Question_and_Answers_1_through_19.pdf

Question and Answers Solicitation W912P9-17-R-0010

Question 1: We understood that there were to be up to three awards, but that each award might have an individual ceiling of $15M-$25M. In the RFP released yesterday, the language states that the “maximum quantity and contract value for all orders issued against this contract shall not exceed the maximum quantity and contract value stated in the following table…” ($15M).

Answer 1: The intent of this MATOC to award approximately 3 contracts with a max value of $15M each for a grand total of $45M. This is an IDIQ and with IDIQs the only guarantee is the minimum, in this case it is $2500.00.

The $15M is not guaranteed, as each requirement will be competed under Fair Opportunity RFP page 56. This requirement is programmatic, meaning the program is worth $45M for three years. If the Government were to award two contracts, each contract would have a max value of $22.5M. If the Government were to award four contracts, each contract would have a max value of $11.5M.

Question 2: Are Prime 8a contractors allowed to use their subcontractors’ past performance as their own?

Answer 2: No, not unless a joint venture is approved through the SBA and submitted with the proposal. However, the Joint Venture must be ready to solidify if award is made to the Joint Venture.

Question 3: There are 4 task orders included in the Solicitation that we need to provide pricing for. Are these going to be awarded under this MATOC?

Answer 3: Seed requirements are for bid purposes only, these will not be awarded under this MATOC.

Question 4: I was looking to see if there is an opportunity to bid for the materials testing on this project? I see that it looks to be contractor testing. Do you have a list of the GC’s Bidding on this project and contact information so I can contact them about this?

Answer 4: There is not an opportunity to bid for the materials test on this project. The Government cannot provide a list of prospective offerors for this requirement; however, award notice will be made public and a list of attendees for the preproposal conference is posted on FedBizOpps.

Question 5: This volume shall contain a list of a minimum of three (3) references; however, no more than five (5) references for past performance information by submitting the information on the past performance reference sheet (Attachment 1) regarding similar contracts. Offerors shall submit all Government and/or commercial contracts in performance or awarded within the past three (3) years, from the close date of this RFP, which are relevant to the efforts required by this solicitation. Relevant efforts are defined as efforts that are the same as or similar to the effort (as compared to NAICS code 237990) required by the RFP.

This statement is confusing as the first sentence says to list a minimum of 3 but no more than 5 while the second sentence Says to submit “all Government and/or commercial contract in performance or awarded within the past (3) three years….”

Please clarify that we are to submit at least 3 and no more than 5 references for past performance. Further, clarify that these 3-5 References must be ones that are currently in performance and were awarded within the past three (3) years, from the close date of this RFP, which are relevant to the efforts required by this solicitation.

Answer 5: Deleted “all”. Offerors are to submit at least 3 and no more than 5 references for past performance that are currently in performance, or completed, and were awarded in the past three (3) years, from the close date of this RFP, which are relevant to the efforts required by this solicitation.

Question 6: Can you tell me if there is a previous contract/incumbent for this MATOC and if so, the contract number/contractor name?

Answer 6: This a new requirement; therefore, no previous contracts/incumbent exist.

Question 7: If there is an incumbent, could you please provide the contract number?

Answer 7: See response to number 6.

Question 8: Section Evaluation Factors. Page 25. Paragraph 2. Volume I, Section 1 – Business Proposal.

Question: Are Offerors required to complete Section 00600 Reps and Certs? If so, I would assume these would be included in Volume I Section I Business Proposal?

Answer 8: Prospective contractors shall be registered, by proposal submission date, in System for Award Management (SAM) with updated Reps and Certs.

Question 9: Section Evaluation Factors. Page 25. Paragraph c. File Packaging.

Question: Please confirm that Offerors are to submit four (4) separate PDF files (one for each section and price) and two (2) Excel spreadsheets (Attachments 6 and 7). Each of the four (4) separate PDF files are to have their own cover page, table of contents, etc., correct? Additionally, the Government is requiring Offerors to send a physical CD-ROM containing all six (6) documents and email all six (6) documents to yourself and Ms. Patricia Voss.

Answer 9: Recommend for organization purposes, one table of contents and a cover page for each section.

Question 10: Section Evaluation Factors. Page 25. Paragraph 2. Volume I, Section 1 – Business Proposal.

Question: The Government has not requested Offerors to submit a letter from their bonding firm stating their bonding capacity. We wanted to confirm that this is in fact, not required.

Answer 10: Correct. Bonding will be required at the task order level.

Question 11: On multiple occasions in the onsite meeting this past week, we were told you could lower your prices on the seed task order from your IDIQ schedule. On page 27 of 56 in the specifications, number 5. Volume I - Price, second paragraph states: "Offerors shall not provide unit prices that are lower, or higher, on the seed task orders compared to their IDIQ rates. If an offeror lowers a rate on their seed task order compared to their IDIQ rates, the offeror will no longer be considered for an award." Can you please clarify your intentions on this matter?

Answer 11: You may not provide unit prices that are lower, or higher, on the seed task orders compared to their IDIQ rates; however, if you receive one (1) of the approximately three (3) contract awards, contractors can lower their prices when competing for a task order under fair opportunity that is references in the RFP page 56 “Fair Opportunity Process”.

Question 12: What is the minimum percentage of work that must be performed by the prime contractor?

Answer 12: Within the RFP list, FAR clause 52.219-14 Limitation on Subcontracting in by reference, which requires by submission of an offer and execution of a contract, the Offeror/Contractor agrees that in performance of the contract in the case of a contract for General construction. The concern will perform at least 15 percent of the cost of the contract, not including the cost of materials, with its own employees.

Question 13: Is there a required structure in order for a potential prime contractor to be able to use a subcontractor’s experience in the proposal? IE: teaming agreement, joint venture, etc.

Answer 13: See answer to question 2.

Question 14: Section Evaluation Factors. Page 27. Paragraph 5. Volume I, Price and Section Technical Evaluation Factors. Page 29. Paragraph a. Recency.

Question: Page 27 states “Offerors shall submit all Government and/or commercial contracts in performance or awarded within the past three (3) years, from the close date of this RFP”; however, Page 29 states, “The government will first evaluate the recency (completed within three (3) years prior to the solicitation closing date)”. Are Offerors only to submit completed projects (page 29) or can we submit projects that are on-going (page 27)?

Answer 14: Amendment 1 changes verbiage to read “Offerors are to submit complete, or ongoing projects,” to clarify that past performance information can be completed or ongoing.

Question 15: Page 11 SCR- S-102: The proposed contract requires that the contractor be able to work in all areas within the St. Louis district. This would require our craft labor to work in numerous counties through multiple states.

In order to ensure that all pricing is based uniformly between the contractors, can the USACE provide the prevailing wages for each craft position the contractor should use for establishing labor pricing throughout the district?

Answer 15: Prospective offerors must meet the prevailing wages found in attachments 12, Missouri Wage Determination, and 13 Illinois Wage Determination.

Question 16: Page 28 Section 1 paragraph 2 subsection a and b: In the technical evaluation factors the contractor has been tasked with providing a schedule of the work to be performed in seed tasks #1, #2 and #3. Please clarify if the schedules were to be in a format like Microsoft Projects or if it is a written narrative describing the sequence of work activities?

Answer 16: The format for technical factor 2(a) Detailed work schedule SEED TASK ORDER #1 and SEED TASK ORDER #2 may be submitted in a bar chart as long as the narrative and the bar chart do not exceed the page limitations of five (5). Technical factor 2(b) Detailed work schedule SEED TASK ORDER #3, Levee Closure Under Emergency Flood Conditions shall be narrative and not exceed one (1) page.

Question 17: Page 42 paragraph (iii): States “The price of construction material shall include all delivery costs to the construction site and any applicable duty (whether or not a duty-free certificate may be issued).” This statement indicates that all materials include the delivery fee to the site location. It is our understanding that this delivery fee is not to be included in the base cost? It is our understanding that this cost for delivery will be negotiated on a per task order basis. Yes or No?

Answer 17: Yes. Hauling will be negotiated per task order basis. Loading and handling efforts should be included in the embankment line items when need as indicated in amendment 0001. If a requirement has items that require the delivery of goods, these will be identified in the miscellaneous line item per task order and offerors shall meet the Buy American Act requirement.

Question 18: Can the government provide a list of USACE approved quarries within their boundaries?

Answer 18: List of approved quarries is posted to FedBizOpps.

Question 19: In an effort to increase 8(a) competition for this opportunity, would the Government consider allowing relevant past performance submissions from subcontractors to the 8(a)?

Answer 19: See response to question 2.