RFP 448526 Questions and Answers.docx

RFP 448526 Amendment 2 Questions and Answers Question 1: On the pricing spreadsheet, I am not sure how I should fill this out. Should I include the manufacturer, part #, and price? Part #'s will be difficult to enter without more description so pricing will be a problem as well. Can you please clarify?

Answer 1: Refer to Instructions to Offerors in Enclosure 2 – Electrical Buy Categories Pricing Spreadsheet.

Pricing is not based on per part number. Offeror should propose a Discount Rate per each Electrical Buy Category it intends to propose under. A discount rate or markup rate should be proposed. For established Manufacturer relationships, the Offeror shall secure its proposed ICPT Discount Rate per Manufacturer. For example, for products under Electrical Buy Category ‘Circuit Breakers’, Offeror should establish and propose its Discount Rate from Commercial or List for all products under this Buy Category provided by Manufacturer A. If a GSA Discount Rate exists, the Offeror shall notate this as well for price fair and reasonable purposes. Additional columns may be added for each additional Manufacturer.

Alternatively, for those Electrical Buy Categories in which the Offeror intends to propose, but does not have a Manufacturer Discount Rate secured, the Offeror may complete the ‘Other’ column. Only the one ‘Other’ Column should be filled in. Pricing under this column would reflect cost plus the proposed markup rate. Offeror will also be required notate its Nominal Markup rate. This is required to ensure cost savings under the ICPT Agreement can be tracked (Nominal Markup Rate – Proposed Markup Rate = ICPT Savings).

Pursuant with Article 4 of Enclosure 1, Draft ICPT Basic Ordering Agreement, at no time shall the Seller charge more than the Manufacturer’s or Seller’s List Price.

Question 2: Who has the current contract?

Answer 2: This is a new agreement. As such, there is no previous agreement, contract, or contractor.

Question 3: Can we get a copy of the winning RFP (s)?

Answer 3: This is a new agreement. As such, there are no previous proposals/awardees.

Question 4: Can we get examples of previous “acceptable” Proposals.

Answer 4: This is a new agreement. As such, there are no previous proposals/awardees.

Question 5: Are there other potential ship to locations i.e. job sites in addition to the 19 listed? If so where?

Answer 5: Yes, there are other potential ship to locations other than the 19 listed. Pursuant with Enclosure 1, 2. This BOA is for DOE Prime Contractors and may also be used by DOE Subcontractors with written authorization of the ICPT Chair. Additional locations are not known at this time. Please see Q&A 6 regarding shipping.

Question 6: Shipping has to be included, what about small orders and emergency orders?

Answer 6: Pursuant with Article 3 of Enclosure 1, Destination, the work specified in Article 1 shall be completed and delivered as follows: standard ground freight is paid by Seller for deliveries to locations within the contiguous United States. Contractor is responsible for freight charges for deliveries outside of the contiguous United States and any expedited or special shipping or handling.

Question 7: For the Buy American provision, does the entire product have to be Buy American. Some components are made overseas, and final completion of product made in America. Is that accepted?

Answer 7: Products must be compliant with the Buy American Act clauses as set forth in Enclosure 1, Attachment C entitled “Basic Ordering Agreement between General Terms and Conditions for Commercial Items and Services DOE Contractors (04/2016).”

Question 8: Are alternative products acceptable if they meet specifications?

Answer 8: This is an overarching Basic Ordering Agreement. Item/product specification will be determined at the individual order level based on the requirements of the site. This being said, in accordance with Enclosure 1, Attachment A, Final SOW, “Products that are not purchased directly from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)/Original Component Manufacturer (OCM) must be purchased only from a franchised/licensed distributor of the product being offered. Contractor must ensure traceability of all products to the original equipment manufacturer.”

Question 9: Would it be acceptable to submit a discount structure that applies to all items?

Answer 9: Yes, please ensure Enclosure 2 – Electrical Buy Categories Pricing Spreadsheet is completed and attached to any proposal submission.

Question 10: In terms of questions for the ICPT Agreement, do you have an estimated spend for the previous three years and possibly a breakdown per site? Also, a potential usage for the products requested? Any information you can provide regarding usage and the facilities spend, etc. would be very helpful.

Answer 10: The proposed contracting mechanism is an ICPT Agreement. Being an agreement, there is no guaranteed use/spend under any ICPT Agreement by any labs. That being said, the goal of the Integrated Contractor Purchasing Team (ICPT) is to form strategic purchasing agreements and leverage the buying power of the DOE Contractor Community. This concept requires the Offeror to think of the DOE Contractor Community as a single entity, not as individual sites or locations, much like a corporation would place national agreements to be used by any of their locations.

Question 11: Could you please provide the specs or the model/part number of the electrical supplies that you are requesting? As well as the quantities?

Answer 11: This is an overarching Basic Ordering Agreement. Item/product specification will be determined at the individual order level based on the requirements of the site. This solicitation requests and any potential ICPT Basic Ordering Agreement award establishes the Discount Rate or Markup Rate for the Electrical Buy Categories provided in Enclosure 2 – Electrical Buy Categories Pricing Spreadsheet.

Question 12: RFP 448526, Section 4.3.5 Tab D: Payment Terms and Freight – Please clarify if prices quoted via punchout catalog or by any other means under the terms of this agreement include freight?

Answer 12: Pursuant with Article 3 of Enclosure 1, Destination, the work specified in Article 1 shall be completed and delivered as follows: standard ground freight is paid by Seller for deliveries to locations within the contiguous United States. Contractor is responsible for freight charges for deliveries outside of the contiguous United States and any expedited or special shipping or handling.

Question 13: Tab 6 – Inventory Availability and Delivery states ‘Additionally, the Offeror shall list its existing manufacturers of which they are authorized resellers.’ Do offerors need to provide letters of supply proving authorization to sell?

Answer 13: Pursuant with RFP 448524, Section 4.2 Tab 6, the Offeror shall list its existing manufacturers of which they are authorized resellers and the Offeror shall identify and explain its plan to address any regional distribution restrictions/geographical limitations for resale. Pursuant with the Evaluation Method for Tab 6, the Offeror’s proposal will be evaluated on the completeness and adequacy of its proposed approach for maintaining adequate inventory levels (inclusive of the Contractor and any proposed suppliers/subcontractors as well as its existing manufacturer relationships of which they are authorized resellers). It is a not a requirement to provide ‘letters of supply proving authorization to sell,’ but Offerors may include this information as part of its proposal for proposal evaluation purposes in support of Tab 6.

Question 14: Electrical Buy Categories Pricing Spreadsheet – For certain manufacturers, discounts vary within the product category. Can the offeror provide a range of discounts?

Answer 14: Offerors MUST include a discount for each Electrical Buy Category it intends to propose under. Offerors may add additional rows to address various product subcategories under the Electrical Buy Category and must delineate/title the proposed subcategory and proposed Discount Rate.

Question 15: Are you just looking for Small business companies to bid this RFP?

Answer 15: This acquisition is a total set-aside for Small Businesses under NAICS code 423610, Electrical Apparatus and Equipment, Wiring Supplies, and Related Equipment Merchant Wholesalers, with a size standard of 200 employees.