TS_Cleared_IDIQ_FEDBIZOPS_announcement_Final_A001_-1-12-2018.docx

This is a Public Announcement in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 36.6, Architect-Engineer Services. Interested firms shall submit qualifications based on the requirements of this announcement. (Note that only firms that possess FINAL Secret Facility Clearances (FCL) are eligible to respond to this announcement. The following disciplines must possess a Final Secret Personnel Security Clearance at the time the proposal is submitted- Site and Master Planning; Architecture; Space Planning and Interior Design; Mechanical Engineering; Civil Engineering; Structural Engineering; Electrical Engineering; Physical and Technical Security; Project Management; Cost Estimating.) Upon receipt of qualifications submissions, the Department will conduct a technical evaluation in accordance with selection criteria in FAR 36.602.1. If, upon evaluation of these submissions, there are a sufficient number of small businesses with the required demonstrated competence and qualifications, the procurements may be considered for a small business set-aside.

This notice is issued in order to complete a Brooks Act technical evaluation. It does not constitute a request for proposal or a commitment on the part of the U.S. Government to issue a solicitation for the services identified below. Offerors are advised the U. S. Government will not pay for information submitted in response to this requires for qualifications, nor will it compensate offerors for any costs incurred in the development/submission of its qualifications package.

As noted above the procurement may be set aside, in some capacity, for small businesses. The decision will be based on whether a sufficient number of small business enterprises are determined to be the most highly qualified offerors, at the conclusion of the technical evaluation.

The U.S Department of State (DOS), Office of Logistics Management, on behalf of the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO), anticipates awarding at least three indefinite delivery/quantity contracts to qualified architect-engineer (A/E) firm-led teams (prime or joint-venture) of licensed professional to provide comprehensive architectural and engineering services.

OBO's mission is to provide safe, secure and functional facilities that represent the U.S. government to the host nation and support our staff in the achievement of U.S. foreign policy objectives. These facilities should represent American values and the best in American architecture, design, engineering, technology, sustainability, art, culture, and construction execution This solicitation covers A/E services for both new construction and modernization projects at US diplomatic facilities worldwide. New construction projects may include office buildings, residences, and support and recreational facilities. Modernization projects may include upgrades, renovation and rehabilitation of existing facilities. The estimated construction cost for each project ranges from $1 million to $750 million.

Each offeror selected for award shall receive a single contract for new construction and modernization services. Each contract shall consist of a one-year base period with six one-year optional service periods. The Government guarantees a minimum of $50,000 in task orders over the life of each contract. The total amount of task orders issued under each contact is not expected to exceed $30,000,000 per year.

Task orders may include, but are not limited to, the following: architectural and engineering studies; analysis of potential new construction sites; analysis of potential new and existing compounds; site utilization studies and master planning; preliminary planning and due diligence; sustainability reports; conceptual and schematic designs; design development; construction documents and specifications; space planning; space programing; furniture specification; graphics and signage design; food service design; environmental and sustainable design; scheduling, budget assessments; cost estimates; life-cycle cost analysis; value engineering; design intent and peer reviews services; construction phase services; and claims analysis. In addition, the following engineering services shall be provided: electrical, mechanical, plumbing, structural, blast, civil, geotechnical, environmental, seismic, technical and physical security, lighting, acoustical, chemical and biological protection, telecommunication, fire protection, value engineering, cost estimating, and vertical transportation. These services shall be performed by professionals who are licensed, registered, or certified, where applicable. Most projects require A/E teams to travel to the project site and develop effective working relationships with local consultants and government officials.

A/Es shall provide administrative coordination of the various disciplines involved and shall ascertain and work within the US Governments’ requirements and the applicable laws, codes, and standards at the overseas project sites. Knowledge and experience in the preparation of planning, design, and constructions documents employing alternative delivery methods (e.g., design-bid-build, bridging, and design-build) will be required.

The successful offeror(s) shall be required to provide design and drawing files that are produced in or compatible with AutoCAD Release 2015 and REVIT Architecture 2015. Any software version other than noted will require approval prior to the start of a project. OBO’s ProjNet application shall be required for the electronic transmission of unclassified and sensitive but unclassified USG information and ProjNet-C for classified USG information.

Department of State projects deliver excellence through a comprehensive process that aims to represent the best of American architecture, design, engineering, technology, sustainability, art, culture, maintainability, and construction following the Guide to Excellence in Diplomatic Facilities (https://overseasbuildings.state.gov/excellence). A/E firms responding to this solicitation should demonstrate their ability to produce their best possible product based on their design achievements and portfolio of work of similar complexity.

A single-stage process shall be used in the award selection, as follows:

The qualifications submission should be no more than 160 single-faced or -80 double-sided pages (exclusive of tabbed divider sheets and cover letter) in an 8 ½” x 11” format. The primary text font size shall not be smaller than 10 pt.; photo titles, subtext, etc. shall not be smaller than 8 pt.

The qualifications submission should include the following items, divided into tabbed sections, in the order listed below:

(1) COVER LETTER. Provide a cover letter referencing the FedBizOpps announcement and briefly describing the A/E team profile, areas of expertise, organizational make-up, noteworthy accomplishments and the proposed team’s experience working together. (Maximum length: 2 pages)

(2) STANDARD FORM 330. Proposed team information shall be documented using Standard Form 330, Part I, Sections A through C. Use Sections D through G for information on the proposed team requested in items 7, 8, and 9, below. Block H may be used to supplement, as required. In Part II, Firm, as requested in Box 2A, is defined as the individual , firm, partnership, corporation, association or the legal entity permitted by law to practice the profession of architecture or engineering that will have contractual responsibility for the project design(s), should the proposed offeror be selected for a contract.

(3) A/E FIRM DESIGN PORTFOLIO. (20 points maximum) Submit a portfolio representative of the A/E firm’s past performance on design. The portfolio shall include not more than six (6) projects that have been designed and fully constructed in the last ten years. (maximum of six pages per project) Projects may be either new construction or modernization or a combination of the two. Offerors shall comment on the relevance of the submitted projects to OBO. The material shall address the design approach with salient features for each project and explain through narrative, images, and diagrams how the client’s program, image, economic, schedule, maintenance, functional and operational objectives were satisfied by the overall design/planning solution. This section of the submission shall also cite certificates, awards, peer recognition, etc. demonstrating excellence, and provide a client reference contact for each project, including name, title, address, email, and phone number. At a minimum a site plan, representative floor plan, building section, two photographs, and other appropriate drawings and diagrams must be included for each project.

(4) LEAD DESIGNER PROFILE(S). (5 points maximum) Submit a biographical sketch (maximum of four pages on two double-sided sheets per person) including education, professional experience, and recognition for design efforts inclusive of the portfolio examples. Identify and describe proposed areas of responsibility and ability to commit to multiple OBO projects concurrently while ensuring leadership of the team and quality of design.

(5) LEAD DESIGNER PORTFOLIO. (10 points maximum) Submit a portfolio representative of the Lead Designer(s)’s ability to provide excellence in design. The portfolio must comprise three projects designed and constructed in the last ten years (maximum of six pages printed on three double-sided sheets per project). Only three projects may be submitted regardless of whether the Lead Designer is a single individual or a group of individuals. The narrative shall address the relevance of submitted projects to OBO and the Lead Designer(s)’s participation in each project; the overall design philosophy and salient features of each project; and how the client’s program, image, mission, economic, schedule, maintenance, functional, and operational objectives were satisfied by the overall design/planning solution. Cite any certificates, awards, peer recognition, etc., demonstrating excellence. Where there is duplication with criterion 3, A/E Firm Design Portfolio, the Lead Designer(s) shall clearly cite their responsibilities on the project.

(6)PHILOSOPHY AND DESIGN INTENT. (10 points maximum) The Lead Designer(s) (in a maximum of four pages on two double-sided sheets) shall state the parameters of an overall design philosophy, their approach to the challenge of public architecture and related issues, parameters that may apply in creating an overseas diplomatic presence, and their commitment to integrated and sustainable design.

(7)KEY PERSONNEL AND PAST PERFORMANCE (15 points maximum). Offerors shall demonstrate the capabilities of their Core Team through past performance on projects and the qualifications of key personnel. (For the purposes of this evaluation, the Core Team is comprised of the following disciplines: (1) Site and Master Planning; (2) Architecture; (3) Landscape Architecture; (4) Space Planning and Interior Design; (5) Mechanical Engineering; (6) Civil Engineering (7) Structural Engineering; (8) Geotechnical Engineering (9) Electrical Engineering; (10) Sustainability; (11) Physical and Technical Security; (12) Project Management; (13) Cost; and (14) Pre-Construction Management with Construction Phasing. Team members that offer both Core and non-Core functions will only be evaluated on the basis of their Core functions at this stage.) Standard Form 330, Part II shall be used to document the general qualifications for each Core Team discipline by firm name. For each discipline comprising the Core Team, offerors shall submit:

a. A profile of the Core Team key personnel that will be performing the services. Cite their personal experience and notable qualifications, including past projects, U.S. licensure and registration, certifications, professional awards, and any other indicator of high quality professional performance.

b. Two recent examples of constructed projects, built within the past ten years. Offerors must clearly state the relationship of the examples to the scope, complexity, and other details of a typical OBO project.

c. Include any key Core Team personnel disciplines as identified above. Offerors shall note the relationship between the proposed key personnel and the project examples provided.

d. Offerors shall identify the significant design features that best demonstrate quality, durability, performance, and innovation following OBO Design Principles. Design approach, context, functionality, and/or other key elements shall be cited. Individual projects may cover more than one discipline.

e. Previous relevant Core Team experience with overseas planning, design, and construction projects; knowledge of foreign building codes, zoning ordinances, and standards, as well as local construction materials and practices; and experience working with local firms shall be demonstrated.

(8)TEAM ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN (10 points maximum). Offerors must demonstrate that the Core Team and the management of the Core Team will fully meet the needs of the Department of State. The narrative should describe the work typically performed by the offeror and the work typically performed by consultants and the offeror’s approach to managing workload and the means of assuring quality of contract deliverables. The narrative should validate the Core Team’s capacity to successfully manage multiple projects of various scales, costs, complexities, providing their strategic vision on how they will successfully design projects for operations on constrained sites with rigorous local planning controls and requirements.

a. Provide graphic representation (organizational chart) of the Core Team showing the relationship between the design, project management, technical production, and quality assurance/control team members shall be included (non-core disciplines, if included, should be listed by firm name only.)

b. Identify key roles and lines of communication and present the means to integrate client input. Provide infographics or other supporting information clearly describing relationships within the organizational structure while emphasizing the integrated approach to project development and delivery.

c. Demonstrate the commitment of the Core Team, including their substantive, leadership role in integrated delivery of a project ensuring cost and quality control, while meeting the project schedule and phasing plans. Identify the physical location of major design and production work, the coordination plan for consultant work, and for work produced in remote offices.

d. Demonstrate the capacity of the team to successfully manage multiple concurrent projects. Address the roles that individual team members will play and include their experience and abilities in handling the variety of methodologies employed throughout the design process to achieve OBO’s goals. To review OBO’s design principals, offerors may refer to the “Excellence in Diplomatic Facilities Overview”, at the following website: (www.state.gov/obo) via the excellence tab.

(9) DOCUMENTS AND STANDARDS (5 points maximum). Offerors must be able to manage the design process and produce well-coordinated, high quality designs and construction documents, presentations, phasing plans, construction specifications, standards, and guides.

a. The Core Team shall provide three recent examples of past projects built and/or executed within the past ten years, and identify specific instances that demonstrate their ability to satisfy this requirement.

b. Provide specific metrics that demonstrate expertise in managing design, schedule, and cost for each of the projects (e.g. number of RFIs and change orders during construction, schedule for planned verses actual performance, and A/E design project estimate versus construction award project cost.) Provide a description of the team’s quality control procedures that have been used.

SELECTION OF OFFERORS FOR OBO SHORT LIST

Based on the evaluation of the qualifications submissions a short list of offerors will be developed. Firms on the short list will be invited to make presentations. In its presentation each offeror should expect to describe its overarching approach to projects, its methodology in achieving excellence across all disciplines, design innovations, experience with technically complex building types, experience with modular construction, and its team’s ability to successfully navigate projects through the approval processes. Specific questions to be answered in the presentations will be provided to the offerors in advance of the presentations. (The presentations will be worth 25 points maximum.)

The scores from the evaluation of the qualifications submissions and interviews will be combined and firms with the highest combined scores will be recommended for contract awards.

SECURITY CLEARANCE INFORMATION (Note that only firms that possess at least FINAL Secret Facility Clearances (FCL) are eligible to respond to this announcement.)

In order to be eligible for award of a contract, successful offerors must possess or be eligible to obtain a Defense Security Service (DSS) Top Secret Facility Clearance (FCL), with Secret safeguarding capability, issued in accordance with the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual, DOD 5220.22-M. The selected offerors must possess a FINAL Secret FCL; DoS will sponsor firms for an upgrade from Secret to Top Secret. Additionally, the successful offerors selected for contract award must possess, or immediately obtain an Accredited Information System (AIS), approved by DSS for processing classified information. Performance on this contract will require access to the Department’s ProjNet-C, for receipt and transmission of all classified information, and a DSS approved classified AIS for processing classified information. Offerors must submit their appropriate Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code with their Stage 1 submissions.

Firms which form joint ventures must also comply with the above FCL requirements. Each entity comprising the joint venture must be issued an FCL, as well as the joint venture. DoS sponsorship shall occur at the time of selection, but the Department’s sponsorship does not guarantee that the firm will receive the clearance. If a selected firm has not obtained the FINAL Top Secret FCL after 120 days, the Government may terminate negotiations with the offeror, and may move to select another short-listed firm for award.

Firms possessing Secret FCLs under Special Security Agreements with DSS will not be sponsored by DOS for FCL upgrades to Top Secret and therefore cannot be considered for award of this contract. Foreign firms are not eligible for FCLs. Foreign firms are not eligible for FCLs. Only U.S. firms organized and operating in the U.S. or Puerto Rico, or a U.S. possession or trusted territory, are eligible for facility clearances.

Certain design team subcontractors/consultants will also require Secret or Top Secret FCLs and personnel security clearances as listed in the first paragraph of this announcement. The Department of State may sponsor one additional uncleared design subcontractor/consultant, at the request of the selected firm. Any other uncleared design team subcontractors/consultants must be sponsored by the selected AE.

A copy of the Prohibited Countries List, from which offerors may not choose design team members, can be obtained from the Contracting Officer listed in the last paragraph of this announcement. Additionally, citizens of Vietnam and China and dual U.S. Vietnamese and dual U.S. Chinese citizens may not be the Lead Designer or a Principal.

A firm being considered for an award must meet the definition of a “United States person” of P.L. 99-399, Section 402 thereof, as follows: (1) be legally organized in the United States more than five years prior to the issuance of a request for proposal; (2) have its principal place of business in the United States; (3) have performed within the U.S. administrative, technical or professional services similar in complexity, type of construction, and value of the project being solicited; (4) employ U.S. citizens in a least 80 percent of principal management positions in the U.S.; and (5) have existing technical and financial resources in the U.S. to perform the contract. Firms not meeting the “United Sates persons” requirement will not be considered.

Offeror(s) must complete and submit one copy as part of its qualification package the pamphlet (bound separately), Certifications Relevant to Public Law 99-399, Statement of Qualifications for Purpose of Section 402 of The Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986. (The pamphlet is attached to this announcement and may also be obtained from the Contracting Officer listed at the end of this notice.)

This is not a request for proposal nor is it a design competition. Since a contract may result in an award over $700,000, large businesses will be required to submit a small business subcontracting plan prior to contract award. The small business size standard North American Industry Classification System code is 541310, $7 million average.

Offerors that meet the requirements described in this announcement are invited to submit their qualifications. Firms shall submit six (6) hard copies and one digital, PDF version on CD. The submission shall incorporate tabs to clearly identify the different solicitation requirements. Offerors may find a copy of the SF-330 at the following website: http://contacts.gsa.gov/webforms.nsf/0/21DBF5BF7E860FC185256E13005C6AA6/$file/SF%20330.pdf.

Offeror’s submissions must clearly indicate solicitation number 19AQMM18R0074 All qualifications (including the statement of qualifications of P.L. 99-399), must be received by 10:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on or before February 5, 2018. Requests for clarification must be received, in writing by email, to Gloria Paul at PaulG2@state.gov and Charles Krips at Kripscg2@state.gov not later than 25 days after publication of this notice. Clarification requests received after the deadline, and telephone requests for information, shall not be accepted.

U.S. Postal Service mailing address: U.S. Department of State, OBO/PDCS/SPC, P.O. Box 13350, Rosslyn Station, VA 22219-3350. Courier address (Federal Express, UPS, etc): Charles Krips and Gloria Paul, U.S. Department of State, 1701 North Fort Myer Drive, Room 1120, Arlington, VA 22209. Note: The Post Office does not deliver to 1701 N. Fort Myer Drive.