2.4.1- Question and Response_A0001_Attach 5.pdf

QUESTIONS AND RESPONSE

ICE RFQ 70CMSD27Q00000001 Attachment 5

Solicitation - Comments, Questions and Answers

Paragraph Reference

/ Other (Sample.

Para 5.1)

Industry Questions Government Response

1 What are the estimated daily ridership and maximum number of passengers needing transportation at one time?

The maximum number of passengers needing transportation at one time is approximately ten (10).

2 Are there required departure intervals or maximum passenger wait times?

Departure intervals and passenger wait times are not required.

3 How will drivers identify authorized OPLA employees and visitors?

Drivers will be able to request appropriate identification from employees to ensure authorization for travel.

4 Will the Government provide overnight parking for the contractor’s vehicle(s)?

No, the government will not provide overnight parking for the contractor’s vehicles.

5 Do cover pages and tables of contents count toward the 10-page technical approach limit?

No

6 Please confirm whether exclusive use begins at 4:30 p.m., when pickups start, or at 4:45 p.m., as stated in Section 4 of the SOW.

Exclusive use begins at 4:30 pm. Section 4 has been changed to match Section 2.

7 The SOW excludes service on 11 holidays, while the wage determination lists 12 paid holidays, including Good Friday. Will shuttle service be required on Good Friday?

Only 11 federal holidays are observed for the Newark office. Good Friday is not applicable.

8 SOW page 1, Scope of Work item 1, calls for “an 8–10 passenger capacity van or vehicle.” Is a shuttle with 14 passenger seats plus a separate driver seat acceptable, or must the vehicle's passenger capacity stay within 8–10?

8-10 passengers are only required for this service. If the vendor chooses to use a larger capacity vehicle, the Government will not cover any additional costs.

9 Would OPLA be open to considering a fully autonomous, driverless vehicle as an alternative to a traditional driver-operated van for transporting employees between 970 Broad Street, the train stations, and nearby parking lots?

No

10 May a contractor perform this requirement as the small-business prime contractor using a qualified local small-business transportation subcontractor for the actual passenger transport services?

Yes, prime contractor shall adhere to RFO Clause 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting.

11 If technical capability, fleet qualifications, driver qualifications, or past performance are evaluated, may contractor rely on the qualifications, vehicles, drivers, and experience of its proposed subcontractor, or must those capabilities reside with the prime contractor itself?

Offerors may submit a subcontractor’s technical capabilities, fleet qualifications, driver qualifications, and past-performance information when the subcontractor will perform majority of the contract work.

12 Are there any prime self-performance requirements or other limitations on subcontracting specific to this solicitation beyond the standard small-business requirements?

IAW RFO Clause 52.219-14(e)(1) Limitations on Subcontracting- by submission of an offer and execution of a contract, the Contractor agrees that in performance of a contract assigned a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for—Services, it will not pay more than 50 percent of the amount paid by the Government for contract performance to subcontractors that are not similarly situated entities.

Any work that a similarly situated entity further subcontracts will count towards the prime contractor's 50 percent subcontract amount that cannot be exceeded.

13 Contractor's SAM.gov registration is currently submitted and in the final validation process, including CAGE review. Must contractor's SAM registration be Active at the time the quotation is submitted on October 26, or is Active status required by the time of award?

IAW RFO Clause 52.204-7 System for Award Management- the Offeror shall have an active Federal Government contracts registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) when submitting an offer or quotation in response to this solicitation and at the time of award.

14 If available, please confirm whether a proposed subcontractor must be separately registered in SAM.gov in order to perform under the prime contractor.

No, subcontractor is not required to be SAM registered.

15 If an offeror has no past performance, what is the requirement to submit for past performance?

IAW solicitation, quoters who have no recent relevant past performance shall affirmatively declare that they do not have recent relevant past performance.

16 If an offeror has started a contract in the past 12 months, can the offeror list that contract as past performance?

As stated in solicitation, Past Performance submission shall provide a list with at least two (2) references for substantially complete contracts or contracts completed within the last three (3) years from the date of issuance of this solicitation that demonstrates performance relevant to the requirements in this solicitation.

17 If a small business with no past performance is subcontracting with a large business with ample amount of past performance, can the past performance of the large business be submitted?

Offerors may submit a subcontractor’s past-performance information when the subcontractor will perform majority of the contract work.

18 To ensure OPLA employees are not affected by traffic, weather, etc… can a contractor provide more than one vehicle and driver daily?

The Statement of Work only requires one (1) vehicle.

19 Is there garage or special pickup place designated for OPLA employees or will the pickup take place in front of 970 Broad Street?

There is a designated area to pick up the passengers at 970 Broad Street.

20 How many days after contract award, will the offeror need to start providing transportation services?

Contract performance is due to start on November 1, 2026.

21 If the roads are unable to be driven on due to weather conditions, will the contractor still be responsible for providing transportation?

If the road conditions are deemed unsafe for vehicle travel, Government will notify the vendor to not provide service.

22 Can a transition CLIN be added to the pricing template? No

23 With fuel prices changing drastically, can fuel be a reimbursable CLIN?

Contractor may request economic price adjustment on as needed basis.

24 Will the evaluation for award be Best Value or Lowest Price Technically Acceptable?

Best Value Tradeoff Process

The government always achieves best value, best value and tradeoff are not synonymous terms. The government achieves best value through one of two processes:

1. Lowest Price Technically Acceptable

OR

2. Tradeoff

25 Should pricing be submitted in PDF format, or will the government be provide an excel workbook?

Pricing template (attach 3) to be completed and converted into PDF format.

26 Will parking be provided for the contractor van, or will the contractor need to find its own parking?

Parking will not be provided for the contractor van.

27 Service hours and exclusive use: The SOW requires pickups beginning at 4:30 PM, while the exclusive-use provision references 4:45 PM. Please confirm whether exclusive use of the vehicle begins at 4:30 PM. We understand that the final pickup cannot occur before 7:15 PM. and that service continues through the final drop-off. Is there an estimated or historical final drop-off time available for planning purposes?

See Question #6 for start times. Refer to the SOW route to determine the estimated final drop off time.

28 Can you provide estimated daily ridership, typical passengers per circuit, and any peak demand information? If more passengers are waiting than the vehicle can accommodate, is the contractor expected to serve them through successive circuits using the single vehicle?

Per the SOW, there is only one vehicle with a maximum capacity of 10 passengers required for this effort.

29 Does the specified 8–10 passenger capacity exclude the driver, and would a larger passenger vehicle be acceptable? Are wheelchair accessibility, vehicle age, or other equipment specifications required beyond those stated in the SOW?

The capacity excludes the driver. No other vehicle specifications are required per the SOW.

30 Are background checks, fingerprinting, government credentials, facility access approvals, or agency-specific training required for primary or backup drivers? If so, what is the process and expected lead time before a driver can begin service?

No, there are no background checks required currently; however this may change based on future security changes/ requirements.

31 Should evidence of insurance and driver licensing accompany the quotation, or will it be requested before award or service commencement? Are there agency-specific insurance limits or endorsements beyond the applicable New Jersey requirements referenced in the

SOW?

Insurance and licensing verification will be required before contract award. Only the requirements of the state of New Jersey are required.

32 Is there a required response time for supplying a replacement vehicle or driver following an unexpected breakdown or absence? May qualified backup drivers rotate, provided they meet all applicable requirements?

There is not a required response time in the SOW, but the Governments expects an immediate response to any delays in service. Qualified backup drivers are acceptable.

33 Is there a designated loading or staging area at 970 Broad Street, and are any permits or permissions needed to use it? Are there restrictions on where the vehicle may wait between circuits?

See Question #19.

34 How will weather closures, early dismissals, or other unscheduled office closures be communicated? Please clarify whether the fixed monthly payment remains unchanged when the government cancels service and whether service outside the stated schedule would require separate authorization and a contract modification.

See Question #21 for weather. Resultant contract will be Firm Fixed-Priced, there will not be change in monthly payments if the Government cancels service due to weather.

35 Is this a follow-on to an existing shuttle contract? If so, is a collective bargaining agreement applicable, and will incumbent employee length-of-service information be made available for determining any applicable vacation benefit obligations?

- Follow-on contract, confirming CBA applicability for WD 2015-4211 Rev.35 is recommended.

- Incumbent employee information unavailable.

36 Beyond the three required volumes, UEI, and applicable representations, are any separate forms, signed acknowledgments, or supporting documents required with the quotation? Please also confirm whether Attachment 1 should be returned in full with its applicable disclosure completed.

Attachment 1, Provisions and clauses shall be returned in full with applicable disclosure completed.

37 Would a 14-passenger Sprinter be acceptable for this contract if we transport no more than 10 passengers at a time?

See Question #8.

38 Approximately how many passengers are expected to use the shuttle daily?

The approximate number of passengers will be dependent on how many routes can be completed in one day with a maximum of 10 passengers per leg of trip.

39 How many pickups or round trips are anticipated each day?

See Question #38.

40 What is the estimated maximum number of passengers per trip?

See Question #38.

41 The RFQ lists November 1, 2026, as the base-period start date, while the SOW describes performance beginning upon award. Please confirm the required start date and whether the first scheduled service day would be Monday, November 2. Also, Option Period 4 is listed as November 1, 2031, through October 31, 2032, leaving a gap after Option Period 3. Should those dates instead be November 1, 2030, through October 31, 2031?

Contract performance is due to start on November 1, 2026. Total projected performance period is 11/01/2026 through 10/31/2031.