HSAAP Final Solicitation QA No_3 - 15Nov2022.pdf

No. Reference Question Answer

Can the government confirm sufficient background characterization data is available for the Solid Waste Management Units (SWMU) such that it is known these SWMUs are below industrial treatment standards. If not, should there be a spill in any SWMU not in No Further Action (NFA) how will the contractor achieve effective clean‐up to the industrial standard if potential background levels may exceed the industrial standard?

Similarly, have non‐SWMU characterization data been collected to assess potential background contamination relative to residential standards?

The following response applies to SWMUs without an NFA designation. All non‐active SWMUs are in some form of long term management as documented in the Corrective Action Order (CAO) and are considered by the state to be protective of human health and the environment. All active SWMUs are in some form of interim measure controls that are in place and managed. Controls on either type of site do not necessarily pertain to soil screening level standards. Spills within a SWMU should be addressed per the requirements in the CAO, which requires new releases to be notified and addressed. If the operating contractor believes that a spill response has been addressed and contamination exists above industrial screening levels, then the appropriate path forward should be agreed upon by primarily the installation RPM and also the state.

Background data for the installation exists, however explosives are generally the contaminant of concern and these are not naturally present in the soil. Spills made by the operating contractor need to be addressed because a contractor cannot create/leave a long term environmental liability for the Army.

Will the Government provide the offerors a listing of all real property, and specifically the buildings and other fixed property, and their respective valuations such that each offeror is able to accurately price insurance to cover such real property?

The listing of buildings, facilities, barricades, etc. (real property) has been provided in the virtual library and is the only available listing of real property to be provided. Values of that real property is not available.

Will the Government please confirm that offerors are required to submit Attachments 0022, 0023, and 0025 with their respective Indemnification Request Package by December 2, 2022?

Yes, Offerors shall submit each of Attachments 0022, 0023, and 0025, per Section L,G.3.

4 Will the Government consider amending the Solicitation to include FAR 52.236‐2, Differing Site Conditions? The Government does not intend to implement this clause.

With the recent update of FAR (28 October 2022), which applicable FAR clauses in the HSAAP Solicitation, if any, are impacted by that update and should reflect the latest revision date?

No clauses in the solicitation were updated. Should a clause be updated, it would be implemented via an amendment to the solicitation.

Regarding Amendment 0001 to the RFP, will an executed copy returned via email suffice as contractor acknowledgement?

Per Section L, paragraph A.2, offerors shall provide executed copies of solicitation amendments under Volume 7.

7 Does the Government require a hard copy submission of the proposal? No, hardcopy submissions are not required. DVD submissions are required, per Section L,A.3.

8 If hard copy submission is required, what are the requirements for packaging, labeling, shipping? Hardcopy submissions are not required.

9 If hard copy submission is required, are there special requirements for hand delivery? Hardcopy submissions are not required.

10 If hard copy submission is required, what is the guidance on paper and binding? Hardcopy submissions are not required.

11 Are headers/footers 8‐ or 12‐point font?

12‐point font. Per Section L,A.6, 12‐point font is required except for graphs, charts, tables, spreadsheets, and diagrams.

12 What are the font requirements for tables? Per Section L,A.6, no less than 8‐point font for tables.

13 What are the font requirements for graphic captions? Unless identified as an exception in Section L,A.6, no less than 12‐point font.

14 What are the font requirements for callout/focus boxes? Unless identified as an exception in Section L,A.6, no less than 12‐point font.

15 Are the title page, cover page, and cover letter excluded from font requirements? No.

What are the font requirements for screen shots and PNG/JPEG images, used as examples/samples that may contain text? Unless identified as an exception in Section L,A.6, no less than 12‐point font.

Can Screenshots/photographs be exempt from font requirements as they are used to show the image and not intended to be read?

Screenshots and/or photographs are not exempt from submission requirements.

Will the Government accept PDF format for required company‐proprietary documents, such as manuals, master plans, disclosure statements, etc.? Per Section L,A.3, an Offeror shall submit its proposal in Adobe PDF with the exception of the price matrices.

19 Will the government accept PDF format for signed documents, such as the SF33, SF30, cover letter, etc.?

Per Section L,A.3, an Offeror shall submit its proposal in Adobe PDF with the exception of the price matrices.

20 What kind of media is allowed (CD/DVD [read/write?], thumb drive, etc.) and what are the label requirements?

Per Section L,A.3, Offerors shall submit one (1) DVD for each volume submitted.

21 Are there special requirements for cover page, title pages, spines, library cards?

Cover pages and title pages are subject to the requirements in Section L,A. Spines and library cards are not applicable since hardcopy submissions are not required.

Adobe or Native File: Does the Government want the submitted volumes in PDF or in the native file (MS Office format)? Per Section L,A.3, an Offeror shall submit its proposal in Adobe PDF with the exception of the price matrices.

23 What are the requirements for Volumes 4 and 7? Is there a set format for requirements?

All requirements for the referenced volumes are identified in Section L,A. Any specific requirements relating to each volume would be specified in the Section L requirements for that volume.

Page 130 of 148, Past Performance, Section D Safety

Is the requested safety‐related information and corrective actions included in the 7‐page limit for reference project narratives or is it excluded from page limits?

As stated in Section L,A.7.c., "Adverse Contract Performance narratives have no page limitations".

25 Section A.1(h) This section references “evaluated” and “unevaluated” option periods. For proposal responses, should the Offeror response only address the five‐year base period or should the proposal address 10 years – the initial five‐year base plus the first “evaluated” five‐year option period? Please advise.

Pricing shall be proposed for the base period plus evaluated option.

HSAAP Solicitation Q&A #3 15 November 2022

Attachment 023 has no row for PWS 16. Do we provide pricing for PWS 16? It appears it is funded by others so it may be intentionally omitted from Attachment 023?

PWS 16 is intentionally omitted from Attachment 0023. Per Narrative A001, 3.(e), PWS 16 will be funded utilizing tenant rent revenue.

For the purpose of pricing, should offerors assume that the quantities in the Attachment 0032 EXAMPLE ORDER HSAAP influence our pricing model?

The example order, including the quantities therein, was provided strictly to support proposal development and evaluation of Volume 1 ‐ Production Factor.

Would the Government provide the capacity utilization vs. design capacity for both feed stocks and finished goods?

Design capacity has been provided, however; capacity utilization is dependent on the operating contractor's business decisions, such as product mix, orders, etc.

29 Will the Government provide the minimal staffing by labor category? This information cannot be provided.

30 Will the Government provide OEE data by process? This information cannot be provided.

To facilitate fair competition and pricing accuracy, will the Government provide wage rates and benefit package costs by labor category?

This information cannot be provided.

To provide accurate staffing and pricing, will the Government provide work order history (both corrective and preventive maintenance) for the site by discipline and work order type?

This information cannot be provided.

33 Does the plant schedule an annual shut down for maintenance? No.

RFP Section J ‐ List of Attachments

There is an inconsistency between the files in the virtual library and those listed in the final RFP SECTION J ‐ LIST OF ATTACHMENTS, will the Government specify what documents in the virtual library are considered inclusive of the RFP?

All final solicitation attachments are included in the Holston Army Ammunition Plant ‐ Solicitation SAM.gov announcement (the virtual library contained draft RFPs #1 and #2, and those versions of the attachments are contained within the Holston Army Ammunition Plant ‐ Virtual Library announcement). Any documents inclusive of final solicitation requirements that are found in the virtual library are indicated as such within the solicitation (i.e. TDPs).

RFP Page 3 and Section M.E.1b, page 145.

Attachment 0022 PRICE

MATRIX – PRODUCTION,

Attachment 0023 PRICE

MATRIX ‐ PWS

The Government states costs of performing indirect PWSs shall be accomplished by the contractor at no direct costs implying that costs should be factored into the production costs. “The prices provided for the Indirect PWSs will NOT be included separately in the evaluated price; it is presumed that the Offeror accounted for all such costs in its product pricing in Attachment 0022 PRICE MATRIX ‐ PRODUCTION.” Attachment 0023 PRICE MATRIX ‐ PWS requires pricing per PWS element. Which is correct?

The referenced PWS costs are to be born into product pricing. As detailed in Section M, E.1.b, "The PWS Matrix (Attachment 0023) will include the PWSs that are to be indirectly funded, and the FFP direct funded PWSs (Support for Onsite Government Staff and Natural and Cultural Resource, and Material Management). The prices provided for the Indirect PWSs will NOT be included separately in the evaluated price; it is presumed that the Offeror accounted for all such costs in its product pricing in Attachment 0022."

Attachment 0022 PRICE

MATRIX ‐ PRODUCTION

The Government stipulates a state of readiness but does not guarantee minimum production orders. In a fixed unit (Attachment 0022 PRICE MATRIX ‐ PRODUCTION) priced environment, how are indirect costs to be recovered if there is no production order?

The onus is on the Offeror to account for risk of lower than expected production and propose pricing accordingly. However, the Government provided three different facility volume ranges within the price matrix to reduce Offeror risk associated with development of these bidding assumptions.

To provide accurate pricing, waste amounts need to be understood. What are the annual hazardous waste volumes by type created at the site?

Annual hazardous waste reports were provided in the BECA.

To provide accurate fixed pricing in consideration of current economic and supply chain challenges, will the Government provide raw material costs to be used in production pricing by all offerors?

The Government cannot provide this information.

39 FAR 9.505

FAR 9.505, General Rule, states an unfair competitive advantage exists when the source selection information that is relevant to the contract but is not available to all competitors, and such information would assist that contractor in obtaining the contract. Based on requests for critical information (e.g., material quantities, capacity and design utilization, staffing by category, wage rates, benefits, and work order history), how is the Government maintaining compliance with the FAR requirement if the example information is available only to the incumbent contractor and not all competitors?

The example information referenced in the question is not source selection information, as defined by FAR

2.101. FAR 9.505(b)(2) is speaking to preventing a competitive advantage due to an Offeror obtaining source selection information, as defined by FAR 2.101. The Government is maintaining strict compliance with FAR 9.505(b)(2).

FAR 2.101 defines source selection information as any of the following information that is prepared for use by an agency for the purpose of evaluating a bid or proposal to enter into an agency procurement contract, if that information has not been previously made available to the public or disclosed publicly:

(1) Bid prices submitted in response to an agency invitation for bids, or lists of those bid prices before bid opening.

(2) Proposed costs or prices submitted in response to an agency solicitation, or lists of those proposed costs or prices.

(3) Source selection plans.

(4) Technical evaluation plans.

(5) Technical evaluations of proposals.

(6) Cost or price evaluations of proposals.

(7) Competitive range determinations that identify proposals that have a reasonable chance of being selected for award of a contract.

(8) Rankings of bids, proposals, or competitors.

(9) Reports and evaluations of source selection panels, boards, or advisory councils.

(10) Other information marked as "Source Selection Information‐See FAR 2.101 and 3.104" based on a case‐by‐case determination by the head of the agency or the contracting officer, that its disclosure would jeopardize the integrity or successful completion of the Federal agency procurement to which the information relates.

40 PWS 7; Section 4.14 How old are the current rescue and service vehicles currently in use? Please see the emergency vehicle spreadsheet uploaded to the virtual library.

41 PWS 7; Section 4.14 Are current rescue and service vehicles owned by USG or current contractor?

Rescue and emergency service vehicles are owned by the Government. The Government does not provide vehicles to the subcontracted security force for patrols and response.

42 PWS 7; Section 4.14 What Fire vehicles are currently in use? Please see the emergency vehicle spreadsheet uploaded to the virtual library.

43 PWS 7; Section 4.14 What is the age of current Fire vehicles in use? Please see the emergency vehicle spreadsheet uploaded to the virtual library.

44 PWS 7; Section 5.3 Is the OMD required to be a full‐time position? No, it is not required to be a full‐time position. See paragraph 5.3 and 5.6 of PWS 7 for requirements.

45 PWS 7; Section 6.1 Are current Fire personnel required to have an "initial" physical or does only apply to new hire employees?

This applies only to new hires.

46 PWS 7; Section 6.1 Can current employees receive annual physicals on the anniversary of their most recent physical? Yes, this would meet NFPA requirements.

47 PWS 7; Section App A Line 20: Para 25b(1) thru (4). What section of chapter 25 does this refer to?

This should read 25‐10b(1) through (4). The Government is working to correct these references and will include an updated PWS attachment in a future solicitation amendment.

48 PWS 7; Section Line 25: Refers to Para 24‐14. Should this be 25‐14?

Yes. The Government is working to correct these references and will include an updated PWS attachment in a future solicitation amendment.

49 PWS 7; Section App A Line 43: states "Para 25‐34a 2nd to last sentence". Para 25‐34a has only 2 sentences, can you please clarify which sentence is referred to?

Only the first sentence applies. The Government is working to correct these references and will include an updated PWS attachment in a future solicitation amendment.

50 PWS 7; Section App A Line 46: Indicates call processing Time 1 minute and turnout time 1 minute. Does this mean that the standard 5 minute response time is waived? (Perhaps due to distance required)

The total time allowed for a response is seven (7) minutes for 90% of alarms. This is based on two (2) minutes out of station and five (5) minutes of travel.

51 PWS 7; Section App A Line 47: Para 25‐41a is indicated. Should this be Para 25‐40a?

Yes. The Government is working to correct these references and will include an updated PWS attachment in a future solicitation amendment.

52 PWS 7; Section App A Line 59: Para 25‐53b is indicated. Should this be 25‐52b?

Yes. The Government is working to correct these references and will include an updated PWS attachment in a future solicitation amendment.

53 PWS 7; Section App A Line 60: Para 25‐53b is indicated. Should this be 25‐52b?

Yes. The Government is working to correct these references and will include an updated PWS attachment in a future solicitation amendment.

54 PWS 7; Section App A Line 61: Para 25‐53b is indicated. Should this be 25‐52b?

Yes. The Government is working to correct these references and will include an updated PWS attachment in a future solicitation amendment.

55 PWS 7; Section App A Line 62: Para 25‐54 1st sentence only is indicated. Should this be 25‐53 first sentence only??

Yes. The Government is working to correct these references and will include an updated PWS attachment in a future solicitation amendment.

56 PWS 7; Section App A Line 63: Para 25‐55 up to the word "and" is indicated. Should this be 25‐54 up to the word "and"?

Yes. The Government is working to correct these references and will include an updated PWS attachment in a future solicitation amendment.

57 PWS 7; Section App A Line 64: Indicates Para 25‐56 that refers to "Military Firefighters". Should this be 25‐55 Public Release of Incident Reports?

Yes. The Government is working to correct these references and will include an updated PWS attachment in a future solicitation amendment.

58 PWS 6; Section 1

As required in PWS 6, Section 1, the cost for natural gas, fuel oil, electricity, purchased steam, and potable water as well as labor, raw materials, and any subcontracts related to the operation of HSAAP utilities shall be charged to this PWS. To provide accurate firm fixed pricing, will the Government provide historical use and cost?

The Government cannot provide this information.

In the Virtual Library for the Holston Army Ammunition Plant Proposal there is a document/pdf file titled HSAAP_BFA_30Apr_FinalEncrypted.pdf. In the document there are links in Appendices C and F that are not functional in the pdf version of this file. The file links are titled "Projects Completed Since 2003.xlsx", "HSAAP_Mod_Projects_in_Execution_25M", "AMMO_FY_2021_PB_PAA_HSAAP_P‐25s.pdf", and "FY20 Holston AAP Draft IAP.DOCX". Could either the files referenced in these links be provided or a document with the active links for those documents be provided?

These documents will be provided in the virtual library.

Can the Government clarify if the 6.9% represents the Government's EPA baseline for proposed prices? If not, can the Government clarify what will be the Government's EPA baseline for executing the EPA adjustment?

Yes, the Government's baseline for the escalation EPA is 6.9%, as stated in Narrative I0004. This is not an instruction to Offeror's to escalate unit prices year‐over‐year at a 6.9% rate. Rather, it is implemented to account for the then‐current escalation rate in the global environment as reflected by the selected index. Each year, the Government will look at the most recent escalation rate in the referenced index and adjust unit prices to incorporate that updated rate.

Can the Government provide a year‐over‐year execution example as previously requested by industry in former Q&A?

The below example is for illustration purposes only.

Offeror proposes:

Ordering Period 1: $10.00 Ordering Period 2: $10.00 Ordering Period 3: $10.50 Ordering Period 4: $11.00

Ordering Period 1 is not subject to the EPA adjustment.

In Ordering Period 2, the referenced index states that the current escalation rate is 10%. Since 10% is 3.1% higher than the baseline rate, the unit price for Ordering Period 2 only would be increased by 3.1%, or $0.31 ($10.00*3.1%).

In Ordering Period 3, the referenced index states that the current escalation rate is 9.5%. Since 9.5% is 2.6% higher than the baseline rate, the unit price for Ordering Period 3 only would be increased by 2.6%, or $0.27 ($10.50*2.6%).

In Ordering Period 4, the referenced index states that the current escalation rate is 5%. Since 5% is 1.9% lower than the baseline rate, the unit price for Ordering Period 4 only would be decreased by 1.9%, or $0.21 ($11.00*1.9%).

The EPA adjusted prices would reflect the following after execution each year:

Ordering Period 1: $10.00 Ordering Period 2: $10.31 Ordering Period 3: $10.77 Ordering Period 4: $10.79

The Government responded in Amendment 0001 Q&A that “The 10% product price cap is based off proposed prices incorporated into the resulting contract. EPA adjustments are applicable to the subsequent ordering period only and will not alter future ordering period prices.” Based on this answer, can the Government clarify when the EPA escalation baseline would be incorporated into the contract? Is it the USG expectation that the offeror aligns submission with the EPA Baseline: Producer Price Index ‐ FD49405 Government purchases, defense, table 1: Final Demand Less Energy (Commodity Code FD‐49107), Unadjusted 12‐Month Percent Change at time of submittal or will this be adjudicated in the final contract?

Offerors should price their proposal as deemed appropriate by the Offeror. Whether a year‐to‐year escalation factor is applied or not, and how much, is entirely up to the Offeror. The referenced index implies that current prices in the global market for Government purchases, defense, final demand less energy are escalated 6.9%.

The Government's intent is to allow for adjustment to future prices should the market shift in a manner that is not predictable at this time, not to dictate proposed year‐to‐year escalation rates. This EPA has been implemented as a risk mitigator due to uncertain ongoing global economic factors out of the Government or Offeror's control, not a direction to Offerors on how to price. Given this, the successful Offeror's proposed prices will be implemented onto the resulting contract as proposed. Additionally, the EPA included in the solicitation will be incorporated as a narrative into the resulting contract. At the appropriate time, as indicated within the narrative, the Government will execute the EPA prior to an ordering period to be applicable to that upcoming ordering period only, to account for the current market conditions at the time of execution.

Please confirm that our interpretation that the H clause making the EVMS clauses (Clauses 252.234‐7001 ‐ Notice of Earned Value Management System (Deviation 2015‐O0017) and 252.234‐7002 ‐ Earned Value Management System (Deviation 2015‐O0017)) inapplicable at initial contract award means that the proposal requirement below does not apply and information on EVMS is not required for this proposal effort.

EVMS is not required for this proposal effort. EVMS clauses will only be utilized in execution to support direct funded modernization efforts, as determined appropriate by the Government.

The RFP talks to both I‐177 52.232‐16 PROGRESS PAYMENTS (DEVIATION 2020‐O0010) (pg. 68) and I‐178 52.232 32 PERFORMANCE‐BASED PAYMENTS APR/2012 (pg. 72). Typically production contracts with a short delivery timeline are shipment based payments. Please clarify the intended payment terms for the awarded Fixed Price contract.

The Government intends to offer progress payments for production orders and performance based payments for direct funded modernization efforts.