Rock Island Solicitation Responses to Vendor Follow Up Questions and Updated Question Responses_03FEB22.docx

Solicitation W56HZV-21-R-L067 Rock Island Arsenal Museum Fabrication & Installation Responses to Vendor Questions

Updated answer to question 167 from the Rock Island Responses to Vendor Questions Attachment:

167. It states on Page 59 that the Offeror is required to provide information on two Recent Contracts as prime contractor. As part of this, the Offeror must submit relevant contracts that are comparable in scope and magnitude of effort and complexity to the following statement of work requirements: Fabricate and install new exhibits in accordance with National Park Service (NPS) design standards greater than $600,000.00. The subcontractor that I'm working with has those qualifications. My question is: Can I submit their relevant contracts in lieu of mine?

ANSWER: No, recent contracts submitted should have been performed by the offeror as the prime contractor. Any contract that is not performed by the offeror as a prime contractor will not meet the terms of the solicitation.

UPDATED ANSWER: Section L.4.1 4 of the RFP states “As stated in L.4.1, only Contracts performed by the named Offeror will be considered; however the Government may consider the past performance of an associated entity, a predecessor company, or joint venture as explained below.

L.4.1.4.1 Associated Entity. The Government may consider the past performance of an associated entity if the Offeror successfully demonstrates meaningful involvement by the associated entity in the proposed effort.

L.4.1.4.2 Predecessor Company. The Government may consider the past performance of a predecessor company if the Offeror demonstrates the experience of the predecessor company is reasonably predictive of the Offeror’s performance under the proposed effort.

L.4.1.4.3 Individual Partners of a Joint Venture. The Government may consider past performance of each partner of the Joint Venture and any work performed by the Joint Venture itself previously.” Having said that, the Government may not consider the past performance of a subcontractor.

Follow on Questions, Updates, and Responses:

1. Can a prime be a general contractor that uses a qualified exhibit company as their primary sub?

ANSWER: No. A general contractor, indeed all offerors, must themselves meet all qualifications. It is not sufficient to agree to hire one or more subcontractors with qualifications that the offeror lacks.

1. Follow up questions to question 1 above: Can you please help me understand why it would matter if the prime contractor of the offer utilized a qualified subcontractor on the project for relative past performance and project completion?

ANSWER: The solicitation is a 100% Total Small Business Set Aside. Therefore, the prime contractor must be a self-certified U.S. small business concern and limitations on subcontracting apply in accordance with FAR 19.505(b)(1)(i). Under set-aside award conditions, when the service contract amount exceeds the simplified acquisition threshold, the small business prime contractor must provide at least 50% of the contract cost for personnel.

1. Can you give more specific guidance on the previous work requirement? Can there be consideration for cumulative work within that time frame?

ANSWER: The previous work requirement was extended from 3 to 5 years because COVID resulted in cancellation or postponement of some exhibit projects. This change can be found in Section L.4.1.1. The previous work must be in accordance with Section L.

UPDATED ANSWER: Per section L.4.1.1 of the RFP, contracts that are performed within 5 years of the date of issuance of the RFP meet the definition of Recent Contract. Per section L.4.1.2 of the RFP, a relevant contract is one that is “comparable in scope and magnitude of effort and complexity to the following statement of work requirements:

i. Fabricate and install new exhibits in accordance with National Park Service (NPS) design standards greater than $600,000.00.”

There is no consideration for cumulative work within the timeframe of 5 years. Each contract submission shall be in accordance with L.4.1.1, L.4.1.2, and L.4.1.2i.

1. Follow up questions to question 3 above: Can you please review this and justify why 3-5 years of cumulative work experience isn’t acceptable?

ANSWER: For the Past Performance Factor, the Government has determined that it is in its best interest to assess relevant past contracts that are greater than $600,000.00 each.

1. Overall the current verbiage in the solicitation is potentially eliminating multiple qualified and capable small and women owned businesses from participating in the bidding process.

ANSWER: The solicitation is a 100% Total Small Business Set Aside in accordance with Section M.1.1 and block 10 of the cover page.

*Note: Responses in blue are new responses