FAQ.pdf

FAQ’S FROM SOLICITATION CONTRACT #W912HY26RA012

SITE Safety and Health Officer (SSHO)

1. In the past, there has been a requirement to have an SSHO on staff for this ground’s maintenance contract. Can you please clarify if that has been removed, since there is no mention of it in the new solicitation, or is there still an ongoing requirement for that individual to be provided?

The Solicitation has been extended and updated in the PWS which includes the requirement to have an SSHO on staff for this ground’s maintenance contract.

2. What are the credentials this individual will need to have to be qualified per this requirement, referred to the SSHO?

1.9.3. Grounds Supervisor. The Contractor Grounds Maintenance Supervisor shall be responsible for the performance of the work and primary technical and managerial interface between the Contractor, KO and the COR. The Contractor shall provide written designation of the Grounds Maintenance Supervisor to the KO and COR. The Grounds Maintenance Supervisor shall be responsible for coordinating all schedules, reports, maintain records, and quality control for grounds maintenance services and shall have full authority to act for the Contractor on all contract matters relating to daily operation of this contract. The Grounds Maintenance Supervisor shall also function as a Site Safety and Health Officer (SSHO) and be capable of providing ongoing training to employees on methods of accomplishing the work and quality requirements under this contract. The Grounds Maintenance Supervisor and alternates shall be fluent in English and able to communicate effectively with their staff, KO and COR.

1.12. Site Safety and Health Officer (SSHO). The Contractor shall employ a Minimum of one (1) competent person at the project site to function as the SSHO.

The SSHO shall report to a senior project or corporate official. The SSHO is required to have three (3) years or more of safety experience and meet the OSHA competent person requirements and shall be always on-site when work is being performed.

3. Was there a site visit for this project? There was no site visit for this project.

Deadline/Date

4. What is the deadline for questions?

The deadline for questions is Thursday, February 5th, at 2:00pm (CST).

Credentials

5. What are the credentials this individual will need to have to be qualified per this requirement?

• Must be qualified to do business with the Gov.

• Registered at Sam.gov

• Provide proposals as written in the SOW/PWS, to include past performance and relevant experience, and must respond to or before the closing date.

Past Performance

6. Please confirm that the past performance of a subcontractor who will perform a substantial portion of the work will be considered equal to that of prime contract experience. Since the FAR and SBA rules permit a subcontractor to perform up to 49% of the work, meaningful consideration of the subcontractor is fair and reasonable. See OMB Memorandum, July 10, 2014 “Making Better Use of Contractor Performance Information” (recommending agencies request “information about subcontractors and contractor team arrangements Request that prime contractors provide past performance information on subcontractors and contractor team arrangements.” “This will give the source selection official a complete view and better understanding of the prime contractor, subcontractors and contractor team arrangement’s performance capabilities.”); OFPP BEST PRACTICES for COLLECTING AND USING CURRENT AND PAST PERFORMANCE INFORMATION (Recommending CPARS list major subcontractors: “Listing these firms allows them to cite the contract for past performance purposes in proposals for future work either as prime contractors or as subcontractors or other partners. Source selection teams may review the assessment to determine the ratings given for the work for which these firms were responsible.”).

Government Response: Yes, the past performance of a subcontractor who will perform a substantial portion of the work is a critical consideration in government contract evaluations. Your understanding is correct. Both the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Small Business Administration (SBA) rules, along with guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), support the meaningful consideration of a subcontractor's past performance (see section 52.212-2 Evaluation – Commercial Products and Services in

PWS).

Please note: The solicitation only requires the past performance of the prime contractor. The Limitations on Subcontracting applies to this acquisition. Only 49% of the work can be done by a subcontractor.

7. Please confirm that relevant past performance examples may include work performed by a proposed major subcontractor as a prime contractor or major subcontractor. The experience and past performance gained by a subcontractor who is proposed for up to 49% of the work here and previously served as a prime or major subcontractor on a USACE project provide added value

Yes, your understanding is correct. Relevant past performance examples absolutely may, and in most cases should, include work performed by a proposed major subcontractor, whether they acted as a prime contractor or another major subcontractor on a previous project (see section 52.212-2 Evaluation – Commercial Products and Services in PWS).

Please note: The solicitation only requires the past performance of the prime contractor. The Limitations on Subcontracting applies to this acquisition. Only 50% of the work can be done by a subcontractor.