J.05B Q&A.pdf

Answers to Questions Raised by the Contractors for the IDIQ RFP Solicitation

Question 1: Questions regarding evaluation criteria format

a. Can we include RFP information, such as firm and IBWC logo, RFP number and name, and deadline date, in our headers and footers within the specified margin requirements?

b. Can we utilize simplified company branding?

c. Under Merit Factor 2, 2.B.1., can you confirm if Category 2.A.9 (Studies, Analysis, and Design of Site Remediation) is limited to two projects total?

d. Under Merit Factor 3, can you clarify if 2.C.1 and 2.C.2 combined will equal a total of four pages or two pages?

e. Under Merit Factor 4, 2.D.2., can we provide a more detailed organizational chart identifying key personnel/team members that’s supplementary to the organizational chart required in Section D of the SF330?

Answer 1: a. IBWC logo is used only for official purposes. Other information is allowed in your headers and footers.

b: Whether to use company branding is contractor’s call; it will not impact our evaluation of the contractor’s proposal.

c. Yes, 2.A.9. is included, and provide maximum of two projects.

d. 2.C.1 and 2.C.2 combined will equal a total of four pages.

e. Merit Factor 4, 2.D.2. does not require organizational chart. Please provide information about the professional team that will specifically work for this contract with IBWC.

Question 2: Should we only provide separation tabs that are labeled the following: Merit Factor 1, Merit Factor 2, Merit Factor 3, Merit Factor 4, Merit Factor 5, and SF 330 Form? Do we also need to provide tabs for each of sub items listed under each merit factor?

Answer 2: Any tabs to separate out various main sections are sufficient.

Question 3: Where should we place Section K and Section L.01 from 191BWC23R0002+0001.pdf within our proposal?

Answer 3: Please place these after SF330 form, separating the sections with tabs.

Question 4: To account for the additional information requested in the updated evaluation criteria and the production of 5 hard copies, could the due date be extended?

Answer 4: New due date is provided with the RFP.

Question 5: Per Answer 7 it makes reference of a Section K, can we assume that Section K will be included with the solicitation after the SF330 stage?

Answer 5: Yes, please refer to Q&A#3.

Question 6: Per Answer 9 & 34, a digital copy on CD or flash drive is required, in the General Guidance section of the evaluation criteria, a CD is requested. Please confirm that a flash drive is acceptable.

Answer 6: Either a CD or a flash drive is acceptable.

Question 7: Q&A #7: You stated we are required to include Section K as part of our proposal.

Since Section K is not part of the standard SF330 template that you provided and since there are various versions of Section K online, can you please provide the form you want us to complete?

Answer 7: Use SF 330 provided with solicitation.

Question 8: Q&A #8: When asked whether bidders are required to complete Section L.01, you stated “Yes, the Offeror is required to delegate a person to be contacted for this contract.” In Amendment +0002, L.01 has been removed. Is it okay for us to include our delegated person in our cover letter?

Answer 8: Yes, you need to include your delegated person in your cover letter.

Question 9: Solicitation document “191BWC23R0002”, Section I Clauses includes by reference “52.219-9 Small Business Subcontracting Plan (Oct 2022)”. Neither the solicitation Section L.02 requirements nor the Evaluation Factors for IDIQ A-E Services includes a description of the requirements for the Small Business Subcontracting Plan. Is a Small Business Subcontracting Plan required with the SF330 qualifications submittal?

Answer 9: No

Question 10: Evaluation Factors, Merit Factor 4, section 2.D.2. Is the inclusion of the Geo-hydrologist discipline listed intended to be the same as the Hydro-geologist discipline listed in Merit Factor 3, section 2.C.1.a?

Answer 10: Yes, it refers to the same profession.

Question 11: Amendment 2, Evaluation Factors. Merit Factor 2 states, “Provide a list of projects performed during the last 10 years similar in nature to the work described for each Category under Merit Factor 1. For Categories 1 through 5, a maximum of five (5) projects per Category shall be listed. For Categories 6 through 8, a maximum of two (2) projects per Category shall be listed.” Merit Factor 1 includes a total of nine Categories. Please confirm the exclusion of Category 9 above is correct.

Answer 11: Yes, 2.A.9. is included.

Question 12: Amendment 2, Evaluation Factors. Amendment 2 added Construction Inspectors noted in section 2.D.3. Should the list of disciplines in section 2.D.2 for “Proposed Professional Team”, also include Construction Inspectors?

Answer 12: 2.D.2. refers to specific professional team that will work on this contract with IBWC. In Section 2.D.3., you have to provide information on number of professional in various locations.

Question 13: Amendment 2, Evaluation Factors. Merit Factor 4, paragraph 2.D.3 states, “Provide all the locations and number of professionals (Construction Inspectors with and without degrees listed in 2.C.2.) that would be available at each to serve as inspectors during construction projects along the entire US-Mexico border.” Please confirm the IBWC would like to see Construction Inspectors with and without degrees?

Answer 13: Yes, you have to provide information for construction inspectors with or without degrees.

Question 14: IBWC response to bidder questions, Question 26 and Answer. Please clarify that as long as we conform to the SF330 instructions, that individual projects in Section E and individual resumes in Section F can exceed one page each.

Answer 14: Please provide information in the space provided in SF330 without any extra insertions.

Question 15: The equipment list requested in Merit Factor 4, and regional and national quality awards requested in Merit Factor 2 will exceed the page limits at Times New Roman 12-point font. Is it possible to include the equipment list as attachment to Merit Factor 4 and the awards as attachment to Merit Factor 2? Or, would it be acceptable to include them as attachments to Section H Other?

Answer 15: Please stay with the font size, formatting, and page limit provided for the Merit Factors.

Question 16: Amendment 2, Evaluation Factors, Merit Factor 3, and IBWC Answers to Questions 10 and 20. Please confirm that each Merit Factor 3 section response for 2.C.1 and 2.C.2 is limited to 2 page max for each response (Item 2.C.1 seems to be addressed in the answers to Questions 10 and 20, and paragraph 2.C.5 seems to indicate two page maximum for both 2.C.1 and 2.C.2) and that the response to Items 2.C.3 and 2.C.4 is limited to 1 page each.

Therefore, the total Merit Factor 3 response is limited to up to 6 pages (11x17 required for 2.C.4) if the maximum page count is used in each of the four required sections.

Answer 16:

Question 17: IBWC response to bidder questions, Question 23 and Answer. Is the answer provided for the Section D Organization Chart as part of the SF330, the corporate structure as part of Merit Factor 3.2.C.4, or both?

Answer 17: Answer to Question 23 is related to corporate structure in Merit Factor 3.2.C.4.

Question 18: In reviewing the Q&A, we wanted to clarify the statements about the margins on the SF330. The SF330 margins are approx. 0.5” all the way around. The Q&A state to keep the

SF330 margins, however, to accommodate a 3-hole punch we need to adjust the left margin to 0.75” or 1”. Will this be acceptable?

Answer 18: Please use the existing format for SF330; digital copy will be available to review for any punch hole in the text area of the hard copies.

Question 19: Who is the incumbent Vendor, along with contract number, and total contract value?

Answer 19: Stantec, CDM Smith, Arcadis, and Wilson-Freese and Nichols Joint Venture—these four are the current IDIQ contractors. In general, each contract awarded in the past was at least a million dollars in value.

Question 20: . In total, in the northern states of Mexico, there are 1,750 dams with various water uses. Can you provide the number of dams in all the other states/locations in this requirement, as well as their water use?

Answer 20: IBWC is responsible for operation and maintenance of both storage, and diverson dams in the main stem of the Rio Grande. Amistad Dam near Del Rio, TX, and Falcon Dam, Falcon Height, TX are the storage dams. Diverson dams are American dam near El Paso, TX, Anzalduas dam, and Retamal dam in the lower Rio Grande valley.

Question 21: What specific type(s) of work will be required on the dams in the various locations

(ie. maintenance, construction, etc.)?

Answer 21: Based on dam inspection report, repair and maintenance work whenever required.

Question 22: Can you confirm the font size required for text input by the firm into the SF330 form? The amendment states to use the format of the form.

Answer 22: For SF330, use the font at 100% view.

Question 23: Will USIBWC allow an 11x17 organizational chart for the SF330 Section D? Per Q&A #23, an 11x17 size is allowed for the corporate organizational chart. Section D will be more legible at the 11x17 size.

Answer 23: : For SF330, use the font size at 100% view.

Question 24: If we include information in Section H will USIBWC evaluate it? The amendment states additional information is not required.

Answer 24: All information required are stated in the Merit Factors, no additional information required. For form SF330, please follow the general and special instructions in the form.

Question 25: For 2.B.1 do we need to include two projects for the newly added category 2.A.9?

The instructions do not include 2.A.9.

Answer 25: Yes, for 2.A.9., please include maximum of two projects.

Question 26: For Merit Factor 2, Section 2.B.1(h) should 2.A.9 be included? Currently the instructions only state Category 2.A.1 through 2.A.8.

Answer 26: Yes, 2.A.9. is included, provide maximum of two projects.

Question 27: For Merit Factor 3, Section 2.C.2 are only Civil, Geological, Geotechnical and Mechanical acceptable disciplines? What qualifications are you looking for in a Geological Engineer? Would other disciplines be acceptable, such as a PE in Environmental Engineering?

Answer 27: Geological Engineer needs to have special knowledge about geology, and geotechnical methods. Environmental Engineer can be included in the Civil Engineering group.

Question 28: Per document "J.01A_Eval_Factors+for+IDIQ++Rev1", suggest changing 2.B.1.h to 2.B.2 and changing 2.B.1.i to 2.B.3 similar to original merit factor document for beter flow. Otherwise, please indicate the order for 2.B.1.h and 2.B.1.i.

Answer 28: Order is correct, just include 2.A.9.