Questions and Answers Received Against 191BWC20R0001.pdf

Questions Received Against 191BWC20R0001 – Environmental Services IDIQ

1. On page 35 of the Solicitation it states "The offeror shall furnish contact information from three clients who have used or are currently using the Offeror’s services. The Offeror shall include the names, telephone numbers, and email addresses and alternate person as points of contact/reference, preferably a technical and contracting reference." along with a table format for the 3 client references. Where do we put this information within in the Technical Proposal Volume? After the Merit Factor 6 Response?

Answer: This information shall be included in the Merit Factor 2 Past Performance section.

2. On Page 36 of the Solicitation, it asks the Offeror to delegate a person to be contacted for prompt contract administration, with their name, address, phone, mobile, fax, and email. Does this information get submitted with our proposal? If so which volume and where in that volume should it be submitted?

Answer: This information shall be submitted with your proposal and can be provided in the blank spaces provided on page 36 L.03 Contractor’s Contract Administrator.

3. Page 2 under Oral Presentation states "Each offeror will provide an oral presentation." How is the Oral presentation scored/rated? There is no guidance related to this.

Oral presentations are an extension of the evaluation criteria already set forth and will be used to assist the evaluation team to rate the entire solicitation using the existing merit factors.

Presentations shall be no more than 40 minutes with 20 minutes for questions/discussion.

4. On page 34 of the solicitation it states "text no smaller than 12 point font (this does not include graphics)." Does this apply to headers and footers? If no, what minimum font size is desired for headers and footers?

Minimum font size for headers/footers is 9 point font.

5. Attachment J.04, Page 7, Merit Factor 2 – Past Performance. Are we to submit information for this Merit Factor? If so what is the format? Is there a minimum and maximum number of projects to submit?

Answer: Yes, review attachment J.04 Merit Factor 2 to understand the information the Government is seeking regarding this merit factor. Additionally, offerors shall furnish past performance information pursuant to L.03 of the solicitation.

6. Are offerors to leave the “Unit Price” and “Total Cost” columns blank? (section B/Page 5) Answer: Yes, pricing will be evaluated on labor costs under B.01.

7. Is this table to contain a single maximum rate for each proposed labor category which is inclusive of both the prime contractor and any subcontractors? (section B.01/Page 5) Answer: Yes.

8. What pages are excluded from the 60 page Technical Volume Limit? For example: Title Pages, Table of Contents, Acronyms, Definitions, and other similar items. (section L.01/page 35) Answer: The entire Technical Vol shall be 60 pages or less, with the exception of the sample task order proposals, which can be attachments of up to 30 pages each. See also #26

9. May offerors add additional labor categories that they expect to work on the contract to those listed in the SCA wage table? (Clause 52.222-42/page 23) Answer: Yes.

10. Are the 3 client contacts required in the table only required for the prime contractor or are team subcontractors also required to submit this information? If not required may team subcontractors submit this information? (Section L.01 – Volume I -Technical Proposal/Page 35) At least two out of the three client contacts shall be for the prime contractor.

11. Are these 3 projects intended to be for the 3 client references required under the Volume 1 Technical Proposal instructions on Page 35? Is this requirement only for the prime contractor or also for team members? (Merit Factor 1/Subfactor A) Answer: At least two out of three projects in Subfactor A shall be for the prime contractor.

12. May the 5 year minimum experience be demonstrated by team member experience? (Merit Factor 1/Subfactor B) Answer: Yes. Subfactor B can be demonstrated by both prime and team experience.

13. In addition to the government’s outreach may offeror’s email a customer satisfaction survey to customers prior to proposal submission for return and submission with the proposal? (Merit Factor 2/Subfactor E) Answer: Yes.

14. Because a percentage is a numerical measurement requiring a calculation could the government please clarify this requirement by:

a. Providing a more specific definition of what is meant by team composition showing 50% “in house” capability by identifying what specific numerical PWS or other capability criteria stated in the RFP that offerors and government evaluators are to use to measure and calculate the required 50% “in house” percentage against in order to demonstrate compliance? (Merit Factor 4/Subfactor A(1))

Answer: This is clarified in the solicitation under H.12 Limitations on Subcontracting.

15. Can the USIBWC provide the THC comment letter dated February 2, 2019 for the proposed project? (Sample Task Order 1 – Page 1) Answer: There is no letter because this is a sample statement of work.

16. Can the USIBWC please clarify what is meant by “testing for possible mitigation” in Section B?

(Sample Task Order 1 – Page 1) Answer: This refers to testing for discovery of unknown buried sites. If found, USIBWC will then address whether excavation or avoidance of the area is the next step. Since this is for deposit of material from the river, USIBWC would need to know if this would impact the site or not.

17. The THC Sties Atlas indicate that two previously conducted cultural resources surveys have transpired within the proposed project limits for Sample Task Order 1. Can USIBWC provide the cultural resources survey reports for the previously conducted surveys? The THC Sites Atlas indicates that one survey was completed in 2009 for La Junta de los Rios project. The second survey was completed in 2013 for the Presidio Valley Flood Control project. (Sample Task Order 1 – Page 6 – Task 2.6) Answer: No. USIBWC is interested in what the contractors would propose for this problem, not what was actually done to address the problem.

18. Can the USIBWC provide the coordination documents and THC comment letter(s) for the previously conducted cultural resources survey completed in 2009 and 2013? (Sample Task Order 1 – Page 6 – Task 2.6) Answer: No. See # 17.

19. Can the USIBWC provide clarification on how the limits of the old ranch and structure areas from 1929 were derived in Figure 1? (Sample Task Order 1 – Page 11) Answer: This was derived from examination of the 1928 / 29 air photo and previous examination of the area for a different non-archaeological project. Additional information was from local Presidio, Texas landowners.

20. What is the average length of time for the monitoring events? (Sample Task Order 2 – Page 1 (#8)) Answer: Requirements for monitoring are described in Task 3 on page 4. Clarification: There are no USIBWC existing wells at these sites so groundwater levels would not be required.

21. The task talks about three sites to place signs, yet Figure 1 shows only two restoration sites. Where is the third sign supposed to be placed? (Sample Task Order 2 – Page 2 (#2)) Answer: Correction, this should state two sites. SOW for J08 Sample Task Order 2 modified.

22. The Task Order contradicts the timeframes mentioned in #6 A on Page 3 where vegetation work should not be conducted during the months of March through August. Is the action considered an exception to that point? (Sample Task Order 2 – Page 4 (# 9 & 10)) Answer: #6A on Page 3 is referring to nesting surveys being required for any ground disturbing activity related to heavy equipment in the areas, while #9 and 10 on P 4 refers to watering of shrubs, which would probably be done with hoses and would not require trucks or heavy equipment to be in the vegetation in order to require bird surveys.

23. The pricing instructions state that “Rates shall be provided for the prime and all subcontractors for the base and all option years” and that “These rates shall be the maximum allowable during the contract performance period.” (Section L.01 -Volume II – Price and Business Proposal – “Pricing” - Pg. 36) For teams that are composed of multiple subcontract team members there will be many different and varying rates for the 16 or so likely labor categories indicated on Page

23. Could the government please clarify the purpose for and confirm the requirement to also show the differing rates of each individual team member if the Offeror (e.g. the prime contractor) shows, explains, and proposes a single maximum rate for each proposed category which is inclusive of both its own and all team subcontractors rates for that category?

Answer: The requirement to include subcontractor rates has been removed.

24. Section 6.5 (Qualifications) of the Performance Work Statement indicates the qualifications for PM/PI investigator is a PhD or Masters in environmental sciences, biological sciences, physical sciences, engineering or natural resources and a minimum of 5 years of experience managing large task order contracts. Is this qualification correct? Is a PhD or Masters plus 5 years managing large task order contracts involving multiple concurrent projects at multiple locations, correct. This qualification seems more appropriate for Contract Manager.

Answer: Yes, it is correct. We are looking for program managers/project managers/principle investigators that have experience with multiple complex projects.

25. Are resumes required for this Technical Proposal or only at the request of the of the CO (Section 6.1)and for each Task Order (Section 6.4d)?

Answer: Resumes are required for Key Personnel in the contract, as stated in 6.1. Resumes will also be required on a task order level, as indicated in 6.4d. USIBWC will verify that the proposed staff will be doing the work on a task order level.

26. RFP page 25, Volume I Technical Proposal page limit. Merit Factor 6 – Sample Task Order Technical proposal requires that three Work Plans be prepared in accordance with Section 5.3 Work Plans in the PWS. Section 5.3 of the PWS has a requirement for the Work Plans to be no smaller than 12 point font and be no more than 30 pages in length, this could exceed the page allocation to the technical volume. Can the three Sample Task Order Work Plans be excluded from the page count?

Answer: Correct. See # 8.

27. RFP page 18, Section H.12. Is there a template that IBWC requires for the compliance report? If yes, please provide.

Answer: There is no template.

28. Attachment J04 Evaluation Plan, page 5: Exhibit No 1, Merit factor 1, sub factor B(2)- Specialized Experience. This section states “Demonstrate experience in post construction monitoring”. Does this experience need to be related to NEPA?

Answer: No.

29. PWS page 5, Section 1.13. Key Personnel only lists a Contract Manager and alternate. However, Merit Factor 3 Professional Qualifications lists other key personnel . Please clarify the full list of key personnel for this solicitation.

Answer: PWS modified. Key Personnel are further defined in PWS 2.1.6 and 6.4 as well as Merit Factor 3. .

30. RFP page 18, Section H.12 Limitations on Subcontracting states, “…at least 50% of the cost of contract performance incurred shall be expended for employees of the concern…” with a compliance report due at the end of each Base and Option year term. In accordance with DoD Class Deviation 2019-O0003, which applies to FAR 52.219-14 Limitations on Subcontracting:

“Any work that a similarly situated entity further subcontracts will count toward the 50 percent subcontract amount that cannot be exceeded.” Will the government confirm that the requirements of Section H.12 for employees of the concern include subcontractors that meet the definition of a similarly situated entity as defined the Class Deviation 2019-O0003?

Answer: The intent of this clause is to ensure contractors do not subcontract more than 50% of the work regardless of business size, yearly at the IDIQ level.

31. RFP page 18, Section H.12 Limitations on Subcontracting. Will the government confirm the reporting requirements of Section H.12 apply at the IDIQ level?

Answer: Yes, at the IDIQ level.

32. RFP page 26, Section K, FAR 52.204-8 (a)(2) lists the size standard for NAICS code 541620 as $15M; however, the size standard for this NAICS code is now $16.5M. Request the government update Section K to reflect the new size standard.

Answer: The size standard has been updated.

33. Attachment J.08, Sample task 2, Riparian habitat Restoration page 1. Task 1 Project Administration states that both an interim and a final restoration report are required. However, Table 2 (Deliverable) only shows a final restoration report. Please confirm that two different reports are required and provide the due date for the interim report.

Answer: Interim report deliverable was added to deliverable table. SOW for J08 Sample Task Order 2 modified.

34. Attachment J.08, Sample task 2, Riparian habitat Restoration page 5. Table 2 has a POP of 400 days. However, just the post restoration monitoring itself will require 425 days to complete. This does not include the approximate 6 months prior to complete the restoration plans and site prep nor the time to cover the final restoration report after the second year (June) monitoring.

Please clarify the POP.

Answer: POP was corrected to 700 days; SOW for J08 Sample Task Order 2 modified.

35. J.09 Sample Task Order 3 Under Section III.A.15- Project administration the first two bullets discuss monthly reports. Are there two monthly reports required or should the requirements in bullet #2 be considered in bullet #1?

• Provide monthly progress reports, which should include description of work performed, pending issues or concerns, work to be performed during the next two month period, and detailed financial progress reports with the amount billed by task and percent task complete.

• Provide monthly progress reports, including photos and field notes and map based depictions of work completed versus planned.

36. Answer: Yes this is duplicate, they are the same monthly progress reports, but they need to have photos.

37. By the time we receive the responses to question, it will be tight for submittal of the proposal to make appropriate changes. Would it be possible to receive an extension on the proposal due date?

Answer: No extension is granted at this time. The responses to the questions are being provided 13 days prior to the close of this RFP.

38. Merit Factor 1 – Experience Subfactor A – Management states to present a demonstration of managerial ability for a minimum of 3 complex projects. Are these projects from the prime only, or for the team as a whole? Is there a maximum number of projects?

Answer: See # 11.

39. Merit Factor 1 – Experience – Subfactor B (2) RFP states demonstrate experience in preparation of EAs, FONSIs, EISs, RODs (5 years minimum within the previous 10 years). Is this experience of the prime only or the team as a whole?

Answer: See #12.

40. Merit Factor 1 – Experience – Subfactor B (3) Training Is the training that the project team has received? Or is it training that the project team provides?

Answer: Training the project team has received.

41. Sample Task Order– Cultural Resource Survey of 375 Acres with Shovel Testing for Presidio Sediment Disposal Sites. What depth of impact are you anticipating?

Answer: This can be surface to several meters below surface. The river has migrated in this area many times and we need to know if resources are present.

42. Sample Task Order– Cultural Resource Survey of 375 Acres with Shovel Testing for Presidio Sediment Disposal Sites. Do you see backhoe trenching as an appropriate survey method of this project?

Answer: Yes, in areas of high probability for historic / prehistoric resources.

43. Sample Task Order– Cultural Resource Survey of 375 Acres with Shovel Testing for Presidio Sediment Disposal Sites. Based on the location of the project, we expect soils to be deep with potential for archaeological remains, even Spanish Colonial period, to be buried under a meter or more of sediment. Why is shovel testing proposed without backhoe trenching?

Answer: It is proposed for both. This should have been addressed in this SOW for limited backhoe testing as part of the project. It was not initially stated as this is for sediment disposal in the floodplain. Spanish Colonial sites tend to be on the first terrace above the floodplain in this area.

44. Sample Task Order – Riparian Habitat Restoration in Mesilla, NM. Do personnel preparing habitat restoration plans require any certifications from NRCS, USFWS, USACE or similar agencies?

Answer: No

45. Sample Project – Preparation of EA for Proposed Dredging of a portion Tijuana River in the City of San Ysidro, San Diego County, CA. Since federal projects require NEPA compliance, are there elements of the project that would also require CEQA compliance?

Answer: Please identify all relevant local and state jurisdictions/procedures that would likely apply in accomplishing NEPA compliance at this location.

46. For Sample Task Order #3 Sample Task Order #3. Will the USIBWC provide engineering concepts/drawings for the action alternatives or should the contractor include in the work plan? Will the USIBWC coordinate the location of the public meetings in San Ysidro or should the contractor include in the work plan?

Answer: Assume that USIBWC has supplied sufficient conceptual drawings for each alternative.

Contractor will research and propose a suitable venue for IBWC concurrence.