Questions and Answers NIAID-RFQ-24-2195934 rev1.pdf

Questions and Answers

NIAID-RFQ-24-2195934

Question 1: With us being a 3PL, the space provided will be through strategic partners and not owned by TQL. Can this still be considered as an option? We do have rental agreements in place which gives us more priority on the space and service.

Answer Question 1: The VRC/TRP preference is for the vendor to own the warehouse so we don’t consider this an option. The concern for the vendor not owning its warehouse is related to the rental agreements becoming inflated and then the vendor wanting to move to another warehouse to reduce their costs. This in turn increases the risk of VRC supplies be damaged the during transport to another warehouse. Additionally, moving the supplies comes at cost (VRC personnel’s time and effort) of having to re-inventory the supplies.

Question 2: In section 3-D regarding the Free Labor and Transportation, we will receive charges on the back end but can certainly create a "baked in cost" model to cater. Will this work? Performing the one-day turn around service operationally will not be an issue.

Answer Question 2: The vendor can use whatever model they prefer, as long as the VRC doesn’t incur additional charges/fees when needing to send out supplies or when getting supplies returned.

Question 3: How many trips on average can we expect per month?

Answer Question 3: This is variable depending on the situation (E.g., if there is another pandemic our needs may increase). On average, I would estimate, 4 trips/month (2 deliveries, 2 pick-ups). Often, there will be months without any shipments.

Question 4: With the estimated shipment volume (the 4 trips/month (2 deliveries, 2 pick-ups)), would you say the size of the shipment with the average your currently expecting, would each shipment fit into 12-24ft Box Truck or would need a larger Trailer size like a 53ft Dry van?

Answer Question 4: Historically, we have only needed 1-2 pallets/delivery, or 1 bulk rack. A small box truck would be all that is needed, 12-24ft. The larger trailer size truck would only be need when moving warehouses.

Question 5: Additionally, regarding if volume did increase like the Pandemic situation, would the amount of product needed to be shipped increase more that we’d need a larger trailer as mentioned above or just the need of more frequent monthly/weekly shipments?

Answer Question 5: Only the frequency would increase.

Question 6: Will the cages come clean?

Answer Questions 6: A majority of the cages have never been used (straight from the vendor to the warehouse), but if some cages/supplies wherever in the vivarium, they would be cleaned to highest degree possible (I.e., disinfected, sanitized, and/or sterilized).

Question 7: Does the security guard need to be on site all night and 24 on the weekend?

Answer Question 7: Yes.

Question 8: Do we need to dismantle the pallets to provide the specific quantities requested, or should the quantities stay as they were originally received?

Answer Questions 8: Pallets will not need to be dismantles and should stay as originally received. VRC would request an entire pallet be returned if only few supplies are needed to be removed from it; once VRC personnel takes the supplies needed from the pallet, the pallet will be sent back to the warehouse.