Amend Solicitation questions and answers.pdf

2.TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: The contractor shall furnish their own tools to perform all maintenance and PMs required per the manufactures manual for equipment specified in Appendix “A” of this PWS. Contractor will be provided copies of the equipment manual’s that identified the required PM services by specific timeframes to laundry facility manager or person(s) designated as such.

Q: In the document, Appendix A (page 10) is a PDF containing the Laundry Equipment list.

Unfortunately, we are unable to download the list since it is an inactive link. The pages following contain photos of Milnor, Kannegeiser, Etech, TEA, Consolidated, and Chicago equipment only. There are no photos or references to the chemical injection system, air compressors, plant network, blanket folder, cart washer, sorting systems, conveyor systems, steam tunnels, embroidering machine, auto valet system, shipping receiving programs, training on PWM drives, and network communications. Does this imply we are?

only required to service what is pictured on pages 10 to 21?

A: No; For clarification, please refer to the included list of equipment. Embroidery and auto valet not included

The contractor’s technicians shall be trained and certified in repairs and servicing the specific brand as identified in the Government Owned Laundry Equipment list. The contractor in question shall provide a letter of recommendation from each of the respective original equipment manufacturers of equipment to be maintained. The Letter of Recommendation shall be from a Technical Supervisor to ensure the validity of the contractor’s ability to perform the work required. The contractor will provide TRAINING/ CERTFICATIONS and recommendation letters as part of the bid/proposal. Onsite technicians shall demonstrate a verifiable proficiency in laundry equipment service and training capabilities of laundry equipment covering mechanical, electrical, laundry equipment plumbing, pneumatic and technical software troubleshooting; technicians must have startup and shutdown experience for laundry equipment.

Q: There is no reference to the chemical injection system, air compressors, plant network, blanket folder, cart washer, sorting systems, conveyor systems, steam tunnels, embroidering machine, auto valet system, shipping receiving programs, training on PWM drives, and network communications.

We cannot find reference to these requirements in FAR or VAR. For us to be eligible to bid, please clarify these requirements and state where they are required.

A: For clarification, please refer to the included list of equipment for types of equipment that technicians must be trained or have experience with. Training certificates are not mandatory but may be provided to demonstrate experience working with laundry equipment as referenced in the equipment list. Embroidery and auto valet not included.

Contractor must possess the ability to obtain software, tools, and parts directly from the manufacture of each piece of equipment. Due to the critical nature of the final product the laundry provides to the Veterans, all parts must be OEM to ensure the equipment is maintained in the best possible condition.

Q: Please explain “all parts must be OEM”. Does this mean only from the manufacturers of the equipment shown in the photos beginning on page 10? If so, these companies all use third party motors, belts, dives, sensors, PLCs, thermocouples, etc. They do not manufacture any components other than the steel. Are we expected to order parts directly from the original OEMs or do we need to order from the companies shown in the photos? Again, there is no reference to the other equipment that may be listed in Appendix A.

A: For clarification no gray market parts, all parts must be OEM provided or approved by the original equipment manufacturer if being procured from a source other than the OEM .

The contractor shall have at least 3 years’ experience in preventative maintenance of laundry equipment in VA Medical Center facilities. Contractor’s employees shall be knowledgeable of original equipment manufacturers standards associated with conducting Preventative Maintenance on Industrial Laundry Equipment and more specifically, the types of equipment listed in Section E of this Statement of Work.

Contractors shall provide correspondence from ALL original equipment manufacturers indicating that the vendors’ technicians have been properly trained and are qualified to service the equipment detailed in Section 3.0 Schedule A. Training certifications particular to the equipment listed shall be provided with contractors bid submission. Evidence must be provided of training being current on each piece of equipment by evidence of the correspondence being dated within the calendar year of the bid submission.

Q: If technicians have years of service working on the equipment listed in this solicitation why do we have to provide proof of such for us to be eligible to bid, please clarify these requirements and state why they are required.

A: For clarification, please provide a written letter (explaining type of equipment repair and/or service) of your recent experience repairing or maintaining the equipment as represented in the provided equipment list. This is a requirement of the solicitation due the extreme importance of the laundry equipment being maintained and repaired as to prevent severe down time by technicians that are not knowledgeable and would require training prior to being able to provide service.