B09_Questions___Answers_0001.pdf

Question: Is there an incumbent contractor currently performing these services?

Answer: Previously, this requirement was awarded to MSDSOnline INC under contract 140L321P0030 in the amount of $17,495.00.

Question: Is this requirement a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract?

Answer: Yes, the resultant contract will be issued as a Fixed Price (FFP) contract.

Question: Within the Statement of Work, Section 3.2.26 references "SDS version comparison and tracking." Can the Government clarify whether this requirement is satisfied by maintaining a complete version history with automated change-type notifications when a new SDS revision becomes available, or whether a visual side-by-side document comparison tool is specifically required?

Answer: Complete version history is required. Current requirements dictate the Government must keep historical copies of all SDSs for a minimum of thirty (30) years after the substance is removed from Government inventory or the manufacturer changes the SDS. A side-by-side visual comparison is not needed for this effort.

Question: Within the Statement of Work, Section 3.2.12 identifies 10 district offices, 74 individual facilities, and 6,500+ SDS documents. Can the Government confirm whether these figures represent the current inventory? Should quoters anticipate growth during the period of performance, and if so, can the Government provide an estimated range of growth?

Answer: Numbers given are current inventory and facilities. Due to the ever-changing environment of chemical use, it is not possible to estimate potential growth in facilities or number of chemicals needed. The system should have the ability to expand without additional cost related to inventory expansion.

Question: Within the Statement of Work, Section 3.2.15 specifies one (1) Primary Account Administrator and a minimum of 24 support administrators. Can the Government provide the estimated total number of end users (non-administrator users) who will require access to the platform across all facilities?

Answer: No, the potential number of end users cannot be estimated. The system should provide for unlimited end users capacity.

Question: Within the Statement of Work, Section 6.1 states that the Government will provide the current Oregon and Washington inventory of Safety Data Sheets. Can the Government specify the format in which this inventory will be provided (e.g., electronic files, spreadsheet listing, existing platform export)?

Answer: The Government will provide current inventory levels in form of electronic files.

Question: Can the Government confirm whether the transition will include an overlap period or data handoff from the incumbent platform?

Answer: The Government can confirm there will not be an overlap period. The government is prepared to hand off current inventory list to awarded vendor via electronic files.

Question: Within the Statement of Work, Section 3.2.14 requires multi-language search features.

Can the Government specify which languages are required or of the highest priority for Oregon/Washington operations?

Answer: English and Spanish with the ability to add additional languages if needed in the future.

Question: Within the Statement of Work, Section 3.2.1 references compliance with 40 CFR and 29 CFR standards. Can the Government confirm whether Tier II / EPCRA reporting capabilities are within the scope of this requirement, or whether the requirement is limited to SDS access and chemical inventory management?

Answer: Limited to SDS access and chemical inventory. Reporting capabilities are not needed within the system as a stand-alone process is currently used.

Question: The RFQ references an "attached price spreadsheet" under Volume I and an "attached past performance reference template" under Volume III. Can the Government provide these attachments, or confirm that quoters may use their own format for pricing and past performance submissions?

Answer: These attachments are available for download via SAM.gov solicitation and quoters are to use the provided attachments in their quote submission.

Question: Within the Statement of Work, Section 3.2.4 refers to the ability to verify the current Oregon and Washington inventory of SDS. Can the Government confirm this indicates the Government wants someone to physically come to the Government facility to do the verification? Or would this action be done remotely/ virtually via the software? Can the Government expand on what this verification would entail?

Answer: No vendor presence is needed. Current government employees will verify on-site inventories but may have specific question related to storage for the vendor. A means of direct communication must be available to end users.

Question: Within the Statement of Work, Section 3.2.6 refers to the ability to create site specific workbooks. Does the Government want physical workbooks printed by the SDS software company and sent to the Federal facilities or does the Government want the capability to download and print the workbooks yourselves?

Answer: The Government requests the ability to create and print their own workbooks. The system should have that capability. Government does not require the vendor to provide any form of a physical product.

Question: Within the Statement of Work, Section 3.2.24 refers to the ability to provide a QR code for identification and site access. Can the Government expand on this line item? The software is able to scan QR code but we want to ensure that we are able to do more than that, if that is the requirement.

Answer: The ability to scan a QR code will include a direct link to the most current SDS along with a photo of the packaging the chemical or substance is supplied in, provided there is a current photo of the packaging. Most chemical inventories currently in use are of commercially available products such as common household cleaning supplies or common herbicides.

Question: Within the Statement of Work, Section 3.2.4 refers to the verification of inventory. Is the Government just asking to provide access to up-to-date data sheets via an online portal?

Answer: Correct, the most current up-to-date SDS access is required.

Question: Within the Statement of Work, Section 3.2.6 refers to creating site-specific workbooks? What does the Government mean by this statement? Additionally, will these workbooks be online or physical media?

Answer: The proposed system should be able to collate chemicals by site which could then be exported into a workbook for printing. Some government sites are very remote, and a physical copy of the chemical inventory must be kept for regulatory purposes. Additionally, the system should be able to provide a way to search a specific chemical and then the system will display all of the sites that particular chemical is known to be stored at.

Question: Within the Statement of Work, Section 3.2.21 refers to the ability to back up data on a routine basis. Can the Government please provide more clarification on this matter?

Answer: The ability to download or “backup” inventory from the vendor to a government system is preferred. The government understands that “cloud” storage by the vendor is a possibility however the government seeks a way to store or back-up inventory on their own system.

Question: Within the Statement of Work, Section 3.2.25 refers to the ability to upload a photo of product for identification. If a quoter’s software does not support this feature, is this a dealbreaker? Or is it more desired than a requirement?

Answer: Not all end users are Hazmat trained individuals so visual identification of a chemical or substance is required. The Government requires the ability to upload photos of chemicals or substances that may not have a manufacturer photo available.

Question: With regards to Statement of Work, Section 3.2.28 - Hazard Material & Chemical Hazard Ratings placards – is the Government referring to printable NFPA/HMIS door signage, or are secondary container labels/workplace safety cards sufficient?

Answer: The Government requires the ability to print door signage/placarding, secondary labels and workplace safety cards.