IDIQ Question Responses05152009.doc

Question 1:

A fair amount of our design work deals with the design and renovation of labs. Do you know if the work associated with this request for qualifications will be dealing with lab design and renovation projects?

Answer 1:

The work anticipated will be dams and other soil and water resource related structures. No design and renovation of labs are anticipated.

Question 2:

The Synopsis for the Solicitation AG-3A75-S-09-0007 indicates that it is for what appears to be architectural, infrastructure and central plant type work. However, the actual RFQ indicates it is for mostly civil and dam work. Which is correct?

Answer 2:

The anticipated work is mostly civil and dam work. Buildings are not anticipated.

Question 3:

We understand there is no "set aside" for this solicitation, but is there any special consideration given to DBE companies (specifically Service-disabled Veteran-owned Small Businesses) as part of a team effort to respond to the proposal?

Answer 3:

This is an unrestrictive full and open competition solicitation. Teaming arrangements are encouraged. We will be looking at the sub-contracting plan of large businesses. Small and other social economic groups are encouraged to respond as a Prime Contractors as well as subcontracts.

Question 4:

Is there any page limit number for response?

Answer 4:

NRCS will require a maximum of 60 (8.5" x 11") pages, not including Section E, Resumes as state under L.2 ENTIRE QUALIFICATIONS PACKAGE SUBMISSION.

Question 5:

What time is the latest to submit response on May 29th, 2009?

Answer 5:

The offer due date and time is 12:00 Noon (Eastern Standard Time) as stated on Page 1 in Block "8. OFFER DUE DATE/LOCAL TIME."

Question 6:

This solicitation says the Government intends to award up to six (6) nationwide contracts for Architectural/Engineering Services. Our question is, are the contracts going to be for specific geographical areas, or is each firm that obtains a contract expected to perform work nationwide?

Answer 6:

Each firm will be expected to have the capability of performing work nationwide.

Question 7:

Are there formal Evaluation Criteria that will be used in scoring? For example, the following comes from a recent USDA/USFS solicitation for Region 4. These type of criteria allow the respondents to focus on your key areas of interest, and allow your reviewers to provide a more apples to apples comparison of the submittals that you'll receive:

(1) Professional qualifications necessary for satisfactory performance or required services;

(2) Specialized experience and technical competence in the type of work required, including, where appropriate, experience in energy conservation pollution prevention, waste reduction, and the use of recovered materials;

(3) Capacity to accomplish the work in the required time;

(4) Past performance on contracts with Government agencies and private industry in term of cost control, quality of work, and compliance with performance schedules;

(5) Location in the general geographical area Intermountain West.

Answer 7:

Evaluation criteria are in announcement under Section M “Evaluation Factors for Award.

Question 8:

Can you provide a sample of expected project types, are they more site development related, building structures, or both?

Answer 8:

Expected project types are dams and their appurtenances and other soil and water resource related structures. Buildings are not anticipated.

Question 9:

Are there specific locations where NRCS has regional contracting offices, or will all work be administered through Beltsville.

Answer 9:

NRCS has contracting officers located throughout the United States and Alaska. These contracts will be National in scope allowing all NRCS Contracting Official to assign Task Orders against all/any of the contracts.

Question 10:

NRCS has three regions - should we focus on one or all with our responses. Will the six contracts be nationwide, or will you try to select a couple in each region?

Answer 10:

There will be up to six contracts. Any firms selected will be expected to have the capability of performing work nationwide. Also Question 6 and Answer 6.

Question 11:

Are there specific disciplines that you expect, beyond traditional A/E services? For example, a recent USDA/USFS solicitation for the Rocky Mountain Region asked for typical A/E services but also noted that 'The work may involve:'

Surveying, Sanitary Surveys, Dam Inspection Surveys, Geotechnical Studies, Inundation Studies, Preparation of dam emergency response plans, Site Planning, Water Rights Investigations, Energy and Life Cycle Analysis / Value Analysis, Sustainable Design, Cost Estimates, Environmental Engineering, Peer Reviews, Etc.

We've also seen ads requesting hydrology, hydraulics, archeology, anthropology, historic preservation, and other disciplines that might come into play.

Answer 11:

The specific disciplines that are expected are in the announcement.

Question 12:

Given the large contract size and the short response time (18 days) and the Memorial Day weekend, is there any possibility that a deadline extension will be offered to allow teaming to take place?

Answer 12:

NRCS recognizes the size of the contract and have set the response time to solicitation to reflect the timing of the contract awards and anticipated workload.

Question 13:

Does the Government intend to award one IDIQ contract or multiple IDIQ contracts under this Solicitation? Section M.1 says that the "Government intends on making a single award as a result of this solicitation." The Overview says that the "Government intends to award up to six (6) nationwide contracts." Your clarification would affect how we, and other responders, would prepare our teams, which we need to do this week. Thank you for any clarification that you can provide.

Answer 13:

Correction is made to Section M.1 The Government intends to award up to six (6) nationwide contracts for Architectural/Engineering Services as stated under Overview.

Question 14:

We are a small, Indian owned architecture firm. I notice this bid has not small business/minority owned set aside. Is this something we should submit for or are you looking for large firms?

Answer 14:

Yes you should. Small and other social economic groups are encouraged to respond as Prime Contractors as well as subcontracts.

Question 15:

Regarding the above-reference A/E Nationwide requirement that you just released on FedBizOpps on May 11, would you please tell me if this is a new requirement, or a follow-on to an existing contract? ; If it is a follow-on would you please give me the incumbent name, contract #, end date and awarded value?

Answer 15:

This is a new requirement.