Attachment 10 - ALL CLINs - Step 1 Tech Questions Tracker 05192026.pdf

TECHNICAL QUESTIONS AND SOLICITATION #: 36C77626B0007

RESPONSES TRACKING SHEET PROJECT TITLE: Elevator Modernization Nationwide Initiative

To

# RECEIVED ANSWERED CONTRACTOR QUESTION VA RESPONSE

1 5/7/2026 5/11/2026 It appears that all locations are being captured under a single solicitation, due 5/20. Is the expectation that bids are based solely on the documents issued, or will vendors be given the opportunity to survey each location in order to provide the most accurate pricing?

VA Response:

The solicitation outlines that this is a Two Step Sealed Bidding process. Step One technical proposals are due on May 20th. Only those offerors who submit acceptable technical proposals will be provided the site visit schedule and be invited to bid. Bid Opening (Step Two) will occur at a date and time TBD. This information is located in the solicitation.

2 5/7/2026 5/11/2026 XXXXXX would like to confirm that XXXXXXX may submit our Step One Technical Proposal as a single corporate Offeror entity under XXXXXX rather than submitting separate proposals for each one of our 14 local operating entities.

VA Response:

Only those individual Offerors that submit acceptable technical proposals will be invited to participate in Step 2 Bid Opening. Each Offeror must have it’s own Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and adhere to requirements outlined in the solicitation. The offeror’s UIE that was determined acceptable in Step One SHALL be identical to the offeror’s UIE that submits for the bid opening (Step Two).

***Note, all documents required for bid submission SHALL be for the bidder/UEI found acceptable in Step One.*** ***Note, the bidder awarded the contract will be required to submit a payment and performance bond in accordance with FAR 52.228-16 Performance and Payment Bonds-Other Than Construction. The name of Principal on the bonds must be identical with name of the principle on the contract. ***

3 5/8/2026 5/11/2026 Does this outline which locations and specific elevators are to be a part of this project? Also, can you advise to what is a part of the maintenance scope?

VA Response:

See the attachments to the solicitation. Attachment 06_ALL CLINs- Master Spreadsheet has tabs at the bottom. Review all three tabs for locations and specific elevators. See Attachment 02_ALL CLINs-Specifications for information on maintenance requirements.

4 5/8/2026 5/11/2026 Will the site visits be released at a later date or am I missing them within the solicitation link/attachments?

VA Response:

See Section 2.5 of the solicitation for additional details on the site visit. The site visit schedule will be released directly to those who submit acceptable technical proposals in Step One.

5 5/8/2026 5/11/2026 Factor 1: Qualifications (Pages 48-49 of the Solicitation). Will the Government accept the active, state-issued elevator contractor license/certification of the Offeror's teamed elevator subcontractor(s) for the performance of the elevator modernization scope, in lieu of the license being held in the Offeror's own name?

VA Response:

Evaluation factors as stated in the solicitation shall be followed. “Offeror shall provide any state issued elevator contractor certification or license which allows offeror to perform elevator repair, servicing, and replacement in that state. This license or certification shall be active and in the name of the offeror.”

“Submit proof of any State issued elevator contractor certification or license which allows offeror to perform elevator repair, servicing, and replacement in that state.

Must be active, and in the name of the Offeror.”

6 5/8/2026 5/11/2026 Factor 1: Qualifications (Pages 48-49 of the Solicitation). May a licensed General Contractor that does not itself hold a state elevator contractor license, but that (a) is properly licensed as a General Contractor in the state(s) where work will be performed, (b) has successfully completed numerous elevator modernization projects similar in size and scope to the projects within this Solicitation, and (c) subcontracts the elevator-specific work through licensed and qualified elevator subcontractors, submit a proposal?

VA Response:

Evaluation factors as stated in the solicitation shall be followed. “Offeror shall provide any state issued elevator contractor certification or license which allows offeror to perform elevator repair, servicing, and replacement in that state. This license or certification shall be active and in the name of the offeror.”

“Submit proof of any State issued elevator contractor certification or license which allows offeror to perform elevator repair, servicing, and replacement in that state.

Must be active, and in the name of the Offeror.”

7 5/8/2026 5/11/2026 Factor 3: Past Performance (Pages 51-52 of the Solicitation).

Please confirm that previously completed PPQs, signed by the Owner's representative, can be submitted for Factor 3

VA Response:

Previously completed PPQs may be submitted if they meet all of the requirements as stated in Factor 3.

8 5/8/2026 5/11/2026 Please consider extending the Step One proposal due date 7 days from the date that RFI responses are provided to offerors.

VA Response:

The VA does not anticipate extending the proposal due date for Step 1 submissions. If an extension is granted it will be posted to SAM.gov.

9 5/11/2026 5/11/2026 Please clarify the technical requirements for Step One under Section 2.10 TECHNICAL PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

Factor 1: Qualification (Technical) Submission Criteria Item 2) Offeror shall provide any state issued elevator contractor certification or license which allows offeror to perform elevator repair, servicing, and replacement in that state. This license or certification shall be active and in the name of the offeror.

Are we required to provide a certification or license for projects in each State we will be bidding/working in? Or is a license from our registered state acceptable?

Per the solicitation, “Offeror shall provide any state issued elevator contractor certification or license which allows offeror to perform elevator repair, servicing, and replacement in that state. This license or certification shall be active and in the name of the offeror.”

Only 1 state issued elevator contractor certification or license is required. The certification or license can be from any state. There is no requirement that it be for the state where work is to take place.

10 5/13/2026 5/19/2026 Will the Milestone Payment Schedule be adjustable with proof of payment and invoices?

• Milestone 1 “Payment for Bonds” will be adjusted to reflect the actual bond cost incurred by the successful contractor, up to a maximum of 3% of the total contract value.

• Milestone 2 “Submittals, Design, Shop Drawings Accident Prevention Plan and Modernization Schedule” will not be adjusted.

• Milestone 3 “Elevator Equipment Ordered.” The Government will reevaluate the percentage allocated to this milestone. However, it is important to note that this contract is classified as a commercial product and/or commercial service acquisition. As such, payments are governed by statutory commercial financing authority, including FAR 32.202-1 and FAR 52.232-29.

• Milestone 4A “Mobilization/Demolition of Existing Elevator” and 4B “Installation Complete/Final Acceptance.” For contracts containing multiple elevators, Milestone 4A and Milestone 4B shall be used for each elevator on a per-elevator basis. Each billing item shall identify the specific elevator in parentheses, such as Milestone 4A (Elevator 1), Milestone 4B (Elevator 1), Milestone 4A (Elevator 2), and Milestone 4B (Elevator 2), continuing in the same format for the total number of elevators included in the contract.

“Elevator 1,” “Elevator 2,” and similar numbering are examples only. The actual elevator identifier used by the facility shall be used to accurately identify the specific elevator to which the milestone payment applies. Milestone 4A represents mobilization and demolition of the existing elevator, and Milestone 4B represents installation complete and final acceptance of that elevator. The percentage assigned to all Milestone 4A payments in the aggregate shall not exceed 32% of the total contract value, and the percentage assigned to all Milestone 4B payments in the aggregate shall not exceed 52% of the total contract value. Payment may be requested only when the applicable trigger and required documentation for the identified elevator have been satisfied.

11 5/13/2026 5/19/2026 The milestone payment schedule indicates a 1% Payment for Bonds. This is inconsistent with small business bonding costs.

While large businesses with higher annual revenue may be bonding at 1% small businesses typically spend between 2% and 3% for bonding, especially if any contractor is utilizing the SBA bonding program. Shall the Milestone Payment Schedule be adjusted to meet the actual cost of the bond paid by the contractor which can be verified by proof of receipt?

VA Response:

Please see response above. Payment will be based on verifiable documentation (e.g., invoices and proof of payment). For administrative simplicity, the reimbursable percentage will be rounded to the nearest whole number, not to exceed the contractor’s actual bonding cost.

12 5/13/2026 5/19/2026 Additionally, 12% cost for equipment is insufficient. General Equipment costs are often equal to one third to one half of the total project cost. Shall the material costs be adjusted to meet the actual equipment costs? While the advance payment for materials ordered and paid is helpful, and may not be intended to be for the full equipment cost, materials onsite are usually paid in full by the government. Please advise if material payments will be adjusted to meet actual material costs.

VA Response:

Please see response above. Milestone 3 “Elevator Equipment Ordered” is considered a form of commercial advance payment, which is limited to a maximum of 15% of the total contract price. While the Government recognizes that equipment and material costs may exceed this percentage, any adjustment must remain compliant with applicable FAR limitations.

13 5/13/2026 5/19/2026 Shall monthly progress payments be made during contract performance?

Payments under this contract will be made strictly in accordance with the established milestone payment schedule and the terms and conditions of the contract. Because this acquisition falls under commercial product and/or commercial service procurement, financing is governed by statutory commercial financing authority, including FAR clause 52.232- 29 (“Terms for Financing of Purchases of Commercial Products and Commercial Services”). These provisions do not provide for monthly progress payments based on percentage of completion.

14 5/13/2026 5/19/2026 The Milestone Payment Structure seems to indicate that payments will only be made at milestone events

VA Response:

Correct.

15 5/13/2026 5/19/2026 Shall the government allow monthly progress payments under Milestone 4B based on percentage of completion of elevators in process rather than lump sum payments at completion?

Milestone 4B will be paid upon achievement of the defined milestone criteria, rather than through interim monthly progress payments. The Government acknowledges the cash flow considerations raised; however, the payment structure must remain consistent with applicable commercial item financing regulations.

16 5/13/2026 5/19/2026 Shall guidelines for determination of when cladding is necessary for hoistway entrances be provided? To avoid unequal bidding among contractors recommend providing guidance similar to what is provided for the doors. Is 2 dents enough to clad the frames? Is 6 dents the magic number? Is a single dent the trigger? Is it up to the discretion of the contractor and to be specified in their proposal?

Please advise.

Re-cladding required when any singular dent is greater than 1/8” deep, OR three (3) dents or more per jamb/header unit.

Refinishing (painting if previously painted or recondition SS) is acceptable when jamb/header contains only minor surface scratching or 1-2 shallow (1/16” or less) dents.

17 5/13/2026 5/19/2026 Please confirm Cab Enclosure is the entire cab structure beyond cab interior panels? If cab shell is in good condition, may contractor propose retention as an alternate item for cost saving? How will variances to the specification be memorialized during the bidding process to ensure all bidders propose equivalent Scopes of Work when conditions onsite provide cost saving opportunities to the

VA?

The question is effectually, how will variances in scope be memorialized so all bidders provide equivalent proposals?

SOW currently reads: Provide new car enclosures and power door operators for passenger and service elevators in accordance with Division 14 specifications.

Per specs 14 21 10 - 2.44 Car Enclosure: Passenger/Service Elevators – existing car enclosure shell and frame to remain.

Provide new cab interior installed over the existing shell.

SOW should be updated to replace “car enclosure” with “cab interiors”. Specifications are correct.

Offerors are required to do all work listed in the statement of work and specifications. If during the site visit, it is identified that work listed in the statement of work and specifications was recently updated, provide an RFI indicating what was completed and how it complies with the statement of work and specifications. If a deficiency is identified that must be corrected to comply with current code, the offeror must submit and RFI identifying the deficiencies and correction needed. The VA will review RFIs and provide a response which will be codified in an amendment to the solicitation.