Questions and Answers.pdf

Questions and Answers

W50S9926Q1106 – Inspect & Maintenance of Portable Fire Extinguishers

• May the extinguishers be removed from the installation and serviced at the contractor’s facility, or must all inspection and six-year maintenance services be performed onsite? The preferred method is on site 6-year maintenance.

• If an extinguisher is due for hydrostatic testing or fails inspection during performance, is the hydrostatic testing required to be included in the Firm-Fixed- Price quotation, or would it be separately authorized by the Government? No extinguishers should need Hydrostatic tested. If one does, we will remove it from the inventory, and we will replace it with one of ours. Same thing if one fails.

• Please confirm the required pricing format. Should offerors submit one lump-sum price for the entire requirement, or provide unit pricing by extinguisher type and size? Per the PWS, Attachment #1 shows the breakdown of the extinguishers. Please provide an individual price per size extinguisher and then a total price for the requirement.

• Does the Government anticipate that all extinguishers will be serviced during one continuous mobilization, or should the work be completed in coordinated batches to maintain adequate fire-extinguisher coverage throughout the installation? Since the work is to be completed on site, we will complete one building at a time. We understand if this takes multiple days, but those days should be within the same week.

1. What exactly does the A1 training cover, and what is its purpose under this contract?

2. Who is required to complete it (the prime, subcontractors, or specific on-site personnel)?

3. Is the training to be completed before award, before work begins, or during performance?

4. Is the training provided by the government, or is the contractor responsible for arranging and paying for it?

5. What documentation or proof of completion will you need from us?

Per the Performance Work Statement (PWS)…

1.4.5.4 AT Level I Training.

1.4.5.4.1 Antiterrorism Awareness Level I Training (AT Level I). This standard language is for contractor employees with an area of performance within a US Government controlled installation, facility or area. All contractor employees, to include subcontractor employees, requiring access to US Government installations, facilities and controlled access areas shall complete AT Level I training within 30 calendar days after contract start date or effective date of incorporation of this requirement into the contract, whichever is applicable. AT Level I may be accomplished by a Level I qualified instructor; completing the Force Protection computerbased training (CBT) course on Joint Knowledge Online (JKO) at https://jkodirect.jten.mil/Atlas2/page/login/Login.jsf . For those without a CAC, select "Non-CAC" user on the JKO site. Tracking for each contractor or subcontractor employee is the responsibility of the COR or unit AT Representative.

• Are any extinguishers anticipated to require hydrostatic testing during the contract performance period? No extinguishers should need Hydrostatic tested. If one does, we will remove it from the inventory, and we will replace it with one of ours. Same thing if one fails.

• If hydrostatic testing is required, should its cost be included in the firm-fixed price for six-year maintenance? No extinguishers should need Hydrostatic tested.

• Alternatively, should offerors provide separate unit pricing by extinguisher type or size? Per the PWS, Attachment #1 shows the breakdown of the extinguishers. Please provide an individual price per size extinguisher and then a total price for the requirement.

• Alternatively, does the Government require the contractor to service, certify, and return each specific Government-owned extinguisher currently installed at the facility, without permanently substituting another unit? The Government will allow extinguishers to be swapped; however they must be in the same condition, fit in our cabinets and/or have the same exact mounting brackets that work with our hooks, provide a detailed report showing serial number of the extinguisher and location they place it. Currently our extinguishers are tracked via serial number and location, if they are swapped, you’re required to create an excel spreadsheet or computerized type of form to provide us. We would not need them to return the original fire extinguishers.

https://jkodirect.jten.mil/Atlas2/page/login/Login.jsf

• Definition of overhaul maintenance: Please clarify what is intended by “overhaul maintenance” in PWS Paragraph 5.1.5. Is this term intended to describe the routine internal examination, servicing, and recharging normally performed during six-year maintenance, or does it include additional corrective repairs beyond standard six-year maintenance? Yes, the term is intended to describe routine internal examination, servicing, and recharging normally performed during six-year maintenance.

• Routine six-year maintenance components: Please confirm that the fixed-price six-year maintenance service is to include normal service items routinely required to complete the maintenance, including service collars, O-rings, valve stems, inspection tags, agent recovery, recharging, labor, and documentation. Yes, the fixed-price includes routine six-year maintenance to include normal service items.

• Condition-dependent repairs: Please clarify whether non-routine repairs identified after opening or inspecting an extinguisher—such as damaged valves, hoses, gauges, handles, cylinders, internal components, or other deficiencies—are to be included in the contractor’s fixed price. The solicitation does not provide the current condition, manufacturer, model, age, or deficiency history of the extinguishers from which these costs could be estimated. Extensive repairs are not expected under this 6-year maintenance contract. However, do not proceed if non-routine repairs are identified.

• Replacement extinguishers: PWS Paragraph 5.1.3 requires delivery and installation of fire extinguishers, and Paragraph 1.1 references new fire extinguishers and possible mounting changes. Please confirm whether the contractor is expected to furnish an unknown number of replacement extinguishers within the fixed price. If replacements are included, please provide the estimated quantities, required ratings, manufacturers or approved equivalents, mounting requirements, and unit specifications. We do not expect any replacements, if an extinguisher is deemed out of service, we will replace it ourselves.

• Condemned or non-repairable units: Please confirm how extinguishers that fail inspection, cannot be repaired, or must be condemned are to be handled and priced. The Government will not pay for the disposal of an extinguisher. However, if your company provides a way to recycle or condemn an extinguisher at no cost, we will allow extinguisher to be taken away. Otherwise, we will handle the condemned or non-repairable units.

• Hydrostatic testing: The PWS does not expressly identify hydrostatic testing. Please confirm whether hydrostatic testing is included in this requirement. If included, please provide the number and types of extinguishers currently due for testing and identify whether this work is to be priced separately. No hydrostatic tested needed.

If we find extinguishers that need hydrostatic testing, the unit should be deemed out of service. Please communicate that finding with the Government’s on-site Point of Contact (POC).

• Parts list: Technical Exhibit 1 references a “Parts List” and states that the contractor is to meet specified parts pricing, but no parts list or pricing schedule appears to have been included. Please provide the referenced parts list or confirm that non-routine parts are to be separately authorized and priced. Disregard the Technical Exhibit 1 and Parts List references. We are performing the routine six-year maintenance.

• Quantity discrepancy: The PWS states that work is not to exceed 410 extinguishers, while Attachment 1 identifies 401 extinguishers. Please confirm whether offerors should price 401 units or 410 units and provide the types and sizes of any additional nine units. Provide a quote for 401 extinguishers as stated in Attachment 1.

• Proposed pricing structure: Because corrective repairs and replacements cannot be identified until inspection and disassembly, would the Government consider revising the pricing structure to separate the known maintenance work from condition-dependent work as follows? Please provide an individual price per size extinguisher and then a total price for the requirement.