WPC pckK;);= ^ƽmfe2ߣ +H$oC  ^9 EˤJ6ܴpv LA & E(F&Yʄbk)&r֗'"5ᔁcFPT,FyzZOiBFX?`rܕV-~^u #sn((ؕ/ܿ1UP9 BAv,\w ,֚pI8vFgǯo5(D,ԧgO xS~XkAۅ*r^!w ZݙP #b u<'<7E"bMlfN׹ S@ j#T>:WL Nj,=z|__J&zp7FKӭ᠃#"j.U0Y?(xlͨ^$Z8"LMGͨNbN_w|%-#vU N7 % 0: 0U 0 0 0 0 0 0 0c 0: 0C 0Q 0( 0 0 0 0f 0. 0 0@ 0 0 0 0f 01 0 0 0^ =wI4MU@a mU>& 0N-N{F}VHP DeskJet 720C v10.30(,,,,0(0(hH  Z6Times New Roman RegularX($USUS.,*+ (_2623  ..*G+M (_25   /%` ` hp x /23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  *D+M (_24   ," hp x ,23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  *A+M (_23  ` ) hp x )23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  *>+M (_22   &hhp x &23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  *;+M (_21   #p x #23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  *8+M (_20  h  p x 23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  *5+M (_19   pp x 23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  *2+M (_18    x 23  ..  5+ ` hp x 5  * (_1723  Ԁ*GM (_16   /%` ` hp x /23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  *DM (_15   ," hp x ,23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  *AM (_14  ` ) hp x )23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  *>M (_13   &hhp x &23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  *;M (_12   #p x #23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  *8M (_11  h  p x 23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  *5M (_10   pp x 23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  (2M &_9    x 23  Ԁ  5+ ` hp x 5  ( &_823  (GM &_7   /%` ` hp x /23   5+ ` hp x 5  (DM &_6   ," hp x ,23   5+ ` hp x 5  (AM &_5  ` ) hp x )23   5+ ` hp x 5  (>M &_4   &hhp x &23   5+ ` hp x 5  (;M &_3   #p x #23   5+ ` hp x 5  (8M &_2  h  p x 23   5+ ` hp x 5  (5M &_1   pp x 23   5+ ` hp x 5  &2M $_    x 23   5+ ` hp x 5  E0s Ye/'Ť(hH  Z(Times New Roman 3|xU\  `&Times New Romanhttp://www.sba.gov(O$http://www.epa..gov/docs/irmpoli8.http://www.epa.gov/oamrfp12/ptod/epaar.pdf !USUS.,  _'X&XXX8&XXdd80  0` (#(#0 ` (#` (#0 (# (#0h(#(#0h(#h(#0(#(# p      x April2,2004 @" (#(#    @ 0 @` READ_GWAC_ԀQuestionsandAnswers#4#X&XX'X&=##X&XXX&    Q1.PageC7,FirstParagraph,GroupAisstatedasthe"continentalU.S."Inaddition,PageL5 ` firstparagraph,states48statesand"continentalU.S."ThelistonPageC9lists49states(and L  DC)includingAlaska;however,excludesHawaii.Withpartnerships,modernlogisticsand 8  communications,weseenoreasonthatHawaiiorAlaskashouldbeexcludedfromthescopeof $ t ClassAcontractors.Werecommendthescopebeexpandedtoall50stateswithDC,andthe  ` referenceto"continental"bedeleted.Ifthisisnotacceptable,clarifyifyoudointendtokeep  L  AlaskaintheGroupAandCStates.  8  A1.Hawaiiwillbeincluded,andwillbeincorporatedviaAmendment0001totheSolicitation.   Q2.Pleasedefine"_ODC_"listedinsecondparagraph(_i_)onPageG4.   A2.OtherDirectCosts. p Q3.PageH5,SectionH.8lastsentence.DoestheEPAconsideritdetrimentaltothe H Contractorifhedesirestoaccess_TSCA_ԀCBIdataatalocalEPAfacility,andnotkeepthisdataat 4 theContractor'slocation?DoesEPAhaveapreferenceforContractorstorageofthisdata,ifan  p EPAlocationisnearby?  \ A3.No,theEPAdoesnotconsideritdetrimentaltotheContractoriftheyneedtoaccess_TSCA_ 4 CBIdataatalocalEPAfacilityuntiltheirfacilityisauthorized.ItisEPAspreferenceforthe   Contractortostorethedataintheirownfacility.   Q4.PageI2,SectionI.2,paragraph(a)statesthat"SuchordersmaybeissuedfromtheContract  AwardDatethroughDecember31,2004."Isthisatypographicalerrorleftoverfromdraft  version,wherethedateshouldread"throughApril30,2005"?Ifnot,whatistherationalebehind l thislimitationinthefirstyear? X  A4.Yes,thisisatypo,thedateshouldbeApril30,2005,andthiswillbeincorporatedvia 0"  Amendment001totheSolicitation. #l! Q5.PageI3,firstparagraph(c),adeliveryorderisconsidered"issued"whenitisplacedinthe $D # mail.Isthisalsotrueforpromptpaymentdiscountsonthecoverpage(e.g.theGovernmentmay %0!$ taketheearlypaymentdiscountbasedonthepostmarkdate,asopposedtothedatethepayment &"% wasreceivedbytheContractor)?Alsopleaseanswerthisquestioninthecontextofelectronic '#& fundstransfers,andisthisapaymentoptionforthiscontract? (#' A5.Thisissuedoesnotaffectyourproposalforthissolicitation,however,weuseelectronic |*%) transmissionforthemajorityofourtransactionswhenitisfeasible. h+&* ЇQ6.PageK1,SectionK.2.ShouldtheContractorfillinthe_NAICS_Ԁcodeashis/her_NAICS_,or  isthissomethingthattheGovernmentissupposedtofillinsincethelinestatesthe"acquisition  _NAICS_"?Wearealsoassumingthatcompaniesotherthanthoseincludedinthetarget_NAICS_  codecanrespondaslongastheymeetcontractrequirementswithpartners. t ANDCanyoupleaseclarifywhatthesmallbusinessstandardsforthis_RFP_Ԁare,andwhat_NAICS_ ` codeyouarerequiringcompaniessubmitthis_RFP_Ԁunder.#X&XX#X& ##X&XXX& L  A6.The_NAICS_Ԁcodes,asdescribedinthethree_FedBizOpps_Ԁannouncements,are562920 $ t (MaterialRecoveryFacilities),562211(HazardousWasteTreatmentandDisposal),and/or  ` 562219,(OtherNon-hazardousWasteTreatmentandDisposal).Alloftheseclassificationshave  L  asizestandardof$10.5million.ThisinformationwillbeincorporatedviaAmendment0001to  8  theSolicitation.Asdiscussedat4( )O  5  www.sba.gov,6~)O  7 pԀthe_NAICS_Ԁcodesareusedtoclassifythesmall $  businesssizestandard.   #X&XX#X&+##X&XXX&Q7.Whatfacilitieswillthisinclude(every/anyfederalfacility)?   A7.#X&XX#X&##X&XXX&ThiscontractisopentoanyGovernmentDepartment,Agency,orBureauthatwouldliketo p useitandtherefore,anyfederalfacilitymaybeincluded.#X&XX#X&#'X&XXX&ԀHowever,aspreviouslymentioned, \ Federalfacilitieswillnotberequiredtousethiscontracttofulfilltheirassetdisposition H requirements.Currently,thereisnoExecutiveOrderorStatutoryRegulationthatrequires 4 FederaluseofthisGovernmentwidecontract.AgenciesthatEPAsurveyedwhohave  p demonstratedaninterestinusingtheseserviceshavestatedthat,althoughtheyplantousethe  \ contract,costsmustbeaffordableandreasonablebeforetheywouldpursueutilizationofallofthe H servicesoffered.#X&XX'X&q##X&XXX&Ԁ 4 Q8.Arethereanyprovisionslistedfortheawardedvendorsubcontractingsomeorallofthe   work?  A8.AsrequiredintheFederalAcquisitionRegulation,theprimecontractorhastoperformat  least50%ofthecostofcontractperformanceorperformworkforatleast50%ofthecostof l manufacturingthesupplies,notincludingthecostofmaterials(FAR52.21914).However,they X  mustalsoagreeinthecontractthatsmallbusiness,veteran-ownedsmallbusiness,service-disabled D! veteran-ownedsmallbusiness,_HUBZone_Ԁsmallbusiness,smalldisadvantagedbusiness,and 0"  women-ownedsmallbusinessconcernswillhavethemaximumpracticableopportunityto #l! participateincontractperformance(FAR52.2198). $X" Q9.PageC7of11.Aftertaskordersarecompetedandeffortscommence,"contractorswillbe %0!$ providedbetween30to60calendardaystobeginrecyclingandassetdisposalefforts."Please &"% noteforour_DRMS_/_DLA_Ԁ_deman_Ԁelectronicsrecyclingprogramwearegiven42daysfor_demil_ '#& and65fornon_demil_.Withinthatperiodoftimewehavetohaveremovedfromthebaseswithin (#' 21days.Thisgivesthecontractoradequatetimetoschedule,pickupandprocess. )$(  h+&* A9.IftheContractorrequiresmoretimetobeginrecyclingandassetdisposalefforts,thiscanbe  specifiedduringtheTaskOrdercompetition.Asstatedinthe_RFP_,contractorswillbeprovided  between30to60calendardaystoBEGINefforts.  Q10.TheanswertoQ5statesthattheEPAanticipatesawardingcontractstolargefirmsaswell ` assmallanddisadvantagedbusinesses.IwasundertheimpressionthattheContractwastototal L  smallbusinesssetaside.Ifthisistruealargefirmwouldbecompelledtopartnerwithasmall 8  businessinordertoparticipateintheREAD_RFP_.Isthiscorrect? $ t A10.Thatquestionisfromthefirstsetof QuestionsandAnswersissuedonApril30,2003,  L  thatwerepostedaftertheDraft_SOO_.Sincethattimethisrequirementhasbeencompletelyset  8  asideforsmallbusinesses.Therefore,ifalargefirmwantedtocompeteforthisefforttheywould $  havetobeasubcontractortoasmallbusinessprimecontractor.#X&XX#X&5##X&XXX&   Q11.UnderM.3.EvaluationFactorsforAward(onmypageM2of5)(b)technicalevaluation   criteria:"Thetechnicalandpriceevaluationfactors/subfactorsarelistedbelowindescending   orderofimportance8."Canyoutellmewhatpercentagesareassignedtoeachsubfactorofthe p technicalproposal.Also,canyoutellmetheweightingofthepriceproposalcomparedtothe \ technicalproposal?(IknowyoudidindicatethepercentagesontheTOproposalspageG5of7 H (_i_)butmyquestionrelatedtotheproposaldueon4.19.04). 4 A11.EPAhasnotassignedexactpercentagestoeachsubfactor.AsdiscussedinSectionM,the  \ criterionarelistedindescendingorderofimportance(exceptforthethreefactor2criterionwhich H areconsideredofequalimportance).Overallthetechnicalevaluationisconsideredofmore 4 importancethanthepricereasonablenessevaluation,asdescribedinSectionM.TheTaskOrder   evaluationwillbehandleddifferently,asnoted.   Q12.Istherealimitforthenumberofpagesonthetechnicalproposal?  A12.Thereisnopagelimit,butasdiscussedintheproposalinstructions,_brochuremanship_Ԁisnot l desired. X   "\D!Q13.Pleaseconfirmthatonlyoneproposalfromeach_offeror_Ԁwillbeaccepted.Withinthe  "\ proposal,contractorsmustspecifythespecificgroup(s)forwhichtheyareproposingtoreceivea "H  contract(GroupA,BorC)includingtheirorderofpreferenceisconsiderationformultiplebids. #4! SosinceI'minterestedinanationalcontract,I'dspecifygroupA(national)first,thengroupB $ " (eastern)andthengroupC(western). % !# A13.Thisiscorrect.Onlyoneproposal(anoriginalandtwocopies)isrequired.Asdescribedin '"% thequestionandthesolicitation,contractormustspecifytheirorderofpreferenceforthethree (#& groups. l)$' Q14.Itdoesn'tappearthatthereisanypricingneededinthesampletaskorder(onlyinthe D+&) pricingproposal).Pleaseconfirm. 0,'* A14.Thegoalofthesampletaskorderistounderstandan_offeror_srecyclingandasset  dispositionmethodologies.Pricingisnotrequired.Ifinclusionofpricingisdesired,please  includeinthepriceproposal.  <tQ15.Mybidwillbehandcarried.Willyouneedpriorsecurityapprovaltoaccessyourbuilding? < Whatreceiptwillthevendorreceiveatthetimethebidisdroppedoff?Whataretheofficehours ( x ofthisbuilding?IsthereaPDFfilethatshowsthedirectionstogettoyourbuilding?  d A15.TheRonaldReaganBuildingislocatedatthecornerofPennsylvaniaAve.and14thSt.,in  < themiddleofWashingtonDC.Therearetwoaddressesidentifiedinthe_RFP_,onefor  ( courier/overnightserviceandoneforUSPSmail.Pleasemakesureyouusethecorrectaddress.    EPAsbidandproposalroomislocatedoffoftheelevatorsonthe6thflooroftheRRB.The   buildingisopen24hours,butproposalsaredueat2:00pmEDT.Thephonenumberforthebid   andproposalroomis2025644363or2025644359.   Q16.Withregardtocontractorinformationsystemsthatwillsupportthe_R.E.A.D._Ԁcontract `  audit/trackingrequirements,andforwhichGovernmentpersonnelmayormaynothaveaccess, L pleaseconfirmthattherequirementsof_EPAAR_Ԁ1552.21179forCompliancewithEPAPolicies 8 forInformationResourcesManagement,donotapply.Iftheydoapply,whatarethe $t requirementsexpectedofEPAthatpertaintothis_EPAAR_?Thisrequestspecificallypertainsto ` paragraph(a)and(b)astheseservicesareinsupportofrecyclingandnotunderdirectcontract L withEPAwithanIRMStatementofWork.#X&XX#X& &##X&XXX& 8 A16._EPAAR_Ԁ1552.21179isincludedinthesolicitationanditsrequirementswillapplytothe  contractorswhoareselectedforaward.Asstatedintheclause,theinformationrelatedtothis  requirementcanbefoundat4+ )O  5  http://_www.epa.gov_/docs/irmpoli8.67:)OK:  7 |y:ԀThe_EPAAR_Ԁclausecanbefound  atthefollowinglink:4, )O  5  http://www.epa.gov/oamrfp12/ptod/epaar.pdf6;)O;  7 ;ԀPleasereview.  Q17.IftheEPAwishestoallowGovernmentagenciestoredeploycomputersthatarenotEnergy \ Starcompliant,werequestthattheEPAissueeitherclarification/guidanceoraBLANKET H WaivertoExecutiveOrder12845forresale/redistributionofcomputerequipmentunderthe 4  READcontract,_EPAAR_Ԁ1523.7000MandatedEnergyStarCompliantComputers.Please  !p confirmthatshouldawaivernotbegranted,allcomputersthatarenotEnergyStarcompliantwill  "\ berecycled,resoldordonatedtonongovernmentalagencies. "H  A17.EPAdoesnothavecomputersthatarenotEnergyStarcompliant.Ifotheragencieswho $ " usetheseserviceshavesuchcomputers,wewilldealwiththewaiverissueatthatpointintime. % !# Q18.InanticipationofrequestingrecycleinformationfromconsumersthatmaypurchaseREAD '"% equipment,willweneedapprovalfromOMBperPaperworkReductionAct(_PRA_),_EPAAR_ (#& 1552.23775,sincewemayberequestingidenticalinformationfromten(10)ormorepublic l)$' respondents? X*%(  0,'* A19.EPAwilladdress_PRA_Ԁrequirementsandobtainapprovalsonbehalfofthecontractor  shouldthisbecomearequirementduringperformanceofthecontract.  Q20.IntheanswertoQ5underQ&A#1,itisstatedthatcertaintaskorderswillbesetasidefor t smallbusiness.IftheREAD_RFP_Ԁisatotalsmallbusinesssetasidethenthiswouldbethe ` assumption.Isthisassumptioncorrect? L  A21.Sincethisisasmallbusinesssetasideallcontractsandtaskorderswillbeawardedtosmall $ t businesses.  ` Q22.SincetheREAD_RFP_Ԁisatotalsmallbusinesssetaside,willthePrimaryContractorbe  8  requiredtoprovide51%ofthelaborinputinrelationtoanySubcontractoractivity? $  A22.Thesmallbusinessprimecontractorwillberequiredtodo51%ofthelaborandcostas   describedinA8aboveandtheFAR.   #X&XX#X&8#