RFI's_and_Responses_W911S2-16-B-8001_Roofing_Requirements_Solicitation.pdf

ROOFING REQUIREMENTS CONTRACT REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION

1: Please clarify the warranty requirements for standing seam metal roofs and membrane roofs.

RESPONSE: Warranty requirements for standing seam metal roofs and membrane roofs are as follows:

a Warranty Letter from the Manufacturer of not anything less than a 30 year warranty for Standing Seam Metal Roofs, and for Membrane Roofs not anything less than a 20 year warranty on all material.

There will also be a 1 year Workmanship Warranty required at the end of each project (UFGS-07 61

14.00 20 May 2011).

2: Will submittal review and approvals be cumulative from the first task order so that future task orders will not require all new submittals for previously approved materials?

RESPONSE: As long as you stay with the same manufacturer and with the same material for each project, submittals will only need to be sent at the beginning of the task order. I will check the material periodically throughout the life of the contract.

3: The posted wage rate shows a roofers rate as well as a non-HVAC sheet metal rate. Is the awarded contractor required to pay the $5.24 per hour higher sheet metal rate for work on metal trims and metal roofs while paying at least the lower minimum rate for all other roof work?

RESPONSE: In the past, we have not seen a separation of labor classifications due to the type of roof material being used, therefore, the ROOFER classification would be acceptable for all metal roof work.

4: Please clarify the required design wind uplift for standing seam metal roofs and membrane roofs.

Who provides the design engineering, calculations and certifications to prove the wind uplift tolerances?

RESPONSE: This is the responsibility of the Prime Contractor and the Material Manufacturer.

5: Per the referenced UFGS, either a typewritten and interior mounted information card or an exterior mounted aluminum photo engraved plaque is required for closeout. Which will you require for each task order?

RESPONSE: A typewritten interior mounted information card will be good.

6: Per UFGS there is a minimum 22 gauge requirement for metal roof panels and metal trims for all roofs with design wind uplift of 3KPa 60 PSF or greater. How do we determine pricing in advance for roofs that will require this increased metal thickness over the standard 24 gauge metal roofs and trims?

RESPONSE: A minimum of 24 gauge panel is all that is required here on Fort Drum; this will need to withstand up to 120 mph winds here on Fort Drum.

7: Are all bidders required to hold and maintain manufacturer certifications for all roof types or can they hire subcontractors as needed who hold manufacturer certifications for each specific roof type?

RESPONSE: The contractor performing the work will need to hold the Certifications.

8: Predictive economic indicators for roofing materials costs through the next 5 years are at best, based on predictions for the GDP and as such would not accurately support the prediction of future pricing of roofing materials through the next five years. Will the contracting officer share with bidders whatever predictive indicators were used in their independent government estimate?

RESPONSE: No. IAW FAR 36.203, access to information concerning the Government estimate shall be limited to Government personnel whose official duties require knowledge of the estimate.

9: It’s our understanding that the performance of work requirement is ordinarily governed by FAR 52.219-27, which specifies that for specialty trade construction, "at least 25 percent of the cost of the contract performance incurred for personnel will be spent on the concern's employees or the employees of other service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns." However, this solicitation appears to have omitted this clause.

RESPONSE: Clause 52.219-27 has been added to the solicitation.

10. In paragraph 2 of the Instructions to Bidders, the solicitation refers to FAR 19.502-2, which is for Total Small Business Set-Asides, not SDVOSBs. The only limitation on subcontracting we saw in the solicitation was FAR 52.219-14, the standard limitation on subcontracting that applies to small business set-asides, not SDVOSB set-asides.

RESPONSE: Section 100 Paragraph 2 has been revised from FAR 19.502-2 to FAR 19.1405.

11. We see that FAR 52.236-1 has been incorporated into the solicitation, the clause that calls for the 50% mark. It’s our understanding that the use of this clause is governed by FAR 36.501, which states that the clause shouldn't be used in set-asides awarded under (among other authority) FAR 19.5 (Total Small Business) and FAR 19.14 (SDVOSB). Again, it’s our understanding that for these contracts limitations on subcontracting is to be governed by FAR 52.219-14 (for small business set-asides) or FAR 52.219-27 (for SDVOSB set-asides). In other words, this clause is supposed to be used only for unrestricted contracts for which there wouldn't otherwise be a subcontracting limit.

RESPONSE: FAR Clause 52.236-1 is removed from the solicitation. However, FAR 36.501 does not say that FAR clause 52.236-1 should not be used in set asides awarded under FAR 19.14, as stated above.

It states that its inclusion is not MANDATORY when a set aside is being contemplated under FAR

19.14. This does not preclude the Contracting Officer from including it. IAW FAR 36.501(a)(1) it states “to assure adequate interest in and supervision of all work involved in larger projects, the contractor SHALL be required to perform a significant part of the contract work with its own forces. The contract shall express this requirement in terms of a percentage that reflects the minimum amount of work the contractor must perform with its own forces. This percentage is as high as the Contracting Officer considers appropriate for the project, consistent with customary or necessary specialty contracting and the complexity and magnitude of the work.” Furthermore, when listing NAICS 238160, Roofing Contractors, on its System of Award Management (SAM) record, a contractor is self-certifying that it has ALL of the necessary resources (including labor) to perform work under NAICS 238160, Roofing Contractors.

12. Based on the above statements, does it not warrant the removal of FAR 52.219-14 and the insertion of FAR 52.219-27? And if so, can the contracting officer re-state the minimum self-performance requirement for this solicitation?

RESPONSE: FAR 52.219-14 shall remain, and FAR 52.219-27 has been included. The minimum self-performance requirement shall be in accordance with 52.219-14(c)(4) Construction by special trade contractors which states that “the concern will perform at least 25% of the cost of the contract, not including the cost of materials, with its own employees”, and in accordance with 52.219-27(d)(4) that states “Construction by special trade contractors, at least 25 percent of the cost of the contract performance incurred for personnel will be spent on the concern's employees or the employees of other service-disabled veteran-owned small business concerns.” I would like to emphasize the words “at least 25%” in both of these clauses. These clauses do NOT preclude a Contracting Officer from increasing this percentage in FAR Clause 52.236-1 if it’s determined necessary to assure adequate interest in and supervision of all work involved in larger projects as stated in FAR 36.501(a)(1).

However, 52.236-1 is removed from the solicitation, and the self-performance requirement will remain at a MINIMUM of 25% of the contract amount (Davis Bacon labor).

13. Detail “Metal Roofing Details” on drawing Roof Details shows “New 2x4 pressure treated top wood nailer purlins…”. We feel the top layer of wood nailers needs to be standard 2x4 wood nailers. This is due to the corrosive effect the treatment in the pressure treated lumber has on metal surfaces. Do you concur?

RESPONSE: We concur; it is preferred to use the Standard 2x4 wood purling for the top layer due to the corrosive effect of the treatment in pressure treated lumber. The “Metal Roofing Details” on drawing Roof Details (Attachment 8 – PWE Drawing Sheet) has been amended.

14. When does the bid guarantee get released? Immediately afterward or does it span the life of the 5 year contract?

RESPONSE: The bid guarantee must remain in full force and effect for 120 calendar days from bid opening. Box 13D of the solicitation states that offers providing less than 120 calendar days for Government acceptance after the date offers are due will not be considered and will be rejected. The bid guarantee can be released once the contractual documents are fully executed.

15. Are each of the yearly terms automatically continued or does there need to be mutual acceptance between the contractor and the Government? In other words, can either party “walk away” after the individual yearly term has been completed?

RESPONSE: This contract is NOT an option type contract, so the terms “annual” or “yearly” do not apply. This contract will remain in force for a total of 60 months UNLESS the Government terminates it for default (IAW FAR 52.249-10), or for the convenience of the Government (IAW FAR 52.249-2 ALT I).

The contractor does not have the right to terminate its contract with the Government. Furthermore, this is a requirements type contract, and IAW FAR 52.216-21, “if the Government's requirements do not result in orders in the quantities described as "estimated" or "maximum" in the Schedule, that fact shall not constitute the basis for an equitable price adjustment.” There are no minimum guarantees on a requirements type contract.