AMEND 0002_Question and Answers_10012020_2.pdf

140P8320Q0003 Consulting Services for Environmental Remediation, Restoration and Compliance Amendment 0002 for the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (LARO)

Question and Answers (Q & A)

Amendment 0002

This document provides questions (Q) and answers (A) received by email on or before

09/14/2020.

Amendment 0001: Q1/A1-Q42/A42

Amendment 0002: Q43/A43-Q61/A61

Q1: Please confirm that the NPS is requesting only one (1) Contractor Experience form, attachment 2 and its corresponding Past Performance Questionnaire to be included with the submittal and if not, how many projects would the NPS prefer be included?

A1: The solicitation has been amended. We are requesting 2-5 Contractor Experience forms (Attachment 2) and 2-5 Past Performance Questionnaires (Attachment 4). See Section E, E.2.2, 6a) Contractor and Discipline Experience and 7) Past Performance Documentation.

Q2: If the NPS requests multiple Contractor Experience Forms and Past Performance Questionnaires, are these to be from only the Prime Contractor or also from the subcontractors in a teaming arrangement?

A2: The forms will need to be provided from both the prime and subcontractor(s) if applicable.

The solicitation has been amended. See Section E, E.2.2, 6a) Contractor and Discipline Experience and 7) Past Performance Documentation.

Q3: Does the agency have a preference for the layout of the forms provided with the solicitation document or would the agency allow (prefer) us to provide the required information/forms in a slightly different visual format/layout allowing for consistency through the submittal.

A3: Please use the forms provided. If you require additional space/lines, you may modify the forms as necessary or add continuation pages. .

Q4: Please confirm that the only section of the response that has a page limitation is the Technical Capability Documentation.

A4: This is correct. Note, there is a size limitation to an email message, see E.2.1 Quote Contents.

Q5: Are there a minimum (or maximum) number of Contractor Experience Forms (Attachment 2 “Projects) that the Agency would like us to provide in our response?

A5: See Q1/A1.

Q6: Are there a minimum (or maximum) number of Discipline Experience Forms/Resumes (Attachment 3) that the agency would like us to provide our response?

A6: The solicitation has been amended. See Section E, E.2.2, 6b), “Provide 1 Discipline Experience Form (Form allows up to 5 relevant technical experience/projects) from both the prime and subcontractor(s) if applicable, see Attachment 3 or provide Resume(s) with up to 5 relevant technical experience/projects.”

Q7: Is this a new requirement? If not, what is the previous contract number?

A7: Yes.

Q8: I wanted to reach out to you regarding an issue that we have experience trying to access the Final Rosburg Flat Beach Refined Sediment and Soil Study Data Summary Report referenced as Attachment 5-Sample Task Order Request for Quotation. The attachment directs offerors to download the report by registering at the Upper Columbia River Project website (https://www.ucr-rifs.com/)-see attached screenshot below. I attempted to regise4r at the website but my registration information was rejected. – see email below. My colleague experienced the same issue that I did and was also not able to register at the Upper Columbia River Project website. I was hoping that you could offer assistance with this issue so that we could access and download to the Final Bossburg Flat Beach Refined Sediment and Soil Study Data Summary Report and develop our response to the sample task order.

A8: Attachment 5-Sample Task Order Request for Quotation has been amended. Amendment 0001, instructs how to access the report without registering. See B08_AMEND 0001_Attachment 5_Sample RFQ for Sample Task Order.

Q9: In Appendix 1: Potential Disciplines for some of the disciplines the Minimum Education requirements indicate: BS/BA and then on a second line, PhD/MS. Does this mean the agency would like us to provide 2 resumes (Attachment 3 forms) for those disciplines?

A9: Provide one form, Attachment 3 Discipline Experience Forms or one Resume for each discipline, however if one employee will have different roles or more than one discipline, you may add the multiple disciplines into the box “Role in Contract” on the Attachment 3 form or insert the multiple disciplines onto one resume. If you prefer to provide a resume, you may provide one resume for each employee that includes the different roles/disciplines for that employee. On Attachment 3, you may add up to five different Relevant Technical Experience Projects onto the form. For the minimum Education Requirements, you may provide the highest degree or as indicated in Appendix 1, Potential Disciplines.

Q10: Is there a limit on the number of project descriptions, and/or the age of the projects?

A10: A min/max has been added. See Q1/A1. Amendment 0001 has been revised how the government will evaluate past performance. See Section E.4.3.4 Past Performance: “In general, the Government will consider a Quoter’s past performance more favorable if it demonstrates:

(first bullet) How well the Contractor performed on projects within the past 5 years.”

Q11: Can component firms of the team provide resumes for the same categories, or is the overall team limited one/name resume per category?

A11: Include all team members that you will be utilizing.

Q12: Can we provide a cover letter?

A12: You may provide a cover letter, but the quotation must contain all documentation referenced in the RFQ.

13: We would like to add the following categories to the disciplines list-please confirm if acceptable: a) Sr. NEPA Manager; b) Staff NEPA Manager; c) Sr. Permit Specialist; d) Staff permit Specialist; e) Sr. Landscape Architecture; f) Staff Landscape Architecture.

A13: You may provide other disciplines not identified on Attachment 1 Fully Burdened Fixed Hourly Rate, however, you must provide a spreadsheet identifying those disciplines with their fully burdened rates, see E.2 Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items, 8 Price Schedule. Also, provide Attachment 3 Discipline Experience Forms or Resumes for those disciplines. .

Q14: Is the agency assuming that the selected contractor would identify laboratories after we are under contract or would you like to see them listed in our response to the solicitation?

A14: The identification of the laboratory, if applicable, will be identified at the task order level.

Q15: Clause B.2 Contract Types contain the statement, “The base contract establishes several procedures, technical disciplines and the maximum labor rates for use in pricing task orders.”

Attachment 1, title Fully Burdened Hourly Rates for Management, Administrative and implies the rates could be rates that will be required as contract labor category that will be required to use for task order pricing. Are the labor rates the government is requesting in Attachment 1 intended to be maximum labor rate caps for the categories in each labor category or labor rates that will be used for task order pricing?

A15: Yes, the pricing list you provide for the Base and Four Option Years will be inserted into the Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract and used for task order pricing.

Q16: Should the fully burdened labor rates include fee?

A16: Yes, if applicable.

Q17: For actual task orders under the contract, can we use lower category staff (mid-level;

junior-level staff) to execute the work and can these lower category labor categories be added to Attachment 1?

A17: Yes, see Addendum to FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items, E.2.2 8 Price Schedule.

Q18: Attachment 1, Fully Burdened Hourly Rates for Management, Administration and Labor, For senior and principal level staff, what are the minimum qualifications? For example, does senior personnel have to have a minimum of 10 year’s experience and an advanced degree (MS/PhD)?

A18: The quoters should list individuals they have designated as senior or principal positions within the discipline experience form and it is up to every quoter to identify and define the discipline’s qualifications other than the qualifications in Appendix 1.

Q19: Within Appendix 1 (Potential Disciplines), the Senior Structural Engineer labor category is not identified – instead a Structural Engineer labor category is defined. Please clarify if this is the same person.

A19: This is the same discipline; however, you may refer to Q18/A18.

Q20: Please clarify if the disciplines in Appendix 1 are supposed to match the disciplines for labor rates in Attachment 1.

A20: Yes, this is correct. Appendix 1, Potential Disciplines and Attachment 1, Fully Burdened Hourly Rates for Management, Administration and Labor are potential disciplines that may be identified in the IDIQ.

Q21 Could we add subject matter expert labor category’s in addition to a senior level labor category given that a subject matter expert labor category might be helpful for expert witness testimony?

A21: You may quote on a list of disciplines that are not on Attachment 1, Fully Burdened Hourly Rates for Management, Administration and Labor.

Q22: We noticed that in Attachment 1, Fully Burdened Hourly Rates for Management, Administration and Labor, calls out for senior professional categories. Providing all senior level labor rates will make our labor pricing appear to be very high especially if we provide our nationally-recognized experts professionals which could benefit NPS at this type LARO site.

However we are concerned that providing higher labor rates for these experts would disadvantage us regarding NPS’s pricing evaluation. Please clarify if we can provide additional subject matter expert labor categories to offset the issue regarding NPS’ labor pricing evaluation.

A22: While we’ve identified in Appendix 1, Potential Disciplines, the critical disciplines that may be required in this contract, we acknowledge that quoters may wish to provide additional disciplines. In order to do so, you must provide a spreadsheet showing a fully burdened rate and to provide Attachment 3, Discipline Experience Form(s) or Resume(s).

Q23: E.2.2.6a, How many projects can be submitted to demonstrate experience using the Contractor Experience Form?

A23: See Q1/A1.

Q24: E.2.2.6a, For the Contractor Experience Form, can the offeror submit a completed form for an ongoing project? Can the offeror submit a completed form for an ongoing ID/IQ contract?

A24: You may provide ongoing projects or IDIQ contract(s).

Q25: E.2.2.6b, Do all disciplines listed on Attachment 1, Fully Burdened Hourly Rates for Management, Administration and Labor, require a submittal of a Discipline Experience Form or resume?

A25: Yes, however, see Q9/A9 for further information.

Q26: E.2.2.6b, Is there a limit to the number of resumes that can be submitted?

A26: No.

Q27: E.2.2.6b, Is there a limit to the number of resumes per Discipline that can be submitted?

A27: See Q9/A9.

Q28: E.2.2.6b, Do all Labor Categories listed on Appendix 1 require submittal of a Discipline Experience Form or resume?

A28: If you are providing these disciplines in your quote, you may provide Attachment 3 Discipline Experience Form or a resume.

Q29: Appendix 1, Please clarify if the Minimum Education column contains “BS/BA/PhD/MS that the minimum education required is a BA and that the Offeror (Quoter) should indicate the level of education (BA and above) for each Discipline member.

A29: You may list the highest degree the discipline has obtained.

Q30: B.2 Contract Type. This section states that “The NPS intends to award a single Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract against which firm, fixed-price (FFP) task orders will be issued.” However, the solicitation also identifies the use of fully-burdened hourly rates for labor component of all task orders (see A.3 – Fully Burdened Fixed Rates for Management, Administration and Labor). Please verify if the task order awards under the ID/IQ will only be FFP or if time and material (T&M) with a not to exceed upper limit is a potential option for task orders.

A30: The task orders will be firm fixed price.

Q31: E.2.2.7 Past Performance Documentation. To reduce the burden on our clients at NPS and other agencies, may we provide CPARS performance evaluations in lieu of past performance questionnaires?

A31: No, do not provide in lieu of past performance questionnaires.

Q32: E.2.6 Questions. With questions due 10 days prior to the submittal of the RFQ response and the effort it could take to revise our response based on the government’s answers, we request the government consider revising the due date for the RFQ response to two weeks after the government provides answers to submitted answers.

A32: For this amendment, Amendment 0001, see the SF-30 for the new response date . For the remaining period, we will accept and answer questions only if they have a profound impact on pricing or project execution.

Q33: Attachment 5 – Sample Task Order Request for Quotation. Does the response to the Sample Request for Quote require only a narrative of methodology or does it require all the elements of the Technical Price Submission specified in Attachment 5, Section 12 (i.e., project schedule, key personnel, methodology, OCI certification and payment terms)?

A33: See Paragraph 12 for the Technical and Price Submission of the Sample Task Order Request for Quotation, Attachment 5.

Q34: Does the sample task order reflect an actual project that will be awarded to the selected quoter (i.e. seed task order)? If so, will the schedule, OCI, certification and payment terms provided in the proposal response be incorporated into the eventual task order agreement?

A34: There is a possibility this “Sample Task Order Request for Quotation” may be an actual project. The contracting officer (CO) may choose to award a task order based on the sample task order price quote submitted in response to the solicitation.

Q35: In order to provide a single resume for each of the disciplines in Appendix 1, we would be providing approximately 30 resumes. Does the agency have a preference for the order that resumes should appear? Would the agency prefer the resumes are listed 1) In the order the disciplines are listed in Appendix 1; 2) In the order from the pricing spreadsheet; 3) In alphabetical order by staff last name.

A35: There is no preference.

Q36: Would this be opened up as an 8(A) or would this be strictly kept as a SB set-aside?

A36: No changes will be made. This is a small business set-aside.

Q37: If any firm meets the description presented in B23A, is the firm/team automatically disqualified? Or is the governments intent that the relevant facts meeting B23A be disclosed in the proposal for evaluation?

A37: The firm will not necessarily automatically be disqualified however, it is the National Park Service’s (NPS) position that any past or present employment as a contractor or a consultant to any US, state, local, or foreign government agency or any private business sector enterprise concerning Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) Site in the Upper Columbia River, as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), would constitute a conflict of interest that might compromise the National Park Service's legal standing or adversely influence the outcome of internal decisions. To mitigate the potential for biased decisions or potential adverse legal standing, the NPS has determined that it is necessary to obtain technical assistance that has not been influenced by past studies, reports, data, advice, conclusions, or biases that might be introduced by parties who were previously involved in the RI/FS. In addition, the NPS considers it imperative that consultants who may be required to provide expert testimony or whose reports, studies, conclusions, or other deliverables may be introduced in legal proceedings, hearings, public meetings, or other venues are free from organizational conflicts of interest that might lead to disqualification of agency testimony or documents.

Q38: If a subcontractor or employee of ours conducted work on the Upper Columbia River/Lake Roosevelt Site for Teck American in the past, does that present a conflict of interest for him or her?

A38: See Q37/A37.

Q39: If an employee or subcontractor is currently working there, is that a conflict for him or her?

A39: Possibly, see Q37/A37.

Q40:Please confirm that a contractor that has worked on a RI/FS or NRDA assessment and/or remediation project on the Upper Columbia River Site for a private client, a state and/or federal agency has a conflict that eliminates the firm from consideration. In addition, none of the work performed was considered confidential or prepared in advance of litigation.

A40: See Q37/A37.

Q41: Is there a period of time in which Section B.23 does not apply (e.g., prior to June 2, 2006)?

A41 OCI provisions may apply to time periods prior to June 02, 2006. We encourage quoters to include any information related to their involvement in the Upper Columbia River CERCLA (RFI/FS) as defined by the EPA site, of which they are aware.

Q42: Does Section B.23 apply to projects performed outside NPS jurisdiction on the Upper Columbia River Site as defined by the EPA?

A42: The OCI applies to the Upper Columbia River Site as defined by the EPA, See Section B, B.1.

**QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ADDED TO AMENDMENT 0002**

Q43: Is the fully burdened rate supposed to take into account travel, mileage, etc.? If so, how can we calculate that without the task order details?

A43: No, see Section C, C.13 FAR 31.205-46 Travel Costs.

Q44: The solicitation indicates that the government will consider the quoter’s technical capability more favorably if it demonstrates:

An understanding of each step (i.e. preliminary assessment/site inspection, remedial investigation/feasibility study and proposed plan) in the CERCLA response process including the record of decision, remedial design/remedial action and construction completion steps.

However, the Sample Task Scope of Work is to develop and assess remediation alternatives for soil contamination which assumes the preliminary assessment/site inspection, remedial investigation and risk assessment have all been completed and that the remedial design/remedial action and construction completion steps would be completed following approval of the feasibility study and acceptance of the record decision. Does the 20 page limit include our demonstration of knowledge and expertise of these steps that we will assume to be completed prior to or after implementing the scope of work defined?

A44: Yes.

Q45: What is the expected size/project cost of a task order under this contract?

A45: The task orders may vary in size. See Section C, C.8 FAR 52.216-19 for order limitations.

Q46: In what section of the submittal, in accordance with E.2.2, should the offeror include E.5 FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items (Jun 2020)?

A46: You may submit the fillable clause in the attachment named “AMEND 0002_Fillable FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Repres&Certs” for the Representations and Certifications (Aug 2020) clause.” Note, this clause has been updated in the Amendment 0002, see Section E, E.5.

Q47: Regarding 2-5 Contractor Experience Forms/PPQ’s-Does NPS want us to provide 2-5 total for entire TEAM/Response or 2-5 per form on the Team, if our team has 6 firms, we could potentially provide up to 30 total experience forms?

A47: See Q2/A2.

Q48: Regarding Discipline Forms-Does NPS want us to provide one discipline form (resume) for the TEAM assuming that some of the discipline forms would be from individuals that are employed with our firm (prime) and some forms would be from our subconsultants or one discipline form for each firm on our team that would be supporting each discipline? Therefore, potentially resulting in 60-100 discipline forms (or more) depending on how many subconsultants would be providing staff for a particular discipline.

A48: See Q6/A6 and Q9/A9.

Q49: Can we add additional labor categories to include sub-catagories. For instance: a) Jr. Level Environmental Scientist; b) Mid-Level Environmental Scientist; c) Sr. Level Environmental Scientist?

A49: No. Propose per A.17.

Q50: Can we include a 2 page introductory cover letter with our response and would it be part of the page limit?

A50: See Q12/A12.

Q51: Do teaming arrangements with subcontractors need to be included with the submittal if they are not related to a joint venture or otherwise legally binding corporate arrangement?

A51: Only if there is a binding agreement. See Section E.2.2, Paragraph 5a.

Q52: Do all subcontractors on the team need to provide E.1 Statement regarding OCI in the proposal?

A52: Only is there is a binding subcontractor agreement. See Section E.2.2, Paragraph 5a.

Q53: Do laboratories need to be identified as part of the proposed team or only included as outlined in Section B.5 during the Task Order Phase?

A53: No, see Q14/A14.

Q54: Does LARO anticipate issuing task orders for site engineering and architectural design related to visitor improvements through this IDIQ? If so, could you describe some of the types of orders that might be expected?

A54: No, site engineering and architectural design if required, will be addressed under an architect/engineer contract, since it is subject to the Brooks Act.

Q55: Would landscape architect be a helpful supporting service to have on the team to support restoration activities?

A55: See Q21/A21.

Q56: Does the scope of work (from Attachment 5_Sample Task Order) entail completion of a Feasibility Study or peer reviewing a Feasibility Study being prepared by another party?

A56: The scope of work of this task order does not include a completion of a Feasibility Study but may require review of a Feasibility Study prepared by another.

Q57: What would the intended use of the Alternatives Evaluation be, since EPA is the lead agency (regarding Attachment 5_Sample Task Order)?

A57: The quoter is to review and participate in the alternative development process focusing on the emphasis area for the NPS. EPA is the lead however DOI/NPS will be participating and concur on the Record of Decision (ROD).

Q58: Does the 20 page limit include our demonstration of knowledge and expertise of the steps we will assume to be completed prior to or after implementing the sample scope of work (regarding Attachment 5_Sample Task Order)?

A58: See AMEND 0001_Attachment 5 RFQ_Sample Task Order, Paragraph 12 Technical Price Submission in for all information required. The 20 page limit is referred to the narrative only.

Q59: Is any other deliverable other than the Feasibility Study (FS) (either evaluation or preparation of) part of the NPS work scope? Technical memorandums? Meeting minutes (regarding Attachment 5_Sample Task Order)?

A59: See AMEND 0001_Attachment 5 RFQ_Sample Task Order, Paragraphs 1-2 and Paragraph 6, CLIN 1. Note, the deliverables would be provided only after award of the task order.

Q60: If we are to prepare a Feasibility Study (FS) and we suspect there are data gaps that would need to be filled to properly define and evaluate remedial alternatives, shall this be included as an option task (regarding Attachment 5_Sample Task Order)?

A60: Preparing a FS is not part of the scope. See AMEND 0001_Attachment 5 RFQ_Sample Task Order, Section 1.1, Scope of Work.

Q61: Does NPS wish to develop site-specific cleanup levels (regarding Attachment 5_Sample Task Order)?

A61: Development of site-specific cleanup levels is not included in the Scope of Work for this Sample Task Order, AMEND 0001_Attachment 5 RFQ_Sample Task Order.