Question and answers - RFQ 19KU2026Q0011 Ramps and Concrete Upgrade Project.pdf

Enclosure A Questions and Answers

RFQ - 19KU2026Q0011 - Ramps and Concrete Upgrade Project

Notice Regarding Questions and Answers

The responses provided in this Questions and Answers (Q&A) document are intended solely to clarify the requirements of the solicitation. Unless expressly stated otherwise in a formal amendment to the Request for Quotations (RFQ), these responses do not modify, revise, or supersede any requirement, specification, Statement of Work (SOW), drawing, schedule, or term and condition of the solicitation.

If the Government determines that a change to solicitation is necessary as a result of questions received or for any other reason, such change will be issued through a formal written amendment to the RFQ.

Offerors shall rely only on the solicitation, including any officially issued amendments, in preparing their quotations.

In the event of any inconsistency between this Q&A document and the solicitation, the solicitation, as amended, shall govern.

# Questions Answers

Kuwait commercial license timing Section J (Qualifications of Offerors) and Attachment I both list a valid Kuwait commercial license as a required submission item, with no stated exception. Must the offeror hold an active Kuwait commercial license at the time the quotation is submitted, or is it acceptable for the license to be obtained prior to Notice to Proceed / contract award.

Why we ask: Unlike the SAM registration requirement, no alternative or grace period is specified for the Kuwait license, and this materially affects our teaming strategy

At the time of proposal submission, the offeror must provide proof of its authorization to operate in Kuwait by submitting a copy of its valid license and/or permit(s), along with an English translation.

UniBuild as prime with a Kuwait-licensed subcontractor UniBuild Construction holds an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) but does not hold a Kuwait commercial registration/license.

Can UniBuild submit the quotation itself as the offeror/prime contractor, and satisfy the Kuwait licensing requirement by engaging a Kuwait-licensed subcontractor to perform the locally regulated portions of the work, with that subcontractor's license and worker sponsorship submitted per clause G.4.5?

Why we ask: This is the reverse of Q2: here UniBuild remains the prime and offeror of record, rather than acting as a subcontractor to a locally licensed prime. We would like the Contracting Officer to confirm which structure(s), if any, are acceptable under Section J

Refer to 652.242-73

SAM registration / UEI Please confirm that an offeror without an active SAM registration may still submit a compliant quotation by providing a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) together with a completed FAR 52.204-90, paragraphs (c) and (d), in lieu of full SAM registration.

Prospective offerors are strongly encouraged, though not required, to register in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov.

• Offerors with an active SAM registration need only provide their UEI number.

• Offerors without an active SAM registration shall complete FAR 52.204-90, Offeror Identification https://www.sam.gov/

Worker sponsorship documentation format For offerors intending to mobilize workers not yet under contract at the time of quotation submission, what specific documentation will satisfy clause G.4.4 (proof of legal sponsorship prior to award)? Is a signed letter of intent or conditional sponsorship agreement acceptable at the proposal stage, with final civil ID documentation provided before Notice to Proceed?

Why we ask: G.4.4 states proposals without sponsorship proof "could be deemed technically not acceptable," but does not define the minimum acceptable form of proof at submission

Clause G.4.4 requires proposed workers and supervisors to be legally sponsored by the contractor and/or subcontractor prior to contract award. Offerors must submit documentation demonstrating such legal sponsorship. A letter of intent or conditional sponsorship agreement does not satisfy this requirement. Proposals without the required proof may be deemed technically unacceptable and ineligible for award.

Performance and payment bond amounts SF-1442, Items 12A/12B, and Item 18 reference performance and payment bonds but the percentage/amount and the number of calendar days after award to furnish them are left blank in the issued RFQ. Please confirm whether bonds are required for this procurement, and if so, the required bond amount (e.g., percentage of contract price) and submission timeline.

No bond is required

Acceptable forms of performance security Section J states offerors must be able to "post adequate performance security, such as bonds, irrevocable letters of credit or guarantees issued by a reputable financial institution." Will an irrevocable letter of credit from a Kuwaiti or regional bank be accepted in lieu of a traditional performance bond?

Offerors/quoters must be technically qualified and financially responsible to perform the work described in this solicitation. Interested offerors must have the ability to submit any sort of documentation to proof their compliance with this requirement.

Insurance coverage minimums Clause 52.228-5 (Insurance – Work on a Government Installation) is incorporated, but specific minimum coverage amounts (general liability, auto, property damage) are not stated in the body of the RFQ. Please provide the minimum required coverage limits for each insurance type.

The minimum insurance coverage requirements are specified in Section G.2.1 of the RFQ. The Contractor is required to maintain General Liability insurance with minimum coverage of US$10,000 per occurrence/cumulative for bodily injury and US$30,000 per occurrence/cumulative for property damage, in addition to any insurance legally required under FAR 52.228-5. Offerors should refer to Section G.2 of the RFQ for the applicable insurance requirements

DBA insurance scope Clause A.1 requires Defense Base Act (DBA) insurance premium costs to be included in the firm-fixed price, and separately requires workers' compensation insurance under FAR 52.228-3 for U.S.

citizen or direct-hire employees. Does DBA coverage need to extend to all site personnel, including locally sponsored subcontractor workers, or only to U.S.-citizen/direct-hire employees

The Contractor shall provide workers’ compensation insurance in accordance with FAR 52.228-3 to employees assigned to this contract who are either United States citizens or direct hire. Total cost of DBA should be part of the Firm-Fixed-Price.

45-working-day completion period feasibility Given that the scope includes four separate demolition/concrete/paver work areas, procurement and import of Embassy-approved U.S./European-made materials, and weekend-only restrictions on Front Gate demolition work, please confirm whether the 45-working-day completion period (from Notice to Proceed) accounts for material lead time and import/customs clearance, or whether an allowance for long-lead materials will be considered.

Why we ask: Long-lead procurement plus customs clearance for imported branded materials could consume a significant portion of the 45-day window before installation can begin

The contractor must perform work at all sites simultaneously this does not mean there are four separate jobs to be worked on one at a time. The 45-day time-period for the complete project is correct.

Weekend-only demolition scheduling Section 3.5.1 restricts Front Gate demolition and concrete casting to weekends only. Please confirm how many weekend working days will be made available over the performance period, and whether this constraint is factored into the 45-working-day schedule or runs concurrently with it

Front gate – Because this location is critical for visitor access, we will work with the winning contractor to ensure the work is performed in a manner that does not disrupt pedestrian traffic while still accomplishing the required work.

Staging and storage area location Section 3.2 states staging/storage areas will be available "in a mutually agreed location with the COR." Can the Government confirm approximate staging area size/location in advance of quotation submission so offerors can plan logistics and pricing accordingly.

Staging/storage is available on embassy compound at multiple areas. Storage area size can reach up to 100 meters squared.

Approved materials list The SOW requires "Embassy pre-approved, high-quality, branded products...all US or European-made" but does not include a pre-approved products/manufacturers list. Can the Contracting Officer provide (or confirm the process for submitting for approval) an approved materials/manufacturers list prior to quotation submission, to support accurate BOM pricing

Refer to Section J

Products samples and Products data for all products/materials required for this project should be submitted for review and approval if requested in the Scope of Work.

Paver and tile specification/sample approval timeline Section 3.5.2 requires paver samples with technical data to be submitted for Embassy review/approval. What is the expected review/approval turnaround time, and can this occur pre-award to avoid schedule impact during the 45-working-day performance period.

Products samples and Products data for all products/materials required for this project should be submitted for review and approval if requested in the Scope of Work. The RFQ does not establish a specific review/approval turnaround time. However, the 45 working day performance should start from the day the Government approves all submission and issue the notice to proceed.

"Typical SOG Details" drawing The SOW references an attached "Typical Slab-on-Grade (SOG) Details" file, noting "a clearer version will be provided to the successful contractor." Please provide a legible copy of this drawing to all offerors during the solicitation period so that quantities and pricing can be developed accurately

Typical SOG drawings will be provided to the contractor upon award. Based on the site walkthrough and the details of the work outlined in the SOW, the contractor should develop its estimates accordingly.

Utility locations and as-built drawings Given the demolition work near existing utility lines (Front Gate sidewalk, pool patio, basketball court walkway), will the Embassy provide as-built utility drawings or a utility locate service prior to demolition, or is the Contractor solely responsible for utility identification under clause 52.236-9.

Contractor is solely responsible for utility identification.

Crane/hoisting equipment necessity Attachment D (Crane Rental Service/Operating Procedures) is included in the solicitation package. Please confirm whether any of the four scope items are anticipated to require crane or hoisting equipment, given the scope as described appears to be flatwork/ramp construction.

Attachment D, Crane Rental Service/Operating Procedures, is included for offerors’ awareness and reference should crane or hoisting equipment be required during contract performance. The Government does not specifically anticipate that crane or hoisting equipment will be required for the identified scope items. However, the contractor remains responsible for determining the equipment and means and methods necessary to perform the work safely and in accordance with the contract requirements.

Liquidated damages basis Please confirm whether the KWD 205/day liquidated damages rate applies to the full contract if any single scope item (of the four) is delayed, or only on a pro-rated basis tied to the value/completion status of the specific delayed item

The awardee is responsible for complying with the liquidated damages provision unless a Government-caused delay prevents the awardee from completing the work within the required 45-working-day performance period.

Payment milestones Section H (52.232-5, Payments Under Fixed-Price Construction Contracts) is referenced, and standard Embassy terms are Net 30 with no advance payments. Given the short 45-working-day period of performance, will the Government accept milestone/progress payment invoicing tied to each of the four completed scope items, rather than a single payment at final completion

The Government will not authorize milestone or progress payments based on completion of individual scope items. Payment will be made in accordance with Section H and FAR 52.232-5 following completion and Government acceptance of the required work and submission of a proper invoice. No advance payments will be authorized.

VAT and customs duty treatment Clause A.2 confirms VAT is not reimbursed given the Embassy's tax exemption certificate. Please confirm whether the same tax-exemption certificate can be used to exempt imported construction materials from Kuwait customs duties, or whether the Contractor should include duty costs in the firm-fixed price

The tax exemption referenced in Clause A.2 applies to VAT as specified in the RFQ and should not be interpreted as providing an exemption from customs duties on imported construction materials. Offerors are responsible for determining and including in their firm-fixed price all applicable customs duties, fees, and other costs associated with importing materials necessary to perform the contract.

Discussions and award timeline The RFQ states the Government intends to award based on initial quotations without discussion but reserves the right to hold discussions under FAR 12.203/12.204. Can the Contracting Officer provide an estimated award date, to help offerors plan mobilization against the 45-working-day clock

The Government anticipates award before September 30, 2026

Amendment process Should any of the above clarifications result in changes to the scope, schedule, or bonding/insurance requirements, will the Government issue a written amendment with a corresponding extension to the quotation due date, consistent with the current August 23, 2026, deadline being only three weeks after RFQ issuance

The Government does not anticipate any amendment related to change of SOW.

Reference: Attachment A, Section 3.5.2 (Pool Patio Tier 1 & 2) Question: Could the Government provide detailed existing elevation surveys and architectural section drawings for the upper and lower tiers of the Swimming Pool Patio? Please clarify the total vertical rise between Tier 1 and Tier 2 to verify exact ramp lengths and intermediate landing configurations required to maintain the 1:12 ABA/ADA slope.

The total vertical rise between Tier 1 and Tier 2 should have been measured by the contractors during the site visit, that was the purpose of the site visit.

RFI 02: Approved Paver Specifications Reference: Attachment A, Section 3.5.2 (New Pavers) Question: Is there a preferred pre-approved manufacturer, material type (e.g., precast hydraulic pressed concrete or natural stone), color palette, or minimum thickness (e.g., 60 mm vs. 80 mm) for the 300 x 300 mm pavers to match existing Embassy compound standards?

Pavers – 300mm x 300mm: The contractor must provide similar, suitable pavers that are high quality, durable, able to withstand extreme weather conditions, and compliant with industry standards. The winning contractor will be required to submit samples, along with all technical details, for approval.

RFI 03: Existing Underground Utilities and Ground Penetration Reference: Attachment A, Section 3.5.1 & Attachment B (Trenching & Excavations) Question: Will the Embassy provide utility as-built schematics marking active buried electrical conduit, irrigation, or drainage lines at the Front Gate sidewalk and Basketball Court locations, or is the contractor required to perform and submit independent Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) utility scans prior to demolition?

Contractor is solely responsible for utility identification.

RFI 04: Concrete Batch Plant & Pouring Restrictions during Summer Ban Reference: Section E, Summer Outside Working Policy & Attachment A, Section 3.5.1 (Evaporation Retarder & Curing) Question: Due to daytime temperature bans (11:00 AM – 4:00 PM) and hot-weather placement guidelines (ACI 305R), will the Embassy permit early-morning (prior to 08:00 AM) or night-time ready-mix concrete batch deliveries and pours to ensure placement temperature and curing quality criteria are met?

Yes, embassy can arrange early working hours, if required.

RFI 05: Security Clearance Processing Time vs. Notice to Proceed (NTP) Reference: Section E (Project Completion Requirement) & Section G.5.2 (Security Checks) Question: Section G.5.2 notes base security checks take up to 21 days after submitting worker identification, while Section E mandates commencement within 3 days of NTP and 45 working days total performance. Please confirm that the Notice to Proceed (NTP) and 45-day clock will only be issued after all submitted contractor personnel badges and vehicle security passes have been cleared and issued.

Yes.

27 Please clarify the existing slab thickness? 15 cm slab thickness

28 Please clarify to fill sealant in construction joints or need saw cutting only? Follow all industry standards for construction projects.

29 Please provide floor paint details and specifications? Floor marking paint should be high quality and suitable for extreme weather conditions.

30 Is client will acceptable for removal of vegetation while doing execution of ramp at pool? Yes.

31 Please clarify is sealant filling required around the bollard and existing steel structure columns? Follow all industry standards for construction projects.

Is client providing variation of any additional work required in order to match the design as per ABA/ADA standards after awarded?

No.

33 Is FDT required after compaction? Follow all industry standards for construction projects.

34 Please clarify installation location of Curbstones? Front gate

35 will consider Hollow steel handrail or Stainless-steel handrail at ramp areas? Please confirm?

The contractor shall use corrosion-resistant materials with protective coatings for all handrail/guard components