BPA QA 30April2026.pdf
PDF 62 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Rail Road Materials
- Solicitation number
- W519TC26QA103
About this file
This is a Questions and Answers document for a Rail Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) solicitation.
The procurement is a five-year BPA for rail materials and components to be delivered to McAlester, with multiple suppliers to be awarded. Orders will be placed as needed using a price matrix to determine pricing based on ordered quantities. All prices must include freight to McAlester and must be quoted for all line items to be considered for award. Air seasoning is required for ties, and only hardwoods such as White Oak, Hickory, and Gum are acceptable (Douglas Fir has been removed from acceptable specifications). New and manufactured items only are required; relay or second-hand tie plates are not acceptable. The procurement specifies that small businesses with 1,500 employees (per the associated NAICS code) are eligible to bid. Several items originally listed have been removed from the materials list due to unavailability (items 2, 3, 11, 13-18, 20, and some domestic #6 frogs), and specifications for turnouts in items 21-24 have been clarified in revised salient characteristics. The solicitation initially listed a bid due date of May 5th with conflicting information regarding June 5th at 1:00 p.m. CDT; the confirmed date is May 5, 2026, pending amendment. The government will make accommodations for long lead time items if delivery cannot be met by required dates, but exact delivery schedules may vary based on current availability at the time of order.
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Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Salient_Characteristics - MCAAP RR Materials BPA_r5 05122026.pdf | ||
| Pricing_Matrix 19May2026.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| BPA QA2 05192026.pdf | ||
| Solicitation Amendment - W519TC26QA103_Amendment 0002.pdf | ||
| Pricing_Matrix_r3.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Solicitation Amendment - W519TC26QA103 Amendment 0001.pdf | ||
| Salient_Characteristics - MCAAP RR Materials BPA_r3.pdf | ||
| Solicitation - W519TC26QA103_Rev 2.pdf | ||
| Pricing Matrix 3.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| Salient_Characteristics - MCAAP RR Materials03182026.pdf |
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Text version
Rail BPA Q & A:
1. The item quantities on the solicitation sheet are so large and out of the usual proportions in which they are ordered that it made me wonder if this was just a request for budgetary pricing rather than a formal bid to purchase those items. For example, the total amount of rail shown on the solicitation sheet equates to 512 miles of track or 104,000 tons if it was all 115-lb. This might be in the neighborhood of $150 million dollars. This is a BPA for the duration of 5 years. Orders will be placed as needed using the price matrix to determine the price used for the quantity being ordered.
2. When I looked at the pricing matrix spreadsheet I guess I have a better idea what you want but still am uncertain. Is this a bid to determine one supplier for a blanket order for all items that will be ordered over the next five years in various quantities to be determined?
This is a BPA for the duration of 5 years. There will be more than one supplier for this procurement.
3. Will there only be one winner that becomes the supplier for all items? This is a BPA for the duration of 5 years. There will be more than one supplier for this procurement.
4. Do the prices have to be firm for 5 years? (This is not realistic given volatility in raw materials, fuel for transportation, etc.) This is a BPA for the duration of 5 years.
5. If a Tier quantity says “N/A”, I assume we do not put in a price for that tier. Is that correct? If it states N/A you do not offer on that portion of the request for quote.
6. All prices need to include freight to McAlester. Is that right? yes
7. It will be very hard to quote prices including freight when the exact quantity is not known. For example, the tier 1 for tie plates is between 1 and 10,000 tie plates. The freight cost per plate will be very different if you order 500 plates vs. 10,000 so without a specific quantity, it is very hard to quote. Will the base always order in full truckload quantities? no
8. There are many items listed that are no longer manufactured in the United States and may not even be available from foreign sources. Item #s 2, 3, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20 are all in this category. Items 13, 14, 37 and some of the domestic #6 frogs might also be. Noted.
All removed from materials list. See revised salient characteristics
9. What rail section are the turnouts in item 21? See revised salient characteristics
10. Re item 22-24, as far as I know there is no such thing as AREMA plan 136-55. What rail sections are these turnouts? See revised salient characteristics
11. Regarding the ties, the description says that “other hardwoods such as White Oak, Hickory, Gum, and Douglas Firs are acceptable”. Douglas Fir is not a hardwood. Are Douglas Fir acceptable? Douglas Fir removed from salient characteristics
12. Also regarding the ties, air seasoning can be more expensive and have longer lead times than other drying/conditioning methods. Do you definitely require air seasoning? Yes
13. Do we need to quote all line items in order to be considered for award? Yes
14. What happens if an order release is placed with a required delivery that cannot be met? Can delivery times be based on current availability at time of order? Will make accommodations for long lead time items.
15. If I understand it correctly, in order to be eligible for award, the bidder must be a small business with no more than 100 employees. Is that correct? Will this be strictly enforced? What if a bidder is owned by a parent company or private equity group that owns multiple companies and, in total, has more than 100 employees. Is such a bidder eligible? According to the associated NAICS code, it is s Small Business with 1500 employees
16. Will you consider Relay (i.e. good quality second-hand) tie plates for the 90RA and 100RE? No
17. Will you allow Relay Single Shoulder 10” Tie Plates for the 100RE and 90RA? (13” long plates for 100RE are not available; 11” relay plates for 90RA are scarce and may not be available.) We do have about 12,000 Relay Double Shoulder Plates that will work for 90RA, but they are 10”. No
18. What is the bid date and time. I understand the website says it is June 5th 1:00 CDT, but the solicitation form says May 5th. May 5, 2026- Amendment pending
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