RFP 47PF0022F0039 Amendment 0002 RFIs.pdf

Amendment 0002 - RFP 47PF0022R0039 A/E Services for the International Falls

Land Port of Entry project, International Falls, MN

This amendment incorporates the RFIs received as of 6/6/2022. Additionally, this

Amendment serves as a reminder that any questions should be directed to the

Contracting Officer, Anna Vanko; please do not reach out to any other individuals/entities with any questions regarding this RFP and the project overall.

Q. We are an architecture firm and would like to team up with another architecture firm and an engineering firm to be one strong A/E Design Lead team, do we submit three SF 330 Part II forms (one for each firm) or just one for the firm we decide to be the primary submitter?

A: Please submit what makes the most sense to you and your firm based on the Stage I criteria, and ensure the submission is within the appropriate page limit.

Q. The RFQ asks for the lead designer only, for the Stage I submission. However, we feel stronger as a team with two small architecture firms and an engineering firm, is it okay to submit as a team (not a formal joint venture, but a partnership with firms who have worked with us in the past)?

A: A partnership between AE firms is allowed. Per Amendment no. 0001 Stage I submissions should identify a lead designer (which may comprise an individual or two people) and the affiliated design firm.

Q: Regarding the International Falls Land Port of Entry Project (47PF0022R0039), can the Lead Designer be an architecture firm and not a specific individual?

A: Stage I submissions should identify a lead designer (which may comprise an individual or two people) and the affiliated design firm.

Can we have two "lead designers" from two different firms (one from each) who are partnering together for this submission? If so, we will present them as a

"team" in regards to the requested info from the RFQ below:

Submit a portfolio representative of the lead designer’s ability to provide design excellence. Address their participation in each project. If the lead designer is a team, submit graphics and a description of up to two projects from each lead designer or Design discipline. The narrative shall address the design philosophy with salient features for each project and discuss how the client’s program, functional, image, mission, economic, schedule, and operations and maintenance objectives were satisfied by the overall design/planning solution. Include tangible evidence such as certificates, awards, peer recognition, etc., demonstrating design excellence. Where there is duplication with criteria (1) Past Performance on Design, the lead designer shall address his or her participation in the project.

A: A partnership between AE firms is allowed. Per Amendment no. 0001 Stage I submissions should identify a lead designer (which may comprise an individual or two people) and the affiliated design firm.

Q: For the Stage I response the solicitation states:

The assembled content for the Stage I portfolio should be no more than 35 pages, inclusive of cover page, index, and dividers. Each section is further defined to include the following:

(25 pages)PAST PERFORMANCE ON DESIGN, 5 projects, 5 pages for each and completed within the last 15 years.

(2 pages) PHILOSOPHY AND DESIGN INTENT

(3 pages) LEAD DESIGNER PROFILE

(15 pages) LEAD DESIGNER PORTFOLIO 3 projects, 5 pages for each and completed within the last 15 years last fifteen years

This adds up to 46 + pages, including the cover page, index and dividers. Please clarify the page count and what should be included in that count.

A: Per Amendment no. 0001- We accept a 50 page maximum limit for the entire document. (This is inclusive of the cover page, index, and dividers.)

Q. In the LEAD DESIGNER PORTFOLIO the solicitation states:

…. submit a portfolio of up to three projects where the design was completed in the last fifteen years (maximum of five pages per project;

project construction of the aforementioned projects shall have been completed within the past ten years).

Please clarify if these projects should be completed within the last 15 years as it first states but then goes on to say ‘completed within the last ten years.’

A: The completion period for “construction” cannot extend beyond the past ten years.

The completion period for “design” can be longer, but cannot extend beyond the past fifteen years.

Q: Is there any possibility that the deadline will be extended?

A: The due date for submissions has been extended to Thursday, June 23, 2022, no later than 1:00pm Central Time.

Q: Can 3 firms apply together in a co-operative partnership, not a formal/legal joint venture? (We are two small architecture practices and one large engineering firm who have worked together and would like to form a comprehensive Lead A/E team).

A: A joint venture is not required. Please ensure specific roles and responsibilities for each firm are clearly defined and convey the appropriate information to fulfill the request of the Stage I solicitation.

Q: The Stage I Submission does not state a request for an SF330 Part I, thus can we submit the Past Performance, Lead Designer Profiles, and Lead Designer

Portfolios in our own format (adhering to the page number requirements)?

A: Yes.

Q: In reference to solicitation number 47PF0022F0039 (International Falls LPOE

New Construction GSA Design Excellence Solicitation for Lead Design Architect) please consider the following:

Under Selection Criteria 1 (PAST PERFORMANCE ON DESIGN (35%)) would GSA consider the following to be relevant experience –

The A/E Firm was not the architect of record but served in a project/program management role including development of design guidelines, drafting of design-build solicitation, evaluation of contractor proposals and conducting third party design reviews through all design submittals (35%, 60% and Final) ?

A: Firms will be evaluated based on their submission, and the requirements of the Stage

I evaluation factors. We recommend firms review the criteria of RFP and submit their best examples that meet the evaluation requirements.

Q: Would you like to see the signed SF30 as a separate file, or integrated into the overall package?

A: Any signed SF30s should be a separate file, and are permitted to be in excess of the

50 page limit.

Q: In the instance where the lead designer is a partnership of two people, are we allowed 3 pages per partner or 3 pages total? In either case, we understand the page count is limited to 50 pages inclusive of all documents except the SF30.

A: It is permissible to have 3 pages for each of the lead designers, but must be within the 50 page limit.