Final QAs.doc

Final Q&As

Base Custodial Service, Solicitation FA9301-11-R-0006 1.) Are the current vendor and sub-contractor participating in this bid?

-We are not allowed to disclose the names of the contractors that submit proposals for this contract; however the sign-in sheets from Industry Day have been posted on www.fbo.gov.

2.) Are the cleaning requirements for this bid essentially the same as the cleaning requirements under the current contract?

-Yes.

3.) What is the annual price for the contract currently in place?

-We are not allowed to disclose individual line item prices or annual prices; however we are allowed to disclose the amount of the contract award which was $13,493,666.05.

4.) CBA indicates agreement will last until 9/30/12. Under this current CBA is the new contractor required to hire all employees presently working on the project? If so, how many employees are currently working on the project?

-There is no federal law or regulation which mandates a successor contractor hire all, some, or none of the predecessor contractor’s employees. However, once EO 13495 (Non displacement of Qualified Workers) is fully implemented within the FAR and its supplements, this situation will change.

5.) Does the CBA have to be re-negotiated because the number, utilization, and kind of personnel required ensuring maximum efficiency of operations has changed? (Article XXIV of CBA)

-The wages and benefits of the existing CBA will be binding on the successor contractor for the first contract term per section 4(c) of the Service contract Act. I wouldn't necessarily say that the CBA has to be re-negotiated even though in most circumstances renegotiation does take place.

6.) Can you provide an estimated number of people in the buildings we are to clean...AF staff, civilian, & visitor. A rough estimate?

-Unknown. Not tracked. The total base population is estimated to be 11,000.

7.) If the Union Agreement has to be used, how will the Agreement treat the issue of an Agreement between a Contractor, two subcontractors and the Union? Does a new contractor have to use the Indian Tribes (Subcontractors)? Or is the new contractor only required to honor the Union wages and benefits?

-We are still waiting for a response to this question from our AF Labor Advisor, but we believe based on the responses from other CBA related questions that the new contractor is only required to honor the Union wages and benefits. If this answer differs from what we receive from our AF Labor Advisor, we will post the correct answer on www.fbo.gov. before the proposal due date.

8.) What is the current value of the current contract?

-We are only allowed to disclose the amount of the contract award which was $13,493,666.05.

9.) What is the amount of the current monthly contract?

-We are only allowed to disclose the amount of the contract award which was $13,493,666.05.

10.) What are the major and/or primary differences in the old contract and the new contract?

-The MAJOR difference between the current contract and the solicitation is there will be NO Emergency or One Time services provided by the new contract.

11.) Is the Emergency and One Time Cleaning CLIN intended to be a price per hour? Or is it intended to be a onetime cleaning of all facilities?

-There are NO Emergency or One Time services provided by the new contract, hence no pricing required.

12.) Will a current contractor employee roster be made available to properly calculate vacation time and other fringe benefits?

-Per FAR 52.222-41(n), the required information (employee roster) will be updated and provided to Contracting no less than 10 days prior to the completion of the contract.

13.) How many windows at the Base?

-Unknown. Not tracked. The only authorized window cleaning is on Level 4 facilities.

14.) Does the new contract require that the current Union Agreement be used?

-The wages and benefits of the existing CBA will be binding on the successor contractor for the first contract term per section 4(c) of the Service contract Act.

15.) Is Edwards Air Force Base currently satisfied with the level of quality being received by the current contractor?

-Yes.

16.) When did the current contractor begin performing under this contract?

-The period of performance of the current contract is 01 October 2001 to 30 September 2011.

17.) Due to the CBA attached to the solicitation and to insure equal competitiveness and accurate pricing, what is the current number of employees based upon the following seniority rates:

a. 1 – 4 years of service

b. 5-14 years of service

c. 15 or more years of service -Please refer to question 12.

18.) For the buildings listed on Attachment 1, Appendix F Required Building Security Clearance which require the Secret Clearance and are NOT noted “Must Be Escorted” is there any wait times for the janitors prior to performing services such as waiting to sign in or to be allowed entrance? If so what is the average wait time for each service performance for each facility?

-No wait time. Members with required clearances will obtain access badge for these areas, show identification to security, and proceed.

19.) For the buildings listed on Attachment 1, Appendix F Required Building Security Clearance which is noted as “Must Be Escorted” what is the approximate wait time for each service visit for each of the eleven facilities?

- No more than 15 minutes. If no escort is provided after that time, service for that day is not performed.

20.) For the buildings listed on Attachment 1, Appendix F Required Building Security Clearance noted with a driving permit what are the requirements, process and cost of obtaining the driving permit for the clearance? For current janitors will the driving permit transfer over to the new contractor?

- This is the Flight Line Driving Permit (Competency Card is required for anyone driving a vehicle in these areas. CE will provide required initial and refresher (every year) training at no cost. Training consists of Computer based training (est. 4 hours) and actual flight line driving orientation (1 Hour). Requirement; member must have a valid California Drivers License and need to drive a vehicle in these areas. Employees with a current competency card will carry over until their annual refresher training comes due.

21.) On Appendix A – Air Force Custodial Standards page 29 of 47 under the Level 2 the restroom tasks are noted as Every 2 days is this based on a 5 days a week such as M-W-F with the following week T & Th, or does it follow a 7 days a week such as M-W-F-Su followed by T,Th,Sa? Or what is the total number of annual services to be performed?

-Level 2 Basic Restroom Service is every 2 days and is this based on 5 days a week such as M-W-F with the following week T & Th.

22.) On Appendix A – Air Force Custodial Standards for the Level 4, Special Requirements. For the services noted as Daily is this representative of 5 days per week services or 7 days?

- Service is 7 days a week.

23.) Please provide a base wide map that notates the buildings to allow estimations to be calculated for mileage between buildings to pay the janitors in accordance to the CBA attached?

-We are not allowed to post or email maps of the base due to new security restrictions, but maps were handed out on Industry Day.

24.) Will the contract be awarded only to a firm who currently holds a Facility Secret Clearance due to the time frame of the award and start date?

-No. Firms who submit a proposal are not required to currently hold any type of secret facility clearance. However, each firm needs to meet the requirements needed in order to obtain any type of clearance that is required for this contract (ie. the DD 254.)

25.) Schedule B CLIN pricing for the current (or last) contract. (If not available, please provide the contract's annual dollar value.)

- We are only allowed to disclose the original contract award amount which was $13,493,666.05.

26.) Please include the current Contract Number and the time period that the pricing represents.

- The contract number was F04700-01-D-0020 and the period of performance is 01 October 2001-30 September 2011.

27.) Abstract/list of bids from the last competition (if available)

- We are not allowed to disclose this information.

28.) What was the previous Solicitation number?

- F04700-01-R-0005.

29.) What is the current contract number?

- F04700-01-D-0020.

30.) How many vehicles are currently cleared for incumbent and how many more are permitted to be cleared?

- Contractor is required to provide all vehicles to execute the contract. There are no limitations on the number of vehicles.

31.) Are contractors provided a long distance line?

-No.

32.) Are contractors provided an office? If so, where would the office be located?

-Please refer to Section 3.0 Government Furnished Property and Services of the PWS

33.) What is the size of the storage area for supplies? Is it lockable?

-Please refer to Section 3.0 Government Furnished Property and Services of the PWS 34.) How many parking spaces are permitted or reserved for contractors?

-None designated.

35.) What is the total base population?

-11,000.

36.) What is the total count of restroom fixtures & shower fixtures?

- Unknown. Not tracked.

37.) What is the total square footage of gym floors, racquetball & saunas?

- Refer to PWS Appendix B.

38.) What is the total number of building inspectors on the current contract? What hours do they inspect?

-There are currently four inspectors on the current contract and the hours that they inspect vary.

39.) What is the number of facility managers at Edwards AFB?

- Approximately 300.

40.) What is the current window subcontractor for the custodial contract?

- None 41.) What is the total square footage of windows on site?

-Unknown, not tracked. Only authorized window cleaning on Level 4 facilities.

42.) What is the total number of custodial staff members presently cleared to work at Edwards AFB?

-We are not allowed to disclose this information. Per FAR 52.222-41(n), the required information (employee roster) will be updated and provided to Contracting no less than 10 days prior to the completion of the existing contract.

43.) What is the current base size (in square miles)?

-Approximately 309 Sq Miles.

44.) What is the total breakdown of all floor types such as (i.e., carpet, terrazzo, tile, wood)?

- Carpet 1,501,820 Sq Ft, VCT/Tile 787,547 Sq Ft., Restroom VCT/Tile 121,594 Sq Ft.

45.) How many stories is the tallest building?

Three, with the exception of the Air Traffic Control Tower which is six.

46.) Define the current recycle process – What is involved? What items are contractors responsible for?

- Contractor is not involved in recycling.

47.) What is the total permanent population?

-9000.

48.) How many visitors are expected annually?

- Unknown.

49.) What is the ratio of military verses civilian personnel?

-90% Civilian 10% Military.

50.) How many deployments (population) are expected per year?

- Unknown, impact on contract is minimal based on our 90% civilian population.

51.) May contractors request to be provided current floor plans for each facility?

-Current floor plans will be handed out after the contract is awarded for security purposes.

52.) Are contractors required to follow up with a hard copy of the proposal on the same due date?

- Offerors are required to submit hard copies of their proposal no later than 4pm on 1 Aug 11. Instructions to offerors can be found in clause 52.212-1 and it’s addendum in the solicitation 53.) Our company bids several jobs each month and we use our customers as references on several occasions and sometimes they do not complete PPQ due to personal workloads and or schedules (i.e., vacations). Being a contracting officer, you are aware that we cannot obligate our customer to complete PPQs. How are contractors evaluated if the customer does not submit a questionnaire before or on the deadline?

-The evaluation team will contact the customers by telephone and either have the questionnaires sent at that time or telephone interviews will be conducted.

54.) Please provide the rating of current contractor.

We are not allowed to disclose this information.

55.) Were there any liquidated damages during the incumbent's contract period?

-No.

56.) Please provide a list of scheduled base closure and/or special events.

- No base closures projected and no special events that would affect the contract.

57.) Is the government satisfied with Accent's services?

-Yes.

58.) Were there any safety violations?

-Yes, one.

59.) What is the percentage of all corridor carpeted space of each building?

- Not separately tracked.

60.) Will the site be providing hot water?

-Yes.

61.) How many days will be provided between the contractor's official notice of award and the period of performance start date to allow for phase in?

- Every attempt will be made to notify the Awardee as soon as possible to allow for build-up and transition.

62.) Will past performance of key personnel be rated as highly as the principal offeror?

-Evaluations will be conducted in accordance with 52.212-2 and it’s addendum as posted in the solicitation. Past performance of key personnel will not be evaluated.

63.) How will relevance be rated for a contract that meets all of the "very relevant" factors with the exception of Contract Environment?

-The overall rating will be determined by the source selection team taking into consideration all of the factors and recency. A lower rating in one area does not necessarily preclude receiving an overall high rating.

64.) Why is it "very relevant" for the offeror to have experience with an air force installation in California?

-It is rated very relevant because the work is being performed on an air force base in California. Having experience on one contract in California and another at an Air Force base may provide reason for the evaluation team to assign an overall score of “very relevant” on that factor.

65.) Is centralized trash in the incumbent contractor’s statement of work?

-Yes.

66.) Is paragraph 3 the only aspects of the plan offerors are required to respond to in its proposal?

- Yes. Section 3 of The Mission Essential Contractor Service Plan identifies the only aspects that are required to address in each proposal.

67.) Is there a shuttle service from the base to the nearest metropolitan area?

-No

68.) Will Edwards AFB be providing the trash can liners for both locations (the customer's desk bin and the centralized location)?

- Contractor will provide central location trash can liners.

69.) In the industry day questions and answers posted to FBO, Question 5 and answer reads as follows:

How many Project Managers (PM) and Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) will be assigned to this contract?

-There will be two PMs and two CORs assigned to this contract.

Is the answer to the question showing Government Positions only or is the reference to Project Managers (PM) an answer to how many Contractor Employee PM’s will be required on site during performance of this contract after award?

-This question references government employees.

70.) How long in hours is this annual CDC training?

-6 hours.

71.) How long in hours is this initial Hazardous Material and Hazardous Waste training?

- Hazardous Material 3 Hours and Hazardous Waste 8 Hours.

72.) How long in hours is the Annual Refresher training?

- No refresher for Hazardous Material. Hazardous Waste 1 Hour Minimum/8 Hours Max.

73.) Does the Contractor Safety Coordinator have to be a dedicated position located at Edwards AFB?

- No.

***Please see the response below for questions 74-77.

- Bid for day to day cleaning and operations and in the event that a trigger event occurs, Contracting Officer will meet with contractor and Program Managers and provide direction.

74.) Under 1.b. above Please provide all Triggering Events the Agency (Edwards AFB) has planned for so they may be addressed by the knowledgeable Contractor in the resulting plan as a specific approach required to meet the event with the proper staff and all required equipment, chemicals, materials, supplies, etc.?

75.) Does the Agency anticipate utilizing Military Members for any services or training to provide or assist in the required services? If so, what defined Trigger or Events does the Agency identify initially as the activity that will require Military Personnel Augmentation?

76.) Identification of Chemicals required based upon select events such as a Pandemic of H1N1 re-emergence since last experienced in 2009? What will the Agency (Edwards AFB) allow? Please provide a list of acceptable chemicals for known Pandemic situations issued by the World Health Organization as well as the EPA and related Medical Agencies specific to the USAF in the past that anticipate re-emergence.?

77.) Should the Contractor plan the use of the Veterans Administration Aseptic or Hospital chemical and cleaning standards during a Pandemic under this plan and not the simple Level (s) of Service the Agency (Edwards AFB) has published as it feels is required for services under the plan for proposal submission defined broadly in Attachment 2 of the RFP?