Combined Synopsis Solicitation - 47PA0325R0001 - Set Aside AE IDIQ.pdf

47PA0325R0001

COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION – SET-ASIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

Solicitation Number: Notice Type:

Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Synopsis: 47PA0325R0001

This synopsis/solicitation is a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for zonal Architect and Engineering (AE) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts, for a period of one base year plus up to four one-year option periods per contract. Four single award IDIQs will be made from this Solicitation for AE services. This procurement is set-aside for small businesses. Interested small businesses may submit an offer for one or more zones.

Classification Code: C – Architect and Engineering Services NAICS

Code: 541310

Contracting Office Address: Public Buildings Service Special Programs Division Acquisition Branch (PXAA) Washington, DC 20405

Place of Performance: Place of business of selected AE firms and various Government controlled sites within the established and applicable zone.

Contracting Officer: Lindsey McCampbell

Phone Number: 817-978-4070

Project: Zonal IDIQs, Architectural and Engineering Design

Services

Project type: Various

Client Agency: GSA/PBS/SPD

Size/Budget: Varied

NOTICE: SETASIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

The deadline for submitting questions is 5 p.m. local time on 17 January 2025.

Special Programs Division (SPD) of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), Public Buildings Service (PBS), has a requirement for Professional Architectural and Engineering (AE) services on an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) basis. Orders placed by SPD will primarily cover requirements of client agencies. Contracting Officers (COs) within PBS will be authorized to place orders against the contracts upon receipt of a delegation of authority from the SPD CO.

Four single award IDIQ contracts will include all facilities under the jurisdiction, custody and control of GSA in the entire United States (U.S.), including all U.S. Territories. All AE services will be provided when so authorized by execution of firm-fixed-price Task Orders. Individual Task Order values will be based on an Estimated Construction Cost at Award (ECCA) of less than or equal to the prospectus threshold (currently $3.6 million). Note - This value can be exceeded if agreed to by the contractor.

This requirement is solicited as a total Small Business Set-Aside. The NAICS code is 541310 (Architectural Services) and the small business size standard is $12.5 million. It is anticipated that four separate contracts will be awarded. The firm-fixed-price IDIQ contracts will each consist of one base year and up to four, one-year option periods. Offerors may submit a proposal for each of the zones they are interested in, but a single proposal for multiple zones will not be accepted. The zonal awards shall encompass the following Primary Contract Areas.

Zone GSA Regions States

A 1. New England

2. Northeast & Caribbean

3. Mid-Atlantic

Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands

B 4. Southeast Sunbelt

5. Great Lakes

6. Heartland

7. Greater Southwest

Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas

C 8. Rocky Mountain

9. Pacific Rim

10. Northwest/Arctic

Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Hawaii

D 11. National Capital Central Office

District of Columbia and the immediate surrounding area

On an occasional basis, work may also include locations in the Secondary Contract Area. The Secondary Contract Area for the IDIQ contract covers the entire United States (U.S.), including all U.S. Territories, and consists of the Zones comprising other states and territories that are not covered as part of the IDIQ contract’s Primary Contract Area. The Secondary Contract Area may be awarded as a Primary Contract Area(s) under separate contract(s) to other contractor(s). In addition, the Secondary Contract Area of this contract may also be the Secondary Contract Area under other contracts.

Services may be provided under this contract within the Secondary Contract Area if ordered by the Government. However, the Contractor is not obligated to perform work in the Secondary Contract Area and may decline such orders by notifying the CO within 3 workdays of receipt of a request for proposal or order for such services. The Government shall have no obligation to order services to be performed under this contract within the Secondary Contract Area, and its failure to order any such services shall not breach or otherwise violate the contract.

Small business set-asides. When forming a formal Joint Venture or Partnership in response to a small business set-aside, all team members must meet the socioeconomic status for the set-aside. For all Contractor Team Arrangements (CTAs) submitted in accordance with FAR Subpart 9.6, the Limitations on Subcontracting (FAR 52.219-14) apply, (i.e., the small business team members must perform at least 50% of the value of the work to be completed).

The Maximum Ordering Limitation (MOL) for each contract across all potential contract years is $50 million dollars. There will be a $1,000 guaranteed minimum for the first year of each IDIQ.

The contracts will be solicited and awarded pursuant to the Brooks Act, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 36.6, and General Services Acquisition Manual (GSAM) Subpart 536.6.

Scope Work under typical Task Orders issued under each IDIQ contract will include, but will not be limited to: The study of Architectural and/or Engineering problems/existing conditions (known as Extra Field Investigation – EFI); recommendation of solutions and anticipated costs for the solutions; Engineering Studies, Retro-Commissioning, Pre-Design Phase Services, Preparation of Schematic Designs (SDs), Design Development Drawings (DDs), Design Intent Drawings (DIDs), Construction Documents (CDs) and Specifications for various projects; drafting Design- Build Statements of Work (SOWs); and monitoring of construction activities in the form of Post Contract Construction Services (PCCS). Requirements for typical Task Order SOWs will also involve engineering and architectural services for reports, investigations, subsoil investigations, site surveys and analysis, site utility studies, geotechnical engineering services, environmental studies, energy studies/audits, materials selection, and design.

Firms shall be capable of performing the work with in-house staff and/or in conjunction with consultants, partnerships, and/or joint ventures. All AE services will be provided when so authorized by execution of firm-fixed-price Task Orders.

The work will require various primary disciplines, including:

Architectural, Civil, Structural, Mechanical (HVAC and Plumbing), Electrical, Fire Protection Cost Estimator, Environmental Engineer, Historic Preservationist, and Landscape Architect.

Secondary/supplemental disciplines which may be required on an as-needed basis include:

Marine Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer, Registered Land Surveyor, and other disciplines as requested by GSA.

At a minimum, firms shall have a team comprised of the following disciplines – Architects, Electrical Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Fire Protection Engineers, Civil Engineers, Structural Engineers, Environmental Engineers, Cost Estimators, and Historical Preservationists and Landscape Architects.

Firm Location and Travel GSA will not pay for local travel that is within fifty (50) miles from the firm’s closest office, with respect to the awarded project and as approved by GSA. Government contractors must utilize per diem rates according to the appropriate state where they are traveling to. Current per diem rates may be found at https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/per-diem-rates. All invoices must include a separate line item for travel costs and include all travel receipts for each approved trip. The Government will not reimburse any travel or expenses incurred during the selection process.

GSA Policies and Regulations Federal projects require compliance with federal regulations and policies such as the GSA PBS P100 (Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service) and tenant related design guides, and the 2020 Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings.

Evaluation – General This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is not a Request for Proposal (RFP). This acquisition will be conducted in accordance with FAR Subpart 36.6 and GSAM Subpart 536.6. Firms interested in responding to this RFQ announcement are invited to submit a completed SF-330 (Parts I and II), inclusive of written narrative (Block 30 of the SF-330). Offerors shall organize the information to highlight responses to the Selection Criteria listed below. All information will be evaluated in an identical manner and in accordance with the specified Selection Criteria. If firms propose under a joint venture agreement, the joint venture must meet the definition of a small business joint venture, and each firm must independently demonstrate the ability to implement the requirements of the tasks described herein.

GSA has established an Evaluation Board to evaluate the qualifications submitted by Offerors in response to this RFQ. Evaluations will be conducted in a fair, rational and consistent manner in strict compliance with FAR 36.602 and GSAM 536.602. Each SF-330 (Parts I and II) submitted will be evaluated against the established weighted selection criteria and rated using a numerical rating system. Each Evaluation Board member will independently evaluate and rate each offeror. Ratings will be established for each selection criteria and will include an assessment of the offeror’s strengths, weaknesses, and deficiencies. Based on these assessments, a final rating will then be established for each offeror.

Following individual evaluations and ratings, firms will be ranked in order of preference from highest to least qualified. At least three of the most highly qualified firms for each zone will be on a “short-list” and will be interviewed by the Evaluation Board.

Short-listed firms will be referred to as "selected firms". Selected firms will be invited to participate in oral presentations. The specific details of the oral presentations will be provided to only the selected firms. Selected firms should be aware that their overall final rating depends on both written submissions and their oral presentations. Following oral presentations, the selected firms will then be ranked in order of preference and the Selection Authority will make the final selection from among those firms for each zone. The CO will issue an RFP to the highest rated firm in each zone and enter into negotiations with those firms. If a mutually satisfactory contract cannot be negotiated, including but not limited to prices (i.e., rates) with the most preferred firm for each zone, negotiations will cease, and the next highest rated firm will receive an RFP.

Responsibility In accordance with FAR Subpart 9.1, Responsible Prospective Contractors, the CO is required to make an affirmative determination of whether a prospective contractor is responsible. The CO may, if necessary, conduct a pre-award survey of the prospective contractor as part of the considerations in determining responsibility. In the absence of information clearly indicating that the otherwise selected Offeror is responsible, the CO shall make a determination of non-responsibility and refer the matter to the U.S. Small Business Administration, which will then determine whether a Certificate of Competency in accordance with FAR Subpart 19.6, Certificates of Competency and Determinations of Responsibility, can be issued.

Offeror’s Submission Questions regarding this RFQ shall be submitted by 5:00 pm local time on ----------- to Lindsey McCall at lindsey.mccall@gsa.gov and Shirley Rohmer at shirley.rohmer@gsa.gov.

Firms are highly encouraged to verify with GSA that their SF-330 has been received.

Selection Criteria In accordance with FAR 36.602-1 and GSAM 536.602-1. A rating scale of 4 (highest score) to (lowest score) will be applied for each criteria as follows:

4 - Exceeds evaluation standards necessary for acceptable contract performance in a way that is beneficial to the agency.

3 - Meets evaluation standards necessary for acceptable contract performance; any weaknesses or deficiencies can be readily correctable.

2 - Fails to clearly meet evaluation standards, stated in Attachment #2, for acceptable contract performance; however, any weaknesses or deficiencies are correctable.

1 – Fails to meet a minimum requirement of the evaluation standards and any weaknesses or deficiencies are uncorrectable without a major revision of the proposal.

Strength, weakness and deficiency are described as follows:

Strength - A strong attribute or quality of particular worth or utility; an inherent asset. Note: Simple adherence to the requirements or ability to meet a requirement is compliance but should not be listed as a strength.

Weakness - An aspect of or an omission from an offeror’s proposal that may contribute to a failure in meeting specified minimum performance or capability requirements.

Deficiency – A material failure of a proposal to meet a government requirements or a combination of weaknesses in a proposal that increases the risk of unsuccessful contract performance to an unacceptable level.

The selection criteria and standards for this procurement are as follows:

1. Professional qualifications necessary for satisfactory performance of required services.

The weight for this criterion is 30%. To meet the standard the qualifications must demonstrate:

a. Experience serving in a similar capacity on three relevant projects; and

b. Graduate of an Architectural or Engineering college curriculum (minimum four years); and

c. Experience interpreting and ensuring compliance with the Federal Acquisition

Regulation and other applicable standards; and

d. In-depth knowledge of Federal design and construction processes; and

e. Experience developing and interpreting comprehensive program or project management plans and schedules.

2. Past performance on contracts with Government agencies and private industry in terms of cost control, quality of work, and compliance with performance schedules. The weight of this criterion is 23%. To meet the standard the qualifications must demonstrate evidence of past successes working together on two relevant projects.

3. 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. The weight of this criterion is 17%. To meet the standard the qualifications must demonstrate evidence of team experience on three relevant projects which demonstrate acceptable performance, required technical abilities and acceptable application of standard of care.

4. Capacity to accomplish the work in the required time. The weight of this criterion is 15%.

To meet the standard the qualifications must demonstrate the ability and capacity to respond to emerging situations in a proactive manner, evaluate situations and make midcourse corrections which will overall mitigate potential negative impact

5. Environmental and Sustainable Design Consideration Plan: How the firm will meet the Government's goals of moving towards a net zero portfolio and healthy and sustainable buildings and work environment.

5.a. The firm's approach to sustainable design practice, in both large project planning and in minor repair and alterations or systems design.

5.b. Innovative approaches to energy and water conservation practices which will be incorporated into mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and building envelope systems, workplace designs, and construction waste management requirements.

5.c. Utilization of environmentally friendly products, recycled and/or reused products, low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) products and products or systems which promote green/sustainable facilities operations and maintenance.

5.d. How the firm will design systems that incorporate electrification strategies, utility rebates and reduction of greenhouse gasses, embedded carbon reductions, use of life cycle costing, energy modeling, climate adaptation studies, and other tools to move towards a net zero portfolio and healthy and sustainable buildings and work environments.

5.e. Experience of the firm with LEEDS/SITES certifications and Guiding Principles program.

The weight of this criterion is 10%. To meet the standard the qualifications must demonstrate:

a. An Understanding of challenges and problems associated with environmental and sustainable design; and

b. An effective and efficient strategy for accomplishing the Government’s goals; and

c. Successful completion of 2 projects with LEEDS/SITE certifications and Guiding Principles.

6. Location of the firm in the general geographic area and knowledge of the locality of the projects. In order to receive maximum consideration under this factor, the AE firm must demonstrate that at least 35% of the AE contract services (based on the MOL) will be accomplished within the geographical boundaries (Zone) established for the contract. The weight of this criterion is 5%. To meet the standard the qualifications must demonstrate:

a. The intent and ability to establish production capability within the general geographic area within 45 days of contract award; and

b. The ability to provide services across the entire geographic zone; and

c. Has successfully provided design services within the general geographic area;

and

d. Is familiar with knowledge of local conditions in each state in the zone.

A Contractor Team Arrangement (CTA), in accordance with FAR Subpart 9.6, is an arrangement in which-

(1) Two or more companies form a partnership or joint venture to act as a potential prime contractor; or

(2) A potential prime contractor agrees with one or more other companies to have them act as its subcontractors under a specified Government contract or acquisition program.

If the offeror is a CTA, the arrangements must be identified and company relationships must be fully disclosed in the offer. The submitted SF-330 shall include complete information for all parties to allow proper evaluation of the proposed CTA. This would include whether the proposed CTA has worked together in the past, to what extent, and how it plans to ensure seamless service delivery. Offerors should complete Block 30 of the SF-330 as appropriate.