75D301-19-R-67907_Q&As.pdf

Solicitation Number: 75D301-19-R-67907

Questions and Answers

1. Are the Argon bulk tanks customer-owned or contractor-owned? Industry requirements are to conduct a site visit of the bulk site for technical, safety, and logistical evaluations. Will the CDC allow industry site visits?

ANSWER: The tanks are owned by the CDC. There will not be a site visit prior to award. Photos can be provided upon request.

2. Also, if these are contractor-owned tanks, please consider a line item for tank install/removal and monthly rental.

ANSWER: The tanks are owned by the CDC

3. Pellet and block dry ice are sold at different prices as these are manufactured and delivered differently. Please consider two separate line items for each type of Dry Ice.

ANSWER: The solicitation included necessary information in Table 4. Based on the historical numbers, offerors are encouraged to submit pricing. Indicate the quantity of pellets and block/slice used to calculate the applicable CLIN total.

4. Proper contemplation of understanding technical requirements and costs require more time than the

Government has allowed for proposal submittal. Please consider adding 10 days to the proposal due date.

ANSWER: The proposal deadline is extended to 7/5/2019 2:00 PM EST.

5. What is a “hybrid” Firm Fixed-Price?

ANSWER: The liquid argon will be a firm-fixed-price with economic price adjustment CLIN and the dry ice will be a firm-fixed-price CLIN.

6. Who is the current Contractor (i.e. incumbent) on this requirement (and/or) is it a brand “NEW” requirement?

ANSWER: The Division of Laboratory Sciences (DLS) has been purchasing via mechanisms from other

CDC centers. This requirement will establish a contracting mechanism specifically for DLS.

7. What is your provision for RFP BPA sol. #: 75D301-19-R-67907 Potential Offerors SITE: Visit &

Survey?

ANSWER: There will not be a site survey. Photos are available upon request.

8. Type of Dry Ice required (block, cut block or pellet, include if wrapped in paper or plastic). If pellet -is it shoveled into container on site or do you receive bagged pellet (10-25 pounds plastic bags)

ANSWER: Pellets loose in the container and block / slice wrapped in paper. See Table 4 in the solicitation. Historically dry ice arrived on campus in bins like Sonoco Thermosafe HR11P2-LC and that worked well.

9. Does the lab own a container that dry ice needs to be placed in or will a dry ice container need to be provided? If necessary for the vendor to provide, may this be done on a rotation basis or will it need to be maintained at the delivery site and dry ice placed into the container?

ANSWER: The lab does not own bins for the vendor to place the dry ice in, so the vendor will need to provide the bins. Historically bins like Sonoco Thermosafe HR11P2-LC were provided on a rotation basis, and that has worked well.

10. Is there a Dock available?

ANSWER: Dock locations outside of DLS Building 110 and 109 on the Chamblee campus. The building 109 loading dock is currently inaccessible due to a construction project, but is expected to be open again for deliveries as of the end of September, 2019.

11. If delivery site is a lab/department, not at a dock, or on a different floor please confirm a dry ice container will not need to be pushed more than 50 feet to a delivery site.

ANSWER: Delivery locations will be onto docks.

12. If delivery site is not on the main floor please confirm if an elevator is available.

ANSWER: Delivery locations will be onto docks.

13. Are there any security or gate check points that are required, special gate passes or pre-authorized security badges required to deliver to the buildings?

ANSWER: There is a security gate check point required, the West Hospital Drive gate at the Chamblee campus. Drivers will not be issued permanent badges, however, a list of drivers must be provided and pre-approved by CDC security. Once approved, the CDC security office will maintain the list and only drivers on that list will be allowed onto campus for deliveries. Drivers not on the list will be turned away at the security gate check point. A CDC security guard will escort the driver while on campus while they make deliveries.

14. Is a specific delivery day required or will the Lab be flexible as long as delivery is same day each week?

ANSWER: The lab is flexible regarding delivery day of the week. It is preferred that delivery be on the same day each week, once it is established.

15. Are there any possible safety issues during the delivery process; for example, vehicular traffic, extensive backing, backing onto roadways, blind maneuvers, inclined delivery surface, etc.?

ANSWER: No

16. Are there any space or truck restrictions; i.e. truck height restrictions, obstacles, etc.?

ANSWER: No. The building 109 loading dock is currently inaccessible due to a construction project, but is expected to be open again for deliveries as of the end of September, 2019.

17. -Does the CDC own the 3 tanks referenced on Page. 20 Table #1 DLS Liquid Argon Bulk tank fill specifications? We ask because on page# 22, Section C.6 Government Furnished Property it states

“There is no government furnished property.”

-If these tanks are owned by the CDC, then is the telemetry system currently installed in the tanks owned by the CDC as well or will this be removed by their existing vendor if Bid is awarded to a different provider?

ANSWER: Yes, CDC owns the three bulk argon tanks referenced in Table 1. There is existing telemetry equipment. If the argon supplier changes, CDC expects the existing supplier will remove the existing telemetry units and that the new supplier will install new telemetry equipment.

18. Page# 20, 2nd to last item within “Task 1: Manage and supply liquid Argon”

This requirement states that contractor will perform preventative maintenance or repairs to argon tanks and vaporizer arrays “at no additional cost to the government”. While many parts required to maintain bulk tanks are less than $400 there are other major issues that could cost upwards of $10,000 such as repairing a vacuum that’s malfunctioned. Is it truly the intent of this bid to hold Contractor accountable for all costs associated with maintaining the CDC’s customer owned tanks or would contractor be able to invoice CDC for parts needed to maintain/repair the CDC’s tanks?

**As a side note, if the tank is owned by the contractor then of course we would take responsibility for any costs incurring in maintenance.

ANSWER: The vendor would only do the inspection as part of the contract and provide recommendations about parts and maintenance actions needed. The government will then decide whether or not to pursue that separately.

19. Page 23, Section C.8.2-Should the QCP (Quality Control Plan) referenced in this section be included in the “Technical” section of our proposal? Or is this a requirement for the contractor selected after bid review?

ANSWER: The Quality Control Plan is a requirement the awardee must adhere to during the period of performance of this contract.

20. There is a reference to 6,500 lbs. per month for dry ice on page 21; however, pages 2 and 3 with the chart information indicate 6,500 lbs. for the twelve month period of performance. Please clarify.

ANSWER: The Section B chart on pages 2 and 3 is updated to reflect 78,000 lbs. (6,500 lbs. x 12 months) of dry ice.

21. Is the dry ice pellet the standard pellet product (approximately 1/2" in diameter)? If not, what size of dry ice pellet product is required?

ANSWER: The standard size pellet is acceptable.

22. I did see that “High density” was written on page 21, this would be very unusual for CDC usage.

ANSWER: The standard pellet density is acceptable.