36C24222R0034.docx

SUBJECT*

PROJECT: # 526-16-101 REPLACE EXISTING BOILERS

GENERAL INFORMATION

Network Contracting Office 2 James J. Peters VA Medical Center 130 West Kingsbridge Road Bronx NY 10468-3904

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contract Specialist Patricia Cordero Patricia.Cordero@va.gov

(718) 584-9000 x4928

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

130 W. Kingsbridge Road

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

URL DESCRIPTION

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

Sources Sought Notice Sources Sought Notice

DESCRIPTION

Sources Sought Notice

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT PAY NOR REIMBURSE ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH RESPONDING TO THIS REQUEST. THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a qualified Architect-Engineering (AE) firm to provide Schematics, Design Development, Construction Documents, Technical Specifications, Construction Period Services, Site Visits, Cost Estimates, As-Built Documentation, and all other related information for Project 526-16-101 to Replace Existing Boilers at the James J. Peters DVA Medical Center, 130 W. Kingsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10468.

This requirement is being procured in accordance with the Brooks Act as implemented in FAR Subpart 36.6. Applicable NAICS code is 541330, Engineering Services and small business size standard of $16.5 Million. Magnitude of Construction is between $2,000,000.00 and $5,000,000.00. This is a 100% Service- Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set Aside. The anticipated award date of the proposed A-E Contract is on or before March 30, 2022. Potential contractors must be registered in SAM (www.sam.gov) and visible/certified in Vet Biz (www.vetbiz.gov) at time of submission of their qualifications in order to be considered for an award. As a prospective offeror or bidder for this Service- Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set aside, you are verifying your company meets the status requirements of a VOSB concern as established by 38 CFR Part 74. NOTE - Offerors are referred to 48 CFR 852.219-10 (c) (1): “Services (except construction) at least 50 percent of personnel for contract performance will be spent for employees of the concern or employees of other eligible “service- disabled veteran-owned small business concerns”. In order to assure compliance with this clause, all firms submitting a SF 330 for this Sources Sought Notice are required to indicate what percentage of the cost of contract performance will be expended by the concerns employees and in which discipline(s) and percentage of cost of contract performance to be expended (and in what disciplines) by any other subcontracted or otherwise used small or large business entity(s). Any subcontracted or otherwise business entity(s) used must be identified by name, office location and size/type of business (i.e. SDVOSB, VOSB, 8(a), large, etc).

SCOPE OF SERVICE REQUIRED

PROJECT NO. 526-16-101 Replace Existing Boilers

X. LOCATION

James J. Peters DVA Medical Center, Bronx, NY.

COST RANGE

Estimated Construction Cost Range: Between $2,000,000 and $5,000,000.

TYPE OF CONTRACT CONTEMPLATED

The Department of Veterans Affairs is contemplating awarding a firm fixed price contract.

ESTIMATED START AND COMPLETION DATES

The Department of Veterans Affairs requires design and contract support services. The estimated start and end dates for the design and start and end dates for the construction are as follows:

(a) The A/E shall perform the work required within the limits of the following schedule. Professional architects, Engineers and related design disciplines familiar with the work shall be provided, as directed by the Contracting Officer, to attend the VA reviews.

Construction:

Number of calendar days to complete construction is to be determined by the AE firm after the design is complete.

SCOPE OF WORK

ARCHITECT / ENGINEERING SERVICES

Replace Existing Boilers

I. GENERAL SCOPE

Background:

The heating requirements of the James J. Peters Medical Center are met from the central hearing plant which houses three 40,000 lb/hr boilers that generate high pressure steam (130 psig) which is distributed throughout the medical Center. Pressure reducing stations reduce the steam pressure to both medium and low pressure as required for the equipment being served. Condensate is gravity returned to condensate receivers located in the service tunnel and pumped back to the main condensate tank located in the central plant. The boilers were installed in 1977 and have been continually repaired / upgraded over the years; new replacements are required to enhance the reliability of the system to provide support to the Medical Center.

A/E services will include but are not limited to architectural, HVAC, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, structural, sprinkler and communication (telephone and data), as well as other design considerations , to replace existing three boilers, and the associated accessory systems, including but not limited to, condensate system, de-aerator system, economizers, feed water pumping system, heat recovery system, blow down tank system, controls, sub-metering, SCADA monitoring and reporting system, and system commissioning. The boilers shall be dual fuel with natural gas and No. 2 fuel oil as backup (unless economic analysis shows otherwise). The work will also include the interfacing with the Facility’s building management system and assist VA for energy rebates with utility companies.

The A/E services will include various phases of design starting with a site survey, collection of data including boiler plant operation data, review of VA energy plan, current and future projects related to this project, historical energy consumption and costs, etc. A/E shall coordinate with the professional team working for VA and evaluate the complete design prepared for the same project in 2017 and other studies. A/E will make the design changes on the complete design set with the current and future needs of the facility. A/E shall perform design analysis including structural analysis, economic analysis as part of the proposed type, capacity and size of the boiler systems and prepare preliminary design with various alternatives, for VA for approval. Upon VA acceptance of the preliminary design with the alternative agreed upon, A/E shall proceed with the phase of design with working drawings and construction specifications.

A. The A/E shall also provide design for temporary boiler systems during construction. In addition, A/E shall apply for any utility rebate program and solicit utility company approval. A cost estimate shall be required for each design review milestone. The A/E shall provide the VA with a list of all submittals required of the construction contractor. Extra efforts are required towards project phasing in order to provide a minimum interruption to the Medical Center’s normal activity.

II. Method of Procedure

III. Design Requirements

A. The Architect-Engineer (A/E) shall provide, prepare and accomplish design development through complete construction documents, cost estimates, apply and obtain approval from local utility company, assist VA with rebates/incentives from utility company and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), bidding phase support, and provide construction period services for this project as described here-in.

B. There will be three submissions for review by this Medical Center before copies of the final contract drawings and specifications are produced: one at 35% preliminary design, one at the completion of 65% design, and the third at the completion of 95% design.

C. Design documents shall be in compliance with the following VA guidelines and standards. Changes may be suggested to the VA standards if they differ from industry standards.

Design shall comply with the Technical Information Library (TIL) Plumbing Manuals.

http://www.cfm.va.gov/til/dManual/dmPLclc.pdf http://www.cfm.va.gov/til/dManual/dmPLhosp.pdf Design shall comply with listed Codes and Standards.

http://www.cfm.va.gov/til/cPro.asp Design will take into consideration design alerts.

http://www.cfm.va.gov/cfm/til/alertDesign.asp Design instructions to Architects and Engineers.

http://www.cfm.va.gov/til/cPro.asp Design shall be developed from the VA Master Specification (SPECIFICATIONS SHALL BE IN MASTERFORMAT 2004).

http://vaww.va.gov/facmgt/standard/spec_idx.asp Design shall comply with VA CAD standards.

http://www.va.gov/facmgt/standard/cad_application.asp D. As part of the 35% preliminary submission, the A/E shall provide revised concept plan delineating the new boiler to be included, preview of the BMS connection to be proposed, project phasing, and construction cost estimate.

E. AE shall include system commissioning plan in the final construction contract documents.

F. AE shall assist VA to apply for rebates/incentives from utility company and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) for pre-qualified incentives.

G. During construction project bidding phase, A/E shall assist VA including attending pre-bid meetings, answering RFIs and evaluation of bids submitted.

H. A/E shall provide estimate of construction time to complete the entire project. Construction period will be fixed at the minimum estimated time required to accomplish the efforts.

I. VAMC will provide all available architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical as-built plans, and Facility Floor Plans. A/E is responsible for surveying existing conditions for additional information required and verification of accuracy of information provided.

J. A/E shall provide a detailed cost estimate for the construction contract with the all submissions. Cost estimate shall be itemized by labor and material for each trade and specialty. The construction documents shall include approximately 10% in deductive bid alternates to ensure the project remains within budget.

K. Four sets of the final Construction Documents shall be provided. The Construction Documents shall be provided as the VA Master copy for bidding purposes, include all dwg, doc and pdf files of the documents. Drawings will be prepared in AutoCAD format.

L. A/E shall provide a submittal register of all submittals, certifications, tests, and inspections required per drawing(s) and specification section(s).

M. A/E shall provide associated construction period services for submittal review, construction inspections (4 site visits during construction plus pre-construction meeting, pre-final inspection, system commissioning, final inspection and training) and reporting, answering contractor RFI’s, preparation of As-built drawings etc., as part of this design scope of services.

SELECTION CRITERIA/DESCRIPTIONS

The selection criteria descriptions are provided below.

(1) PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS NECESSARY FOR SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE OF REQUIRED SERVICES.

Provide brief resumes of proposed team members who will specifically serve as the Project Managers and Designers of Record. The Designers of Record shall perform and direct the design within their respective discipline and shall sign and seal the drawings. All Designers of Record must be professionally registered in their discipline. Each resume shall include a minimum of two (2) specific completed projects that best illustrate the individual team members experience relevant to this contract scope;

(2) SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AND TECHNICAL COMPETENCE

Specialized experience and technical competence required for this specific project, including, where appropriate, experience in energy conservation, pollution prevention, waste reduction, and the use of recovered materials.

(3) CAPACITY

This factor evaluates the ability of the firm, given their current projected workload and the availability of their key personnel, to accomplish the possible myriad of design projects in the required time.

The general workload and staffing capacity of the design office will be evaluated.

i. List current projects with a design fee of greater than $20,000 being designed in the firms’ office.

ii. Indicate the firms’ present workload and the availability of the project team (including sub-consultants) for the specified contract performance period;

iii. Describe experience in successfully delivering projects per performance schedule, providing timely construction support, and successfully completing multiple projects with similar delivery dates

(4) PAST PERFORMANCE: VISN2 will evaluate past performance on recent and relevant contracts with government agencies (emphasis on VA work) and private industry in terms of cost control, quality of work, compliance with performance schedules and a record of significant claims against the firm due to improper or incomplete engineering services (references required).

i. Recent is defined as performance occurring within 5 years of the date of this Sources Sought, except that ongoing projects must have begun no less than one (1) year prior to the issuance of this Sources Sought.

ii. Relevancy is defined as performance of work on projects that are similar in scope to the types of projects anticipated under the resultant contracts.

iii. Respondents with no previous past performance shall state this when addressing the selection criteria. Where there is no record of past performance, the proposal will be evaluated neither favorably nor unfavorably. Superior performance ratings on relevant projects may be considered more favorably in the evaluation.

Submission Requirements:

i. Submit a minimal of three (3) references; any of the following evaluations are acceptable:

a. Contractor Performance Assessment Report System (CPARS), or

b. Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) evaluation for each project submitted under Criterion 2.

ii. If a completed CPARS evaluation is available, it shall be submitted with the completed SF330 package. If there is not a completed CPARS evaluation, the PPQ included with this notice is provided for the Offeror or its team members to submit for each project included in criterion (2). If a PPQ is submitted, but an official CPARS evaluation is found for that project in government databases, the official evaluation will take precedence. If a CPARS evaluation is not available, ensure correct phone numbers and email addresses are provided for each contract customer/reference. Completed PPQs should be submitted with your SF330. If the A-E is unable to obtain a completed PPQ from a contract customer/reference for a project before the response date set forth in this notice, the A-E should complete and submit with their response the first page of the PPQ (Attachment #1), including contract and point of contact information for the respective projects.

iii. A-Es should follow-up with references to ensure timely submittal of questionnaires. At the reference’s request, questionnaires may be submitted directly to the Governments point of contact, _Patricia Cordero, via email at _patricia.cordero@va.gov_, prior to the response date. A-Es shall not incorporate by references into their response CPARS or PPQ evaluations previously submitted in response to other A-E services procurements. However, this does not preclude the Government from utilizing previously submitted PPQ information in the past performance evaluation.

(5) LOCATION

iv. The A/E Firm proximity to the James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10468 is an evaluation criteria.

v. This distance is determined according to http://maps.google.com/

vi. This factor evaluates the distance the AE firm's design office or offices lies from the location of work. Please provide the address (es) and distance of your closest office to the address listed below.

(6) Reputation and standing of the firm and its principal officials with respect to professional performance, General Management, and cooperativeness.

(7) Record of significant claims against the firm because of improper or incomplete architectural and engineering services.

(8) Specific Experience and Qualifications of personnel proposed assignment to the project and their record of working together as a team.

PLEASE NOTE: The AE Evaluation Board must be provided with complete and accurate information for ALL eight (8) evaluation factors above in order to rank as qualified and eligible firms. Therefore, the AE firm must expand upon, as it deems necessary, on any evaluation factor not well demonstrated or addressed with Part 1A to Part IG and Part II of the SF330. The AE firm shall use Part IH and/or use additional sheets to supplement/address all evaluation factors to clearly demonstrate its qualifications.

LIMITATIONS

VA NOTICE OF TOTAL SERVICE- DISABLED VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE (NOV 2020) (DEVIATION)

a) Definition. For the Department of Veterans Affairs, “Service-disabled Veteran-owned small business concern or SDVSOB:”

(1) Means a small business concern–

(i) Not less than 51 percent of which is owned by one or more service-disabled Veterans or, in the case of any publicly owned business, not less than 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more service-disabled Veterans or eligible surviving spouses (see VAAR 802.201, Surviving Spouse definition);

(ii) The management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one or more service-disabled Veterans (or eligible surviving spouses) or, in the case of a service-disabled Veteran with permanent and severe disability, the spouse or permanent caregiver of such Veteran;

(iii) The business meets Federal small business size standards for the applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code identified in the solicitation document;

(iv) The business has been verified for ownership and control pursuant to 38 CFR 74 and is so listed in the Vendor Information Pages database, (https://www.vip.vetbiz.va.gov); and

(v) The business will comply with VAAR subpart 819.70 and Small Business Administration (SBA) regulations regarding small business size and government contracting programs at 13 CFR part 121 and 125, including the nonmanufacturer rule and limitations on subcontracting requirements in 13 CFR 121.406 and 125.6, provided that any reference therein to a service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern (SDVO SBC), is to be construed to apply to a VA verified and VIP-listed SDVOSB. The nonmanufacturer rule and the limitations on subcontracting apply to all SDVOSB and VOSB set-asides and sole source contracts.

(2) “Service-disabled Veteran” means a Veteran, as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101(2), with a disability that is service-connected, as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101(16).

(b) General.

(1) Offers are solicited only from eligible service-disabled Veteran-owned small business concerns. Only VIP-listed service-disabled Veteran-owned small business concerns (SDVOSBs) may submit offers in response to this solicitation. Offers received from concerns that are not VIP-listed service-disabled Veteran-owned small business concerns shall not be considered.

(2) Any award resulting from this solicitation shall be made to a VIP-listed service-disabled Veteran-owned small business concern that meets the size standard for the applicable NAICS code.

(c) Representation. By submitting an offer, the prospective contractor represents that it is an eligible SDVOSB as defined in this clause, 38 CFR part 74, and VAAR subpart 819.70. Pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 8127(e), only VIP-listed SDVOSBs are considered eligible. Therefore, any reference in 13 CFR part 121 and 125 to a service -disabled Veteran-owned small business concern (SDVO SBC), is to be construed to apply to a VA verified and VIP-listed SDVOSB and only such concern(s) qualify as similarly situated. The offeror must also be eligible at the time of award.

(d) Agreement. When awarded a contract (see FAR 2.101, Definitions), including orders under multiple-award contracts, or a subcontract, an SDVOSB agrees that in the performance of the contract, the SDVOSB shall comply with requirements in VAAR subpart 819.70 and SBA regulations on small business size and government contracting programs at 13 CFR part 121 and 125, including the nonmanufacturer rule and limitations on subcontracting requirements in 13 CFR part 121.406 and 125.6, provided that for purposes of the limitations on subcontracting, only VIP-listed SDVOSBs shall be considered eligible and/or “similarly situated” (i.e., a firm that has the same small business program status as the prime contractor). An independent contractor shall be considered a subcontractor. An otherwise eligible firm further agrees to the following:

(1) Services. In the case of a contract for services (except construction), it will not pay more than 50% of the amount paid by the government to it to firms that are not VIP-listed SDVOSBs.

(2) Supplies or products.

(i) In the case of a contract for supplies or products (other than from a nonmanufacturer of such supplies), it will not pay more than 50% of the amount paid by the government to it to firms that are not VIP-listed SDVOSBs.

(ii) In the case of a contract for supplies from a nonmanufacturer, it will supply the product of a domestic small business manufacturer or processor, unless a waiver is described in 13 CFR 121.406(b)(5) is granted.

(3) General construction. In the case of a contract for general construction, it will not pay more than 85% of the amount paid by the government to it to firms that are not VIP-listed SDVOSBs.

(4) Special trade contractors. In the case of a contract for special trade contractors, it will not pay more than 75% of the amount paid by the government to it to firms that are not VIP-listed SDVOSBs.

(5) Subcontracting. Any work that a VIP-listed SDVOSB subcontractor further subcontracts will count towards the percent of subcontract amount that cannot be exceeded. For supply or construction contracts, cost of materials is excluded and not considered to be subcontracted. For mixed contracts and additional limitations, refer to 13 CFR 125.6.

(e) Joint ventures. A joint venture may be considered an SDVOSB if the joint venture is listed in VIP and complies with the requirements in 13 CFR 125.18(b), provided that any reference therein to service-disabled Veteran-owned small business concern or SDVO SBC, is to be construed to mean a VIP-listed SDVOSB. A joint venture agrees that, in the performance of the contract, the applicable percentage specified in paragraph (d) of this clause will be performed by the aggregate of the joint venture participants.

(f) Precedence. For any any inconsistencies between the requirements of the SBA program for service-disabled Veteran-owned small business concerns and the VA Veterans First Contract Program, as defined in VAAR subpart 819.70 and this clause, the VA Veterans First Contracting Program requirements have precedence.

SF330 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Qualified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business firms are required to submit three (3) hard copies of the SF 330 (which can be downloaded from www.gsa.gov/forms ) and one (1) Compact Disc (CD) which contains digital copies of the SF 330. All packages must be submitted no later than Monday, January 31, 2022 at 4PM EST including Past Performance (CPARS) evaluations or Questionnaires (attachment 1). All submittals must be sent to the attention of: Patricia Cordero.

Mailing Address:

James J. Peters DVA Medical Center 130 W. Kingsbridge Road Bronx, NY 10468 Attn: Patricia Cordero, VISN 2 NCO Room: GC-125

The submission must include an insert detailing the following information:

The Contracting Officer is not responsible for not receiving submissions due to the offeror misaddressing the package or illegibility of the information. NOTE: Any request for assistance with submission or other procedural matters shall be submitted via email only to __Patricia Cordero, at patricia.cordero@va.gov___. Telephone inquiries will not be honored/accepted.

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT PAY NOR REIMBURSE ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH RESPONDING TO THIS REQUEST. THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

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