21R1010_Atch 4_Answers to RFIs_17Aug21.pdf

FA486121R1010, A-E IDIQ

ANSWERS TO RFIs

17 AUGUST 2021

1Q. Synopsis Section 3 (Instructions to Offerors) states that SF-330s are to be submitted in 8.5”x11” format. Can 11”x17” be used for the Section D Organizational Chart?

1A. Yes, you may use 11” x 17” for the organizational chart.

2Q. Synopsis Section 4.B (Evaluation Criteria, Specialized Experience & Technical Competence) requires submission of “up to 3 relevant projects” but Section 4.D (Evaluation Criteria, Past Performance) requires “up to 5 relevant projects.” Are firms allowed to submit up to 5 relevant projects in their SF-330 Section F response or are the number of relevant projects capped at 3?

2A. Submit at least 5 relevant projects. The solicitation has been amended at Section 4B and 4D. The same projects can be used for both sections. Submit all project data under SF330, Part F.

3Q. Please confirm that we can use CPARS and/or previously obtained PPQs. Section 4.D (Evaluation Criteria, Past Performance) requirements currently states these cannot be used.

3A. The solicitation has been amended at Section 4B. PPQs will be required for all projects at Section 4B that do not have a CPARS report.

4Q. Synopsis Section 4.E (Evaluation Criteria, Location) stipulates that “firms located within 50 miles from Nellis AFB, NV will be given the highest rating.” Please confirm that the term “firms” includes both the Prime Contractor as well as all teaming partners.

4A. Yes, “firms” includes both the prime and teaming partners as long as all company information (for all) are included in the SF330.

5Q. Please confirm that “no travel costs will be reimbursed” does not apply to local mileage reimbursements.

5A. No travel costs will be reimbursed. That includes no reimbursement for local mileage.

6Q. Can completed Final CPARS ACASS ratings be submitted in place of PPQs for the selected projects?

6A. See response at 3A.

7Q. Is it permissible to use an 11”x17” sheet for the SF330 Part II Organizational Chart?

7A. See response at 1A.

8Q. Would the government consider expanding the range from 300 miles to 350 miles? We are located in San Diego and any firm in the area should easily be able to respond to Nellis AFB within the requisite 72 hours. Most of San Diego county falls outside of the 300 miles specified.

8A. No.

9Q. May CPARS evaluations be submitted in lieu of PPQs?

9A. See response at 3A.

10Q. Would the government consider allowing firms to submit more than 3 project examples in Specialized Experience (Section B)?

10A. Yes. Section 4B has been amended.

11Q. For the Past Performance project examples, does the government have a specific project data sheet firms are to use for each project or should firms submit an SF 330 Section F for each past performance project?

11A. Sections 4B and 4D have been amended. All project data will be submitted under SF330, Part F.

Also see response at 2A.

12Q. In Section F Implementation of the Design Quality Control Program, should firms include 3 relevant projects demonstrating Quality Control or 3 relevant Quality Control procedures for task orders?

12A. At least three relevant QC procedures.

13Q. Respectfully request clarification on number of projects to be included in Section F of the submitted SF330 proposals. Normal SF330 proposals include 10 project examples in Section F, but your solicitation in section “B – Specialized experience….” indicates “Submit up to Three (3) Relevant Project”. But in section “D – Past Performance on contracts with Government agencies…” indicates “Submit up to Five (5) Relevant projects”. Are the projects in Section F of the SF330 proposal meant to address the relevant projects you are requesting sections “B” and “D” of your solicitation?

13A. See response at 2A.

14Q. To demonstrate past performance on recent relevant projects are copies CPAR ratings acceptable in lieu of PPQs?

14A. See response at 3A.

15Q. For the SAM Registration (reps and certs) will the Entity Information Report satisfy this requirement or does a FAR report, or FAR & DFARS report need to be provided?

15A. Submit your firm’s entity information report from SAM.gov.

16Q. Will a cover page, table of contents, and page/section dividers count towards the 75 page limit?

16A. Yes.

17Q. Under Section 3 “Instructions to Offerors”, the instructions state that “Submission packages for each firm are limited to 75 single-sided pages exclusive of cover letter….margins no less than ¾”, and page size of 8.5” x 11” when printed”. Our questions regarding this are two-fold:

Does the page size also apply to Section D – the Organization Chart? Or would the Air Force allow Section D to be printed on an 11” x 17” document?

17A. See response at 1A.

18Q. Do all requested Part II and CPARS/PPQ documents count toward the 75 page total?

18A. Yes.

19Q. If our firm intends to submit under a Joint Venture (JV) agreement, do we need to include a copy of our JV agreement in the submission document?

19A. You may if you choose, but ensure that your JV is a registered entity in SAM.gov.

20Q. Is the 75-page limit inclusive of Parts I and II or just Part I?

20A. The solicitation has been amended. Only SF330 Part II is required at this time. Part I will be requested during discussions.

21Q. With regard to Section D, can the organization chart be presented on an 11X17 sheet?

21A. See response at 1A.

22Q. Section B of the solicitation notes bidders should, “Submit up to three (3) relevant projects accomplished within the past five (5) years that best demonstrate your relevant experience to the solicitation requirements.” Section D of the solicitation notes bidders should, “Submit up to five (5) relevant projects designs complete or substantially completed within five (5) years that best demonstrates your relevant experience to the solicitation requirements.” Should bidders submit three (3) or five (5) projects in Section F of the SF330 and should each Section F project have a corresponding Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ)?

22A. See response at 2A

23Q. In place of a PPQ, would the government consider a project’s recent Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) evaluation?

23A. See response at 3A.

24Q. Do PPQs have to be current or can a previous PPQ, in the same or similar format for a Section F project, be acceptable?

24A. PPQs should be current in the same or similar format.

25Q. We respectfully request for the Government to allow either new PPQs (on Attachment 3), past PPQs, or CPARS Evaluations. CPARS Evals and previous PPQs provide the same performance categories found in Attachment 3. We have two challenges. 1) Most DOD agency contacts decline to complete a PPQ, since they complete CPARS evaluations through PPIRS. 2) Getting PPQs returned from DOD agencies within a short timeframe is difficult, especially during summer months. The PPQs may not be returned in time to be included in our submittal.

25A. See response at 3A.

26Q. Please further define the projects we may use for Section F Example Project (project data sheet).

Will a project be defined as a contract (IDIQ); a single task order issued under an existing IDIQ contract;

and/or a standalone project? May we offer 3 IDIQ contracts with multiple relevant task orders as a single project?

27A. Section F projects may be a specific task order, or a stand-alone contract. You may list your AE IDIQs and relevant task orders.

28Q. Would a registered Architect in California or Colorado be acceptable provided he/she seeks reciprocity in Nevada and is licensed in Nevada before contract award?

28A. No.

29Q. Do Nevada-licensed Architects need to be employees of the Prime, or can the NV-licensed Architect be from a team partner or subconsultant?

29A. The Nevada-licensed architect needs to be employed by the prime or by a teaming partner.

30Q. We respectfully request a two week extension due to the following solicitation requirements:

“Firms shall have clients complete Past Performance Questionnaires (Attachment 3). The completed Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQs) are to be submitted with the firm’s SF330 package. …. shall include specifics for each project submitted”.

31A. New deadline for submission of SF330 package is 2pm (PDT), 1 September 2021.

32Q. May we use fonts smaller than 10pt for tables, graphics, and captions?

32A. Yes, but no smaller than 8pt.

33Q. Are Part IIs, PPQs, CPARS Evaluations, and cover letter excluded from the 75 page maximum?

33A. See response to 20A.

34Q. Section B says to “Submit up to three (3) relevant projects” to be evaluated under Specialized Experience and that “projects submitted for this section may also be used for those required in Section D of the solicitation” (for past performance). Section D submission requirements states “The design firm shall submit a minimum of three (3) with a maximum of five (5)” PPQs for relevant projects. Please confirm whether there is a 5 or 8 project limit for the SF330, Part F of the proposal.

34A. See response at 2A.

35Q. If the project description are to be submitted in the SF330, Part F, how would you like us to designate the 3 projects to be evaluated under RFI, Section B – Specialized Experience verses the 5 to be evaluated under RFI, Section D – Past Performance?

35A. See response at 2A.

36Q. Do you require the person filling out the PPQs to submit them directly to the contracting officer or should we submit them as part of our proposal?

36A. Submit PPQs with your SF330 package as stated in Section 4D.

37Q. If possible, we would like to add one additional question regarding a requirement for Criteria D.

One bullet states, “The term “substantially complete” shall mean a fully designed project with construction of the facility/project more than 80% complete.” Will the government consider reducing the construction completion requirement?

37A. No.