19DR8618Q0009-Soliciation_Questions_and_Answers-FINAL.pdf

- 1 -

Questions and Answers

Related to U.S. Embassy Santo Domingo

RFQ 19DR86-18-Q-0009

Date: 26-Jul-2018

*Note: Solicitation Amendment 0002 has been released as a result of review of the

Questions and Answers below. Please review the changes to the solicitation contained in

Amendment 0002. All changes are in bold, red, underlined text in the modified solicitation.

1. Regarding contract line item (CLIN) 3, for the terms of this tender, what does

"Early Termination Fee" mean? Since the amount indicated is 10, we want to understand what it means.

If your offer will include an early termination fee for terminating service prior to the end of the contract year, please list it in this CLIN.

2. Regarding CLIN 5D, the "Monthly National Voice" indicates that there are

9,000 minutes, however, as it increases 50 lines per year, we note that the minutes do not vary. How can we interpret this part?

The Embassy issued solicitation Amendment 0002 to revise the estimated quantities and CLINs in Section I, “Pricing” (p 7) for all contract years. CLIN 5D has been eliminated. Each CLIN for voice or data service is for service per line (for example, in CLIN 5C for the base year, the total number of minutes is 10 lines * 2,000 minutes

= 20,000 minutes per month).

Not all lines will have data service. The U.S. Government commits only to the minimums and maximums listed in Section 1 (II), “Type of Contract” (p 3) and in

FAR clause 52.216-19, Order Limitations (p 26) and FAR clause 52.216-22, Indefinite Quantity (p 27).

3. Regarding CLINs 4, 5A, 5B, and 5C, we understand the distribution of 200 minutes for 300 lines, 500 minutes for 80 lines, but for the 20 lines that complete the 400 lines, they do not set the number of minutes as they are indicated as unlimited. Is this distribution correct?

- 2 of 7 -and CLINs in Section I, “Pricing” (p 7) for all contract years. CLIN 5C has been changed to be for 2,000 minutes per month.

4. The amount of 9,000 minutes will only be distributed amongst 200 lines. What will happen to the remaining 200 lines?

The Embassy has revised the estimated quantities and CLINs in Section I, “Pricing” (p

7) for all contract years. CLIN 5D has been eliminated. Each CLIN for voice or data service is for service per line (for example, in CLIN 5C for the base year, the total number of minutes is 10 lines * 2,000 minutes = 20,000 minutes per month).

5. We notice that the lines covered vary; however, the distribution of minutes remains the same. How do you want to consider this distribution for the 400 lines we will be working on?

and CLINs in Section I, “Pricing” (p 7) for all contract years. Each CLIN for voice or data service is for service per line (for example, in CLIN 5C for the base year, the total number of minutes is 10 lines * 2,000 minutes = 20,000 minutes per month).

Specific lines will be activated with minutes and/or data by activating specific CLINs for specific lines via a U.S. Government task order against this contract.

6. Is it required that each line communicate unlimited within all lines or the fleet?

Each line should have unlimited communication within the provider’s network, including to all lines on the account (in the flota).

7. Regarding CLINs 5A and 5B, are these lines with individual plans of 200 minutes?

These CLINs list the monthly minutes for lines that have these CLINs activated. The minutes should be pooled by account and shared across all lines in a particular account.

8. Regarding CLINs 5A and 5B, if users go over their allotted minutes, how will those minutes be accounted for in the pool of minutes on the plan?

Each account should be operated as a single pool of minutes.

- 3 of 7 -

9. Regarding CLIN 5D, Is the 9,000-minute package to use between 200 lines or is

9,000 minutes per line?

CLIN 5D has been eliminated.

10. Regarding CLIN 6, are these 400 lines with SMS additional lines?

CLIN 6 is for 100 SMS messages on any one line. The Embassy anticipates activating SMS service on existing lines.

11. Regarding CLINs 8A and 8B, is this package of minutes exclusively for international calls? Will it be assigned to one line or to many lines?

These CLINs list the maximum international calling minutes per line for lines that have these CLINs activated.

12. Regarding CLINs 9A and 9B, is this package of minutes exclusive for roaming?

Will it be assigned to a line or to 400 lines? If multiple lines, how many minutes per line?

These CLINs list the maximum international roaming minutes per line for lines that have these CLINs activated. This is the U.S. Government requirement for a roaming package.

13. Regarding CLINs 10A and 10B, are they 400 minutes or 400 lines? How many

GB per line?

Amendment 0002 updates CLINs 10A and 10B to reflect the correct units and estimated quantities.

14. Regarding Schedule of Services section 1.5, is it a group configuration of the voice mail or each individual line?

Section 1.5 requires a “Voice Mail Box... for each number separately as per standard practice.”

15. Regarding Schedule of Services section 13, does this clause not apply since the contract does not include equipment?

- 4 of 7 -

This clause would apply if the U.S. Government at any time procured equipment under this contract. It is listed in Section I (13) on page 17.

16. Regarding FAR 52.216-18, will the contract format to be signed between the parties be the U.S. Government contract or the contract of the selected operator, including all the requirements and clauses provided in full text in the document?

The contract document will be the U.S. Government’s Standard Form 1449. Task orders – requests for service – under the contract will be issued via separate OF 347s, generated by the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo.

17. Is this tender only for the GSO fleet or includes all the fleets of the Embassy at a general level?

This Request for Quotation is for mobile phone/data service for the U.S. Embassy.

The Embassy will determine as the contract period continues how many lines will be under this contract, subject to the minimums and maximums listed in Section 1 (II), “Type of Contract” (p 3) and in FAR clause 52.216-19, Order Limitations (p 26) and

FAR clause 52.216-22, Indefinite Quantity (p 27).

18. Will the plan increase by 9,700 minutes each year? What will happen to the current plans after the current contract is awarded?

Minutes will be purchased with a task order against this IDIQ contract. The quantities in Section I, Pricing (p 7) are the expected need for the Embassy for each year of the contract.

19. Does this Tender include a request for new equipment?

Schedule of Services Sections 1.6 (p 13) 6 (p 15), and 9 (p 15-16) list the equipment required from the Contractor under this contract.

20. Will new lines be requested? How many?

The estimated quantities in Section I, “Pricing” (p 7), are only estimates of potential use. Actual usage may vary. The U.S. Government commits only to the minimums and maximums listed in Section 1 (II), “Type of Contract” (p 3) and in FAR clause

52.216-19, Order Limitations (p 26) and FAR clause 52.216-22, Indefinite Quantity

(p 27).

- 5 of 7 -

21. Will more units be added with data?

The estimated quantities in Section I, “Pricing” (p 7), are only estimates of potential use. Actual usage may vary. The U.S. Government commits only to the minimums and maximums listed in Section 1 (II), “Type of Contract” (p 3) and in FAR clause

52.216-19, Order Limitations (p 26) and FAR clause 52.216-22, Indefinite Quantity

(p 27).

22. Our company handles all its contracts, services and information in the Spanish language. Can we present this tender in our native language?

Offerors must be submit Standard Form 1449 quotations and information required in

Section 3 in English.

23. What do you mean by the availability of funds until September 30? Must we close the contract before that date?

No, as the U.S. Government fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30, current fiscal year funding can only be obligated this fiscal year but may cover performance periods beyond September 30, if funding is available. However, please note that all funding will be obligated under monthly task orders issued under this indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contract.

24. At a previous appointment we were informed that the proposal will be filled out in the same RFP document. Will you provide an editable document?

The Embassy has developed an editable PDF of the Standard Form 1449 for this solicitation; it is available on FedBizOpps.

25. To whom do we send the completed quote?

Completed quotes should be emailed to SantoDomingoContracts@state.gov.

26. When talking about the insurance certificate of the bidder (type of insurance, policy), to what insurance do you refer?

If the Offeror carries insurance, proof of coverage should be provided as part of the quote package.

mailto:SantoDomingoContracts@state.gov

- 6 of 7 -

27. Are the services detailed on the optional 4 years of the solicitation additional services or services that will be required each year?

Option years are exercised at the sole discretion of the Embassy’s contracting officer per FAR clause 52.217-9.

28. Is this solicitation for a single account or all segments/agencies of the Embassy?

This solicitation is for between 200 and 1,000 lines of service as they are needed by the U.S. Government. The Government provides estimates of needed quantities in

Section I, “Pricing” (p 7).

29. In case of making a proposal, should we consider all the agencies?

This solicitation is for between 200 and 1,000 lines of service as they are needed by the U.S. Government.

30. Can the proposal be for 200 lines and as for 1,000?

Offerors must proposing pricing for each year (base year plus four option years) under the contract based on the estimated quantities for each line item. .

31. Is the Embassy interested in receiving an invoice by agency and within each agency a detailed list of telephone numbers and names, as well as a main invoice that summarizes all service contracted by the Embassy?

Schedule of Services Sections 1.8, “Detailed Billing,” and 2, “Invoicing,” lay out the

Government’s billing and invoicing requirements. Offerors are welcome to include additional options or information about their billing systems in their offers as they see fit.

32. Does the Embassy need equipment from the service provider?

Schedule of Services Sections 1.6 (p 13) 6 (p 15), and 9 (p 15-16) list the equipment required from the Contractor under this contract.

33. In the SF1449 form, in the section where the services are displayed; should each year be detailed or only the base year?

- 7 of 7 -

Offerors must provide pricing information for all five years listed in Section I, “Pricing” (p 7). The pricing should be filled in using Section I, not on the SF-1449 itself.

34. What number of experiences and/or commercial references should be detailed in the proposal?

Section 3, A.2 (p 32) provides information about the type of reference information that vendors should supply. There is no specific number.

35. How can we verify SAM registration status?

Please go to the SAM registration page and search for Entity Registration status.

There you can see your company’s SAM status.

36. Should the proposal be made in digital format?

All offers must be submitted electronically to SantoDomingoContracts@state.gov.

All offers must include a completed Standard Form 1449.

37. In what format should the proposal be delivered? PDF, Excel, Word, Power

Point?

All offers must include a completed SF-1449 in PDF. Supporting documents may be submitted in any format. The U.S. Embassy has the capacity to open and access PDF documents and documents compatible with Microsoft Office 2016.

(End of Questions and Answers) mailto:SantoDomingoContracts@state.gov