36C24121Q0285 0001.docx

5. PROJECT NUMBER (if applicable)

CODE

7.

ADMINISTERED BY

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER

CODE

6. ISSUED BY

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NUMBER

3. EFFECTIVE DATE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED

PAGE OF

PAGES

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

10B. DATED

BPA NO.

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

FACILITY CODE

CODE

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

E. IMPORTANT:

is extended,

(a) By completing Items 8 and 15, and returning __________ copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted; or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE

OF YOUR

ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY is not extended.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

(REV. 11/2016)

is required to sign this document and return ___________ copies to the issuing office.

is not, A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO:

Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

15C. DATE SIGNED

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERE

D CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES

SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR

OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendmen t, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER

Contractor

16C. DATE SIGNED

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION

16B. UNITED

STATES OF AMERICA

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF

CONTRACTING OFFICER

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

STANDARD FORM 30

PREVIOUS EDITION NOT USABLE

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.243 (Type or print) (Type or print) (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

(Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code) (If other than Item 6) (Specify type of modification and authority) (such as changes in paying office, appropriation date, etc.)

(If required)

(SEE ITEM 11)

(SEE ITEM 13)

(X)

CHECK

ONE

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS,

IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF

SOLICITATIONS

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer) Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 1 Contracting Office (90C) 1 VA Center Augusta ME 04330 Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 1 Contracting Office (90C) 1 VA Center Augusta ME 04330 To all Offerors/Bidders

36C24121Q0285 03-10-2021

X X X

X The purpose of this amendment is to post all questions and answers in reference to the solicitation. See page 2.

The PWS, sec. 2.4 is changed to read: Contractor shall shred documents in accordance with shredding specifications outlined in most recent VA Directive 6371 guidelines.

This is a tiered evaluation for SDVOSBs/VOSBs/and all Small Businesses and will be evaluated in this order.

SDVOSBs and VOSBs must be certified in VIP.

Please sign and return a copy of this amendment with your quote package.

No other questions will be addressed at this time.

Ann Marie Stewart Contracting Officer

VA-VHA-SAOE-2018-7588D50F

Questions and Answers for solicitation # 36C24121Q0285 Shredding services across the White River Junction VA HCS.

· With the Period of Performance commencing nine calendar days after bidding closes, it does not leave much time to order, ship and deploy containers, which generally takes two weeks in non-Covid times. What is the first anticipated service date post-award? Answer: April 5, 2022.

· Will all of the material being presented for destruction be typical office paper? Answer: Yes If there is media, will it be handled outside of the contract, for example by a purge using a p-card? Answer: Yes

· P. 4, 2. a), b) and d). These subsections don’t match up with the Price Schedule CLIN 0001 and associated CLINS regarding quantities and sizes, specifically for the VAMC and the VAMC Center Outer Buildings (National Center for PTSD appears to match). The referenced CLINS do not list quantities or sizes, and a) includes 64-gallon bins that are not listed elsewhere. Could you please confirm size and quantities for the VAMC and the Outer Buildings and make sure that the referenced CLINS accurately reflect those changes? Answer: All of the bins required are listed in the PWS. Answer: The PWS provides the actual qty under general requirements.

The 45 wheeled totes are what we need for storage in the medical facility as well as each of the outbuildings that are listed under #2 General Requirements letter d) White River VA Medical Center Outer Buildings

White River Junction VA Medical Center Outer Bldgs. 4, 6, 7, 9, 37, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 66, & 67 (Pickup bi-weekly on Mondays when the medical center is serviced)

The total is 45 because we keep 20 of them in the facility and the rest are allotted for the buildings that are highlighted in the above statement.

· P. 5, list and p. 9, Price Schedule. Can the CBOCs that have a monthly pick up schedule be changed to every 4 weeks? This allows for a more regular schedule and is more in line with traditional shredding schedules. Answer: Once a month pick-up

· P. 6, h). Regarding the NIST 800-88 1x5mm shred size – VA Directive 6371 was specifically created by the VA to clarify its shredding requirements and states that material shall be shredded to the standard of “unrecognizable” and “unreconstructable”. It does not mention specific dimensions. Shredding to a 1x5mm particle size is onerous to the point of being cost prohibitive and cannot be accomplished effectively by a mobile shredding truck. 1x5mm is generally required for classified documents rather than the confidential documents generated by a VA medical facility. Also, this process renders paper to dust, which must be landfilled rather than recycled, contrary to VA policy. Can you please confirm that VA Directive 6371 will be the guiding document for shredding performance for this solicitation, and remove any references to NIST 800-88 and specific particle sizes? Answer: The PWS, sec. 2.4 is changed to read: Contractor shall shred documents in accordance with shredding specifications outlined in most recent VA Directive 6371 guidelines

· P. 40, Evaluation Process. To compare an SDVOSB bid pricing to an IGCE based on general small business pricing for shredding is comparing entities that must operate under different government regulations. In effect, by requiring adherence to the Limitations on Subcontracting, the government has established that an SDVOSB bid, when using a non-similarly situated subcontractor, must be doubled, which sets a standard for SDVOSB bids. During the evaluation, will the Agency take into consideration that the government has established parameters for fair and reasonable pricing when it requires SDVOSBs to follow the Limitations on Subcontracting?

Answer: Please refer to VAAR subpart 819-7005- Service-disabled veteran-owned small business set-aside procedures. Also, reference VAAR clause 852.219-10 VA Notice of total service-disabled veteran-owned small business set-aside. VAAR clause 852.219-74 requires contractors to comply with Limitation on subcontracting requirements in accordance with 13 CFR 125, The limitations of sub-contracting monitor and compliance. Doubling your pricing for your non-similarly situated sub-contractor may deem that your proposal is not fair and reasonable. Our IGCE is the Government estimate based on historical usage and the current market.

· P. 41, 3, a). Can you please clarify what is meant by “corporate experience”? Answer: The Contractor must meet all the requirements listed in the PWS, para. 8. Privacy/Security.

Accessibility

· For the main campus, how far apart are the buildings where service is needed? Answer: 10 to 25 feet except for building 65, which is 100 ft

· For all locations, will any bins be located above/below the ground floor? Answer: Yes If so, are freight elevators available to move bins to/from ground level? Answer: Yes

· Please confirm if there is a loading dock, and is there a ramp to the ground? Answer: There is a loading doc in the back of bldg. 31 and one end of the doc is at ground level.

· Is there sufficient parking for our truck at each location/building for the time it will take to retrieve containers, shred the contents and return the containers? Answer: Yes, there is a trailer parking area at the doc.

Incumbent

· Is there a current contract for the work being solicited? Answer: Yes

· If so, please provide that awarded contract number or task order number (NOT the incumbent GSA contractor number). Answer: 36C24119F0183

· Please provide the name of the incumbent contractor and when the contract is ending. Answer: SHRED THIS INC. Contract ending on 03/31/2021.

· Please provide the annual contract amount. Answer: This was not an annual contract. Although, the annual amount is approximately $26,000.00 per year.

· Is the level of effort being performed under the current contract fundamentally the same as what will be required to fulfill # 36C24121Q0285? If not, please explain how the work will be different under this solicitation. Answer: The need is for the requirements specified in the PWS of this solicitation.

· How long does it take for the incumbent to perform the service at the VAMC? Answer: This is Proprietary information and cannot be disclosed.