RobotAnswers.doc

QUESTIONS & ANSWER ABOUT PHOTOS/DRAWINGS OF ROBOT

1. Would it be possible to get a copy of the Fidelis document package shown to us during the site visit?

2. Any pictures that are available of robot, EOAT, automation system, grippers, crucibles, trays etc.

3. System design diagrams?

4. Are there any existing drawings or 3D virtual models of the existing EOT tooling, trays and/or system?

5. During the site visit we were shown design documents related to the robot weigh cell. It was indicated that copies would be made available to us, but was uncertain of the avenue of delivery (i.e., whether they would be placed on the solicitation’s web page or mailed directly from). Should I expect to receive these items via the FBO.gov website for this solicitation, or should I be expecting to receive this directly from Mr. Montgomery?

ANSWER: A Project Overview is attached to this amendment that includes illustrations and descriptions of the robot as well as 2 other attachments – EOAT 1 & EOAT 2.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ABOUT CRUCIBLES/TRAYS

1. EOAT tool dimensions?

The tray-gripper EOAT measures 10.1cm long x 3.6cm wide x 2.5 cm thick. Including the attached cylinder, the tool measures 9.8cm long.

2. EOAT tool weight?

The complete EOAT weight is approximately 3.6kg.

3. EOAT material?

The component of the EOAT which grips the crucible trays is made of stainless steel.

4. Crucible and stainless steel tray weights?

The porcelain crucibles vary in weight from approximately 12.5g to 13.5g each. An empty crucible tray weighs approximately 2.0kg. With 25 empty crucibles, the weight is approximately 2.4g. The weight of the tray + 25 crucibles with approximately 2.0g of sample in each would be approximately 2.5kg.

5. What is contained in crucible?

The porcelain crucibles hold the analytical samples which are poured by the robotic system. The crucibles hold the coal/rock dust samples during both heating phases.

6. Do the trays have to be made of stainless as mentioned in the solicitation?

They need to be made of a material capable of withstanding the high temperatures of our ashing furnace. We typically ramp the furnace up slowly and ash the samples at 514°C.

7. How much room is there between the front of the tray and the oven door in its current configuration, both the moisture oven, and the hotter oven?

There is approximately 6.5cm between the front of the tray and the oven door in the moisture oven, and approximately 9cm between the front of the tray and the door in the ash furnace.

QUESTION & ANSWER ON WORK DAY SCHEDULES

1. (Solicitation section Vendor Responsibilities, paragraph 6) Please expand on, or provide (links to) document(s) that more completely detail, the “…federal government regulations regarding … work day schedules…”. The answer to this question is of particular interest given the discussions at the site-visit regarding the facilities work schedule and its willingness to be flexible with both the work-day and the work-week.

Laboratory personnel work a compressed schedule. We generally work four ten-hour days, usually 6:30am – 5:00pm. We can alter our work schedule to meet the needs of the selected vendor, and we will always have at least one lab employee here with the contracted workers at all times.

GENERAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

1. Are you actually looking for a proposal at this time or is this presolicitation merely a notice that the full RFP will be coming out at a later time?

This is listed at the FBO posting as a “Combined Synopsis/Solicitation”. The closing date for proposals is April 20, 2010 – 10:00 a.m. EST

2. Are you only soliciting questions at this time?

The solicitation asked that all questions be submitted via e-mail by March 26, 2010. Proposals are due by 10:00 a.m. EST on April 20, 2010.

3. If this is an actual RFP now, what is the required level of response for this solicitation?

This is an RFP.

4. What is the format and required content for the 10 pages?

The required format is in MS Word Office 2003 compatible files with the font size at least a 10 point. NOTE: No Vista or Zip files should be submitted. The content should include your technical capabilities, i.e. experience with the ABB IRB 140 robotics automation system’s design or similar product and past performance references of similar work done.

5. You recommend a site visit. Is this for the chosen vendor? Or is this recommended to all bidders prior to submitting a proposal?

The site visit was highly recommended for all prospective vendors. There is no chosen vendor until the award is made.

6. If so, how would we go about scheduling a visit?

The site visit information was posted at the FBO website as amendments #1 (date) and #2 that included date, time and complete address of site visit. This was scheduled for Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. EST

7. Do you have a specific vendor or vendors already in mind to perform this work?

No

8. When do you expect this contract to start?

We hope to award the contract by April 28, 2010. Repairs on the robot should commence within 2 weeks after award date.

9. (Solicitation section Vendor Responsibilities, paragraph 6) Please expand on, or provide (links to) document(s) that more completely detail, the “…federal government regulations regarding travel and hotel expenses, daily meal allowances…” Contractor must adhere to federal government regulations regarding to travel and hotel expenses, daily meal allowances per location per GSA travel regulations. The allowable per diem per day for Mount Hope, WV is $116.00. That is $70.00 per day for lodging and $46.00 per day for meal allowance with ¾ day meal allowance of $34.50 for first and last days of travel. This information may be found at www.gsa.gov.

10. (Solicitation paragraphs 5th, 4th and 3rd from end of original text) The content of the submission is briefly described as “no more than 10 pages in length”. The order of importance of the three primary factors of evaluation criteria is also stated. Can you provide a more complete description of the format of the submission that is expected-or is the submission format completely free-form? This question arises from our other experience with federal government solicitations, including requirements to separately present the technical and price proposals.

Proposals should be submitted as three (3) separate volumes: 1) technical capabilities; 2) past performance and 3) price. The required format is in MS Word Office 2003 compatible files with the font size at least a 10 point. NOTE: No Vista or Zip files should be submitted. The content should include your technical capabilities, i.e. experience with the ABB IRB 140 robotics automation system’s design or similar product and past performance references of similar work done. Pricing should not be included in either of the two volumes.

11. Please identify any other rules or clauses that will govern the successful bidder of this solicitation. By this, I am referring any clauses related to record-keeping, reporting, Bacon act wage scales, certified payroll, and the host of other items often included in federal contracts. I ask not to complicate either the vendor’s or buyer’s effort, but I also wish to have complete understanding of the costs imposed on the vendor by this project so that those costs can be fairly included in the submission’s price.

The Service Contract Act (SCA) Wage Determination for Mount Hope, WV applies to this project. This is added as an attachment to this amendment.

QUESTIONS CONCERNING BUDGET/FUNDING FOR PROJECT

1. What do you imagine might be the approximate funding level for this work? For example, would it be greater than $100,000?

2. Is there an expected budget range established for this solicitation; or perhaps a cost we would all “know” that any response would likely exceed?

ANSWER: The award will be made based on the best value for the government, technical capability, past performance and pricing all considered.