Question and Answer - 9RW Linen Services - 19 OCT 2026.pdf

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (Q&A) dated 19 October 2026

9RW Linen Services

SOLICITATION NO. FA468627QS002

Notice to Offerors: This document provides official responses to vendor questions 35 through

60. Where responses in this document conflict with previous responses issued on 16 October 2026, the guidance in this 19 October 2026 document governs.

Question 35: The conformed SF 1449 issued with Amendment 0001 states in Block 8 an offer due date of 26 October 2026 at 09:00 AM local time. Answer 2 of the Questions and Answers document states that the official due date is 27 October 2026 at 10:00 AM. These two documents conflict.

Answer 35: The Government acknowledges the discrepancy in the previous Q&A document.

Because the Q&A document is not a binding part of the contract, SF 1449 governs. Therefore, the official due date for quote submission is 26 October 2026 at 09:00 AM Local Time (Pacific Time), as explicitly stated on the conformed SF 1449 (Block 8)..

Question 36: Please confirm that quote submission by email to both the Contracting Officer and the Contract Specialist is the required and sufficient method of submission, whether any file size or format restrictions apply to email submissions, and whether the Government will acknowledge receipt by reply email.

Answer 36: Submission via email to either the Contracting Officer or the Contract Specialist is an acceptable and sufficient method of submission. Offerors shall ensure attachments do not exceed standard military network email limits (10MB per email). Multiple emails may be sent if the proposal exceeds this limit. The Government will acknowledge receipt of timely proposals via reply email.

Question 37: Answer 24 of the Q&A states that past performance submitted under Factor 2 must reflect the performance of the prime offeror only. The FAR 52.212-2 evaluation text in the solicitation states that the Government may also consider the past performance of subcontractors.

Please confirm which statement governs.

Answer 37: The formal evaluation text within FAR 52.212-2 of the solicitation governs. The Government acknowledges that Answer 24 (and the referenced Answer 32) in the previously published Q&A document contained an administrative error by restricting past performance to the Prime Offeror only. This answer (Answer 37) hereby supersedes those previous responses. In accordance with FAR 52.212-2, the Government may consider the past performance of subcontractors that will perform major or critical aspects of the requirement. To be considered, the quotation must clearly demonstrate that it is reasonable to attribute the experience of the past efforts to the proposed effort and must clearly demonstrate how the resources of the subcontractor will meaningfully affect the performance of this acquisition. Offerors should include a formal Teaming Agreement, Letter of Commitment, or similar binding documentation to support this assertion.

Question 38: For CLIN 0001 (9 FSS Lodging, billed under the NAF Standard Clauses in Section H), please confirm whether any vendor enrollment or paperwork with the NAF accounting office is required before the first invoice, and if so, what the enrollment steps and expected payment timeline are for a first-time NAF vendor.

Answer 38: Yes, standard vendor enrollment paperwork (such as a W-9 and Electronic Funds Transfer information) will be required to establish the vendor in the NAF accounting system.

These administrative enrollment steps and the specific points of contact at the NAF accounting office will be coordinated with the successful offeror immediately following contract award and prior to the first invoice submission.

Question 39: Factor 1 requires specific execution dates for the Base Period. Performance begins 1 December 2026. Please confirm that offerors should build their base-period execution calendars from 1 December 2026 through 30 November 2027 using the frequencies in PWS Attachment 2, and that the 940 ARF quarterly weeks may be shown as proposed weeks subject to coordination with the Government POC after award.

Answer 39: Confirmed. Offerors shall build their Factor 1 Scheduling Plan for the Base Period utilizing the dates 1 December 2026 through 30 November 2027. The four specific weeks chosen for the 940 ARF may be proposed as estimated weeks, subject to final coordination and approval by the Government POC post-award.

Question 40: Please confirm this acquisition is full and open with no set-aside applied.

Answer 40: Confirmed. As indicated on the SF 1449 (Block 10), this solicitation is Unrestricted (Full and Open Competition) with no small business set-aside applied.

Question 41: Is there an incumbent or prior contract for these services? If so, please share the contract number and award value.

Answer 41: Please refer to Answer 3.

Question 42: The notice header lists quotes due October 26 at 10:00 AM PDT; the description text lists October 26 at 09:00 AM PST. Please confirm the exact date and time (and timezone) that governs.

Answer 42: Please refer to Answer 35 regarding the official, governing due date and time.

Question 43: Most base-period line items bill 53 weeks for a 52-week period (Dec 1, 2026–Nov 30, 2027), while the 940th ARF line item bills only 4 weeks. Please confirm the correct billable quantities, and confirm the start/end dates of each option period Answer 43: Regarding the 940 ARF quantity of 4 weeks, please refer to Answer 6. Regarding the 53 weeks for standard CLINs: The 53-week quantity is intentional. It accounts for calendar years where a specific delivery day (such as Monday) may occur 53 times within a standard 12-month period of performance due to calendar shift. Offerors shall price the CLIN for 53 weeks;

however, the Government will only be billed for actual weeks of service rendered. Regarding the start/end dates of each option period, please refer to the amended SF 1449 Schedule provided in Solicitation Amendment 0001.

Question 44: Attachment 4 (Past Performance Summary Sheet) was not included with the solicitation documents. Please provide it or confirm where to obtain it.

Answer 44: Please refer to Answer 32 (and the updated policy guidance provided in Answer 37).

Question 45: Quantity basis, PWS Attachment 1. Table A1.2 (9 FSS Lodging) has "Bundles/Year" and "Items/Year" headers, but its footnote (**) says the figures are "needed for each week of service." Tables A1.1, A1.3 and A1.4 (shop towels) use footnote (*), which says "estimates for the year," although those towels are exchanged weekly. Please confirm that the lodging quantities (233,540 items) are annual totals and that the shop-towel quantities (350 / 825 / 350) are per weekly exchange.

Answer 45: Regarding the Table A1.2 lodging quantities and the conflicting footnote, please refer to Answer 19. Regarding the shop towel quantities representing the total anticipated volume of towels to be exchanged/processed annually, please refer to Answer 20

Question 46: 940 ARW quantities, Table A1.5. For bath towels, hand towels, washcloths, bath mats and bedspreads/comforters, the Extended Total of Items does not equal Quantity of Bundles x bundle size. For example, bath towels show 16 bundles of 20 (320) but 64 items, and comforters show 160 bundles bundled individually but 640 items. Which figure should offerors price? Also, are these quantities for the year (across the four quarterly exchange weeks in CLIN 0005) or for each exchange week?

Answer 46: Regarding the mathematical discrepancies in Table A1.5, please refer to Answer 15.

The Government has issued Solicitation Amendment 0001 with a conformed PWS containing the corrected figures. Furthermore, as established in PWS and Answer 6, the quantities listed for the 940 ARF represent estimated quantities for the year of service (spanning the quarterly requirements), not per exchange week.

Question 47: Factor 1 Scheduling Plan. PWS 4.4 asks for a schedule "substantially the same as" Attachment 2, while Factor 1 states that a plan that restates Government-provided frequencies is Unacceptable and asks for "specific proposed servicing dates for each organization." Would a calendar listing each base-year service date and time window by organization meet the requirement? May offerors propose days or times other than those in Attachment 2?

Answer 47: Regarding the requirement to build a calendar listing each base-year service date, please refer to Answer 10 and Answer 39. Regarding proposing alternate days or times:

Offerors are strongly discouraged from proposing days or times that deviate from those established in PWS Attachment 2. The Government established these specific pickup/delivery windows to support critical mission operations. While a schedule must be "substantially the same," a proposed schedule that deviates significantly from the required days or time windows risks being deemed Technically Unacceptable.

Question 48: Quote due date. SAM.gov lists the response deadline as October 26, 2026 at 10:00 AM PDT (the SAM narrative states October 26 at 9:00 AM PST), while Block 8 of the SF 1449 states October 27, 2026 at 10:00 AM local time. Which date and time control?

Answer 48: Please refer to Answer 35 regarding the official, single governing due date and time for quote submission.

Question 49: Period of performance and option CLINs. The SAM.gov posting describes a single base period of December 1, 2026 – November 30, 2027. The SF 1449, however, includes five additional CLIN series extending through June 1, 2032. Is this a one-year requirement, or a base period plus option periods through 2032? Must offerors submit pricing for all option CLINs as printed? Will an amendment be issued to correct the schedule as printed?

Answer 49: This requirement consists of a Base Period plus Option Periods extending through June 1, 2032. In accordance with FAR 52.217-5 (Evaluation of Options), which was formally incorporated via Solicitation Amendment 0001—offerors are required to submit pricing for all CLINs across all Option Periods in order for the Government to evaluate their quotation.

Regarding the SF 1449 Schedule descriptions and delivery tables:

1. The line-item descriptions for CLINs 3001 through 3005 represent Option Period 03 (not Option Period 02).

2. The line-item descriptions for CLINs 4001 through 4005 represent Option Period 04 (not Option Period 02).

3. The repeated text in the "Delivery Period" column on pages 16 through 22 of the conformed SF 1449 is an administrative system artifact. Offerors shall follow the actual Period of Performance dates stated directly beneath each CLIN:

o Option 1 (CLINs 1001–1005): 01 Dec 2027 to 30 Nov 2028 o Option 2 (CLINs 2001–2005): 01 Dec 2028 to 30 Nov 2029 o Option 3 (CLINs 3001–3005): 01 Dec 2029 to 30 Nov 2030 o Option 4 (CLINs 4001–4005): 01 Dec 2030 to 30 Nov 2031 o Option 5 (CLINs 5001–5005): 01 Dec 2031 to 01 Jun 2032 (6 months / 27 billable weeks for standard CLINs, 2 weeks for 940 ARF).

Question 50: Estimated quantities — annual or weekly. The PWS lodging quantity table (9 FSS Lodging) totals 233,540 pieces, with columns labeled as annual quantities; however, footnote ** states the quantities are "needed for each week of service." Are the lodging quantities annual estimates or weekly requirements? The maintenance-organization shop towel tables are likewise labeled as annual estimates although service is weekly. What is the correct basis for those quantities?

Answer 50: Regarding Table A1.2 lodging quantities and the conflicting footnote, please refer to Answer 19. Regarding the shop towel quantities, please refer to Answer 20.

Question 51: Estimated pounds. The PWS expresses quantities in pieces and bundles only.

Because pricing is firm-fixed weekly by CLIN, can the Government provide estimated annual (or weekly) pounds by organization to support accurate pricing?

Answer 51: The Government will not provide estimated weight conversions (pounds) for this requirement. As established in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) attachments, the requirement is structured and estimated strictly by item count and bundle quantity. Offerors are responsible for utilizing their commercial industry expertise to translate the provided item quantities into whatever internal weight metrics are necessary to formulate their Firm Fixed Price

(FFP)

Question 52: Quote deadline: The amended SF 1449 (Block 8) lists October 26 at 9:00 AM, the October 16 Q&A (Answer 2) lists October 27 at 9:00 AM, and SAM.gov lists October 26 at 10:00 AM. Please confirm the binding submission date, time, and Pacific time zone.

Answer 52: Please refer to Answer 35 regarding the official, single governing due date and time for quote submission.

Question 53: Lodging volume: Table A1.2 of the revised PWS describes the annual lodging quantities as minimums, while the Q&A calls them estimates and says weekly fixed pricing has no per-unit adjustment. Are these guaranteed annual minimums or planning estimates? How would a material increase above the listed quantities be handled?

Answer 53: Please refer to Answer 5 and Answer 19. The quantities listed in PWS Attachment 1, Table A1.2, are annual planning estimates for the year of service, not guaranteed minimums. The footnote shift on page 10 of the revised PWS indicating "minimums" is an administrative error; all quantities are estimates. Offerors shall propose a Firm Fixed Price per week as structured in the SF 1449 CLIN schedule to cover these estimated volumes. The contract does not contain a per-unit variance adjustment clause.

Question 54: Subcontractor past performance: The amended evaluation provision allows possible consideration of major subcontractor experience in certain circumstances, while Q&A Answer 24 says only the prime offeror’s performance will be evaluated. Which instruction controls? Please also confirm that an otherwise qualified prime with no relevant performance record would receive a Neutral rating.

Answer 54: Regarding the evaluation of subcontractor past performance, please refer to Answer 37.

The formal evaluation text within FAR 52.212-2 of the solicitation governs and supersedes Answer 24.

Furthermore, the Government confirms that in accordance with FAR 15.305(a)(2)(iv) and the solicitation evaluation criteria, an offeror without a record of relevant past performance, or for whom information on past performance is not available or so sparse that no meaningful rating can be assigned, will receive a Neutral Confidence rating and will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably.

Question 55: WS Attachment 1, Table A1.2 (9 FSS Lodging): the column headings read "per Year," but footnote ** says the quantities are "needed for each week of service." Are the Extended Totals (for example 50,600 pillowcases and 40,000 bath towels) annual or weekly quantities?

Answer 55: Please refer to Answer 19 and Answer 53.

Question 56: Is the lodging linen to be priced per pound, per piece, or as one weekly price for CLIN 0001? Is a price breakdown by item expected?

Answer 56: Regarding the metric used for pricing (pieces vs pounds), please refer to Answer

51. Regarding the pricing structure, please refer to Answer 5. Offerors shall provide one Firm Fixed Price (FFP) per week for the CLIN as structured in SF 1449. A supplementary price breakdown by individual item is not required for quote submission.

Question 57: Is the current weight or piece count processed per week for 9 FSS Lodging available?

Answer 57: Please refer to Answer 3

Question 58: The combined synopsis refers to "Solicitation number FA468626QS031." Please confirm the solicitation number is FA468627QS002.

Answer 58: Please refer to Answer 1.

Question 59: The synopsis says offers are due 26 October 2026 at 9:00 AM PST, while SAM.gov shows 10:00 AM. Which time controls?

Answer 59: Please refer to Answer 35.

Question 60: May the Scheduling Plan, Past Performance Summary Sheet and price quote be submitted as separate attachments in one email?

Answer 60: Yes. Submitting the required volumes as separate attachments within a single email is acceptable and encouraged. Regarding email size limitations, please refer to Answer 36.