A21 Amendment 0002 Questions and Answers.pdf

Question

RFP Reference Volume, Factor

RFP Page # RFP Paragraph Question/Comment with

Recommendation Government Responses

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

REQUIREMENTS, a and c PROPOSAL FILES, b. File Packaging.

PDF pg. 40/83

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

REQUIREMENTS:

a. Each volume must be submitted in a separate three-ring binder...

c. The following volumes of material must be submitted: [Instructions for quantities of Printed and Digital Copies]

PROPOSAL FILES:

b. File Packaging. All of the proposal files must be provided in read-only format, using PDF files and provided on CDs or DVDs

1) We align our sustainable business practices to Executive Order 14057 - Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability, therefore, we request a full electronic submission (email or document upload to portal) instead of hard copies and CD/DVD copies.

3) If hard copies are necessary, we request that the requirement for CD/DVD copies be removed, as most modern laptops do not provide for a CD/DVD drive.

Electronic submission is preferred to Angie.l.grimes@usace.ar my.mil

Section L, Proposal Submission Requirements para b., page 40

PDF pg. 40/83 A standard, 12-point minimum font size applies. Arial or New Times Roman fonts are required.

In order to provide a comprehensive response that addresses the full scope of required Technical Capabilities and Past Performance information associated with the PWS and Evaluation Criteria, will the Government allow 10-pt minimum font for body text instead of 12-point minimum? 12-point font takes up approximately 40% more space word for word than 10 point font.

A standard, 12-point minimum font size applies. Arial or New Times Roman fonts are required.

VOLUME III - (iii) Past Performance, Section 5 Past Performance Questionnaire

PDF pg. 48/83

Past Performance Questionnaire. For all contracts identified in Section 1, Contract Descriptions, a Past Performance Questionnaire must be completed and submitted….

In an effort to reduce any unnecessary burden on our customers, will the Government allow Offerors to submit a CPARS, when available, in lieu of a

PPQ?

Past Performance Questionnaire. For all contracts identified in Section 1, Contract Descriptions, Past Performance Questionnaires are required.

Section L - Section L, (iii) Volume III - Past Performance

PDF pg. 45/83

Offeror must also submit the written consent of its major subcontractors to allow the disclosure of its subcontractor’s past performance information to the Offeror. In addition, letters of commitment must be included for all major subcontractors for their past performance to be considered

Please confirm subcontractor written consents and letters of commitment are excluded from the 25 page limit for Past Performance.

Subcontractor written consents and letters of commitment are excluded from the 25 page limit for Past Performance.

RFP Reference Volume, Factor

RFP Page # RFP Paragraph Question/Comment with

Recommendation Government Responses

EVALUATION FACTORS;

A. BASIS FOR AWARD

(Section M); B. FACTORS

AND SUB-FACTORS TO

BE EVALUATED

PDF pg. 80/83

Evaluation of the offeror’s proposal shall address each factor as it applies to the Performance Work Statement (PWS). A detailed explanation of the criteria for the evaluation is set forth in the “Evaluation Process and Procedures”, Section of this plan.

Where is the “Evaluation Process and Procedures” as referenced in Section M, EVALUATION FACTORS, B.

FACTORS AND SUB-FACTORS TO

BE EVALUATED located?

Section M, EVALUATION

FACTORS, FACTORS is at the end of the solicitation

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

(Section L):

(iv) VOLUME IV – Small Business Participation Form

– See Appendix F, Enclosure 4;

Section M - Evaluation Factors for Award, Factor 3.

Small Business Participation:

The extent of Small Business Participation will be evaluated for unrestricted acquisitions.

PDF pgs. 49 and 82 of 83

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION (Section L):

(iv) VOLUME IV – Small Business Participation Form – See Appendix F, Enclosure 4;

Section M - Evaluation Factors for Award, Factor 3. Small Business Participation: The extent of Small Business Participation will be evaluated for unrestricted acquisitions.

The RFP does not provide minimum small business goals. Please confirm that the small business goals for this procurement are the same as those defined in the last (2017) procurement:

"v. The extent of participation of small business prime offerors and small business subcontractors in terms of the percentage of the value of the total acquisition. The government will evaluate the extent to which the offeror meets or exceeds the minimum quantitative requirements (MQR): MQR for this procurement are – Small Business:

(34.5%) of the total contract value; Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB; (3%) of the total contract value; Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB); (3%) of the total contract value; Hub Zone (3%) of the total contract value; Small Disadvantage Veteran Owned (3%) of the total contract value."

Section M - Evaluation Factors for Award, Factor

3. Small Business Participation has been revised.

8 PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

(Section L): (iv) VOLUME IV – Small Business Participation Form – See Appendix F, Enclosure 4;

Attachment A, Small Business Participation Commitment Document (SBPCD) Template?

PDF pgs.

49/83

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION (Section L):

(iv) VOLUME IV – Small Business Participation Form – See Appendix F, Enclosure 4

Where is Appendix F, Enclosure 4?

Should this be cited as Attachment A, Small Business Participation Commitment Document (SBPCD) Template?

No Appendix F in enclosure 4, It's attachment A

RFP Reference Volume, Factor

RFP Page # RFP Paragraph Question/Comment with

Recommendation Government Responses

1.8 SITE-SPECIFIC

SUBMITTALS, 1.8.1.7

Plans, as listed below, as required

PDF pg. 4/83 1.8.1.7 Plans as listed below, as required.

Plans aren't included "below" - please provide missing information or confirm that the information is not required.

1.8.1.7 will be deleted

Section L, Proposal Submission Requirements para c., page 41

PDF pg. 41/83

Manpower charts are mentioned in L, Proposal Submission Requirements.

Manpower charts are not included in Section L or Section M * Manpower charts and the small business subcontracting plan are excluded from the page count.

Manpower charts are mentioned as excluded from the page count in Section L, Proposal Submission Requirements.

However, manpower charts are not referenced in Section L or in Section M.

Please provide additional information regarding in which volume and section to include the manpower charts and how the manpower charts will be evaluated.

All references to manpower charts will be deleted

11 Section C - Performance Work Statement;

Section M - Evaluation Factors for Award, Factor 1:

Technical Capabilities;

Section L - (iii) VOLUME III

- Past Performance, (2) Performance

PDF pages 3, 51, and 81 of

Section C - Descriptions and Specifications, PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT and Section M - Evaluation Factors for Award:

pg. 51 - Sample Task Order Performance Work Statement

pg. 81 - Factor 1: TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES (Five (5) Subfactors) The Offeror shall present their technical approach to the Statement of Work and Performance Work Statement. The Technical Capabilities factor is further divided into the following subfactors:...

The RFP does not indicate if/how offerors should apply the Sample Task Order Performance Work Statement that is found in Section M - Evaluation Factors for Award (starting page 51).

This Sample Task Order PWS was included in the 2017 FUSRAP HTRW RFP and later removed by Amendment 2 and then Amendment 5.

Please confirm that our response to Volume I Technical requirements and Volume III Past Performance, Section 2 Performance will be evaluated based on the Section C Performance Work Statement and Scope of Work and not based on the Sample Task Order PWS found in Section M?

Sole purpose of the sample task order is to evaluate cost realism

RFP Reference Volume, Factor

RFP Page # RFP Paragraph Question/Comment with

Recommendation Government Responses

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

(Section L): (iii) VOLUME III – Past Performance, (7) Small Business Participation Past Performance. ...(iv) VOLUME IV – Small Business Participation FormandSection M - Evaluation Factors for AwardFactor 3. Small Business Participation: The extent of Small Business Participation will be evaluated for unrestricted acquisitions.

PDF pg. 49 and 82 of 83

Section L: (iii) VOLUME III – Past Performance, (7) Small Business Participation Past Performance. All Offerors must submit information substantiating the Offerors’ past performance in complying with FAR 52.219-8, “Utilization of Small Business”, maximizing opportunities for U.S. small business subcontractors. Offerors must also provide a statement indicating whether any negative information has been reported in the past six years concerning the Offerors’ past compliance with FAR 52.219-8. If any such negative information has been reported, the Offeror may submit explanations or comments responding to such negative information. Offerors with no prior contracts containing FAR 52.219-8 must certify the same.

The RFP allocates a maximum of 25 pages for VOLUME IV – Small Business Participation Form, yet the instructions call for a single form. The requirements for the SB Participation Past Performance discussion is currently called for up in the Past Performance Volume ([iii] VOLUME III – Past Performance, (7) Small Business Participation Past Performance), where we cannot afford to allocate the required number of pages to adequately provide a complete response.

Please change RFP instructions to require all content related to Small Business Participation, including Small Business Participation Past Performance, to be included in VOLUME IV, to allow offerors to take advantage of the 25 page count allocation.

The RFP instructions will be revised to require all content related to Small Business Participation, including Small Business Participation Past Performance, to be included in VOLUME IV, to allow offerors to take advantage of the 25 page count allocation.

Section L: (iii) Volume III - Past Performance, (3) Subcontracts

PDF pg. 48 of

Section L: (iii) Volume III - Past Performance (3) Subcontracts states "The information provided for the prime offeror and each proposed major subcontractor must include the entire company name, company address, CAGE Code, DUNS Number and type of work to be performed by citing the applicable Government PWS subparagraph number."

Is the PWS the government refers to in this section, the PWS provided in Section C or the SAMPLE TASK ORDER PWS in Section M?

The PWS provided in Section C

14 Section J - List of Documents, Exhibits and Other Attachments references Attachment J, Service Contract Act Wage Determinations. 52.222-42

STATEMENT OF

EQUIVALENT RATES

FOR FEDERAL HIRES

(MAY 2014) states "Applicable wage determinations will be provided with each task order issued under this base contract."

PDF pg. 38/83 and 30/83

Section J - List of Documents, Exhibits and Other Attachments references Attachment J, Service Contract Act Wage Determinations.

Are wage determinations applicable to this contract? If yes, please provide the applicable wage determinations in Attachment J.

Attachment J will be included with current Wage Determinations

RFP Reference Volume, Factor

RFP Page # RFP Paragraph Question/Comment with

Recommendation Government Responses

Section L - (v) VOLUME V

– SOLICITATIONS, OFFER

AND AWARD

DOCUMENTS AND

CERTIFICATIONS/REPRE

SENTATIONS: The RFP is missing Award Section G – Contract Administration Data and Section K – Representations, Certification and Other Statements of Offerors.

PDF pg. 49/83

Section A – Standard Form 33 (SF 33), Solicitation, Offer and Award Section G – Contract Administration Data Section K – Representations, Certification and Other Statements of Offerors

The RFP is missing Award Section G – Contract Administration Data and Section K – Representations, Certification and Other Statements of Offerors. Will the Government be providing Section G and Section K or will these requirements be removed?

Section G and Section K are included with this amendment

Section L - (ii) VOLUME II

– Cost/Price: (2)

PDF pg. 43/83

(2) The proposal must set forth a summary of the total estimated costs by cost element and must provide a breakdown of the proposed estimated costs of each CLIN separately, including all direct and indirect charges and fees. To maintain a minimum level of commonality between proposals, each offeror is required to complete (in entirety) the four (4) cost summary spreadsheets provided in the RFP. The cost summary spreadsheets must be provided for the base effort and each option year. All documentation furnished to support the cost summaries are to be provided in a format chosen by the offeror that is easily traceable to the cost summary sheets.

There are six (6) cost summary spreadsheets provided in the RFP and not four (4). Please correct the number of spreadsheets to reflect six (6).

Volume II corrected require submission of six

(6) spreadsheets.

17 Section J references Attachment E - Financial Reference Questionnaire;

Attachment F - Pre-Award Accounting Survey Checklist; and Attachment G

- 1408 Accounting Survey.

PDF pg. 38/83 Section J references Attachment E - Financial Reference Questionnaire;

Attachment F - Pre-Award Accounting Survey Checklist; and Attachment G - 1408 Accounting Survey.

Attachment E - Financial Reference Questionnaire; Attachment F - Pre-Award Accounting Survey Checklist; and Attachment G - 1408 Accounting Survey are not referenced as a submittal in Section L.

If these attachments are to be provided with our proposal, please add this requirement to Section L, Volume II - Cost/Price.

Volume II will be revised to include the submission of Attachments E, F and G.

RFP Reference Volume, Factor

RFP Page # RFP Paragraph Question/Comment with

Recommendation Government Responses

Section L - (ii) VOLUME II

– Cost/Price: (10)

PDF pg. 44/83

(10) Pursuant to the Service Contract Act of 1965, the determination by the Secretary of Labor as to the applicable minimum monetary wage and fringe benefits will be made part of any resulting contract. For evaluation purposes only, the Government has incorporated the applicable Area Wage Determinations of this RFP. The offeror must provide a crosswalk of the proposed labor categories against the Area Wage Determinations.

Please provide the applicable wage determinations in order to comply with this section.

See question 14 above.

Section L - (ii) VOLUME II

– Cost/Price: (13)

PDF pg. 44/83

(13) An offerors proposed target fee on the cost plus incentive fee effort will be added to the bottom line value.

The contract type for this contract is cost plus fixed fee not cost plus incentive fee.

Please confirm this should state CPFF.

Volume II will be corrected to remove any reference to cost plus incentive fee.

Section L - (ii) VOLUME II

– Cost/Price: (14)

PDF pg. 44/83

(14) For proposal preparation purposes, the expected or approximate date for initiation of contract performance is 15 April 2022.

The referenced paragraph includes an outdated date - 15 April 2022. Please confirm that August 1, 2023 is the data of initiation of contract performance.

For proposal preparation purposes, the expected or approximate date for initiation of contract performance is 15 April 2022.

21 Section L - (ii) VOLUME II

– Cost/Price: (15)

PDF pg. 44/83 (15) The offeror must submit a complete breakdown of costs by major subcontractor.

A major subcontractor is defined as a member of the offeror’s overall team who is expected to perform 5% or more of the proposed effort.

Should the major subcontractors submit the details of their complete breakdown of costs directly to the contracting officer via email?

Major subcontractors have the option to submit detailed cost breakdowns directly to the government. Those submissions must be emailed to Angie.L.Grimes@usace.a rmy.mil by the proposal due date and time to be consider with the prime contractor's proposal.

RFP Reference Volume, Factor

RFP Page # RFP Paragraph Question/Comment with

Recommendation Government Responses

Section L - (ii) VOLUME II - Cost Price, Volume II (15);

(iii) VOLUME III – Past Performance, Section 3

PDF pg. 48/83

Vol. II - Cost Price, Volume II (15) "A major subcontractor is defined as a member of the offeror’s overall team who is expected to perform 5%.(3) Section 3 – Subcontracts. Offerors must provide an outline of how the effort required by the RFP will be assigned for performance within the offeror’s corporate entity and among the proposed subcontractors. The information provided for the prime offeror and each proposed major subcontractor must include the entire company name, company address, CAGE Code, DUNS Number and type of work to be performed by citing the applicable Government PWS subparagraph number. This includes all subcontractors who will be providing critical hardware/services or whose subcontract is for more than 10% of the total proposed cost/price. This section will further include written consent of major subcontractors to allow the disclosure of their subcontractor’s past performance information to the Offeror. In addition, letters of commitment must be included for all major subcontractors

For consistency, per Volume III - Past Performance, Section 3, please confirm that a major subcontractor is defined as a member of the offeror’s overall team who is expected to perform more than 10% of total proposed cost/price and this major subcontractor definition also applies to Vol. II - Cost Price, Volume II (15) as well.

Volume II will be revised to define major subfactors as ten (10) percent.

23 Section J: Attachment H - Laboratory and Field Office Photos and Attachment I - Equipment List (GFE)

PDF pg. 38/83 Section J: Attachment H - Laboratory and Field Office Photos and Attachment I - Equipment List (GFE)

Other than in Section J, where are Attachment H - Laboratory and Field Office Photos and Attachment I - Equipment List (GFE) referenced in the

RFP?

Other than in Section J, Attachment H - Laboratory and Field Office Photos and Attachment I - Equipment List (GFE) are referenced under Sample Task Order.

RFP Reference Volume, Factor

RFP Page # RFP Paragraph Question/Comment with

Recommendation Government Responses

SF33, CLINS 0004, 0005,

and 0006

PDF pg.

3&4/83

SF33, CLINS 0004, 0005, and 0006

CLINS 0004, 0005, and 0006 are options in accordance with FAR Clause 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services which states "The Government may require continued performance of any services within the limits and at the rates specified in the contract. These rates may be adjusted only as a result of revisions to prevailing labor rates provided by the Secretary of Labor. The option provision may be exercised more than once, but the total extension of performance hereunder shall not exceed 6 months." Please confirm that based on this FAR clause 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services Clause, pricing for the 6-month extension of services period will be based on the unit prices proposed in the offerors base period and offerors are not required to complete option period pricing.

Revised Bid Schedule Attached.

Attachment B – Cost Summary Task 1 - 5

N/A Disciplines

In order to support all elements of the PWS would the Government consider allowing contractors to expand the labor disciplines beyond those presented in the Cost Summary files?

Contractors or not authorized to add additional disciplines.

Section M - Evaluation Factors for Award

Task 1.1.2 - PDI Report/ Final Status Survey Evaluation (FSSE))

Under Task 1.1.2 - PDI Report/ Final Status Survey Evaluation (FSSE)) the subtasks appear to have a numerical gap (1.1.2.1, 1.1.2.3 and 1.1.2.4). Was this intentional or should contractors assume the subtasks appear as 1.1.2.1, 1.1.2.2 and 1.1.2.3?

Task 1.1.2 - PDI Report/ Final Status Survey Evaluation (FSSE)the subtasks has been revised.

Section L: (iii) Volume III - Past Performance, (5) Past Performance Questionnaire

PDF pg. 48 of

Section L: (iii) Volume III - Past Performance (3) Past Performance Questionnaire states Past Performance Questionnaire. "For all contracts identified in Section 1, Contract Descriptions, a Past Performance Questionnaire must be completed and submitted. The offeror must complete Part I of the Past Performance Questionnaire and e-mail the questionnaire to both the Government contracting activity and technical representative responsible for the past/current contract. The POCs must be instructed to electronically complete Part II

In accordance with the RFP and the Past Performance Questionnaire Section, we are instructed to email the Past Performance Questionnaire to both the Government contracting activity and technical representative responsible for the past/current contract. If the current Government contracting activity and technical representative for the past/current contract are unable to complete the PPQ due to involvement with this solicitation, who does the incumbent send the PPQ to as an alternate

For all contracts identified in Section 1, Contract Descriptions, a Past Performance Questionnaire shall not need to be submitted if the contract was awarded by the USACE St Louis District. Offerors can of the questionnaire and e-mail the entire questionnaire to the Contracting Office no later than the proposal due date. The offeror must e-mail to the Contracting Officer a list of all the POC’s who were sent a questionnaire. The Government must receive this list no later than the proposal due date. The POC List must be submitted in Word for Windows Table Format to include the following fields: Solicitation Number; Company Name; Contract Number; Government Agency; POC Last Name, First Name; POC Title; POC Telephone Number; POC E-mail Address;

and Date E-Mail to POC (month/day)."

contracting activity and technical representative for the past/current contract? In addition, we may have subcontractors submitting PPQs, this section requires completion by GOVERNMENT contracting activity and technical representative. However, privity of contract does not exist between the Government and the Subcontractor.

May the subcontractor have the Prime Contractor complete the PPQ?

provide CPARS in lieu of PQs. Subcontractors who identify contracts with St Louis District under Section 1, Contract Descriptions, shall submit PPQs to the prime contractor for completion.