Solicitation Questions and Answers
Considering the following list of questions and clarifications which are fundamental to Industry's ability to prepare an accurate proposal with our best technical and lowest price offering, will the Government consider an immediate extension of five business days from the date of Government response to this QA, to allow for Industry adjustment to answers to questions? No, the Government will not extend the solicitation due date.
A Sole Source Justification document was provided as part of the solicitation attachments released this morning. Can the Government please confirm that this indeed an active competitive bid and not notification of a sole source announcement? This is an active, competitive RFQ and not an announcement of a sole-source procurement.
The opportunity title is listed as a Blanket Purchase Agreement, but the solicitation documents reference an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract. Can the Government please confirm if this is a BPA or an IDIQ? This will be a BPA
There does not appear to be any instructions regarding response from vendors. Can the Government please provide clarification, guidance, and instructions on what type of technical, past performance and price requirements are required for submission? Please review the PWS and provide a quote to meet the requirement. Provide past performance information on RTLS sustainment work. Offer your best price and discounts.
Is there an anticipated ceiling for this BPA/IDIQ? The anticipated ceiling will not exceed $7.5 million.
Is the BPA/IDIQ anticipated to be multi-award or single award? The BPA is expected to be a single award.
Can the Government confirm the base and option year structure for the BPA (e.g., 12-month base with two 12-month option periods) or whether it will be established as a multi-year ordering agreement with a fixed end date?
This will establish a multi-year ordering agreement with an ordering period from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2028.
Can the Government confirm whether the BPA will be placed against an existing schedule vehicle (e.g., GSA MAS, SEWP V) or established as a standalone BPA under FAR Part 13 procedures?
This will be established as a BPA under FAR Part 13 procedures.
Can the Government clarify whether this action is being conducted under FAR 13.5 (Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Products and Commercial Services), or if FAR Part 16 BPA/IDIQ procedures apply?
If FAR 13.5 is being used, can the Government confirm inclusion of the applicable FAR 52.212-4 and FAR 52.212-5 clauses governing commercial acquisitions?
This action is being conducted under FAR 13.5 and FAR 52.212-4 (NOV 2023) and FAR 52.212-5 (JAN 2025) (DEVIATION FEB 2025) are applicable as stated in the combined synopsis/solicitation.
Will task orders under the BPA be issued as Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) orders aligned with the PWS labor categories and CLIN structure? Yes
Will funding be obligated at the BPA level or at the individual task order level? The BPA will not obligate funding. The funding will be obligated at the task order level.
Can the Government provide clarification on relative evaluation factors (e.g., Technical/Management Approach vs. Past Performance vs. Price) and whether the award will be made on a Best Value Trade-Off or Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) basis? Â Â See ADDENDUM to 52.212-2 EVALUATION COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES in the combined synopsis/solicitation.
Can the Government confirm the required proposal structure, page count limits, file format (Word/PDF), and font/size requirements for the following volumes: Technical/Management Approach, Past Performance, Price Quote. There are no requirements in terms of proposal structure, page count limits, file format (Word/PDF), and font/size.
Will resumes, OEM commitment letters, and compliance certifications (e.g., LOS certification, security attestations) count against the page count, or may they be included as appendices? No.
Since this is a VSA set-aside, can the Government confirm whether the prime contractor must provide a signed Limitations on Subcontracting (LOS) certification with the proposal submission, or will compliance be verified post-award? See provision included in the combined synopsis/solicitation at VAAR 852.219-75Â VA NOTICE OF LIMITATIONS ON SUBCONTRACTING CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE FOR SERVICES AND CONSTRUCTION (JAN 2023) (DEVIATION)
Section 7 of the PWS identifies multiple deliverables (Monthly Activity Reports, SOPs, Facility Hardware Design Documents, Staff Rosters, etc.). Can the Government clarify the acceptance criteria and timelines for COR review and approval of deliverables? Monthly reports are required at the end of each month. SOPs, Facility Hardware Design Documents, Staff Rosters, etc., criteria and timelines will be outlined at the issuance of each task order.
Can the Government confirm whether OEM commitment letters must be included with the initial proposal submission or can be provided prior to award? Commitment letters and OEM authorizations to be provided at the time of offer.
Can the Government confirm that the CenTrak and Infor Real Time Location System Asset Tracking hardware and software non-service requirements will be considered Other Direct Costs and will not count toward the limitations for VOSB subcontracting? They will count.
Evaluation Factors vs. Submission Requirements
Page 26 of the RFQ indicates that the evaluation will be based on the following factors: Technical or Quality, Past Performance, and Price. However, Page 25 states that all quoters shall submit only the following: Quote and Authorized Reseller Letter.
Can the Government confirm that no separate Technical Approach or Past Performance volume/submission is required? They are welcome in order to help evaluate your quote.
Unit Pricing for CLINs with Quantity Zero (0)
Can the Government confirm whether unit pricing should be provided for all CLINs, including those listed with a quantity of zero? Please provide pricing. The quantity required is no known at this time.
Period of Performance Discrepancy
PWS Section 4.0 identifies the Period of Performance (PoP) as 12 months with three option years. However, the RFQ indicates a PoP of 9/1/2025 8/31/2028.
Can the Government confirm the accurate Period of Performance and clarify whether vendors are to submit pricing for the entirety of the PoP or only for the CLINs identified in the price schedule? The proposed action is a three-year BPA
Requirement for Technical Volume
Page 25 of solicitation document states "All quoters shall submit the following: Quote, Authorized Reseller Agreement" and proceeds to state "The following are the decision factors:
(1)Technical or Quality
(2)Past Performance
(3)Price"
Is there a technical volume required? If so, what are the requirements and instructions?" They are welcome in order to help evaluate your quote.
CLIN 0017 Mobilization Fee
CLIN 0017 states: Mobilization Fee (for on-site services not otherwise covered) Each priced as a per day trip assuming a 5-day duration.
Can Government please provide clarity on this? Should the "TRP" unit be priced as a 5-day trip, a total of 20 - 5 day trips? or should the "TRP" unit be priced as a per day cost, assuming they will be ordered in quantities of 5? Please price as a 5-day trip
Demonstration of Software
Pg 25 of PWS Evaluation Criteria alludes to demonstrating software.
Can Government please validate this requirement of the PWS? This requirement will be deleted from the PWS. Software demonstration is not required. See New PWS attached to this amendment.
Attachment A VA Directive 6550 Pre-Procurement Assessment
Page 28 of the PWS (Section 17.0) references ATTACHMENT A VA DIRECTIVE 6550 PRE_PROCUREMENT ASSESSMENT, but the PDF link does not function.
Can the Government confirm whether this attachment is required for submission and, if so, provide access to the correct file or working link? This requirement will be deleted from the PWS. Submission of the form is not required. See New PWS attached to this amendment.
17.0 PWS Attachment A VA Directive 6550 Pre-procurment Assessment The RFP requires Offerors to provide answers to each question in Attachment A, Section 17.0, and to submit the supporting configuration guide. However, the referenced file is not opening. This requirement will be deleted from the PWS. Submission of the form is not required. See New PWS attached to this amendment.
Can the agency confirm whether submission of the configuration guide is a mandatory requirement for proposal compliance? If required, could the agency please provide this attachment separately to ensure Offerors are able to review the requirements fully and prepare a compliant response? The configuration guide is not required at offer.
The solicitation does not specify a page limit for the Technical Volume. Could you please confirm whether there is a page count requirement? There is no page limit.
Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Notice Please clarify whether Offerors are required to submit VAAR 852.219-75, VA Notice of Limitations on Subcontracting Certificate of Compliance for Services and Construction (JAN 2023) (Deviation), as part of the proposal submission. If required, could the agency also confirm which proposal volume this document should be included in? Please submit with your quote. We are not requesting proposals.
Section 6.0 PWS SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE OVERVIEW Please clarify whether this effort includes support for the Hand Hygiene and PEW use case servers. No.
Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Notice Item Information Please specify if the type of network cable required in VISN 1 is the VA standard Cat6a? Type of network cable varies by location. The type of cable will be specified at the task order level.
Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Notice Item Information The description for CLIN 0011 indicates Medical Center each month. Could the agency please clarify whether one unit of this CLIN is intended for a single medical center or for all medical centers within the VISN? All centers are on one CLIN billed monthly.
Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Notice Item Information The description for CLINs 0014 and 0015 indicates SMA and M&S as each. Could the agency please clarify whether one unit of these CLINs is intended for each single medical center or for all medical centers within the VISN? All centers are on one CLIN billed monthly.
Will the Government require that past performance examples be submitted exclusively by the prime contractor, rather than including those of subcontractors? Please submit any relevant information.
Period of Performance. In the PWS, Section 4.1 states that the Period of Performance (PoP) is 12 months plus three option years. However, in the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Notice Item Information, the pricing structure is listed as one base year and two option years. Could the agency please clarify the correct Period of Performance? The proposed action is a three-year BPA