Amendment_1.docx

AMENDMENT 1 – Solicitation AG-SPEC-S-17-0007

RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS

A-E DESIGN SERVICES TO INCLUDE

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING, MODELING, DESIGN, SURVEYING, AND INSPECTION SERVICES

TO DEVELOP COMPLETE DESIGN PACKAGES FOR PROJECTS LOCATED WITHIN THE COASTAL AREAS

OF THE GULF COAST REGION OF THE UNITED STATES

(TEXAS, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA AND FLORIDA)

Q.1 – Many questions were asked regarding qualifications in the Preselection Criteria as well as the Minimum Qualifications for Professional Engineers and whether the professional certification had to be held by one person, in all Gulf States; and if they had to be employees of the prime only.

A.1 – It is further clarified here and in the solicitation narrative that to meet the Preselection Criteria #2 and the Minimum Qualification Requirement #1 requirements, the firm “Prime” must have a licensed professional engineer or a professional engineer with a temporary permit to practice in each of the Gulf Coast States. These criteria apply specifically to the Prime. This criteria can be met by one or more employees, but they must be employees of the Prime.

Further, Minimum Qualifications #2 through #10 can be met with either prime or subcontractor personnel.

Q.2 - Is each subconsultant required to submit a full SF330 or should everything be combined into one SF330?

A.2 – A firms SF-330 should include the qualifications of the entire team that they present to meet the requirements – including any subcontractors/subconsultants and their role.

Q.3 - Under the section "Type of Contract," the solicitation states that "Awards may provide for a contract servicing one state, a group of states or all states within the Gulf Coast." If the NRCS is considering contract awards for one or a group of states, it seems that the minimum requirement in pre-selection factor 2. is overly restrictive by requiring the prime firm to have at least one P.E. registered in all five states. Will NRCS consider removing or relaxing pre-selection criterion 2 to assure more competition among small businesses and support the stated possibility of awarding contract(s) to service one state or a subset of the 5 states?

A.3 – Refer to Q.1

Q.4 - The solicitation states several times that fold out sheets no larger than "11X14 inch paper" will be counted as single pages. We are not familiar with this size of paper and assume that this is an error. Perhaps the standard size of "11 X 17 inch" was what was intended here?

A.4 – Yes, 11x17 sized paper shall be used.

Q.5 - Should all projects in Section F and all projects on resumes in Section E be within the past three years?

A.5 – No. Section F of the SF330 is meant to illustrate example projects that demonstrate the team’s qualifications. There is not a time limit. Past performance is an evaluation factor and information should be submitted for only relevant work within the last 3 years. This information should be included in Section H as additional information.

Q.6 - Are we allowed to spiral bind the Statement of Qualifications? If spiral bound material and binders are forbidden, how do you prefer we submit our SOQ (clipped, stapled, etc.)?

A.6 – A Binder Clip would be acceptable.

Q.7 - Will there be a companion opportunity for large businesses to participate as a prime for some of this Gulf Coast restoration work?

A.7 – At this time, we do not anticipate any additional opportunities for large business to compete as prime contractors for work under the RESTORE or CWPPRA programs.

Q.8 - Is the Principal office only defined as where the firm is licensed or can it also be interpreted as the office from which the work will be performed and managed?

A.8 – As defined in the solicitation under Preselection Criteria, “Principal Office is defined as the principle place of business as filed with the respect Secretary of State’s Office.”

Q.9 - We request that the principal office requirement be waived if the prime has an office in one of the five states, from which the work will be performed and managed.

A.9 – This requirement will not be waived. Under 41 USC 3304 (a) (5) allows for local area set-asides. The certification requirements are being incorporated in the solicitation.

Q.10 - We request that the experience performed by prime contractor and/or team members be increased to the last 5 years and that it be clearly demonstrated that the team members performing the work are still employed by the firm.

A.10 - See A.5

Q.11 - Federal Register, Vol 81, No 104 dated May 31, 2016 states that, ”Specifically, the NDAA deems work done by similarly situated entities not to be subcontracted work for purposes of complying with the limitations on subcontracting requirement. Thus, work done by a similarly situated entity is counted in determining whether the applicable limitation on subcontracting is met.” Is it a correct interpretation that any work performed by a similarly situated small business sub-contractor on this contract will qualify towards the requirement that “the prime contractor must perform at least 50% of the cost of the contract…” A.11 – What is in the Federal Register is not codified – it contains proposed rules and regulations. Until something published in the Federal Register is codified by law or regulation, we are limited to the language presently in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). FAR Clause 52.219-14 Limitations on Subcontracting specifically states that in the performance of a contract for services “at least 50 percent of the cost of the contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the concern.” Work performed by any subcontractor regardless of size cannot be counted toward the prime contractors 50% cost requirement.

Q.12 - Will NRCS relax item 1 in the Pre-Selection Criteria to the following effect?:

The prime contractor must have an established office in one of the Gulf Coast States (i.e. Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama or Florida) and shall demonstrate the ability to perform a preponderance of work under the contract by staff located in the Gulf States.

A.12 – See A.9

Q.13 - Are firms allowed to obtain the necessary PE licenses within 6 months of contract award as is usually the case?

A.13 – Firms must have a licensed professional engineer in each of the 5 Gulf Coast state, or a temporary permit to practice. The temporary permit to practice requirement can be satisfied by a copy of the application with the proposal. For firms who may be selected for award that have temporary practice permits, licensure requirements must be met within 60 days of award.

Q.14 - Can the due date for receipt of proposals be extended for two weeks.

A.14 - The proposal due date will remain December 5, 2016.

Q.15 - As written, the qualification requirement indicates that a minimum of two engineers must either be a civil or agricultural engineer. Will the government accept civil engineers only?

A.15 – Yes they can be either civil or agricultural engineers.

Q.16 - Please clarify whether the Registered Professional Land Survey practitioner must be licensed in all 5 states or whether multiple practitioners may be used to cover all 5 states.

A.16 – The PLS requirement can be satisfied by either the prime contractor or that of its proposed subcontractor(s).

Q.17 - Can an Offeror submit for less than all 5 states? For example, only for Florida or only for Florida and Texas.

A.17 – No. Firms must be capable of providing services to all 5 states.