Questions_and_Answers_RFQuals_0004.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION

1150 North Curtis Road Boise, ID 83706-1234

PN-7200

Questions and Answers in response to the request for qualifications for Architectural and Engineering (A-E) Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ)- Columbia-Pacific Northwest Interior Region-9, Bureau of Reclamation

1. Question: Could you advise as to whether Reclamation is considering or will issue a solicitation for Unrestricted IDIQ(s) for similar or complementary services?

Answer: Reclamation does not plan on issuing a separate solicitation for an Unrestricted IDIQ for similar or complementary services.

2. Question: Would it be possible to find out who the current or previous contract holder was for the Columbia-Pacific Northwest IDIQ with the BOR?

Answer: The previous contract holders are as follows: 140R1019D0005 Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. Expired on 7/11/2024. 140R1019D0006 Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. Expired on 7/11/2024. 140R1019D0009 HDR Engineering, Inc. expires on 9/8/2024.

3. Question: How many contractors does Reclamation anticipate selecting for this IDIQ?

Answer: In accordance with the Request for Qualifications, Reclamation intends on awarding multiple IDIQ's but reserves the right to award a single general-purpose contract if it is determined to be in the Government’s best interest to do so. Reclamation does not have a specific number for award.

4. Question: What type of effort does Reclamation foresee with respect to Water Treatment for this IDIQ (i.e., largescale municipal water treatment or smaller-scale rural water treatment)?

Answer: Small scale industrial water treatment design.

5. Question: What type of effort does Reclamation foresee with respect to Hydropower for this IDIQ (i.e., large-scale design of hydropower projects in dams or smaller-scale hydropower design on irrigation facilities or hydropower studies)?

Answer: Large scale design hydropower projects.

6. Question: What is the threshold percentage of work that need to be performed by the prime contractor?

Answer: The follow-on Request for Proposal (RFP) which will be issued to highly rated AE firms will contain the clause at FAR 52.219-14 Limitations on Subcontracting (Oct 2022)

Deviation (Sep 2021). The deviation clause is available at https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/caac/CAAC_Letter_2021- 02_Limitations_on_Subcontracting_8.11.2021.pdf. Offerors should pay particular attention to paragraph (e) Limitations on subcontracting.

7. Question: Does every key position require licensure in at least one of the States of Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Wyoming?

Answer: The main Technical Lead and Technical Approver for each Task Order should be licensed in the state where the work has been requested. The Contractor key personnel should have at least one Subject Mater Expert Licensed per discipline at each state.

8. Question: Is there a limit to the number of Section F projects we can include?

Answer: The current solicitation does not contain a limit to Section F. projects.

9. Question: Can you please let us know the incumbent firms for the BOR A&E IDIQ for Region 9?

Answer: See answer to question #2

10. Question: Can you please provide Reclamation's preferred PPQ form?

Answer: Yes, see attached PPQ form.

11. Question: Is there still going to be the usual Unrestricted IDIQ Solicitation as well?

Answer: See answer to question #1

12. Question: Additionally, if you are able, would you please share the firms that submitted on the Sources Sought for this opportunity?

Answer: Yes, see attached B01-08 List of SS Respondents included.

13. Question: The acquisition has been issued as a small business set-aside. Does Reclamation plan to issue a solicitation for an unrestricted version of the acquisition?

Answer: See answer to question #1

14. Question: If not brand new, could you please provide the current / previous contract number?

Answer: See answer to question #2

15. Question: The request specifies font must be 11 or larger. The SF330 form uses a 10 point font with no ability to change font size. Can the government provide guidance on how to address this discrepancy?

Answer: Offerors may use SF330 Form 10 point font for that document only.

16. Question: The Questions and Answers dated 8/20/2024 directs firms there is no limitation to the number of projects that can be added to section F (it’s typically 10). The following section

(G) of the SF330 form correlates the proposed team to the provided projects and only provides the ability to do this for 10 projects. Are firms able to provide additional information to correlate the team to projects if more than 10 are provided?

Answer: Yes, firms are able to provide more than 10.

17. Question: The request states firms shall submit proof that they are permitted by law to practice the professions of architecture or engineering. Is the Government requesting individual licenses for specified staff (example: PE or PLS license per state)? If so where should firms put this information?

Answer: Firms' Engineers and Surveyors shall be licensed in the state performing services. Information can be provided in the Resume.

18. Question: The subject solicitation doesn't call for the Project Manager to be licensed and wanted to get a confirmation regarding that matter

Answer: In accordance with the RFQ, Project Manager's do not need to be licensed.

19. Question: Would the Government like CPARS to be provided with the response? We understand PPQ forms are not to be provided in the technical response and are to be sent directly to: efrias@usbr.gov; lfleming@usbr.gov

Answer: There is nothing in the RFQ that would restrict a firm from providing CPARS as part of their qualification submission.