16-3501_Q_ _A_Part_One.pdf

MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND

U.S. Army Ammo #2 Time Charter

RFP N32205-16-R-3501

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS – PART ONE

The following questions and answers are provided for informational purposes only and DO

NOT constitute an amendment to the solicitation. Any changes to the solicitation deemed necessary as a result of any questions answered herein will be incorporated via amendment.

QUESTION 1: Section C-17.3.1 addresses the government’s intention to asses liquidated damages in the amount of $35,820.00 per day if an awardee does not deliver the vessel within the specified lay days. Are there any reasons that the government would NOT assess liquidated damages should an awardee not have the designated vessel ready to load cargo within the lay days specified in the RFP?

ANSWER 1: The Government will address the assessment of liquidated damages if a delay was experienced, and will make a determination based on the specific circumstances of said delay and the terms of the contract.

QUESTION 2: If the awardee experiences delays getting the vessel reflagged, converted for the mission and/or certificated by the USCG would liquidated damages be assessed?

ANSWER 2: The Government will address the assessment of liquidated damages if a delay was

QUESTION 3: If the awardee does not have a facility clearance at the time the vessel is delivered will liquidated damages be assessed?

ANSWER 3: The Government will address the assessment of liquidated damages if a delay was

QUESTION 4: Section M of the RFP notes that the Government will make an award using a best-value process, consisting of an initial VISA tier assignment, followed by a LPTA-like award selection. Could you please give some more details to describe the VISA tier assignment process?

ANSWER 4: After the small business tiered evaluation approach is concluded, per RFP, Section

M-2.1:

The Government will make an award using a best-value process, consisting of an initial VISA tier assignment, followed by a LPTA-like award selection as follows:

a) The Government will segregate offerors into their VISA Priority categories.

b) The Government will conduct an evaluation of non-priced and priced factors, as outlined later in this section.

i. The non-price factors will be evaluated on an acceptable/unacceptable basis.

ii. Technical tradeoffs will not be made and no additional credit will be given for exceeding the minimum requirements of the solicitation.

c) The Government will then make award to the offeror in the highest VISA priority category of

DoDI 4500.57 paragraph E.5.4 that conforms fully to the solicitation requirements, meets the acceptability standards for all non-price factors, and represents a fair and reasonable price. If two or more such offers are in the same VISA priority category, award will be made to the lowest priced among them.

d) The Government intends to evaluate proposals and award a contract without discussions with

Offerors (except clarifications as described in FAR 15.306(a)). The Government reserves the right to conduct discussions if the Contracting Officer later determines them to be necessary.

QUESTION 5: If an offeror is a VISA participant and the vessel proposed is currently being operated under U.S. flag and is enrolled in the VISA program would that bidder be put in a higher tier than a bidder who is a VISA participant but does NOT have the vessel proposed for this requirement registered as a U.S. flag vessel and enrolled in the VISA program at the time proposals are submitted?

ANSWER 5: A VISA Participant with a VISA-enrolled vessel currently operating under U.S.

flag and a VISA Participant proposing a vessel that will be U.S. flag and enrolled in VISA upon delivery under the contract are considered to be in the same tier under VISA (E5.4.1) in accordance with DODI 4500.57.

QUESTION 6: What are the tiers that offerors can be placed in regarding their VISA status and what are the requirements to get into each tier?

ANSWER 6:

Per DoDI 4500.57, paragraph E5.4: the priorities that will form the categories are:

E5.4.1. U.S.-flag vessel capacity operated by a VISA participant and U.S.-flag VISA capacity of a VISA participant.

E5.4.2. U.S.-flag vessel capacity operated by a VISA non-participant.

E5.4.3. Combination U.S.-flag/foreign-flag vessel capacity operated by a VISA participant and combination U.S.-flag/foreign-flag VSA capacity of a VISA participant.

E5.4.4. Combination U.S.-flag/foreign-flag vessel capacity operated by a VISA non-participant.

E5.4.5. U.S.-owned or –operated foreign-flag vessel capacity and VISA capacity of a VISA participant.

E5.4.6. U.S.-owned or –operated foreign-flag vessel capacity and VISA capacity of a VISA non-participant.

E5.4.7. Foreign-owned or –operated foreign-flag vessel capacity of a VISA non-participant.