Additional_Q A.pdf

Custodial, Housekeeping, Waste-Removal, and Insect Extermination (CHWIE)

Draft Statement of Work (SOW), Draft Data Requirements List (DRL), and Draft Data Requirements Description (DRD)

Questions and Answers

Question 6: The seniority information does not line up with the seniority cutoffs in the CBA provided in the technical library. This affects vacation cutoffs by seniority for computing overheads in labor rates. Would the Government please clarify by providing percentages by the categories in the CBA, specifically 0-4 years, 4-10 years, and over 10 years?

Answer 6: Yes. The Government updated the CHWIE Technical Library on February 23, 2016, to provide employee seniority percentages by the categories in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) at http://procurement.jsc.nasa.gov/chwie/tl/login.asp?agree=0

Question 7: The labor rate ranges provided are not in alignment with the CBA requirements per our analysis. Is it more accurate to bid the CBA minimums or the median of the labor rates provided, in order to properly represent the cost of CBA labor?

Answer 7: The Government has removed the labor rate ranges provided in the Technical Library because these ranges were not reflective of the actual employee labor rates. New labor rates were provided in the CHWIE Technical Library on February 23, 2016, and these rates are the same as the rates in the CBA. Reference FAR 22.1002-3(a) -- Wage Determinations Based on Collective Bargaining Agreements: “Successor contractors performing on contracts in excess of $2,500 for substantially the same services performed in the same locality must pay wages and fringe benefits (including accrued wages and benefits and prospective increases) at least equal to those contained in any bona fide collective bargaining agreement entered into under the predecessor contract.” Offerors may propose labor rates the same as or higher than the CBA, but not lower than the labor rates stated in the CBA. Each offeror will decide what labor rates to propose based on their unique staffing approach.

Question 8: In order to properly and efficiently bid the CHWIE level of support, per the categories of labor provided in the CBA, we require detailed schedule requirements for services.

Would the Government please provide these requirements as a part of the draft RFP so that the amount of part time and off-shift workers can be properly estimated?

Answer 8: Attachment C: Paragraph Number (PN) Frequencies in the Draft Statement of Work (SOW) provides data concerning the square footage and types of surfaces to be cleaned, the titles of employees performing the work, and approximations of number of employees at the Center.

The CBA creates a framework for the Offerors to utilize in determining the necessary mix of employees to meet the requirements of the SOW.

Question 9: Elevator sizes and sizes of custodial closets in each building are needed to ensure that we procure equipment that will fit. Would the Government please provide this information in the draft RFP.

Answer 9: Passenger elevators at JSC are approximately four feet deep by six feet wide. Freight elevators are approximately eight feet deep by eight feet wide. Custodial closets average a size of six feet deep by five feet wide.

Question 10: In order to lay out an efficient schedule for cleaning of the on-site facilities per the SOW, floor plans of each of the facilities are needed. Would the Government please provide these in the draft RFP or in the technical library?

Answer 10: We are unable to publicly release the floor plans of the buildings. The Draft SOW provides information on the general square footage in Attachment C: Paragraph Number (PN) Frequencies in order to clean and provide pest control services. JSC’s policy has been to provide detailed maps of the buildings to the successful offeror soon after award. During contract phase-in, the successful offeror will develop the scheduling plans.

Question 11: Does the fringe requirement per paragraph 7.09 A of the CBA apply to all hours worked or all hours paid (i.e. including paid time off), for union personnel, up to 35 hours per week?

Answer 11: Health and Welfare benefits are “all hours paid” for full-time employees under Paragraph 7.09(A)(1) of the CBA and “all hours worked” for part-time employees under Paragraph 7.09(A)(2) of the CBA.

Question 12: Does the CHWIE contractor have access to the NASA wireless network from all buildings that are required to be serviced by the contractor?

Answer 12: Yes. Upon award of the CHWIE contract, the Contractor’s management and administrative staff will have access to Government furnished desktop computers on the NASA/Johnson Space Center (JSC) network and to wireless communication services through guest network privileges. The Government does not expect to provide a desktop computer in every building for the Contractor’s use and any wireless devices must be Contractor-provided.

The following questions are in regards to Section 4.1, 2.1.17.1 Exterior Pest Control:

Question 13: What is the definition of structures and how are they identified?

Answer 13: According to Appendix A of NPR 8800.15C, “Other Structures” is defined to “Include construction and improvements of structures and facilities such as airfield pavements, harbor and port facilities, power production facilities and distribution systems, research and development facilities other than buildings, and roads and bridges. This classification also includes structures that are not completely enclosed, like picnic shelters, pavilions, and covered storage areas.”

Question 14: What is the definition of facilities and how are they identified?

Answer 14: Appendix A of NPR 8831.2F, Facilities Maintenance and Operations Management, defines “facility” as follows:

“A term used to encompass land, buildings, other structures, and other real property improvements, including utilities and collateral equipment. The term does not include operating materials, supplies, special tooling, special test equipment, and noncapitalized equipment. The term facility is used in connection with land, buildings (facilities having the basic function to enclose usable space), structures (facilities having the basic function of a research or operational activity), and other real property improvement.”

Question 15: Is the work load limits for treatments and inspections of pest 180,000 linear feet annually (as found in attachment C)?

Answer 15: No, this number has been updated to 108,000 linear feet semi-annually in Attachment C: Paragraph Number (PN) Frequencies of the SOW.

Question 16: Are the exterior preventative and curative treatments and inspections preformed, considered to be part of the 180,000 linear feet work load limit (as found in attachment C)? If not please define these limits.

Answer 16: Yes, the exterior preventative and curative treatments are considered part of the work load limit; however, reference the updated number in Answer 15 and Attachment C of the

SOW.

Question 17: Many pest colonies or source of the insects are not located with the definition distance defined as building. In many cases treatment barriers (10 feet from outside wall of building) will not eliminate, prevent or control the insect.

How is elimination or control of these insects expected to be handled by the contractor when the colony or source is not within the defined area of a building?

Answer 17: Per Attachment B of the SOW, no action is required if the colony or source is not within the defined area of a building. Historically in certain circumstances, when pest colonies or sources of insects are identified as a threat to employees or buildings and the source of the threat is serious, we have used IDIQ funding sources to pay for those control methods and techniques.

Question 18: In most cases pest control is control or management of a pest or insect.

What is the definition of elimination?

Answer 18: The definition of “elimination,” is having zero individuals in a particular area. The following change has been made to SOW 2.1.17.1 Exterior Pest Control:

FROM: Pest control employees shall eliminate Fire Ant mounds, “Crazy Ant” (any color or species) colonies, and other invasive insect species that could move into JSC facilities or potentially harm employees.

TO: Pest control employees shall control Fire Ant mounds, “Crazy Ant” (any color or species) colonies, and other invasive insect species that could move into JSC facilities or potentially harm employees.

Question 19: What is the definition of invasive insect species and how is an insect determined to be invasive?

Answer 19: The United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Library defines “invasive species” as a species that is:

1) non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and

2) whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.

Invasive species can be plants, animals, and other organisms (e.g., microbes). Human actions are the primary means of invasive species introductions.

Question 20: Many sidewalks are partially within the defined building perimeter, but extend well away from the 10 foot area. What portions of the sidewalk would be the responsibility of the contractor or what is the definition of a perimeter sidewalk?

Answer 20: The Contractor will be responsible for only the portion of the sidewalk that is within 10 feet of the building exterior. Section 4.1, 2.1.17.1 Exterior Pest Control states, “The Contractor shall conduct inspections of buildings and structures at JSC and treat all facilities as required, including the building perimeter sidewalks, at JSC.” Attachment B of Section 4.1 defines “perimeter” as “Within 10 feet of building exterior.”

Question 21: Are the contracted food service kitchens, serving areas, food preparation, dining area, dock areas, and storage areas now included in the contract? (example: buildings 3, 11, 4S and Gulruth)

Answer 21:

Section 2.1.17 of the SOW was changed to the following:

The Contractor shall perform pest control at JSC following Integrated Pest Management (IPM) concepts for office buildings and specialized facilities such as medical, Child Care Center, cafeterias and laboratory environments.

Attachment B: Definitions was updated to include:

Cafeteria: A designated restaurant environment generally including the “front of the house” dining area, restrooms and mechanical room space. Buildings 3 and 11 are full service cafeterias at JSC managed by a Food Services contractor who has a pest control contractor to take care of the kitchen, food prep and storage area and the serving lines, known as the “back of the house.”

Per the updated language in Section 2.1.17 of the SOW, the CHWIE Contractor shall not be responsible for pest control in food preparation and serving areas, loading and storage areas inside the food service area (“the back of the house”).

Building 4S and the Gilruth are considered “vending areas” rather than cafeterias. The Contractor shall be responsible for pest control in vending areas per Section 2.1.17 of the SOW.

The following question is in regards to Section 4.1, 2.1.17.2 Interior Pest Control:

Question 22: This section refers to IPM concepts of inspection, exclusion of pest and treatment applications. In IPM concepts there are a lot of physical and/or habit alteration that would resolve pest activity without the use of pesticides. In many cases applications of pesticides may not or will not control the pest activity. Physical and/or habit alterations are the answer to control of those pest. The IPM concept is also stated in 1st paragraph of Section 2.1.17 but does not address physical, habits or habitat alterations. After inspection physical, habits or habitat alteration is one of the 1st items considered in any IPM concept.

Answer 22: Anything found by the contractor requiring physical and/or habit alterations requires notification to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) before any actions may be taken.

The following questions are in regards to Section 4.1, 2.2 Emergency Custodial Services:

Question 23: What is the definition of invasive and how is an insect determined to be invasive?

Answer 23: See Answer 19.

Question 24: What is the definition of a nuisance pest and how is a nuisance pest determined to be a nuisance?

Answer 24: The Texas Department of Agriculture defines a nuisance pest as a “unwanted insects, plants, and/or animals.” For more information, please visit https://texasagriculture.gov/RegulatoryPrograms/Pesticides/StructuralPestControlService/Structu ralPestControlConsumerInformation.aspx.

Question 25: What is the definition of facilities and how are they identified?

Answer 25: See Answer 14.

Question 26: What is the definition of pest and how are they identified?

Answer 26: The terms “pest” species and “nuisance” species are used interchangeably in the CHWIE RFP. See Answer 24.

Question 27: Many pest/insects cannot be controlled from entering from entering by a pesticide barrier. Depending on the type of pest/insect, the area of entry, type of building, etc….. will determine what is required to address the issue. Many times the pest/insect source or loction of the colony has to be addressed. These sources or locations can be well outside the defined building perimeter. If these circumstances are the case, how is the contractor expected to handle these seasonal nuisance pests?

Answer 27: If the situation is encountered, please contact the COR with an explanation of the situation and a suggested treatment plan.

Question 28: What is the work load limits or in what area does the inspection and/or treatment for these services fall into. Would it be under section 4.1, 2.1.17.1?

Answer 28: Reference Section 4.1, Attachment C, 2.2, for the workload data. The 160 hours annually encompasses all requirements referenced in paragraph 2.2 Emergency Custodial Services. In the event workload requirements exceed 160 hours, the use of IDIQ hours may be considered by the Government.

Question 29: The requirement of invasive insect nest removal would require the washing, scraping and sweeping of buildings/structure/facilities that may require daily or weekly service.

What is the frequency required? What is the work load limits? Does this include interior and exterior? Does this include all levels? What is the height limit?

Answer 29: Per the SOW, there is no frequency requirement. Per the SOW, Section 2.2 Emergency Custodial Services, invasive insect nest removal will be performed on an as-needed basis if the nest presents an imminent hazard to personnel. The requirement includes both interior and exterior nest removal, including all levels. There is no height limit, and all employees performing the work shall follow the JSC Fall Arrest Policy document identified in DRD 019, Fall Protection Plan.

Question 30: In some cases bees maybe in areas where they cannot be removed and may have to be controlled with the appropriate pesticide. In some cases, physical alterations or damage to the structure may be necessary to control or remove a bee hive or swarm. How are these circumstances to be handled by the contractor?

Answer 30: Before any physical alterations may be made to the structure, contact the COR.

Question 31: Mosquitoes and asp are specific seasonal nuisance pests. The control of these pests is not performed by barrier treatments on the perimeter of buildings. Mosquito are controlled by treatment to large areas of a site using both preventative and active present periodic treatments and/or direct treatment of source areas as prevention. Barrier perimeter treatments will only last a short period and does not efficiently address on going mosquitoes from their source.

Asp are controlled by treatment to the sources, such as trees and bushes at a specific time of the season and treatment barriers will control them. Small barrier treatments for these type of pests are not good IPM concept in regard to the use of pesticides or control measures.

Is the contractor responsible for perimeter control of mosquitoes and asp?

Answer 31: Preventative control of mosquitoes and asps is performed under another contract.

The successful CHWIE contractor will not be responsible for perimeter control of mosquitoes and asps; however, according to Section 2.2 Emergency Custodial Services, of the SOW, the Contractor will be responsible if they present an imminent hazard to personnel.

Question 32: What workload limits do these services fall under?

Answer 32: Reference Section 4.1, Attachment C, 2.2, for the workload data. The 160 hours annually encompasses all requirements referenced in paragraph 2.2 Emergency Custodial Services.