Shipping_Q&A.pdf

1. Would the US Government permit Teaming Partners to participate in this Solicitation?

Answer: Section 3- Solicitation Provisions, A.2.2 – Requires the offer or/quoter to operate an established business for freight forwarding activity, with customs broker/clearing agent activities listed under its license with a permanent address and telephone listing

2. Does the US Government, permit Joint Ventures on this solicitation?

Answer: Yes, as long as it is compliant with the above mentioned point A.2.2

3. Should SAM registration mandatory in spite of having DUNS Number?

Answer: Yes, SAM registration will be required for this contract.

4. Can the Customs clearance be done through a NAFL approved customs broker or should the clearance be done by the same company that runs the contract. ?

Answer: Customs clearance needs to be done by the same company that runs the contract.

5. Page 29, under No. 16 Notification – “Upon completion of each assigned packing effort, the Contractor shall provide to the COR a Notice of Availability for Shipment.”

Any specific format or outline for this Notice? Or a simple manifest will do?

Answer: There’s no specific format. Upon completion of each assigned packing efforts, the contractor shall provide to the COR a Notice of availability for shipment, and shall contain information in (16) a, b, c, d and e.

6. Page 30, Requirements of delivery: “Loose-packed effects shall be properly inventoried on receipt and immediately placed in proper palletized storage. If it is necessary to unload a steamship container and place the effects into loose-pack storage prior to delivery, the Contractor shall prepare and sign an Inventory List when the effects are removed from the container and placed into storage.”

Normally HHE and UAE will be lift-vans or Air pallets; Does the mean shipments will be arriving loose packed also?

Answer: No, HHE doesn’t arrive loose, it arrives in lift vans, while UAB arrives in Tri-wall boxes.

7. Page 31- The Contractor shall have piano boards and other necessary tools and equipment on hand to open containers.

What is “Piano Boards”?

Answer: A piano board is a specialized packing material meant for the safe movement of a piano and other large items such as pianos, freezers, refrigerators, etc.

8. Page 31- The Contractor shall place UAB in the client's residence in packed or crated condition Hope this is applicable only where the crated shipment can be directly taken into the residence with good access. Other cases, the crates will be unpacked from the truck/downstairs and deliver individual packages to the client’s residence.

Answer: UAB shipment usually packed in 5, 10 and 15 Cubic Feet tri-wall boxes, and sizes are enough for contractor to deliver in the client’s residence in packed condition.

9. Page 35 - Wooden containers must be heat treated or fumigated based on the requirements of the destination country.

Heat Treated & ISPM marked wood and plywood will be used for the liftvan and wooden boxes;

do we need to submit ISPM certificate for each shipment?

Answer: Certificate is not required, but ISPM stamped lift vans (All must bear IPPC stamp), and based on the requirements of the destination country..

10. Specifications regarding outbound /inbound vehicle handling: Boxing Services for the vehicles Page 38- If specifically requested by the COR, the Contractor shall also provide boxing services for vehicles. Boxing services shall include:

(a) complete water cleaning of vehicle, especially under carriage,

(b) removal of wheels, (c) bolting of vehicle to box container platform, and

(d) enclosing vehicle in a wood box that will withstand trans-shipment strains.

Need details of the above on boxing vehicles.

Answer: We will provide more details to contractor if boxing services specifically requested.

11. Page 17- No. 8. GOVERNMENT APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE OF

CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES

All employees must pass a suitable investigation conducted by the Contractor, including recommendation(s) from their respective supervisor(s). Also required: (1) a police check covering criminal and/or subversive activities; (2) a check of personal residence, and (3) a credit investigation. The Contractor shall provide all such investigations in summary form to the COR for review and approval or disapproval.

What all are the formalities/details we should carry out for Employee verification and submit to COR; is there any specific template for the same?

Answer: The Contractor shall ensure and provide documentation with respect to the Employees on this contract have been legally hired. The contractor shall also include a statement that no fees have been charged to the employee for the recruitment purpose.

A police verification document ( Good conduct certificate ) issued by Dubai Police will be required for all employees who will be working under this contract. The Contractor shall provide all such investigations in summary form to the COR for review and approval or disapproval. A sample template shall be provided upon award of contract.

12. Page 58 -A.2. Information demonstrating the offeror’s/quote’s ability to perform: Which are all documents to be submitted as evidence for:

*Quality of services provided under the contract;

• Compliance with contract terms and conditions;

• Effectiveness of management;

• Willingness to cooperate with and assist the customer in routine matters, and when confronted by unexpected difficulties; and

• Business integrity / business conduct

Answer: A comprehensive quality assurance plan that provides details of how the contractor will ensure quality services are provided and how the contractor intends to evaluate the quality of services provided under this contract.

Describe the Management controls the organization has in place to address to quality complaints or issues.

Examples of how unexpected difficulties/challenges on site where handled by the staff.

Reference letters from other customers, QA certifications, Details of training provided to staff , Awards and Recognitions.

13. SECTION 4 - EVALUATION FACTORS Financial resources (page 64 – item no.4):

what are the requirements? which are all the document evidence required for submission?

Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR 9.1)

Answer: The bidder shall provide copies of audited financial statement or authenticated (certified) bank statement for a period of at least one year for this purpose.

14. SF 1449: blocks 19 – 24: do we have to fill or leave blank?

Answer: Please complete block 23, 24, 30a, 30b and 30c

15. Can we get a soft copy of the pricing matrix?

Answer: The soft copy is already available on FBO.gov in a pdf format. You may download and convert it into the desired format.

16. Clarify pages 42 to 46:

Answer: These pages refer to the US Government clauses that will apply to this contract.

17. Page no. 55 -Clarity needed on: The Contractor shall procure Defense Base Act (DBA) insurance pursuant to the terms of the contract between the Department of State and the Department’s DBA insurance carrier for covered contractor employees, unless the Contractor has a DBA self-insurance program approved by the Department of Labor. The Contractor shall submit a copy of the Department of Labor’s approval to the Contracting Officer upon contract award, if applicable.

Answer: As UAE does not appear under the list of countries exempted from DBA Insurance, http://www.dol.gov/owcp/dlhwc/lscarrier.htm, the contractor will be required to provide DBA Insurance for all employees who will be working under this contract. DBA insurance costs are reimbursable on actuals and needs to be mentioned as a separate line item on the SF-1449.

18. Page 59 – RECRUITMENT OF THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS FOR PERFORMANCE ON Recruitment plan

Answer: Please read the paragraphs and address the recruitment plan and housing plan. Kindly address these requirements in the proposal.

19. Clarity on Page – 62 – DOSAR 652-242-73 ?? (please refer page 62 item 5)

Answer:

(a) The Contractor warrants the following:

(1) That is has obtained authorization to operate and do business in the country or countries in which this contract will be performed;

(2) That is has obtained all necessary licenses and permits required to perform this contract; and,

(3) That it shall comply fully with all laws, decrees, labor standards, and regulations of said country or countries during the performance of this contract.

(b) If the party actually performing the work will be a subcontractor or joint venture partner, then such subcontractor or joint venture partner agrees to the requirements of paragraph (a) of this clause.

http://www.dol.gov/owcp/dlhwc/lscarrier.htm

20. SAM registration we are struggling from last 4 to 5 months.We have the DUNS number and NCAGE number but for the SAM registration the address has to be same in both which is not entered correctly ( not by us) we have sent so many reminder but no luck – several mails and calls but no way we are able to move – how this will effects and if we can get any help.

Answer: The contractor may reach out to the telephone numbers / Email address / online chat on the website for assistance to SAM registration.