Bidder’s are submitting for both Regions in their proposal, that each individual P&A Sample approach has an unlimited page count

Answer: Factor 2, Subfactor 2 is exempt from the 40-page count limitation for Volume 2. If an offeror is submitting for both regions in its proposal each individual Plugging & Abandonment Plan Sample has an unlimited page count.

12. Attachment 3 – Representative Task Order SOW: In the representative TO SOW, Regions 1 through 4 are identified. Please confirm that under this RFP (140L0623R0001), Contractor’s need only to responds to Regions 2 and 3 if they are bidding both regions, and that Regions 1 and 4 are covered under a separate RFP Answer: As stated in each respective solicitation, 140L0622R0034 is for Regions 1 and 4, and 140L0623R0001 is for Regions 2 and 3. Depending on which region(s) for which the offeror is proposing, offerors need to only respond to the respective region(s) under each separate solicitation. See Section L, Factor 2, Subfactor 2 for additional information.

13. SF1442 Continuation – Section L, Attachment 1 – IDIQ Pricing Schedule, and Attachment 4 – Representative TO Pricing Table: In SECTION L, Factor 3, Subfactor 2, Key Personnel, the Reclamation/Restoration Specialist is listed as one of the Key Personnel for which a resume is required. However, in the Attachment 1 – IDIQ Pricing Schedule and Attachment 4 –

Representative TO Pricing Table, no labor category is included for this position. Please revise Attachments 1 and 4 to include this labor category or provide further clarification Answer: The IDIQ pricing schedule has been updated to include the Reclamation/Restoration Specialist.

14. SF1442 Continuation – Section L and Attachment 1 – IDIQ Pricing Schedule: As required by SECTION L, Factor 2, Subfactor 2, P&A Plan Sample, key services such as Site Examination and Inventory, Field Sampling and Testing, Site Cleanup Plan, and Reclamation Implementation will require more labor categories than what is identified in the IDIQ Pricing Schedule (Attachment 1). Would the Government like Contractors to propose our own labor categories by modifying Attachment 1 as we deem necessary to effectively provide these services?

Answer: In accordance with Section L, offerors must provide a rate for all categories defined in the IDIQ pricing schedule. Offerors may, but are not required to, submit additional categories for prime and subcontractor pricing. If additional categories are submitted, offerors shall provide a labor category description including title, minimum level of education and minimum experience level. Resultant Task Orders may include items not pre-priced within this contract if all applicable acquisition regulations pertaining to the purchase of the items have been followed and the ordering activity Contracting Officer has determined the price for the items is fair and

15. For the professional labor categories (Program Manager, Project Manager, Plugging Designer) where they traditionally don’t have a daily, monthly, or standby rate how should we evaluate pricing? (Assume 8 hour day, 40 hour week, 160 hour month?) Under what circumstances would these positions be considered “standby”?

Answer: The professional labor categories on the IDIQ pricing schedule have been updated to only require hourly pricing.

16. Should we assume a 10 hour per day daily rate, 50 hour per week weekly rate, or 200 hour per month monthly rate, which is oil field standard working hours? Or should they be based on 8-hour days?

Answer: The labor category pricing has been updated to only include professional labor categories priced on an hourly basis. All other labor will be priced on a task order basis and in accordance with the applicable Construction Wage Rate Determinations for the job location.

17. Please clarify the job description of the Packer Hand under the labor categories to provide accurate rates.

Answer: This labor position has been removed.

18. No request was made to provide pricing for fluid disposal. Will we have the opportunity to price this cost into future task orders as it will be needed for all plugging operations, or will BLM revise the price schedule to include it.

Answer: Resultant Task Orders may include items not pre-priced within this contract if all applicable acquisition regulations pertaining to the purchase of the items have been followed

19. No request was made to provide pricing for solid waste disposal. Will we have the opportunity to price this cost into future task orders as it will be needed for all plugging operations, or should it be included in another line item provided?

Answer: Resultant Task Orders may include items not pre-priced within this contract if all applicable acquisition regulations pertaining to the purchase of the items have been followed

20. Is there a clearer image of the WBD provided in the sample task order for region 1? The depths on the WBD provided are illegible.

Answer: Text has been added to the representative task order Statement of Work that clearly identifies the depths.

21. Under the labor categories pricing schedule, for the 1-4 Man Crew with Truck, what labor categories are we pricing the crew under?

Answer: This labor position has been removed.

22. Which pricing category does rig labor fall under?

Answer: Pricing dissemination is up to the means and methods of each individual contractor.

23. What rating and capacity is required for the duplex pump?

Answer: This item has been removed from the IDIQ Pricing Schedule and will be priced on a task order basis.

24. What rating and capacity is required for the triplex pump?

25. Please clarify the “Drill Collars” line item on the Equipment List. Is this per EA? What size?

26. Please define the difference between Backhoe Small and Backhoe Large.

27. Please define the difference between Trackhoe Small and Trackhoe Large.

28. Please define the difference between Vac Truck Small and Vac Truck Large.

Answer: For the purposes of this requirement, a Small Vac Truck is defined as 80 or fewer barrels and a Large Vac Truck is defined as over 80 barrels.

29. Please define what is meant by Wheel Haul Truck.

30. No request was made to provide pricing for cement pumping and transport. Will we have the opportunity to price this cost into future task orders as it will be needed for all plugging operations, or will BLM revise the price schedule to include it?

Answer: Resultant Task Orders may include items not pre-priced within this contract if all applicable acquisition regulations pertaining to the purchase of the items have been followed

31. Can the BLM provide a cement sack minimum per location?

Answer: Cement sack quantities are highly dependent on individual site characteristics.

32. Will the agency consider classes of cement other than Class G with approval?

Answer: For the purposes of the IDIQ Pricing Schedule, offerors shall price Class G Cement.

However, agencies may approve classes of cement other than Class G on a task order basis.

33. Please provide more detail for the Mud material line item. What additives should be included?

Answer: For the purposes of this IDIQ, offerors shall use 8.5ppg mud. However, actual mud material used will be dependent on individual site characteristics

34. Will all wells on task orders be land based?

Answer: Yes. No offshore wells are included in the scope. However, wells may be located in or around water features.

35. For Perforation materials line item please provide more detail regarding charge density, orientation, and size.

36. Are there plans for the wells in the Representative Task order and/or associated pricing provided to be issued as an actual task order under the IDIQ vehicles?

Answer: As stated in the solicitation, in L-4, section G 2 b, “This is a representative task order, and no resultant task order award is anticipated”

37. Does BLM intend to issue the Representative Task Order as an actual task order under the IDIQ vehicles?

38. For the Technical Approach, Sub factor 2: Plugging and Abandonment Plan Sample does the agency want contractors to describe their technical approach for the entire scope of work defined in the sample task order:

"Under this task order, the contractor shall be responsible for the well plugging design, site accessibility, mobilization, and demobilization, well plugging implementation, and reclamation implementation."

OR just provide the P&A plan that demonstrates all the steps necessary for P&A implementation?

Answer: As stated in the solicitation, in Section L, Factor 2 – Subfactor 2, offerors shall submit a plugging and abandonment (P&A) plan that demonstrates all the steps necessary to plug and abandon the wells.

39. Because the approach to plugging different types of wells (i.e., CBM and deep gas or oil), can the BLM provide clarification on how contractors are supposed to approach these in differences in pricing?

Answer: The established pricing in the IDIQ represents maximum contract ceiling values for individual categories; however, it is anticipated that task order awards will be awarded on the basis of fair opportunity. Offerors are encouraged to provide discounted pricing at the order level as possible.

40. Can the BLM provide an estimation of the percentage and type of wells ( i.e. CBM vs deep) offerors should expect to be included under this contract?

Answer: This estimate is not available.

41. Given the high number of applicable wage rate determinations, can BLM provide guidance on how offerors should develop their pricing considering that wage base determinations will vary throughout regions? Can the BLM provide a wage determination for all bidders to use so that all pricing is built on the same basis?

Answer: All non-professional labor categories have been removed from the IDIQ Pricing Schedule.

The established pricing in the IDIQ represents maximum contract ceiling values for individual categories; however, it is anticipated that task order awards will be awarded on the basis on fair opportunity. Offerors are encouraged to provide discounted pricing at the order level as possible.

42. Will there be an opportunity to add TERO fees to individual task orders that are issued on

Indian Lands so that offerors do not have to include this in their base pricing?

Answer: Yes, TERO fees will apply only at the task order level and are not included in the IDIQ pricing schedule.

43. No request was made to provide pricing for fishing services. Will we have the opportunity to price this cost into future task orders as it will be needed for all plugging operations, or will BLM revise the price schedule to include it?

Answer: Resultant Task Orders may include items not pre-priced within this contract if all applicable acquisition regulations pertaining to the purchase of the items have been followed

44. In the Solicitation document in box 13, item d., the agency is asking for offerors to provide 10 days for government acceptance. Please confirm that this is an error and should read 120 days as is found in PART I – THE SCHEDULE, SECTION A – SOLICITATION / CONTRACT FORM, Sub- Section A-1 Supplemental Information, item 4 of the SF 1442 Continuation document Answer: Box 13 should read “120 days,” and has been updated.

45. The parameters for when to use hourly, daily, and weekly rates are defined. What parameters should be used for applying monthly rates?

Answer: Monthly pricing rates have been removed from the IDIQ pricing schedule.

46. Please confirm that on the equipment pricing for the representative task order that offerors should use the hourly rate column not daily rate. If this is inaccurate, please describe how the agency would like to see the total calculated between hourly and daily rates.

Answer: Offerors shall use the hourly rate column for equipment pricing. The daily rate column has been removed.

47. Please provide clarification on what the materials pricing category Rig Up – Rig Down includes.

Does it include staging all the equipment?

48. Will a company's successful award, or otherwise, in Solicitation 140L0622R0035 have an impact on the outcome of the Plugging and Abandonment Solicitation? This given the cost and efficiency benefits of bridging the work and learning from characterization work performed in Solicitation 140L0622R0035 with plug and abandonment activities Answer: No. There has been determined to be no organizational conflict of interest if an offeror was to be considered for award for both vehicles.

49. We will be providing a Proposal for the Solicitation the Plugging & Abandonment IDIQ for Regions 2 and 3. Are you able to share when it will be provided?

Answer: The opportunity for Regions 2 and 3 is solicitation 140L0623R0001 and is found on SAM.gov at the following link:

https://sam.gov/opp/d42679475e4d449bab123b82bf2e8913/view

50. Our Program Manager, as a Petroleum Engineer, has many years of design and execution of well workovers and plug and abandonments, as well as in responsible charge overseeing these same well activities. Likewise, our Prime Contractor has significant experience executing cementing and plug and abandonments in the service industry. However, neither have experience within the past 7 years and are unable to meet the Past Performance history limitation. Can you please confirm that Past Performance can be exclusively fulfilled with our partner companies (subcontractors) experience? This is how we interpret the following taken from p 55 of the Solicitation, Factor 4, Past Performance: "If the prime contractor does not have relevant past performance history, the proposal may include past performance information involving predecessor companies, key personnel who have relevant experience, or subcontractors that will perform major or critical aspects of the requirement" Answer: Yes, if the prime contractor does not have relevant past performance history, the proposal may include past performance information involving predecessor companies, key personnel who have relevant experience, or subcontractors that will perform major or critical aspects of the requirement.

51. A partner company (subcontractor) has drilled wells, performed workovers and plug and abandonments on wells that they own and operate. Can this work be used as Past Performance and how would we document this work activity to meet the letter and intent of the Solicitation?

Answer: Yes, if the prime contractor does not have relevant past performance history, the proposal may include past performance information involving predecessor companies, key https://sam.gov/opp/d42679475e4d449bab123b82bf2e8913/view personnel who have relevant experience, or subcontractors that will perform major or critical aspects of the requirement. Offerors shall use the provided Past Performance Questionnaire.

52. Are there standards on the "above and below ground well markers"?

Answer: Yes, please refer to Federal and site specific regulations designated in the task order.

Per Federal regulations, “All casing shall be cut-off at the base of the cellar or 3 feet below final restored ground level (whichever is deeper). The well bore shall then be covered with a metal plate at least ¼ inch thick and welded in place, or a 4-inch pipe, 10-feet in length, 4 feet above ground and embedded in cement as specified by the authorized officer. The well location and identity shall be permanently inscribed. A weep hole shall be left if a metal plate is welded in place.”

53. Where should the cost for waste/recycled waste be applied? For example for steel, iron, tanks, poly lines, etc.?

Answer: Distribution for this cost is up to the means and methods of the individual contractor

54. Is there a required process for NORM disposal?

Answer: Yes. The process will be site specific and conform to Federal regulations

55. What is the disposition process for recovered well equipment? Can we salvage it or are we required to dispose of it?

Answer: Disposition will be site specific and addressed at a task order level.

56. Solicitation Section L-4.G.2 – Pricing: What is the basis for labor and equipment standby rates -which time interval daily, weekly, or monthly will be the designated interval of standby time?

Answer: Labor rates in the IDIQ schedule no longer include any interval other than hourly rates.

Section B includes the following information about equipment rates, “The per hourly rate shall be paid for up to eight (8) hours usage. The per day rate shall apply to usage between eight (8) hours and five (5) working days. The per week rate shall apply for over five (5) working days. The contractor shall include a standby rate for all equipment. This may be a percentage of rates listed below or a specific rate. All standby rates for applicable equipment shall be no more 65% percent of the rates listed.”

57. Solicitation Section L-4.G.2 – Pricing: Clarify Option 52.217-8 pricing based on a Year 6 or another extension interval?

Answer: In accordance with FAR Clause 52.217-8, an extension may not exceed six (6) months.

Section M has been revised to state that the Government will evaluate the 52.217-8 extension under Year 5 rates.

58. Solicitation Section L-4.G.2 – Pricing: Clarify the use of standby rates relative to wage decision requirements.

Answer: Standby rates have been revised to apply to equipment only.

59. Solicitation Section L-4.G.2 – Pricing: Clarify the truck required in the “Crew with Truck” rates.

60. Solicitation Section L-4.G.2 – Pricing: Clarify how to price labor based on the variance of wage decisions within each region.

Answer: All labor categories subject to Construction Wage Rate Requirements have been removed from the IDIQ pricing schedule and will be priced on a task order basis.

61. Solicitation Section L-4.G.2 – Pricing: Clarify whether the welder rate should include a complete welding rig, tools, and supplies? If not, where should the welding truck be addressed?

Answer: The welder rate in the labor category section shall include labor costs only. Resultant Task Orders may include items not pre-priced within this contract if all applicable acquisition regulations pertaining to the purchase of the items have been followed and the ordered activity Contracting Officer has determined the price for the items is fair and reasonable.

62. Solicitation Part 1 – Section B-1 – 3rd paragraph – equipment rates: What is the basis for monthly equipment rates? The basis for hourly, daily, and weekly rates are specified, but the basis for monthly equipment rates is not.

Answer: Monthly equipment rates have been removed from the IDIQ pricing schedule.

63. Solicitation Part 1 – Section B-2 – Other Direct Costs: Will the cost to not only purchase small tools, supplies, safety equipment and consumables be allowed in task order pricing, but also the labor cost to transport these items from the vendor source?

Answer: Resultant Task Orders may include items not pre-priced within this contract if all applicable acquisition regulations pertaining to the purchase of the items have been followed

64. Part II – Contact Clauses 52.219-8 Limitations on Subcontracting: Clarify the limitations on subcontracting relative to this Solicitation Answer: This solicitation is considered a general construction requirement.

65. We request a submittal date extension due to the specificity of pricing requirements and the availability of companies providing estimates due to the upcoming holiday season.

Answer: A time extension is not anticipated at this time.

66. The RFP is requesting binding prices for 5 years, what options does an offeror have to renegotiate market rates?

• For example, cement is a valuable commodity whose price is dependent upon O&G market conditions and if exploration and production activity increases the resultant demand has historically driven material and equipment costs up

Answer: At this time, no additional clauses are anticipated for inclusion. The established pricing in the IDIQ represents maximum contract ceiling values for individual categories; however, it is anticipated that task order awards will be awarded on the basis on fair opportunity. Offerors are encouraged to provide discounted pricing at the order level as possible.

67. Equipment and labor rates vary by production basin, are we bidding on both Region 2 and

Region 3 with our requested pricing? Or can we provide different rate sheets per region?

Answer: Offerors may provide separate pricing sheets for each region but are responsible for ensuring that the sheets are clearly labeled and easily discernable.

68. Should we assume that we are to use the specifications in the sample wells to fill out the pricing?

Answer: No changes shall be made to any of the categories or quantities in the representative task order pricing table. This solicitation utilizes a pricing model for price evaluation purposes; the pricing model is the provided representative task order pricing table in Attachment 4.

69. Would the BLM extend project timelines to complete the restoration scope?

• The proposed work requests restoration of the immediate area and not remediation.

70. Is there a minimum of task orders the offeror is required to bid during the IDIQ term?

Answer: No.

71. Some positions labeled in the labor categories are defined, but not all. What are the requirements/qualifications for laborers (e.g., welder certifications, packer hand experience)?

Answer: All non-professional labor category positions have been removed from the IDIQ Price Schedule.

72. How is the assessment between price and personnel qualifications weighted?

• Given the consequences of P&A design and execution and how we interpret the listed personnel requirements, programs may be designed by registered engineers or not.

Answer: In accordance with Section M, all non-price factors are of equal importance. All factors other than cost or price, when combined, are approximately equal to cost or price.

There is not a requirement for Plugging & Abandonment design to be completed by a registered engineer.

73. Is this contract subject to the subcontracting limitations for general construction in FAR 52.219- 14(e)(3)?

Answer: Yes, this requirement is considered general construction.

74. Is all well permitting for P&A work going to the BLM only, or will contractor handle submitting to other agencies if required?

Answer: Specific task order requirements will be required at the order level. This IDIQ contract may be used by all DOI agencies and the U.S. Forest Service.

75. Please clarify the following:

PAST PERFORMANCE QUESTIONNAIRE

The U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has a requirement for a Federal Orphaned Well Program – Plugging & Abandonment Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. As part of the procurement process, past performance is a source selection factor. The offeror shall complete the included Past Performance Questionnaire for up to three (3) complete projects performed by the prime contractor within the last (7) seven years that are proposed to be similar scope, magnitude of effort, and complexities. The offeror shall fill out Part A & B and coordinate completion of Parts C & D with the respective reference. Completed Past Performance Questionnaires shall be included in the offeror’s proposal and not sent directly to the agency.

However, on page 56 of the solicitation it reads:

For each of the areas listed above, the offeror shall provide experience information for projects performed by the prime contractor and/or its proposed team within the last seven (7) years that are proposed to be similar scope, magnitude of effort, and complexities.

Answer: The Past Performance Questionnaire has been updated to match the solicitation language.