Ocean_Transportation_-_Questions_and_Answers_response.docx

1) Owners request an extension of offer with new due January 21, 2013.

Answer: An extension will not be granted. Due to the holiday season this solicitation will be posted for 38 days (05 DEC -- 11 JAN) instead of the required 30 days as per FAR 5.203(d) giving potential contractors sufficient time to reply.

2) Please advise name of current contract holder and name of vessel(s) that have performed.

Answer: There is no current contract. Former Contract holder was Royal Arctic Line, using vessel M/V Arina Arctica.

3) Attachment 1 – Historical Data

Please confirm the total DKK/US$ amounts are all basis “dock-to-dock” for all the cargo shipped under this contract for that given year. If there were any accessorial charges in the previous years please advise the US$ amounts. Also, were there any bunker fuel charges not included, if so please advise amounts.

Answer: Correct. All amounts given in the historical data are "dock to dock"-prices to include acceptance and storage of cargo prior to loading. There were no bunker fuel charges. The historical data are the total prices paid to the contractor for services rendered under available budget.

4) SF 1449 BLOCK 25 (C) - DFAR 247.573-2(d)(1, 2 & 3) - Please confirm charterers are not saying that US flag rates must match current commercial rates.

Answer: This contract will be awarded to the Lowest Priced Technically Acceptable offer as according to FAR Clause 52.212-2. Therefore US Flag rates will not have to match current commercial rates.

5) Page 46, Submission of offer

Is a hard copy of the offer also required at your office? Or is only an electronic copy required per page 46, I. PROPOSAL PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS, Item C?

Answer: An electrical copy of the offer is acceptable for this solicitation.

6) Ice Class, Page 50, Technical Acceptance (b) - This wording is prohibitive and prevents competition.

Furthermore same is not part of other DOD requirements to Thule (see below). Request that Ice Class requirement for this solicitation be changed to conform to DOD/MSC requirements.

We note that this solicitation requires a vessel to be Polar Class PC-6, which is the equivalent of Finnish-Swedish 1A Super. The U.S. Navy, Military Sealift Command (MSC), has been using commercial vessels to re-supply Thule AFB with Operation Pacer Goose since the early 1980's.

Each year, a vessel arrives in Thule in the July timeframe which is similar to your requirement. MSC only requires Finnish Swedish 1B (please see their requirement below). Please advise if the USAF will deem FS 1B (or even 1A) vessels acceptable or provide an explanation for the "1A Super" requirement.

Answer: The MSC requirement that you refer to originates from Norfolk, Virginia and is escorted to and from Thule Air Base by a Canadian Navy Ice Breaker. The requirement under this solicitation does not include any escort capability and thus requires an Ice Class per Det Norske Veritas (attachment 2, section 8) which is a recognized classification society of the Danish Maritime Authority. Request of change of Ice Class is thus denied.