W912DW20Q0045 - Industry Questions and Government Responses - Part 2.pdf

Industry Questions and Government Responses – Part 2

Industry Question 1.) PDF Page 29: Item E. Basis of Award. This section states that offerors must receive an acceptable rating for Key Personnel and Experience. However, Experience is not called out anywhere else as a scored criteria or submittal requirement. Can you please clarify and confirm the only required submittals are Key Personnel Resumes, Costs, and Reps/Certs?

Government Response 1.) Please refer to section 52.212-2, EVALUATION--

COMMERCIAL ITEMS (OCT 2014) as well as the Performance Work Statement (PWS) for additional details regarding Key Personnel and/or Experience. Please follow the guidance provided in the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation for submission requirements.

Industry Question 2.) Is there an assumed number of test pits the Corps can define that will allow all respondents to price the same scope? Is that number 350 shovel tests, as calculated by the 10 minimum test per acre for the 35 acre project area?

Government Response 2.) The minimum number of test pits is 350 of which 345 could be shovel tests and a minimum of five (5) should be geoarchaeological test units. Please see section 5.2.2 of the PWS where it states that geoarchaeological test units can be substituted for shovel tests.

Industry Question 3.) The geoarchaeological services ask for a variety of techniques that may be irrelevant in a cultural context, or unnecessary. Is it possible to further clarify the scope of services for geoarchaeology?

Government Response 3.) The geoarchaeaological study is intended to better understand depositional environment within the survey area. See subsequent responses for additional clarification.

Industry Question 4.) PSA, LOI, and EC/pH testing are appropriate for analyzing soil properties to determine conditions for planting, but this is a cultural resources study and we are archaeologists, not soil scientists sampling for estuarine restoration conditions. Is this required?

Combining the geoarchaeology with shovel probes that are already being excavated for the survey work presents a more streamlined and cost-effective approach.

Government Response 4.) These specific tests are not required; however, the Contractor should describe each statographic layer in detail and provide the Corps with a methodology for how they will provide these descriptions. Shovel tests cannot be used as a substitute for geoarchaeological test units; however, geoarchaeological test units can be used to replace shovel tests. See Government Response 2 for additional information. The

Corps does not have a defined size for the geoarchaeological test units; however, these units should be large enough to photograph soil profiles and understand stratigraphic layers.

Industry Question 5.) Can you clarify what a “stratified sample unit” is (Page 19, last bullet on

Geoarchaeology Survey)? Why only 5? What size are these units? What is particularly archaeological about these units? Couldn’t the same data be collected from shovel probes, perhaps in combination with deep auguring?

Government Response 5.) Stratified sample unit – divide the Area of Potential Effect(s) into different geographical regions and sample each. Five (5) units is considered enough for the small size of the project. See Government Response 4 in reference to size of units.

Understanding stratigraphy is one (1) of the key aspects of understanding formation processes in archaeological context. Shovel probes do not allow for accurate photography and profile maps which are required in the PWS.

Industry Question 6.) The subsurface stratigraphy may be more complex than a lithostratigraphic model can assess. Is there a reason for restricting the analysis solely to lithostratigraphy, instead of using a more generic term like “stratigraphy” that would allow for the contractor to apply the most appropriate analyses method based on local conditions (e.g., morphostratiphy, allostratigraphy, sequence stratigraphy, etc…).

Government Response 6.) A lithostratigraphic model is not required. The Contractor should use professional judgment when analyzing stratigraphic layers. The Contractor should explain the methodology being used and why.