DTMA95R1500003_-_000002.pdf

(x)

DTMA95R1500003

x x

2 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted ; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT

THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted , such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

x

Kings Point NY 11024-1699

00095

300 Steamboat Road

USMMA-5206

Division of Procurement U.S.Merchant Marine Academy

Kings Point NY 11024-1699

00095

300 Steamboat Road

USMMA-5206

Division of Procurement U.S.Merchant Marine Academy

06/24/2015000002

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended , by one of the following methods: (a) By completing

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

04/24/2015

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return __________________ copies to the issuing office.

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

The purpose of this amendment are to change the response due date and to upload questions and answers (Q&A-1).

A. The response due date is hereby changed as follows:

Change SECTION L.4 - PROPOSAL SUBMISSION to read as follows:

All proposal packages must be received no later than 11:00 A.M. EST on Wednesday, July 29, 2015.

LIST OF CHANGES:

Bids due date : 2015-06-26 00:00:00 changed to 2015-07-29 00:00:00

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

Bruce Markman

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

Prescribed by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

NSN 7540-01-152-8070

Previous edition unusable

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9 A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect .

1) Please provide a detailed description of the Academy Loaner Program (ALP)?

a. The ALP currently functions much like a public school textbook program. Students are issued books and they are returned at the end of the term. Books in the ALP are returned to the school.

Note: The intent of this solicitation is for the selected contractor to provide complete textbook services for each student to include acquiring, transporting, and delivering all textbooks and supplies to each student without labor, packaging, distribution, the ALP, or inventory assistance from the Government.

The Government reserves the right to continue or re-take the ALP should the successful contractor’s proposal and/or subsequent performance not meet the performance goals of the government.

2) How many books are distributed to midshipmen per term through the loaner program?

a. On average for Fiscal Year 14, on average there were 34 title/ 1,887 unit per term.

3) How does the Loaner Program affect sales of books?

a. The ALP does not generally affect the quantity of books the government purchases. The number of books in the program remains fairly constant. Books issued to students under the current ALP must be returned to the Government at the end of the term.

4) How many titles and units currently reside in the Loaner Program?

a. Approximately 35 titles per term.

Note: The intent of this solicitation is for the selected contractor to provide complete textbook services for each student to include acquiring, transporting, and delivering all

5) During onsite buyback, who receives the funds paid out at buyback? Specifically, do buyback funds go to the government institution or the individual midshipmen?

a. The students may retain or sell to any source any textbooks or supplies issued to them and they would receive the funds.

If an ALP option is exercised books in the ALP are returned to the government. Any buyback funds would be credited to the contract via the government’s payment office and the contractor would be required to properly notify the Contracting Officer.

Textbooks and supplies issued to faculty or to staff are also the property of the Government. Any buyback funds would be credited to the contract via the government’s payment office and the contractor would be required to properly notify the Contracting Officer.

6) What currently happens to books at the end of the semester? Do midshipmen keep them, or are they sold? If books are sold, who are they sold to?

a. Books in the ALP are returned to the government.

b. Textbooks and supplies not in the ALP are the property of the student to retain or sell to any source.

7) What are the current adoption date deadlines and 1st days of class for each semester?

a. For the 2015-2016 academic year the current first day of class per term are summer session 22 June 2015, first term 23 July 2015, second term 10 November 2015, third term 15 March 2016.

8) Page 6, Section C.4, Task 1.C indicates the Government will distribute all supplies to the midshipmen. Page 10 Section F1 states that the contractor will deliver and distribute the textbooks. Section F.3 on that same page states the Government will distribute all supplies.

Please clarify expectations and preferences for this process.

a. PAGE 6, SECTION C.4, TASK 1.C IS HEREBY CHANGED AS FOLLOWS:

Change page 6, Section C.4, Task 1.C to read, “The Contractor will acquire, transport, deliver, and distribute all textbooks and supplies directly to the Midshipmen. It is the intent of the Government for the Contractor to deliver all textbooks and supplies to all students on a single distribution day prior to the commencement of classes.

b. PAGE 10, SECTION F.3 IS HEREBY CHANGED AS FOLLOWS:

Change page 10, Section F.3 Distribution of Supplies to read, “The Contractor will distribute all supplies directly to the Midshipmen.”

9) C.4 Task 2. Is the supply buyback program required to purchase all textbooks or only those that were issued during the current term or will be used in the future term?

a. PAGE 5, SECTION C.2 IS HEREBY CHANGED AS FOLLOWS:

On page 5 section C.2 change the last sentence to read, “The Contractor is encouraged to develop and conduct a textbook and supply buyback program to be conducted on the campus.”

b. PAGE 6, SECTION C.4, TASK 2 IS HEREBY CHANGED AS FOLLOWS:

On page 6 section C.4 task 2 change the first sentence to read, “The contractor is encouraged to institute and conduct a supply buyback from the students at the beginning or end of terms.”

10) Task 4. Option A, page 7. a) Please provide additional clarification as to the operation of the Academy Loaner Program (ALP) should the option be exercise. b) Would COR distribute the loaner books? c) Would the contractor sell the books to COR?

a. The ALP currently functions much like a public school textbook program. Students are issued books and they are returned at the end of the term. The intent of this solicitation is for the selected contractor to provide complete textbook services for each student to include acquiring, transporting, and delivering all textbooks and supplies to each student without labor, packaging, distribution, the ALP, or inventory assistance from the Government.

b. The Government reserves the right to continue or re-take the ALP should the successful contractor’s proposal and/or subsequent performance not meet the performance goals of the government. The Government would acquire, inventory, and distribute all textbooks which would be competitively sourced.

c. The Government would competitively source the textbooks.

11) F.1, Delivery, page 10. Is the preferred method of delivery of the textbooks in cartons labeled for each midshipman or as a bulk delivery of textbooks?

a. The contractor may package the textbooks for delivery to individual students in cartons or in any method mutually agreed upon with the Government such as tubes for rolled charts, bags, or tubs. Any bulk delivery of textbooks would require the contractor to sort and issue the textbooks to the individual students without assistance from the Government or its personnel. A space on campus to conduct a mass issuance of textbooks and supplies, such as the gymnasium, may be coordinated with the Government. The Contractor may deliver to each student via an approved mail service such as the United States Postal Service, FedEx, UPS, etcetera or arrange for delivery of all textbooks and supplies directly to the students’ rooms or meet the student on campus for delivery. The intent of this solicitation is for the selected contractor to provide complete textbook services for each student to include acquiring, transporting, and delivering all textbooks and supplies to each student without labor, packaging, distribution, the ALP, or inventory assistance from the Government.

12) Sub-Factor 2 Buyback Program, page 24. As it is our understanding that the textbooks are government property, would the midshipmen or the government receive the buyback money?

a. PAGE 6, SECTION C.4 TASK 1 IS HEREBY CHANGED AS FOLLOWS:

On page 6 section C.4 Task 1 delete the last sentence, “All material shall become property of the Government.”

The students may retain or sell to any source any textbooks or supplies issued to them and they would receive the funds.

If an ALP option is exercised books in the ALP are returned to the government. Any buyback funds would be credited to the contract via the government’s payment office and the contractor would be required to properly notify the Contracting Officer.

Textbooks and supplies issued to faculty or to staff are also the property of the Government. Any buyback funds would be credited to the contract via the government’s payment office and the contractor would be required to properly notify the Contracting Officer.

13) On page 8 section C.6 d) it states, “The Government may supply the contractor with appropriate class and student information to allow the contractor to properly provide supplies.” This information would be crucial if the textbooks and supplies are to be boxed for each student. Is there a possibility this could be changed to state, “The Government will…”?

a. PAGE 8, SECTION C.6 IS HEREBY CHANGED AS FOLLOWS:

Change page 8, Section C.6 d) first sentence to read, “The Government will supply the contractor with appropriate class and student information to allow the contractor to properly provide supplies.”

14) Is there space on campus for the contractor to warehouse or store textbooks and supplies?

a. No. There is no space for the storage of textbooks and supplies. The contractor must make arrangements through the CO/COR to coordinate the delivery of textbooks and supplies to students who may be late returning to campus or who have other legitimate reasons for being unable to receive their textbooks and supplies on the designated distribution day. The Contractor may deliver to each student via an approved mail service such as the United States Postal Service, FedEx, UPS, etcetera or arrange for delivery of all textbooks and supplies directly to the students’ rooms or meet the student on campus for delivery.

15) Page 10 Section F1 states that the contractor will deliver and distribute the textbooks. On page

23 section C doesn’t mention anything about distribution as being part of the proposal evaluation. Please clarify the evaluation criteria.

a. On page 23 change section L.3, A) Technical Proposal, II, C. to read, “C. Coordinate acquisition, delivery, and distribution of all requested textbooks and supplies to the students: i. Method by which textbooks and academic items will be assembled, packaged, delivered, and distributed to the students. Ii. Method by which textbooks and academic items will be assembled, packaged, delivered, and distributed to the students that require early issuance. Iii. Method by which textbooks and academic items will be assembled, packaged, delivered, and distributed to the students after main distribution period.” Iv. and v. No changes in wording are made to these sections. Add, “vi. Method by which textbooks and academic items will be assembled, packaged, delivered, and distributed to the instructors.”

16) Page 24 Sub-factor 2 section iv states the contractor will explain the method which guarantees items purchased in the supply buyback program will be held and made available for student needs. The books become property of the contractor and should I want to supply requested texts by another cheaper method would this be evaluated negatively against my proposal?

a. Delete page 24 sub-factor 2 iv.

17) Economic Price Adjustment clause 52.216-2 states, "The aggregate of the increases in any contract unit price under this clause shall not exceed 10 percent of the original contract unit price." Does this mean the contractor can only increase the price of the unit 10% for the whole duration of the contract or does this mean the contractor can raise the price 10% every option year?

a. The proposal will contain a price list at a minimum with the historical list of books provided. The contractor will also provide a price list for each option period. The contractor may be granted an equitable adjustment of any unit price at the beginning of an option period not to exceed 10% of the proposed unit price. New books can be added to the contract by supplemental agreement and unit price for those are negotiated.

18) Availability of Funds clause 52.232-18 states, "No legal liability in the part of the government for any payment may arise until funds are made available to the contracting officer for this contract and until the contractor receives notice of such availability, to be confirmed in writing by the contracting officer." When will funds be made available to the contracting officer for this contract to satisfy the monetary requirements of the contractor?

a. Funds availability will be confirmed in writing by the Contracting Officer prior to the contractor being required to order items for delivery.

19) Given that the Government works on a fiscal year beginning in October 1 of each calendar year and the understanding that Congress must appropriate the funding for the Academy, what provision is in place for funding the contractor for the balance of this year in the event that the amount of money appropriated is less than the amount of the winning bid?

a. Funding for all awarded contracts is subject to Congressional action. Changes to federal appropriations will be handled through established change order processes.

20) What provision is in place for funding the contractor for each successive option year in the event that the amount of money appropriated is less than the amount of the flat rate bid price for a given option year?

a. Funding for all awarded contracts is subject to Congressional action. Changes to federal appropriations will be handled through established change order processes.

21) If the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy currently has a functional Academy Loaner Program

(ALP), then please provide the full scope and operational procedures the Academy currently follows to facilitate the Academy Loaner Program (ALP). In the event the Academy does not have a functional ALP at this time, then please confirm such status and/or a description of the ALP as it may exist at this time.

a. The ALP currently functions much like a public school textbook program. Students are issued books and they are returned at the end of the term. Books in the ALP are returned to the school. Textbooks and supplies not returned to the school are the property of the student to retain or sell to any source.

Note: The intent of this solicitation is for the selected contractor to provide complete textbook services for each student to include acquiring, transporting, and delivering all

22) How does the contractor and the government come to an agreed price for a new publication that the government decides to add to the USMMA Master Supply List during the contracted period?

a. The contractor may propose a price to the Government and a negotiation may ensue. If an agreement is reached then the item would be added to the contract via modification.

23) Does the contractor have the option to opt out of the contract before the start of the new option year?

a. No. The option years are exercised at the government’s discretion.

24) At what point in the supply cycle is the contractor permitted to submit an invoice?

a. In accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation, the contractor may submit an invoice after each period of delivery and acceptance by the government.

25) How many invoices may be submitted within a base year?

a. The number of invoices will be based on delivery and acceptance and the number of times this occurs during each term.

26) When is the contactor permitted to submit an invoice to the government for payment?

a. This is dependent on delivery and acceptance and the number of times this occurs during each term.

27) What is the projected time period for payment of a given invoice?

a. In general the Prompt Payment Act applies.

28) In the first sentence of Task 4 in it states, "The contractor shall provide authorized government administrators with access to sales activity that is updated daily." Please define, “sales activity” as used in this solicitation?

a. THIS REQUIREMENT IS HEREBY DELETED

29) Within the date range of June 1 thru August 15, 2015, what dates will the Academy be closed for receipt of goods?

a. The academy is closed on all weekends and observed federal holidays. There is no space available on the campus for the receiving or storage of contractor textbooks and supplies. On page 10 delete section F.1, b, ii.

30) In section C.7 it states, "Approximately 20,000-25,000 supplies are issued each semester during

USMMA book issuance." The academic calendar for USMMA was stated as being divided into trimesters in this solicitation. Are the approximate number of supplies issued based on a trimester or semester?

a. PAGE 8, SECTION C.7 IS HEREBY CHANGED AS FOLLOWS:

Change page 8 section C.7 Quantity of Books last sentence to read, “Approximately

20,000-25,000 supplies are issued each year during USMMA book issuance.”

31) Section D.2.A states, "each item supplied must be labeled "Government Property." Please clarify that digital items will be exempt from such requirement or not.

a. DELETE THE FOLLOWING:

Delete page 9 section D.2 Marking.

32) Which party is responsible for receiving the textbooks and related goods at the academy prior to distribution to the midshipmen? Is it the Academy or the contractor?

a. The Contractor is responsible for acquiring, shipping, delivering, and distributing all textbooks and supplies to all students without assistance or support of Government material or labor.

33) At what point does the Government consider the goods delivered to the Academy?

a. The Government considers delivery complete when the correct textbooks and supplies are delivered to the individual student.

34) What authority does the administrating contracting officer (ACO) have in the scope of this solicitation?

a. The same authority as the Contracting Officer.

35) Who is the official contracting officer for this solicitation? Is it the administrating contracting officer (ACO) or the procurement contracting officer (PCO) or someone else?

a. Bruce Markman (PCO)

b. Judy Bowers (ACO)

c. Maxmillian Diah (ACO)

36) Which items from the USMMA Master Supply List does the government want to have as part of the supply buyback program?

a. All textbooks and supplies will be eligible for the contractor’s buyback program except items in the ALP, if the option is exercised.

On page 6 Section C.4 Task 2 change the first sentence to read, “The Contractor is encouraged to institute and conduct a supply buyback from the students, faculty, and staff at the beginning or end of terms.”

37) The lump sum amount on form SF 1449 will be based in part on total estimated quantities and estimated prices per item in the USMMA Master Supply List. In the event the academy's needs for textbook(s) exceed the estimated quantities or price set in the USMMA Master Supply List, will the contractor be permitted to invoice for additional product requested by the Academy at the prevailing price?

a. The Government will pay for all correct textbooks or supplies delivered to the students each term.

38) In the event the academy's needs for a textbook(s) is reduced below the estimated quantities and pricing in the USMMA Master Supply List will the government still pay the full lump sum amount offered by the contractor on form SF 1449?

a. The Government will pay for all correct textbooks or supplies delivered to the students each term.

39) Please provide the contact information (phone number, email, etc.) of the following publishers. a) Applied Physics Technology; b) Star Communication

a) Applied Physics Technology, phone 832-226-1071;

b) Star Communication, phone 631-435-0352.

40) Please provide full style of details for line item 199 of the USMMA Master Supply List.

a. DELETE LINE ITEM 199

41) Please clarify whether the hard or soft cover version is required for the American Practical

Navigator 2002 edition (pub 9).

a. For textbooks and supplies that have several options of fulfillment it would be beneficial to all parties in the contract to discuss the various merits and costs of each. The contractor would invoice appropriately based on the chosen item.