W9124G-20-R-0003 Grounds Questons Part 1.docx

Questions for Solicitation W9124G-20-R-0003 Grounds Part 1

1. Does this pertain to all deck sizes and eliminate the use of rear discharge decks that are normally found on larger deck sizes such as Pull behind finish mowers or any mower over 72" cut. (Annex F 2.8.1 States that all mowers cutting Improved Areas (Cantonment A, B, and C) are required to have Mulching Blades and the discharge Chute blocked off.)

ANSWER 1

Section to be revised to read:

2.8.1 All rotary mowers used within High Visibility Areas (Improved grounds) on main cantonment area with multiple facilities / buildings in close proximity to each other shall be equipped with mulching blades and have discharges blocked. Appropriate equipment shall be used for road shoulders and other large open areas where facilities / buildings are not in close proximity to each other.

2. Will the contractor be restricted to only work during these hours of operation? (Annex A 2.2.3.2 Hours of Operation are Regular Hours 0700-1600)

ANSWER 2

The contractor can request working hour adjustments / modifications on an as-needed bases for approval.

3. Roadside mowing: from our tour today we saw evidence of areas beyond the grassy turf having under canopy growth, weeds and brush having been cut recently. Does the government expect the new contractor to mow areas that have not been traditionally maintained?

ANSWER 3

Contractor shall meet ANNEX F, PWS Section 2.2.1 Mowing, bullet #2.

4. Power line mowing: Some of the roadside seems to be in conjunction with power transmission paths, Ozark Run from the gate and on Engineer Road and Dilly Branch Rd?

ANSWER 4

Do not understand this comment.

5. Lake Thollocco mowing looked like the present contractor is not mowing to the water line, evidenced by large bushes and small trees? Will the new contract require the lake areas and the Dam to be cut to the water edge or even out into the water from shore, if so how far? Is this what the special line items for bringing the mowing up to “New Standards” is about?

ANSWER 5

1. Contractor shall meet ANNEX F, PWS Section 2.5.2.2 Lake Tholocco Dam, first bullet.

2. There is NO “NEW STANDARDS “ CLIN: “Is this what the special line items for bringing the mowing up to “New Standards” is about? “

3. There is CLIN 0002 that is for a “One-Time Clearing of Perimeter Fence Line/Cable Barrier - Base Year Only. Contractor shall furnish all labor, tools, materials, equipment, transportation, supervision, and all other supplies and services to perform a "one time" cleaning of the perimeter fence in accordance with the terms and conditions of the attached PWS Section 2.5 and Section “J”.

6. Lake Thollocco cabins on West Bank and East Bank have a lot of Pine Trees as there are also on main post Cantonment. Is the Contractor required to police and remove any pine cones as well as limbs and debris? Is the contractor permitted to dispose of trash on post in trash dumpsters?

ANSWER 6

Pine cones – NO Tree limbs – See ANNEX F, PWS Section 2.2.8, bullet #1.

Trash – See ANNEX F, PWS Section 2.2.8, bullet 4.

7. RV Campsites Lake Thollocco: How close to the campers is contractor to mow and trim? The campers have their personal items, pipes, electric cords, Dish Satellites scattered about for as much as 50 feet. Will the contractor be responsible for damage?

ANSWER 7

MWR will be provided a copy of mowing schedule and they will advise “campers” to remove personal items from the area. If items are not removed when mowers are working, cut around items leaving a foot or two clearance between mower and any personal item

8. Perimeter fence was pointed out as we drove the visit today and Mr. Israel said he would send us photographs of the areas not accessible to day on the visit. This should be helpful.

ANSWER 8

See attached information provided

9. The fencing in the DPW areas we toured today, are they considered Perimeter Fence and if not where are they listed? Does J section include this fencing? And Cables on main post?

ANSWER 9

See attached information provided.

10. I noticed the employees mowing at the Daleville gate didn’t have on any vest or name of the company?

ANSWER 10

Any contractor bidding on THIS requirement shall meet all requirements in the solicitation.

11. The Buggy, RTV s I saw being used by the contractor does the driver need a state license to operate on Fort Rucker?

ANSWER 11

No

12. According to the service Contract Act we must honor the predecessor’s employee seniority for benefits and weeks of vacation in our bid proposal. Can you provide a list the numbers (no names) of these personnel by wage category and hire dates to make our bids accurate?

There is NO current incumbent Grounds Maintenance contractor.

12. Please provide the name of the incumbent and subcontractors?

There is NO current incumbent Grounds Maintenance contractor.***************

13. Please provide the dollar cost of the award for this work on Cantonment for each of the periods.

There is NO current incumbent Grounds Maintenance contractor.

14. Will a man-hour matrix template or sample be provided to bidders?

See attached information Provided

15. Who is the current contractor and what is the current annual contract price?

There is NO current incumbent Grounds Maintenance contractor.

16. What are, if any, the significant changes in scope or performance requirements between the current contract and this next period of performance?

ANSWER 16

Past contracts have no bearing on the requirements in this solicitation. Contractor is to meet all requirements as identified in this solicitation.

17. Reference: SF 1449 – Continuation Sheets, Should pricing be input into line items 0003, 1001, 2001, 3001, and 4001?

Yes

18. Fence Clearing Reference: CLIN 0002; RFP Attach 2, PWS Annex F, Para 2.5.2.1; RFP Attach 3, Section J, TE 3-77 Comment: Regarding the one-time clearing of Perimeter Fence Line/Cable Barrier, it was noted during the site visit that there are other overgrown areas of fence on post (e.g. DPW, Motor Pool, New School). Question: Will the Government consider a one-time clearing request for all fence line areas to encompass the work needed to get these areas back into compliance?

ANSWER 18

No

19. Fence Clearing - Reference: CLIN 0002 Comment: RFP Attach 3, Section J provides a total 15.1 miles of perimeter fencing. Question: What sections, if not all, and how many LF or miles of fence are designated for the one-time cleaning?

ANSWER 19

“One-Time Clearing of Perimeter Fence Line/Cable Barrier - Base Year Only. Contractor shall furnish all labor, tools, materials, equipment, transportation, supervision, and all other supplies and services to perform a "one time" cleaning of the perimeter fence in accordance with the terms and conditions of the attached PWS Section 2.5 and Section “J”.

20. Bagging Area - Reference: RFP Attach 3, Section J, TE 3-1 and TE 3-2 Comment: The Bagging Area “A” acreage at TE 3-1 and the Improved Grounds “A” acreage at TE 3-2 do not match. For example, the stated bagging acreage for Soldier On Field and the New Chapel is 13.8 while the TE 3-2 total is 10.3 acres; the stated bagging acreage for CDC and Chapel complex is 14.0 while the TE 3-2 states 10.1 acres. Question: Can you please clarify the total acreage for the bagging areas listed at TE 3-1?

ANSWER 20

21. Improved Grounds C – Edging - Reference: CLIN 0003AC and RFP Attach 3, Section J, TE 3-64 Comment/Question: The Improved Grounds C frequencies chart indicates edging is required yet there is no linear footage listed. What is the LF for Improved Grounds C edging?

ANSWER 21

22. Section L. Instructions - Reference: L6.2. (b), “The technical volume shall not exceed 40-pages (All documents).”

Comments: The ‘All documents’ implies the required Table of Contents and Glossary are included in the 40-page limit. Three key personnel resumes account for 6-pages. Within Subfactor 1, a listing of ‘ALL grounds maintenance equipment’ and within Subfactor 2, ‘all herbicide application equipment’ ... ‘regardless of how small or insignificant’ involves more than 12 pages of Excel spreadsheets. To add, the Alabama state pest control business license and applicator’s certification would be page-counters. In accounting for the required administrative documents and deliverables, there is little room to address Section M. subfactor evaluation bullets. Question: Can you please clarify the page-count and limitation; suggesting the narratives and graphics addressing the three subfactors are page-counters; the Table of Contents, Glossary, Cross-Reference/Compliance Matrix, Key Personnel Resumes, Licenses and Certificates, and detailed Equipment Lists, are non-page-counters?

ANSWER 22

Concur with omitting the TABLE OF CONTENTS, GLOSSARY, RESUMES, LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES in the page count.

23. Section M Evaluation Factors Reference: 2.A.(b) Subfactor 2: Labor, Bullet 1 (Page 3 of 9) Comment: The reference directs offerors to provide a: ‘Man-hour matrix following the format provided in RFP Attachment 6’. However, RFP Attachment 6 is the Past Performance Reference Sheet; we cannot find an example man-hour matrix format within the solicitation documents. Question: Can you please provide the man-hour matrix format you prefer and will be evaluating?

ANSWER 23

SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT

24. Attachment Numbering - Reference: RFP List of Attachments; Attachments 6-7-8 Comment: When opened, the files named Attachments 6-7-8 are titled Attachments 7-8-9. It appears there is a typo; either the file names are misnumbered, or the documents are mis-titled, and/or there’s a missing Attachment 6. Question: Can you please clarify?

ANSWER 24

It’s a typo

24. Section L Instructions - Reference: L.5 (b) Comment: The instructions reads as though only ‘Office’ documents are acceptable and pdf documents are by exception. The guidance to include pdf documents (e.g. SF-1449, letters, etc.) within a Microsoft word document, is not feasible/possible. Question: Please confirm the proposal Volumes I through III can and/or should be submitted as complete and intact pdf documents?

ANSWER 24

Yes

25. Section L Instructions - Reference: L.6.4 Volume IV - Factor 3 - Price Proposal, Para (a) Question: The solicitation SF-1449 Continuation Sheet is a pdf document; please confirm whether you would like a filled-in pdf in return, if you prefer an Excel spreadsheet, and/or if our detailing the CLINs and SUBCLINS in an Excel spreadsheet is acceptable/compliant?

ANSWER 25

Please return SF-1449

26. Section L Instructions - Reference: L5 versus L6.3. Comment: The L6.3 reference to Volume II as the Past Performance volume is an apparent typo and should be Volume III.

ANSWER 26

Yes

27. Quality Control Plan (QCP) - Reference: RFP Attach A. PWS Para 3.2, Page A-23; Section L. L6.2(f) Subfactor 3: QCP; and Section M. Para (c), Page 5 of 9. Comment: The PWS declares the QCP as a deliverable within 30-days of award while the Solicitation Sections L and M require significant detail, to include sample inspection form(s), etc. Our baseline QCP is 36-pages; the respective Volume II is limited to 40-pages. Question: Please confirm the QCP in its entirety is a post-award deliverable; and that the intent of the Volume II Subfactor 3 evaluation factor is to validate the offeror’s understanding of and experience with quality control - within a few pages of narrative?

ANSWER 27

An overview that succinctly covers all the salient points of the complete formal QCP is acceptable.

28. Technical, Subfactor 1: Equipment Plan - Reference: Section M; RFP Annex F, PWS 2.8.4 Comment: PWS 2.8.4 states the complete equipment listing is to include make, model, specifications and catalog cut sheets with the proposal. Suggest our providing the manufacturer make and model number in a tabular or excel spreadsheet fashion should be sufficient for your assessment, that including specification sheets and catalog cut sheets involve 100s of pages. Question: Please clarify the level detail you require for the equipment list and vehicle list? Can the specification sheets and catalog cut sheets be withheld until post-award?

ANSWER 28

Specification sheets and catalog cut sheets may be addressed with an addendum to the Technical Proposal and will not be count against the “page count”.

29. Herbicide Equipment List - Reference: Section M Subfactor 1: Equipment Plan vs. Subfactor 2: Management Plan. Comment: Subfactor 1 refers to all equipment and includes reference to PWS 2.3 [herbicide] equipment specifications while Subfactor 2 requests a list ‘of all equipment to be used to apply herbicides.’ . Question: May we present a single, consolidated equipment list under Subfactor 1 that includes the herbicide equipment requested under Subfactor 2?

ANSWER 29

I think you are referring to Section L6.2,(d) Subfactor 1 and (e) Subfactor 2. Concur with Subfactor 2 referencing location at Subfactor 1 for the required information.

30. Volume II Technical Proposal; Subfactor 2 Management Plan - Reference: Section M, ‘Company’ (Bullets 1 and 2; Page 4 of 9). Comment: The reference at Bullet 1 asks for a description of ‘similar’ technical experience within the last five years. Bullet 2 states: “The offeror shall provide the following information: Description of all previous contracts for these services, including the contract numbers, procuring agencies contracted with, scope, term, and number of employees for each (underlined emphasis added)’. This ‘all previous’ is beyond the ‘recency’ test of the Past Performance criteria and would involve dozens of past contracts and multiple pages of historical information. Suggest this information is already being and best presented in Volume III Past Performance and is not specific to the Management Plan topic, nor is it included in the subfactor assessments (Pages 4 and 5). Questions: Can you please clarify if ‘all previous contracts’ is also limited to the last five years? With respect for page-count, can this Company past-perforance (corporate experience) be cross-referenced to Volume III?

ANSWER 30

Yes

31. Under Subfactor 2 – Management Plan, it references a man-hour matrix as attachment 6. We are unable to locate this document within the bid package.

ANSWER 31

SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT

32. Attachment 8 – Past Performance Questionnaire. The cover sheet to support the questionnaire does not agree with the due date and email recipient noted in Section L (1.3 Communications).

ANSWER 32

Due 21 Sep 2020

33. In Vol. II, may the resumes, business and applicator licenses, and applicable certificates be included as an attachment to Vol. II and not counted in the 40-page limit?

ANSWER 33

Concur. Add as an addendum