36C24419Q0025_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 NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADM

INISTRATIVE 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 amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and d ate 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 3

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) 01-17-2019 None 00244 Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 4 Erie VAMC 135 East 38th Street Erie PA 16504 Donald Butler | Contracting Specialist 00244 Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 4

To all Offerors/Bidders

36C24419Q0025 01-17-2019

X x x x The purpose of this RFQ amendment is to answer vendor questions. The amendment information is included in the continuing pages.

Submit all responses to this solicitation to Donald.Butler3@va.gov.

Donald Butler

1. In the solicitation it states that services are to include identification, segregation, collection, handling, transport, storage, reduction, diversion, treatment, and disposal for all VISN04 Medical Centers and associated Veteran's Community Clinics (VCC). The segregation piece and collection is the VA referring to onsite labor to pull the waste from inside the hospital and segregate recycle from MSW?

· The collection does not refer to pulling the waste from inside the organization. Only collection from the dumpsters.

2. In the solicitation on page 2 it states that individual or designated qualified personnel shall be available at all times when the contract work is in progress. Again, is the VA requiring labor for project manager to be onsite while a truck empties a can or pulls containers?

· The requirement is not for the Project Manager or Supervisor or substitute(s) to be on site but must have full authority to act on behalf of the contractor.

3. Page 2: returning call within one hour, is this a stern sticking point or is there flexibility regarding the response time?

· The requirement of a 1-hour response or return call is a minimum and should not exceed that standard.

4. Page 2: Contractor shall be responsible for any violations or fines that are related to the services in this contract. Is this related to container/pickup or everything including VA error?

· Yes, this is related to container/pickup. Not sure how to answer the second part “including VA error”.

5. Page 3: Solicitation talks about Universal Waste as being part of this contract, however this waste stream is not typical for solid waste/recycle and there is no historical data provided.

· Currently, the Universal Waste (Batteries, Light bulbs, etc., is the responsibility of the primary contractor and they have subcontracted that portion out.

6. Page 3 Also the solicitation talks about glass bottles clear and colored, however these are not highly sought-after recyclables any longer and can be mixed in with a comingle recycling program. Is it the VA's intention to separate glass and plastic?

· Segregation of the recyclables is completed by the contractor at an offsite location.

7. Page 3: Mentions Tires as tires are not recyclable and carry a pretty hefty charge for disposal. Most solid waste companies will not accept tires nor will the landfills. Is it the intention of the VA for us to remove tires for them and if so, are they willing to put a separate container in place for that collection?

· Currently, tire disposal is managed through the agency that provides the service. Example for GSA vehicles, GSA disposes of the tire.

8. Page 3: Blue Wrap, this waste stream although recyclable is some areas bring very little reward other than diversion to any recycling program and the cost outweighs the benefit. Is this an absolute item for removal through this contract if so, there is no historical data.

· Currently, “Blue Wrap” is being discarded as regular trash and will continue as of now.

9. Page 3 #3: All containers except for open tops are typically closed, however not fire retardant. For open tops these are typically covered by a tarp before removal.

· As stated in Section II D. contractor will be responsible for compliance with all applicable local, state and federal regulations for transporting.

10. Page 4: Cleaning of containers (including VA Owned) would generally cost. However, I don't think there is a line item on the pricing pages, nor does it state how often so we can incorporate the cost. Is the CO willing to put in a line item for that?

· Not sure how to answer this question. Section II G states the contractor is responsible for cleaning at an offsite location and a recurring frequency identified by the FCOR. Frequency could vary from location to location.

11. Who is the incumbent contractor? Is there one contractor handling all VISN 4 facilities or multiple contractors?

· All current and prior federal contract information is publicly available at FPDS (www.fpds.gov).

12. What is the current contract value? Is this one contract or multiple contracts?

· All current and prior federal contract information is publicly available at FPDS (www.fpds.gov).

13. What are the current contract number(s)?

· All current and prior federal contract information is publicly available at FPDS (www.fpds.gov).

14. Are solid waste disposal services within VISN 4 being handled through one or more “Unrestricted” contracts or by small businesses under “set aside” contracts?

· All current and prior federal contract information is publicly available at FPDS (www.fpds.gov).

15. Is it the VA’s intension to set this contract aside for SDVOSB or VOSB should there be two or more capable respondents who are in the CVE database?

· This solicitation is set aside for SDVOSB as stated in the solicitation.

16. Page 2 B. Does the VA have a current Diversion Program in place and if so, are they will share that program so that the vendor is able to review modify and make any necessary changes and or improvements?

· No, the organization does not currently have a Diversion Program. As indicated in Section II B. of the solicitation, the contractor shall provide a plan for acceptance.

17. Page 4 G. 1 Once inspections are completed and repairs are need to the government equipment how will the repairs be compensated to the Vendor and or does the VA plan to take care of the repairs directly once the inspections take place?

· Section II G. states that the contractor will only conduct the inspection on the VA owned equipment annual. It does not direct that the contractor will complete the repairs.

18. On page 6 of the PWS, Section IV, Government Responsibilities, it states that No Government Furnished Property will be provided. However, Attachment 6, VISN4 MSW Historical Data Report file lists 11 Government Owned Compactors and a Government Owned Baler. Can you please confirm that Attachment 6 is correct as to what Government Owned Property (compactors, balers, etc.) will be utilized in the contract?

· Attachment 6 is the correct listing of Government Owned Property.

19. Will the Government install and provide the electric power used by the Compactors?

· Government will provide the power for the Compactors

20. On page 3 of the PWS, Section C.4. states that “…containers, dumpsters, compactors, and totes shall be …free of rust spots, stains, excessively chipped areas…” Will the government please eliminate this language and use the words BRAND NEW (at a minimum for the open tops and compactors) as that would ensure that all bidders are providing the same QUALITY of equipment as opposed to units with old cylinders and leaky hoses with a fresh coat of paint?

· Changing the language to this question could be considered as restricting the solicitation.

· Pittsburgh – Wants brand new to start with and replacement dumpsters should be brand new. Reconditioned dumpsters subject to approve of station COR or Service Line Chief responsible.

21. Will all recycle containers listed in this solicitation utilize a commingled (single stream) style of recycling collection? Or, will some containers be designated for Cardboard-only (preferred)?

· Butler – single (Commingled) recycling stream

· Lebanon – commingled with some of the dumpsters designated as carboard only.

· Erie – will continue to try and separate the cardboard from all other recyclables. Cardboard is baled and picked up by the same time the other recyclables are picked up.

· Pittsburgh – Started commingled. Recently the industry changed and mandated clean recycling. No longer can we place plastic trash bags, big plastic bags of paper shredding, shrink wrap, food waste-cans or plastic with soda, no pizza boxes, etc.

22. Due to the vast geographic region that this solicitation covers, will each site abide by the rules and regulations of the independent Materials Recovery Facilities (Recycling Centers) located in their geographic area with regard to acceptable recycling materials, since certain items that may be considered recyclable at one facility due to the local recycling market may be considered waste in another market?

· Organizations will follow the current requirements for recyclables in their area to maximum extent possible.

23. Due to the fact that contaminated recycling material is a constant occurrence at multiple VA locations included in this solicitation, if a recycling container has a significant amount of non-recyclable items (trash) in it, rendering the contents non-recyclable or “contaminated”, will the Government pay the increased cost of having the contaminated recycling disposed of as trash?

· The Contractor can submit a request for equitable adjustment or claim if there is an increased cost for having the contaminated recycling disposed of as trash. The Contractor will need to submit this request to the Contracting Officer and they will evaluate it at that time in accordance with the corresponding FAR and VAAR guidance.

24. Due to the changes in SBA regulations regarding set-aside procurements, will the Government require compliance with the Limitations on Subcontracting 13 CFR 125.6 and VAAR 852.219-10 for performance of the contract resulting from Solicitation 36C24419Q0025?

· Yes, clause 852.219-10 is incorporated into this solicitation and can be found in Attachment 8 Solicitation Clauses and Provisions.

25. Due to the numerous incidents of blocked containers at VA Facilities, if the contractor cannot service a container during the scheduled service time due to a vehicle, or some other object, blocking the container, will the Contractor be able to invoice the Government for a “trip charge” that reimburses the Contractor for the cost of dispatching a driver and a truck for a failed service attempt?

· Organization will make every effort at each location to ensure that all containers are accessible.

26. On page 4 of 11, in the solicitation document, Section II. A. 3., it states: “Contractor shall repair and/or compensate for any damage incurred to Government property, surrounding equipment, personal belongings or property.” If a Contractor-owned compactor repair is needed due to an operation error on the part of a VA employee, will the Government accept responsibility to pay for the cost of repairing the Contractor-owned compactor?

· The Contractor can submit a request for equitable adjustment or claim if there is an increased cost for having the contaminated recycling disposed of as trash. The Contractor will need to submit this request to the Contracting Officer and they will evaluate it at that time in accordance with the corresponding FAR and VAAR guidance.

27. For the Coatesville site, will all the 96-gallon recycle totes be placed at one location?

· No, all containers will not be in the same location.

28. At the Butler site, is the Contractor-provided 40-yard dumpster a: 1) 40-yard Receiver Box that will attach to a Government-owned compactor, or 2) a stand-alone 40-yard Open Top Container?

· Butler – 40 yd unit is being replaced with an 8 yd

29. At the Lebanon VA facility Attachment 6 identifies 90-gallon and 23-gallon containers for collection of recycling. How many of each size of these containers is needed at the Lebanon site?

· 25 ea 95-gallon and 10 ea 23-gallon containers for the Lebanon location

30. At the Lebanon VA facility, where will the 90-gallon and 23-gallon recycle containers be placed? And, will it be the Contractors responsibility to collect the recycle containers from multiple locations?

· Containers are in various locations near the loading docks

31. At the Lebanon VA facility, will the recycling continue to be Sorted Recycling? Or, will this facility be changing to a commingled (Single Stream) style of recycling?

· Lebanon location will continue to sort the recycle.

All questions where to be received by Contract Specialist Donald Butler by 11:00 AM EST January 15, 2019. Questions received after this deadline may not be addressed. All questions should have been submitted by email to Donald.Butler3@va.gov.

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged and in full force and effect.

End of Document End of Document