3310_Q_ _A__1.docx

MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND

N32205-16-R-3310

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

08 December 2015

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

Will there be 2 voyages awarded, each voyage consisting of a leg 1 and leg 2?

ANSWER: Yes.

The First Mission: Ocean tow from PSNS Bremerton, WA to Vancouver, WA (ocean tugs). Followed by the River tow from Vancouver, WA to Port of Benton, WA (river tugs). Then, returning River tow from Port of Benton, WA to Vancouver, WA (river tug) and finally Ocean tow from Vancouver, WA to Bremerton, WA (Ocean tug).

The above mission will result in two contracts: C-3308 for the Ocean portion and C-3310 for the river portion. (Period of Performance is mid-March 2016).

The Second Mission: same mission

The second mission will result in two contracts: C-3309 for the Ocean portion and C-3311 for the River portion. (Period of Performance is mid-April 2016).

If there are 2 voyages, each with the 2 legs, will each voyage have laydays at Bremerton in the 15 March 2016 - 18 April 2016 period?

ANSWER: See answer above.

We cannot figure out how many government barges are to be moved. Both solicitations mention "Two awards, one each during laytime period" in the laytime box, which is confusing given that the usual statement about "multiple awards to be made under this solicitation" is not, mentioned anywhere that we can see. In the ocean solicitation, there is reference to "If two barges are moved simultaneously." but then the section below that says "Description of the Tow: One preloaded U.S. Government provided USCG/ABS certified ocean barge." This would seem clear that there is just one loaded barge to be towed in two directions.

ANSWER: The solicitation is for the movement of two barges. Each barge requirement (two for Ocean tow and two for the River tow) will be awarded via two separate contracts. (March-Ocean Tug Contract N32205-16-R-3308 and March River Tug Contract N32205-16-R-3310) (April-Ocean Tug Contract N32205-16-R-3309 and April- River Tug Contract N32205-16-R-3311.) There will be a total of four contacts awarded.

It is not clear the timing on the commencement of Leg-2. Is it in direct continuation? If it is the same barge that is to be offloaded at Brenton, is that time included in the 2.5 free days on the river tug solicitation. If it is in direct continuation, is that why there is 7.5 days free-time in the ocean tug solicitation for it to remain at Vancouver to await the return of the empty barge? If it is not in direct continuation, can you please clarify how the layday clause applies to Leg-2.

ANSWER: After trade-off of the barge in Vancouver to the River tug, there will be approximately seven (7) days until the barge returns empty from the Port of Benton back to Vancouver and ready to commence the ocean return tow to Bremerton. The delay time waiting for the barge is incorporated into Box 4 Laytime.

Please clarify Section III (ac) (s) regarding Military Personnel. By not including a maximum number of personnel, the clause leaves the costs of SOLAS compliance lifesaving equipment unclear and entirely open ended.

ANSWER: See Section III (ac) (2) “military personnel”. As in all charterer contracts, the solicitation allows for the charterer to embark military personnel onboard in case of a contingency. While the charterer does not plan to embark a military force protection team onboard in any of these four (4) contracts, the charterer reserves the right to do so.

With the amending of Section VIII (c) in regards to the old system of offers expiring, do we still need to develop an expiration of the offer as required in the Instructions to Offerors section?

ANSWER: Yes. "Unless offeror proposes a shorter period, by submission of an offer, offeror agrees that its offer, including any timely revisions thereto, shall remain valid until the Government makes award under this solicitation. The foregoing does not preclude an offeror from withdrawing its offer prior to award."

1. Regarding the river tug solicitation, is the Shipyard Report and ISPS certification accurately applied to inland river tugs?

ANSWER: Shipyard info is applicable to inland tugs but not ISPS.