Date: January 11, 2024

Address: U.S. Embassy Tashkent

                3 Mayqorghon Street, Tashkent

                Uzbekistan 100093

Pre-Proposal Conference of January 11, 2024

Request for Quotation (RFQ) Number 19UZ8024Q0002

Introduction

U.S. Embassy Tashkent Team:

Manuel Catalanhernandez – Detachment Commander

Felix Butcher - Marine Security Guard

Shukhrat Arifdjanov – Procurement Supervisor

Nodira Vahidova - Procurement Agent

Irina Mezentseva – Procurement Agent

Sitora Raupova – Procurement Agent

Aziza Kuchimova – Procurement Agent

Nodira Vahidova

The meeting purpose is pre-proposal discussion for a contract for MSG COOK SERVICES for the Embassy of the Unites States of America in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in accordance with Performance Work Statement, Scope of Work/Specific Tasks and Attachment 1, Attachment 2  on pages 9-28

The U.S. Government intends to award a contract to the responsible company submitting an acceptable quotation at the lowest price.  We intend to award a contract/purchase order based on initial quotations, without holding discussions, although we may hold discussions with companies in the competitive range if there is a need to do so.

Before starting of discussion of the Solicitation Package, we would like to mention that we have two main requirements. The first is to read the solicitation document very carefully, and the second to submit proposal in compliance with solicitation requirements. If you worked in past with US Embassy but did not submit proposal in compliance with solicitation it does not mean that you will be awarded.  Section 3 on page 50 – 52 provides you with clear instructions what must be included to complete proposal package. Section 4 on page 53 provide is exactly what we will use to evaluate your proposal.

The U.S. Embassy strongly emphasizes transparency of the tender and equal conditions for participation.

If you have any questions, it must come to in writing in e-mail [email protected] . We will set a deadline for questions and then we will collect all questions and answers and send them to your e-mails at the same time. That is the way we would like to work, to make a transparency and that will help you to make accurate calculation.

Proposals should be submitted no later than 11:00 AM Tashkent time on February 04, 2024. Please have ID with you (passport, drivers license or ID card), it should be shown to our local guards. Proposals submitted late will not be accepted for consideration.

Proposals must be in a sealed envelope marked “Quotation 19UZ8024Q0002 Enclosed”.

In order for a proposal to be considered, you must also complete and submit the following:

SF-1449 on pages 4-5, Section 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 30.

Where:

17 – Company name, telephone and address

24 – Total amount

30 – Name and title, signature and date

Please open pages 7 and 8. There is Pricing

There is estimated quantity of hours of services.

Please provide the table with rate per hour and total.

Please note that price of the Contract cannot be changed, you will need to calculate everything.

This contract requires two types of insurance:

- General liability Insurance on page 14. Not reimbursed

7.1 Amount of Insurance.  The Contractor is required to provide whatever insurance is legally necessary.  The Contractor shall, at its own expense, provide and maintain during the entire performance period the following insurance amounts:

7.2 General Liability (includes premises/operations, collapse hazard, products, completed operations, contractual, independent contractors, broad form property damage, personal injury)

1. Bodily Injury stated in U.S. Dollars:

Per Occurrence $1000

Cumulative   $5000

2. Property Damage stated in U.S. Dollars:

Per Occurrence $1000

Cumulative $5000

7.3 The types and amounts of insurance are the minimums required. 

– DBA Insurance on page 50. Wil be reimbursed by the Embassy

The Offeror shall include Defense Base Act (DBA) insurance premium costs covering employees.  The offeror may obtain DBA insurance directly from any Department of Labor approved providers at the DOL website at http://www.dol.gov/owcp/dlhwc/lscarrier.htm ]

That is firm fixed price contract. The price per unit of supply delivered or service performed is established using a firm fixed price.

After establishing the contract, the US government reserves the right to decide of its extension or completion of work under the contract. The Contractor will be notified of the decision in writing.

Please open Section 3 on page 50 – 52.

You should submit the following:

List of the clients for the past 3 years; Adequate financial resources; License and permits.

Section 4 Evaluation factors on page 53 is exactly what we will use to evaluate your proposal.

Also, the successful offeror(s) will be required to be registered in SAM/CCR through the following site www.sam.gov And should have Active SAM registration.

The Solicitation documents will be reviewed by the Contracting Officer.

The contract is designed for 1 base year with 4 option years. If the services are provided in a good quality, the contract can be extended further for 4 years.

Technical part of the Scope of Work will be covered by Manuel Catalanhernandez – Detachment Commander

From page - 9 to page 28

Scope of work and responsibilities are covered. Contract document also covers management and provisions. The location will be shown physically in the end. If any equipment provided is not safe, you should let know the COR. If selected, awardee should develop a menu, food storage and clean a kitchen. The materials and equipment will be provided. The standard operating procedures will be reported monthly to the contractor. Operations, standards, and service section discusses about waste the minimization. There is a monthly budget for Marines. The driver and money will be provided to cook to buy the groceries. The cleaning kitchen, cooking and dishwashing are the responsibilities of cook. Breakfasts and/or with Ambassador or staff will be told in advance so that cook can be prepared.

Conclusion

We hope that the information obtained will help you to provide acceptable and mutually beneficial offers. All questions might be asked during the meeting or sent via electronic mail to address [email protected]. We will send the answers to all the companies, that will reflect the transparency of the bidding and equal conditions for participation.

Deadline for the question is February 05, 2024, at 11.00 am

When decision is made, we will inform all in writing about its results, announce the winning company, and separately, each company will be informed why it did not win the tender.

Q: Does the vendor include grocery prices to the pricing table?

A: No, only price for services will be included

Q: Should the cook be available the whole day from breakfast to dinner?

A: Not necessarily, the schedule is flexible. The breakfast is optional, lunch and dinner will be prepared and stored in the fridge.

Q: How many cooks should be provided?

A: It is up to the contractor; 1-7 cooks can be provided.

Q: Does the awardee required to make meetings to discuss the menu?

A:  The cook can discuss the menu on Mondays. No vegetarian, vegan food is needed.

Q: What if cook can propose a specific food?

A:  It is acceptable. Marines can propose some options that they prefer.

Q: Any dietary restrictions?

A:  No restrictions. Any healthy meal work for them.

Q: Do the cook serve lunch and dinner everyday at the same time?

A:  This is not cafeteria way; Marines can come randomly. The food can be stored in the fridge.