QuestionsAnswers.doc

Pre-Proposal Conference Questions & Answers Question #1: Per solicitation, bidders are allowed to demonstrate their subcontractor's experience in all three locations (Rome, Milan, and Florence). Therefore, bidders do not need to have their own cleaning employees in every single location. Is this assumption correct?

Answer #1: Each offeror is responsible to ensure that the contract requirements are met and that all required staff are present to perform as per the contract requirements. Since there is no privity of contract between the government and any subcontractor, the prime contractor is held responsible for performance.

Question #2: The workload quantities cited in the solicitation demonstrate that the majority of work will be in Rome. It seems that approx. 90% of the works on this contract will be performed in Rome. It is therefore of little benefit for the Government to ensure that bidders have their own, direct employees in Milan and Florence, where a very small percentage of the work will be performed. Especially with the present impacts of COVID-19, maintaining own personnel in Milan and Florence where some 5-10% of the work will be, is more expensive and more risky for the Government than hiring a subcontractor in Milan and/or Florence. Will the Government consider for eligible bids in which the "own employees" requirement for Milan and Florence is covered by means of a committed and qualified subcontractor?

Answer #2: All timely offers will be considered; however, each offeror is responsible to ensure that the contract requirements are met and that all required staff are present to perform as per the contract requirements. Since there is no privity of contract between the government and any subcontractor, the prime contractor is held responsible for performance.

Question #3: This is a LPTA procurement, so it should be up to the bidder to organize for the requested level of quality per solicitation documentation at the lowest price. By requiring that bidders must demonstrate their own employees in each of the three locations, the Government is limiting competition for no good reasons. Please revise the requirement so that bidders who do not have their own employees in all three locations, or who have employees in only one of the three locations (but have committed and qualified subcontractors), are still able to qualify for this contact.

Answer #3: In addition to what has been stated in Answer #1 and #2 above, see also solicitation information provided below. Any request to amend these requirements will have to be sent in writing after the pre-proposal conferences – A.1. A completed solicitation, in which the SF-1449 cover page (Blocks 12, 17, 19-24, and 30 as appropriate), Section 1, and the Price Attachments 1a: Rome, 1b: Florence, and 1c: Milan

A.2. Information demonstrating the offeror’s/quoter’s ability to perform, including:

1) Name of a Project Manager (or other liaison to the Embassy/Consulate) who understands written and spoken English;

2) Evidence that the offeror/quoter operates an established business with a permanent address and telephone listing in all three locations: Rome, Florence, and Milan;

3) Provide evidence that the offeror/quoter is able to perform services for all three locations: Rome, Milan, and Florence. Offers that do not demonstrate the ability to provide services in all locations and that do not provide pricing to all three locations shall not be accepted.

4) List of at list five clients over the past ten years for Rome and Milano location, and two clients for Florence location, demonstrating prior experience with relevant past performance information and references (provide dates of contracts, places of performance, value of contracts, contact names, telephone and fax numbers and email addresses). If the offeror has not performed comparable services in Italy, then the offeror shall provide its international experience. Offerors are advised that the past performance information requested above may be discussed with the client’s contact person. In addition, the client’s contact person may be asked to comment on the offeror’s:

· Quality of services provided under the contract;

· Compliance with contract terms and conditions;

· Effectiveness of management;

· Willingness to cooperate with and assist the customer in routine matters, and when confronted by unexpected difficulties; and

· Business integrity / business conduct.

The Government will use past performance information primarily to assess an offeror’s capability to meet the solicitation performance requirements, including the relevance and successful performance of the offeror’s work experience. The Government may also use this data to evaluate the credibility of the offeror’s proposal. In addition, the Contracting Officer may use past performance information in making a determination of responsibility.

5) Evidence that the offeror/quoter can provide the necessary personnel, equipment, and financial resources needed to perform the work:

a. Abstract of the most recent offeror L.U.L. (Libretto Unico del Lavoro) of any potential worker that will be employed to the project (a copy – or equivalent documentation - shall be provided;

b. Brief Curriculum Vitae of the main Contractor’s personnel who will be involved/execute the work, including the Project Manager and the Supervisor on site, with proof of experience in the field/type of work as described in this solicitation;

c. Report from the Bank of Italy Central Credit Register stating all credit lines and loan facilities, of any nature, granted by Banks to the Company and presently in force. The Government will use this information to determine the offeror’s financial responsibility and ability to perform under the contract. Failure of an offeror to comply with a request for this information may cause the Government to determine the offeror to be non-responsible;

6) The offeror shall address its plan to obtain all licenses and permits required by local law (see DOSAR 652.242-73 in Section 2). If offeror already possesses the locally required licenses and permits, a copy shall be provided;

7) A detailed offeror’s strategic plan for each location, Rome, Milan, and Florence, for janitorial services to include but not limited to:

a. A work plan covering all work elements in Section 1, Performance Work Statement, and the attachments to this contract

b. Identify types and quantities of equipment, supplies and materials required for performance of services under this contract. Identify if the offeror already possesses the listed items and their condition for suitability and if not already possessed or inadequate for use how and when the items will be obtained;

c. Plan of ensuring quality of services including but not limited to contract administration and oversight;

8) Historic Italian Chamber of Commerce certificate showing that there are established offices with employees in all three locations: Rome, Milan and Florence;

9) DURC – Document Unico Regolarita’ Contributiva (Unique Document of Regular Contributions);

10) Copy of LAST payment of Italian Accident Insurance INAIL and of Italian Social Security INPS;

11) Antimafia self-declaration as per Italian Law D.Lgs n. 159/2011 art. 88, 4 bis and art. 89; and

12) Copy of a valid Certificate of Insurance(s) for civil liability

A.2.1 Pool of Firms

If the offeror is participating as Pool of Firms (Consorzio Stabile), the offeror must include all the information from A.2 -1 to A.2 -11, and in addition the following items:

a. certified copy of the notarized legal document that established the permanent pool of firms;

b. the name and addresses of all associated firms;

c. the names and the addresses of the associated firms proposed to perform the work;

A.2.2. Subcontract

If subcontracting applies, the Offeror shall include in the offer package for any proposed Subcontractor:

1) Information demonstrating the subcontractor’s ability to perform, including all the documentation as required and listed above for the main offeror (from A.2 -1) to A.2 -11))

2) Identify the percentage of work assigned to each Subcontractor;

3) Identify the field/type/location of work assigned to each Subcontractor.

Designated subcontractors shall be approved by the Contracting Officer and COR with the offer submission, and they are not to be changed at the time of the award.

The Government reserves itself the right to request additional information/documentation

Question #4: In order to satisfy the requirement for local Italian support on PPE and certification (Solicitation Pages 38 to 40), could you please confirm that it will be acceptable to submit our offer under Teaming Agreement (TA) with an Italian janitorial company and submit their certification and local presence and past performance (Rome-Milan-Florence) allowing for acceptable evidence of Past Performance. This way we will supplement our European and worldwide experiences with local requirements spelled out in the solicitation Answer #4: See answers # 1 #2 #3 above.

Conference Questions & Answers Question #5: Shall the block 26 of the SF-1449 form be filled in with the annual price or the total price for 5 years Answer #5: Block 26 of the SF-1449 will be filled in by the Contracting Officer at the time of award.

Question #6: In accordance with the Italian Law (Contratto Collettivo Nazionale del Lavoro), we would need to know how many workers are employed under the current contract in order to understand and plan accordingly how many workers we would need to absorb/ hire.

Answer #6: The current contractor has approximately 42 employees. This is an unverified estimate and we recommend contractors refer to the Italian government labor laws for information on actual worker retention requirements.

Question #7: Shall the Contractor have an office in all three cities (Rome, Milan, Florence)?

Answer #7: See solicitation provisions Section 3, paragraph A.2.2: Evidence that the offeror/quoter operates an established business with a permanent address and telephone listing in all three locations: Rome, Florence, and Milan.

Question #8: Shall the Historic Italian Chamber of Commerce certificate show that three different office address locations?

Answer #8 See solicitation provisions Section 3, paragraph A.2.:8 Historic Italian Chamber of Commerce certificate showing that there are established offices with employees in all three locations: Rome, Milan and Florence; unless the subcontract or Pool of Firms applies.

Question #9: How long does it take usually it take the Murano chandeliers?

Answer #9: Based on the experience, we estimate it may take about 5 days.

Question #10: In which area of the three cities are the apartments located?

Answer #10: Apartments are located in the following city areas:

· Rome: Parioli, City center, Cassia, and Aventino

· Milan: Milan city, Novara city and its suborns

· Florence: Consulate compound only Question #11: What shall be include in the equipment list proposal?

Answer #11: See solicitation provisions Section 3, paragraph A.2.7, offeror’s strategic plan:

Identify types and quantities of equipment, supplies and materials required for performance of services under this contract. Identify if the offeror already possesses the listed items and their condition for suitability and if not already possessed or inadequate for use how and when the items will be obtained.

Question #12: Shall the offer be presented in English?

Answer #12: Yes offers shall be presented in English per FAR Clauses 52.214-34 Submission of Offers in the English Language. Official Italian Government Certificates, like the Historical Chamber of Commerce, may be presented in the original language.

Question #13: Will a parking spot be at contractor’s disposal to park the service van at Milan Consulate?

Answer #13: Yes.

Question #14: Are the Contractor’s vehicles at Government’s disposal?

Answer #14: In Milan only, the contractor van must be available at the consulate between the hours of 8:00 to 17:00 to provide emergency cleaning services if needed.

Question #15: Which is the average size of Milan and Novara apartments Answer #15: The average size is about 180-200 sqm each, except for the CG apartment, which is about 500 sqm After Conference Questions & Answers Question #16: Would it be possible to have the list of attendees to evaluate potential partnership?

Answer #16: The minutes contain a list of conference attendees.

Question #17: Which is the deadline for submitting questions?

Answer #17: No later than 23 November.