1st_Questions_-_1_to_24.docx

N00033-13-R-3210 – WATSON Class LMSRs 1st Questions: No. 1 – 24

Q.1 Form A requires pricing for FOS with Ammo, FOS without Ammo, ROS-4, ROS-UC and RAV, however the only items on Form B are FOS with Ammo, ROS-4 and Transition from ROS 4 to FOS. Is this correct? Are there no RAV periods anticipated during this contract?

A: There are RAV periods anticipated under this contract, but the Government will only be evaluating the reasonableness of proposed RAV pricing without the inclusion of crew wages/fringes. This is because actual RAV periods may have substantial differences in manning levels and length of time allotted, making it preferable to evaluate the base RAV rate for reasonableness. Section M-1.B.III.3 contains the price evaluation procedures that will be used.

Q.2 Form A has a line item for Wreck Removal Insurance? Please explain when this type of insurance would be required?

A: This was an error that was corrected in the version of Form A (Pricing Sheets) posted with Amendment 002.

Q.3 Ref: Form A. Wreck Removal Insurance does not seem to have been discussed in the body of the solicitation. Is this pricing line appropriate, or should it be removed from Form A? If appropriate, please provide a description of the requirement.

This was an error (see Question 2) that was corrected with the version of Form A (Pricing Sheets) that accompanied Amendment 002.

Q.4 Please confirm that Subsistence and Lodging for the crew are reimbursable during RAV periods.

A: RAV rates shall be negotiated in accordance with F-4 on a case-by-case basis prior to a ship entering RAV and will be based on crew specific requirements. In accordance with B-1.10, crew wage/fringe costs and other direct RAV crew costs identified in F-4 will be reimbursed with prior Contracting Officer approval.

Q.5 Attachment F provides CIVMAR wages only. In order to certify that we are in compliance with the SCA, please provide the current wages and fringes by billet that are currently being paid on these vessels.

A: The current SF98 Wage Determination was provided via Amendment 002.

Q.6 For clarification purposes, please define the term “assigned to the vessel”. Does this refer solely to when the individual is actually aboard the vessel, or does it include periods of time when the person is assigned to a specific billet but away from the vessel on vacation?

A: An “assigned” crew member must be officially signed aboard the ship and appear on the crew list as required by the contract manning scale for which the crew member receives a monthly pay voucher.

Q.7 Page 104, 2(c)(1) states that the MECP “submitted by the Contractor is incorporated in this contract.” In which section of the proposal is this to be submitted?

A: No submission is required until after award. The Mission-Essential Contractor Services Plan (MECSP) developed as per DFARS 252.237-7024, Notice of Continuation of Essential Contractor Services (OCT 2010) is due 60 days after contract award. The Required Delivery Schedule in Section F-5 was updated via Amendment 003 to reflect this.

The manning scale in Section 19.1 of the Technical Manual sets the duties to conduct the essential mission of the ship after contract award.

Q.8 In Section 19 of the Technical Manual, minimum manning for the Steward’s Department is omitted. Was this intentional or will this information be forthcoming?

A: Manning for the Steward’s Department is at the offeror’s discretion. However, the per diem rates for the resultant contract are at a fixed price. Accordingly, offerors are responsible for considering contract requirements and any terms and conditions of its agreements with maritime unions in the development of its proposed per diem rates. The version of Form A (Pricing Sheets) posted with Amendment 002 allows offers to propose the crewing arrangement for the Steward Department.

Q.9 In L-15-B(c).B.I(a) does the percentage of contract dedication apply to everyone shown on the organization chart or only the required and proposed Key Shore-side personnel?

A: This is required for all positions identified on the Organizational Chart. The last sentence of Section L-15.B.(c)B.I.(a) was revised in Amendment 003 to clarify this.

Q.10 Please provide the proposed drydock schedule for these vessels.

A: Current schedules for both Army and Marine Corps have ships returning for cargo maintenance approximately every three years at which time special survey dry-dockings will occur. Present expectations for number of dry-dockings are as follows:

FY14: 3

FY15: 2

FY16: 3

FY17: 3

FY18: 2

Dry Dock durations are anticipated to be approximately 60-90 days in length.

Q.11 Is a schedule available for cycling back to U.S. for backloads?

A: See answer to Q.10 above.

Q.12 B.1.9 states that “The contractor will not be paid a fixed fee to transition a ship from ROS to FOS, FOS to ROS, FOS to RAV and RAV to FOS.” C.3.4.2.3 states “The government will pay the contractor a fixed-price lump sum transition fee for transitioning a ship from ROS status to FOS.” Please clarify what the actual reimbursement will be.

A: This was an error, and C.3.4.2.3 has been deleted in Amendment 003. Transition expenses will be handled as per Sections B-1.9 and G-8.

Q.13 Please confirm that as per C.3.6 that CAC cards are required of ALL mariners?

A: Yes. All mariners will be required to carry a valid CAC.

Q.14 Attachment H, Item 3 states that the Report of Receipts is due on the 20th day of the month, however, C 4.5.1 refers to a Monthly Budget Status Report as shown in Attachment J, and it is due the 25th of the month. Are these the same report? If not please provide an example of the Report of Receipts; if they are, please advise the correct due date. Furthermore, Attachment H refers to invoice requirements; we are not sure what the Report of Receipts has do to with invoice requirements.

A: This was an error corrected in Amendment 003. Item 3, "Report of Receipts," in Attachment H has been deleted, and the due date for the Monthly Budget Status Report has been changed to the 20th of each month. This is also reflected in C-4.5.1.

All references to the Report of Receipts have been removed from the solicitation, as the Monthly Budget Status Report will contain the required information.

Q.15 G-3 (c) references spreadsheet methodology in Attachment J. Attachment J is the Monthly Budget Status report. Please clarify.

A: This was an error corrected in Amendment 003, as this was intended to reference Attachment H vice J.

Q16 G-3 (d) requires invoices for all vessels’ budgeted reimbursement line items be submitted by the 5th of the month. As a small business to help manage work flow and cash flow, would it be possible to require monthly billings spread out over different due dates so 2 to 4 vessels be billed at a time?

A: After award, the Contracting Officer will consider mutually agreeable alternative invoicing schedules.

Q.17 Ref: C-1.1.14.15, Stevedore Damage. Section states, “The contractor shall be responsible for damage caused by stevedores contracted for or otherwise provided by the contractor.” Given that the contractor would only be subcontracting for stevedore services at the request of the Government, it seems inequitable to demand that the contractor assume this liability. The contractor should not be held responsible for stevedore damage, regardless of who contracted for the service, unless the damage was caused as the direct result of negligence on the part of the contractor. Will the Government reconsider its position on stevedore damage?

A: This paragraph has been revised in Amendment 003.

Q.18 Ref: C-1.2.7.2, Oil Spill Response. Item does not discuss reimbursement for any costs; please confirm that this is reimbursable. (Note Section B includes CLIN for Oil Spill Response).

A: Direct and reasonable expenses associated with an oil spill response event will be reimbursed by the Government. Amendment 003 revised the referenced paragraph to include this language.

Q.19 Ref: C-1.2.7.3, Ballast Water Management. This item discusses ballast water exchange; will MSC be installing ballast water treatment systems?

A: At this time, MSC is still evaluating the standard and the required technology, and currently has no specific plans to install ballast water treatment systems. Selection and installation of any such systems would be managed through the TRANSALT process and would be considered a Separately Funded Reimbursable Item.

Q.20 Ref: C-1.7.5, Merchant Marine Cadets. Will the cost of subsistence and berthing for cadets be reimbursable in accordance with C-1.7.3?

A: No.

Q.21 Ref: C-3.3.1.1, Port Engineer. The requirements for a port engineer includes the following statement:

A Port Engineer must also meet at least one of the following criteria.

• A minimum of three (3) years experience as a Port Engineer having managed and negotiated at least two shipyard availabilities for ships not less than 4,500 tons DWT and more than 11,500 HP.

• A minimum of four (4) years experience serving aboard ocean-going ships as a either a Chief Engineer or First Assistant Engineer.

Will MSC accept a port engineer with blended experience of sea time and port engineer time as described above to meet this requirement (for example 2 Years as Chief Engineer and 1-1/2 years as P/E)? Will consideration be given to a potential port engineer’s time as manufacturer’s representatives or field service engineers for marine propulsion equipment or as Class Surveyors?

A: No. The Port Engineer requirements in the RFP are firm.

Q.22 Ref: L-15.B.(c).A.II.(a), Ship Maintenance and Repair Experience. Is evidence of maintenance and repair experience restricted to last fifteen (15) years?

A: Yes. Provide any relevant experience since 1998. Experience obtained prior to 1998 is outside the scope of the requirement and should not be included. In Amendment 003, Section L-15.B.(c).A.II.(a) was revised for clarity.

Q.23 Refs: L-15.B.(c).B.I.(a), Organizational Charts, and L-15.B.(c).B.I. (b), Key Shore Side Personnel Resumes. Both sections indicate requirements in accordance with C-3.3.2, is this the correct reference or should it be C-3.3.1?

A: The correct reference is C-3.3.1, Key Shore Side Personnel, and these references were corrected in Amendment 003.

Q.24 Ref: F-3.e & F-4.d, Reduced Operational Status and Repair Availability Status. These items discuss sending messages via telegraph, telex or telegraphically. Please confirm that this is correct and/or update these sections to include the use of e-mail rather than telegraphic or telex messaging.

A: This was an error. The referenced sections now permit electronic communication.

Please note that MSC is currently processing other questions that were received and the responses will be issued as soon as possible.