RFIs for CFM AE IDIQ for National Cemetery Projects.pdf

RFI LOG

36C10F26R0001

CFM AE SERVICES IDIQ FOR VA NATIONAL CEMETERY PROJECTS

RFI

Question VA Response

1 Page 16 of the Request for SF330 document mentions an AE Liaison. Is this a role of which we need to supply a resume?

No

2 Please confirm that the manpower matrix is for information purposes only and not meant to indicate every role that must be included as part of the submission.

a. Essentially, is it correct/acceptable to only supply the roles from the Key Personnel document?

The Manpower Matrix includes key personnel and other disciplines that may be required for task orders.

Refer to the Factors for Key Personnel requirements.

3 Page 2 of the Request for SF330 document mentions the “Well Underway” definition (at least 50% completed by submission date). Is this design complete or construction complete?

At least 50% design complete.

See Amendment 0001 which updates the Well Underway definition.

4 Very few SDVOSBs have relevant design experience within the last 5 years at construction values over $20M. In reference to the definition of ‘relevant’ (page 22/32 in the Request for SF330), will you consider lowering the Construction Costs to $10M or higher?

See Relevant Definition in Amendment 0001. The construction cost in the Relevant definition is changed to $15 Million or higher.

5 In the “Request for SF330s” document, it states 15 tasks are required under this IDIQ and that each project in Section F should identify which task were performed. However, “Attachment 3 Manpower Matrix” states 16 tasks, with quite a few differing from the “Request for SF330s” list.

Can the government clarify the final list of tasks Offerors should reference?

See Amendment 0001 with Manpower Matrix (Revision 1).

6 On page 28 of the “Request for SF330s” document, it states that the 120 pages does not include “certificates, PPQs, licenses, cover sheets, dividers, or other requested documentation (e.g., joint venture agreement, proof of AE firm registration, cover pages, Rable of Contents, index pages, dividers, or CPARS). However, on page 29 of the same document is states the 120 pages “includes the cover letter SF330 letter, tabs, dividers, letter of transmission, front and back covers, appendices, attachments, enclosures, index, table of contents, pictures, reference letters, charts, graphs, maps, flow charts…” etc. Can the Government please clarify what is NOT included in the 120-page limit?

See Amendment 0001 which corrects the typographical error on Page 29 to “the 120 pages excludes the cover letter SF330 letter, tabs, dividers, letter of transmission, front and back covers, appendices, attachments, enclosures, index, table of contents, pictures, reference letters, charts, graphs, maps, flow charts…”

7 Can the Government confirm that Part IIs are not included in the 120-page limit?

Confirmed. Not included.

8 Requests an extension of the June 15 submission deadline to June 23, 2026, to allow for appropriate coordination and

See Amendment 0001. Due date is extended to June 30, 2026, at 10:00

AM EDT.

capacity to fully prepare the CFM VA National Cemetery IDIQ qualifications package.

Given the magnitude of the 120-page submittal, coordination among multiple subconsultants, and the inclusion of a federal holiday within the current response period, additional time would support a more thorough and compliant submission.

9 Page 28 specifically states, "The 120 pages does not include certificates, PPQs, licenses, nor does the page limit include cover sheets, dividers, or other requested documentation (e.g., joint venture agreement, proof of AE firm registration, cover pages, Table of Contents, index pages, tabs, dividers, or CPARS." On page 29, the paragraph beginning, "Limit submissions to a total ..." states that all of those items are included in the 120-page limitation. Would the government please identify the correct requirement?

See VA response to RFI 6.

10 At the bottom of page 28, the order of the SF330 sections indicates there are to be tabs. Is the government requesting that the PDF submission contains a blank page (save for the Tab #) between each section as indicated?

No.

11 On page 28, the font requirement listed is a minimum of 11 pt Times New Roman. The SF330 form itself uses 7 pt Arial throughout. Will the government allow text for all captions, page headers, and page footers, and for tables or matrices used in Section H to be reduced to Arial 9 pt? Example:

The font size is a minimum of 11 point Calibri.

12 Page 24 states, “Current professional registration, certification, or licensure as applicable.” Does the government require a copy or screen capture of each professional registration and/or license, or is it acceptable to provide the number and state (if applicable) on the Section E resume form?

State and license numbers are sufficient.

13 Page 24 states, “Section E: Provide Resumes for each key person, who will participate in this contract, grouped by firm (prime first).” Is one resume per Key Personnel role acceptable, or is the Government asking us to supply more than one resume per role in order to demonstrate capacity and depth?

Key Personnel. Provide one resume for each key person.

14 Page 24 states, “Section E: Provide Resumes for each key person…” Is it acceptable to combine Key Personnel roles?

For example, #23 is for a LEED-certified professional, but could that be combined with #3 Architect or with any of the Engineer roles?

Key Personnel. Provide one resume for each key person.

15 On Attachment 1 (Key Personnel Qualifications), the list skips position numbers 5, 19, and 20. Will there be a revised attachment showing all of the positions?

See Amendment 0001, revised Attachment 1.

16 On page 3 of Attachment 1 (Key Personnel Qualifications), position #22 is for a Land Surveyor. Our work with NCA on new cemeteries and cemetery expansion design has taught us that there is a preference for a licensed professional land surveyor that has knowledge of the project area. Will the government consider removing this key personnel position with the stipulation that task orders for projects needing land surveyor services will show that the proposed surveyor for the specific project meets these requirements?

No. Provide the Key Personnel for the position of Land Surveyor as identified in Key Personnel.

17 On page 3 of Attachment 1 (Key Personnel Qualifications), position #23 is for a LEED Accredited Professional. The Army recently discontinued the use of the LEED rating system; it now utilizes the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings checklists. A similar recommendation is pending approval at DVA Headquarters. In the event DVA sustainability requirements change over the course of this contract, the Contractor would need to review the new requirements and provide an impact analysis and advisory memorandum evaluating the technical, contractual, cost, schedule, and compliance implications of transitioning future project’s sustainability requirement from LEED Silver certification to the new federal sustainability framework. In light of the current regulatory environment regarding LEED certification, would the government waive this requirement for projects and Key Personnel qualifications?

Provide a LEED accredited professional as required.

18 Attachment 3 (Manpower Staffing Matrix) shows a task list that does not match the tasks in the RFP and the Disciplines listed do not match Attachment 1. Will this attachment be corrected and reissued or removed from the solicitation?

See Amendment 0001, containing revisions to Attachment 1.

19 QUESTION 1 — Factor 2 Project Cap for Joint Ventures Without JV-Performed Projects (Section 8 and Section 11)

Section 11 (Evaluation Procedures), Factor 2 requires "a minimum of five (5) and no more than ten (10) relevant projects." Section 8 (Basis for Contract Award) states that if the joint venture has no JV-performed projects, projects may be submitted for either joint venture partner, "not to exceed a total of five (5) projects." For a JV with no JV-performed projects:

See Amendment 0001, Factor 2.

(a) Is the total number of eligible partner projects capped at five (5) for the JV as a whole, or may the JV submit up to the Factor 2 maximum of ten (10) partner projects in aggregate?

(b) May projects performed by proposed subconsultants on the JV team be submitted in Section F, and if so, do they count toward either cap?

20 Task List Discrepancy: Solicitation vs. Manpower Staffing Matrix (Sections 1, 11, and Attachment 3)

Sections 1 and 11 identify 15 A/E IDIQ tasks (Task 1 through Task 15). However, Attachment 3 (Manpower Staffing Matrix) displays 16 task columns. For purposes of the Section F task-mapping requirement in Factor 2, which task list governs — the 15-task list in the solicitation body or the 16-column matrix in Attachment 3?

See Amendment 0001, containing revisions to Attachment 1.

21 Page Count Applicability of SF 330 Part II (Section 12)

Section 12 states that Part I shall not exceed 120 single-sided pages and identifies certain documents excluded from that count. However, the solicitation does not expressly address SF 330 Part II. Are SF 330 Part II forms submitted for the prime, joint venture partners, and subconsultants included within or excluded from the 120-page limit?

See VA response to RFI 6.

The 120 pages excludes Part II.

22 Formatting Requirements for Page-Limit-Excluded Attachments (Section 12)

Section 12 excludes certain attachments from the 120-page limit, including certificates, PPQs, licenses, CPARS, proof of A/E firm registration, and the joint venture agreement. Must these excluded attachments comply with the 11-point font, ½-inch margin, and single-sided formatting requirements that apply to the 120-page Part I, or are they exempt from those formatting standards as well?

23 Number of Resumes Required for Key Personnel Positions Listed in the Plural (Attachment 1)

Attachment 1 (Key Personnel and Minimum Qualifications) identifies several positions with a plural "(s)" suffix, including I.02 Regional Project Manager(s), I.03 Architect(s), I.04 Civil Site/Sanitary Engineer(s), I.06 Electrical Engineer(s), I.07 Mechanical Engineer(s), I.08 Structural Engineer(s), I.09 Cost Estimator(s), I.10 Interior Designer(s), and I.12 Environmental Engineer(s). Does submission of a single resume per listed position satisfy the minimum requirement for each position, or are multiple resumes expected for each pluralized role?

Yes, single resumes that meet the minimum experience requirements.

24 Dual Qualification: Single Individual for Multiple Key Personnel Positions (Attachment 1)

Attachment 1 identifies 20 distinct key personnel positions. If a proposed individual meets the minimum qualifications for two or more positions, may a single person be designated to fill more than one key personnel position, or must each listed position be filled by a separate individual?

Individual resumes are required for each Key Personnel position.

25 Definition of "Region" and Expected Number of Regional Project Manager Resumes (Attachment 1, Position I.02)

Attachment 1, position I.02 (Regional Project Manager(s)), does not define what constitutes a "region" or indicate how many regions are anticipated under this contract. Please clarify: (a) whether "regions" correspond to VA CFM organizational regions, NCA geographic regions, or another defined framework; and (b) how many

Regional Project Manager is deleted from Appendix III, Minimum In House Primary Key Personnel and Consultant Qualifications per Amendment 0001.

Regional Project Manager resumes are expected in the SF 330 submission.

26 Maximum File Size for Email Submission (Section 12)

Section 12 requires SF 330 submissions to be submitted by email to Athena.jackson@va.gov.

What is the maximum allowable file size for the email submission? If the submission exceeds the email system's file size limit, is an alternative submission method available?

The maximum individual email size limit is 40MB.

If necessary, submit multiple emails.

27 Subconsultant Projects in Section F (Sections 8 and 11)

Section 8 addresses example projects performed by the joint venture and its partners. Section 11, Factor 2 requires five to ten relevant example projects but does not specify whether projects performed by named subconsultants on the proposed team are eligible. May Section F include projects performed by named subconsultants in addition to projects performed by the JV or JV partners? If so, does any cap apply to the number or percentage of Section F projects that may be drawn from subconsultant performance history?

Subconsultant example projects may be included provided the subconsultant provided projects meet the relevant definition requirements.

28 Acceptability of Non-Federal PPQs and Alternative PPQ Formats (Section 11, Factor 3)

Section 11, Factor 3 states that PPQs must be sent directly by the client to Athena.jackson@va.gov prior to the closing date when CPARS is unavailable. (a) Are PPQs from non-Federal clients

— such as state agencies, local governments, or private owners — acceptable when CPARS is unavailable for a given project? (b) Is any PPQ format other than Attachment 2 acceptable, or

Question a: Yes.

Question b. Yes Questionb1: Yes Question c: Architect is amended to read: Architect(s) – Shall be a registered architect, with a minimum of 10 years’ experience as a design architect with facility design experience for LEED Silver certification, shall have a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture, have a mailto:Athena.jackson@va.gov mailto:Athena.jackson@va.gov must all PPQ submissions use the Attachment 2 form exclusively?

Section: Appendix III – Minimum In House Primary Key Personnel and Consultant Qualifications:

a. Question: Please confirm that the requirements listed in Appendix III are the requirements expected of the combined Prime Consultant and their Subconsultant team.

b. Question: Does the VA want to see resumes in Section E for all key personnel roles listed in Appendix III?

i. Question: If yes, does the VA want to see more than one resume for each key personnel role listed in Appendix III?

c. Question: I.03 Architect: Please confirm the requirement to have experience with LEED Silver certification on cemeteries

d. Question: I.06 Electrical: Please confirm the requirement to have experience with LEED Silver certification on federal facilities

e. Question: I.07 Mechanical: Please confirm the requirement to have experience with LEED Silver certification on cemeteries

f. Question: I.08 Structural Engineer:

Please confirm that a Bachelor’s Degree in Structural Engineering is acceptable.

g. Question: I.10 Interior Design: Please confirm the requirement to have experience with LEED Silver certification

h. Question: For I.03 Architect, I.06 Electrical, I.07 Mechanical, and I.10 Interior design: We have designed several cemetery projects to LEED working knowledge of the Uniform Building Code (UBC), Life Safety Code (NFPA 101), Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS), The Americans with Disability Act (ADA), OSHA and ASTM standards.

Question d: Requires experience with LEED Silver certification.” for Federal facilities is deleted”.

Question e: Mechanical Engineer:

Delete the word “cemetery”.

Requires experience with LEED Silver certification.

Question f: The Structural Engineer is required to have the necessary degree in Structural Engineering for licensure. Provide the state requirement for licensure.

Question g: Interior Design.

Confirmed LEED Silver Certified Facilities.

Question h: Yes.

Certification standards but the VA (or other agency) opted not to pursue certification. Is it acceptable to include projects that were designed to LEED Silver Certification but not officially certified?

29 Section: Attachment 3 – Manpower matrix:

i. Question: Please confirm the requirement to include the following disciplines on the team:

i. GIS

ii. Physical Security

iii. Industrial Hygienist

iv. Sr. Health Care Facility

Planner

v. Traffic/Transportation

Engineer

vi. Commissioning

Question i: Delete the following from the Manpower Matrix:

Industrial Hygienist, Sr. Health Care Facility Planner, Traffic/Transportation Engineer

See Amendment 0001 with Manpower Matrix (Revision 1).

30 Section: DEFINITIONS:

j. In the solicitation, “Recent” is defined as “projects completed or well underway.” Question: Does this refer to design or construction being completed or well underway?

k. In the solicitation, “Well underway” is defined as “at least 50% completed by the submission date of the SF330.”

Question: Does this refer to design or construction being 50% completed?

Question J: Refers to design.

Question k: Refers to 50% design completed

31 Sections: Selection Criteria & Joint Venture

l. Joint Venture section states: “If the firm is a joint venture, projects performed by the joint venture should be submitted; however, if there are no projects performed by the joint venture, projects may be submitted for either joint venture partner, not to exceed a total of five (5) projects.

Question l

Question i: minimum number of relevant projects are five and maximum number of relevant projects are 10.

Failure to submit experience for all JV partners may be evaluated less favorably.”

Selection Criteria, Factor 2 states “Provide a minimum of five (5) and no more than ten (10) relevant projects completed within the past five (5 years).

i. Question: Please confirm whether the maximum number of projects is (5) five or ten (10).

ii. Question: Please confirm if JV partner firms are limited to 5 projects total across the two firms or 5 projects total for each member of the JV.

m. Factor 1, Section E: the solicitation states in parenthesis “(general titles such as ‘Electrical Engineer’ are insufficient)”. Question: Please clarify what is meant by this requirement.

n. Factor 3, Past Performance:

Question: is it acceptable to include a Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) that was completed previously rather than requesting a new PPQ from the client?

Question ii: 10

Question m: For each project, provide a detailed description of the specific services performed relevant to their proposed role in this contract.

Question n: No.

32 Section: SF330 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENT:

o. The solicitation requires “11-point

Times New Roman” font. Question: Is it acceptable for charts/tables/graphics to have font smaller than 11-point font?

p. The solicitation states: “Firms must submit proof that they are permitted by law to practice the professions of architecture of engineering.”

Question: Confirm that this applies only to the prime firm(s).

Question o: size 11 font Calibri.

Question p: The prime contractor

33 Section: 11. EVALUATION PROCEDURES, Technical

Evaluation: Factor 1, Factor 2

q. The solicitation defines relevant projects as:

Projects with a Construction Cost of $20 Million or higher; projects of similar size, scope, and complexity to the Sources Sought Notice. Relevant complexity aspects are identified as the examples in the bullets below. All examples identified below are of equal relevance.

“• VA/NCA National Cemetery projects

• State/local/private cemetery projects

• Golf courses; national, state, and regional parks; multiple sports-fields complexes or multi-phased recreation-oriented land development projects

• Projects requiring the construction of multiple features typical to a National Cemetery such as memorials or memorial walls that utilize natural stone, turf (sod) placement, establishment and maintenance, the placement, establishment and maintenance of landscape material including but not limited to trees and shrubs, civil works and land development projects including but not limited to retaining walls, excavation, earthwork and grading, roadway construction, irrigation systems with mainlines exceeding 4-inch in diameter, irrigation central control systems, wetlands and environmental remediation or restoration and GIS installation.

Questions q.

i: Yes.

ii: See VA response to RFI #4.

Question r.

i: Yes.

• Building construction, building remodel.”

i. Question: Please confirm whether or not projects from other federal agencies, such as the Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, National Parks Service, will be considered relevant.

ii. Question: We have several VA NCA projects that are less than $20M. Please confirm whether or not smaller VA NCA projects (>5M$) will be considered relevant.

r. Section 11, Evaluation Procedures Factor 2 Specialized Experience (SF 330 Part I, Section F) pg 24 of 32: Paragraph states, "The evaluation board will assess the proposed team's demonstrated specialized experience performing work relevant to the AE/IDIQ tasks under this contract."

i. Question: To clarify, could an offeror submit projects demonstrating relevant and specialized experience of major teaming subconsultants?

34 We would like to request clarification regarding the SF330 page count requirements for Solicitation No.

36C10F26R0001. The language on pages 28 and 29 appears inconsistent regarding what is included in the 120-page limit.

Page 28 states that the 120-page limit does not include certificates, PPQs, licenses, cover sheets, dividers, other requested documentation, joint venture agreement, proof of A/E firm registration, cover pages, Table of Contents, index pages, tabs, dividers, or

CPARS.

However, page 29 states that the 120-page limit does include the cover letter, SF330 letter, tabs, dividers, letter of transmission, front and back covers, appendices, attachments, enclosures, index, Table of Contents, and other materials.

Could you please clarify which items are excluded from the 120-page limit?

35 The definitions state that for a project to be considered “well underway,” it must be at least 50% completed by the submission date of the SF330. If the company is providing design and Construction Period Services for a project, is the 50% completion requirement in reference to the design or construction phase of the project?

Design complete

36 Please clarify what pages do not count towards the 120-page limit. Item 12. “SF330 Submission Requirement” states on page 28 that the 120-page limit does not include cover sheets, dividers, cover pages, table of contents, etc., while page 29 states that the 120-page limit does include dividers, covers, table of contents, etc.

37 Would you waive the bachelor's degree requirement for the Cost Estimator? The experience and certification carry the day in our view.

No.