JB Charleston Railroad Maintenance IDIQ 2026 - Question and Answer Form.pdf

JB Charleston Offeror Question and Answer Form Solicitation Number FA441826Q0022 Project Name: 2026 Railroad IDIQ Re-solicita

Specification Reference (Section & Paragraph

Reference, i.e. 23 00 00, para 1.3)

Drawing Reference (Sheet and Detail or

Note Reference, i.e. M- 101, Detail 2)

Solicitation Reference (Section, paragraph, sub-paragraph Reference, i.e.

Section M, Paragraph 2.3)

Attachments or Other (i.e. Submittal Register, Wage Determination, Site Visit Note, etc.)

Page 3, Paragraph 1

Page 3, (X)(D)

Page 1, Para (Viii)

Page 2, Para (ix)

FAR 52.219-1 Limitations on Subcontracting

Answer

Will the government please extend the due date to be 20 business days after all questions have been answered?

Question

Question

Answer the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation states that recency is defined as, “…performance of similar services within the past three

(3) years from the issue date of the solicitation.” Can you please confirm that performance of an ongoing (active) contract is acceptable?

Yes, current, active performance is acceptable.

Question Page 3 of the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation states that recency is defined as, “…performance of similar services within the past three (3) years from the issue date of the solicitation.” To ensure we are providing the government with an accurate assessment of our most relevant past performance, will the government please expand the recency definition to the past five years?

NOTICE TO OFFERORS

Any offeror desiring an explanation or interpretation of the solicitation, drawings, specifications, etc., must request it in writing soon enough to allow a reply to reach all offerors before the submission of their proposals. Oral explanations or instructions given before the award of a contract will not be binding. Answers to offeror questoins concerning a solicitation will be posted to sam.gov, if that information is necessary in preparing proposals or if the lack of it would be prejudicial to others.

Answer

Answer

Question Page 2 of the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation asks us to provide no more than 5 completed Past Performance Questionnaires

(Attachment 7). In accordance with FAR 15.305(a)(2)(iii) and 13 CFR 121.103, for two companies that are wholly-owned subsidiaries controlled by the same parent company, will past performance of one subsidiary (not the Offeror) be deemed relevant for the Offeror's use for this solicitation?

Answer

Question Per FAR 52.219-1 Limitations on Subcontracting, does this contract fall under the (1) Services clause’s 50% subcontract amount that cannot be exceeded, the (3) General construction 85% subcontract amount that cannot be exceeded, or the (4) Construction by special trade contractors 75% subcontract amount that cannot be exceeded?

Yes, the Government will expand “recency” to include projects “within the past five (5) years.”

The due date will be extended 17 calendar days.

No, the past performance of one subsidiary will not automatically be deemed relevant for the Offeror’s use. Past performance of an affiliated company (parent, subsidiary, or sister company) may be considered if the proposal demonstrates that the affiliate will have meaningful involvement in the performance of the contract, or will provide specific resources (e.g., personnel, management) for the effort.

FAR 15 has been superseded by Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) 15. IAW RFO FAR 15.202(c)(3) Evaluations should consider the following:

(iii) Any information regarding predecessor companies, key personnel who have relevant experience, or subcontractors that will perform major or critical aspects of the requirement when such information is relevant to the instant acquisition.

(iv) The past performance of the joint venture, when evaluating an offer from a joint venture. If the joint venture does not demonstrate past performance for award, the past performance of each party to the joint venture must be considered.

Project Name: 2026 Railroad IDIQ Re-solicita

Specification Reference (Section & Paragraph

Reference, i.e. 23 00 00, para 1.3)

Drawing Reference (Sheet and Detail or

Note Reference, i.e. M- 101, Detail 2)

Solicitation Reference (Section, paragraph, sub-paragraph Reference, i.e.

Section M, Paragraph 2.3)

Attachments or Other (i.e. Submittal Register, Wage Determination, Site Visit Note, etc.)

NOTICE TO OFFERORS

Any offeror desiring an explanation or interpretation of the solicitation, drawings, specifications, etc., must request it in writing soon enough to allow a reply to reach all offerors before the submission of their proposals. Oral explanations or instructions given before the award of a contract will not be binding. Answers to offeror questoins concerning a solicitation will be posted to sam.gov, if that information is necessary in preparing proposals or if the lack of it would be prejudicial to others.

Government-Furnished Materials (GFM) vs.

Contractor-Furnished

Government-Furnished Materials (GFM) vs.

Contractor-Furnished

Mobilization/Demobilizati on/Site Visits

Mobilization/Demobilizati on/Site Visits

Mobilization/Demobilizati on/Site Visits

Mobilization/Demobilizati on/Site Visits

Question

Answer

Can the Government please provide a definitive list (or typical list) of materials that will be Government-furnished versus those that must be included in the contractor’s unit prices for each Delivery Order?

Materials are typically 100% contractor furnished. A definitive list cannot be provided as GFE is rare and dependent on project scope. When applicable, GFE may include reused railroad materials (ties, anchors), ballast/base courses, or existing crossing panels.

Question

Answer

Question

Answer

For items that are Government-furnished (e.g., rails, ties, switches, turnouts, etc.), will the Government also provide loading, unloading, transportation to the work site, and any required handling equipment, or are these costs the contractor’s responsibility?

The contractor maintains full responsibility for the logistics and installation of materials. While most materials are contractor-furnished, any provided GFE (typically existing railroad components) is subject to condition-based negotiations to mitigate contractor liability. Refer to Question 6.

All costs associated with an item—including its physical cost, handling during construction, and all mobilization and demobilization efforts—must be fully incorporated into the individual unit price. There are no separate billing lines for mobilization.

Is mobilization and demobilization a separate, billable line item, or must these costs be included in the unit prices of the individual CLINs on Attachment 4?

Question

Answer

Question

Answer

If mobilization is not a separate line item, may the offeror propose a mobilization/demobilization cost per Delivery Order or per distinct work site/location within a Delivery Order?

No

The pricing sheet does not contain an explicit mobilization line item. Please confirm whether mobilization costs should be included in the unit prices or whether a separate mobilization CLIN will be added via amendment

Unit Prices. See Question #8

Question

Answer

Can the Government confirm whether all work under a typical Delivery Order is expected to be completed in a single continuous mobilization, or should the contractor anticipate multiple separate mobilizations per Delivery Order?

IAW FAR 52.219-14(e)(3) Limitations on Subcontracting, 85% limitations for General construction under NAICS code 237990 are applicable.

Project Name: 2026 Railroad IDIQ Re-solicita

Specification Reference (Section & Paragraph

Reference, i.e. 23 00 00, para 1.3)

Drawing Reference (Sheet and Detail or

Note Reference, i.e. M- 101, Detail 2)

Solicitation Reference (Section, paragraph, sub-paragraph Reference, i.e.

Section M, Paragraph 2.3)

Attachments or Other (i.e. Submittal Register, Wage Determination, Site Visit Note, etc.)

NOTICE TO OFFERORS

Any offeror desiring an explanation or interpretation of the solicitation, drawings, specifications, etc., must request it in writing soon enough to allow a reply to reach all offerors before the submission of their proposals. Oral explanations or instructions given before the award of a contract will not be binding. Answers to offeror questoins concerning a solicitation will be posted to sam.gov, if that information is necessary in preparing proposals or if the lack of it would be prejudicial to others.

Mobilization/Demobilizati on/Site Visits

Mobilization/Demobilizati on/Site Visits

Task Orders, Emergency Work & Workload

Task Orders, Emergency Work & Workload

Task Orders, Emergency Work & Workload

Question

If multiple mobilizations are required for a single Delivery Order, will the Government allow/compensate for additional mobilization costs, or must those costs be included in the unit prices?

Answer

All mobilization and demobilization costs must be fully incorporated into the individual unit prices; the Government will not separately compensate for multiple mobilizations under a standard Delivery Order. However, in the event that the Government initiates an emergency stop work order, the contractor retains the right to file a claim for associated costs.

Contractors should anticipate the potential for either a single continuous mobilization or multiple phased mobilizations per Delivery Order, as the execution strategy is strictly project-dependent. The required number of mobilizations is driven by factors such as project scope, size, location, available funding, and specific government restrictions. For example, a project involving a railway crossing over a heavily trafficked road may require phased execution to minimize impact, such as performing standard track maintenance during weekdays and scheduling the actual road crossing work for a subsequent weekend.

Question

Is there a guaranteed minimum or maximum value/quantity per Delivery Order or per year?

Answer

No, there is no guaranteed minimum. Please refer to Attachment 5, Provisions & Clauses, Section I- Contract Clauses, specifically FAR clause 52.216-19(a) for order limitations and FAR clause 52.216-22(c) for the guaranteed contract minimum and maximum quantities.

Question

Are there any restrictions on the contractor’s ability to complete work in phases or multiple visits due to rail operations, base mission requirements, or other factors?

Answer

Yes, work restrictions may occur, but they are primarily driven by base mission dependencies or heavy vehicle traffic at road crossings. Active rail operations typically do not impede work; in most cases, the affected track is taken out of service, mission partners are notified, and trains are diverted, providing the contractor with open and uninterrupted access until the project is completed.

Question

Will the contractor be required to maintain dedicated on-base personnel/equipment for emergency response, or is an on-call arrangement acceptable?

Answer

Question

For emergency Delivery Orders requiring a 4-hour response, will there be any premium pricing or separate compensation for the rapid-response staffing and equipment requirements?

Answer

Attachment 1 has been updated to require a 24 hour response time. Any premium pricing or additional costs associated with rapid-response staffing and equipment requirements for these emergency Delivery Orders must be accounted for within the contractor's established unit pricing.

Project Name: 2026 Railroad IDIQ Re-solicita

Specification Reference (Section & Paragraph

Reference, i.e. 23 00 00, para 1.3)

Drawing Reference (Sheet and Detail or

Note Reference, i.e. M- 101, Detail 2)

Solicitation Reference (Section, paragraph, sub-paragraph Reference, i.e.

Section M, Paragraph 2.3)

Attachments or Other (i.e. Submittal Register, Wage Determination, Site Visit Note, etc.)

NOTICE TO OFFERORS

Any offeror desiring an explanation or interpretation of the solicitation, drawings, specifications, etc., must request it in writing soon enough to allow a reply to reach all offerors before the submission of their proposals. Oral explanations or instructions given before the award of a contract will not be binding. Answers to offeror questoins concerning a solicitation will be posted to sam.gov, if that information is necessary in preparing proposals or if the lack of it would be prejudicial to others.

Task Orders, Emergency Work & Workload

Complaince, Submittals, Safety & Environmental

Complaince, Submittals, Safety & Environmental

Complaince, Submittals, Safety & Environmental

General/Other

General/Other

The solicitation states that “Remarks and explanations provided shall NOT qualify the terms of the solicitation…” — please confirm that responses to these questions will be issued via formal amendment if they affect the requirements or pricing.

Are there any anticipated amendments to the solicitation or wage determination prior to the proposal due date?

Question

Answer

Question

Answer

An on-call arrangement is acceptable for emergency response requirements. The contractor is not required to maintain dedicated personnel or equipment on-base.

Substantial changes will be issued as an amendment.

Question

Who is responsible for disposal of removed materials (old ties, rail, asphalt, vegetation, etc.)? Are there designated disposal sites on base?

Answer The contractor is strictly responsible for the safe and proper removal and disposal of all removed materials. There are no standard on-base disposal sites; therefore, the contractor should anticipate transporting materials off-base. While there may be project-specific exceptions—such as the Government choosing to salvage certain resources or coordinating specific vegetation disposal with the base—the contractor must assume full responsibility for material removal unless explicitly directed otherwise in the specific Delivery Order.

Question

For ROW vegetation management (herbicide application and trimming), are any additional permits or base-specific approvals required beyond those listed in the specifications?

Answer

No additional permits or base-specific approvals are required beyond those listed in the specifications for ROW vegetation management. However, the contractor must notify the Government project manager prior to beginning herbicide application or trimming so that any necessary internal coordination can be handled by the Government.

Question

Are there any specific base security, badging, or escort requirements that the contractor should factor into pricing and scheduling?

Answer

Yes, contractors must factor base security and badging requirements into their project scheduling. The designated Government project manager or construction inspector will facilitate the base access badging process and familiarize the contractor with all necessary security procedures. There are no high security areas requiring rail maintenance above the standard base access protocols.

Question

Is a 4-hour minimum response an absolute requirement or can this be negotiated to a more realistic, lengthened response time (example 24 hours)?

Answer

Yes, the 4-hour minimum response time has been updated to 24 hours. (See attachment 1 dated 14 May 2026)

Project Name: 2026 Railroad IDIQ Re-solicita

Specification Reference (Section & Paragraph

Reference, i.e. 23 00 00, para 1.3)

Drawing Reference (Sheet and Detail or

Note Reference, i.e. M- 101, Detail 2)

Solicitation Reference (Section, paragraph, sub-paragraph Reference, i.e.

Section M, Paragraph 2.3)

Attachments or Other (i.e. Submittal Register, Wage Determination, Site Visit Note, etc.)

NOTICE TO OFFERORS

Any offeror desiring an explanation or interpretation of the solicitation, drawings, specifications, etc., must request it in writing soon enough to allow a reply to reach all offerors before the submission of their proposals. Oral explanations or instructions given before the award of a contract will not be binding. Answers to offeror questoins concerning a solicitation will be posted to sam.gov, if that information is necessary in preparing proposals or if the lack of it would be prejudicial to others.

No

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