QUESTIONS and ANSWERS Worldwide Water and Wastewater Management Support Services.pdf

Worldwide Water and Wastewater Management Support Services

DATE: June 27, 2023

SOLICITATION QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Question 1

What types of construction tasks are anticipated for this contract that would require bonding, if any? Please provide an example.

Answer 1

The majority of task orders to be awarded under this contract shall be Facilities Management and services related. When the logical follow-on to these task orders involves the provision and installation of water treatment equipment or similar types of construction, bonds may be required.

Question 2 If the contractor provides field repair assistance while on site, will those repairs need to have a warranty issued by the contractor? If so, please specify the warranty time required and whether it only included parts and materials.

Answer 2

Task orders requiring repair replacement and servicing of water treatment equipment shall be warranted by the contractor. The duration of warranties required will depend on the work performed and will be stipulated with each task order.

Question 3

Pages 2-3, RFP Section 1.2. The CLIN table does not include headers for 3rd – 6th columns. Please clarify.

Answer 3

More header descriptions are not needed. The IDIQ CLINs will have no hours or funding in them.

Question 4

Page 10. States “Maximum order . . . Any order for a combination of items in excess of $4,000,000.” Does this indicate that the total value of the one-year with one 1-year option will not exceed $4,000,000. Page 36, para 11.5, shows maximum IDIQ value of $3,500,000.00.

Please clarify which statement is correct.

Answer 4

The intended contract maximum value for the base plus option year is $6.0M. The clauses have been edited for consistency.

Question 5

Page 11. FAR 52.216-22, last para states “Contractor shall not be required to make deliveries under this contract after September 30, 2027.” Does this imply that the contract may extend beyond the one -year base plus one 1-year option?

Answer 5

No. The contractor should interpret that it is the government’s intent to have all activities under this contract conclude no later than 30 September 2027. No new task orders shall be issued after the contract stipulated performance period.

Question 6 Page 17, Para DOSAR 652.232-70, Payment Schedule and Invoice Submission. Para (a) reads that “. . . Contractor will be paid in full amount upon completion of all contractual requirements,

(b) no progress or partial payments will be made.” Given that the opportunity is a small business set-aside and given the fact that many water/waste tasks can extend over a period of many months, would the Government consider relaxing this requirement and allowing for milestone based payments pre-determined and agreed upon during the task order proposal?

Answer 6

Where certain task orders may involve the purchase and shipping of long lead items, or the period of performance is of an extended duration, partial payment may be allowed. Such determinations, if the government deems necessary will be made at the task order level.

Question 7

Page 119, Para 1.7, Factor 1, Enterprise Scale Water Treatment Contractor Technical OCONUS Experience. Would the Government consider allowing teaming partner (non-JV) experience to be evaluated with the full force and effects as prime contract offerors? Prime contractor can submit teaming agreements as a part of Subfactor 3.

Answer 7

Single business entities (e.g. Joint Ventures, or prime contractors) shall receive preference over other forms of corporate association.

Question 8

Page 34, Para 9.4 – 9.4.3, Excusable Delays. Given the potential presence of “Excusable Delays,” it would appear that contractors will need to allocate funds by task order to cover delays associated with “acts of God or the public enemy,” etc. Please clarify if this is the Government’s intent.

Answer 8

The language as stated in sections 9.4 to 9.4.3 is clear and unambiguous. Should an event occur from which an excusable delay arises, the contract requires that the contractor continue on in the work.

Question 9

Various locations in solicitation emphasize that “The price set for each Task Order will be on a firm fixed-price basis.” Would the Government consider relaxing this requirement and shift task orders to time and material (T&M) or cost reimbursable (CR)? This request is made especially given: (1) the often unforeseen nature of work requirements, (2) unknown conditions often encountered upon assessing specific water and waste systems, and (3) likelihood that various tasks will involve on site construction?

Answer 9

Task orders shall be awarded on a firm fixed price basis. The scope of work shall be the basis for pricing.

Deviations from the scope due to unforeseen conditions shall be addressed via the change order process.

The majority of task orders to be awarded under this contract shall be Facilities Management and services related. On site construction shall be required when the logical follow-on to these task orders involves minor construction.

Question 10

Page 3, Section 1.2 CLIN Descriptions: Should the description for CLIN 1001 be “1 Year Option Period - Worldwide Water and Wastewater Management Support Services” (or similar) instead of “1 Year Private Equity & Venture Capital Subscription (per license)”?

Answer 10

That is an error. CLIN 1001 Should read “ OPTION YEAR 1 -Worldwide Water and Wastewater Management Support Services”.

Question 11

Page 39, Section 11.10 Other Direct Costs states: “The Government anticipates other direct expenses such as travel, passports, visas, immunizations, per diem, rental vehicles (when authorized in advance by the CO), excess baggage fees, and taxi (to and from airport).”

Recommend deleting “(to and from airport)” or adding other allowable taxi expenses like to and from hotel from Government site. Also are other ODCs such as parking at the airport mileage for POV allowable as well? We would expect it to be given the RFQ references the FTR.

Answer 11

The language has been reviewed and found to be clear and unambiguous. Section 11.10 shall remain unaltered.

Question 12

Page 41, 11.14.1 states, “Other direct charges to be billed at actual expense plus general / admin mark-up only” under both tables. Based on section previous sections such as page 37, states, “management and administrative costs of the contractor are considered to be included in G&A which is included in the fully burdened rates in section Part I.” Please clarify which is accurate.

Answer 12

Both statements are accurate. Management and general and administrative expenses shall be included the fully burdened rates. Other direct charges (not including management and general expenses) where expressly allowed at the task order level, shall be billed at actual cost plus general and administrative markup only.

Question 13

Page 42, 11.6 Evaluation of Task Order Proposals states “The Government will evaluate all proposals received to identify the apparent lowest cost proposal. The Government will then evaluate the apparent low bidder to determine if their technical proposal is acceptable.” Will the Government consider utilizing a Best Value evaluation approach that would include critical performance factors such as controlling risk for DoS and ability to perform OCONUS work?

Answer 13

No. The basis of award shall be lowest price, technically acceptable. Performance criteria for each task order shall be established and offerors shall be evaluated to determine acceptability.

Question 14

Page 37, 11.7.1.1 states, “The contractor shall not be reimbursed for any additional expenses such as rental cars, premium class accommodation, excess baggage, etc. unless these items have been authorized in advance by the Contracting Officer (CO).” Historically excess baggage has been necessary in support of these services. Is the Government willing to reconsider this restriction to avoid the additional administrative burden of seeking a request in advance?

Answer 14

No. The contract provision shall remain as stated. Task order requirements shall indicate the government’s requirement. Contractors should include all costs to the government to perform the work necessary to meet the requirement in their firm fixed price bid. Exceptions to this may be made where it is not possible at the time of bidding to determine the magnitude of these expenses.

Question 15 Level of Facility Security Clearance (FCL) required is Top Secret If the key personnel within a company hold Secret clearance while the company itself does not possess facility top secret clearance, does the company still meet the qualification requirements?

Answer 15

No.