Responses to Linen Solicitation HT941026Q2041 questions.pdf

CUI//PROCURE

Q: The quote sheet does not appear to include CLIN 0001 pricing for any of the subsequent years (Base plus all Option Years).

A: The Government reviewed the quote sheet and confirms that Healthcare Linen Processing Services are included under CLINs 1001, 2001, and 3001 for Option Periods 1 through 3, respectively.

Q: The Total Evaluated Price (all four years) on the first tab does not appear to include the Cubicle Curtain pricing for the final Option Year.

A: The Government has reviewed the quote sheet and confirmed the Total Evaluated Price calculation. There is a CLIN (3003) for the curtain pricing on the final option year, Q: I understand quoters are not permitted to modify the spreadsheet. Please advise whether a revised quote sheet will be issued with these corrections.

A: No revised quote sheet will be issued. Offerors shall utilize the quote sheet provided with the solicitation.

Q: Can you confirm which items are included under CLIN 0001?

A: CLIN 0001 includes the collection, transportation, laundering, processing, and delivery of healthcare linen items identified in the PWS and Appendix A

Q: Does the estimated 31,000 pounds include garment items such as scrubs and lab coats, or are those quantities accounted for separately?

A: The 31,000-pound estimate represents the Government’s best estimate of annual healthcare linen processing requirements. Offerors should review Appendix A for the specific categories of items included in the requirement.

Q: Please confirm which items are contractor-furnished?

A: Unless specifically stated otherwise in the PWS, the contractor shall furnish the linen, garments, mop heads, dust mops, and other textile items identified in Appendix A. Government-owned items are limited to cubicle curtains and hot pack covers. The contractor shall provide laundering, processing, pickup, delivery, and associated services.

Q: Are mop heads and dust mops contractor- or Government-owned, and which CLIN are they billed to?

A: Mop heads and dust mops are contractor-owned/contractor-furnished items. Associated services shall be billed under CLIN 0001.

Q: PWS 1.19 treats all soiled MTF linen as contaminated, yet 1.15 calls for a separate contaminated pickup on Tuesdays and Fridays. Can you clarify why there is a separation when all soil is contaminated?

A: All soiled healthcare linen shall be handled using applicable healthcare laundry standards.

The contaminated pickup schedule identified in the PWS is intended to address operational collection requirements and does not alter the contractor’s responsibility to process soiled healthcare linen in accordance with applicable healthcare laundry standards. Pickup on Tuesdays only, no separation. PWS 1.15 has been updated to state Tuesday pick ups only.

Q: The objective (1.0) and PWS 1.18 reference base veterinary services / the Veterinarian Clinic. Are any linen items dedicated to the vet clinic, and if so, what quantities and any special separation or handling requirements?

A: No. There are no Veterinary Clinic-specific linen requirements, quantities, or special separation/handling requirements associated with this solicitation.

Q: CLIN 0001 is priced per pound. Is the rate billed against clean linen weight?

A: No. The contractor shall invoice based on the weight of soiled linen collected by the contractor and verified by Government personnel at pickup.

Q: Is the 31,000 lbs usage estimate only? Can you share historical workload data (monthly pounds with piece counts, soiled vs. clean) to support accurate pricing?

A: The Government does not guarantee future workload volumes. The estimates provided in the solicitation represent the Government’s best estimate for pricing purposes and are based on historical usage data.

Q: Appendix A requires large quantities of individually sized, tracked garments (operating shirts, trousers, warm-up jackets, lab coats, scrubs), which are normally priced per piece, not by weight. Can we add a separate garment CLIN to the Quote Sheet?

A: No. Offerors shall submit pricing using the CLIN structure provided in the solicitation. No additional garment CLIN will be added.

Q: In A.1.3 / 1.16, are "trousers" the scrub pants (operating-room bottoms)?

A: Yes. For purposes of this solicitation, “trousers” refer to scrub pants unless otherwise specified.

Q: For replacement linen and garments, should it be built into CLIN 0001 for contractor rental linen, or as a separate line item?

A: Offerors shall include all costs necessary to meet the requirements of the solicitation in their proposed pricing. No separate replacement-linen CLIN is included in the solicitation. The MTF processes a scrub loss payment annually for the contractor to recoup any lost/damaged items.

Q: Is the Mission Essential Services plan (DFARS 252.237-7024) included in the two-page Capabilities Statement limit, or submitted as a separate file?

A: No. Any required Mission Essential Contractor Services documentation may be submitted separately and will not count toward the capability statement page limitation.

Q: Is the contractor required to provide medical linens (pillowcases, sheets, towels, blankets, etc.), medical scrubs and patient gowns, and mop heads as well as launder all the items [except the mop heads)? So basically, providing the items and washing them. So this would be a linen, uniform, and facility rental service and wash service?

A: Yes. Except for Government-owned cubicle curtains the contractor shall furnish and maintain the linen and textile items identified in Appendix A and provide all required pickup, laundering, processing, and delivery services.

Q: Is the contractor required to provide the specified scrubs and mop heads referenced in appendix A.1.3 BUT launder all items including bed linens, towels, etc?

A: Yes. The contractor shall furnish the items identified in Appendix A, including scrubs and mop heads, except for Government-owned cubicle curtains and hot pack covers. The contractor shall also provide laundering, processing, pickup, and delivery services for all required items.

Q: Is the contractor required to ONLY provide laundry services including drop off, wash, dry, folding, and delivery of the items? And is NOT required to provide any items such as scrubs, bed linens, etc.

A: No. The contractor is not only providing laundry services. The contractor shall furnish the linen and textile items identified in Appendix A, except for Government-owned cubicle curtains and hot pack covers, and shall provide all required pickup, laundering, processing, and delivery services.

Q: Can you please confirm if this PWS according to the language in Appendix A that we "contractor" will provide the initial linen for the 355 Medical Group? So, we would factor into our price point not soley the services to clean the linen, pick-up and deliver etc., but to also do the initial purchase of the linen?

A: Yes. The contractor shall provide the initial inventory and all items identified in Appendix A, except for Government-owned cubicle curtains and hot pack covers. Offerors should include all costs necessary to meet the PWS requirements in their proposed pricing.

Q: May a Prime Contractor utilize a healthcare laundry subcontractor to perform the laundering, pickup, delivery, and processing services while the Prime Contractor retains overall contract management responsibility?

A: Yes. The Prime Contractor may utilize subcontractors; however, the Prime Contractor remains fully responsible for performance of all contract requirements.

Q: May the Prime Contractor rely upon the experience, qualifications, and capabilities of a proposed subcontractor when demonstrating Technical Capability under Factor 1?

A: Yes. Offerors may reference the capabilities of proposed subcontractors when demonstrating their ability to perform the requirements of the solicitation.

Q: May the Prime Contractor utilize the past performance references of a proposed subcontractor when addressing Factor 2 – Past Performance?

A: Yes. The Government may consider relevant past performance information for proposed subcontractors that will perform a meaningful portion of the required services.

Q: If subcontractor past performance may be considered, should the subcontractor complete the Past Performance Questionnaire, or should the Prime Contractor submit the subcontractor's references as part of its quotation package?

A: The Prime Contractor shall submit all past performance information, including any subcontractor references, as part of its quotation package.

Q: The solicitation references compliance with Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) standards. Is current HLAC accreditation required at the time of quotation submission, or is compliance through a proposed subcontractor acceptable?

A: The entity performing the laundry processing services must meet the HLAC requirements identified in the PWS. Compliance may be demonstrated through the proposed performing contractor or subcontractor.

Q: Are the estimated annual quantities of 31,000 pounds of healthcare linen, 320 curtains, and 200 hot packs based on historical usage? If so, can historical usage data for the previous three years be provided?

A: Yes. The estimates are based on historical usage data. Additional historical usage data is not available for release.

Q: Is there an incumbent contractor currently performing these services? If so, can the Government provide the incumbent contractor name and contract number?

A: Yes. The incumbent contractor is 9W HALO WESTERN OPCO L.P. and the current contract number is FA487721C0010.

Q: Will facility inspections be conducted as part of the evaluation process prior to award, or only after contract award?

A: Facility inspections may be conducted prior to award in accordance with the solicitation and PWS requirements.

Q: If a subcontractor performs the laundry processing services, would the Government inspect the subcontractor's facility as part of the evaluation or performance process?

A: Yes. The Government reserves the right to inspect the facility of the entity performing the laundry processing services.

Q: Beyond the scheduled Tuesday deliveries and Tuesday/Friday contaminated laundry pickups, should offerors anticipate any emergency, surge, holiday, or unscheduled service requirements that should be considered when developing pricing?

A: No. Offerors should base pricing on the requirements identified in the solicitation. The Government does not anticipate emergency, surge, holiday, or unscheduled service requirements beyond those identified in the PWS. Routine service is performed on Tuesdays only.

Q: Is there any incumbent/recompete or this is a brand-new project? If yes, could you please provide us with their award number or even if the customer bought similar services in the past.

A: The incumbent contract number is: FA487721C0010

Q: We would like to know if this is a brand new contract OR if there is (was) an incumbent performing these services.

A: There is a current contract in place for these services.

Q: If not brand new, could you please provide the current / previous contract number?

A: The incumbent contract number is: FA487721C0010