Questions-Response DFRAFT HSFE70-12-R-0033.docx

QUESTIONS FROM DRAFT SOLICITATION HSFE70-12-R-0033

February 10, 2012

GENERAL QUESTIONS:

QUESTION 1

· Will there be any provisions for providing a “Readiness Task Order” to provide the means to plan and manage resources for rapid response?

RESPONSE: No.

QUESTION 2

· Some of the firms awarded the previous MATOCs in 2007 report that they not only have never been awarded a single Task Order, but that they were not even given the opportunity to submit an offer. In every instance when their services would have been needed, the Stafford Act was invoked and only firms with principal places of business within the declared disaster area were allowed to bid on the work. How will the Stafford Act apply to the winners of these MATOCs?

RESPONSE: There is a process for competing and awarding Task Orders under the current contract and incumbents understand this process. Pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are authorized to provide individual and public assistance under Presidential declarations of a disaster and emergency.

QUESTION 3

· There are numerous instances where the previous solicitation and the current draft solicitation describe circumstances where an awardee would be expected to expend resources to maintain readiness for the eventual need of a responder camp. Many questions relating to these readiness costs were submitted last year, but none were ever answered. How will awardees be compensated for these readiness costs?

Examples:

· Keeping personnel available to meet a 24/7 requirement 365 days a year for up to five years

· Keeping “sufficient” equipment available “at all times.”

· Providing a weekly inventory of equipment

· Attending the yearly program conference

· Etc.

· Numerous other questions were submitted regarding the previous Solicitation. Will those questions which remain relevant to the new draft RFP be answered as a matter of course or should they be resubmitted?

RESPONSE: No questions will be answered in reference to a cancelled solicitation.

SECTION C:

QUESTION 4

· C.2.6, Access Functional Needs: Will UFAS accessibility standards be required if more stringent than ADA in a particular instance?

RESPONSE: Yes.

QUESTION 5

· In Section C.2.5, the contractor is responsible for: Acquiring applicable Federal, State, or local environmental permits required for the project (e.g. Storm Water Pollution Prevention Permit [SWPPP], National Pollution Discharge Elimination System [NPDES] permit, construction permits, Clean Water Act Section 404 for fill, etc.). Given the time frames indicated for installing the RSCs and beginning operations, does the government require that these permits be in-hand prior to beginning site preparation and RSC installation?

REPONSE: Yes.

QUESTION 6

· C.4.3: Obtaining approval for SWPPP, NPDES, CWA, construction permits and others are typically not able to be obtained in the timeframe required for construction of the site in the SOW (36 to 72 hours after TO). Does FEMA have a response deadline or agreement from Other Governmental Agencies (EPA, DOJ) to expedite these permits in time of emergency so that contractor can construct the camp? Is there any recourse by contractor to set up camp without all permits in place?

RESPONSE: You are required to have all permits in place before a Responder Support Camp can be constructed.

SECTION G:

QUESTION 7

· As in the Solicitation released last year, Paragraph G.7 (A)(2)(a) seems to indicate that the Government intends to make separate, multiple awards for various geographic areas. If this is so, may an offeror submit a proposal only for specific geographic areas or most the proposal cover all areas? Additionally, if the Government intends to award on a geographic basis, what source selection criteria will be used? Those currently described in the draft solicitation make no mention of any geographic-specific factors.

RESPONSE: Not relevant to current draft solicitation.

SECTION L:

QUESTION 8

· Section L: May proposals be hand-delivered to the address indicated in sub-paragraph 1. Introduction?

RESPONSE: Yes.