36C26023Q0147 0002.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

663-23-1-3163-0029

36C260

Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 20 (V4CONT) 1601 E. Fourth Plain Blvd Building 17, Suite B428 Vancouver WA 98661

36C260

Department of Veterans Affairs Network Contracting Office 20 (V4CONT) 1601 E. Fourth Plain Blvd Building 17, Suite B428 Vancouver WA 98661

To all Offerors/Bidders

36C26023Q0147

01-17-2023

X

X X

** HOUR & DATE for Receipt of Offers is EXTENDED to: 2PM PDT 24 January 2023

663-363/40161-3163-810100-2631 8100101Y1

X 1

1) The next page of this amendment lists the answers to the question received regarding this solicitation. The questions are in black, while the answers are in red.

Jared Zinsmeister Contracting Officer

VA-VHA-2021-3BFD48CE

Liquid Nitrogen & Liquid Carbon Dioxide Delivery in support of VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle Washington

Q&A’s for Solicitation 36C26023Q0147

1.) Question: We are somewhat confused by CLIN 0006, 1006, 2006, 3006, 4006 Monthly Hazmat Fee and CLIN 0007, 1007, 2007, 3007, 4007 Delivery Hazmat Fee.

I don’t know anyone that charges a Monthly Hazmat Fee, Hazmat Fees are charged per Delivery, and then you have a CLIN for Delivery Hazmat Fee, is this meant to be only Delivery fee or the combined total of the Delivery and Hazmat fee per delivery?

Answer: From our (customer’s) point of view – we added these to the SOW because we are often charged these fees by vendors: Delivery HazMat Fee and Monthly Tank Rental HazMat Fee.

2.) Question: Cylinder Rentals – Will the VA allow vendors to submit Monthly Cylinder Rental Pricing instead of daily? Monthly is much easier to track and by doing it monthly the VA is only charged for on-hand balances at the end of each month/invoicing cycle.

Additionally, the gases in this RFQ do not all have equal monthly rental price. Will the VA allow vendors to submit rental pricing in the following categories (by size/type/functionality)?

Answer: Monthly versus daily rental fees are fine with us. Yes, we expect that any rental fees with vary with type of tank and size of tank.

3.) Question: Is there a facility/campus map available that notates BLDGs 1 & 13 and the point of entry for each?

Answer: Yes, we will provide a map to the vendor after award. The Vendor delivery staff will always be met and escorted by VA Staff on the specified days and times of delivery.

4.) Question: Is this a new requirement for R&D or is this a service currently being provided? If so, what is the contract # for the current supply and who is the provider?

Answer: This requirement was previously purchased using a purchase card. In the past this has been provided by Linde Gas and Equipment, Inc and Central Welding Supply Company.

5.) Question: Medical Grade vs. Lab Grade: Can you please specify the purity of Lab Grade required? Is this just industrial grade or a specific % purity required?

Answer: The liquid nitrogen and carbon dioxide are for laboratory purposes; therefore medical grade is not necessary.

6.) Question: We did not see VAAR 852.219-78 Certificate of Compliance required in this RFQ. Will the GOV Amend the RFQ to add in VAAR 852.219-78 whereas all offers must affirm by signature that they will do 50% of the Amount paid by the GOV (commonly referred to Contract Cost)? This is becoming increasingly common in medical gas

Q&A’s for Solicitation 36C26023Q0147 supply contracts with that include small business set asides essentially to weed out “pass-throughs” as including this VAAR offerors must affirm in writing that they will complete 50% of the contract cost as well as take ownership/possession of the gas.

[ ] The offeror certifies that it will take ownership or possession of the item(s) with its personnel, equipment, or facilities in a manner consistent with industry practice.

Meaning the offeror must be licensed to distribute Medical Grade Oxygen & Specialty Gases for human consumption (which the FDA Classifies as a prescription drug) in the State of CA (because the SDVOB awardee takes ownership of the Gas when delivered)

[ ] In the case of a contract for supplies or products (other than from a non-manufacturer of such supplies), it will not pay more than 50% of the amount paid by the government to it to firms that are not VIP- listed SDVOSBs as set forth in 852.219-10 or VOSBs as set forth in 852.219-11. Any work that a similarly situated VIP-listed subcontractor further subcontracts will count towards the 50% subcontract amount that cannot be exceeded. Cost of materials are excluded and not considered to be subcontracted.

Answer: VAAR 819.7009 no longer requires 852.219-78, VA Notice of Limitations on Subcontracting – Certificate of Compliance for Supplies and Products to be inserted in solicitations and contracts. Additionally this solicitation is a small business set-aside.

7.) Question: Emergency Deliveries: Will the VA add a CLIN for emergency deliveries?

This is a fee only for instances where R&D requires additional/off-schedule deliveries.

These are defined as same-day, off-schedule, weekends, and federal holidays.

Answer: The amounts listed in the SOW are a high estimate of usage. We do not anticipate the need for emergency deliveries. If we do have need for additional gas – then we will place an order using a different system.

8.) Question: Delivery Days: Please confirm that normal deliveries are only accepted on

WEDNESDAYS (other than emergency delivery situations) as PG 28 of 66 4.1 a), mentions “the week’s order will be supplied by 12n Monday?”

Is there something particular about WED deliveries or is the VA amenable to negotiating an alternate day of the week? It would still be the same day each week (other than if any federal holidays occur on that day in which the vendor would coordinate with the facility to ensure no interruption in service). Please note distribution is the highest cost in this industry.

Answer: Contractor shall arrive between 7am-11am Wednesday of every week to deliver that week’s gas order. The day of delivery must be on Wednesday and the time of delivery must be before 11am to ensure adequate/optimal cold storage and supply for the duration of the week. In the event of a federal holiday falling on Wednesday, the time of delivery must be before 11am on Thursday. This is a critical requirement. No deviations to this schedule will be allowed.

9.) Is there a contract already in place for this service or was in place?

Q&A’s for Solicitation 36C26023Q0147

Answer: There is not a contract already in place. This requirement was previously purchased using a purchase card. See answer to question 4 for additional details.