RFQ 05GA0A26Q0003 Amendment 01 Attachement - Questions and Responses 2.9.26.pdf

Request For Quote (RFQ) # 05GA0A26Q0003 – Architect and Engineer Services Amendment 1

Questions/Responses

Question 1

Reference: In relation to the RFQ for Architect and Engineer Services, we have a question regarding the following wording in Section C.8.0, Pages 51 & 52.

"The Contractor shall be required to perform the services described herein at the U.S.

Government Accountability Office, Headquarters.

Other potential locations may include GAO Field Offices currently located in the cities of Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Dayton, Denver, Huntsville, Los Angeles, Norfolk, Oakland and Seattle.

No on-site parking will be provided.

C.8.2 The Contractor shall be required to perform the service described during normal business hours which are Monday – Friday (excluding federal holidays) between 6am - 6pm EST."

Is this to be interpreted as the contractor is intended to supply personnel year-round in the office as an augmentation of staffing or is this referring to general site visits as part of the daily execution of assigned Task Orders?

Response: For field offices personnel year-round is not required.

Additionally, C. 9 states travel is not authorized. In the same thought as above, is this referring to the intent for staff to be on site for time with GAO being their place of report, or simply that no travel expenses would be authorized separately from hourly rates?

Response: Site visits may be as part of the awarded task orders. For local GAO headquarter travel expenses are not authorized.

Question 2

Reference: Volume 1 / C. Basis for Award Factor 1: Professional Qualifications and proposed Key Personnel; Key Personnel and Specialized Knowledge RFQ PAGE # 11

Regarding required disciplines, the RFQ states: “Construction Management - Professional Engineer, provide licensure/certification number and date.” Please confirm if it is acceptable for Construction Management services to be fulfilled by a licensed architect as opposed to a licensed (professional) engineer.

Response: Yes, the Key Personnel Construction Management position can be fulfilled by a Licensed Architect or a Licensed Engineer.

Question 3

Reference: Volume 1 / Submission Requirements RFQ PAGE #6

Is it acceptable to submit the required information for Volume I—Technical (Factors 1 – 5) in SF 330 format? Or is there another format that GAO requires/prefers?

Response: SF 330 is not being requested. Please refer to section Instructions to Offerors beginning on page 5 for submittal requirements

Question 4

Reference: Volume I / C. Basis for Award Factor 4: Past Performance on Relevant Contracts

RFQ PAGE #13 - 14

Is it acceptable to submit previously completed PPQs for contracts/projects if those evaluations include the same six performance areas and evaluation factors as those shown in Attachment 5:

GAO Past & Present Performance Questionnaire?

Response: Yes, it is acceptable. However, if a CPAR evaluations has been submitted the CPAR submission will be the governing document.

Question 5

Reference: Volume I / C. Basis for Award Factor 4: Past Performance on Relevant Contracts

RFQ PAGE #14

If the offeror is submitting CPARs evaluations for corresponding narrative projects, please confirm whether GAO would like those CPARs evaluations included as part of the offeror’s response in Volume I—Technical Factor 4: Past Performance on Relevant Contracts OR if the offeror should submit those CPARs evaluations using the same process outlined for PPQs:

separately via email and no later than submittal due date to the Contract Specialist MeChelle Dickey at dickeym@gao.gov and the Contracting Officer John Lambert at Lambertj@gao.gov.

Response: Submittal shall be included as part of the offeror’s response in Volume I

Question 6

Reference: Volume #1 / Section #5 TRAVEL Page #25

1. On page 25 of the solicitation, it is stated that “travel is not authorized for this contract.”

We wanted to confirm this is an accurate statement given there are multiple locations noted.

Response: For work at GAO headquarter travel expenses are not authorized.

Question 7

Reference: Volume #1 / Section A.1 Page #4

We'd like to confirm the NAICS for this opportunity. The solicitation states 541310, however, Sam.gov states the NAICS code is 541330. Please confirm which NAICS code is correct and should be used by offerors.

Response: The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this action is 541310 - Architecture, Engineering, and Related Services. The NAICS code has been corrected in the RFQ posting on Sam.gov.

Question 8

Reference: Volume #1 /Section #C.1.1 Page #s 6, 41

We'd like to confirm the required documents for this submission. Page 6 mentions a Price Quote (“Offerors will be required to provide a Technical and Price quote in accordance with the instructions herein”); however, the rest of the solicitation mentions and is following Brooks Act (specifically noted on page 41). Can you please confirm that a Price Quote is not needed for this submission?

Response: Price quotes do not need to be submitted at this stage in the solicitation.

Question 9

Reference: Volume #1 /Factor 1 Page #s 10-11

Can contractors propose two individuals per role?

Response: No, only one person per role to be the same with all other vendors and the proposed key personnel must commit to the contract.

Question 10

Reference: Volume #1 /Factor 1 – Part A Page #10

The solicitation mentions Part A. Is there a Part B to Factor 1?

Response: There is no Part A or Part B. The RFQ has been updated to remove this reference.

Question 11

Reference: Volume #1 /Factor 1 Page #11

Factor 1 states "Offerors are to submit up to a maximum of three (3) projects that best illustrate the proposed team's qualifications for award of a contract. Offeror may use those projects submitted under Past Performance to satisfy this requirement. For each project, use only one page and note the contract or task order number, as applicable." Please confirm that project narratives should be provided under Factor 4 Past Performance and not under Factor 1.

Response: Please refer to the directions for each Factor and its requirements.

Question 12

Reference: Volume #1 /Section: C.30.5 Page #58

Can you please clarify if the solicitation is to be a complete SF330 with Factors 1-4 to be addressed in Section H and Factor 4 to be addressed by Section F and Factor 1 to be addressed by Section E?

Response: Section C.30 is a section within the SOW and speaks to directions for submitting a Task Order after the IDIQ has been awarded. Please follow the Instructions to offerors for submitting a response to this solicitation.

Question 13

Reference: Attachment 5 – Present/Past Performance Questionnaire; Page 14

The solicitation states we "may submit a CPAR" and "CPAR rating will govern". Does this mean we can submit a CPAR in lieu of PPQ?

Response: As stated, alternatively, Offeror’s may submit CPARs for corresponding Narrative projects. If both a PPQ and a CPAR are provided, the CPAR rating will govern.

Question 14

The solicitation states that contractors are to contact their references and request that they submit a past and present performance evaluation directly to GAO. Are CPARS to be directly sent to GAO?

Response: The RFQ states completed Past and Present Qualifications must be submitted directly by the reference. CPARS reports can be submitted directly to the Government.

Question 15

Reference: Volume #1 /Section: C7.3 Page #49

Does the Regional Project Manager have to be located local to the contract?

Response: No, the Project Manager does not have to be located locally. However, government preference is that the reginal project manager to be local so he/she can be responsive to the government’s request.

Question 16

Reference: Volume #1 /Submission Requirement Page #6

Should the Attachment 2 - Cover Page be placed before the cover letter?

Response: Please submit the response in the same order as the RFQ stated -cover pages, cover letters.

Question 17

Reference: Volume #1 / C.7.13 Page #51 and page 11

Under Factor 1, the solicitation states that for the Historic Preservation there must be a professional engineer. However, under C.7.13, it states this role should be a registered architect. Please confirm that we should follow what C.7.13 states are the requirements.

Response: The Key Personnel Historical Preservation position can be fulfilled by a Licensed Architect or a Licensed Engineer.

Question 18

Reference: Evaluation Criteria, Factor 1, Disciplines Required and 1. Key Personnel;

Volume #1 Pages 10, 14

Key personnel specified are considered to be essential to the work being performed hereunder.

To maintain consistency and clarity of operations, one dedicated Project Manager must be available to manage all tasks awarded under this contract.

Please clarify the role of the Senior Project Manager is the individual who will manage all tasks on the IDIQ and the Regional Project Manager(s) are the Task Order Managers?

Response: Senior project manager and regional project manager can be the same person.

Question 19

Reference: Evaluation Criteria, Factor 1, Disciplines Required; Volume #1 Pages 11

Historical Preservation - Professional Engineer, provide licensure/certification number and date.

Historical Preservation Subject Matter Experts often have an Architectural Degree. Is Architectural licensure/registration acceptable?

Response: Yes, the Key Personnel Historical Preservation position can be fulfilled by a Licensed Architect or a Licensed Engineer.

Question 20

Reference: Evaluation Criteria, Factor 1, Disciplines Required; Volume #1 Pages 11

Construction Management - Professional Engineer, provide licensure/certification number and date.

Is Architectural licensure/registration acceptable for this position with 20+ years of relevant experience?

Response: Yes, the Key Personnel Construction Management position can be fulfilled by a Licensed Architect or a Licensed Engineer.

Question 21

Reference: Evaluation Criteria, Factor 1, Disciplines Required and Factor 4: Past Performance on Relevant Contracts; Volume #1 Pages 11, 12, and 13

Regarding the following '(3) Projects completed within the last (5) years.'

Please confirm relevant project completion requirements is defined as AE design complete.

Response: Yes, relevant project completion requirement is defined as design complete. Or can be partially completed at 90% with total completion shortly afterwards.

Question 22

Reference: C.7.0 Key Personnel; C.7.1 Minimum Qualifications; Volume #1 Page 49

In lieu of a architectural or engineering registration, can the Senior Project Manager (overall contract manager) have 30+ years of experience in contract administration and relevant Federal IDIQ contract management?

Response: The Sr. Project Managers does not have to be registered architects; it is acceptable for them to have degrees in Architecture. However, GAO’s preference is that they are registered.

Question 23

Reference: Evaluation Criteria, Factor 4: Past Performance Volume #1 Page 13

Is the intent for us to use the SF330 format for this RFQ submittal? And if so, are the "Narratives" for the 3 contracts intended to be evaluated in the Section F Project Descriptions?

Response: SF 330 is not being requested. Please refer to section Instructions to Offerors beginning on page 5 for submittal requirements

Question 24

Reference: Factor 1-Professional Qualifications; C.7.1 Minimum Qualifications Volume #1 Pages 11 and 49

Please confirm key personnel are required to have 5 years of experience in their discipline.

Response: key personnel shall have minimum 10 years of experience in their discipline.

Question 25

Reference: Factor 4: Past Performance on relevant contracts; Volume 1 pages 11, 12 and

To confirm we provide complete, thorough, and responsive narratives that fully address all requested elements, would the Government consider extending the page limit for each project narrative (Section F Project Description) from one page to two pages?

Response: Section F of the SF330 is not a part of the requested response at this time, and is part of the procedure for submitting a task order after the IDIQ has been awarded (See Section C.30). For narratives under factor 4, please do not exceed the page limit of 80 pages as stated on pg 6.

Question 26:

Please advise whether a price quote is required at this time and if so the format for it (hourly rates, base year, option year rates overhead and profit etc.). Also, please advise whether the price quote may be excluded from the maximum 80 pages count as this information can take up several pages.

Response 1(a): Quotes are not required to be submitted at this stage of the solicitation.

Question 27:

Volume: 1 Section: 1, A Page 6

Please advise which submission items must be compatible with Microsoft Office Products and which items must be submitted as Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. Please confirm whether we may submit our proposal only as PDFs that are compatible with Adobe Acrobat.

Response: All submission items must be compatible with Microsoft Office Products. PDF documents shall be compatible with Adobe Acrobat.

Question 28:

Volume: 1 Section: 1, A Page 6

INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFEROR’S, A. Format of Submission and Response Submissions, page 6 of the RFP notes that “All fonts shall be at least 12 or larger in Arial (not Arial Narrow) to include text, tables and figures. Pages shall be 8-1/2 inches by 11 inches. The response is to be organized as indicated below.”

Given that the RFP response is restricted to 80 pages and presentation of our materials uses a different font, we are respectfully requesting GAO to consider allowing us to reduce the font size to 10 point, and the font to our choice of font.

Response: Quote shall be submitted as stated in Section 1 Instructions to Offeror’s

Question 29:

Volume:1 Section: 1. C. Page#: 10

Section 1 – INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFEROR’S, C, Basis of Award, Evaluation Factors, item c.

notes that "Projects should include general construction, renovation, Class A office building tenant fit out; including, but not limited to, incidental minor construction, excavation, demolition, electrical, structural, plumbing, mechanical, concrete work."

Please confirm that these requirements may be satisfied across the three (3) projects to be submitted and do not need to be satisfied in each of the three (3) projects.

Response: Each submitted project shall stand on its own merits.

Question 30:

Volume: 1 Section: 1. C. Evaluation Criteria, Factor 1, Part A Page# 11

Section 1 – INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFEROR’S, C, Basis of Award, Evaluation Criteria, Factor 1, Part A – Professional Qualifications and proposed Key Personnel; Key Personnel and Specialized Knowledge notes: "• Interior Designer - Provide licensure/certification number and date" twice.

Please confirm that we should provide two (2) Interior Designers' resumes or whether the second Interior Designer role was meant to refer to another discipline.

Response: Only one interior designer’s resume is required

Question 31:

Volume: 1 Section: 1. C. Evaluation Criteria, Factor 1, Part A Page#: 11

Section 1 – INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFEROR’S, C, Basis of Award, Evaluation Criteria, Factor 1, Part A – Professional Qualifications and proposed Key Personnel; Key Personnel and Specialized Knowledge notes:

"• Construction Management - Professional Engineer, provide licensure/certification number and date"

Please advise whether GAO would accept a Licensed Architect in this role in lieu of a Professional Engineer.

Response: Yes, the Key Personnel Historical Preservation position can be fulfilled by a Licensed Architect or a Licensed Engineer.

Question 32:

Volume: 1 Section: 1. C. Evaluation Criteria, Factor 1, Part A Page#: 11

Section 1 – INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFEROR’S, C, Basis of Award, Evaluation Criteria, Factor 1, Part A – Professional Qualifications and proposed Key Personnel; Key Personnel and Specialized Knowledge notes:

"• Historical Preservation - Professional Engineer, provide licensure/certification number and date."

Please advise whether GAO would accept a Licensed Architect in this role in lieu of a Professional Engineer as in our experience, we see the Historic Preservationist discipline / services provided by registered / licensed Architects.

Response: Yes, the Key Personnel Historical Preservation position can be fulfilled by a Licensed Architect or a Licensed Engineer.

Question 33:

Volume: 1 section: 1. C. Evaluation Criteria, Factor 1, Part A page: 11

Section 1 – INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFEROR’S, C, Basis of Award, Evaluation Criteria, Factor 1, Part A, Page 11, Paragraph 2 notes:

"No more than five (5) projects should be listed for each resume, and each project listed must have been completed within five (5) years of publication of this RFQ announcement."

We respectfully request GAO to allow us to include projects to have completed construction within ten (10) years of publication of the RFQ as due to the Pandemic, the construction of many projects has been delayed.

Response: Please only submit projects within the last five years.

Question 34:

Volume: 1 Section: 1. C. Evaluation Criteria, Factor 1, Part A Page#: 12

Section 1 – INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFEROR’S, C, Basis of Award, Evaluation Criteria, Factor 1, Part A, Page 12, Paragraph 1 notes:

"Past Performance to satisfy this requirement. For each project, use only one page and note the contract or task order number, as applicable. The projects submitted shall specifically address the requirements stated in the SOW."

We respectfully request GAO to allow us to include up four (4), 8.5" x 11" per project so we may delineate the various aspects of the project.

Response: Please submit 1 page per project.

Question 35:

Volume: 1 Section: 1. C. Evaluation Criteria, Factor 4 Page: 13

Section 1 – INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFEROR’S, C, Basis of Award, Evaluation Criteria, Factor 4:

Past Performance on relevant contracts, paragraph 1, sub-paragraph 3 notes:

"Offerors should submit Narratives for a maximum of three (3) recent (within the past 5 years) and relevant (comparable in size, scope, and complexity) contracts demonstrating the Vendor's ability to perform the requirements outlined in the Statement of Work (Narratives)."

We respectfully request GAO to allow us to include projects to be completed within ten

(10) years of publication of the RFQ as due to the Pandemic, the completion of many projects has been delayed.

Response: Please only submit projects within the last five years.

Question 36:

Volume: 1 Section: 1. C. Evaluation Criteria, Factor 4 Page: 13

Section 1 – INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFEROR’S, C, Basis of Award, Evaluation Criteria, Factor 4:

Past Performance on relevant contracts, paragraph 1, sub-paragraph 8 notes:

"Vendors are also responsible for the distribution, submission, and tracking of the PPQs that are included in the RFP as an Attachment. PPQs are required to be completed by the entities with whom the Vendor has contracted in the past. Those entities must submit completed PPQs directly to GAO, as noted below."

Given the recent government reduction in force, many of the Procuring Contracting Officers, Program/Project Managers, Administrative Contracting Officers, or equivalent etc. who we have worked with on large contracts such as IDIQs have retired or left the government's work force.

Hence, we would be grateful if GAO would consider allowing us to submit previously completed PPQs and directly to GAO as an attachment to our proposal. Please advise.

Response: Response: The RFQ states completed Past and Present Qualifications must be submitted directly from the servicing agency.

If submitting CPARS in response to this RFQ they can be submitted directly to the Government by way of email no later than Quotation due date to the Contract Specialist MeChelle Dickey at dickeym@gao.gov and the Contracting Officer John Lambert at Lambertj@gao.gov. CPAR’s received after the response due date will not be considered.

Question 37:

Attachment 5.

Please confirm we may disregard pages 63, 64 and 65 and the PPQ evaluator is to only provide one digital (1) copy of Attachment 5 per pages 59 - 62.

Volume: 1 Attachment 5 Page’s: 63 through 65

Response: Only one copy of the PPQ (Attachment 5) shall be submitted by the PPQ evaluator (Attachment 5 pages 59 – 69.

Question 38:

Attachments 1, 3 and 4 pgs. 17, 22 and 40

Please confirm Attachments 1, 3 and 4 are only informational and do not need to be submitted with the proposal at this stage.

Response: Attachments are a part of the solicitation and do not need to be submitted at this stage of the solicitation.

Question 39

C.7.3 Regional Project Managers Page 49

How are GAO's decision makers/managers relative to this scope structured per region (and what are GOA's regions)?

mailto:dickeym@gao.gov mailto:youngh@gao.gov

Response: The majority of the work will be at the GAO headquarter building in Washington DC area. In order to be responsive GAO prefers the regional project manager to be in local Washington DC area.

Queston 40

C.7.3 Regional Project Managers Page 49

Does GAO prefer a manager per region, or in one centralized location?

Response: The majority of the work will be at the GAO headquarter building in Washington DC area. The GAO prefer the project manager to be local in the Washington DC area. There is no need for a manager in each local field offices.

Question 41

C.7.2 Senior Project Manager - C.7.3 Regional Project Managers Page 49

Please confirm the project managers have to be registered Architects. Is it acceptable for them to have degrees in Architecture?

Response: Both the Sr. Project and Regional Project Managers do not have to be registered architects; it is acceptable for them to have degrees in Architecture.

However, GAO’s preference is that they are registered.

Question 42

Please confirm if two Interior Designers are requested as it is listed twice. (Evaluation Criteria)

Factor 1 – Professional Qualifications and proposed Key Personne; Key Personnel and Specialized Knowledge Page 11

Response: Only one interior designer is required.

Question 43:

Please clarify if team members are to have 5 years experience or 10 years experience?

Both are listed.

Evaluation Criteria

Factor 1 – Professional Qualifications and proposed Key Personnel; Key Personnel and Specialized Knowledge Page 11

(RFQ document) c.7.1 Minimum Qualifications c.7.1 Minimum Qualifications Page 49

Response: Attachment 4 – Statement of Work states page 49 states “All key personnel are required to have 10 years of experience.

Updated Section C.7.1 states All Key Personnel are required to have a minimum of 10 years of {project experience}” (pg. 11).

Question 44:

Is this primarily an engineer IDIQ or architecture or both?

Response: The resulting IDIQs will be for architectural and engineering services.

Question 45:

Can you share sample scopes of work from past IDIQ contracts that would be considered typical?

Response: Projects at headquarter building were:

• Air handling units replacement design

• HVAC upgrades design

• Roof replacement design

• Building envelope improvement design

• Electrical systems study

• Electrical system upgrades design

• New Fit out design

• New SCIF design