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RFQ S-SZ23011Q0001
INDEFINITE DELIVERY/INDEFINITE QUANTITY CONTRACT
SHIPPING/PACKING SERVICES
Pre solicitation meeting questions and answers
| 1) | Q: | How detailed has the form SF1449 to be completed? (Referring to blocks 20 – 24 on SF-1449) |
| A: | Price quotes must be placed on the worksheet in section 1. |
| 2) | Q: | What is the meaning of the different option years? |
| A: | The contract will be awarded for one year but can be extended each year after for four more years. The reason we allow you to quote different prices for the options years is to allow you to consider things like inflation when presenting your quotes. Please note that the prices you quote for the option years will be fixed prices. |
| 3) | Q: | Referring to Section 1, Paragraph 3.1c, is the handling charge of the shipment included in the storage cost? |
| A: | Yes |
| 4) | Q: | Is there an estimated quantity of volume? |
| A: | No, the shipments are packed in lift vans and prices are quoted based on weight. |
| 5) | Q: | Referring to Section 1, Paragraph 3.1b, is it necessary to unpack the general cargo at delivery? |
| A: | No |
| 6) | Q: | Will the contract be awarded to only one company? |
| A: | No decision has been made. The Embassy is allowed to award the contract to more than one company. |
| 7) | Q: | Does the Embassy have a busy moving season? When? |
| A: | Usually it’s from spring to fall. |
| 8) | Q: | Is it necessary to understand all the clauses in section 2? Does a lawyer need to be involved? |
| A: | We encourage you to have your lawyers review this solicitation. All these clauses have to be included. If you questions about a specific clause please let us know. |
| 9) | Q: | Do all the questions in section 3 have to be answered? |
| A: | Yes |
| 10) | Q: | Is the awarded company requested to supply a regular (i.e. monthly) report? |
| A: | No. The contractor is only responsible to provide the documents listed in the solicitation. |
| 11) | Q: | Is a separate inventory needed for every lift van? |
| A: | Yes |
| 12) | Q: | Do we need to use only new lift vans? |
| A: | No, but the lift vans do have to meet the standards in the solicitation and it is difficult to do that with previously used lift vans. |
| 13) | Q: | Do the lift vans have to be waterproofed? |
| A: | Yes |
| 14) | Q: | Is the making of a crate included in the quoted price? |
| A: | Yes |
| 15) | Q: | Is it necessary to pack furniture, television sets and other valuable equipment waterproof? |
| A: | The items need to be protected from water and other damage and they must arrive at the destination in perfect shape. |
| 16) | Q: | What is the reason that the U.S. Government is using lift vans instead of containers? |
| A: | Not all the countries in the world have the capability to handle containers. |
| 17) | Q: | When unpacking is it necessary to put items on the shelves or in the cupboard? |
| A: | No |
| 18) | Q: | Is it necessary to fill the lift vans in front of the employee’s residence? |
| A: | Yes |
| 19) | Q: | Is it necessary to indicate the weight in net and gross pounds? |
| A: | Yes |
| 20) | Q: | Is it necessary to send a representative from the packing company to the first pack out day? |
| A: | No, but an English speaking crew leader must be present. |
| 21) | Q: | Can special requests such as parking permits, outside elevators etc. be charged separately? |
| A: | No. The contractors shall provide all necessary vehicles and equipment for the performance of this contract. |
| 22) | Q: | Referring to Page 45 (a), what is the liability of the contractor? |
| A: | Contractor liability is as stated in this paragraph. An example of a cause beyond the control of the contractor may be an earthquake that occurs during the delivery of HHE. |
| 23) | Q: | Could the amount of business the contractor receives under this contract change because of the ITGBL system? |
| A: | The Embassy cannot predict the future amount of business. The Embassy can guarantee an annual minimum of 20’000 CHF and a maximum of 350’000 CHF as stated in the solicitation. |
| 24) | Q: How long are we expected to hold an inbound HHE shipment (pending delivery) before we can start charging for storage, or are we expected to include an undefined period of free storage for inbound HHE in our quotes for handling incoming HHE? |
| A: We normally do not have HHE shipments arrive in Bern before the client is prepared to receive it. However, in cases where the contractor has to store the shipment before delivery, we will accept charges for storage of inbound HHE shipments after 30 days in accordance with the contractor’s quotes for storage. We will not accept storage charges for inbound shipments where the contractor had to store them for less than 30 days. |
Department of State US Embassy Bern