Government Responses to Industry RFIs (Solicitation W912LR26QA040).pdf

RFI# RFI Text Contracting Officer's Posted Response Response Date Clarification (C), Change to PWS or

Change in Solicitation

Reference

1 Past Performance of Proposed SubcontractorVolume 2 requires at least two relevant project references within the previous three years of similar size/megawatt capacity. May a contractor rely on a specialized subcontractor's past performance?

Yes. Quoters can use a subcontractor's corporate past performance to meet Volume 2 requirements. However, Volume 3 must clearly outline the subcontractor's technical duties, share of work, and responsibilities. The provided references must be directly applicable to the exact tasks the subcontractor will execute for this effort

(such as medium-voltage testing or thermal imaging).

11-Sep Clarification Reference Section L, 52.212-1 (Tailored)

Instructions

2 Key Personnel CertificationsVolume 3 requires verification of key personnel qualifications (NABCEP and thermographers).

Can these qualifications be satisfied by subcontractor personnel?

Key personnel requirements, such as Level I Thermographers and NABCEP-certified PV technicians, can be met using a subcontractor's staff. These individuals must be clearly named in Volume 3, along with a firm commitment that they will be used during the contract's execution.

11-Sep Clarification Reference Section L, 52.212-1 (Tailored)

Instructions

3 Medium-Voltage ExperienceThe PWS includes requirements involving 4.16 kV systems. Must this experience be demonstrated by key personnel, the technical team collectively, or the prime contractor?

Experience with medium-voltage systems is required both for individual team members and the team as a whole. Key staff who will conduct or oversee medium-voltage testing must possess valid, relevant certifications (like NETA or similar high-voltage training) and be listed in Volume 3. While corporate experience from the prime contractor is preferred, it can be supported by the combined qualifications of the proposed team.

11-Sep Clarification Reference Section L, 52.212-1 (Tailored)

Instructions

4 Independent Assessment / ESPC Non-InterferenceAre there any incumbent contractors or ESPC participants associated with Camp Santiago or Fort Allen that are considered ineligible due to OCI?

Yes. To maintain complete independence and prevent Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI) in accordance with FAR Subpart 9.5, any company currently acting as the prime ESCO, original installer, designer, or active

O&M provider for the ESPC solar systems at Fort Allen or Camp Santiago cannot receive this award.

Subcontractors conducting current maintenance are also typically barred, absent the submission and approval of a comprehensive OCI mitigation plan by the Contracting Officer. We will keep a list of active contractors to monitor systems and verify OCI compliance.

11-Sep Clarification

W912LR26QA040 Request for Quotes: Independent Condition Assessment of Solar PV Systems Non-Personal Services (ESPC)

Responses and Clarifications to Industry Questions

11 September 2026

5 Controlled As-Built DrawingsWhat is the procedure to obtain the controlled drawings, and is access required prior to submitting a conforming quote?

Procedure: Prospective prime contractors must request access to the controlled attachments (0002 and 0003) directly through the SAM.gov solicitation posting. Approval is contingent on the contractor agreeing to the binding Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and submitting a signed copy to the Contracting Officer, Carlos

Castro, if requested.

Requirement: While review of the as-built drawings is highly recommended to prepare an accurate and conforming technical approach (Volume 3), a quoter may submit a quotation based solely on the public solicitation and PWS. However, quoters remain fully responsible for meeting all diagnostic testing requirements and pricing their firm-fixed-price quote accordingly.

11-Sep Clarification SAM Notice

6 Pre-Quotation Site VisitWill the Government conduct or permit a pre-quotation site visit? If not, how should contractors develop their Firm-Fixed-Price quotes?

The Government does not anticipate hosting a formal, coordinated pre-quotation site visit for this simplified acquisition. Quoters must formulate their Firm-Fixed-Price quotations based on the details in the Performance

Work Statement (PWS), the solicitation terms, and the government-provided as-built drawings (Attachments

0002 and 0003) once authorized access is granted via SAM.gov.

11-Sep Clarification SAM Notice

7 Camp Santiago: The project includes approximately 42 poles of 4.16 kV overhead line running from the array to the existing substation. Is this line, along with the substation equipment at the point of common coupling, included in the assessment scope, or does the scope stop at the PV disconnect?

Yes, the 4.16 kV overhead line and the substation equipment at the point of common coupling are included in the assessment scope.

11-Sep Clarification Section C, PWS, TE 4, and

Drawings/Specifications

8 Fort Allen: The site has a 960-module carport canopy. Please confirm whether the elevated work associated with the canopy is included in the assessment scope.

Yes, the 960-module carport canopy at Fort Allen is fully within the assessment scope. The contractor is required to evaluate all components of this elevated system.

11-Sep Clarification Section C, PWS, TE 4, and

Drawings/Specifications

9 String-Level IV Curve Testing: Camp Santiago is wired in strings of 20 modules, resulting in approximately 558 strings.

Is 100% string testing expected at both sites, or would a statistically representative sample be acceptable, with full testing performed on strings that flag during thermography?

No, 100% string-level testing is not mandatory. A statistically representative sampling (minimum 15%) per section is acceptable (Example: Camp Santiago: PV System 1 (Inverter A), PV System 2 (Inverter B), PV

System 3 (Inverter C) and Fort Allen: Ground Mounted and Carport). However, any individual strings that flag anomalies during aerial/ground thermography must undergo full, targeted IV curve testing.

11-Sep Clarification Section C, PWS, Paragraph 5

10 The drawings provided appear to be design sets rather than record documents. Camp Santiago is marked “100% Design

Drawings” dated June 2015, and Fort Allen is marked

“Conceptual Design.” Are true as-built drawings, red-lines, or commissioning reports available?

The Government will provide all historical records, drawings, and files currently in its possession upon award.

The contractor must utilize the provided design sets as the baseline. No additional "as-built" or "red-line" sets are guaranteed to exist beyond what is provided in the solicitation.

11-Sep Clarification Section C, PWS, Paragraph 5

11 Will O&M records, warranty documents, and monitoring portal access with historical production data be provided? If so, how far back does the historical data go?

Yes. The Government will provide access to all available historical O&M logs if available. 11-Sep Clarification Section C, PWS, Paragraph 5

12 The Camp Santiago drawings show a battery bank yard adjacent to the switchgear, while Fort Allen shows none.

Please confirm whether batteries were actually installed at

Camp Santiago, whether they are still in service, and, if so, the manufacturer and battery chemistry.

Yes, a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) was installed at Camp Santiago and is included in the assessment scope.

Based on the official submittal documents, the specific details are as follows:

• Manufacturer: Johnson Controls, Inc. (JCI)

• System Model: 500kWh Distributed Energy Storage System (DESS) housed in a 20-foot NEMA 3R ISO container.

• Battery Chemistry: Lithium-Ion (Li-ion), specifically Nickel-Cobalt-Aluminum (NCA) cylindrical cells.

• Cell Model: Johnson Controls VL41M, 41Ah capacity.

• Total System Capacity: 510 kWh (Nameplate Energy Capacity).

• System Configuration: The system consists of 3,456 individual cells arranged into 8 battery strings.

The contractor's assessment must verify the current physical and operational condition of this specific BESS.

11-Sep Clarification Section C, PWS, Paragraph 5

13 What is the access and badging process for the Puerto Rico

National Guard installations? How long does it typically take, are escorts required during testing, and what are the permitted working hours?

Base access is subject to standard PRNG physical security protocols (NCIC-III background checks). For contract performance access, the contractor must submit a completed DD Form 369 (Police Record Check) along with a copy of a valid driver's license or passport to the COR. Once processed, the employee will be approved or denied base access. In the event of a denial, the employee will be barred from the base, and the contractor must provide a substitute employee if necessary. Permitted working hours are strictly 0730 to 1600, Monday through Friday. In the case of necessary work out of the establish hour, must be coordinated with the

COR at least five business days in advance. Field testing schedules must be coordinated with the COR at least

10 business days in advance, and escorts will be required.

11-Sep Clarification Section C, PWS, Paragraph 1.4

14 Insulation resistance testing and medium-voltage work require de-energized equipment. Can outages be scheduled for the assessment, and what duration would be realistic for each site?

Yes, necessary outages can be scheduled to support de-energized testing. The contractor must submit a formal utility outage request to the COR at least 10 business days in advance. Outages must be carefully planned to minimize disruption to base operations. The duration of any scheduled outage must not exceed three (3) hours, and the final approval will depend entirely on base operations scheduled for the proposed date.

11-Sep Clarification Section C, PWS, Paragraph 5

15 Please confirm whether there are any Davis-Bacon or prevailing wage requirements, required insurance limits, and whether bonding applies.

This contract is subject to Service Contract Labor Act for the area of SALINAS, PUERTO RICO (Service

Contract Act WD #: 2015-5703 Rev 30) and JUANA DIAZ, PUERTO RICO (Service Contract Act WD #:

2015-5713 Rev 31) when the contractor employs services using SCLS covered categories. Construction Wage

Determination (Davis Bacon) is for construction projects, since this is not a construction project, DBA does not apply.

11-Sep Clarification SF 1449, Clause 52.222-

41, full text available at https://www.acquisition.go v/far-overhaul

16 Does the final report require a Puerto Rico PE stamp? If so, is there a required report format from the end client?

No, the final report DOES NOT require a Puerto Rico Professional Engineer (PE) stamp . This requirement is strictly for an independent technical condition assessment, operational testing, and commercial-grade budgetary estimates, which are classified as non-personal commercial services. In accordance with PWS

Sections 1.1.1.3, 5.6, 5.14, and 5.16, this contract explicitly excludes any professional engineering designs, structural load calculations, re-designs, or engineered modernization recommendations. The assessment is for condition-reporting purposes and may be performed by qualified, certified technicians as specified in PWS

Section 1.4.6 (e.g., NABCEP PV System Inspectors and Certified Level I Thermographers). There is no specific report format required by the end client; the contractor may utilize their standard technical report layout as long as it covers all deliverables in PWS Section 5.18.

11-Sep Clarification Section C, PWS, Paragraph 1.4.6

17 What is the anticipated Notice to Proceed (NTP) date, and does the 90-calendar-day performance period begin upon

NTP?

The kickoff/ post-award conference meeting will be held fifteen (15) calendar days after the project is awarded. The official Notice to Proceed (NTP) will be issued immediately following the conclusion of this kickoff meeting. The 90-day project execution period will formally begin on the date the NTP is issued.

11-Sep Change in PWS Section C, PWS, Paragraph 1.3

18 Please confirm whether UAS/drone use is permitted at Camp

Santiago and Fort Allen and whether there are any photography restrictions.

UAS/Drone use may be authorized at Camp Santiago and Fort Allen, but operations are strictly conditional upon prior review and formal approval by the installation command and the Contracting Officer's

Representative (COR). To request flight authorization, the contractor must submit a comprehensive operational package detailing the mission justification, drone technical specifications, operating radio and RF frequencies, and proposed flight schedules (including specific dates, times, and geographic boundaries). The submission must also provide the designated operator's full legal name, contact information, and a valid FAA Part 107

Remote Pilot Certificate. In accordance with Department of War (DoW) security mandates, the aircraft must be verified on the official DoW Blue UAS Cleared List (NDAA-compliant); unapproved commercial or foreign-manufactured systems will not be permitted.

Strict Operations Security (OPSEC) and photography restrictions apply to all aerial and ground-based imaging.

Photography must be captured exclusively for the performance of the contracted solar assessment work.

Imagery is restricted strictly to the solar photovoltaic assets (e.g., modules, racking, combiners, and inverters) and must not depict surrounding buildings, structures, security perimeters, gates, or geographical features that could identify the broader base location or layout. Furthermore, photographs and video recordings must not contain identifiable military, civilian, or contractor personnel, uniforms, name tags, or vehicle license plates.

All recorded media must be submitted to the COR for security review prior to inclusion in any public or project deliverable.

Quoters are advised that usage of UAS may be canceled at any time depending on current installation security posture and Garrison Commander's Guidance.

11-Sep Change in PWS Add PWS Section 1.4.5.2

19 For the final report, how many review/comment cycles should be anticipated within the performance period?

A draft of the final report will be requested for review sixty (60) calendar days after the Notice to Proceed

(NTP). This draft will allow the PRNG to review findings and request any necessary adjustments or clarifications. The final report, incorporating all feedback and final project findings, must be submitted at the end of the performance period.

11-Sep Change in PWS Add PWS Section 5.18.9

20 Please confirm whether the CMMC Level 1 status, affirmation, and UID must be completed and included with the quotation at submission, or whether they may be completed and provided before contract award. We want to ensure that our quotation is responsive to the solicitation requirements.

While CMMC Level 1 certification is a condition of award eligibility and not a post-award deliverable, offerors are explicitly required by DFARS 252.204-7025(d) to provide their CMMC Unique Identifier(s)

(UID) within their quotation. Consistent with DFARS 252.204-7021 and 252.204-7025, the Contracting

Officer verifies CMMC status in the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) prior to award. If a quoter omits the required CMMC UID or information from its submission, the quotation is non-conforming to solicitation instructions and the Government is under no obligation to seek missing data. The Government may, within its sole discretion, request clarification, but is not required to do so. Failure to include mandatory

CMMC information in the quote may result in immediate elimination at the evaluation stage for technical non-conformance.

11-Sep Clarification DFARS 252.204-7025, 252.204-7021,