FPE Solicitation Vendor Questions Answers.docx

Solicitation #GS-11P-11-YA-D-0038 Questions & Answers

1. Cover Sheet - Please confirm that the Closing Time for this solicitation is 2:00 PM, rather than 2:00 AM as indicated on the cover sheet.

The closing time for this solicitation is at 2:00pm, not 2:00am. An amendment will be issued to correct the following to read 2:00pm.

2. Page 6 - Please clarify the difference between the Contracting Officer's Authorized Representative (COTR) and the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), if any.

“Contracting Officer’s Representative” referenced on page 6 of the solicitation should read Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR), and refers to Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR). An amendment will be issued to this effect.

3. Page 6 - Section III (D) indicates that the contractor's fire protection engineer is to work for the Safety, Environment and Fire Protection Branch in the GSA Regional Office Building. Clarify whether this RFP expects the fire protection engineer to perform all required engineering services at the GSA Regional Office. If so, clarify the following:

All required engineering services will not need to be performed at the GSA Regional Office Building.

a. Will a dedicated workstation be provided for the contractor's engineer?

A dedicated workstation will be provided.

b. What equipment and resources will be provided to support these activities (e.g., computer, software, telephone, code books, etc.)?

None will be provided.

4. Page 8 - Further clarify the intended Employee Qualifications:

a. The RFP indicates that qualified engineers are to perform all reviews and witness acceptance testing - and that the contractor employ a full-time team of at least two qualified engineers for testing, evaluations and reviews. However, the following paragraph indicates a team that includes at least one qualified engineer is required to perform all acceptance testing.

The contractor must employ a full time team of at least two qualified engineers for services requested in the statement of work. A minimum of one qualified engineer shall be required to perform all acceptance testing requirements of the contract.

b. Is it acceptable for the contractor to provide additional personnel with adequate experience to assist the fire protection engineers in performing specific activities (e.g., NICET Level IV Certified Fire Alarm Technician assisting with fire alarm activities, EIT assisting with engineering services, etc.)?

Contractor may provide additional personnel with adequate experience to assist the qualified fire protection engineers in contract specific activities.

c. Clarify whether the fire protection engineers are intended to "witness" or "perform" acceptance testing of the various fire protection systems. Similarly:

Fire protection engineers may witness and/or perform acceptance testing depending on the needs of the regional projects and initiatives (e.g. contractor may be requested to witness fire alarm acceptance testing, contractor may be requested to perform water flow tests, etc.).

i. The RFP indicates that the contractor is to provide equipment and other tools for testing the fire protection systems. Is it the intent that the fire protection engineer is to provide all testing equipment, or is the system installation/service contractor to provide such equipment?

Contractor is to provide all equipment and tools they think are necessary to complete specific testing task required whether witnessing or performing acceptance testing.

ii. The RFP indicates that the contractor is to provide hoses and other tools for testing the fire protection systems. Does the RFP intend the fire protection engineer to provide hoses and equipment that are compatible with all GSA properties? If so, how is that to be determined?

All hoses and equipment shall be national standard thread compatible. All GSA national capital region buildings are located within the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, and Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in MD.

5. Pages 8 & 9 - Further clarify the intended tasks to be performed. Section III.D.1.Task 15 indicates that design services may be required in the form of plans and specifications.

However, the Deliverables in Section III.E, and other references suggest that the requested services are considered more of an evaluation or consulting nature.

a. If design services are to be provided, is it acceptable to add hourly rates for a CAD operator to the applicable pricing sheets?

b. If design services are to be provided, are the costs for drawings and plotting to be addressed on a per-project basis, or are they to be included in the hourly rates for engineers?

Requirement removed. An amendment will be issued.

6. General - Provide further clarification of the Hourly Rates used in the Price Proposal:

a. Are the rates required to be determined based upon a cost-plus or similar calculation? If so, please clarify the requirement.

This contact will be a Firm Fixed-Price contract.

b. What contractor costs are to be included in the Hourly Rates?

Please see the Price Proposal instructions on Page 33 of the Solicitation.

c. Does the contract require initial or ongoing audit of figures used in calculating the rates?

Please see the Price Proposal instructions on Page 33 of the Solicitation. This will be a Firm Fixed-Price contract.

d. Does the solicitation envision that engineering services are to be provided during normal business hours? If not, is it acceptable to provide separate rates for after hour services rather than include any related differential in the standard rates?

The majority of the work for this service requirement is envisioned to be performed after normal business hours (9:00am to 5:00pm). Hourly rates for engineering services shall be the same for normal and after business hours.

7. Attachment D - Provide further clarification relative to the Past Performance Questionnaire:

a. How many questionnaires are required to be submitted?

The questionnaire is to be submitted to three (3) of the Offeror’s past clients where similar work was performed—as referenced on Page of the solicitation.

b. Are the questionnaires to be submitted directly by the Contractor with the proposal or directly by the evaluating organization?

The Offerors shall requests of the (3) past clients to submit the questionnaire to the Contracting Office as described on page 36 of the Solicitation.

8. General - What criteria will GSA use to make their decision of award for the contract?

Further clarify the weighting of such criteria (e.g., rates, experience, etc.).

Under Section VIII, Method of Award, the decision of award criteria to be used is stated. An Amendment will be issued for clarification to the effect.

9. General - Does the RFP require the Contractor to provide and maintain specific insurance coverage limits?

Please see Section IV - Clauses of the Solicitation, Clause 52.228-5. The Contractor will be required to provide and maintain insurance coverage (i.e., general liability, automobile liability, etc.)

10. How firm is the requirement for having an office "...within 50 miles of Washington DC?"

This requirement is quite firm. It is in the best interest of the Government that potential bidders are located or have a fully staffed operating office within 50 mile radius of Washington, DC in order to provide an adequate or quick response time to orders or emergencies.

11. Does an interested firm need to be on GSA schedule to bid this solicitation?

This requirement is for 100% Total Small Business. A Small Business does not have to be on GSA Schedules.

The questions and answers below reference the Standard Form 1449:

1. In Block 12 (Discount Terms), if we elect not to offer any discount terms do we simply insert “NA”?

The government will complete Block 12. The Offeror should leave this block blank.

2. In Block 17a, there are 2 sub-blocks titled “Code” and “Facility Code”. Can you please explain what codes are required to be entered here?

For proposal purposes, the Offeror may insert their company’s name and address in Block 17a.

3. Block 24 is labeled as “Amount”. Since this is an IDIQ, should we just enter the maximum of $500,000/year?

The amount entered in Block 24 should be equal to the amount of your offer for the services for the initial year of the contract.