2025.03.27 Atlantic Barge RFP QA Master.pdf

Question # Date Rcvd Document/Attachment

Page # / Paragraph Reference Question Government Response

Date Posted to SAM.gov

1 12-Mar-25 Attachment 7, Atlantic Barge Pricing

Matrix N/A On Option Year Three, Lines 53-55, Est Qty of Call In is listed as 12, is this a misprint, should the number be 2, in line with the other Option Years? Est Qty for CLINs 3005, 3006, and 3007 were updated via Amendment 2. 20-Mar-25

2 14-Mar-25

Attachment 8, Small Business Utilization Worksheet, and 9, Small Business

Subcontracting Plan Template N/A If a barge operator does not intend to subcontract any of the required work out, do they still need to complete attachments 8 and 9?

Attachment 8: All Offerors, including small businesses, shall submit a Small Business Utilization Worksheet. For Large Business Offerors, the Small Business Utilization is separate from and in addition to the Small Business Subcontracting Plan.

Attachment 9: Applies to Large Businesses Only. 20-Mar-25

3 18-Mar-25 Performance Work Statement (PWS) 5.7, Operations Security

(OPSEC)

Although the Performance Work Statement (PWS) references “Information determined as legacy FOUO or CUI included as part of the OPSEC Critical Information List (CIL),” the PWS does not refer to processing, storing, or transmitting covered defense information (“CDI”). If TRANSCOM believes that the contract will require processing, storing, or transmitting CDI or Controlled Unclassified Information (“CUI”), we request that the solicitation specifically identify what information or categories the agency intends to designate as CUI or is considering identifying as CDI and whether the agency anticipates that a contractor would create information that the agency would designate CUI/CDI. We also request that TRANSCOM explain how it intends to provide CUI/CDI information to the contractor. Such information is necessary for offerors to be able to include appropriate compliance-related costs and requests to vary from NIST SP 800.171 Revision 2 in their proposals.

If the agency has not identified any information that would be provided by the government or the contractor as CUI/CDI, we request that the agency consider removing Section 5.7 from the solicitation.

This requirement/contract does not currently contain or anticipate the use of any CUI/CDI information. However, Section 5.7 will remain in the PWS for cautionary purposes. There are no OPSEC concerns as the PWS is considered Unclassified; however, OPSEC may arise into the Unclassified environment due to aggregation of data, mis-labeled information, or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) provided to the Contractor. 20-Mar-25

4 21-Mar-25 N/A N/A Is it the government's intention to award a contract to a single company?

Yes, in accordance with Addendum to FAR 52.212-1, paragraph (h), of the solicitation: "Multiple awards" is not applicable to this solicitation. The Government intends to award one contract as a result of this solicitation." 27-Mar-25

5 24-Mar-25 Solicitation Section 10

The Solicitation for Fuel Barge Transportation in the Atlantic Region is marked as “Unrestricted” in section 10, with no “Set Aside” for Hubzone, SB, WOSM, VOSB, EDWOSB, or 8A. As there is no “Set Aside”, can you confirm Attachments 8 and 9 relating to Small Business Subcontracting is not required for this proposal?

Please see response to question #2. Both attachment 8 and attachment 9 are required. 27-Mar-25

6 24-Mar-25 N/A N/A Can you share the percentage of total contract dollars that was subcontracted in the current or prior contract?

The current contract was not awarded as a Set Aside and did not have a requirement to track subcontracting utilization. Therefore, subcontracting dollars are not available for publication. 27-Mar-25

7 24-Mar-25 N/A N/A

Will a contractor be able to "for example" Supply the One Tank Barge with a calibrated capacity of 50,000 barrels not more than 60,000 barrels with ocean going capacity as a Set Aside? or does the contractor have to supply all six barges?

There will not be a Set Aside awarded with this contract. The contractor will be required to provide all six tank barges per PWS 2.2.1. with the following capacities:

- two (2) tank barge having a total capacity of not less than 10,000 barrels (and not more than 20,000 barrels) with inland waterway capability,

- three (3) tank barges, each having a total calibrated capacity of not less than 20,000 barrels (and not more than 30,000 barrels) with inland waterway capability and

- one (1) tank barge having a total calibrated capacity of 50,000 barrels (and not more than 60,000 barrels) with ocean going capability. 27-Mar-25

8 24-Mar-25 N/A N/A

Will the barge or barges be paid a stand by daily rate when not carrying the Government's Fuel? or will the Daily rate paid be locked in as a 24 hour a day 365 days per year contract locked in price with fuel cost reimbursement for the duration of the contract?

PWS 1.1.3 requires the contractor to be available to the Government at all times, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. As indicated in Attachment 7, Atlantic Barge Pricing Matrix v.2, the contractor will be paid a monthly rate.

Bunker Fuel Reimbursement will be paid on an actual cost basis as stated in PWS Appendix C, paragraph C.3. 27-Mar-25

9 24-Mar-25

Volume I: Business Proposal and Attachment 2 – Business Proposal

Worksheet N/A

Appreciate clarification on the instructions related to Volume I: Business Proposal and Attachment 2 – Business Proposal Worksheet. The instructions specify that offerors must “provide written responses in the blocks provided,” and that “text fields may not be altered, and no additional page submissions will be accepted.” However, Attachment 2 references requirements such as FAR 52.212-3, which allow for offerors to respond either via SAM.gov or "within the RFP."

To ensure compliance, we respectfully request clarification on the following:

1. Are offerors permitted to submit any narrative explanations or supporting documentation outside the designated text fields in Attachment 2, or must all responses be confined strictly to those fields?

2. Where provisions state that responses may be made “within the RFP,” does this refer strictly to the provided text boxes in Attachment 2, or is there another acceptable format or section for providing those responses? There seems to not be room within Attachment #2 to respond to questions 2,3,4,7,8, 13 within the attachment #2.

1. If Offerors choose to complete the FAR/DFARS provision requirements within the RFP/solicitation, this shall be done on the SF1449 solicitation document and annotated on Attachment 2 with the drop down "FAR Provision 52.XXX-X completed in the RFP." If Offerors choose to complete the FAR/DFARS provision requirements in SAM.gov, the Offeror shall annotate Attachment 2 with the drop down "FAR Provision 52.XXX-X completed in SAM." All responses are limited to the text box or drop down provided.

2. If an Offeror responds to FAR/DFARS provision requirements within the RFP, the Offeror shall fill it in on the SF1449 solicitation document and annotate how they responded on Attachment 2 with the drop down options. 27-Mar-25

Scheduled Fuel Barge Services in Atlantic Region - RFP Q&A

HTC71125RW001

10 24-Mar-25 N/A N/A

Please confirm whether occasional vessel calls at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba would be considered performance outside the United States under FAR 52.222-56, and whether such visits could trigger the requirement to submit a trafficking in persons compliance plan certification if the associated value exceeds $550,000.

Yes, Guantanamo Bay Cuba is considered performance outside the United States. Both FAR Provision 52.222-56 and FAR Clause 52.222-50 are included in the solicitation which require trafficking in persons compliance plan certification. 27-Mar-25

11 24-Mar-25 Attachment Four, Subfactor C: Contractor

Confirmation Checklist Line 18 Line 18 states "Contractor will meet the lead time requirement of 90 calendar days". Should this state, the contractor will meet the lead time of 15 days?

The awardee shall be able to meet all contract/PWS requirements within 90 days of contract award; to include but not limited to, positioning all necessary vessels, equipment, and crew. The 90-day calendar lead time requirement is the time between contract award and the start of performance. 27-Mar-25

12 24-Mar-25 RFP N/A We came across the TRANSCOM25W001 RFQ solicitation and wanted to know if this was still active?

The RFI associated with TRANSCOM25W001 is no longer active on SAM.gov.

However, the RFP Solicitation (Notice ID: HTC71125RW001) is still active and will remain active on SAM.gov until 5 April 2025. 27-Mar-25

13 25-Mar-25 PWS

Table 1, Sample- Calculation- Excess Procurement Costs Is the formula calculation correct at 20,000/day or should it be $10,000 per day?

The sample excess re-procurement formula calculation is correct at $20,000/day for the failure to perform rate. Amendment 0004 was issued adding this clarification to the PWS paragraph 3.10.6., Failure to Perform. 27-Mar-25

14 26-Mar-25

Attachments 2 - 7 , Header, Source Selection Information - See Far 2.101 and 3.104 (When filled-in, this Document becomes CUI//SP-SSEL). N/A

As the Agency previously stated, “This requirement/contract does not currently contain or anticipate the use of any CUI/CDI information.” The following Attachments to the Solicitation however, states that when it is completed, it is CUI:

o Attachment 2 – Business Proposal Worksheet o Attachment 3 – U.S. Domestic Shipyard Report o Attachment 4 – Technical Capability Worksheet o Attachment 5 – Past/Present Performance Worksheet o Attachment 6 – Pat/Present Performance Questionnaire o Attachment 7 – Atlantic Barge Pricing Matrix

We believe this is a mistake. Although offerors will certainly view this information as confidential or proprietary, offerors should not be required to treat the attachments as CUI under the various contract clauses. We therefore request that you remove this designation from the above Attachments.

The designation marking will remain as Attachments 2 - 7 are considered Source Selection Information. However, these documents do not get incorporated into the contract at award; therefore, the contract award and performance under the contract will not include CUI. 27-Mar-25

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