FA302223Q0303-Questions-Answers 3.pdf

Combined Synopsis‐Solicitation‐FA302223Q0303 Questions and Answers #3

1. Will the government please extend the bid deadline by a minimum of two weeks? There are several projects bidding in this area at this time and our subcontractors and vendors have requested additional time to provide accurate and competitive proposals.

Yes, the deadline has been extended to March 10th, 2023 @4:30PM CST.

2. The Period of Performance is not long enough for review and approval of government required design, submittals, procurement of long lead materials and equipment and or onsite construction. Can the Period of Performance be extended?

No Period of Performance will remain as is.

3. Due to the current economic environment and the impacts of inflation, we Proposes a Modified

FAR 52.216‐4 Economic Price Adjustment‐Labor and Material.

In accordance with and supported by Department of Defense Memorandum, Subject: Guidance on Inflation and Economic Price Adjustments, Issued by John M. Tenaglia (Principal Director, Defense Pricing and Contracting), signed, 05.25.2022, we propose an appropriate Economic Price Adjustment Clause (EPA), changing the 10% not to exceed ceiling on the original unit price in 52.216‐4(c)(4), to a modified EPA clause: i) allowing for both upward and downward revision of the stated contract price upon the occurrence of the specified contingencies stated in the clause; ii) use the same index to establish the negotiated price and to adjust the negotiated price under the terms of the clause; and 3) incorporate a ceiling and a floor on adjustments that are of the same magnitude. Please advise.

No, this requirement will remain Firm Fixed Priced.

4. Due to the unknown effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic the country is currently facing, contractors are often seeing prime contractors and subcontractors incorporating additional cost in the form of contingency to attempt to manage this unknown risk. As a result, overall pricing may be artificially inflated without being directly tied to an appropriately quantifiable, known risk.

In order to keep bid costs down and within budgets and to better manage and allocate this risk, will the government consider adding provisions or language to the RFP allowing for the potential recovery for cost and schedule impact arising or related to the COVID‐19 pandemic and outside the control of the contractor?

The recovery could be via requests for equitable adjustment or issued as a modification to the contract which will allow for negotiated costs and time impacts after award regarding COVID‐19 pandemic impact. These modifications would be based upon actual, reasonably incurred costs to ensure the government is only subject to actual impacts instead of unknown impacts in the form of an inflated bid price.

Additional provisions/ language will not be added to the RFQ. Please submit your quote as Firm Fixed Priced.

5. Will the government confirm that the inclusion of a FAR 16.203 Economic Price Adjustment type provision or other such similar provision to accommodate cost that may arise due to excused schedule delays or market pricing due to the COVID‐19 Pandemic will be afforded to the KTR should this issue be realized? Please advise.

Contractor recognizes that the Economic Price Adjustment provisions under 16.203 should be modified to better accommodate the risks being addressed to include establishing thresholds and limits, and costs associated by delay and associated “ready state” costs contemplated by recent federal legislation.

No, see answer to questions 3, 4.

6. KTR intends to include the exception listed below with price proposal. Will this exception will be acceptable to the government OR will KTR proposal that includes such language be considered non‐responsive?

The following exception is provided below for your consideration:

Requirement/Portion Rationale Contractor respectfully requests inclusion of a FAR

16.203 Economic Price Adjustment type provision or

other such similar provision to accommodate cost that may arise due to excused schedule delays or market pricing due to the COVID‐19 Pandemic.

Contractor recognizes that the Economic Price Adjustment provisions under 16.203 should be modified to better accommodate the risks being addressed to include establishing thresholds and limits, and costs associated by delay and associated “ready state” costs contemplated by recent federal legislation.

A fixed‐price contract with a modified economic price adjustment is requested to protect the contractor (as well as the Government), against cost contingencies that cannot reasonably be estimated from significant potential delays and the increases and fluctuations in the cost of necessary labor and material associated with industry‐wide contingencies beyond the contractor (and government) control, arising from, or related to, the COVID‐19 pandemic. Although the future is uncertain, the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic will certainly exist during an extended period of performance of this contract. This request is made as a pro‐active measure to avoid potentially unwarranted contingencies in our proposed price and schedule, and provides for contract price adjustments arising from or related to unknown schedule delay costs and fluctuations in labor and material costs associated with the COVID‐19 pandemic.

This requirement will remain Firm Fixed Priced. Please submit your quote IAW with the Combined Synopsis‐Solicitation published on SAM.Gov.

7. Due to the commodity and building materials pricing volatility and supply chain shortages because of the pandemic, is FAR Clause 52.216‐4 Economic Price Adjustment‐Labor and Material in effect for this project?

No, see above answers.

8. Can the Superintendent perform a dual role? For example, can the Superintendent also be the

Site Safety & Health Officer (SSHO)?

Yes

9. Can the QC Manager perform a dual role? E.g. QC/Superintendent or QC/SSHO.

10. Will the government require the contractor provide an onsite office trailer? Or is it at the contractor’s discretion?

Contractor’s discretion.

11. Please indicate acceptable laydown/staging areas?

The 14 CS cable yard in the AG Yard.

12. Please indicate acceptable haul routes.

There are no haul routes assigned.

13. Will onsite stockpiling be allowed?

What stockpiling? See question 11.

14. Please provide any available boring logs or Geotech reports for the project.

Boring logs or Geotech reports not required for these projects. Pathway is existing duct route.

15. Will KTR be required to do confirmation sampling for areas included in the RFP Provided Hazmat report?

‘RFP Provided Hazmat report’ is not in either SOO/SOW.

16. Please confirm that off‐island disposal for any hazardous/contaminated waste is not anticipated and if encountered will be a modification to the contract.

Not anticipated and has never been encountered.

17. Please advise whether a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan will be required for this project.

No unless indicated in SOO/SOW.

18. Will any of the work areas on this project require escorts for access?

Yes‐B385.

19. Will the government provide escorts for any restricted areas?

20. Please advise if there are any costs for government provided escorts.

No

21. Please provide a full set of as‐builts for the project.

See drawing in the SOO/SOW.

22. Will the KTR be responsible for all utility costs if temporary utilities are required?

23. Please provide the going rates for temporary utilities.

24. Please provide rates for government utility support workers and crew makeup for shutoffs, outages etc.

25. Please confirm Building Information Modeling (BIM) is required for this project.

Not required

26. If BIM is required ‐ please clarify the extents of the modeling required. Will KTR be required to model the entire building or is the BIM scope limited to areas where KTR work will take place?

Please advise.

Not required

27. Please confirm this project does not require compliance with the Buy America Act and that compliance with the Buy American Act is acceptable.

DFARS Clause 252.225‐7001 Buy American and Balance of Payment Programs is included in the solicitation.

28. Please clarify what the design submittal process is for the design on this project. Will KTR be subject to Design Development submittal, Pre‐Final Design, Final Design etc.?

Per SOO/SOW

29. Per the section 2.2.2.1.1 ‐ Will access be given to Contractor by the provided by 14 CS/SCXP.

Yes‐see questions 18 & 19.

30. Per section ‐ 2.2.2.1.2 The Maxcell lnnerduct requested has no color separation ability, is this still acceptable?

31. Per section ‐2.2.2.2.1 shows phrase (Override) ‐does this refer to possible removable of existing cable or run alongside of original cables?

Run alongside existing/original.

32. Per section ‐ 2.2.2.2.1 shows (new innerduct) does this refer to existing innerducts or new innerducts that will be needed?

The new innerduct installed per 2.2.2.1.2.

33. Per section 2.2.2.2.2 ‐ Will background checks be needed for contractors entering locations where fiber splicing will be required in buildings?

Background checks will be IAW Section 2.1.3. Badges will not be required. KTR will be escorted in building 385.

34. Per section 2.2.5 ‐ If innerduct can't be cabled without removal of existing cables. Will alternative connection be an option by contractor?