QA Make Ready v2.pdf

NO QUESTION ANSWER REFERENCED SECTION IN

CONTRACT

1. After going through the document we are unable to locate Standard form 25 and Standard form 25A.

The attachment

Standard Form 25 is located in the same location as the solicitation document as a separate attachment.

Exhibit 8

2. Is the offeror correct in assuming that work as a prime contractor for the

Department of State in

Isiolo and Manda Bay, Kenya would satisfy this requirement, or must the work have been completed in

Nairobi?

Company must have had satisfactory work experience with U.S.

Government Agencies in Nairobi.

Per Section L. Summary of

Instructions L.4.3.3 (b) (5)

3. Do awardees need to have an office/physical presence in Nairobi to perform this contract?

Physical office presence in Nairobi is not necessary.

However prospective bidders must demonstrate ability to comply with all elements of Section

L.4.3.3

N/A

4. The NAICS codes for this IDIQ are 561720

Janitorial Services and

238990 All Other

Specialty Trade

Contractors, yet the

CLINS are for Painting and Carpentry. Would the government change the NAICS code to be

Construction- or

Renovation-focused to match the work that is needed (e.g., 236118

Residential

Remodelers, 238320

Painting and Wall

Covering Contractors, NAICS Code 236 prefix refers to

Construction of

Buildings. The IDIQ provides the closest

NAICS codes that apply

Per section K.4. 52.204-8 The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is_238990, 561720.

Classification codes 236118 and 238320 have been included or 561210 Facilities

Support Services)?

5. Would the government confirm whether this is a New Requirement? If there is an incumbent, would the government post the incumbent company name and contract number?

The solicitation as presented is a new requirement.

6. Pg 105 L.4.2. The volume titles given for volumes 1 and 2 are too long for naming our documents. Would the government consider changing the titles to something shorter, such as “Volume 1:

Administrative

Documents” and

“Volume 2: Price

Proposal” instead?

Pg. 105 describes the contents of the respective volumes.

You may have multiple sub files under the main file

Volume 1, 2 or 3

Section L.4.3

7. Pg. 105 L.4.3.3.a. The first requirement for

Volume III is called a

“Work Plan”, but a bar chart schedule is the only thing listed.

Would the government confirm that the “Work

Plan” is nothing more than a bar chart schedule?

The work plan is requested with presentation in the form of a type of bar chart with the details specified.

Section L.4.3.3 (a) describes a type of bar chart called a Gantt chart

8. Pg. 106 L.4.3.3.b. This section begins with the following statement:

“The Business

Management/Technical

Proposal shall be in two parts...” Would the government please confirm that these “two parts” are meant to be the “Work Plan”

At a minimum the Business Management / Technical Proposal shall include the information detailed from (b) (1-11)

L.4.3 (b) states, “The Business Management/Technical Proposal shall be in two parts, including the following information.”

schedule and the 11

“Proposed Work

Information” points following this statement?

9. Pg. 106 L.4.3.3.b.5.

This section states that

“Company must have had satisfactory and comparable work experience with U.S.

Government Agencies in Nairobi.” Is the offeror correct in assuming that work as a prime for the

Department of State

AFRICAP Program in

Isiolo and Manda Bay, Kenya would satisfy this requirement?

Company must have had satisfactory work experience with U.S.

Government Agencies in Nairobi.

Per Section L. Summary of

Instructions L.4.3.3 (b) (5)

10. Pg 110 M.1.2.b. Would the government give evaluation grading criteria for achieving technical acceptability?

No, the Government cannot give any evaluation grading.

The evaluation criteria is indicated under M.1.2 (b)

11. Wage assignment. Is there any comparable document that is used in the local market that applies to this procurement?

Respective wage rates and notices for various wage categories are available online.

Kindly refer to Kenya

Gazette publications.

12. CLIN 001 sanding all paint. Kindly clarify this

No need to sand all paint just the standard practice of removing loose paint and wall preparation.

See Solicitation Amendment A00003

13. CLIN 006 Prepare and apply polyurethane. (Our understanding related to Best practices when it comes to applying Polyurethane over existing poly that is not being completely removed is to lightly sand

Light hand sand to remove loose paint

See Solicitation Amendment A00003 the surface before applying for best adherence for new polyurethane.

14. CLIN 014 2-pack Finish (what is meant by this?)

This type of paint system contains an acrylic paint melamine and a hardener resin, which, when combined, produce a chemical reaction that results in a hardened flooring surface. (Similar to when you finish the wood floor using vanish after machine sanding.

15. CLIN 016 Hand sanding( with electrical hand sander or literally by hand and a sandpaper)

It is the Contractor’s choice on how to fulfill this requirement. Hand sand would suffice, but when need arises then the electrical hand sander can be used.

16. CLIN 020 This is for exterior? Are you saying it ok to spray this surface as long as the floors are masked?

CLIN 021 Same question as for CLIN 020

It is the Contractor’s choice on how to fulfill this requirement. It would be easy to spray paint but the proximity of the homes to one another sometimes would make this difficult.

Brush and roller is therefore commonly used.

17. L.4.3.3 B at the end of Number 5 States :

Company must have had Satisfactory and comparable work experience with the U.S.

Government Agencies in Nairobi. This seems to be a somewhat difficult requirement would you

Company must have had satisfactory work experience with U.S.

Government Agencies in Nairobi.

The work entails obtaining permits working and compliance with

Per Section L. Summary of

Instructions L.4.3.3 (b) (5) please elaborate on this regulatory authorities in Nairobi..

18. Applying paint if relative humidity 85% or higher( is this a common occurrence and that is why you have listed it?

Also, will there be extensions if this condition exist for any extended time

The time specified in the task order will include the environmental conditions that may affect work completion.

The Contracting Officer may extend the period by written modification.

19. When you request Estimated prices based on 6,000 sqm, as stated in CLIN 001 and the task order is for some quantity less than 6,000 Sqm. Is it proper to expect a unit price based on a quantity of work less than the unit being used to price the Sqm. I hope you understand my question, maybe I have some misunderstanding of the task orders, and you are saying that if for example you issue a Task order for item 001 that the minimum size of that task will be 6000 sqm to use the sqm price Quoted.?

6,000 sqm is the estimated area for

CLIN 001 per year.

Provide a price per unit up to 6,000 sqm. The

Government may purchase any amount of sqm via Task Orders issued within the limits of the Min/Max designation under

Section B.2 and within the limits of the Order

Limitations Clause at

52.216-19.

20. Is the performance bond on page 40 really 20% or 2%, since 20% seems to be very high considering that there's insurance on top of it to be catered for.

The 20 % guaranty bond is the requirement

H.3 Bond Requirements

21. 1. Gantt / Schedule of Works - The requirement is to submit a program of work in form of Gantt Chart. Will this Gantt

The schedule of works should be for one sample house

See Solicitation Amendment

A00003

Chart / Schedule of work be Work Breakdown Schedule for the Whole Year (Make Ready Process ) or a sample of doing one Town House with the minimum quantities? Kindly Clarify if we do an annual Gantt Chart or Undertaking Make Ready for one sample town house?

22. 2.1 Will the SF25 Form provided be required to be filled during the solicitation process or by the successful awardee.

The surety Companies require an award letter to commit to such a performance Bond.

The prospective awardee is notified of the requirement to provide the bond requirements.

See the time requirement for submission.

Reference H.3.2 Time for submission.

23. 2.2 Which local (Kenya) surety companies are acceptable to the US Government?

Not possible to provide an exhaustive list. Onus will be on the bidding company to provide sureties from companies of good repute.

24. 2.3 Is a letter from our Approved Insurance Provider sufficient to indicate that once we get awarded, we shall provide the required insurance covers?

A firm letter of undertaking or existing insurance cover may be considered as sufficient, subject to review of the technical evaluation panel.

H.4. Insurance

25. Price table form B.3.4 & B.3.5 The title block has been inverted, Between Estimated quantities and Price per unit. Kindly correct?

Corrected See Solicitation Amendment

A00003

26. Page 76 A list of cleaning chemicals and products have been listed. Will this contract also involve cleaning services based on the list of cleaning

Clean up of the make ready areas are required after completion of works .

See Exhibit 7 See Solicitation

Amendment A00003 products listed? The Scope of works does not indicate any expected cleaning works such as furniture polishing, toilet disinfection?

Kindly clarify if intense cleaning is part of the make ready exercise apart the general cleaning after work is completed?

27. Is James Zadroga Compensation Act of 2010 Applicable to this solicitation?

James Zadroga Act is applicable

See Section B.2 of the Solicitation

28. As per section L.9, if asked by the Contracting Officer, the offer shall provide a current statement of its financial condition, certified by a third party, that includes (documents listed in the section)

We would like to enquire if the documents written in the section (L.9) are a mandatory submission in the technical proposal for this solicitation.

The offeror shall provide a current statement of its financial condition, certified by a third party, that includes items specified under L.9

See Solicitation Amendment

A00003

29. Kindly clarify on the Pricing Table for all years:

Under the PAINTING SECTION, below line item number 026 there is a line indicating "TOTAL

CARPENTRY" .

Please confirm what that line should be.

The line-item Total

Carpentry has been removed

See Solicitation Amendment

A00003

30. Page 34 of the solicitation states that Insurance/Licenses and Permits and safety plan are to be issued 10 days after award, however during the site visit it was stipulated that the insurance and safety plan would be issued before award

The solicitation should include evidence of ability to meet safety requirements as part of the selection criteria.

Actual safety plan will be submitted 10 days after award for approval.

Section L.4.3. (b) (8)

31. Does the Embassy inspect the works once the contractor is done and at what point does the payment process begin.?

Yes, the Embassy has an inspector who inspects the house and initiates a receiving report which kick starts the payment process

32. Does the embassy provide a storage space for the contractor to keep their tools and material?

Yes , the house being worked on also acts as a storage space for vendor.

33. What happens when there is inflation and the cost of material skyrockets with the contractor already signed the contract?

The bid price should provision for any anticipatory effects of inflation. The contract to be awarded is for a fixed unit price for the duration of the contract.

34. The contractors wanted to know the proximity of the make ready homes and how far apart they are they

The houses are located in five zones as follows;

Zone one 5 kms North of the Embassy ; Zone two 4 kms west of the Embassy; Zone three 3 kms south of the Embassy and Zone five 8 kms west Embassy.

35. Is there a time when two vendors can be assigned to one house undertaking the same works?

No. Two vendors should not be assigned the same residence for the same work.

36. How does the vendor know if the work is for internal or external

The task order indicates the area to be worked on.

37. What determines the size of house assigned to the vendors

The homes are equally rotated among the vendors. So there is no particular vendor who must get a certain size of house.

38. Could the insurance to be provided before the award be the bid bond?

Is there a particular percentage of the bid contract price that would be preferable? We usually give a bid bond of 1% of the Contract price.

This is because usually the general liability insurance is provided after award of the contract.

Insurance and Bond requirements are different. See Section H

Special Contract requirements.

For Bonds refer to H.3, while for

Insurance please refer to H.4.