Attachment 12 - PBA Question.pdf

Question(s) Received by the Government after Amendment was posted on 16 Sep 2020:

The revised pricing schedule and PWS have numerous inconsistencies and are not aligned with a performance-based contract: a. CLIN 0001 – Maintain Improved Grounds – Non Turf consists of 4,704 total acres however Appendix B states that there are 356 acres that are serviced an estimated 43 times per year which equals 15,308 annual acres.

b. CLIN 0002 – Maintain Improved Grounds – Turf consists of 60 total acres however Appendix B states that there are 41 acres that are serviced an estimated 43 times per year which equals 1,763 annual acres.

c. CLIN 0003 – Irrigation Operation / Maintenance consists of 60 total acres however Appendix B states that there are 5 acres that are serviced an estimated 35 times per year which equals 175 annual acres. How can this be performance based? Irrigation maintenance is scheduled?

d. CLIN 0004 – Leaf/Pod Removal consists of 280 total acres however Appendix B states that there are 65 acres that are serviced an estimated 2 times per year which equals 130 annual acres. How can this be performance based when it is an ordered service and the acres serviced are not known due to these inaccuracies?

e. CLIN 0011 – Semi-Improved Grounds (Non-Airfield) consists of 5,148 total acres however Appendix B states that there are 8,185 annual acres.

f. CLIN 0013 – Semi-Improved Grounds (Airfield) consists of 37,012 total acres however Appendix B states that there are 47,939 annual acres.

g. CLIN 0014 – Spot Detail Semi-Improved Grounds consists of 624 total acres however Appendix B states that there are 52 annual acres NTE 4x/week.

h. CLIN 0015 – Vegetation Control consists of 421,363 total SY however Appendix B states that there are 175,568 SY.

i. CLIN 0020 – Maintain Vegetative, Flower, Rock Beds, and Related Areas consists of 232,320 total SY however Appendix B states that there are 832,480 SY.

j. CLIN 0021 – Debris Removal and Policing – AMARG 2x/week consists of 480 total AC however Appendix B states that there are 4,160 AC. Additionally, if this is a performance based contract, why is the frequency firmly stated?

k. CLIN 0022 – Debris Removal and Policing – Main Base 1x/week consists of 360 total AC however Appendix B states that there are 1,560 AC. Additionally, if this is a performance based contract, why is the frequency firmly stated?

While we understand that this is a performance based contract, the pricing schedule is not reflective of this. Shouldn’t the pricing schedule be time based on months and not acres serviced?

The contract is performance based however invoicing and pricing is not aligned with this. Meaning, using E. above as an example, if the contract is performance based and the contractor dispatches to service S-4 Non Airfield and only half of the location needs to be mowed, are we to google map what is mowed and invoice according to the pricing schedule that is based on acreage?

As structured, the PWS is performance-based however the Pricing Schedule shows an IDIQ/Work Order based contract. Furthermore, who is responsible for regulating what is mowed and invoiced and what is not?

The bottom line on this is that the solicitation, pricing schedule, PWS, and Q&A do not align themselves.

Government Response to the Question(s) Above:

Performance-based acquisition (PBA) means an acquisition structured around the results to be achieved as opposed to the manner by which the work is to be performed.

- FAR 2.101

Solicitation – FA487720R0051.pdf page 3 states:

Unless explicitly stated in the PWS (ex. CLIN 0023 for Golf Course service) or task orders, quantities for CLINs with a coverage area, such as acre, are determined by: Coverage Area x Months of service.

Example: CLIN 0001 - 392 Acres of coverage x 12 months of service = 4,704 Acres.

Attachment 11 - Q & A #11 states:

Please note that this is a performance based service. The quantities in the pricing schedule are for evaluation and estimation purposes only.

Also, unless explicitly stated within the PWS (excluding the estimate columns in the appendices) the contractor is responsible for maintaining the grounds in accordance with the PWS criteria. The estimated number of services are provided just to show historical trends.

Invoicing This contract will be invoiced on a monthly basis. In accordance with performance based service methodology, the Government will pay for the area covered being maintained in accordance with the contract criteria, not for how many times the areas were serviced. The Government is not concerned with how many times an area had to be mowed in order to keep it within the required standard.

However, there are specific services that are requested to be performed in a certain way or at certain times. These have been determined to be in the best interest of the Government. An example is CLIN 0023 for the golf course service and CLINs 0021/0022 for debris removal and policing.

To answer your questions, keeping with your example:

Question: “While we understand that this is a performance based contract, the pricing schedule is not reflective of this. Shouldn’t the pricing schedule be time based on months and not acres serviced?

Answer: Using a pricing schedule based on months does not clearly show what the government is paying for. It would require additional information to determine how large of an area is being serviced.

The use of acres shows exactly what the government is paying for the services it receives.

Question: The contract is performance based however invoicing and pricing is not aligned with this.

Meaning, using E. above as an example, if the contract is performance based and the contractor dispatches to service S-4 Non Airfield and only half of the location needs to be mowed, are we to google map what is mowed and invoice according to the pricing schedule that is based on acreage?

Answer: In this example, if the grass in area S4 remained within 4 and 10 inches during the month per the PWS, the contractor would invoice for 412 acres that month. The government may keep track of how often the area is mowed for statistical purposes, but it will not affect invoicing.

Conclusion All documents within this solicitation are in alignment with the performance based service methodology to the maximum extent practicable at this time.