Question and Answer - 02.pdf

Question and Answer 01

Question 1: Do the new chairs need to meet BAA (Buy America Act)?

Answer 1: The solicitation includes FAR clause 52.225-9, Buy American—Construction Materials. Offerors are responsible for reviewing this clause and ensuring their proposals and proposed products comply with all applicable Buy American Act requirements.

Question 2: Schedule: The SOW mentions 90 days from the Project start. We are seeing a lead time on new chairs of 90 days. Are these 90 days "boots on the ground", with additional days for layout, design, and procurement?

Answer 2: The Government is aware of long manufacturing lead times. Upon award/approval of submittals, the Government will authorize the contractor to order materials. To ensure the 90-day "boots on the ground" performance period is not impacted by manufacturing delays, the Government will coordinate with the contractor and issue the Notice to Proceed (NTP) only when materials are ready and a realistic on-site start date is established.

Question 3: Spare Parts: Typically, the customer will ask for extra parts (cushions, backs, armrests...). Is this a requirement?

Answer 3: No, spare parts are not required.

Question 4: ADA: SOW 2.5 "Installation: Install chairs in curved rows at a smooth radius in accordance with the approved design plan. The final installation layout must comply with all applicable life safety, egress, and ADA accessibility codes. Can you expound on this? Is this meeting the Federal Disabilities Act? Or NY State? It is also common to have open spaces for wheelchairs, is this a requirement?

Answer 4: The new layout (including chair spacing, row alignment, and egress, etc.) shall essentially mirror the existing auditorium layout. The SOW para 2.6 has been revised to reflect this change.

Question 5: The SOW mentions a minimum of 171 chairs but a desire to have the 198. Will this be a firm fixed price? Or will we be paid by the actual # of chairs installed?

Answer 5: This is a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) solicitation. The minimum of 171 chairs was established specifically to maximize competition by giving offerors the flexibility to propose alternate chair dimensions and product lines from different manufacturers, which may vary in width or footprint. The Government's objective remains to maximize seating capacity toward the target of 198 chairs.

In accordance with simplified commercial procedures, the Government will perform a comparative assessment of the proposed solutions to determine which offer represents the best overall value, weighing the proposed seating yield (quantity) and quality against the total proposed price.

Question 6: Is this project Tax Free for the Contractor?

Answer 6: The Federal Government is tax-exempt. Contractors are responsible for determining their own tax liabilities under state laws.

Question 7: Are we removing and replacing and base? And will the new base need to be rubber or carpet? Please provide a specification if possible.

Answer 7: There is approximately 10 linear feet of wall base within the seating area; the remainder of the carpet edges terminate directly against concrete block or wood walls. The existing wall base and three (3) door thresholds may be salvaged and reused if undamaged.

If damaged during carpet removal, they must be replaced in-kind. Any new wall base required for the project shall be 6-inch tall, black rubber cove base.