AMENDMENT_FOR_AG-3JL0-S-16-0008.docx

THIS ORDER IS AMENDED TO ADDRESS THE QUESTIONS THAT AROSE BEFORE AND AFTER THE SITE VISIT.

1. Question: Will you be issuing a Standard Form (SF) 1449 for this Solicitation?

Answer: No, this is the only form that will be issued for this solicitation.

2. Question: On your pricing schedule for Items B.8, 1.8, 2.8, 3.8 AND 4.8 for Helium T, what is the grade of Helium required?

Answer: Helium 99.995% HE

3. Question: On your pricing schedule for Items B.16, 1.16, 2.16, 3.16 AND 4.16 for Nitrogen T, what is the grade of Nitrogen required?

Answer: Industrial Grade Size T

4. Question: On your pricing schedule for Items B.20. 1.20, 2.20, 3.20 AND 4.20 for Dry Ice Bins Annualized, what size and how many are required?

Answer: Annually we use roughly 33,750 pounds of dry ice nuggets. We have used 675 boxes of 50 pounds each. We have two 600 pound bins at our location.

5. Question: Pg 13: Expedited Delivery - Please clarify what CLIN 003 and CLIN 0013 are. The designations do not match the bid schedule provided. Also, what is volume/QTY required for each item per delivery.

Answer: Please strike that line out. The quantity varies per delivery from one delivery to the other.

6. Question: Pg 14 Safety & Maintenance- Please clarify what type of circumstances would require emergency delivery within 4 hours of notice. How many times has a 4 hour emergency delivery been required in the past 3 years?

Answer: We have not had any 4 hour emergency deliveries in the past three years. We do not anticipate any.

7. Question: Pg 14- Flat annual demurrage - Please provide the average monthly balance for all cylinders held on site that would be required to be included in the annual fee.

Answer: We do not pay an annual demurrage charge/fee under our current agreement. We currently have roughly 155 cylinders on site.

Schedule B

8. Question: B.6 and B.7 - Please clarify the difference between these items. They appear to be the same product.

Answer: One is for Customer Owned Cylinder the other is not.

9. Question: B.12, B.13, and B.14 - Please define what "CS" stand for in these items. Please confirm the blend tolerance and analytical accuracy required for these mixtures.

Answer: CS stands for Certified Standard.

10. Question: B.19 - Please confirm the cylinder size required for propane. Cylinders on-site visit appeared to be standard 33 lb fork truck propane cylinders.

Answer: Yes, they are 33 pounds fork truck propane cylinders.

11. Question: B.20 - Please clarify the volume of dry ice and what units the bid price should be listed in.

Answer: See question #4.

12. Question: Please clarify at which point the current vendor gas piping ends and the USDA owned piping begins.

Answer: At the cage surrounding the tank.

13. Question: Please clarify at which point the current vendors liquid piping ends and the USDA owned piping begins.

Answer: At the cage surrounding the tank.

14. Question: Please confirm if the manual liquid fill station (hose, valves, and pipe extension) are owned by the USDA or Vendor.

Answer: USDA

15. Question: Please confirm if downtime is allowed during the N2 tank swap which could take approximately 3 days or if continuous supply via a portable bulk is required during transition.

Answer: Yes

Acknowledgements:

On Schedule B 4.2 should be 4.20.

On Schedule B 4.13 should be each and not liters.

On Schedule B line item was added for Liquid Nitrogen tank fee.

(Also, typographical error on 4.20 actually written as 4.2)

Additional Questions:

Does the government intend to award a single or multiple supplier BPA?

Answer: The government has no foresight on the outcome and how the contract will be composed.

Request for clarification:

Page 13 – “due to the critical nature of the work which this supports, delivery for CLIN 003 and 0013 shall be within one business day of receipt of oral order. This may not coincide with "normal" delivery dates and takes place roughly twice per year.

Q – Confirm which products are associated with CLIN 003 and 13.

Answer: See question 5 above. Please strike that line out. The quantity varies per delivery from one delivery to the other.

Page 13 – Flat Annual Demurrage: The Contractor shall charge a flat annual demurrage fee for all cylinders supplied in this contract. This amount will be divided into twelve equal payments and shall be submitted with the monthly invoice.

Answer: We do not pay an annual demurrage charge/fee under our current agreement. We currently have roughly 155 cylinders on site.

Q – How many cylinders are currently on site and included in the flat annual demurrage fee? It’s essential to clearly understand the extent of cylinders so that offerors can calculate the base cost and proposed price.

Answer: We do not pay an annual demurrage charge/fee under our current agreement. We currently have roughly 155 cylinders on site.

Page 13 - if required, emergency deliveries shall occur within 4 hours of notice given by Government

It’s essential to clearly understand the extent of providing this service so that offerors can calculate the base cost and proposed price.

Answer: We have not had any 4 hour emergency deliveries in the past three years. We do not anticipate any Pricing Schedule B Items B.6 & B.7 - What is the difference between these two items? A Certificate of Conformance (COC) can be provided for either of these items. The COC certifies the gas provided will meet certain, minimum specifications, but does not cite analysis results. Is the actual purity required? It’s essential to clearly understand the extent of providing this service so that offerors can calculate the base cost and proposed price.

Item B.20 - What is the amount of dry ice delivered annually and what are the frequency of the deliveries? Do you require dry ice pellets or block? How many bins? It’s essential to clearly understand the extent of providing this service so that offerors can calculate the base cost and proposed price.

Answer: Annually we use roughly 33,750 pounds of dry ice nuggets. We have used 675 boxes of 50 pounds each. We have two ____ size bins at our location.

Site Inspection Observation Questions: The answers to the following questions are essential to fully understand technical requirements so that offerors can calculate the base cost and proposed price.

Presently there are four regulated gaseous N2 copper pipes that are piped into the Greenhouse, after the Final Line Regulators. Two of the four N2 copper pipes have a valved "by-pass" around the regulators. Re-use, Remove or Retro- fit?

Answer: Reuse Q - Are the by-passes to be re-used? Removed? Or retrofitted? They appear to be turned to the off position.

Answer: Reuse The 1-1/2" copper line is regulated, and appears to be the Main Supply.

Q - Re-use, Remove or Retro-fit?

Answer: Re-use The 3/4" copper line is regulated, and is turned to the off position.

Q - Re-use, Remove or Retro-fit?

Answer: Re-use The 1/2" copper line is regulated, and is turned to the off position.

Q - Re-use, Remove or Retro-fit?

Answer: Re-use The 1/4" copper line is regulated, and is turned to the off position.

Q - Re-use, Remove or Retro-fit?

Answer: Re-use Q - What are the pressures for all four copper lines suppling gaseous N2 to different areas?

Answer: 90 PSIG PSI Gauge Q - At the time of the installation, are we to supply regulators and necessary piping for the different pressures?

Answer: Re-use Existing Regulators Q - What is the desired delivery pressure for the Liquid Nitrogen?

Answer: 22 PSI Q - At the time of the Site Visit, the Tank pressure for the Gaseous N2 is 170 psi. Is the facility ok with that pressure?

Answer: Existing is Adequate

Q - To what is the existing X-50 suppling LN2? Need to know LN2 pressure. Answer: 22 PSI

Q - Is the customer okay with filling the Liquid Dewars with 120 psi/ tank pressure?

Answer: Answer: Existing is Adequate Q - Does the existing cryogenic hose and phase separator that is being used to fill the liquid Dewars belong to the customer? Does it need to be replaced?

Answer: No, unless we don’t own it.

Bulk Questions:

1. How many hours/day and days/week are you operating? Answer: Mon – Fri, System operates 24/7

1. What are your delivery hours for cylinders and bulk? Answer: Mon – Fri 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

1. Do you own the piping? If so where is the cut off? Answer: At the building.

1. Will you require a temporary supply? Answer: Yes

1. What is your flow requirement? Answer: 110 PSI Constant

1. What is your monthly volume? Answer: Roughly 754749.665 FTS

1. Are there specs on the heat transfer? Answer: No