SPE1C121R0056_Questions and Responses V1.pdf

U3PL Solicitation SPE1C121R0056 Questions and Responses Version 1

1. What is the anticipated start date of this requirement? A: Approximately Fall 2021 / Winter 2022, subject to change.

2. The U3PL contract does not appear to be available through normal channels. Will the government provide a copy of the current contract and or any other governing contractual documents? A: The current U3PL program is operating under a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the State of Kentucky. The requirements for the subject solicitation will differ significantly from the current MOA and as a result it is not considered to be relevant. Therefore, the past MOA will not be provided under this solicitation.

3. What is the current annual contract cost for the past three years? A: Because the MOA requirement differs, prior costs will not be reflective of the effort described in the solicitation.

4. On page 3 of the solicitation in the Note under Schedule of Services, the Government references a six‐month phase in timeframe. On page 29, 120‐day phase in is referenced.

What is the length of phase‐in? A: Per section 3.2. Phase in Schedule, the 3PL has 120 days to be ready for full operational service, defined as the complete ability to receive, store and issue inventory. The six‐month transition period cited on page 3 allows for additional time to transfer inventory to a new 3PL contractor, if needed.

5. What type of uniform items are available to be ordered? Is the government willing to provide a list of PGCs supported? A: Items to be inventoried and ordered include but are not limited to boots, caps, physical training uniforms, goggles, trousers, shirts, and protective equipment. Procurement Group Codes (PGCs) for each item will be provided to the awardee after award.

6. Will contractors be required to support any of the service branches dress uniforms? A:

Yes, for all Services for enlisted personnel (no officers).

7. Regarding the order volume, are the AEQ numbers based on KMO’s or NSNs? A: The AEQ numbers are based upon KMOs, MROs, and STOs, not National Stock Numbers (NSNs). (KMOs will represent the vast majority of orders received.)

8. What is the average number of NSNs per KMO? A: This will vary depending upon the order. An overall estimate is 4 to 6 items but actual quantities after award may vary. A new uniform (e.g. USAF OCP) may require the uniform and all accessories while a replacement for a pair of trousers might only have one item.

9. Section 2.2, Current process, page 16‐71. Regarding the following statement:

“Individual customers will require unique web pages within the WebOS.”

a. What are the specifications for the 15 “individual customer” web pages?

b. When will these specifications be provided?

c. If the specifications are to be provided after contract award, how soon?

d. How much of the individual customer web pages is managed and controlled by the individual service branch vs the contractor?

e. What coordinating instructions are available to assess this requirement?

A: The requirements for the WebOS are specified under section 2.6 of the solicitation. It is the offeror’s responsibility to propose a system that will successfully meet these requirements. Specifications for “individual customer” web pages will not be provided.

Customer web pages will be controlled by the 3PL contractor. There are no coordinating instructions to provide at this time.

10. Systems Testing in Instructions to Offeror Sub‐Factor 1a first paragraph “The contractor is cautioned to schedule adequate time for systems testing as well”.

a. Is there a separate backend system integration required for each (15) service branch? A: This is not anticipated. Items will be ordered directly from the 3PL contractor’s WebOS.

11. System Testing – What is the availability of personnel in the individual services branches to perform testing? A: The availability of such personnel is unknown at this time.

12. Whom in DLA Troop Support is responsible for scheduling these individuals or is it the responsibility of the contractor to coordinate systems testing? A: Systems testing will be a collaborative effort between the Contractor, DLA Troop Support, and other Government entities such as DLA Transactions Services and Military Service Customers.

DLA Troop Support will take the lead in testing coordination.

a. What assurance is there that the personnel and systems will be available for testing when required? A: While personnel and systems needed for systems testing is a critical part of the U3PL effort, there is no assurance on the level of availability that will be provided.

b. What is the turnaround time for approving results of the system testing by the service branches? A: This is to be determined as part of systems testing.

c. Can the service branch transition be staged? As the systems interfaces are tested, inventory is transitioned and the WebOS “go live” for that branch? A:

This is possible. However, transitioning for systems will also be a collaborative effort between the Contractor, DLA Troop Support, and other Government entities such as DLA Transactions Services and Military Service customers as needed.

13. How frequently does the product information contained in the WebOS change – at either the service level or overall, e.g., approximately how many product updates are required per year for the 15 current service branch customers? A: This all depends on whether the Services bring on new items and/or discontinue others. All adds/deletes are a coordinated effort among the Service, DLA & the 3PL contractor. No item is expected to be added until DLA is able to support the customer base.

14. Section 2.6 Web‐Based Ordering System, on page 24. Regarding this statement: “Only authorized individuals shall be allowed to establish log‐in credentials.”

a. What are the coordinating instructions to determine “authorized individuals? A:

This will be established by each customer program administrator and coordinated among the program at the customer organization, DLA Troop Support and the 3PL contractor.

b. Is this a service unique process? A: It is a program unique process as determined by the customer organization.

c. What is the process? A: This will vary. Each program has a different process.

d. Does each customer have a unique approval process for its potential users? A:

Yes.

i. If so, what is the process? A: Each program has a different process.

15. How is information related to the website content such as product images, descriptions, sizing charts, etc. provided? A: Product images are the responsibility of the 3PL contractor. DLA, in coordination with the program administrators will provide descriptions, sizing charts and other related information.

a. How much in advance is new item information provided? A: This may vary.

Information will be provided prior to items going live on the Contractor’s WebOS.

16. Who is responsible for maintaining the information contained on the WebOS pages – the service branch or the contractor? A: The 3PL Contractor in coordination with the customer & DLA Troop Support.

17. Who will test and approve WebOs capabilities? DLA independently? DLA and the service branches? A: This will be a collaborative effort between the Contractor, DLA Troop Support, and other Government entities such as DLA Transactions Services and Military Service customers as needed.

18. Will the government provide a sample order in the format that order would be transmitted to the contractor? A: For KMOs, Customers will enter orders directly into the 3PL Contractor’s WebOS. MROs and STOs will be transmitted to the 3PL contractor via electronic data interchange (EDI) transactions.

19. Section 3.2 Phase‐In Schedule, page 29, at what point does the contractor receive information regarding account allowances? A: This information will be provided after award.

20. Section 5.0 Sewing of Nametapes, Branch Tapes and Rank Insignia, page 36. The monthly average quantities of Name and Branch tapes are provided.

a. Do these estimates count each name tape and branch tape separately or together? For example, if there are 60 Navy Reserve coveralls – does this number represent 30 name tapes, 30 branch tapes? Or 60 name tapes and 60 branch tapes? A: Name Tapes and Branch Tapes are counted together for the estimate.

21. What is the average number of name tapes per customer order? A: This will vary;

however, name tapes usually match the number of coats and/or trousers ordered.

22. How many pallet positions are expected to be moved into inventory? A: The number of pallet positions is not provided. However, the estimated square footage required for inventory storage in order to effectively support this program is 300,000 square feet.

a. Will the government provide a list of NSN to be moved? A: After award a listing of items (including each item’s NSN) to be transferred will be provided.

23. Regarding Government property, is there any equipment accountable to the existing incumbent contract that is owned by the Government and can be transferred to the new awardee for performance? A: No equipment will be transferred. Only items being warehoused and distributed including but not limited to boots, caps, goggles, trousers, shirts, blouses, insignia, and coats, are expected to be transferred should a new 3PL receive the award.

24. Please clarify DLA’s rating matrix for the Small Business Participation evaluation factor (see page 91 of the Solicitation Specification.) Specifically, what showing is required for a potential vendor to obtain a neutral or acceptable rating?

A: Per page 91, whether or not it is required to submit a subcontracting plan in accordance with FAR 52.219‐9, all offerors, large businesses and small businesses, shall comply with paragraphs a. through d. directly below:

a. Provide a description of the efforts your company will make to assure that small, small disadvantaged, women‐owned, HUBZone, Veteran‐owned, and Service‐Disabled Veteran‐Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) small business concerns will have equal opportunity to compete for subcontracts under any resulting contract. Describe your current and planned proposed range of services, supplies, and any other support that will be provided to you by small, small disadvantaged, women‐owned, HUBZone, Veteran‐owned, and SDVOSB small business concerns. Include specific names of subcontractors to the extent they are known.

b. Describe any future plans your company has for developing additional subcontracting opportunities for small, small disadvantaged, women‐owned, HUBZone, Veteran‐owned, and SDVOSB small business concerns during the contract period.

c. Specify what proportion of your proposal, as a percentage of dollars, will be subcontracted to small, small disadvantaged, women‐owned, HUBZone, Veteran‐owned, and SDVOSB small businesses.

d. Specify what type of performance data you will accumulate and provide to the Contracting Officer regarding your support of small, small disadvantaged, women‐ owned, HUBZone, Veteran‐owned, and SDVOSB small businesses during the period of contract performance.

The Government will evaluate Small Business Participation based upon the proposal provided by the offeror utilizing the following rating symbology.

ACCEPTABLE: Proposal indicates an adequate approach and understanding of the small business objectives and meets the requirements of the solicitation.

UNACCEPTABLE: Proposal does not meet small business objectives and requirements of the solicitation.

25. Has DLA received inquiries for this solicitation? If so, from whom? A: Yes, the Government has received questions in regard to this solicitation. However, we cannot disclose information regarding what firms may have posed questions or other inquiries.

26. Given the multi‐year bidding/pricing component for certain sections of this contract, when does DLA expect to award a contract? Might this push into FY22? A: Yes. The estimated award date may occur approximately in the Fall 2021 / Winter 2022 time period, subject to change.

27. Our warehouse currently is 310,000 sq ft with a clear height of 23'‐30', 40'x40' column spacing and two drive‐in bays. Will this work? A: That is unclear and will not be evaluated at this time. While the estimated square footage required for inventory storage in order to effectively support this program is 300,000 square feet, offerors are advised to provide a description of their proposed warehouse as part of the technical evaluation cited under technical evaluation factor 1b, Warehousing Capabilities.

28. Will a forklift be required? A: Yes, the majority of incoming shipments arriving at the warehouse will be palletized. Use of forklift(s) is required.

29. Will a demo be required for the system we design or will you require a comprehensive description of the system and how it will operate? Our reasoning for asking is because we noticed it is required to have everything up and running before 180 days after being awarded. A: Please refer to page 95 of the solicitation attachment. Points 10, 11 and 12 contain the systems capabilities offerors must describe as part of their technical proposal. A product demonstration is not a part of this requirement.

30. How much square foot of free warehouse space you need to fulfill this contract? A: The estimated square footage required for inventory storage in order to effectively support this program is 300,000 square feet.

31. Should we use the most recent wage determination for building labor or make some assumptions as the Government moves forward with increasing the Federal minimum wage in 2022? A: That would be the offeror’s business decision when developing its pricing.

32. Is it possible to know what the current contract number is for this opportunity? A: This is a new contract opportunity. Current support for the U3PL program is operating under a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the State of Kentucky.

33. What is the breakout of KMO, MRO, and STOs? A: KMOs will make up the vast majority of orders under this program. MROs and STOs are expected to account for less than 1% of all orders.

34. Is there an ideal region where you would like to place this work? A: There is no requirement to locate the 3PL warehouse in a particular region of the United States.