Draft_RFP_2_Q A.docx

DRAFT RFP #2 FEEDBACK Q & A

Technical Questions Question #1:

Attachment: AF Carpet Pricing Matrix - Under Pricing tabs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, column “L,” you state: “Roll Goods Cost per Square Yard with an attached cushion backing in compliance with NSF/ANSI 140 sustainability standards.” Cushion backing is not environmentally friendly. Due to the substantial processing required to remove the cushion backing, there are very few commercial outlets for recycling. To enable us to offer you the breadth of our products, we ask that you consider removing the NSF certification requirement.

Answer #1: NO CHANGE. The Government will not remove the NSF/ANSI 140 certification requirement. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) now requires all broadloom and carpet tile purchased by the U.S. government to be certified to NSF/ANSI 140 at the gold certification level. Our Medical customers require NSF/ANSI 140 to meet their LEED objectives.

Question #2:

Attachment: AF Carpet Requirements Matrix - Under the Organic and Geometric tabs, Lines OPS.7 and GPS.7, you state: “Manufacturer shall provide patterned carpet that has a minimum of nine stitches or rows per inch.” The emphasis on stitches per inch minimums has no defined impact on the overall product performance. It is one small element of many others (i.e., gauge, fiber thickness, twist, etc.). Would you please consider removing this requirement?

Answer #2: NO CHANGE. Since the Government dropped the 1/8 gauge through the RFI process, and more recently the TARR rating, the requirement for patterned carpet to have a minimum of nine stitches or rows per inch will remain.

Question #3:

Attachment: AF Carpet Requirements Matrix - Under the General Requirements Tab, Line BP.7, you state “Manufacturer shall provide a minimum 10-year warranty for dimensional stability.” A dimensional stability warranty does not apply to broadloom that must be stretched in. Stretching is achieved with special tools such as power stretchers and knee kickers. Stretching new carpet during installation secures the carpet to the floor, removing any lumps or waves and reducing the possibility the carpet could be damaged by activities such as moving furnishings across the floor. Would you clarify that the dimensional stability warranty you require is for carpet tile products only?

Answer #3: CHANGED. Requirement GP.7 changed to read “Manufacturer shall provide a minimum 10-year warranty for dimensional stability for carpet tile only.

Question #4:

Attachment: AF Carpet Requirements Matrix - Under the Product Line Summary, should the geometric category be “geometric” all the way across instead of “Organic”?

Answer #4: CHANGED. Yes, it should be “geometric” all the way across. Matrix update is complete.

Question #5:

Attachment: AF Carpet Requirements Matrix - Under the General Requirements tab, GP.6, you note: “Manufacturer shall provide a minimum 10 -year warranty against moisture penetration through products utilizing hard or cushion backings.” A warranty against moisture penetration is uncommon for carpet tile due to the number of seams. For example, with a 24-inch-by-24-inch tile, seams are at every 24 inches. We suggest that you drop this requirement for a moisture warranty for carpet tile and instead require the “Water Penetration Under Dynamic Crush” test or sometimes called the 10,000 impact test. This test measures how much, if any, dyed water penetrates a swatch of carpet under a dynamic crush apparatus that strikes the carpet at 10 pounds per square inch. It will ensure your carpet tile products are impervious to moisture before you make the purchase. In addition, a warranty against moisture penetration through carpet tile would not cover any moisture penetration at the seams.

Answer #5: CHANGED. GP.6 of Requirements Matrix now reads: “Manufacturer shall provide a minimum 10-year warranty against moisture penetration through products utilizing hard or cushion backings on broadloom (Roll) carpet only.

Question #6:

Attachment: AF Carpet Requirements Matrix - Under the Organic, Geometric, Solid and Heathered tabs, Lines OPT.6, GPT.6, SPT.6 and HPT.7 you state: “(SEE BELOW for tests that are covered under the NSF/ANSI 140).” Does this mean that, if we have NSF 140 certification, that we do not need to provide test results for AATCC 175, Aachen, Pill, ASTM E648 and ASTM E662?

Answer #6: Offerors that are NSF/ANSI 140 Certified do not need to provide test results for AATCC 134, Pill test, smoke density, tuft blind, and indoor air quality.

Offerors still need to provide test results and/or certifications for AATCC 175 Stain Resistance with a minimum rating of 8, pass either the International Standard (ISO) 2551 OR Aachen test for dimensional stability for modular carpet tile, with a maximum of +/-.027 inches, shall utilize a testing lab that is a National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) accredited laboratory, manufacturer shall provide a Green Label Plus low VOC wet spread adhesive, manufacturer shall provide a Green Label Plus low VOC pressure sensitive adhesive.

Question #7:

Attachment: AF Carpet Requirements Matrix - Under the Organic, Geometric, Solid and Heathered tabs, Lines OPT, GPT, SPT and HPT, you list the testing requirements that the products must pass. Do you require the actual tests?

Answer #7: Yes, except for those that can be satisfied by NSF/ANSI 140 certification listed in the blue box and the bottom of each tab. See answer to question #6.

Question #8:

In your “Questions and Answers” Re: Answer 16 – “Yes, the roll pattern must match ONE of the modular carpet tile patterns per pattern family/collection. For example, when providing the Organic Pattern Family/Collection – Small Scale Option, this roll good option must match either the Organic Small Scale Option #1, #2, or #3.” When you say “match” do you mean they must be identical or that the colorways must match? Many broadlooms will not translate into carpet tile and vice versa due to manufacturing processes and inherent characteristics. For example, broadloom offers a large variety of pattern options including large-scale pattern repeats that cannot be achieved with carpet tile. Also, you can create unique designs by combining carpet tile of differing patterns and colors different sized tiles that cannot be achieved with broadloom. Similarly, you can combine beautifully coordinating broadloom and carpet tile in spaces that involve varying design needs, such as broadloom on stairs and carpet tile in open spaces. Requiring carpet tile and broadloom to have identical patterns would dramatically reduce your design options.

Answer #8: Must identically match ONE of the three pattern sizes (small, medium, or large).

Question #9:

AF Carpet Requirements Matrix - I noticed in the carpet requirements spreadsheet that the density was lowered on the solid and heathered product tabs to 5000 but not on the tabs for organic and geometric patterned products. Those two remain at 6500.

Answer #9: CHANGED. The Government received RFI responses driving adjustments to the density requirement during our market research phase. The Government has customers whose policy for patterns is 6000 density. The Government is lowering the density requirement for patterns to a minimum of 6000.

Question #10:

Deleted Hexapod drum tester/TARR rating OPT.7: Please state the reason for deleting this requirement. In general, we feel it is important to include performance testing such as the Hexapod drum tester in order to quantify and indicate a predictor of future performance and appearance. Please reinstate this requirement.

TARR ratings are the only fair way to compare products from different manufactures thus empowering the customer to make an informed decision regardless of yarn, backing, and manufacture’s marketing materials. We respectfully are emphasizing that eliminating TARR will expose the Government to substandard product offerings as it pertains to performance standards.

Answer #10: The Government will not reinstate this requirement. TARR is highly subjective and not an acceptable evaluation criteria for this solicitation. The Government asks for several other performance indicators that ensure quality standards will meet our customers’ requirements.

Question #11:

Removing the Fiber Modification Ratio requirement: Please state your reasoning for removing this requirement. The fiber modification ratio has become a valid measurement of carpet performance in the industry. Nylon fiber will be the basic building block of the products from the manufacturers you select. It stands to reason and has been proven that a weaker fiber (higher modification ratio) such as the nylon fiber used in residential grade carpet yarn will not perform in commercial carpet. High modification ratio fiber/yarn/carpet is designed for a softer feel in residential carpet. Low modification (≤2.2) ratio fiber/yarn/carpet as originally required will perform and appear better over the life of the carpet. While some commercial carpet manufacturers state their carpet is commercial grade and even provide a “lifetime” warranty, they are careful to exclude "appearance retention, matting and crushing, and appearance changes in high traffic areas". Those manufacturers who provide low modification ratio carpet do not limit the applicable warranty provisions to exclude appearance retention, matting, crushing and appearance changes. Please reinstate this requirement.

Answer #11: We require 100% Nylon type 6,6 or Nylon type 6 only. There is little added value in requiring a Fiber Modification Ratio requirement on two potential Nylon types in addition to the other performance criteria required in this solicitation. The Fiber Modification Ratio requirement will not be reinstated.

Question #12:

Remove the NSF/ANSI certification requirements for the attached cushion backing options (“General Requirements” tab of “AF_Carpet_Requirements_Matrix_2nd_Draft_RFP”, Column CBR04 & CBT02). As attached cushion options are not standard backings and tend to be used infrequently, most manufacturers, ourselves included, have not had them certified under the NSF/ANSI sustainability requirements.

Answer #12: NO CHANGE. The Government is not removing the NSF/ANSI 140 certification requirement. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) now requires all broadloom and carpet tile purchased by the U.S. government to be certified to NSF/ANSI 140 at the gold certification level. Our Medical customers require NSF/ANSI 140 to meet their LEED objectives.

Question #13:

We would like to respectfully request that you lower the density requirements for the Organic and Geometric pattern requirements to 5,500. While *vendor name omitted* has a number of products that meet your requested minimum density of 6,500, the products that we offer that most closely match your desired aesthetic/pattern/scale requirements for these categories have densities under 6,500. Some of the products that most closely match have a density about 2% below your 6,500 minimum (i.e., one product that meets many design requirements has a density of 6,428, another has a density of 6,400).

Considering the many pattern options, sizes, and colors that you’d like to see presented, lowering the density requirement to a minimum of 5,500 will significantly expand the product choices that we could offer while still maintaining your performance needs. Lowering the density will allow us to provide products that very specifically match your design/aesthetic needs, instead of us having to present products that don’t meet your aesthetics but do have the minimum density or that have the minimum density but don’t meet the aesthetics.

The Carpet & Rug Institute recommends a minimum density of 5,000 for extra heavy traffic conditions (https://www.carpet-rug.org/Carpet-for-Business/Specifying-the-Right-Carpet/Quality-and-Performance-Requirements.aspx).

Answer #13: CHANGED. We have customers whose policy for organic and geometric patterns is 6000 density. The Government is lowering the organic and geometric pattern requirement minimum to 6000. See also response to question #9.

Question #14:

AF Carpet Requirements Matrix – SPS.2 – It was suggested that Yarn Dye products be allowed for the Solid Color product offering as colors options are limited with Solution Dyed products only.

Answer #14: CHANGED. The Government will allow yarn dye products for cut pile only.

Question #15:

Please clarify that the only yarn that is acceptable is simply Nylon as the current description opens the spec for lower grade commodity yarns to be allowed.

Answer #15: The Government requires either 100% Nylon type 6,6 or Nylon type 6.

Question #16:

T.1 - AATCC 175 Stain Resist - As a general rule, this is not a standard test we, and other manufacturers, do on our carpet – the market has not dictated this to be necessary. Instead, we add stain-resist properties and provide lifetime stain-resist warranties. In order to be compliant with this requirement, we would need time to conduct additional testing, however we would want to know the products the Air Force is considering prior to moving forward with this additional test that is not required for most markets.

Answer #16: The Government is more prone to staining situations than most commercial settings. AATCC 175 remains a requirement.

Question #17:

SP.3 - Cut pile is not an appropriate finish for modular – loop, or cut and loop are more appropriate applications for commercial environments. Requirement for solid color carpet tile with cut pile construction – your answer that the government was under the impression that cut pile offered more color options is incorrect. Carpet finish has nothing to do with color availability – it just indicates the finished look. Carpet can be finished in cut pile, loop pile, or a combination of the two. Color is indicated primarily by the dye method of the style. You will get the widest array of solid colors in a beck dyed product, which most of the time are either a cut pile or some variation of a cut and loop. However, your requirement for bleach resist prohibits the use of beck dyed products, and would eliminate the requirement for cut pile to obtain the widest array of colors.

Answer #17: We only ask for cut pile in the solid color carpet tile category.

Other Changes:

Added Tip Sheared option to solid tab (SPS.2) in requirement matrix. Tip sheared is not a requirement; it is simply an additional option.

Non-Technical Questions Question #1:

On page 17 of 48, L-2.1, in the box you ask for an electronic copy on CD-R or DVD-R. Would you please consider amending this section to give the additional option of a USB flash drive?

Answer #1: No, DoD policy prevents the use of USB flash drives.

Question #2:

On page 22, second paragraph, you state: “In the absence of formal documentation for a particular certification per tab, a signed letter from the CEO certifying that carpet meets the certification will be deemed technically acceptable. In essence, if the Offeror is not able to provide formal certification documentation for multiple certifications for a particular tab, the Offeror may provide one signed letter from the CEO certifying that carpet meets the multiple certifications and that will be deemed technically acceptable.” By allowing certifications and technical specifications to be replaced by a Letter from the CEO, you have essentially eliminated the requirement. This does not give credit to the companies who have gone to the time, expense and scrutiny to secure these certifications and specifications. We recommend that you please consider not allowing CEO Letters to replace actual documentation.

Answer #2: CHANGED. We are not removing the CEO letter as an alternate way to indicate a particular certification. However, this letter must now also be cosigned by the offeror’s Laboratory Manager/Technical Expert or an equivalent position.

Question #3:

On page 32, M-2.2.4, there is no weighting given for the roll cushion category. Will you please specify?

Answer #3: CHANGED. The RFP has corrected the language for the categories. Here is a list of the weighted categories and their percentages:

Tile Hard Back: 72% Tile Soft Back: 18% Roll Direct Glue: 3.33% Roll Moisture Barrier: 3.33% Roll Min. Density Backing: 3.33%

Question #4:

On the “General Requirements” tab of the Excel spreadsheet “AF_Carpet_Requirements_Matrix_2nd_Draft_RFP”, Column GP.9 asks us to provide a statement on company letterhead signed by our CEO validating that we utilize testing labs certified by NVLAP. When we review the formatting instructions for the two hard copy Volumes in the “Draft_RFP2” pdf (L-2.9, pages 19-25), we do not see where this information should be included. Can you please indicate where you would like this information placed within one of the two Volumes?

Answer #4: This is stated in L-2.9.1.1 and it says to put it in Volume I behind the four pages in the relevant tab the certifications apply to (the certifications that apply to the specific carpet type).

Question #5:

On the “General Requirements” tab of the Excel spreadsheet “AF_Carpet_Requirements_Matrix_2nd_Draft_RFP”, Column CBR04 asks us to provide a certification statement on company letterhead signed by our CEO validating that we can provide a roll good cushion option that meets NSF/ANSI 140 sustainability standards. When we review the formatting instructions for the two hard copy Volumes in the “Draft_RFP2” pdf (L-2.9, pages 19-25), we do not see where this information should be included. Can you please indicate where you would like this information placed within one of the two Volumes?

Answer #5: See Non-Technical answer #4 above.

Question #6:

On the “General Requirements” tab of the Excel spreadsheet “AF_Carpet_Requirements_Matrix_2nd_Draft_RFP”, Columns SR01, SR02, and SR03 ask us to provide information on our adhesive options and SR04 asks for information on our reclamation program. Also requested is that we indicate the page number in our response document where this information is located. When we review the formatting instructions for the two hard copy Volumes in the “Draft_RFP2” pdf (L-2.9, pages 19-25), we do not see where this information should be included. Can you please indicate where you would like this information placed within one of the two Volumes?

Answer #6: The adhesive will fall under Green Label Plus, and Green Label Plus is a requirement for NSF/ANSI 140. Therefore, the adhesive requirement will be verified by virtue of the NSF/ANSI 140 Gold certification.

Question #7:

You ask that we complete the first page of the “Draft_RFP2”, items 17.a, 17.b, 30.a, 30.b, and 30.c, but we do not see where in the breakdown of the formatting of the two Volumes (“Draft_RFP2” pdf, L-2.9, pages 19-25) where this should be included. Can you please indicate where you would like this information placed within one of the two Volumes?

Answer #7: Place the SF 1449 in Volume II, Tab 1. See L-2.9.2.1.

Question #8:

Will additional questions will be allowed once the actual RFP is issued?

Answer #8: Yes, additional questions will be allowed once the actual RFP is issued, but that communication can only be through the Contracting Officer, Dan Boeh. However, if changes arise, then that information will be shared with all respective offerors and would most likely extend the RFP deadline. The purpose of Draft RFPs was to solicit offeror feedback before the final RFP is issued.

Question #9:

Please clarify if the Draft 2 Revision eliminates the Requirements to Submit Carpet Samples entirely with the RFP Submittal.

Answer #9: Do NOT submit physical carpet samples with your RFP submittal. However, physical carpet samples are required for the Aesthetic Validation (formerly Aesthetic Evaluation).

Question #10:

We would request additional information/understanding on unbalanced pricing – M-2.2.5, page 31, and we request additional information/definition of completeness – M-2.2.6, page 31 – the definition of completeness appears to give two definitions.

Answer #10: CHANGED. See Section M-2.2.6 for the rewording.

Question #11:

The draft RFP instruct offers in section M-1.6, page 29, to submit only one product line for each category of the Modular Carpet Tiles and Carpet Roll Goods, yet the carpet pricing matrix – Attachment 2 – appears to ask for three different prices for each of the pattern sizes (ex: small scale organic pattern asks for pricing for 1OS, 2OS, 3OS). This seems contradictory, please clarify.

Answer #11: We want three different prices for each of the pattern sizes for CARPET TILE ONLY (small, medium, and large). ROLL carpet we only need one (small, medium, or large). Please see the updated Carpet Pricing Matrix when it is posted with the Final RFP.