M00264-15-T-1068_Questions_ _Answers.docx

Questions & Answers Request for Quote M00264-15-T-1068

Question 1: Items 0002 and 1002 are asking for the net amount for the Cantor services that will be provided by this contract. This is in conflict with section 5.4 which states ". The Contractor, will provide sub-contract as a cantor, at no cost to the government for the leading and conduction of services at both Catholic Masses.” How can the contractor provide services to the government at no cost?

Answer 1: Because within the Contract, the Contractor is provided the funding to pay a Cantor. It will be up to Contractor to source out for cantor which they negotiate the price. That price will be between the Contractor and the Sub-contractor(s).

Question 2: The RFP states that the Cantor is only required for Sunday masses. Are there any Cantor requirements for Holy Days of Obligations (I.e. The Feast of the Assumption, All Saints Day, The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Christmas Eve & Day, Mary Mother of God, as well as special liturgies Ash Wednesday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil)?

Answer 2: According to the Father, No Cantor will be required on Holy Days of Obligation.

Question 3: Is the Cantor required for funeral and memorial services of all active duty personnel held at the United States Marine Memorial Chapel (MMC)? If so could you provide the number of expected funeral and memorial services for the base and option periods of this contract.

Answer 3: No, they are not.

Question 4: How much has it been previously awarded for?

Answer 4: There was not one previous contract, but two. Neither included a Sound Technician. The annual price was $53,000. The previous contract were organist contracts, but Command Chaplain’s Office wants to provide a higher quality music ministry for the congregations onboard so they were looking to utilize the funds for one Director of Music & Worship to include funding so they could provide a Cantor for the Catholics and individual that will support the Contemporary as a Sound Tech/Music leader.

Question 5: Did it include Option Years?

Answer 5: Yes. Two.

Question 6: Is there an incumbent in place?

Answer 6: Yes.

Question 7: Why is the contract too complex and open for meticulous scrutinization? Seems as if any of the many moving parts of the contract (unbounded) are not fulfilled; the Contractor will be liable for “nonperformance” depending on the Chapel Pastors’ interpretation of all Tasks/Qualifications/Contractor Responsibilities.

Answer 7: Chaplains put together a Performance of Work that change the parameters from just hiring an organist under two contracts at 10 hours per week on both to a 30 hour Director of Music position which the Command Chaplain understands there may be room for improvement in performance of work when we go out with a new contract when this one is completed.

Question 8: Why is it that the contract does not specify the number of Special Services/Holy Days of Obligation and funerals that are required? Seems this contract is open, with an unbounded number of services and funerals per month, yet set to a bound contract price without additional remuneration. This contract position requires the Contractor to be available 24/7.

When it comes to Weddings and funerals, you are given first priority, but if you are not available there will be backup organists ready to play in your stead, especially since the price of these are negotiated by the contractor/organist directly with the family or the funeral director. Or we would let the family or funeral director that they would need to provide one for the wedding or funeral. The only exception is the active duty marine funerals, which are very few during the year. We have had 1-5 per year in the past few years.

As far as special Holy Days, this contract is a basically a salary based contract which includes all Sundays & special holy days.

Answer 8: Why is it that there is no time specified/set for the Traditional Protestant Services? The contract specifies a 0900 and 1200 Catholic Mass and a 1030 Contemporary Protestant Service.

The Traditional Protestant Service is at 1030. We can add that to the Contract so you know it is 52 Sunday services with maybe three special services during the year, Christmas Eve, Good Friday, and sometimes Maundy Thursday.

Question 9: How can an individual be in two locations at the same time and be legally liable for the meticulous contract details? Reference CLIN #0003 and CLIN #1003 Sound Technician for the Contemporary Protestant Service: I can’t take responsibility for what is done in another location/area while the Contractor as the Organist/Pianist is required to be playing in the Chapel. I will have no control as to how the Sound Technician conducts his/her tasks; that is meeting the terms of this complex contract; and as “Contractor” be liable.

Answer 9: That is something the Command Chaplain will need to work out with you and the Pastor of the Contemporary Worship Service. As long as the person is reliable and has the technical skill to run the sound system, I don’t believe the Command Chaplain will have to trust that you are providing guidance. We have added the funding to provide for their services too in addition to the Cantors.

Question 10: With paragraph 4 above in mind; if a proposal “Request for Quote” is submitted with a “no-bid” for these two CLIN numbers, will the total proposal itself be outright rejected as technically unacceptable?

Answer 10: Yes, a quote that does not include all Line Items will be considered technically unacceptable.

Question 11: Why was there an announcement with a Compensation amount already posted (6/17/2015) on Craigslist, “before” the FedBizOpps (FBO) Solicitation Date of 6/25/2015? The Craigslist is advertising this same position as “Music Director/Keyboard/Vocal” (Quantico Marine Base). Most of the verbiage seems to come directly from the FBO “Request for Quote” wording; however, nothing is mentioned about the Sound Technician tasks or responsibilities; nor does it address the AGO requirement and several other components.

Answer 11: It should never been put on Craigslist by anyone. And I have no clue how that got on craigslist.