RFP QA Set 2.pdf

Questions and Answers, Set #2

Solicitation No. W91238‐12‐R‐0023

Unrestricted Regional ERS IDIQ MATOC (Part of MEGA Strategy)

NOTE: The following questions and answers are for informational purposes only and are not to be considered an amendment to the solicitation. The questions are provided exactly as they were submitted to the Sacramento District, Contracting Division.

1. In Section 2.8.3 (Page 99), the font specified is Time New Roman, no less than 12 point; however, on Page 101, the font size specified is 10 – 12 point. Can you clarify?

Answer: Both are correct. The instructions for submission requirements under Volume I, Factor I, Subfactor 1 allow for a 10‐12 point font for the Summary of Previous Experience presented on an 11x17 sheet of paper.

2. Sample problem – How many groundwater monitoring wells would be installed and monitored during quarterly monitoring?

Answer: Per the sample problem, the Offeror should state all assumptions used in preparation of their cost proposal, including the number of wells to be installed and monitored given the scenario provided.

3. What is the likelihood of MEC being encountered during this contract?

Answer: It is unlikely MEC will be encountered.

4. In Section J, Attachment 4 (Resume template), the “Experience Gov Projects” field – do we provide number of years of experience or list federal/state/local clients?

Answer: In this field offerors are to provide the number of years experience with each federal/state/or local client as applicable. Refer to Section L, paragraph 3.3.2 for instructions for this subfactor.

5. Page 106, 3.2.2.11 – Regulatory Specialist ‐ The example qualifications are "CHMM, REM, etc". Can a PE registration qualify in the "etc." category for this position?

Answer: Yes.

6. Does USACE have specific requirements for the sampling of VOCs in soil (i.e. Encores or equivalent?)

Answer: The Offerors are free to propose whatever strategies they consider technically prudent. Per the sample problem, the Offeror should state all assumptions used in preparation of their cost proposal.

7. Can we assume that USACE allows for passive sampling? The RFP states that we can propose but it needs to be approved.

Answer: Per the sample problem, the Offeror should state all assumptions used in preparation of their cost proposal.

8. Will you please clarify the terms used interchangeably in the Sample Problem – do Completion Report &

Closure Report have the same meaning?

Answer: Yes, Completion Report and Closure report are the same.

9. May we use a smaller font for graphics, captions, tables, and other figures/exhibits as long as they are legible (9‐10pt Arial Narrow)?

Answer: No.

10. How many groundwater wells should be assumed for the cost estimate?

Answer: The Offerors are free to propose whatever strategies they consider technically prudent. Per the sample problem, the Offeror should state all assumptions used in preparation of their cost proposal.

11. What density of soil/debris should be assumed? Is 1.6 tons/bank cyd appropriate?

Answer: Per the sample problem, the Offeror should state all assumptions used in preparation of their cost proposal.

12. Would you consider allowing the use of 10 point Times New Roman for charts/tables, graphs, figures, diagrams, schematics, etc., as long as the main text and headings are 12 point?

13. Should the percent of Total Small Business Participation goal of 25% be expressed in terms of “Contract Value” or “Subcontract Value”?

Answer: The percentage for Small Business Participation goals is expressed in terms of Contract Value.

14. The responses provided in answers 15 and 17 contradict each other. Is the Sample Project limited to 5 or

6 pages?

Answer: The proposal for the Sample Project/Problem is limited to six (6) pages.

15. Section L, Section 4.2, pg 115 – Paragraph 4.2.2 indicates the individual tasks associated with execution of the sample project should be broken out appropriately. The pricing schedule provided in Attachment

6 does not provide a breakout by task. Please clarify whether the offeror is allowed to modify

Attachment 6 to provide additional sheets for detailed costs by task.

Answer: Attachment 6 should not be modified but offeors may and are encouraged use additional sheets to provide a detailed breakout as appropriate.

16. Section L, 3.2.1 of the RFP Instructions defines a “project” for use in demonstrating examples of the offeror’s experience. To demonstrate the widest range of our ERS experience, we would like to use a single task order of an IDIQ contract with multiple sites at two DoD installations, 90% of which is at one installation. Will the use of this project be acceptable if we focus most of our experience narrative on the major work at one installation?

Answer: No. The project must be at or within a single installation.

17. If we don’t have a DCAA‐approved procurement system, will our team be disqualified from doing Cost Reimbursable work?

Answer: The solicitation states that Offerors that do not have a DCAA approved accounting system may otherwise receive award of a MATOC. However, they will not be eligible to propose on cost reimbursable task orders.

18. Will the lack of a DCAA‐approved procurement system cause our pricing proposal to be scored lower even for Firm Fixed Price work?

Answer: Business System Approval by DCAA is not a rated factor.

19. Page 116, 4.4 ‐ Can the JV substitute the ORCA registration for Schedule K, or does USACE need both?

Answer: Refer to Section K, FAR Clause 52.204‐8

20. Page 116, 4.5 ‐ Does the requirement to provide final overhead audited rates apply to our small business subcontractors?

Answer: Yes, if audited rates are available.

21. We recently asked our customers to fill out the same NAVFAC/USACE PPQ form that SPD has issued as Section J, Attachment 2 with Amendment 001. The statement at the end of the form reads “the contractor may collect and retain completed questionnaires from clients for submittal to the Government. After completion of this form, this form may be duplicated by the contractor. The Government reserves the right to verify any and all information.”

In consideration of these customers, may we resubmit a duplicated copy of this previously submitted PPQ form in lieu of the same form issued as Section J – Attachment 2.

Answer: Yes. Please refer to Amendment 0001 to the solicitation.

22. Amendment 01, Para. C., pg. 2 – Factor II, Subfactor 2 ‐ The Amendment states “Also include performance recognition documents received within the last three (3) years such as awards, award fee determinations, customer letters, and any other forms of performance recognition. Please clarify whether or not these items count toward page count.

Answer: Past Performance Questionnaires and related data are not included in the page count limit.

23. Section L, Section 2.8.3, pg. 99 – This section states that font size shall be Times New Roman, no less than 12 point. Please clarify whether this font size restriction also applies to figures, tables, charts, and diagrams.

Answer: The 12 point font restriction applies to figures, tables, charts, and diagrams.

24. Reference Section L, paragraph 2.8.2, Pages Counted ‐‐ We seek confirmation that our response to all elements of section L, paragraph 3.5 Volume I Factor IV ‐ Small Business Participation Plan are excluded from page count limitations, including our response to the specific requirement that:

The offeror shall provide a narrative to describe planned small business usage for this project. It should address your corporate approach and methodology for acquiring, soliciting and using small businesses in the performance of this contract.

Answer: If it is part of your Small Business Participation Plan, Volume I Factor IV, it is excluded from the page count limit.

25. The sample problem is ambiguous about what wells are to be monitored for the one year of quarterly groundwater monitoring. Are these wells to be installed in some of the 30 borings used to delineate the nature and extent of the burn pit or for the collection of the 30 grab groundwater samples, or are they assumed to be installed in separate boreholes during later installation activities? Are there required specifications for the quantity of wells, well depths, well diameters or other well construction specifications?

Answer: The Offerors are free to propose whatever strategies they consider technically prudent. Per the sample problem, the Offeror should state all assumptions used in preparation of their cost proposal.

26. Section C 3.3: We assume the requirement to identify accredited analytical laboratories is a task order requirement, not a requirement of this proposal. Is that assumption correct?

Answer: Yes. To be provided at the Task Order level.

27. Section L: May text located within a figure or table use a font smaller than 12 point, as long as it is legible?

28. Section L 4.2.1 and Section J Attachment 3 Sample Project SOW: Technical narrative page limit is 6 pages in Section L and 5 pages in Section J. Please clarify.

Answer: The narrative page limit is six (6) pages.

29. Section L and Section M Factor 3, Subfactor 2 Safety and Health Plan: Please verify that Offerors should provide a list of OSHA violations and reported in the last 3 years. Both 3 years and 5 years are stated in Section L and Section M criteria for this Subfactor.

Answer: Section L, paragraph 3.4.2 instructs offerors to provide a list of OSHA violations and reported accidents within the past five years. The three and five years stated in Section M pertain to the value the Government places on the reported number of accidents.

30. Section L Safety and Health Plan: Please verify that in addition to OSHA violations, the government would like Offerors to present information on only OSHA‐recoradable accidents and not an itemized list of any accident that has occurred in the past 3 years.

Answer: Section L, paragraph 3.4.2 instructs offerors to provide a list of OSHA violations and reported accidents within the past five years.

31. Proposal Preparation Instructions: Please verify that 1/2‐inch margins are acceptable and that all information shall be contained within an image area of 10.5" x 16.5".

Answer: Refer to Section L – Paragraph 2.8.3 ‐ Page Size for instructions.

32. Section L, Factor 1, Subfactor 1 Previous Experience: Please consider allowing Offerors to present information on mulitple TOs in a single project description where the work began with one TO at a single installation and continued over time with additionally awarded TOs.

Answer: An IDIQ type contract or the performance of work pursuant to multiple task orders of an IDIQ type contract does not represent a “project” within this definition.

33. Per Q&A Item #16, should Large Businesses include this Subcontracting Plan within Volume I ‐ Factor IV after the Small Business Participation Plan OR under Volume II with a tab under Non‐Evaluation

Submissions?

Answer: Large business should submit Subcontracting Plans within Volume – Factor IV along with the

Small Business Participation Plan.

34. Per Section L, page 103, for definition of Project Manager(s), "Individuals proposed as Project Managers should report professional registration, in their respective field, where applicable or available"...Does this allow proposed Project Managers to be a degreed scientist with all of the other yearly requirements of experience in a related environmental field that does not have an applicable registration such as a PE or PG?

Answer: Yes. They can be a Project Manager without a professional registration.

35. Section L.3.2.1; Volume I, Subfactor 1; Second Paragraph; Page 101. Please confirm that work performed pursuant to a single site that, due to longevity or administrative needs (such as annual Task

Orders due to funding constraints), may have been performed across multiple task orders or contracts is considered a project.

Answer: This example does not meet the definition of a “project” as defined in paragraph 3.2.1

36. Reference: Section C.11 – Waste Disposal Requirements; Page 23 Requires contractor to “be responsible for certification of all manifests”. Is this the same as signing the manifest? Language is also in conflict with earlier language that says the gov’t will sign the manifests. This requires clarification.

Answer: An amendment will be issued to modify Section C, Paragraph 11‐ Waste Disposal Requirements, to reflect that the Contractor is responsible for preparation of the manifest and the Government will sign manifests.

37. Reference: Section B.6 Pricing; General‐For pricing purposes, please advise the anticipated award date to establish each of the ordering periods of the resulting Contract?

Answer: The anticipated award date is 30 September 2012.

38. Volume II, Tab 3 – Audit Information; Page 116‐ If the submitting offeror is an unpopulated Joint

Venture, please confirm the Federal Government Cognizant Audit Agency information should be submitted for each joint venture member?

Answer: Yes, Federal Government Cognizant Audit Agency Information shall be submitted for each member.

39. Section L, Volume II, Factor I, Subfactors I and II. In the second paragraph of 4.1.1 of Volume II, Factor I, Subfactor 1 it states: “Offerors shall submit spreadsheets that are Excel‐compatible, are not flat files, containing all formulas, no hidden columns, rows or spreadsheets and all links must be to files that are included on the CD and are not broken links.” In the second paragraph of 4.2.2 of Volume II, Factor I, Subfactor 2 it states: “The cost estimate should utilize an industry approved software package capable of providing sufficient information to adequately and accurately capture the projected project costs. The contractor shall provide the name of the Industry Standard estimating system used in development of the cost estimate.” For the purposes of compliance with the second paragraph of 4.2.2 of Volume II, Factor I, Subfactor 2, is an Excel workbook utilizing standard industry estimating practices considered an approved software package for meeting the specified criteria?

Answer: An excel workbook is not considered an approved estimating software package.

40. Section L 4.2.2 pg 115. The RFP requires that, for the sample problem pricing, any subcontractors must also complete a separate Section J Attachment 6. However, our subcontracts will all be FFP and for services with unit pricing, i.e., without a labor component. Our source selection will be made based on lowest, responsive, responsible bidder of multi‐source competitive solicitations. In addition, as part of our Supplier Diversity Program and in accordance with contract Subcontracting Plan Small Business goals, it is our intent to solicit small businesses; these firms typically do not have approved accounting systems and may be unable to comply. We request that Attachment 6 be eliminated as a requirement for subcontract costs. Bid backup for each subcontract will be provided, as required in 4.2.2.

Answer: Individual elements of cost of a subcontractor’s proposal are to be broken out using the format provided (Attachment 6).