DEP.BWR.RFR.2018-10-MACROINVERT.LAB.SERVICES.QandA.responses.6.8.18.docx

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

REQUEST FOR RESPONSE (RFR)

AQUATIC/MARINE MACROINVERTEBRATE LABORATORY & SAMPLING SERVICES

COMMBUYS Bid#: BD-18-1045-BWR00-BWR02-27679

Answers to Questions

JUNE 8, 2018

Question 1.

Section 3.9 (Compensation and Pricing) of the RFR requires bidders to submit their firm’s base price for all sampling services and materials associated with the firm’s selected services for this solicitation. The Anticipated Scope of Services (Section 3.4) includes the collection, processing, and analysis of an indefinite number of benthic samples of unknown size from either marine, estuarine, or freshwater environments using undefined collection gear with unknown data analysis requirements. Due to these unknown parameters it is not possible to provide a base price for the requested services. Would a table with fully burdened rates for anticipated labor grades meet DEP’s expectations?

Answer to Question 1.

Yes. MassDEP is posting on CommBuys an Amendment to the RFR, which will amend paragraph 2 of RFR Section 3.9 to clarify that all bidders are required to submit their base price list of the fully loaded hourly rates of any key personnel providing services under this contract.

Question 2.

Section 1.9 of the RFR lists an estimated contract value of $150k. Is that value an estimate for a single year? Or for the entire contract duration? Does MassDEP already have projects it intends to fund the first year?

Answer to Question 2.

The estimated value of the contract is for the extended contract term. Yes, MassDEP does have projects that it intends to fund in fiscal 2019, after the agency has finalized the contract awards through this RFR solicitation process.

Question 3.

Is there a page limit for the proposal? Or for certain sections of the proposal?

Answer to Question 3.

There is no page limit imposed by MassDEP for the Bidders’ RFR responses.

Question 4.

In our experience, the most qualified laboratory for a given project will depend on site-specific circumstances, like whether sampling was performed in fresh waters, estuarine waters, or marine waters. Is it acceptable to submit a proposal that lists the laboratories we anticipate subcontracting with, recognizing that the preferred laboratory will depend on a given project’s characteristics?

Answer to Question 4.

Yes, it is acceptable to include subcontractors in the proposal. Bidders should review RFR section 3.3 regarding the Bidders’ submission requirements with respect to the use of subcontractors for project services.

After contract award, MassDEP anticipates that it will request more detailed information on subcontractor qualifications and pricing, on a project-by-project basis

Question 5.

Does MassDEP currently have a contract for the requested services? If so, what is the contract number and what has been the total value of awarded projects?

Answer to Question 5.

MassDEP does currently have a contract for these services: contract # PO-15-1045-BRP00-BRP01-00000002965. The total value of awarded projects under that contract exceeded $150K.