S02- AMEND1_36C25620Q0056 0001_QA Date Extended.pdf

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 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 amendment, 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)

1 4

0001 12-12-2019

598-20-1-504-0001

None

Department of Veterans Affairs

Network Contracting Office 16

Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center

2002 Holcombe BLVD

Houston TX 77030 4298

36C256

Department of Veterans Affairs

Network Contracting Office 16

Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center

2002 Holcombe BLVD

Houston TX 77030 4298

To all Offerors/Bidders

36C25620Q0056

11-06-2019

X

X X

December 20, 2019 at 11:00am (CT)

X one (1)

The purpose of this amendment is to provide information to all interested vendors of the following:

1) Questions and Answers in reference to services requested, see attachment.

2) Extended solicitation close date pushed to: December 20, 2019 at 11:00am (CT)

3) All submissions to be sent to Shasta Britt, Contract Specialist at shasta.britt@va.gov

Nothing else follows.

Jeneice McClinton

Contracting Officer

Questions Regarding Solicitation 36C25620Q0056

1. Who is the incumbent contractor currently performing this work? A & B Environmental Services

2. What is the value of the current contract? Two-year contract that ended 9/30/2019 in the amount of

$39,6000.00

3. Sections B-E: Pages 2 – 4, B.2 Price/Cost Schedule: CLIN 0001 calls for 110 samples per quarter and CLIN 0002 calls for 100 per quarter. Please clarify as all samples taken require the services in CLIN 0002 per Section B.3 a)

(2).? This question also applies to CLINS 1001 and 1002, 2001 and 2002, 3001 and 3002, and 4001 and 4002.

Table below is the requirement:

4. Section (5) Page 6, VA Houston requires certifications to make collections and take measurements. There is no requirement similar to this in VHA Directive 1061. Imposing these requirements specifically restricts competition without bringing demonstrable benefit to VA. Will VA accept in-house corporate training certification specific to measurements and collection specific to VHA 1061 instead of the certifications listed?

Qualifications of contractor: Contractor must be certified by a national certifying body for the collection and analysis of water samples for environmental pollutants and must be knowledgeable in measuring temperature, pH and free chlorine.

5. Section (5) page 6, Regarding certification and collections can this effort be performed by a subcontractor or independent consultant possessing the required certifications for collection? If the answer is ‘no’ can VA please explain why this is the case and point to the specific policy, VAAR, FAR or other federal rule that prohibits this arrangement? Yes, the only limitation on subcontract is that the Service Disable Veteran Owned Small Business

(SDVOSB) shall perform 50% or more of the work as outlined in CTA attachment with solicitation.

Quarterly Water Sampling

Location

Minimum number of hot water samples

Minimum number of cold-water samples

Estimated additional water samples (hot or cold)

Estimated repeat samples

Estimated quarterly totals

Building 100 (Main Hospital) 10 10 15 5 40

CLC Units 10 10 5 3 28

Fisher House 1 10 10 0 1 21

Fisher House 2 10 10 0 1 21

Totals 40 40 20 10 110

6. Under Texas Law collections and measurements made in fulfillment of VHA Directive 1061 do not require certification. Why is certification being asked for here? See answer to #4 above.

7. Section B-E: Page 5, B.3 Statement of Work b) (1) vi. “conduct any resampling” How much resampling does the government anticipate/allow for? There is no CLIN for resampling, how does the government want the contractor to price for resampling? Please clarify if the contractor is responsible for the “collection” of any resampling requirements or if the government does the collection? If resampling is needed that will be modified on the contract to the related CLIN listed on the price/cost schedule. Minimum numbers and general locations of quarterly samples are listed in the table below. These numbers may increase due to the needs of MEDVAMC and the necessity of repeating any samples positive for Legionella. Below are the numbers from the previous contract, which do add up. I would recommend using these numbers for this contract.

8. Section B-E: Page 6, B.3 Statement of Work b) (3) i. “Quarterly sampling shall be accomplished regardless of any resampling that is required due to positive results.” How many positive results have there been in the past? This is confidential information and can’t be shared with the general public.

9. Section B-E: Page 6, B.3 Statement of Work b) (3) ii. Table: The estimated quarterly totals do not add to 110?

Please clarify? Below are the numbers from the previous contract, which do add up. I would recommend using these numbers for this contract.

10. Section B-E: Page 6, B.3 Statement of Work (4) “Sample results shall be emailed to the COR only, within two business days of receipt, including laboratory analysis and chain of custody forms.” Receipt of what by whom?

Receipt of the samples by the Laboratory

11. Section B-E: Page 6, B.3 Statement of Work (5) The State of Texas does not require or provide certification for

Legionella testing. The VA follows VHA Directive 1061. This State requirement also conflicts with Section 6 ii which aligns with VHA Directive 1061. Please remove Section (5) as a qualification of contractor or clarify that a

National EMLAP certification for Environmental Microbiology Accreditation meets the requirement? See answer to #4 above.

12. Section B-E: Page 7, B.3 Statement of Work g) (4) Please clarify this section as water testing does not involve

“orders for Veterans”? Paragraph g) (4) of SOW removed.

Quarterly Water Sampling

Location

Minimum number of hot water samples

Minimum number of cold-water samples

Estimated additional water samples (hot or cold)

Estimated repeat samples

Estimated quarterly totals

Building 100 (Main Hospital) 10 10 15 5 40

CLC Units 10 10 5 3 28

Fisher House 1 10 10 0 1 21

Fisher House 2 10 10 0 1 21

Totals 40 40 20 10 110

13. Section B-E: Page 14, Section E.1 a. Submission Instructions calls for one electronic copy of all section of the quote to be submitted. Please clarify if this intended to be ONE File with all Three Factors? Or, if each Factor should be a separate Volume or file? Due to the limited in size of a document sent electronically, files for each factor can be sent separate as long I each factor is represented in the quote for technically evaluations. Please in word or .pdf format.

14. If all in one file, please clarify E.1 c. Quote Factor requirements ii. 1. “Technical quotes shall not include price or pricing information.” If all factors are submitted in one file or Volume, then pricing will be in the same file as technical, please clarify? Paragraph E.1, c, ii, 1., only applies to Offeror’s technical response to evaluation Factor

2 – Technical. Offeror’s technical response shall not include price or pricing information for the evaluation team will conduct reviews of all bids to deem them technically acceptable. Only the Contracting Office will deem if

Factor 1 - Price is fair and reasonable. Award is base on Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA). If offerors bid is combined in one document the Contracting Specialist will remove all pricing for the technical evaluation team for review.

15. Section B-E: Page 15, Section E.1 c. 2. a Refers to similar work (e.g. maintenance, repair, or update). Please clarify as this solicitation is for water collection and testing for Legionella? Paragraph E.1, c, 2, a, statement corrected to “inspection and sampling”

16. Section B-E: Page 15, Section E.1 c. 2. b, “At least one of the two projects submitted must be 100% complete?

Please clarify 100% complete? The VA and other contracts usually have a base period and option periods that could span 5 years in total, does completion of the base period meet the requirement of 100% complete? If not, please consider removing this requirement or revising. Yes, for VA contracts are normally awarded in year increments, options years are awarded at the discretion of the Government and if the service or supply still needed. Additional, VA COR or customer are to preform annual period performance evaluation report and if contract is over the SAT a CPARS reports. Therefore, yes, those contracts if the year has been exercised and complete can be consider.

17. Section B-E: Page 15, Section E.1 c. 4, see questions #4, 5 & 6 above and clarify or remove this requirement. This solicitation is only for analysis of Legionella in water samples. Paragraph E.1, c, ii, 4 is what was performed in previous contract and will stand the same for this contract. Paragraph E.1, c, ii, 5, will remain a portion of Factor

2 – Technical; there is no #6 request.

18. Section B-E: Page 16, Section E.3 VAR 852.223-70, there are no instructions to include this in c. Quote Factor

Requirements ii. Factor 2 – Technical (page 15). Please clarify if Offerors are required to include a Sustainable

Acquisition Plan in the technical response? Please clarify if VAAR 852.223-70 applies to this requirement? If not, please remove. The Sustainable Acquisition Plan requirements are outlined in the SOW. Offerors shall describe the approach and quality assurance mechanisms used that will clearly identify the service needed in the proposal. VA anticipates inspections and sampling to commence after the new year.

(End of Questions and Answers)

Response Date Extended (NLT): December 20, 2019 at 11:00am (CT) to Shasta Britt, Contract Specialist at shasta.britt@va.gov mailto:shasta.britt@va.gov