Airfield_Civil_Works_IDIQ_-_Questions_ _Answers_(Final).doc

2 July 2015

MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD

FROM: 325 CONS/LGCC, TSgt Brian E. Swanson SUBJECT: Airfield Civil Works IDIQ – Questions & Answers

1. The following are a list of questions and answers submitted in writing to solicitation FA4819-15-B-0001.

Q1. In the specifications, the concrete mix design calls for a 467 blend. Question is why would we not have specified the 650 or 700 flex concrete that has been used for over 20 years with proven experience on structural soundness?

A – Note: Section 32 13.13 Item 4 "Concrete Pavement for Airfield Pavements" of the project specifications. STRENGTH AND AIR CONTENT: An approved commercial testing laboratory will design the concrete mixture, at the expense of the contractor, using approved materials furnished by the contractor to obtain a flexural strength of 700 pounds per square inch at 28 days of age, and air content by volume of 4-1/2 percent plus or minus 1-1/2 percent, unless directed otherwise by contract plans and/or Contracting Officer. This is the flexural strength (700 psi) that has been used on the past airfield projects. The only reference to 467 blended is in regards to the burlap used to control the heat of hydration.

Q2. Having been involved in many multiyear projects, I have never encountered a bid bond required since these first came out many years ago. These 3-5 year projects would run 30-100 million. Our bid bond would be kept for several months and then you would not even get the project. This causes a disruption in our overall bonding capacity. The Government changed that to no bid bond and performance/payment bond for each delivery order (separate from each other). This project for 5 years could go 11 million per or 55 million gross. That's a bid bond for 11 million. When in fact, each delivery order usually are $25,000-$2.5 million. Even a cap of $3 million means I could a bid a single project of $15 million. This would make me a large business, not a small business set aside. I have never seen a small business set aside who could bid as a prime contractor on projects at $15 million each or more. It seems to me than Tyndall AFB is eliminating many highly qualified contractors by this requirement. Would the successful bidder and his subs be vetted? The industry nationally is experiencing bids backed by large businesses. That's not the intent of this rule. These are being challenged now. Will Tyndall AFB guarantee no large business will be indemnifying this project, proving they are truly for small business?

A – Please reference 52.228-1 BID GUARANTEE (SEP 1996) on page 27 of the solicitation. The amount of the bid guarantee is limited to 20 percent of the bid price or 3 million dollars, whichever is less. As the NAICS listed against this solicitation is 237310 – Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction, the small business size standard is $36,500,000. Businesses bidding on this solicitation must be identified as a small business under this NAICS in Systems for Award Management. The Government must accept that a contractor has identified itself as a small business in good faith; at award this will be validated via clause 52.219-28 – Post-Award Small Business Program Representation (Jul 2013), which is incorporated by reference in the current solicitation in Section I.

2. No other questions have been received by the Government at this time. The final date for communications has passed as established in amendment 1 of the solicitation (2 July 2015, 4:00 PM CST).

BRIAN E. SWANSON, TSgt, USAF

Contracting Officer

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

325TH FIGHTER WING (ACC)

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE FLORIDA

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY