Attachment H - Amendment 0005 Questions and Answers.xlsx

XLSX spreadsheet 18 KB Posted Apr 2, 2020

Attached to: COVID-19 PPE and Medical Supplies
Solicitation number: 70FA2020R00000011
Issued by: Federal Emergency Management Agency Preparedness Section

About this file

Written by GovTribe AI · Dec 27, 2023

This document summarizes a solicitation for COVID-19 personal protective equipment and medical supplies issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The solicitation seeks offers for items listed in an attachment, including masks, gowns, gloves, and needles/syringes. Offerors must quote prices for at least 25% of the listed items. Awards will be made on the basis of lowest price among technically acceptable offers. The solicitation will remain open until closed by amendment. Questions may be submitted by email and offers received until the solicitation closes. Awards may be made through various contracting vehicles including purchase orders, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts, or Federal Supply Schedule contracts depending on total value. Shipping costs are to be negotiated at award. The primary point of contact is identified for any questions.

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Other files

File	Type	Posted
Replacement Attachment E - Face Masks.docx	DOCX document	Apr 29, 2020
Replacment Attachment D - Faceshields.docx	DOCX document	Apr 29, 2020
Replacement Attachment B - Gowns_coveralls_Supply_Listing.docx	DOCX document	Apr 29, 2020
Replacement Attachment C - Gloves.docx	DOCX document	Apr 29, 2020
Attachment G - Amendment 0004 Questions and Answers.xlsx	XLSX spreadsheet	Apr 1, 2020
Attachment F - Amendment 0003 Questions and Answers.xlsx	XLSX spreadsheet	Apr 1, 2020
Attachment E - Face Masks.docx	DOCX document	Mar 26, 2020
Attachment C Gloves .docx	DOCX document	Mar 26, 2020
Attachment B- Gowns coveralls Supply Listing .docx	DOCX document	Mar 26, 2020
Attachment A - Supply List.xlsx	XLSX spreadsheet	Mar 26, 2020
Attachment D - Faceshields.docx	DOCX document	Mar 26, 2020

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Amendment 0005

	Category	Question	Answer
	General
		1. For solicitation 70FA2020R00000011 s there a template that will be provided for submissions, or will this be a free-from submission?	1. You must submit a complete proposal for award consideration that follows the requirements of the solicitation and Amendments. Quotes/proposals will be evaluated for technical acceptability, acceptable past performance, and price reasonableness (and vendor determined responsible). See any Amendments for updates to quote/proposal submission instructions. Further Amendment 0003 specifically identifies what is required for a complete proposal.
		2. I would like to submit proposal for this notice. Could you advise…
A.	Website to register as vendor – if necessary
B.	Correct forms to submit items, costs, delivery lead time
C.	Any other additional important information	2. Please see Answer to Question #1 in this Amendment 0005.
		3. We are wondering what quantities you wish us to quote for the items within your list. Or, shall we quote our maximum amount of each product in the list? Please note, under today’s conditions the available amount is changing every day and on some items the price is also changing daily.	3. Submit a quote that reflects what is currently available from your company/source for the government to purchase.
		4. Has FEMA gotten the waivers from DHS for non-stock?
Our manufacturers are located in China and have surgical masks that are registered with the FDA.	4. The Buy American Act (FAR 52.225-1) has been waived for all items included in this solicitation; however Offerors shall disclose country of origin for reporting purposes.
		5. Can we only submit a bid for what we have in inventory, or can we submit for what we will have in the coming weeks?	5. Submit a quote that reflects what is currently available from your company/source for the government to purchase.
		6. I am not able to submit a quote for our FDA certified masks that we have been making for 3 yrs. We have the ability to make and ship millions of masks, but I can't locate where to input the data.	6. Please see Answer to Question #1 in this Amendment 0005.
		7. Could you please advise how will we quote this solicitation and what are the QTY required	7. Please see Answer to Question #1 in this Amendment 0005. Also, Submit a quote that reflects what is currently available from your company/source for the government to purchase.
		8. How do I go about signing these companies up? I tried to make sense of the online documentation, but with not much success.	8. Please see Answer to Question #1 in this Amendment 0005.
		9. I am trying to download Attachment A in order to submit a bid and there is an ERROR CODE	9. Documents are accessible from the solicitation site. Please try the website again (possibly try using a different browser).
		10. I have read through the "instructions for submitting Contractor Assurance Information" but I can't seem to figure out how to contact a "CO" as the instructions state. Please advise how I can begin to register my company with FEMA and work on a government contract.	10. Please see Answer to Question #1 in this Amendment 0005.
	Technical Requirement
		11. How many face shields are being requested and in what amount of time does the contractor have to produce that said amount?	11. Submit a quote that reflects what is currently available from your company/source for the government to purchase.
		12. Are you willing to accept reusable gowns?	12. If it's not listed in Attachment A, then there is currently not a need for it. If items proposed are not identified on Attachment A the offer will not be considered.
		13. On the critical supply list, it states “Personal protective equipment-Gowns (disposable and linen)”. Are you currently looking for additional linen items as well such as sheets, pillow-cases,etc.?	13. If it's not listed in Attachment A, then there is currently not a need for it. If items proposed are not identified on Attachment A the offer will not be considered.
		14. Can the products be produced in China>
	14. The Buy American Act (FAR 52.225-1) has been waived for all items included in this solicitation; however Offerors shall disclose country of origin for reporting purposes.
		15. Also , what are the quantities you are looking for the attached products?	15. Submit a quote that reflects what is currently available from your company/source for the government to purchase.
	General
		16. Although the solicitation encourages small business participation, the solicitation’s evaluation factors and LPTA basis of award favor large businesses that may be able to take advantage of superior negotiation leverage and economies of scale to secure and offer lower prices than a small business could. Will your Agency make an affirmative price reasonableness determination and award a contract to a small business offeror whose price is higher than a price offered by a large business but in line with prices submitted by other small businesses?	16. Factor 2, Price, was updated in Amendment 0002 to remove the LPTA evaluation. The offeror’s price shall be evaluated, for award purposes, to determine fair and reasonable based upon total price proposed for the total requirement. Destination shipping and speed of shipping to be determined at award level. In addition, the government is interested in offerors submitting a quote that reflects what is currently available from your company or source for the government to purchase.
		17. The solicitations’ Evaluation Factors for Award under Part 15 (paragraph VI.i.) states “Award(s) will be made on the basis of the lowest evaluated price of quotes meeting or exceeding the acceptability standards for non-cost factors. This acquisition will utilize the Lowest Priced Technically Acceptable (LPTA) procedure to make a best value award. A decision on the technical acceptability of each offeror’s quotations will be made. For those offerors which are determined to be technically acceptable, award will be made to that vendor with the lowest overall price.” Under the solicitation’s stated basis of award quoted above, please explain how your Agency will determine the range of “lowest evaluated quotes” eligible for award, and how you will make multiple awards when the solicitation’s basis of award states a (single) “… award will be made to that vendor with the lowest overall price”?	17. Factor 2, Price, was updated in Amendment 0002 to remove the LPTA evaluation. The offeror’s price shall be evaluated, for award purposes, to determine fair and reasonable based upon total price proposed for the total requirement. Destination shipping and speed of shipping to be determined at award level. In addition, the government is interested in offerors submitting a quote that reflects what is currently available from your company or source for the government to purchase.
		18. The solicitations’ Evaluation Factors for Award under Part 15 (paragraph VI.ii.) states “The LPTA evaluation process will be accomplished as follows: Each offeror’s quote shall be evaluated to determine if the proposed items meet the requirements specified in Attachment A. All pricing shall be firm fixed unit price…” Pricing for the items acquired under this solicitation will most likely experience significant volatility due to supply shortfalls, thus making it difficult for potential offerors to maintain their proposed unit prices for a long period of time. Given those economic pressures which are outside the control of awardees, will you Agency allow contractors to update their pricing periodically to ensure the proposed prices do not contain excessive price contingencies and to prevent awardees from rejecting future delivery orders, purchase orders, General Services Administration (GSA) or Veterans Administration (VA) Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) orders, and/or contracts that would put them in a loss position?	18. Factor 2, Price, was updated in Amendment 0002 to remove the LPTA evaluation. The offeror’s price shall be evaluated, for award purposes, to determine fair and reasonable based upon total price proposed for the total requirement. Destination shipping and speed of shipping to be determined at award level. In addition, the government is interested in offerors submitting a quote that reflects what is currently available from your company or source for the government to purchase.
		19. Solicitation Evaluation Factor 1, Prior Demonstrated Experience, under contemplated FAR Part 15 awards states the “… Offeror shall provide/reference up to five (5) recent examples of demonstrated prior experience in their proposal. The evaluation of this factor is based on the demonstrated prior experience presented by the offeror. For example, experience in setting up warehouses and shifting personnel to perform “kitting” of supplies, for delivery to another single point would be relevant. Experience in ordering of large amounts of supplies is relevant. Relevant experience related to proposed subcontractors shall be considered. Offerors with no relevant past performance will be rated neutral.” Your Agency is not using a best value trade-off acquisition strategy in accordance with FAR15.101-1 and FAR 15.305(2)(iv) specifically states in “… the case of an offeror without a record of relevant past performance or for whom information on past performance is not available, the offeror may not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on past performance.” Given the above, why does the solicitation include the “Prior Demonstrated Experience” evaluation factor, and will your Agency Contracting Officers make a determination that an offeror’s neutral past performance rating is technically acceptable for award under the solicitation’s “Prior Demonstrated Experience” evaluation factor?	19. Prior demonstrated experience was changed to Past Performance and a neutral past performance is possible if no previous past performance.
		20. Solicitation Evaluation Factor 1, Prior Demonstrated Experience, under contemplated FAR Part 15 awards states the “… evaluation of this factor is based on the demonstrated prior experience presented by the offeror. For example, experience in setting up warehouses and shifting personnel to perform “kitting” of supplies, for delivery to another single point would be relevant.” Since it is a usual and customary commercial practice for many wholesalers, distributors and value added re-sellers to place orders with manufacturers, take ownership and title for the products at the manufacturer’s facility, and have those manufacturers “drop ship” the required items to the designated customer, it is not always necessary for those contractors to maintain or set up a warehouse. Given that commercial practice and to expand potential competition, will your Agency allow prospective offerors to “drop” ship required equipment and supplies under this solicitation, and will the absence of a warehouse make a prospective offeror’s proposal technically unacceptable?	20. Destination shipping and speed of shipping to be determined at award level. In addition, the government is interested in offerors submitting a quote that reflects what is currently available from your company or source for the government to purchase. Ultimately it is possible that offerors may "drop ship" items to specified locations (with no kitting of supplies required).
		21. Solicitation General paragraph 1.x. states an offeror’s “… pricing shall include delivery at any location within the United States.” The FAR 2.101 definition of “United States” when used in a geographic sense, means the 50 States and the District of Columbia, except as used in FAR Subparts 3.10, 22.8, 22.10, 22.12, 22.13, 22.16, 22.17, 22.18, 47.4 and FAR Parts 25 and 27. Since it is not known at this point in time the size, weight and cube of potential orders and the exact shipment destination, including more costly shipments to Alaska and Hawaii, it is difficult for potential offerors to include a projected shipment cost in their proposed firm fixed unit prices. Will your Agency amend the solicitation to require prices not include F.O.B destination shipping costs, and specify in contract awards that the contractor can include actual shipping costs as a separate line item in their invoice?	21. Shipping will be negotiated at the award level, so any concerns about special packaging or specific shipping requirements would be addressed at the award level.
		22. In the event your Agency anticipates shipping required medical supplies and equipment to OCONUS locations, will the resulting contract require F.O.B. destination shipment to a CONUS transshipment port or terminal and, if special packaging is required, how will the contractor be reimbursed for packaging that may be above and beyond normal commercial packaging requirements?	22. Shipping will be negotiated at the award level, so any concerns about special packaging or specific shipping requirements would be addressed at the award level.
		23. Solicitation General paragraph xiii states if “… a contractor is a current schedule holder of specific items from Attachment A, FAR Part 8 procedures will be utilized for purpose of award. Contractor shall identify their GSA or VA FSS contract number in its offer. Government will verify the validity of the contract number and contractors fraudulently claiming to be a schedule holder, may be subject to suspension or debarment from all federal procurement.” Since a GSA or VA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contract holder cannot charge more than the maximum price listed in their schedule contract, can a FSS holder elect to NOT state its FSS contract number in their offer, and elect to submit a non GSA FSS price offer if their GSA FSS maximum authorized prices are now or will be lower than the contractor’s estimated cost of performance?	23. Any contractor with a GSA or VA Schedule would be expected to quote their GSA/VA schedule priciing for those items included in Attachment A. Other items from Attachment A, that may not be on their GSA/VA schedule would still need to be determined fair and reasonable.
		24. With respect to FEMA’s BAA and TAA waiver requests, can a prospective offer submit a proposed price for a domestic end item and/or TAA compliant product and also submit a proposed price for a non-domestic item and/or non-TAA compliant product, and will the Agency Contracting Officer not deem the offeror’s entire quote or proposal non-responsive to the solicitation’s requirements if FEMA has not yet received any BAA and/or TAA waivers?	24. BAA/TAA language has been updated via Amendment.
		25. Solicitation Section IV. Quote Preparation paragraph 1 states “Products will be subject to Government Testing”. In an effort to streamline the Government’s material inspection and receiving process, reduce associated transaction costs, and free up scare resources for surveillance and monitoring of higher risk contracts and contractors, will your Agency amend the solicitation to allow qualified contractors that meet the conditions at FAR 46.504 to submit products under the Government’s Certificate of Conformance program in accordance with FAR 46.315 and FAR Clause 52.246-15, Certificate of Conformance?	25. BAA/TAA language has been updated via Amendment. In addition, any offer will be considered for items that are required under Attachment A. So it is up to the offeror how they want to submit their quote. The government can't determine if an offer is acceptable without receiving the quote.
	General
		26. Can awards for this solicitation be made prior to the Solicitation Due Date, September 25th?

As of today, with receipt of an award, Smiths can provide Marathon Medical, and ultimately FEMA:

•	with 5.6M units of Finished Goods Needle/Syringes assembled together by April/May; and
•	approximately 75M units of Needles/Syringes assembled together over the next 16 - 18 months

If awards are not made until after the Solicitation Due Date of September 25th, we miss our window of opportunity to secure on-hand inventory today of 5.6M units as there are pressures of orders outside of US and elsewhere. Additionally, need the lead time to secure raw materials needed to build the additional ~75M units. So time is of the essence.

26. This is an open and continuous solicitation. Responses can be received at any time until the solicitation is closed via an Amendment. As the responses are received, they are evaluated against the criteria set forth in the solicitation. Based on the results of the evaluation, an award may be made.
	27. Does the Government have a format, application template, or outline they want contractors to use when responding to this solicitation?	27. You must submit a complete proposal for award consideration that follows the requirements of the solicitation and Amendments. Quotes/proposals will be evaluated for technical acceptability, acceptable past performance, and price reasonableness (and vendor determined responsible). See any Amendments for updates to quote/proposal submission instructions. Further Amendment 0003 specifically identifies what is required for a complete proposal.
	28. I can not access the documents/links in the contract section of COVID-19 PPE and Medical Supplies bid contracting page. Is there a way the department can send me the word documents directly to view the contract?	28. Documents are accessible from the solicitation site. Please try the website again. You may need to try a different browser.
	29. Our unit pricing is based on $/face shield with shipping and handling separate; is this considered firm fixed pricing?
29. No it is not. The unit price should have the shipping built into it.
	30. We are able to ship the Face Shield right out of the manufacturer and will be in weekly allotments. Would each weekly allotment be considered a separate purchase or the purchase is the entire run over a certain (10-12 week) period?	30. Established at award level.
	31. Please can you give me a sense of the numbers required?
31. Submit a quote that reflects what is currently available from your company/source for the government to purchase.
	32. It was not that easy to navigate the website - one I have numbers, what is the process for submitting a quote?	32. Please see Answer to Question #2 in this Amendment 0006.
	33. Also noticed it said we would need to be able to provide at least 25% of the items listed but I was hoping that was per product category? Can you confirm that for me?	33. This stipulation was removed via Ammendment 0001.
Requirement Clarification
	34. Is there any restriction on quoting PPE such as gowns that are made in China?	34. The Buy American Act (FAR 52.225-1) has been waived for all items included in this solicitation; however Offerors shall disclose country of origin for reporting purposes.
	35. I am inquiring if KN95 masks are acceptable for FEMA current COVID 19 solicitation? we have factories in CHINA that produce them and claim to be FDA compliant and certified. On the whole are KN 95 acceptable or are they still not accepted vs. N95?	35. KN95 Masks are not required at this time. If it's not listed in Attachment A, then there is currently not a need for it. If items proposed are not identified on Attachment A the offer will not be considered.
	36. if my company plans to offer is there a maximum amount we can offer or there is no limitation.	36. Submit a quote that reflects what is currently available from your company/source for the government to purchase.
	37. if we are awarded a contract what is the standard contract a purchase order backed by the US government? you mention this is for delivery anywhere in the USA is the delivery by cargo plain or by truck ? and is it the seller (us) who determines that via our offer and pricing?	37. Established at award level.

File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated Apr 3, 2020.