Questions and Answers Solicitation W911SG22R0018.pdf

Questions & Answers Solicitation W911SG22R0018

1. 1.1, page 25 of 146 - Will the Government please specify how many containers are located in New Mexico?

Answer: Quantity fluctuates depending on exercises and training events. Technical Exhibit 13 includes the average number of pick-ups for the ranges, which are primarily in New Mexico.

Currently there are roughly 191 permanent 6 & 8 CY dumpsters, 118 temporary 6 & 8 CY dumpsters, and 3 30CY roll-offs in service at range locations in New Mexico

2. 2.2.4.1, page 27 of 146 - Normal hours of operations. Can the government change the normal hours of operations to 03:30 to 16:30? It is most efficient and safe to begin refuse pickups before the start of normal base working hours. The recommended change would allow drivers to operate with minimal vehicular and pedestrian traffic and minimize blocked containers. The early start time is common with refuse pickups on most installations.

Answer: IAW CLS 403 section 2.2.1, “Contractor shall coordinate with the COR/ACOR to develop a schedule that optimizes pickups and minimizes interference with Government operations and submit the schedule to the KO for approval”. Early start schedules will be approved in order to improve efficiency and minimize obstructions and traffic delays.

3. 2.2.4.1, page 27 of 146 - Will Saturday pickups be required? Typically, food service facilities require that their dumpsters be emptied at least once on the weekend. If this is the case, please change the days to Monday through Saturday.

Answer: Yes. Schedules will be approved to allow collection at facilities that require more frequent service (Food service, medical, health & safety related facilities).

4. 2.2.4.1 and 2.2.4.6, page 27 of 146 - Similar to the preceding question regarding food service facilities, will pickups be required on Federal Holidays? This is normally the case. If so, please change or remove the references that excludes Federal Holidays.

Answer: If necessary, schedules will be approved to allow required service on federal holidays.

5. 2.4.3.1 on page 29 of 146 - Can the Project Manager perform any of the quality control positions (QCM or QCI)?

Answer: Contractor employees can assist with QC, but a designated Quality Control Manager is required.

6. 2.4.3.2 on page 29 of 146 - Can the O&M Supervisor perform any of the quality control positions (QCM or QCI)?

Answer: Contractor employees can assist with QC, but a designated Quality Control Manager is required.

7. 2.4.3.3 & 2.4.3.4 on page 29 of 146 - Can the QCM and QCI have other roles/duties within the contract?

Answer: QCM is a required full-time position and the QCIs shall be able to sufficiently monitor compliance with contract requirements. Government will not direct how contractor employees are utilized.

8. 7.1.1.21 page 47 of 146 - Curbside Pickup. There is no CLIN for this service. Can the government remove this section? If not, please clarify as the wording also includes recyclables.

For environmental and safety reasons, the facility should dispose of the refuse at a MICA or request a temporary container if needed, rather than “placing next to curb, doorway or alley…” as stated in this paragraph.

Answer: Definition was provided for informational purposes only. Curb Side pick-up is not a contract requirement and is peformed by others on Fort Bliss (primarily associated with hazmat and grounds maintenance activities).

9. 7.1.1.87 page 51- GFEBS. Is this meant for this contract? If it is, please clarify what is expected of the contractor and how the system is accessed.

Answer: GFEBS is the accounting system used by the Army. Data input to GFEBS is primarily performed by DPW Service Order Desk (SOD) personnel. For this contract, GFEBS is used to track work assigned to the contractor, either by OWO (scheduled service), DMO (unscheduled service, i.e. full container), or PMO (Compactor preventive maintenance). When requested, contractor is required to report completion of assigned work to the SOD, but contractor is not required to use or input data into GFEBS.

10. 2.1 on page 63 of 146 - Regarding the 25 ft radius: If a refuse container is collocated near a recycle container, does the 25ft radius include picking up material that should go in the recycle container (i.e., cardboard, plastics, etc.). If a recycle container is overflowing, the recycling contractor should be tasked with picking up their respective material. Please clarify.

Answer: Recycle and refuse contracts include this same paragraph. Each contractor is responsible for their respective container/material. Recycle contractor has interest in maximizing recyclable material and refuse contractor has interest in increasing diversion to reduce landfill fees.

11. 2.4.3, page 64 of 146 - Regarding the statement that “The COR/ACOR will ensure all range and training area roads are accessible prior to collecting, disposing, or relocation containers.”

How timely will this information be provided (Day of? Previous day?...). Considering the lengthy distance, if the refuse truck is unable to service the containers after arriving to the range due to unusable road conditions, will the contractor be able to charge for the attempted service?

Answer: COR/ACOR is the contractor’s POC to determine if there are any range closures.

Range Operations also maintains a contact listing and sends out regular notifications of closures, and other range related information to those included on the list.

12. 2.4.3, page 64 of 146 - Considering the distance to the ranges, can the government add a CLIN to provide compensation for delivery and removal of containers from the main base?

Answer: Not necessary. The cost for servicing containers at range locations should include the average mileage and fuel required for the range locations. Additionally, accommodations can be made to stage some containers closer to the range locations to reduce travel time/distance from the main base.

13. 2.6.2, page 66 of 146 - If/Since we cannot bill for deliveries, will the Government please specify how many front load deliveries the contractor is required to make to the ranges annually and how many containers are required to be delivered annually? How many are required per trip?

Answer: Costs associated with Paragraph 2.6.2 Additional Services are usually included with the overall temporary pick-ups. The average Pick-ups are listed in Technical Exhibit 15. The quantity varies depending on unit training and operational schedules. It is the contractor responsibility to optimize pick-ups and determine the most efficient routes and frequency of service.

13(a). Can the Government please provide historical data of how many range deliveries contained numerous (more than 1 or 2) FEL containers?

Answer: Technical Exhibit 15 includes the average number of pick-ups for the ranges and main post. Historical data for number of containers per delivery is not available.

14. 2.6.2, page 66 of 146 - Since we cannot bill for deliveries, will the Government please specify how many RO deliveries the contractor is required to make to the ranges annually and how many containers are required to be delivered annually? Per trip?

Answer: The average Pick-ups are listed in Technical Exhibit 15. The quantity varies depending on unit training and operational schedules. It is the contractor responsibility to optimize pick-ups and determine the most efficient routes and frequency of service.

15. 2.6.2, page 66 of 146 - Will the Government please specify the average distance of each range delivery? What is the furthest point that the contractor is required to take a FEL or RO delivery?

Answer: The average Pick-ups are listed in Technical Exhibit 15. The quantity varies depending on unit training and operational schedules. It is the contractor responsibility to optimize pick-ups and determine the most efficient routes and frequency of service. Range 91 is the furthest location and is approximately 10 miles North of Orogrande and 3 miles east of HWY 54.

16. 2.7.4 page 67 of 146 – Regarding the example referencing “abandoned property generated from unit moves or barracks clean-ups.” Can the government remove this clause? There is no CLIN provided for the work required. It is understood that minor overflow within the 25ft radius is to be cleaned up, but for major events such as mentioned in this paragraph (i.e. Unit Move-out or Barracks Cleanup) it seems reasonable that the refuse requirement should be planned for in advance by the unit with the request for placement of temporary containers sufficient for disposal of the generated refuse. If not, then the unit should be responsible for proper disposal of the bulk refuse to one of the MICA’s.

Answer: Bulky and/or heavy items left outside the containers are not the contractor responsibility. Fort Bliss has personnel that assist with illegal dumping issues. If the responsible unit is known, they are contacted and directed to clean up and properly dispose of the trash. If the responsible unit in not know, a service order is generated for the Base Support contractor (PRIDE) to properly dispose of the trash.

17. 3.1 page 68 of 146 - In regard to the statement regarding that the contractor is responsible for “repair of fences and gates”, can the government add change the statement to read “repair of fences and gates due to damage caused by the contractor”.

Answer: Contractor is not required to perform repairs to the fence and gates, unless repairs are needed due to damage caused by the contractor. DPW Environmental performs monthly stormwater and POL inspections and any facility repair/maintenance items are handled with a service request to the Grounds or Facility Operations Support contractor(s).

18. MICAs: Is the contractor required to accept decommissioned military equipment and if so, is it the contractors responsibility to decide whether it is recycled, thrown away, or reused, or is it the responsibility of the government/military personnel who are disposing of the items?

Answer: The Qualified Recycling Program (QRP) and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) staff at Fort Bliss assist units with demilitarization and disposal of equipment. It is not the contractor responsibility to determine disposition.

19. If the answer is No and we are not required nor responsible for the decommissioned military equipment, will the Government please describe in great detail what the contractor is supposed to do with the items?

Answer: After QRP and/or DLA determine the disposition, if the items cannot be re-purposed or are not recyclable they are treated as refuse and disposed at the landfill.

20. 4.0, pgs. 69-70 - Can the Government please provide the Work Capability Levels table (CLS

– 403, Section 4.0) as a separate document. It is currently illegible.

Answer: Separate pricing for the different capability levels will not be utilized for determining contract price at this time and the table in section 4.0 is not applicable.

21. The SF 1449 states that the proposal is due 6/13 3:00 PM local time, however FAR 52.212-2 on page 83 states that the proposal is due 6/10 at 2:00 PM MST. Can the Government please clarify?

Answer: Proposals are due 13 June 2022 at 03:00 PM MST. Section has been corrected.

22. Can the Government please grant a week extension to the proposal due date?

Answer: The Government will not extend the proposal due date.

23. Page 84 of 146 - Staffing: The Government states. “Detail Contractors work history for key personnel” Is the Government looking for names on individuals and their full resumes to be submitted with the proposal?

Answer: Provide names of key personnel with work history (job title, place of employment, dates of employment). Resume can be provided but is not required.

24. Can the Government please explain what is meant by “Past performance will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably on past performance.” as stated in item (c)(i) on page 86 of 146.

Answer: Past performance will be evaluated, section has been amended.

25. 1.1.8.1 on page 133 of 146 states “…Offerors shall submit their proposals in Microsoft Office, i.e., Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel format.” Are Offerors permitted to submit Volume I: General & Contract Documentation in PDF format?

Answer: Yes, General & Contract Documentation may be submitted in PDF format.

26. 2.1.1 on page 134 of 146 states “The titles and contents of the volumes shall be in accordance with Table 2.1.1.” Should this reference be Table 3.1.1?

Answer: Table title has been corrected to Table 2.1.1.

27. Page 135 of 146 - Table 3.3.1 Volume II Page Limit column states: “Total 60 (Experience – 30 Pages; Management approach and Seed Project – 30 Pages). This does not correspond with the instructions and evaluation which sites 3 Subfactors: Equipment and Staffing Plan, Quality Control Plan, and Record Keeping, Data Collection, and Reports. Can the Government please clarify what the Experience, Management Approach and Seed Project are referring to?

Answer: Volume II Page Limit column has been corrected, Page limit is 60.

28. 5.1.4 on page 136 of 146 states “The Offeror shall ensure that Reps and Certs is submitted thoroughly completed with all blocks in each certification/representation completed truthfully and completely. System for Award Management (SAM) is an e-Government initiative that consolidates….” Does the Government want Offerors to complete and provide all fill-ins on pages 77 through 119, or does the Government want Offerors to provide their reps and certs downloaded from SAM?

Answer: Offerors can provide downloaded reps and certs from SAM.gov, or fill in pages 77 through 119.

29. Page 138 of 146 - Subfactor #1 Equipment States, …“Does the Contractor plan to just buy new ones, or will there be any cannibalizing or salvaging of containers to maintain containers needing minor repair?” Will the Government please clarify that the contractor does not provide any refuse containers on this contract and that they are all GFE?

Answer: Technical Exhibit 13 includes the government furnished refuse container inventory and condition. The contractor is not required to purchase new refuse containers.

30. Section 7.1.2 on page 140 of 146 states “The Offeror shall not go back any farther than six years for the submitted data.” However, Section 3.3 on page 144 of 146 states “To be recent, the effort must be ongoing or must have been performed during the past five (5) years from the date of issuance of this solicitation.” Can the Government please clarify if the past performance should be within 5 years or 6 years?

Answer: Within 5 years to be considered recent and data beyond 6 years is not needed

31. 8.1 on page 141 of 146 states “The Government will evaluate each Offeror’s total proposed price for ITEM NO 0001 through ITEM NO 2015 of Section SF 1449 Continuation Sheet to determine if the Offeror’s proposed prices are fair and reasonable…” Does the Government want Offeror’s to fill in ITEM NO 0001 through ITEM NO 2015 on pages 3 through 24 of the solicitation and provide it as part of the Price Volume?

Answer: Yes, offerors shall fill in line items NO 0001 through ITEM NO 2015.

32. 2.0.1 on page 143 of 146 - Quality Control Plan states “This subfactor evaluates the Offeror's Quality Control Plan (QCP), according to PWS paragraph 1.6.1, and 4.6. There is no paragraph 1.6.1 or 4.6. in the PWS. Can the Government please clarify the references?

Answer: Correct paragraph is in the Overarching PWS paragraph 3.2 – Quality Control Plan

(QCP)

33. Is TE 12 required for the awarded contractor to fill out or will the Government handle this?

Is this required since the MICAs are already established on Federal government property?

Answer: TE 12 is only required to be filled out by the successful offeror. Contractor is the applicant and the Government (USAG Fort Bliss) is the owner. After signatures, the contractor submits to the TCEQ address on the form.

34. TE 13 WBAMC 34 CY compactors. The state-of-the-art waste carrying pipeline for the hospital is very unique and expensive. The final destination for the waste is into the chute and the into the compactor, this area was built extremely tight and requires extreme attention to detail. In the past, it hasn’t worked successfully and is often down. It appears that there needs to be more done to safely remove the compactor long term. Drivers can do their very best, yet accidents will happen due to the extremely small margin of error to successfully remove the compactor and get it back in place. To what extent is the contractor responsible for repairs to this equipment due to the poor design of the chute/compactor removal area?

Answer: WBAMC Facility Engineer has been made aware and they are working to correct the issues. Contractor must exercise reasonable caution and is only liable if being negligent. Safety concerns can be formally submitted and may possibly expedite a resolution.

35. Are there average or total weights (yearly) for the material being taken to the landfill?

Answer: For the 12-month period from October 2019 through September 2020, 12,845 tons of waste was disposed at the El Paso (Clint) Landfill and Alamogordo Landfill. For the recent period from April 2021 through March 2022, a total of 11,270 tons was disposed at the El Paso and Alamogordo landfills. Average tonnage is roughly 12,000 tons per year.

36. Is there a rental fee billed to the Contractor for the Yard located inside Ft. Bliss?

Answer: No

37. We noticed dozens of tires at one of the MICA sites. Are those part of the refuse contract?

Answer: Recycling and/or QRP handle tires

38. Is the RFID system part of Ft. Bliss or will the potential new Contractor need to re-install the system?

Answer: Contractor is required to install/provide RFIDs on all containers that are compatible with the Fleet management System they use.

39. It's been our experience in similar contracts that the scales on the Front Loaders and/or Rolloff vehicles are difficult to maintain. Is this requirement an absolute necessity regarding accuracy?

Answer: Scales are required

40. There is a mention that Contractor personnel control the traffic at the MICA locations. How many MICA locations are there?

Answer: Two

41. The solicitation has no contract line items (CLINs) for either the Texas or New Mexico landfill fees. Is this an oversight? If not, how are these costs expected to be bid/funded?

Answer: The landfill cost should be factored into the container collection unit price

42. The solicitation has no contract line (CLIN) for "Phase-In". Is this an oversight or are the costs to be incorporated into pricing of the other CLINs?

Answer: There is no Phase-In CLIN. Successful offeror will be required to start performance at the start of the contract.

43. 2.5.4, page 66, Fleet Management System. Is the system required on Roll-off trucks? This requirement would add costs to the government with little information to be gained, as there is no way for the weight of the roll-off to be measured by the roll-off trucks. This is accomplished at the Landfill, which weighs each container.

Answer: Yes, the system is required on Roll-off trucks. The primary purpose of the Fleet Management System is for route verification. Landfill tickets are a required deliverable and shall include truck and container information.

44. 2.5.4, page 66. Fleet Management System. Please note that the previous solicitation (2017) provided the statement that "No RFID tags will be installed on roll offs or temporary dumpsters." (Amendment of Solicitation, Mod 0004, W911SG-17-R-0037, dated 28 July 2017). Is the current solicitation requirement to affix an RFID tag to the Roll-off containers?

Answer: Current requirement is for RFID tags on all containers to include roll-offs.