Inactive Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Set-Aside (FAR 19.14)

Q&A for RFQ # 36C78621Q0068 Morovis National Cemetery Security Services 1 Important Note: The Description field for this Combined Synopsis Solicitation erroneously lists a description for HVAC Unit Cl... Q&A for RFQ # 36C78621Q0068 Morovis National Cemetery Security Services 1 Important Note: The Description field for this Combined Synopsis Solicitation erroneously lists a description for HVAC Unit Cleaning Services for the Puerto Rico National Cemetery . This is an error that is internal to the Contract Opportunities portal and is currently being investigated by their helpdesk. Please disregard that description and refer instead to the document S02 - ATTACHMENT B - Statement of Work - Security Services - Morovis NC , for a complete and accurate depiction of this requirement. Solicitation Questions: Answers: Will the government accept CPARs in lieu of PPQs? Please provide the requested past performance information in the format requested as outlined in the Combined Synopsis Solicitation. I just want to clarify whether Site Visits are mandatory as one part of the solicitation states that Offerors are urged and expected to inspect all sites but it later states that all Interested Offerors must contact Roberto Moreno to set up a Site Visit Appointment. Site visits are encouraged but are not mandatory. All offerors interested in conducting a site visit were required to contact the designated Cemetery staff PRIOR to visit. The site visit period for this Solicitation has expired. Price/Cost Schedule Please clarify and review the CLIN 0001 estimated annual hours, I understand it should be 3,120 and not 3,012(60 hrs weekly X 52 weeks) CLIN 0001 hours are based on 251 able weekday workdays, not counting holidays that might fall within a week (those are counted on CLIN 0003); and a work tour of 12 hours (6:00pm to 6:00am), hence the 3,012 hours (12 hr by 251 days). Please clarify the total of training hours required under the VA Cemetery requirements (SOW stated alarms training/patrolling with VA training/traffic/other duties etc.).  This training is separate from the training AUS is required to give to their officers. Location specific training should take no more than two hours and shall be given as on the job training. What type of transportation or patrolling vehicle is required? Golf Cart/pick up/SUV. With light bars/siren/Security Company logo?  Cemetery grounds can be patrolled with an electric, golf-cart type vehicle or car or truck that is marked as to identify itself as security to visitors and local authorities. The SOW establishes building /grounds surveillance and to maintain an operational journal. This journal must be in handwriting or a pad/laptop could be use? Is a patrolling system to record and comply with patrolling requirements needed? Can it be included? Operational journals to record any event of significance during the shift, can be either handwritten or electronic; whichever is more efficient to the contractor and the contract needs. A patrolling system per se, will not be required. SEE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWER RESPONSES BELOW: QUESTION: Page 1 of the SOW, Coverage Section, mentions an on-call security guard to respond to alarm notifications, who will be contacted by the Alarm Company directly, including non-coverage hours, holidays, and weekends. This implies a cost for response; however, this is not included in the Price Cost Schedule. Please explain. ANSWER: The language In addition to the basic hours of coverage, the Contractor shall provide on-call security coverage as needed (including after hours, weekends and Federal Holidays) to respond to building alarms as required. has been removed from the Statement of Work and is no longer required for these services. QUESTION: Alarm troubleshooting is supposed to be/usually done by the alarm company, as the alarms must be in a secured location (usually there is an IT person for this). Will the Contract Security Guard have access to this section? As per SOW, page 1, the Contractor shall be responsible for the interface with the alarm company . Please explain further. ANSWER: This language has been removed from the SOW in its entirety and will no longer be required. QUESTION: The normal coverage hours are from 1800hrs to 0600hrs (Monday through Friday) and weekends are 0600 Saturday to 0600 Monday. However, holidays are from 0800 to 0800 of the following day. In any case, there will be a two (2) hour gap between the end of the normal coverage and the beginning of the holiday coverage. Please advise. ANSWER: Yes; there is a two-hour gap between the end of the normal coverage and the beginning of the holiday coverage, after consulting with the Cemetery Administration, that particular CLIN hours will be modified to prevent that gap (6:00am to 6:00am of the next day). See revised CLIN Price/Cost Schedule. QUESTION: Page 3 of the SOW, Qualification Requirements of Contractor Personnel section, mentions that there must be an on-site supervisor to maintain direct communication with the security guards, ensure that all guards are in uniform and neat in appearance one a day-to-day basis at the worksite and visit the VA facility periodically . Does this mean the guard and supervisor will coincide in their shift? Also, this supervisor is not in the Price Cost Schedule. Please advise on these points. ANSWER: Statement of Work has been revised to change on-site to offsite as a Supervisor will not be required to be onsite at all times. Morovis National Cemetery will only require that the security guard be aware of who his/ her supervisor/POC is at central/ satellite base; and that the supervisor of the shift be on call in case the guard encounters an unexpected situation in which he/she need to make a decision that may be above his grade or out of scope, or that needs to call in backup or assistance. This would cover the day-to-day basis at the worksite , as the supervisor should be aware of, and have communication with, the guard(s) under his/ her shift. The visit the VA facility periodically means that the supervisor should periodically visit the facility (e.g. daily, once a week) to see status of subordinates on the post, collect shift reports, etc. QUESTION: Page 5 of the SOW, under Keypad, there is mention of a keypad with a code unique to the security company. Where will this keypad be located? Will all security guards have access to this/be trained for this, or will it be just for the on-site supervisor? ANSWER: Keypad locations will be provided at award. Contracted security personnel will be provided access (security code, electronic keycard or beeper) to enter the facility as determined by the Cemetery Administration. QUESTION: Will the security guard have a designated area within the facilities? We ask because there is mention of a set of keys that will have its own log and be the sole responsibility of the security company. However, the guard service does not run 24/7. Where will these keys, as well as its logbook, be kept while the guard is not on site? The same question applies for the communication equipment. ANSWER: Security Guard company will have access to restricted to areas as designated by Cemetery Administration. Cemetery Administration will also provide designated areas throughout the Cemetery, will security staff will be required. QUESTION: Page 6 of the SOW, under Transportation, requires a means of transportation for the contractor employees to perform patrolling in the grounds. However, this is not included in the Price Cost Schedule. Please advise. ANSWER: See revised Price/Cost Schedule. QUESTION: Under the section of Safety Equipment, the security guards are required to have ear plugs or muffs. Considering they will be working outside the construction/development hours, and that they will need to be able to hear alarms and radio/cellphone communication, will they still be required to wear the hearing protection? ANSWER: The SOW reads expected to provide not required and is at the discretion of the Contractor. QUESTION: Will security guards be required to have the OSHA 30-hour training for this contract [see page 7 of the SOW, under Contractor Responsibilities section]? This training constitutes an additional cost outside our regular training schedule. ANSWER: The SOW language specifically reads: He/she shall be responsible for any injury to himself/herself, his/her employees, or others, as well as for any damage to personal or public property that occurs during the performance of this contract that is caused by him/her or his/her employees fault or negligence. Contractor shall comply with all VA safety standards, manufacturers/industry standards, FDA, OSHA, JCAHO and the latest edition of NFPA-99 The Contractor will be responsible for ensuring that all Contractor employees follow all safety and industry standards as outlined in the SOW. When or how many hours of safety training conducted to meet and maintain these requirements, is at the sole discretion of the Contractor. QUESTION: In the Price Cost Schedule, in the CLIN belonging to the Holidays Section, it mentions that there are 10 holidays. However, the Wage Determination included in the solicitation package, there is mention of 11 holidays, listed. Please advise. ANSWER: According to the OPM website, there are only 10 approved federal holidays; Good Friday is not considered a federal holiday per the OPM website or for the purposes of this contract. QUESTION: Option Year 2 is a leap year (Thursday, February 29th, 2024). This would mean that Option Year 2 will have 12 additional hours on the Weekday CLIN, totaling 3,024 hours for OY2 under CLIN 2001. ANSWER: See revised CLIN Price/Cost Schedule. This Combined Synopsis Solicitation will not be extended. The deadline date for Quotation submission is January 20, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. (Central). END OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR THIS SOLICITATION.