Vendor Question Addendem

Clarification questions

Q1: May a quoter price only selected schedule lines and mark the others “No Quote”?A1: Yes. Quoters are permitted to submit pricing for selected schedule lines and mark remaining lines as "No Quote." Per the solicitation terms, the Government reserves the right to make a formal single award or multiple awards. Each line item will be evaluated individually based on price and past performance.

Q2: For a new reseller, may clearly attributed manufacturer/distributor performance be supplied for the past-performance evaluation, and is any minimum offeror history mandatory?A2: Yes, manufacturer/distributor history may be submitted. There is no mandatory minimum offeror history required to submit a quote. If a new entity lacks direct corporate past performance, the Government may evaluate the past performance of key personnel, critical subcontractors, or major manufacturers/distributors supplied by the quoter. If no relevant past performance history can be established, the quoter will be evaluated neutrally.

Q3: Does the single palletized shipment instruction also apply to small individual-line awards such as these, or may sealed commercial cartons be delivered by parcel carrier with the warehouse's prior approval?A3: The palletization requirement stands as written. Per the delivery schedule instructions, all deliveries must be palletized. Exceptions for individual lines are not standard because warehouse receiving infrastructure utilizes forklifts and loading docks configured for pallets. Quoters must price and plan for palletized, pre arranged appointment delivery. Post award logistics adjustments for exceptionally small line awards may be discussed on a case by case basis with the Food Service Warehouse (814-471-1433/1462) during the mandatory pre-delivery approval call.

Q4: To reconcile the incorporated FAR 52.225-1 (DEV) provision with the National Menu's foreign-product language, which domestic-source requirements and country of origin representations control?A4: The National Menu Specifications take precedence for specific line-item exclusions, while FAR 52.225-1 controls overall buy-domestic rules. Under the general National Menu rules, if a specification does not explicitly state otherwise, the product must originate from the United States or Canada, or it may be a "product of" a foreign country provided it is distributed by a U.S. based company For specific lines such as canned vegetables the National Menu explicitly overrides this flexibility and mandates that crops "must have been 100 percent grown, processed, and packed in the United States or Canada"