Solicitation Questions and Answers_02OCT2026.pdf

Questions & Answers

Question #1: For this small-business supply acquisition under NAICS 331110, please confirm whether a small-business nonmanufacturer/reseller may furnish the specified steel and whether any applicable nonmanufacturer-rule waiver or exception applies.

Answer #1: The non-manufacturing rule does not apply to this acquisition.

Question #2: The Item Description requires piece-by-piece, heat-number-matched manufacturer certifications prior to award. Should the complete MTR package be submitted with the initial quotation, or provided upon request prior to award?

Answer #2: Our engineer recommends requiring Material Test Reports (MTRs) with each offer for technical evaluation. The awarded contractor shall also provide heat-number-traceable MTRs with the delivered material to verify compliance with solicitation requirements.

Question #3: For the 20- and 30-foot structural members, please confirm whether standard industry transport using appropriate dunnage, blocking, and securement satisfies the packaging requirement in lieu of literal crating/palletizing.

Answer #3: Yes, the company loading and driver will make sure the long sections don’t twist bend smash into another, most even cover the load with a tarp to help prevent rust.

Question #4: Please confirm whether DFARS 252.211-7003 IUID marking is intended to apply to any qualifying individual steel items.

Answer #4: DFARS 252.211-7003 requires a unique item identifier for delivered items for which the Government’s unit acquisition cost is $5,000 or more, unless we’ve explicitly stated items under $5,000 that we want IUID for them.

The Government requires a unique item identifier for delivered items for which the unit acquisition cost is $5,000 or more.

Question #5: FAR 52.212-2 is included, but the specific evaluation factors appear unpopulated. Could you please confirm the basis/factors for award?

Answer #5: Award will be made on a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) basis.

- Technical Acceptability: The Government will evaluate quotes on a pass/fail basis.

- Price: Of those quotes determined to be technically acceptable, the contract will be awarded to the responsible offeror submitting the lowest total evaluated price

Question #6: Specialty metals: does DFARS 252.225-7009 (Restriction on Acquisition of Certain Articles Containing Specialty Metals) or 252.225-7008 apply?

Is domestic melt required?

Answer #6: DFARS 252.225-7009 and DFARS 252.225-7008 as prescribed in 225.7003-5 do not apply and are not referenced in this solicitation.

Please note, this requirement is subject to 252.225-7001 Buy American and Balance Payments Program.

Question #7: Nonmanufacturer Rule: this is a small business set-aside under NAICS 331110, and domestic steel mills are large businesses. Does FAR 52.219-33 apply, and if so, is there a waiver?

Answer #7: IAW FAR 52.219-33 as prescribed in FAR 19.507(h), the Nonmanufacturing rule does not apply and is not referenced in this solicitation.

Question #8: Pages 4 to 7 (unit pricing) did not come through in the posted file we downloaded. Could you send the complete solicitation?

Answer #8: Recommend trying again. The complete solicitation is posted on SAM.gov.

(https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/d6dd60f068ef4461bff1cef8ea4ec2ca/view)

Question #9: In your Memorandum for Record - item descriptions - #3 requires - Prior to Award - that we provide all Mill Test Reports that match material heat #'s for all items, this statement appears to want this WITH OUR OFFER.

This will be impossible to do - in our standard procedure AFTER we receive an order we then pull all items out of inventory, process as needed & prepare for shipment. At that time we match the tags up with the correct MTR's to insure correct heat #'s and send the copies to our customer.

We cannot do this ahead of time as there is no room to lay out all items to pull tags, those particular heat #'s would already have been sold & shipped BEFORE we process your order anyway.

Also with the very high activity levels in the steel industry currently we wouldn't have time to do this anyway.

When we quote you (or anyone) we are ASSURING you that we are quoting the correct items requested & we are guaranteeing correct paperwork, as will be noted.

Please confirm it is acceptable for us to send our quote WITHOUT the MTR's, and that you will allow our quote to be fully considered, and that we won't be disqualified, so that I know i can proceed to do the work to put my offer together.

If any further information is needed, or if any questions, I would be happy to discuss this situation with the end- user or anyone else involved for further clarity.

Please confirm you received this and above is acceptable

Answer #9: As an alternative, offerors may state in their quotations that the Heat number(s) for all shipped material, along with the corresponding Material Test Report(s) (MTRs), will be provided upon delivery to ensure full traceability to the shipped material or accompanying documentation.

Question #10: Can you please confirm whether FAR 52.232-23, Assignment of Claims, will be incorporated into the resulting contract or purchase order?

Answer #10: In accordance with FAR 32.806(a)(1) the use of clause 52.232-23 is not required for purchase orders. The government does not intend to incorporate this clause into the contract.

Question #11: Can you please confirm the applicable payment terms after the Government receives a proper invoice and accepts the material, such as Net 30 or another payment period?

Answer #11: Net Days 30 will be sated on the front page of the Purchase Order.

Question #12: Quote due time. SAM.gov lists 2:00 PM Central on 8 October. The solicitation document lists 3:00 PM CST. Please confirm which time governs.

Answer #12: Due to conflict, the quote due time the government will receive quotes up to is the later time of 3:00 PM CST. However, an extension will be applied extending the response date from 08 October 2026 to 16 October 2026.

Question #13: Competition type. The synopsis states this is a Small Business Set- Aside, and SAM.gov shows it as a total small business set-aside. The block on page 2 of the solicitation reads "Full and Open Competition."

Please confirm.

Answer #13: This acquisition is a total small business set-aside.

Question #14: Buy American — Free Trade Agreement country end products. The solicitation incorporates FAR 52.225-3, Buy American—Free Trade Agreements—Israeli Trade Act, and DFARS 252.225-7036, Buy American—Free Trade Agreements—Balance of Payments Program.

Would you please confirm whether Free Trade Agreement country end products are eligible under this acquisition, and if so, how the Government would like offerors to identify those line items within the quotation.

Answer #14: FAR 52.225-3 and DFARS 252.225-7036 were incorrectly placed in the solicitation. They have been removed in the amended solicitation.

Please note, this requirement is subject to 252.225-7001 Buy American and Balance Payments Program.