RFI Questions and Responses.pdf

Question Answer

Will any of the Southern California ports be considered for this bid or will this be Northern California only.

No, in accordance with the Performance Work Statement, ports will be Port of Norfolk, VA and Port of Oakland, CA.

Can a vendor elect to participate in only one region for example, the East Coast within the 50 mile radius of Norfolk without also participating on the West Coast?

No, in accordance with the Performance Work Statement, this requirement will include servicing both Port of Norfolk, VA and Port of Oakland, CA.

Additionally, is the Government seeking a single vendor to cover both the East and West Coast requirements, or will the RFI be evaluated in a manner that allows for separate awards?

The contract will be a single award servicing both the East and West Coast. Offerors are required to own or lease locations in relation to both ports.

Typical warehousing relies on Square Footage measurements, not pounds.

Pounds can be presented in many different shapes and sizes which directly affect the square footage utilization of a facility. To gage the correct amount of space needed:

What are the average pounds per square foot?

Appendix D, which will be provided at the time of solicitation, details the containerized requirements. However, the average weight for standard lift vans is 1,000 - 1,200 lbs.

Standard lift vans measure on average 196- 205 cu ft. Refer to line 7 and line 17 for additinal details.

There is a fire separation requirement that is dependent on 3 million pounds.

The warehouse layout depends on square footage, so we would need the above conversion to calculate how many items would go into each fire separation area:

Can you define “Fire Separation” as this can mean several things?

In accordance with the Performance Work Statement, stored household goods must be segmented by continuous 1-hour firewalls for every 3 million gross pounds.

Can you provide an average timeframe of storage per container/order?

Each customer’s household goods are tracked as an individual Lot, which typically comprises of 1 to 10 crates. Storage timelines generally range from 6 months to 3 years, though consecutive OCONUS tours can extend this duration indefinitely.

Can you provide a historical percentage of repackaging events per year?

Over the past four years of contract performance on average (between both locations) we have seen less than 1%, approximately 37 repacks per year.

The storage locations are close to ports on the east coast and west coast. Can you provide insight into why we cannot store things in a more cost-effective and accessible area?

Strategic warehouse locations near coastal ports decrease inland freight/transit costs and minimize the risk of misrouted shipments.

Can an offeror provide options outside of the proposed areas?

If not, what is the reasoning behind this proposed location?

No, in accordance with the Performance Work Statement, the designated ports are Norfolk, VA and Oakland, CA. These locations were identified as the most strategic for this requirement.

Once a site is identified for the storage of these household materials, and a deal is struck with contract signed:

How long will it take to begin receiving materials to begin filling the warehouse?

The successful offeror shall be fully operational and ready to begin accepting household good shipments and associated documentation in accordance with the Performance Work Statement.

We would propose to bill out the entire square footage footprint in advance of materials arriving to ensure the stability of the environment. Would this approach be an issue?

The proposed method presents an issue because the underlying contract does not authorize billing or compensation based on square footage. Additionally, the funding comes from individual Lots and per shipment basis, which is billed at the end of each month.

Can we schedule a site visit to a current facility to gain a better understanding of how this is approached today?

If not, can we see pictures of a current facility and how it is being operated?

Our current facilities are privately operated and unavailable for public site visits. As an alternative, we recommend touring a similar large-scale industrial operation to observe comparable facilities.

Research indicates approx. 200,000 military and civilian personnel stationed outside of US. Is this directionally accurate?

These facilities do not support the entire 200,000 military and civilian personnel stationed overseas. Rather, they are strictly reserved for the specific segment of OCONUS personnel who need long-term storage, which is generally unavailable at their overseas locations.

Do each personnel receive the same type/size container?

All accepted household goods are fully containerized in lift vans and/or crates of various configurations and dimensions; loose property is not accepted or maintained within the facility. See Appendix D, which will be provided at time of solicitation for specifications.

What percentage of military and civilian personnel store material?

Assuming "material" refers to Household Goods (HHGs), the two NTS-R facilities manage approximately 9,770 lots (of all types) with a combined weight of 36.3 million lbs.

Can you provide how many containers are currently being stored?

As of May 2026, there are 9,770 lots being stored at the NTS-R facilities. Each lot consists of anywhere between 1 to 10 lift vans and/or crates.

How many square feet of storage space is required for each container?

Container sizes vary so we do not measure per square feet.

Is the weight allowance in accordance with the Joint Travel Regulation (JTR)

Yes, weight allowances are in accordance with the JTR. However, Service members might surpass their weight entitlement at their expense.

Is the provider required to pickup/deliver the container? Or storage only

In accordance with the Performance Work Statement, "the contractor’s responsibilities include but are not limited to: (1) operating and managing storage facility(s), (2) handling-in HHG, (3) storage of HHG, while ensuring adequate protection of shipments is provided at all times, (4) handling-out HHG, (5) resolving HHG loss or damage claims, and (6) establishing file and data exchange interfaces with the Government’s operational management system and government data warehouse (i.e., MilMove)."

The only time the contractor is responsible for any transportation is when explicitly stated in acccordance with the Performance Work Statement section 1.3.1.2 Legacy Shipment Migration and Transfer of Custody.

How many containers can be stacked on top of each other?

Industrial type facilities offer the ideal vertical clearance to support the contractor’s 3- to 4-high container stacking capability. Current contractor is capable of stacking containers 3 to 4 high.

Confirm the weight, dims of container(s)?

In accordance with Appendix D of the NTS-R contract, D.1.2., All fiberboard containers shall meet the following requirements:

Federal Specification PPP-B-640 “Boxes, Fiberboard, Corrugated, Triple-Wall", made of a weather-resistant class of fiberboard, containers that exceed 15 cubic feet in volume and 300 pounds in weight shall be secured to a four-way entry wooden pallet and shall not exceed 96 cubic feet in volume

Do the facilities require temperature control?

The facilities must maintain an interior ambient temperature not to exceed 75℉ and not to fall below 35℉. The facilities must maintain relative humidity, always reading range of 30%-55% indoors. The contractor shall provide warehouse facilities equipped with remote climate sensor monitoring technology. The sensors must be capable of capturing at a minimum temperature and humidity, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days per year. The remote sensor hardware shall be placed IAW the equipment manufacturers specifications and recommendations required to provide 100% coverage of the entire facility where U.S.

Government HHG shipments are stored. The readings shall be made available to the CO and COR via a remote, web-based password-controlled log-in at all times.

Are there restricted items (i.e. hazmat, ammunition)?

Alcoholic beverages (including wine) and Lithium batteries are prohibited from being placed in NTS. Additionally, this contract adheres to the same guidelines in DTR Part IV 4500.9, Appendix A-I (Hazardous List). Review full text via website (https://www.business.ustranscom.mil/dtr/dt rp4.cfm)".

What will the security requirements be? Security requirements will be in accordance with the Performance Work Statement and applicable clauses at time of solicitation.

Can the awardee serve as a move manager and subcontract use of another's warehouse?

The potential awardee must own or lease their warehouse facilities during the performance of this contract.

What options are available for Disabled-veteran owned business set-aside?

The government does not set aside specific appropriations for Service-Disabled Veteran- Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) or small businesses; instead, they utilize set-aside contracts when market research indicates adequate competition.

How many shipments are handled in/out each day?

Monthly averages for the past four years includes handle-in of shipments being 155 for the West Coast and 121 for East Coast; with handle-out of shipments being 147 for the West Coast and 117 East Coast.

Can a contractor be part of the Tender of Service program and potentially deliver the shipments out of the NTS-R facility?

Yes, a participant in the Tender of Service can be a contractor under this contract.