Attachment_8_Questions_and_Answers_21_August_2018.pdf

QUESTIONS and GOVERNMENTRESPONSE

NOTE: The Government shall not accept any additional questions.

1. In reference to the subject can you please clarify where is the final destination of Helium to be delivered?

Government Response: The location is in Kabul Afghanistan as stated in the Statement of Work (SOW), due to security concerns, the exact location will not be disclosed until after award.

2. Can anyone participate or is this just for the manufacturers?

Government Response: You can participate as long as you are able to meet the requirements outlined in this solicitation and you have the capacity and capability to deliver helium as stated in the Statement of Work.

3. Can or has the Helium items if not available in Afghanistan or it should be carry and deliver from outside country.

Government Response: The helium can be acquired and provided through local Afghan means or through outside sources. In the event helium is acquired from an outside source, the helium shall not be acquired from a prohibited source as specified in the contract clauses.

4. Could you please clarify the purity of Helium as below; we need the exact purity specification for Helium.

1. Helium 99.0000 %

2. Helium 99.9992 %

3. Helium 99.9995 %

4. Helium 99.9999 %

Government Response: At the minimum, the purity of helium shall be 99.995%.

5. Just wondering if there a monthly demand quantity to expect as the range from 200k up to 8.8M is a pretty large range.

Government Response: There is not a monthly requirement. The delivery order will specify the quantity required at time of delivery as stated in the SOW, paragraph 4.7.2.

6. Please clarify whether the volume mentioned under CLIN 0001 (8,800,000 Cubic Feet) is BLM Product or Non-BLM Product.

Government Response: Refer to SOW Paragraph 4.1.1 regarding BLM product.

7. Can a foreign bidder (non-Afghan entity) registered in JCXS (Joint Contingency & Expeditionary Services) and SAM (System for Award Management) submit a bid for the subject solicitation and be considered as a potential offeror.

Government Response: Yes deinor.a.bolanos Highlight deinor.a.bolanos Highlight

8. Clause 252.232-7014 Notification of Payments in Local Currency (Afghanistan) (b) Vendors shall submit quotations and offers in U.S. dollars. If the contract is awarded to an Afghan vendor, the quotation or offer will be converted to Afghani using a Government budget rate of 69.00 Afghani per U.S. dollar.

a. Exchange Rate Provision (Offeror Recommendation) – Once contract awarded to Afghanistan Vendor it should contain a provision to the effect that if there is a movement in the exchange rates by more than 2% from the exchange rate mentioned in under 252.232-7014 subclause (b) then the amount payable to vendor under the contract that month would be adjusted to reflect the actual rate for that month accordingly.

Government Response: This contract shall be paid in AFN as specified in DFARS Clause 252.232-7014.

The proposed contract prices shall not be adjusted after the contract is awarded. This contract does not provide for an economic price adjustment. This is a Firm Fixed Price and the contractor assumes all risks associated with this requirement.

b. Clarification Whether Partial Remittance can be made in Afghani Currency to a bank account in the host country and balance partial remittance in US$ to the Subcontractor/Supplier of Helium located in foreign country – Helium sales/purchase worldwide is governed by BLM and the currency of transaction is US$, the Afghani bidder will have to source Helium from a Bulk Helium Subcontractor (JCXS & SAM registered) based in a foreign location having long term contract with the Helium Supply Source and pay corresponding invoice in US$.

Government Response: The contract shall be paid 100% in AFN as specified in DFARS Clause 252.232- 7014 unless the prime is a US Vendor.

9. Are they looking for DOT tube trailer or skid?

Government Response: Both; please refer to the pictures for the specifics of the trailers and the helium containers.

10. What is the maximum weight of the equipment not to exceed? It will then determine number of tubes per unit.

Government Response: The Government has 23 containers to re-fill. Refer to the pictures provided with the plates of each container and the max weight of the trailers.

11. How about the technical data related to this project? Description of the manifold/design code…?

Government Response: The requirement is to be completed in accordance with the SOW. The manifold/design code is 290 Bar/44,200 PSIG (REGO). The Government has provided pictures of the helium container plates that provide some detail information regarding the containers to be filled.

12. The size of the helium containers to be filled.

Government Response: The containers are 20 feet and have 12 cylinders each (Refer to the pictures provided in Amendment 1). The helium containers are to be filled based on calculation from the water volume and the PSIG found on the plate attached to the container.

13. The size of the hoses.

Government Response: CGA 1340

14. How containers are required to be filled

Government Response: In accordance with the SOW, transported to a helium facility and filled there;

then returned to the Government facility specified on the delivery order with 99.995 percent purity.

15. Does the contractor need to supply Helium with Tanks or ANA have its own Tanks and we just need to fill them?

Government Response: ANA has their own tanks and they only need to be filled. Please see Attachment nine (9), which is a list of the helium containers to be filled. A helium delivery company can easily fill these cylinders with helium.

16. Are the Helium storage Banks currently used property of DLA or the ANA? My simple question is whether or not I have to provide the storage bank or just the cylinders for it? Do you know the manufacturers name of the storage bank currently used?

Government Response: Storage banks are property of the ANA. Please refer to the storage plates in the pictures provided.

17. Can we submit our proposal on tomorrow?

Government Response: The closing date is being extended until 23 August 2018 at 12:00 pm in accordance with Amendment 0002.

18. Would there be a problem if Offeror offer's non BLM and BLM product. There is a major shortage of product worldwide and at times offeror may offer either or cocktail of both.

Government Response: The helium can be Non-Bureau Land Management (BLM) or BLM or a combination of both products.

19. Helium for the requirement against subject solicitation will be sourced from USA or Qatar. All sources provide product on cash in advance basis and the acceptable currency for Helium trade worldwide is US Dollars. In-order to ensure smooth process, contractor may find it a problem converting Afghanistan currency into US dollars on timely basis and hence the offeror would like to request that partial payments from the solicitation are made in US$ to its overseas supplier and partial payments to cover local subcontractor/services are paid in Afghanistan currency. This will ensure that the mission is successful at all times.

Government Response: The contract shall be paid 100% in AFN as specified in DFARS Clause 252.232- 7014 unless the prime is a US Vendor.

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