RFP 47PF0022F0039 Amendment 0003 RFIs.pdf

Amendment 0003 - RFP 47PF0022R0039 A/E Services for the International Falls Land Port of Entry project, International Falls, MN

Q: During our review of the requirements for solicitation number 47PF0022F0039 (International Falls LPOE New Construction GSA Design Excellence Solicitation for Lead Design Architect) we noted and appreciated the emphasis on leading edge sustainable solutions including significant reductions in embodied carbon, net zero energy and grid interactive efficient buildings. As sustainable solutions continue to evolve, the most advanced solutions are generally associated with recent projects. Unfortunately, due to Covid and supply chain interruptions many of these recent projects which incorporate leading sustainable solutions have been delayed. With the goal of allowing respondents to showcase leading edge sustainable design solutions on projects which are successfully being implemented, would GSA consider allowing projects for which design has been completed within the required timeframe but which are currently under construction?

A: Construction projects must at minimum have reached substantial completion to meet the requirements of the factor.

Q: If we are submitting as a Lead Designer Team of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, should we include up to five projects from both firms in #1: PAST

PERFORMANCE ON DESIGN (35%)?

A: Please submit no more than five projects total for your Lead Designer, whether an individual or team.

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

A: Per Amendment 0002, any signed SF30s should be a separate file, and are permitted to be in excess of the 50 page limit.

Q: Can unbuilt projects or projects under construction be used in the Past Performance and Lead Designer Portfolio sections of the package?

A: No, please submit projects that have either been completed, or reached at minimum substantial completion.

Q: Can the Lead Designer comprise three individuals?

I am asking because in Amendment 0001, the answer to Question 2 indicates that Lead Designer “may comprise an individual or two people”. We had been assembling a three person lead designer team.

A: Lead designers can be one or two individuals. Additional designers may exist but should not be featured as a lead designer.

Q: Could you please clarify how single-firm and multi-firm submissions will be compared during the Stage I GSA Design Excellence evaluation process?

The initial solicitation stated that the “identification of team members other than the lead designer(s) is not required at this stage. Consultant and ‘production firm’ information should not be included in the Stage I portfolio.” It also noted that specifics about team structure and collaboration potential should be addressed only in Stage 2. However, the Amendment 0002 responses clarified that teams composed of 2+ A/E firms and multiple lead designers may be submitted in Stage 1.

All else being equal, the combined portfolio and experience of several firms will always be deeper and stronger than the individual portfolio and experience of any single firm, and this fact alone would seem to give multi-firm submissions a potentially significant advantage in the Stage I evaluation. Is this potential imbalance a concern that will be addressed and compensated in some way? If so, how?

A: The SSEB will evaluate the proposals against the Stage I Submission Requirements and Evaluation Criteria in the Synopsis/Solicitation. The “lead designers” are not to exceed two individuals. Proposals will be evaluated in response to the requested evaluation criteria.

Q: Initial Solicitation:

“PAST PERFORMANCE ON DESIGN (35%): The A/E Firm(s) will submit a portfolio of not more than five projects where the design was completed in the past 15 years;

construction must have been completed in the past 15 years (maximum of five pages per project).”

Amendment 001:

“Q: In Past Performance on Design (Section 1) projects can be 15 years old, would you consider allowing that in the Lead Designer Portfolio (Section 4) as well?

A: We will allow the Lead Designer Portfolio projects to extend to 15 years as well.”

Amendment 002:

“Q: 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.”

Based on the current amendments, it appears that the requirement for Construction Completed within the past 15 years applies to the Past Performance projects, and Construction Completed within the last 10 years applies to the Lead Designer Portfolio projects. Would it be possible to amend the requirement so that both the PAST PERFORMANCE projects and the LEAD DESIGNER PORTFOLIO projects must have completed construction within the past 15 years? –Or, please confirm that our interpretation is correct if the requirement is not to be amended.

A: For any projects submitted, the DESIGN of the project must have been completed within the past 15 years, and the CONSTRUCTION of that project must have been completed in the past 10 years. This applies to the projects identified for both the Factor 1: Past Performance on Design, as well as Factor 4: Lead Designer Portfolio.