Call out Tugs QandA 8.pdf

Q1: We have a current contract for call-out tug support that covers on of the same areas as this RFP. Please advise if my contract will be ending early.

A1: The previous call-out tug contracts in these areas were contracted for Military Sealift Command and will transition to Naval Supply Systems Command Contracting activities. These are all follow-on contracts and the current vehicles in these areas are not expected to continue after execution of awards under this RFP. For additional information, please contact your current contract’s administrative contracting officer.

Q2: Does the Government intend to award a single contractor or multiple contractors for Guam?

A2: The Government intends to award a single contract to a single contractor in all areas, including Guam.

Q3: Please define “partial small business set aside set” for Guam.

A3: The contractor must be a small business in the specified NAICS in order to be eligible for the contract for performance in Guam.

Q4: Approximately how many tugs are required for each of the expected moves?

A4: Per PWS Section 8.1, there is an estimated 1-4 tugs per call out for Guam. All estimated amounts for each location can be found in PWS Section 8.1.

Q5: Is there a minimum number of tugs required for Guam?

A5: Per PWS Section 8.1, the estimated minimum number of tugs required for Guam would be 1. Please see PWS Section 8.1 for estimated minimum number of tugs for all other locations.

Q6: Does the estimated number of moves include the requirement for simultaneous moves?

A6: The estimated number of moves is an annualized figure so it does in fact include simultaneous moves. However, Seal Beach and Port Hueneme do not expect simultaneous moves.

Q7: As it states in the solicitation that tugs will be permitted to berth overnight or on weekends at “identified locations” during the POP, where is this berth located specifically in Guam?

A7: Those details can be worked at the award stage. If a call-out tug is required to be berth overnight, it will be assigned a berth by the Navy Port Control. It is not expected that there will be overnight berthing in Seal Beach and Port Hueneme.

Q8: When a call-out tug is in drydock as part of their regulatory USCG Subchapter M (COI) compliance or undergoing routine maintenance and/or urgent repairs, will the berthing locations support additional substitute tugs?

A8: As Call-out tugs berthing locations/drydock locations are located at commercial port(s) this is a contractor responsibility.

Q9: Will the provided wharf space accommodate workspace to carry out maintenance requirements?

A9: No. Maintenance requirements for call-out tugs shall take place at service provider or commercial locations.

Q10: Will the Government provide office space, dockage and hotel services, parking spaces, and/or storage space to the contractor?

A10: No. Call-out tugs will perform movements and return to their commercial berthing location upon completion of movements.

Q11: The required response time for tug service during straight time and overtime periods is 15 minutes. Is it the Government’s intention to have the tugs fully crewed 24/7?

A11: Government requirements are listed in the PWS by site.

Q12: What time does the normal working hours (8-10 hours Monday through Friday) begin and end?

A12: Each location will provide feedback directly post award however the specifics for two sites is below:

Normal working hours for Guam are 0700-1700.

Normal working hours for Seal Beach and Port Hueneme are 0600-1700.

Q13: The technical requirements for Type A and Type B tugs are different for the tug characteristic sheet. On page 9 at the top of the characteristic sheet, it states Type A (65,000 lbs BP) and Type B (100,000 lbs BP) tugs whereas the section below on page 10 states 100,000 lbs BP for tractor tugs and 50,000 lbs BP for twin screw tugs. Please clarify which is accurate.

A13: See Amendment 0002. Performance Work Statement has been updated.

Q14: Please define what is a “standby rate”. What is the percentage of time expected for a “standby rate”?

A14: In accordance with PWS Section 7.3, a Standby Rate is “This rate is a daily rate to be applied pro-rated to the nearest hour to the period beginning at the time the Government dismisses the tug(s) from the call-out docking/undocking at the Service Rate or the Hourly Rate, whichever applies, until the tug(s) is dismissed from standby service.” Please see PWS Section 7.3 for additional information.

Q15: How will the contractor be notified for tug scheduling requirements?

A15: The contractor will be notified of Tug Scheduling in writing from the cognizant Contracting Officer’s Representative after an order has been placed under the contract.

Q16: Is there a safety criteria e.g., OSHA DART score, etc., needed to meet the minimum requirements of the contract?

A16: All requirements are listed in the PWS.

Q17: Where can I find in this solicitation the Scope of Work?

A17: Please see the Performance Work Statement located within Section C of the solicitation.

Q18: The 5-year rate schedule does not offer a yearly rate increase as previously provided. Please advise if NAVSUP wants a firm 5-year rate.

A18: The anticipated contract is for a 5-year ordering period with performance from 01 April 2023 through 31 March 2028, and includes FAR clause 52.217-8, to continue services through 30 September 2028. One price should be given per performance period per type of service as indicated in Attachment I: Tug Quantities Price Proposal Spreadsheet. As a reminder, a vendor does not need to propose to all locations, only that of which they are interested in receiving award.

Q19: To confirm, NAVUP is requesting a firm hourly rate for a period of 5-years with no opportunity to provide COLA adjustments, etc. as previously provided with the MSC contract?

A19: Contractor(s) should take the entire performance period into consideration when proposing. Furthermore, the SCLS are applicable and contractor(s) may receive adjustments to their proposed prices in accordance with FAR Subpart 22.10, Service Contract Labor Standards."

Q20: What exactly do we need to send to you?

A20: Please see section L of the solicitation that details Instructions to Offerors.

Q21: We received an email containing a spreadsheet for pricing, it appears you are looking for one rate over 5 years? We need clarification on that before anything is submitted.

A21: Please refer to question 18.

Q22. Understand you prefer emails, however in order for us to expedite we would appreciate the ability to make voice contact as needed

A22: All questions shall be submitted via email. Questions submitted in writing will be reviewed and responded to publicly, for all prospective offerors to see on SAM.GOV.

Q23: For the Attachment III Past Performance document, do we need to have outside sources fill this out? Do these outside sources have to coincide with the (3) Attachment II Past Performance documents we completed?

A23: In accordance with Section L, the Past Performance Information Form is completed by the proposed contractor. The Past Performance Report Form is completed by the customer of that reference that received services.

The Past Performance Report Form(s) shall be for the same contract(s) referenced in the Past Performance Proposal (Information Form).

Q24: What does CLIN/SUBCLIN mean?

A24: CLINs are Contract Line Items Number and SUBCLINs are Sub-Line Item Number. The resulting award will consist of two (2) CLINs for the 5-year ordering period and two (2) CLINs for FAR 52.217-8 per the solicitation. The CLINs have a predetermined maximum ceiling as described on the Tug Quantities Price Proposal Spreadsheet.

Q25: Response time- Is response time the time our vessels must get to the job? Or is response time the time the length of the entire job?

A25: The response time is the time from dispatch/time of request from the Government to when the contractor arrives onsite to start required services.

Q26: Unit Hour – Is this the cost per hour?

A26: The contract will have a maximum ceiling value as indicated by location in the original solicitation. The pricing spreadsheet requires pricing at the hour level. The hourly rate will be used at the task order level.

Q27: Unit Price- is this the total cost of the job from start to finish?

A27: The pricing spreadsheet requires pricing at the hour level. The hourly rate will be used at the task order level.

The total cost of the task order will be based on the prices found in the pricing spreadsheet as proposed by the contractor.

Q28: For the 5 Year ordering period- is this a 5 year contract with the given rate?

A28: See question 18.

Q29: If this is a 5 year period contract, where do we will out each additional year rate? How would our team write an incremental increase for the 5 Year duration period? Is there optional periods of increase as previous submission have requested in the past?

A29: See Questions 18 and 19.

Q30: 1. NIST: summary of NAVSUP and USTRANSCOM requirements re NIST are attached. USTRANSCOM allows for Plan of Action and Milestones (POAM) if NIST requirements not currently met. Question for NAVSUP is whether we could submit our current POAM (attached) in lieu of full NIST compliance for this contract..

A30: In accordance with 204.7304(a), the inclusion of DFARS clause 252.204-7008 COMPLIANCE WITH SAFEGUARDING COVERED DEFENSE INFORMATION CONTROLS is required. Offerors must comply with

DFARS 252.204-7008.

Q31: CMMC: FAR 252.204-7021 requires that the contractor have a Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification “at the CMMC level required by this contract.” We don’t immediately see if a specific CMMC level is specified in this solicitation. Per our I.T Manager, we may not currently meet CMMC levels now.

A31. DFARS 252.204-7021 is not required and has been removed from the solicitation. See amendment 0005.

Q32. Regarding the STRIKE CONTIGENCY PLAN request, this is highly confidential & sensitive for our business. Will a confirmation letter stating that we indeed have and maintain one be sufficient? If not, we will need to treat this as FOIA exempt and would need NAVSUP to recommend particular markings, if you have a standard marking preference.

A32: All proposals shall be marked with the markings described in Section L of the solicitation. The requirement is to provide a Strike Contingency Plan that demonstrates a complete understanding of and the capability to fully implement and execute all requirements contained in Section 17.1 of the PWS. Unless provided, this cannot be determined. All proposals are treated as source selection sensitive.