Guard Booth Austin Questions and Responses Amend 1.pdf

Vendor Questions and Government Responses Guard Booth Requirement

The following responses clarify the solicitation requirements and are incorporated into the solicitation by amendment. Offerors remain responsible for reviewing the solicitation, SOW, attachments, and amendment in their entirety.

1. Question: Will there be a site visit scheduled?

Government Response: No. The Government is not scheduling a pre-quote site visit. Offerors shall develop their quotations based on the solicitation, Statement of Work (SOW), and attachments provided. The successful Contractor remains responsible for field verification and confirmation of existing conditions in accordance with the SOW before fabrication and installation.

2. Question: Does the requirement include two booths at Gates 2 and 3, or four booths at Gates 2, 3, 5, and 8?

Government Response: The requirement includes two guard booths only, located at Gates 2 and 3.

Gates 5 and 8 are not included. Refer to the SOW and site map.

3. Question: What is the official solicitation number, and where are the SF 1449 and pricing schedule?

Government Response: The official solicitation number is 2023H2-26-Q-00056. Offerors shall use the SF 1449 and applicable pricing schedule issued with the solicitation, as amended, when submitting a quote.

4. Question: May the prime Contractor use a booth manufacturer and subcontractors, or must the prime Contractor manufacture the booths?

Government Response: The prime Contractor is not required to manufacture the guard booths. A booth manufacturer and subcontractors may be used; however, the prime Contractor remains responsible for successful performance of the entire turnkey requirement and compliance with all applicable small business and nonmanufacturer requirements in the solicitation. The manufacturer must independently satisfy all manufacturer qualifications and product requirements.

5. Question: What are the size standard requirements under NAICS 332311, and does the Nonmanufacturer Rule apply?

Government Response: The applicable NAICS code is 332311, Prefabricated Metal Building and Component Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 750 employees. The solicitation is a total small business set-aside. The Nonmanufacturer Rule applies in accordance with FAR 52.219-33, as applicable. Offerors are responsible for ensuring compliance with the applicable small business size and nonmanufacturer requirements.

6. Question: Is the Porta-King Durasteel PC-44SL mandatory?

Government Response: No. The Porta-King Durasteel configuration identified in the SOW is the Government's basis of design. Approved equivalents may be proposed if the offered product meets or exceeds all technical, structural, ballistic, safety, dimensional, functional, quality, and performance requirements of the SOW. A proposed equivalent must include sufficient manufacturer literature, technical data, shop drawings, and certifications to demonstrate compliance with the solicitation requirements.

7. Question: What ballistic standard is required?

Government Response: The required standards are UL 752 Level 8 and NIJ Standard 0108.01 Level III. Ballistic protection must be continuous and apply to the walls, roof and ceiling, doors, glazing and framing, penetrations, joints, interfaces, and HVAC and utility penetrations. Refer to the SOW for complete requirements.

8A. Question: What insurance limits apply, and is bonding required?

Government Response: Bonding is not required. The Contractor shall maintain the insurance required for work on a Government installation, including workers' compensation in accordance with applicable Federal and State law; employer's liability coverage of at least $100,000;

comprehensive general liability coverage for bodily injury of at least $500,000 per occurrence; and automobile liability coverage of at least $200,000 per person and $500,000 per occurrence for bodily injury and $20,000 per occurrence for property damage. Refer to FAR 52.228-5 and FAR 28.307-2.

8B. Question: Who is responsible for obtaining City of Austin or campus permits?

Government Response: The Contractor is responsible for obtaining all required permits and complying with applicable Federal, State, and local requirements. The Contractor shall determine the permits required based on its final design and means and methods, subject to applicable Government and site coordination requirements.

9. Question: How should offerors reconcile the October 1 through February 1 period of performance with the requirement for completion within 120 calendar days?

Government Response: The period of performance is 120 calendar days from the contractual start date established at award. This requirement controls over any conflicting dates previously stated in the solicitation.

10. Question: Does the requirement include four option periods, and does FAR 52.217-8 apply?

Government Response: No. The requirement does not include four option periods. FAR 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services, does not apply. Any conflicting references to option periods or FAR 52.217-8 are removed by the amendment.

11. Question: What are the requirements for background checks, badging, vehicle access, and prohibited items?

Government Response: Contractor personnel must complete required Government suitability or background screening and badging before access, display Government-issued identification, sign in and out daily, and remain within authorized work areas and hours. Weapons, ammunition, alcohol, illegal drugs, unauthorized cameras or recording devices, explosives, and other prohibited items are not permitted unless specifically authorized. Vehicle and site access will be coordinated in accordance with facility security procedures.

12. Question: What existing electrical service and connection points are available, and will utility outages or upstream upgrades be required?

Government Response: The Contractor shall field-verify existing electrical conditions, service availability, utility locations, connection points, and required loads before fabrication and installation. The SOW requires 120V/220V single-phase service and a minimum 100A single-phase load center for each booth. Utility interruptions must be minimized and coordinated in advance with the Contracting Officer, Contracting Officer's Representative, and Program Office point of contact.

The SOW does not establish that upstream upgrades are required. The Contractor shall report any discrepancy or unforeseen condition to the Government before proceeding.

13. Question: What is the procedure and schedule for a pre-quote site visit?

Government Response: Not applicable. The Government is not scheduling a pre-quote site visit.

The successful Contractor remains responsible for field verification and confirmation of existing conditions in accordance with the SOW before fabrication and installation.

14. Question: Will the Government provide utility drawings, measurements, or as-built drawings?

Government Response: The Contractor is responsible for field measurements and verification of existing conditions. Available Government information may be provided for reference, if available, but will not relieve the Contractor of its responsibility to independently verify field conditions, dimensions, utilities, elevations, foundations, and installation constraints as specified in the SOW.

15. Question: Does the 20-year experience requirement apply to the manufacturer or the prime Contractor?

Government Response: The 20-year experience requirement applies to the manufacturer only. The guard booth manufacturer must have at least 20 years of documented experience. The prime Contractor has a separate requirement for at least five years of relevant experience and, upon request, references for at least three similar projects completed within the previous five years.

16. Question: Will the Government issue its responses to vendor questions by amendment?

Government Response: Yes. The Government's responses to vendor questions are incorporated into the solicitation through this amendment.

17. Question: Will the Government provide plans or specifications for the new ballistic booths?

Government Response: The technical specifications for the new ballistic guard booths are provided in the SOW. Attachment 1 provides the Porta-King Durasteel 4-foot by 4-foot configuration as the Government's basis-of-design reference and communicates the intended general configuration, dimensions, layout, and functional requirements. Approved equivalent products may be proposed if they meet or exceed all requirements of the SOW, including the applicable ballistic, structural, electrical, HVAC, weather-protection, security, quality, and certification requirements.

The successful Contractor remains responsible for field verification and for providing the required shop drawings, structural calculations, anchorage and foundation details, electrical and HVAC layouts, utility connection details, and other required engineering submittals for Government review and approval before fabrication.

Quote Submission Reminder Offerors shall submit sufficient technical information and supporting documentation to demonstrate compliance with all solicitation requirements and permit the Government to determine technical acceptability. A price quote alone, without the required technical information, may be insufficient for the Government to determine the quote technically acceptable.