Questions and Answers 36C25923Q0598.pdf

Q&A

Solicitation # 36C25923Q0598

Vendor Questions

1. In the Current Amounts and Processes section it states that 2 VA employees collect all the paper in 65-gallon totes. Will that continue to be the process or does the VA wish to have my team walk the floors of the hospital and collect the paper for destruction?

Answer - VA employees will collect paper in 65-gallon totes.

2. Do the associated CBOCs also need service?

Answer - No.

3. It also states that the shredded paper ends up in a landfill. That is not considered to be an acceptable practice by i-SIGMA the governing body for Information Destruction. i-SIGMA and I believe the VA require the final disposition to be pulped and recycled. Can you please verify which is preferred?

Answer - Pulped and recycled is preferred.

4. Does the Sheridan VA have a scale open to use for the purposes of weighing paper?

Answer - No.

5. The schedule of service was slightly confusing. Is this service meant to be performed once every two weeks? I assume it will be conducted on standard business days (Monday through Friday, excluding observed federal holidays). What hours of operation are acceptable?

Answer - Yes, every other week. Monday morning at 0800 works the best but we are open till 1530.

6. How many locations do you have?

Answer – One

7. How many bins do you need at each location?

Answer – 15

8. What type of bins do you need at each location? (ex: executive cabinet, under-desk container, "65" or "95" gallon carts with lock and key -- see pictures below -- not pictured "65" gallon cart)

Answer - "65" gallon carts with lock and key

9. What is the address of each location where you need bins?

Answer - 1898 Fort Road, Warehouse Bldg. 7 - Sheridan, WY 82801

10. Which floor (ex: 1st or 2nd floor) would the bins be located on?

Answer - 1st

11. Are there any elevators or steps required at each location?

Answer – No

12. Will there be any kind of special badging or escorting requirements needed at each location?

Answer – N

13. Who is the incumbent?

Answer: There is currently no incumbent this is a new requirement. Also, the previous incumbent information is not relevant for this solicitation.

14. What was the previous/current contract# for this requirement?

Answer: Currently there is no active shredding service contract. The previous shredding service contract is not relevant since this is a new requirement.

15. Why are you not billing by weight?

Answer: Based on the market research, the onsite shredding services the standard practice in the area is based on charging per pick up and container.

16. What is the budget for this requirement?

Answer: The VA does not disclose the funding/budgeted amount for the requirement since this is a simplified acquisition under FAR 13. Therefore, we highly recommend for vendors to provide their best offer that they believe is competitive.

17. Why is this solicitation open for only 7 days?

Answer: 7-days is more than enough time for a company to provide a competitive quote as long as they are not sub-contracting 50% or more of the work out and adding their pass-through cost to the VA.

18. Would you consider offsite shredding services?

Answer: No, please review section A.2 SOW.

19. Do I need to fill out and sign the Business Associate Agreement (BAA) in Section D. of the

RFQ?

Answer: No, that will be done for the awarded contractor. The BAA is in place to ensure the offeror is aware of the requirement if they are awarded the contract.

20. Why and how are you going to enforce the Limitations of Sub-Contracting?

Answer: As a responsible steward of tax payer funds, the CO has to exercise the right of the limitations of sub-contracting under FAR 52.219-14 and the CO will use any other pertinent VAAR, VHA Policies, and FAR to ensure that Limitations of Sub-Contracting for set-asides are met.