Questions and Responses 14-20.pdf

SURFACE SMALL PACKAGE II (SSP II)

SOLICITATION HTC711-12-R-R009

QUESTIONS & RESPONSES

Questions 14 - 20

14) Reference: Section 2.8 of Attachment 1, Location(s) of Performance, Page 4.

Question: There is a considerable difference in carrier cost providing service to Puerto Rico as compared with Alaska and Hawaii. Would the government consider an additional zone 10 for Puerto Rico rates to be included separately in a revised version of attachment 2?

Response: The Government will amend the solicitation to identify pricing for Puerto Rico as optional.

15) Reference: General Information, page 19, paragraph (h).

Question: The Solicitation Section entitled Paragraph (b) (16) Submissions of Offers and Questions

– paragraph (h) multiple awards (page 19) states that government intends to award two (2) contracts. Based upon market research, it doesn’t appear as though there are two small parcel carriers which can meet the requirements to CONUS, AK, HI and PR. Would the government consider not mandating that the offerer bid on all locations and be permitted to “no bid” on any part of these service offerings?

Response: The Government will amend the solicitation to identify pricing for Puerto Rico as optional.

16) Reference: 2.8 Location(s) of Performance, page 4, Mileage to Zone Conversion.

Question: Please explain how the mileage to zone conversion chart is applicable to VSM zones?

Each VSM and Depot will have their own mileage to zone chart as required in Attachment 1, 2.16 Transit Times, page 6. Requiring a carrier to use a Government provided chart is an undue burden.

The mileage may be approximate, but it is not exact; zip to zip is exact. An example is on high volume lanes. A carrier may have a zip to zip pairing in a lower zone based upon economies of scale. As carriers speed up their transit times, this clause would restrict the Government from benefiting from the improved transit time. A carrier can provide a zip to zip zone chart for all Appendix C Origin Locations; in addition, this information is readily available on carrier websites.

Response: The Government is not requiring the offeror to use the mileage to zone conversion chart at PWS paragraph 2.8. Offerors may use their own charts to determine their rates. The Government will amend the solicitation to remove the “Mileage to Zone” conversion chart from PWS paragraph 2.8.

17) Reference: Section – Corrections, 2.31.2, Page 11, items 2.31.2.7 and 2.31.2.8.

Question: If the DoDAAC isn’t provided in the TCN or in the address field, how is the carrier to know what the DoDAAC is?

Response: The DoDAAC is provided in the address field.

18) Reference: Section – Corrections, 2.31.2, Page 11, items 2.31.2.7 and 2.31.2.8.

Question: Can the Government please define shipment charge?

Response: The “cost of the shipment” with the incorrect delivery address being reported to DLA as required by PWS paragraph 2.31.2.

19) Reference: Attachment 1, page 33, Appendix 1 Applicable Accessorial Charges.

Question: DSS is used to process the DoD BPA, GSA MAS and WWX5 Contracts. Each of these contracts allows the carrier to establish the amount charged for an accessorial. Why is this solicitation different? How did the Government determine the accessorial rate?

Response: The government’s shipper system does not calculate accessorial charges for surface small package shipments in the rating and ranking process; therefore, accessorial charges must be established by the government in order to accurately identify the lowest cost carrier for a specific shipment. The government considered the accessorial rate on the current SSP contract as well as the accessorial rates commercial companies currently offer the general public.

20) Reference: Section Attachment 1, Page 3, Paragraph 2.7.1 Size and Weight.

Question: The current commercial practice in the small parcel industry for oversized packages is to use dimensional weighting. Large carriers use the same dimensional weighting formula (L x W x H / 166), and our automated systems are built to use this pricing logic. Using the pricing logic in the solicitation would impose an undue burden by requiring us to use an outdated legacy system for the sole purpose of satisfying this particular requirement. The legacy system is to be retired during the time frame of the solicitation. Other DOD and GSA procurement vehicles for small parcel use dimensional weight logic. Will the Government consider changing the oversize logic to the current commercial standard? Can the cost of maintaining the legacy system be claimed as a contract cost if the offeror would otherwise retire the system?

Response: The government’s shipper system does not calculate dimensional weight for surface small parcels; therefore, dimensional weight is not applicable to this contract as stated in PWS paragraph 2.7.3. The Government is not currently considering an oversize logic change to its shipper system. The Government will not pay the cost for maintaining an offeror’s commercial legacy system.