DNR Technical Support Services QBS Vendor Questions and Answers Document~3.docx

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

VENDOR QUESTIONS

Date: May 1, 2025 Project Titles:

Bid Numbers: 25-422DNR-REALT-B-47394, B-47395, 47396, 47397, 47398

LOCATION: Throughout Illinois

PROJECT TITLE: Technical Support Services Regions 1-5

Vendor Question 1:

Bid Solicitation: 25-422DNR-REALT-B-47394, DNR - QBS Technical Support Services for Region 2, states a 4% Business Enterprise Program (BEP) goal of 4%. There is no VBP goal. The BEP U-Plan Vendors list included with the solicitation download includes only 10 certified BEP firms – none of which provide services relevant to the Services for which we are proposing. In this situation, may a company check the following acknowledgement on the BEP Commitment form:

☐ Bidder/offeror cannot fully meet the goal but has submitted a Good Faith Effort (GFE) and hereby requests a waiver or reduction of the goal to %. (If checked, submit the signed Part I Commitment, completed Part III Good Faith Effort, and if requesting a reduction, the signed Part II Subcontractor Participation Agreement(s).)

IDNR Answer 1:

The BEP Utilization Plan (U-Plan) Form is to be submitted with your SOI in your Bid in BidBuy for each region that you are interested in working on. The goal for all 5 regions is 4% and the BEP Vendors are likewise all the same 10 vendors listed in the BEP Vendor Directory attachment. To be granted a Good Faith Effort (GFE) to reduce the BEP Goal to 0%, you must contact all 10 of the vendors listed in the BEP Vendor Directory attachment to see if they are interested in working as a subconsultant. If the Subconsultant is not able to do the work for any reason (location, rate, not interested or no response to name a few reasons) documentation showing this contact (Emails or Phone Logs) needs to be included with your BEP Utilization Plan as well as marking the box saying that the Bidder cannot meet the goal. The BEP Utilization Plan will be reviewed then by the Commission on Equity and Inclusion for sufficiency. If deemed inadequate by CEI, the Vendor will be asked to Cure their BEP Utilization Plan and resubmit to IDNR for a secondary review.

Vendor Question 2:

What is the typical $ size of each project released under this contract?

IDNR Answer 2:

A majority of the task orders have a fee of $10k to $20k. Some come in as low as $5k and a few could be over $30k.

Vendor Question 3:

Our firm has worked directly with IDNR on permitting the large Premcor environmental remediation project in Hartford, Illinois and our employees have had experience with IDNR on several other projects before GEI (LaSalle MGP Remediation for Ameren), but GEI has not worked directly under IDNR or had the opportunity to sub for another firm working for DNR. Would GEI’s experience permitting this large project with IDNR be used to fulfill the Previous Experience on IDNR Projects Selection Criteria?

IDNR Answer 3:

Any work done with IDNR by an employee of a Firm that is submitting a Statement of Interest would be acceptable and included in the appropriate section of the SOI even if the firm itself hasn’t worked with DNR.

Vendor Question 4:

Other Selection Information states that Any A/E firm selected for more than 1 region will need more than 1 office. Does that office need to sit in the region or can 1 office sit out of state?

IDNR Answer 4:

Per Section A.24.3.3. on Page 13 of the QBS Document, “Geographical location and response time of firm relative to the IDNR region. (If firm has multiple offices, identify the location of the primary office as well as any secondary offices from which work will be completed. Preference will be given to firms with an office within the region.)” An office located outside of the State of Illinois would be reviewed under the same guidelines.

Vendor Question 5:

Is the prime firm permitted to be a joint venture? If so, does the JV need to be registered with Illinois and BidBuy as a pre-existing entity or can each member of the JV be individually registered with Illinois and BidBuy?

IDNR Answer 5:

IDNR will not accept a Joint Vendor as a prime vendor for these Bids.

Vendor Question 6:

The selection criteria in A.24.3 specifically request lists, descriptions, and other content be highlighted in a way that cannot be succinctly demonstrated with the SOI form format. Are additional pages permitted to respond to the specific elements of the selection criteria? If so, is there a limitation on additional pages?

IDNR Answer 6:

Additional pages are allowed in the SOI. If supplemental information needs to be submitted to complete the requested information stated in the SOI, that is also acceptable. However, it is highly encouraged that the information be presented in a clear and concise manner.

Vendor Question 7:

The projects submitted are required to be completed within the past 10 years. Could the expectation for completed be further defined? Most of the scope relates to investigation services. Does completed mean that the offeror’s design scope was completed? That the entire project is closed out and constructed? Or can we use projects with investigations phases that are completed, even if the design and / or construction is ongoing?

IDNR Answer 7:

The intent of the 10-year limit is to allow the vendor to submit relevant projects for both the Vendor’s staff who completed the work, as well as for the IDNR review committee who requested the work. Any work completed by the Vendor for IDNR is acceptable, regardless how long its been or how long it took to complete. However, older projects more than 10 years old completed by design professionals who may no longer be employed by the Vendor will have less value.