Solicitation Question and Answer Log_2021.09.21.pdf

DATE

RCVD DOCUMENT REFERENCE PROSPECTIVE VENDOR'S QUESTION DATE of

REPLY GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE AMEND.

REQD?

9-Sep-21 Atch 2 - Schedule of Rates

Load/Discharge Vessel and Trucks (1A1, 1A2, 1B3 & 1B4)

There are no line item number for Lo/Lo of Vehicles and Trailers for the aforementioned Schedules.

21-Sep-21 Rates for LOLO of vehicles and trailers for Load/Discharge Vessel (Schedule 1A1 & 1A2) and Load/Discharge Trucks (Schedule 1B3 & 1B4) have been added to the Schedule of Rates (Atch 2)

YES

9-Sep-21 Atch 2 - Schedule of Rates

Intra Port Transfer (1F) Vehicles and Trailers are assumed to be only transferred as Rolling equipment, i.e. not lifting or towing?

21-Sep-21 Correct, unless the vehicle is deadline then the COR will/may approve other means or payment to transfer the vehicle.

NO

9-Sep-21 Atch 2 - Schedule of Rates

General If a CLIN is a Port Tariff item can we state "PT" or "At Cost" on the spreadsheet?

21-Sep-21 No, rates must be calculated on the SOR

NO

9-Sep-21 Atch 2 - Schedule of Rates

Equipment Rental (4) Is there no provision for re-charge of stand-by time for MHE? 21-Sep-21 No, contractors are to have their own equipment and if equipment is used on a rental basis the USG will not pay stand-by time because it already paying by rental (Schedule 4, Equipment Rental)

NO

9-Sep-21 Atch 2 - Schedule of Rates

Miscellaneous (8) On what basis are the fixed amounts stated in the SOR for OOP and VAT calculated by the Government?

21-Sep-21 These amounts are for budget use only (internal to USG)

NO

7-Sep-21 Atch 4 - Technical Worksheet

Para 5C Please confirm exact specification and number of Ramps that are required.

PWS clauses suggest that 70 metric ton capacity ramps are needed for load/discharge of truck/trailers, however lowbed trailers that are used for transport of heavy units generally have their own ramps fitted. Flatbed trailers are high off the ground and are not generally used for heavy RORO cargo. TOTO to or from a flatbed trailer using a ramp would be extremely difficult and dangerous. Are we allowed to suggest alternatives to ramps?

7-Sep-21 Yes, most if not all lowboys are/do have their own ramps, (some will disconnect from the tractor) however if a standard type trailer is used, an alternative type ramp or lift maybe used. For towed or deadline vehicles, lifting cargo is an alternative.

NO

1-Sep-21 Atch 1 - PWS Para 5.33 to 5.4 Towing inoperable vehicles. Will USG be providing the correct specification UA Military Tow-bars on site?

20-Sep-21 See PWS 5.33.3 NO

1-Sep-21 Atch 1 - PWS Para 5.33 to 5.4 Contact Maintenance. Given that there is no fixed level or frequency of work requiring contact maintenance team it is going to be expensive to keep such teams standing by in multiple Ports. If that cost is to be built in to commodity rates then those rates will be unnecessarily elevated. Can repairs be recharged on case by case basis as OOP?

20-Sep-21 Yes, repairs are at the discretion of the COR based on type of repair that is in question.

NO

1-Sep-21 General n/a There is no reference to any pre-solicitation conference call being scheduled for all bidders. Will there be one?

7-Sep-21 No, there will not be a pre-solicitation conference call. NO

1-Sep-21 SF1449 Page 31, Para B. Part 1 Instruction states there is a maximum of 25 pages allowed for the Technical Worksheet submission. The Technical Worksheet itself states a 20 page maximum. Please confirm which is correct.

7-Sep-21 The RFP maximum page limit of 25 pages is correct. An amendment will be drafted to correct this issue on Attachment 4, Technical Worksheet.

YES

1-Sep-21 Atch 1 - PWS Para 1.2 Paragraph mentions only Import/Export of Cargo. Will there be any USG cargo that is Transiting through Saudi Arabia to/from another Country? Or cargo that transits on to another carrier vessel without leaving port boundaries?

7-Sep-21 All cargo is USG owned and entered into the Defense Transpiration System (DTS) and is considered either for import or export. Some cargo will transition out of Saudi Arabia and be picked up by other contracted assets.

In most cases cargo will not be transferred between vessels.

NO

SOLICITATION Q&A LOG

HTC711-21-R-R015 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia S&RTS

Last Updated: 20 September 2021

1-Sep-21 Atch 1 - PWS Para 4.3.1.2 Out of pocket expenses. The indicated limit for OOP is US. 3500 per individual order. However, given the items that are to be charged as OOP, e.g. 3PL services such as cargo washing, security provision, fuel provision, aviation support (5.39), floating cranes (5.4), then the cost is almost certainly going to be over the US$ 3500 limit. Can that limit be raised or OOP cost considered and approved on a case by case basis?

7-Sep-21 The limit cannot be raised. Any cost exceeding limit will have to be approved by the Contracting Officer which will be considered and approved on a case by case basis.

NO

1-Sep-21 Atch 1 - PWS Para 5.10.2 Removal/Installation of Vessel hatches or similar is generally handled by Vessel/Port, not the S&RTS Contractor. Please clarify.

7-Sep-21 The Contractor shall be responsible for opening and closing vessel services. NO

1-Sep-21 Atch 1 - PWS Para 5.10.8 Broom sweeping multiple decks of any vessel is going to be expensive and time consuming. Such a service should not be included as part of commodity rates in SOR 1A1 as it would distort the true prices quoted for Loading / Discharging a Vessel. Please advise

7-Sep-21 The Contractor shall be responsible for housekeeping, picking up debris created during operations this is standard commercial practice and is not something that should effect pricing.

NO

1-Sep-21 Atch 1 - PWS Para 5.26 Inland Transport. There is no mention of cross-Border transportation so can we assume all Transportation will be internal with Saudi Arabia? I.e.. port to inland destination or inland destination to port only.

7-Sep-21 Yes. NO

1-Sep-21 Atch 1 - PWS Para 5.26.1.1 Load / unload cargo at Inland destination. There could be considerable mobilization cost to get Labor and MHE safely on site inland. If SOR prices for Schedules 4 and 2 have to include mob / demob costs to Inland destinations then pricing is in danger of being unnecessary inflated. Can mob / demob to inland destinations be treated as OOP instead?

7-Sep-21 Yes. NO

1-Sep-21 Atch 1 - PWS Para 5.26.1.2 Reference is made to obtaining Customs Clearance – please confirm that is Port entry / exit Customs clearance and not overall customs clearance for entry / exit of Saudi Arabia?

7-Sep-21 Confirmed. NO

1-Sep-21 Atch 1 - PWS Para 5.26.1.2 Creation of port passes and road permits will have a substantial cost attached to create them. Can said cost be recharged as OOP?

7-Sep-21 Yes. NO

1-Sep-21 Atch 1 - PWS Para 5.33 - 5.4 Contact Maintenance. Where do we recharge spares / fuel / consumables that may be necessary to repair USG Cargo that is inoperable through no fault of Contractor?

7-Sep-21 Spare tires are mounted on most vehicles, fuel and consumables are sourced local (OOP).

NO

1-Sep-21 Atch 1 - PWS Para 6.1.1 Secondary ports listed for S&RTS coverage are considerable distances from Yanbu / Jeddah. Will we be allowed to charge additional Mob / Demob for services provided in those locations?

7-Sep-21 Yes, when or if other ports are used and services are requested, the contractor will be able to provide rates.

NO

1-Sep-21 Atch 1 - PWS Para 6.5.8 Radio Comm equipment. The Saudi Port Authorities do not generally allow operation of such equipment so it can only be provided subject to permission.

7-Sep-21 Communication is essential in any vessel or port operations, however if KSA law prevents this type of electronics at its ports, the USG personnel will adapt. The Contractor shall stand ready to provide the service upon request as part of the S&RTS requirement.

NO

1-Sep-21 Atch 1 - PWS Para 6.5.9.1 Clearance of staging area, Contractor to bear costs. As the Ports are not exclusively for Military use it is likely there will be obstructions to clear, but as said obstructions are not Contractor controlled how can we be expected to pay for MHE / Labor needed to clear them?

7-Sep-21 Staging area/lots are the responsibility of the contractor. NO

1-Sep-21 SF1449 FAR 52.212-3 / FAR 52.204-24

“Covered equipment”. Please clarify USG definition of said equipment and how it applies to S&RTS. i.e. supply of monitors / screens is prohibited for reason of sanctions or environmental or security?

7-Sep-21 "covered telecommunications equipment or services" is defined at DFAR 252.204-7018

NO

31-Aug-21 General n/a List of required assets: Is there any quantities (fixed or minimum counts) required for each of the equipment types?

7-Sep-21 No requirement for quantity, however the contractor is expected to be able to supply labor and equipment for loading/unloading multiple vessels, trucks, and other terminal services as stated in the PWS.

NO

31-Aug-21 General n/a Any age/model year restrictions for the equipment to be used in port? 7-Sep-21 No requirement, other than in good working/maintenance/safety conditions, (Per 3.9) The contractor shall maintain and operate all Contractor equipment used during operations IAW applicable host nation, locate authority, laws and DOD regulations, Army, port, and terminal regulations, directives, instructions and pamphlets, whichever are more stringent. Cargo damage or injury related to use of non-compliant or improper equipment use will rest in immediate non0use of Contractors equipment until replace or action take to repair equipment. The Contractor shall replace any non-compliant equipment to minimize any delay or hinderance to operations.

The Contractor shall notify the COR when the equipment is made compliant and before used again.

NO

23-Aug-21 Atch 1 - PWS Para 4.1.1 Does the Prime, Subcontractor, or both need to provide Host Nation commercial registration for shipping, freight forwarding, import/export of cargo, cargo handling or equivalent services?

25-Aug-21 The prime or its named subcontractor doing business as or on behalf of the prime shall possess a Host Nation registration. Refer to the revisions made to 4.1.1 of the PWS.

YES

23-Aug-21 Atch 1 - PWS Section 6.5.13 Is there a preferred Fuel Handling Certificate Agency/Granting Authority? 25-Aug-21 Refer to CFR 49 (or its equivalent) and the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code for the specific type of training and certification required to handle hazardous commodity.

YES

Sheet1