FAQ_19R0702_29Nov2018.pdf

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

ADDITIVES SOLICITATION SPE602-19-R-0702

AS OF NOVEMBER 29, 2018

1. QUESTION: Does a vendor have to offer on all the locations or just a few?

ANSWER: You may offer on any location or combination of locations that you feel you can support.

2. QUESTION: Does a vendor have to offer the entire quantity at a location?

ANSWER: No, you may offer a lesser quantity on any location.

3. QUESTION: I had this exception granted during the last procurement, will you grant it again?

ANSWER: If an exception was granted in a previous procurement, it was granted only for that specific solicitation and contract award (if one was received). If you have an exception to the terms and conditions of the current solicitation, you will need to submit it with your initial offer, and it will be evaluated by the Government under the terms and conditions of the current solicitation.

4. QUESTION: Can I offer on only one product or do I have to offer on all three?

ANSWER: You are not required to offer on all products. You may offer on any product that you feel you can provide.

5. QUESTION: Do I have to offer on both CONUS and OCONUS locations or can I pick and choose which locations I offer on?

ANSWER: You may offer on both CONUS or OCONUS, or any combination of the two.

6. QUESTION: As of amendment 0002 dated November 14, 2018, are all small business set-aside volumes complete and accurate by product & location?

ANSWER: All small business set-aside volumes are complete and accurate by product & location as noted in the solicitation.

7. QUESTION: The Offer Information Sheet (Quantity/Price Spreadsheet) icon embedded in the Offer Submission Package (OSP) is not a functioning link. Can you please send a copy or let me know where I may obtain it?

ANSWER: The spreadsheet that is linked in the OSP is posted on FBO.gov as a separate document called Attachment 3 - Offer Submission Sheet.

8. QUESTION: Should our offer price include all shipping costs, at each specific location?

ANSWER: Yes. This procurement is for FOB Destination deliveries only. All offers must include transportation costs, and all applicable taxes in the offered price per USG for each specific location an offer is submitted.

9. QUESTION: Must we bid on every small business set-aside in the solicitation or are we able to bid on one, or a few of the line items (locations)?

ANSWER: You may bid on either one, a few, or all of the line items that you are confident you can meet the expectations of that requirement.

10. QUESTION: Is there any further consideration or set asides for a Women Owned Small Business?

ANSWER: The solicitation is being considered for Small Business Set Aside based on market research and current case law. There is not sufficient information indicating there would be enough competition in a further sub-set of small business to warrant a set-aside solely for Women Owned Small Business.

11. QUESTION: Please explain in more detail "Base Reference Price" and how it relates to the price adjustment formula outlined in solicitation.

ANSWER: The purpose of the price escalation clause is to make sure that any awarded contract price accurately reflects the fluctuations of the market. Clause B19.03 on page 33 applies to domestic locations. So for example, if you place an offer for a domestic location of $3.022807, that offer will be “tied” to the base reference price of $2.022807.

The margin between the base reference price, and the offer price is $1.00. If this offer was awarded, the margin will not change for the life of the contract. Once every month (see para C(2)(ii)) a new reference price will be calculated, and $1.00 will be added to that reference price. The new reference price, plus the margin ($1.00), is the new contract price for deliveries during that month (see para (c)(1)).

12. QUESTION: Can you verify if ISO containers are the only allowable containers to be used for shipping or if other types may be utilized instead?

ANSWER: The required method of delivery for each line item is detailed in the solicitation. If you want deviate from this method of delivery, you would need to request an exception. Please note that the exception must be documented on page 5 of the OSP “Exception Request,” which will be evaluated when the solicitation closes.

13. QUESTION: How can we provide a proposal for more than one suitable product on the approved products list for the same line item?

ANSWER: You may submit more than one offer, ex: Offer A and an Offer B, if you have multiple products that meet the specifications in the solicitation. You would also need to stipulate that DLA Energy may award either Offer A or Offer B. Each offer will be evaluated on its own merit. The Government will be awarding the line item to the lowest price technically acceptable offer.

14. QUESTION: Please specify whether FAR 52.225-5 concerning TAA compliance is applicable to this solicitation and if the country of Turkey is acceptable as a country of origin?

ANSWER: All FAR clauses in this solicitation to include FAR 52.225-5 are applicable.

Turkey is listed as a partner.

15. QUESTION: If a vendor is not considered to be a small business, are they eligible to be awarded all 3,887,000 gallons or just the unrestricted portion of 3,131,500 gallons?

ANSWER: The 100% small business set-aside volumes are planned to only be awarded to small businesses, unless a situation arises that dictates we are unable to award to a small business (i.e., no small businesses offer on a particular line item). In the event that an award for a small business set-aside line item is unable to be awarded to a small business, the Government can then consider awarding to a large business. Therefore, if you are a large business and wish to be considered for a possible award for a small business set-aside location if we are unable to award to a small business, you will need to have submitted an offer for that line item in your initial offer. As noted, a small business set-aside for a line item does not negate your ability to submit an offer for those line items; it does however, limit whether that offer will be able to be considered.

16. QUESTION: Line items 0044 and 0045 do not have any small business set aside restrictions, are we correct to assume that Attachment 1, Small Business Subcontracting Plan is not applicable to us?

ANSWER: The locations associated with these line items are not within the continental United States and therefore are not subject to small business set asides nor the Small Business Subcontracting Plan.

17. QUESTION: Could you confirm that December 3, 2018 is the submission deadline?

ANSWER: Per the solicitation, the offer submission deadline is no later than December 3, 2018 at 3:00pm Eastern Standard Time (EST). All offers, including applicable attachments, must be received and in the Governments possession by the established deadline date/time.

18. QUESTION: Will this Solicitation be awarded to only 1 vendor for all locations or products?

ANSWER: Awards are evaluated at the line item level and are made based on offers that are evaluated as the lowest priced and technically acceptable offerors for each line item.

Awards are made for the full volume for each line item which may result in contract awards being made to multiple vendors under this solicitation, but only one award per line item will be made.

19. QUESTION: Are the guidelines for FSII the same as in past solicitations, i.e., lubricating oils, non-water soluble/miscible commodities, latex/plasticizers, viscous or dark colored materials will not be considered?

ANSWER: Each solicitation has its own requirements and indicates within it what are the product guidelines, specifications and parameters for acceptability. Please adhere to the guidance as outlined in the current solicitation for with regards to the required specifications of a given product and additionally the Qualified Products List (QPL) for the CLA and LIA products if submitting an offer for those specific products.