Boston SATOCs Amendment 3 RFIs.pdf

Boston SATOC RFIs Amendment 0003

1. We have reviewed the solicitation and have not found a sample project to bid on. Will there be a sample project?

There are no sample projects to bid on. Offerors are expected to use their own means and methods to determine their proposed coefficient.

2. Will the VA be issuing a tax-exempt certificate for materials and equipment installed in each project?

A tax-exempt form will be issued upon award of task orders.

3. According to the scope of work our proposed coefficient is to include incidental engineering. Can this be defined further? Are any of the task orders going to be design-build?

There will no task orders for design-build under the SATOC. Incidental engineering will be included in the coefficient unless determined that this work falls under 011 Section of R.S. Means which can included as a separate line item.

4. According to the scope of work our proposed coefficient is to include scaffolding. The cost for scaffolding will fluctuate based on the job conditions. The building we work on could be 2 stories tall or it could be 12 stories tall. This would be a major cost difference.

We request that scaffolding be removed from the coefficient, or the government provide a basis for pricing.

The SATOC is meant for simple task order projects, scaffolding will not be removed. A reasonable basis of pricing should include 2 stories of scaffolding, any requirement higher than this can be reviewed with the VA for additional pricing.

5. According to the scope of work our proposed coefficient is to include flag persons for traffic control. The cost for flag persons for traffic control will fluctuate based on the job conditions. A civil project on a parking lot may require several flag persons for several days while a crane pick to the roof may only require 1 person one day. This would be a major cost difference. We request that flag persons for traffic control be removed from the coefficient, or the government provide a basis for pricing.

The SATOC is meant for simple task order projects, traffic control will not be removed.

A reasonable basis of pricing should include 1 flagger for 5 days, any requirement higher than this can be reviewed with the VA for additional pricing.

6. The scope of work states that Sections 010 and 013 of R. S. MEANS Division 1 shall not be used. Please advise if sections 011 and 012 can be used. Typical items in these sections include cut & patch to match, dust protection, equipment usage, material handling, protection of existing work, shift requirements. Please advise.

Yes, Section 011 and 012 can be included in R.S. Means.

7. If I read solicitation correctly all offerors will be basing their bids on RS Means. In the past on other projects, we have been requested to provide a percentage factor such as (- 2%) or (+3%) - does it request that somewhere in the solicitation or am I just not reading it correctly?

Pricing for the Base SATOC will be based off of the coefficient for the base contract award.

Task Order pricing will be based off of R.S. means and coefficient.

8. The scope of work calls for the SSHO to have a minimum 3 years’ experience, CSP certification and EM 385 compliant. Will 3 years’ experience, EM 385 compliance, and CSHT (Certified Construction Safety & Health Technician) satisfy this requirement?

Yes

9. Please clarify the required bid guarantee – SF1442 page 1 section 12a. an offer guarantee is required. – Does this mean for the individual Task Orders when issued an offer guarantee is required or is an offer guarantee required with the SATOC VISN1 Proposal and if required for the proposal is the amount based on the $7 million? and on page 10 of 90 paragraph 6.1.1.2. Provide a letter from the offeror’s surety company addressing ability to obtain bonding & the limits of bonding capacity.

A bid guarantee is not required for the SATOC proposal. Bid guarantees will be required on a Task Order basis.

The request for a letter from the offeror’s surety addressing the ability to obtain bonding and bonding capacity are required as part of the technical requirements.

10. Please clarify if the VISN1 SATOC proposal only requires a surety letter stating bonding is obtainable & the limits and the bid guarantee is required for actual issued task orders.

See question 9.

11. While scanning the solicitation on this SATOC. On page 1, Item 13/B it mentions that there is an offer guarantee required. I was unable to find a seed project though? Is that bid bond requirement for the tasks later on?

12. On this solicitation Page 13, Top of Page, Factor 3, 6.3.1. It mentions a “schedule with offeror’s coefficient” per VA Medical Center. Is this schedule sheet being supplied by the VA on a later amendment?

Provide proposed coefficient for each VA Medical Center in the line items under Section A.3 Price/Cost Schedule.

13. Please confirm that there is no seed project requirement for this solicitation.

There will be no seed project requirement.

14. Please confirm that there is no bid bond requirement for this solicitation.

15. Please confirm that there is no hand-delivered, hardcopy proposal binder requirement for this solicitation.

Only electronic proposals will be accepted.

16. Will the bid bond requirement be waived? We cannot provide one without a sample project. Please advise

17. How will working off hours and overtime hours be handled in RS Means? Please advise

Pricing for off hours and overtime hours can be submitted under R.S. Means under Section 013. This will be project specific and not included in the coefficient.

18. According to the solicitation instructions the bidder is to include a schedule of coefficients as part of Volume 2 factor 3 – price. The only item we found for submission is the attached price/ cost schedule. Please confirm the attached (also below) is what the government wants to be submitted for the schedule of coefficients.

See question 12.

Insert Coefficient here.

19. Please clarify that a complete Reps and Certs only consists of pages 22 thru 33 of 1442

Solicitation Doc and no other pages are required to comply with 5.3.2

Reps and Certs only consists of pages 22-33.

20. If a prospective bidder decides to bid less than all 3 locations - the other location coefficient numbers remain blank - is this correct?

Yes.

21. Please clarify that a site visit was/is not scheduled or conducted.

A site visit is not scheduled and was not held.

22. Page 5 "The coefficient(s) will remain unchanged throughout the life of the contract".

Please clarify if this is statement is correct for the entire 5 year period.

The coefficient will remain unchanged through the entire 5-year period.

23. This Davis Bacon Wage determination is in effect for the entire 5 year period. (ie. 2024

Wage Requirement is used in 2029) Please clarify.

The wage determination that will be in effect will be the current determination at Task Order award.

24. Please confirm whether offerors are permitted to reuse any of the Past Performance Questionnaires submitted with the VISN1 MATOC proposal.

Offerors are permitted to use any reference they deem appropriate for past performance questionnaires.

25. Can the government please confirm that there is no seed project for this SATOC?

See question 13.

26. Is the pricing that is to be provided based on "general project categories: construction, repair, and alteration of various facilities; interior and exterior renovations, heating and air-conditioning, HVAC controls, plumbing, fire suppression, interior and exterior electrical and lighting, fire and intrusion alarms, communications, site work, fencing, masonry, roofing, concrete, asphalt paving, and other related work."? OR is it based on strictly the coefficient?

Task Orders will be priced utilizing R.S. Means and coefficient.

Pricing for the Base SATOC will be the offeror’s proposed coefficient.

27. Can the government confirm that there is no site visit for this SATOC? As there is no date listed in the solicitation.

See question 21.

28. Does that government want a different quality control, safety, and infection control plan for each proposal submitted?

Yes, each proposal shall be specific to each VA Medical Center.

29. Please clarify the specific information and documentation required for Volume 2, Factor 3 - Price. Can you provide guidance on the structure and content expectations for the schedule of coefficients? We kindly request more information about the level of granularity needed to present coefficients, any specific formatting requirements, and any additional documentation or explanations required for the schedule.

See question 12.

30. You provided attachment 4 – VA Pay Form with the solicitation. Is this form to be utilized once projects are awarded? Is there anything in it we need for the proposal submission?

The VA Pay form will be utilized for individual projects/Task Orders.

31. Can the Government state which report to export from RS Means from the “Estimate

Action” drop down list the contractor is supposed to utilize for their basis of their bid?

If no subcontractor markup, use Estimate Action: Export to Excel.

If subcontractor markup, use Estimate Action: Report Fill in General Contractor’s Markup on Subs Report Format: Unit Cost Detail.

Note, General Conditions & Overhead/Profit are included in coefficient, do not enter additional amounts on top.

32. Please clarify that for all task orders the contractor can only utilize the “Facility Repair, Union Labor” Cost data?

Depending on the scope of each project, the task order will utilize Facilities & Commercial Renovation, Facilities Maintenance or Repair and Commercial New Construction.

33. Please confirm that the contractor has to bid all task orders, except as noted in the SOW page 5.

SATOC contractors are expected to submit offers for Task Order RFP/RFQ’s at the maximum extent practicable. In the event a contractor is unable to submit an offer in response to a “NOTICE OF TASK ORDER REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL”, the Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer and provide justification.

34. Can the Government confirm if there will be liquidated damages on task orders? If yes, can the Government provide this cost or cost range/day.

Liquidated damages and costs will be addressed on a Task Order basis.

35. It is difficult to determine the Government defined “indirect costs” for the personnel required. In the SOW paragraph Key Personnel it states that individuals may or may not play dual roles (determined at the task order level). These items need to be established so that that the coefficient doesn’t vary. Can the Government clearly define whom will be required for every task order and their minimum technical requirements?

All Key Personnel listed in the SOW are required and shall meet the minimum qualifications as defined in the SOW.

36. Is it acceptable for the SSHO to be CHST in lieu of a CSP? Also note that your present requirement appears to be written such that the SSHO will be a CSP. That particular requirement is generally reserved for a corporate or company level safety director/consultant(for a monthly inspection per 01 35 26 VA Master Spec) not normally for daily direct project personnel.

As a minimum the SSHO must have completed the OSHA 30-hour Construction Safety class and have five (5) years of construction industry safety experience or three (3) years if he/she possesses a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) or certified Construction Safety and Health Technician (CSHT) certification.

37. Paragraph Site Security states that the contractor is to provide site security, including fencing, lighting or guard service. Is this cost supposed to be included in the coefficient?

This is not included in the coefficient.

38. Is it acceptable to the Government to allow for flagmen for traffic control and scaffolding assessed only as required on each specific task order (if required at all)? These could be custom generated line items in RS Means.

See questions 4 and 5.

39. Can the Government please provide the average period of performance for the proposed task orders?

The period of performance is dependent on the required scope of the task orders

40. Can the Government please provide the longest period of performance for the proposed task orders?

See question 39.

41. Will proposed task orders contain/require phasing limitations? If yes, how will they be addressed?

Yes, it will be addressed in the Task Order/project scope.

42. Will the task orders require off hour, weekend or holiday work? If yes, how will they be addressed?

See question 17.

43. Can the Government provide their definition of “disposition of waste materials” as noted in the Coefficient paragraph?

Comply with state and federal laws for waste disposal of construction materials.

44. Can the Government confirm that modifications will utilize the coefficient and not the sliding scale for both additional and credited work?

Modifications will utilize the coefficient for additional and credited work.