A07_-_QA-Refuse_and_Recycling_RFP-W56ZTN-18-R-0006_-_FINAL.docx

Solicitation W56ZTN-18-R-0006 Refuse and Recycling Services Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD Questions and Answers (13 Feb 2018)

Question 1: Can the government provide historical data on tonnage for the FL services on Recycling and MSW?

Answer: Refuse=CY15 – 2857T; CY16 – 2747T; and CY17 – 2489T. Recycling=CY15 – 235T; CY16 – 224T; and CY17 – 207T.

Question 2: Can the Government provide Historical Data on the tonnage for the Roll Off services?

Answer: The Government requires approximately 200 roll-offs per year as estimated in the Surge/Roll-Off Support CLINs of the RFP. Cumulative tonnage information for roll-offs is not available. NOTE: The Government does not pay/reimburse the contractor based on tonnage.

Question 3: Can the government provide historical data on the tonnage for Paper recycling in 96 gal tots?

Answer: Paper=CY15 – 173T; CY16 – 180T; and CY17 – 140T.

Question 4: Can the government provide historical data on the recycling that is collected in the 40 gal cans?

Answer: Recycling=CY15 – 40T; CY16 – 42T; and CY17 – 27T.

Question 5: Can Roll-off number of pulls from the last 12 months be supplied?

Answer: The Government required approximately 200 roll-offs during the past year.

Question 6: Can the current pricing be supplied?

Answer: The current contract number is W56ZTN-15-C-0005 and the previous contract was W91ZLK-11-D-0008. Publically available information pertaining to spending on this contract can be found at: https://www.usaspending.gov. The Government will not release contract unit prices as that information is competition sensitive/proprietary to the vendor. Release of such information would be expected to cause harm to the vendor. Each offeror needs to develop its’ own pricing strategy.

Question 7: Can Roll-off tonnages from the last 12 months be supplied?

Answer: See response to Question #2.

Question 8: Please clarify Section C.5.9.5 – is the customer requesting that their services are under a dedicated route so that there are no mixing of materials in Front-Load trucks with other customers materials?

Answer: There is no dedicated route.

Question 9: Please clarify the Sludge requirement –

Answer: C.2 of the PWS lists definitions of terms such as solid waste. Sludge is not handled under this contract.

Question 9a: What type of sludge is it?

Answer: See response to Question #9.

Question 9b: Is there a current Profile to a dedicated Disposal Site? If so, please provide a current Manifest from the most recent load.

Answer: See response to Question #9.

Question 9c: Does the container need to be lined for the Sludge?

Answer: See response to Question #9.

Question 10: Please clarify the protocols for the blocked containers in Section C.5.3.2. Do contractors need to be onsite each day until at least 4pm to attempt to service blocked containers?

Answer: Blocked containers should be collected on the next scheduled day for that container.

Question 11: Please clarify the emergency response time of 1 hour in Section C.5.4.1. Does a driver have to be physically onsite within 1 hour?

Answer: Yes. The contractor shall respond immediately and arrive at the site designated by the Contracting Officer or his authorized representative no later than one (1) hour after notification. NOTE: There have been no occurrences of emergency calls within the past 5 years.

Question 12: Do Front-End trucks need to enter the installation empty?

Answer: This is not a contract requirement. The contractor has to be able to complete the tasks of the PWS in the most efficient manner. However, trucks that are not empty may be subject to additional or lengthier security checks.

Question 13: What type of Security will the trucks go through when entering or exiting the areas?

Answer: Security measures depend on current threat levels and Directorate of Emergency Services (DES) current protocol. Once proper badging is in place by the contractor, significant delays are rare at APG gates.

Question 14: What is the estimated time to get through all security protocols when entering and exiting the areas?

Answer: See response to Question #13. Also, the time of day can impact gate entry times.

Question 15: Can the number of Roll Off cans needed for this effort please be provided based off historical data.

Answer: See response to Question #2 and #5. Historically there have been 50-70 cans onsite at one time.

Question 16: What type of equipment is need at the collections yards? “such as fork lifts, bobcats, etc.”

Answer: It is up to the contractor to determine equipment needs to perform the required services. Equipment is provided by the contractor.

Question 17: Are the landfill fees included in the contract or priced separately?

Answer: Contractor is responsible for all fees. Fees must be included in pricing.

Question 18: Do you have historical data on tonnage?

Answer: See response to Question #1.

Question 19: The PWS indicates the interior recycling goes 1X per week. Many of the current large bldgs. are serviced multiples times per week. Please clarify the requirement.

Answer: See TEs. It is possible that a limited number of large buildings may require service more than once per week depending on occupancy, time of year, etc.

Question 20: Does the refuse have to do to Harford County Transfer Station? If so, why?

Answer: This sentence was applicable when APG had a Waste-to Energy (WTE) plant. The plant is now closed. This sentenced is hereby removed from the PWS.

Question 21: Technical Exhibit 1A is missing. Please provide.

Answer: Provided.

Question 22: Can you provide historical tonnage for all waste streams?

Answer: See previous responses.

Question 23: Does Harford County have flow control and does the waste have to be disposed of in Harford County?

Answer: See C.5.6.1 of the PWS. Disposal locations must be approved by the installation environmental office.

Question 24:

Ref PWS C.2 DEFINITIONS:

a. Will the Government please confirm that all metal received at the collection stations and collected in roll-offs on the APG is to be taken to the on Base Scrap Yard?

Answer: All metal received at the collection stations and collected in roll-offs by the refuse/recycling contractor is to be taken to the base scrap yard. No reimbursement or earnings from this metal will be given to the contractor. APG has its own Qualified Recycling Program (QRP) which will keep any earnings from metal sales.

b. Is the Scrap Yard located on the Aberdeen or Edgewood Area of APG?

Answer: Aberdeen Area

c. Will the Government please identify the locations requiring “compostable” collection?

Answer: C.2 of the PWS lists definitions of common terms. Compost collection is not a requirement of this contract.

Question 25:

Ref PWS C.4.2 Contractor shall provide rear-end loading recycle collection trucks of at least 20 cubic yard capacity, with fully enclosed bodies for use in performing the work. The contractor shall provide front loaders of at least 30 cubic yard capacity, with fully enclosed bodies for use in performing the work in the Commercial Areas. The contractor shall provide roll off and hopper containers and roll off trucks for collection of the various types of debris.

Will the Government please define “hopper containers?

Answer: Small containers that can be lifted by a fork lift or small piece of equipment.

Question 26: The Technical Exhibits do not contain any details on the roll off containers required. Please provide the size and quantity of the roll offs required to service the contract.

Answer: Most roll offs are 30 yard containers. See response to Question #2 and #5. Historically there have been 50-70 cans onsite at one time.

Question 27:

Ref PWS C.4.7. Contractor shall furnish the required number of serviceable containers, dumpsters and roll offs to support the Collection Center requirements during the life of the contract. Containers that are identified as unserviceable by the COR shall be removed and replaced with a serviceable container. These replacements and/or additional containers shall be within 24 hour notification.

Is the Collection Center (capitalized term) referred to, the same as the Collection Stations referred to in C.5.2?

Answer: Yes.

Question 28:

Ref PWS C.4.8. Contractor shall furnish a number of serviceable roll offs to support the collection station that is established in lieu of a landfill operation for the installation. The contractor shall furnish the necessary equipment to meet the needs of the installation.

Will the Government provide the number and size of roll off containers, as well as a Technical Exhibit for roll off container locations by building number/location?

Answer: See response to Question #2 and #5. Historically there have been 50-70 cans onsite at one time. No TE is available. Locations will change throughout the contract. Roll offs are used on as- needed basis except for at the collection centers/stations.

Question 29: Will the Government please provide 24 recent, consecutive months of historical data, by month, of the number of roll off hauls with the type of materials hauled and weight of each?

Answer: See previous answers.

Question 30:

Ref PWS C.5.1.1 …. All refuse dumpsters, recycle dumpsters and roll-offs shall be one neutral color…

It was noted on the site visit that refuse and recycling containers are two different colors, (refuse brown and recycle white) please confirm that the containers will be required to all be the same “one neutral color”

Answer: Refuse containers shall be brown and recycle containers white or green. The PWS is updated.

Question 31:

Ref PWS C. 5.1.5 Abnormal Quantities of Refuse: The contractor shall dispose of excess refuse beyond the normal quantity resulting from holidays or recognized customs. The contractor shall provide additional equipment or make additional trips, if necessary, to dispose of extra refuse. This should be accomplished with minimum interference to regular collection schedules. The contractor shall reschedule refuse collection for services not provided due to Federal holidays.

Will the Government please provide recent annual data regarding the number, size, frequency of service and tonnage required to meet the requirement for “holidays and recognized customs”?

Answer: This data is not available. Generally, extra refuse created during holidays or recognized customs would require roll-off support which is reimbursed via the Surge/Roll-Off Support CLINs of the RFP. Excess refuse beyond the normal quantity resulting from holidays or recognized customs would be expected to be very minimal compared to the overall scope of the contract.

Question 32:

Ref PWS C. 5.1.6 The contractor shall provide a recycling collection program for specific buildings identified in Technical Exhibit 1 and compliance with all provisions of the Resource Recovery and Recycling Program at APG, AR 200-1. This collection program shall consist of in-building removal of 96 gallon toters and bags of recyclable cans, bottles and plastics. Products to be removed are identified as office mix paper, aluminum cans, corrugated cardboard, plastic containers, glass bottles and jars. In-building collection shall be removed at least once a week. If the contractor prefers to remove additional recyclable materials from the commercial areas of the installation to provide a larger quantity of resalable recyclables then this too shall be allowed with the understanding that all increased collections shall be at no additional costs to the Government. The contractor shall ensure that vehicles utilized in recycling collection are weighed prior to and immediately after collection. The completed weight tickets shall be turned into the COR for proper weight credit. It shall be at the discretion of the contractor to propose the most efficient method for collection/removal that is available.

Is there a truck scale on base accessible to the contractor?

Answer: No

Question 33: Will the contractor be permitted to establish a tare weight for each truck to meet the requirement for “prior to” weight?

Answer: Tipping tickets are required from dumping station with this information included.

Question 34: Will the Government accept the scale ticket from the processing facility to meet the “immediately after collection” requirement?

Answer: Yes. Tipping tickets are required from dumping station with this information included.

Question 35: Section C.4.2 (of PWS) requires the contractor to provide “rear loading recycle collection trucks” and C 5.5.1 requires “As a minimum the contractor shall provide a sufficient number of rear loading trucks”. This section provides for contractor discretion of collection method. Please confirm that if the contractor chooses not to use rear load collection trucks for that it would not be required to provide them.

Answer: The contractor is required to use the equipment outlined in C.4.2 of the PWS to complete the tasks.

Question 36: Does the contractor keep any revenues generated from the sale of the paper and cardboard?

Answer: Yes

Question 37:

Ref PWS C.5.2.1 REFUSE DUMPSTERS: The contractor shall provide 4 cubic yard, 6 cubic yard or 8 cubic yard dumpsters depending on the output of the building or as directed by the COR. Dumpsters shall be added and removed as requested by the COR. See Technical Exhibit 1A.

Technical Exhibit 1A lists 2 cubic yard containers at some buildings. Will 2 cubic yard containers be required?

Answer: No Question 38:

Ref PWS C.5.2.2 EXTERIOR RECYCLE DUMPSTERS: The contractor shall provide 4 cubic yard, 6 cubic yard or 8 cubic yard dumpsters depending on the output of the building or GSO requesting. Recycle dumpsters shall be added and removed as requested by the COR. See Technical Exhibit 1A.

Technical Exhibit 1A lists 2 cubic yard recycle containers at some buildings. Will 2 cubic yard containers be required?

Answer: No

Question 39:

Ref PWS C.5.2.4 ROLL OFFS: The contractor shall provide 30 cubic yard dumpsters for requested buildings and GSO’s as requested through the COR.

Will the Government please provide the number of 30 cubic yard roll off containers needed on hand for this requirement?

Answer: See response to Question #2 and #5. Historically there have been 50-70 cans onsite at one time.

Question 40: Will the Government please provide, by month, the most recent 24 months history of hauls including the material type and weight of each, for this requirement?

Answer: See responses to previous questions.

Question 41:

Ref PWS C.5.4.1 Emergency service or services required to support special commitments required outside normal operating hours, to include Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, shall be provided by the contractor upon notification from the COR. The contractor shall respond immediately and arrive at the site designated by the Contracting Officer or his authorized representative no later than one (1) hour after notification.

Will the Government please provide, by month, the most recent 24 months history of services including the material type and weight of each, for this requirement?

Answer: See response to Question #11.

Question 42:

Ref PWS C.5.4.3 Special refuse collection/short term requirements shall require that the contractor provide services to buildings/locations not listed in Technical Exhibit. The buildings/locations services shall be as directed by the COR. The contractor shall be required to furnish the necessary containers at the stated buildings/locations per the COR directive. In addition to the scheduled refuse collections, the contractor shall be required to furnish containers when necessary and provide special collections for short term requirements (less than one (1) month) within 24 hours of notification from the contracting officer.

Will the Government please provide the number, by size, of containers required on hand to meet this requirement?

Answer: Historical data is not available. These requirements will be handled by using the Surge/Roll-Off Support CLINs.

Question 43: Will the Government please provide, by month, the most recent 24 months history of services including the material type and weight of each, for this requirement?

Answer: Historical data is not available. These requirements will be handled by using the Surge/Roll-Off Support CLINs.

Question 44:

Ref PWS C.5.6 DISPOSAL

Will the Contractor be reimbursed separately for disposal and/or processing fees or are they to be included in the collection prices?

Answer: No. All fees related to disposal are to be included in pricing.

Question 45:

Ref PWS C.5.6.1 OFF BASE DISPOSAL: Refuse, recycling and construction debris shall be disposed of by the Contractor at the Harford Waste Disposal Center, the APG Scrap Yard, Scarborough Landfill, Joppa Salvage, Days Cove, Honeygo Landfill, and/or an approved recycling center. The locations noted are approved by the installation environmental office and any deviations from these locations must be approved by the environmental office. The disposal sites are each located within a 20-mile radius from the collection areas. Refuse will then be required to be taken to a Harford County transfer location.

Will the Government please expound on the meaning of the last sentence of this section?

Answer: This sentence was applicable when APG had a Waste-to Energy (WTE) plant. The plant is now closed. This sentenced is hereby removed from the PWS.

Question 46: We contacted Joppa Salvage and were advised that they no longer receive any scrap metal from APG, should they be removed from this list.

Answer: See response to Question #24.

Question 47:

Ref PWS C.5.9.4 Only bulk trash, recycling and construction debris generated and collected from APG shall be disposed of in accordance with the terms of this contract.

This list of materials to be disposed of should be amended to include Compostables, Refuse, Rubbish, Combustible Rubbish, Scrap and Solid Waste, as defined, that are generated and to be collected from APG.

Answer: There are no compostables or combustibles as part of this contract. See previous responses to questions about definitions in the PWS.

Question 48:

Ref C.6.1 Phase in, Phase out: A phase-in, phase-out is required due to a change in contractor. The successful contractor (even the incumbent) will receive $2500.00. This constitutes the minimum guarantee for the contract. The phase-in, phase-out/transition period is two (2) weeks and will be a separate CLIN in the contract.

Will the Government please increase the phase in period to a minimum of thirty days to insure the ability to acquire, deliver and place the large volume of equipment?

Answer: The phase-in, phase out listed in PWS C.6.1 contradicts the time listed in CLIN 0001 (see page two of the RFP). The correct phase-in period is 21 days. The PWS is hereby corrected. The Government considers three weeks (21 days) to be adequate.

Question 49:

Reference Technical Exhibit 1A. During the site visit we saw that building 2514 had 1 refuse and 2 recycle dumpsters, Technical Exhibit 1A shows 1 refuse and only 1 recycle dumpster also building 6010 seemed to have 2 refuse and 2 recycle dumpsters whereas TE 1A only shows 1 of each. Would the government please verify the accuracy of Technical Exhibit 1C.

Answer: The TEs provided represent Government’s best estimate of requirement throughout the course of a year. See Section C.5.3.3 of the PWS.

Question 50:

Reference Technical Exhibit 1C. During the site visit we visited one 40 gal toter location in building 4304, the location had four 40 gal toters and we were advised that there were two other locations in the building that each had 4 toters, for a total of 12 toters in the building. Technical Exhibit 1C shows 3 toters in building 4304. Would the government please verify the accuracy of Technical Exhibit 1C.

Answer: The TEs provided represent Government’s best estimate of requirement throughout the course of a year. See Section C.5.3.3 of the PWS. TE 1C is corrected to refer to a toter set.

Question 51:

Reference Section B CLINS. CLIN x001 please confirm that the MONTHLY AMOUNT to be inserted for each item is the monthly total price for all of the items and not for each one, e.g. for refuse dumpsters @ 429 the price to be provided is the monthly price for all 429 dumpsters and not a monthly price for each dumpster.

Answer: Correct. Provide monthly pricing.

Question 52:

CLIN x001 should the prices provided for refuse dumpsters include the cost of disposal?

Answer: Yes.

Question 53:

CLIN x001 please confirm that the collection station monthly charge should not include the cost of hauling the full roll off containers and disposing of their contents, as these prices are to be provided in x002 Roll Off Services.

Answer: Hauling and disposing of the rolloffs should be included in the Surge CLIN 2 prices.

Question 54:

CLIN x002 please confirm that the prices to be provided for the various roll off services should include the cost of disposal of the material as well as the cost of hauling the containers.

Answer: Yes.

Question 55:

Will the Government grant an extension to the due date of proposals.

Answer: Yes. Proposal due date is extended until February 26, 2018, at 9:00AM Eastern time.