Dubai Warehouse Solicitation Questions AMEND 1.pdf

1. Can Offeror/Contractor use the past performance, warehouse and personnel of their local subcontractor in Dubai to qualify?

Offeror can use its subcontractor past performance if the subcontractor will perform major or critical aspects of the requirement

2. What is the value under Simplified Acquisition Threshold: $250,000 under Standard or $500,000 under Humanitarian outside US?

$7.5 MM for commercial services

3. Can we submit a proposal jointly (JV) with a UAE based company ?

Yes

4. Is it necessary for the UAE company as a joint venture registered with SAM ?

Yes all offerors including a JV has to be registered in sam.gov

5. As a JV, shall both companies have relevant past performance or one with experience is sufficient?

The JV can claim past performance of the companies or one of the companies. The offeror will be the JV and not the companies making up the joint venture.

6. Section C.3 states that “the warehouse location should be within the International Humanitarian City (IHC)…” We are concerned that a solicitation requirement stipulating an IHC location may limit competition. Therefore, would USAID consider offers from other Free Zones (such as the Jebel Ali Free Zone/JAFZA) which provide the same favorable customs requirements as IHC and perhaps offer even greater benefits over IHC? [USAID - Umer Khan: It is our understanding that all actors involved in humanitarian action are able to access the IHC space. Please consult with the International Humanitarian City Management about more details.] In addition, due to simplified regulations for IHC for cargo movements, consolidation with other humanitarian partners, access for visitors, and meetings with other humanitarian organizations, this location works for USAID significantly better than other options

7. Would USAID please provide any historical storage volumes (ideally in the number of pallets stored) for the current program (e.g. the last year of inventory info)? That would be helpful as we seek to ensure we propose sufficient storage space for this requirement. [USAID - Umer Khan:

The estimates provided in section B.4 of the solicitation are indicative of the estimated number of pallet-positions that USAID will need on an ongoing basis. Please note that depending on the nature of emergencies, our space needs could change and the contractor should be able to adjust accordingly]

8. Could USAID please clarify the volume estimates given in the RFP? The two tables provided in Section B.4 and J.1 differ in volume estimates. For example, Daily Storage (Regular/Oversized) is listed as 6000/800 pallets per month in Section B.4 but as 1000/200 per month in Section J.1.

[USAID - Umer Khan] Section B.4 volumes are the correct estimates for the purpose of this solicitation. Please note that these are estimated number of pallets in a month on an average based on our previous data as well as with planned additions for the coming years.

9. Are offerors required to price this scenario in our submission of the price volume? Or is there an Excel file which USAID would like offerors to complete?

Yes, an attachment will be uploaded to sam.gov

10. ) The RFP specifies that “the warehouse should be within the International Humanitarian City (IHC)”. Restricting the warehousing to just IHC could be limiting in terms of space and providers that can obtain space. Alternatively, would USAID allow bulk/majority warehousing services that are within 15 km of the IHC while maintaining a smaller presence in the IHC for collaboration with humanitarian actors and partners? [USAID - Umer Khan: USAID’s preference would be that all commodities are stored and handled in one location for ease of logistics and handling, monitoring and routine inspections]

11. In connection with USAID’s localization efforts, will USAID entertain joint venture or teaming arrangements between US federal government contractors and local UAE businesses to fulfill the requirements of this RFP? Yes. USAID still requires that the official offerors, whether an individual company of JV is registered in sam.gov at the time of the proposal submission

12. Can we split the cargo in different locations, knowing that having a food + Pharma + DG under the same roof will be significant more costly than splitting the commodities.

USAID’s preference would be that all commodities are stored and handled in one location for ease of logistics and handling, monitoring and routine inspections

13. If we manage to club Food+ Pharma + General goods in one warehouse, can we store DG cargo outside the warehouse?

USAID’s preference would be that all commodities are stored and handled in one location for ease of logistics and handling, monitoring and routine inspections

14. Would an alternative proposal for warehousing services in Jebel Ali be of interest to USAID?

USAID will consider applications that meet the solicitation requirements, including the location requirement.

15. Is this a new requirement or is this a re-compete?

This is a recompete

16. Respectfully request an extension for proposals until 30 August 2023.

New due date :24 Aug 2023

17. Has there been an update to the amount obligated under this contract?

No

18. Does the Government have a ceiling price for this contract over a 5 year period?

This is TBD

19. Is there a minimum contract guarantee for this RFP?

No

20. Is there a minimum monthly storage guarantee?

No

21. The contract is for two base years and three option years. In the schedule provided on pages 3 and 4, is the "Base Period" column price for each line item to be the price for both base years?

Yes

22. The line item for "Daily Bulk Storage Rate Per Cubic Feet" has an estimate of "5,00 cubic feet per month". We are unfamiliar with this numbering convention. Can the Government clarify if this is Five cubic feet per month or Five-Hundred cubic feet per month, or something else?

500 (five hundred)

23. Are the estimates in the price schedule based on historical or theoretical requirements? In other words, are these estimates based on known, future activities?

The estimates are based on historical usage.

24. For the line items "Handling Receipt of Commodities, Door to Floor" and "Handling Re-Delivery of Commodities, Floor to Door", it is unclear the Government's intent. Can the Government clarify if these are standard warehouse Receiving and Shipping Preparation functions only, which include unloading, put-away, picking, staging and loading into trailers?

Yes.

25. Can the Government clarify the purpose or meaning of "Custom Service Fees" in the schedule?

USAID may request the warehouse to clear customs on USAID’s behalf -for some transportation arrangements and disposals.

26. Although the Contractor must provide details of a pre-existing priprietary inventory management system in the its offer, the Government states that USAID is currently developing a Humanitarian Inventory Management System the the Contractor is to use ofr entering all transactions directly into the system. Will future costs associated with implementing this new system be priced separately during contract execution?

No

27. Can the Government clarify the relative proportion of dry and cold storage for the warehouse requirements?

No as it may vary throughout the year.

28. Will loadout of commodoties be shipped in full pallet loads for each commodity as commodities were received?

Generally yes, though for some commodities unpalletized container is possible

29. The authorized source for procurement in this section is Geographic Code 937. On page one (1) of the RFP, the Geographic Code is 935. Can the Government clarify?

The Geographic code will be 937

30. Surveillance equipment is considered ineligible goods or services. Does this include any CCTV security measures for the warehouse?

Per Section C.4 E: Warehouse Security: The Contractor shall be responsible for securing all government-owned commodities and equipment, including physical security (visitor and employee log, guard service, security cameras, locking doors with access controls), as well as ensuring that safety procedures are followed (fire alarm and suppression system, staff safety and security plan, first aid and fire extinguishers, and proper protective equipment for staff). Premises must be available to U.S. Government officials or our agents or Contractors at any time, 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, for operational and coordination purposes, inspection of goods and/or facilities, or the transport of commodities, with one hour notice.

31. Is the Cover Page and Table of Contents excluded from the page limitation of 10 pages for the Technical Proposal?

Yes

32. Instructions for proposal submission require further clarification. Based on the information contained in this section, it appears that one (1) proposal, with Parts I - IV are required for submission. Is this correct?

Yes

33. The Technical Proposal is limited to 10 pages, but Key Personnel Resumes are required with submission. Are resumes excluded from the page limitation?

Yes, resumes may be included as an annex to the Technical proposal if necessary and not count toward the page limit; however, USAID requests that they be kept to a reasonable minimum.

34. The Technical Proposal is limited to 10 pages. Are J.2 Employee Biographical Data Sheets required to be submitted in addition to resumes? If so, are Attachments J.2 and resumes excluded from the Page limitation?

Yes, Employee Biodata sheets may be included as an annex to the Technical proposal if necessary and not count toward the page limit; however, USAID requests that they be kept to a reasonable minimum.

35. Can the Government state page limitations and items excluded from those page limitations for all Parts I - IV of the Contractor's proposal?

Resumes and Employee Biodata sheets are excluded from the page limitations.

36. It is unclear what is to be provided in the Part III Price Proposal. Can the Government confirm that the Part III Price Proposal consists only of the completed Attachment J.1? Does the Government want that submission as an Excel sheet or contained inside the entire proposal?

Please submit attachment J.1 as an excel sheet.

37. For Part IV Past Performance and the Attachment J.3 Past Performance Matrix, is the Contractor required to submit the completed top portion with the proposal, or is the Contractor required to submit to the PP reference and send directly to the USAID Contracting Officer?

Please submit past performance information along with your proposal.

38. The last paragraph of Section L states that proposals shall be no longer than 15 pages.

Attachments and Resumes consume most of the 15 pages with little remaining space to provide a Technical Proposal. Can the Government provide a matrix for page count of each required part of the proposal to include excluded documents for page limitations?

No.

39. The estimates provided in the Price Schedule provided on pages 42 - 44 are different from the estimates found in the Attachment J.1 Excel Spreadsheet and on pages 3 and 4 of the RFP. Can the Government state the required evaluation estimates and submission document requirements?

Will the Government update Attachment J-2, or is Attachment J.2 correct?

Please use Attachment J.1 for price proposal submission.

40. The Government is asking for "Daily" storage rates, but in reality the Government is asking for totals for each base and Option periods. Can the Government confirm this is correct?

Please provide both daily rate information and total cost.

41. On Page 42, can the Government confirm that it is asking for Daily rates for each storage line item?

Yes.

42. On Page 43, can the Government confirm that it is asking for "Total Prices" based on Daily rates for each storage line item contained on Page 42?

Yes.