Questions_and_Answers_(Amendment_0003)_0003.docx

Amendment #0003

RFP# 140F0821R0005

Questions & Answers

1. Box 10 of the SF 1442 indicates the contract type to be Firm Fixed Price. Due to the current market factors for construction materials (e.g. wood, steel, copper, etc.) and the uncertainly and volatility of prices, would the Government consider changing the contract type to Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustment, or provide a contingency/option under the Firm-Fixed Price contract type to make adjustments for changes in material prices - this could potentially be an FFP with Cost Reimbursable material CLIN(s), or similar?

Response No, the Government will be keeping the current format.

2. Section F.1 states that the work will commence within 15 days of Notice to Proceed (NTP). Section I.3 states that the Contractor shall be required to (a) commence work under this contract within 30 Calendar days of receipt of NTP. Would the Government please clarify the number of days work is to commence after receipt of NTP?

Response Work will commence within 15 days of Notice to Proceed (NTP).

3. Obtaining LEED certification for the project/building is a 2+ month process that cannot be started until everything in the building (including furniture) is installed and the building is air flushed. Can the government please confirm that the 270-day time period to complete construction does not include obtaining the LEED certification, and that obtaining the certification can be obtained within a few months after construction is complete?

Response Yes, LEED Certification may be obtained after construction is complete. See SOW 3.7.5 which states: “After completion of the work and prior to final payment, submit the LEED Silver Certification documents ….” This is after construction is complete.

4. This para discusses encountering "paleontological, archaeological or historical remains (including burials or skeletal material)". On a previous contract, our team was required to provide Archaeology monitoring during the excavation phase. Please clarify if this support is to be provided by the Government, or will the Contractor need to include for this expense in their proposal?

Response Section 3.5.3 states that “If ….“ these items are found. No professional Archaeological monitoring is called for in the SOW or required of the Contractor. However, if Contractor personnel encounter any of these items they shall proceed as called for by 3.5.3. It is not anticipated that the Government will be performing professional Archaeological monitoring. The sites are in the process of being cleared Archaeologically by the Government at this time

5. Building Material availability: There is currently shortage of some building materials nationwide. If we show material was ordered in a timely manner but on back order for an extended period of time, will this be an acceptable delay to an request extension to the schedule?

Response The Construction schedule is set at 270 days. It is the Contractor’s responsibility to make all decisions with regard to staffing, sequencing of activities, and ordering of materials in order to create a construction schedule which meets the 270 day limit. If a diligent effort is made by the Contractor to obtain materials from various suppliers and there is no opportunity to arrange the schedule to accommodate a material shortage, the Government will consider a schedule extension.

6. Will there be a space on the site with Electrical access for a construction office trailer, 50' x 12'?

Response There will be space for a construction office trailer. Utilities during construction are the responsibility of the contractor which is described in SOW 2.8, 3.1.2, 3.1.14, and others. Available utilities are described in the SOW and attachments.

7. Can USFWS provide additional details on the process and timing for price negotiations based on the Phase 1 submission date of June 15th and a POP start date of July 1st ? The bidding documents do not allow sufficient detail for firm fixed pricing from the subcontract market nor does the RFP timeframe allow for sufficient design development to seek these FFPs. However, we would be ready to present budgetary amounts and allowances for specific scopes under the $14M budget, with assumptions and clarifications on material selection and scopes. Thus, we would like to better understand the process upon selection of the preferred technical bidder.

Response The period of performance will not begin July 1st. The date you see was an estimate at the time the project planning started. Selection of preferred bidder is made during Phase II of the selection process. The nature of the Design-Build delivery method is such that design development by the Contractor prior to Phase II proposals is sufficient for the Contractor to guarantee the firm fixed price. Balancing of costs and prices during design and construction is the responsibility of the Contractor in order to meet their firm fixed price proposal.

8. In lieu of past performance questionnaires (PPQs), can offerors use CPARS, ACASS, etc. and/or previously completed PPQS from other proposals?

Response Yes

9. I apologize for the confusion; I was referring to section L.2.1.4 Past Performance. Would the Government allow for more than 5 pages for that section?

· Most CPARS are 4 pages each, so the current page limit only allows for 1 CPARS, instead of 1 for each project submitted in section L.2.1.3

Response Yes, we will increase the number of pages per project to five (5) instead of one (1).

10. Currently, Section L.2.1.3 Recent, Relevant Experience defines a “recent” project as one that has been completed within the last five years or is currently ongoing but at least 25% complete. We respectfully request the Government extend the definition of a “recent” project to include projects completed within the last eight years, as this project is an 8(a) set-aside. This will allow small businesses participating in the 8(a) program to show more similar building projects that are highly relevant to the project’s scope of work but may be just outside the current five-year limitation.

Response We will accept projects completed in the last eight (8) years but they would not be weighted the same as those projects that met the requirement of five (5) years.

11. It appears as though the fifth paragraph under Section L.2.1.4 Past Performance may be a copy/past error, as this paragraph is an exact copy of a paragraph shown under Section L.2.1.3 Recent, Relevant Experience. To ensure Offerors provide complete, compliant proposal responses, is it the Government’s intention that Offerors include copies of Attachment 10 Past Performance Information/References completed by client references for the five projects shown under Tab L.2.1.3 Recent, Relevant Experience?

Response Please disregard the duplicate language in L.2.1.4

12. We have often found that clients who have completed a CPARS report and/or Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) are not willing to fill out additional, specialized past performance forms for the same project. Especially given the short time frame associated with this solicitation, we request that you allow Offerors to include a copy of completed CPARS reports and previously completed PPQs in lieu of Attachment 10 for Section L.2.1.4 Past Performance. This will allow the Government to receive more thorough past performance information to review and gain a more complete understanding of Offerors’ past record of performance and experience.

Response The Government will allow this

13. In Attachment 1, on Page 6 under Section 1.10.1, the Statement of Work (SOW) states there will be 20%, 40%, 70%, and 99% design milestones. However, under Section 2.9 Design Schedule and Review Meetings, the SOW shows 40%, 70%, 99%, and 100% design milestones. Would you mind clarifying which specific design deliverable submittals the Government anticipates for this project?

Response

2.9 is correct. There will be no 20% design submittal or review.

14. Would the Government allow a fast track design process with multiple design packages to allow for material procurement and construction to begin prior to the final completed design? We have found that this approach allows projects of similar size and scope to be completed faster and is a major benefit offered by the design-build delivery method.

Response No. Due to potential changes, we require 100% design prior to construction start.

15. The current design and construction schedule is shown to be 120 days (design) and 270 days (construction), not including Government review and approval. Even with that caveat, our team is concerned this timeframe may not be achievable, considering 1) the amount of work associated with the project and – in particular – 2) the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the material and manpower availability. For example, steel supply has been severely impacted, with some areas experiencing greater than 8-month lead times for joists and decking. Would the Government consider extending the planned period of performance to 180 days for design (not including review time) and 450 days for construction to account for these concerns?

Response Make these notes in your proposal. We will consider time extensions along with proposal quality and price.