VENDOR QUESTIONS POSTED - 36C77025R0004 - 08-19-25.pdf

36C77025R0004 | National Operational Supplies IDIQ

Vendor Questions

08/19/2025

*** Note: All questions regarding this solicitation must be submitted no later than 08/22/25 by 5PM CST. Questions submitted after this time will not be considered ***

1) Q: With looking at the new pricing sheet, can you please confirm if the below highlighted item quantities are each or cases for Chelmsford?

A: Both of the line items highlighted below should be each, not case.

2) Q: Do you know if this solicitation will be unrestricted or set-aside? This will assist us in planning.

A: When there isn’t a set-aside type listed, that means it’s unrestricted.

3) Q:

A: Answer is they are basically the same. Long answer:

Stretch Film- is used for hand wrapping of pallets to secure the load of the pallet or what is being wrapped Shrink Wrap- is for an auto wrapper where tension can be applied while wrapping to secure the load of the pallet to the bottom of the pallet for transport.

4) Q & A:

5) Q: Can the quotation for this solicitation be on select items or does it have to be all inclusive?

A: You don’t have to bid on all the CMOPs, but whatever CMOP you do bid on you will have to bid on all their items.

6) Q: For the 6” and 14” seals- Can you find out what type of strength are needed?

A:

7) Q: Can you please let us know is it O.K. if we can provide alternative items that are mentioned in the RFP. or do we need to have the same Items that are mentioned?

We do have one more question is it mandatory to submit the RFP for all the 7 CMOP Locations or is it O.K. if we can submit for few of them?

A: I would go over the solicitation again to make sure you are meeting all the requirements, and you are not found uncompliant or your bid found technically unacceptable.

I screenshot the answers to your questions from the solicitation.

8) Q: We are sending out the requested samples for each location, but our carrier is saying that the address below for the COMP Great Lakes location is invalid. Do you have a full delivery address for this location including a street name and building number?

Address listed on the bid:

CMOP Great Lakes, 5th Ave & Roosevelt Rd BLD 37 NW DOCK 19, Hines, IL 60141

A: I’m not sure why you are having issues with the address, but this is a valid address for the Hines CMOP:

Department of Veterans Affairs Great Lakes CMOP 5th & Roosevelt Rd. Bldg. 37 Dock 19

HINES, IL 60141

USA

9) Q & A:

10) Q & A:

11) Q:

Can you please help us with the below question which we have

The Pricing of the items -Case/Bundle Requirement should be for Monthly, Annually or 5 years?.

Since we see for few of them the items Historical usage is missing.

Also can you please confirm the submission of the Pricing Quote will be through email.

12) Q:

A: Unfortunately, those items can’t replace the Past Performance form. That is a required document that all vendors must complete. All vendors must be held to the same standard.

Q: In order to be awarded a CMOP facility, do all items on the list for that facility need to be quoted, or can there be multiple awards for one CMOP?

A: You need to quote on all the items for that CMOP. One award per CMOP. But as stated in the solicitation, a vendor can be awarded more than one award; up to 7.

13) Q:

Could you please provide the following information for each box type you use?

• Board grade/thickness or material specifications

• Printing/branding requirements (if any)

• Desired delivery timeline or schedule

• Board grade/thickness or material specifications – Only the minimum requirements are needed. I don’t have that much detail.

• Printing/branding requirements (if any) – Only the minimum requirements are needed. I don’t have that much detail.

• Desired delivery timeline or schedule – This is an IDIQ with Ordering Officers. They order as needed. Some items will be ordered, weekly, monthly, etc. Please refer to the Estimated Annual Quantity column of the spreadsheet for guidance.

14) Q & A:

15) Q:

A: The smaller box is acceptable for Leavenworth to see the quality of the box.

16) Q:

A: These are all “manual fill” only.

17) Q & A: Please see my responses below in green.

Under delivery you state “delivery order requirements such as product quantities, time and place of delivery, and method of delivery for product(s) awarded on resultant contract(s) will be determined between the awarded contractor(s) and the OO placing the order at the various sites as specified IAW the Contract Ordering and Delivery Terms”

Can you please tell me if any of the polybags listed on the supply list, such as the bags I have listed here off the document, run on auto bagging equipment or are they strictly hand load specialty bags?

1. Resealable Bags - Clear Poly bags with interlocking seal 12"x15", 4mil flat w/o gussets

2. 7.5" x 10.5" durable mailer, matte, multi‐layer, co‐extruded polyethylene film, 2.5 mil, light grey/white color

3. Mailer-poly 12" x 15.5", 1.5" LIP 2.5 MIL

For Leavenworth, there is a box that is not stocked and is custom made (11.875x 9.125"x 10"). The manufacturer cannot just run 25 of these, it is a lot of work and adjustments on machines, so they are asking if they can put together just 2 or 3 for samples? Can we send a box in similar size that the same manufacturer makes, such as an 11 x 9 x 8. They will at least see the quality.

Question – this does not list a delivery time frame after receipt of order , is there a required delivery time after receipt of order ? When the Ordering Officer creates the PO, they will have a delivery date on it.

Under IDIQ Modification you state: “An IDIQ may be modified by mutual agreement of the CMOP and the vendor. Each such modification shall be in writing, issued by the CMOP contracting activity and signed by the Contracting Officer (CO) and the vendor. Modifications shall become effective on the date signed by the Government. Only the Contracting Officer is authorized to make commitments or issue changes to this IDIQ which will affect the price, quantity, quality, or delivery of the contract”

Question – Does this mean Price increases will be given over the course of the 5 Years? 5 year out pricing is very difficult if not impossible on general packaging items. I understand, but vendors are responsible for projecting price increases over the 5 year periods when bidding.

18) Q:

A: Confirmed it’s cases.

E.7 52.216-1 TYPE OF CONTRACT (APR 1984) The Government contemplates award of a Firm-Fixed-Price, Indefinite Quantity contract resulting from this solicitation.

C.7 52.217-7 OPTION FOR INCREASED QUANTITY—SEPARATELY PRICED LINE

ITEM (MAR 1989) The Government may require the delivery of the numbered line item, identified in the Schedule as an option item, in the quantity and at the price stated in the Schedule. The Contracting Officer may exercise the option by written notice to the Contractor within 10 days . Delivery of added items shall continue at the same rate that like items are called for under the contract, unless the parties otherwise agree.

FACTOR 3 Price: Price will be evaluated for reasonableness using one or more of the techniques set forth in FAR Part 15.404-1(b). Price Analysis 36C77025R0004 Page 56 of 73 (a) Price will be evaluated for reasonableness. (b) Contract will cover five years with no options. Proposed prices should cover a five year period. Any proposed annual increases will be evaluated and determined unacceptable if the years prices are significantly unbalanced.

Line items for CMOP Leavenworth, 84, 85 for the meddi creo pouches. Can you verify that the UOM is correct , which states cases, but should the UOM be listed as each ?

19) Q: We have a question on Part #P17761 P/N P17761 MEDI-CRREO Pouch - 8.5" X 6" X 2” according to the manufacturer this part # does not have a gusset, the description you have listed in the bid is calling out a 2” gusset? Can you please confirm that these bags no not need a gusset?

A: On the CRREO bags, we have accepted the 8.5x6 without the gusset before and it works fine. It doesn’t hold a lot, but can get one or two boxes of an item in it and then would go up to the larger 13.5x9 size if they need more space. A couple of important details that our Pharmacy Supervisor requests on the pouches is that they are clear with written opening instructions on each bag.

** sounds like they prefer the gusset but will accept without.

20) Q: Can we get the historical usage for Dallas, Hines, Leavenworth, Tucson, and Chelmsford?

A: As far as the historical usage for the CMOPs that have not provided that information, use the estimated annual quantity. The historical usage is just the number of cases, etc. times 12 to get the estimated annual quantity.

21) Q: I am working on sourcing for these, and am getting some questions about UOM for some of the lines. See below. Are they really requesting 6000 cases, or EA? Next one is requesting 21,000 cases, or EA?

A: Line item #85 should be 21 cases of 1000. Line item #84 should be 6 cases of 1000. Line item # 120 is correct.

Q: What items would I need letters of supply from the manufacturer for? What makes an item Brand Name?

A: Send an Authorized Distributors Letter for any item on the spreadsheet that says

Brand Name or equal, for which you choose to supply the Brand Name. For example the MEDI-CRREO pouches, and Smart Karton box.

22) Q & A:

23) Q:

A: The answer is 2.8 +/- 0.4 mils.

24) Q & A:

25) Q & A: Here are some of the questions we put together:

2. This RFP might result in multiple awards per location. Could you clarify how the award process works at each site?

1. 5-Year Pricing Structure Is pricing intended to be firm-fixed for all five years, or set annually? Firm-fixed for the 5 year period.

Are Economic Price Adjustments (EPA) allowed, or should anticipated changes be built into the initial pricing? Price increases should be anticipated by the vendor when submitting their bid for the whole five years. EPA is not allowed.

2. Government Purchase Card Transactions Can you clarify how GPC transactions would be used under this contract since it is an awarded contract? If required, are vendors allowed to pass along credit card processing fees (ours is 3.5%), or must they be absorbed in our pricing? GPC transactions are not used. Orders are invoiced through Tungsten. This isn't a credit card purchase.

We plan to quote for the Hines and Dallas locations, where we have strong national distribution channels. If awarded, would we be considered the sole supplier for that location, or would we be listed among multiple preferred suppliers? If you receive an award for Hines and Dallas, you would be the sole supplier.