Questions and Answers.docx

Q&A Solicitation # 36C25926Q0071 Additional Questions and Answers received regarding RFQ 36C25926Q0071:

Q. Please confirm whether all janitorial consumables (paper products soaps, liners, disinfectants, ets.) are contractor-furnished, or if any items are provided by the Government.

A. Contractor is responsible for furnishing all supplies and equipment necessary to support performance of this contract. Government will supply toilet tissue, paper towels, soap dispensers including hands free dispensing paper/soap products, liquid hand soap, cake soap, plastic trash bags suitable for general trash, partition trash liners for restrooms, toilet seat sanitary covers, feminine hygiene products (to go into Government-provided dispensers), floor wax, cleaning and disinfecting chemicals, deodorant blocks, urinal screens, housekeeping carts, recycle supplies, personal protective equipment, and pagers/cell phones. See Performance Work Statement attached (paragraph 1.16.8 Government Equipment and section 1.17.8 Contractor is responsible for).

Q. Does the scope of this requirement include any handling or transport of regulated medical waste, or is medical waste managed entirely under a separate contract?

A. The Contractor shall provide all labor, supervision, management support, transportation, equipment, materials, and non- personal services necessary to provide complete hospital housekeeping, general housekeeping, and Regulated Medical Waste (RMW) collection as defined in this Performance Work Statement (PWS). See Performance Work Statement attached (section 1.3 Description of Services/Introduction and section 1.20 Processing of Regulated Medical Waste (RMW) Tasks).

Q. Please confirm that pagers and/or cellular phones will be provided by the government as indicated in Paragraph 1.17.8.

A. Yes, dedicated pagers and/or cell phones will be provided.

Q. Is there an estimated timeline for contractor personnel badging and access credentialing that offerors should account for in their staffing ramp-up plan?

A. Contractor shall submit an initial personnel roster to the COR within 30 calendar days of award for all personnel (name, date of birth, and social security number) proposed to provide housekeeping services. See Performance Work Statement attached (section 1.11 Security Requirements).

Q. If available for release, can the Government identify the current incumbent contractor and approximate staffing level currently supporting this requirement?

A. Janitorial needs are currently being provided by Hamhed, LLC under contract 36C25925P0461. However, not to the full extent of this requirement. Contractor staff information will be provided to the awardee and may be available for continuity of services.

Q. Will the contractor be provided with lockable storage space for storing its equipment and supplies?

A. Yes.

Q. Are there any facility areas with restricted cleaning windows (e.g., clinical or patient-care spaces), or may the contractor propose evening and overnight staffing where operationally appropriate?

A. Contractors are encouraged to propose staffing schedules that optimize efficiency (including evening or overnight shifts where appropriate) while ensuring compliance with the Performance Work Statement (PWS) and customer requirements.

Q. While the PWS defines task frequencies and service areas, does the Government maintain an internal estimated total cleanable square footage or staffing baseline used for acquisition planning purposes?

A. Please refer to the Room Audit Summary and floor plans. Offerors are responsible for developing staffing plans, pricing, and technical approaches that meet these requirements.

Q. Is this a new or follow-on requirement? If a follow-on, who is the incumbent, what is the contract number and total value?

A. Janitorial needs are currently being provided by Hamhed, LLC under contract 36C25925P0461. However, not to the full extent of this requirement, therefore the total value of that contract does not apply.

Q. Paragraph 1.4.1 as Crew 2 listed as Porters. Are Porters for Buildings 1 and 14 only or to include the “outer buildings” as well?

A. All buildings as well. CLN 0001 1st shift 0700am to 330pm are porters.

Q. In CLINs 0001 and 0002 there is not a Crew 2 listed. Where are we to put the cost of Crew 2 requirements in the Price Cost Schedule?

A.. CLN 0001, there are two shifts. CLN 0002, there are three shifts.

Q. Paragraph 1.5.18: Can you please provide the number and size of all bathrooms by building?

A. Please refer to the Room Audit Summary and floor plans. Offerors are responsible for developing staffing plans, pricing, and technical approaches that meet these requirements.

Q. Can a floor plan of all areas required in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) be provided?

A. Please refer to the Room Audit Summary and floor plans. Offerors are responsible for developing staffing plans, pricing, and technical approaches that meet these requirements.

Q. Paragraph 1.17.9: In the event of an EMP, will the contractor be able to be compensated via a task order any extra labor or expense that they may incur due to the work required that is considered “over and above routine work”?

A. No

Q. Paragraph 1.18.1: Is the Type 1 required for every crew, and what is the typical staffing requirement for this type of service per shift?

A. Yes, required for every shift. Please refer to the Room Audit Summary and floor plans. Offerors are responsible for developing staffing plans, pricing, and technical approaches that meet these requirements.

Q. Paragraph 1.18.1: What is the total square footage of the areas?

A. Please refer to the Room Audit Summary and floor plans. Offerors are responsible for developing staffing plans, pricing, and technical approaches that meet these requirements.

Q. Paragraph 1.18.2: What is the total square footage of the type 2 areas by building?

A. Please refer to the Room Audit Summary and floor plans. Offerors are responsible for developing staffing plans, pricing, and technical approaches that meet these requirements.

Q. Paragraph 1.18.2.4: What is the square footage of the Dining Areas?

A. Please refer to the Room Audit Summary and floor plans. Offerors are responsible for developing staffing plans, pricing, and technical approaches that meet these requirements.

Q. Paragraph 1.18.3: How many Patient Rooms are there in the requirement?

A. Please refer to the Room Audit Summary and floor plans. Offerors are responsible for developing staffing plans, pricing, and technical approaches that meet these requirements.

Q. Paragraph 1.18.3.1 – 3: Approximately how many Terminal discharges are there daily?

A. The Government does not provide an exact daily count of terminal discharges in the solicitation because these events are variable and dependent on patient census and operational factors. Offerors should assume that terminal cleaning will occur as needed and incorporate flexibility in their staffing and scheduling plans to accommodate fluctuating discharge volumes.

Q. Paragraph 1.18.3.6: What would be the weekly average of terminal cleanings for these areas?

A. The Government does not provide an exact daily count of terminal discharges in the solicitation because these events are variable and dependent on patient census and operational factors. Offerors should assume that terminal cleaning will occur as needed and incorporate flexibility in their staffing and scheduling plans to accommodate fluctuating discharge volumes.

Q. Paragraph 1.18.4: What is the total square footage of the areas included in the Type IV requirements?

A. Please refer to the Room Audit Summary and floor plans. Offerors are responsible for developing staffing plans, pricing, and technical approaches that meet these requirements.

Q. What is the total square footage by building for Type V services?

A. Please refer to the Room Audit Summary and floor plans. Offerors are responsible for developing staffing plans, pricing, and technical approaches that meet these requirements.

Q. Paragraph 1.21: Could the Government provide the total square footage by building number of the areas that require stripping and waxing?

A. Please refer to the Room Audit Summary and floor plans. Offerors are responsible for developing staffing plans, pricing, and technical approaches that meet these requirements.

Q. Paragraph 1.21.3: What type of finish is being used on the ceramic tile and concrete floors?

A. All floor finishes will be provided by the government.

Q. Paragraph 1.22: What is the total square footage of the carpet by building?

A. Please refer to the Room Audit Summary and floor plans. Offerors are responsible for developing staffing plans, pricing, and technical approaches that meet these requirements.

Q. Can you confirm the total square footage and specific areas included under this contract?

A. Please see questions and answers above.

Q. What are the required coverage hours and shift structure, and is 24/7 coverage required?

A. Please see section 1.4.1 Hours of Operation.

Q. Are dedicated daytime porters required in addition to scheduled shifts?

A. Yes

Q. Are background checks, PIV credentials, or escorts required for facility access?

A. Yes, background checks and PIV credentials are required for facility access.

Q. Are contractors required to provide consumable supplies and hospital-grade disinfectants?

A. Contractor is responsible for furnishing all supplies and equipment necessary to support performance of this contract. Government will supply toilet tissue, paper towels, soap dispensers including hands free dispensing paper/soap products, liquid hand soap, cake soap, plastic trash bags suitable for general trash, partition trash liners for restrooms, toilet seat sanitary covers, feminine hygiene products (to go into Government-provided dispensers), floor wax, cleaning and disinfecting chemicals, deodorant blocks, urinal screens, housekeeping carts, recycle supplies, personal protective equipment, and pagers/cell phones. See Performance Work Statement attached (paragraph 1.16.8 Government Equipment and section 1.17.8 Contractor is responsible for)

Q. Can you confirm whether award will be based on lowest price technically acceptable or best value?

A. In accordance with Solicitation 36C25926Q0071, section (ix)(c) Evaluation Approach, the Government will use comparative analysis.

Q. Paragraph 1.5.7: can the Government confirm what certifications are considered “comparable industry certifications” to IEHA (e.g., CHESP, T-CHEST, CHEST, NEHA credentials), and whether the Government will accept equivalency determinations based on documented hospital housekeeping leadership experience in lieu of a specific certification?

A. Government will accept equivalent.

Q. Paragraph 1.5.7: For purposes of the “one (1) year of experience within the last three (3) years” requirement, will the Government accept experience obtained in mixed healthcare environments (e.g., hospitals with attached outpatient clinics or medical campuses), or must the experience be exclusively hospital-based?

A. Yes, the Government will accept experience obtained in mixed healthcare environments such as hospitals with attached outpatient clinics or medical campuses. When listing such experience, please specify the number of buildings attached.

Q. Paragraph 1.5.8: In the event of an unplanned absence (e.g., illness, resignation, emergency), will the Government permit temporary assignment of a qualified interim Shift Leader while the formal 15-day substitution approval process is completed?

A. Yes

Q. Paragraph 1.5.8: Can the Government confirm whether the 15-calenday day advance notice requirement applies only to permanent substitutions, or also to short-term or temporary substitutions?

A. All substitutions

Q. Paragraph 1.5.8: Will the government consider a pre-approved pool of qualified Shift Leaders to mitigate staffing risk and ensure uninterrupted performance?

A. Yes.

Q. Paragraph 1.5.13: If only designated individuals are considered key personnel, may the Contractor staff additional Shift Leaders post-award in accordance with Section 1.5.7 and Section 1.5.8 without triggering the key personnel substitution restrictions of Section 1.5.13?

A. You may add Shift Leaders after award under Sections 1.5.7–1.5.8 without triggering key personnel substitution rules from Section 1.5.13—because those rules apply only to the specifically identified key personnel.

Q. Paragraph 1.5.13: In the event a key personnel Shift Leader becomes unavailable for reasons beyond the contractor’s control, will the Government allow substitution of an equally qualified individual subject to COR approval, without penalty or adverse performance impact?

A. Yes

Q. Paragraph 1.5.13: Can the Government elaborate on what clause they are referring to in the final sentence of 1.5.13 “No substitutions may be made except in accordance with this clause”?

A. The final sentence in Paragraph 1.5.13 refers back to the Key Personnel clause itself—meaning any substitutions of designated key personnel must follow the procedures outlined in Paragraph 1.5.13 (e.g., prior approval, justification, and submission of qualifications). It is not referencing an external FAR clause or another section.

Q. Paragraph 1.4 and 1.5.22: Section 1.5.22 references two weekday shifts for Building 1 and 14 (5:00 pm–1:30 am and 1:00 am–9:30 am), while Section 1.4 identifies different weekday and weekend crew structures. Can the Government confirm whether the 1:00 am–9:30 am shift is an additional required shift or if it replaces one of the weekday crews listed in Section 1.4?

A. The 1:00 am–9:30 am shift should be treated as an additional required shift, not a replacement for a weekday crew listed in Section 1.4.

Q. Paragraph 1.5.6: Can the Government confirm whether one Shift Leader may oversee multiple crews operating concurrently during the same shift, or if a dedicated Shift Leader is required per crew when multiple crews are working at the same time?

A. Offerors are responsible for developing staffing plans, pricing, and technical approaches that meet these requirements.

Q. Paragraph 1.6: Are monthly in-service training hours expected to occur during pad duty hours, or may training be conducted outside normal shift hours at the Contractors discretion?

A. Offerors are responsible for developing staffing plans, pricing, and technical approaches that meet these requirements.

Q. Paragraph 1.7: Will virtual or online continuing education courses satisfy the annual continuing education requirement for the Housekeeping Supervisor?

A. Yes

Q. Paragraph 1.11: Can the Government provide an estimated average timeline for background investigations and suitability determinations to support staffing ramp-up planning?

A. Typically completed within 1–3 months

Q. Paragraph 1.16.2: Can the Government provide approximate square footage and general locations for the Contractor’s office, supply storage areas, and housekeeping closets?

A. Please refer to the Room Audit Summary and floor plans. Offerors are responsible for developing staffing plans, pricing, and technical approaches that meet these requirements.

Q. Paragraph 1.18: Can the Government provide historical or estimated averages for daily terminal cleans, patient discharges, and emergency clean-up responses to support accurate staffing and pricing assumptions?

A. Please refer to the Room Audit Summary and floor plans. Offerors are responsible for developing staffing plans, pricing, and technical approaches that meet these requirements.

Q. Paragraph 1.5.22: Section 1.5.22 provides approximate total square footage for Buildings 1 and 14, while different square footage figures are shown on the final page of the PWS. Can the Government clarify the correct square footage values for Buildings 1 and 14 for pricing purposes?

A. Please refer to the Room Audit Summary and floor plans. Offerors are responsible for developing staffing plans, pricing, and technical approaches that meet these requirements.

Q. Paragraph 1.5.22: Can the Government confirm whether the square footages listed on the final page of the PWS represent gross square footage or cleanable square footage?

A. Please refer to the Room Audit Summary and floor plans. Offerors are responsible for developing staffing plans, pricing, and technical approaches that meet these requirements.

Q. Paragraph 1.5.22: If the listed square footages are gross square footage, can the Government provide the corresponding cleanable square footage for each building to support accurate staffing and pricing?

A. Please refer to the Room Audit Summary and floor plans. Offerors are responsible for developing staffing plans, pricing, and technical approaches that meet these requirements.

Q. Paragraph 1.4: Building 32 is referenced only on the final page of the PWS (Item K) but is not identified in Section 1.4 (Place of Performance) or Section 1.4.1 (Hours of Operation). Can the Government confirm whether Building 32 is included in the cleaning requirements under this contract?

A. Building 32 will not be on this contract.

Q. Paragraph 1.4: If Building 32 is included, can the Government clarify the required cleaning frequency, hours of operation, and crew designation (Crew 1–4)?

A. Not included

Q. Paragraph 1.4.1: Buildings 6 and 7 are identified in Section 1.4 (Place of Performance) but are not included in the hours of operation listed in Section 1.4.1. Can the Government provide the required hours of operation for Buildings 6 and 7?

A. Weekly services Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday 7:00 am to 3:30 pm porter and 3:00 pm to 11:30 pm

Q. Paragraph 1.4.1: Can the Government also clarify which crew level(s) (Crew 1–4) are assigned to Buildings 6 and 7?

A. Weekly services Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday 7:00 am to 3:30 pm porter and 3:00 pm to 11:30 pm

Q. Paragraph 1.5.7: Can the Government confirm whether required Lead-related certifications may be obtained within six (6) months after contract award, provided the individual otherwise meets the experience requirements at the start of performance?

A. The certification may be obtained post-award (within six months), so long as the individual already qualifies through experience at the start of performance.

Q. Paragraph 1.5.7: Does the Government require all Shift Leader certifications and continuing education requirements to be fully satisfied at contract start, or will the Government allow certain certifications (including Lead-related certifications, where applicable) to be obtained within six (6) months after contract award, provided the individual otherwise meets the required experience at the start of performance?

A. The certification may be obtained post-award (within six months), so long as the individual already qualifies through experience at the start of performance.

Q. Paragraph 1.5.7: Can the Government confirm whether proof of Shift Leader certifications and continuing education compliance is required at time of proposal submission, or only upon request during contract performance?

A. Certifications, continuing education records, and related documentation are requested during contract performance, not during proposal evaluation.

Q. Paragraph 1.5.7: Can the Government confirm whether all Shift Leaders are considered “key personnel” under Section 1.5.13, or if only those individuals whose resumes are submitted with the proposal are designated as key personnel subject to substitution restrictions?

A. 1.5.1. Key Personnel: Includes Supervisor and Shift Leaders. Key personnel should be available, via telephone or pager, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Q. Paragraph 1.5.7: If a Shift Leader is not designated as key personnel at the time of proposal submission, may substitutions be handled in accordance with Section 1.5.8 (15-calendar-day advance COR approval), provided the replacement meets or exceeds the required qualifications?

A. 1.5.1. Key Personnel: Includes Supervisor and Shift Leaders. Key personnel should be available, via telephone or pager, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Q. Paragraph 1.5.7: In the event of unplanned attrition or emergency circumstances, will the Government allow interim Shift Leader coverage while the formal substitution approval process under Section 1.5.8 is completed?

A. Yes

Q. The RFQ states that SDVOSB status must be visible in the SBA Small Business Certification search tool (https://search.certifications.sba.gov/). However, SBA guidance effective August 1, 2025 notes that Hoint Venture designations are no longer reflected in this specific tool. Will the Government accept the Managing Venturer’s certification in the SBS tool along with the Joint Venture’s active SAM.gov registration as sufficient proof of status?

A. According to the Government’s small business liaison (SBL), the Joint Venture must be active in SAM.gov with all partners listed, with the managing partner listed. The SDVOSB certificate for the managing partner must be in the SBS database with the secondary partner as part of the past performance evaluation.

Q. Can the Government please clarify this requirement?

a. If a bond is required, what is the specific dollar amount or percentage of the contract value required for coverage?

b. If no bond is required, can the Government please confirm if this statement should be disregarded or replaced with a request for a Certificate of Insurance (COI)?

A. Bond is NOT required. Please submit a Certificate of Insurance with offer.

Q. The square footage list provided includes Building 32 (14,631 sq. ft.), yet this building is not listed in the specific shift staffing requirements for either the “Main Hospital” crews or the “Outside Building” crews.

which crew/shift is responsible for its servicing?

A. Building 32 is not included

Q. Can the Government clarify if the square footage provided for each building represents the Gross Square Footage (GSF) or the Net Cleanable Square Footage (NCSF)?

a. If the provided figures are GSF, can the Government provide the estimated NCSF or a percentage of the total area that is excluded from daily janitorial requirements (e.g., mechanical rooms, wall thickness, or non-serviced storage)?

A. Please refer to the Room Audit Summary and floor plans. Offerors are responsible for developing staffing plans, pricing, and technical approaches that meet these requirements.

Q. Does the Government provide the dispensers for these products, or is the Contractor responsible for providing and maintaining the dispensing hardware?

A. The government will provide dispensers for products.

Q. In instances where the Government furnishes the soap, sanitizer, or paper towel dispensers which are battery-operated, is the Government or the Contractor responsible for providing the replacement batteries (e.g. D-cell, C-cell etc.)?

A. The government will provide the products.

Q. If the Contractor is responsible, can the Government provide an estimated inventory count of battery-operated dispensers currently installed in the listed buildings to ensure accurate pricing of these consumables?

A. Contractor is not responsible for providing consumables

Q. Will the Government provide a centralized bulk storage area for the Contractor to store a 30-day supply of equipment and consumables, or is the Contractor limited to the space available within the individual housekeeping closets?

A. The government has a centralized bulk storage area for contractor usage.

Q. Regarding the movement of Government-furnished supplies (e.g., cases of paper and trash liners), is the Contractor responsible for transporting these items from the main facility warehouse to the designated housekeeping closets, or will the Government's Logistics service deliver bulk orders directly to the closets?

A. Contractor is responsible for transporting these items supplied by the government.

Q. Requiring an industry-standard certification (like IEHA’s Certified Environmental Housekeeper (CEH)) for every shift leader rather than just the Site Supervisor may limit the labor pool and increase contract costs as the PWS requires all Shift Leaders to possess industry-recognized certifications (e.g., IEHA). Given the specialized nature of these certifications and the high number of individual shifts required, will the Government consider an off-site Management/Oversight model? Specifically, may the Contractor satisfy this requirement by having a certified Project Manager or Site Supervisor available 24/7 for consultation and oversight of onsite Shift Leaders who possess the required 1 year of hospital experience but may not yet hold a formal IEHA certification?

A. All shift leaders or Supervisor needs to be on site.

Q. Does the VA currently utilize a CCMS (Computerized Cleanliness Monitoring System) or CMMS (e.g., IBM Maximo or TRIRIGA) for tracking work orders, room turnovers, or quality inspections?

a. If so, is the Contractor's Supervisor expected to utilize this specific system for reporting and daily task management?

b. If a system is in place, will the Government provide the necessary software licenses and training for the Supervisor at no cost to the Contractor?

A. BMS for room turnovers. The government will provide training.

Q. Does the Scope of Work for RFQ 36C25926Q0071 include exterior window cleaning (second story and above) for the listed buildings? If so, is this service expected to be performed on a periodic schedule (e.g., semi-annually), and should it be priced as a separate Contract Line Item Number (CLIN)?

A. No, exterior window cleaning is a separate contract.

Q. Can the Government please provide the estimated total square footage of flooring across these buildings that specifically requires stripping and waxing (versus carpet or non-waxed surfaces)?

A. Please see questions and answers above.

Q. The PWS requires annual stripping and waxing of all floors requiring floor finish. Are these annual services required to be completed during specific hours (e.g., after-hours, weekends, or federal holidays) to minimize disruption to clinical operations?

A. Certain spaces—such as clinical, patient-care, or high-security zones—may have operational constraints that limit service times. Contractors are encouraged to propose staffing schedules that optimize efficiency (including evening or overnight shifts where appropriate) while ensuring compliance with the Performance Work Statement (PWS) and customer requirements.

Q. The PWS requires annual stripping and waxing of all floors requiring floor finish. Should this annual requirement be priced within the Monthly Janitorial CLIN or as a separate Periodic Service CLIN?

A. Annual stripping and waxing of floors is considered a periodic service, not routine janitorial work. Therefore, it should be priced under a separate Periodic Service CLIN

Q. The PWS requires carpet to be deep cleaned at least twice a year. Please provide the estimated total square footage of carpeted areas for each listed building (1, 14, 2, 5, 8, 9, 16, 18, 47, and 49).

A. Please refer to the Room Audit Summary and floor plans. Offerors are responsible for developing staffing plans, pricing, and technical approaches that meet these requirements.

Q. The PWS requires carpet to be deep cleaned at least twice a year. Should this semi-annual service be included in the monthly base price, or will it be tracked under a separate Periodic CLIN?

A. Carpet deep cleaning is considered a periodic service, not routine janitorial work. Therefore, it should be priced under a separate Periodic Service CLIN

Q. A Service Contract Act (SCA) Wage Determination was not found in the initial solicitation package or the attached exhibits. Will the Government please provide the applicable Department of Labor (DOL) Wage Determination for Salt Lake City, Utah?

A. See attached DOL Wage Determination 2015-5489.

Q. Does the scope include the transport of Regulated Medical Waste (RMW) from the point of generation to the final disposal area, or only from intermediate collection rooms to the dock?

a. Or, is the contractor only responsible for internal collection and transport to the facility’s centralized onsite storage/dock for pickup by a separate Government-managed waste hauling contract?

A. The contractor is only responsible for internal collection and transport to the facility’s centralized onsite storage/dock for pickup by a separate Government-managed waste hauling contract.

Q. Regarding Section 1.5.18, is the Contractor responsible for the exchange of sharps containers when they reach the fill line, or is that task performed by VA Clinical or Nursing staff?

A. Yes

Q. Are housekeeping closets (HACs) shared with other services, or are they exclusive for the Contractor’s use? Do they include locking cabinets for Government-furnished supplies?

A. Shared with housekeepers in other areas.

Q. Is this a follow-on contract to a previous requirement? If so, can the Government provide the current staffing levels (FTEs) and the name of the incumbent contractor?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. Are there any Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) in place that supersede the SCA Wage Determination?

A. No.

Q. What is the estimated onboarding timeline for new employees to receive VA PIV credentials and background suitability?

a. Will the Government allow 'escorted access' or interim clearances to ensure service begins immediately upon the period of performance start date?

A. Typically completed within 1–3 months

Q. Does the 'Main Hospital' scope include Terminal Cleaning of Operating Rooms, Sterile Processing, or Isolation rooms?

a. If so, what is the average daily volume of terminal cleans expected, and are there specific turnaround time (TAT) requirements for these 'stat' requests?

A. Yes, TAT time 60 min for end-of-the-day terminal cleaning of operating rooms, sterile processing, or Isolation rooms.

Q. Who is the incumbent contractor currently performing the janitorial services for the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center? If the services are currently being performed in-house or under a temporary/emergency purchase order, please clarify.

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. What is the total monthly price (or total annual award value) of the current contract? If this information is not available, can the Government provide the historical pricing for the most recent task order for these specific buildings?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. Are there any significant changes in the current Scope of Work compared to the previous contract? Specifically, have there been any changes to the building square footage, required shift times, or the introduction of new certification requirements for shift leaders?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. The current solicitation is structured as a Base Year plus two (2) Option Years. Would the Government consider extending the Period of Performance to a Base Year plus four (4) Option Years (5 years total)?

A. Not at this time.

Q. We respectfully request that the deadline be extended to at least two weeks after the final Q&A responses are posted to allow all offerors sufficient time to adjust their technical and price volumes based on the clarified scope.

A. No

Q. Can the Government confirm if shift schedules are fixed for the entire contract term or subject to seasonal/operational changes?

A. Shift schedules are fixed for the entire contract term.

Q. What is the current average staffing level per shift for Buildings 1 and 14?

A. As this is a service contract, staffing levels are to be determined by the Contractor as to the number of personnel needed to accomplish all requirements of the Performance Work Statement.

Q. What is the average processing time for background investigations and badges?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. What is the historical average number of daily discharges requiring terminal cleaning?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. Can the Government confirm square footage of carpeted areas by building?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. How many existing shifts are there?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. How many employees are on each shift?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. What is the total number of on-site contractor staff?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. What is the incumbent contract number and value?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. Has there been any change in scope of work requirements since the last solicitation?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. Who is responsible for buying the paper products?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. What is the square footage that requires stripping and waxing?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. What is the square footage of carpet that requires shampooing/extraction?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. Paragraph 1.5.10: Please advise what is specifically being requested here to meet this requirement.

A. Any certifications, technical training, or resume should be submitted to verify staff have experience.

Q. Can we get floor plans with the square footage for each room/area that requires the requested services?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. Are you requesting resumes for potential housekeepers?

a. If resumes are being requested for housekeepers, what are the standards?

A. No

Q. Paragraph 1.5.2 eludes to the fact that a Supervisor is to be present on a 8 hour shift and 1.5.6 states that a Shift Leader is to be present for each scheduled shift. Are both Shift Supervisor and Shift Leader (2 separate individuals) to be present on each 8 hour shift?

A. Yes, two different positions.

Q. While we will make every effort to assign the contract to personnel whose resumes were submitted the candidate may always turn down the position, may have found a job during the selection process, and other variables that are not in the control of the employer. We ask that this be written that the personnel assigned to the contract will meet the requirements of 1.5.3 and 1.5 A. Do not understand the question, please clarify.

Q. Our initial intention would be to hire the incumbent staff, as long as they meet contract requirements, we wouldn’t have their resumes to submit at the proposal stage but would love to retain their knowledge and experience. Can you please provide their information?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. How can the non-incumbent contractor meet this requirement if the desire is to hire existing staff/supervisors?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. What clause is being referenced in “no substitutions may be made except in accordance with this clause”?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. Please clarify that the annual training is to be provided monthly?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. We don’t see a CLIN that accounts for the 2 weeks prior to start of work expense prior the period of performance, please advise on how we are to account for this expense?

a. Will the awardee be given at least 2.5 weeks from ratified agreement to Period of Performance start date to account for background checks and PIV badging?

A. Not sure what expense you are asking about, please clarify.

Q. What are the colors that would be considered color and design distinguishable from all other VASLC departmental uniforms?

A. Dark Blue

Q. Will the government provide floor stripper?

A. Yes

Q. It seems that the Government is providing everything except for equipment, is that correct?

A. Equipment will also be provided by the government

Q. Is there a copy of the EMP that we can review?

A. Review after the contract is awarded.

Q. Is the expectation to strip the floors to bare annually versus doing a top scrub?

A. Yes, bare for stripping annually.

Q. In regards to paragraph 1.26.1, please clarify what is meant by “dry dusting”.

A. Damp dusting is preferred. Dry dusting removes dust but may redistribute it; damp dusting captures dust and is better for infection control.

Dry Dusting: Uses a dry cloth or duster to remove loose dust. Quick and simple, but can spread dust into the air.

Damp Dusting: Uses a slightly moistened cloth to trap dust and light soil. More hygienic and reduces airborne particles—preferred in healthcare settings.

Q. How many artificial plants are there?

A. There is no count of plants.

Q. What type of plant is the artificial plant mimicking?

A. There is no information to provide on type of plant.

Q. What is the highest point that light fixtures are located under this requirement?

A. 10 ft

Q. Is the Contractor responsible for exterior light fixtures?

A. No

Q. What is the highest point that exterior light fixtures are located under this requirement?

A. Not Applicable

Q. Are parking light poles considered exterior light fixtures?

A. No

Q. How many exterior light fixtures are there?

A. Contractor is not responsible for exterior lights

Q. How many interior light fixtures are there?

A. Please refer to the Room Audit Summary and floor plans. Offerors are responsible for developing staffing plans, pricing, and technical approaches that meet these requirements.

Q. How many blinds are under this requirement?

A. Please refer to the Room Audit Summary and floor plans. Offerors are responsible for developing staffing plans, pricing, and technical approaches that meet these requirements.

Q. Are cubicle curtains quick release?

A. No

Q. Please advise what is the square footage for the area of responsibility for Bldg. 1?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. Please advise what is the square footage for the area of responsibility for Bldg. 14?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. Building 32 (Fisher House) is not included with CLINs 0001, 1001, or 2001. Is Building 32 part of this contract?

A. No, building 32is not part of the contract.

Q. The PWS is missing the 1:00am – 9:30am shift as stated in CLINs 0002, 1002 and 2002.

Q. This contract requirement looks more like a manpower contract plus equipment. Have you considered requesting minimum staffing for each shift?

A. As this is a service contract, staffing levels are to be determined by the Contractor as to the number of personnel needed to accomplish all requirements of the Performance Work Statement.

Q. The solicitation states “Offeror shall include bond coverage….” but does not elaborate on bond requirements or parameters. Is there a bond coverage requirement for this opportunity?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. The solicitation states “Offeror shall include bond coverage….” but does not elaborate on bond requirements or parameters. If there is a bond coverage requirement for this opportunity, can you please provide the bond requirements or parameters that we need to include in our proposal submission?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. Can this solicitation be put on hold or paused due to the current federal budget situation?

A. No, as funding for this requirement has already been secured.

Q. Is there a requirement for a mandatory site visit?

A. No, an optional site visit was held on Friday, February 6, 2026 at 11:00am under Amendment 0001 which was published for public view on January 29, 2026.

Q. What are the minimum coverage limits required for General Liability, Workers’ Compensation, and Professional Liability?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. Should the Government be named as an “Additional Insured” on the certificate at the time of the quote, or only upon award?

A. Only upon award.

Q. Is the personnel list required as part of the initial quote submission, or is it due after award but prior to the start of services?

A. After award but prior to the start of services.

Q. The RFQ mentions bond coverage “as needed”. Could you clarify if a Bid Bond, Performance Bond, or Payment Bond is mandatory for this submission?

A. See questions and answers above.

Q. What is the required percentage of the total contract value (e.g., 100%) for the bond?

A. Not Applicable.