Questions and Answers - NB190020-24-00334 02-08-2024.pdf

National Institute of Standards and Technology RFQ 1333ND24QNB190033ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES FOR MASTER PLANNING AND ASSOCIATED STUDIES IDIQ Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024 Questions Due Date: February 13, 2024 Proposals Due Date: March 13, 2024

Questions and Answers

RFQ ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES FOR MASTER PLANNING AND ASSOCIATED STUDIES IDIQ

Status Date: 02/08/2024

No. Offeror Question NIST Response Amendment

1. We are very excited to see the announcement and have a quick question. We are curious as to the methodology around not accepting JV bids. We haven’t seen that much and were curious if this is a NIST preference or is this going to be something for us to pay attention to across the DOD

Refer to Amendment 1

2 I am writing to inquire about this opportunity with your agency, specifically on steps needed to submit our application, or to bid on this opportunity. Could you please advise on how to submit our application for this listing below?

Our firm X is a for profit, woman-owned small business, organized as S-corporation. We specialize in accounting services, such as audits, forensic services, and regulatory ethics, controllership. Certain areas we focus are accounting best practices, internal controls, and cash flow management. Our listing on SAM.gov can be found by GACE code X Unique Entity ID X.

Thank you for your interest in this procurement. If your firm has a NAICS code that matches 541310 - Architectural Services, your firm is encouraged to review the evaluation factors and then submit a proposal.

The proposal requirements are defined within the sam.gov listing.

3 In reference to the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) Associate statement on page 8 of the Statement of Work, would licensed, certified, Section C Statement of Work states in part the following:

https://sam.gov/api/prod/opps/v3/opportunities/resources/files/bcc47f80a6f940eabb4daf85e939c492/download?&token=

Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024 and/or registered personnel satisfy this or be equivalent to cover this requirement? If not, is this required for all key personnel and disciplines?

“ 2.1 Contractor Key Personnel”

The Contractor shall employ the services of personnel submitted with SF 330, Section E and agreed upon during negotiations to perform the services required under this contract. All key personnel on the Contract shall be distinguished and licensed in their field (For non-architects and non-engineers, key personnel shall be credentialed in their field). Key personnel for this Contract shall be, at a minimum:”

“ No substitution will be made without the advance written approval of the Contracting Officer. Before approval, the Contractor must submit, in writing, the proposed replacement's experience and qualifications record.”

“For program of requirements individual task orders, the key personnel shall be required to have a minimum of Design -

Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024

Build Institute of America (DBIA) Associate level certification.”

This question involves specifically (future) task orders related to ‘program of requirements’. As noted in the SOW, task order procurements related to (future) program of requirements will identify which key personnel are required to have DBIA certifications. Task order offerors (future) will submit the key personnel they are planning on offering to meet the key personnel requirements for that program of requirements.

In order to respond to this RFP, it is NOT a requirement that offeror’s personnel have DBIA associate level certification or higher at this time.

Additionally see response #29.

4 Please confirm we are to adjust the margins on the Standard SF 330 to comply with the one (1) inch margins on all forms.

Offerors are not expected to modify SF 330 formatting

Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024

5 My name is Adam and I am with the Hotel not far from NIST Gaithersburg offices. I noticed that your department has an upcoming project planned to start in July. I wanted to see if your team may be in need of overnight guest rooms during the span of your project. We are conveniently located in the heart of Gaithersburg, we have plenty of parking and full restaurant onsite. I have attached some information about our hotel and would love to speak with you further.

Thank you for interest in our procurement related to Architectural Services for Master Planning and Associated Studies.

NIST will not be using this contract action to award restaurant/lodging services to a hotelier. The NAICS code for awardees will be 541310 - Architectural Services

6 Since we were on the list to attend will we be receiving the list of all attendees?

Yes

7 This may have been asked: Will NIST allow a SB-to-SB Joint Venture to submit as Prime?

We understand why Mentor Protégé JV’s involving large businesses aren’t ideal.

Please reference response #1

8 1. Please confirm which of the following guidelines are to be followed - Page 2 of the RFP states “minimum of 50% of the required work with in-house staff.” But page 6 FACTOR #5.b. states “Offeror shall demonstrate its ability to comply with FAR 52.219-14, which requires at least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for

Refer to Amendment 1

Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024 Questions Due Date: February 13, 2024 Proposals Due Date: March 13, 2024 personnel be expended by Offeror’s employees and/or their proposed subcontractors who are small business.”

9 At the virtual site visit last week, the government affirmed the intent to post the list of site visit attendees, as was indicated in the solicitation. Can you please advise as to the expected timing for posting the attendee list?

Yes – it is posted with these RFIs and Responses

10 We have the following questions regarding the Architectural Services for Master Planning IDIQ and Associated Services opportunity:

• Regarding Section M Factor 1, #3-iv, does the government intend that each project address a minimum of two factors (2.a, 2.b, 2.c, and 2.d)?

• Regarding Section M Factor 1, #3-iii, if the project only involves buildings is acreage required, or is acreage only required for master planning projects?

Section M is how offeror’s proposals are to be evaluated by NIST. Section L//File named

“RFQ 1333ND24QNB190033

MasterPlanningAE IDIQ” is the technical factors that offerors have to address:

Section L/ File named “RFQ

1333ND24QNB190033

MasterPlanningAE IDIQ” Factor #1 in part states:

“a. The Offeror shall describe its experience (including that of its proposed subcontractors) in performing a minimum of two of the following types of projects comparable in size and

Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024 complexity to the Statement of Work, section 1.3:

1. Master planning of a campus and/or military base equal to or greater than fifty (50) acres. 50 acres must be for one single location versus adding acreage from multiple sites to achieve 50 acres.

2. Concept Studies

3. Feasibility studies for an existing building,

4. Programming, planning, and/or design for research facilities.”

Section L/ File named “RFQ

1333ND24QNB190033

MasterPlanningAE IDIQ” factor 1 states that offerors shall address at a minimum of 2 of the subfactors (a.1, a.2, a.3, or a.4)

Section M factor 1 evaluation describes how the offeror’s proposal is evaluated if the offeror provides more than 2 examples.

Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024

In relation to the question regarding Section L factor 1.a.1 in part it states:

“1. Master planning of a campus and/or military base equal to or greater than fifty (50) acres. 50 acres must be for one single location versus adding acreage from multiple sites to achieve 50 acres.”

Offerors who elect to provide an example for 1.a.1 shall demonstrate that the master planning activity was on a campus and/or military base equal to or greater than fifty (50) acres.

11 Factor #4: How will NIST evaluate past performance for completed and accepted projects in which the federal government did not provide

CPARS?

Refer to Amendment 1

12 Factor #4: Will PPQ be accepted? If so, will it be counted less than or the same as a CPARS?

See response #11

13 Factor #4: Does NIST recommend contractors to only include projects with CPARS and/or PPQ in Factors 1 and 3?

See response #12

Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024

14 It has been noted that Key Personnel must have a DBIA Associate Level certification for POR Task Orders. We respectfully request you to consider exceptions where a Team can demonstrate successful completion of DB PORs in the recent past for NIST or other Federal Agencies.

See response #3

15 Please clarify #17 of the 1.3 Scope of Work Tasks

– is this task requiring development of a GIS map for one or more of the NIST campuses?

SOW in part states:

“The Contractor shall provide all management, supervision, labor, supplies, equipment and facilities to develop and deliver contractor services in accordance with the following requirements.”

“17. Campus Mapping and modeling including 3- Dimensional (3D), Global Position”

These potential services involve all aspects of GIS activities.

16 Please confirm that Section G Contract Administration Data, page 2, under Request for Proposal, #6 is inadvertently listed and there are no items against it.

Section G page 2 (Request for Proposal) item #6 has no content.

https://sam.gov/api/prod/opps/v3/opportunities/resources/files/caf2a339657244f7907a3542e9ae4bba/download?&token= https://sam.gov/api/prod/opps/v3/opportunities/resources/files/2189ecfb9aa843c299d49176dd7ddf74/download?&token=

Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024

17 Please confirm that we are allowed to use our own SF330 Format as long as the information is the same as what is on the original government issued SF330 forms (rev 7/2021). If so, please confirm this means that the 1” margin is not required as stated in the original solicitation.

Please reference response #4.

Offerors are free to use their own SF 330 format provided it contains the same information in SF330 forms (rev 7/2021).

18 Factor 1 projects - is it required for all projects to be submitted by the PRIME offeror? Can one of the projects be provided by a subconsultant?

Section L/ File named “RFQ

1333ND24QNB190033

MasterPlanningAE IDIQ” factor #1 in part states: “…Specialized experience and technical competence of the Offeror and its proposed subcontractors performing facilities planning services completed since the start of calendar year 2017…”

As noted in the RFP, offeror’s and subcontractors’ experience maybe submitted for evaluation.

19 For Factor 1- Can a “project” be an IDIQ with several task orders described on the 3 pages allowed? Or does one “project” have to be one task order?

An IDIQ contract is not a project/example. Individual Task Orders under an IDIQ contract are projects/examples.

20 Factor 2 says “at a minimum, key personnel required are…”. There was mention at the site visit that personnel submitted outside of the list provided will not be evaluated. Please confirm if

Section L/ File named “RFQ

1333ND24QNB190033

MasterPlanningAE IDIQ” factor

Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024 Questions Due Date: February 13, 2024 Proposals Due Date: March 13, 2024 this is the case, or will the committee evaluate all personnel provided, even those not listed as required roles?

2 has three requirements (a., b., and c.)

Provide on SF 330 Sections C, D, E, G as described below.

a. Professional qualifications of the Offeror and its proposed subcontractors and key personnel. Any experience earlier than the start of calendar year 2017 will not be considered. Provide on SF 330 Sections C and D respectively:

1. Proposed Team

2. Organizational Chart of Proposed Team

For subfactor “a” offerors, have wide latitude to describe their proposed team that places them in the most positive light. SF 330 sections C, D, and E have no page limitations. If an offeror desires to describe those not identified as key personnel so as to place a spotlight on their proposed team, there is no prohibition. There is also no requirement to do so.

Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024

b. and c. in part states (revised per Amendment 1):

“b. The Offeror shall describe its professional qualifications and those of its proposed team (proposed subcontractors and key personnel). Offeror to identify the roles of its key personnel by providing on SF 330 Section E resumes for its proposed key personnel that include credentials, education, licenses, registrations, relevant experience, and the role to perform NIST's requirements.

Provide resumes in SF 330:

1. Resumes of key personnel proposed for this contract. The Offeror shall include, key personnel as required under 2.1

CONTRACTOR KEY

PERSONNEL of Section C Statement of Work

c. The Offeror shall provide key personnel participation in example projects on SF 330 Section G.”

Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024 Questions Due Date: February 13, 2024 Proposals Due Date: March 13, 2024

For subfactor “b”, only those key personnel found in Section C Statement of Work paragraph

2.1 “Key Personnel” will be evaluated.

Amendment removed “at a minimum” from the original RFQ

21 Will an existing JV between two small businesses who worked on Federal government project be acceptable?

Please reference response #1.

22 Will firms that are awarded a contract be precluded from performing design work later?

Yes

23 Section C Statement of Work – 2.1 Contractor Key Personnel:

Please confirm whether a DBIA certification is required of ALL key personnel? Only for a specific number of key personnel? Or specific role?

Please reference response #3.

24 Section M Evaluation Factors for Award – Evaluation Factor #4 Recent Past Performance:

Please confirm CPARS and/or PPQs are not required to be provided for each Section F project provided for Factor #1. Please confirm that it is the

Please reference responses #11 and #12

Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024 Questions Due Date: February 13, 2024 Proposals Due Date: March 13, 2024 intent of NIST to review the Offeror’s CPARS evaluations through the CPARS site only.

25 Section M Evaluation Factors for Award – Evaluation Factor #1 Specialized Experience and Technical Competence:

Are any of the required criteria (2.a, 2.b, 2.c, 2.d) weighted more than the others? For example, is criteria 2.a weighted more favorably than 2.d?

Section M Factor #1 in part states:

“Offerors that provide responsive examples that address criteria 2.a, 2.b, 2.c, and 2.d will be reviewed more favorably. The more criteria are responsively addressed, the more favorably Offeror is reviewed.”

There is no weighting on Section L/ File named “RFQ

1333ND24QNB190033

MasterPlanningAE IDIQ” factor 1 (2.a, 2.b., 2.c., or 2.d.) They are equally weighted.

26 Section M Evaluation Factors for Award – Evaluation Factor #5 Capacity of the Offeror and Proposed Subcontractors:

Is the intent of this evaluation factor to include information on the individual firm’s capacity as a whole or the individual key personnel’s capacity?

Section L/ File named “RFQ

1333ND24QNB190033

MasterPlanningAE IDIQ” factor #5 in part states:

“Submit on SF 330 Sections A, B, I; SF 330 Part II – GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS and on the 20-page limitation proposal.

https://sam.gov/api/prod/opps/v3/opportunities/resources/files/3c8d387fcbe84fd29b457a124d291bd1/download?&token=

Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024 Questions Due Date: February 13, 2024 Proposals Due Date: March 13, 2024

a. Offeror shall describe their, as well as their subcontractors’, current and planned workload.

The Offeror shall describe its and its subcontractors’ current and planned one (1) year workload from www.sam.gov RFP Date versus available team resources.”

Section M factor #5 in part states:

“The Government will evaluate Factor 5 to determine the offeror’s capacity and their subcontractor’s capacity for current work and planned work (1 year starting from www.sam.gov RFP Date).”

It is assumed in the potential offeror’s question that “individual key personnel” are employees of the offeror or a subcontractor with multiple employees.

For this factor offerors are to address this factor for the offeror and subcontractor firms not individual key personnel.

Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024 Questions Due Date: February 13, 2024 Proposals Due Date: March 13, 2024

27 Section M Evaluation Factors for Award – Evaluation Factor #2 Experience and Team Professional Qualifications:

Please confirm if only (1) resume should be provided for each key personnel role? If so, we would like to request NIST re-evaluate this requirement as we feel it would be beneficial to provide multiple resumes for each role to show our team’s breadth of services for the Gaithersburg campus and the Boulder campus individually. (i.e., The civil engineer we use for Gaithersburg, MD may not provide services in Boulder, CO thus requiring a 2nd resume needed to cover Boulder, CO).

Section L/ File named “RFQ

1333ND24QNB190033

MasterPlanningAE IDIQ” factor #2 (b.) does not limit the number of SF330 resumes for Section C “Statement of Work” paragraph

2.1 (Contractor Key Personnel”

28 Section M Evaluation Factors for Award – Evaluation Factor #2 Experience and Team Professional Qualifications:

Please confirm if NIST is requiring specific licenses or certifications for each of the key personnel roles. If so, please provide what they are.

NIST is a customer to the architect and engineer, A&E.

Dependent on the location of the work and the scope under the individual Task order, pertinent State Laws that apply to Registered Architects, Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors apply to the Contractor, A&E.

Please also reference response #3.

Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024 Questions Due Date: February 13, 2024 Proposals Due Date: March 13, 2024

29 Please clarify the certifications/credentials desired for the following roles: Senior Urban/Campus Planner, Senior Traffic Engineer, Senior Security Specialist, Senior Cost Estimator, Senior Cultural Resource Specialist, Senior Environmental/NEPA specialist.

For factor #2, section M in part states:

“…The Government will review professional qualification for Offeror and its proposed subcontractors and key personnel. If the experience is earlier than calendar year 2017 for personnel that experience will not be considered…”

See response #28 in addition to the response to this question.

As there are a wide spectrum of certifications/credentials available to professionals, NIST will evaluate all key personnel resumes including credentials/certifications (if any) as part of the evaluation process.

30 Please clarify which individuals require DBIA certification.

See response #3

31 Factor 3: Please clarify if SF330 Section “F” projects utilized for Factor 1 will be evaluated for

It is anticipated that some offerors may not desire to use examples in factor #1 to address

Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024 Questions Due Date: February 13, 2024 Proposals Due Date: March 13, 2024

Factor 3. If not, how should the projects applying to each section be identified to the government.

factor #3. Offerors have latitude to submit additional projects for factor #3.

Section M factor 3 in part states:

“If the Offeror submitted five past examples for factor #1, Government will review

a) 20 page limit proposal for factor #3 examples that are up to one (1) page each.

b) And/or SF 330 Section H.”

32 Factor 3: Please clarify that the Section “F” projects are still limited to only 5 projects, the additional proposal is limited to 20 pages and Section H is limited to 3 pages.

The identified 20 pages (not part of the SF 330) are pages that offerors are free to use how offerors deem they want to use.

Section F is limited to three (3) pages PER project. There is a limit of five (5) projects/examples.

Section H is limited to three (3) pages.

33 Factor 3: Please clarify if we can have additional Section “F” projects outside of the 5 considered for Factor 1.

See responses #31 and #32.

If an offeror has used all the pages allotted for factor 1 via SF 330 Section F (five projects), the remaining option for the offeror

Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024 Questions Due Date: February 13, 2024 Proposals Due Date: March 13, 2024 to respond to factor #3 via the 20 pages not part of the SF 330 offer.

34 Factor 3: Please clarify if a Section “F” project can count toward Factor 3 only and not Factor 1.

See responses #31, 32, and #33.

35 Factor 1: Please clarify if a Section “F” project can count toward Factor 1 only and not Factor 3.

See responses #31, 32, and #33.

36 Factor 3: Will a Section “F” projects be reviewed more highly than a narrative with no projects.

Section L/ File named “RFQ

1333ND24QNB190033

MasterPlanningAE IDIQ” factor 3 in part states:

“ (a) The Offeror shall also describe its experience working with its proposed subcontractors and key personnel. Any experience earlier than the start of calendar year 2017 will not be considered. A minimum of one of the following types of projects comparable in size and complexity to the Statement of Work, section 1.3:”

If an offeror does not provide at least one example for Section L/ File named “RFQ

Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024 Questions Due Date: February 13, 2024 Proposals Due Date: March 13, 2024

1333ND24QNB190033

MasterPlanningAE IDIQ” factor 3, the Offeror maybe deemed nonresponsive.

The information within the proposal for factor #3 will be evaluated equally regardless how it is formatted contingent it meets the overall RFP requirements.

37 Audited Rates: Please confirm that the government will accept other rates currently approved by federal agencies on other IDIQs as acceptance of another agencies “audit”. Please confirm the documentation expected for confirmation of the rates.

Confirmed.

RFP in part states (revised per Amendment 1)

The Offeror’s and its subcontractors’ proposed overhead rates shall be supported by Federal government agency’s audit if the Offeror or any subcontractors have been audited within the last two (2) years and if such rates are not currently under dispute; should Federal government agency’s audits be unavailable, the Government may accept the audited overhead rate reports from an

Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024 independent CPA firm, being sure that the CPA has removed unallowable costs as defined in FAR Part 31 and otherwise complied with cost principles contained in FAR Part 31.

Audits conducted in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) will not be accepted. If an audited overhead report cannot be provided, the following shall be submitted by the Offerors:

a) Audited Financial statements for the most recent three (3) years and Certificate of Cost and Pricing Data in accordance with FAR 15.406-2 for Contractor. If financial statements are not audited, submit explanation of why they are not audited.

b) Audited Financial statements for the most recent three (3) years and Certificate of Cost and Pricing Data in accordance with FAR 15.406-2 for each of the subcontractors proposed. If financial statements are not

Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024 audited, submit explanation of why they are not audited.

Amendment 1 removed “State” from the original RFQ

38 Please confirm if audited rates are required for all roles or only the Prime Contractor.

The response to question #37 applies to subcontractors also.

39 Please confirm if narrative statement outlining the offerors polices for accumulating overhead costs is for all prime contractor and sub-contractors or only for prime contractors.

See responses #37 and #38.

Fee schedule requirements apply to offeror and subcontractors.

40 Multiple times in the Scope and RFQ a 20 page limit for proposal is noted. Is this intended to be a 20 page limit for each factor or for the overall combination of all factors.

SF 330 with the exclusion of SF 330 sections F and H have zero page limitation.

SF 330 section H is limited to three (3) pages.

SF 330 section F is limited to five examples/projects at three pages each.

An offeror may use 20 pages outside of the SF 330 for any information they want to present.

Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024

41 Does the section H 3 page limit count against the 20 page limit for the proposal?

No – see response #40

42 To present a measure of diversity for master planning of campuses and/or military bases that include comparable private/commercial R&D campuses, will NIST allow for the acreage requirement to be 40-50 acres and greater versus the current requirement of 50 acres or greater?

The solicitation requirement is not being modified for this factor. See response #10 additionally.

43 In light of COVID and its impact on the building/real estate industry, will NIST consider adjusting the 2017 project age requirement to 2015 to present?

The solicitation requirement is not being modified for this factor.

44 Can Factor 1: Projects be from the subconsultants on the team?

Please reference response #18.

45 Master planning on a campus and/or military base equal to or greater than fifty (50) acres. 50 acres must be for one single location versus adding acreage from multiple sites to achieve 50 acres. If the master plan is not a military base, will it be rated lower?

No, there is no preference given to military base(s)

Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024

46 Will a master plan for a park, greater than 50 acres, with some buildings be acceptable?

Please refer to response #10 in addition to this response.

Section L factor 1 in part states:

“ 1. Master planning of a campus and/or military base equal to or greater than fifty (50) acres. 50 acres must be for one single location versus adding acreage from multiple sites to achieve 50 acres.”

NIST expects a campus to be one that consists of buildings in close proximity to each other with centralized support, amenities and other internal functions. Traditionally this would apply to governmental agencies, corporations (for profit or non-profit), hospitals, etc.

Persons work or learn in the buildings or live on the campus.

47 We are interested in submitting qualifications for consideration. Can you tell me if Joint Ventures between Small Businesses will be acceptable?

See response #1

Virtual Site Visit: January 18, 2024

48 The virtual site visit is still pending, and did not occur on 1/18/2024, correct?

The Site Visit occurred on 1/18/2024.