USVI_Freight_Questions_and_Responses_05-24-2016b_(2).pdf

Thanks for the opportunity to participate on this solicitation, we have a couple of questions before we can complete our proposal for this solicitation.

1. As an freight forwarder company (NVOCC), can we participate on this solicitation since we are not a Vessel Operator/Owner?

Response: FEMA did not stipulate in the SOW that contractors should possess an organic fleet of vessels, containers, trailers, material handling equipment (MHE), etc.

2. Typically free time on containers is normally 7 days. How will additional holding days be addressed?

Response: The Contractor should provide a daily rate for all sizes of containers, i.e. 20Ft. / 40Ft. etc.

3. Bunker fee is subject to variations; can bid be revised for bunker fee to be a "pass thru"

Response: The contract type of Firmed Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustments.

A. http://www.tsacarriers.org/fs_bunker.html B. https://blog.ordoro.com/2012/12/17/bunker-surcharge/

4. How long will it take FEMA to determine if containers will be returned to originator?

Response: All containers will be released back to the originator once the disaster response phase is completed. The contractor is responsible for the transportation, in use / in transit visibility and accountability of all containers being utilized by FEMA during a disaster response initiative.

5. Does the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation under solicitation number HSFE7016R0007 contain requirements similar to a current contract? If possible, please provide the current contract number. Or, is this a new requirement for the government?

Response: This is a re-compete requirement. The former contract number was:

(Isaac/Alfredia- Please provide the former contract number).

6. The new SOW calls for a Firm-Fixed Price, Multi-Award Contract. In the past it was a

Firm-Fixed Price, Single-Award. A Multi-Award contract for this type of service in the Caribbean is somewhat challenging as there are only a few carriers, to include Crowley, who are Jones Act carriers, which it’s a mandate by US Law when moving cargo to/from PR and USVI. Due to the small amount of containers required in pushing the IRR package(s), it’s almost impractical to be awarding TOs under this contract for the movement of 15 containers. We recommend that it should be awarded to a Single Carrier. This way there is consistence in: service, predictability, and team cohesiveness between FEMA-PR http://www.tsacarriers.org/fs_bunker.html https://blog.ordoro.com/2012/12/17/bunker-surcharge/ and the carrier. Please be aware that many small Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers (NVOCC) (equivalent to an Ocean Freight Broker) will be bidding this contract, guaranteeing vessel space availability at rock-bottom rates, but they don’t own the vessels and by Jones Act they will be buying space from us. Ultimately their cargo will be moved in our vessels, if space is available, and at normal market rates. Thus, FEMA will be accepting risk in service.

Response: This is a statement; not a question.

7. A major discrepancy between the previous and the new SOW is the deletion of an extensive equipment list that was required in the previous SOW. The equipment was to be on-call and available to deploy anywhere in PR in support of FEMA-PR operations. The equipment requirement consisted of: Trucks/Trailer, 53’ Dry Van Trailers, 28’ Box Truck w/ lift gate, 53’ Container, 45’ Container, 40’ Container, 20’ Container, 40’ Reefer Container, Flatbed Trailer, Drop/Step-deck Trailer, Removable Gooseneck Lowboy (RGN), 40T Mobile Crane, 40T All Terrain variable Reach (RTCH), 50K Forklift, Warehouse Forklift, and Tilt Deck Wrecker. As stated in the new SOW this equipment requirement goes away. Based on my last conversation with the folks at FEMA-PR I believe they still have the requirement for this equipment.

Response: This is addressed and outlined in section 3 of the SOW titled, “SPECIFIC TASKS/ TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS. Additionally there are specific CLINS addressing the pricing of the aforementioned equipment.