Question for the Campus Plan RFP.pdf

May 7, 2012

Question for the Campus Plan RFP F12SOL10015

1. Do the RFP organizers aim for this to be a preservation project, where the goal is to maintain/upgrade the history of the site, or are the design teams encouraged to propose innovative solutions and interventions for the Smithsonian’s new campus master plan? The interest in innovation and new design isn’t clear in the project brief, and neither is the extent of the preservation requirements.

Answer: Design teams are encouraged to propose innovative solutions and interventions. Bold designs that are appropriate to the varied historic context of the study area will be encouraged.

The design team’s sophisticated understanding of this historic context would be important in developing innovative design options. The Smithsonian expects to present the proposed Campus Master Plan – Phase 1 to the National Capital Planning Commission, the US Commission of Fine Arts and the DC Office of Historic Preservation and may require the selected design team’s participation in briefings of agency staff, in conducting a coordinated NEPA and Section 106 process and in preparing agency submission packages. The Smithsonian values its historic buildings and while encouraging innovation, preservation will always be a consideration in the final design. The Campus Master Plan – Phase 1 will not require the development of historic structures reports, historic building or district nominations or detailed preservation plans for individual buildings.

2. Selection Criteria, Section 2. Proposed Key Personnel Qualifications (pg 4 of 7). It states that the selected firm should have experience in the disciplines noted. Is it a requirement that disciplines listed be included on our team for this submission?

Answer: YES

3. Subcontracting Plan Requirements (p5 of 7). Is the 8% goal for Small Disadvantaged

Business (SDB) meant to be included in the overall 30% Small Business Concerns goal or is the 8% in addition too? Further, the percentages listed for the types of Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) do not add up to 8%, instead they add up to 14%, with no percentage given for Historically Black Colleges or Minority Institutions. Please advise how the Smithsonian sees the 8% goal being achieved with the listed categories. We understand that the actual subcontracting plan is not required for this submission, but the answers will certainly help us form our team with an eye towards the next step in the process.

Answer: The SI-wide goal for the sub-contracted amount is 30% of the subcontracted amount.

The 8% goal for Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) is meant to be included in the overall 30% Small Business Concerns goal. Further, the percentages listed for the types of Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) do not need to add up to 30%. They are subsets of the 30%.

There are no percentage given for Historically Black Colleges or Minority Institutions, therefore the offeror is free to propose the percentage they determine attainable. The Smithsonian sees the 8% goal being achieved with the listed categories as follows: If award is made to a large business, they are free to elect to subcontract the portion of the work they deem necessary to complete the project. The Smithsonian asks that the offeror consider including as much small business participation in that subcontracted work as possible (at least 30%). The large business is responsible for determining the amount of the work they will subcontract, and they may elect to do the majority of the work themselves. So the thirty percent is attached to the amount they subcontract, and the subcontract goals accomplishments may be counted in multiple categories.

Therefore, when a sub-contract is awarded to single vendor who is certified in more than one small business category the credit can be taken for each category for which the sub-contractor qualifies.

4. Selection Criteria, Section 2. Proposed Key Personnel Qualifications (pg 4 of 7): As the prime

Architect responding to the solicitation, we would obviously be submitting a full SF Form 330 Part I and Part II. May each discipline (i.e., sub-consultants) that we are adding to our team only submit the Section E Resumes for their key personnel or does each discipline also have to submit a full SF 330 Part I and Part II ?

Answer: All team personnel resume (prime and consultants) shall be submitted in Part E of Part I of the SF 330 (Part I of the SF330 submission represents the detailed experience and past performance of the entire proposed team). The Prime and each consultant shall each submit an SF330 Part II General Qualifications. Each consultant shall not submit an SF330 Part I.

5. The RFQ says that "LEED Accreditation for sustainable designers, engineers and architects is required." Does that mean that our proposed sustainability designer, sustainability engineer, and sustainability architect must be LEED Accredited or do all designers, engineers and architects in any discipline need to be LEED Accredited? Please clarify.

Answer: Designers, architects and engineers on the team who are directly responsible for achieving sustainability goals are required to have LEED accreditation. It is not required for all A/E team members to be LEED accredited.

6. Can you tell me what the budget is to complete the Master Plan?

Answer: The Smithsonian has not yet approved a budget for the A/E services to complete the Campus Master Plan Phase 1.

7. In section 3: Project Approach, the RFP states: Project Approach: shall be included at the end of and submitted with SF 330…is the project approach section included in the 125 page limit referenced under submission requirements?

Answer: Typically the project approach is incorporated into Section H of the SF330 and would be included in the 125 page limit.

8. Question about the auditoriums (planned and existing) in the various buildings of the project. Are these auditorium halls used for performances or are they all lecture halls or for film viewing?

Answer: The primary use of existing auditoriums in the project area is for lectures, films, conferences, panel discussions and similar events. Program priorities for the future will be determined prior to engaging the team for this project; at this time we do not expect these to include the addition of major musical or theatrical performance spaces.

9. Could you please also clarify the security requirement? Does "Security and Anti-Terrorism Design" include both physical security and security system design?

Answer: At the master plan level, the selected team would not be providing design services for detailed system improvements. However, the team needs to be knowledgeable about museum and federal security system standards including perimeter security, screening at visitor entrances and loading areas and security of and access to collections.

10. Are more than 10 projects allowed in Section F?

Answer: No the team may only present 10 projects in section F.

11. The Smithsonian Master Plan proposal says we can “submit 1-3 separately bound examples of planning reports completed for other institutions and organizations.” For the planning reports – is it possible to submit the planning reports of our sub consultants as well as our own in order to demonstrate the breadth of experience on our team?

Answer: Planning reports can be from prime or from sub consultants but a maximum of three different project reports from each team will be accepted. Reports should reflect the graphic and written work of the firm or firms that would have primary responsibility for preparation of reports for this project.

12. Are the Smithsonian Gardens (Enid A. Haupt Garden, Mary Livingston Ripley Garden, Butterfly Habitat Garden, and Katharine Dulin Folger Rose Garden) considered historic elements of the campus to be retained in their current configurations? Or will it be possible to re-imagine or relocate these gardens within a new campus landscape framework? Likewise, does the Smithsonian view the three parts of the Haupt Garden (the parterre, the moongate garden, and the fountain garden) as a singular element?

Answer: The Butterfly Habitat Garden, on the north side of the Mall, is outside the Campus Master Plan Phase 1 study area. The Smithsonian will provide detailed information on any gift-related restrictions for the named gardens to the selected design team. Alterations to the present gardens may be required to achieve the goals of the master plan to better connect or reconfigure our buildings and to enhance a vibrant and coherent visitor experience that includes the Smithsonian Gardens. The campus master plan project will provide an opportunity to plan for Smithsonian Gardens more effectively across the current boundaries of individual buildings and museums. The three mentioned distinctive parts of the Enid A. Haupt Garden are a singular element designed as such by John Paul Carlhian; they are maintained under the endowment and are connected to each other visually and by pathways. They were designed specifically to relate to the existing adjacent buildings. The Haupt Garden and the three entry pavilions within it that provide access to the underground Quadrangle Building have not reached the age where they would be considered for historic designation by the Smithsonian’s office of Architectural History and Historic Preservation. The campus master plan will provide a challenging opportunity to examine how the gardens can enhance the connections between our museum buildings while also serving as an extension of each museum’s programs, identity and architectural character.

13. Are the Hirshhorn Sculpture Gardens (both the garden wrapping the Museum itself as well as the sunken garden across Jefferson Drive SW) included within the scope of the master plan? The RFQ clearly states that the planning area is bound by Jefferson Dr SW to the north, however the disconnect between the Museum its sculpture garden is raised as an issue later in the RFQ.

Answer: The Hirshhorn Sculpture Gardens, including the portion to the north of Jefferson Drive, will be included in the Campus Master Plan study area.

14. RFP states: “Professional registration (PE) is required for all engineering disciplines; registration for architects including project managers and project architects is required.” We are licensed in NY and WA—do we need to also be licensed in DC to apply?

Answer: Registration in any state is acceptable to meet the registration requirement. Firm’s still need to address knowledge of the local regulations and rules in order to comply with code and other regional issues.

15. Clarify what exactly is meant by “Project Report Examples”? Does this mean master plans made for other institutions, or can they be architectural project reports?

Answer: Master plans and architectural project reports are both acceptable as “Project Report Examples.” Reports should be selected to best illustrate relevant planning and design skills and the written and graphic quality of the firm’s documents.

16. If the Prime applicant is a Small Business, do the sub-contracting requirements apply?

Answer: No.