Questions and Answers - 70SBUR21Q00000002.pdf

Question # OFFICIAL VENDOR QUESTION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

1 What is the total weight per shipment?

It is a total of 24 skids/pallets. At this time, we don’t have any definitive answer on the total weight per shipment as each shipment may have a different number of total pallets. Each shipment should be somewhere between 9-24 pallets as mentioned in the Statement of Work.

2 Is the locations a military facility, which require base access?

It is not a military facility. The truck/driver will not need a military level clearance to access the facility.

Please refer to section 5.1 of the Statement of Work. The driver will have to provide a Bill or Lading and an estimated time of arrival to the pick-up facility so they will be aware of the truck arriving.

Are there any pallet returns when picking up?

Does the driver need to return the pallets back to pick up point?

There are no pallet returns. All pallets will be dropped off at the National Records Center.

4 Do we need actual containers, or would dry vans trailers work (if they can be sealed and secured)?

To clarify, "dry van shipping refers to the vehicle or compartment used to haul shipments. A dry van is a type of semi-trailer that's fully enclosed to protect shipments from outside elements. It is designed to carry palletized, boxed or loose freight.”. That form of container should be acceptable. As long as the truck and container can adhere to all of the requirements of the Statement of Work, it is acceptable.

5 Does the driver need to shrink wrap the pallets at the shipper’s location before sealing the trailer/container? Pallets will be filled and shrink-wrapped by the Vermont Service Center (VSC) staff prior to the arrival of the shipping contractor. The pallets will be staged at the dock area for pick-up.

6 Will the shipments required for 70SBUR21Q00000002 - Freight Shipping Services need to be full truckloads?

The contractor shall provide a dedicated truck with a container (trailer), which shall transport VSC pallets only, regardless of quantity, to destination. The shipment of pallets, including as few as one (1), shall be considered a Full Truck Load (FTL). The driver shall not mix loads to transport contents from other businesses, individuals, or Government agencies with the VSC pallets. The driver shall not create compartments inside the container with intent to transport items from other entities.

7 One pickup per month? Just confirming 47 shipments over 47 months Yes, it is one pick-up and drop-off per month for a total of 47 shipments throughout the term of the order.

8 Regardless of the quantity of pallets, is the entire load considered FTL due to nature of product?

The contractor shall provide a dedicated truck with a container (trailer), which shall transport VSC pallets only, regardless of quantity, to destination. The shipment of pallets, including as few as one (1), shall be considered a Full Truck Load (FTL). The driver shall not mix loads to transport contents from other businesses, individuals, or Government agencies with the VSC pallets. The driver shall not create compartments inside the container with intent to transport items from other entities.

9 What type of files is the product being transported? Palletized boxes of A-Files and/or Receipt Files.

10 What are unclassified sensitive A-Files? Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) is a designation of information in the United States federal government that, though unclassified, often requires strict controls over its distribution.

11 Is a 53’ trailer sufficient as long as there is a trailer seal? Containers are typically used for ocean transport. A 53' trailer is sufficient. As long as the container adheres to the requirements within the Statement of Work, it should be acceptable. Anything outside of those requirements would not be acceptable.

12 According to the language in the solicitation “All Dates From March 8th – July 12th May Be Suspended Due To CAP Season” What is CAP season?

Every “cap season,” employers must prepare and file petitions subject to the annual H-1B cap in early-April. The cap is 85,000, 65,000 “regular” H-1B grants and 20,000 for individuals with master's degrees or higher from a U.S. college or university.

13 Is the truck driver supposed to load and unload the trailer at the pickup and drop off locations? If yes, can you explain in further detail the exact responsibilities of the driver.

Pick-up - The VSC will provide the contractor with a manual pallet jack at time of pick-up. The contractor is to use the pallet jack at their own risk and liability. Any injury or liability shall fall with the contractor and not with USCIS. The contractor shall load the pallets into the shipping container at the 4 Lemnah Drive, St. Albans VT, warehouse loading dock without assistance from Government staff. The shipping contractor will load the pallets at the delivery location’s dock. All pallets must be secured within the trailer, so the pallets don’t shift during transport.

Drop-off - Delivery will be made to the NRC, at 150 Space Center Loop, Lee’s Summit, MO 64064. The Boxes will be off loaded by USCIS employees. The vendor will not enter the facility.

14 At delivery is the contractor expected to move the freight to the end of the trailer or through the first threshold? Drop-off - The Boxes will be off loaded by USCIS employees. The vendor will not enter the facility.