5OH0350 FAQ (final).pdf

Solicitation: Request for Lease Proposals (RLP) No. 5OH0350

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Project: Cleveland, Ohio — Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) / Federal

Protective Service (FPS)

Purpose This Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document provides Government responses and clarifications to questions received during the pre-proposal conferences regarding RLP No. 5OH0350. Offerors are responsible for reviewing the entire solicitation, including all referenced documents, exhibits, attachments, and amendments. Unless otherwise stated in a formal solicitation amendment, the information contained in this FAQ is provided solely to clarify existing solicitation requirements and does not otherwise modify, supersede, or waive any requirement of the RLP.

1. Maintenance of Security Items

Question/Comment:

Which party is responsible for the maintenance, repair, and replacement of security devices and equipment cited in Exhibit C of the RLP?

Government Response:

The Lessor is responsible for the purchase and installation of the security devices outlined in Exhibit C of the RLP. Upon installation and after the warranty period of each security device, the Government shall be responsible for the maintenance, repair and replacement of the security devices. RLP Amendment No. 2 shall be issued to correct the language in Exhibit C of the RLP.

2. FPS Parking Requirements: Reference: RLP Section 1.02 C — FPS Parking

What are the Government's requirements regarding the availability and reservation of the parking spaces?

Government Response:

All required reserved parking spaces shall be available exclusively for the Government's use 24 hours per day, seven days per week, 365 days per year (24/7/365) for the duration of the Lease term. The Offeror shall ensure that the required parking spaces remain continuously available for the exclusive use of the Government throughout the Lease term.

The total parking requirement is for 36 parking spaces.

The 11 Secured and reserved structured parking spaces and 18 structured reserved parking spaces for visitor parking on-site can be met with a secured door or parking barrier arm and should not be included in the 6 secured fenced parking requirement.

Security of the parking spaces may be provided through a controlled-access garage with a gate or parking arm, fencing, a gated parking area, or comparable physical access-control measures specifically restricting access to the designated Government vehicle parking area. The parking area shall also be secured and illuminated in accordance with the applicable security requirements set forth in the Lease. The Offeror shall clearly identify the location and method of securing the eleven (11) required Government parking spaces in its proposal.

3. Bunker Storage Requirement: Reference RLP Section 1.02 A-2 and Exhibit B — FPS Instruction Manual 15.2.6.1-01, Real Property Management, Chapter 5: Explosive Safes

What requirements apply to the bunker/storage requirement?

Government Response:

Offerors shall refer to RLP Section 1.02 A-2 and Exhibit B, FPS Instruction Manual 15.2.6.1-01, Real Property Management, Chapter 5: Explosive Safes, for the applicable requirements. Offerors are responsible for reviewing these requirements in their entirety and incorporating all applicable requirements into their proposed leased premises.

4. Government Right to Award on Initial Offers: Exhibit D. GSA 3516, Solicitation Provisions

Question/Comment:

Does the Government reserve the right to award the Lease based on initial offers without conducting discussions or requesting revised offers?

Government Response: This language has changed from previous RLP versions. The Government will have at least one round of discussions with all Offerors. The language in Exhibit D Form 3516 applies.

3516 Language:

“1. 552.270-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS – ACQUISITION OF LEASEHOLD

INTERESTS IN REAL PROPERTY (JUN 2011)

(a) Definitions. As used in this provision— “Discussions” are negotiations that occur after establishment of the competitive range that may, at the Contracting Officer’s discretion, result in the offeror being allowed to revise its proposal.

(e) Lease award.

(1) The Government intends to award a lease resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose proposal represents the best value after evaluation in accordance with the factors and subfactors in the solicitation.

5. Exhibit I: 552.270-33 Foreign Ownership and Financing Representation for High-Security Leased Space. FOREIGN OWNERSHIP AND FINANCING

REPRESENTATION FOR HIGH-SECURITY LEASED SPACE (JUN 2021)

Question/Comment:

What action is required regarding the Government's prohibited telecommunications and video surveillance equipment requirements?

Government Response:

The Government has provided a Prohibited Telecommunications Exhibit with the RLP.

Each Offeror shall review the exhibit and complete and sign the required representation in accordance with RLP Section 3.01 T and FAR 52.240-90, Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment, as applicable. The completed and signed representation shall be submitted as part of the Offeror's proposal in accordance with the solicitation instructions.

6. VBA Exhibit B of the RLP - Physical Security Document, Section 3.3 - Stand Off Distance This section cites in part: Unscreened vehicles must not be permitted to park or travel closer than the minimum standoff distance to any side of a Critical, Essential, or Ancillary facility. Screened vehicles must not be permitted to park or travel within 5 feet (1.5 m) of any Critical, Essential, or Ancillary VA facilities.

Criteria Essential, Ancillary Critical

Minimum Standoff Distance 25 feet (7.6 m) 50 feet (15 m)

Minimum Standoff Distance for Screened Vehicle

Five (5) feet (1.5 m) Five (5) feet (1.5 m)

These minimum standoff distances are to be provided to the edge of the curb line demarcating the internal roadways and parking within a VA campus. For facilities not located within a campus with internal roadways or parking, the minimum standoff distance is to be provided to the site perimeter fence.

Question/Comment:

What are considered Critical, Essential, or Ancillary facility areas? This may cause an issue with buildings in downtown Cleveland as most building’s curtain wall may not meet the 25 foot stand off distance.

Government’s Response:

CRITICAL AREAS: Critical areas are the most sensitive and operationally vital spaces within the facility — areas whose loss, compromise, or damage would severely impact VA mission continuity. For VBA Regional Office purposes, Critical areas include:

• IT Server Room / Data Center

• PIV Card Office

• Security Operations / Command and Control Center

• Electrical and utility rooms supporting critical building systems

• Emergency generator and backup power infrastructure

ESSENTIAL AREAS: Essential areas are spaces necessary for the primary public-facing mission of the Regional Office and support core VA business operations and veteran services. For VBA Regional Office purposes, Essential areas include:

• Public Contact / Veterans Service area- to include VR&E and VSO Space

• Benefits examination and interview rooms

• Mailroom / Mail processing area

• Primary staff work areas and administrative floors

ANCILLARY AREAS: Ancillary areas are supporting spaces that are not directly mission-critical but are part of the facility footprint. For VBA Regional Office purposes, Ancillary areas include:

• General administrative offices

• Conference and training rooms

• Break rooms and common areas

• Storage spaces

• Parking structures

STANDOFF DISTANCE — COMPENSATORY MEASURES: Where the minimum standoff distance required under ISC RMP 2024 Section 3.3 cannot be achieved due to site limitations, compensatory countermeasures must be implemented in lieu of standoff distance. Offerors may implement the following compensatory measures in their proposals:

• Installation of crash-rated vehicle barriers (bollards or wedge barriers meeting ASTM F2656-18 at the appropriate performance level) at the closest achievable standoff point from the building envelope

• Blast-resistant glazing on ground floor and accessible upper floor windows facing the street

• Structural hardening of the building envelope at the ground floor level

Where a response in this FAQ is inconsistent with or modifies a provision of the RLP, the formally issued solicitation amendment shall control.

Offerors shall acknowledge receipt of all solicitation amendments in accordance with the instructions contained in the RLP.

END OF FAQ