Q A_8-18 _25_AUG_2015.pdf

Solicitation W9124A-15-R-0006

Mesquite Extraction Services

Question and Answer responses as of 1400 hours, 25 August 2015

Question 8: Please clarify that tracked equipment will be allowed to extract mesquites? (i.e.

tracked excavators)

Answer 8: Tracked equipment can be used to extract mesquites.

Question 9: At the pre-bid meeting it was discussed that rubber tired backhoes would not be recommended. Is that a suggestion or can rubber tired backhoes be utilized to help extract mesquite trees?

Answer 9: Performance Work Statement (PWS), paragraph 2, “Equipment to be used on this mesquite extraction contract will be consistent with that used in the forest and fuels management industry. Equipment should minimally compact and disturb the soils in the treated area.

Equipment expected to be used will pull the mesquite tree from the ground and not require digging or blading of the surface soils.” If your experience in the forest and fuels management industry shows that rubber tired backhoes can successfully perform on this PWS requirement, it should be included in your proposal.

Question 10: What are the requirements/criteria for getting personnel and equipment onto the base to complete the mesquite extraction?

Answer 10: A favorable background check is required for entry onto Fort Huachuca for all employees used on this contract and will be performed at the Van Deman Gate Visitor’s Center.

Among the factors which would not allow an employee to gain access to Fort Huachuca are:

current arrest warrant, barred from entry of federal installations, federal felony convictions, registered sex offenders, or conviction for felony firearms or explosives violations. This list is not all inclusive. For full details and list of disqualifications go to:

http://www.huachuca.army.mil and click on Gate Information tab on left side (in red), Equipment movement onto Fort Huachuca will be coordinated with Contracting Officer’s

Representative (COR) with the successful offeror after award.

Question 11: Will any site specific training be required by the contractor prior to the start of construction?

Answer 11: Training will be provided by the Government for Unexploded Ordnance Procedures

(a roughly one hour class). The COR and/or Technical Representative will walk the area with the contractor and point out archeological sites, cultural sites and known obstacles. Any safety http://www.huachuca.army.mil/ related equipment procedures will remain the responsibility of the contractor. Note also that this is not a construction contract, but a forestry and fuels management services contract (NAICS

155310).

Question 12: Should the contractor anticipate losing days due to military training that will occur at the job site? If so, how many days per week can be anticipated?

Answer 12: Military training will not be the issue for the base year, but testing schedules will be.

Plan on one weekday per week, with at least one week’s notice. Option years will have the mesquite extraction areas closed to military training and testing.

Question 13: Should the wage decision given in the RFP be used in pricing the option year’s mesquite extraction?

Answer 13: Yes, the Department of Labor Wage Determination (DOLWD) should be used for pricing the option years. Equitable adjustments for labor only will be completed in accordance with FAR clause 52.222-43.

Question 14: What date should the successful contractor anticipate the award notification?

Answer 14: On or about September 18th, 2015.

Question 15: If the contract is awarded after September 21, 2015 will the end date of the contract adjust accordingly?

Answer 15: The end date will not be modified due to environmental, financial and fire concerns.

See Pre-Proposal Conference/Site Visit Powerpoint slides for additional information. Based on previous experience with a forestry and fuels management industry service provider, it is anticipated that the work effort from start to finish will not exceed two months of the four month period allotted in the contract.

Question 16: Please clarify Milestone 4—provide GIS shape files compatible with ENRD GIS system requirements.

Answer 16: The contractor will be required to track their progress with GPS and report acreage completed. The contractor will need to create shape files or release their GPS data which must be DNR Garmin compatible for uploading track files onto ENRD GIS system by the Fort

Huachuca Forester. This data will also determine acreage to be invoiced in the Wide Area

Workflow (WAWF) payment system.

Question 17: In “Instructions to Offerors,” item B.3, page 25, the solicitation states that contractors must submit proposals and any revision s or modifications “so as to reach the

Government office designated below or e-mail addresses listed in paragraph B.1 above by

September 3, 2015, 2:00 p.m. Arizona Time.” This would seem to indicate that e-mail submittal of the technical proposal, past performance, and price is acceptable. In item B.4.1, however, instructions ask for the offeror to submit one original and copy of the proposal with a CD. If we send our proposal via e-mail, would we then not need to submit the hard copies and CD? Please clarify.

Answer 17: E-mail submittal with attachments is acceptable and preferred. For those offerors encountering problems with data transfer, the other options are the one original and one copy of the proposal (delivered by 3 SEP 2015 at 2:00 p.m. Arizona Time) or CD in the formats detailed in the clause 52.212-1 Addenda (also delivered by 3 SEP 2015 at 2:00 p.m. Arizona Time). No preference will be given by one format over the other.

Question 18: SF 30 – Conformed Solicitation Contract Form, SF 1449 (Cover Page), Solicitation item 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications--Commercial Items (MAR 2015), and

Solicitation item 52.219-1 Small Business Program Representations (OCT 2014).

Should the completed SF 30, SF 1449, and commercial and small business representations and certifications be provided in the Price and Solicitation/Contract Document section?

Answer 18: ALL offerors should register and complete the Representations and Certifications

(Reps and Certs) portion of the System for Award Management (SAM) or include the applicable sections of the solicitation with their proposal.

End of questions submitted by the solicitation stated deadline of 2:00 p.m., August 25, 2015.

Nothing follows………………………………………………………………………………..