Draft Solicitation Questions and Answers 2024 12 02.pdf

Questions and Answers As of December 2, 2024 Related to the Request for Information released prior to the release of RFP 47PM0024R0004

# Question Answer

Is there any way to receive the specific maintenance services that's needed only for the Minnesota locations elevators? also Number of elevator/escalator units at each location? - Number of stops?

Hydraulic or Traction?

Age of Equipment?

Please reference Section C and other associated sections of the Request for Proposal (RFP) which describe the scope of this requirement.

2 Is this to get approved to do acceptance test for modernizations?

Please reference Section C and other associated sections of the RFP which describe the scope of this requirement.

Please clarify the requirements for joint ventures. Confirm a joint venture with a party that is small under NAICS 238290 will able to participate.

Please reference RFP paragraph M.4.B.

For the 80% self-performance rule, please clarify if that also includes the design services required such as Architect, MEP Engineers, Vertical Transportation Consultants, etc.

The task order vendor must self-perform 80% of the total task order in relation to the proposed task order price not tasks.

Please clarify whether small business offerors that have the NAICS code 236220 will be able to participate in this solicitation.

Offerors may have multiple NAICS codes in their SAM.gov profile;

however, it is required that vendors also have the NAICS code stated in the solicitation in order to qualify as a small business.

Request Replacing the “minimum 80% Contractor Performance” with: "Successful completion of Elevator Projects of similar scope and complexity.” Affected Paragraphs include:

a. Pg. 12, Para C.1 Objective statement: "...where the Contractor is required to self-perform a minimum of 80% of the work."

b. Pg. 15, Para C2.1.6.1: "The prime Contractor must perform at least 80% of the total elevator work."

c. Pg. 62. FAR 52.236-1 "Performance of Work by the Contractor (80%)"

d. Pg. 75. Section M.4.B. "Firm capable of self-performing 80% of the work."

DISCUSSION: Specialized Construction’s 25% self-performance is sufficient and proper. Require significantly greater (80%) self-performance might be allowable under the FAR, but exceeding the Specialized Construction 25% unreasonably and unnecessarily restricts competition among Small Businesses who are otherwise fully qualified, responsive and demonstrate excellent past performance on prior elevator projects of similar scope.

Stated differently: GSA needs this MA/IDIQ to be as internally competitive as possible and needs the best company for the project to perform the work. Thinking a Company who self-performs 80% of the work produces superior, less-expensive results than the Company using the most-appropriate materials and best local elevator talent is a surefire way to get poor materials and even poorer workmanship.

Pre-Proposal discussion suggested GSA views elevators as a “silo” view where only self-performing Elevator Mechanical

The government team has determined this percentage to be fair, reasonable, and in line with our requirements.

companies can achieve GSA’s desired outcome(s). This is an self-limiting construct given advances in elevator technology, safety codes and inter-connected systems are transforming elevators from being a singular, near-autonomous, building component—a ‘silo’--to highly-integrated building “systems” reliant upon various inter-connected systems of increasing complexity for safe, daily elevator operations.

This changing landscape warrants GSA transform its view from elevators as ‘silos’ to elevators as “systems.” By extension, this is also a shift away from sole-reliance on companies self-performing elevator mechanical work to include contractors specializing in elevator Adopting this elevator as a “system” approach both contributes directly to GSA Objectives (C1, pg 12/77) and sets GSA up for future success as further technology and code advances further complicate elevator modernizations This is best demonstrated by the handful of small businesses who are comprised of engineers and elevator-experienced professionals, retain State Elevator Licenses, and are known for producing excellent Elevator Modernization Outcomes irrespective of whether the Project was awarded through Best Value to the Government or Lowest Price, Technically Acceptable.

In short, GSA’s own Objectives for this MA/IDIQ emphasize Small Business, Technical Approach and Past Performance.

Having the Self-Participation Requirement support those goals through consistency with that of a Specialized Construction Company is appropriate and in the best interests of GSA and GSA’s customers.

Pg 22, Para F.2.1 Modify Sentence to read: “Contractors shall have or establish an office within 200 miles of any Awarded Task Order before commencing onsite work and maintain the office for the duration of onsite work through Substantial Completion.”

DISCUSSION. Clarifying the geographic proximity requirement enables competition and expertise outside the local area to be brought to bear so GSA gets the best value or lowest price based on the Project itself, which is specific to the make and model of elevators being modernized and the related ancillary and supporting trade work.

a. Geography Not an Impediment—Unnecessarily Restricts Competition. Advances in Information Technology and Transportation eliminate traditional time/distance barriers to visiting a site, preparing a proposal, and effectively communicating with GSA Staff before commencing actual onsite work. This enables GSA to receive fully responsive proposals from Contractors over 200 miles away who may have inherent advantages in GSA’s favor given the project’s scope (i.e., actual elevators’ make, model, and ancillary and secondary work). Put differently, being closer doesn’t mean competent, let alone better or less expensive, especially if you’ve never seen or worked on that type of elevator before.

Conversely, excluding solely due to distance when you recently completed a near-identical elevator modernization is the antithesis of what GSA is seeking to achieve with a nationwide

IDIQ.

Changed. Please reference RFP paragraph F.2.1.

NOTE: Contractors routinely demonstrate adequate consideration of the geographic cost/performance impact in their proposals.

Request amending C.2.1.5.1. to replace “security clearances” with “GSA-controlled facility or access to a GSA-controlled information system.”

DISCUSSION. Believe this is the technically correct terminology and “security clearances” is colloquial slang for what’s required at these facilities.

"Security clearances" is a general reference; RFP paragraphs C.2.1.5.1

(a) through (c) provide the relevant specifics.

Paragraph C.2.1.2. Request clarification to explicitly include in the existing conditions survey and assessment the ancillary and secondary systems housing, supporting, connected to, or immediately impacting the elevator.

DISCUSSION: Reinforcing our RFI#1 Discussion, the elevator mechanical system is often less than 50% of the actual project scope and cost due to deficiencies in the ancillary and supporting machine room, HVAC, MEP, Fire Sprinkler and Fire/Life Safety Systems, Building Automation, Lobby Condition, Steel corrosion and broken concrete.

Facilities want the entire “system” fixed when an elevator undergoes modernization, and that often includes modernizing these ancillary and secondary elements under the “elevator modernization” rubric. As such, explicitly identifying they are an integral part of the modernization both reflects the reality of elevator modernizations and the needs of the Facility that determines the most-appropriate Contractor for the Project.

Please reference Section C and other associated sections of the RFP which describe the scope of this requirement.

Definition of Items: Elevator Team. (pg. 11/17). Request Modification of "two (2) mechanics per hour" to reflect industry standard of "one (1) mechanic and one (1) apprentice per hour?"

DISCUSSION: Industry Standard for Modernization is a Team of 2 comprised of 1 mechanic and 1 Apprentice--not 2 Mechanics. Requiring 2 Mechanics over 5 years experience drastically increases price to GSA given Companies must do away with 2 teams to provide GSA with a single team of Mechanics. Nor does this 2 Mechanic "premium" price produce greater "effectiveness" given the Mechanic and his Apprentice are accustomed to working together--whereas the 2 Mechanic team is effectively 2 leads and no follows where both are accustomed to doing things "his way." So there is drastically-increased cost and little to no workmanship benefit to requiring a Modernization Team be 2 Mechanics.

Changed. Please reference RFP paragraph B.8.

M.5.2.2.1 (pg 76/77) Request amend Paragraph to be consistent with the subsequent Paragraph 2 discussing HSPD- 12, but reading:

1. Certification that Modernization Mechanics who perform work on a project under this IDIQ shall possess a minimum of 5 years experience and be a licensed or otherwise qualified mechanic after completing a (Certified Elevator Technician (CET) or Union Program), DISCUSSION: Not all States have State Licensing of Mechanics. Likewise, a Company Certifying it will only utilized licensed or otherwise equally qualified mechanics is what's important given having such employees does not equate to their

GSA's requirements regarding this labor have been clarified in these sections. Please review the solicitation an resubmit a question if there are any concerns or need for clarity.

being available by geographic location or timing when the Elevator is scheduled for modernization. Likewise, having a elevator mechanic does not equate to that mechanic being the best for the materials and workmanship required of the elevator being modernized. What's important that company picks the best materials and mechanics for the job--not that they take whose available just because he's available.

B.8 (pg 11/77) Request Amend Paragraph to be consistent with the subsequent paragraph reading:

Elevator Team - the NTE pricing includes two (2) mechanics per hour. Each mechanic shall have a minimum of five (5) years experience as a certified mechanic per a Certified Elevator Technician (CET) or Union Program including Mechanics card or certification from the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) and be a United States citizen.

DISCUSSION: Not all States have State Licensing of Mechanics. Likewise, a Company Certifying it will only utilized licensed or otherwise equally qualified mechanics is what's important given having such employees does not equate to their being available by geographic location or timing when the Elevator is scheduled for modernization. Likewise, having a elevator mechanic does not equate to that mechanic being the best for the materials and workmanship required of the elevator being modernized. What's important that company picks the best materials and mechanics for the job--not that they take whose available just because he's available

Please reference the answer to question 11.

Request Paragraph read:

L.6.4 Contractor Employees

1. Mechanics: Provide a list of all of the mechanics working on elevator modernization projects and a copy of each mechanic’s certification.

DISCUSSION: Not all States have State Licensing of Mechanics. Likewise, a Company Certifying it will only utilized licensed or otherwise equally qualified mechanics is what's important given having such employees does not equate to their being available by geographic location or timing when the Elevator is scheduled for modernization. Likewise, having a elevator mechanic does not equate to that mechanic being the best for the materials and workmanship required of the elevator being modernized. What's important that company picks the best materials and mechanics for the job--not that they take whose available just because he's available.

Please reference the answer to question 11.

If our annual revenues are higher than the size standard under NAICS 238290 but our annual revenues for work under NAICS 238290 is under the threshold, can we qualify as a small business and participate?

The SBA makes this determination and has information on how to calculate your small business size on their website.

These were the questions on the draft Request for Proposal (RFP) which has since been changed. Please re-read the solicitation as it has been modified.

https://www.sba.gov/document/support-table-size-standards https://www.sba.gov/document/support-table-size-standards https://www.sba.gov/document/support-table-size-standards https://www.sba.gov/document/support-table-size-standards