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Request for Information 01 - Solicitation -HQ0034-14-R-0078
| 001 |
| I’d like to see about getting a copy of the sign in sheet from the walk thru please. |
| Send an email request to earl.e.anderson51.civ@mail.mil for a copy of the sign in sheet. |
| 002 |
| Would you be able to do this as a HUBZone set aside? |
No. Market research indicated that the approach to a 100% small business set-aside would be appropriate for this requirement.
| 003 |
| Was the previous contract for this particular service an 8(a) set aside? |
No.
| 004 |
| What was the approximate value of the previous contract? |
This is requirement differs from what is currently under contract, there is no pricing history.
| 005 |
| We like to team with companies that can help us achieve exceptional service, was there a particular company you would refer we speak with regarding a teaming opportunity for this particular bid? |
No, the government is not biased toward a particular company.
| 006 |
| We have started the process of submitting forms to be cleared. According to the General Proposal content, we have to possess the clearance within the 30 day window. The clearance process will take 60 to 180 days. Are there any exceptions to bid this solicitation? |
No, the awardee would have to provide service to the areas requiring a clearance on day one of the performance period. We cannot go without service while the adjuciation process is being carried out.
| 007 |
| My company held a high level security clearance in the past but due to lack of work requiring clearance not longer hold the clearance as required in the solicitation. We are currently a contractor for the XXXXX performing housekeeping service within the medical facilities. We maintain an excellent CPARS. |
Is it possible to bid on this solicitation and to obtain clearance. It appears that you must have clearance before applying. Can security clearance be applied for and approved prior to holding a contract?
Please refer to Section L of the solicitation. Washington Headquarters Services will not be providing sponsorship.
| 008 |
| I read in the synopsis that " Offerors must hold a top secret facility clearance." Could you give me more detail as to what this entails and what the process of a company obtaining such credentials. |
| Please refer to the Department of Defense-Defense Security Service website for details on the secuirty process at http://www.dss.mil/ |
| 009 |
| Knowing that this contract requires security clearance, and that security clearance cannot be obtained without a contract approval can a contractor bid the contract and obtain security clearance if awarded? Or must a company have a security clearance in order to be considered for award? |
Refer to sections L and M of the solicitation for details on how offeror’s clearances will be evaluated.
| 010 |
| Can you provide the square footage of the cleaning area associated with this solicitation? |
| See solicitation attachment J-B1 for the total square footage |
| 011 |
| I have a question regarding the requirement for Pentagon Janitorial Services (HQ003414R0078). Is the incumbent Rowe Contracting Service, Inc. (HQ003414C0005)? If not, could you please provide the incumbent name and contract number? |
Rowe Contracting is currently cleaning the spaces listed in this solicitation; however, this requirement is not the same but is of similar nature as to what Rowe was contracted to provide.
| 012 |
| I have another question that you may be able to help me with. Approxitmatley how many employees will be needed to service the upcoming solicitation. The approximate number will give me an idea on how many security clearances are needed. |
| This is a performance based requirement. Contractor’s are required to provide as many employees that they feel are needed to meet the requested performance standards. |
| 013 |
| I read the pre-solicitation notice for janitorial services at the pentagon and it requires top secret security clearances. Are they required prior to the award and if not does the pentagon or agency provide the investigation for the clearances |
See the answer to question #07
| 014 |
| I would like to what was the monthly payment for cleaning service last year (SOL#HQ0034-14-R-0078). |
This is a different requirement the prior monthly cost is not relevant to this acquisition; however, this information can be requested via the Freedom of Information Act process at http://www.dod.mil/pubs/foi/foiareq.html
| 015 |
| I notice the above bid requires the janitorial company to hold a top secret facility clearance, how does a company go about getting this clearance? |
See the answer to question #08
| 016 |
| In regards to the synopsis posted on fbo.gov on Friday, March 14, 2014 for the subject solicitation, is this the same custodial contract that went out to bid last year, under solicitation# HQ0034-13-R-0037? If so, what is the reason it is going out to re-bid? |
Yes this is the materially the same solicitation that went out under HQ0034-13-R-0037. The award of HQ0034-14-C-0005 to Rowe Contracting ended up a different requirement than what was posted on fbo.gov. The scope of the solicitation under HQ0034-13-R-0037 was amended and competed amongst the contractors who made the final evaluation stage as a bridge using a different scope to provide time to finalize the scope under this new solicitation HQ0034-14-R-0078. We have now solidified the new scope and we are now ready to compete it.
| 017 |
| Please advise as to how we would go about obtaining the required top secret facility clearance as noted in the presolicitation. |
See the answer to question #08
| 018 |
| This question is in regards to the Pentagon Janitorial Services Solicitation # HQ0034-14-R-0078. We currently hold a Secret Clearance and will be able to hold a Top Secret Clearance pending a contract award that requires one. Will our proposal still be accepted if we currently do not have a Top Secret FCL but have the capability to obtain one? |
The requirements are as stated in Sections L and M.
| 019 |
| Who is the incumbent cleaning company? |
| Rowe Contracting is currently cleaning most of the spaces listed |
| 020 |
| What is the incumbent pricing for the Pentagon? |
| See the answer to question #014 |
| 021 |
| who is the incumbent? Are they small business? |
Rowe Contracting, they were a small business at the time of award of contract HQ0034-14-C-0005
| 022 |
| Can I get the previous solicitation to view the winning bid amount? |
Send an email request to earl.e.anderson51.civ@mail.mil for a copy of the sign in sheet.
| 023 |
| If our firm won a contract award we would offer right of first refusal to all incumbent contract workers at WHS who presently have security access to top secret areas. As an SBA 8A participant, we would require very little vetting as the SBA performed stringent background checks on the company and owners. |
| The winning firm will be required to have the facility clearance regardless of if it hires the current cleared personel. |
| 024 |
| We are curious about the engineer's estimate for the value of the above referenced RFQ. If you can please provide us with the requested information, we shall be most greatful. |
The government’s estimate will not be provided.
| 025 |
| Is a contractor required to have top secret facility clearance prior to a walk-thru, and if awarded the contract how much time would be given to secure clearance. |
No clearance is required for the walk through. See Sections L and M of the solicitation concerning the time limit provided to acquire the requisite clearance.
| 026 |
| Also, please provide the bid tabulations from the previous bid for this work. |
See the answer to question #04
| 027 |
| Is there a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for the firm who currently has this job or is there a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) by the DOD for this work? |
Yes there is a CBA. The wage and benefit requirements are posted on fbo.gov.
| 028 |
| Who is the incumbent? |
| Rowe Contracting is currently providing services for a vast majority of what is being solicited for under solicitation HQ0034-14-R-0078. |
| 029 |
| What is the annual value of the existing contract? |
| See the answer to question #04 |
| 030 |
| Will consumables be provided by the Government? |
| No. |
| 031 |
| What is the size (sq. ft.) of the area to be serviced? |
| See the answer to question #10 |
| 032 |
| My company is in the process of bidding on a contract for Pentagon Janitorial Services, Solicitation number HQ0034-14-R-0078 and I was wondering if you are able to provide me with the total square footage for the 2nd floor of the pentagon. Is it 750,000 square feet that is listed on page 9 section 5.4.5.1? |
| See the answer to question #10 |
| 033 |
| What is the size of SF for this bid? |
| See the answer to question #10 |
| 034 |
| Can you provide the previous bid price tab including successful bidder form the last bid opening? |
| See the answer to question #11 |
| 035 |
| Who is a current contractor providing service at these facilities? |
| See the answer to question #28 |
| 036 |
| How long has the current service provider had the contract? |
One year and one month
| 037 |
| What is the precise contract value for the most recent twelve month period of each facility? Is this contract value including the cost of supplies? |
This is a new requirement. The government does not provide supplies, see the performance work statement for what is supplied by the government.
| 038 |
| Is it possible to get the current supply usages from the current contractor? |
| The government does not have access to that information |
| 039 |
| Is the scope/size of this bid identical with the current contract? |
| No. |
| 040 |
| Have there been any changes from the previously awarded contract to current request for bid? |
Yes.
| 041 |
| What are the criteria for awarding the contract? |
| See Section M of the solicitation |
| 042 |
| Is the contract being bid out due to poor performance from the incumbent contractor? |
| There is a change in the scope. |
| 043 |
| For the following solicitation number, would you please provide me the name of the incumbent? |
See the answer to question #28
| 044 |
| Is there a "UNION" in place on this contract? |
| Yes. |
| 045 |
| For the clearances,what is the cost per person to get a DOD clearance? Is the "CONTRACTOR" expected to cover the cost, or the "GOVERNMENT"? |
| Contact the the Department of Defense-Defense Security Service for answers concerning the per person clearance cost. The website is http://www.dss.mil/. Washington Headquarters Services will not be covering any cost to have people cleared. |
| 046 |
| Will the vendors list be issued once the contract is awarded? (CLEANING VENDORS FOR MATERIAL) |
| No list will be provided. The government does not have a contractual relationship with the incumbent’s suppliers and therefore does not have access to such information |
| 047 |
| Also will will you guy's be issuing any government vehicles for EMERGENCIES? |
| No. |
| 048 |
| Excluding the key personal, how many employes you recommend the contractor to staff? |
| See the answer to question #012 |
| 049 |
| I would like to know if this site visit is mandatory for HQ0034-14-R-0078 and if you could provide the square feet and also the current annual janitorial price. |
No the site visit is not mandatory in order to submit a proposal. The square footage is listed in attachment J-B1 found on fbo.gov. The price currently being paid is not for same requirement, this requirement differs from what is currently on contract.
| 050 |
| what is the current contract price for the building? |
| See the answer to question #04 |
| 051 |
| Is the Janitorial Staff under a union? |
| See answer to question #044 |
| 052 |
| Number of Staff currently employed? |
| In accordance with FAR clause 52.222-17, the incumbent is not required to to furnish the list of staff to the contracting officer until 30 days before contract expiration. |
| 053 |
| How many shifts do they have in the Janitorial? |
| The means the incumbent uses to clean the building is not releasable. The contractor is required to establish its own shifts subject to the constraints of the collective bargaining agreement. |
| 054 |
| When does the current contract expire? |
| We plan on continuing the current service through 30 November 2014. |
| 055 |
| What is the current contract #? |
| HQ0034-14-C-0005 |
| 056 |
| Can you provide the CBA seniority list? |
| Yes it will be provided upon award to the awardee. |
| 057 |
| Who is the incumbent? |
| See the answer to question #019 |
| 058 |
| What is the current contract value? |
| See the answer to question #04 |
| 059 |
| Is the incumbent eligible to bid? |
| We will not address the status of individual companies. |
| 060 |
| Are you satisfied with the current service levels? |
| That information cannot be shared. See the answer to question #042. |
| 061 |
| Has the scope of work changed from old contract # to new contract #? |
| Yes. |
| 062 |
| Will an area be designated/provided for office space, equipment and supplies? |
| Yes. |
| 063 |
| How many companies service the current contract? |
| Two. There will be a swap in spaces with an AbilityOne contractor who is currently servicing the building. |
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