Attachment 9 RFIs 2 Aug 2021 W911SG20R0042.pdf

Attachment 9

Answers to Questions Posted by Industry

Solicitation: Fort Bliss JOC W911SG20R0042

1. Construction material costs have increased significantly in recent times, and the construction material market continues to be volatile and unpredictable. It is anticipated that construction material costs will continue to increase into the foreseeable future; however, it is not possible to predict how much prices will increase by the time the task order is awarded, the design effort is complete, and construction commences. To protect both the Government and the Contractor, would the Government consider incorporating FAR 52.216‐4 Economic Price Adjustment‐Labor and Material or a substantially similar and suitable price adjustment clause in the FOPR and resulting task order to allow for an adjustment to the FFP in the event of significant and unpredictable material costs fluctuation during the term of the task order? Inclusion of this clause will protect and benefit the Government because the offered prices will not need to account for the elevated risk of unknown future material cost escalations.

Government Response: See Section 00100, Instructions to Offerors, Volume IV, Price, and related Attachments 5, 6, and 7. Because the awarded contract will utilize RSMeans as its Unit

Price Book and estimating tool, no annual adjustment to the contractor’s coefficients will be made. Therefore, offerors are cautioned to consider escalation of coefficient factors in proposing prices for all option year CLINs contained in this solicitation. Regulatory instruction at

AFARS 5117.9004(f) Pricing of option periods, to include consideration of any wage adjustments when Economic Price Adjustment is not used (see 5117.9004‐2(i)), must be covered by the contractor’s coefficient(s) proposed for those periods. AFARS 5117.9004(h) further explains, EPA will not be used for JOC contracts employing an annually updated catalog. JOC solicitations and contracts must use annual adjustments or annually updated catalog, but not both. The use of

RSMeans, updated annually, precludes the use of an Economic Price Adjustment Clause. The resulting contract will be firm fixed‐price, and thereby excludes consideration for any price adjustment clause at 52.216‐4.

2. The solicitation does not state how many projects are required to be cited in the Past

Performance Volume. Please provide the number of project citations preferred.

Government Response: Offerors should submit a minimum of three and no more than six projects to support experience in completing construction contracts focusing on scope and complexity of work described in the solicitation at Section 00100, Instructions to Offerors, Volume III, Past Performance, sub‐paragraph ii.

3. PPQs are currently difficult to obtain in a timely manner due to reduced government personnel during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Please state whether or not CPARs data for relevant projects may be submitted in lieu of PPQs.

Government Response: See Section 00100, Instructions to Offerors, Volume III, Past

Performance, sub‐paragraph (ii). The solicitation allows for past performance data to be considered for construction contracts successfully completed within six years of the date of the solicitation. The evaluation of Past Performance includes a review of CPARS data. Submission of

CPARS data by offerors is not an appropriate substitution for the past performance questionnaires (PPQ).

4. PPQs are currently difficult to obtain in a timely manner due to reduced government personnel during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Please state whether or not previously‐obtained PPQs may be submitted with the proposal in lieu of a direct PPQ submission specific to this acquisition.

Performance, sub‐paragraph vi, Past Performance Questionnaire, and Attachment 3 thereto. All

PPQs referenced in the offeror's proposal must be submitted directly to the Contracting Officer at the email links provided in this section. No previously obtained PPQs are to be submitted by offerors in response to this solicitation.

5. The solicitation does not define what makes a project relevant in terms of the "nature of work, size, and complexity to the services/products being procured under this solicitation." Please clarify what types of work (i.e. civil, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, medical facilities, labs, wells, etc.) are considered most relevant.

Performance, sub‐paragraph ii. Relevant efforts are defined as services/efforts that are the same as or similar to the effort (as compared to NAICS code 236220), including work on an active military installation, work in occupied buildings, and work with same/similar state and federal construction codes. Projects considered relevant may include JOC, SABER, or construction, repair, renovation, sustainment, restoration, and modernization contracts of at least $2,000 and a duration of no less than 60 days of performance. NAICS 236220 is described in the North American Industry Classification System as new work, additions, alterations, maintenance and repairs, to commercial and institutional buildings and related structures.

Offerors are encouraged to review the NAICS website for further detail relating to code 236220.

6. The solicitation does not define what makes a project relevant in terms of size. The requirement for past performance citations is a minimum contract value of $2M. However, the Notional Task

Order example projects are much lower than this range. Please clarify the price range which would be considered most relevant for a past performance citation.

Performance, sub‐paragraph ii. The solicitation has been amended to read: Projects considered relevant may include JOC, Simplified Acquisition Base Engineer Requirements (SABER) contracts, or Construction, Repair, Renovation, Sustainment, Restoration, and Modernization (SRM) contracts of at least $2,000 and a duration of no less than 60 days of performance.

7. The solicitation does not specify whether a past performance citation must be complete to be acceptable. Please specify at what point of completion the project must be in order to cite it as relevant past performance.

Government Response: Section 00100, Instructions to Offerors, Volume III, Past Performance, sub‐paragraph ii, states "The past performance data shall document a successful history of past contract performance", thereby excluding incomplete work.

8. The solicitation does not specify in what format a cross‐reference matrix must be supplied, nor is an attachment provided for this purpose. Please provide a format for the cross‐reference matrix requirement or remove this requirement from the RFP.

Government Response: Section 00100, Instructions to Offerors, Volume II, Technical

Acceptability, sub‐paragraph ii (1), Table of Contents, suggests a cross reference matrix be included “as applicable”. Each offeror should consider including a cross reference matrix within their Volume II if they determine it is needed to direct the evaluation team's attention to various sections in the proposal relevant to information and data submitted for consideration of technical acceptability. No specific format is stipulated.

9. The solicitation does not mention the need for a Site Safety and Health Officer onsite. Please confirm whether or not this position is necessary in the Staffing Plan.

Government Response: This amendment provides additional information relative to the provision of a Site Safety and Health Officer. See Section 00100, Instructions to Offerors, Volume

II, Technical Acceptability, Subfactor (b), Proposed Staffing.

10. Is the contractor responsible for providing e4clicks software and annual updates for government use? If so, how many licenses are required?

Government Response: No

11. Is the contractor responsible for providing annual RS Means Facilities Construction Cost data books for government use? If so, how many books are required?

12. Does the government anticipate awarding $20,000,000.00/annually for the base and option years? What is the annual dollar amount awarded for the previous JOC contract for the last 2 or

3 years?

Government Response: This amendment adds Attachment 8, Historical Workload, to Volume II, Technical Acceptability, incorporating a general range of magnitude, of construction work performed on Fort Bliss during Fiscal Years 19, 20 and 21 (to date).

13. With a requirement for a separate and distinct superintendent to be assigned to each awarded task order, do you have an anticipated number of task orders to be awarded annually for the base year and option years?

Government Response: See Section 00100, Instructions to Offerors, Volume II, Technical

Acceptability, Subfactor (b), Proposed Staffing, for updated Superintendent span of control.

This amendment adds Attachment 8, Historical Workload, to Volume II, Technical Acceptability, incorporating a general range of magnitude, of construction work performed on Fort Bliss during

Fiscal Years 19, 20 and 21 (to date).

14. With no other duties allowed for the Superintendent or the QC manager, is it acceptable to utilize the Project Manager as the SSHO, or will that require a separate individual?

15. The solicitation calls for the completion of PPQs, will the Government accept CPARS in lieu of

PPQs?

Government Response: The evaluation of Past Performance includes a review of CPARS data.

Submission of CPARS data by offerors is not an appropriate substitution for the past performance questionnaires (PPQ).

16. Can you please clarify the maximum number of similar/relevant projects we are to submit under the Past Performance Volume?

17. X is interested in bidding of the project Fort Bliss JOC IDQ W911SG20R0042. Where can we access plans and specifications for this project?

Government Response: The posting of the solicitation on the https:// sam.gov portal contains relevant attachments for overarching specifications and cut sheets related to various tasks.

Plans and drawings for individual task order requirements will be included in each project (or task order) request for proposal.

18. Can a copy of a Final CPARS be provided in the Past Performance volume in lieu of the customer completing and emailing a PPQ to the government points of contact?

Government Response: The evaluation of Past Performance includes a review of CPARS data.

Submission of CPARS data by offerors is not an appropriate substitution for the past performance questionnaires (PPQ).

19. Reference RFP Page 25, “Instructions ‐ Assist2Industry”, which states that the information regarding the designated two individuals must be submitted with the Offeror’s proposal and included in the cover letter. Should offerors include this cover letter in Volume I ‐ General?

Government Response: Yes

20. Reference RFP page 56 of 60: A bid guarantee is required in the amount of $3,000,000.00. In which proposal volume shall offerors include the bid guarantee?

Government Response: Section 00100, Instructions to Offerors, paragraph 3 ‐ Proposal Content, Volume I, General, has been amended to add sub‐paragraph (4) Bid Guarantee.

21. Reference RFP, Page 15 of 60. The page limitation for Volume II, Subfactor C ‐ Notional Task

Order Requirements does not seem adequate in order to demonstrate all areas of project control for all five notional task orders. Would the government consider removing this page limitation so that the bidder can show its capabilities in a more complete manner?

Government Response: This amendment incorporates a change to the Proposal Format instructions, at Table 2, Page Limits, allowing for the page limitation to be increased to a total of

75 pages for Volume II, Subfactor C.

22. RFP page 14, Proposal Format, requires a font size of 12 point. Would it be acceptable to use a font smaller than 12 point for charts and graphs such as the organizational flow chart (required as part of Subfactor B, Proposed Staffing) and CPM schedule? Would a 10‐point font be acceptable for text within such charts and graphs?

Government Response: Section 00100, Instructions to Offerors, paragraph 2, Proposal Format, text below Table 1, authorizes the use of a smaller font for company logos on stationary, graphics, photographs, and color coding of spreadsheets and calculations. The organizational flow chart required under Subfactor B, Proposed Staffing, can be developed in a smaller font so long as the text is clearly legible and complies with other restrictions and limitations discussed in this section of the solicitation.

23. e4Clicks print output is typically smaller than 12‐point font and cannot be changed. Would this be acceptable to the government?

Government Response: Yes. Software design criteria, display graphics, etc., embedded in e4Clicks, and not editable by the program’s users, is permissible to be provided in the size and style the software designer intended.

24. Does the government contemplate requiring CMMC certification in the near future as part of this contract? This has a substantial cost impact to the bidders which must be accounted for in calculation of a multi‐year coefficient.

Government Response: No, the government does not contemplate requiring CMMC certification.

25. Can a Superintendent supervise more than one project? Typically JOC contracts have several small projects of short duration or simple scope. It is not cost effective to have 10 separate

Superintendents for 10 different projects. This will only cause the overall coefficient to increase needlessly.

26. Would the government consider a separate Superintendent only for projects $500K and up? This situation warrants the need for dedicated attention.

27. Typically, a Superintendent has extensive safety training qualifying them to be dual hatted as a

Superintendent / SSHO. Would the government consider allowing the Superintendent to also be the SSHO?

28. For the Notional Task Orders (Subfactor C), does the government want an actual estimate, schedule, scope of work, or does the government want an explanation of how the bidder would go about approaching a task order?

Government Response: Section 00100, Instructions to Offerors, paragraph 3, Proposal Content, Volume II, Technical Acceptability, Subfactor (c), Notional Task Order Requirements, provides instruction to submit five task order proposals, supported by the offeror’s rationale for selection of line items, critical path milestones, etc., in order to be acceptable for evaluation and consideration for award. The section entitled Evaluation Factors for Award, Basis for Contract

Award, Evaluation Criteria, Factor 1, Subfactor (c) provides additional guidance regarding the submission and evaluation of notional task order proposals.

29. As a follow up to the question above regarding the Notional Task Orders, the page limitation of

50 pages for Subfactor C would lead the bidder to assume that the government is requiring just an explanation rather than the actual components of a task order proposal. Please advise.

Government Response: This amendment incorporates a change to the Proposal Format instructions, at Table 2, Page Limits, allowing for the page limitation to be increased to a total of

75 pages for Volume II, Subfactor C.

30. Solicitation, Page 16 of 60, b. Volume II, Subfactor (b) – Proposed Staffing. Question: If awarded, we will utilize existing personnel to mobilize and hire new personnel to service the contract. To fulfill the requirements of the proposal, can we discuss our staffing plan and staff member requirements; or do we need resumes of all key personnel, to include names., Government Response: The offerors have great flexibility in describing how they intend to satisfy the requirements in the Staffing Plan. The Government does not intend to pre‐approve individuals for these key positions, whether it is during mobilization or actual performance. The awardee will be required to provide validation that individuals selected to fill key positions meet the pre‐qualification requirements described in Subfactor (b) prior to commencing work under the contract.

31. Technical Exhibit A, page 16, 8.8.1.1 refers to contractor providing "All bound volumes, electronic databases, and software licenses shall be provided by the Contractor to the

Government, and will remain the property of the government." What exactly will the contractor need to supply the government?

Government Response: SECTION 01 10 00.30 44 JOC STATEMENT OF WORK Paragraph 8.8.1.1 was revised/deleted. Bound volumes, electronic databases, and software licenses are not required to be provided by the Contractor.

32. Please provide a list of the current/previous Job Order Contract general contractors and the volume of work performed by each.

Technical Acceptability, incorporating a general range of magnitude, of construction work performed on Fort Bliss during Fiscal Years 19, 20 and 21 (to date). General contractor identification is not provided.

33. Is the cost of the work to be conducted by R.G.E.C. to be considered in this proposal? Plans say poles by others but there are notes indicating giving pole installation guidance. Please advise.

Government Response: Assume that work being performed by R.G.E.C. is under separate contract. This is representative of the need to plan for and coordinate interaction with others to accomplish the task order objective. The work R.G.E.C. is doing is not part of the JOC contractor's responsibility for the notional task orders.

34. Is the cost of the work to be conducted by R.G.E.C., new transformer and primary to be considered in this proposal?

35. Sheet 3 of 6 C‐101 center sheet note “the contractor shall saw cut, remove and dispose of existing concrete slab as required for the placement of the new buildings spread footings.

Coordinate required number and location of spread footings as per the pre‐fab building manufacture”.

a. Question: Is the contractor going to be required to provide an engineered foundation plan for this building or are we considering the foundation design as stated in the drawings as sufficient?

The PEMB engineering will only include the building as its location will determine the foundation requirements

b. Question: If the contractor is to provide an engineered foundation does the government have any relevant soil analysis or boring logs from this area to base the foundation design off of?

Government Response: a. The foundation design in the drawings is sufficient. b. The contractor should not provide an engineered foundation plan.

36. The solicitation requires the contractor to conduct an asbestos survey and to abate any hazardous materials found.

a. Question: We can provide cost for the survey but, how are we to propose abating unknown hazardous materials? Does the government want to provide a specific quantity and type so that all bidders can be evaluated similarly?

Government Response: Assume that ACM is present in the joint compound only.

37. Is this a new JOC contract for this facility?

Government Response: Yes.

38. Is there an incumbent JOC contractor? If there is, who is it?

Government Response: No.

39. What is the current JOC contractor's coefficient?

Government Response: See response above.

40. In the past for this type of contract what were the maximum amount of task orders given all at once and what contract value was each task order?

Technical Acceptability, incorporating a general range of magnitude of construction work performed on Fort Bliss during Fiscal Years 19, 20 and 21 (to date).

41. How many jobs will be ongoing at the same time more or less?

Government Response: It will vary. The provision of funding fluctuates within the Department of the Army based on multiple factors and circumstances. It is not possible to project a definitive number of active task orders. This amendment adds Attachment 8, Historical Workload, to

Volume II, Technical Acceptability, incorporating a general range of magnitude of construction work performed on Fort Bliss during Fiscal Years 19, 20 and 21 (to date). General contractor identification is not provided.

42. For pricing does the government expect all pricing to be unitary? O can subcontracted work be shown as a lump sum? How will subcontractors show their general requirements and O&P?

Government Response: Task order pricing is to be provided in a detailed line item proposal with unit prices including the installing contractor’s overhead and profit. Subcontractor operating costs and profit are provided within RSMeans for this purpose. No separate subcontractor pricing shall be provided in task order proposals.

43. Number of past performance projects is not stated, will 1 suffice?

44. Section 01 31 19 states the following “The Contractor's requirement for plans, sketches, shop drawings, as‐builts, etc. or the Government provided plans, sketches, Tentative construction schedule. Does this mean the contract will have some job orders that will require design/shop drawings? If so does the design cost fall into the coefficient factor or will design/shop drawings costs be incorporated per job?

Government Response: Assume a majority of task order requirements involving structures and infrastructure involve the provision of shop drawings and updates to as‐built drawings provided by the Government. Costs associated with the preparation and provision of plans and drawings must be included in the offeror’s coefficient factors.

45. Per Section 1.6.1.1 “The Contractor Quality Control (QC) person cannot be the SSHO on this project, even though the QC has safety inspection responsibilities as part of the QC duties. The

SSHO shall be assigned no other duties. Can the contract be modified in order for the site super to serve as the SSHO as well?

46. Section 3.1 state “The project superintendent will be held responsible for the quality of work and is subject to removal by the Contracting Officer for non‐compliance with the quality requirements specified in the contract.” And section 3.4.1 states “The Contractor's CQC staff must maintain a presence at the site at all times during progress of the work and have complete authority and responsibility to take any action necessary to ensure contract compliance.” Can the superintendent be the onsite CQC?

Government Response: No, the superintendent cannot be the onsite CQC.

47. Section 3.4.2 states “This CQC System Manager must be on the site at all times during construction and be employed by the prime Contractor” if having several jobs does having 1 site office to serve all the jobs count as being on site all the time? Would the same apply for the

SSHO?

Government Response: As per Volume II, "There shall be only one QCM under the contract. An alternate QCM, meeting the same qualification standards stated herein, may be utilized during short absences of the QCM; however, an alternative QCM shall not perform in that capacity when the assigned QCM is present." For the SSHO, see Section 00100, Instructions to Offerors, Volume II, Technical Acceptability, Subfactor (b), Proposed Staffing.

48. 3.4.2 Administrative Field Offices See JOC Task Order for any requirements for Administrative

Field Offices and Site Facilities. Will there be a requirement to have administrative field offices/site office.

Government Response: Yes, there is a requirement for the Contractor to have an administrative office on Fort Bliss.

49. Dust control, fencing, environmental protection, porta potty’s, utilities, surveying, hazmat testing, environmental protection, trash containers, storage containers, temp storm water pollution control, are to be quoted per job or should this be included in the coefficient Factor?

Government Response: The proposed coefficient factors shall include all general operating costs typically associated with performance. Offerors should consider repetitive use items in the development of their coefficient factors, and provide any exceptions or assumptions applied in the rationale supporting the development of those factors.

50. Section 01.64.00.00 44 states “the Contractor will be required to load and transport the property to the job site at its own expense” for estimating purposes will the cost be included per task order or in the coefficient factor?

Government Response: Section 01.64.00.00 44 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY has been revised. If there is any Government furnished property in a task order, cost to load and transport the Government furnished property should be included in the contractor’s task order proposal.

51. NM has gross receipts tax.

Government Response: Acknowledged. CLINs for New Mexico have been added to the solicitation. The NM gross receipts taxes to be part of those coefficients.

52. Will the TX jobs be tax exempt?

Government Response: Texas jobs are sales tax exempt.

53. I have reviewed the solicitation document for any information on a Mandatory Pre‐Proposal

Conference or Site Visit and do not see that one was scheduled or held by your office. Could you please confirm?

Government Response: FAR Clause 52.236‐27 is included in the solicitation in full text. Sub‐ paragraph (b) states, “An organized site visit will not be conducted for this solicitation. For information purposes site visits may be scheduled at the task order level at the discretion of the

KO (contracting officer).”