meals solicitation questions.pdf

Meals Solicitation: HSFE70-12-R-0019 Amendment one (1)

1. Question:

The Trans-fat limit is 1 gram or less. Everyone is transitioning from Trans-fat but are not there yet. We use two items from the MRE program that are bakery at 1.5 and 2.0 grams Trans-fat each. Would FEMA consider raising the Trans-fat limit to 2.5 Grams?

Response: Yes, the solicitation will be amended to permit up to 2.5 grams of trans fat.

2. Question:

May they be an average of the menus or does each individual menu have to meet the requirements exactly?

Response: Each individual meal should meet requirement.

3. Question:

Nuts are not allowed due to allergens and diverticulitis. Would Peanut Butter be allowed? Our Commercial Meals contain Peanut Butter, our Reduced Sodium do not.

Response: No. Our position is the Peanut Butter contains the same potential exposure to allergens or diverticulitis as the nuts themselves.

4. Question:

The pricing sheet shows Delivery Cost as TBD. Does this mean that freight cost will be determined when FEMA issues delivery orders?

Response: Yes

5. Question:

How are detention and diversion charges going to be handled? Will there be a separate CLIN?

Response: Detention and diversion charges, if any, will be handled at the time of occurrence. The awarded contractor may invoice the diversion charges separately, and they will be handled with the determined freight rate at the delivery order stage.

6. Question:

One of the technical factors call for each meal to include utensil package, napkin, salt and pepper, and salt free seasoning packet. Are all of these items required for both the Commercial and Reduced Sodium versions? Requiring a salt packet for the Reduced Sodium meal will cause the meal to exceed the max sodium level stated in the Statement of Work.

Response: Yes, each meal whether commercial and/or reduced sodium should include utensil package, napkin, salt and pepper, and salt free seasoning packet.

The Reduced Sodium Meal is primarily designed to ensure survivors with medical issues are provided the most nutritious meal possible. Those survivors without medical issues would have the option to season the food to taste via the condiment packs.

7. Question:

The labeling requirements for the Reduced Sodium meal do not comply with FDA and USDA requirements. Please clarify.

Response: FEMA worked with the FDA in developing the requirements, and understand that the requirements meet FDA and USDA standards. Unless additional clarity is provided, we stand by the labeling requirement as stated in the

SOW.

8. Question:

The trans-fat requirement of 0-1 gram is very hard to meet for a ration that requires a 3-5 year shelf-life. Many items require trans-fat in order to achieve a long shelf-life. We recommend changing the language to state: “As close to zero as possible”.

Response: The Trans-fat Limit for this requirement will be raised to 2.5 Grams.

9. Question

In the "Emergency Response" requirement is the 1 MM meals a combination of reduced and commercial or is it at our discretion depending what we have on the floor? Same question for 3.5MM meals.

Response

: The 1 Million meals requirement during “Emergency Response” is only for commercial meals. FEMA will specify all meal requirements at the time of order.

10. Question In regards to sodium as long as the requirements are met are all offers equal or will a company that has less sodium be considered more favorable?

:. Vendors will be evaluated on their ability to meet FEMA’s requirement, and will not receive an advantage for exceeding it, based up on the Lowest Technically Acceptable procedure.

11. Question The Government reserves the right to make multiple awards under the solicitation but is it your intention to do so?

: The Government’s intent is to make multiple awards; however, as stated E.2.4, the Government may elect to award a single delivery order contract.

12. Question What is the difference between a delivery order contract and a task order contract?

: A delivery order is an order for the delivery of supplies and a task order is an order for a performance of a task (service).

13. Question Is the white background necessary on the "Reduced Sodium" folders or menu bags as long as they are clear? SOP AKCO provided menus without a "white" background under a previous FEMA contract after clearance from the buying agency.

Response: The word “REDUCED SODIUM” should be visible on all case(s), individual package (s) and each entrée component.

14. Question

The Pricing Sheet format has the "Delivery Costs" as "TBD." Does this need to be completed with the proposal submittal or at time of delivery order competition?

` Response

: The delivery costs shall be determined at the time of deliver order competition.

15. Question Delivery Order Instructions state that each delivery order will be competed based on evaluation factors: Price, Delivery, and Past Performance.

a) Will new pricing be solicited from each contract awardee prior to delivery order award?

: Each delivery order will be competed amongst the awardees.

b) Is there an order of importance for the evaluation factors and if so what is the order?

: The evaluation will be made in accordance with the lowest price, technically acceptable procedure stated in the solicitation.

16. Question

The solicitation requires one (1) each sample meal of both "Commercial" and "Reduced Sodium." Page 22 of the solicitation has an evaluation question as "Do the sample meals contain at least six varieties of entree meals?" Does the proposal require submission of one each of every variety or just one each commercial and reduced sodium and a list of the entrees available?

: Proposals are required to include 1 sample case meal for commercial and 1 sample case meals for reduced-sodium.

17. Question Does FEMA expect to negotiate with an offeror prior to award of a contract?

Response:

The Government reserves the right to make an award without further discussion of the proposals received. Therefore, it is important that your proposal be submitted initially on the most favorable terms, and should include a detailed budget.

18. Question:

Can you verify that the delivered prices to be quoted are for “Standard Delivery” as stock replenishment to FEMA CONUS DCs?

a. Expedited delivery service would be at a different price that can also be quoted if needed.

Response: delivery prices, standard or expedited, will be determined at the level of deliver order.

19. Question:

Would we be able to get a pallet height variance? The SOW states that pallets “will not exceed 55 inches”, the standard pallet height for the meals we will be submitting are 72” for Heater-Meals 3, and 62” for Heater-Meals Select.

Response: No. FEMA over-all height requirement must not exceed 55 inches.

20. Question:

How stringently will FEMA hold to the Product Specifications outlined in the solicitation? Specifically the following:

a. Is there any flexibility on the packaging dimensions?

Response: No, FEMA requires vendor to place all finished products on a 48 inch x 40 inch 4 way wooded pallet and the over-all height requirement must not exceed 55 inches.

b. Is there any flexibility on the inclusion of utensil packages, napkin, salt and pepper, and salt fee seasoning?

Response: No, FEMA require vendors to provide a utensil package, napkin, salt and pepper, and salt free seasoning in each meal.

21. Question:

Is there interest in freeze-dried and dehydrated meals with a much longer shelf life but that require the addition of water (hot or cold) to be consumed?

a. Would the freeze-dried and dehydrated meals described above be considered under this RFQ or would it be handled in a separate solicitation?

Response: No. The meals do not appear to meet the requirements of displaced disaster survivors that may not have access cooking utensils.

FEMA requires meals to be shelf-stable, self-heating, 30 – 36 months.

22. Question:

Under this solicitation, does FEMA have interest in a vendor that can fulfill large quantities of meals (i.e. the 3,500,000 meals within 30 days requirement) but may have difficulty meeting the 1,000,000 meals within 48 hours requirement?

Response: Meeting the production and delivery requirement for an “Emergency Response” is a component of the technical factors that will be used to evaluate an offer.