July 9, 2004

Question and Answers II to Solicitation FNS-04-107LLH
Food Stamp Program Store Visit Contract

   printable version

1. Question: Is the current contract for the Southwest region eligible to compete? Who is the incumbent contractor and address for the Southwest region? What is the size status for the incumbent contractor for the Southwest region?

Answer: Yes, the incumbent contractor for the Southwest Region is eligible to compete, as they are a small, woman-owned business based on the current Central Contractor Registration (CCR) data. The incumbent contractor’s name and address is: Greet America, Inc., 3200 W. Pleasant Run Road, Suite 400, Lancaster, TX 75146.

2. Question: Question about the formula for the weighted unit price in Section L.4(c) – Business Proposal Instructions (page 102). The weighted unit price formula provided divides the numerator by 3. Is this a typo and should it be divided by 4?

Answer: This is not a typo. The numerator is 3 and represents the average of the 3 alternate prices for the formula to obtain the weighted unit price. 

3. Question: The monthly CPI is fluctuating from low to high extremes, currently on an annualized rate of 5.1. Is it possible to float this adjustment to reflect actual CPI at the beginning of each option year, or negotiate at the end of each fiscal year? 

Answer: The government will not include economic price adjustments to this solicitation. However, the Contracting Officer’s has a responsibility to determine that option period prices are still fair and reasonable prior to exercising the option. This would include checking CPI fluctuations for price variables. If the determination is made that prices are no longer reasonable the Contracting Officer is required to re-compete the requirement.

4. Question: In reference to the “sample deliverable” which is to be submitted as an attachment to the proposal (page 96 of the RFP). No sample of a consent form was provided with the RFP, as an attachment or otherwise. Should a consent form not be included in the “sample deliverable?” “Negatives” are included as part of the sample deliverable. Digital cameras do not produce negatives. Please clarify.

Answer: A sample of the consent form, photographer’s certification and a blank store sketch form will be posted. The intention of the sample deliverable is to ascertain that contractors are capable of scanning forms and providing forms and data via a CD to the Food and Nutrition Service for review. Offerors may provide an example titled “consent form” that is signed and scanned.

“Negatives” should be deleted as part of the sample deliverable. As stated on page 38 of FNS-04-107LLH, paragraph 1 of Task 4.4. “Format for Submission of Deliverable,” the contractor shall submit deliverables to FNS Field Offices in digital format. The photographs shall be taken with digital cameras, or if taken by 35mm film cameras, the photographs shall be scanned or otherwise converted to digital format.

5. Clarification of Question 20 of Questions and Answers previously posted.

The survey form, consent form and the photographer’s certification statement require signatures. The store sketch form must be identified by store name. All forms should be scanned onto a CD. FNS does not require submission of the paper forms with the original signatures, as all backup files will be provided to FNS on CDs.

6. Corrections to Solicitation: 

A) B-1 Schedule of Items (Page 2 of the solicitation)

NOTE: TO DETERMINE WHICH UNIT PRICE APPLIES (ALTERNATE 1, 2, OR 3), SEE CLAUSE H.6 – SHOULD READ “CLAUSE H-5”

B) Task 4.2. Other Stores (Page 38 of the solicitation)

The deliverable listing should read:

A) Documented Survey Form in PDF file format,
B) Appropriate Photographs in digital format,
C) Photographer’s Certification Statement in PDF file format.

C) Clause L-10 Submission of Proposals

(a) through (c) – should read one (1) original and eight (8) copies.

D) L-15 Instructions for Quantity Variance Consideration

Reference at the end of paragraph 3 should read (see Section L-4(c)).