Amendment 0001 for Spokane Cabling Solicitation 36C26026Q0456.docx

Solicitation 36C26026Q0456, Network Cabling Services, Spokane Amendment 0001 Vendor Questions Pricing and CLIN structure

1. CLIN x004 (Materials, 1 LT, $10,000 per year maximum limit): Is the unit price for this line pre-filled by the Government, or are offerors to enter their own price up to the maximum?

The $10,000 amount is the annual not-to-exceed ceiling for the materials CLIN. Offerors shall follow the instructions in the solicitation pricing schedule regarding entry of the unit price. No payment will exceed the applicable CLIN ceiling without a contract modification authorized by the Contracting Officer.

1. Are jacks, faceplates, patch cords and similar connectors Government-furnished under PWS Section 12, or are they contractor-provided materials? PWS 12 states the Government will provide "cabling, wiring, etc."

The Government anticipates furnishing most cabling and wiring materials, including associated components when available. If jacks, faceplates, patch cords, connectors, or similar materials must be furnished by the contractor, the COR will identify and coordinate that requirement in the applicable work order. Contractor-provided materials must be supported by itemized receipts, with no markup.

1. Is a single blended hourly rate per CLIN acceptable, or are separate rates required for specialty labor such as the Licensed Journeyman Electrician and fiber technician?

Unless separate specialty-labor CLINs are included in the pricing schedule, offerors should propose the hourly rates requested for the normal, after-hours, and weekend labor CLINs. Those rates must cover personnel qualified to perform the work required by the PWS, including electrical, fiber, and Cisco-related work.

1. Are the hourly rates to remain fixed through all option years, or will they adjust with Department of Labor wage determination revisions (see FAR 52.217-8 and the attached wage determinations)?

Offerors shall propose prices for each contract period as required by the solicitation schedule. Any adjustment associated with an applicable Department of Labor wage determination will be handled according to the labor standards and price-adjustment clauses incorporated into the contract. FAR 52.217-8 itself does not establish the wage-adjustment mechanism.

1. Is a single all-in price per cable drop (labor and materials) acceptable for work orders, given PWS 4.4 (itemized material receipts) and 4.5 (lump sum pricing breakdowns may be rejected)? Or must labor hours and material receipts be shown separately for every work order?

Work orders shall be invoiced using the applicable hourly labor CLIN and, when authorized, the materials CLIN. Labor hours, labor type, travel time, and contractor-provided materials must be documented separately. Contractor-provided materials require itemized receipts and may not include markup. A single bundled price per cable drop is not authorized unless specifically requested under a separate contract line item or modification.

Workload

1. Are the 1,500 / 100 / 100 hours per year firm quantities or estimates? Can the Government provide work order history by site (Mann-Grandstaff VAMC, Wenatchee, Coeur d'Alene, and the Vet Centers) for the last 1-2 years?

The PWS includes 1,500 normal-business labor hours and 200 after-hours labor hours for each applicable contract period. Work orders will be issued as needed, and the PWS does not guarantee that all estimated hours will be ordered. Historical work-order information is not included in the PWS and will be provided only if available and authorized for release.

1. Approximately how many cable drops per year are expected, and at which locations?

The Government cannot provide a guaranteed annual quantity of cable drops. Requirements will be issued through work orders as needs arise at the support locations identified in PWS Section 6.

Travel

1. Do travel hours reimbursed under PWS 4.2 count against the 1,500 normal hours, or are they additional? Is mileage reimbursed, and at what rate? PWS 4.2 requires mileage documentation but does not state reimbursement.

Authorized travel time is reimbursable for up to four hours per individual per day at the applicable labor rate. Mileage must be documented to support the travel-time submission. The PWS does not establish a separate mileage reimbursement. Travel hours will be charged against the applicable labor CLIN unless the Contracting Officer establishes a separate travel line item.

After-hours and holidays

1. Is the 4-hour on-call response requirement in PWS Section 5 compensated while standing by (no work order), or is payment only for hours actually worked?

The on-call response requirement is an availability and performance requirement. The PWS does not provide separate compensation for standby time when no work order is issued. Payment is for authorized hours actually worked and authorized travel time documented under PWS Section 4.

1. PWS 5.5 lists Juneteenth as the "Third Monday in June." The federal holiday is June 19. Which date applies for the weekend/holiday rate?

Juneteenth National Independence Day is June 19. The holiday and applicable observed day will be administered in accordance with the PWS and the federal holiday calendar. Any solicitation version stating “Third Monday in June” should be corrected by amendment.

1. Is the weekend/holiday rate applied to all legal holidays in PWS 5.5, including holidays that fall on a weekday?

Work performed on a federal holiday is outside normal business hours. The applicable billing rate will be the holiday or weekend/holiday rate identified in the solicitation pricing schedule. If the pricing schedule does not include such a rate, the Contracting Officer will clarify the applicable CLIN by amendment.

Wage determinations

1. Attachment 1 (Chelan and Douglas Counties, WD 2015-5541) is Revision 22 dated 05/23/2024, while Attachments 2 and 3 (Kootenai and Spokane Counties) are Revision 30 dated 08/27/2026. Which wage determination applies to work in Wenatchee, and will Attachment 1 be updated by amendment?

The wage determination incorporated for Chelan County applies to work performed at the Wenatchee location unless revised by solicitation amendment. The Contracting Officer will review the incorporated determination and issue an amendment if an updated determination is required before award.

Technical

1. PWS 11 requires a "confident Cisco switch programmer." Which Cisco switch models and software versions are installed at each site? Is the contractor expected to configure switches, or does VA staff perform that work?

Cisco switch models and software versions vary by location and will be identified through Government-furnished information when applicable to a work order. The contractor must provide personnel competent to support Cisco switch programming. The specific division of configuration responsibilities between contractor personnel and VA staff will be identified in the individual work order. No configuration work shall be performed without COR/POC authorization.