SGE50017R0038_-_Questions_&_Answers_continued.pdf

SGE50017R0038

Questions & Answers, continued

Q.1 Should the warehouse space be available to the Embassy during the entire contract period?

A.1 We will need the space beginning late spring up until the end of the year, each year. The volumes will be highest beginning in May through August and begin to dwindle beginning September will decrease significantly thereafter. The purpose of this contract is for the vendor to assist with items mainly in the 4-5 months in the spring to summer season when we have to furnish the residences with furniture.

Q.2 Item 4.1.3 – You write “minimum 3000 m3” – do you mean 3000 m2.

A.2 No, we mean m3 and the numbers are at the highest volume. We made a mistake in the calculations. Please see the amended Attachments 1 and 2.

Q.3 Item 4.1.6 – You refer to “Belgian labour laws & regulations” – do you mean Swedish?

A.3 Yes, we mean Swedish. Please see the amended Attachment 1.

Q.4 Item 1.4.11.2 – Are we required to weigh and measure all the furniture when it arrives to our warehouse, doesn’t the shipper have the correct info?

A.4 No, we will provide the BOL (Bill of Lading).

Q.5 Item 1.4.14 – Will we get the packing list from the Embassy?

A.5 Yes.

Q.6 Item 4.2 – Since storage is to be charged per cbm it is very important that your estimated volume to be handled is correct. Can you guarantee the number of cbm for each year – also see my comments below.

A.6 No, as is the nature of this type of contract, we cannot guarantee any quantities listed in the solicitation. It is our intension is to fully furnish 20-25 houses with furniture each summer season and the quantity / volumes we provide are the best and most realistic maximum quantities we anticipate to handle each season. Volumes will vary from year to year.

Q.7 Do you expect any of the items to be palletized? If yes, what type of pallets could we expect?

A.7 No we do not expect any of the goods to arrive on pallets. If that were to happen it would most likely be on sea freight pallets. In other words they would have to be re palletized to fit European standard warehouses.

We don’t see an issue if you the vendor palletizes the goods for storage purposes.

SGE50017R0038

Questions & Answers, continued

Q.8 If you don’t foresee any palletized cargo, could we expect any other form of stackable packaging?

A.8 Yes all items will be boxed up. Some items may be difficult to stack all items such as china cabinets and sofas.

Q.9 What is the expected frequency of delivering containers? That is, one per week, or several in one go?

A.9 Containers will arrive 2- 5 times per year. Expected number of containers at any given time is 3-7 at the most. The current plan is for the bulk of the goods to arrive at port at the same time or in a very compressed time frame.

Q.10 Can you confirm which sea port will be used for the delivery of the containers, and do you expect it to change in the future?

A.10 Stockholm or Södertälje

Q.11 Have you planned to make a visit to the competing warehouses prior to awarding the contract?

A.11 No

Q.12 Would price revisions in the future be considered, that is, if we need to increase a quote due to unforeseen circumstances, like exchange rates, labor law and other?

A.12 Please refer to paragraphs III.A.1 and III.A.3. The only price revisions that will be considered are those based on changes to the local law or to US law.

Q.13 Would you consider pre-payment of any of the services requested?

A.13 No, the USG is not allowed to authorize pre-payments.

Q.14 The requirement for Attachment 4 states to provide ‘minimum 3 – maximum 5 contracts’. If a company cannot provide 3 contracts will we still be considered for award?

A.14 Yes, if a company is new and cannot show any past performance this item will receive a ‘neutral’ in the technical evaluation.