RFQ 2204. Q and A_Round 1.pdf

# Section Reference Bidder Question MSLC Answer 1 Section 4.2.1.3.2

Full Service Terminal

Connectivity and I/O ports

In reference to requirement 4.2.1.3.2, would the MSLC please provide the intended future uses of the “existing flex I/Os” and the “audio out/microphone in, TRRS” as well as “audio with presence detection”? Can the MSLC also provide more information on the peripheral devices this is intended to support?

The MSLC’s current Usage of Existing Flex I/Os is:

Lan Port 0 – Ethernet cable to wireless router (Bandit)

1 USB – Flex BCR kit

1 USB – Flex Printer

1 USB – USB Cash Drawer

1 DVI Port – Customer Facing Display

1 RS485 Port – 1-4 Spider Cable to support additional peripherals - Dell PC, Hard wired TSP, dbug plug

1 RS232 Port – Legacy Cash Drawer

Regarding the use of the audio out/microphone in, TRRS and audio with presence detection, this is functionality the MSLC may potentially explore for future use in Full Service Terminals and/or peripheral devices. Bidders can include detail on available options if they prefer.

2 Would the MSLC please consider adding a second round of questions to allow bidders to follow-up on answers received from the first round of questions?

A second round of questions and answers will be added to the RFQ event schedule:

- Bidder Questions due January 19, 2022 by 10AM

- Answers will be posted to COMMBUYS January 26, 2022

Bidder questions should be submitted in writing to

LotteryProcurement@masslottery.com.

3 There were a few comments in the Phase I Template that was posted in

COMMBUYS. Please confirm that vendors should use that version as many of the comments were about if the embedded documents were the most recent version.

Please use "RFQ 2204. Phase I Template_v2".

Please Note: It is the responsibility of the Bidder to continously check the

COMMBUYS solicitation for amendments and updated information. Bidders should ensure they are referencing the most recent bid documents posted and are advised to check this site regularly, as this will be the sole method used for notification of changes.

RFQ 2204 - QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

4 Would the MSLC please allow bidders the opportunity to submit follow up questions upon receipt of initial answers received given the procurement timetable only allows for 1 question submission deadline?

A second round of questions and answers will be added to the RFQ event schedule:

- Bidder Questions due January 19, 2022 by 10AM

- Answers will be posted to COMMBUYS January 26, 2022

Bidder questions should be submitted in writing to

LotteryProcurement@masslottery.com.

5 Does the MSLC plan to revise the Phase I template and CommBuys portal site to reflect the new response deadline date?

COMMBUYS and Phase I template have been updated.

Please use "RFQ 2204. Phase I Template_v2".

Please Note: It is the responsibility of the Bidder to continously check the

COMMBUYS solicitation for amendments and updated information. Bidders should ensure they are referencing the most recent bid documents posted and are advised to check this site regularly, as this will be the sole method used for notification of changes.

6 The MSLC makes reference to “cost,” “price,” and “cost-related information” several times in the provided documents. There is also mention of the “cost proposal portion of the response,” but we did not see any pricing templates, format guidance, or other direction related to providing pricing and costing.

Will the MSLC please specify whether providing pricing for services should be included in the February 3 submission?

Pricing is not requested to be provided at this stage of the RFQ process and should not be included in the February 3, 2022 submission.

7 Section 4.9 Will the MSLC please confirm that a Bill of Materials and parts catalog can be supplied at the time of any purchase, and not in the vendor’s RFQ response?

A official Bill of Materials does not need to be included in the February 3, 2022 submission. It is expected that a Bill of Materials will be required in response to potential subsequent RFRs and at time of purchase.

8 RFQ 2204 Phase 1

Template 14 ATTM. B

Commonwealth Terms and Conditions

It is understood that the Commonwealth Terms and Conditions shall be incorporated by reference into any contract for services executed pursuant to this RFQ. Will the MSLC please specify the order of precedence in any contract executed pursuant to this RFQ?

The order of priority of documents to interpret a Contract is governed by the Commonwealth Terms and Conditions and/or the Commonwealth

Terms and Conditions for Information Technology Contracts.

9 1.2 Calendar Would the MSLC please confirm our understanding that qualified bidders can add categories of equipment that it does not initially include in its initial response at later periods during the Qualification Period?

At the MSLC's sole discretion, additional categories of equipment and/or services may be added if needed.

If a vendor has equipment or services they wish to make the Lottery aware of at a later date, they may have the opportunity to do so, at the MSLC's discretion.

10 RFQ 2204 Phase 1

Template

Since there is no contract at this stage, is Attachment M and the copy of the bond or insurance policy referred to in Section 10 required now, or when a contract is formed with a qualified bidder at a later stage?

This form is to be completed by Bidders for Bidder’s information as it serves as a notice and acknowledgement of Bidder’s requirements in the event of a designation and contract award and required execution under an RFR pursuant to this RFQ.

11 RFQ 2204 Phase 1

Template

17 ATTM E

This section refers to the “Subcontracting Policies section below.” Will the

MSLC please indicate where those policies are located?

This provision is to be amended as follows:

"In addition to the Subcontracting Policies (see Commonwealth Terms and

Conditions, Commonwealth Terms and Conditions for Information

Technology Contracts, and RFQ 2204) that apply to all subcontracted services, agencies may define specific required deliverables for a Bidder’s

SDP Plan, including, but not limited to, documentation necessary to verify subBidder commitments and expenditures with Minority- or Women-

Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) and Service-Disabled Veteran-

Owned Business Enterprises (SDVOBE) for the purpose of monitoring and enforcing commitments made in a Bidder’s Supplier Diversity Program (SDP)

Plan.

12 RFQ Agent Location

Hardware, Parts, And

Services

Would the MSLC please confirm how contracts for deliverables under this

RFQ will be awarded? Section 3.2 indicates that an RFR stage will follow this

RFQ stage; however, Section 4.1.4 refers to “delivery of any purchase as a result of this solicitation and/or subsequent RFR.”

Will all purchases be made pursuant to separate RFRs, or is there some other method of making purchases under this RFQ?

Purchases will be made in connection with subsequent RFRs or Bids conducted under RFQ 2204.

13 1.5.1 DD. Damages;

Retainage.

Would the MSLC please review and provide feedback regarding the section copied below, as it refers to Requests for Proposals and appears to be missing words:

“Any Request for Proposal issued pursuant to and/or in connection with shall include, but is not limited to, a provision for liquidated damages and a provision for retainage for the contract.”

This should be amended to:

At the sole discretion of the MSLC, any Request for Proposal issued pursuant to and/or in connection with this RFQ shall include, but is not limited to, a provision for liquidated damages and a provision for retainage for the contract.

14 RFQ Agent Location

Hardware, Parts, And

Services 1.6.6 Contract

Performance and

Business Specifications

M Price Limitation

The MSLC seeks a preferred pricing covenant that no other state or public entity customer within the U.S. of similar size and terms and conditions shall receive a lower price for the same commodity and service during the contract period, unless the MSLC is given the same price.

Would MSLC please confirm our understanding that the contract period in this section refers to the term of any contract with a qualified bidder resulting from an RFR issued pursuant to this RFQ, or kindly specify otherwise?

The stated pricing policy is a statewide policy followed by the MSLC. Any contract resulting from an RFR issued pursuant to this RFQ must comply with the policy.

15 RFQ Agent Location

Hardware, Parts, And

Services 1.5.2

Procurement

Specification R

Please confirm that Bidders may mark information that qualifies as confidential under the Public Records law in its response and that all such information will be treated as confidential and not disclosed to the extent permitted under Massachusetts law.

Bidder proposals to qualify for this RFQ are confidential until the RFQ process has been completed. Proposals submitted pursuant to any RFR relating to this RFQ shall be confidential until such time as the bid is awarded and a contract is authorized, funded, and executed. Please be advised that the MSLC is a public agency and thus is subject to the

Massachusetts Public Records Law.

16 RFQ Agent Location

Hardware, Parts, And

Services 1.5.2

Procurement

Specification R

Pursuant to this section, all submissions will be treated as confidential until a contract is awarded. As this is an RFQ resulting only in qualification of bidders, and not in contract execution, would the MSLC please confirm how long submissions will be treated as confidential?

Bidder proposals to qualify for this RFQ are confidential until the RFQ process has been completed, however the MSLC is subject to the

Massachusetts Public Records Law. Proposals submitted pursuant to any

RFR relating to this RFQ shall be confidential until such time as the bid is awarded and a contract is authorized, funded, and executed. Please be advised that the MSLC is a public agency and is subject to the Massachusetts

Public Records Law.