Contractor Questions and Answers.docx

Contractor Questions & Answers

1. This section states that quotes are due on or before close of business (4:00 PM Eastern Standard Time) on 08 June 2023. Will the government please grant an extension of time to submit quotes of no less that 14 calendar days?

Answer: Extension granted. Questions submitted in response to this solicitation must be received via email at Christine.Shockley@va.gov on 08 June 2023 by close of business (4:00 Eastern Standard Time). Quotes are due on or before close of business (12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time) on 05 July 2023.

2. This section states 'The Government reserves the right to make split awards as a result of this solicitation." given the possibility of split awards, may an offeror submit a response to one statement of work only and still be considered compliant?

Answer: Yes. Quoters are still eligible for award as partial quotes will be accepted. Quoters can submit a quote for either the internet and/or cable at each location.

3. This provision state that "The Offeror shall enter, in the block with its name and address on the cover page of its offer, the annotation ‘‘Unique Entity Identifier’’ followed by the unique entity identifier that identifies the Offeror’s name and address. The Offeror also shall enter its Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) indicator, if applicable.", however the solicitation was not issued on a cover page (1449) or other similar government standard form. Where does the government require entry of the offeror's UEI and EFT indicator?

Answer: “The cover page of its offer.”

4. Instructions for the Price Section indicate that the Completed Schedule Can be word or PDF, however submission format for other sections do not stipulate a submission format. Will the government please provide offerors with clarity regarding acceptable submission formats for all sections?

Answer: Technical section reads as follows, “This section shall be provided in a Microsoft Word document”. Other sections may be word or PDF.

5. Under the provision at FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors, subsection E, "Section IV Past Performance References", the solicitation states that the Government will email the offeror-provided POCs with the questionnaire after quotes are received. However, if a completed/finalized CPARS evaluation exists for a past performance reference, will the CPARS evaluation take the place of (or mitigate the Government's need to request) a past performance questionnaire from the reference?

Answer: No.

6. Under the provision at FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation, Addenda, "Past Performance", the solicitation states "The Government will utilize but is not limited to internal documentation including Federal Awardee Performance, Information System (FAPIIS)" - did the Government mean to state "Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS)"? As, FAPIIS (Federal Awardee Performance Integrity Information System) records were migrated over to SAM.Gov and are now called "Responsibility/Qualification (R/Q) Reports".

Answer: All internal documentation will be utilized at the Government’s discretion. This includes FAPIIS (previous record system) and the reports in SAM.gov.

7. The second paragraph reads "3) No price information shall be included in the technical section. If pricing information is found in the technical section, the quote may automatically be considered non-responsive and not evaluated.", however paragraph C 1) of the same page reads in part "Specifically, the quoter shall provide a list of equipment and software to be supplied under this contract including nomenclature, part number, quantity, prices and detailed specifications/description. " Will the government please amend paragraph C 1) by removing "prices" from the sentence?

Answer: Deleted.

8. The instructions for the Technical Section require a Font size of 12 pt. Will the government please allow Tables at a font size of no less than 10 pt. and text within figures at a font size of no less than 8 pt.?

Answer: Denied. The number of pages has been increased by 5 from 10 to 15.

9. Will the government please be more specific in its definition of "commonly available" and "basic + standard"? Does the government anticipate a specific channel lineup or a channel lineup commensurate with it's current channel lineup? If so, please spellout the specific channel lineup.

Answer: Local cable company provides a basic lineup that we prepay for monthly. Lineup does not include premium channels (HBO, etc).

10. The government is asking offerors to commit to an unknown set of requirements. Will the government please provide "Medical Center Requirements" for installation?

Answer: Any company that is looking to install cable here, will need to provide a way to bring their equipment into the hospital and will also need to feed all the TVs throughout the hospital. This will be to include all existing cable from the RG58/RG59 which is on 3 all the way to 7th floors and most of the hospital will need upgraded to RG6. Also they will need to figure out how they will be running the equipment into the building (example if it is Dish they will have to cable the satellite as well as feed it through the hospital.

11. Will the government please identify the incumbent contractors providing the services in the stated cable service requirements?

Answer: Breezeline Cable for Altoona, Direct tv for State College and Johnstown CBOC(s), Comcast for Dubois CBOC.

12. The government is asking offerors to commit to an unknown set of requirements. Will the government please provide "Medical Center Requirements" for installation?

Answer: Any company that is looking to install cable will need to provide a way to bring their equipment into the facility. The cable should be RG6. Also, they will need to figure out how they will be running it so as not to interfere with any of our equipment or damaging anything. Any damages should be at the Contractor’s expense.

13. In addition to this offeror will the government please identify the incumbent contractors providing the services in the stated internet service requirements?

Answer: AT&T, Comcast for Dubois CBOC

14. Will the government please provide building numbers for James E VAN Zandt VA Medical Center (VAMC) 2907 Pleasant Valley Blvd. Altoona, PA 16602?

Answer: 1,32,2

15. Will the government please clarify how many TVs are to be serviced at James E VAN Zandt VA Medical Center (VAMC) 2907 Pleasant Valley Blvd. Altoona, PA 16602?

Answer: James E Van Zandt Medical Center Altoona 135 Johnstown CBOC 4 State College CBOC 4 Dubois CBOC 3

16. Will the government allow vendors to perform a site survey of all locations no less than 14 days prior to RFQ submission?

Answer: No.

17. Will the government please provide the bandwidth that constitutes Premium Service?

Answer: 100meg is for Altoona VA Medical Center guest wi-fi. Dubois CBOC is 75 MPBS and upload speed is 15 MPBS.

18. Will the government be providing COAX cabling as GFE from the DEMARK to the TV locations?

Answer: There is coax already installed however it is mostly RG59 since we are running analog cable service, anything more contractor is responsible for installing RG6 to all locations.

19. Cable SOW: Has the government noted that On May 1, 2023, the Biden Administration announced it will end the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for Federal contractors (as well as for Federal employees, international travelers, and CMS-certified facilities). On May 12, 2023, the President issued a new Executive Order rescinding the vaccination requirement for Federal employees and the COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Federal contractors. Under the new EO, agencies were directed to “promptly rescind any deviations, policies, or other guidance premised on Executive Order 14042, and the FAR Council has revoked its September 30, 2021 guidance regarding deviations to the FAR to implement Executive Order 14042?” Will the government please remove this requirement?

Answer: No. This is the minimum requirement as mandated by the VA.

20. Internet SOW: Has the government noted that On May 1, 2023, the Biden Administration announced it will end the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for Federal contractors (as well as for Federal employees, international travelers, and CMS-certified facilities). On May 12, 2023, the President issued a new Executive Order rescinding the vaccination requirement for Federal employees and the COVID-19 Safety Protocols for Federal contractors. Under the new EO, agencies were directed to “promptly rescind any deviations, policies, or other guidance premised on Executive Order 14042, and the FAR Council has revoked its September 30, 2021 guidance regarding deviations to the FAR to implement Executive Order 14042?” Will the government please remove this requirement?

Answer: No. This is the minimum requirement as mandated by the VA.

21. What is the total number of cable television drops at the James E Van Zandt Medical Center?

Answer: Please see updated Statement of Work.