02.08.11 - Q A 3 Perishables.pdf

8 February 2011

HTC711-11-R-W001

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS - 3

Solicitation No. HTC711-11-R-W001

OVER-PACKING & AIR TRANSPORTATION OF PERISHABLES TO THE PACIFIC

U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) Requirement

The following are responses to questions received regarding the presolicitation notice to Federal Business Opportunities (www.fbo.gov) for solicitation number HTC711-11-R-W001.

Q.1. RFP instructions require electronic files to be Microsoft (MS) Word files, except the pricing section which is MS excel. May the files be submitted as Adobe pdf files, except for pricing which will remain as MS excel?

A.1. The Government may consider allowing pdf files in lieu of MS word files. However, the offeror may be required to provide MS word versions if requested by the Government. Please see final proposal instructions when solicitation is released for applicable instructions and directives.

Q.2. Will USTANSCOM/TCAQ consider the addition of a fourth factor, “Capabilities” to allow the evaluation of Offeror capabilities to include Personnel, Facilities, Equipment, and Qualifications?

A.2. The Government will not consider adding an additional evaluation factor. An offeror’s capability should be evident through evaluation of the offeror’s past performance and technical evaluation factors.

Q.3. As written, the draft RFP does not contain any language for fuel escalation during the contract period. Will USTRANSCOM consider the addition of a fuel factor for this contract?

A.3. No, the Government will not consider the addition of a fuel factor for this contract. The contract will include an annual economic price adjustment tied to the Producer Price Index for North American Industry Classification System 492110, product code 202, International Expedited Courier Services, which is obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics government website (www.bls.gov).

Q.4. Why do you not list interested vendors?

A.4. All interested vendors may list company information at www.fbo.gov by selecting “Add Me to Interested Vendors.” The Government elected not to disclose the list of interested vendors to all potential offerors.

8 February 2011

HTC711-11-R-W001

Q.5. What are the small business goals for this solicitation?

A.5. There are no small business goals tied directly to this solicitation. However, the solicitation includes a small business evaluation factor. Please see the instructions to offerors and evaluation sections of the solicitation when it becomes available.

Q.6. Do you ever put out a transportation solicitation in the Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business (SDVOB) set-aside market?

A.6. If market research reveals that adequate competition among small business offerors exists that can fulfill the Government’s needs, a set-aside is considered in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 19.502.

Q.7. Can we come to your office to give a presentation demonstrating our capabilities?

A.7. The Government will not entertain oral proposals for this acquisition.

Q.8. May we provide two mutually exclusive offers, one with receiving operations in San Francisco and the other in Los Angeles, consistent FAR 52.212-1 paragraph (e)?

A.8. The Government will remove Los Angeles as an allowable operating location. San Francisco will be the only permissible operating location. The solicitation will reflect this requirement. Also, in the DRAFT FAR 52.212-1 posted to FedBizOpps earlier, the Government amended the FAR clause to tailor paragraph (e) to read: “The Government will not consider multiple offers presenting alternate terms and conditions for satisfying the requirements of this solicitation.” This addendum to the FAR clause is expected to be included in the actual solicitation. However, offerors are reminded that only the terms and conditions of the actual solicitation are effective. Therefore offerors should use caution in relying on DRAFT documents posted to FedBizOpps and exclusively rely on the solicitation documents when they become available.