BL109_23 Ad2.pdf

September 8, 2023

Addendum #2

BL109-23

Provision of Bunker Gear Maintenance and Repair on Annual Contract

Please make the following changes to the above referenced solicitation.

Changes:

C1: DELETE: Solicitation Page 5, within Section VIII: “ISP must return all gear requiring maintenance or repair services within five (5) business days.”

ADD: Solicitation Page 5, within Section VIII: “ISP must return all gear requiring maintenance or repair services within ten (10) business days.”

C2: DELETE: Solicitation Page 5, within Section XI: “The ISP will provide on-scene emergency services as required and when required by the County. ISP will be required to report to the emergency’s location within two (2) hours of receiving notification and will be expected to provide replacement gear to personnel on-scene as needed.”

Please see the below summation of questions and answers for the above referenced solicitation.

Questions:

Q1: Solicitation Page 5, Section VIII states “ISP must return all gear requiring maintenance or repair services within five (5) business days.” Is this five (5) business days from the time of pick-up or from date of repair approval?

A1: See C1. Gear requiring maintenance or repair services must be returned within ten (10) business days from date of pickup. Extensions can be provided depending on the volume submitted or coordinated with the department representative.

Q2: Solicitation Page 7, Section G states “ISP must test ensembles or ensemble elements after decontamination to ensure that decontaminated ensembles or ensemble elements are truly decontaminated and safe to wear.” Please state/define test ISP must use to determine ensemble elements are truly decontaminated.

A2: The County does not need a test for each ensemble decontamination performed. The ISP must provide certification documents showing the overall cleaning efficiency or LOG reduction from a certified third party.

Q3: Solicitation Page 8, Section H states "All garments repaired must be returned and tagged ‘NFPA compliant.’” Is this necessary since solicitation advises all non-serviceable gear is required to be returned in a white bag?

A3: Yes. In addition, the ISP should include documentation that gear is unable to be repaired to NFPA compliance. Documentation can be provided with the return of the gear or accessible in vendor database.

BL109-23 Addendum #2 Page 2

Q4: Page 9 section H states:

• Disposition:

o BER (Beyond Economic Repair) o Exceeds 10-year limit Certified for fire service

If gear is serviceable, disposition would not be needed, correct?

A4: Correct.

Q5: Solicitation Page 5, Section XI states “ISP will be required to report to the emergency’s location within two (2) hours of receiving notification and will be expected to provide replacement gear to personnel on-scene as needed.” Please clarify if the vendor is expected to inventory Gwinnett County’s replacement gear or to provide loaner gear for these instances. Should additional pricing be included in the ISP’s bid response for this?

A5: See C2. This requirement can be removed.

Q6: Solicitation Page 3: “ISP must provide the specified information and documents with their submittal forms and affidavits as proof of compliance with the qualifications. However, the County may, at its sole discretion and in its best interest, allow ISPs to complete, supplement, or supply the required documents during bid evaluation.” Shall the bidder be required to provide documentation before or after the bid opening?

A6: Before, unless explanation is provided including projected date of compliance. The County would prefer that certification already be completed, and included in the ISP’s bid submittal.

Q7: Solicitation Page 5: “ISP must return all gear requiring maintenance or repair services within five (5) business days. Department authorized designee will instruct the ISP on the type of services required for each garment.” Will the Fire Department provide a Blanket Purchase Order for the necessary repairs or services?

A7: See C1. No, Purchase Orders will be generated based on service requested, preapproved repair amount, or approved quote.

Q8: Solicitation Page 5: “ISP must return all gear requiring maintenance or repair services within five (5) business days. Department authorized designee will instruct the ISP on the type of services required for each garment.” Will a PO# be required for each independent and individual vendor action?

A8: See C1. No. Purchase Orders will be generated for requested services. PO will indicate preapproved repair amount or request quote before repairs are to be performed. Any repairs that exceed the preapproved amount will require a quote to be approved.

Q9: Solicitation Page 5: X. RESPONSE TIME: “Response to all requests for services must be within 24 hours of notification.” What constitutes an acceptable response (Email, Voice Mail, Phone Call)?

A9: Phone or email is acceptable.

Q10: Solicitation Page 5: “ISP must return all gear requiring maintenance or repair services within five (5) business days. Department authorized designee will instruct the ISP on the type of services required for each garment.” Does the time for this begin upon approval of the work to be performed or upon notification of the needed repair by the department?

A10: See A1.

Q11: Solicitation Page 5: “The ISP will provide on-scene emergency services as required and when required by the County. ISP will be required to report to the emergency’s location within two (2) hours of receiving notification and will be expected to provide replacement gear to personnel on-scene as needed.” Please specify this at length. Is it the desire of the department to have registered ISP service on the actual Fire Scene within 2 hours?

A11: See C2.

BL109-23 Addendum #2 Page 3

Q12: Solicitation Page 6 et. al.: In several places in the specifications, 1,000 sets are mentioned. In other locations, 1,500 sets is mentioned. Would the County please provide clarification on the total number of sets to be considered? 1,000 or 1,500?

A12: 1,500.

Q13: Are the services listed herein to be performed on an “as needed” basis by phone or email notification, or will the provider use a consistent route service with specific denominations on a route or routine basis?

A13: Services are as needed, with coordination with department representatives to schedule annual cleaning and inspections pick-ups.

Q14: Solicitation Page 7: “ISP must use the minimum temperature as dictated by NFPA 1851 for the type of contamination being addressed.” The manufacturer is not aware of any NFPA standard that is used specify a minimum temperature. Can the County please clarify desired data?

A14: The correct cleaning method is based on type of cleaning needed. The temperatures shall be taken directly from the most current version of NFPA 1851 for cleaning care and maintenance.

Also, PPE must be cleaned and maintained to any other regulations set by the manufacturer.

Q15: Solicitation Page 8: “All garments repaired must be returned and tagged ‘NFPA compliant.’” Once a garment is issued from the manufacturer, it should be labeled NFPA compliant. Once repaired, it cannot technically be classified as “NFPA compliant” without destructive testing. Will the department accept, “Repaired and Fit for Firefighting Use” be acceptable?

A15: If the garment is repaired as certified by the material manufacturer and the ISP is verified by NFPA 1851 then it is NFPA compliant until the end of its serviceable life. Therefore, it should read “NFPA compliant.”

This addendum should be acknowledged on Page 15, Bid Schedule Continued. Failure to do so may result in your bid being deemed non-responsive.

Thank you, Casey Beauston Purchasing Associate II