Responses to Industry's RFI November 12, 2019.pdf

Architect-Engineer (A/E) Services for the Major Modernization of the Silvio V. Mollo Federal Building (Mollo), New York, New York

47PC0319R0006

RFI Responses as of 11/12/19

RFI Responses 1-43

RFI 1: In reference to the “(4) Lead Designer Portfolio” Submission requirement, we understand “…projects completed in the last ten years” to refer to the completion of project design within the past 10 years. Please confirm.

Response 1: The Design needs to be completed within the past 10 years for the Requirement (4) Lead Designer Portfolio.

RFI 2: Please provide a contact phone number for a GSA representative who we will be able to reach out to when delivering the hard copies of the proposal (previous proposals, we were not permitted to go beyond the lobby and a GSA representative had to retrieve our proposal from the lobby).

Response 2: If delivering paper copies by hand, please contact Jordana Covrigaru at (212)264-4462 or Lisa Zalar at (212)306-4943 and we will meet you in the lobby of 1WTC.

RFI 3: On a more general note, our controller received the message below today, which indicates that FBO will be going away in favor of a replacement site. I also found this piece about it at fedscoop.com. It says that FBO will move to beta.SAM.gov. For the purposes of our GSA submission, cam we still look for responses to our questions on FBO, or will we be required to log in to this new system?

Response 3: The answers to the RFIs will be posted in Beta.Sam.gov.

RFI 4: Will the small business percentage goals for this Contract be based on the total dollar value of the awarded A/E Contract, or based on the total value of subcontracts issued by the Prime A/E?

Response 4: The Small Business Subcontracting goals will be based on total dollar value of contract.

RFI 5: Can a copy of the August 2017 Feasibility Study for the Project be provided prior to the Stage I Submission?

Response 5: No.

RFI 6: May the lead designer(s) be non-U.S. citizens and/or dual citizens between the U.S. and another country, if employed by a company eligible to propose on this project?

Response 6: All persons working on the project will be required to obtain HSPD-12 clearance.

RFI 7: For the lead designer(s) portfolio, please confirm it is permissible to include projects where the individual served as lead designer while employed with another company.

Response 7: Yes.

RFI 8: Are there any specific sustainability certification goals for either Phases I/III (Javits Federal Building fit-out) or Phase II (Mollo modernization) of this project?

Response 8: Yes, all phases are required to achieve LEED Gold Certification

RFI 9: Is there additional as-of-right FAR available on the Mollo site?

Response 9: AE will need to research with NYC if proposed concept designs will require variance to zoning requirements.

RFI 10: Does the GSA have any purchasing agreements with manufacturers and vendors?

Response 10: No.

RFI 11: Will any of the site area adjacent to the existing Mollo building be made available for enabling / make-ready work?

Response 11: No. If laydown areas are required outside of the existing GSA property, contractors will need to obtain permits from NYC.

RFI 12: Please confirm that the goal is for all furniture and material implemented in the Javits Federal Building fit-out to remain in place for the Phase III move-in of additional USAO staff. In other words, please confirm that the staff who permanently reside in Mollo will not move any furniture from the Javits Phase I fit-out into their new space in Mollo.

Response 12: This has not been discussed. Plans to furnish Javits will need to be addressed with the customer during design.

RFI 13: Please release the Perkins Eastman feasibility study materials referenced in the October 24th pre-submittal conference.

Response 13: No.

RFI 14: 24-7 Operations - Please provide clarification on the current (and any limitations) and proposed function of the Central Energy Plant.

Response 14: Currently the Mollo building provides steam and chilled water to the MCC.

RFI 15: Central Energy Plant - what buildings are being served by this location?

Response 15: Currently the Mollo building provides steam and chilled water to the MCC.

RFI 16: It was mentioned that the Mollo building ties into ConEd steam. Is this is a supplemental service or is it the main source of steam for the building?

Response 16: Main source.

RFI 17: Mollo Cellar – Is there any abandoned MEP equipment at this level?

Response 17: AE will need to verify condition of existing equipment during design.

RFI 18: Abandoned ConEd Building (between Mollo & MCC) – has GSA reached out to ConEd to see if a long term lease, easement (to bring across utilities) or purchase of the property is feasible?

Response 18: Property is currently owned by Federal Bureau of Prisons.

RFI 19: Are there any city planning restrictions that GSA is concerned with that might impact the new façade/building envelope design for Mollo?

Response 19: AE will need to research with NYC if proposed concept designs will require variance to zoning requirements.

RFI 20: When were the Mollo windows replaced? Did this include the storefront at the entry level or is that original?

Response 20: The exterior punched windows were replaced in 2005. This work did not include replacement of the storefront at the entry level.

RFI 21: If there are two co-Lead Designers who have worked on multiple relevant projects together, may we submit a combined Lead Designer Profile (6pp) rather than duplicating their common experience?

We would also like to provide a joint statement of Philosophy and Design Intent.

Response 21: You may not combine Lead Designer Profiles. Please see RFI 29 for additional clarification.

You may provide a joint Philosophy and Design Intent but must stay within the designated page limit.

RFI 22: The solicitation Scope of Work states the services required include both CADD and BIM. Please clarify the platform in which the construction documents must be delivered.

Response 22: Design Submissions will need to comply with P-100 Design Submission Requirements.

RFI 23: The Scope of Work mentions historic preservation. Please clarify.

Response 23: While the Mollo building is not historic, the neighborhood contains buildings which are historic. The Mollo design will need to be considerate of the historic neighborhood.

RFI 24: The submission requirements indicate that “firms having the capabilities to perform the services described… are invited to respond by submitting…330…Part II, letter of interest, and the portfolio to:

Contracting Officer w/ copy to Contract Specialist

Could you please clarify who gets what?

Response 24: Email the electronic version to the Contracting Officer with a CC to the Contract Specialist.

Hard copies can be mailed or hand delivered to the Contracting Officer or the Contract Specialist. Please see RFI #2 for instructions on hand delivery.

RFI 25: The solicitation indicates “The paper copies shall be mailed…”

Response 25: Paper copies can be mailed or hand delivered.

RFI 26: Will the postmark be considered the submission date?

Response 26: No. The Submission date and time will be when The GSA receives the package.

RFI 27: May submissions be hand-delivered? If so, what is the process?

Response 27: Yes, Please see the RFI#2.

RFI 28: Could you offer any further information on who will review the submissions?

Response 28: All available information is included in the Announcement on FBO.

RFI 29: “Under submission requirement (3) Lead Designer Profile, is it permissible to submit a biographical sketch (maximum of three single sided pages) for each lead designer? For instance, if a team of two lead designers were proposed, each lead designer would submit a biographical sketch of a maximum of three single sided pages (total of a maximum of six single sided pages combined for the two lead designers).

Response 29: If proposing a team of multiple lead designers, then the resume page limit per lead designer would apply. For example, if two lead designers are proposed, a six page submittal would be acceptable (three single-sided pages per designer).

RFI 30: “Under submission requirement (4) Lead Designer Portfolio, is it permissible for the Lead Designer (or Designers), to submit a project that was designed while with a previous firm? It would be noted that the design was completed while with a previous firm.”

Response 30: Yes.

RFI 31: PHILOSOPHY & DESIGN INTENT: If submitting as a lead design team, is the max number of pages for this section still 2 single-sided pages?

Response 31: Yes, the max is two.

RFI 32: LEAD DESIGNER PROFILE: If submitting as a lead design team, is the max number of pages for this section still 3 single-sided pages?

Response 32: Please see RFI 29.

RFI 33: LEAD DESIGNER PORTFOLIO: If submitting as a lead design team, is the max number of pages per project still 5 single-sided pages?

Response 33: Yes, please see Announcement for details on project limits.

RFI 34: LEAD DESIGNER PORTFOLIO: “Portions of submission may be double-sided” which portion of the submission can be double-sided?

Response 34: Any part of the submission may be double-sided. For the purpose of this Announcement, the "single-sided page" requirement refers only to calculating total page limits. For example, the "2 single-sided pages" limit for PHILOSOPHY & DESIGN INTENT may be satisfied by 2 pages printed only on the front side, or 2 pages of information printed on both front and back (which would be 1 physical page of paper).

RFI 35: In the Stage I submittal, if the lead designer is a team of two individuals, would Section 3 (Lead Designer Profile) be limited to three single-sided pages, or would it be limited to six single-sided pages (three single-sided pages per individual)?

Response 35: Please see RFI 29.

RFI 36: In the Stage I submittal, if submitting two individuals as lead designer, would it be acceptable for the each of the two individuals to be from different firms?

Response 36: Yes.

RFI 37: In the Stage I submittal, is it acceptable to include projects from two collaborating firms in Section 1 (Past Performance on Design)?

Response 37: Yes, however please clearly indicate which projects they collaborated on.

RFI 38: Can you please provide more clarity on the difference between the Lead Designer and the A/E Firm? In the case that the lead designer (an individual) is the sole owner and principal of the A/E Firm there will be a total overlap between requirements 1 and 4; is this acceptable?

Response 38: Yes, this is acceptable.

RFI 39: If the Lead Designer-A/E firm wishes to contract with an Architect of Record, would that AoR be considered a consultant and therefore named only in Stage II of this competition?

Response 39: The submission needs to clearly indicate who the lead designer(s) is (are). Only Part II of the SF-330 is required at this Stage.

RFI 40: Can you confirm which "portions of the submissions may be double-sided?" The page specification state that submission requirements 1-4 must be single-side (i.e. not presented as spreads).

Response 40: Please refer to RFI #34.

RFI 41: Is a Small Business and Small Disadvantaged Business Subcontracting Plan required for Stage I (the brief states that this will happen before the award is made but does not specify at what stage this must be submitted)?

Response 41: The Small Business Subcontracting Plan is not required during Stage I of the selection process.

RFI 42: If we are proposing a pair of lead designers, may we present resumes of two pages each, rather than having to allot three pages to two lead designers (similar to how a pair of lead designers may present two projects each in their portfolio, rather than three projects total for a single lead designer)?

Response 42: Please see RFI 29 for clarification.

RFI 43: Can GSA provide any existing and/or anticipated programming details for the interiors of the Silvio V. Mollo Federal Building and the swing space in the Jacobs J. Javits Feder Building? (i.e. number of workstations, court rooms, holding cells, etc.

Response 43: No.