12r01 questionResponse.docx

1. What is the average number of rolls and ribbons to be delivered to each site on the initial order? If you do not know the average order then how many rolls should we use to estimate our shipping cost?

RESPONSE: We have not received a listing from the project office on how many Label rolls and ribbons will be going to each site on the initial order. The information available in the RFP are the listing of the sites the items will be shipped to, minimum and maximum amounts for the orders and ordering periods and an estimated amount for each line in the bid schedule. It is up to the offeror to determine their pricing based on this information provided.

2. Items 004 and 005. What is the average number of rolls of labels and ribbons to be delivered if the gov request expedited delivery?

RESPONSE: There is no average number of rolls of labels for expedited delivery, it will be on an as needed basis.

3. If the gov't cannot estimate the average number of rolls and ribbons to be delivered on the initial order and the expedited orders can the gov't amend the solicitation to a more fair way of bidding by the following:

Item 0001 - Base Pricing on Delivering 4 Rolls to CONUS Item 0001 - Base Pricing on Delivering 4 Rolls to OCONUS

Item 0002 - Base Pricing on Delivering 4 Rolls to CONUS Item 0002 - Base Pricing on Delivering 4 Rolls to OCONUS

Item 0003 - Base Pricing on Delivering 4 Rolls to CONUS Item 0003 - Base Pricing on Delivering 4 Rolls to OCONUS

Item 0004 - Base Pricing on Expedited Delivery 4 Rolls Labels to CONUS Item 0004 - Base Pricing on Expedited Delivery 4 Rolls Ribbons to CONUS

Item 0005 - Base Pricing on Expedited Delivery 4 Rolls Labels to OCONUS Item 0005 - Base Pricing on Expedited Delivery 4 Rolls Ribbons to OCONUS

RESPONSE: The offeror will need to provide pricing based on the information provided in the RFP and the bid schedule.

4. What is the current price you are paying on each item?

RESPONSE: This is a new item, this organization has not ordered this item before

5. The Bid Document shows this Example -- "Example: If two sites were on an order for CONUS that needed to be expedited during the Base Period , then 2 EA of Line 0004 would be ordered and the delivery timeframe would be 10 days after receipt of order for that order. Pricing for the expedited lines should reflect the additional costs of delivering the items to the site within the expedited period. Regular shipping costs for normal delivery timeframes should already be included in the unit price of items 0001, 1001, 2001, 0002, 1002, 2002, 0003, 1003, 2003."

Question: Labels cost a lot more to ship than ribbons due to there respective weight. Are we to assume that only labels will be expedited for delivery? If not, then there needs to be separate line items to bid on for expediting labels and ribbons to either CONUS or OCONUS. Any item listed in the bid schedule could be shipped on an expedited basis.

RESPONSE: Expedited shipping may be required for both ribbons and labels, offeror will need to price each line based on the information provided.

6. the material being referred to as "polyeth", is that suppose to be polyethylene, polypropylene or polystyrene (which is what syntran is)?

RESPONSE: Polythylene

7. More importantly, do you require pricing to be FOB delivered? The reason why I ask is that with all of the shipping locations and not knowing how much product will be shipping to a specific area, is it acceptable to bid on the products and that the military will address the issue of freight cost after the contract is awarded? Otherwise it would be impossible to estimate those costs and be able to factor that into a proposal.

RESPONSE: Items are FOB Destination

8. Will the initial order for all the rolls and ribbon come in as one PO, to be released and shipped at one time?

RESPONSE: This is an Indefinite delivery Indefinite quantity (IDIQ) requirement. The Government will order ribbons and labels on an as needed basis. The initial order should include all 120 sites, I have not been told how many ribbons and labels will initially go to each site. The Government will then order based on usage and projected stock required to keep our locations operational.

9 If the initial order is not shipping as one PO/one release date to the sites, we would like to know how many releases over how many months so we can accurately calculate press time.

RESPONSE: The Government uses IDIQ type contracts when it is not sure how many or where it is going to need the items.

I do not have an accurate forecast for the coming base or option periods to determine if we will order once per month, twice per month or on a less frequent basis. We will cover the minimum per ordering period and minimum per order but do not guarantee any more than that.

10. Is the initial release the only expected shipment for that year, or are there potential orders/expedites which could be called in addition later in the same year?

RESPONSE: There will be more than 1 order during a base period or option period . The order minimum is $500.00 and maximum is $200,000.00 so orders could be let at any size in between. It could be 1 site or all sites.

11. Will orders the following year be sporadic or in another single press run? If they are sporadic, we would recommend inventory for the sites to call in.

RESPONSE: It will be on an as needed basis, not a single order.

12. Also in the case of the expedite, it would make sense to hold some inventory. We do not want to offer inventory however, unless you are interested in this option.

RESPONSE: It is up the offeror to determine if they want to hold inventory for a future order.

13. Shipping costs to the sites outside of the U.S. are extremely difficult to calculate unless we have weights, and there are no quantities on the sites attachment. Is there a possibility of being advised quantities of each item which will be shipping, by site, for those sites outside of the U.S.?

RESPONSE: We have not been given the estimated quantities for the initial order or follow on orders for either CONUS or OCONUS.

14, To what surface(s) is label applied (for each label size)? i.e, corrugate, plastic, etc… RESPONSE: The labels will go on multiple surfaces as they are used for property identification and tracking, they could be adhered to individual items or on boxes, metal, plastic, wood crates. The items are stored in warehouse locations both indoors and out in varying temperatures and humid conditions.

15. Is either label applied in cold environment (freezer) or to cold surfaces (below 40F) RESPONSE: Cold Surfaces can be a condition in some locations, especially if stored outside.

16. Is either label exposed to any chemicals, grease, abrasion, etc…? If so, please list specifics.

RESPONSE: It is a warehouse setting or sitting outdoors but not on a normal basis.

17. The standard die-cut gap around thermal transfer labels is 1/16”. This would make the gap between labels 1/8”. Does DLA truly require 1/8” exposed liner on all 4 edges of labels? This would make the gap between 2 labels ¼”.

RESPONSE: The requirement states 1/8” exposed liner, this is the standard used for this requirement.

18. Is the desired label finish glossy or matte? The Intermec Syntran material specs do not clarify this point.

RESPONSE: It is not stated as a salient characteristic whether the label is glossy or matte. As long as the label meets the listed salient characteristics then it could be either glossy or matte.

19. We understand that while Intermec is the label converter, they are not the manufacturer of the Syntran label facestock. Could DLA please provide the data sheet for the facestock from the material manufacturer or the material manufacturer’s name and material number?

RESPONSE: The Government do not know the manufacturer of the facestock and do not have data sheets available.

20. Could DLA please specify the desired number of labels/roll?

RESPONSE: This is listed on the salient characteristic sheet:

4 X 6 LABELS : 950 to 1000 labels per roll.

3x 1 LABELS: minimum 5,888 labels per roll

21. If DLA will not specify the number of labels/roll, since there is an allowable range of number of labels/roll, will DLA evaluate bid responses based on the price per label? Because, for example, a roll of 950 labels would be less expensive than a roll of 1000 labels.

RESPONSE: See response to question above, pricing will still be based per roll

22. Will DLA specify number of ribbons/carton and would it be acceptable for offeror to require a minimum order of full carton size?

RESPONSE: The number of ribbons/carton is dependent on the manufacturers requirements, An offeror may specify shipments in full cartons only as long as carton size is no greater than 8 rolls.

23. Solicitation states: “The Government minimum per Base or Option Period is $75,000.00 The maximum amount per Base or Option period is $800,000.00. The minimum per task order is $500.00. The maximum per task order issued is $200,000.00”. Can DLA provide the minimum and maximum per task order in terms of number of rolls for each Line Item?

RESPONSE: This cannot be determined since unit pricing for each item is unknown as well as the mixture of labels and ribbons in the order.

24. Solicitation states: “Government anticipates an initial provisioning order during the base period to be shipped to all sites listed”. Can DLA provide estimated quantity of rolls by Line Item that may be required at time of initial provisioning order?

RESPONSE: The estimated quantity of items for the initial provisioning has not yet been determined.

25. The Intermec PD42G printer is capable of handling up to an 18,000” (457M) long ribbon roll. Solicitation requests a smaller, 6,000” inch ribbon. Is there a specific need for the shorter ribbon or would DLA consider using a longer ribbon?

RESPONSE: The 6,000 inch ribbon was specification of the requirement. DLA will remain with the 6,000 inch ribbon.

26. Would it be acceptable to DLA for an offeror to submit (2) separate proposals: 1)with like or most similar material to the Intermec spec’d material and 2) with alternate lower cost material that still meets the performance requirements of the application?

RESPONSE: This RFP allows providing either the requested item or an item considered equal to the requested item. An item is considered equal if it meets the criteria in the Salient characteristics sheet. You can provide an alternative quote, however, it may be rejected if it does not respond the the requirements of the RFP.

27. Could DLA please provide a print test configuration from the currently used PD42G printer that includes the print settings, i.e. darkness & heat?

RESPONSE: The PD42G printer is not currently in service in the field. We do not have a print test configuration.

28. Please will DLA clarify unit of measure for CLIN 0004, 0005, 1004, 1005, 2004, 2005? Solicitation states EA for unit of measure. Does EA refer to each roll, each shipment, each case, etc?

RESPONSE: These are expedited Lines, The 01 EA is to be ordered for each delivery site listed on an expedited order, so if 3 sites were listed, 3 ea of the specific line would be ordered for an expedited order.

29. Will DLA accept shipments of labels and ribbons separately for each order?

RESPONSE: The ribbons and labels should be shipped together for each Delivery site listed on the order.