Region 01 Facilities AE_Amendment 02_Questions and Responses_08 May 2025.pdf

Region 1 AE Facility Design Services Pre-solicitation – Amendment 02

Region 01 Facilities A&E Pre-Solicitation

Contractor Questions and Government Responses

1. Is it OK for an Architecture firm to continue to submit as the prime contractor?

Government Response: Yes, the Prime Contractor can be either an architecture firm or an engineering firm provided the prime team has sufficient qualifications to provide services for all respective disciplines.

2. Does the prime architect submitting need to be licensed in all five states?

(Idaho, Washington, Montana, and both North and South Dakota)

Government Response: Region 1 consists of Idaho, Washington, Montana, South Dakota and North Dakota and Prime must be licensed in all Region 1 states.

3. Confirming this is in addition to the SF330, but is there is page limitation on the SF330 itself?

Government Response: No more than 10 pages.

4. Will USFS require Professional Engineer/Survey/Geologist license in each state within Region 1 (i.e. North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Idaho)?

Government Response: Yes, see response to question 2.

5. Is this a pre-solicitation as it is noticed, intending to collect information on firms available or is this intended to be the full solicitation to then award contracts based on the submittals?

Government Responses: After evaluation of the qualifications and performance data submitted, the most highly qualified firms to provide the type of services required will be chosen for negotiation.

6. Is the 15-page limit per subcontractor on our team?

Government response: No, the 15-page limit is for all the subcontractors on your team combined.

7. Can non-small businesses submit for this requirement?

Government Response: No. This is being solicited solely for small business interests.

8. The solicitation uses the term “Environmental Engineering.” Recognizing that many of the most qualified environmental professionals are not Professional Engineers but instead Environmental Scientists who hold masters and doctoral level degrees in very specialized fields relating to water, soil/groundwater, plant, wildlife, and other resources within the broad field of environmental consulting, would the USDA Forest Service please consider modify the term “Environmental Engineering” in the solicitation to include the services of an “Environmental Engineer/Scientist,” so that non-PE environmental professionals, many of whom have far more depth of knowledge and relevant expertise than Professional Engineers, may be used for submitting an SF330 resume as the lead environmental consultant on an AE team.

Government Response: for civil related environmental work like the design of water-wastewater systems, then it needs to be stamped by a PE. If it’s other environmental work, e.g. Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, water quality sampling/monitoring, hazmat response, etc. then Environmental Scientists would be acceptable.

Region 1 AE Facility Design Services Pre-solicitation – Amendment 02

9. Please clarify the term used in the RFQ “Construction Support Services and Testing” is requesting a resume from to a professional that provides “Construction Materials Testing” such as concrete testing during a concrete pour or soil testing using a nuclear density gauge to confirm soil compaction during site preparation. If this is not the intention, please further clarify so that AE teams can select the correct professional/resume to submit.

Government Response: That is the correct interpretation

10. Please confirm that “Construction Inspection expertise with materials, equipment, methods and systems on typical Forest Service projects” means that each team should provide a resume for a senior construction professional who is qualified to be present on site to oversee construction and identify problems with construction methods; and, that this does NOT mean an “IBC Special Inspector” who is trained and certified to conduct certain specific tests, as required by the International Building Code.

Government Response: That is the correct interpretation

11. Part F – Can project histories be ongoing or do they need to be completed projects.

Government Response: They can be ongoing.

12. Part F – Can project histories be contracts?

Government Response: Yes.

13. Part H – Is there a font limitation on the Part H Text?

Government Response: No.

14. Is there a size limit on the PDF to be emailed?

Government Response: No.

15. Can we send our SOL Response through a Sharefile link that you can download?

Government Response: Due to security concerns please submit your responses via email attachment.

16. Part F – For the project histories can we include 10 project histories for each team member?

Government Response: No, 3-5 project histories would suffice.

17. Part F – For the project histories can these be double sided front and back pages?

Government Response: Yes.

18. What is required of someone providing Total Project Management services? We have a professional in our firm that has the PMP (Project Management Professional) certification. Would including that person on the team fulfill this requirement?

Government Response: Submit all qualifications as part of your pre-solicitation packet.

19. What types of “records of satisfactory performance in providing similar services to Federal and State land management agencies…” will be accepted as proof of past performance?

Government Response: Examples of records would; reference letters or CPARS records.

20. Can the due date of this pre-solicitation be extended to May 30th?

Government Responses: The due date is not extended under this pre-solicitation. All responses are due no later than 1500 MDT, on 15 May 2025.