Japan_IDIQ_-_Repsonses_(Rd1).pdf

Questions for SP7000-17-R-1008

Q1 General Information of OCONUS at the beginning of PWS.

Is the delivery address limited to a specific area within Japan?

PWS shows the geographical scope of this contracting action is limited to a 50-mile radius and within the same country of the delivery schedule, however this geographical scope doesn’t cover all U.S. Military bases in Japan. Please refer to the geographical information shown below.

- There are over 50 U.S. Military bases and premises in Japan.

- The most northerly base is Misawa Air Base located in Aomori prefecture (mainland Japan).

- The southernmost base is Naha Port located in Okinawa prefecture (island).

- The distance between Misawa Air Base and Naha Port is 1,474 miles.

Government Response: No, the delivery addresses are not limited to a specific area in Japan.

Q2 (PWS 2.3)

Is it acceptable to use the Customer Call Center located in China?

Government Response: In-accordance-with FAR 25.403(c) this service is subject to the Trade Agreements Act and as such this service would need to be provided within a designated country as defined by FAR 25. As of right now, China is neither a qualifying or designated end country. Also, according to the PWS 2.3, toll free numbers must be provided to our customers and the Contractor must provide English speaking personnel.

Q3 (PWS 8.1)

Is the relocation fee chargeable if the distance between the requested relocation is over a 50-mile radius or in case requiring special handling?

Government Response: Yes, the relocation fee is chargeable if over a 50-mile radius or in case requiring special handling.

Q4 PWS (11.3.4)

Is it possible to separate SIPR devices which are required SIPR Token capability from this solicitation and will issue another solicitation for the SIPR Token devices only?

To advance the development of plug-in software compatible with SIPR Token, our R&D staff have contacted agent (company) who has control of SIPR Card (SafeNet SC650) license to enter a technology agreement with them, however they informed us as stated below.

SIPRNet cards cannot leave US soil and must be handled by US citizens (either native born or naturalized).

Personnel using SIPRNet cards may be contract, but must meet all criteria for personnel previously mentioned.

It means that the foreign national company which have no establishment in U.S. can't develop the products compatible with SIPR Token, because SafeNet 650 cards for testing are not provided by agent. In other words, foreign national manufacturers have no opportunity to offer our own products with SIPR Token capability, even if we have product development capability.

Government Response: Not at this time, because the contract is currently being solicited. If separated, we will have to cancel the solicitation and re-solicit which will delay the Period of Performance of 02/01/2018.

Q5 (SOW 11.4)

This solicitation includes the service to Marine Corps customers and Marine Corps in Japan says they can’t accept the devices made in Taiwan as it is considered as part of China.

Can we offer the devices made in Taiwan?

Government Response: DLA will accept devices that are end products of Taiwan according to the FAR and DFARS (see below for FAR/DFARS information):

A designated country is defined by the FAR 25.003(1) as:

“Designated country” means any of the following countries:

(1) A World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement (WTO GPA) country (Armenia, Aruba, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (Republic of), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (known in the World Trade Organization as “the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (Chinese Taipei)”), Ukraine, or United Kingdom);

FAR 25.403 states to acquire only U.S. made or designate country end products:

(c) Purchase restriction.

(1) Under the Trade Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 2512), in acquisitions covered by the WTO GPA, acquire only U.S.-made or designated country end products or U.S. or designated country services, unless offers for such end products or services are either not received or are insufficient to fulfill the requirements. This purchase restriction does not apply below the WTO GPA threshold for supplies and services, even if the acquisition is covered by an FTA.

DFARS section 225.403 also states that designated country end products are TAA compliant:

225.403 World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement and Free Trade Agreements.

(c) For acquisitions of supplies covered by the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement, acquire only U.S.-made, qualifying country, or designated country end products unless—

(i) The contracting officer determines that offers of U.S.-made, qualifying country, or designated country end products from responsive, responsible offerors are either

(A) Not received; or

(B) Insufficient to fill the Government's requirements. In this case, accept all responsive, responsible offers of U.S.-made, qualifying country, and eligible products before accepting any other offers;

Q6 Attachment 4- Statement of Work Compliance Form

It's the first time for us that this form is required on the solicitation.

If there are any qualifications and notes, will it be considered as caveats/deviations and ineligible to offer this solicitation?

Government Response: The Government considers any changes (i.e. qualifications/notes) made to the terms and conditions of the Statement of Work Compliance Form by a vendor as a caveat/deviation and this will make the submitted proposal technically not acceptable.

Q7:

There is some discrepancies in the solicitation. The number of required units are very different between Attachment 1 and 2. Which one is correct?

541 or 2148?

Government Response: 541 is the guaranteed amount the government will order, other orders may be more or less; 2,148 is the estimated total through the life of the contract.

Q8:

When is the POP date of this contract? The solicitation doesn't inform us about the detailed schedule for this contract. i.e. Reverse Auction date, the installation date, contract POP date, and etc.

Government Response: In accordance with the RFP period of performance information located on page 3 the base IDIQ will have an up to 60 month ordering period from time of award. The estimated period of performance is 1 September 2017 to 31 August 2022. Additionally, the Government will issue the first order with a POP date of 2/1/18.

Q9:

In the past, there were two different contracts for US Forces Japan. One is for Air force and the other is for Navy and Marines. Is this contract for the whole US forces?

Government Response: This IDIQ is only for non-Navy (Army, Air Force, DLA, etc.).

Q6 Attachment 4- Statement of Work Compliance Form