CORP_Prebid QandA.doc

CORP Pre-Quote Meeting Q&A

CENTRAL OREGON RESTORATION PROJECT

AG-04GG-S-09-0008

PRE-QUOTE MEETING

MARCH 31, 2009

Q: Will this contract be a local set-aside only?

A: No, the Evaluation Criteria in Clause 55 includes Benefit to Local Community, but this will not be local set-aside only.

Q: How will contractors provide quotes for Task Orders?

A: See the Ordering Procedures on page 35 of the RFQ.

Q: Will the Forest Service review the contractor at the end of the season for performance?

A: Yes, contactors will be evaluated using the Contractor Performance System, most likely after each task order - https://cps.nih.gov/ Q: Will Task Orders be set aside for HubZone, Small Business or 8A?

A: Individual Task Orders may be set-aside in the future, however the only size standard for the initial award of a BPA is Total Small Business, $17.5 million (for service) or 500 employees (for stewardship).

Q: How will the Forest Service send out the Task Orders to the pool of contractors?

A: Task Orders will either be emailed (preferred), mailed, or faxed. Quotes from the Contractors can be faxed or mailed back.

Q: How big will the vendor pools be?

A: Pool sizes will not exceed 20 vendors for each activity.

Q: How will the contractors find out when a Task Order has been awarded?

A: Unsuccessful vendors will be notified (email or mail) of the award information, including vendor name and award price.

Q: For stewardship orders with timber removal, will the Contractor have to sell to SBA mills?

A: No, the Small Business set-aside for service contracts is different then SBA sales for timber contracts. Timber does not have to be sold to an SBA mill.

Q: How were the previous Stimulus contracts awarded?

A: All contracts were actually task orders against existing contracts that were previously advertised and competitively awarded.

Q: If the Forest Service is not happy with the vendor pool, will the Forest Service open it back up in the future?

A: While not definite, the Forest Service may re-open competition in the future if additional capacity is needed.

Q: Does the Forest Service sell the saw logs or will the contractor sell the saw logs?

A: The Contractor will be required to sell logs if purchased/traded in a stewardship order.

Q: How much money does the Forest Service have for project work to be done right now?

A: The Forest Service does not have a specific amount identified, but does expect to place orders for several activities as soon as May 2009.

Q: Will CORP be used for Stimulus work?

A: Yes, we anticipate utilizing CORP for Stimulus projects.

Q: Will the Forest Service provide hardcopy Solicitations to the public?

A: No, electronic versions are available at www.fbo.gov Q: What will keep the larger companies from coming in and pushing the smaller companies dry? Will the Forest Service have any rules or regulations if a company does that?

A: Competition will be limited to those in the Vendor Pool, and not posted to FedBizOps every time, therefore providing a smaller competition pool. Service contracts are limited to 50% subcontracting and all awards will be made to Small Businesses. Smaller companies may also consider subcontracting with others.

Q: Referring to the Stewardship Schedule of Items, We don’t know what the market value will be, so how will be know how much to bid?

A: The RFQ states, on the schedule of items, For the purposes of pricing line items 13 through 20 above, consider no commercial product value being traded. HOWEVER, under task orders for stewardship activities, commercial timber product value will be used to off-set service costs.

Q: Will the Forest Service assist with arranging subcontractors with prime contractors?

A: No, the Forest Service does not manage subs nor does it retain Bidder’s Lists anymore. FedBizOps does maintain an Interested Vendor List on the solicitation that allows vendors to register their contact information. This can be used for subs and primes to exchange contact information.

Q: On the Stewardship contract are you looking for 1 or more pools for all activities?

A: Yes, we anticipate making multiple awards for stewardship activities.

Q: For Stewardship orders, will the Forest Service enforce BOLI labor rates and policies?

A: BOLI (Bureau of Labor & Industries) is administered by the State of Oregon for State contracts. Federal contracts follow the Service Contract Act, Migrant Seasonal Protection Act, and other US Department of Labor policies.

Q: Submitting quotes for Service Tasks, will the contractor have to submit a Price Proposal along with the Technical Proposal each time?

A: Fixed Price quotes will be required for task orders and technical proposals may be required for service tasks, depending on the type of work and/or special requirements.

Q: Will the BLM be using CORP for service contracts?

A: Yes, the BLM will be able to place orders for projects within 120 miles of Forest Service boundaries.

Q: What wage determination will the Logging activities have to use for Stewardship orders?

A: Stewardship orders will be made as Integrated Resource Service Contracts and therefore fall under the Service Contract Act Wage Determination.

Q: Will this contract be a single or multiple award?

A: Multiple awards will be made.

Q: What is the term of the BPAs? How long can orders be placed?

A: Service work can be ordered for up to 5 years; stewardship may be up to 10.

Q: What will be the maximum dollar amount be?

A: A single BPA may receive up to $5 million in calls/orders over 5 years.

Q: Will each Task Order need Bonding?

A: For service work, no bonding is required for any activities. For stewardship, a timber payment guarantee may be required – see Clause 14.

Q: What about the BLM contracts, will they need Bonding?

A: No, BLM bonding requirements are the same as the Forest Service.

Q: What do I need to do with the Amendments?

A: You must sign and submit the Amendments, either with your proposal or sent/faxed in separately.

Q: Is the contractor required to type with in the word document or can we hand write our quote?

A: Either or is acceptable.

Q: If I am interested in work in both the Ochoco/Deschutes and Fremont-Winema NF, will I need to provide a quote for both areas?

A: Yes, provide a price for all activities you are interested in as well as the Forests you are interested in.

Q: Will the Contractor be required to provide field sanitation?

A: Yes, see Clause 24 - FSAR 4G52.222-702 LABOR STANDARDS FOR CONTRACTS INVOLVING MIGRANT AND SEASONAL AGRICULTURAL WORKERS Q: If a Contractor provides a quote with a certain Subcontractor in mind, will that Contractor be locked in to that Subcontractor or can the Contractor make changes in the future?

A: Per Submittals in Clause 9, contractors will have to request approval for subcontractors. The Forest Service will evaluate changes to subcontractors to ensure an equal replacement is offered.

Q: Where are the BLM projects?

A: BLM Projects will be located throughout Central and Southern Oregon, within 120 miles of Forest boundaries.

Q: Will BLM order Stewardship Activities?

A: At this time BLM will order Service activities only; however, they may consider Stewardship in future years.

Q: Will the BLM be issuing contracts for this work separately?

A: Yes, BLM will place their own orders against the BPAs.

Q: Will the contractor take the risk of their contract being appealed? Or has the Forest Service secured the NEPA process for the work prior to advertising?

A: Work identified in the Task Orders will have already been approved thru the NEPA process.

Q: Can a contractor bid on 1 or all service projects?

A: Contractors can bid on 1 or all service items. Contractors will have to bid on all stewardship items if they intend of performing these activities.

Q: Why aren’t there any maps available?

A: There aren’t any specific units to bid on yet, maps will be provided with the Task Orders.

Q: When will the 1st round of Task Orders be issued?

A: We intend to issue orders in May 2009.

Q: How long will it take for a contractor to get paid?

A: Prompt Payment for Service Contracts is 30 days.