Responses_to_Questions.docx

Questions and Answers:

1. Are the tests listed in the SOW under the heading 1.2 to be conducted by the contractor during the performance period? If so, how often will this be required and who is to receive the report?

Tests will be conducted by the Government. Random samples for each treatment product will be selected by the government for testing at anytime during each year. The government will receive and evaluate the chemical analysis report.

2. Under the heading ‘Environmental Control’ paragraph 3.2, wherein will the contractor be responsible for control of humidity and temperature?

The assumption is that cleanliness and proper, professional handling of chemical formulations is required wherever they are put into service or transported. Chemical transport must be performed by a DOT certified carrier. Handling and storage of the chemicals will be the responsibility of HAFB personnel.

3. Given that the Contracting Officer will issue delivery orders, will the contractor monitor inventories and recommend order levels? Will there be an order level and a minimum inventory level established?

No, government personnel will monitor inventories and will place orders when chemicals are needed.

4. Will the contractor be responsible to provide any training to USAF personnel?

No, service or training is not within the scope of this contract. The contractor will not be responsible to provide training to USAF personnel.

5. Will the contractor be responsible for providing log sheets on which test results can be recorded by USAF personnel?

HAFB will provide all chemical logging, quantitative, and qualitative sheets for HAFB personnel.

6. Will chemical formulations be fed to system injection points out of the drums they are delivered in or will the chemicals be transferred to permanently installed feed drums?

Chemicals will be injected into the system directly from the drums that they are delivered in, except for the phosphates.

7. As it is the practice of all water treatment companies and manufacturers of water treatment formulations to determine the best level of ingredients for use in their formulations, there will likely be no company that markets exactly the formulations as articulated in the SOW, with the possible exception on the one company who served as a consultant to the potential contracting officer on this subject. Accordingly, will the solicitor be willing to accept other formulations with the same ingredients present in differing concentrations, or products that have different ingredients that are well accepted by the industry that are used in formulations to achieve the same results as those shown in the SOW?

The bulk of the chemicals listed in Table 1 are well accepted within the industry. Specifications for the chemical compositions are expressed as % wt. minimums. However, the chemical component ratios should be maintained as listed in Table 1.

8. Will preference be shown to companies that offer to provide the exact same formulations even if alternative formulations will accomplish the same treatment goals?

For purposes of evaluation, please bid on the chemicals and their specifications as specified in Table 1.

9. If alternative formulations are acceptable, may a prospective contractor modify the price sheet to show the number of drums that would provide the same amount (poundage) of the most important ingredient shown in the desired formulation shown in the SOW so that the prices can more precisely be compared? For example, if a contractor already produces a Diethyl Hydroxyl Amine product that contains 40% DEHA, may he reduce the usage level of the DEHA shown in Appendix A by 35%/40% so that the anticipated costs of the DEHA products may more accurately be compared?

Please bid on the chemicals as specified in Table 1.

10. The contract for this same work that is currently in effect was let for a one year period with annual extensions to be made for subsequent four, one year periods. All of these extensions have evidently not been granted. Wherein has the current contractor’s performance been deficient? What improvements does the contracting officer expect to see from the new contractor as a result of letting a new contract?

The options of the previous contract were not exercised due to changes in Government requirements; it was not due to contractor’s performance deficiency.

11. Does this contract require any service or contractor visits? If yes – is that cost to be included in the chemical pricing? How many visits per month are expected?

This contract does not require any service or contractor visit.

12. What is the total steam production of the base or each plant?

Not relevant. The RFP is only for the chemicals listed in Table 1 and Appendix A. The quantities listed are based on past usage and calculated to meet anticipated boiler operation chemical needs.

13. What is the feed water quality at each boiler plant? Conductivity, M-alk, hardness, silica?

Not relevant. The RFP is for the chemicals listed in Table 1 and Appendix A; the quantities are calculated to meet the boiler operation chemical needs.

14. What is the percent of condensate return at each plant?

Not relevant. The RFP is for the chemicals listed in Appendix A and Table 1; the quantities are calculated to meet the boiler operation chemical needs.

15. What is boiler conductivity set point and /or cycles?

Not relevant. The RFP is only for the chemicals listed in Appendix A and Table 1; the quantities are calculated to meet the boiler operation chemical needs.

16. Can deliveries come to Hill AFB by a freight carrier or does it have to be by a company vehicle?

Chemical deliveries must be delivered by DOT certified carriers with trained delivery personnel. Delivery vehicle must be equipped with hydraulic lift gate for unloading chemical at central location.

17. Is the contractor responsible for delivering product to each plant or one central location?

One central location.

18. What is the government currently paying for these products? There was a recent purchase of products in the March time frame. What was the total order and the price paid per drum?

The estimated quantities are listed in Appendix A- Price List. The government will not disclose any pricing information.

19. Please confirm --- Is this a contract that will involve nothing more than supply and delivery of chemicals to a central warehouse without any associated service commitment? If not, what are the exact delivery locations and building names and the approximate annual volumes of each chemical at each delivery location?

This contract will involve nothing more than supply and delivery of chemicals. Winning contractor will be notified a delivery location at contract award. Please refer to Appendix A- Price List for estimated quantities.

20. The RFP indicates only a single point of contact. Will there actually be multiple points of contact or persons engaged with or who will require ongoing communication? Can those names and contact info be provided soon?

Additional contact information will be provided to winning contractor at contract award.

21. Will base personnel be responsible for draining and triple-rinsing all empty drums to ensure they are void of chemical prior to return to contractor? Will empty drums be made available for pickup at a single location or at various locations throughout the base?

Yes. Base personnel will perform all necessary procedures as required. Rinsed empty drums will be taken to a designated building (not stored for contractor pick-up) and disposed of unless the contractor makes arrangements to recover their empty drums.

22. For overall safety of base personnel, wouldn’t it be preferable to eliminate the moving, tipping and rinsing of drums to the extent possible?

See above reply.

23. Can you confirm that, during the evaluation period, as long as the chemicals proposed by the contractor/bidder comply physically and chemically with the specifications outlined in the RFP, that Hill AFB will accept such chemistry as being compliant with terms of the RFP, and that subjective evaluation of the chemistry will not outweigh objective compliance?

The evaluation for award will be based on the chemical specifications listed in Table 1 and Appendix A.

24. Should it determine that base personnel actually expect chemistry OTHER THAN what is specified in the RFP, and/or changes in processes or applications of chemicals occur during the evaluation period, will all contractors/bidders to this RFP be given adequate time to respond?

In case of any changes to the RFP, contractors will be given adequate time to respond.

25. Can OSHA-compliant / ANSI-compliant safety showers and eyewash equipment be found where these chemicals will be delivered, unloaded, stored, handled, fed into process systems, etc.?

Yes.

26. What will be the frequency of Task Orders to the winning contractor?

The delivery orders will be issued according to Government needs.

27. Wouldn’t a BPA be a more appropriate contract mechanism? Less administrative burden on the procurement office/staff in which call orders could be placed under the existing price list.

No.

28. Shouldn’t LPTA be based on the “Price List” rather than the “Total Evaluated Price”? Any given task order may include a partial list of any CLINs which could result in a lower price in the end. Instead of a FFP “Lot”, evaluate price by the CLIN Price List for the three that are LPTA.

Contractor proposals will be evaluated based on Total Evaluated Price.

29. According to USAF standards, what constitutes a small business?

To be considered a small business under NAICS code 325180, the company must not have more than 1000 employees. Additional information can be found on SBA.gov

30. Although this is a product-supply only solicitation, will you require the presence of a supplier representative during boiler inspections?

The question is not relevant to this particular solicitation. However, the government may request expert assistance if needed through a separate contracting vehicle.

31. The RFP clearly states that site visits are not allowed. Our opinion is that for those bidders who are NOT the incumbent, a site visit would help provide such bidders a solid understanding of the site conditions, delivery points, safety parameters, and other pertinent logistics information.

A site visit will not be necessary because this contract only involves delivery of chemicals and supplies to a central location. Chemical deliveries must be delivered by DOT certified carriers with trained delivery personnel. Handling and storage of the chemicals will be the responsibility of HAFB personnel.

32. Again, on the same topic, if the decision remains that site visits will not be allowed, a clear and comprehensive listing of delivery points, storage locations, use points, contacts at each site is hereby requested.

Winning contractor will be notified a central delivery location at contract award.

33. What is the reasoning behind NOT allowing a walk-thru site visit? The chemical products being purchased are hazardous. By allowing site visits, potential seller(s) will be able to submit, and purchaser(s) therefore receive, more thorough and responsive bids, bids based upon knowledge rather than speculation about site conditions, delivery requirements, safety concerns, environmental concerns, storage and handling facilities, etc. Seems the government is clearly easing the burden of the incumbent and handicapping new or potential bidders/suppliers by foregoing site visits. Except possibly for the incumbent, it seems obvious that site visits would be a win-win for all parties involved.

Please see answers above.

34. Prices requested are for projections over the next five years. We want to provide the best prices possible to the USAF without unreasonable increases. Are there any provisions in the pricing process to make price adjustments for unforeseeable future events that may cause the costs of one or more raw materials to increase disproportionately/dramatically, independent of market conditions?

Price fluctuation for the required chemicals has not shown drastic changes over the last five years, therefore the government does not anticipate disproportionate market changes.