89243222RNE000025 Questions and Answers AM 4.pdf

QQ&A AM 4 Draft Final ‐ DOE Solicitation 89243222RNE000025 Amendment 4

Q&A Final - DOE Solicitation 89243222RNE000025 Amendment 4 Q # RFP Reference Page BACKGROUND QUESTION ANSWER

Federal Acquisition Regulation 952.209-72 Page 130 Will performance of the contract designated SOL 89243222RNE000025 Amendment 1 render the Contractor ineligible to participate in any proposals for the additional manufacturing of the production run units?

See Amendment 4

1.3 Page 55

The first sentence of paragraph (a) in 52.209-3 (First Article Approval – Contractor Testing) on page 55 seems to indicate that the contractor will fabricate buffer cars.

Please clarify this sentence.

See Amendment 4

1.4 Page 55

The first sentence of paragraph (b) in 52.209-3 (First Article Approval – Contractor Testing) on page 55 states that “[t]he Contractor shall submit the first article test report within 30 calendar days from the date of this contract … “. However, the railcar will not be fabricated and ready for testing until much later than that. Please clarify the deadline for the first article test report.

See Amendment 4

1.6

The first paragraph of 52.222-42 on page 69 reads as follows: “In compliance with the Service Contract Labor Standards statute and the regulations of the Secretary of Labor (29 CFR part 4), this clause identifies the classes of service employees expected to be employed under the contract and states the wages and fringe benefits payable to each if they were employed by the contracting agency subject to the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 5341 or 5332.

However, in the space under the paragraph, instead of employee classes and wages/fringe benefit rates, there are brackets “[ ]”. Should there be data in place of the empty brackets?

See Amendment 4

1.10 Which version of 52.246-19 applies to the contract – May 2001 version (pp 88-90) or Apr 1984 version (pp91-93)?

Both are included in the RFP.

See Amendment 4

1.11

In 952.209-72 (b) (1) (i) (p 96), what is the term during which a Contractor will be ineligible to participate in Department work stemming from performance of this work? The RFP currently reads: “(Contracting Officer see 48 CFR 909.507-2 and enter specific term)”.

See Amendment 4

QQ&A AM 4 Draft Final ‐ DOE Solicitation 89243222RNE000025 Amendment 4

1.13

On page 139, paragraph (m) (National Environmental Policy Act, it appears that part of the paragraph is missing. It currently reads “The work under this contract requires activities to be subject to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The Contractor shall provide to DOE an explanation of certain environmental information potential impacts to the environment, using the DOE Direct Contract Environmental Checklist (attachment J-D) completing Sections A, B, C and D,”

See Amendment 4

1.18

Additional information that the DOR would have submitted to the AAR’s EEC (i.e., Appendices B-F and other attachments to the Fortis Design Brief such as stress analyses and fatigue reports, as listed in Attachment B, page 25 of the RFP) are not included in the RFP package.

Can the DOE provide these as an addendum to the RFP for use in proposal development?

See Amendment 4

1.19

Our understanding is that if the contractor fabricates the railcar in accordance with the DOE-provided design, design liability during the warranty period will be borne by the DOE. Please confirm.

DOE will provide and discuss the terms and conditions of the contract with the contractor at the time of award.

However, DOE will base liability determinations and corrective actions upon root cause analyses

1.21

Section C, DOE-C-2002, Subsection C.3.4, Multiple Car testing, Performance of Multiple Car Testing, Page 18 states that System Monitoring (SSM) tests (AAR S-2043 section 6.2) are required.

a. Is contractor expected to supply the SSM equipment as part of the fabrication and delivery of the 8-axle railcar, or is this part of the GFE?

b. If contractor is required to supply the SSM equipment, it will need to be compatible with the SSM equipment on the buffer and Escort cars. Please specify the required compatibilities, interfaces, etc.

See Amendment 4

1.22

The RFP outlines qualifications for proposers. Paragraph

(b) under 52.209-1 (Qualification Requirements) on page 54 states that offerors “should contact the agency activity designated below to obtain all requirements that they or their products or services, or their subcontractors or their products or services, must satisfy to become qualified and to arrange for an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities to meet the standards specified for qualification.”

Presuming that the qualification requirements are the same for all proposers, can you please provide an RFP addendum that includes requirements for subcontractors?

The agency has determined that all requirements that they or their products or services, or their subcontractors or their products or services, must satisfy to become qualified and to arrange for an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities to meet the standards specified for qualification.

2.1 Request to extend due date from March 21, 2022 to April

4, 2022. See Amendment 4