20111107 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - GS05P11SVD0042.pdf

Repair, Alteration and Construction IDIQ GS05P11SVD0042 Various Locations State of Michigan

Submitted Questions and Answers as of 11/7/2011

Questions and Answers Raised -11/7/2011 - for Solicitation GS-05P-11-SV-D-0042

Questions listed below were copied to this document as closely as possible as they were received.

1.) Regarding Line Item 1048, is there a specific carpet manufacturer and style that can be used to establish a base price?

ANSWER: GSA cannot give a specific carpet manufacturer and style for this line item. Contractor’s pricing for this line item should be based on the specifications listed in Section 09680 of the Technical Specifications.

2.) Regarding Line Item 1049, same questions as item 1048. Also, the cushion manufacturer and type could have significant differences. If a cushion type and manufacturer could be specified it would be beneficial. Please advise.

ANSWER: Please see the answer to #1 above. With regard to the question about the cushion, please refer to paragraph 1.3 of Section 09680 of the Technical Specifications.

3.) This solicitation is for qualification only and not a specific project, correct?

ANSWER: This solicitation is not for qualification only. This solicitation is expected to result in the award of a contract. There is not a specific project that results from award of this solicitation. Orders for work placed under this contract will be issued after award.

4.) Will new solicitations come out on later dates for specific projects or will GSA contact us for negotiations?

ANSWER: See answer to Question 8 from the Pre-Proposal Conference Question and Answers posted to FBO.gov.

5.) A) The Line Description of Work - for each zone indentifies a scope and estimated quantities, who determines these quantities? (GSA, Architect, Contractor, Combination)

ANSWER: Quantities were estimated by the Government.

B) Where do these values come from? (i.e – historical data, RS Means…)

ANSWER: See answer to Question 5 from the Pre-Proposal Conference Question and Answers posted to FBO.gov.

C) Are these values negotiated? Or just the proposed percentage factors?

ANSWER: The estimated quantities on the Solicitation Price Schedule are not negotiated. They are estimates only and they are no guarantee of any work to be performed as part of this contract. The Proposed Percentage Factors are negotiated. Per the C201 document posted to FBO.gov, the Offeror's proposal submitted in response to this Solicitation shall constitute a firm offer. The Government intends to evaluate proposals and award a contract without discussions with offerors (except clarifications as described in FAR 15.306(a)). Therefore, the offeror’s initial proposal should contain the offeror’s best terms from a cost or price and technical standpoint. The Government reserves the right to conduct discussions if the Contracting Officer later determines them to be necessary.

D) Are the bid bond(s) due at this time? Or just a letter from a surety company that we have a bonding capacity of 10million dollars?

ANSWER: Per Section II.A of the C201, the bid guarantee is due with the proposal by the submission due date specified in the C201. The amount of the bid guarantee is specified in Section I.F of the C201.

6.) Why is the wall covering line item measured in square feet unit measure #1, when industry standards uses of measurements are in lineal yards?

ANSWER: Per the technical specifications for solicitation GS-05P-11-SV-D-0042, GSA requires the measurement for wall covering area to be made in square feet.

There is a conversion factor that can be applied to the calculation which can convert square feet to lineal yards.

7.) How does the carpet specification and unit measure allow the contractor’s to account for patterns, overages, special orders and overruns?

ANSWER: The contractor’s Line Item Price for carpet shall account for minor overages.

8.) For carpets and wallcoverings meeting the specifications, a vast majority of carpet and wall covering manufacturers have product lines that meet the standard but can range in cost dramatically. How do you propose the contractor price out the carpet with each building being a different product or special order?

ANSWER: Contractor’s should price the line items for carpets and wall coverings according to the Technical Specifications in the solicitation package. When the specifications for a carpet or wall covering selection requested in a particular task order do not conform to the specifications listed in the solicitation, non-scheduled pricing will be requested. This will be handled on a case by case basis.

9.) If a large majority of line items fall into a proposed contractor’s percentage factor, how do we account for the few items that are priced erroneous and will cause losses?

ANSWER: The contractor is responsible to review the requirements of the contract and submit a proposal accordingly. As with any firm-fixed price proposal, the contractor may have gains and losses associated with any particular items in the proposal.

10.) To compound this issue, if an erroneous line item like painting door frames, which is low and is the only line item on a delivery order, would there be room to make any changes considering a loss for all potential contractors submitting a bid?

ANSWER: Awarded Contract Line Items are awarded as firm fixed price. Therefore, no subsequent adjustments will be made when ordering Line Items which conform to the specifications in the contract.

11.) Per section 09900 Painting Part 1.1 (d), does the paint classification include flat surface line items 1050 through 1053 to perform a 2 or 3 part emulsifier and varnish/stain, or strictly paint?

ANSWER: Yes, the paint classification includes flat surface line items 1051 through 1053 to perform a 2 or 3 part emulsifier and varnish/stain as specified in Section 09900 Painting Part 1.1 (d).

12.) Can you please elaborate the differences between line items of 1072 and 1073 along with 1075 and 1076 on a material standpoint?

ANSWER: Line Items 1073 and 1076 reference a specific brand and style and line items 1072 and 1075 can range in material type and manufacturer. The specific type of material shall be specified in the task order when ordered.

13.) For the Past Performance section of our proposal are we only to submit the one page

“Past Performance Reference Attachment A” sheet?

ANSWER: Please reference the instructions at the top of Attachment A.

14.) Could you please provide us with the historical cost data for the referenced solicitation?

The cost multipliers for the incumbent contractors would be useful.

ANSWER: No. That information is proprietary, and confidential, to those that submitted that information.

15.) I would like to know if we can use the work done by our company’s project manager on the Past Performance Reference statement as we are a new company and have no past performance work history.

ANSWER: No. Past performance of your project manager is not considered relevant per the criteria in the solicitation.

16.) We understand the solicitation states that any current projects have to be at least 90% complete to be considered relevant. We have a project that is only 50% completed, but it is a great project and we would like to use it for a past performance reference. Is there any chance an exception can be made?

ANSWER: No exceptions can be made for this requirement. All past performance references will be classified as relevant or not based on the criteria specified in the solicitation package.

17.) Are there any site plans available for this solicitation at this time?

ANSWER: There are no site plans available for this project at this time. This solicitation is not for an individual project. This solicitation is for an IDIQ contract where as orders will be placed on an as needed basis.

18.) Our bonding company is asking some questions on the bid bond (& if required later, the

Perf/Pay Bond) for the above referenced solicitation. Please see below verbiage they would like to include with the bond.

As we discussed, we would propose putting some language on both the bid bond and performance bond to let them run year-to-year. It would be as follows:

Bid Bond: "If low, the performance bond will be provided for one year terms that can be renewed annually, at the surety's option, by continuation certificate."

Performance/Payment Bond: "This bond is for the one year period from _______ to _______ and can be renewed for additional one year terms, at the surety's option, by continuation certificate."

Is this acceptable to the GSA?

ANSWER: The proposed verbiage requested is not acceptable to GSA.

The bid bond expires at contract award, so there is no need for additional language to be inserted onto the bid bond.

Regarding the performance bond, FAR 52.28.102-1(c) states: "The contractor shall furnish all bonds or alternative payment protection, including any necessary reinsurance agreements, before receiving a notice to proceed with the work or being allowed to start work."

Therefore, the initial bond would be submitted within 10 days of contract award. That bond automatically applies to any extension period of the initial one year contract once the contract is extended via the exercise of an option.