QA_Updated_26_Apr_19_19-R-1016.docx

Questions & Answers – Updated 26 April 2019 Job Order Contract (JOC) Solicitation Number W15QKN-19-R-1016

1. Page 3 of 73, para 1, of main solicitation states that “This is an 8(a) competitive solicitation restricted to 8(a) firms serviced by Small Business Administration offices of Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and West Virginia.” Our firm is a SBA 8(a) certified minority owned firm, certified by SBA Washington, DC office. Also, our firm’s main office is located in Maryland and also has a branch office in Virginia. Please let us know if we are eligible to submit our bid for the subject solicitation.

Response: The Solicitation Executive Summary Narrative paragraph 1 has been revised for offerors’ eligibility. See Solicitation Amendment 0001 for details.

2. Can you clarify whether the JOC solicitation W15QKN-19-R-1016 is limited to competition within a certain area? We are a South Carolina based 8(a) firm with offices in 3 states and resources with a far greater reach.

Response. The Solicitation Executive Summary Narrative paragraph 1 has been revised for offerors’ eligibility. See Solicitation Amendment 0001 for details.

3. Paragraph B.4.1.2 states that one signed and completed paper copy of the SF1442 is required and C.1.5 states “CD copy must mirror the submitted hard copies.” However, C.1.2 indicates submission of 2 each on CD ROM for all volumes. Can you please confirm that a paper copy is not required?

Response: Correct, no paper copy is required. Solicitation Paragraphs B.4.1.2 and C.1.5 have been updated accordingly.

4. Paragraph B.4.1.3 states to provide an XPS file from SAM to address Representations and Certifications. However, paragraph D.1.1 indicates completion of all blocks in each certification/representation for Section 00600 of the solicitation, Certifications and Representations. Please clarify how Representations and Certifications should be submitted. If a copy of the SAM Registration is preferred, can a pdf be submitted in lieu of an XPS file? Alternately, if completion of the Representations and Certifications issued with the solicitation is required, please confirm offerors should complete Section 00 45 00 rather than 00600 since 00600 is not included in this RFP.

Response: Offerors should complete Section 00 45 00 Representations and Certifications. SPECIFIC PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS, D.1 Volume 1-RFP Document, Paragraph D.1.1 has been updated accordingly.

5. Paragraph D.4.1. states “The Offeror shall submit a firm fixed price proposal for the Seed project.” However, offerors are instructed to use Attachment 1 which already has notional values populated. In addition to inserting our proposed coefficient in Attachment 1, how should offerors submit a price for the Seed Project? Should Offerors submit Attachment 6 again in Volume 4 to provide the Seed Project price?

Response: Offerors should submit Attachment 6-Construction Format for contractor’s proposals-Seed Project. In accordance with solicitation paragraph D.2.3, “See Attachment 6 for the required format which includes pricing. However, only the technical, non-price components of the Attachment 6 will be evaluated for technical acceptability.”

6. Volume 3, Paragraph D.3.5, Section 3 - Subcontracts references information to be provided for proposed major subcontractors to include all subcontractors who will be providing critical hardware/services or whose subcontract is for more than 15% of the total proposed price. Does “more than 15% of the total proposed price” refer to 15% of the total JOC contract or 15% of the Seed Project?

Response: Volume 3, Paragraph D.3.5 has been revised to reflect 15% of the total evaluated price.

7. Factor 2: Past Performance, paragraph B.1.1 states, “Offerors shall submit past performance information on all Major/key subcontractors (teaming partners, and/or joint venture partners) proposed to be performing more than 15% of the total proposed price. In regards to this requirement, does 15% of the total proposed price refer to the overall JOC or the Seed project? While we anticipate self-performing ~50% of the work on the overall JOC, we plan to subcontract a large portion of the Seed Project based on the scope of work Response: Paragraph B.1.1 has been revised to reflect 15% of the total evaluated price.

8. Refer to Solicitation W15QKN-19-R-1016, Amendment 0001, page 2,: “It has been determined that competition will be limited to 8(a) firms located within the geographical area serviced by the Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia Small Business Administration Offices, and other 8(a) construction firms with a bona fide place of business within the geographical competitive areas and the assigned NAICS code.” Does that mean that a firm from Pittsburgh, PA would be deemed ineligible to submit an offer, or is Pittsburgh considered to be “serviced” by the aforementioned SBA offices or within the “competitive” area?

Response: Companies from the State of Pennsylvania are ineligible for this solicitation. Solicitation No. W15QKN-19-R-1011, JOC Region B, includes Pennsylvania and will be posted soon.

9. In regards to Volume 3, paragraph D.3.4 Section 2 – Performance, please confirm that items (a) and (b) should be addressed only as they relate to each contract listed in Volume 3, Section 1?

Response: Correct. As stated in paragraph D.3.4. Section 2 – Performance. “Offerors shall provide a specific narrative explanation of each contract listed in Section 1 describing the objectives achieved and detailing how the effort is relevant to the requirements of this solicitation”.

10. Volume 3, paragraph D.3.5 Section 3 – Subcontracts states. “…. The information provided for the prime Offeror and each proposed major subcontractor must include the entire company name, company address, CAGE Code, DUNS Number and type of work to be performed by citing the applicable Government SOW subparagraph number…” Please confirm offerors should cite the applicable Government SOW subparagraph number from Section 01 00 00 - General Requirements for the overall JOC rather than the SOW subparagraph number from Attachment 4 – Region C Seed Project.

Response: Correct. Cross reference to the general Statement of Work dated 4 January 2019 within solicitation section 01 00 00.

11. Attachment 3 – Performance Risk Assessment Questionnaire makes a reference to “See Appendix K for a Sample Cover Letter that can be sent with the Questionnaire.” However, we are unable to locate Appendix K or a Sample Cover Letter. Can you please provide the additional attachment?

Response: Attachment 3 has been updated as of 1 Apr 19.

12. Refer to Solicitation W15QKN-19-R-1016 Seed Project, CSS#7557, Install Fence and Gates at 1SG ADAM S. BRANDT Memorial U.S. Army Reserve Center, 700 E. Ordnance Road, Baltimore, MD 21226:

a.) The drawing calls for a 40’ gate which will result in an opening of 28’, is this the project wanted result or the project wanted a 40’ opening? (Similar question- Please verify the clear opening in the MEP parking lot gate opening.)

Response: The opening shall be 24 LF. The Specification of Work (SOW) paragraph 11.2.1. has been updated accordingly.

b.) What is the overall height of Fence Fabric including Barbed Arms? The drawing calls for 8 Feet and it is 7 Feet stated in the project Specification of Work section 11.3.2.2.

Response: 7 feet as stated in SOW paragraph 11.3.2.2. The drawing has been updated accordingly.

c.) What is the required style for Cantilever Gate, round or square; truck style or roller style? The drawings call for square tubular, but project Specification of Work section 11.3.2.2 did not specify this information.

Response: Square tubular, roller style. The SOW paragraph 11.2.1. has been updated.

d.) Please verify if spoils from auguring fence post concrete can be disposed of onsite.

Response: Spoils and trash must be removed from the site. Refer to SOW paragraph 11.5., Clean up and removal.

e.) Existing fence fabric and posts are 6 ft. high at the yards for Bldg. 00314 and 21401 where we are to install the connecting fence corridor. The new fence is taller by either a foot or two than the existing posts. Please verify if contractor can extend the existing posts and connect to them or if we are to install a new end post independent of but next to the existing posts. (Similar Question- SOW 11.3.2.3: Must separate new end posts be provided where the new fence intersects the two existing fences, or can the new fence connect to the existing?)

Response: The new fence will be connected to the existing gate post(s). If required, extensions to the gate posts are allowed. The SOW paragraph 11.2.1. has been updated accordingly.

f.) Specifications provided for the chain link fence are vague. Please provide clear specifications.

Response: Refer to the SOW and its references. The referenced USACE Guidance Specifications have been added to the SOW as Attachment 8 to the solicitation.

g.) Reference SOW 10.3.6.: Are there any CAD or pdf site drawings that can be made available to the bidders, or selected contractors, that show the project areas to scale?

Response: No, additional drawings are not available.

h.) Reference SOW 11.3.2.3.: Must separate new end posts be provided where the new fence intersects the two existing fences, or can the new fence connect to the existing?

Response: See response to question 12.e).

i.) Reference SOW 11.3.2.: Should a thermally bonded and fused fence system be provided?

Reference: Yes. SOW paragraph 11.2.1. has been updated.

j.) Reference SOW 11.3.2. and Attachment 7, Seed Project Site Map: Do both the SOW requirements and the Site Map fence information apply? Does one supersede the other if there is conflicting information?

Response: Both the SOW and site map apply. If conflicting information is noted, it should be addressed as a question to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer.

13. Volume III Past Performance requires PPQs to support our chosen relevant projects and we would like to use task orders from our previous JOC to fulfill this requirement. For many of these task orders, you are listed as the CO and Ms. Zeng is listed as the Contract Specialist. Would you please confirm that it is acceptable to submit our PPQs to you/Ms. Zeng for completion and inclusion with this new proposal submission?

Response: Please submit your past performance questionnaires as indicated in the solicitation paragraph D.3.7. Section 5.

14. Evaluation Approach, Factor 1, Area of Consideration 3 – Bonding Capacity: “The offeror’s bonding capacity shall show that the offeror has the capability to obtain a minimum available bonding capacity of $4,000,000.00 from a Securities or Bonding Company and must be submitted with the Technical Proposal.” Is the $4M a single or aggregate amount?

Response: The $4M is an aggregate amount. Factor 1, Area of Consideration 3, has been updated.

15. If a firm is mentoring an 8(a) company, can the location (state) of the mentoring firm be used for eligibility for bidding the solicitation?

Response: No, competition is limited to 8(a) firms located within the geographical area serviced by the Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia Small Business Administration District Offices, and other 8(a) construction firms with a bona fide place of business within the geographical competitive areas and the assigned NAICS code.

16. Please provide clarification for Question #3. It is unclear if the “no paper copy is required” refers to the SF 1442 only, or the overall proposal submission. Please advise if the Government wishes the proposal submission to be in CD format only; and if so, would email submission be acceptable in lieu of CDs?

Response: Please submit proposals in CD format only as indicated in the solicitation paragraph C.1.3. Proposals shall be sent to the address indicated in the solicitation paragraph A.1.