Draft RFP Questions and Responses.pdf

NASA Agency-wide Acquisition of Nitrogen and Oxygen 4 (NANO 4)

Questions and Responses to DRFP

Question # RFP Area Requirement/

Paragraph # Page # Question Government Response

1 Attachment 1 - Statement of Work DRFP

Multi

Multi Standard reorder points are 25-30% full.

Request NASA indicate locations requiring higher reorder points than 25-30% and what those reorder points are. Filling tanks at reorder points above 30% results in inefficiencies of distribution costs that suppliers must be allowed to account. More fills require additional tankers, drivers, trips, and inefficient use of tank loads impacting all supplier operations in that area.

This contract does not limit the Government's ability to execute orders based on a standard or non-standard reorder point. The Government will maintain its ability to order tank fills at its discretion in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the Request for Proposal (RFP) and Statement of Work (SOW).

# RFP Area Requirement/

Paragraph # Page # Question Government Response

2 Attachment 3 Economic Price Adjustment Clause

(b) Request that the EPA formula be modified so that the original offer price provided shall not be adjusted any lower than the original unit price quoted. Recommend the increase cap be set at a minimum of 20% rather than 10% which is insufficient to cover potential energy, material, regulatory, distribution, and labor costs. Indices don't typically reflect market conditions such as fluctuating supply/demand ratios. NASA's current increase cap is 40% and pricing has not achieved true coverage of increasing costs.

Furthermore, the condition of no limit on pricing decreases is an unacceptable term. We recommend restrict pricing decreases to be no lower than the starting contract price of each annual term. There is no reasonable or realistic expectation that suppliers' costs can endure a decrease lower than that amount.

The EPA formula in Attachment 3 remains unchanged. All CLINS are 10%. The primary purpose of incorporating an EPA formula into this fixed price contract is to incentivize competition while simultaneously protecting both the Contractor (during periods of cost inflation related to electricity, fuel, and driver labor) and the Government (during cost deflation). During the current inflationary period, the EPA formula as established will almost certainly benefit the Contractor.

Nonetheless, the Government will not preclude its own protections under the EPA formula for potential future reductions in the cost of electricity, fuel, and driver labor.

# RFP Area Requirement/

Paragraph # Page # Question Government Response

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Terms and Conditions-

DRFP

5 In 2019, NASA provided the actual historic delivery quantities and delivery frequency by CLIN - Will NASA please provide actual delivery history for Period of Performance

7/1/2019-YTD 2024.

The Government will not provide historic delivery quantities. Both prior delivery quantities and anticipated future delivery requirements are incorporated into the Government's Best Estimated Quantities (BEQs) for each CLIN across all contract years of performance.

Attachment 1 - Statement of

Supplier tankers typically have calibrated flow meters aboard. Recommend allowing suppliers to utilize on board flow meters rather than installation scales. This solution is more efficient and less costly.

All SOWs remain unchanged.

5 Attachment 1 - Statement of

Recommend widening delivery windows wherever possible. Restricted windows increase costs to deliver and those costs are reflected in price. If window restriction is absolutely necessary, recommend allowing a restricted window delivery charge so suppliers don't have to incorporate that cost into unrelated product pricing, allowing more relevant product pricing.

The RFP remains unchanged.

# RFP Area Requirement/

Paragraph # Page # Question Government Response

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Terms and Conditions-

DRFP

Recommend reducing the no cost delay window to 2 hours. If Supplier has to contemplate the unit product price based on a potential unlimited number of deliveries that could incur a 4 hour delay, the government may not benefit from the most economic proposal(s).

The RFP remains unchanged.

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Terms and Conditions-

DRFP

2.4.5

11 Recommend allowing this charge for one or more tankers rather than five or more. Suppliers incur this cost regardless of the number of tankers.

The RFP remains unchanged.

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Terms and Conditions-

DRFP

10 Recommend adding: "NASA may add additional tanks to the locations through bilateral modification and negotiated product pricing for the added tank."

The RFP remains unchanged.

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Terms and Conditions-

DRFP

2.1 10 Recommend adding line items for the addition of telemetry to tanks. Telemetry is monitored 24/7/365 and allows for the dispatch of product to the tank without the need for call-in service and can prevent unwanted and unnecessary run-out of product. Line items would include install/removal/monthly telemetry service fee.

The RFP remains unchanged.

# RFP Area Requirement/

Paragraph # Page # Question Government Response

10 Request a site visit be allowed at any of the locations at least 30 days prior to the proposal due date. A site visit is necessary to fully understand the operational, safety, cost, and regulatory aspects of the bulk site location.

Site visits will be conducted at selected locations. See notice and site visit schedule posted at SAM.GOV for more details.

11 Volume Cited for White Sands Missile Range

LOX high demand usage once per year with a 10 week duration. Can you give the time frame on this request?

No. The time frame is completely dependent on the Customer’s testing requirements.

12 Schedule of Supplies Table

2 5 What specifically does "MIL-PRF-25508J Type II Modified Grade A" require?

See Attachment 1 SOW KSC/CCSFS Page 32, paragraph (a).

13 Schedule of Supplies Table

1 5 Is NASA willing to modify the MIL-PRF- 27401H Type II Modified Grade for JSC Lunar?

This is a difficult spec to meet.

No, the JSC Lunar specification, remains unchanged.

14 Material Inspection and Receiving Report

6 40-41 Is NASA willing to waive the particulate limit specified in the MIL-PRF xxx grade (all locations).

No. The particulate limit specified in MIL-PRF-27401 Rev H, is not required for this RFP. See RFP Section 2.5 Performance Specification.

15 Economic Price Adjustment Clause

1 1 Please confirm the aggregate of the increases in any contract unit price made for the CLINs under this clause shall not exceed 10% of the original contract unit price.

Yes, that is correct. See Attachment 3, Economic Price Adjustment Clause, paragraph (b).

# RFP Area Requirement/

Paragraph # Page # Question Government Response

16 Liquid Nitrogen and Liquid Oxygen Product Price

1 1 Please confirm the RFP is using 3 months indices Average.

Yes, that is correct. Attachment 3, Economic Price Adjustment Clause, paragraph (a) is updated for clarity in accordance with paragraph (d).

17 Contract Clauses

5 1 If awarded, can the winning bidder negotiate the Terms/Conditions in FM declaration and limitation on liability

Yes.