Saipan and Tinian Solicitation Q and A.docx

Saipan & Tinian Solicitation Questions

1. Section 1 of the solicitation mentions Market Ready (LMR) items and requires that the contractor to source and procure via LMR vendors that are PHC approved. There are only three PHC approved companies in Saipan & Tinian and only 1 of which is a full line food distributor. Please clarify if the contractor is to utilize LMR product from a PHC approved facility or if the contractor is required to source and procure via CONUS suppliers and ship to Saipan & Tinian.

The selected vendor has the capability to acquire LMR products from any PHC approved source within the Pacific region (Includes: Guam and Hawaii). This extends beyond the confines of the three approved vendors on Saipan and Tinian. For further clarity and due to shelf-life considerations, the preference is to explore procurement options within the regional scope first, if viable, before considering suppliers in the Continental United States (CONUS) for the specified items.

1. Page 41 references TRANSCOM carrier charges. Please confirm whether or not the contractor will be allowed to ship both via ocean via TRANSCOM and via air with via GHs. Is the Contractor required to pay for transportation cost via ocean or air or utilize TRANSCOM and GHS?

The awarded vendor is responsible for the transportation costs of the items, which should be factored into the distribution fee. The vendor is encouraged to obtain items from approved sources in proximity to Saipan and Tinian whenever feasible. Any use of TRANSCOM or GH for procurement and shipping requires prior approval from the contracting officer (KO) and should be considered as a last resort for fulfilling the terms of this contract, with approvals granted on a case-by-case basis.

1. If the contactor is allowed to use TRANSCOM is there a minimum container utilization metric we are required to follow?

Should approval be granted by the contracting officer (KO), it is anticipated that the terms would closely align with those stipulated in the Guam SPV contract.

1. Will DLA allow the contractor to co-load product destined for the Saipan & Tinian contract via TRANSCOM ocean shipments bound for Guam SPV and then ship from Guam to Saipan & Tinian?

Given the relatively modest quantity of products anticipated for procurement under the Saipan and Tinian contract, it is permissible to source items from the Guam SPV and subsequently transport them to Saipan and Tinian. However, it is important to note that any TRANSCOM shipments and associated fees must not be linked to or covered by the terms of this contract.

1. Will DLA allow transfers of NSNs between the Guam PV and the Saipan & Tinian?

The NSNs (National Stock Numbers) should ideally be identical, given that they represent a standardized identifier for a specific item. The associated items should match if they share the same NSN. In the event that items are essentially identical but possess different NSNs, it is imperative to communicate this to the contracting officer (KO) in advance for proper acknowledgment and guidance.

1. Many of the NSNs on the pricing matrix are similar to the Army Buyers guide military spec which may be a different pack size and/or product specification than LMR commercial pack size and specification. Will substitutions to the Army Buyers guide be acceptable?

Yes, to a certain extent, and subject to approval by the contracting officer (KO). If the item, while being the same product, does not precisely align with the specifications outlined in the Schedule of Items, the vendor is required to engage in discussion with the KO for approval. In such cases, there is a likelihood that the item would be replaced or updated in the STORES catalog.

1. Please confirm if PHC approved facility meets the requirements of the solicitation requirements for GRP, GHP, and GMP compliance.

Yes, however, it's important to note that in the context of the solicitation, this requirement predominantly pertains to the facilities and warehouses of the awarded vendor.

1. In reference to Page 16, Distribution Pricing, will DLA consider unique distribution fees per Product Type in Column D as opposed to applying a static percentage across all product types? The cost associated with Frozen product is much higher than a dry product and having a static percentage apply to product price may not be the best method.

We explored the option of having unique distribution fees for different product types, but it was considered too intricate for potential vendors and any future Contracting Officer (KO). The current structure of the distribution fee aims to streamline the process and improve clarity for future KOs. This method facilitates a clearer understanding of the fees associated with each item, especially when a new product requires approval from a different KO. Upon analyzing the existing BPA, it seems that the current method aligns with this streamlined approach.

1. What is the estimated number of orders for Tinian?

Currently, predicting the situation is challenging, given that the current BPA has not received any orders from Tinian to our knowledge. All orders we have seen are to Saipan only.

8. This part of the Saipan & Tinian is seeing a lot of military construction and the cost associated with a delivery within in Saipan is significantly lower than Tinian. The current distribution fee matrix does not bifurcate the two delivery points. Will DLA consider having unique distribution fees associated with Tinian?

It may be considered in the future, via modification, if it is determined to be advantageous for the customer or government.