Question and Answers Number 1 .docx

Question 1 Our question is regarding the VFA facility software that is mentioned in the solicitation a few times, and its associated certification: Do we need to have the certification in order to be eligible for award, or is the certification something we can work on after being awarded the project?

Answer to question 1

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is in the process of modifying The Statement of Work (SOW) to reflect a no preference position in regards to software. The vendor will propose software that achieves the following:

The Assessment Team shall enter all data using a professional software platform utilizing proper Capital Planning, Asset Management and Facility Assessment tools and techniques. This software and it’s data shall be accessible to DOT and be located on the BER server.

DOT/MARAD will need full functionality and access to the software. The server will be provided and administered by the MARAD IT department, The software shall be compliant with Federal Government IT regulations.

Previous specifications for a particular software program should not be interpreted as a preference over any other software program.

Question 2

Can vendors assume from the solicitation that the academy already has “VFA Facility” software into which the awarded vendor must upload building data, or must the vendor acquire this software for the academy first?

Answer See Question 1

Question 3

Can vendors assume from the solicitation that the academy already has “VFA Facility” software into which the awarded vendor must upload building data, or must the vendor acquire this software for the academy first?

Answer see question 1

Question 4

The BER_SOW_2-13-12 document (page 2 middle of page) requires that the team shall enter all data using the current version of "VFA facility" software. The document also specifies that the information is to be accessible to DOT and be on the BER server. To the best of our knowledge, the USDOT or USMMA currently does not have license for any VFA software. We are also not aware of any BER server currently being maintained by the USDOT or USMMA. Please clarify the above requirement in detail with additional background information, and indicate which entity currently maintains a BER server that is to be utilized for this project, and what protocol are established to access the BER server. Please also indicate if the consultant will be responsible for procuring and setting up the necessary VFA software and associated hardware including the BER server.

Answer See Question 1

Question 5

The BER_SOW_2-13-12 document (bottom of page 3) calls for at least one member of the Assessment Team to have VFA Certification to use the software. The “VFA Facility” is proprietary software, and only certain consultants have access to the software and very few consultants possess necessary training and certification of this software. Based on our research, VFA certification is not as common as, for example, having AutoCAD certification. We request that the Government considers relaxing this requirement. Instead of requiring consultant to have VFA Certification prior to proposal submission, we request that the Government specifies that the Consultant must be trained and certified in use of VFA Software prior to commencement of work under this contract.

Answer See Question 1