DEP.BWSC.RFR.2024.ERIRASS.Bid.QA.final.6.28.24.pdf

Maura T. Healey Governor

Kimberley Driscoll Lieutenant Governor

Rebecca L. Tepper Secretary

Bonnie Heiple Commissioner

This information is available in alternate format. Please contact Melixza Esenyie at 617-626-1282.

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MassDEP Emergency Response & Immediate Response Action Services COMMBUYS Bid# BD-24-1045-BWSC0-BWSC1-103678

MassDEP’s Official Answers to Questions

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) is posting these Official Answers to the Questions that were received by the June 20, 2024 deadline set forth in the Request for Response (RFR).

Q1- Are there any changes to the Release Tracking Number (RTN) process as it relates to the contractor?

A1- No, the process remains the same as in the current contract.

Q2- Form E, the Labor and Equipment Rate Schedule, when downloaded from COMMBUYS is a “Blank Document Template” one-page form. When will Form E be uploaded in COMMBUYS? Will the date be extended due to the lost time of availability to work on the document?

A2- Due to a technical issue, Form E, the Labor and Equipment Rate Schedule, did not upload with the other bid documents. The issue has been corrected, and the Form has been uploaded to COMMBUYS along with this Q&A document. MassDEP will not provide additional time for bidders to submit bids for this RFR due to this issue.

Q3- On the Supplier Diversity Program (SDP), if we list multiple vendors, must it be 1% for each vendor or 1% for the whole?

A3- The SDP commitment is expressed as a percentage of contract sales resulting from the RFR solicitation that will be spent with the SDP partners/vendors (i.e., not each individual vendor). Bidders are reminded that the minimum total SDP commitment acceptable in responses to this solicitation shall be 1%. Bidders may be awarded additional evaluation points for higher SDP Commitments. To encourage Bidders to develop substantial supplier diversity initiatives and commitments, at least 25% of the total available evaluation points for this bid solicitation shall be allocated to the evaluation of the SDP Plan submissions. In addition to proposing an SDP

Q&A for COMMBUYS Bid# BD-24-1045-BWSC0-BWSC1-103678 Page 2

Commitment, each Bidder must propose one or more SDP Partner(s) to utilize to meet its SDP Commitment. No contract shall be awarded to any bidder without an SDP commitment that meets the requirements stated within the RFR. This requirement extends to all Bidders regardless of their own supplier diversity certification.

Q4- Can the Standard Contract Form be signed electronically?

A4- Yes. Please refer to RFR Appendix 2, Required Specifications for Commodities and Services, section 2.22, Acceptable Forms of Signature.

Q5- Can we use DEP projects on our project references/descriptions?

A5- MassDEP projects may be used as part of the Project Descriptions (MassDEP Form

C). However, as stated in the RFR, Department staff (i.e., employees of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection) are not to be used as client references for the performance evaluations from clients (RFR Attachment D, Article 4, Section 7).

Q6- Can we track payments to contractors on the COMMBUYS system?

A6- No. COMMBUYS is used for the procurement of goods and services for the

Commonwealth of Massachusetts and certain other entities, not for payment and billing tracking.

Q7- Did you say the W-9 needs to be signed by someone on the authorized list? We need to add their name to the list that signs our W-9 from our AZ office?

A7- Yes, the W-9 form must be signed by an authorized representative, as listed on the Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing (CASL) form prepared by the bidder.

Q8- Please confirm the W-9 and the Standard Contract Form needs to be signed by the same person. And that person needs to be listed on the Authorized List. Where can I find the Authorized List?

A8- The W-9 Form and Standard Contract Form must be signed by any of the individuals listed on the Contractor Authorized Signatory Listing (CASL) form prepared by the bidder. The CASL form is used to validate authorized signatories to protect vendors and the Commonwealth from fraud.

Q9- Will we get a copy of the PowerPoint presentation?

A9- A copy of the PowerPoint presentation, in PDF form, is available on COMMBUYS.

Q10- Regarding the Environmentally Preferable Products/Practices form, Item #2 (Packaging) isn’t really applicable to our line of work and there is no place to mark N/A or add a

Q&A for COMMBUYS Bid# BD-24-1045-BWSC0-BWSC1-103678 Page 3 comment. How can we confirm that we won’t get penalized for not providing a response if there is no spot to provide input?

A10- Bidders will not be penalized for not providing a response to this item. As noted in the RFR, bidders may get points for providing evidence that their firm already practices the environmental measures and initiatives noted in section 3.4 of the RFR or for proposals detailing a commitment to action contingent upon receipt of a Contract award.