Questions__Answers_sheet_for_Solicitation___191Z1118Q0005.pdf

Questions & Answers sheet for Solicitation #

191Z1118Q0005

Q 1 – We just wanted to know whether it is possible to submit a proposal via e-mail or strictly just by hard copy?

Answer: Proposal can be sent to DANZOTM@state.gov , it can also be delivered by mail to the mentioned address at point # 15 of SF 1449.

Q 2 – Where is the listing of DBA insurance companies? Will these companies work with

Iraqi vendors?

Answer: There is a WEB LINK for approved DBA providers by Department of Labor Under section 3, please check there. Post cannot answer if they can work with Iraq vendors, you will need to check with them.

Q 3 – Can the proposal be submitted in soft copy and where should it be sent? Where should hard copies be sent?

Answer: Please see answer to question 1.

Q 4 – How can you search in FedBizOps to find the answers to these questions?

Answer: Questions & Answers sheet will be posted under the solicitation at FedBizOps.

Q 5 – Are the FAR and DOSAR online on the Internet? If so, what is the web site?

Answer: Yes they are, please check below links:

http://www.acquisition.gov/far/ OR https://acquisition.gov/browsefar http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vmdosara.htm

Q 6 – Holidays are announced annually, but sometimes there are special extra holidays/consulate closures. How will the contractor be notified of these extra holidays?

Answer: Announcement of any additional or special holidays will be conveyed to the contractor by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) in advance.

Q 7 – One of our office buildings, where the SOC/TOC is to be located, will require escorts for the cleaning crew. There is no mention of the escort requirement in the solicitation.

How will this be handled?

Answer: The Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) will establish a cleaning schedule

(days and time each day) for the restricted access areas and escorts will be provided mailto:DANZOTM@state.gov http://www.acquisition.gov/far/ https://acquisition.gov/browsefar http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vmdosara.htm

Q 8 – There seems to be unclear or conflicting information in the solicitation regarding pricing. In the Prices and Period of Performance section, the first paragraph states that the “Government will pay the Contractor the fixed price per month for standard services”.

Does this mean that if the number of square meters cleaned as part of standard services falls below the 4,960 square meters, the contractor will still be paid the same amount for that month? The solicitation goes on to talk about a guaranteed minimum of 500 hours.

How does that work?

Answer: The government will pay the contractor for the standard services they worked on that month, based on the square meters they cleaned, within the established fixed rate in the contract and agreed.

Q 9 – Is there a restriction regarding the sex of the cleaners? Can they be both male and female?

Answer: There is no restriction regarding the sex of the contractor’s workers.

Q 10 – The workday is listed as 08:00 to 16:00. Does that include a lunch break?

Answer: The contract is for an 8-hour work day. If prevailing labor practices include a one-hour lunch break, then the work day is extended by that amount of time, making the work day

08:00 to 17:00. Contractor employees should take their break in the contractor assigned office space. There are limited options on compound for purchasing food or meals.

Q 11 – Section 1.3.2.9 of the solicitation discusses street cleaning. That requirement is not needed, as the service is furnished by the landlord’s maintenance and operations service provider.

Answer: This requirement has been omitted from the solicitation itself. Please check the amendment posted at FedBizOpps.

Q 12 - Are companies who did not attend the site visit eligible to bid on this solicitation?

Answer: There was no requirement to attend the site visit in order to bid on the contract.

Companies can still submit their proposal.

Q 13 – Can we submit a bid using our local joint venture company’s license, DUNS number, SAM registration?

Answer: Yes, you can. The bid should be submitted in US Dollars; however, most contracts with local firms should be issued in local currency and paid at the exchange rate in effect the day an invoice is processed for payment by post Financial Management Officer. Please refer to section 2-contract clauses, under DOSAR clause Authorization and performance (AUG 1999) –

(b) if the party actually performing the work will be a subcontractor or joint venture partner, then such subcontractor or joint venture partner agrees to the requirements of paragraph (a) of this clause.

Q 14 - Can we claim mobilization and demobilization costs?

Answer: No, the government is not responsible for the mobilization and demobilization of the contractor’s work force. Please refer to section 1 for what is covered under prices.

Q 15 - Do we have to have a US Project Manager?

Answer: No, it is not a requirement. However, the Project Manager must be able to understand written and spoken English instructions provided by the COR.

Q 16 - Is our proposal limited to a set number of pages? If so does this include any

Appendices.

Answer: While there are no limitation in the number of pages submitted, we ask that proposals should be as concise as possible. There is no need to include the cover letter or solicitation document in your offer. Please refer to Section 3 - Solicitation Provisions on what should be submitted.

Q 17 - Is this a new solicitation or on going contract?

Answer: This is a new solicitation.

Q 18 - If this an ongoing contract please provide the current contract dollar amount?

Answer: This is not a current contract.

Q 19 - Reference to type of services paragraph 1.3.2 periodic cleaning requirements, would you please clarify what is periodic time frame?

Answer: Periodic, in this content, means regularly. The COR will set the time frame for the regular cleaning of the requirement in 1.3.2. This may be weekly, daily, or intermittently.

Q 20 - Is there any laundry plant in compound or every apartments have their own washing machine?

Answer: There are three community laundry rooms spread around the compound. Each laundry room has four washing machines and four dryers. Individual townhouses do not have laundry facilities.

Q 21 - Reference to type of services paragraph 1.3.1.10 bedroom will be cleaned and all sheets and towels washed upon notification from COR. Is contractor responsible to iron those sheets?

Answer: According to subpart 1.3.1.10, Sheets are not required to be ironed, but they should be neatly folded after washing and drying to avoid excessive wrinkling.

Q 22 - Is there any breakroom for Janitors? Where do they have their lunch?

Answer: Per Exhibit C, in Attachment 1, the Government will provide one unfurnished office space for the contractor. This may be used as the janitor’s lunchroom.

Q 23 - Reference to scope of work para 1, Contractor shall perform janitorial services in all designated area including, but not limited to halls, offices, restrooms, work areas, lobbies elevators etc. We would like to know the quantity of the offices in compound and square meters of the offices which will be cleaned by the janitors.

Answer: Please refer to Exhibit A, in Attachment 1 for all locations to be serviced, with its square meters.

Q 24 - Reference to para.1.3.1.6 it seems there is conference facilities and Ambassador’s

Office. Are these areas included to total 4960 SQM which given in the scope of work? If not ,what is the total sqm of these areas?

Answer: This requirement has been omitted from the solicitation itself. Please check the amendment posted at FedBizOpps

Q 25 -What evidence would you like us to present to prove our financial capability? Bank statement? If it is, how much is the minimum you accept to be shown in our bank.

Answer: Any financial documentation that provides evidence of financial capability/resources for successfully perform the required work. In assessing this criterion, we consider the factors generally used to assess businesses’ financial health: ratio of assets to liabilities, working capital, cash flow projections, credit ratings, profitability, and liquidity of assets. There is no minimum amount that must be demonstrated.

Q 26 - When you say provide necessary personnel. Do you mean name of all the personnel?

Or number of personnel? Or I can provide just number of personnel that I would prepare to put on this project? Because currently I have not hired all the people that I want them to work on this project.

Answer: No, it means you must have sufficient staff on hand to be able, efficiently, to provide the janitorial requirements of the contract. The minimum number of staff needed to provide the services will be set by the COR.

Q 27 - On page 48 in the solicitation document written “(5) 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.” When you say we must address our plan to obtain license. Do you mean license for janitorial service? Or license for our business in general?

Answer: It means your company is registered and has the required licenses and permits to perform work in Erbil, where the job will be performed. If your company already has all the permits and licenses to legally operate in Erbil, then we will need a copy of them.

Q 29 - Regarding the high of the building, to be able to estimate the scaffolding high.

Answer: If the work requires the performance of high-risk activities, advance notice will be given and coordinated with the COR.

Q 30 - If we can get photos for the places to have clear ideas about the place.

Answer: U. S. Embassy cannot release photos of the Location.

Q 31 - Does the contractor have to supply all the cleaning materials required for to achieve the scope, if yes we should know the daily consumption of this materials.

Answer: In accordance with Attachment 1, Exhibit B, “The Contractor shall provide all equipment, materials, supplies, and clothing required to perform the standard and temporary additional services as specified in this contract.”

Q 32 - Its mentioned on the table 1.2 Base year scope, a B. Temporary Additional Services.

The unit price (firm-fixed-price) with Estimated Quantity of Square Meters 2000 SQM, does the location of this temporary is nearby the 4960 SQM; and did you have the distribution of the location for janitorial services.

Answer: The location for the temporary services is the same locations of the Town houses. In this reference, “Temporary Additional Services”, refers to additional janitorial services that are not part of Standard Services identified in this contract. The COR will inform and coordinate when this services are required. Please refer to Attachment 1, Exhibit A for locations where the services will be required.