Questions_from_Offerors_and_Answers.doc

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (Q&A)

Solicitation Number 2016-N-17762, A-E Services IDIQ March 2, 2016

1. Question: Is there an incumbent in place or is this a new requirement?

Answer: Yes, there is an incumbent

2. Question: Is this solicitation for follow-on for an existing contract?

Answer: Yes

3. Question: If so, please share the name of the firm holding the most recent contract for these services Answer: Jacobs Government Services, Inc.

4. Question: Does one receive the Standard Form (SF) 330 from you?

Answer: No. You may download the form at: www.gsa.gov/portal/forms/download/116486

5. Question: Can you tell me if there is an incumbent?

Answer: See Answer 3 above.

6. Question: Will the award be to one firm or will you select multiple firms on the IDIQ?

Answer: One (1) Firm

7. Question: How much of the program will require delivery in international locations?

Answer: By the very nature of an IDIQ, this is an unknown value.

8. Question: What languages should we anticipate encountering when planning for full communication coverage?

Answer: Historically, projects have occurred in locations with primary languages of English, French, Spanish, various Asian (Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese) and various languages spoken on the continent of Africa.

9. Question: Is it better for us to construct Part I in an agreement with one of those firms (i.e. Heery, AECOM, Parsons Brinckerhoff) or stick with firms we have worked with in the past and lose points on the international portion of the requirement?

Answer: This is a business decision of the offeror; CDC cannot provide guidance on this question as it may provide an unfair advantage and/or disadvantage to the offeror.

10. Question: Could you please provide direction on what resumes/positions you would like us to submit?

Answer: The announcement specifically states in the Evaluation Criteria; “Professional qualifications and relevant experience of key team personnel (contract managers, project managers, task managers and key technical staff, at a minimum) as it relates to items above.” The offeror should determine the key staff they believe are appropriate to provide the services identified in the announcement.

11. Question: Will architectural/engineering design services be part of this contract?

Answer: Architectural/engineering knowledge and skills may be required to provide appropriate planning and study services required by this IDIQ, BUT traditional design services are not included in the IDIQ scope of services. Furthermore, architectural/engineering firms involved in the development of the planning and study services provided under this IDIQ contract will be excluded from participating in any design projects that result from such planning activities and/or studies performed under this IDIQ contract.

12. Question: Could you please provide any additional information on foreign countries where we may be asked to provide services? Additionally, what languages would you like our team members to be able to speak?

Answer: See Answers 7 and 8 above.

13. Question: You request that we submit a current completed SF330, Parts I and II, as well as up to 20 additional pages responding to the selection factors. Is this 20 page response in addition to the Section H of the SF330, or should the Section H be no more than 20 pages?

Answer: The 20 additional pages refer to Section H; responses to Section H shall not exceed 20 pages.

14. Question: Does the 12 point font size apply to the whole SF330 Part I, or just the 20 additional pages?

Answer: The 12 point stipulation is applicable to the additional 20 pages (maximum). The offeror shall utilize the font size they deem appropriate for completion of other sections of the SF330.

15. Question: The solicitation references Past Performance Questionnaires for Item F projects however there is no PPQ provided with the solicitation. Is there a specific form required? Is a PPQ required for each Project?

Answer: Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQ) are not required. Please disregard reference to PPQ.

16. Question: How many Item F projects are allowed to be submitted? While 10 is the norm, some agencies request fewer and some allow more.

Answer: Offerors shall follow the SF330 instructions that states “Provide ten projects, unless otherwise stated by the agency.”

17. Question: Is there any page limit for each individual Item F project; in order words is it one page per project?

Answer: Offerors shall provide one project per page.

18. Question: The solicitation states “A limit of twenty (20) additional letter size (8 ½ x 11) sheets, font size 12 will be permitted responding to the selection factors.” There is not standard response size for an SF 330 Part I, as Part I depends on the following:

· The number of team members (this could increase the number of pages required for Items A-C and Item D organization chart)

· The number of disciplines required (Item E resumes)

· The number of projects (Item F representative projects)

· Item G will depend on the number of resumes required in item E

· Item H can be of any length unless a page limit is indicated.

We believe it would be better to state an overall page limit of 100 pages for the entire SF 330 Part I as this is a substantial solicitation requiring the coordination of various A/E disciplines and specialty sub-consultants. Additionally the solicitation could state no brochures or additional promotional materials will be allowed with the submission of the SF 330 as they will be discarded.

Answer: The proposal shall be in letter size (8 1/2”x11”) format. The 20 additional pages refer to Section H; responses to Section H shall not exceed twenty (20) letter size (8½” x 11”) sheets, font size 12.

19. Question: Font size 12 – is this font required for the entire SF 330 Part I or only for the Item H? We believe requiring a standard Arial 10 (not narrow) provides a clean and legible front and reduces waste (incurred from reformatting of forms and additional space required for larger font).

Answer: The 12 point stipulation is applicable to the additional 20 pages (maximum). The offeror shall utilize the font size they deem appropriate for completion of other sections of the SF330.

20. Question: One of the services listed “serving as CDC's financial advisor when determining and assessing alternative financing structures for buildings and facilities projects. Can you provide an example of this service or more a detailed description of the scope of services under this category?

Answer: No additional information is available. The description as stated provides a general statement of our need.

21. Question: Can you tell me if there might eventually be a requirement for Construction Management Services for CDC?

Answer: No.

22. Question: Can you confirm that we may submit "other than small business" firms as a part of our sub-contracting team for this contract as long as we perform 50% of the contract value?

Answer: Yes, that is correct.

23. Question: How is A-E firm defined by the Section 40 U.S.C.? I need to know if our firm (with key personnel that are degreed engineers with 20+ years of relevant project work) qualifies as an A-E firm under this code or if we need to JV with registered architects/PE firm as a prime. Our subcontracting team members do hold these registrations.

Answer: The term “firm” means an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity permitted by law to practice the profession of architecture or engineering (Title 40 – Public Buildings, Property, And Works Subtitle I – Federal Property And Administrative Services Chapter 11 – Selection Of Architects And Engineers Sec. 1102).

The Selection of Architects and Engineers Statute procedures require A-E services to be performed by a “professional architect-engineer firm.” A firm is considered a “professional architect-engineer firm” if:

· It is an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, association, or other legal entity (and),

· It is permitted by law to practice the professions of architecture or engineering.

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