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DATE: September 1, 2006RFP TRN-06-060 Questions and Responses QUESTION 1.) The solicitation states, "contractor will be responsible for any vendor conveyance demurrage after free time." What if USAID already has 30,000 metric tons on the warehouse floor and railcars/trucks are sent to the warehouse? ANSWER: The contract terms limit the number of metric tons that USAID may position at the warehouse to 30,000 metric tons. The warehouse contractor does not have a contractual responsibility to store more than the tonnage agreed to in the contract. QUESTION 2.) Does it make any difference where the warehouse is located? Does it have to be at a port? ANSWER: The government is seeking a food aid commodity warehouse contractor which will enhance the government's Title II food aid program through cost efficient and effective delivery, storage, and re-delivery of our pre-positioned commodities. The government will award a contract to the responsible offeror whose proposal will be most advantageous to the government. The government will carefully consider warehouse locations and locally available infrastructure and transport resources. The government will evaluate warehouse facility proposals consistent with efficient supply chain management. The entire cost of transporting food commodities from origin to overseas destinations will be evaluated under each proposal. QUESTION 3.) The solicitation states, "contractor will be responsible for all clearances to re-deliver commodities to outbound conveyances or vessels." Is this understood to mean from warehouse to F.a.s. vessel at the port of shipment, or onward? ANSWER: The warehouse contract terms require the contractor re-deliver food aid commodities on an Origin or Free Alongside Vessel, Port of Shipment basis. There are no contract terms which require the warehouse contractor to re-deliver commodities beyond a F.a.s. Vessel, Port of Shipment basis. QUESTION 4.) The solicitation states, "cargoes moving directly from railcars or trucks to the performing vessel or containers are considered F.a.s. vessel." What about cargo re-delivered from the warehouse to container, is that also considered F.a.s. vessel? ANSWER: The solicitation statement has application to warehouse locations at an approved port or in an approved port terminal, and the performing vessel is calling at the warehouse port. Cargoes re-delivered from the warehouse floor to containers are considered F.a.s. vessel when the warehouse floor is considered to be a F.a.s. vessel position, and the performing vessel is calling that port. You may refer to USDA Form KC 362 for a list of approved F.a.s vessel port locations. For warehouses not located at an approved port, or for circumstances where a performing vessel is not calling on the warehouse port, this solicitation statement does not have any application. QUESTION 5.) What about under special circumstances, say cargo was delivered and received on the warehouse floor but, for whatever reason, the cargo is re-routed to another Port, not the closest port, for loading onto a vessel. Would the cargo be considered re-delivered on a F.a.s. vessel basis if the commodities are delivered from the contractor?s warehouse floor to a conveyance (rail or truck) to be drayed to the other port? ANSWER: The answer depends on who is draying (and paying for) the transport of conveyances from the warehouse to the alternate port. Based upon the above scenario, commodities would be considered re-delivered on an origin basis by the warehouse contractor when the railcars or trailers are delivered to an alternate port by the vessel owner or ocean carrier. Commodities are considered re-delivered on an F.a.s. vessel basis by the warehouse contractor when the railcars or trailers are delivered to an alternate port (F.a.s. vessel) by the warehouse contractor in accordance with their proposed F.a.s. rates in the contract schedule. QUESTION 6.) Could you provide a clarification regarding the term "re-delivery?" When the contract states re-delivery is it understood to mean origin or F.a.s. vessel at the local Port of Shipment? Or, does USAID also means that if a designated vessel will be at a "Port of Shipment," other than the local port closest to the warehouse, will the warehouse contractor be responsible for transportation to "a different Port of Shipment" other than the closest port? ANSWER: The warehouse contractor may propose F.a.s. vessel re-delivery rates for one or more ports of shipment. In addition to proposing a F.a.s. vessel rate for re-delivery to the closest Port of Shipment, the warehouse contractor may propose alternate F.a.s. Vessel rates for alternate ports of shipment in their region. The government will not ask the warehouse contractor to re-deliver commodities on a F.a.s. Vessel, Port of Shipment basis, except to those ports for which a rate is agreed in the contract schedule.