Q A_for_ERRS_IV_12-19.pdf

Responses to Questions SOL-R8-12-00003

1. Traditionally ‘foldouts’ are allowed to efficiently provide data and graphics. Will USEPA allow foldouts? They can be counted as two pages to maintain the 100 page limit.

Answer: Foldouts are allowed, not to exceed 11” x 17” and will count as 2 pages if single sided and 4 pages if double sided.

2. Graphics traditionally use an 8 font text. The RFP requires a 10. Would USEPA please consider allowing an 8 pt font on graphics?

Answer: Font size remains 10 pt

3. In section L it states the 4 Key Personnel Positions that are listed in G.4 (PM, Level II RM, Chemist, T&D Coordinator) shall submit resumes that are included in Appendix D. Yet in Appendix D it states a total of 6 resumes templates – PM, Level II RM, Level I RM, Chemist, T&D Coordinator & Corporate Safety Officer. Which is correct, submit 4 or 6 resumes?

Answer: Only 4 Resumes are required to be submitted. This will be corrected in Amendment

4. Within Scenario 2, Section L requires the response to six questions. Section M highlights evaluation criteria that includes some items which are not directly asked for in Section L directions. Can USEPA confirm or change Section L and M for scenario 2?

Answer: Yes, Section M will be corrected to mirror Section L for Scenario 2

5. In section L.9 Past Performance Information it states to submit “contracts and subcontracts”, however in the Past Performance Questionnaire provided in the “contract data” table it asks for task order information. Can it be assumed this information is no longer valid if using contracts in the past performance section?

Answer: Offerors should complete the table with data pertinent to the work being evaluated.

If it is a specific task order under a larger contract, task order data would be included. If it is an entire contract relevant to this procurement, only contract level data is necessary.

6. In the provided Client Authorization Letter it states the solicitation number as “SOL-HQ-12-00003” and the rest of the RFP lists the solicitation number as “SOL-R8-12-00003”. Can the EPA please clarify which solicitation number is correct?

Answer: The correct RFP number is SOL-R8-12-00003, and will be corrected in Amendment

7. It appears that the RCMS numbers for equipment are mix of new RCMS numbers and old RCMS numbers. For instance, the old RCMS number for a Truck-Pickup- 2 wheel drive is 01-036-010, which is used in the RFP, the new RCMS number for a Truck-Pickup- ½ ton 2 wheel drive is 001-230-

001. Can the equipment list be updated to reflect all new RCMS numbers and descriptions?

Answer: Yes, a current RCMS equipment list will be provided in Amendment 0001

8. Please clarify PAS position description in the Pricing Schedule.

Answer: Project Administrative Specialist, spelled out in Pricing Schedule, Amendment 0001

9. Please Clarify what SCA rate Applies to the Cleanup Technician and the Laborer in the pricing

Schedule

Answer: Please review the SCA Wage Determination provided with the RFP. If either category is identified for a severable construction effort, then a Davis-Bacon Wage Determination for the specific site (state or locality) would be applicable at the Task Order level.

10. Please clarify Subcontractor Support in the pricing schedule.

Answer: This is expected to be the offeror’s estimated subcontractor support “hourly” rate.

11. Can experience be substituted for the CIH requirement for the Site Safety Officer?

Answer: Substitution of experience for the CIH requirement is not acceptable. The idea is to set a high performance standard with institutional training.

12. Exhibit B shows the following labor categories that are not on the Pricing Schedule. Is the bidder supposed to show experience and capabilities for these labor classes but not provide pricing?

• Engineer

• Field Clerk

• Explosive Specialist

• Lab Technician

• Geologist

Answer: These categories represent specialty skills that are not routinely needed and thus are not required in the pricing schedule. The contractor, however, must demonstrate an ability to provide services under these categories, should the need arise.

13. Within Attachment 1 (Scope of Work), Section II (Technical Requirements) there is a detailed breakout of SOW elements. For element 12 (Regional Cross Over), beginning with the third paragraph, the text discusses contractual requirements which appear to apply to the contract as a whole, and not just Regional Cross Overs. It is difficult to cipher if the intent was to have a separate SOW element, or of the text was mistakenly inserted from elsewhere in the section.

Answer: This will be corrected in Amendment 0001. The Regional Cross Over information is part of Element 11.

14. We believe the resume template for the Corporate Safety Officer is an exact copy of the T&D

Coordinator resume template. We would appreciate clarification if this is the correct template for the Corporate Safety Officer or if a new template can be provided?

Answer: The resume template for Corporate Safety Officer and Level I Response Manager are not applicable and will be removed via Amendment 001.

15. Several requirements for the submittals are for specialty people (i.e. Chemist, RCRA), equipment

(green rated), and references (performance ratings). Although we have years of experience working on emergency projects, equipment needs always vary, specialty people are usually supplied by the owner when necessary and performance ratings aren't typically done, therefore we haven't faced the need to either own specialty equipment, hire environmental engineers, chemists, etc. or seek paperwork regarding our performance. We do have performance ratings from different agencies we have worked for under an ERA would those work? We have always rented specialty equipment vs.

buying them for a one time use. Personnel are quite often hired thru specialty firms on an "as needed" basis and locally. Our suppliers would be dictated by the type of incident and its location so referencing who and what we would use would only be a guess. Our tactics would be strictly influenced by time and money as people and equipment are not always available to meet the schedule you are bound to. Is this going to have a negative effect on our being considered for this

RFP?

Answer: Any successful offeror will have or be able to obtain the required specialty personnel and equipment available to meet the response times stated in the RFP/SOW. Please note that the successful offeror is required to mobilize personnel/equipment from two locations, Denver, CO and Salt Lake City, UT, and to establish a local presence in Denver. EPA will NOT pay any costs in excess of what it would cost to deploy from either of the two specified mobilization sites. Excerpt from Pg 15 of 106:

The Contractor's primary mobilization points for equipment and labor are listed below. The Contractor shall establish offices in the mobilization cities within 30 days after contract award (Note: Mobilization points shall be within Region VIII). Denver, Colorado and Salt Lake City, Utah.

Lack of past performance experience is rated as neutral, as indicated in the Past Performance Evaluation Section M. Offerors with no relevant past performance must state this in their proposal.

16. Could you explain the bonding requirements?

Since there isn't a bid bond that I can see on the RFP, when would you expect a bond? How often?

What type?

Answer: Bonds are required in accordance with the clause, H.19 Performance and Payment Bonds, which states: “The Miller Act requires that the prime Contractor obtain performance and payment bonds on substantial and segregable construction exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold under this contract. When required by the prime Contractor and approved by the Contracting Officer, the prime Contractor may be permitted to fulfill this requirement by requiring that the subcontractor furnish the bonds with the United States named as the obligee on the bond. In that event, it is hereby mutually agreed that there is no intent for the prime Contractor to merely act as the Government's purchasing agent, and that this contract shall not be construed as a facilities management contract. It is further agreed that the privity of contract between the prime and subcontractor, and the responsibilities of each, is not affected in any way by permitting the subcontractor to provide Miller Act bonds in lieu of the prime Contractor.” Bonds are required when a Task Order is issued for or includes a segregable construction component valued at or above the simplified acquisition threshold.

There is no bond required with offerors’ initial proposals.

17. Page 92 of 106 – Submission of Cost or Pricing Proposal states “Submit cost or pricing data on SF

1411, Contract Pricing Proposal Cover Sheet, or comparable document” should we use the SF 33 provided with the RFP as a “comparable document” or will EPA provide a copy of the requested SF 1411?

Answer: As this is a 100% small business set-aside, the SF1411 or comparable document is not required. This statement will be removed in Amendment 0001.

18. Attachment 2 - Pricing Schedule, under CLIN 002, there numerous types of Equipment. Are the fixed daily rates to include fuel?

Answer: No, fixed rates are exclusive of fuel.

19. Will fuel be considered an ODC?

Answer: Yes, fuel is considered an ODC.

20. Page 88 of 106, COST PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS states “Section 3 of the Cost Proposal shall be provided in a separate electronic file in.xls format with all formulas and calculations intact/unlocked and may contain font no smaller than 12- point. Will the government provide a standard excel spreadsheet for bidders to use?

Answer: Yes, the Excel Spreadsheet that corresponds with Attachment 2 was inadvertently omitted. It will be uploaded separately as a live Excel Spreadsheet for bidders to use in drafting their Cost Proposal.

21. Page 88 of 106, COST PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS states “Section 3 of the Cost Proposal shall be provided in a separate electronic file in.xls format with all formulas and calculations intact/unlocked and may contain font no smaller than 12- point. Should the Bidders recreate the following pages, 2- 1 of 12 through 2-12 of 12, in an excel format?

Answer: See answer to Q20 above.

22. Page 88 of 106, COST PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS states “Section 3 of the Cost Proposal shall be provided in a separate electronic file in.xls format with all formulas and calculations intact/unlocked and may contain font no smaller than 12- point. If the Bidder is to recreate the following pages, 2-1 of 12 through 2-12 of 12, which formulas and calculations are to remain intact? Are you requesting to see the Est. Hours x Fixed Hourly rates = Est. Hourly Costs?

Answer: Any and all calculations done within the spreadsheet shall be viewable and not hidden or protected.

23. Page 88 of 106, COST PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS states “Section 3 of the Cost Proposal shall be provided in a separate electronic file in.xls format with all formulas and calculations intact/unlocked and may contain font no smaller than 12- point. If the Bidder is to recreate the following pages, 2-1 of 12 through 2-12 of 12, which formulas and calculations are to remain intact? Are you requesting to see all the detailed buildup as suggested on page 89 of 106, SECTION 3 –PROPOSED COSTS para

(a) PERSONNEL?

Answer: See answer to Q22 above. Additionally offerors may edit the live spreadsheet to add column(s) to show the detailed buildup.

24. Page 2-3 of 12 has a summary of CLIN 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Is the bidder to complete G&A percentages and then calculate the TBD Subtotals and Totals? Is the purpose to calculate the total price for all CLINs during the Base period?

Answer: Yes

25. Page 2-3 of 12 has an * Only one G&A percentage is allowed. Is the government limiting one G&A percentage for each CLIN (ex. CLIN 1 has G&A of 10%, CLIN 2 has G&A of 7%, CLIN 3 has G&A of 9%, CLIN 4 has G&A of 4%, and CLIN 5 has G&A of 5%) or limiting one G&A for all CLINs (ex.

CLINs 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 equal 8%)?

Answer: Only ONE G&A for ALL CLINS is allowed. If an offeror proposes multiple G&A rates, the offeror may be considered non-responsive and the proposal rejected.

26. Page 89 of 106, COST PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS, SECTION 3- PROPOSED COSTS, para (a) PERSONNEL states that each LOADED FIXED HOURLY RATE (LFHR) shall consist of Raw wage, Fringe benefits, Overhead rate, G&A & Profit – But on page Page 2-9 of 12 has a summary of CLINs 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 which ALSO show the G&A.

Answer: The G&A rate is included in the fixed hourly rates. Offerors must identify in their proposal the G&A rate that applies, but this column has been taken out of the rolled up totals for each CLIN in Amendment 001.

27. Is the G&A to be shown but not calculated for CLINs 1 and 2?

Answer: The G&A rate should be calculated and included within the fixed hourly rates. See answer to Q26 above.

28. Are Ceiling subtotals to be created for CLINs 3, 4, and 5? Note; there appears to be a conflict as the

G&A is to be included in the buildup for CLINs 1 and 2 and then again in the summary table located on page 2-3 of 12.

Answer: Yes. Also see answer to Q26

29. Pages 86 and 87 of 106 have Response Instructions. Please confirm that the Bidders are not to supply an actual projected price total for the Scenarios.

Answer: Offerors are not required to price the Scenarios