Amendment_0001_to_RFQ_140R8123Q0128_-_Questions_and_Answers_0002.pdf

(x)

140R8123Q0128 x x

1 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted ; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE

RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR

OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted , such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

x

Denver CO 80225

MS 84-27810

R81

Building 67 - Denver Federal Center Acquisition Operations Branch Denver Office Bureau of Reclamation

06/22/20230001

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended , by one of the following methods: (a) By completing

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

06/09/2023

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation data, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not is required to sign this document and return __________________ copies to the issuing office.

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

The purpose of this amendment is to answer questions submitted from industry. See the attached questions and answers.

This amendment must be acknowledged with the contractor's quote submission.

The date and time for the receipt of quotes is unchanged.

Period of Performance: 08/01/2023 to 07/31/2024

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

Mary Hoelscher

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

Previous edition unusable

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9 A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect .

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS AMENDMENT

1. Question: What are the insurance requirements for the contracting company?

Answer: Insurance will be required under the contract to protect the Governments property and interest. FAR 52.228-5 – Insurance – Work on a Government Installation is hereby incorporated by reference.

2. Question: Can lead paint testing be done with pXRF on-site?

Answer: Upon award, testing requests shall be routed to the contracting officer and/or the contracting officer’s representative.

3. Question: What is the distance to the space where treatment will take place?

Answer: Approximately 100 to 150 yards from exhibit site.

4. Question: Is there ventilation in the space where work will take place?

Answer: Yes.

5. Question: Is the wall map to be deinstalled for treatment and moved back to the same hanging location after treatment?

Answer: The vendor shall make a recommendation whether to treat the wall map in location or deinstall, treat and re-install.

6. Question: Are the bases/plinths considered to be part of the models and included in treatment?

Answer: Yes.

7. Question: In 52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Items, paragraph (a) states “The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered.”

In 52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Items, section Basis of Selection, the quote preparation instructions direct the offeror to submit only:

a. Signed and dated quotes

b. Executed request for quote

c. Three (3) PPQs

There is a wide spectrum of damage across the models, including both significant pre- existing/historical damage and later unauthorized restorations, and there are multiple possible treatment options. There are also significantly different options for “protecting the objects from future deterioration”, as detailed in Question #4 below.

Realistically, not all options provide equal benefit to the objects. Given the complexity of the artifact needs and the numerous possible solutions, ascertaining the offer “most advantageous to the Government” would seem to require analysis of both cost and methodology.

Is it correct to understand that no technical proposal of any kind regarding the treatment of the Museum Objects will be used to evaluate the quotes?

Answer: Based on the contractors expertise in art conservation, the contractor shall submit with their quote the best overall approach that meets the requirements as stated in the Performance Work Statement (PWS). Award will be made to the contractor with the lowest price technically acceptable with satisfactory past performance.

8. Question: Blocks 19 and 20 of the Solicitation Form 1449 of the RFQ defines one

(1) Item Number 0010 “Museum Object Restoration Conservation” as the service requested. It appears in this section the Government is requesting a single price for all deliverables as described in the scope of work. However, in section 52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Items, section (b) Options, the solicitation states “The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement”.

Please Clarify. What are the “Options” referred to in the latter statement? How are Options and other variables to be addressed in the quote? Should the cost for the individual Museum Objects and Options be listed separately or in aggregate? Are there additional Item Numbers for the other Options?

Answer: The reference under FAR 52.212-2 - Evaluation-Commercial Items, paragraph (b) as it pertains to Options is standard language under this FAR clause.

Paragraph (b) is not applicable to this contract, i.e., there are no Options that will be exercised for this contract. Option means a unilateral right in a contract by which, for a specified time, the Government may elect to purchase additional supplies or services called for by the contract, or may elect to extend the term of the contract.

9. Question: In Contract Documents, Exhibits, or Attachments, PWS, section 2.3 Period of Performance states “The POP shall be for (1) period of twelve (12) months.

The period will be 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2024.” In WBR 1452.237-80 SECURITY

REQUIREMENTS (MAR 2022) -- BUREAU OF RECLAMATION - ALTERNATE I

(MAR 2022) paragraph (c) section (5) heading (ii) states: “At least two weeks before start of contract performance, the Contractor must identify all contractor and subcontractor personnel who will require physical access for performance of work under this contract. The Contractor must make their personnel available at the place and time specified by the COR or DOI Access Card Sponsor in order to initiate screening and background investigations.” Paragraph (c) section (5) heading (d) (iii) states: “The cost of completing the above processes and submitting the above forms, including any charges for obtaining fingerprints and traveling to a Credentialing

Center for card enrollment and activation, shall be borne by the Contractor.” This writer notes there is a limited time between quote submission (July 5, 2023), and project start (August 1, 2023), with the Award date not defined.

Is the POP flexible to include possible delays on the part of the Government in obtaining contractor background checks and completing the credentialling process, if these should these take longer than the minimum two weeks specified? Is there an alternate plan for allowing access until such time as official credentialling could be completed, in the case the POP is not flexible? Where is the Credentialling Center to which the Contractor and their employees would be required to report (for estimating the cost of said fingerprinting and credentialing)?

Answer: The Government may adjust the period of performance in cases where there may be a delay through no fault of the contractor, or an escort may be provided until credentialing is complete. The credentialing center is on the Denver Federal Center.

10. Question: In Contract Documents, Exhibits, or Attachments, PWS, section 3.0 BACKGROUND, the fourth bullet point states “Work will include movement of the object from their current location to a designated space within the same building to conduct the preservation work. Work will also include lead paint sampling, cleaning of each object, stabilization of previous damage and mitigation of the unauthorized restoration attempts as well as protecting the objects from future deterioration.” (my underlined emphasis) We have two questions related to this statement:

a. If Lead is found it will necessarily require additional safety precautions and equipment.

Since sampling has not been conducted pre-award this is a significant unknown variable. Should Offerors include a “worst case scenario” in which all models are contaminated be included in the initial estimate, at considerable cost to the Government? Or will the Government consider allowing for modification of cost to cover additional PPE, containment, waste management, and mitigation expenses if Lead conditions are found post-award?

b. As regards “Protecting the objects from future deterioration” Does this refer to protective enclosures (very high initial cost), or ongoing preventative maintenance (smaller initial cost carried forward indefinitely), or some other mitigation measures/combination of measures appropriate to the different types of Museum Objects? Since no Technical Specifications are being considered as part of the evaluation (as the RFQ is currently written) this statement presents a significant unknown variable for both the Government and the Offerors. Please clarify.

Answer: Offerors should construct their bids based on the information in the RFQ, information they recorded during the site visit, responses to these questions and based on their professional experience. Modifications to the contract are the decision of the contracting officer. The Government is seeking solutions for “Protecting the objects from future deterioration” from the offeror.

11. Question: In Contract Documents, Exhibits, or Attachments, PWS, section 2.3, paragraph two, Place of Performance, it states: “The contractor is permitted to re-locate/transport/ship objects to a location better suited for restoration and shall return them to the designated area in building 56 of the DFC upon completion.”

Is this relocation transport by arrangement and at the cost of the offeror, and to be included in their quote? If so, how are the transportation costs to be differentiated from treatment costs, for the purpose to evaluating the offer “most advantageous to the Government”.

Answer: Yes. How the offeror constructs their proposal is their prerogative.

12. Question: In Contract Documents, Exhibits, or Attachments, PWS, section 6.0 PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY Task No. 1 states “The objects are moved without further damage to the designated preservation site and protective covers are removed to facilitate access to the objects.” And “No damage or further deterioration to the objects will be accepted.”

It is clear from the on-site evaluation that at least one Museum Object is permanently fixed in position and another is too large to be accommodated by facility doors. To attempt to move them would cause additional damage, which is stated as unacceptable.

Is it realistic to allow external movement of the Museum Objects? Regarding internal movement within Building 56, where is the designated site? What access route is available to that designated site? Does it include freight elevators or doorways, and if so, what are the dimensions of said spaces? Will the Government consent to and accommodate work that must be conducted in-situ’, in the event that the Museum Objects cannot physically be moved, or would be damaged by unnecessary movement?

Answer: It is for the offeror to decide if external movement is possible. The designated site within building 56 is approximately 100 to 150 yards from the exhibit site.

13. Question: In Contract Documents, Exhibits, or Attachments, PWS, sections 7.0 DATA AND REPORTS and 8.0 DELIVERABLES () both imply a requirement that the work be conducted by qualified conservator(s). 7.0 states: “Item No. 1 - Resume and conservator credentials of person(s)conducting the work. Content of resume shall include education and experience that relates to the work to be performed on this contract. Contracting Officer’s Representative shall receive and review the resume(s) prior to work beginning.” 8.0 states: “The contractor shall provide resume(s) and conservator credentials of the individuals conducting the work on the object. The resumes shall include education and work experience. Graduate Conservator credentials shall be from an accredited institution of higher learning.”

Is it correct to understand that the Government is not requesting these essential qualifications be submitted and reviewed pre-award?

Answer: The offeror shall submit the qualifications as part of their quote.

14. Question: In 52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Items, section Basis of Selection, 2.3.

Past Performance, states “It is the Contractors responsibility to submit PPQs with their quote by the date and time the quote is due in Block 8 of the solicitation. All PPQs received after the quote due date and time will not be considered.”

Please confirm that the PPQs are meant to be collected by the offeror and submitted with the Quote, not sent directly to the Contract Specialist by the reviewer?

Answer: The offeror shall collect and submit the PPQ’s with their quote.

15. Question: Block 20 of the Solicitation Form 1449 of the RFQ indicates all questions considered relevant will be answered via an amendment to the solicitation, and the closing date for questions is June 21st at 1pm EDT (or 11am MT).

When can we expect the amendment to be released and how will that (questions/responses/amendment) be required to be acknowledged as a part of the offeror’s submission?

Answer: The release date of the questions and answers amendment will be released when the Government has answered the questions submitted from industry. Depending on when the questions and answers amendment is posted to SAM.gov, the due date for the receipt of quotes may be extended and will be identified in the questions and answers amendment. The questions and answers amendment shall be acknowledged on the Standard Form 30 – Amendment of Solicitation/Modification of Contract, which will be posted to SAM.gov. The contractor shall acknowledge the questions and answers amendment by completing Blocks 8, 15A, 15B, and 15C and submit the amendment with the contractors quote.

16. Question: A Payment Schedule was not included in the RFQ.

As this project spans 12 months, will there be monthly progress payments or some other schedule of compensation over that period? If not before the award, when will the payment arrangement be settled?

Answer: Due to the length and nature of the work, progress payments shall be processed as tasks in the table at paragraph 6.0 (Performance Requirements Summary) of the Performance Work Statement (PWS) are completed.

17. Question:

Please confirm the correct email for communication with the Contracting Specialist.

This writer received an error (550 5.1.10 RESOLVER.ADR.RecipientNotFound) when emailing Van.Hale@usbr.gov. However, an alternate address, vhale@usbr.gov listed on page 3/67 does not return an error.

Answer: The correct email address for the Contract Specialist is

VHALE@USBR.GOV .

END

mailto:Van.Hale@usbr.gov mailto:vhale@usbr.gov mailto:VHALE@USBR.GOV