RESPONSES_TO_CONTRACTOR_INQUIRES.doc

RESPONSES TO CONTRACTOR INQUIRES

001: Section 3.2 of the Solicitation requests past experience and performance and a demonstration of ability and success working on projects of similar size and scope anticipated under the contract. What is the anticipated size and scope of the projects? How much of the work is anticipated in the Great Lakes regions? As a small business, what type of geographic range are you anticipating for the selected small business?

Answer: Award of Task Orders under this IDIQ contract will vary from a minimum of $3,000.00 to a maximum of $2.5M per task. It is unknown the amount of work to be performed in the Great Lakes regions. The small business(es) will be expected to cover the geographic range identified in the announcement which states, “Services may be required in any of the United States, U.S. territories, or any place where the USCG may have a mission interest. However, a majority of the work would be performed at USCG facilities along the coastal United States (ocean, Great Lakes states, and inland rivers) and U.S. territories.”

002: As a small business, we would be interested in pursuing this contract with named, large business teaming partners. We would have established teaming agreements in place and included with the solicitation response; however, we would not establish a JV. In this case, can a small business with named teaming partners use the entire team’s capabilities to meet the evaluation criteria defined in the solicitation? Additionally, when addressing evaluation criteria which discusses performance of work “in house” or with “in house personnel” (3.3a, 3.3b, 3.4c), would performance of the work by any formally named team member constitute performance of the work “in-house”, as described in the solicitation?

Answer: As stated in this announcement, any resulting contract with a small business will include FAR Clause 52.219-14 -- Limitations on Subcontracting. This clause states, “At least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the concern.” Small business concerns are allowed to have sub-consultants, but must comply with this clause. Sub-consultant experience may be used to respond to this notice, but it will not be considered in house. Any teaming relationships will be considered sub-consultant relationships with the prime small business entity.

003: For project write-ups, are both IDIQs and Task Orders acceptable?

Answer: Yes.

004: Are completed projects, as well as ongoing projects, acceptable in Section F?

Answer: Yes.

005: Is there a limit to how old a project can be?

Answer: No.

006: Is there a specific number of projects that should be included in Section F?

Answer: Follow the instructions in the SF330. The SF330 specifies 10 projects unless otherwise indicated by the agency.

007: Are projects for both government clients as well as private sector clients acceptable in Section F?

Answer: Yes.

008: The solicitation states that only resumes for the 21 positions listed should be submitted; however, is it acceptable to submit more than one resume for any position?

Answer: Yes.

009: Do Part IIs count in the limit of 80 pages?

Answer: Yes.

010: Can you clarify what is meant by the attachment required for the organization chart?

Answer: Provide an organizational chart of the team you propose in Section C for this contract showing lines of authority and position titles/roles.

011: Can you please define the requirements you are looking for to fill the position of “staff engineer”?

Answer: Bachelor of Science in Engineering, or equivalent.

012: Can you please define the acronym “EMS”?

Answer: Environmental Management System.

013: Do you anticipate any of the scope of work items to include divestiture?

Answer: Yes.

014: To what extent do you anticipate remediation to be included in the scope of work?

Answer: Remediation may be performed under the scope of the contract, but only under special circumstances. The special circumstances are: incidental work under an A/E contract (FAR 36.601-3(d)), work that is urgent and compelling (FAR 6.302-2 or FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(A)), remediation services that are not severable from the A/E studies because of the level of quality required (FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B)), and remediation services that are not severable because the services are unique or highly specialized (FAR 16.505(b)(2)(i)(B)). However, the firm may perform with greater frequency, remediation scoping, design, planning, specification, engineering analysis, cost estimating, selection, regulatory and public coordination, oversight, maintenance, and monitoring.

015: Are you looking for small business goals to be included in the SF330, or will that be discussed only after award?

Answer: Large businesses will be required to submit a subcontracting plan in accordance with FAR 52.219-9, Small Business Subcontracting Plan upon submission of their cost proposal should they be chosen for contract award, i.e. after selection for award, but will be agreed upon prior to award.