29th ID UGR Enhancements (meal supplements to heater meals)

*****AMENDMENT 1, August 21, 2026, is to post the "Answers to Industry Questions" for vendors to see what questions were asked and answered and take action beyond that. No other questions shall be answered after these are posted. See attachement "QA - Answers to Industry Questions."*****

ANSWERS TO INDUSTRY QUESTIONS for Solicitation W912LQ-26-Q-A042

Q1. CLIN 0012 (Shredded Cheddar Cheese) reads "5 lbs per Soldier per dinner meal (order 50%)" but the total quantity listed is only 543 lbs for 10,304 dinner meals. Can you clarify what "order 50%" means and confirm the correct basis for this quantity?

A1. This should read 5lbs/50 Soldiers (Authorized quantity). The request was to order 50% of this amount. 543 lbs is the correct total quantity.

Q2. Drop off points at Fort Barfoot are listed as "TBD" in the PWS. When will exact delivery locations be provided, and will there be more than one drop off point per delivery?

A2. There will be only one drop off location. The exact location/building number will be coordinated with the COR. The award document will have the COR contact information.

Q3. Section 1.1 of the PWS references contractor furnished "infrastructure (e.g., refrigeration capability prior to delivery)." Please clarify whether this requires the contractor to maintain refrigerated storage prior to shipment only, or also cold-chain capability/temperature logging during transport and at time of delivery.

A3. Items must be kept at proper temperature during transportation and up to the point of transfer.

Q4. PWS section 1.4.1 states delivery shall occur Monday through Friday, but PWS section 5.1.1(c) requires the first delivery on Sunday, October 4, 2026 (with a possible Monday, October 5 alternative "if addressed in the offer"). Please confirm which controls, whether a Sunday delivery is truly required, and what process/notice is needed if we propose the Monday alternative instead.

A4. The first delivery would normally fall on the Friday before, however the unit will not have started duty yet and no one will be there to receive it until Sunday. Sunday delivery is preferred. If shipping is not available on Sunday, the first delivery may be made on Monday October 5 (combined with the 2nd delivery). The vendor must clearly state the intent to combine the deliveries.

Q5. The WAWF Routing Data Table (Pay Official DoDAAC, Admin DoDAAC, Ship From Code, etc.) is blank and marked "Provided at time of Award." Can you confirm these codes will be issued promptly at award so we can register in WAWF in time for our first invoice, given deliveries begin only weeks after quotes close?

A5. The DoDAACs will be listed in the routing table of the WAWF clause of the award.

Q6. Given the compressed timeline between anticipated award and the October 4 start of deliveries, what is the expected lead time for contractor/subcontractor personnel to complete AT Level I and iWATCH training, and is installation access (e.g., background checks, DBIDS) expected to be resolved by then?

A6. 1.4.5.3 AT Level 1 Certification-Provide within 15 calendar days before contract date.

1.4.5.4 iWATCH- report within 15 calendar days after completion of training. Vendors cannot come on installation until iWATCH is completed.

Q7. Section L, item 1(b) instructs offerors to price by their own unit of measure. Please confirm whether offerors may propose case/package sizing different from the solicitation's listed unit of issue (e.g., cases instead of individual slices/packets), provided the required total quantities are met.

A7. The quantities in the solicitation were derived from regulation that authorize the quantity allowable. We used this metric since we are uncertain about the case/package sizing based on different vendors or brand. The vendor may propose case/package sizing that meets the delivery schedule requirements. We intend to adjust the delivery quantities and unit of measure on the award to reflect the vendors’ quote. But at the end it MUST meet what our unit of measure comes to even with a different unit of measure being quoted.

Q8. Are there any brand-name, USDA grade, or specific product-standard requirements for the produce and bread items (e.g., USDA Grade A, specific packaging size) beyond what's listed in the schedule?

A8. No brand-name requirements. Commercial bread (rye, white, wheat, multigrain, raisin), 6 pounds per 50 persons in DA PAM 30-22

Q9. Is there a preferred or required format for the "itemized delivery document" referenced in PWS 5.1.4, or may the contractor use its own standard delivery ticket/packing slip?

A9. The contractor may use their own standard delivery ticket/packing slip. The items should be clearly identifiable to a line item and quantity on the award document.

Q10. Quotes must remain firm for 60 calendar days from the closing date, but performance runs from October 4-19, 2026, well after quote submission. Given the perishable nature of these items (produce, dairy), is any price adjustment or escalation clause available, or must pricing be fully firm through performance regardless of market fluctuation?

A10. Pricing must be firm from quote through the end of the Period of performance. This will be a firm fixed price award.

Q11. DFARS 252.211-7003 (Item Unique Identification and Valuation) is included and appears to apply UII marking/reporting requirements to grocery line items under $5,000 unit cost. Can you confirm whether UII marking is actually required for these consumable/perishable items, or whether this clause is boilerplate that does not apply in practice to this requirement?

A11. This clause is required for all supply items. There is no required action for this clause.

Q12. Is there an incumbent contractor currently providing these or similar menu enhancement items to the 29th ID, and if so, is historical pricing or delivery volume information available to offerors?

A12. There is no incumbent contractor for this requirement. Valley Foods has provided menu enhancements for similar requirements in the past. Historical pricing and delivery information is not available.

(End of Amendment 1)

See the attached SF 1449 document "W912LQ26QA042" for solicitation details.