R8 MACC IDIQ RFI 4 03232020.docx

R8 MACC IDIQ Solicitation Notice ID: 47PJ0020R0064

RFI#4

Dated 03.23.2020

The due date for issuance of GSA’s response to the requests for information is changed to 4 pm Mountain Time on March 23, 2020.

All questions will be answered in RED:

24. Can you provide details related to the quantity and description of signage items to review?

The projects at the task order level will consist of general construction projects. If signage items are part of a project that information will be provided at the task order level.

25. In reference to SEED Project, does the Hazardous Assessment need to be included in the price or only conducted for the specific task order award?

See Technical RFI responses.

26. Please advise if a service/freight elevator will be available on the SEED Project.

See Technical RFI responses.

27. There is reference to "WH-18" on the drawings. We were unable to find any notation(s) associated with WH-18. Please advise.

See Technical RFI responses.

28. While we understand that there will be tenants in the building during construction, will the "floorprint" of the work area be unoccuppied during construction?

See Technical RFI responses.

29. What is the budget for the SEED project?

There is no budget for the sample SEED project. This is for pricing purposes only.

30. When is site visit for the SEED project?

There will be no site visit for the sample SEED project.

31. Page 9 of 23, paragraph (1) - Offeror's Relevant Experience, it states: "A more favorable rating will be given to offerors who can demonstrate the following experience: 2. Total cost of construction and/or R&A Relevant Project example exceeded $2 million." We currently have a few IDIQ contracts and most of the task orders under our IDIQ contracts are under $2 million, but the total combined task orders are over $2 million per year. Will our current IDIQ contracts meet and exceed the $2 million threshold and give us a more favorable rating?"

General Services Administration (GSA) wants the contractor to provide a relevant project example to exceed $2 million for a more favorable rating. Thus multiple combined task orders on the same IDIQ does not meet the requirement.

32. Page 8 of 23, paragraph II.B. - Proposal Format, it states: "Offeror's may use up to 15 pages to respond to the technical factor for the Offeror's Management Plan". On Page 10 of 23, paragraph (3) - Technical Approach it states: "The Offeror's Technical approach narrative shall be no more than 5 single-sided, 8.5 X 11-inch pages...". Which maximum page count for the Technical proposal is correct? 15 pages or 5 pages?

The question was answered on RFI #2 question #9.

33. On 3/6/20 the Solicitation to 47PJ0020R0064, IDIQ MACC Region 8 was revised. Shouldn’t this be issued as a numbered amendment for the offeror’s to acknowledge bid day on SF1442?

A final SF 1442 (to acknowledge all amendments) will be uploaded to beta.sam on March 21, 2020 along with RFI #4.

34. GAO rulings have confirmed that Entity-Owned firms (ANCs, Indian Tribes, NHOs, and CDCs) are allowed the use of affiliate subsidiary experience and past performance if a meaningful involvement in contract performance is documented by formal commitment letter. Please confirm this is acceptable and that the document is excluded from page count.

GAO rulings confirm that an agency is required to consider the experience and past performance of an offeror’s affiliate, parent, or subsidiary only if the solicitation requires such consideration. Eagle Eye Electric, LLC, B-415562; B-415562.3, January 18, 2018. This solicitation, due to the Government’s need to increase small business competitive advantage and improve the likelihood of successful contract performance, does not require consideration of the experience and past performance of an offeror’s affiliate, parent, or subsidiary, so they will not be considered.

However, regulations of the Small Business Administration require that

When evaluating the past performance and experience of an entity submitting an offer for a contract set aside or reserved for small business as a joint venture established pursuant to this section, a procuring activity must consider work done individually by each partner to the joint venture as well as any work done by the joint venture itself previously.

13 C.F.R. 125.8(e). Therefore, to comply with 13 C.F.R. 125.8(e), the solicitation is amended by deleting the definition for Factors 1 and 2 and replacing it with the following definition:

For factors 1 and 2, “Relevant Project(s)” means a project meeting all of the following characteristics:

1. Offeror was the Prime Contractor.

2. Project was completed within the past 5 years prior to issuance of the solicitation.

3. Total cost of construction and/or repairs and alteration (R&A) exceeded $250,000.

4. Building Construction and/or R&A within Buildings.

5. At least five (5) of the of the CSI Masterformat 2016 Divisions were used in the performance of the Project.

35. Please confirm that the font size must be 10-point or larger. In addition, for graphics, tables, charts and figures will the Government allow the text to be no smaller than 8 point font?

GSA will allow for Arial font in 10 point or larger font size. This shall be the standard for the whole proposal.

36. Will the Government allow for the use of 11x17 size paper for tables, charts, figures and graphics such as the Project Schedule and other relevant process charts? If so, will you allow for each 11x17 fold-out to count as one page?

11x17 size paper can be used for project schedule and other relevant process charts. Schedule is not included in the page limit.

37. This provision requires that proposals be manually signed. Please confirm that since this is an electronic submission, a manual signature is not required.

GSA will accept either manually signed or electronically signed.

38. Please provide the relevant Wage Determination Attachment to the Agreement.

Relevant wage determination will be attached at the task order level. See Wage Determination attachment.

39. Please confirm that Offerors should include Representations and Certifications and GSA Form 527 as part of Volume 1 and its associated pdf file.

Yes, the representations and certification document and GSA Form 527 are to be included in Volume 1.

40. Please confirm that for firms that do not have forward pricing rate agreements or negotiated forward pricing rates, N/A is an acceptable response to this requirement.

Yes

41. Please provide the unit pricing sheet mentioned in II.C, (3) and any necessary instructions as it pertains to the seed project.

A unit pricing sheet will be attached to RFI #4.

42. Section 1 of Attachment 1 (Offeror’s Relevant Experience/Past Performance Questionnaire) is three pages long. Does the Government want offerors to submit all three pages of Section 1 for each Relevant Project Also, please confirm that these three pages are not in page count per the response to RFI #11. If not, can the Government adjust the overall page count to include the additional page for each project?

The Offerors are to submit the Offeror’s Relevant Experience of section 1. The past performance of section 2 shall be submitted by Offeror’s representative for the project. The questionnaire will not be included in the page count.

43. The Government released 10 documents with the original RFP, yet 1.B. lists only eight items. Moreover, it appears that (6) and (7) refer to the same document. It is also unclear which documents comprise the Attachments to the Agreement (4) and Other Forms Required for Submission with Proposals (5). Can the Government please list and provide all necessary RFP documents?

SF1442, Price and Technical Proposal, Other supporting documentation, Representation and Certification

44. Since the Government has already provided the design, please confirm that this criteria is an error.

No this is not in error. The contractor is to use this to create their technical approach for the sample SEED project.

45. Please confirm that submissions must use a font size of 10 point or larger Arial or TNR.

Please see response to question #35

46. Please clarify the Government’s margin requirements.

Proposals shall be submitted on non-reduced 8-½” x 11” pages with margins of no less than 1”.

47. What is the acceptance period for proposals under this solicitation?

Proposal due date is May 11, 2020, GSA will expect to have the proposals reviewed within ninety (90) days of the due date.

48. Please confirm that the following are not in page count: GSA Form 527 and SF 1442

GSA Form 527 and SF 1442 are not included in the proposal page count.

49. Will the Government please give an estimate of the expected volume of work that will be set-aside and to which set-aside categories?

There is no estimate of the expected volume of work for each set-aside. The volume of work will be determined by the needs of the Government at the task order level.

50. Solicitation – Page 10 of 23 (3) Technical Approach:

Paragraph 1 refers to Attachment 2 – sample scope work; not attached; please provide Paragraph 3 technical approach narrative requires is to provide our Design Build strategy for the seed project. The seed (sample_ project is already designed. Are you requesting our DESIGN BUILD approach for the IDIQ MACC?

The sample Scope of Work is attached and titled Seed Project. Yes, GSA is requesting your technical approach to the sample seed project. GSA will use the technical approach to see how contractors approach projects.

51. Is a Bid Bond required for SEED Sample Project?

No, a bid bond is not required for the sample SEED project.

52. Do we need to provide you with a bonding letter from our bonding company, stating our bonding capacity?

Bonding letter stating bonding capacity are required at the task order level.

53. Wanted to confirm that GSA Form 527, C301 and SAM Active sheets will not count toward the 15 page maximum.

GSA Form 527, C301, and SAM Active sheets will not count toward the page count.

54. The solicitation documents reference a Bid Guarantee. Is this to be provided on a ‘per task order’ basis?

Bid Guarantee is required at the task order level.

55. Reference has been made to Design Build strategy (page 10 of 23). Is that delivery system relevant to the seed project, future task orders or just the solicitation in general?

Yes, the design build strategy (Technical Approach) is relevant to the sample SEED project.

56. Reference VI.D – Maximum Forward Pricing Rates, fully burdened labor rates, subcontractor mark-ups (if we are able to secure them on the seed project), parts and materials mark-ups and equipment mark-ups may be highly locale determined (across Region 8) and not truly represented in the locally situated seed project exercise. How would we reconcile this possibility?

This is a seed project example. We are wanting to determine how a company would price a project. We will analyze your assumptions regarding the project. The GSA does not intend to use the pricing for any other purpose than reviewing your proposal.

57. Block 10 of the 1442 lists the CD Drawings and Specifications dated 09/08/2019. The date listed on the drawings is JULY 25, 2019 Please confirm that we have the most updated drawings and specifications.

Yes, the CD Drawings and Specifications dated 09/08/2019 are the most up to date.

58. How does the government plan to compete task orders amongst contract awardees?

See response from RFI #2 questions #19 and #20

59. Will the government consider “current contracts” that we are currently work on and in the process of closing out - which will be complete by the date the proposal is due - for this solicitation as part of the Technical Proposal (Relevant Experience)?

Yes, GSA will consider “current contracts” if they are closed out by the proposal due date. Contractor must fill out the questionnaire.

60. Please define “Price Realism” and how the government is going to determine “Price Realism”?

For the Government’s determination of “Price Realism” refer to FAR 15.404-1

61. We did not see any Prevailing Wage Determination sections included with this solicitation regarding the “Seed Project”. Please advise.

See wage determination for the appropriate county and state on https://beta.sam.gov/search?index=wd. A copy will be attached to RFI #4

62. It is our understanding that the seed project is an example project only and will not be awarded, but that it has potentially already been executed under another contract vehicle. Therefore, the exercise of pricing the seed project is for the government to see the offeror's pricing approach and cost reasonableness, along with the technical capabilities. If the seed project has already been executed under another contract vehicle, it is our opinion that the publicly available information on that contract, which may include award price and any contract or scope modifications, may give some bidders a competitive advantage over other potential bidders. Please address and or confirm how any potential competitive advantages will be nullified through the evaluation process.

See RFI #2 question #22

Even though the seed project is a sample scope of work and will not be awarded, it is considered under Factor 3 and sample scope of work total construction price as part of the evaluation of offers. The sample scope of work total construction price will be evaluated for low price, price reasonableness, price realism and balance. The fully burdened hourly rates and mark up percentage rates provided by the offeror in the supporting documentation (this includes the fully burdened labor rates, subcontractor markup, and parts and materials mark-up, equipment mark-up, profit mark-up, and overhead mark-up) for the sample scope of work will serve as the maximums for these rates and mark-up percentage rates under the successful offeror’s lDlQ contract award pursuant to this solicitation for its future task orders. We are unaware of any potential competitive advantages or disadvantages related to the seed project or the same scope of work, so we cannot speculate about how any potential competitive advantages will be nullified through the evaluation process.

63. RFP page 22 of 23 says “Offeror must demonstrate that it is a small business in accordance with FAR 19 as of the deadline for the initial offerors”. Under which section of the proposal response should the proof of our SB status documentation be included?

Include Small Business status documentation in Volume II

64. Is pricing backups required to be included in the proposal response?

No

65. Section II.C. Price Proposal (1) Contents states: The Price Proposal shall consist of the SF 1442 and the pricing information required in the sample Task Order (total cost for all CSI Masterformat 2016 Divisions), Representatives and Certifications, and Maximum Forward Pricing Rates. And Section II.E. Other Information to Submit with Proposal (1) Representations and Certifications states: “Offerors are reminded their SAM registration status must be “Active”, at the time their offer is submitted, to be considered for award (see 52.204-7). Offerors submitting a proposal in response to this Solicitation shall complete electronic Annual Representations and Certifications in conjunction with required Entity registration in System for Award Management (SAM), accessed via System for Award Management. Offerors shall also submit with their proposal, the Annual Representations and Certifications (FAR 52.204-8), using the attached Offeror’s Representations and Certifications (C301-SAT)”. Can the Government please clarify whether Representations and Certifications of Offers are required to be submitted in both the Price and Technical volumes?

Please include Representations and Certifications in Volume II.

66. II.C. Price Proposal (3) Additional Proposal Requirements states: “The instructions for the sample project and where the unit pricing sheet is located in the solicitation”. Can the Government specify what is required to be submitted under this section?

This is to include all backup documentation for the proposal.

67. RFP page 8 of 23 says Offerors may use up to fifteen pages to respond to the technical factor for the Offeror’s Management Plan, but RFP page 10 of 23 says Offeror’s Technical approach narrative shall be no more than five (5) single-sided, 8.5 x 11-inch pages. Can the Government please clarify the page limit for the Technical Approach?

The Technical Approach shall be no more than five (5) pages. There is not a management plan required for this procurement. Any references of “Management Plan” shall be deleted.

68. Can the Government please confirm that the Schedule is excluded from any page limits?

Schedule is excluded from the page count.

69. Page 8 of RFP says Arial or TNR 10 point and Page 10 of RFP says Arial or TNR 11 point. Can the Government provide clarification of the correct minimum font size?

This question was answered on RFI #4 question #35

70. Please confirm that RFIs are due Saturday, March 14, 2020, at 4:00 PM Answers to the RFIs will be posted by Saturday Mach 21, 2020 4:00 pm.

The dates listed above are correct per the solicitation.

71. The Government-provided PDF titled “IDIQquestionnaire”, which is a fillable Attachment 1 form, is not working properly. When text is entered on Page 2 for relevant experience and then we click on Page 3 to enter the “more favorable” components, the information from Page 2 is automatically duplicated on Page 3. Can the Government please provide a revised, workable PDF or provide the form in MS Word format?

A workable format will be uploaded by March 21, 2020.

72. Will the Government allow the SF 1442, solicitation amendments, Sample Task Order Pricing Information, Representations and Certifications, Maximum Forward Pricing Rates, Qualifications, Exclusions and Conditions Other Information to Submit with Proposal, Small Business Representation, GSA Form 527 and Joint Venture Agreements/Teaming Agreements/Letters of Commitment to be excluded from the page count?

All the documents listed above are excluded from the page count.

73. Please clarify the number of pages in Volume I: Price Proposal and Volume II: Technical Proposal for the GSA MACC IDIQ Solicitation number 47PJ0020R0064.

The 15-page limit combined for both volumes noted in RFI #2 conflicts with what the Government is requesting in each volume. For example, in the Price Proposal the back up documentation as well as Reps and Certs will exceed 15 pages and in the Technical Proposal 2- pages per Past Experience is six pages, plus five pages for the technical approach.

Please confirm that Volume I is unlimited for page count and Volume II is limited to 15 pages total, with 5 pages for the Technical Approach narrative.

This question was answered on RFI# 2 question #14 and RFI #4 question #72

74. The MACC IDIQ Agreement states that one award will be made for the entire Region 8. However, the MACC IDIQ solicitation states that multiple awards will be made. Could you clarify approximately how many IDIQ Contracts will be awarded?

The GSA intends to award a minimum of three (3) contracts and a maximum of forty (40) contracts for this IDIQ.

75. In the Agreement, under Section II Prices - II.A Basis of Pricing it states "The Contractor shall be bound to the unit price or prices set forth herein in all equitable adjustments for changes including unit priced work, and no markups shall be applied to such unit prices." How should we present this in our price proposal? This section also states unit cost pricing? Is there a template to follow?

76. In the Agreement, IIB Contract Price Form, it references "Supplement to SF 1442". Could you please provide this supplement information to the SF 1442?

Yes, a bid form will be attached to RFI #4

77. On the SF 1442, it does not state how long our proposal is valid for? Could you please provide this information? When are you also projecting award of this contract?

The Projected Award date for this contract June 1, 2020

78. How many IDIQ Awards are you anticipating awarding?

The GSA intends to award a minimum of three (3) contracts and a maximum of forty (40) contracts for this IDIQ. Data shows that GSA, PBS Region 8 executes about 30 - 50 contract actions annually to perform minor alterations and repairs that fall within the scope of construction services covered by the IDIQ MACC.

79. Can you provide a list of locations and volume by location? In the Sam.beta solicitation post it states “Attached is a list of buildings where these services may be required.” Under the general description of services. Could you provide the list of locations?

The MACC IDIQ will be used to perform work throughout all of Region 8 which includes North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado. GSA has approx. estimation of 30 – 50 contract actions annually. This may change due to funding and government needs.

80. In the Solicitation, II.A Proposal Contents it says "pricing supplement to SF 1442"? We could not locate this form. Could you please provide?

Bid Form will be provided with RFI #4. This form can also be found on the gsa insite page under forms.

81. For Relevant Experience, it states that projects completed in the last 5 years. For those projects that are design-build do they have to be entirely completed or just a portion of actual construction completion? Would you allow a project that is 65% complete that is a design-build?

The design – build and construction have to be completed to be considered a relevant project.

82. Should we be submitting Section 1 with our proposal or will it just be the technical approach? It appears as though the entire Attachment 1 will be submitted by our Reference and that we do not submit at all for the Relevant Experience/Past Performance.

The technical approach will be submitted with the proposal. Section 1 of the questionnaire will be filled out by the contractor and then sent to the reviewer of the past performance. The questionnaire will then be sent in by the reviewer. It’s advantageous for the contractor to send in a copy of the relevant experience in case a past performance reviewer does not return the questionnaire.

83. Are IDIQ Contracts considered a project or must it only be an individual task order within the IDIQ/MATOC that is considered as the project?

The individual task order within the IDIQ is considered to be the project.

84. Can CPARS be submitted in lieu of the past performance questionnaire? In some instances, CO’s/COR’s have resigned or relocated making it difficult to track them down to complete this past performance questionnaire?

This question was answered on RFI #2 question #17.

85. In the Solicitation, II.D Technical Proposal - (3) Technical Approach (page 10) t it states “Offerors must use a font size of 10-point or larger and the font type must be Arial or Times New Roman.” (page 8). Is 10 point font acceptable?

This question was answered in RFI #4 question #35

86. In the Solicitation, under Section 11.B it states, “Offeror’s may use up to fifteen pages to respond to the technical factor for the Offeror’s Management Plan.” This differs than what is being requested in this section. Are we to submit a 5 single page technical approach to the sample scope of work and then include a 10 page management approach? In addition, the formatting requirements differ between these two sections. Could you please advise which formatting requirements to use?

This question was answered in RFI #2 question #9.

87. In the Solicitation, under VI.D Maximum Forward Pricing, is there the ability to present our fully burdened hourly rates for the next 5 years or is there the ability to adjust these fully burden rates depending on market conditions? It is difficult to predict our hourly burdened rates for the next 5 years given the volatility of the market.

This is a seed project example. We are wanting to determine how a company would price a project. We will analyze your assumptions regarding the project. The GSA does not intend to use the pricing for any other purpose than reviewing your proposal.

88. In the Solicitation, under VI.D Maximum Forward Pricing, for the fully burdened hourly rate is there a specific form or format we should follow? Could you please clarify which fully burdened rates we should present? As well as the mark-up information?

The particular reference shall be at the task order level.

89. For the seed project, will a site visit be allowable for the offeror as well as potential subcontractors?

This question was answered in RFI #1 question #1

90. Will the Seed Project be an actual award to one of the MACC IDIQ Contract holders?

No, the SEED project is a sample project used for pricing and technical approach only.

91. Will GSA consider awarding 5 or perhaps a max. of 7 IDIQ awards for this Solicitation. With “On ramp “ awards for any additional awardees.

No

92. Will GSA be providing the sample task order unit pricing sheet or do we use an excel spread sheet?

Yes, a bid sheet will provided as attachment with RFI #4.

93. Will there be an extension of the proposal due date because of COVID-19?

GSA will be extending the proposal due date by 32 days. Proposal will now be due Monday, May 11, 2020 @ 4:00 p.m. (MST).