IDIQ for Industrial Hygiene services at Smithsonian Institution

Responses to Vendor Questions - November 5, 2010

-Question regarding whether this is a new requirement. Answer: This is a new requirement.

-Question regarding site visits. Answer: There are no site visits or pre-bidders meetings for this RFP.

-Questions regarding Section B.6.1.1 Pricing Schedule. Answer: Use an estimated quantity of one (1) for each individual item (unit) number.

-On the pricing schedule B.6.1.1. line 0001AG please add a unit and unit price line. (It was inadvertently left off.)

-Question: regarding whether in item 002AB, is there a lead supervisor? Answer: Lead Supervisor is correct.

-In Section B.6.1.1 Pricing Schedule, delete the second redundant pricing set on pages 10-12.

-In Section L.5.1.4 Experience of the Firm, change the first sentence to read: The Offeror shall provide specialized experience and demonstrated technical competence in hazardous material monitoring, sampling and analysis and review of design and construction projects and submittals for code and specification compliance related to structural upgrades.

-Add the following paragraph to the end of L.5.1.2 Contractor Qualifications:

Certification is required for any type of lead and/or asbestos sampling.  Virginia, Maryland and New York all require that persons performing such tasks to be certified. Virginia and New York also require that persons doing such tasks be licensed, in addition to the certifications.  To cover all bases, we recommend that prospective bidders provide evidence that his/her workers meet licensing/certification requirements for each jurisdiction. Labs performing analyses must be accredited by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) at a minimum.  Virginia labs performing analyses must also be licensed by the State.  Licensing of labs and persons collecting samples is required in NY as is the case in VA.

-Question regarding coverage of expenses (i.e. travel, meals, lodging, or personnel not included on pricing schedule). Answer: these can be listed separately as "other costs".

-Question regarding whether bidders can add unit pricing (per hour) for personnel not included on the base cost proposal submission (such as clerical, principal review, etc.). Answer: Principal review, scientist review can be additional cost. Support personnel and clerical work should be part of overhead cost.

-Question: What is the usual duration on-site for each of the issued task orders? Answer: Most areas will be small; such as mini-enclosures or glove bag (ACM) or strip lead.  Activity durations usually a day but it could vary depending on the discovery.

-Question: Can you please clarify the services required? Answer: Fundamentally to provide identification, code inspection, monitoring and testing of HAZMAT. The Smithsonian Institution's program has removed the most obvious and accessible HAZMAT and now typically, the discovery of HAZMAT is found within pipe chases, historic walls and structure during renovations that are performed by others.  The disciplines needed are spelled out in the RFP document.  

IDIQ for Industrial Hygiene services at Smithsonian.

The Smithsonian Institution ("Smithsonian") seeks proposals from firms ("Potential Offeror") for an indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ)contract to furnish all supervision, labor, material and equipment necessary for requested hazardous material monitoring, sampling, and analysis; and review of related design and construction projects and submittals for code and specification compliance for any of the Smithsonian Institution buildings located in Washington, DC metropolitan area, Maryland, Virginia and New York. The anticipated total value of annual work orders on the IDIQ is between $500,000 to $600,000.

The buildings range in age and style from the 1881 Arts and Industries building to the contemporary National Museum of the American Indian building. The successful offeror shall provide professional services as required and specified by individual Work Order Contracts. The majority of Industrial Hygiene work occurs in conjunction with other work; usually part of demolition activities and found in chases, shafts, on pipe insulation or duct insulation, structural steel, historic building fabric and are in areas not easily accessed. Lead and asbestos could be found in all SI buildings except National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center, National Museum of the American Indian on the Mall, and the National Museum of the American Indian Conservation Resources Center in Maryland.

This announcement is open to all businesses regardless of size. The contract awarded will be firm-fixed-price. Minority businesses, Small businesses, Small disadvantaged businesses, Women-owned small businesses, Hub-zone small businesses, Veteran-owned small businesses, and Service Disabled Veteran owned businesses are strongly encouraged to apply. The North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) for this procurement is 562910.
If your company is interested in providing the services referenced above, please review the attached RFP package and submit your response in accordance with the attached instructions and conditions. To be considered, you must submit one (1) original and five (5) copies of the Technical Proposal and one (1) original and three (2) copies of the Cost Proposal as detailed in the RFP no later than November 23, 2010 at 3:00P.M. local Washington DC, time. Requested materials must be received by this deadline in order to be considered. Inquiries regarding this solicitation shall be directed by email no later than November 10, 3:00 PM EST as detailed in the RFP.

Contractors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) prior to award.