36C26326Q0188_3.docx

Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation

Amendment to a Previous Combined Solicitation

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NETWORK CONTRACTING OFFICE 23

VA BLACK HILLS HCS FORT MEADE CAMPUS

113 COMANCHE RD

FORT MEADE SD 57741

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Contracting Officer Jesse Sweesy jesse.sweesy@va.gov 605-347-2511 x16724

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Amendment 0002 to RFQ 36C26326Q0188 Adding Technical questions and answers Adding S02. RFQ 36C26326Q0188 Amended See attached document: 36C26326Q0188 0002.

See attached document: S02. RFQ 36C26326Q0188 AMENDED.

Technical Questions – Solicitation 36C26326Q0188

1. Section B.2 Statement of Work, Page 5. The statement directs offerors to see Appendix A and CLINs for details, delivery information, and sample breakdowns. No Appendix A is included in the solicitation.

a. Question: Question: Can the government provide Appendix A and all associated sample location, sample point, and testing requirement details.

i. VA staff are responsible for proper sampling procedure and classification of critical, utility and steam outlets. Appendix A is shown below. Sampling location ID’s and outlet description are included in below table and shall be included in contractor’s testing results. Contractor is responsible for meeting the requirements shown in the table on page 6 of 49 of the solicitation. This table references Table 2 and Table 6 of ST108. Table 2 and table 6 can be found on pages 18 and 35 of AAMI ST108-2023 (pdf version). The laboratory must provide a detailed, easy-to-read report that clearly references AAMI ST108 water quality limits (see table 4 or pg 33 of the pdf version of AAMI ST108-2023) for each tested parameter. All results should be annotated as either “pass” or “fail” relative to AAMI ST108 and, where relevant, federal and VA requirements. The lab upon request from the VA shall provide a summary of trending data against AAMI ST108 limits (e.g., graphs, charts) to illustrate improvements or persistent problems.

ii. Appendix A SOW NWI Water Testing Appendix A

iii. Table 2

iv. Table 6

v. Table 4 1.

2. Section B.2 Statement of Work, Page 5. The requirement references monthly, quarterly, and annual testing but does not identify the exact sampling locations within each facility.

a. Question: Can the government provide the number and location of all required sampling points at Omaha VAMC and Grand Island VAMC.

b. VA staff are responsible for proper sampling procedure and classification of critical, utility and steam outlet designation. They have worked alongside SPS staff to develop this. Attached is a copy of the sampling locations that VA proposes. It is not the contractor’s responsibility for sampling.

i. Sampling Locations (Contractor Not Responsible for Sampling)

3. Section B.2 Statement of Work, Page 5. The solicitation requires testing in accordance with ANSI/AAMI ST108:2023 but does not identify which specific parameters are required under each testing frequency.

a. Question: Can the government identify all required testing parameters, analytes, limits, and reporting thresholds for each monthly, quarterly, and annual sample type.

b. Reporting thresholds may be found in table 4 (pg 33 of the pdf version of AAMI ST108-2023). Below is a screenshot of this table for reference.

c.

4. Section B.2 Statement of Work, Page 5. The contractor must provide technical assistance with results, but the scope of such assistance is undefined.

a. Question: Can the government define the extent of technical assistance required, including consultation hours, corrective action recommendations, meetings, and follow-up support.

i. The VA has a contracted water treatment specialist who is available to assist with interpreting test results and advising on operational changes for the facility that is not included in this procurement. The awardee for this contract is responsible for providing guidance in cases of suspected improper sample packaging, incorrect chain of custody documentation, or unusual findings that indicate possible sampling errors, especially when these results differ from established historical trends for the equipment and water category.

ii. The laboratory must provide a detailed, easy-to-read report that clearly references AAMI ST108 water quality limits for each tested parameter. All results should be annotated as either “pass” or “fail” relative to AAMI ST108 and, where relevant, federal and VA requirements. The lab upon request from the VA shall provide a summary of trending data against AAMI ST108 limits (e.g., graphs, charts) to illustrate improvements or persistent problems.

5. Section B.2 Statement of Work, Page 5. Report labeling requirements will be discussed during the kick-off meeting.

a. Question: Can the Government provide the required report naming convention and labeling requirements prior to proposal submission?

6. Section B.2 Statement of Work, Page 6. The table lists estimated quantities but does not define how quantities were calculated.

a. Question: Can the government indicate if each quantity represent individual samples, individual tests, sample kits, testing events, or another unit of measure?

i. The VA has included a buffer in the contract line item quantities to accommodate additional testing if results fall outside the parameters specified in Table 2 or 4 of AAMI ST108. The contractor is responsible for supplying these ad hoc sampling kits, upon VA request, after the routine samples have been collected at both sites.

ii. The estimated quantities listed on page 6 are sample kits according to tables (2,4,6) given above.

7. Section B.2 Statement of Work, Page 6. Several quantity totals appear inconsistent with yearly estimates across a five-year ordering period.

a. Question: Can the government indicate if the annual totals for all CLINs include both routine testing and any additional retesting?

i. The annual totals(“yearly expected”) are the minimum number of tests for routine testing. The “total contract quantity” includes a buffer for retesting.

8. Section B.2, pages 5-6: The solicitation states that the contractor will provide all materials to collect samples, while the SF 1449 states that the contractor will provide all labor.

a. Question: Can the government confirm that VA personnel will perform all sample collection and that the contractor is responsible only for supplying collection materials, shipping, testing, reporting, and technical assistance.

i. The VA will handle all sample collection, while the contractor is responsible for providing collection materials, arranging shipping, conducting testing, delivering reports, and offering technical assistance.

9. Section B.2 Statement of Work, Pages 5-6. The solicitation does not identify whether emergency, resampling, failed-sample, or confirmatory testing may be required.

a. Question: Can the government clarify should additional testing beyond scheduled monthly, quarterly, and annual requirements be ordered (for retesting sources out of specification), and if so, how should it be priced?

i. If any results fall outside the parameters specified in AAMI ST108 and further testing is necessary, the contractor is responsible for providing the required additional sampling kits and analysis. This may involve retesting all or only selected outlets, depending on the results. Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs) should be structured to allow for pricing of single or multiple outlet sample deliveries, including return shipping. The VA expects that at least two outlets will be retested whenever a single outlet is found to be out of specification. This number may vary; therefore, the contract was structured as an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity agreement to provide flexibility for additional monthly, quarterly, or annual testing as needed and determined by the facility.

ii. “Total Contract Quantity” on page 6 includes a buffer to re-test single locations. “Yearly Expected” is the minimum routine testing kits at the interval defined on page 6

10. Section B.3 Price/Cost Schedule, Pages 9-12. The period of performance for this contract begins 17 AUG 2026.

a. Question: Can the government indicate if monthly samples for August be tested or will the monthly testing begin in September?

i. Although the contract is scheduled for award in August, the VA will need to initiate a contracting action for the first task order. The VA anticipates issuing this task order in September.

11. Section B.3 Price/Cost Schedule, Pages 9-12. The period of performance for this contract begins 17 AUG 2026.

a. Question: Can the government indicate if quarterly samples for FY26 Q4 already been collected and tested? Historically, during what month of the quarter are the quarterly samples scheduled to be collected?

i. Quarterly samples will be determined based on task order issuance and VA requirements. No historical quarterly sample date to provide. Upon receipt of a task order, the contractor must be prepared to ship the necessary materials. The VA will specify the types and quantities of samples to be delivered. Depending on the availability of VA equipment and personnel, the VA may request samples to be delivered on an as-needed basis. This process will be discussed with the awardee, as outlined on page 5 of the solicitation, and the awardee will be responsible for developing a delivery timeline for the test containers.

12. Section B.3 Price/Cost Schedule, Pages 9-12. The period of performance for this contract begins 17 AUG 2026.

a. Question: Can the government indicate if annual samples for FY26 already been collected and tested? Historically, during what month of the year are the annual samples scheduled to be collected?

i. No historical annual testing was performed. Task order to be issued and schedule discussed with awardee with CLIN pricing for each individual sample.

13. Can the government identify the incumbent contractor currently performing these services, the current contract number and total contract value?

a. Current sampling activities are handled through local government purchase purchases. No existing contract incumbent.

14. Section E.1 Addendum, Official Submittal Instructions, subsection d, pages 41-42: Offerors must state their understanding of the requirements to pay in accordance with the Service Contract Labor Standards.

a. Question: Can the government identify the applicable Service Contract Labor Standards (SCLS) labor classifications for each anticipated labor category (e.g., collection personnel, shipping personnel, administrative staff, laboratory personnel, project management) or confirm whether professional laboratory personnel are considered exempt from SCLS requirements under this contract per FAR 52.222-53?

i. Laboratory technicians are considered non-exempt from SCLS requirements.

15. Section B.2, page 4: The Statement of Work states that the procurement is for an IDIQ contract for a five-year period, but it does not identify a guaranteed minimum quantity or dollar amount.

a. Question: Can the government indicate the minimum quantity or minimum dollar amount the Government will order under the resulting IDIQ contract.

b. No

16. 16. Section B.2, pages 5-6:

a. Question: Can the government provide the anticipated collection schedule for each facility, including whether monthly, quarterly, and annual samples will be collected during the same event when their schedules coincide.

b. Sampling for critical water and utility water will be conducted concurrently with monthly, quarterly, and annual schedules. Additional steam samples will be required once the steam testing ports are installed, which the VA anticipates will be completed in the fall of 2026. After installation, the VA prefers to collect all samples during the same time period for efficiency. However, if equipment or staff availability is limited, sampling may occur at separate intervals within the designated frequency period.

17. 17. Section B.2, page 5:

a. Question: Can the government state the minimum advance notice the Government will provide before a planned sampling event or before sample kits must arrive at a VA facility.

i. There is no required minimum advance notice; however, the government will coordinate with the contractor to determine when the sample kit needs to arrive at the facility. Sampling should proceed according to the schedule outlined in the contract, unless otherwise directed.

18. Section B.2, page 5:

a. Question: Can the government clarify responsibility for replacement supplies, resampling, and additional shipping costs when samples are lost, damaged, improperly collected, received outside the required temperature range, or received beyond the applicable holding time due to actions by the Government or the carrier.

i. The VA will pay if the samples are lost or damaged or delayed by the shipper. The VA will pay if samples were improperly packaged or collected.

19. Section B.2, pages 5-6:

a. Question: Can the government identify when the kickoff meeting will occur, whether it will be virtual or onsite, which contractor personnel must attend, and whether associated labor or travel must be included in the quoted prices.

i. The kickoff meeting will occur once the contract has been awarded and the date and time will be set up by the contractor virtually.

20. Section B.1, page 3:

a. Question: Can the government clarify whether invoices may be submitted after completion and acceptance of each task order, after each shipment of final reports, or on another schedule. Please also identify the Government action that constitutes acceptance for invoicing purposes.

i. Invoices shall be submitted once the work specified in each CLIN has been complete including shipping, receiving, testing and providing results.

1. This will result in partial payments as testing is completed and reports received by the VA on each CLIN and Task Order.

21. Section C.3, page 19: FAR 52.216-19 contains blank minimum-order, maximum-order, order-aggregation, and response-period fields.

a. Question: Can the government complete all required fill-ins for the Order Limitations clause.

i. Done

22. Section C.4, pages 19-20: FAR 52.216-22 states that the contractor will not be required to make deliveries after a blank date.

a. Period of performance ends 8-16-2031

23. Question: Can the government provide the final date by which performance under a task order may be required.

a. Period of performance ends 8-16-2031

24. Section C.8, pages 21-22: The Sustainable Products clause states that required sustainable products are identified in the Statement of Work or elsewhere in the contract, but no such products are identified.

a. Question: Can the government confirm whether any specific sustainable-product requirements apply to sample containers, packaging, shipping materials, or other supplies furnished under this contract.

i. There is not any specific sustainable product that is intended, just a product that follows the definitions listed on section C.8. the guidelines are listed and linked

25. Section E.1 Addendum, page 41: The submission instructions refer to the limitations on subcontracting as being in Section C8, although the applicable clauses appear in Sections C.10 and C.11.

i. Limitations on subcontracting is C11, C8 is a typo.

26. Section E.1 Addendum, pages 41-42: Please clarify whether the 30-page limit applies separately to the technical volume and the past-performance volume or is a combined limit for both volumes.

a. Question: Can the government confirm whether cover pages, tables of contents, resumes, accreditation certificates, and other attachments count toward the page limit.

i. Limit is for separate volumes

27. Section E.1 Addendum, pages 41-42; Section E.5 Addendum, pages 47-48: Past performance is an evaluation factor, but the submission instructions do not state what past-performance information must be provided.

a. Question: Can the government indicate the required number of references, period of recency, relevance criteria, required data fields, and whether past-performance questionnaires are required.

i. You can provide your own relevant past performance information as you determine. The Contracting officer will look at CPARS, FAPIIS and all other known/relevant past performance history available to the Contracting Officer.

28. Section E.5 Addendum, page 47; Section E.2, page 43: The basis-for-award language states that the Government will issue a purchase order, while the solicitation otherwise contemplates a five-year firm-fixed-price IDIQ contract with task orders.

a. Question: Can the government confirm the contractual instrument the Government intends to award.

i. Purchase order is somewhat vague. This is intended as an IDIQ with individual task orders written as needed. Each task order will have a separate and funded Purchase Order number.

29. Section E.5, page 49; Section E.5 Addendum, pages 47-48: The full-text FAR 52.212-2 provision on page 49 contains a blank evaluation-factor section, while the preceding addendum lists four factors.

a. Question: Can the government confirm that the factors and evaluation approach on pages 47-48 control and revise or complete page 49 to eliminate the inconsistency.

i. The two provisions on page 49 are in line with the evaluation factor listed on pages 47-48 as they are based on those factors.

30. Section D, page 38; Section B.2, page 5; Section E.1 Addendum, page 42: Section D is blank even though the solicitation references Appendix A and Solicitation Attachment 1.

a. Question: Can the government provide a complete list of all attachments and confirm that no other exhibits, wage determinations, sample-location lists, or reporting templates are required for quotation preparation.

i. Appendix A

ii. Table included in solicitation (pg 6/49)

iii. Sampling information (included in above answered RFI’s for reference)

iv. AAMI ST108

31. Are all Utility Water Sample Point of Use samples? No

32. If some Utility Water Samples will be from the Treatment System, do they want bacteria tested on those samples as well? Please reference Table 4 and Table 6 found in AAMI ST108

33. Since ST108 does not require bacteria testing for Utility Water at the Treatment System, just at the Points of Use, will we need to also test at the treatment system?

a. The “yearly expected tests” on page 6 shows the number of utility tests expected quarterly. All utility tests, regardless of location will be performed in accordance with table 4 in ST108.

34. Is there an incumbent on this contract? If so, are they doing a good job?

a. No incumbent currently performing this job

35. Does the government plan to expand the scope during the period of performance?

a. No

36. Will VA personnel be collecting test samples?

a. Yes or separate water treatment specialist (not included in this contract) will perform the sampling

37. If VA personnel will be collecting samples, is there any requirement for the contractor to visit the test locations?

a. No requirement for contractors to visit the site, VA personnel or separate water treatment specialist (not included in this contract) will perform the sampling

38. Will the resulting contract be for a multi-year 5-year firm term?

a. 5 year IDIQ ordering period

39. Are quoters to submit firm fixed prices for a single 5-year period or may we submit escalated annual pricing?

a. Fixed pricing over a 5 year ordering period

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