MKC Western Weed Control (Q-A).docx

697DCK-26-R-00432: Western MKC Weed Control Questions and Answers

1. J-1 requires one initial application plus three touch-ups, while J-3 has initial/second application columns. How should the four required applications be priced? This has been updated.

2. May a proposed subcontractor’s three comparable projects satisfy Factor A with a signed teaming commitment? For a new prime without performance history, does the Factor B cover-letter explanation and management-plan alternative satisfy the CSS requirement? This questions is answered in SA56.

3. Please confirm applicable prime/subcontractor workshare requirements, the questions deadline (the notice says October 26, 2022), and the offer recipient. The notice identifies Jennifer Davis, while SA52 identifies your address. We read the offer deadline as November 2, 2026 at 5 PM Central. This will be updated with the correct information.

4. Sections L/SA52 direct offers to you, but the SAM description names Jennifer Davis. Which address controls, and is the deadline November 2 at 5 p.m. Central? The question cutoff still says October 26, 2022. This has been addressed in Amendment 1.

5. J-5 bears solicitation 697DCK-26-R-00289, and Section M calls the survey J-3. Could you provide the correct survey? This has been addressed in Amendment 1.

6. Does the no-performance-history management-plan alternative in Section M also satisfy the separate three-project experience requirement, or must those references still be provided? May relevant proposed-subcontractor experience qualify when clearly attributed? It can be in-Lieu of but the CSSs is not service specific so it will be best to still submit 3 surveys even you don't meet the experience requirements.

7. May an offeror satisfy the Past Experience requirement using the experience of a proposed subcontractor or teaming partner who will perform a substantial portion of the work? No, experience must be of the Prime not the subcontractor If so, what documentation should be provided (for example, a letter of commitment or teaming agreement)? If you have a teaming agreement you can submit it.

8. May the required Customer Satisfaction Surveys be completed by references for that subcontractor's or teaming partner's projects? For a teaming agreement, I will need the surveys for the

9. For the required relevant past performance and Customer Satisfaction Surveys, may the prime offeror rely on the experience and past performance of its proposed subcontractor(s) that will actually perform the weed-control services, or must the referenced contracts and surveys be for work previously performed by the prime offeror itself? ? No, experience must be of the Prime not the subcontractor

10. Is this prime/subcontractor structure acceptable if the subcontractors performing the herbicide applications hold all required state pesticide licenses and certifications, or does the FAA require the prime contractor itself to hold those licenses? The Prime Contractor.

11. Past Experience (Section M, Factor A). May an offeror satisfy the three-project Past Experience requirement with projects performed by its proposed subcontractor(s), clearly identified as the subcontractor's record, where the subcontractor is committed to this contract in writing? The Past experience must be of the Prime. If not, how will the FAA evaluate an offeror that does not have three prior contracts of its own? Please refer to clause SA56 in the Solicitation.

12. Past Experience scope. Section L asks for "weed control services of a similar size and scope," while Section M asks for "grounds maintenance services." Which description governs? Weed Control. Amendment 2 will correct this.

13. Past Performance (Section M, Factor B). Section M states that an offeror without applicable performance history must explain the reason in its cover letter and provide a proposed project management plan. Please confirm that an offeror following this path may still be rated acceptable. Its possible the offer may still be rated as acceptable based on their CSSs and project management plan. Also, may Customer Satisfaction Surveys come from customers of the proposed subcontractor? No, from the Prime. The CSS are not service specific so even if you do not have Weed control experience please submit the required CSSs anyways.

14. Customer Satisfaction Survey form. Attachment J-5 is headed "Solicitation # 697DCK-26-R-00289." Please confirm references should cite 697DCK-26-R-00432, and whether a corrected J-5 will be issued. Section M also refers to the survey as "Attachment J-3"; please confirm the correct attachment is J-5. These was corrected with Amendment 1.

15. Insurance. Section L requires a certificate of liability showing the offeror can meet AMS clause 3.4.1-12. The Schedule does not state the kinds and minimum amounts of coverage. Please state the required coverages and limits. Will the FAA accept a letter, quote, or binder from an insurance agent confirming the required coverage can be placed, with the certificate of insurance furnished before performance begins? Please refer to AMS Clause 3.4.1-10 and 3.4.1-12

16. Offer due time. Provision SA52 states offers are due 11/02/2026 at 5:00 PM CT. The SAM.gov notice states 5:00 PM EST. Because daylight saving time ends on November 1, these are one hour apart. Which time governs? 5pm EST. Amendment 2 will address this.

17. Offer email address. Provision 3.2.2.3-20 directs offers to marshavia.clark@faa.gov. The SAM.gov description directs responses to jennifer.j.davis@faa.gov. Which address should receive offers, or should offers go to both? This was addressed with Amendment 1.

18. Question deadline and Q&A. The SAM.gov description lists the question deadline as "Monday, October 26, 2022." Please confirm the deadline is October 26, 2026 at 12:00 noon CT. The notice also states answers and amendments will be issued by 5:00 PM CT on November 2, the same time offers are due. Will answers be posted before that date? This was addressed with Amendment 1.

19. Hazardous Material Identification. Section L instructs offerors to complete clause 3.6.3-3, Hazardous Material Identification and Material Safety Data, but this clause does not appear in the Section I clause list. Is it required? If so, please provide the text and fill-ins. This was addressed with Amendment 2.

20. Small Business Subcontracting Plan. Clause 3.6.1-4 appears twice (APR 2025 and INTERIM APRIL 2026) and states that proposals must include a subcontracting plan. Please confirm a subcontracting plan is not required from small business offerors under this total small business set-aside. Not Required.

21. Escort and staffing access. Each site-specific SOW states contractor employees will be escorted by FAA personnel. Please confirm that escorted contractor employees will not require VAP entry, background investigation, or FAA PIV cards under clauses 3.14-2 and 3.14-4, and that J-6 should be completed on that basis. Currently this contract does not require badging.

22. Number of applications. The J-1 SOW requires one initial solid application and three touch-up applications per contract year. The J-3 pricing sheet has only two columns per facility: "Initial Treatment" and "Second Treatment." How should offerors price the three touch-up applications? Will a revised J-3 be issued? This was addressed with Amendment 1.

23. J-3 summary tab. The "Total of Base +4 Op Yrs" tab labels the years FY22 through FY26 and lists "Op Yr 3" twice. Please confirm the periods are Base CY27 and Option Years 1-4 (CY28-CY31). This was addressed with Amendment 1.

24. Add/delete rate. Each site-specific SOW states the FAA may add or delete facilities at a predetermined price per thousand square feet "in accordance with the contractor's bid." J-3 has no field for this rate. Should offerors provide a price per 1,000 square feet, and if so, where? No. if we were to add or delete, the CO will contact the vendor for price adjustments at that time.

25. High Plains site list. Attachment J-2a contains two tabs, "OLD contract" and "UPDATED 2026." Please confirm only the "UPDATED 2026" tab is to be priced. Confirm only the updated 2026 tab is to be priced.

26. Duplicate sites. Some sites appear on more than one district list. For example, GCK ARSR, LBL facilities, GAG RCAG, and MMV VOR appear on J-2b (Wichita) and also on J-2a (High Plains). Under which district should each be priced? This has been updated on Amendment 3

27. Decommissioned and zero-area sites. Several sites are marked "Site Decommissioned," "Concrete," or 0 square feet (for example BVO OM, EIU OM, RVS OM, TJY OM, and PNC LOC/MALSR/PAPI on J-2e; MKC LOM and STJ SAWS on J-2f). Should these be excluded from pricing? This has been updated on Amendment 3

28. Wage determinations. J-4 contains five Service Contract Act wage determinations (2015-5087, 2015-5105, 2015-5317, 2015-5341, 2015-5343), each covering specific counties. Many listed sites are in counties not covered by any of them (for example Liberal, Garden City, Dodge City, Hays, Hutchinson, Great Bend, Topeka, Manhattan, Lawrence, and Emporia, KS; Joplin, West Plains, and St. Joseph, MO; Enid, Stillwater, Ponca City, Bartlesville, and Gage, OK). Which wage determination applies at those sites? Will additional wage determinations be added? The wage determinations are based on the addresses in the SOW.

29. Funding clause dates. Clauses 3.3.1-11 and 3.3.1-37 reference funding through 09/30/2026, while the period of performance begins 01/01/2027. Please confirm these dates will be updated at award. These dates will stay the same until the contract is funded.

30. Predecessor contract. Section B references 697DCK-22-C-00124. Please confirm this is the current contract for this requirement. Yes.

31. Service Contract Act clauses. Attachment J-4 contains five Service Contract Act wage determinations, but the Section I clause list does not include an AMS Service Contract Act clause or a Service Contract Act price adjustment clause. Will these clauses be added? If not, may option-year prices be adjusted when the wage determinations are revised during the five-year term? Yes , we do provide the vendors a chance to update pricing at when an option is exercised if the wage determination has been updated.

32. Environmental Impairment Liability. AMS clause 3.4.1-12(b)(6) requires $1,000,000 per occurrence environmental impairment liability "when the contract may involve hazardous wastes." Does paragraph (b)(6) apply to this herbicide application requirement? If so, can the performing subcontractor's pollution liability policy meet the requirement by naming the prime contractor and the FAA as additional insureds? We will need to see the certificate of insurance to make that determination.

33. Workers' compensation and automobile liability. Subcontractors will perform all on-site work, including vehicle use, and will carry workers' compensation, employer's liability, and automobile liability at or above the clause 3.4.1-12 minimums. Please confirm this satisfies clause 3.4.1-12(b)(1) and (b)(3) for the prime contractor. We will need a certificate of Insurance from the Prime but you can submit one for the subcontractor as well.

34. Photographs. Provision SA5 prohibits photographs without prior approval of the Facility Manager. We would like to document treated areas with photographs for quality control and to verify the 90 percent kill rate. Is there a standing approval process for photographs limited to treated ground areas, excluding equipment and facilities? No there is not currently. You must get permission from the site facility manager.

35. Records management training. Clause 3.13-16(g) requires FAA records management training and an annual report by September 30 for contractor employees who create or handle records. Does this apply to escorted herbicide application crews, or only to personnel who handle FAA records? Only people who handle the records.

36. May a small-business prime contractor perform contract management and quality assurance while licensed small-business subcontractors perform the herbicide applications? The Prime must be licensed. If so, may the prime use the named subcontractors’ three similar projects and customer satisfaction surveys to satisfy the offeror past-experience and past-performance requirements in Section M? This must be the information from the Prime contractor not the Subcontractor.

37. What limitation on subcontracting, if any, applies to this solicitation? In particular, is there a limit on the portion of the contract amount that the prime may pay to small-business subcontractors performing the herbicide applications? The Prime contractor must perform at least 51% of the work.

38. Section M requires the offeror to demonstrate at least three successful relevant projects within the past five years that are similar in size and scope. If our company serves as the small-business prime contractor, may this requirement be satisfied using the relevant experience of a named first-tier subcontractor that will perform the field work? No, experience must be of the Prime not the subcontractor.

39. 2. Multiple Subcontractors / Combined Experience May Alpha propose multiple qualified first-tier small-business subcontractors to cover the required service areas in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma? If so, may the relevant experience of those named subcontractors be considered collectively toward satisfying the three-project Past Experience requirement? No, experience must be of the Prime not the subcontractor.

40. The Statement of Work requires one initial full application plus three touch-up applications each year. However, Attachment J-3 appears to provide pricing columns for “Initial Treatment” and “Second Treatment”only. Please clarify how offerors should price the third and fourth annual treatment applications. This was addressed with Amendment 1.

41. Our question is whether a comparable allowance exists under Factor A. Specifically: may an offeror satisfy the three-project requirement of Factor A with completed projects performed by a proposed subcontractor, where the offeror identifies the subcontractor by name, the subcontractor's experience correlates directly to its assigned scope of work, and a signed letter of commitment or teaming agreement is included in the proposal? If so, we would submit the Factor A information at items (a) through (i) for the subcontractor's projects. As it stands right now, the past experience and performances must be from the prime contractor.

42. Factor A asks offerors to identify projects of similar size and scope. This requirement spans approximately seven service areas across Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Would the Government consider a single-state or single-region vegetation management contract of comparable square footage and application frequency to be of similar size and scope, or does the Government expect each referenced project to be of comparable multi-state geographic extent? It is not required to be multi-state but as long as your referenced project are similar.

43. The Statement of Work provides that pesticides must be applied in accordance with the regulations of the States of Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas, and that only trained and state-licensed applicators may apply herbicides. Please confirm whether the Government requires the awardee to hold commercial applicator licensure in all three states at the time of proposal submission, or whether licensure must be in place prior to the start of performance on 1 January 2027. The vendor that is awarded the contract must have the appropriate licensures.

44.