MTY_QA 19MX56-24-Q-0013 GARDENING FINAL (19MX5624Q0013).pdf

19MX5624Q0013 – Questions and Answers

GARDENING- SERVICES

(RFQ: 19MX5624Q0013)

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

The following questions were asked by interested quoters either in person during the pre-proposal conference / site visit or submitted electronically at the e-mail address specified in the solicitation.

The contracting officer has provided answers to these questions, making them available to all quoters by posting this document on the Monterrey Contract and Procurement Opportunities public website.

Quoters are reminded that nothing in this document, including responses to questions, should be considered, or construed as a change to the solicitation. Any changes to the solicitation, if found to be necessary, will be communicated by issuance of a written amendment.

Quotations are due at 15:00 local time on August 29th 2024.

QUESTION 1

Q: What does “LPTA” means?

A: “LPTA” stands for Lowest price technically acceptable.

Please refer to FAR 15.101-2 for more details https://www.acquisition.gov/far/15.101-2

QUESTION 2

Q: What does “REPSE” means?

A: REPSE is short for “Registro de Prestadoras de Servicios Especializados” . REPSE is a registry that the Mexican government requests for companies providing specialized services or have/are self-employed individuals. ( For details please visit https://www.gob.mx/stps/prensa/disponible-y-en-linea-se-encuentra-el-padron-publico-de-contratistas-de-servicios-u-obras-especializadas ) https://www.acquisition.gov/far/15.101-2 https://www.gob.mx/stps/prensa/disponible-y-en-linea-se-encuentra-el-padron-publico-de-contratistas-de-servicios-u-obras-especializadas https://www.gob.mx/stps/prensa/disponible-y-en-linea-se-encuentra-el-padron-publico-de-contratistas-de-servicios-u-obras-especializadas

QUESTION 3

Q: Will the quote be presented in currency US Dollars or Mexican pesos?

A: Contractors can present a proposal in foreign currencies, please refer to 52.225-17

EVALUATION OF FOREIGN CURRENCY OFFERS;

Example to be considered, if a Mexican vendor, wants to submit a proposal in USD currency, they must have a US dollar account from a Mexican bank.

QUESTION 4

Q: What is the proposal Deadline?

A: Deadline to submit a proposal is August 29th 2024 15:00 hrs. Your quotation must be submitted electronically to MTYProcurement@state.gov . It is important to make sure the submission is made in specific size and format; in MS-Word 2007/2010 or MS-Excel 2007/2010 or Adobe Acrobat (pdf) file format. The file size must not exceed 30MB. If the file size should exceed the 30MB, the submission must be made in separate files and attached to separate emails with less than 30MB each.

QUESTION 5

Q: What is the Insurance amount

A: Please refer to RFQ page 12; INSURANCE 6.1 AMOUNT OF INSURANCE.

QUESTION 6

Q: Shall vendors provide IMSS (Mexican Institute of Social Security / Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social is a governmental organization that assists public health, pensions and social security in Mexico operating under the Secretariat of Health). and “Seguro de Responsabilidad Civil” (applies for Mexican companies) ?

A: Yes, please refer to RFQ part 6 INSURANCE , page 13 , 6.3 Types and amounts of insurance ; ( contractors shall comply to local laws- Mexico) mailto:MTYProcurement@state.gov

QUESTION 7

Q: What is “Opinion Positiva” SAT (for Mexican Contractors) ?

A: IF the company that is submitting the proposal, is based in Mexico, a document call positive opinion is required as part of the proposal, this only applies to Mexican based companies, (Opinión del cumplimiento de obligaciones fiscales). (https://www.sat.gob.mx/ )

QUESTION 8

Q: How many Gardeners are needed?

A: Please refer to RFQ, 1. SCOPE OF WORK, “The Contractor shall perform gardening services, including furnishing all labor, material, equipment and services, for the U.S. Consulate Monterrey, Mexico located in Santa Catarina, Nuevo Leon and the official residence of the Consul General located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon. It is the bidder’s responsibility to determine how many employees are needed to complete all of the requirements of the contract. The price listed below shall include all labor, materials, insurance (see FAR 52.228-3 and 52.228-5), overhead, and profit. The Government will pay the Contractor the fixed price per month for standard services that have been satisfactorily performed.”.

QUESTION 9

Q: How many employees can be submitted for a security clearance?

A: As many as your company considers. Example : If you consider that 6-10 Gardeners will be performing the service, we recommend companies to submit an additional 30% for clearance.

QUESTION 10

Q: During the contract performance (12 months) ; Can we submit more candidates for security clearance?

A: Yes, As many as your company considers.

https://www.sat.gob.mx/

QUESTION 11

Q: What is the daily schedule?

A: Please refer to RFQ section 1, 1.3.2. SCHEDULES. Page 5.

QUESTION 12

Q: is the service needed daily at Consul General's Residence?

A: Please refer to RFQ page 9 , 2. WORKING HOURS .

QUESTION 13

Q: Can contractors store equipment at the consulate?

A: Yes, please refer to RFQ page 16 , ATTACHMENT 1 ,GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY.

QUESTION 14

Q: Once awarded, when will the service start?

A: Please refer to RFQ Section 1, scope of contract.

(After contract award and submission of acceptable insurance certificates, the Contracting Officer shall issue a Notice to Proceed. The Notice to Proceed will establish a date (a minimum of ten (10) days from date of contract award unless the Contractor agrees to an earlier date) on which performance shall start.)

QUESTION 15

Q: The service at the CGR falls under “Temporary additional services” ?

A: No , Please refer to RFQ Section 1, Scope of contract ( page 3);

Temporary Additional Services are services that are defined as Standard Services but are required at times other than the normal workday. These services shall support special events at the Post.

The Contractor shall provide Temporary Additional Services in addition to the scheduled services specified in this contract. The COR shall order Temporary Additional Services on an as needed basis. This work shall be performed by Contractor trained employees and shall not be subcontracted. The COR may require the Contractor to provide Temporary Additional Services with 24-hour advance notice

QUESTION 16

Q: How many square meters shall be considered for “Temporary additional services” ?

A: No , Please refer to RFQ Section 1 - 2.2 Base period

2b. Estimated Number of Square Meters for Base Year

12000 m2

QUESTION 17

Q: If all preventive maintenance is done and verified- will the contractor be liable for any Impact by weather?

A: Please refer to Section 1.3.4 Technical Guidance – RFQ Page 6 ….” The contractor’s horticulturist shall perform quarterly inspection visits in coordination with the COR, in order to evaluate the conditions of the landscape and foresee season requirements, e.g., due climate or pests, the horticulturist must file a report and include an action plan, the COR will perform the follow up of the action plan.”

1.5.4. At no additional cost to the Government, the Contractor shall replace any tree, bush or shrub that is killed or rendered unusable for its intended purpose through negligent or irresponsible practices that are attributable to the Contractor within 60 days of notification from the COR.

QUESTION 18

Q: Are plants and trees cover during Winter?

A: Please refer to Section 1 , RFQ Page 5 ; this is not specified in the scope of work but contractors can considered what’s needed to successfully perform the requirements of this contract.

Reference: (Please review Full scope ).

1.2. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Maintenance and appearance of the grass, shrubbery, garden areas, trees, and related landscape elements of the U.S. Post and properties are an important part of the representational responsibilities of the U.S. mission. The Government will measure the Contractor’s work by the appearance of the landscape covered by this contract. The Contractor shall perform complete gardening and landscape maintenance services as described in this contract for all Government properties listed in 1.13. The Contractor shall include all planning, administration, and management necessary to assure that all services comply with the contract, the COR's schedules and instructions, and all applicable laws and regulations. The Contractor shall meet all of the standards of performance identified in the contract. The Contractor shall perform all related support functions such as supply, subcontracting, quality control, financial oversight, and maintenance of complete records and files.

QUESTION 19

Q: Fertilization shall be done every 4 months?

A: Please refer to 1.10. FERTILIZER , RFQ page 8

QUESTION 20

Q: Are Holidays considered for this service, if so, which Holidays US or MX?

A: Please refer to RFQ page 39 = 652.237-72 Observance of Legal Holidays and Administrative Leave.

QUESTION 21

Q: Is Price Firm-Fixed?

A: Please refer to RFQ page 37 = 652.232-70 PAYMENT SCHEDULE AND INVOICE SUBMISSION

(FIXED-PRICE) (AUG 1999)

QUESTION 22

Q: Is the trash collected at post or contractors must dispose of it?

A: Please refer to RFQ page 7 - 1.8. REMOVAL OF DEBRIS. The Contractor shall remove foreign material, cuttings, grass, leaves, bark, limbs, dead vegetation, paper, and trash from the maintained areas including walkways, stairways and curbs within or adjacent to the area. The Contractor shall remove all debris and equipment from the work site before the end of each workday. Debris removal shall prevent unsightly accumulation. The Contractor shall promptly remove collected debris to an authorized disposal site. The Contractor is responsible for all expenses incurred in the collection and disposal of debris.

QUESTION 23

Q: Per Contractor furnished property - What type of Trash bags, extra-large are required?

A: Contractors can select trash bags of their choice, but we recommend super sacs to promote recycling; more details on RFQ page 7.

1.7. RECYCLED MATERIALS. The Contractor shall promote recycled uses for lawn and tree debris in meeting other gardening needs, such as mulch and compost. The Contractor shall provide of report semiannually of recycled materials used to the COR.

QUESTION 24

Q: Is the Water irrigation system maintained by contractors?

A: Please refer to RFQ page 8, 1.9. WATERING

QUESTION 25

Q: Which template must be used to present the proposal?

A: Please refer to 52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS – RFQ page 42

QUESTION 26

Q: Is Maintenance required for trees?

A: Yes, all Trees shall be considered.

QUESTION 27

Q: In which direction shall the Pruning go?

A: Please refer to Section 1.5. PRUNING RFQ page 7.

QUESTION 28

Q: Do contractors need a permit to prune palm trees?

A: Responded during Site visit “ , No , Local permits are not needed inside the consulate compound) .

QUESTION 29

Q: Is there stone under the grass?

A: Responded during Site visit “ , Yes there is.

QUESTION 30

Q: what equipment is needed to perform the service?

A: MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

The Contractor shall provide all necessary gardening supplies and equipment, including rakes, lawn mowers, hoe, pitchfork, pruning, fertilizers to perform the work identified in the Scope of Work of Section 1.

Please refer to Attachment 2- CONTRACTOR FURNISHED PROPERTY

QUESTION 31

Q: Services should be performed on a specific day of the week at the CGR?

A: Please refer to RFQ page 9 , 2. WORKING HOURS. This can be coordinated with COR after award.

QUESTION 32

Q: In case needed, who operates the Genie?

A: Responded during Site visit , Consulate’s staff .

QUESTION 33

Q: Is the pool part of the contract?

A: No, Contractor shall perform gardening services only.

QUESTION 34

Q: the current palm leaves and height are the standard?

A: Contractor can work with the COR for suggestions.

QUESTION 35

Q: Are the stones around the garden areas considered as part of the contract?

A: Responded during Site visit “, Yes, for cleaning.

QUESTION 36

Q: Once awarded, can a general insecticide be applied?

A: Please refer to RFQ 1.11 PEST AND DISEASE CONTROL

Also note, all insecticides must comply with the US government allowed products, which will be provided as needed. All pesticides must be approved by the COR prior to being used.

QUESTION 37

Q: Have you considered a general soil oxygenation – visibly needed?

A: Soil oxygenation is not considered in this solicitation.

QUESTION 38

Q: Is waste and trash physically carried to the disposal site?

A: Responded during Site visit “, currently, Yes , gardeners take the trash/waste to a disposal site at the consulate .

QUESTION 39

Q: Which access point applies for staff?

A: Responded during Site visit, to start the working day, staff access is restricted to the main gate, and during the day, staff can move around the compound, in an out the other gates.

QUESTION 40

Q: Is the foliage pruning restricted to the consulate’s sidewalk?

A: Please refer to RFQ 1.4.2 EDGING. The Contractor shall edge all sidewalks, driveways, and curbs each time the adjacent grass is cut (page 6) .

QUESTION 41

Q: Are the exterior trees located in the sidewalk considered in the contract?

A: Responded during Site visit, No, those trees are property of the city.

QUESTION 42

Q: the supervisor must be bilingual?

A: Please refer to 1.3. MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION

QUESTION 43

Q: How many bus stops are in the consulate’s sidewalk?

A: Responded during Site visit, there are 2.

QUESTION 44

Q: Can the “Genie” be moved all around the consulate?

A: Yes, by consulate’s staff.

QUESTION 45

Q: Is watering manual in the ACS space?

A: Yes, currently it’s been watered with hoses.

QUESTION 46

Q: Is the contractor responsible of transportation between the 2 locations in which the service will be performed?

A: Yes, contractor is responsible.

QUESTION 47

Q: the staff has access to Drink fountains or a cafeteria?

A: Yes, staff has access to a Cafeteria and a vending machine.

QUESTION 48

Q: Is there a Water Irrigation system at the Consul General's Residence?

A: Yes, there is a residential system.

QUESTION 49

Q: Are local Mexican Law permits needed to perform at the Consul General's Residence?

A: Yes, permits are needed.

QUESTION 50

Q: is the empty lot next to the Consul General's Residence considered in this contract?

A: No, it’s not.

QUESTION 51

Q: Is Landscaping design considered in this contract?

A: No, it’s not.

QUESTION 52

Q: Is fertilizer provided by the contractor?

A: Yes, please refer to RFQ MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT and attachment 2 “CONTRACTOR

FURNISHED PROPERTY”

Packages of Fertilizer 50kg bag/year