W81XWH-19-R-0051_ Questions and Answers_12-19-2019.pdf

W81XWH-19-R-0051

SMALL LABORATORY RESEARCH ANIMALS

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

19 DECEMBER 2019

Notice: The Government provides the best answer to the Questions asked. Offeror’s proposal shall be based on the amended Solicitation.

Question 1: Exhibit B lists several strains of mice and rats. Do the sites covered under USAMRDC require other strains as well? If so, would this BPA cover all small animal laboratory purchased from awarded vendor?

Answer 1: No.

Question 2: Are the sites able to purchase any of their small animal needs under

GSA?

Answer 2: This acquisition is not under GSA.

Question 3: Please confirm that this solicitation needs to be submitted in hard copy or if electronic submission will suffice.

Answer 3: Reference Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.212-1, Section M.2.3, The Offeror’s Proposal.

Question 4: Can you provide the annual unit volumes for the strains listed?

Answer 4: No, the annual unit volumes are research dependent.

Question 5: Could the Government please provide the ship to addresses for each institution covered under the contract?

Answer 5: The Commands are located in Maryland, Massachusetts, Texas, Washington, and Georgia. The ship to addresses will be provided at the Call Order level.

W81XWH-19-R-0051, Small Laboratory Research Animals, Questions and Answers

Question 6: Would the USG please clarify whether or not this procurement is to be awarded primarily on the basis of lowest price, or if a tradeoff process will be employed?

Ref: Solicitation document (RFP), Section SF 1149, Supplies and Prices; Page 3, Section 1.2. The Government intends to award; Page 4, Section 5. Issuance of Call.

Order; Page 27, M.1.1; Page 32. A.1.1

Answer 6: Reference Supplies and Prices, Section 1.2, Supplies and Prices, Section 5, FAR 52.212-1, Section M.1.1, and FAR 52.212-2, Section A.1.1 of the solicitation which all state best value Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA).

Question 7: Section 1.7 of the RFP Indicates the scope of the BPA is for the purchase and delivery of Small Laboratory Research Animals, yet SoN 1.2.3 also includes diagnostic services. Please define the scope of the diagnostic services required. Ref:

Solicitation document (RFP) Section SF 1149, Supplies and Prices, Page 3, Section

1.7. “The scope of the MA-BPAs”

Answer 7: Reference Solicitation Amendment 0001, Statement of Need, Section 1.2.3.

Question 8: Respectfully request deletion of the following two sentences. If this is the ceiling for all awarded BPAs, there is no way for each contractor to tell when the ceiling has been reached. “The Offeror agrees the orders placed under the resultant BPA shall be accomplished within the specified ceiling. Unless the Contracting Officer has notified the Offeror in writing of an increase in the cumulative ceiling amount, any costs incurred in excess of the ceiling amount shall be borne by the Offeror.” Ref: Solicitation document (RFP), Section SF 1149, Supplies and Prices, Page 3, Section 2. BPA Ceiling, Section 2.1. “The cumulative ceiling amount of all Call Orders and GPC”

Answer 8: No.

Question 9: Statement of Need 1.2.6 indicates animals will be supplied from "domestic" qualified dealers or breeders. Please confirm sourcing animals from a wholly owned subsidiary located in Canada is permissible. Section 1.2.5 suggests the same however clarification would be appreciated. Ref: Statement of Need, Page 6, Section 1.2 Scope, Statement of Need 1.2.6. Objective 5.

Answer 9: Reference Solicitation Amendment 0001, Statement of Need, Section 1.2.6.

Question 10: Statement of Need 1.2.7 indicates the MEC's for small animals for each call order "will be defined". Please explain. Ref: Statement of Need, Page 6, Section

1.2 Scope, SoN 1.2.7. The Minimum Essential Characteristic (MECs).

Answer 10: Reference Solicitation Amendment 0001, Statement of Need, Section 1.2.7.

Question 11: Request the last sentence of 3.1 be replaced with the following, as animals cannot be returned to the contractor for biosecurity reasons: “If the Small Laboratory Research Animals fail to meet the required Minimum Essential Characteristics (MECs) defined in the Call Orders, the delivery will be rejected and destroyed by the Government.” Ref: Statement of Need, Page 9, 3. Inspection and Acceptance, Section 3.1. “The Government shall provide certification of satisfaction”.

Answer 11: Reference Solicitation Amendment 0001, Statement of Need, Section 3.1.

Question 12: Date of Purchase does not print on delivery paperwork – ship date (a.k.a.

Delivery Date) will print. Please confirm if this is acceptable. Ref: Statement of Need, Section 6. Delivery Ticket Line #3 Date of Purchase

Answer 12: No.

Question 13: Per FAR 15.408 (a) "The contracting officer shall insert the clause at 52.215-9, Changes or Additions to Make-or-Buy Program, in solicitations and contracts when it is contemplated that a make-or-buy program will be incorporated in the contract." As this contract will not have a make-or-buy program, please confirm this clause will not be included in the resultant contract. Ref: Delivery Information, Clauses Incorporated by Reference Page 19, 52.215-9 Changes or Additions to Make-or-Buy Program.

Answer 13: Reference Solicitation Amendment 0001

Question 14: As this clause is not applicable to commercial items, please confirm this clause will not be included in the resultant contract. Ref: Delivery Information, Clauses Incorporated by Reference, Page 19, 52.215-20 Requirements for Certified Cost or Pricing Data and Data Other Than Certified Cost or Pricing Data. Page 57, 52.215-20 Alternate IV.

Answer 14: Reference Solicitation Amendment 0001. FAR 52.215-20 is a provision.

Provisions are not included in the resultant contract.

Question 15: As this clause is not applicable to commercial items, please confirm this clause will not be included in the resultant contract. Ref: Delivery Information, Clauses Incorporated by Reference, Page 20, 52.232-1 Payments.

Answer 15: Reference Solicitation Amendment 0001.

Question 16: Per FAR 49.002(a)(2) and FAR 12.403(a) this does not apply to contracts for commercial items. This is covered in 52.212-4. Please confirm this clause will not be included in the resultant contract. Ref: Delivery Information, Clauses Incorporated by Reference, Page 20, 52.249-2 Termination for Convenience of the Government (Fixed-Price).

Answer 16: Reference Solicitation Amendment 0001.

Question 17: Per FAR 49.002(a)(2) and FAR 12.403(a) this does not apply to contracts for commercial items. This is covered in 52.212-4. Please confirm this clause will not be included in the resultant contract. Ref: Delivery Information, Clauses Incorporated by Reference, Page 20, 52.249-8 Default (Fixed-Price Supply & Service).

Answer 17: Reference Solicitation Amendment 0001.

Question 18: Per DFAR 204.7304 this does not apply to contracts for COTS items.

Please confirm this clause will not be included in the resultant contract. Ref: Delivery Information. Clauses Incorporated by Reference Page 20, 252.204-7008, Compliance with Safeguarding Covered Defense Information Controls.

Answer 18: DFARS 252.204-7008 is a provision. Provisions are not included in the resultant contract.

Question 19: Per DFAR 204.7304 this does not apply to contracts for COTS items.

Please confirm this clause will not be included in the resultant contract. Ref: Delivery Information, Clauses Incorporated by Reference, Page 20, 252.204-7012, Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting.

Answer 19: Reference Solicitation Amendment 0001.

Question 20: This contract does not meet the criteria for inclusion of this clause in FAR 24.302(a). Please confirm this clause will not be included in the resultant contract. Ref:

Page 54, 52.224-3 Privacy Training

Answer 20: Reference Solicitation Amendment 0001, FAR 52.212-5(45)(i).

Question 21: The table in M.2.3. shows that the Executive Summary is to be included in Volume III. But, Section M.2.8.1. does not mention the Executive Summary. Please advise which area is correct. Ref: Volume III, M.2. Instructions for the Preparation and Submission of Proposals, M.2.3 and M.2.8

Answer 21: Reference Solicitation Amendment 0001, FAR 52.212-1, M.2.8.1.1 in Solicitation.