UK Wide Custodial Services Sources Sought Questions.pdf

1. Are these dates firm? Due to COVID protocols, as of this date (12 March 2021), we must quarantine for 10 days once arrival in country into a hotel. With this in mind, we will need to leave 10 to 12 days before start of site visit. Which would mean, I would need to start my travel around 28 April 2021, in order to make the site visit. This is not a problem, just we will need to confirm the exact dates, so that we can make our travel arrangements. These dates are not set in stone. We are monitoring the Site Visit and COVID restrictions. We will have more definitive information prior to posting the official solicitation.

2. The TUPE requirements present a challenge. Without a clear understanding of the current incumbent work force status, seniority, and potential labor/employment liability, it places a serious risk on any successful follow-on contractor. The anticipated award date is 45 days prior to the expiration of the current contract to allow for transition and clarification on TUPE if applicable.

3. We would want to understand the requirement for the delivery of the portable office at Lakenheath and would ask that during the site visit we can review the current portable building to be used as office/storage. We note that there is no sewage or water facilities but would need to understand if power is available and what the location for the office to be sited is like – i.e.

will any ground works be required? Yes, during the site visit the compound can be seen. The current portable office is rented out directly from Portakabin for a monthly cost of £1478 + VAT.

There currently is water, toilets and power. There would be no ground works required.

4. Draft PWS does not mention UK HSE Law, will this be included in final PWS? As we are in the UK, all applicable UK laws will apply.

5. Will tiled walls need to be clean and disinfected? PWS 1.2.1 Yes, all wall surfaces.

6. Please clarify as whether schedule needs to include signing sheets to show actual dates/time cleans carried out? No, these will not be required.

7. Please clarify if secure designated areas will be provided? PWS 1.2.3 Some are secure, but not all.

8. PWS 1.3.3 Can you please clarify surface types Surface types are specified in the 1.3.3.

9. PWS 1.4 list PAX Terminals can you clarify if this is Mildenhall Terminal? Yes, this is referring to

Mildenhall PAX terminal.

10. PWS 1.4.2.2 Please clarify if we receive a copy of the report, how we obtain, and are existing

DBS’s within 5 years allowable if from another employer. No, you will not receive a report and yes, existing DBS’s within 5 years are transferable.

11. PWS 1.4.4 is a new requirement, can you clarify if this needed prior to starting work in this area.

Yes, all employees assigned to work in that facility will be required to have had all immunizations before entering the building. This is for the health and safety of the staff and children.

12. PWS 1.4.6.4 is misleading as it conflicts with 1.4.1. All cleaning requirements will be performed where possible either before or after CDC operational duty hours except for any cleaning requirement standard performed more than 1 time daily and for meal cleans which will follow as detailed in Appendix A. For those specific cleaning requirements of 2 or more times daily at least one cleaning will be performed during operational duty hours.

13. PWS 1.4.6.6 List walls cleaned during meal time clean ups, is this a new requirement? No, this is not a new requirement and is currently listed in 1.4.5.6 in the previous PWS.

14. PWS 1.4.6.8 Can you clarify previous lunchtime clean ups? Toilets, sinks and adjacent walls (up to height of four feet) will be cleaned with cold water and detergent and then sanitized with the bleach water or disinfectant solution at least twice daily (after lunch and in the evening, after hours) for children over two years old rooms and once per day for children under two years old rooms.

15. PWS 1.5.1 Can you clarify in event of on-site breakdown/emergency and what is meant by underwriters’ laboratory listing? This means ensuring all electrical equipment is certified and tested/inspected annually.

16. PWS 3.5 can you clarify on no access to site-based facilities in the event of a medical emergency? UK A&E Department is minimum of 30 minutes. The government will provide an ambulance to the nearest hospital on a cost reimbursement basis. The closest A&E is Bury St Edmunds.

17. PWS 4.1.1 are COR/CONS also available at these times. Yes, the COR and CONs are available during these times.

18. Please clarify what would be required to be submitted for Part III, Contract Documentation.

Offerors are expected to submit a document with their company information to include their best point of contact’s name, email address and phone number and DUNS/CAGE. Other than what’s identified in the addendum to 52.212-1, para c, a third paragraph has been added to provide more information.

19. Is there going to be an SCA wage determination or an alternate mandatory wage and benefit requirement provided with the solicitation when issued? No. Because this is being awarded overseas and the work will be performed overseas, the Service Contract Act does not apply.

20. Regarding past performance, is it a minimum of three references or a maximum of three references to be provided? It is a maximum of three references provided directly by the offerors and five references provided on behalf of the offeror by way of past performance questionnaires.

New language has been added in hopes to clarify this requirement.

21. Is the UK 2019 gross receipts tax applicable to this contract? The US Govt is not in a position to be able to answer this. There are so many different variables to teaming arrangements that a one size answer does not fit well. It is the offerors responsibility to ensure they are compliant with the PWS and adhere to all applicable UK laws and regulations.

22. Will the bid be required in pounds or US dollars? GBPs. Section J, Attachment 2 – UK Wide Custodial Services Bid Schedule requires prices be submitted in GPBs.

23. Is the bidder/contractor to provide Workers Compensation, or is there an alternative form of UK insurance required? The US Govt is not in a position to be able to answer this. There are so many different variables to teaming arrangements that a one size answer does not fit well. It is the offerors responsibility to ensure they are compliant with the PWS and adhere to all applicable UK laws and regulations.

24. Is the incumbent’s contract workload requirements the same or nearly the same as the follow-on contract? The incumbent contracts workload requirements are nearly the same. The only notable change is the requirement for certain people to be immunized when entering certain locations IAW the draft PWS 1.4.4.

25. Will the HUBZone price preference apply to the evaluation for award? This requirement will be solicited full and open. As a result, the HUBZone price preference will not apply.

26. Has the acquisition strategy been decided? Will it be an open unrestricted competition? 8(A)?

Small-business? Etc. It has been decided. Full and open competition with no small business set-asides.

27. What is the incumbent pay scale and benefits? Does the Government provide wage-price adjustments to the contract due to wage and benefit increases? The incumbent’s pay scale and benefits is proprietary in nature. If necessary, the necessary information will be transferred from the incumbent to the new firm IAW TUPE. The Government does not provide wage-price adjustments to the contract due to any wage and benefit increases.

28. We understand that the US Air Force do not ordinarily facilitate the provision of TUPE information through the solicitation process. Would it be possible to request that the incumbent is asked by the Authority to provide the TUPE information on request in a timely manner? Could the Authority please provide contact details for the bidders to request the TUPE information from? Currently, we are planning for 75 days to be available as a phase-in period. This time should allow for sufficient transition for TUPE, mobilization and base access processes. If TUPE is applicable, the government will assist by providing the necessary point of contact information for all parties.

29. Would the Authority provide an overview of its current challenges and areas of concern in the current service delivery and share any points that would ordinarily be seen and experienced whilst on the site visits, particularly where air traffic movement may create a hazard? Our only challenge at the moment is COVID. With some buildings/offices being closed and sat empty for a while, it would mean a deeper clean is required upon opening back up. There are no particular areas of concerns. Awarded contractors will be required to obtain a flight line license to drive around the airfield and a restricted area badge for restricted areas. This will be provided by the government.

30. Any restricted and/or classified areas needing escorts or clearances? No, however, some of the buildings do have restricted areas, but they are cleaned by the building occupier. If an extra clean is required, for example, a carpet clean, escorts will be arranged.

31. Any anticipated Government Provided Equipment or Supplies? No. The contractor will supply all equipment.

32. Are any current employees subject to TUPE? TUPE only may be applicable IAW UK regulations.

Each business will have different efforts they will need to take in order to be in compliance. More information for TUPE and how it may apply to your firm can be found at this website:

https://www.gov.uk/transfers-takeovers.

https://www.gov.uk/transfers-takeovers