Q&A_W9124D-18-T-0004_Blue_Tooth_Speakers.pdf

W9124D-18-T-0004 Portable Bluetooth Speakers

Questions/Answers

1. Am I authorized to submit two bids for this solicitation?

ANSWER: No

2. Does the product have to be manufactured in the US?

ANSWER: The product does not have to be manufactured in the US (refer to amendment 3 to the solicitation). The Buy American Act and applicable FAR sections, including exceptions, will apply. Complete all of the applicable provisions/clauses in the solicitation to include 252.225-7000 BUY AMERICAN--BALANCE OF PAYMENTS PROGRAM CERTIFICATE--BASIC (NOV 2014). You are to identify any foreign made products as required by the provisions/clauses.

3. What size of a speaker are you looking for?

ANSWER: Equal in style to www.branders.com item # 260608.

4. What wattage do you want?

ANSWER: Equal in style to www.branders.com item # 260608.

5. Do they need to be water proof?

6. Do you need a caring case?

7. What is the intended use?

ANSWER: Portable speaker

8. Do they need to be mountable?

9. Can the government offer Net 10 terms for this solicitation?

ANSWER: The standard terms are NET 30

10. Delivery schedule – will an Offer/Quote response be rejected if the delivery timeline does not meet the 60 day (40%) / 90 day (30%) 120 day (30%) requirement specified in the Solicitation? Or will an offer/quote be considered with a longer proposed timeline for delivery?

ANSWER: All offer/quotes must be responsive to the terms in the solicitation.

11. What is the estimated timeframe of contract award notification?

ANSWER: Do not have an estimated timeframe at this moment.

12. W9124D-18-T-0004 NAICS: 334 -- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing/334310 -- Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing.

Would that make a difference? It seems to me that is listed under computer and electronic products.

ANSWER: The most appropriate NAICS codes were selected for each solicitation.

13. What happens if there is no legitimate small business manufacturer for this item that is able to manufacture the numbers being asked?

ANSWER: The Contracting Officer will follow the FAR, DFARS, applicable policy/guidance and seek legal counsel to determine the course of action.

14. If we import from TAA countries like the one I named, will we be disqualified? Or will you compare our prices with others presumably manufacturing in the US?

ANSWER: The Contracting Office will evaluate all quotes per regulatory guidance (see Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 25 and Defense Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) Part 225 in particular) and the solicitation including provisions and clauses listed therein.

15. Do you have set payment terms for this contract? Would 30% down at time of order and remaining balance due before shipment be acceptable?

ANSWER: Payments will be IAW the clauses within the solicitation. No, 30% down at time of order and remaining balance due before shipment is not allowable. Payment is made after delivery of acceptable items.

16. What size of a speaker are you looking for? What wattage do you want? Do they need to be water proof? Do you need a caring case? What is the intended use? Do they need to be mountable?

ANSWER: Refer to TECHNICAL EXHIBIT 1, SPECIFICATIONS: Bluetooth Speakers, Black, Description: Portable Bluetooth speaker, black in color. Speaker comes in a small black gift box with instructions. Equal in style to www.branders.com item # 260608.

17. Does the Buy American Act prohibit my company from supplying you with Bluetooth speakers that are made in China if the cost of the speakers is approximately 50% less than those manufactured in the U.S.?

ANSWER: You may submit a quote and complete the Buy American Certificate indicating the country of origin. The proper FAR, DFARS and additional policy/guidance will be followed to make the appropriate selection.

18. The RFQ states “POP 02-JAN-2018 TO 01-JAN-2019” and the same general description for each of the options years. I am not familiar with the term POP?

ANSWER: POP is Period of Performance. As indicted in the solicitation, delivery orders will be placed throughout the POP.

19. Please let me know if the requirement is that the product has to be manufactured In the US or does it just need to be manufactured in a TAA compliant country.

ANSWER: The product does not have to be manufactured in the US (refer to amendment 3 to the solicitation). The Buy American Act and applicable FAR sections, including exceptions, will apply. Complete all of the applicable provisions/clauses in the solicitation to include 252.225-7000 BUY AMERICAN--BALANCE OF PAYMENTS PROGRAM CERTIFICATE--BASIC (NOV 2014). You are to identify any foreign made products as required by the provisions/clauses.

20. The buy American Act states the below, will you accept this? Or do you want the entire part made in America?

ANSWER: Complete all of the applicable provisions/clauses in the solicitation to include 252.225-7000 BUY AMERICAN--BALANCE OF PAYMENTS PROGRAM CERTIFICATE--BASIC (NOV 2014). You are to identify any foreign made products as required by the provisions/clauses.

21. I have a question with the Buy-American act, the way i read the bill and my understandings is that i can provide you with foreign made products as long as i have the certificate and origin or Manufacturing is that correct? If not what is the proper procedure?

ANSWER: Complete all of the applicable provisions/clauses in the solicitation to include 252.225-7000 BUY AMERICAN-- BALANCE OF PAYMENTS PROGRAM CERTIFICATE--BASIC (NOV 2014). You are to identify any foreign made products as required by the provisions/clauses.

22. Can you please clarify your view regarding the Bluetooth speakers? Do you consider them to be “Commercial Off The Shelf” (COTS)?

ANSWER: Per FAR Part 2 a COTS item is defined below. This item will be customized (modified).

“Commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) item--”

(1) Means any item or supply (including construction material) that is—

(i) A commercial item (as defined in paragraph (1) of the definition in this section);

(ii) Sold in substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace; and

(iii) Offered to the Government, under a contract or subcontract at any tier, without modification, in the same form in which it is sold in the commercial marketplace; and

(2) Does not include bulk cargo, as defined in 46 U.S.C. 40102(4), such as agricultural products and petroleum products.

23. It (solicitation) states that this solicitation falls under the Made In America Act, is this in fact the case?

ANSWER: Yes. The Buy American Act applies.

24. Would you be able to sole source this opportunity? Also, can you please verify the “buy American Act”? Products manufactured in china and assembled in USA is eligible?

ANSWER: We are seeking small business competition for this action.

Complete all of the applicable provisions/clauses in the solicitation to include

252.225-7000 BUY AMERICAN--BALANCE OF PAYMENTS PROGRAM

CERTIFICATE--BASIC (NOV 2014). You are to identify any foreign made products as required by the provisions/clauses.

25. According to the buy American act this blue tooth speaker that you requested does not have to be manufactured in the USA if the item is not generally manufactured in the USA and the price would be prohibitive if it was manufactured in the USA. On page 3 the bid you state the following. “ This requirement is 100% small business set-aside, all items offered shall be manufactured in the United States by a small business” There is a conflict between the buy American act and what you have stated. We need clarification on this bid.

ANSWER: An amendment will be posted to clarify. The statement, " all items offered shall be manufactured in the United States by a small business" will be omitted.

26. Am I authorized to submit two bids for this solicitation?

27. You do state in the solicitation that you require portable power charges with the army logo but in the list of items you’re asking for Bluetooth speakers. Can you clarify this please?

ANSWER: That is a typo. I will amend that.

28. Regarding this solicitation, there is a minimum estimated for the first order?

It will be 1 PO or as needed basis? Also, can we provide multiple options?

ANSWER: Please review the solicitation carefully to include the specifications. This will be a Requirements Type Contract with delivery orders processed as needed. You may only provide a single quote.