Amendment_No._2_W911N2-16-R-0019.docx

W911N2-16-R-0019

SECTION SF 30 BLOCK 14 CONTINUATION PAGE

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

SECTION SF 30 - BLOCK 14 CONTINUATION PAGE

The following have been added by full text:

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Q1. Blaster Suits (225 each). If each blaster gets 7 coveralls each, how do you get 225 as a quantity? If 225 is a rounded off number, then is the unit price requested the cost of providing/maintaining 1 blast suit for a year – then multiplied times 225 for a total cost for the year? Either way, we assume 225 is not the number of employees, but the total number of blast suits required to outfit all of the blast suit personnel. Is that correct?

A1. 225 each is an estimated quantity.

Q2. Shirts and Pants (2100 – set). If there were 300 people, this would make sense. 300 sets x 7 sets each = 2100 sets. However, we haven’t seen any number other than 380, but aren’t sure what it represents, as discussed. If 2100 sets is the number rounded off or estimated sets needed to outfit these employees at the start of the contract, then is the unit price requested the cost of providing/maintaining 1 set of shirts and pants for a year – then multiplied times 2100 for a total cost for the year? Either way, 2100 sets is the estimated requirement to install at contracts inception, correct?

A2. 2100 each is an estimated quantity.

Q3. Bulk Coveralls (500 each). What does the number 500 represent?. Technical Exhibit 2 has 100. We assume you are requesting a unit price for cleaning 1 gov’t-owned coverall, and that you estimate cleaning 500 total coveralls in the year. Is that correct?

A3. 500 each is an estimated quantity.

Q4. Flame Resistant Coveralls (2100 each). Same question as in 0002 above, except FR coveralls instead of sets of shirts/pants. Again, if 2100 coveralls is the rounded off or estimated number of total coveralls needed to outfit these employees at the start of the contract, then is the unit price requested the cost of providing/maintaining 1 coverall for a year – then multiplied times 2100 for a total cost for the year? Either way, 2100 is the estimated requirement to be installed at the beginning of the contract term, correct?

A4. 2100 Each is an estimated quantity.

Q5. Due to the difficulty in locating multiple (more than 1) acceptable product choices, or multiple sources for the Berry compliant blast suit, has LEAD been able to find any source for this product that they can suggest to us, other than the unacceptable one already sent us by LEAD? Please provide, if you can, some more definitive guidance such as more detailed specifications (as mentioned, there are two very different blast suits available, with different material/fabric makeups, with two very different price points), where the Berry compliant suits that you must have found before including them in the bid might be found, or any other help by suggesting an acceptable brand or equivalent (the name of an acceptable brand or style would help make sure we are providing the correct product)?

A5. Answer – Paragraph 5.1.4 is hereby revised to read as follows:

5.1.4 MATERIAL RATING-Physical characteristics of fabric-must have a Flame Resistant Clothing (FRC) rating of (8.0) or higher. Thermal protective characteristics of the fabric must meet Hazard Category II (2).

Q6. Due to the issues presented, would you consider amending the solicitation to change the blast suit requirement from a rental garment provided by us, to a purchased, government-owned product maintained by the contractor?

A6. No Q7. The previous requirement for this activity included 2 other types of garments (other than the FR shirts, pants, and coveralls that appear in this new one as well as the only type of garments requested). According to the previous requirement/contract, there are certain employees who wear regular industrial, poly/cotton blended garments as well as another group who wear 100% cotton garments (these are in addition to those who wear flame-resistant garments). We don’t see any requirement in the solicitation for either 65/35 blend garments or 100% cotton garments. Have these uniform wearers now been included in those that must wear FR protective garments this time around, do these wearers no longer require uniforms at all, or have they been missed or left out of this requirement altogether?

Notwithstanding those issues addressed in earlier questions as to the Berry amendment garments, blast suit limitations, and FR custom-made shirts requirement, we remain unclear as to exactly the quantity of each item required, as there are inconsistencies about the number of items we are actually bidding to provide, and whether it meets your needs based on your description. Again, back in September, and based on the numbers provided then in your statement of work (see below copy of table [provided):

Shirts, Long Sleeve, Cotton 358 tops x 5 changes per wk x 52 wks Pants, Cotton 358 pants x 5 changes per wk x 52 wks Coveralls, Industrial Type - Cotton 358 coveralls x 5 changes per wk x 52 wks Our question then, was this: The requirement says – 358 tops x 5 changes per week, and 358 pants, and 358 coveralls- Does this mean 358 people who need 5 changes of shirts, pants, and coveralls each week? If so, since the quantity if 358, would people who get 5 changes of shirts and pants per week also get 5 changes of coveralls? This really seems like a mistake, since people generally would get shirts and pants OR coveralls, but if they had both, it would be just a one or two coveralls to wear as an adjunct to their uniform sets of shirts and pants.

So now, in the current posted solicitation, the number 380 appears instead of 358 (no big deal as we understand the numbers are estimates anyway). But our same question remains as to the accuracy of the numbers first, then trying to figure out exactly what price you are asking for. Is 380 the number of people estimated to require service, and if so, are there 380 people requiring sets of shirts and pants and also 380 people requiring coveralls (760 people) ? If they are the A7. There are 4 different job categories wearing the same uniforms which include welders, electricians, dip tank employees and blasterers. The decision was made to have one uniform to meet the needs of all.

Q8. Is the minimum arc rating stated as 8.4 intended, or is it ok to use shirts, pants, coveralls with a minimum arc rating of 8.0 as written in the standard?

A8. 8.0 Q9. The specification for the Flame resistant fabric’s thermal arc rating is stated as 8.4 or higher in 5.1.4. We are assuming this may be a typo, as the standard for Hazard Category Level 2 arc rating is between 8.0-24.9.ts.

A9. The rating should be 8.0.

Q10. PAGE 44, LINE ITEM 005- a question about the quantities of wash clothes. Are they 4180 wash clothes per week? Page 44 of 85.

A10. The number includes total washes by CLN: 5 towels each person/week X 836 personnel = 4180 washes.

Q11. PAGE 44, LINE ITEM 006- Same thing with the laundry bags, do you need 4180 laundry bags?

A11. The number includes total washes by CLN: 5 towels each person/week X 836 personnel = 4180 washes.

Q12. PAGE 44, LINE ITEM 008-Loss and Damage Claims, charges, replacement charges, repair charges. Would you rather have them on a per piece basis charges separately or bid and billed as a total package.

A13. We would like the contractor to submit their Damage Claims on the weekly billing Invoices for any losses, damage & replacements charges. Repairs and name tags charges should be included in the contract at no additional charge.

Technical Exhibit 3 has been corrected and will be an attachment to Amendment No. 3.

Berry Amendment Issue - The Berry Amendment is directed by DoD to procure US products and goods . The purpose is to maintain and support the security and vitality of the US Industrial base. The Berry Amendment applies to all purchases over the Simplified Acquisition Threshold. Contractors must disclose sources and follow the clauses in the requirement to ensure compliance. A DNAD – Domestic Non-Availability Determination is only appropriate when a domestic item cannot be acquired when needed with satisfactory quality and sufficient quantity. Extensive market research has been performed and there are garments that meet the Berry Amendment available with satisfactory quality and in sufficient quantity.

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