Additional Questions

Additional Questions 25 Jul 08

1. Block 20, SF 1449, states that the contractor is to provide one prototype, and Q&A No. 43 confirms that only 1 prototype is required.

· Does the Government want the prototype to be a 1 bedroom, or a 2 bedroom, or 3 bedroom unit? Or is the type of the prototype unit left to the discretion of the offeror?

This is at the discretion of the offeror. Offeror may submit a 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, 3 bedroom or any combination of the three as their proposed design to FEMA.

2. Block 20, SF 1449, states that the Government anticipates multiple awards of an indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity ("IDIQ") type contract.

· Does this mean that there definitely will be more than one awardee? Yes

· The RFP does not contain FAR Clause 52.216-22, Indefinite Quantity, as required by FAR 16.504, "Indefinite-Quantity Contracts." Will this clause be added by Amendment? Yes it will be added.

3. Q&A No. 61 indicates that the offeror is to "outline any limitations" it might have if an order exceeds its capacity.

· Since FEMA contemplates an IDIQ contract:

i. will FEMA add by Amendment FAR Clause 52.216-19, Ordering Limitations, as required by FAR16.506(b)? yes

ii. will FEMA provide the "maximum order" for any single order (because FAR 16.504(b)(4) requires the RFP to "specify the total minimum and maximum quantity of supplies or services the Government will acquire under the contract")? yes

4. Q&A No. 78 and 79 indicated that the Government is only obligated to buy one (1) unit, and that the Government does not intend to establish yearly minimum order commitments, either by CLIN, or dollar value. However, FAR 16.504(b)(2) provides that "to ensure that the contract is binding, the minimum quantity must be more than a nominal quantity, but it should not exceed the amount that the Government is fairly certain to order."

· Is the acquisition of only one (1) unit more than a nominal quantity? Yes it is a minimum of one (1) to allow PM to test the unit to see if it meets our needs. That is why FEMA is only guaranteeing buying the one unit. But, if acceptable, more units will be purchased as required.

· What amount is the Government fairly certain to order? The one (1) unit.

5. Q&A No. 19, 20, 21 and 22, 60 and 62, ask for the relative weights of the technical factors and subfactors. FEMA responded that "all criteria judged independently, no relative weights are specified." However, FAR 15.305(d) states that "all factors and significant subfactors that will affect contract award and their relative importance shall be stated clearly in the solicitation."

· Will FEMA provide the relative importance of all factors and significant subfactors? Yes, the relative of importance is listed in 52.212-2 Evaluation- Commercial Items. Technical evaluation factors are equal; and when combined are more important than price.

6. Factor 1, Past Performance, at RFP page 5-4 states that "the Government will evaluate the offeror's past performance based on ability to supply items in a timely fashion that satisfies requests in terms of quantity and quality, including meeting warranty support." However, the RFP does not provide a "Past Performance" Questionnaire for the offerors to identify its performance under prior contracts.

· Will the Government provide the forms? Yes

· If the Government does not plan to provide the "Past Performance" Questionnaire:

i. what specific information does the Government require,

ii. what is the minimum number of references, and

iii. what is the time period for the referenced contract (e.g., past 3 years).

iv. Can the Government provide its past performance rating for a contractor?

7. Q&A No. 29 (a), requested information concerning the "NOAA/FCC approved weather radio" and asked whether it was to be free-standing, or a fixed unit that was installed in the wall. This answer remains unclear.

· Is the radio to be wall-mounted (i.e., permanently affixed to the wall of the housing), or is it simply to be provided as a supply item?

Placement of the radio is at the discretion of the Offeror.

8. Q&A No. 29 (b), references Pages 48 and 49 for the air test procedures. The RFP does not contain a page 48 and 49. Page 48 and 49 of the scanned pdf (Rugged Two bedroom park Model (RP) Procurement Specifications) generally address that there will be air testing, but do not provide any basic information such as:

i. How long is the test to last;

ii. What are acceptable levels of formaldehyde;

iii. Do the homes have to be ventilated, not ventilated, for how long, etc.;

iv. Please clarify this response.

9. Proposal Delivery Instructions

· The final line of the 1st Amendment reads: “There will be no electronic or hand delivered proposals accepted.”

i. Does this mean that FEMA will only accept submissions by mail?

ii. Must the mail arrive at FEMA before 2:00 pm on August 1, 2008?

Yes

10. Are you looking for wheeled housing solutions? If so, then we won't be able to partake.

This solicitation is not limited to “wheeled” housing solutions or those units equipped with permanent chassis. The unit must be capable of being transported to the disaster location and installed on-site in a timely manner.

11. Are any of the units going to be accessible for persons with disabilities?

If unit is accessible per Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards please indicate on proposal.

12. Period of performance is noted as one year with four possible options for a total of sixty months. Does this mean the offerer must provide the prototype for inspection by FEMA within one year of the date of contract award? We need a time frame acceptable from Jack on this one.

13. In the July 15, 2008, responses to questions submitted by contractors regarding RFP HSFEHQ-08-R-0106, the following question was posed: 5. "I have printed out the paper to put bids on. How do we submit this to you? " The FEMA response is as follows: "Please submit electronically with your proposal to Linda Jackson, Contract Specialist, as stated on RFP." This response is contradicted by FEMA in #2 of the "PROPOSAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS" section contained in the same document where contractors are specifically instructed by FEMA that: 2. "There will be no electronic or hand delivered proposals accepted."

No electronic or hand delievered proposals are accepted. Please mail into contracting officer as specified in the PROPOSAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

14. Are contractors being prohibited from either electronic or hand delivery of proposals, and if so, why?

Yes.