COCESS Questions 2 June 2025.pdf

COCESS Questions & Answers

1) Q: Attachment 3 – PWS COCESS FINAL appears to be protected and is unable to be opened by any conventional program that is not paid for. Would it be possible to unprotect Attachment 3 and repost on SAM.gov?

A: PWS has been made unprotected and re-uploaded on May 12th.

2) Q: There are several references to Attachment 19 – SPI list, primarily that the total proposed price for this list will be added to the total from Attachment 8 – Common COCESS Items Price List. However, Attachment 19 is CDRL A0010 and does not contain any item list. Is this in error?

A: Attachment 19, SPI List has been updated. This attachment will be periodically updated during the life of the contract.

3) Q: Attachment 4 – WD 2015-4531 Rev.29 was submitted within FA441725R0015.

The following FAR clauses were also included within the solicitation; 52.204- 14, 52.204-15, and 52.222-41. COCESS contracts have been determined to be a Commodity contract and not a Service contract. Under 10% of the operation of a COCESS would be considered service -like functions, compared to over 90% being the stocking, purchasing and selling of products. Further, the COCESS contractor generates funds from the sale of these items to support the expenses of the COCESS. We believe that inclusion of the above of not supportive of a COCESS contract and should be removed.

A: The government has broad discretion to establish its requirements and acquisition methods. The inclusion of the 52.204-14, 52.204-15, and 52.222-41 was intended as the contract includes Service Contract Act applicable employees thus requiring the stated clauses applicable to commercial services.

4) Q: Please clarify all items that are defined under the “Other” database or remove them to only show the items that are in definitive databases

A: “Other” column has been removed from attachment 8. A tab for Non-Available Items has been added for offerors to provide pricing and discount to.

5) Q: On Attachment 8 – Common COCESS Items Price List. Under the various tabs there is a column for inserting the “Database Used”. There is a “Data Validation” on most, not all, of the cells in that column. This “Data Validation” does not validate all of the choices that can be made. We recommend that these be updated to reflect the databases listed with those categories.

A: The data validation has been removed from the attachment.

6) Q: Within each of the category tabs, there are items that do not have Manufacturer and Manufacturer part #’s. Thes two items are the fundamental basis to ensure that a Firm Fixed price is established for that actual item requested, or in this case considered for contract award. Without this information, interpretation is left to the submitters of the proposal. Examples of these are: INVITEM 1072674, 1534985, 1597905, 1638799. Coupled with this are items that are clearly Grainger Item numbers and not manufacturer Items #’s. Examples of these are: INVITEM 1066349, 1080334, 1096200, 1065925, 1061748, and 1068232. These also could be left up to interpretation by submitters which could lead to unbalanced and/or inaccurate representation of the proposed selling prices.

A: Manufacture was added to the ones that had a manufacture. INVITEM 1072674, 1594985, 1597905, and 1638799 are nuts and bolts and there is no specific manufacture.

7) Q: What has been the annual spend through the COCESS during the past 5 years?

A: The annual spend for COCESS over the past five years has been approximately $2.2M annually with an approximate contract total of $11M over the past 5 years.

8) Q: There are a number of items in Attachment 8 that are not found in any of the listed databases – is the expectation that those items are to be treated as NPI’s?

A: These items have been moved to a Non-Available Items Tab in order for pricing to be proposed and contractor choice on database used.

9) Q: Attachment 1, 3.2.1: The offered prices for each category in, Attachment 8 - Common COCESS Items Price List, will be added together to determine the total price. That total will then be combined with the total for the Attachment 19 - SPI List to become the TEP. There are no items to price in Attachment 19 – SPI list. Can you please clarify 3.2.1?

A: Attachment 19, SPI Price List has been updated and included in Amendment 1.

10) Q: Within Attachment 1 – Section L – Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors Section 3.2.3 states “Only two (2) databases, one primary and one alternate, are permitted for each of the identified categories listed in the PWS.”

However, Attachment 8 Common COCESS Items Price Lists and Attachment 9 Pricing Discount Coefficient Table both have categories with more than 2 databases. HVAC and Electrical have 3 databases not including an “Other” database. Plumbing and Building Supplies have 2 databases not including an “Other” database.

Please clarify the allowed amount of databases.

A: Offerors shall use Primary and Alternate to create their coefficient. If unavailable for that item you can source “Non-Available Items” Tab and list a price. Those prices will be used by offerors to create or decide on a Discount for a group i.e. Electrical, that will be utilized from a particular database for the entirety of the contract.

11) Q: Please clarify the annual contract spend for COCESS at Hurlburt Field based on the last 5 contract years of the previous awarded COCESS contract.

A: See question seven (7) above.

12) Q: Option years for FA441725R0015 are mentioned several times within the following: - PWS 4.3 Period of Performance

- Attachment 9 “Will Proposed Discount Percentages/Coefficient Factors change for Option Years?”

Contradictory to the above, the Solicitation specifically states on page 3 and 6 that the awarded COCESS contract will be 60 months ordering period. Further, Attachment 1, Section L, section 3.2.1 further states the contract will have a five -year ordering period.

A: Options will not be included in this contract, rather the Government intends to award a five year contract which includes ordering periods. Documents (including Attachment 9, the PWS, etc.) have been updated as part of Amendment 1.

13) Q: The SPI list is detailed in the PWS section 1.4.4 and 1.4.4.2. However, there is not a procedure to remove items that are obsolete or no longer needed by the

Government from the SPI list. There is also not a procedure to adjust pricing over a 60-month ordering period. What is the procedure to remove items from the SPI list?

A: The awardee will have the opportunity to update the SPI list on the award month each year during the annual review. This verbiage has been added to the PWS.

14) Q: Within Attachment 1 – Section L – Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors Section 2.1.3 states “all files must be in PDF”. Section 2.1.6 states “Each offeror’s proposal must be saved in a .pdf format and shall follow the instructions in

FAR 52.12-1.”

A: All files must be in PDF format with the exception of Attachment 8, 9 and 19. This verbiage has been amended in attachment 1.

15) Q: On Attachment 8 – Common COCESS Items Price List. Tririga ITEM number 1068583 is listed twice in the Price List.

A: Attachment 8 has been updated to remove Item 1068583 from HVAC. It is only included in the Building Supplies tab now.

16) Q: Within Attachment 1, Section L, Instructions, Conditions, and Notices to Offerors, section 2.1.3, This section is an alternative for delivery of any offers for FA441725R0015. The last sentence states “The address for proposal submission is:”. There is not an address after this sentence. Is the address the same as in section 2.1.2?

A: The address has been added to Attachment 1, Section L, Paragraph 2.1.3.

17) Q: Within the solicitation module, there does not seem to be any area to upload our proposal/ Will that be added at a later date?

A: You should be able to upload your solicitation within the PIEE module. Offerors may find Solicitation Module training within PIEE at the following link:

https://pieetraining.eb.mil/wbt/. Offerors may also contact the PIEE Help Desk at 866-618-5988 for assistance.

18) Q: In Attachment 1- Section L, section 2.1.5, the section states “By signing block 30a of the SF 1449, the offeror certifies that the proposal is valid for 6 months from the due date and time.” However. Section 3.1.1. list the required documents to be submitted under Volume 1. The signed SF 1449 and Attachment 6 – Financial Reference Sheet are not included. Are offerors required to submit these two documents?

A: The table in Section 3.1.1. has been updated to include requiring offerors to submit both the signed SF 1449 and completed Attachment 6 – Financial Reference Sheet as part of Volume 1, Price Proposal.

19) Q: Please identify which volume business documentation, such as the SF 1449, amendments, completed schedule B, representations and certs shall be placed.

A: See Question 18.

20) Q: Please confirm where partially completed Attachment 6, financial worksheet, should be included in the initial proposal submission.

A: See Question 18.

21) Q: Are Table of Contents allowable, and, if so please exclude them from the page count.

A:Yes, Attachment 1, Section L, Paragraph 3.1.1. has been updated to allow a one page Table of Contents that is excluded from the page count.

22) Q: Are Covers allowed, and, if so, please exclude them from the page count?

A: Attachment 1, Section L, Paragraph 3.1.1. has been updated to allow a one page cover sheet that is excluded from the page count.

23) Q: Please allow 10 point font for captions, tables, graphics, photos, and charts.

A: All font shall be 12 pitch font as required in Attachment 1, Section L, paragraph 3.1.1.

24) Q: The Vol III Technical Proposal has a 10 page limit for the entire volume per the Table on page 3 at Section 3.1.1, yet for Subfactors 1 and Subfactors 2 down in

Section 3.3.2 the solicitation indicates 10 pages are allowed “EACH” for Subfactors 1 and Subfactors 2. Please clarify if the volume page limit is 20 Pages or 10 pages.

A: 10 pages for each subfactor is allowable. The table under 3.1.1 for attachment 1 Section L has been updated to clarify.

25) Q: Regarding Attachment 11,12, and 13 CDRLS, we assume we are not filling in the actual CDRL form as those are not due with the proposal submission. Confirm we are to include our approach to the topics identified in the CDRLs within the body of our technical Store Management Plan section.

A: Correct, Offerors shall include their approach to include CDRL requirements within their Technical Volume Submission.

26) Q: Regarding Attachment 17 – CDRLS, we assume we are not filling in the actual CDRL even though Section M indicates to include it with the proposal. Confirm we are merely to ensure the topics from it are addressed in the Transition Plan within the body of our technical proposal transition plan.

A: Correct, Offerors shall include their approach to include CDRL requirements within their Technical Volume Submission.

27) Q: “Past Performance Information sheets” (PPI) are noted as a proposal deliverable within the table at 3.1.1 in Section L, and simultaneous in Section M section 1.5.1, there is mention of a Past Performance “Form”. Please clarify if the Government intended to include a Past Performance Information Sheet deliverable for contractor to include relevant past performance experience write-ups separately from Attachment 5 - Past Performance Questionnaires. If so, please provide the required form for contractors to complete.

A: The contractor should submit a past performance volume as their proposal deliverable discussed in Section L and Section M. “Sheets” has been removed from the table in Section L. Attachment 5 should be provided to support this experience;

however, it is not to be submitted by the offeror, only by their customer.

28) Q: Please clarify whether customer surveys means “Contractor Performance Assessment Ratings (CPARs)” and all types of surveys, such as monthly customer surveys, and we are to include any mix of those in our Past Performance volume.

Please also confirm that CPARs do not count in the 10 page limit allowed for Past Performance Volume III.

A: Yes, the contractor should include any or all of these example items to validate overall job performance as recent and relevant past performance information.

Customer survey is not specific to CPARs, but CPARs is an example of a customer survey. Yes, this is included in the 10 page limit allowed for Past Performance Volume III. The only thing that would not be included in the page count is Attachment 5 Past Performance Questionnaires.

29) Q: Please confirm that small businesses are not required to submit a small business subcontracting plan.

A: Per FAR 19.702(b), small businesses are exempt from Subcontracting Plan requirements.

30) Q: Please confirm the Inventory Management module for TRIRIGA enables the contractor to execute purchase orders for the inventory. Please also confirm whether the purchase order module is fully operational in TRIRIGA.

A: PO’s can be executed in TRIRIGA and it is fully operational.

31) Q: Will the Government amend the solicitation to use NAICS 332510, Hardware Manufacturing, as the appropriate NAICS Code?

A: No, The government reserves its right to use discretion when determining NAICS.

The NAICS will remain as originally solicited.

32) Q: Is the storefront located behind the 1SOCES building the U-FIX-IT Store?

A: Yes

33) Q:What are the hours of operation for the U-FIX-IT Store?

A: 0630-1530

34) Q: Does the U-FIX-IT Store have an inventory that is separate from the COCESS warehouse?

A: They are not separate.

35) Q: If there is a separate U-FIX-IT Store inventory, is there storage space available to maintain the inventory at the storefront location?

A: Not Separate, Yes there is a small area to maintain high use items.

36) Q: Please provide the list of the items currently stocked in the U-Fix-It Store.

A: Attachment 19 CDRL A0010 Supplemental Priced Item List (SPI) attachment Store Stock Items is what is currently stocked in the U-Fix It Store.

37) Q: In order for Vendors to provide the best possible price please provide a list of historical purchase amounts/quantities.

A: This is not an all inclusive list, but see the attachment 1, 5 year Inventory list, to this Q&A

38) Q: For Calcium Chloride on the database there are multiple bag sizes for this item number. Please confirm the sized bag it wishes.

A: 50 lb, Attachment 8 – Common COCESS Items Price List, Non-Available Items tab has been updated to reflect this quantity.

39) Q: Part number LED-JR002NKLDW has been discontinued. Respectfully request that the Government accept LED-JR002L-BLK as a replacement.

No, This part is not discontinued currently and is located in the Home Depot database.

40) Q: Please clarify if the Part Number in Cell F21 should be 77465HD5-PWR and not

7446SD2-PWR.

A: Attachment 8 – Common COCESS Items Price Lists has been updated to reflect the correct part number which is 7746HD5-PWR.

41) Q: The item NATIONAL GUARD DOOR SWEEP, ALUM, 36"has been Discontinued.

Respectfully request the Government accept PEMKO Door Sweep: Notched Fin Insert, Aluminum, 36 in Lg, 1 3/4 in Wd, Aluminum Mfr. Model 2173DV36 as a substitute.

A: Attachment 8 Common COCESS Items Price List has been updated to reflect the PEMKO Door Sweep, model 2173DV36.

42) Q: Please clarify if the Part Number for the Stanley Fatmax should be FMHT33865L and not Model # FMHT36325S.

A: Listed Part Number is correct

43) Q: DAP ADHESIVE, CARPENTERS WOOD GLUE (12 PACK) 7079800491. Respectfully request the Government accept Titebond 16 oz. Extend Wood Glue (12-Pack) Model# 9104 as a substitute.

A: No, Only the listed item is acceptable

44) Q: The item Wooster Paint Brush, 4" has been Discontinued. Respectfully request the Government accept WOOSTER Paint Brush: Wall Brush, 4 in, Synthetic, Polyester Mfr. Model P3974-4 as a substitute.

A: Manufacturer part number P3974-4 is approved and has been updated in Attachment 8.

45) Q: The item SHURTAPE TAPE, FOIL, 2 - 1/2" X 60' - AF100 has been Discontinued.

Respectfully request the Government Nashua tape 2.5 in. x 60 yd. 324A Premium Foil HVAC UL Listed Sealer Duct Tape Model # 1542698 as a substitute?

A: Manufacturer part number 1542698 is approved and has been updated in Attachment 8.

46) Q: Please confirm the Part Number for the Frog tape should be 240661 and not Model # 240660.

A: Confirmed, the part number is 240661

47) Q: Please confirm whether the items listed in each of the spreadsheets are considered to be critical items that must be stocked in the warehouse.

A: These are not all considered critical items except the SPI List. SPI items will always be available at the agreed price. Other items on the attached lists are for reference to build the discount table.

48) Q: The databases listed in the Data Validation do not match the Databases listed on the HVAC worksheet. Please confirm that Offerors are allowed to alter the Data Validation to show which database was used.

A: See Questions 4, 5 & 8.

49) Q: For Items that are not found in the Databases but have a price found in the Other column (Column J) Please confirm that those items should be placed on the SPI Worksheet and Listed as “NPI” In Column N.

50) Q: If the USG wishes vendors to put prices on this worksheet for items that have values in Column J please confirm that Offerors should list “Other” in the Database Column (Column K).

A: Format changed. Please see updated attachment 8 and PWS for use of the “other” column

51) Q: This Column is currently Data Validated. Please confirm that Offerors are allowed to remove the Data Validation to list prices. (Attachment 8, Column K)

A: Format Changed. Please see updated attachment 8

52) Q: This Column is currently Data Validated. Please confirm that Offerors are allowed to remove the Data Validation to list Discount Percentages. (Attachment 8, Column L)

A:Format Changed. Please see updated attachment 8.

53) Q: For Items that are not found in the Databases but have a price found in the Other column (Column J) please confirm that those items should be placed on the SPI Worksheet and Listed as “NPI” In Column N.

54) Q: Attachment 8 has only one column for Item pricing, which then feeds the summary table for evaluation on the summary worksheet. Please explain how pricing will be evaluated if Discount Percentages/ Coefficients will change.

A: Discounts will be established for a Primary and alternate database for each group of materials like HVAC or Electrical. That discount will be used to price items in that category.

55) Q: A site visit was requested.

A: The Government does not believe a site visit is necessary, however has provided pictures of the store front with amendment 1.