N0017422Q0001 - Amend0001.pdf

The purpose of this amendment is to 1) address questions received in response to the solicitation issuance, as follows:

1) The following questions were received in response to the solicitation issuance. Answers are provided below:

Question 1: Solicitation (B-M), SOW Para. 3.2, Page 5

Section 3.2 states, "The contractor shall provide a full maintenance and repair service of the Airgard instruments, including Midas add-on. To be performed on-site at the government facility." Will there be space available that is designated for this work?

Response 1: Workspace, including a large workbench, will be available for use at the government facility.

Question 2: Solicitation (B-M), SOW Para. 3.6, Page 6

Section 3.6 states, "This service must include detector replacement upon its failure or when determined to be non-operational by qualified government personnel." What criteria is being utilized to determine a device is non-operational?

Response 2: Detector temperature fluctuations will indicate a detector is approaching its end of life. Once detector temperature shows extremely high value detector swap will be needed.

Question 3: Solicitation (B-M), SOW Para. 3.8, Page 6

Section 3.8 states, "The contractor shall provide on-call and on-line technical support service." Can you further define on-call and technical support required to meet this requirement?

Response: Provide email and phone number for technical support questions that can be reached during at least normal business hours Monday-Friday.

Question 4: Solicitation General

What is the current incumbent’s Period of Performance and total contract value?

Response 4: The current contract is for a four-year period of performance, and total contract value of $2,359,209.78.

Question 5: Solicitation General

How many units have been completely replaced over the last 5-years?

Response 5: Nine units have been replaced from 2019. Five units were replaced from 2020. The rest are from 2012. Internal components have been periodically replaced; no unit has been completely replaced.

Question 6: Solicitation (B-M), Section L-219-H001, Page 87

Section L-219-H001 states that the offeror shall include a subcontracting plan in accordance with FAR 52.219-9 and that "the plan shall include a five percent (5%) goal for small, disadvantaged business concerns." Please confirm that the 5% goal is as a percent of total subcontracted dollars (versus as a percent of total contract value).

Response 6: The subcontracting plan will outline the total dollars to be subcontracted for the effort so that 5% should be reflected in that subcontracted value.

Question 7: Section L, Proposal Requirement, Page 82

Section L, Instructions to Offerors (Lowest Price Technically Acceptable) states, “The Government intends to award a single contract on a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) basis.”

Given that the last time the government solicited competitive bids for this contract was pre-COVID 19 and before the pandemic impacted virtually every aspect of life, will the government change their acquisition to a "best value" competitive procurement to consider the realities of operations, supply chain, program management and other important factors that bring value to the government? The world today is not the same environment as it was pre-COVID 19 and expending US Taxpayer funds decided by primarily lowest price, as was appropriate in a prior environment. But now it is not in the best interest of the government or the taxpayer in the current environment. For example, the government could receive a bid from a company with ZERO past performance in this area and be rated satisfactory and with no way for the government to determine that the bidder can and will do the work.

Response 7: The Government took the pandemic into account when preparing and issuing this solicitation. As this is a service requirement, the Government does not believe that a change in strategy is necessary for this particular procurement.

Question 8: Proposal due date is currently posted as December 02, 2021, 02:00 PM EST.

In light of the upcoming holidays, will the Government consider extending the due date to December 16, 2021?

Response: The Government will extend the due date to December 08, 2021.

2) All other terms remain unchanged.

3) Direct questions to Sara Cooper at sara.j.cooper@navy.mil.

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