FA4497-16-R-0010_Fire_Alarm_Questions_and_Answers_20_Sep_16.docx

FA4497-16-R-0010 Fire Alarm Questions and Answers

1. We would like to request a 2 week extension from the date of responses to questions. The provided time frame of release date 9/7 to due date of 9/20, with a 9/13 site visit does not provide adequate time to prepare a response and obtain responses from current customers past performance questionnaires. The Government has extended the proposal due date to 26 Sept at 11AM however, the contract still has a 1 October 2016 start date.

2. PWS page 4, section 1.2 states “The contractor shall be trained to work on all systems on DAFB to include Monaco include Monaco programming any and all Monaco panels on DAFB. The contractor shall be certified and licensed throughout the duration of the contract.” Monaco and the D-21 system are proprietary and we were told direct from Monaco that “The D-21 system is a proprietary system and all additions/changes/modifications to the system itself (not operator functions but actual changes to the system) will require Monaco parts and installation. Each D-21 system and additional modules are engineered per request based on the current equipment and needs of the requesting military installation” The contractor shall provide Monaco parts and technical labor to complete the service request at the quoted hourly rate on the bid schedule.

Please clarify what exact training and certification is required for this contract. Provide past performance for similar projects. Show us qualified experience with Monaco systems.

3. PWS page 4, section 1.2 states “The contractor shall submit all certifications and proof of license to the Contracting Officer with their bid schedule prior to award of contract.” This is a follow up to the previous question. The State of Delaware licenses are clear enough, but what certifications are required at the time of the bid? Any and all certifications listed in the PWS that are required to perform this contract shall be submitted at the time of bid. Submit NICET Certifications, Delaware licenses and any additional qualifications.

4. Does the technician(s) intended to be used for this project have to hold Monaco training at the time of bid submission? Or is commitment that we will send him to the next training class on 10/10/16 thru the 14th sufficient for this bid? Past experience documentation is required at the time of submission of bid to include the technicians that will be providing service under this contract.

5. PWS page 3 section1.1.3 states “The contractor shall be capable of providing replacement parts, maintenance and programming services for all fire alarm control units on DAFB to include Simplex, Monaco, Notifier, and Edwards.” All 4 of these listed manufacturers have proprietary parts and programming which can only be obtained from the manufacturer direct (Simplex and Monaco) or an authorized distributor (Notifier and Edwards). Is it acceptable for the contractor to subcontract any of these services and having the resources to do so will meet this requirement? The subcontractor must meet the certification requirements outlined in the PWS and have documented experience working on that particular system submitted to the Contracting Officer.

6. If subcontracting proprietary parts or services please confirm that the hourly rate listed on the bid form does not apply and if a markup is allowed by contractor for facilitating this service.

Contractor should invoice for what costs are incurred in supporting the scope of the PWS.

7. The bid Schedule Excel Sheet has the “ESTIMATED” hourly quantities already filled in on the template. Are these to be left as is for the bid and are to be used to calculate the total fee? Yes

8. The bid Schedule Excel sheet have a column for “ESTIMATED UNIT PRICE”. Is this a firm hourly rate or an “ESTIMATED” Rate that can be changed by circumstance? These are a firm hourly rate and are not subject to change.

9. The bid Schedule Excel sheet 001AH Materials line. Should the estimated unit price include the $4,000.00 multiplied by the preset 15% markup? So this would be $4,600.00? The Bid sheet lists a Not To Exceed of $4000.00.

10. Is the 15% markup on material a set amount or are you looking for the contractor to pick a % not to exceed 15%? Not to exceed 15%.

11. How does DAFB handle hourly rates for Monaco or other manufacturers which may be required for service or programming and are typically much higher than the standard contractor rates? Contractor should invoice for what costs are incurred in supporting the scope of the PWS.

12. The scope of the contract is rather vague, and until the site visit, it could be inferred from the solicitation that annual and semi-annual testing, inspection, certification, and reporting were included in the scope. Please confirm that all scheduled testing of each individual device is NOT included in the scope the intent of this contract is an as needed service call arrangement to supplement the bases internal staff inspections and maintenance. Contract is intended for repairs and assistance with what cannot be done by DAFB Alarm Shop. Testing could be required of the contractor if testing is beyond the scope of Alarm Shop. See answer to question 13.

13. Is there any annual testing or preventative maintenance in this contract that is not a result of a direct request for service by the DAFB? Yes, there are ten facilities that have installed kitchen hood suppression systems that require inspection every six months. Two facilities require annual inspection of carbon monoxide detectors and nitrogen dioxide detectors. One facility requires semiannual inspection of a low pressure Co2 system.

14. The total number of devices and panels are listed in the Solicitation. Can you please provide a breakdown by building and by type of device for all facilities covered under this contract? We currently do not have a breakdown of devices and systems per facility.

15. Please provide a breakdown as to what is covered under CLIN 001 (O&M Facility) and CLIN 002 (TWCF Facility). It is unclear what these groups are. These groupings are funded by separate facilities. A separation for Government accounting purposes.

16. It was discussed at the site visit that there is a substantial amount of on the phone tech support, trouble shooting, and diagnostics required. If this is an hourly as needed maintenance support contract, how is this phone time accounted for and billed? Billed time for on-site service telephone calls to proprietary manufactures and distributors for resolution to service calls.

A short call leading up to a service call is one thing, but if hours are spent on the phone and it can be resolved through phone support to the base technicians how does that work? Billing should not account for this time spent with support service telephone calls to the Base Civil Engineer Alarm shop. Only time spent contacting proprietary manufactures for information should be included in the repair invoice.

17. Please confirm if there are any prevailing wage or Davis Bacon rate restrictions on this contract. Wage Determination for Service Contract Acts (SCA) would be applicable.

18. PWS page 4, section 1.2 states “The technician working on site is required to have a current NICET Level II certification.” Is this just one technician if a team of more than one is required? Or ALL technicians on site (which is not typical as long as one lead is NICET II)? At least one technician must be certified at all times on site.

19. For the PAST and PRESENT Questionnaire, please confirm:

a. That these are due direct from the Contractors current customer prior to the bid date? These are due prior to or by the date/time the bids are due.

b. How many questionnaires are required to be received? There is no set number, just so long as the questionnaire(s) received cover the last 3 years.

c. Typically the contractor being reviewed is not to be copied on the questionnaire response to the contracting officer from the current customer. Is that the case here? *I would assume they wouldn’t be copied – but does it matter?

20. Since this is a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) it is pretty much going to be awarded to the contractor with the lowest hourly rate since the other elements appear fixed? The award will be based on Lowest Price.