HEC RFQ Questions_23 June 2025.docx

HEC RFQ Questions:

1. Can you send Attachment 2 Certificate in English?

Answer 1: This document has not been translated to English. In accordance with Legislative Decree 22/2023, it is only required for Italian companies who perform as the prime contractor.

2. Para 52.212-2 EVALUATION--COMMERCIAL ITEMS (OCT 2014), B. FACTORS TO BE EVALUATED, states: Factor 1: Technical has four subfactors. We see only 3 of them: SUBFACTOR 1: Quality Control, SUBFACTOR 2: Resources, SUBFACTOR 3: Personnel. Is there a fourth subfactor or is it a typo?

Answer 2: There are three (3) technical subfactors. Para 52.212-2 EVALUATION--COMMERCIAL ITEMS (OCT 2014), B. FACTORS TO BE EVALUATED is revised to correct the reference to four (4) subfactors.

3. Reference is made to PARA 4.2. Consumable Supplies of the PWS. What is the annual estimate of the restroom supplies?

Answer 3: See Attachment 4_ Consumable Supplies and Dispensers.

4. Among other laws and regulations, the Contractor shall comply with the social clause. The social clause stipulates that in the event of a change of contract, the incoming company is obliged to hire the staff (i.e., CSP and EH) of the outgoing company. This principle is aimed at protecting workers from losing their jobs due to the replacement of the Contractor. Therefore, in order to submit a technical and economical offer we need to know the following:

• number of employees currently employed

• current rank (livello) of each employees

• number of hours worked by each employee

Answer 4: This response does not address the applicability of Italian labor law requirements to an offeror. However, the government will provide incumbent information to the extent it has the information available:

Number of contractors currently performing under contract: Fifteen (15) total employees, including one (1) Executive Housekeeper.

Number of hours currently performed per month: an average of 1520 hours per month.

The government does not maintain rank information for contractor personnel. The applied employment contract is the Contratto Nazionale Imprese di Pulizia, Servizi Integrati/Multiservizi - Collective National Agreement for Employees of Cleaning Service Companies and Integrated Services/Multiservices.

The incumbent contractor is Name: COOPERATIVA LAVORATORI DEI SERVIZI SCRL (Doing Business As: CO.L.SER SERVIZI SCRL), maurizio.consoli@colser.com

5. Is there any available information regarding the incumbent contractor and associated historical pricing for Solicitation W9114F25QA037 (Custodial Services – U.S. Army Health Clinic, Vicenza)?

Answer 5: See Answer 4 for incumbent contractor information.

The expiring contract for HEC services is W9114F20D0007 with COLSER Società Cooperativa. The maximum contract value was $1,443,442.61 for a period of performance from September 30, 2020, to September 30, 2025.

The expiring contract for linen laundry services is W9114F21D0004 with Neproma Service SRL. The maximum contract value was $160,225.00 for a period of performance from November 1, 2021, to October 31, 2026.

6. 52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Products and Commercial Services. (Tailored). You read: Technical and past performance, when combined, are more important than price. We need to know “how more important they are”. I.e., if they are significantly more important than or approximately equal to

Answer 6:

52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Products and Commercial Services, Technical and Past Performance Factors are equally important. (added with this amendment) Technical and past performance, when combined, are significantly more important than price.

7. Are there significant differences between the PWS that the incumbent contractor is performing and the one incorporated in this RFQ?

Answer 7: There are three (3) notable differences between the expiring contract and the RFQ:

i. This PWS includes linen laundry services.

ii. Exhibit A adds performance in BLDG 2311.

iii. Periodic Cleaning, Floors (CLINs X001AG) have a quantity of one (1) each per 12 month performance period. The quantity on the expiring contract was two (2) each per 12 month performance period.

8. For what concerns FACTOR 1 - Technical Approach will you use the Tradeoff process or Lowest price technically acceptable source selection process (LPTA)?

Answer 8: The Government will use the tradeoff process for all factors.

52.212-2: The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers:

Technical, Past Performance, and Price Technical and Past Performance Factors are equally important. (added with this amendment) Technical and past performance, when combined, are significantly more important than price.

Addendum to 52.212-2 Evaluation – Commercial Items, “The Government will award a contract to the responsible Quoter whose quote conforming to the RFQ represents the best value to the Government, considering technical capability, past performance, and price. While price is a significant factor, the Government may award to a Quoter other than the lowest priced Quoter if their technical approach and past performance demonstrate it better meets the Government's needs.”

9. How can we provide a price for CLIN0006 (phase-in) in the Attachment 1-Pricing Sheet (the box says: Not Separately Priced)?

Answer 9: CLIN 0006 is pre-priced by the Government to meet the contract’s guaranteed minimum amount of $2,000.00.

The CLIN description is revised to: “Post Award Conference attendance (in person or by phone/online) and phase-in deliverables. Payment for this CLIN, in the amount of $2,000.00, shall satisfy the guaranteed minimum amount for this contract. In accordance with PWS 8.2., the Contractor shall provide deliverables 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 15 no later than 30 September 2025.”

10. Shall Contractor provide services on the US holidays listed in paragraph 1.4.5. of the PWS?

Answer 10: U.S. Federal Holidays are planned facility closures as defined in Paragraph 2.0.52., Planned Closure. The Contractor is not required to perform HEC and linen laundry services on U.S. Federal Holidays. Some of these dates will move due to the day of observance. In general, federal holidays falling on a Saturday are observed on the preceding Friday whereas holidays falling on a Sunday are observed on the following Monday. See revision to PWS paragraph 1.4.5.

11. Will the Government grant an opportunity to inspect the site where services are to be performed in order for the offerors to satisfy themselves regarding all general and local conditions that may affect the cost of contract performance?

Answer 11: See Amendment W9114F25QA037-0001 published on sam.gov on June 11, 2025.

12. Reading “52.212-2 EVALUATION--COMMERCIAL ITEMS (OCT 2014), B. FACTORS TO BE EVALUATED, Factor 2: Past Performance” it would appear that the Government considers as relevant only Past Performance (PP) for projects successfully completed for healthcare housekeeping services that must include also linen laundry services. We believe that linen laundry service does not require the same technical and interpersonal skills required for the HEC service such as knowledge of infection control, proper use of cleaning chemicals and equipment, adherence to safety protocols, effective communication, decision-making, and the ability to work with diverse healthcare professionals. After having said this, HEC projects that do not include linen laundry services will be then considered as not relevant? In other words, is this RFQ restricted only to companies that can present HEC projects that include linen laundry services?

Answer 12: No, the RFQ is not restricted only to companies that can present HEC projects that include linen laundry services.

13. We ask for explanations on the following, to understand which alternative we fall into:

(9) Women-owned business concern (other than small business concern). [Complete only if the offeror is a women-owned business concern and did not represent itself as a small business concern in paragraph (c)(1) of this provision.] The offeror represents that it is a women-owned business concern;

(10) Tie bid priority for labor surplus area concerns. If this is an invitation for bid, small business offerors may identify the labor surplus areas in which costs to be incurred on account of manufacturing or production (by offeror or first-tier subcontractors) amount to more than 50 percent of the contract price__________________;

Answer 13: The Government cannot advise Quoters on how to complete 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Products and Commercial Services.

Per Addendum to 52.212-1, Instructions to Quoters - Commercial Products and Commercial, System for Award Management (SAM): Quoters must be registered in SAM at the time of quote submission. Representations and Certifications at FAR 52.212-3 and other required provisions must be completed in SAM.

Quoters with an active SAM registration have completed Representations and Certifications at FAR 52.212-3.

14. We ask for instructions on how to fill in the following points

(k) Certificates regarding exemptions from the application of the Service Contract Labor Standards (Certification by the offeror as to its compliance with respect to the contract also constitutes its certification as to compliance by its subcontractor if it subcontracts out the exempt services.) [The contracting officer is to check a box to indicate if paragraph (k)(1) or (k)(2) applies.]

(1) The offeror does - does not certify that-

(i) The items of equipment to be serviced under this contract are used regularly for other than Governmental purposes and are sold or traded by the offeror (or subcontractor in the case of an exempt subcontract) in substantial quantities to the general public in the course of normal business operations;

(ii) The services will be furnished at prices which are, or are based on, established catalog or market prices (see FAR 22.1003-4(c)(2)(ii)) for the maintenance, calibration, or repair of such equipment; and

(iii) The compensation (wage and fringe benefits) plan for all service employees performing work under the contract will be the same as that used for these employees and equivalent employees servicing the same equipment of commercial customers.

(2) 22.1003-4(d)(1). The offeror does does not certify that-

(i) The services under the contract are offered and sold regularly to non-Governmental customers, and are provided by the offeror (or subcontractor in the case of an exempt subcontract) to the general public in substantial quantities in the course of normal business operations;

(ii) The contract services will be furnished at prices that are, or are based on, established catalog or market prices (see FAR 22.1003-4(d)(2)(iii));

(iii) Each service employee who will perform the services under the contract will spend only a small portion of his or her time (a monthly average of less than 20 percent of the available hours on an annualized basis, or less than 20 percent of available hours during the contract period if the contract period is less than a month) servicing the Government contract; and

(iv) The compensation (wage and fringe benefits) plan for all service employees performing work under the contract is the same as that used for these employees and equivalent employees servicing commercial customers.

Answer 14: See answer to question #13.

15. If paragraph (k)(1) or (k)(2) of this clause applies-

(i) If the offeror does not certify to the conditions in paragraph (k)(1) or (k)(2) and the Contracting Officer did not attach a Service Contract Labor Standards wage determination to the solicitation, the offeror shall notify the Contracting Officer as soon as possible; and

(ii) The Contracting Officer may not make an award to the offeror if the offeror fails to execute the certification in paragraph (k)(1) or (k)(2) of this clause or to contact the Contracting Officer as required in paragraph (k)(3)(i) of this clause.

Answer 15: See answer to question #13.

16. We kindly ask you to clarify the following:

(k) Certificates regarding exemptions from the application of the Service Contract Labor Standards (Certification by the offeror as to its compliance with respect to the contract also constitutes its certification as to compliance by its subcontractor if it subcontracts out the exempt services.) [The contracting officer is to check a box to indicate if paragraph (k)(1) or (k)(2) applies.] Answer 16: See answer to question #13.

17. Regarding the file “Solicitation - W9114F25QA037.pdf” (Addendum to 52. 212-1, Instructions for Bidders - Commercial Products and Commercial Services, SUBFACTOR 2, page 85), we ask you to confirm that by the phrase “The Quoter shall locate the following types of services and rooms/areas for MTF in Technical Exhibit A - Cleaning Requirement Report” you mean that the bidding company must provide Sample Work Schedules detailing the rooms and level of service.

Otherwise, please indicate how the Sample Work Schedules should be filled out.

Answer 17: Provide a sample work schedule that meets the standard described in Performance Work Statement Paragraph 5.1.6.1.

“In accordance with Part 8 of the PWS, Performance Reporting and Deliverables, Section 8.2, Contractor Deliverables, Deliverable No. 13, the Contractor shall provide a worker schedule by performance location and Service Level for the first 30-calendar days of performance and monthly thereafter, NLT the 25th of each month for the next month of service. The Contractor shall ensure that worker schedules clearly convey CSP coverage for all performance location Service Levels and areas (for example, buildings, rooms, areas), and identify the dedicated staff as required, shift duration and task to be completed, as well as any designated backup personnel for unplanned absences. work schedules shall include the date, time, and phasing of each task (to include start and end time) by room and building listed in Technical Exhibit A. The Quoter shall identify the commercial standard (e.g., International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) Cleaning Times) used by the Quoter in determining the start and end time (phasing) of each task.”

Per Item 13., Contractor Worker Schedule in Section 8.2., the schedule shall be the contractor’s format.

18. Price sheet: with reference to the price list file, the repetition of the service level 6 item is reported, and the absence of the service level 5 item, a correction of the model is requested.

Answer 18: This error is corrected on the revised copy of the Pricing Sheet attached to this amendment. Quote prices in file named “Attachment 1 - Pricing Sheet_18 June 2025.”

Interior common areas, lactation rooms/pods, building and parking structure elevator lobbies, ramps, loading docks, walkways, stairwells, elevators, lobbies, waiting rooms, entranceways, fitness centers, patient changing rooms, on-call rooms, and dining roomsin accordance with the Performance Work Statement and Exhibit A – Cleaning Requirement Report.

The Government may issue task orders with performance periods of less than 12 months. Unit prices on the base contract are applicable to all task orders regardless of PoP length.

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Interior common areas, lactation rooms/pods, building and parking structure elevator lobbies, ramps, loading docks, walkways, stairwells, elevators, lobbies, waiting rooms, entranceways, fitness centers, patient changing rooms, on-call rooms, and dining rooms in accordance with the Performance Work Statement and Exhibit A – Cleaning Requirement Report.

The Government may issue task orders with performance periods of less than 12 months. Unit prices on the base contract are applicable to all task orders regardless of PoP length.

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