Questions and Answers .docx

Solicitation 36C26126Q0026 – Fire Alarm Maintenance Questions and Answers

1. Would you be able to provide last year’s inspection/testing reports for the covered fire alarm and suppression systems? If full reports aren’t available, would a summary of findings or deficiency lists be available?

A copy of the reports / inspections has been added with this amendment, please see attached documents.

1. Would a California certified fire sprinkler fitter be accepted as an equivalent to NICET Level III for performing fire sprinkler and fire pump inspections?

No, the NICET Level III is the only accepted certification for performing fire sprinkler and fire pump inspections.

1. Would a California fire life‑safety technician (blue card) be accepted as an equivalent to NICET Level III for performing fire alarm inspections?

No, the NICET Level III is the only accepted certification for performing fire alarm inspections.

1. Would ASSE 15010 or a Master‑level Sprinkler Fitter certification meet the solicitation’s qualification requirements for sprinkler inspection/testing personnel (as an alternative to NICET)?

No, the NICET Level III is the only accepted certification for this requirement.

1. Does the Government expect factory‑authorized/programming access (factory‑trained technicians) for proprietary panels as a mandatory prime capability, or is subcontracting to the manufacturer for program extraction/programming acceptable and allowable to be reflected as an assumption/allowance in the proposal?

Subcontracting is allowable under this requirement. Details pertaining to the limitations on subcontracting are located in VAAR Clause 852.219-75, set forth in this solicitation:

“In the case of a contract for services (except construction), the SDVOSB prime contractor will not pay more than 50% of the amount paid by the government to the prime for contract performance to firms that are not certified SDVOSBs listed in the SBA certification database (excluding direct costs to the extent they are not the principal purpose of the acquisition and the SDVOSB/ VOSB does not provide the service, such as airline travel, cloud computing services, or mass media purchases). When a contract includes both services and supplies, the 50 percent limitation shall apply only to the service portion of the contract.”

1. For personnel performing inspection/testing only, can you confirm whether NICET (or accepted equivalency) suffices without factory authorization so long as no programming or proprietary software access is required?

The NICET Level III suffices for this requirement. Factory authorization is not required.

1. Documentation and proposal instructions - Please confirm exactly which documents you expect offerors to include in their proposals to validate equivalency claims.

Scanned Certificates, signed attestation, and training records at a minimum.

1. Is a site visit going to be scheduled for this solicitation?

At this time there is no plan to hold an official site visit for this requirement. However, walk-throughs may be coordinated via email. Please contact Jared Urness at jared.urness@va.gov to schedule a walk-through of the facility.

1. Section 4.1.1 Are labor for repairs & emergency service expected to be included in the bid price we are providing, or are these to be provided as a separate quote?

Labor prices should be included in the quoted price.

1. Section 4.1.2 Are replacement parts expected to be included in the bid price we are providing, or are these to be provided as a separate quote?

Replacement parts (if part of scheduled maintenance) should be included in the submitted quote price. Replacement parts for unscheduled maintenance will be provided under a separate quote as the repairs are identified.

1. Section 5.3 Mentions capturing all water during sprinkler testing. Does this mean that all water can be distributed to landscaping or storm drains? Or does the water need to be collected in a water truck or water buffalo?

Storm drains are fine as long as there are no contaminations in the water.

1. Section 6.2 – is Building Reports program required or can we use our own comparable reports in Xaap format?

The Building Reports program is required for this requirement.

1. In reviewing the pricing schedule for solicitation 36C26126Q0026, CLINs 0002, 1002, 2002, 3002, and 4002 are designated for repairs or corrective actions identified during inspection, testing, and maintenance (ITM) of fire protection and suppression systems. Please confirm the Government’s intent for these CLINs

CLINs 0002, 1002, 2002, 3002, and 4002 should contain the prices of unscheduled maintenance only. Any replacement parts will be submitted through a separate quote at the time the need for unscheduled maintenance with replacement parts arises.