QuestionAnswer.pdf

Question/Answer

1. Page 50, 3.5.3.5. The selected vendor must be within 1 hour ground transportation to an international airport with direct flights to Mexico City. Page 50, 3.6.3.5 The airport must be the nearest international airport with direct flights to Mexico City.

a. Question: Which is the correct distance and which of these two requirements apply?

Gov’t Response: International airport must be within 1 hour ground transportation from vendor and have direct flights to Mexico City.

b. Question: Why is there no requirement to possess an ATF or DEA license? This will allow companies to bid on this that do not train with real explosives and narcotics.

Gov’t Response: Training facility must be ATF and DEA licensed to allow training with full range of real explosives and drugs as listed in the Statement of Work.

c. Question: Will the Government require the bidding company to show verification that they have current DEA and ATF licensing?

Gov’t Response: Verification of the training facility’s ATF and DEA licenses will be required.

2. Page 50, 3.5.3.4. Transport from hotel and facilities to the airport for handlers with their canines and transportation kennels.

a. Question: Will the booking of flights for canines and personnel be booked by INL and Mexican Government?

Gov’t Response: The Gov’t will be responsible for booking of flights for handlers and canines to and from the designated international airport. Please refer to SOW, pg. 53, Section 003 Delivery for vendor’s responsibilities.

b. The above statement does not state that the canines will be crated, nor does the pricing request a quote for transportation kennel crates. Will each student provide their own transportation crates?

Gov’t Response: No, Vendor is required to price in transportation kennel crates in CLINS 009, 1009, 2009 Transportation and importation services.

c. Will the Government allow for the pricing of kennel crates for this contract?

Gov’t Response: Vendor is required to price in transportation kennel crates in CLINS 009, 1009, 2009 Transportation and importation servicesThis

Solicitation requests quotes on trained Narcotic Detection Dogs. This task would require the bidding company to possess a DEA license allowing them to legally possess the narcotics necessary to complete the task.

d. Question: Will the government require for companies bidding this solicitation show proof of proper State licensing and show proof of possessing a DEA license?

e. Will the government require any company bidding this solicitation show proof that the company had proper legal DEA license when they are establishing past performance qualifications?

3. This Solicitation requests quotes on trained Explosive Detection Dogs. This task would require the bidding company to possess an ATF license allowing them to legally possess the explosives necessary to complete the task.

a. Question: Will the government require for companies bidding this solicitation show proof of proper State licensing and show proof of possessing an ATF license?

b. Will the government require any company bidding this solicitation show proof that the company had proper legal ATF permits when they are establishing past performance qualifications?

4. SOW page 50, 3.5.3.4 Transport from hotel and facilities to the airport for handlers with their canines and transportation kennels. 3.5.3.5 The selected vendor must be within 1 hour ground transportation to an international airport with direct flights to Mexico City.

a. Question: Will the booking of flights for handlers and dogs be arranged and paid for by the INL/Mexican Government?

Gov’t Response: The Gov’t will be responsible for booking of flights for handlers and canines to and from the designated international airport. Please refer to SOW, pg. 53, Section 003 Delivery for vendor’s responsibilities.

b. With potential heat restrictions during the summer months, denying live animals from flying on commercial airlines, is there a back-up plan to transport the dogs to Mexico City?

Gov’t Response: Mitigating this risk will be discussed with the awardee.

c. The solicitation does not request a quote for transportation kennels. Will each student be arriving from Mexico with an empty transportation kennel that require transportation to the student’s hotel?

Gov’t Response: Vendor is required to price in transportation kennel crates in CLINS 009, 1009, 2009 Transportation and importation services.

5. SOW page 51 3.5.5 The handler course must last a minimum of four weeks and no more than five weeks and must include the following concepts:

a. Question: There is a defined period of time and topics to be covered on the basic handler course. Is there a defined period of time or subject matter that is required to be taught in the “Instructor Course”?

Gov’t Response: Vendor should provide their training courses syllabus and course duration in their response.

6. SOW page 52 Specific Requirements for Instructor’s course 3.5.9 At the end of the course, a certificate from National Narcotics Detection Dog Association (NNDDA) or

North American Police Working Dog Association (NAPWDA) will be provided to each student along with two years membership to the organization providing the accreditation test.

a. Question: Neither NNDDA nor NAPWDA have an accredited “Instructor’s

Course” nor do these organization have an “accreditation test”. Can you be more specific on what is being asked for?

Gov’t Response: Accreditation is referring national certification.

7. Standard Form 1449 has a description of items to be priced. When adding the total number of students to be trained in Line Items 004, 005, 006 (240 handlers) plus instructor course students in Line item 007 (24 instructor students) the combined total is

264 students. Line Item 008 is described as NNDDA/NAPWDA Certification Fee. The total Quantity is 144 students.

a. Question: Line item 008 is off by 120 team certification fees per year. Do these teams not require a certification with NNDDA/NAPWDA?

Gov’t Response: Yes, all will require certification with NNDDA / NAPWDA is required to include a two-year membership.

b. Line Item 007 “Detection Canine Instructors course” doesn’t have a defined period of time or subject matter necessary to properly quote a competitive price.

Will there be more clarification on this service requested?

Gov’t Response: Vendor should provide their training course syllabus and

8. This solicitation is for 240 dog handler courses per year for 3 possibly 3 years. It does not address any equipment needed while conducting handler training.

a. Question: Will the students be arriving with all required equipment such as leashes, collars, choke chains, grooming brushes, reward toys, airline crate, water and food bowls for travel?

Gov’t Response: No. Equipment i.e. crate, collar, lead, muzzle, water bottle for crate and food/water bowls should be included in your Transportation and Importation fee.

9. REFERENCE: APPENDIX A TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS. 001 SPECIFIC

REQUIREMENTS 3.1.1. Deliverable 1.a. page47:

a. Please confirm that Cocaine and Crack are two different substances that can be procured.

Gov’t Response: Yes they are two different substances. Canines are to be trained on the substances listed in the SOW.

11. 001 SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS 3.1.1. Deliverable 1.b.c page 47:

a. The Standard in the canine working dog industry is that detection dogs are not trained to detect both explosives and narcotics, is it DoS INLs intent that all 90 dogs are trained to find explosives, narcotics and currency? If not, can DoS INL please provide the breakout of Narcotic Detection Dogs, Explosive Detection

Dogs and Currency Dogs?

Gov’t Response: SOW section 3.1, pg. 47, defines the number of canines and the substances they are required to be trained to detect.

12. 001 SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS 3.1.2. Deliverable 1 page 47:

a. Please confirm that DoS INL requires One-hundred and twenty (120) Narcotic

Detection Dog to search for and locate the listed narcotic substances and cell phones?

Gov’t Response: That is correct as part of Deliverable 1.

13. 3.1.4. Deliverable 4.b page 48:

a. Will the course certifications be acceptable “in accordance with” USPCA, NNDDA, NAPWDA, Aceptes or other canine accredited industry standards?

Gov’t Response: Deliverable 4 must include a NNDDA / NAPWDA

Certification as Instructor per the requirements.

14. 3.2 Specific Requirements for the Canines. 3.2.2 page 48:

a. Due to the volume of canines and potential 30% rejection rate listed in this RFQ, will DoS INL accept canines documented age between twelve and thirty-six months old by the time of selection?

Gov’t Response: Canines must have a documented age between twelve and twenty-four months old by the time of selection.

15. 3.3 Selection and selection criteria 3.3.1 page 49:

a. Will the canine selection and the training courses both take place at the Offeror’s facility?

Gov’t Response: Yes

b. If the Training courses will not take place at the Offereror’s facility, where will the training courses take place?

Gov’t Response: Training course is to be conducted at the Offereror’s training facility.

c. How much notification will the Offereror receive prior to the Canine selection process?

Gov’t Response: Canine selection coordination will be discussed with awardee and aligned to training schedule. This will be discussed at kick-off meeting.

d. When will the Offereror be notified of the Canines approved after the selection process?

Gov’t Response: Notification of selected canines will occur immediately after conduction of the selection process.

16. 3.4 Required documentation and deliveries 3.4.3 page 50:

a. Due to the volume of canines and the proposed procurement and imprint process, will DoS INL accept current X-rays (obtained less than one-hundred twenty days from the date of delivery) of the pelvis and hip area of each forequarter?

Gov’t Response: No, current X-rays (obtained less than sixty days from the date of delivery) shall be provided.

17. 3.4 Required documentation and deliveries 3.4.4 page 50:

a. Due to the volume of canines and the proposed procurement and imprint process, will DoS INL accept canines that are in the US for a minimum of one months prior to selection?

Gov’t Response: Offeror must provide required canine documentation to ship / import US or other country dogs into Mexico.

18. 3.5 Specific Requirements for Instructor’s Course 3.5.6 page 51:

a. Will separate Contract Line Item Number’s (CLIN’s) be issued for each training course to determine the amount of deliverables/ courses required within the

Option Year?

Gov’t Response: Schedule course planning will be conducted with the awardee.

19. Contract:

a. Is this a single or multi Offeror award?

Gov’t Response: Single award

20. If single offeror award, will the Basic Handler Training Courses, Prison Guards course and Instructor course run concurrent?

21. What is the DoS INL training class schedule for the duration of the period of performance?

22. 3.7 Specific Requirements for Instructor’s Course page 52. What are the Instructor

Course requirements/ concepts?

Gov’t Response: Vendor should provide their training course syllabus and

23. 002 WARRANTY – SPECS states (page 52):

a. One year guarantee in case one of the selected canines presents dysplasia (hip) or any condition. Would you please elaborate what “any condition” entails?

Gov’t Response: Any medical condition that affects the health and workability of the canine.

24. Reference Section 1, Notice of RFQ Closing Date and Time, Page 2:

a. Section states the Vendor shall limit the number the pages to no more than 15 pages. Do you want the bid submitted with two separate documents - Technical &

Pricing? If so, please provide clarification for page limits for each document along with required attachments (i.e. completed SF1449, Reps & Certs or statement that they are completed in SAM.gov, etc.)

Gov’t Response: Vendors shall limit the number of pages to no more than fifteen (15) combined.

25. Reference Section 2, Evaluation Factors, Page 4:

a. Section states offerors shall include specific details and delivery dates in their responses to this RFQ. Reference SF1449, CLINS, Page 3-5: Delivery Date and

FOB fields.

Gov’t Response: Schedule planning will be conducted with the awardee.

b. Can the government provide the required Delivery Dates and FOB for each

CLIN? In additional, please provide a Period of Performance for this program.

Gov’t Response: One year with option to renew up to two years. Technical proposal must reflect cost for each additional year.

26. Reference Appendix C, DBA Insurance, Page 55.

a. Please provide clarification regarding “DBA Insurance for work in Mexico”? Are there specific requirements for vendor personnel to perform in Mexico?

Gov’t Response: Please refer to Department of State Acquisition Regulation

(DOSAR) 652.228-71- Defense Base Act – Worker’s Compensation Insurance

(Defense Base Act) - Services. (Feb 2015) and 48 CFR 652.228-71 - Worker's

Compensation Insurance (Defense Base Act) – Services for DBA instructions.

27. Reference Appendix C, Export License, Page 57.

a. Please provide clarification to the statement: “Language description of technical specification and pictures are required with the submission of quote”?

Gov’t Response: Provide specs and images of all equipment required with response document.

28. Reference Appendix A, Sections 3.5, 3.6, and 003 Delivery, Pages 50-53; Reference

SF1449, Transportation and Importation Services CLINS, Page 3-5.

a. Is the Vendor responsible for transportation costs and booking flights for the handlers from Mexico to the training facility and returning to Mexico City along with transportation costs for the dogs to Mexico City or will the government handle this? Will the vendor be responsible for lodging costs near the training facility for the handlers during training? Please provide clarification for what costs should be priced into the “Transportation and Importation” CLINs?

Gov’t Response: The Gov’t will be responsible for booking of flights for handlers and canines to and from the designated international airport to include lodging during training. Please refer to SOW, pg. 53, Section 003

Delivery for vendor’s responsibilities.