36C25224Q0142.docx

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Project 556-23-103: (AE) Building 48 Renovation at the Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center Solicitation 36C25224Q0142 March 01, 2024 This is a Request for S F 330 s Qualifications for Architect/Engineer (A/E) Design Services for Project Number 556-23-103 Building 48 Renovation at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center (FHCC) located at 3001 Green Bay Road, North Chicago, IL 60064.This is a 100% total Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set-aside.

1. DESCRIPTION: Architectural and engineering professional services shall be provided to complete design services and construction period services for the complete renovation of Building 48, a three-story building, approximately 8,000 square feet each floor, totaling approximately 24,000 square feet for a proposed Inpatient Mental Health and Rehabilitation area. Design shall include all new HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, telecom, architectural planning and finishes, and a new passenger elevator. The design shall include Deductive Alternates.

2. Design Period of Performance: 244 calendar days from Notice to Proceed.

3. NAICS Code: 541310 Architectural Services; Size Standard: $12.5 million.

4. The estimated magnitude of construction: (not including design) for this project is between $10,000,000. and $50,000,000.00.

5. NOTE: Important note regarding qualifications of AE firms designing and specifying projects which include elevators per VA Elevator Design Manual, 1.H (p.2), which refers us to PG-18-3 Topic 18 for qualifications of Medical Transportation Logistics Consultant (MTLC) beginning at p.18-1. To compliantly provide design and specification services for this project, the AE must demonstrate that they provide these services as a regular part of their business and meet all the requirements for a MTLC. See cited resources for more details.

6. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. NO SOLICITATION PACKAGE WILL BE ISSUED. A request for proposal will be issued directly to the top- rated firm for which negotiations will commence in accordance with FAR Part 36.606. The anticipated A/E design services, to be awarded, will be procured in accordance with the Selection of Architects and Engineers Act (Public Law 92-582), Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 36.6, and VA Acquisition Regulation 836.6.

7. EVALUATION FACTORS: Selection criteria will be based on the following factors in accordance with FAR 36.602-1 and VAAM M836.602-1:

Architect-Engineer Technical Evaluation Board Selection Criteria

36.602 Selection of firms for architect-engineer contracts

36.602-1 Selection criteria

(a) Agencies shall evaluate each potential contractor in terms of its-

(1) Professional qualifications necessary for satisfactory performance of required services;

(2) Specialized experience and technical competence in the type of work required, including, where appropriate, experience in energy conservation, pollution prevention , waste reduction , and the use of recovered materials;

(3) Capacity to accomplish the work in the required time;

(4) Past performance on contracts with Government agencies and private industry in terms of cost control, quality of work, and compliance with performance schedules;

(5) Location in the general geographical area of the project and knowledge of the locality of the project; provided, that application of this criterion leaves an appropriate number of qualified firms, given the nature and size of the project; and

(6) Acceptability under other appropriate evaluation criteria.

Firms responding to this notice will be evaluated and ranked using the primary and secondary selection criteria listed below. The factors are listed in descending order of importance. The evaluation will consider how each factor is addressed and how it is formatted to coincide with the selection criteria.

(b) Primary Selection Criteria:

(1) Professional experience and qualifications: Discipline leads, and senior architects and engineers must have graduated from an ABET or NAAB accredited program and maintain current licensure in relevant discipline from any U.S. State, the District of Columbia, or Territory and possess no less than five years professional experience in the discipline of their assigned responsibility.

Personnel proposed for assignment to this contract possess a current registered architect or professional engineer license by a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, or US Territory. Provide professional license jurisdiction of issue and license numbers and/or proof of licensure.

All VA projects require inclusion of a Physical Security Consultant with a current and valid Certified Protection Professional (CPP) or Physical Security Professional (PSP) certification issued by ASIS International.

Note that this project will require inclusion of a Medical Transportation Logistics Consultant for the design and specification of a new elevator system IAW VA Elevator Design Manual, and PG-18-3 Topic 18.

Evaluation will consider education, certifications, training, registration, overall, and relevant experience, and longevity with the firm.

Offer must include the following statement of SDVOSB compliance when submitting the personnel proposed to perform the work under this requirement:

(2) Specialized experience and technical competence: Specialized experience in health care facility and associated grounds and structures design – with specific emphasis on Inpatient Mental Health and Rehabilitation design and construction.

Specialized experience includes experience in mental health facilities design, as well as critical path scheduling, fire protection, construction infection control protocols, energy conservation and sustainable design practices. Include Government and private experience on projects similar in size, scope, and complexity, and experience with project phasing to maintain hospital operations during construction.

The evaluation will consider the management approach, coordination of disciplines and subcontractors, quality control procedures, prior experience of the prime firm with any key subcontractors working together on relevant projects and familiarity with VA Design Guides/Manuals, Master Specifications, and other applicable standards.

(3) Capacity to Accomplish: the work in the required time, including maintaining project schedules, budgets, and quality compliance. Firm(s) will be required and expected to have the capacity to manage and staff this design project and meet its Period of Performance.

Evaluation will consider the firm’s plan and ability to meet the schedule of this design project, as well as the available capacity of personnel in key disciplines. Provide the available capacity of required disciplines by providing current project workload, inclusive of all projects awarded during the previous 12 months and their full potential value, including any current indefinite delivery contracts.

(4) Past Performance: of the prime firm (or approved joint venture) with similar contracts with government agencies and private industry in terms of cost control, schedule adherence, and quality of work. Include complete, unedited CPARS Reports or Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQs) if CPARS data is not available for similar past engagements.

Government Past Performance Information Systems may be accessed. Evaluating past performance and experience may include information provided by the firm or approved joint venture, customer inquiries, Government databases, publicly available sources, and additional projects in CPARS. Failure to provide requested data, accessible points of contact or valid phone numbers could result in a firm being considered less qualified.

(5) Knowledge of the Locality: Specific knowledge of local conditions or project site features, such as geological features, climatic conditions, local construction methods, market conditions, medical center structures, and key stakeholders.

(c) Secondary Selection Criteria:

(1) Geographic Location: Servicing office location in the general geographical area (250 miles, identifying evaluation will use MapQuest to verify mileage ) of the project, and knowledge of the locality of the project. If not the main office of the prime designer (or approved joint venture), it must be an established staffed office. Virtual or residential locations are not acceptable.

(2) Reputation and Standing: of the firm and its principal officials with respect to professional performance, general management, and cooperation with all project stakeholders. Factor also includes consideration of past improper or incomplete architectural and engineering services.

8. PLEASE NOTE: The AE Evaluation Board must be provided with complete and accurate information for ALL evaluation factors above in order to rank interested and eligible firms. ADDITIONALLY, keep in mind the submission requirement restrictions outlined in below when addressing evaluation factors.

9. SELECTION PROCESS: in accordance with FAR 36.6, qualifications will be evaluated using the evaluation factors identified in this request for qualifications. After qualifications have been evaluated, discussions/interviews will be held with at least three of the most highly qualified firms. After discussions conclude, the evaluation board will evaluate the qualifications of the firms using the same evaluation factors, taking into consideration both the submission and subsequent discussions, to select the most preferred firm from the firms considered to be the most highly qualified. Negotiations will then begin with the most preferred firm.

10. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: interested firms should submit their Qualifications as follows:

i. One (1) electronic pdf copy via email: Size limitation is 20.0 MB:

11. The submissions are due on Monday, April 1, 2024 at 4:30 PM (CST).

Acceptable electronic formats (software) for submission of Qualifications:

(a) Files readable using the current Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF);

(b) Files in Adobe* PDF Files: When scanning documents scanner resolution should be set to 200 dots per inch, or greater;

(c) Standard letter format size 8-1/2 by 11-inch paper, limited to a maximum of seventy-five (75), single-sided, single-spaced, and numbered pages. If more than seventy-five (75) single-sided pages are submitted, all pages after seventy-five (75) pages will not be evaluated. The font text shall be Arial 12-point black, with no less than one-inch margins on all sides. The submission shall be clear, concise and short;

(d) Please note that we can no longer accept .zip files due to increasing security concerns.

12. No Fax or hard copy responses will be accepted: All questions shall be submitted via email and directed to both the Contract Specialist at hudell.ballen@va.gov and the Contracting Officer Stacy Hoover at stacy.hoover2@va.gov. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted.

Title:

Contract Specialist

Signature:

DISCLAIMER

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI.

image1.png