Solicitation Number 47PE0324R0002 Lead Design Architect Questions and Responses.pdf

Solicitation Number 47PE0324R0002 Lead Design Architect

New Federal Courthouse, Chattanooga, TN Questions and Responses

March 22, 2024

1. Regarding the solicitation mentioned in my subject (GSA Chattanooga Federal Courthouse) -- have any questions been asked of the contracting officers? If not, is there a question and answers period and when might that close?

Response: Yes, I have received questions regarding Solicitation Number 47PE0324R0002. A question-and-answer period was not established. If you have any questions, please submit them and I will provide you with a response(s).

2. Will those questions and answers be distributed broadly/eventually posted to Sam.gov?

Response: I will post the questions and answers to SAM.gov by 5 pm, Friday, March 22, 2024.

3. Could you share the location of the sites under consideration for the courthouse?

Response: The location of the sites under consideration for the courthouse are as follows:

a. TVA Campus, 1101 Broad Street

b. Hawk Hill Stadium, Power Alley Way

c. 8th Street & Lindsay Street

A map of each site has been added to SAM.gov.

4. For the Lead Designer Profile section, can you please clarify if we have two people being submitted as lead designers, then the design profile is 3 pages per person or 3 pages in total?

Response: If you are submitting for two people as lead designer, submit one (1) profile of three (3) pages each for each of the co-lead designers for a total of six (6) pages.

5. The Stage I submission requirements notes that the ‘Table of contents and cover sheets do not count toward the 50-page limit.” Can you confirm what is included in ‘cover sheets?’ Does it include the front cover and cover letter or just the front and back cover pages of the overall document?

Response: Cover sheets include the front cover, cover letter, and back cover pages. The front cover, cover letter, and back cover pages do not count toward the 50-page limit.

6. If we were to include divider pages for each section, are those excluded from the 50 -page limit?

Response: Yes, divider pages are excluded from the 50-page limit.

7. We are unsure if we will be able to submit by 3/28 and would like to ask if the GSA would consider a

2-week extension to the submission deadline so that we might be able to submit.

Response: GSA will not be able to grant a two (2) week extension to the deadline for submissions.

8. The solicitation states that cover pages do not count. Does that include section dividers/tabs not being included?

Response: No, section dividers/tabs do not count against the total 50 page maximum for the submission.

9. Additionally, is the cover letter also included in the 50 pages?

Response: The cover letter is not included in the 50-page maximum for the submission.

10. As we are preparing to submit, we are seeking clarification on the projects that can be included. The

RFQ states projects constructed in the last 10 years are applicable and we would like to know if unbuilt projects that are still in design or currently being constructed fit under the criteria.

Response: No, unbuilt projects that are still in design or projects currently being constructed will not be accepted for Past Performance on Design and Lead Designer Portfolio sections of submissions. The Past

Performance on Design evaluation factors refer to projects constructed within the past 10 years. A plain reading of "constructed" means construction is complete rather than "under construction".

11. Do page dividers for each section count against the total 50 page maximum for the submission? We are referring to the cover pages for each subsection of the document.

Response: No, page dividers (cover pages) for each section do not count against the total 50 page maximum for the submission.

12. Please confirm that when the lead designer is a team of two (2) the statements below are accurate:

Philosophy and Design Intent section: page count remains at 2 pages maximum.

Response: Yes, I confirm this statement is accurate.

Lead Designer Profile: page count remains at 3 pages maximum.

Response: Yes, I confirm this statement is accurate.

13. Reference: PAST PERFORMANCE ON DESIGN (35%)

The design firm must include portfolio narratives for five projects of similar size, program, or significance, constructed within the past 10 years, which describe architecture and engineering challenges and their design solutions.

Question:

We have a project in similar scale, complexity and budget that will be substantially complete in May

2024. Given federal and other complex projects take several years to complete, would a project that is fully designed and currently under construction or nearing substantial completion meet the requirements for “constructed” in this section?

Response: No, unbuilt projects that are still in design or projects currently being constructed will not be accepted for Past Performance on Design and Lead Designer Portfolio sections of submissions. The Past

Performance on Design evaluation factors refer to projects constructed within the past 10 years. A plain reading of "constructed" means construction is complete rather than "under construction".

14. Reference: LEAD DESIGNER PORTFOLIO (25%)

Submit a portfolio of up to three constructed projects completed by the lead designer within the past 10 years.

Question:

Given federal and other complex projects take several years to complete, would a project that is fully designed and currently under construction meet the requirements for “constructed” in this section?

Response: No, unbuilt projects that are still in design or projects currently being constructed will not be accepted for Past Performance on Design and Lead Designer Portfolio sections of submissions. The Past

Performance on Design evaluation factors refer to projects constructed within the past 10 years. A plain reading of "constructed" means construction is complete rather than "under construction".

15. Please confirm that the following language from the solicitation should be interpreted to mean that respondents should submit one profile of three pages each for each of the co-lead designers for a total of six pages.

LEAD DESIGNER PROFILE (15%)

Submit a biographical profile of the lead designer, not to exceed three pages, that at a minimum encompasses education, professional experience, awards or other recognition, and areas of responsibility.

The profile should address how the lead designer’s breadth and depth of education and work experience suits the project as well as how the designer has exercised leadership in delivering works whose complexity and magnitude approximate those of the project.

If the lead designer is a team of two people, then the submission must include a biographical profile of each lead designer; each exhibit should abide the page-count limit for the overall submission.

Response: I confirm the solicitation should be interpreted to mean that respondents should submit one profile of three (3) pages each for each of the co-lead designers for a total of six (6) pages.

16. Under Selection Process, it says “The architect or engineer of record must be licensed in the state where the facility is located, and the license must be in place at all times during the procurement and through project completion.”

Is this referring to the design firm (Perkins & Will) being registered in TN, or the individual designer?

Response: The license applies to whomever is stamping the drawings as the architect of record.

17. Under submission criteria for Stage II, it says “As the three required concept options are being developed, there shall be at least one meeting including the lead designer, the regional project management team, and the chief architect or designee to preview the concepts and ensure their viability as federal investments.”

Are the 3 required concepts being requested for the stage II submission, or is this referring to after selection has been made? I know this is under Stage II, but we want to be prepared if it’s something you are asking to see during the stage II process, or once selected.

Response: The three (3) required concepts refer to after award.

18. I didn’t see in the RFQ any reference to submitting questions and a time/date when questions are closed. Is this something that is offered and can you provide? Many thanks.

Response: A period for submitting questions and a time/date when questions are closed will not be provided. If you have questions related to Solicitation 47PE0324R0002 please submit them and I will provide a response.

19. Please confirm that section divider pages are not included in the 50-page limit.

Response: No, the section divider pages are not included in the 50-page limit.

20. Would you accept projects that are currently under construction for the Past Performance on Design and Lead Designer Portfolio sections of our submission?

Response: No, projects currently under construction will not be accepted for Past Performance on Design and Lead Designer Portfolio sections of submissions. The Past Performance on Design evaluation factors refer to projects constructed within the past 10 years. A plain reading of "constructed" means construction is complete rather than "under construction".

21. We intend to submit as the A/E firm with contractual responsibility for the project per the solicitation, working in association with a national design partner. We have not formed a legal entity with the co -design firm. However, we intend to submit both firms’ portfolios and resumes as part of the Stage 1 submission. Please confirm this approach is acceptable.

Response: Stage 1 of the evaluation process focuses on the lead designer only, not the entire design team or design firms. The actual contractual relationships of a short-listed lead designer can be addressed in the

Stage 2 submission. To answer your question, you would only submit information on both sides of the team now in Stage 1, if you are proposing two (or more) lead designers. Otherwise, you would submit the portfolio now for the individual (or firm, or partnership etc.) that is going to serve as the lead designer of the project should your team be chosen. Then, If the lead designer is selected to be on the short list, your Stage 2 submission would include everything for the entire team, including the contracting relationship etc.

So, for example, if Frank Lloyd Wright is going to be your proposed lead designer, even if HASTINGS would ultimately be the contract holder, you would only submit Frank Lloyd Wright's portfolio for Stage

1. Then, if Mr. Wright was shortlisted, you would submit the entire team's portfolio and address the contractual relationship as part of the Stage 2 submission.