Questions - Answers v3 - 23 Sept 2026.pdf

PLS BE ADVISED ALL QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED.

Questions/Answers - Version 2 - HVAC Water Treatment

Q1: What prompted the procurement team to revise the technical requirements after proposals were due?

A1. It was determined after a review of the technical factors; it was to the Government’s best interest to revise the technical factors to increase evaluation factor clarity and increase competition.

Q2. Could you please clarify the level of detail expected in the Master Project Schedule? Specifically, should the schedule identify each individual building and associated boiler, cooling tower, and/or water treatment system.

A2. The Master Project Schedule should remain at a macro level and does not need to identify specific buildings or individual pieces of equipment. Instead, the schedule should detail the contractor's phased approach, sequencing, and operational throughput required to meet the total volume of buildings and equipment within the timeline specified in the PWS. A highly granular, building-specific schedule will be required from the winning contractor during the transition/phase-in period. [1, 2]

Q3. Considering that the bid has been pushed back a week, will services still begin in October?

A3. The services were set to begin in November; this remains the same.

Q4. We have done a comparison of the prior technical requirements to the new technical requirements but want to ensure we have not missed anything. Can you offer an outline of the specific changes?

A4. The Government will not provide a comparison. The Offeror shall review the latest version of technical factors and ensure the proposal submitted provides the appropriate supporting documentation for the Technical Factors. Only new proposals submitted for the requirement in accordance with the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation instructions will be considered for technical evaluations.

Submission and evaluation

Q5. Please confirm that the unpriced technical proposal is due 23 September 2026 at 10:00 AM EDT, and that technically acceptable offerors will submit sealed price bids on 8 October 2026 (8:00 AM EDT for emailed bids; arrival by 8:45 AM for hand-delivered bids; opening at 9:00 AM). The posted Questions and Answers (Item 2) lists 23 September 2026 for the bid opening.

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A5. Yes. According to the revised Combined Synopsis/Solicitation, the Unpriced Technical is due 25 September at 8AM EDT. Bid opening for technically successful offerors will occur on 8 October at 8:00AM for emailed bids and no later than 8:45AM for hand-delivered bids. The in-person bid opening will occur at 9:00AM.

The address for the Public Bid Opening:

Directorate of Public Works (DPW) 6488 Rodman Rd, Building 4304, RM 210 Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005

Arrive no later than 8:45AM to submit bid proposals; Bid Opening begins promptly at 9:00AM, no exceptions.

Q6. Please confirm whether copies of certifications, licenses, laboratory accreditations, and resumes required as proof of qualification count toward the 30-page limit for Volume I.

A6. In accordance with the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation:

i. Page Limitations: Volume I Technical – 30 pages limit

j. Plain Text Proposals (i.e., no identifying graphics, logo, watermarks, etc.) charts, graphics, pictures, etc. are allowed to be used in the proposal but should not contain any identifying information and should be within the allotted page count to each volume.

NOTE: Pages that exceed the required page limitations will not be evaluated.

Q7. The Clause List (Attachment 7) includes DFARS 252.237-7024, which requires a Mission-Essential Contractor Services continuity plan "with its offer," but the referenced attachment is blank. Is this plan required with the Step One technical proposal?

A7. Yes. In accordance with DFARS 252.237-7024, Contractors should submit a Mission Essential Services Plan with their offer. Review revised section 3.4 of PWS for Mission Critical Services.

Q8. Please confirm whether a small business offeror that is not itself a chemical manufacturer but supplies the products of an ISO 9001-certified manufacturer is eligible under NAICS 325998, consistent with the nonmanufacturer rule at FAR 52.219-33 / 13

CFR 121.406.

A8. In accordance with 13 CFR 121.406(b) and FAR 52.219-33(c), a small business reseller/distributor supplying chemical products under NAICS 325998 is eligible as long as it:

• Meets the ≤ 500-employee size standard

• Is primarily engaged in selling chemical products

• Takes ownership/possession of the items

• Supplies products made by a U.S. small business manufacturer (or has an

SBA waiver)

If those conditions are met, the offeror qualifies, even though it is not the manufacturer and even if the manufacturer is simply ISO 9001-certified.

Personnel and qualifications

Q9. Where a small business prime will perform this contract with a subcontractor performing the on-site water treatment services, please confirm that the contractor-level qualifications in Section M.2.2 (ten years' experience servicing boiler and cooling water systems; ASSE 12080 certification; CWT designation; State pesticide/biocide applicator licenses; and the ISO 9001 chemical manufacturer/supplier requirement) may be satisfied by the identified subcontractor and its personnel, with copies submitted in the technical proposal.

A9. Yes.

Q10. Field Technician licensing. Section L.2.3 requires, for Field Technicians, "Copies of valid State Commercial Pesticide/Biocide Applicator Licenses for the relevant jurisdiction." Please confirm:

(a) whether each proposed primary and backup field technician must individually hold the license, or whether the requirement is satisfied if the field team collectively includes licensed personnel who will perform biocide applications; and

(b) whether a proposed field technician who has applied for the license and will obtain it prior to the contract start date of 17 November 2026 may be found acceptable, with evidence of application submitted in the technical proposal.

A10. (a) The requirement is satisfied if the proposed field team collectively includes licensed personnel, provided that all actual biocide applications are performed exclusively by an individually licensed technician, or performed under the direct, on-site supervision of a licensed technician in strict accordance with relevant state and local laws.

(b) Yes. A proposed technician with a pending application may be found acceptable, provided that official evidence of the submitted state application is included in the technical proposal. However, the final, valid license must be provided to the Contracting Officer no later than 2 weeks to the start date of the contract.

Q11. Please confirm which proposed personnel must hold the ASSE 12080 Legionella Water Safety and Management Specialist certification. May this requirement be satisfied by a designated employee or subcontracted specialist responsible for Legionella risk assessment and water management planning, or must the technician performing routine on-site service hold the certification? Please clarify the certified individual's required on-site involvement.

A11. A. The ASSE 12080 certification requirement must be held by the primary individual supervising or executing the Water Management Program on-site. While this requirement may be fulfilled by a subcontracted specialist or a designated manager, the certified individual must have direct, hands-on involvement in configuring the local system controls and sampling plans.

The technician performing routine on-site service does not need to hold the certification independently, unless they are the sole personnel conducting the risk assessments or interpreting out-of-range data. The certified individual must be on-site to perform all formal risk assessments and must actively review all routine service logs remotely or in person to ensure program validation.

Scope and products

Q12. Please confirm our understanding of the required routine frequencies: operating boilers — weekly inspection and testing, with reports submitted bi-weekly (PWS 2.10.1– 2.10.2); operating cooling towers — weekly testing and reporting (2.11.9.1); hot/chilled closed-loop systems — inspection and chemical adjustment every 90 days (2.13);

boilers in wet or dry layup — monthly testing/inspection (2.10.7); Edgewood E5126 steam and condensate distribution lines — monthly testing and reporting (2.12).

A12.

Equipment / System Type

Inspection & Testing Frequency

Reporting Frequency

PWS

Reference

Operating Boilers Weekly Bi-Weekly 2.10.1– 2.10.2

Operating Cooling Towers Weekly Weekly 2.11.9.1

Hot/Chilled Closed- Loop Systems

Every 90 days (Inspection & Chemical Adjustment)

Every 90 days (With service logs) 2.13

Boilers in Wet or Dry Layup Monthly Monthly 2.10.7

Edgewood E5126 Steam & Condensate Lines Monthly Monthly 2.12

Q13. Technical Exhibit 2 and Attachment 4 specify 15-gallon carboys for several products. May these products be supplied in three factory-labeled 5-gallon containers in place of each 15-gallon carboy, provided the same product concentration and total volume are supplied? If permitted, should pricing remain based on the specified 15-gallon unit?

A13. No. Products must be supplied in the 15-gallon carboys as specified in Technical Exhibit 2 and Attachment 4. Substituting three 5-gallon containers in place of a 15-gallon carboy is not permitted.

Q14. PWS Sections 2.1–2.3 describe mini-bulk delivery from tanker trucks. Would pumping chemicals from transport totes into the designated on-site storage tanks be acceptable, provided all applicable transportation, containment, metering, and printed delivery-receipt requirements are met?

A14. Yes. Pumping chemicals from transport totes into the designated on-site storage tanks is acceptable, provided that the contractor strictly adheres to all transportation, spill containment, precision metering, and printed delivery.

Q15. Attachment 4 includes Phosphate for Scale Control, Caustic Soda, and Microbiocide, Oxidizing (Bromine & Chlorine) Tablets, none of which appear in Technical Exhibit 2, and PWS 2.10.8 and 2.11.2 prohibit chlorine. Please confirm which product list governs and whether the oxidizing bromine/chlorine tablet product is acceptable.

A15. The use of oxidizing bromine and chlorine tablets is acceptable and approved for use under this contract, superseding the prohibitions mentioned in PWS 2.10.8 and

2.11.2 for this specific application.

Q16. Attachment 4 lists "Closed Loop Corrosion & Scale Inhibitor, Nitrate based, for Hot Water Boilers greater than 180F." Technical Exhibit 2 describes the same product as "Nitrite based." Please confirm the intended chemistry.

A16. Technical Exhibit 2 contains the correct chemical specification; the intended chemistry is nitrite-based.

Q17. Section L.3.1 requires each year's total price on a summary page, but Attachment 4 does not contain a summary tab. Should bidders add one?

A17. Yes.

Contract administration

Q18. Please identify any changes to the scope of work, qualification requirements, or submission instructions in the UPDATED.v2 solicitation relative to the prior posting of this requirement.

A18. The Government will not provide a comparison. The Offeror shall review the latest version of technical factors and ensure the proposal submitted provides the appropriate supporting documentation for the Technical Factors. Only new proposals submitted for the requirement in accordance with the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation instructions will be considered for technical evaluations.

Q19. Invoicing and payment terms. Please confirm the invoicing frequency for CLIN x001 (chemicals — per delivery or monthly) and CLIN x002 (On-Site Water Treatment Support — monthly), and the Government's payment terms in net days from receipt of a proper invoice in WAWF. Please also indicate whether DFARS 252.232-7007, Limitation of Government's Obligation, will be invoked at award.

A19.The IDIQ will be awarded in conjunction with the first task order to meet the minimum guarantee of the IDIQ. Any future task orders will be awarded based in accordance with 31 U.S.C. § 1502. The Government will not indicate the use of DFARS 252.232-7007, Limitation of Government's Obligation on future task orders prior to the award of the IDIQ.

Q20: Is this a brand-new contract OR is/was an incumbent performing these services? If not brand new, could you please provide the current / previous contract number?

A20: This is a follow-on effort. The current contract number is W56ZTN-20-D-0011; the incumbent is Coastline LTD.

Q21: What is the current annual contracted amount for the contract?

A22: We don’t have a predetermined ceiling. The value of the IDIQ will be determine through a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable competition. Additionally, the minimum guarantee is $100.00 and will be awarded with the first Task Order.

Q23: How many days per week are being provided in a typical week to execute the scope of work?

A23: 2-3 days normally

Q24: Does your company need to have been present for the walk through to understand the scope of systems on base and be eligible to submit a technical response?

A24: No