75--Meijer gift cards for Research Projects

Questions VA251-12-Q-0135-A00001 QUESTION: We produce and sell plastic gift cards to retail entities but this solicitation appears to be geared toward the purchase of 550 pre-existing gift cards with a value of $50 each from Meijer. Outside of the volume purchase discount or, perhaps, government regulations that disallow your direct purchase of gift cards we are not sure we understand the role of the dealer in this solicitation. Can you clarify? ANSWER: This solicitation is part of the VA commitment to support small businesses. The vendor will obtain and ship the cards to our facility. QUESTION: Will payment be made available using a Government Purchase Card at time of order? Meijer Corporation will not begin fulfillment of the Gift Cards until payment has cleared. ANSWER: Payment terms are NET 15. A receiving report will be processed at the VA Ann Arbor warehouse when the cards are received. This receiving report will be matched to the contractor's invoice submitted to the VA Financial Management system in Austin TX. Once this matching occurs, payment will be made within 15 days. QUESTION: Can Payment be made available via a Check at the time of order? Meijer offers additional discounts, if this is possible. ANSWER: As noted above, payment will occur within 15 days after receipt of the gift cards at the VA Ann Arbor warehouse. The contractor will be established in the VA Financial Management system. Payment will be via EFT once the invoice and receiving report are matched. QUESTION: Does each card require an individual envelope? ANSWER: No. QUESTION: Are there any packaging requirement for the final deliverable? Can they be delivered unbound in a box/envelope(s)? ANSWER: We have no specific packaging requirement. Yes, they can be delivered unbound in a box/envelope. The packaging of the cards needs to be secure enough to be received safely in our warehouse without damage to the contents. QUESTION: Can the Gift Cards be mailed directly to the Place of Performance, from Meijer? ANSWER: Yes. But it is very important that the Purchase order number assigned to these gift cards be referenced on the package so that it can be properly identified when received in our warehouse.