Beta.SAM Questions and Answers SPE1C1-20-R-0139.docx

Based on questions received in response to solicitation SPE1C1-20-R-0139 as of July 24, 2020 at 4:00 PM, the following clarification is provided for this solicitation:

1. Questions regarding lot applicability, Berry Amendment, and Buy American Act, the following is applicable:

All offerors shall review the language at FAR 25.003 and DFARS 225.003 for definitions and what it means to be considered a domestic or qualifying country end product. To determine if a proposed item meets the requirements of each specific lot, offerors should review the following regulations which include lists of compliant countries:

a. Berry Compliant Lots: DFARS clause 252.225-7012 Preference for Certain Domestic Commodities

b. Buy American Act Compliant Lots: DFARS 225-872-1 provides a list of Buy American Act qualifying countries

Waivers and/or changes to the lot structure will not be made at this time.

2. Question: Can DLA Troop Support accept non-qualifying end item products under the Buy American Act/US fabric production lot?

Answer: Per page 5 of the solicitation:

This lot applies when offers under lot 1 do not provide for sufficient quantities available within the time required. A domestic non-availability determination has been approved and the Berry Amendment is not applicable to this lot. Additionally an exception to the application of the TAA has been granted to the extent that BAA compliant offers can meet the government's needs. For this acquisition, the provisions of DFARS 252.225-7000 and DFARS 252.225-7001 are applicable only to the extent that offers are received from domestic or qualifying countries. The subject item is considered a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) item. Offerors must either meet the requirements of the BUY AMERICAN ACT by providing a domestic end product or a qualifying country end product OR provide an end item whose primary end item fabric is manufactured in the United States. Under this lot, awards will be made in accordance with the following order of precedence:

1) Buy American Act compliant offers of domestic or qualifying country end items;

2) Offers of end items whose primary end item fabric is manufactured in the United States, regardless of country of end item manufacture. Offers of end items whose primary end item fabric is manufactured in the United States will ONLY be considered if quantity requirements cannot be met in the required timeframe with Buy American Act compliant offers of domestic or qualifying country end items.”

3. Question: We do not see any specifics regarding material which you want the gowns to be made of.

Answer: The solicitation is requiring commercial-off-the-shelf gowns and is not defining a required material. The only requirement is that the material does not include latex, meets the requirements listed in the product description, and there are test reports and/or COC as required in the solicitation and/or proposal submission form for the proposed item’s material.

4. Question: For Past Performance, could you please confirm that DLA is willing to accept commercial contract information in addition to any SPRS performance data?

Answer: Past performance will be rated as outlined in the addendum to 52.212-2 Evaluations – Commercial Items. Commercial contracts provided will be used to determine the offeror’s responsibility if they are in line for an award.

5. Question: As to Berry Amendment, if all Level 2 and 3 gown are manufactured to the same specifications and standards in ISO rated facilities, do we need to provide specific information as to each factory, or simply identify separate locations? Are samples required from each factory location or only the manufacturer itself?

Answer: The solicitation outlines requirements for submitting proposals for multiple factories (AKA places of performance). Please review pages 21-22 specifically which address this question.

6. Question: If I respond with multiple places of performance and raw material solutions, would the entire proposal be disqualified if one gown PDM does not meet the label requirements, delivery time or technical requirements?

Answer: The offeror needs to submit its proposal as outlined in the addendum to 52.212-1 Instruction to Offerors – Commercial Items, specifically the guidance provided on pages 22-23 of the solicitation. If this guidance is followed and the offeror’s proposal is in line for an award, awards would be made for the PDMs/proposal submission forms that are determined to be technically acceptable. Awards would not be made to PDM/proposal submission forms that are determined not to be technically acceptable.

7. Question: We understand that you are accepting one PDF file only. If we respond on behalf of multiple entities, we would expect our PDF file to be quite large and are concerned that the email system would block the proposal. Are there other options for submitting the proposal?

Answer: Email is the only authorized method for submitting proposals. As listed throughout the solicitation, you shall electronically submit: 1) the signed solicitation and any subsequent amendments and 2) one proposal submission form for each place of performance, lot, and/or level of gown with all required documents attached in the corresponding proposal submission form. Therefore, you can submit the required documents in multiple emails; however, you need to clearly state the proposal is being sent in batches (i.e. email 1 out of 5) and use the same subject line for each email.

8. Question: Is there a tolerance on the Gown Size Chest Measurements provided?

Answer: Please review the measurements listed on page 14 of the solicitation. These are minimum measurements. As long as the proposed item for that size meets that minimum measurement but does not exceed the minimum requirement of the next size, it is acceptable.

9. Multiple questions were received regarding using multiple places of performance, cut and sew facilities, and fabric suppliers. Offerors shall review the guidance listed in the solicitation, specifically pages 21-22, for guidance on how proposals need to be submitted if these situations apply. For solicitation submission purposes, a place of performance has been defined on page 22 of the solicitation.

10. Question: Can we switch to using another material that is already on our supplier list if it looks different than what we start with initially?

Answer: If an award is made based on an offeror’s proposal, only the fabrics included in the proposal submission form would be authorized for production. If an offeror wishes to add something after the award is made, pre-production samples and/or test reports/COCs may be required in order to receive approval to use in production.

11. Multiple questions were received regarding the requirements of ISO 17025 and seam strength testing listed in the solicitation. If any changes are made to these requirements it will be done so via an amendment. The amendment will be posted to the DIBBS website (if required) and offerors should continue to monitor this website for any amendments.

12. Multiple questions were received requesting specifications and/or drawings. This acquisition is for commercial items. It is the offeror’s responsibility to determine which specific materials, designs, and methods of construction are appropriate to meet the specified requirements in the solicitation.

13. Multiple questions were received about the length of the gown. Minimum length is not spelled out explicitly. It is the Offeror's/Contractor's responsibility to ensure that the offered item(s) will provide adequate protection and coverage to the user. ASTM F3352 states, in part, that the gown must provide coverage "from the knees up to but not including the neck". Suggest potential Offerors review Section 5 "Design Requirements" in ASTM F3352-19 for more information.

14. Multiple questions were received about the quantity unit pack. Multiple Gowns shall be packed in each case. The number of Gowns per case shall be determined by the Contractor. Gowns shall be packed in cases in a quantity and manner that ensures that the Gowns will arrive to the end user undamaged and in good condition.

15. Multiple questions were received about registering in SAMs. To register in SAM, please go to www.sam.gov, Getting Started – Register Entity.

16. To further clarify questions received regarding submitting proposals, proposal submission forms, and PDMs under this acquisition when using different places of performance, materials, or for different levels of gowns, the following information is provided:

a. Only ONE (1) copy of the solicitation (and all subsequent amendment(s)) needs to be returned regardless of how many sources of supply, gown levels, fabric suppliers, lots, etc. an offeror is planning to offer under this acquisition. Delivery schedules, pricing, and technical information is be submitted only in the attached submission form. This information is not on the Standard Form 1449.

b. Offerors shall submit ONE (1) completed copy of the submission form attachment for each place of performance (per facility). Offerors would provide information concerning the minimum quantity acceptable for award, delivery capabilities, monthly maximum capacity, unit price, place of performance, identification of sources of supply, test data information for the PDM, and past performance information in the proposal submission form for that place of performance ONLY. If an offeror is proposing more than one place of performance, a PDM and submission form is required for each place of performance (facility).

c. If an offeror is submitting under different lots, different proposal submission forms and PDMs are required.

d. Offerors are allowed to use multiple fabric suppliers. Test reports/CoCs/and any other documentation required for the fabric as outlined in the solicitation and/or proposal submission form must be submitted for each fabric supplier.

e. Below are examples of how proposals would be submitted if submitting different gown levels, multiple lots, and multiple places of performance (listed below as manufacturing sites):

Proposals Submission with One Place of Performance and One Fabric Supplier

Proposals Submission One Place of Performance and Two Fabric Suppliers

Proposals Submission with Two Place of Performances and One Fabric Supplier

Proposals Submission with Two Place of Performances and Two Fabric Suppliers

To further assist offerors in finding the proposal submission form, a copy is attached to the combined synopsis/solicitation. Additionally, the following screenshots are provided to show offerors how to obtain this, and all other attachments to the solicitation and/or subsequent amendments via the DIBBS website.

1. If searching for the request for proposal, click on the solicitation number as shown below:

2. Once in the solicitation, you will see a column entitled “Attachments.” This is where all attachments to the solicitation and any subsequent amendments will be:

To further assist offerors in finding the proposal submission form, a copy is attached to the combined synopsis/solicitation. Additionally, the following screenshots are provided to show offerors how to obtain this, and all other attachments to the solicitation and/or subsequent amendments via the Beta.Sam website.

1. Click arrow (left side) to open tool bar, if not already opened.

3. Click on paperclip icon to view attachments.

Preference to US end item manufacturing and qualifying end up manufacturing and those using US fabrics.

As noted in lot w us and qualifying end products. And those vendors using US Domestic fabrics.

3. Attachments will appear. Double click to open and view the attachments.

17. Question: We would like to source the same quality fabric from multiple suppliers. Is it necessary to submit PDM’s for each supplier?

ANSWER: If the fabric meets the same specifications, separate PDMs are not required. Test reports/CoCs/and any other documentation required for the fabric as outlined in the solicitation and/or proposal submission form must be submitted for each source.

18. Question: If one PDM fails, then only that particular “place of performance” fails, not the whole bid?

Answer: Correct. The failing PDM for that specific place of performance would not be considered for award. This is why offerors must separate their proposal through a submission form so each PDM can be evaluated as a separate offer.

19. Question: Can PDMs be submitting in a color different than what will be provided if awarded a contract?

Answer: PDM(s) may be presented in an alternate color if accompanied by a letter describing the color that will be delivered under contract. PDM fabric type (woven, knit, non-woven) must be equivalent to the type that will be delivered under any resultant contract. If you are awarded a contract, only the PDMs and/or fabrics included in your proposal submission form would be authorized for production. If you wish to add something after award, pre-production samples and/or test reports/COCs may be required.

20. Question: I’d like to confirm the correct delivery date for this proposal. On page 6 of the solicitation, it states, “Within each lot, the Government intends to award multiple contracts to fulfill these quantities in the most advantageous manner to ensure all available quantity is received by January 15, 2021.” However, on page 2 of the Reusable Gown Submission Form, it requests a delivery schedule until September 2021. Can you confirm the correct due date to deliver the full quantity of gowns?

Answer: The sentence on page six (6) of the solicitation is indicating to offerors that the Government is attempting to purchase as many gowns as possible, from as many lowest priced technically acceptable offerors as possible, so that the estimated quantity of 10,000,000 gowns are received by January 15, 2021. Any contract awards issued from this solicitation will be indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts and will contain a 12-month ordering period. Requesting a delivery schedule until September 2021 allows the Government to place individual delivery orders for a 12-month period for the quantities outlined in the individual contract awards up to the individual contract maximum.

Solicitation and Any Subsequent Amendments

Proposal Submission Form

PDM

Attach Test Reports, CoCs, and other required documentation from fabric supplier #1

Attach Test Reports, CoCs, and other required documentation from fabric supplier #2

Proposal Submission Form for Gown Made by Company #2

PDM for Gown Made by Company #1

Attach Test Reports, CoCs, and other required documentation

PDM for Gown Made by Company #2

Proposal Submission Form for Gown Made by Company #1

Proposal Submission Form for Gown Made by Company #2

PDM for Gown Made by Company #1

PDM for Gown Made by Company #2

Proposal Submission Form for Gown Made by Company #1

Proposal Submission Form

PDM

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