BPA QA2 05192026.pdf

1. If I understand your answer, you are saying that our bid prices must be firm fixed prices for the 5-year duration of the contract. Is that right? Yes, 5 year prices

2. The dimensions shown for the tie plates in item 3 are “7-1/2 x 14”. I believe this should be changed to “7-3/4 x 14”. The 7-3/4” width is the AREMA standard and is what we supplied to McAlester recently. This is a minor difference, but I think it should be fixed to avoid confusion. The 7-1/2 x 14” plate is common in Canada, but not in the United States. Item 4 already shows the correct 7-3/4” width. Salient Characteristics revised to show 7-3/4” width

3. I’m sorry, but I missed one item that should be removed from the procurement. 110RE Rail is now item number 9. This rail has not been produced for at least 40 years and probably longer. It is not available in the United States nor anywhere in the world. There are small quantities of used rail sporadically available but even used rail is very scarce. There is no such thing as NEW 110RE rail. I think you should remove it from the procurement. McAlester should work on upgrading to 115 or 136, and over time eliminate 110 from their track. As they upgrade sections of 110RE Track, they can save some pieces of used 110RE rail for maintenance of the remaining 110RE trackage. 110RE rail removed from Salient Characteristics

4. On page 1, block 10 of both the original and the amended solicitation, it states the acquisition is 100% set aside for small business and states the size standard is 100. In your answer #15, you state the size standard is 1500 employees. Are you sure it is 1500 employees? If so, should block 10 be amended? It is 1500

5. The description terminology for the turnouts is not correct. “AREMA Plan 112” refers to a particular design of switch points. It does not refer to the 112RE rail section. Item 10 appears to be asking for Turnouts for 112RE Rail. The 112RE rail section, like the 110RE rail section is obsolete. It has not been produced in the United States or anywhere in the world for decades and is not available. There is not any NEW 112RE rail available to make the switch points for a turnout. The 115RE rail section has basically replaced 112RE. The primary dimensions: height, base-width, head-width, fishing, etc. are the same for both 112 and 115. I suggest you change item 10 to be 115RE Turnouts. To clean up the language for item 10, I suggest you remove the words “AREMA 3 112RE plan”. And then after the words “Salient Characteristics:” say “115RE #8 non-insulated, non-panelized turnout.” Then further down in the description, after it says “… knife switch points with adjustable side jaw clips”, add the words: “per AREMA Plan 112-55”. 112RE turnout removed from Salient Characteristics

6. I suggest you make similar changes in the wording to clean up the descriptions of items numbers 11, 12, and 13. Feel free to call me if you have any questions. Item descriptions revised per recommendations

7. The connecting rod for item 10 is stipulated as 42” (3’6”), but the rods in items 11, 12, and 13 are showing as 60”. There are two standard lengths for connecting rods – 3’6” and 6’. The 60” rod is non-standard and I’m pretty sure is not what they want. I am going from memory now but I’m pretty sure the last time we supplied turnouts to McAlester, the spec said 60” and we contacted people on site, and they changed it to 3’6” for the turnouts we supplied. I suggest you change all connecting rods to a standard length – either 3’6” or 6’. (I’m pretty sure they should all be 3’6”.) Salient Characteristics revised, connecting rod lengths changed to 42” (3’6”)

8. Items 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 are asking for frogs. I think the request is for Railbound Manganese (RBM) frogs, but in all cases it also includes “self-guarded” as part of the description. This is confusing because RBM frogs are not self-guarded. Do they want RBM frogs or do they want SMSG (Solid Manganese Self-Guarded) frogs? These are two distinct types of frogs. Please clarify. Salient Characteristics revised, material for all frogs should be SMSG (Solid Manganese Self-Guarded)

9. Fully domestic RBM and SMSG frogs are very expensive and have very long lead times

(could be a year or longer) which is why I think the Army is allowing imported frogs in the turnouts. I suggest you allow the frogs in items 14 through 18 to likewise be imported. I will do some checking on lead times and availability of domestic frogs on Monday and will let you know what I find out. It is possible the #6 frogs for example might not even be available domestically. Salient Characteristics revised, Domestic or imported material is acceptable