Consolidated Questions and Answers.pdf

Question / Clarification / Suggestion

Category Citation Comment / Question Government Reponse Vendor Response Government Response

Question 2 We would like to schedule another site visit next week to verify some measurements No issue with verifying the measurements. However, we cannot sponsor another visit to the installation, as the pre-proposal conference site visit was hosted on 2 March 2026.

Automatic Door Maintenance and Repair Services Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington

Solicitation No. W911S826RA010

Question 1

NOTE: The following question was received during the solicitation period.

To provide a comprehensive response, the Government needed to ask follow-up questions to the submitting party.

For the purpose of full transparency, the complete correspondence is provided below.

As a result of this detailed correspondence, the proposal submission deadline has been extended, and an additional Q&A period has been added. Please refer to the amended solicitation (SF30) for the new dates.

This full entry includes:

1. The original comment/question submitted.

2. The Government's clarifying questions.

3. The response received to the Government's questions.

4. The Government's final response and decision.

PWS Section 2.1.11.1.4

PWS pg 7, Section 2.1.11.1.4 states:

Qualification Standards. The Contractor shall inspect, repair, and maintain systems and components associated with facilities listed in real property records as required throughout this contract utilizing properly trained, skilled, and qualified employees or subcontractor personnel. Key personnel shall possess current and valid professional industry certification issued by American Association of Automatic Door Manufacturers (AAADM) and amount of experience repairing automatic doors within ten (10) business days before contract start to the KO for review and acceptance.

PWS pg 11, Section 2.5.4.2 states:

American Association of Automatic Door Manufacturers (AAADM) Inspector Certification. Contractor personnel shall possess current and valid professional industry certification issued by AAADM before starting work under this contract. The Contractor shall provide documentation of employee licensing and certification per PWS paragraph 2.5.4.1. The KO has the right to remove any employee, at any time, during the duration of the contract if an employee does not meet the level of competency or ability required under the contract. Repeated failure or delay by the Contractor to provide qualified personnel that meet the stated requirements by AAADM will be sufficient reason to terminate work under this contract in whole or in part by the KO.

PWS pg 21, Section 5.4.12 states:

American Association of Automatic Door Manufacturers (AAADM) Inspector Certification. Contractor personnel shall possess current and valid professional industry certification issued by AAADM before starting work under this contract. The Contractor shall be responsible to ensure that all federal, state, and county licensing and certification requirements are met and kept current. Employees must have a valid driver’s license and Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), as required, for the type and class of vehicles used in the performance of this contract. The Contractor shall provide documentation of employee licensing and certification upon request. The KO has the right to remove any employee, at any time, during the duration of the contract if an employee does not meet the level of competency or ability required under the contract. Repeated failure or delay by the Contractor to provide qualified personnel that meet the stated requirements by AAADM will be sufficient reason to terminate work under this contract in whole or in part by the KO.

We respectfully request reconsideration of the mandatory American Association of Automatic Door Manufacturers (AAADM) certification requirement as written in paragraphs 2.1.11.1.4, 2.5.4.2, and 5.4.12.

Under AAADM’s recently revised eligibility guidelines, businesses may no longer obtain or renew certification unless they are automatic door manufacturers or derive 51% or more of their revenue from automatic door services. As a diversified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business performing multiple building systems contracts, XXXX does not meet that revenue threshold. As a result, our prior certification has expired, and despite multiple attempts to obtain updated credentials, we are no longer eligible under AAADM’s new business model requirements.

Importantly, this change is not due to lack of experience, training, or capability. It is solely the result of a private trade association modifying its internal membership criteria.

As currently written, the PWS language effectively restricts competition to manufacturers or companies aligned with AAADM’s private membership structure. This unintentionally excludes otherwise qualified small businesses with extensive federal past performance and decades of direct automatic door experience. The result is a restriction based on private association policy rather than objective technical competency.

Additionally, the PWS requires contractor personnel to be certified or licensed in the specific areas required by the State of Washington. In Washington State, electrical work associated with automatic doors requires a valid Washington State electrical license. XXXX holds the required Washington State electrical licenses and ensures that all work is performed by properly licensed personnel in compliance with state law.

We respectfully request that the Government revise the qualification requirement to allow AAADM certification and/or clearly defined equivalent qualifications. For example:

“Technicians performing work under this contract shall possess current and valid AAADM certification and/or demonstrate a minimum of three (3) years of documented experience performing inspection, maintenance, and repair of automatic door systems in compliance with ANSI/BHMA A156.10 and applicable manufacturer standards. The Contractor company shall demonstrate relevant past performance performing automatic door maintenance and repair services on facilities of similar size, scope, and complexity. Where applicable, personnel shall possess a valid Washington State electrical license.”

This revision would maintain high technical and safety standards while ensuring that qualification is based on measurable experience, demonstrated competence, and relevant past performance rather than exclusive membership in a private trade association.

We respectfully request that the Government consider issuing an amendment to clarify that AAADM certification and/or equivalent documented experience and past performance will be accepted.

Thank you for your consideration. We are prepared to provide documentation of our prior certification history, technician experience, and relevant past performance if needed.

What is the current status of their AAADM certification and are they still valid?

Will they be able to obtain/update their AAADM certification in the future if awarded this contract?

Although AAADM certification is not government mandated, we highly recomend for AAADM certification for Liablity & Safety reasons. How will you address the liabilty-safety concerns if we make these revsions?

We are open to allowing the revison to the PWS pending the answers to the above questions.

1. AAADM Certification Status XXXX currently holds an AAADM certificate issued through an authorized training provider. The certificate provided to us does not identify a specific expiration date. Technicians who previously attended the AAADM training course successfully completed the required instruction and testing associated with that certification.

Currently, our concern relates primarily to the recent rule changes affecting the ability for companies such as ours to send additional technicians through the AAADM certification program in the future.

2. Future Certification Historically, XXXX technicians obtained AAADM certification by attending a training course sponsored by XXXX located in XXXX. At the conclusion of the training program, technicians would receive the AAADM certification after completing the course requirements.

Based on our understanding of the recent changes to AAADM eligibility requirements, technicians attending the same training program would continue to receive the identical technical training; however, the AAADM certificate itself may no longer be issued due to the updated association rules. In those cases, the technician would receive documentation from the training provider confirming completion of the same technical coursework.

Because the training curriculum itself remains unchanged, we believe documentation of completion from the training provider (such as XXXX) represents equivalent technical training and competency in automatic door inspection, maintenance, and repair.

3. Liability and Safety While AAADM certification has historically been referenced as an industry credential for automatic door inspection and repair, recent changes to AAADM eligibility requirements have significantly limited the ability for certain contractors to obtain or maintain certification.

These restrictions particularly affect companies that perform automatic door maintenance as part of broader federal facilities maintenance contracts rather than deriving the majority of their revenue solely from automatic door work.

As a result, qualified contractors may receive the same technical training but are no longer eligible to receive the AAADM certificate itself due to association membership requirements. This creates a situation where the training and technical competency remain the same, but the certificate is not issued.

Because of this, many agencies and commercial organizations recognize AAADM certification or equivalent training and experience as an acceptable means of demonstrating technician competency in automatic door maintenance and repair.

In Washington State, automatic door repair work performed outside of federal installations does not require AAADM certification. Instead, contractors typically rely on licensed electricians and commercially trained technicians when electrical components or controls are involved.

Additional methods commonly used to mitigate safety and liability concerns include:

• Following manufacturer installation, inspection, and repair procedures

• Utilizing licensed electricians for electrical components and controls when required

• Providing technician training through recognized training providers and manufacturers such as XXXX

• Maintaining internal quality control oversight and inspection of completed work

These measures ensure that automatic door systems are inspected, maintained, and repaired safely and in accordance with established industry practices, even in circumstances where AAADM certification itself is not obtainable due to association eligibility restrictions.

After further review and consideration regarding the AAADM eligibility guidelines. The Government will concur on a amendment and revise the PWS based on the State of Washington electrical requirements to clarify that an AAADM certification and/or State of Washington Electrical License with documented experience and past performance will be accepted.

Questions