A0001Questions Related to USDA APHIS Solicitation 2020-SS25 -rfr DW.DOCX

PDS Consultants – Solicitation 2020-SS25– Safety Eyewear Solicitation Questions List

1. Please confirm the NAICS code for the solicitation should be 339115. On the SAM website the Classification section correctly lists the NAICS code; however, in the proposal attachments and other areas on the SAM website NAICS code 333314 is listed.

Answer- The NAICS code 339115 applies to this effort.

2. Please confirm if a full proposal response is required in accordance with the instructions to offerors, or if a price quote is sufficient. If a full proposal is required please indicate any page number restrictions and the proposal format required for the USDA to evaluate the technical capability, past performance and price.

Answer: 2 volumes are necessary to evaluate criteria. Page restriction is 5, non including past performance.

3. We have the following questions on the Description section on the SAM website:

a. The past performance section mentions “The Contractor shall list all current or prior federal contracts, total dollar amounts, contract name, agency, address, telephone number, email, fax, and a brief description of the project performed.”

i. Please specify a maximum number of contracts for the offeror to list, as some offerors have several previous government contracts.

Answer: AT least 3 past performance shall be listed with a maximum of 5.

b. Within the section titled Price, the verbiage mentions “All information relating to the proposed price must be included in both hard copy and electronic format.”

i. Please confirm if both hard copies and electronic copies are required, as this contradicts the instructions listed on the 52.212-1 Instructions to offerors section.

Answer only electronic submission is required.

c. Within the section titled Prescription Safety Eyewear, please confirm the following:

i. The solicitation mentions “See Approval Form, Attachment 2.” Please confirm if Attachment 2 will be posted to the SAM website or provided post award.

The form has been attached to this email.

ii. Please include the process for receiving prescriptions from the USDA. For example will the prescriptions be sent to the contractor electronically, and what are the production time expectations of the USDA?

Prescriptions will be provided to the COR. The COR will forward the prescription along with an authorization to dispense (i.e., the approval form) to the Vendor.

d. Within the section titled On-Site Optician Services:

i. Please confirm the specific hours of coverage required by the optician for the two hour visits.

The expected hours of coverage are 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM, but the Government reserves the right to adjust, change, or modify these service hours.

ii. Please confirm the square footage, computers, lockable storage space, and other government furnished equipment that will be available to the contractor, and description of the location where the On-Site optician will conduct the visit and fittings.

The Government will provide the Vendor with a room of approximately 307 square feet. No Government-furnished equipment will be provided. The Vendor will provide all the equipment needed to successfully and expeditiously provide the services under contract.

iii. Please confirm if the contractor will provide a frame display rack as well, and the requested number of sample frames if applicable.

The contractor will provide a frame display rack or other display equipment (e.g., display cabinets, display chests, etc.) for employees to view available frames as stipulated under contract (e.g., frames which cost more than the contracted price per unit will not be displayed).

iv. Is the offeror able to provide more than one optician if needed?

Yes.

e. Within the section titled Performance Measure Prescription Safety Eyewear, it mentions the contractor shall deliver prescription eyewear and accessories on a schedule mutually agreed upon with the USDA and the vendor.

i. What have the historic delivery timeframes been for the previous safety eyewear contracts of the USDA?

Within one week of the order.

f. Within the section titled Personnel Security Requirements, it mentions “Only US citizens with appropriate security clearance will be authorized to access government computer systems.”

i. Please confirm the security clearance levels required for this contract.

No special personnel security requirements are necessary. We do not allow access to GOV computer systems for the onsite optician, and they conduct their work in a private room in the public part of the building. However, at some point in the future, if these contractors were to request access, they would need appropriate security clearances. We do have some contractors that do that so they can perform their work efficiently. I’d suggest leaving the statement in since it may be true when considering all of the bidders.

g. Within the section titled Staff Qualifications, please consider the removal of the requirement for a licensed optometrist, to be available for consult during business hours. Based on the proposed statement of work, it appears that On-Site optician coverage is sufficient to provide the fitting services to the USDA, and the USDA staff are providing prescriptions from their own optometrist.

The optometrist consult is not for the provision of initial, periodic, or additional lenses prescriptions, but to consult on work-related safety issues regarding safety eyewear and safety eyewear accessories.

4. We have the following questions on the document titled Attachment 1 Clauses eyewear 03.9.20:

a. Section titled 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Items (Tailored):

i. Please revise the NACIS code to 339115, currently lists 333314.

ii. Please confirm that the submission of quotes will be done electronically by email as mentioned in item b. As mentioned in question 3.b above, on the description listed on the SAM website it mentions “All information relating to the proposed price must be included in both hard copy and electronic format.”

Answer: Via amendment the NAICS code is 339115. Only electronic copies are required.

b. Section titled 452.219-70 Size Standard and NAICS Code Information (SEP 2001):

i. Please revise the NACIS code to 339115, currently lists 333314. See above

ii. The instructions on submitting an offer mentions to fill out Exhibit A. Please confirm if there is an additional attachment titled Exhibit A that will be posted on SAM website, for the offerors to include with their offer.

1. Answer Appendix 1 needs to be filled out, there is no exhibit 1.

5. Within Appendix 1, the pricing excel document please confirm the following:

a. Which line items are considered Add-Ons.

Please clarify this question.

6. Please confirm if wage determination tables or schedules must be submitted along with the quotes. Answer no.

7. Please consider the addition of a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan, to give the offerors clear guidance on the performance metrics acceptable levels that will be required for the contract. Answer- this is a SOW work with services minimal, a QASP will not be posted.