QA4_TAGS_RFP_16R3100.pdf

MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND

N32205-16-R-3100 Operation of the Oceanographic Fleet (T-AGS)

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS #4

The following are answers to questions received from potential offerors. The answers provide clarification only and DO NOT constitute an amendment to the solicitation.

1. C.5.2.1 Shore Based Spares: Please provide an estimated value of the shore based spares inventory to allow for pricing of insurance.

ANSWER: Section C-5.2.1 Shore Based Spares will be revised in a future amendment to remove the requirement as follows:

C-5.2.1 Reserved.

2. Section C-5.7 states “contractor shall procure all consumables from commercial sources.” Yet the very next sentence states that “when operating outside of CONUS and Hawaii, the contractor may order consumables from the Navy Supply System.” These two sentences appear to contradict each other. Please clarify.

ANSWER: Section C-5.7 CONSUMABLES AND PROVISIONS will be revised in a future amendment to clarify procurement of consumables as follows:

C-5.7 CONSUMABLES AND PROVISIONS

The Contractor will provide any consumable supplies and provisions required at their own expense. A representative list of consumable supplies is found in TTM-15. When operating outside of CONUS and Hawaii, the Contractor may order both consumables and provisions from the Navy Supply System; DD Form 1348, DD Form 1155, or naval message may be used to order consumables as dictated by the nature of the item and the requirements of the ordering activity.

Precise guidance regarding requisitioning procedures may be obtained by contacting the Customer Service office of the issuing Naval Supply Activity. Procurement of consumables from Navy sources, except medical supplies, is to be handled as a "CASH SALE" transaction. All ordering from the Naval Supply system for provisions and non-reimbursable consumables shall use the MSC established fund code XP, and the appropriate DODAAC and signal code to ensure the Contractor is billed directly. In situations where the Contractor is not billed directly, the Contractor will keep detailed records (to include vessel’s UIC; Julian date of transaction;

requisition number; item; quantity; price; and proof of payment) of all transactions and submit a credit invoice to the Government for these transactions on a monthly basis. If the contractor fails to ensure proper billing and fund code usage, and the Government receives billing for consumable and/or provisions procurements, the Government will, at its option, deduct the cost of the transaction an addition 10.5% surcharge. Upon redelivery, the Contractor shall be responsible for removing all consumables from the vessel at its expense.

3. Please confirm that in its conduct of market research and assessment which led to its decision to conduct this acquisition as a total small business set-aside, MSC did not evaluate prospective small business offerors to determine whether they would comply with the FAR 52.219-14 Limitation on Subcontracting or the SBA’s ostensible subcontractor rule.

ANSWER: A review of a potential offeror’s ability to comply with FAR 52.219-14, Limitation on Subcontracting, is not required for the determination to set a requirement aside. Review of an offeror’s ability to comply with the requirements for 52.219-14 is required as part of the award determination.

4. When will wage determination be posted as the unions will not release CBA's until this information is released?

ANSWER: Wage determinations were posted with Amendment 2 on 21 JUN 2016.

5. In section L 8.(i) under corporate viability, we are to provide documentation of a LOC for 45 days of operating hire plus $2.5 million for one major availability; is the portion of the LOC that relates to operating hire $45 days per each vessel operating hire or just one vessel? (I assume it is per vessel but since they only require $2.5 million for one availability I want to confirm before I go to Amegy).

ANSWER: Section L-8(A)(i) will be revised in a future amendment to clarify corporate viability as follows:

(i) Corporate Viability. Provide a copy of the most recent audited and certified financial statement which shall include a balance sheet, profit and loss statement and a cash flow statement. The offeror shall also provide projected cash flow statements for the entire performance period, including options, covered under this solicitation. Offeror must furnish evidence of adequate financial resources to perform the contract or the ability to obtain such resources. For the purpose of this section, adequate financial resources is an amount equal to the total value of 45 days of per diem payments for seven ships in FOS, plus the necessary resources to conduct one major availability per ship (estimated at $2,500,000/ship). Acceptable evidence of such resources shall consist of irrevocable commitment(s), contingent only upon the award of a contract, from financial institution(s) or other capable source(s). These resources may be in such form as insurance policies, readily marketable assets, and/or irrevocable letters of credit. Audited financial statements are required by final proposal revision.

6. Will the pricing schedules change in the next amendment and when do you expect the next amendment to be released?

ANSWER: Pricing schedules were changed with Amendment 2. A conformed copy of the solicitation is uploaded after each amendment.

7. In section C 1.8.3 all training is reimbursable (except for license related training that is covered by the union); if that is the case why are you requesting a price on Form C for training?

ANSWER: Section C-1.8.3 states “The costs associated with any training for Federal licenses, documents, ratings and/or endorsements and shipboard training and drills are non-reimbursable.”

Form C for training would cover costs associated with non-reimbursable training. See also C-

1.9.5.1 for an example of non-reimbursable training.

8. We note that the RFP does not require an offeror to provide a detailed description of their technical approach, but instead requires an offeror only to “provide a statement that it will perform all the requirements of the solicitation, without exception.” Please confirm that MSC will not evaluate the proposals of small business offerors for compliance with the FAR 52.219-14 Limitation on Subcontracting.

ANSWER: FAR clause 52.219-14 is included in this solicitation. Offerors shall submit a statement on the cover page IAW clause above affirming that 50 percent of the work is being conducted by the small business. Sections M and L will be updated accordingly to reflect the requirement.

9. We note that the RFP does not require an offeror to provide a detailed description of their technical approach, but instead requires an offeror only to “provide a statement that it will perform all the requirements of the solicitation, without exception.” Please confirm that MSC will not evaluate the proposals of small business offerors to determine whether they are unusually reliant on an ostensible subcontractor or if an ostensible subcontractor is performing primary and vital requirements of the contract.

ANSWER: See answer to #8 above.