DU204SA-15-R-0002_solicitation_FINAL.pdf

LEAD BASED PAINT EVALUATION SERVICES

Solicitation DU204SA-15-R-0002

Questions and Answers

Proposal Content and Solicitation Clarifications

1. Will there be a pre-bid conference for this solicitation?

A. No

2. After reviewing the solicitation on the fbo.gov website, it appears that the solicitation package document starts with page #3 and proceeds through page #84. Is there a page #1 or page #2 (SF33)?

A. Yes, the SF-33 was added in Amendment 2.

3. Can you please let me know who the correct contact person(s) are to receive this information and what their contact information is?

A. Please see Section L.10 (b), Proposal Format, of the solicitation.

4. Can you please let me know if email communication of this information is acceptable?

A. Please see Section L.10 (b), Proposal Format, of the solicitation.

5. Can you clarify what factors will be considered in determining the Technical

Acceptability of Proposals.

A. Please see Section M, Evaluation Factors for Award, of the solicitation.

Pricing and Quantities

1. Can Offerors bid on Area 1 only or do you need to provide pricing for all?

A. Offerors may propose on as many areas as they choose. For each area an Offeror is proposing, a pricing schedule for that area as shown in Section B must be included.

Offerors that plan to propose on more than one area are reminded that only one (1)

Technical Proposal shall be submitted, no matter how many geographical areas the contractor is proposing. Any proposed variation in technical approach between areas shall be clearly indicated in their Technical Approach Part (Part I) only. There will be no page increase for the additional information. Offerors must submit one proposal covering all contract areas they intend to propose.

2. The Schedule, Section B (B.3 Table) – The Estimated Quantity for CLIN 0003 and CLIN

0004 are almost the same as for CLIN 0001. Are these estimated quantities for CLIN

0003 and CLIN 0004 accurate? Usually each is not more than one third of CLIN 0001?

A. The estimated quantities are correct. They are only estimates where all properties in

CLIN 0001 were considered to possibly require testing, tested positive, required stabilization plan & clearance examinations.

3. All the Price Schedules in Section B do not include Unit Prices for additional units for single family properties with more than one unit. Are they to be priced at the same unit price for each CLIN?

A. This is Single-Family (SF) Real Estate Owned (REO) contract. HUD defines SF property as one that may contain 1 to 4 units and assigns a case number per property.

For sake of simplification and conformance, prices are per case number and not dwelling units.

4. All the Price Schedules in Section B do not include Unit Price for Failed Clearances. Are

Failed Clearances included in the Estimated Quantity for CLIN 0004 for the same unit price?

A. Failed Clearances are not included in the estimated quantities for CLIN 004. HUD does not provide a CLIN price for Failed Clearances. HUD considers re-clearance examination (“Failed Clearance”) as a re-work of the same task.

5. Pricing – given that the HOC regions cover very large geographical areas (especially the

Santa Ana region), and therefore travel costs will be incurred and will fluctuate greatly depending on the location of the assignment, recommend that the pricing include a separate CLIN for travel for contractors to price versus including it in the lump sum/FFP prices.

A. All prices are inclusive of travel and any related expenses per the performance work statement.

6. It is very difficult to present one price per CLIN per HOC. Can HUD further breakdown the estimated quantities by state and/or metropolitan area?

A. At this time, the estimated quantities will not be broken down per state in this solicitation.

7. Will HUD provide any historical data regarding the number of assignments that were previously ordered by Homeownership Centers?

A. No historical data will be provided at this time.

8. Does the Government anticipate providing a CLIN in order to price dwellings which have more than 1 unit?

A. No.

Geographic Areas

1. Will successfully awarded contractors be required to have an office within the awarded Homeownership Geographic areas?

A. No

2. Can a contractor compete for more than one geographic location?

A. Yes

Subcontracting

1. Will the contractor be allowed to use their own vetted subcontractors to complete services?

A. Yes, see clause 52.219-14 LIMITATIONS ON SUBCONTRACTING. (NOV 2011) in Section I of the solicitation.

Performance Work Statement Clarifications

1. Section 5.1.1 – The solicitation requires the contractor to submit a schedule for conducting the visual assessment within 1 business day of receiving the assignment from the FSM contractor. Later in the section, it requires the contractor to submit a report on the results of the visual assessment within 6 business days of “…initial assignment...” by the FSM contractor. The assignment locations are spread across large geographies, including Guam and Hawaii, which require significant travel time. Since we are allowed to provide a schedule to the FSM for when we will conduct the assessments, recommend that the due dates for the reports be tied to that schedule versus initial assignment dates. Therefore, recommend the language be changed to read: “…within six business days of completion of the assigned visual assessment.”

A. Requirement to “submit a schedule for conducting the visual assessment within 1 business day of receiving the assignment from the FSM contractor” is more like acknowledging receipt of the assignment. The 6 business days to “submit a report on the results of the visual assessment within 6 business days of initial assignment“has been tested successfully. Thus, we do not see need for a change.

2. Section 5.1.2 – The first sentence requires that an inspection be performed within 6 days of assignment by the FSM contractor. However, Section 5.1.1, as currently written, doesn’t require the visual assessment report to be submitted until 6 days after assignment. And, since Section 5.1.1 also states that inspections will only be conducted if/when hazards are identified in the visual assessment, which won’t be completed and reported on until this deadline in Section 5.1.2. has passed. Therefore, recommend that the deadline for conducting any inspections be tied to the submission of the visual assessment report to the FSM contractor, with time added for the government to review the report and concur that an inspection is required.

A. Requirement to “submit a schedule for conducting the visual assessment within 1 business day of receiving the assignment from the FSM contractor” is more like acknowledging receipt of the assignment. It does not require submittal of “Visual

Assessment” report.

3. Based on the two comments above recommend the response due to the FSM upon assignment be modified to the following:

a. The Contractor shall, within one business day of receipt of notice of assignment, provide the FSM via email the following information for each property assigned:

i. Evaluation Company

ii. Evaluation Team Leader

iii. Scheduled Visual Assessment Evaluation Start Date

iv. Scheduled Visual Assessment Evaluation End Date

v. Report of Visual Assessment Evaluation Submission Date

vi. Scheduled Inspection Dates, if applicable based on visual assessment report

vii. Schedule for submission of stabilization plan and cost estimate

viii. Explanation of reasons for extended schedule, if applicable.

A. There will be no language change on this issue.

4. Section 5.1.3 – The solicitation again ties the completion of the stabilization plan to

“…within 6 days of initial assignment”. It is not possible to complete a visual assessment, follow-up inspection and report of inspection, and preparation of a stabilization plan complete with cost estimates within 6 days of the initial email from the

FSM identifying the property of concern. Instead, the contractor should be required to prepare a schedule for the entire process (assuming that all three efforts will be required) and then execute each piece within the agreed-upon schedule. If it turns out that only a visual assessment is required, then the remainder of the schedule will just not be exercised. See comment #3 above.

A. The 6 business days to “submit a report on the results of the visual assessment within

6 business days of initial assignment” has been tested successfully. The report may contain results of an Assessment, Testing and Stabilization plan, if necessary. And a property may be “cleared” by Visual Assessment only; and would require Testing and/or stabilization plan.

5. Section 6.3 – This requires us to provide all certifications/training/licenses for all personnel within 5 days of the kick-off meeting, yet in Section 1.4, we are given 30 days to complete the LBP Visual Assessment training for any personnel who require

it. Recommend that these two deadlines be reconciled in the solicitation.

A. We expect Offerors to already have the experience and necessary local/state and/or licenses and certifications required to perform the tasks. Per the Statement of Work, if the Inspector is not a Certified Risk Assessor, they are required to take the HUD

Visual Assessment Training.

6. Section 6.4 – this section requires a transition report to be submitted 7 days prior to the end of the contract, yet Section 1.7 indicates there is to be a 60 day transition out period. Recommend the requirement for the submission of this report be changed to 60 days prior to contract end so that both contractors and the government have sufficient time to review and assess the upcoming activities and conduct a smooth transition.

A. There will be no language changes on this issue.

7. Section 6.5 – This section will need to be updated if/as changes are made based on comments to Sections 5.1.1 through 5.1.3.

A. N/A

8. For the risk assessment component it states: “HUD Lead-based paint inspectors who are not certified risk assessors shall complete the HUD visual assessment course, “Lead-

Based Paint Visual Assessment Training", and successfully pass the end-of-course examination within 30 calendar days after contract award. The course is available at www.hud.gov/offices/lead/training/visualassessment/h00101.htm. A certificate of successful completion shall be submitted to the Government Technical Representative

(GTR). No inspections shall be conducted by any individuals who have not successfully completed the required training and submitted the required certificates of completion. “ If one is not a certified lead inspector, can an individual complete this training to perform the visual assessment component of the work? Will this training be accepted in all HOC States where work will be performed?

A. We expect Offerors to already have the experience and necessary local/state and/or licenses and certifications required to perform the tasks. There may states where

Inspector licensure may not be available requiring certification on Federal (EPA or

HUD website) level. The time which is generous is provided to allow for those rare occasions. Yes, Visual assessment certification obtained from HUD website is acceptable to all HOCs.

9. On page 14, it states: “All lead-based paint inspectors shall be licensed within the state in which they are performing the inspections and/or clearance testing and have successfully passed all applicable State and/or EPA certification exams.” This requirement will place a financial burden on the 8(a) to obtain firm, and/or individual licenses and register XRF units in these locations. Will HUD offer blanket reciprocity if company/individual is a licensed inspector and/or risk assessor in one or more States, but not all States, in the HOC where work will be performed?

A. HUD expects Offerors to abide by their local/state rules and regulations; as well as any Federal regulation/s that may apply.

10. Will lead inspection/risk assessment clearance assignments be clustered in a HOC State so that multiple units can be evaluated in one mobilization?

A. No. Assignments are made as needed.

Past Performance

1. Does the agency anticipate providing a past performance questionnaire to submit to customers to return?

A. No.

http://www.hud.gov/offices/lead/training/visualassessment/h00101.htm

2. Is there a requirement for PPQ and Past Performance examples?

A. As stated in Section M.6 of the solicitation, Past Performance will be reviewed as part of the determination of responsibility but will not be an evaluation factor.

Key Personnel

1. Is there a requirement to identify or provide resumes for key personnel?

A. Please see Section 4.2 and HUDAR Clause 2452.237-70 KEY PERSONNEL. (FEB

2006) in Section I of the solicitation. Resumes for key personnel are not required.

Miscellaneous

1. Can you provide the name of the incumbent(s) and award dollar amount(s)?

A. The incumbent contractors and award dollar amounts for the four current contracts can be found in the archives of the Federal Business Opportunities websites below:

C-ATL-01991:

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=c7f98d9f9142bb0 fc1485eea7f06b6d3&_cview=0

C-ATL-01992:

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=9bab5290c650b6 e38b58897a207107d2&_cview=0

C-ATL-01993:

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=f81c9cf0ac2f3c39

0bb868c6fa24a502&_cview=0

C-ATL-01994:

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=0cbbaa6d7f29f5d

6923b256e53ffe2a1&_cview=0

2. Is the current contract awarded within the four Homeownership Geographic contract areas?

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=c7f98d9f9142bb0fc1485eea7f06b6d3&_cview=0 https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=c7f98d9f9142bb0fc1485eea7f06b6d3&_cview=0 https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=9bab5290c650b6e38b58897a207107d2&_cview=0 https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=9bab5290c650b6e38b58897a207107d2&_cview=0 https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=f81c9cf0ac2f3c390bb868c6fa24a502&_cview=0 https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=f81c9cf0ac2f3c390bb868c6fa24a502&_cview=0 https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=0cbbaa6d7f29f5d6923b256e53ffe2a1&_cview=0 https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&tab=core&id=0cbbaa6d7f29f5d6923b256e53ffe2a1&_cview=0

A. Currently there is one contract for each Homeownership Center (see Question 1 above).