FA480318R0018_Atth_6_-_Questions_and_Answers.pdf

FA4803-18-R-0018

Amendment 001

Attachment 6

The Government’s Response to Questions Received To Solicitation FA4803-18-R-0018

Refuse, Recycling & Organic Waste Collection Services for Shaw AFB SC

1. Pg. 3, 1.1.3.1 Contingency Plan for Hurricanes requires the contractor to relocate and then re-position a large number of containers and secure them and their lids. Will the government reimburse the contractor for additional expenses incurred performing this contingency work, should it be required?

Answer: Yes, this will be reimbursed through a modification to the contract on a case-by-case basis. Historically (in the past eight years) this has not been experienced. However, to prevent potential damage to base facilities and equipment, this contingency plan is included in the PWS. If, however, this is ever required in the future, the Government will give consideration to the contractor through a request for equitable adjustment for above and beyond costs incurred.

2. Pg. 5, 1.1.9 States: Contractor shall maintain all containers to ensure they are leak-proof, rust free and reasonably free of odor, dirt and debris. Could the government please describe the extent of repairs the contractor will be expected to perform to achieve this standard? Does this requirement include the complete replacement of rusted container bottoms, or welding repairs to split seams, or minor patches up to say 10’? Please further define the expectation of this requirement so that we may accurately price the associated CLINs (0010 and 0013).

Answer: This would not include the complete replacement of rusted container bottoms. It is minor repairs that include welding split seams and minor patches. Units declared unserviceable or unrepairable under CLIN 0010 would be replaced by the Government. Units under CLIN 0013 are provided by the offeror and it is at the discretion of the offeror if the unit is repairable or needs replacement.

3. Pg. 5, 1.1.11 States: The contractor shall be reimbursed for tipping fees according to submitted invoices. Please confirm that all disposal costs will be reimbursed at the amount charged by the disposal facility and that no mark up or handling fee will be permitted.

Answer: Yes, the contractor will be reimbursed for the amount charged by the respective disposal facility. There will be no markup or handling fee allowed.

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4. Pg. 5, 1.1.11 States: All vehicles utilized in the collection of refuse and recyclable materials shall be weighed on state certified scales at the disposal facility. The closest organic waste disposal facility does not have a scale.

a) Is there a scale on base that could be used to ascertain the weight of organics recycled and if so would that weight be acceptable to the government for reimbursement?

Answer: Shaw AFB does not have a scale available for use.

b) If there is not a scale on Base, would weight slips from a third party, not the disposal location, be acceptable for reimbursement?

Answer: Yes, if there are no other alternatives.

c) Would weights collected from on board (in the truck) scales be acceptable for reimbursement?

Answer: This would be the preferred method as it reduced costs for all parties.

d) Would the government reimburse the contractor for the cost weighing at a third party scale?

Answer: The Scale Fees would be included in Organic Waste Collection costs under CLIN X011 as scale fees vary greatly by facility, are subject to change, and the Tipping Fee CLINS are a fixed unit price. Therefore, the Government will reimburse the cost of a State Certified Third-party scale under CLIN X011. These weigh receipts must be included in invoices just as previous refuse and recycle able weight receipts have been included.

5. Pg. 6, 1.2.3 Base Recycling Center. During the site visit a government representative stated that the successful contractor would be allowed to perform vehicle maintenance at the Recycling Center. Please confirm that vehicle maintenance will be permitted at the facility in the future, as this practice was stopped by the Base Environmental Department several years ago.

Answer: Minor maintenance will be allowed but no changing of fluids on site. This is contrary to what was stated on the site visit, but was dictated by Base Environmental upon inquiry.

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6. Pg. 7, 1.6.1 provides the specification for the organic waste carts. During the site visit we were advised that the government had reviewed a type of cart for this material. Could you please provide the name of the manufacturer or a picture of the style of cart envisioned for this service?

Answer: This depends on the style truck and transit method the offeror wishes to use.

Based on the lower end volume expected, the Government recommends Option 1

Option 1 – Transit by Flatbed Truck/w lift gate in individual carts and emptied at Organic Facility, rinsed at ktr facility after tipping, swapped for full units on next collection run.

Company: Wastequip LLC Brand: Toter Model: Two Wheel Organics Cart Size: 32-48 Gallon Link: https://www.toter.com/waste-haulers/product/two-wheel-organics-carts

Option 2 – Transit by Standard Front Load Container Waste truck, truck emptied at Organic facility. FELs would need to be rinsed clean after each emptying. This option would be more expensive, and in the Government’s opinion, is above the scope of Organic Waste at Shaw AFB, but if the offeror has a Front Load Waste Truck to use already, this is an option.

Company: Wastequip LLC Brand: Toter Model: Generation II Organics FEL Container Link: https://www.toter.com/waste-haulers/product/generation-ii-organics-fel-container

7. Pg. 7, 1.6.4 requires the contractor to provide a monthly report of the daily weight of material collected at each facility. In order to do this, each full cart would have to be weighed separately before it is emptied. Please confirm (1) that this is the requirement and (2) if it is, would an aggregation of these weights be acceptable for the validation of the disposal cost reimbursement required under 1.1.11?

Answer: Yes this is still the requirement, an aggregation of weights will be acceptable.

8. Pg. 16 APPENDIX A states that the Standard for cleaning Food Waste containers is “2 x Monthly”, this conflicts with the requirement in 1.6.2. that they be rinsed clean after each daily service, please clarify?

Answer: These are two different requirements. The 2x monthly is for regular dumpsters at food serving facilities. The other is for the potential organic waste containers.

9. Pg. 16 APPENDIX A states that the Standard for Paint/Maint. Dumpsters are

“Maintain professional appearance. Paint as needed” the Standard does not address leaks, lids or side doors, please clarify.

Answer: This section is talking about painting of dumpsters. Leaks and other small maintenance is covered in paragraph 1.1.9 of the PWS.

https://www.toter.com/waste-haulers/product/two-wheel-organics-carts https://www.toter.com/waste-haulers/product/generation-ii-organics-fel-container

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10. Pg. 16 APPENDIX A states, “All recycling actions will be based on Environmental QRP business plan studies for the specific installation. Only need to recycle items that are economical to recycle per the study for that installation.” Currently there are disposal/processing fees/negative rebates associated with a number of the products being recycled e.g. plastics and wood. Will the recycling of these products continue even if they are not economical for the installation?

Answer: Yes, the recycling of these products continue even if they are not economical for the installation. We also have requirements to keep a certain amount of our trash out of landfills. We need to recycle these items to accomplish these goals.

11. Pg. 17 APPENDIX B. Please provide estimated workload data for Tires and

Scrap Wood.

Answer: The estimate is 40 Tons for both Tires and Wood. These have been added into the PWS under table B1 as Items 9 and 10, 9-12 are now Items 11-14.

12. Pg. 17 APPENDIX B is the government able to provide an estimate of the anticipated weight of Organics that will be collected in the program?

Answer: The Government’s best estimate of volume is the 385 tons/yr listed under CLIN X012 in the solicitation. After the first year of service is performed, a reevaluation will be conducted to see if a modification is required for the remainder of the contract, based upon monthly usage data.

13. Please confirm that CLINs X0002 and X0005 Landfill Tipping Fees and X0012

Organic Waste Disposal Fees are cost reimbursable CLINS and will not be evaluated, in accordance with 52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Items 3. Part 3 – Price (Pg. 48 of 76).

Answer: Yes, a pre-determined cost will be added in an amendment to this solicitation and posted along with these questions. The pre-determined cost may be adjusted in the future if necessary and as supported by receipts of tipping fees in excess of the unit cost amount. The cost of these CLINs will not be evaluated individually, but will be included in the total price evaluation. Furthermore, they will have no impact on any price differences between offerors as the CLINs are pre-priced by the Government at current publically available tipping rates.

Attachment 6

14. CLINs X0002 and X0005 Landfill Tipping Fees and X0012 Organic Waste Disposal Fees are cost reimbursable CLINS per PWS 1.1.11 and APPENDIX A.

Section 52.212-1. Instructions to Offerors, 2.2.2.2 (Pg. 44 of 76) Price states “Note: Offerors shall not include a price for the Option to Extend Services or the Cost Reimbursable contract line items.” Please clarify whether proposers are to price these cost reimbursable CLINs and if so correct this apparent conflict.

Answer: Yes, a pre-determined cost will be added in an amendment to this solicitation and posted along with these questions. The pre-determined cost may be adjusted in the future if necessary and as supported by receipts of tipping fees in excess of the unit cost amount.

15. Pg. 42 of 76 2.1.2.1 Requests “Quality and Satisfaction Rating for Contracts

Completed in the Past Three Years.” Are quality and satisfaction ratings from contracts that are still ongoing acceptable?

Answer: Yes, they would be current and relevant to our requirement as long as services have actually been performed.

16. Please Reference PWS 1.1.10. Contractor shall repair refuse, recycling, and organic waste containers in accordance with industry standards. All containers shall be repaired on base. (CLINs 0010, 0013). Are all repairs, including maintenance (cleaning, and painting of containers) reimbursed under CLINS X010 and X013?

Answer: Yes, the repairs are reimbursable under CLINS X010 and X013.

17. Please reference PWS 1.1.3.2. Are the 13 each 30-yd Roll Off containers for special events required in addition to the 13 each listed in PWS Table 2, Historical Data Points of Collection (Roll-Off Containers)?

Answer: In short, these are in addition, there just happens to be 13 listed in Table 2 as well, not related. This paragraph is referring to multiple CLINs. PWS Table 2 has nothing to do with this paragraph. This paragraph is referring to CLIN X006 (Special Events 8CY) and X007 (Unscheduled Pickups) AND the specifically mentioned 13 30CY containers for construction debris and bulk garbage (CLIN X004). The 13 Roll-offs covered in PWS Table 2 are covered under standard refuse and recycle service (CLINs X001 and X003).

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18. Please reference PWS Appendix B, Estimated Quantity of 120 each Roll Off Pulls Per Year. CLIN x004 reflects 60 Special Event Roll Off Pulls Per Year.

Should the contractor price the remaining estimated 60 Roll Off pulls per year in the other applicable FFP CLINS?

Answer: The total for CLIN X004’s QTY reads 160, not 60. So, no they should not.

The main question we pull from this is the same as Q2. Are the pull-offs listed in Table B2 for the 30CYs included in CLINs 0001 and 0003? Which is yes and the estimate for amount per year of those 13 is Item 2 in Table B1. The specials from the referenced table B1 Item 11 are for CLIN 0004.

19. Please reference. PWS paragraph 1, Route maps and dumpster locations can be found in Appendix C. Where is Appendix C?

Answer: Locations are actually in appendix B, maps are going to be provided to the awardee upon contract award.

20. Please reference PWS, Appendix A, Please identify the Food Waste Containers needing Twice Per Month Cleanings

Answer: These are the regular dumpsters located at facilities that produce food related waste that cannot be mitigated under Organic Waste at buildings 417, 922, 977, 1420, and 2449. If the Government elects to exercise the option for organic waste disposal, those containers will be rinsed clean daily per para 1.6.2. of the PWS.

21. Please reference PWS, Appendix A, Landfill Fees. This states that the contractor be reimbursed according to the Landfill's invoice. The government is asking for unit pricing on CLINS x002, x005, x006 and x012? If this is a pass through without markup, should the government insert projected pricing for these CLINS in order to factor out the fee for pricing evaluations?

Answer: Pleases see the answer to Question 13 and 14 above. The Government is not asking for a price, a Government estimate (price) will be added via amendment.

22. Please reference PWS 1.2.5. Sales Receipts. The contractor shall provide a summary of sale proceeds by type of commodity, along with original sales receipts for recyclable materials and the proceeds to the government evaluator no later than the tenth working day of the month following the sale month. The sales receipts shall contain the weight, type and price of the commodity recycled. The contractor shall also submit an invoice of costs associated with the collection, processing, transporting and sale of recyclable commodities for reimbursement. Is this reimbursement outside of the contractors' pricing to line items in support of recycling? Please Explain.

Answer: The contractor provides the Government a document each month that shows what was recycled and how much we made off of the sale. This document and ticket originate from the recycling company.

Attachment 6

23. Pg. 42 of 76 2.1.2.2 states: “Relevant contracts to include refuse, recycling, and organic waste collection, recycling consolidation point operations, refuse, recycling, and organic waste disposal…” will refuse and recycling collection and disposal contracts that have requirements similar to the requirements of this solicitation but do not include organic waste collection and disposal, be considered relevant for Past Performance evaluation purposes? See also pg. 47 of 76 2. Part 2 – Past Performance evaluation factors.

Answer: Yes, it is still relevant to our requirement if it does not include Organic Waste disposal. The Government is aware that Organic Waste Disposal is a rather niche requirement. The Government has anticipated this and has spelled this out in Part 1, Factor 1 under Technical Capability, whereas it states:

• Does the Offeror have at least 5 years (from the date of this solicitation) of trash and recycling collection management experience?

• Does the Offeror have organic waste collection management experience? If not, does the offeror address in sufficient detail how they intend to meet and perform this requirement?

• Does the Offeror have experience hauling refuse and recyclables in large volume? Submit an outline of level of volume experience.

• Does the Offeror have experience operating and maintaining a recycling collection point? If not, does the offeror address in sufficient detail how they intend to meet and perform this requirement?

Past performance will be evaluated in a similar manner. The work for Organic Waste Collection is very similar to standard refuse collection, but with specialized containers, slightly different operating/maintaining procedures, and a more aggressive pick up schedule. So as stated in Part 2: Relevant past performance includes performance of efforts involving refuse, recycling, and organic waste collection, recycling consolidation point operations, refuse, recycling, and organic waste disposal, and history of vehicle safety practices that are similar or greater in scope magnitude and complexity than the effort described in this solicitation.

**End of Questions and Answer**