S05 - Q_As - RFQ 36C25723Q0271.pdf

Q & As

36C25723Q0271 - Fire Alarm and Suppression Systems

1. Can you please tell me who the incumbent is for each location?

Answer: HURTVET SUBCONTRACTING, LLC – Contract # 36C25718P2211.

2. Do you have any previous reports that show device quantities for all fire alarm and sprinkler system devices? See attached Reports.

3. Copy of inventory list to include Building and devices – sprinkler and fire alarm.

See attached Reports.

4. Copy of previous/Current Inspection Reports. See attached Reports.

5. Date of last 5 year Internal Inspection. See attached Reports.

6. Date of last 3 year Full Flow Trip Test. See attached Reports.

7. Verify that Fire Extinguishers are excluded from this SOW.

Answer: No, there are no fire extinguishers in the SOW.

8. Verify that Kitchen Hood systems are excluded from this SOW.

Answer: Yes, kitchen hoods are in the SOW.

9. In the SOW for the above referenced project, Section 8 b. states, This work will not be sub-contracted without approval from the COR. The Contractor will ensure all work is performed with on-site supervision by a competent/licensed person for either alarm or suppression inspection/testing. If these time frames differ, the vendor will comply with the most restrictive requirement.

Is the prime contractor required to have a licensed project manager, along with the subcontractor's project manager? Answer: No. This seems to imply that all personnel should be licensed even if they are not performing any of the work.

10. Is a bid guarantee letter and performance bonding required for this quote and/or project?

Answer: No.

11. Do we have an inventory of the number of systems to be inspected, FA, Sprinkler, Kitchen Hoods, Fire Doors, etc. and the number of devices we need to test? See attached Reports.

12. Solicitation Page 23 of 42, FACTOR 1: Past Performance, states the following: “The Contractor shall provide the following documentation with their offer:

1. Four (4) references (two (2) VA and two (2) private sector) which can validate past experience within the last 5 years regarding:

• Fire Alarm System testing, repair, maintenance, installation, and monitoring. Will be removed from SOW (Requirement is for inspection and testing, not repair and monitoring.)

• Quality of Service (to include timeliness of service, documentation, and communication of work/repairs at time of service) and technical support.

RFI: With this being a Federal contract, requiring 2 private sector contract references would severely limit competition on this requirement. Many, if not most, federal contractors do not perform private sector work. We respectfully request this requirement be removed and rephrased to: “Four (4) VA references which can validate past experience within the last 5 years regarding…”

Answer: Requiring 2 private sector contract references will not severely limit competition on this requirement. Vendor shall submit their past performance for last five years, regardless. If vendor does not have any private sector contract reference/s, they will not be penalized for that.

13. Solicitation Page 23 of 42, FACTOR 2: Technical Capability, states the following:

“The contractor shall provide the following documentation with their offer: 1. Capability Statement, maximum 2 pages which can validate Technical Capability.”

RFI: We respectfully request an additional 8 pages be added, giving contractors a total of 10 pages maximum. This is necessary to allow contractors to provide sufficient differentiating information about their Technical Capabilities which will enable the evaluation board to assess which offeror would provide Best Value to the government. Answer: You are granted the 10 total pages Technical Capabilities.

RFI: We also request confirmation that the certifications that are required to be submitted, per the SOW, do not count against the above page limits referenced in the Solicitation Basis for Award.

Answer: They will not count against the page limits for Technical Capability.

14. Solicitation Page 23 of 42, FACTOR 1: Price RFI: Should this be Factor 3? Answer: Yes, Price should be FACTOR 3, I’ll correct.

15. Scope of Work Page 3, 7. Qualifications of Personnel, “Contractor shall possess the following Texas state licenses / Registrations | 1. ACR (fire alarm)…”

RFI: Please confirm that the Prime Contractor and subcontracting team collectively can hold these certifications. Answer: Yes, the Prime Contractor and subcontracting team collectively can hold these certifications.

RFI: Per the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office (TX SFMO), ACR and ACR-SS licenses are mutually exclusive and cannot be held simultaneously. ACR-SS is a lower-level license exclusively for non-networked locally reporting (i.e. single-station) devices, predominantly in a residential setting. The ACR allows license-holders to perform all activities related to Fire Alarm work, including monitoring, while ACR-SS license-holders can only work on single-station devices that are not part of or connected to any other device or system. See TX SFMO Form SF229 for additional details.

Please confirm that the Contractor should hold an ACR license to cover the requirement of inspection and testing of this system. Answer: This requirement does not require monitoring. Was not able to confirm w/SME if contractor should hold an ACR license.

RFI: Per Texas SFMO, The SCR-G (SCR-General) license is a broad encompassing license that permits a fire protection sprinkler system contractor to conduct the planning, sales, installation, maintenance, or servicing of any fire protection sprinkler system or any part of such a system, which includes underground elements. The SCR-U is specifically for the sales/installation/maintenance/service of water supply piping (i.e., utility lines), the inspection of which is not covered by this procurement’s SOW.

Research on the TX SFMO license holder database validates this as a majority of SCR-U holders are utility contractors rather than fire alarm and fire sprinkler providers.

Please confirm that the Contractor should hold an SCR-G rather than SCR-U to cover the requirement of inspection and testing of this system as outlined in the SOW.

16. Scope of Work Page 3, 7. Qualifications of Personnel “The contractor shall ensure that all personnel performing work on this contract shall have at minimum the following certifications” Answer: Was not able to confirm w/SME if contractor should hold an TX SFMO license.

RFI: Please confirm that exceeding the minimum standards of qualification, licensure, and work experience will be considered advantageously in a Best Value assessment, i.e., that the Government recognizes there is significant value in having technicians and supervisory personnel who offer more than the bare minimum. Answer: Yes, exceeding the minimum standards of qualification, licensure, and work experience will be considered advantageously as this is a competitive best value selection.

17. Scope of Work Page 3, 8. Contractor Special Requirements b. This work will not be sub-contracted without approval from the COR.

RFI: Please confirm that 13 CFR § 125.6 (a)(1) and 13 CFR § 125.6 (g) apply to this solicitation, i.e., that “In the case of a contract for services (except construction), it will not pay more than 50% of the amount paid by the government to it to firms that are not similarly situated.” and that “Whoever violates the requirements set forth in paragraph (a) of this section shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in 15 U.S.C. 645(d), except that the fine shall be treated as the greater of $500,000 or the dollar amount spent, in excess of permitted levels, by the entity on subcontractors” Answer: Yes, see VAAR Clause 852.219-77, currently on page 17 of solicitation.

18. Scope of Work Page 2, 6. Performance Requirements “…personnel (2 minimum) required to perform a complete inspection, testing, maintenance, and repair service…”

RFI: Please confirm maintenance and repair services are handled exclusively under a separate contract and this procurement is solely intended for inspection and testing services IAW the remainder of the SOW document.

Answer: Performance Requirements will be edited as follows:

The Contractor shall furnish all labor, travel, equipment, supplies, materials, and personnel (2 minimum) required to perform a complete inspection and testing of the systems in accordance with the frequency and procedures outlined in the most current edition of the Applicable publications below. (Removed maintenance, and repair service).

End of Q&A’s