USC-9_RFP_Q&As_(2).pdf

Solicitation: HTC711-19-R-W001

SOURCE SELECTION INFORMATION - SEE FAR 2.101 AND 3.104

# Section Para # Question/Comment/Feedback Government Response

38 2.1

While the Government did provide a response to our question, it seems the concerns regarding Cargo Value at time of booking, the ability to decline cargo and let it move with another provider or the option of additional insurance coverage is not mentioned. The response indicated a "value exceeds $1.25m" but this was never discussed nor agreed. Finally, it was mentioned that " the contractor shall contact the Contracting Officer for further instructions" is a little too vague to make for a complete agreement for this type of cargo.

(Previous Government Response: COGSA accurately reflects the Government's requirement.

However, for High Value cargo in exigency areas, if the value exceeds exceeds $1.25M, the contractor shall contact the Contracting Officer for further instructions. This applies only to exigency areas.)

As stated at the pre-proposal conference, the Government plans to provide more shipper education and booking guidance in an effort to reduce high-value cargo leakage into the USC program in exigency areas. However, carriers will not be provided the opportunity to decline cargo after acceptance of the booking. Rather in recognition of carrier concerns relational to high value cargo, the Government has drafted language to notify the Contracting Officer when values exceeds $1.25M for further instructions (if carrier movement concerns arise following identification of cargo value after accepted). This language was drafted to allow the Contracting Officer wide latitude in decision making as it relates to transporting high-value cargo within exigency areas to include, but not limited to, changing the mode of transportation, shortstopping, or obtaining additional liability coverage which will be determined by the Government on a case by case basis pending the circumstances (i.e. cargo, transport locations, value and/or potential impact to safety or life). The threshold of $1.25M was identified through data-mining all container bookings within the last 12 months and in consideration of sustaining reasonable unimpeded cargo flow. If a carrier is in receipt of a particular type of cargo valued less than $1.25M moving into exigency areas, that poses movement concerns, the carrier may also reach out to the Contracting Officer to seek further instructions.

39 Please confirm when the Q&A answers will be incorporated under an Amendment to the USC-9 RFP in order to be legally binding.

The Q&As will not be incorporated into an amendment. Any changes to the solicitation resulting from Q&As will be incorporated by amendment.

40 Template for Subcontracting Plan: Please pardon me if I missed the location of this template, but can you point me in the right direction?

Please see Exhibit 1, Attachment 1 of the RFP

41 CARE

Is there any mechanism in place right now to copy over USC8 rates to USC9? I know there has been talk about that in past and I am hopeful its in effect.

CARE does have a copy function. Please contact the CARE Help Desk for assistance.

42 I’m assuming that the SAFE site accepts pdf documents correct? Yes pdf is accepted.

43 Will we receive a confirmation from the SAFE site that the proposal has been properly uploaded and received?

You should receive an email once your documents are retrieved.

Should there be any issues with the upload of the documents will there be a contact name and phone number in the email from safe-support@arl.army.mil < Caution-mailto:safe-support@arl.army.mil > to reach out to?

Please refer to the contacts listed in paragraph 52.212-1 (b)(ii)(1) in the solicitation for any issues with uploading documents.

Universal Service Contract (USC) -9 Questions and Answers Matrix

USC-9