Solicitation No. AG-3142-S-09-0039 - Amendment No. 0001.docx

Architect/Engineer (A/E) Services IDIQ Solicitation Number AG-3142-S-09-0039

RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED

AMENDMENT No. 0001

This amendment answers questions submitted to date and adds alternate POC Gerardo F. Rivera, CCCA, LEED AP, Contract Specialist, USDA – Office of Procurement and Property Management (OPPM) –202-720-3812 (direct) - 202-720-9226 (fax) - Gerardo.Rivera@da.usda.gov.

QUESTION 1 – While our staff and ownership is comprised of engineers we do not currently have a Professional Engineer working for our organization, does this preclude our ability to bid on this bid?

ANSWER 1 - At a minimum, the owners and/or principals must be licensed. Therefore if this is not case, you would not be eligible for award.

QUESTION 2 - It mentions set aside 8(a); does this mean only firms registered as 8(a) can submit a response?

ANSWER 2 - This is correct.

QUESTION 3 - I went of fedbiz to download the interested vendors list but I didn’t see one available. Is there a vendors list you could send me for the above project or could you tell me where I could get it.

ANSWER 3 - If there is one it would be on FEDBIZOPPs, under “interested vendors.” It is voluntary for those firms interested.

QUESTION 4 - In reference to the above solicitation, please let us know whether you need us to include in our proposal licensed engineers in all categories registered in all three states: DC, MO and LA? Most of our engineers and consultants are licensed in DC and can obtain their licenses in MO and LA by reciprocity in a short time frame.

ANSWER 4 - The Contractor shall be a licensed Architectural-Engineering firm in the state in which the office is located. Owners/Principals of the A/E firm shall be licensed/registered Architects and/or Engineers.

QUESTION 5 - I have a team of professional firms that are located in the DC area, Kansas City and New Orleans. Some I have worked with and others I have not. Our firm alone can handle a good percentage of the skills needed, but when it comes to simultaneous projects in different regions, then we would prefer to team. How critical is previous working relationships to this project?

ANSWER 5 – Refer to the pre-solicitation notice and what it states about team experience, if any.

QUESTION 6 - We will possibly have a redundant set of firms that can handle project responsibilities in their respective region as a result of licensing, permits and local code familiarization. Is that acceptable to USGA? Will we need to have individuals specifically licensed in those respective States for ASAG projects or is a licensed professional-in-general can handle projects in any region?

ANSWER 6 – USDA requires the Contractor shall be a licensed/registered Architectural-Engineering firm in the state in which the office is located; including principals/owners.

QUESTION 7 - Can firms send in a proposal as a Prime and serve as a sub on other teams that are submitting a proposal for this RFP?

ANSWER 7 - There is no prohibition against doing this.

QUESTION 8 - Is the fee cap provide includes only design, construction or both.

ANSWER 8 - The 6 Percent Fee Limitation on Federal Design Contracts has been in place since 1939. Federal construction agencies have been required by law to limit the fee payable to an architect or engineer to 6 percent of the estimated construction cost.

QUESTION 9 - The RFP reads “The maximum contract value may not exceed $10,000,000 aggregate total” Does this aggregate amount mean professional services fees or does this include construction as well.

ANSWER 9 - The $10M threshold relates to the A/E IDIQ contract only; not the resulting construction contracts.

QUESTION 10 - Could you please clarify the number of pages we should submit for AG-3142-S-09-0039. In one part of solicitation description, you mention 50 pages and in another part, you mention 50 sheets. We understand that 50 sheets imply to have 100 pages. Could you please kindly advise about this issue?

Furthermore, in order to accomplish the scope of work successfully, we have realized we cannot answer all required items on 50 pages. If possible, we would like to know if you could increase the number of pages for submission of this solicitation.

ANSWER 10 - Sheets and pages are synonymous in this instance meaning 50 pages. Additional pages are not allowed.

QUESTION 11 - The question is: Does USDA has an specific A/E firm in mind to put in place such a strict condition as Criterion 5 to require that A/E firm’s main office and sub-consultants be within 60 miles of the USDA Headquarter? I do not recall that if any of the major A/E firms has their headquarters that close to DC, let alone a small 8(a) A/E. Have not seen any such requirement practiced by any other federal agency before. May be USDA meant that the A/E firm and its consultants have an office within 60 miles. In that case it makes sense and fair play.

ANSWER 11 - Criterion 5 clearly states for the A/E firm's main office and sub-consultants offices must be within a 60 mile commute to USDA Headquarters. I refer you to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 36.602-1.