NAT25002-ENVIRO_SVC-qa.pdf

NAT25002 Q&A

NAT25002_ENVIRO_SVC

Questions and Answers

1. Section I, Paragraph I, Page 1, Deadline for Receipt of Proposals – Date: May 6, 2025. The deadline for receipt of proposals is May 6, 2025 which is roughly 4 weeks from Public Notice date. In our experience with similar contracts from other States, there is usually a 6-week duration from notice to due date. Would DNREC consider extending the due date by 2 weeks?

The deadlines established on scheduled established in the RFP will remain firm.

2. Section I, Paragraph 5, Page 2, Mandatory Prebid Meeting – would DNREC consider a Pre-bid meeting to discuss the contract and work in greater detail? We feel this may be beneficial for the firms that wish to respond.

There will not be a pre-bid meeting to discuss this RFP.

3. Appendix A. Minimum Mandatory Submission Requirements; Number 8, Page 51. One (1) complete and signed copy of the Subcontractor Information Form (See Attachment 6) for each subcontractor. Are electronic signatures from the consultant and subcontractor for Attachment 6 acceptable?

Yes

4. Section III, C, #2, Proposal Selection Criteria, Page 21, Please include samples of Tier II and

III type modeling reports. Does DNREC require hard copy of the samples of Tier II and III type modeling reports? or is electronic only acceptable?

Electronic submittals are acceptable.

5. III. Required Information; B. General Evaluation Requirements; 1. Experience and Reputation in; a-h; page 10 and under IV. Professional Services RFP Administrative Information; C. RFP Evaluation Process; 2. Proposal Evaluation Criteria; Page 20, The experience in ecological risk assessment category present in the evaluation criteria seems to be omitted from the General Evaluation Requirements list a-h? Is this a category that should included? Other categories match. If yes, please confirm that it should follow the “Experience in performing human health-based risk assessments for remediation of Sites” for criteria order.

In the General Evaluation Requirements, experience with ecological risk assessment is listed under (1)(c).

6. III. Required Information; B. General Evaluation Requirements; 1. Experience and Reputation in; a-h.; page 10 and under IV. Professional Services RFP Administrative Information; C. RFP Evaluation Process; 2. Proposal Evaluation Criteria; Page 20, Was the expertise with innovative and ecological sensitive/green remediation techniques meant to be lumped with Staff Expertise? Or as its own category under the General Evaluation Requirements a-h? It shows as its own criteria on page 20.

Staff expertise with innovation and ecological sensitive/green or sustainable remediation techniques expands off of requirement number (2) in the General Evaluation Requirements.

7. III. Required Information; B. General Evaluation Requirements; 3. Capacity to meet requirements (size, financial condition, etc.); page 10. and under IV. Professional Services RFP Administrative Information; C. RFP Evaluation Process; 2. Proposal Evaluation Criteria;

Page 20, The Capacity to meet requirements (size, financial condition, etc.) in under the General Evaluation Requirements but appears to be missing from the proposal evaluation criteria? Is this information to be included with our proposal? If so, what would DNREC like us to include? Where would you like this information provided? After Staff Experience and Expertise (similar to the order on page 10)?

The Capacity to Meet Requirements should be included in the RFP response to address general evaluation requirements. Generally, RFP responses include the number of employees in the firm, number of years in business, rough annual sales information, or other relevant information.

8. III. Required Information; B. General Evaluation Requirements; 5. Demonstrated ability, page

10. and under IV. Professional Services RFP Administrative Information; C. RFP Evaluation Process; 2. Proposal Evaluation Criteria; Page 20

Demonstrated Ability is under the General Evaluation Requirements but appears to be missing from the proposal evaluation criteria? Is this information to be included with our proposal? If so, what would DNREC like us to include? Where would you like this information provided? After Geographic location (similar to the order on page 10)?

Demonstrated Ability is a broad category which will be satisfied by the satisfaction of the various criteria weight categories.

9. IV. Professional Services RFP Administrative Information; B. RFP Submissions; 2.

Proposals; Page 12, and Appendix A. Minimum Mandatory Submission Requirements;

Numbers 2 and 3, Page 53.

“Please provide a separate electronic pricing file from the rest of the RFP proposal responses” Number 2 - “The remaining vendor proposal package shall identify how the vendor proposes meeting the contract requirements and shall include pricing.”

Number 3 - “Pricing as identified in the solicitation.”

As in the past, pricing was conducted during the negotiation phase. Please elaborate on what pricing information you are asking the vendors to provide.

As in the past, pricing will continue to be conducted during the negotiation phase. There is no need to submit pricing as part of your response to this RFP.

10. IV. Professional Services RFP Administrative Information; B. RFP Submissions; 5. Proposal Expiration Date, Page 13 “Prices quoted in the proposal shall remain fixed and binding on the bidder at least through July 30, 2026. The State of Delaware reserves the right to ask for an extension of time if needed.” As in the past, pricing was conducted during the negotiation phase. Please elaborate on what pricing information you are asking the vendors to provide.

Pricing negotiated as part of this RFP remains fixed through July 30, 2026.

11. VII. Attachments; Important - Please Note; Attachment 6, Page 47, We typically provide a completed Attachment 6 – Subcontractor Information Form for each site-specific proposal when a subcontractor is required. For this NAT25002-ENVIRO_SVC proposal, do we need to submit Attachment 6 for each subcontractor we may use throughout the duration of the contract or can we provide a list of our subcontractors by service and include the completed Attachment 6 at the site-specific proposal phase?

Please complete Attachment 6 for each of the primarily subcontractors that will be regularly hired for projects issued under this solicitation.

12. IV. Professional Services RFP Administrative Information; B. RFP Submissions; 2.

Proposals; Page 12, and Appendix A. Minimum Mandatory Submission Requirements;

Vendors shall provide proposal packages in the following formats, page 51.

“Two (2) paper copies of the vendor proposal paperwork. One (1) paper copy must be an original copy, marked “ORIGINAL” on the cover, and contain original signatures.” Please clarify that a total of only 2 hard copy documents are required (1 original and 1 copy) and not a total of three (2 paper copies and one original).

Only two hard copy documents (one original and one copy) and one electronic copy are required.

13. Appendix A, Last Paragraph (2) on page, page 51, “Copy of electronic price file shall be a separate file from all other files on the electronic copy...”. Confirming that we do NOT need to include a Proposed Rate Sheet?

As has been the practice with past contracts, the proposed rate sheet is not a requirement for submission with the firm’s proposal. If the firm is selected, the proposed rate sheet will be accepted during negotiations.

14. Section IV, Paragraph 5 Consultants and Legal Counsel, page 11, “The State of DE may retain consultants or legal counsel to assist in the evaluation of this RFP and the vendors’ responses.”. Will DNREC utilize Remediation Section staff to assist in the evaluation?

Yes

15. Section IV, Paragraph 25 – Subsection C RFP Evaluation Process, page 21, “If available, list all petroleum remediation sites in Delaware; include type of remedial technology used, start date, and date site cleanup was achieved (if applicable).” How far back should we include?

For example, in the last 7 years...5 years...3 years?

DNREC typically requires a full site list of all petroleum projects remediated in the state of Delaware, including the type of remedial technology used, start date and site cleanup achieved, to adequately represent the extent of their petroleum experience. At a minimum DNREC requires a list of petroleum projects remediated in the last ten (10) years. Alternatively, if your consultant is newly established provide a full site list of all petroleum projects.

16. Section I, Paragraph 1, page 1, The RFP states the following:

“Deadline for Receipt of Proposals Date: May 6, 2025 at 1:00PM (Local Time)” We respectfully request a two-week extension to the proposal due date to fulfill the requirements and ensure adequate time from receipt of the answers to the questions.”

Bid’s will be accepted in accordance with the schedule established in the RFP.

17. IV. B, Number 2; Proposals; Paragraph 1, page 12, The RFP states the following: “To be considered, all proposals must be submitted in writing and respond to the items outlined in this RFP. The State reserves the right to reject any non-responsive or non-conforming proposals. Each proposal must be submitted with two (2) paper copies and one (one) electronic copy on CD or DVD media disk, or USB memory drive. Please provide a separate electronic pricing file from the rest of the RFP proposal responses.” Please confirm only one CD or DVD media disk, or USB memory stick to include the following separate files: 1.

Technical File 2. Pricing File

Only two hard copy documents (one original and one copy) and an electronic copy are required.

The RFP proposal and pricing file should be two separate files.

18. Appendix A – Minimum Mandatory Submission Requirements, Paragraph 1, Number 2, page

51, The RFP states the following: “The remaining vendor proposal package shall identify how the vendor proposes meeting the contract requirements and shall include pricing.

Vendors are encouraged to review the Evaluation criteria identified to see how the proposals will be scored and verify that the response has sufficient documentation to support each criteria listed.” Please provide an outline of the requirements and criteria necessary to provide guidance on the Pricing Submittal.

Rates could include labor, field equipment, administrative office supplies and equipment. These rates can be submitted during negotiations.

19. Appendix A – Minimum Mandatory Submission Requirements, Paragraph 2, Number 1, page 51, “Two (2) paper copies of the vendor proposal paperwork. One (1) paper copy must be an original copy, marked “ORIGINAL” on the cover, and contain original signatures.” Please confirm that all pages requiring a signature for the original hard copy must be an original signature and not a stamped or scanned.

All pages requiring a signature must be an original and not stamped or scanned.

20. Appendix A – Minimum Mandatory Submission Requirements, Paragraph 2, Number 2, 51, The RFP states the following: “One (1) electronic copy of the vendor proposal saved to CD or DVD media disk, or USB memory stick. Copy of electronic price file shall be a separate file from all other files on the electronic copy. (If Agency has requested multiple electronic copies, each electronic copy must be on a separate computer disk or media).” Please confirm only one CD or DVD media disk, or USB memory stick to include the following separate files: 1. Technical File 2. Pricing File

Please see answer to Question #18

21. Section number: IV Professional Services RFP Administrative Information, Paragraph number: B.12., page 15, Regarding multi-vendors, can you clarify what is meant by a "joint venture agreement"; how does this differ from a "Prime Vendor" with "Sub-contracting"?

A joint venture agreement is generally an agreement with multiple parties wherein they enter into a project jointly, whereas in a prime vendor and subcontractor relationship the prime vendor enters into a contract with the State alone and subcontracts out work. In both instances there is a single entity which will be solely responsible to the State under the contract.