36C24818Q0826-012.docx

VENDOR QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (Q&As) Environmental Remediation Services

The following questions were asked of the Government relating to the subject requirement which are hereby posted and responded to.

Q&As:

(1) Question: During the site visit several individuals discussed the difficulty in the way the current PRICE/COST SCHEDULE (Page 5 of 82) task costs are presented. The suggestion was made to use the FDEP Schedule of Pay Items (SPI) rate sheet which is only for sites in the Petroleum Restoration Program; will the VA re-issue these cost forms?

Answer: Yes, please see attached excel document, Price Schedule RFQ 36C24818Q0826 (revision 2).

(2) Question: Which is more important in issuing an award, Limitations on Subcontracting or Price?

Answer: Both are of equal importance, as this requirement will be evaluated under the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) method and as this is a 100% SDVOSB Set-aside. Note that FAR clause 52.219-27(d)(1) states “Services (except construction), at least 50 percent of the cost of personnel for contract performance will be spent for employees of the concern or employees of other service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns.” Additionally, the following FAR clause is hereby added:

52.219-14 Limitations on Subcontracting (JAN 2017)

(a) This clause does not apply to the unrestricted portion of a partial set-aside.

(b) Applicability. This clause applies only to—

(1) Contracts that have been set aside or reserved for small business concerns or 8(a) participants;

(2) Part or parts of a multiple-award contract that have been set aside for small business concerns or 8(a) participants; and

(3) Orders set aside for small business or 8(a) participants under multiple-award contracts as described in 8.405-5 and 16.505(b)(2)(i)(F).

(c) By submission of an offer and execution of a contract, the Offeror/Contractor agrees that in performance of the contract in the case of a contract for—

(1) Services (except construction). At least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the concern.

(2) Supplies (other than procurement from a nonmanufacturer of such supplies). The concern shall perform work for at least 50 percent of the cost of manufacturing the supplies, not including the cost of materials.

(3) General construction. The concern will perform at least 15 percent of the cost of the contract, not including the cost of materials, with its own employees.

(4) Construction by special trade contractors. The concern will perform at least 25 percent of the cost of the contract, not including the cost of materials, with its own employees.

(End of clause)

(3) Question: How will the VA ensure Limitations on Subcontracting is met when the FDEP’s tasks are priced largely on lump sum and not by Time and Materials?

Answer: Please see attached excel document, Price Schedule RFQ 36C24818Q0826 (revision 2).

(4) Question: Will the VA require that the SDVOSB provide its Agency Term Contractor price schedule in order to verify it can meet Limitations on Subcontracting?

Answer: No.

(5) Question: Will the VA require that the SDVOSB be a licensed Professional Engineer or Professional Geologist firm in Florida?

Answer: Yes, please see paragraph V.A.1. of attached word document PWS – Environmental remediation (revision 2): “Complete a routine or emergency site visit by a State of Florida certified Professional Engineer (PE) or Professional Geologist (PG), as determined by the Contracting Officer Representative (COR).”

(6) Question: Given the complexity of the submittal, can the deadline for this submittal be delayed by at least a week?

Answer: Yes, the response due date is changed from 07-09-2018 @ 4:00 PM EST to 07-16-2018 @4:00 PM EST.

(7) Question: The second of two current remediation sites is the spill near building 40. Within that discussion on page 24 there is a sentence that says: “Existing daily fuel tank within same building will be decommissioned.” Is that decommissioning part of the second site and should we be including costs for that task along with the actual soil/groundwater remediation costs?

Answer: Yes. Spill background information available upon request.

(8) Question: On page 24 item #1 under Specifications/ Work Performance states that “within 5 days a site assessment, correspondence/communication with FDEP and preliminary report is required. Because the FDEP requires 24 hours between well installation and sampling, and because sample testing turn-a-round time (TAT) takes a minimum of 3 days (with added costs for quick TAT) 5 days is unrealistic. Can the time periods be part of the proposed approach?

Answer: Yes. However, not all sites may require installation of wells.

(9) Question: The term Site Assessment has a specific meaning that includes much more than groundwater sampling results and will take 90 days to produce since confirmation samples are required in Site assessment reports. Does the VA mean a groundwater sampling report instead which can be produced within 14 days?

Answer: Yes. Groundwater sampling report to be provided not later than 15 days.

(10) Question: For the Lee County facilities, can the 2 hour response time for emergency response be extended to 4 hours because of the distance?

Answer: Yes, please see PWS.

(11) Question: The term for emergency response is generally associated with spills that may impact sensitive receptors, is this what the VA wants?

Answer: Yes. Due to our location, Ciega Bay is our main liability.

(12) Question: Costs associated with Emergency spill incidents range according to the amount of time from discharge to response, type of fuel discharged, size of the discharge, location of the discharge, and ability to access the discharge. How does the VA want the contractor to provide a cost for Emergency Response?

Answer: Pricing will be provided under line items in the Price Schedule. Please see attached excel document, Price Schedule RFQ 36C24818Q0826 (revision 2).

(13) Question: Does the VA want the contractor to respond to any new spill onto a permeable surface (native soil)? This only requires an Incident Report Form with 48 hours and is not considered an Emergency Response.

Answer: Yes. However, quantity of the spill may require more aggressive clean-up methods. Contractors are encouraged to use field experience.

(14) Question: For underground storage tank removals, costs will vary depending on size of tanks, accessibility, amount of concrete overburden (thickness), and backfill and discovered contamination if any. How does the VA want the contractor to provide these varying costs?

Answer: Please see attached excel document, Price Schedule RFQ 36C24818Q0826 (revision 2).

(15) Question: For the other sites listed, can the VA provide petroleum related assets that are present? I suggest that we eliminate this question since this is available to public and only those with experience will be able obtain and thus reduce competition.

Answer: Lee County has 2 underground storage tanks. Inspection records available upon request.

(16) Question: On page 25 item # 3 requires a minimum of two (2) “clean” consecutive water sampling events; Normally the FDEP requires 4 quarters from sites that are not in an FDEP approved Trust Fund Program. Can the VA provide written approval from the FDEP that they will only require 2 clean samples? This same comment applies to item Lee County.

Answer: Statement will change to: The number of “CLEAN” samples requirement varies depending on the site and remediation approach. FDEP will be contacted when a remediation plan is in place for review and approval.

(17) Question: Page 25 item #7 requiring 5 days for groundwater sample results also appears to be unrealistic. Normal sample turn-a-round time is 10 days. To get quicker results costs more, and once results are received they need to be reviewed and assessed. As requested in question 4 above, can the submittal time be part of our proposed approach?

Answer: Yes. Groundwater sampling report to be provided not later than 15 days. See paragraph. V.A.1.a.

(18) Question: Will the VA provide a copy of the well installation permit and report for Building 40?

Answer: Yes. Groundwater sampling report to be provided not later than 15 days.

(19) Question: Will the VA provide copies of the groundwater analytical test results for the well at Building 40?

Answer: Yes. Groundwater sampling report to be provided not later than 15 days.

(20) Question: Monitor wells with free product cannot be sampled, does the VA want the contractor to provide costs for the removal of free product from this well?

Answer: Yes. Groundwater sampling report will be provided.

(21) Question: If the VA wants the contractor to remove free product, will the contractor be allowed to perform source removal (soil excavation)?

Answer: Remediation approach to be evaluated after award is completed.

(22) Question: I write this note to inquire if you’ve been provided with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (FDEP’s) Petroleum Restoration Program (PRP) documents. Most of our questions are likely to be answered if you decide to utilize some of what they’ve devised with us in the industry. Have you been given the spread sheet and contract from the FDEP’s Petroleum Restoration Program?

Answer: Please see attached excel document, Price Schedule RFQ 36C24818Q0826 (revision 2).

(23) Question: Could you please confirm the new Due date for RFQ 36C24818Q0826 will be July 16, 2018?

Answer: Yes, the response due date is changed from 07-09-2018 @ 4:00 PM EST to 07-16-2018 @4:00 PM EST.