S02 36C26024Q0953 Amendment 0001.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 3

0001 12-10-2024

TBD

36C260

Department of Veterans Affairs

Network Contracting Office 20 (V4CONT)

1601 E. Fourth Plain Boulevard

Building 17, Suite B428

Vancouver WA 98661

36C260

Department of Veterans Affairs

Network Contracting Office 20 (V4CONT)

1601 E. Fourth Plain Boulevard

Building 17, Suite B428

Vancouver WA 98661

To all Offerors/Bidders

36C26024Q0953

11-21-2024

X

X X

TBD

X 1

The purpose of this amendment is to answer questions received and provide an updated copy of

VISN 20 - Attachment A - Price Cost Schedule. See continuation pages for details. Questions will be listed in black. Answers will be listed in red.

Jennifer Robles

Contracting Officer

VA-VHA-RPOW-2023-0015

A.1 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR SOLICITATION 36C26024Q0953

1. Question: As the NAICS for this RFQ is 325210 Industrial Gas Manufacturing, please confirm whether this is a Service Contract or a Supply Contract?

Answer: This requirement is for a supply contract.

2. Question: ANNUAL INSPECTIONS OF GFE TANKS: How does the GOV handle Annual Tank Inspections for GFE tank systems (e.g., does each VA hire 3rd Party Certifier directly or is this coordinated through the Bulk Oxygen supplier)?

Answer: Annual Tank Inspections for GFE tank systems is handled on a facility-by-facility basis. Some sites bulk O2 tank inspections are part of their overarching med gas and med vacuum testing and inspection.

3. Question: PROOF OF AUTHORIZATION / AGREEMENTS: PG 47 of 65 (Section SP1) states that “If the Offeror is not the manufacturer of the bulk liquid oxygen being supplied, the Offeror shall provide proof of authorization from the manufacturer(s) to resell the bulk liquid oxygen to the Government.” The following requirement also states that “If the Offeror is not the manufacturer of the bulk liquid oxygen being suppled, the Offer shall provide agreement(s) with the manufacturer and certify compliance with the Nonmanufacturers rule.” An Offeror’s Medical Gas Agreement with its supplier/subcontractor is proof of authorization to resell the bulk liquid oxygen. Please confirm that the provided agreement between the Prime Contractor and its subcontractor will suffice in meeting both requirements detailed on PG 46.

Answer:

Proof of authorization to resell is documentation from the manufacture that authorized the offeror to resell the bulk oxygen to the Government.

Compliance with the nonmanufacturer rule requires the following:

I. Do not exceed 500 employees;

II. Are primarily engaged in the retail or wholesale trade and normally sells the type of item being supplied; and III. Take ownership or possession of the item(s) with its personnel, equipment, or facilities in a manner consistent with industry practice.

4. Question: INSURANCE: How is the GOV going to validate that offerors are properly insured for NAICS 325120/221210 – the actual requirement for this work to comply with the RFQ and not just the dollar value thresholds required on PGs 5 & 47 of 65 in the RFQ? How do offerors portray to the GOV/Evaluation Committee that they have the correct type of Liability Insurance, and does this credential need to be affirmed at the time of bid submission (if not, an awarded firm could be turned down or not be able to afford this coverage in the amounts the GOV requires, respective to NAICS 325120)?

This is important because there are very few underwriters that will insure small businesses for distribution of compressed gases and why confirmation of the applicable NAICS is being requested, in accordance with paragraph (a) of FAR 52.228-5 – Insurance Work on a Government Installation – which is not included as a clause in this RFQ but is a standard inclusion across the majority of VA solicitations for NAICS 325120.

Answer: Offeror shall provide proof of liability insurance for NAICS code and requirements listed in the RFQ.

5. Question: ORDERING / TANK SET POINTS: PG 10 of 64 (Delivery) states that “If an ordering facility uses telemetry monitoring to automate the placing of delivery orders, the ordering facility shall define the fill point to be used and properly account for order automation risk regarding funding.”

a. Have there been any historical problems with the current refill/alarm set points?

b. What is the GOV’s rationale to allow the facility to provide their own reorder point especially for VA Owned Tank Systems (if there are no active issues)?

c. Please confirm if the GOV is stating each facility will define the fill point prior to beginning service under thew new contract, or at any point during the contract?

d. If the VA desires to reset their own refill points at any point during the contract, a

Delivery Fee CLIN is requested, which would only be utilized only if the VA sets their own refill/alarm points. There are actual costs associated with this change in the middle of a contract as suppliers may have to make additional deliveries than what was bid/estimated, and Distribution is the largest cost in the Medical Gas Industry.

NOTE: The GOV setting/changing refill points is not standard in the industry or in the VA, especially given telemetric monitoring. As a practical matter, vendors are bidding on the GOV’s estimated usage calculating the frequency of reordering/delivery, based on common industry set points.

Answer:

a. There was a report that telemetry stopped working and a site had to get it fixed.

When this happened, it set an alarm off alerting us to the problem.

b. Flexibility on the government to set reorder points.

c. Sites will define set points at the beginning contract.

d. Additional CLIN not needed. Sites will define set points at the beginning contract.

6. Question: The tank sizes provided for the Vancouver VA Medical Center appear to be incorrect on the ‘Sorted by Item’ tab and ‘Sorted by Station’ tab on the VISN 20 – Attachment A – Price Cost Schedule (Excel Spreadsheet).

Answer: VISN 20 – Attachment A – Price Cost Schedule has been updated to reflect actual sizes on the ‘Sorted by Item’ tab and ‘Sorted by Station’ tab: 1,500 Gallon Main with 400 Liter Reserve. These updates are highlighted in yellow on the updated excel spreadsheet. All vendors are required to insert proposed unit and extended prices into the updated spreadsheet in accordance with 7.1.3, Part II Price listed on page 48 of the solicitation. See attached document: VISN 20 – Attachment A – Price Cost Schedule – updated 12102024