A0002 RFI Responses.docx

RFI Responses for Worldwide Water Storage Tank Remediation IDIQ Solicitation

1. Question: A Standard Form 1442 seems to have been excluded from the RFP. Can you provide?

Answer: An SF 33 has been provided.

2. Question: B.9.3 Can you clarify the intended roles outlined in labor categories 0001, 0002, 0003, 0005 and 0014?

Answer: Guidelines are provided below, however each offeror should determine the most appropriate definition of these labor categories based on their management and staffing structure.

0001: Project Manager: The Project Manager provides planning and oversight for all technical and administrative project related activities. This individual will be responsible for identifying project resources and budgets, monitoring project progress and financial status, QA/QC of project deliverables, and contractual communications with the Government.

0002 Project Supervisor: The Project Supervisor is responsible for implementing all project related activities under direction from the Project Manager. This includes developing project schedules and deliverables, coordinating staffing, materials, and subcontractors needed to complete the project, ordering and shipping materials, and reporting project progress and financial status to the Project Manager.

0003 Project Foreman: The Project Foreman ensures completion of specific task order requirements of the project, under direction from the Project Supervisor. This includes ensuring that specific task order requirements and schedules are met, providing organization and management of on-site staff and subcontractors, and on-site communications, reporting, and coordination with the Government for specific task orders.

0005 Field Supervisor: The Field Supervisor provides oversight of the day-to-day, on-site activities associated with specific task order requirements, as directed by the Project Foreman. This includes direction, supervision, and records management of on-site staff and subcontractor work activities.

0014 Engineering Technician: The Engineering Technician could provide a variety of engineering related tasks required by the project, including inspections, testing, data collection, data evaluation, and reporting.

3. Question C.4.2.3 Indicates the tanks will be drained, cleaned and made ready for inspection prior to the Contractor’s arrival. Do you intend that cleaning will be handled by Post? Alternately, is tank cleanout a part of the scope of work? If so, offeror requests more time to submit a task order proposal from 7 days to 30 days due to logistics.

Answer : Draining and any cleaning/preparation of the tank prior to the Contractor’s inspection, will be handled by Post.

The Contractor will be required to clean and disinfect the tank per contract requirements, before returning the tank to service after both an assessment and a repair.

4. Question: C.4.2.5.2 It appears that the sequencing is reversed with a NTP issued then 15 days later a cost proposal is due. This is inconsistent with G.4.3 and C.8. Can this timeline be extended to 45 days for submission of proposals? If so, would you consider replacing the sentence in this section to the following? Unless otherwise stated in the Task Order, the Contractor shall submit a Cost Proposal to the COR, not later than 45 calendar days following the receipt of the Task Order Proposal Request.

The contract sections C.4.2.5.2, C.8, and G.4.3 have been revised for consistency Removed:

C.4.2.5.2 Cost Proposal for Execution of the Repair/Renovation. Unless otherwise stated in the Task Order, the Contractor shall submit a Cost Proposal for Execution to the COR not later than 15 calendar days following receipt of the Notice to Proceed.

Replaced with:

C.4.2.5.2: Cost Proposal for Execution of the Repair/Renovation. Unless otherwise stated in the Task Order, the Contractor shall submit a Cost Proposal for Execution to the COR not later than 15 calendar days following receipt of the task order request for proposal.

Removed

C.8 SCHEDULE

The Contractor shall commence work under this contract no later than 45 days after the issuance of a specific task order, execute the work in-accordance with manufacturer specifications/applications, and achieve final completion and acceptance including final cleanup of the premises and return of the water storage tanks to service within the period specified. Expected milestones for individual task orders are listed below:

Replaced with

C.8: SCHEDULE

The Contractor shall commence work under this contract no later than 45 days after the issuance of a specific task order, execute the work in-accordance with manufacturer specifications/applications, and achieve final completion and acceptance including final cleanup of the premises and return of the water storage tanks to service within the period specified. Expected milestones for individual task orders are listed below:

Remove G.4.3. The Contractor shall, within seven (7) calendar days of the receipt of a Task Order Proposal Request, submit to the Contracting Officer, the proposal in the manner and type requested. All proposals shall be submitted, summarized, and organized in the Construction Specification Institute (CSI) Division format. Site visit proposal submission time will be established in the letter request for the site visit. Cost proposal shall include the following, as applicable.

Replace with:

G.4.3. The Contractor shall, within fifteen (15) calendar days of the receipt of a Task Order Proposal Request, submit to the Contracting Officer, the proposal in the manner and type requested. All proposals shall be submitted, summarized, and organized in the Construction Specification Institute (CSI) Division format. Site visit proposal submission time will be established in the letter request for the site visit. Cost proposal shall include the following, as applicable.

5. Question: C.4.2.6.1.A and C.4.2.6.1.C indicate the requirement of a manufacturer’s representative being present at onsite repair/renovation conferences. The offeror is not in control of a third-party manufacturer’s representative. Can this requirement be eliminated?

Answer: No. the requirement remains in full effect.

6. Question: C.8 The contractor shall commence work 45 days after submittal approval. In some cases, this may not be enough time to procure and ship materials to the job site. The offeror requests addressing this timeframe on task order by task order basis.

Answer: The 45 days is when work should commence (start) after notice to proceed. The table in Section C.8 displays expected milestones for individual task orders, but each task order will specify the period of performance.

7. Question: F.8. Excusable delays – under what circumstances would the offeror be compensated for delays beyond our control? As examples:

Answer: Excusable delays will be handled in conformance with FAR Part 52.249-14

8. G.1 item b. States that no progress or partial payments will be made. Can this requirement be reconsidered? See F.10.1 reference to progress payments. Offeror requests progress payments for project that are 60 days or longer from NTP to project closeout.

Removed

G.1 652.232-70 PAYMENT SCHEDULE AND INVOICE SUBMISSION (FIXED-PRICE)(AUG 1999)

(a) General. The Government shall pay the Contractor as full compensation for all work required, performed and accepted under this contract, inclusive of all costs and expenses, the firm fixed-price stated in Section B of this contract.

(a) above assumes the Contractor will be paid in full amount upon completion of all contractual requirements.

(b) no progress or partial payments will be made

(c) Invoice Submission. Invoices shall be submitted in an original and 2 copies (See the SF 1442 Block 27) to the office identified in Block 10 of the SF-26, Block 23 of the SF-33, or Block 18b of the SF-1449. To constitute a proper invoice, the invoice must include all items per FAR 52.232-25, "Prompt Payment" (Feb 2002).

(d) Contractor Remittance Address. Payments shall be made to the Contractor's address as specified on the cover page of this contract, unless a separate remittance address is specified below: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Replaced with G.1- Rserved Following clause is incorporated by reference:

52.232-13 Notice of Progress Payments. (Apr 1984)

9. Question: G.4.3. The seven-calendar day turnaround for a proposal following receipt of a task order is a tight timeframe. The offeror requests 30 days for an assessment proposal and 45 days for a repair/renovation proposal.

Answer: See Question 4

10. Question: H.4.1. This contract includes the requirement of Top Secret facility clearance. Is this level of security clearance intended for this contract?

Answer: The work under this contract does NOT require a clearance

11. Question: K. Note:52.204-7 System for Award Management references NAICS Code 236220 for Commercial Building Construction with a small business size standard of $36.5 million. The SAM posting identifies NAICS Code 238320 Painting and Wall Covering Contractors. The scope of work seems more in alignment with 238320. Please confirm.

Answer: NAICS code to 238320.

12. Question: L.23.1.4.1 Offeror requests allowance for cover pages and cover letters for each volume. Please confirm.

Answer: Comply with the stipulated submission requirements

13. Question: L.23.1.4.1 Offeror requests allowance for a minimum font size of 11-12 Answer: Comply with the stipulated submission requirements

14. Question: L.23.1.4.3. One original and one copy in printed form is required in addition to two compact discs. Additionally, In L23.2 submissions are required by email. Please confirm offeror providing electronic versions via compact discs and email. Please provide the mailing / delivery address for print and compact disc versions.

Answer: Due to COVID restrictions, all proposals will be electronic and emailed to Joy Young at youngjd@state.gov

15. Question: L.23.2.2.1.5 Proposals are required in size 11-12 Garamond font. The offeror requests the use of Myriad font using minimum size requirements. Myriad is a san serif font and is easy to read.

Answer: Comply with all requested submission format requirements

16. Question: L.23.2.2.1.6 The offeror requests allowance to use background color in preparing the proposal. Please confirm.

Answer: Comply with all requested submission format requirements

17. Question: I am reaching out today with the project listed below for multiple states. (We are particularly interested in the states of AZ, NV, CA, UT, CO, NM, and TX however we do have nationwide coverage.

World-Wide Water Storage Tank Remediation - Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ): Concrete Water Storage Tank Remediation which consists of assessment, repair, and coating of the interior of concrete water storage tanks.

One of our company divisions specifically does water tank coatings and we would definitely be interested as well as capable.

How can we bid on these projects and are there scope documents available either via website link or via General Contractor?

Answer: This contract is for work overseas. At this time no domestic tank work is contemplated.

18. Question: Can you please confirm that submissions for the subject solicitation shall be made via email only?

Answer: Refer to question 14

19. Question: Is any possibility that a company not based in the United States may be considered suitable to participate in this solicitation?

Answer: No, this solicitation is for US based firms.

20. Question: I would like to confirm that the NAICS code for this particular solicitation is 238320 Painting and Wall Covering. I see 238320 on the Synopsis Page, but on page 71 of the Solicitation, I see 236220 Commercial & Institutional Building Construction.

Answer: Refer to question 11.

21. Question: Will the Level 3 Coating Inspector be required to be present and active on the project site at all times during storage tank assessment and subsequent repair, or is the Inspector's role on the Project Team for consulting and advising as to specific recommendations and verification of proper procedure and quality assurance?

Answer: The coating inspector is required onsite at all times during the performance of work unless expressly stated otherwise in the related task order.

22. Question: Will the Task Orders be assigned in groups based on geographical region or country so as to minimize international travel, or will the contractor complete one Task Order at a time per international trip?

Answer: Task orders will be issued one per location. Economies may possible when multiple task orders are issued at any given time.

23. Question: I am requesting you extend the period for questions one week.

Answer: Questions are due August 27, 2020 at 12:00 PM. Proposals are due September 15, 2020 at 12:00PM

24. Question: Paragraph L.23.2.2.3: Solicitation states, “this section is intended to evaluate the technical project experience of the Offeror and its JV partners, if applicable, and is not intended to evaluate subcontractor technical project experience. Do not submit technical project experience for any proposed subcontractors.

This paragraph limits the capabilities of the Design Build Prime Contractor in that our Design team will have the experience of Designing and inspecting. The Prime Contractor has been building the tanks and applying the thoroughseal or Xibus coatings. The solicitation requires in L.23.2.2.3.3 the repair of the interior of the concrete water storage tanks (on four projects) with a 2-part elastomeric polyurethane product.

Our opinion is that this will require a specialty contractor that the Prime will subcontract as part of the team but the solicitation specifically states to “not submit technical project experience for any proposed subcontractors”.

The Prime Contractor can easily get personnel factory trained on the 2-part elastomeric polyurethane coatings but then the personnel will not meet the requirement of 4 project with 3 years application experience.

We would ask that the paragraph be rephrased to allow a “team” to be assembled to meet the requirements. Example:

Prime Contractor Design Firm Concrete Coatings Subcontractor Water Works Subcontractor Answer: The solicitation is for a coatings contractor with experience assessing, specifying remedial work, repairing and recoating water tanks. Work beyond such a contractor’s capabilities such as structural repairs, modifications, etc. are not contemplated under this contract. The paragraph remains unchanged.

25. Question: In accordance with Section L.23.2.1.5 - See Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 19.704, Small Subcontracting Plan (SBS) Requirements. The format provided at J.1.14a shall be used for Firm Fixed-Price (FFP) contract submissions or use J.1.14b for Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract submissions.

Please provide the referenced J.1.14b document Answer: The following reference has been removes from section L.23.2.1.5:

The format provided at J.1.14a shall be used for Firm Fixed-Price (FFP) contract submissions or use J.1.14b for Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract submissions.

26. Question: I am requesting the DoS to extend both the question period and the due date for the RFQ.

Answer: Refer to question 23.

27. Question: In the Description section, third paragraph, last two sentences it states, “This award will be partially set-aside for small business, with one award to a woman owned business, one to a small business and one full and open is expected. The maximum dollar value over 5 years is $100 million”. If you then refer to the actual Water Tank Solicitation -FINAL.doc, Section B Pricing and read the below section you identify a dollar value that is one fifth of the dollar amount referenced in SAM.gov RFQ notice. It states:

B.3 MINIMUM/MAXIMUM CONTRACT QUANTITIES – INDEFINITE QUANTITY CONTRACT, b.) The maximum for this indefinite quantity-contract (including options) shall be any quantity or combination of supplies and services equal to $20,000,000.00

QUESTION:

Is the total dollar value for (5) years $20,000,000 or $100,000,000?

When I reached out to (2) potential teaming partners, both were large business with past performance working federal OCONUS, both were not interested in teaming on this RFQ because the SOW states the total dollar value for the RFQ’s listed minimum/maximum quantities over 5 years was $20,000,000. Each thought this contract value was too small for a team effort. I was planning on reaching out to two other companies today, one I currently work with as a high performance coating subcontractor on a federal IDIQ CONUS with USAF. This same company is the direct competitor of the one of the companies I spoke with who felt the dollar value was too small. I am concerned the (2) other large companies I plan on contacting will also feel the same unless the dollar threshold is 100 million, not 20 million.

Answer: The contract value should be max 5 years $20,000,000.

28. Question: B.9.1 The fully burdened hourly labor rates listed below have been established for this contract."

However, it appears that the actual labor rates are not included in the tables below ( B.9.1.3 through B.9.3.5.) It appears that the estimated required hours per position/task are listed, but not the fully burdened hourly rates. Request fully burdened hourly labor rates in support of this solicitation soonest. Please advise if I am reading this incorrectly or mistaken in any way.

Answer: The bidder shall complete the bid form with your company’s rates for the stipulated labor categories. These positions and rates will be used for billing and reimbursement during the performance of task orders under this contract.

29. Question : Would it be acceptable to have a DD-254 approval IN-PROCESS in lieu of already possessing an active DD-254 at time the of proposal submission? (REF H.4.1 – “Obtaining and Maintaining DSS Top Secret Facility Clearance/DD-254”) Is already having an approved DD-254 a go/no-go criteria for proposal submission?

Answer: This contract does not require security clearances.

30. Is the requirement printed copies plus electronic copies via 2 compact discs? We also see a provision for just electronic email submission? Request clarity on conflicting guidance found on pages 86 and 87. L.23.1.4.3 prescribes print plus 2 CDs while L.23.1.5 prescribes direct email submissions. Request clarification on proper submission protocol.

Answer: Refer to Question 14

31. Question: Is the Garamond font requirement only for the Business section (Section L.23.2.2.1.5)?

Answer: Yes, the submission format requirements apply for the entire submission.

32. Question: During Water Tank site surveys and pre-inspections will the contractor be required to provide the “disinfectant services” or will the Government be providing the disinfectant services at those times?

Answer: Requirements for disinfection will be stipulated on a task order basis.

33. Question: Would there be consideration of milestone payments within the task orders timelines for iterative completion of tasks?

Answer: Refer to question 8.

34. Question: L.23.2.2.6.2.3 References Division One Specifications Section 011005 – please provide this specification information.

Answer:

Removed L.23.2.2.6.2.3 Page limit: 4 per resume. Provide a resume for each Contractor key personnel position required in Division One Specifications Section 011005. Provide additional resumes for other management and staff positions deemed critical by the Offeror, in the Home (headquarters and support) and Field Offices. Resumes shall include name, educational background, present employer, present position or title, total years of experience and years of experience with the Offeror, training, types of experience by years, English language proficiency, and any additional pertinent information in sufficient detail to substantiate qualifications and facilitate evaluation of qualifications and technical competence. Experience shall be in similar roles for projects relevant to the Project. Resumes for each key personnel not currently employed by the Offeror must indicate that the proposed key personnel intends to accept the position if the Offeror is selected and shall conform that the parties have mutually agreed to a salary. All resumes shall be current within 90 days of proposal submission.

Replaced with:

L.23.2.2.6.2.3 Page limit: 4 per resume. Provide a resume for the following Contractor key personnel: Project Manager, Project Supervisor, and Project Foreman. Provide additional resumes for other management and staff positions deemed critical by the Offeror, in the Home (headquarters and support) and Field Offices. Resumes shall include name, educational background, present employer, present position or title, total years of experience and years of experience with the Offeror, training, types of experience by years, English language proficiency, and any additional pertinent information in sufficient detail to substantiate qualifications and facilitate evaluation of qualifications and technical competence. Experience shall be in similar roles for projects relevant to the Project. Resumes for each key personnel not currently employed by the Offeror must indicate that the proposed key personnel intends to accept the position if the Offeror is selected and shall conform that the parties have mutually agreed to a salary. All resumes shall be current within 90 days of proposal submission. Individual requirement are listed below:

Project Manager – The Project Manager shall have minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience managing water tank inspection, assessment, repair, and coating of potable water storage tanks. The project manager shall have appropriate professional certifications necessary to perform all required work under this contract.

Project Supervisor – The Project Supervisor shall have a minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience supervising water tank inspection, assessment, repair, and coating of potable water storage tanks. Relevant experience shall include at least one (1) year of experience supervising projects required under this contract at locations overseas with minimal local infrastructure support.

Project Foreman – The Project Foreman shall have a minimum of three (3) years progressively responsible experience managing onsite work activities on projects similar to those required under this contract. Relevant experience shall include 1 year of experience coordinating the work activities of a blended work force including foreign nationals.

35. Question: L.23.2.2.7.1 References Division One Specification Section 13525 – please provide this specification information.

Answer:

Removed L.23.2.2.7.1 Page limit: 2. Provide a statement of the Offeror’s policy on safety and health in the workplace. Address the requirements of regulations stated in Division One Specification Section 13525.

Replaced with:

L.23.2.2.7.1 Page limit: 2. Provide a statement of the Offeror’s policy on safety and health in the workplace.