Amendment 2 - Vendor Questions.pdf

Technical Assistance in Forestry Management & Certification of Maryland’s State Forests

RFP # BPM035934 – K00R3600046

Questions from SCS Global Services

Amendment #2

1. The RFP includes two functional areas. Are you seeking one vendor to provide services for both of the functional areas, or do you plan to have separate vendors for each functional area? We ask because the RFP states in two places that the Department intends to make a single award as a result of the RFP. As a certification body, we can provide forestry certification for Functional

Area 2, but not Functional Area 1.

Response: The Scope of Work applies to both Functional Areas 1 and 2 in Section 2. A single award will be made to a vendor for each Functional Areas. If a vendor can only provide services for one of the two areas, that vendor may submit a proposal. If a vendor can provide services for both areas, then proposals for both areas are to be sent in.

2. As we can only provide certification services (Functional Area 2), do the requirements listed in

Section 2.1 (Page 2) through Section 2.2.13.4.5 (Page 17) apply to us?

Response: Yes

3. Per Section 2.5.4.1, the base fee must include all personnel/contractor and travel expenses. As required by FSC, the State of Maryland will also be charged an Annual Accreditation Fee (AAF) based on the forest area in the scope of the certificate and the then-current AAF rate established by FSC. Do you want vendors to exclude AAF from the base fee and charge it separately, or do you want us to include an AAF estimate their fee? Our preference would be to exclude it from the base fee since the area in the scope of the certificate and/or the AAF rate could change over the course of the certificate cycle.

Response: The AAF fees are to be included.

4. The scope of work as described is the 2024 recertification and 2025-28 surveillance audits. The

RFP and accompanying financial proposal template also include optional contracts for the 2029 recertification audit and 2030 surveillance audit. Would the decision to include one of both of the optional contracts be decided as part of the initial award of contract? Or, does the decision to add one or both of the optional contracts occur at a later date?

Response: There will be no additional contracts at a later date. This initial contract will cover the base and option years.

5. On Table 1: RFP Attachments and Appendices (Page 58), can you please clarify what leftmost two columns mean? We find it them to be unclear. For example, for MBE Forms D-1A, the column Applies says N, while the column When to submit says with the proposal. Can you please clarify what those two columns mean and which of the documents listed are required to be submitted with the proposal?

Response: These columns are part of the State’s template. The only portion you are to adhere to, is the section that says “Applies.” If there is a Y – this must be submitted and conversely, an N means that attachment does not pally and must not be submitted. The Key Information Sheet also states that there is no MBE Subcontracting goal for this procurement.

6. To clarify, we should use eMMA to submit our proposal. Is this correct?

Response: All proposals must be submitted through eMMA. Please do not mail any proposals to the office.