QUESTIONS feasibilty technical 05-15-09.doc

Solicitation No. GS-00P-09-CYD-0093 Q&A Document

ATTACHMENT 1

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (Q & A)

DATE: May 15, 2009 Q1:

Are only A-E firms being considered for the contract or will an architectural firm with an outside engineering consultant team be considered? The wording sounds like there is a preference for a full service A-E firm.

A1:

A full service A-E firm is one that is able to provide a variety of programming, planning, design, and project management talent and skills for a wide-range of building types. Such firms are preferred. Use of outside engineering consultant teams is acceptable, However, a firm with in-house capability may score higher on Factor 2: Proposed Team/Personnel Qualifications and Experience.

Q2:

Is an appraisal of alternative sites intended to be a required part of the feasibility study?

A2:

Yes Q3:

Is there a list available of known potential bidders or likely bidders who have done similar architectural work? We would like to offer our services as a sub-contract to these bidders.

A3:

No Q4:

Is there a list of contractors that have previously provided such feasibility studies?

A4:

No Q5:

I was wondering if you will be posting an interested vendor list for the Nationwide Feasibility and Other Studies for PBS Courthouses and Federal Buildings Solicitation.

A5:

No Q6:

Your solicitation for Nationwide Feasibility Studies and Other Studies for PBS Courthouses and Federal Buildings seems to imply in several locations in the text that only “full service A-E firms” may pursue this solicitation. We are an architecture-only firm, who normally hires engineers and other consultants to pursue GSA work as a team. Are we qualified to pursue this work?

A6:

Answered above Q7:

Is it possible to respond to this RFP for regions 9 and 10 only, or is it necessary to develop a strategy for responding to project opportunities in all regions?

A7:

No. The purpose of the solicitation is to obtain nationwide services.

Q8:

The RFP calls for At least 5 years of specialized experience in programming, planning, and design of courthouses, office buildings or other building types comprising GSA properties & for at least 5 years experience in real estate activities such as appraisals, site selection, zoning etc. Would this criteria apply to the respective team member that specializes in that category?

A8:

The required experience applies to the firm as a whole.

Q9:

Would you prefer that there be one specialized sub-consultant for each category on the team, or is it ok to have a few experts in each category (each would be focused on a different geographical region).

A9:

The purpose of the solicitation is to obtain nationwide services of consistent and high-quality. Therefore, the proposed team should be able to work on the project regardless of location.

Q10:

Would you be more interested in federal/GSA experience or experience conducting feasibility studies?

A10:

The firm should have the required experience in conducting feasibility studies for the building types listed in the solicitation whether commercial, institutional, or governmental.

Q11:

Can you please explain “various housing options for court operations”?

A11:

The feasibility study should address the possible options to provide the space needed by the U.S. Courts, for example, build a new courthouse, build an annex to an existing courthouse, or renovate an existing building.

Q12:

How much of the contract will be studies versus design?

A12:

At this time, it is anticipated that most of the work will be for studies.

Q13:

Should we add cost estimating to the team?

A13:

Yes Q14:

What is a typical timeline for the four submissions of a feasibility study?

A14:

The time period for completion of a feasibility study can range from six to twelve months. The submissions would be scheduled accordingly.

Q15:

Must the team have offices in each GSA location? If not, are there priority locations?

A15:

The prime contractor must demonstrate that the proposed team has the capability to perform the work nationwide regardless of where the prime is geographically located.

Q16:

Do feasibility study guides exist for the listed project types other than courthouses? If so, where can they be found?

A16:

No Q17:

Is St. Louis considered "general geographic area" for either Kansas City or Chicago?

A17:

St. Louis, MO is located in the Heartland Region (Region 6). Chicago, IL is located in the Great Lakes Region (Region 5).

Q18:

Am I required to identify my real estate professionals at the time of submitting the qualifications?

A18:

Yes, please identify the key real estate professionals that will be part of the proposed team.

Q19:

We are a full service consulting design firm interested in bidding the above referenced project. However, we would like to know whether taking the feasibility studies would preclude us from being able to compete later for the actual design of the projects.

A19: Contractors that do feasibility study work will not generally be precluded.

Q20:

Our firm has been approached by several A-E firms who intend to submit as Prime Contractors and have asked us to partner and provide the "real estate activities" portion of the scope of work. Is it permissible for our firm to team with more than one prospective Prime Contractor to provide the requisite real estate services on a non-exclusive basis for this contract?

A20:

Yes Q21:

Can you please clarify the following item in evaluation factor 2 for Solicitation GS-00P-09-CYD-0093: Nationwide Feasibility and Other Studies for PBS Courthouses and Federal Buildings?

The solicitation states, “For all key personnel, identify the anticipated duties of the person as full-time or part-time, and identify the person as an employee of the A-E firm or as an employee of a consulting firm.” Are you looking for us to indicate if personnel are employed by their respective firms as either full-time or part-time staff persons?

A21:

Yes Q22:

Your solicitation for “Nationwide Feasibility Studies and Other Studies for PBS Courthouses and Federal Buildings” seems to imply in several locations in the text that only “full service A-E firms” may pursue this solicitation. We are an architecture-only firm, which normally hires engineers and other consultants to pursue GSA work as a team. Are we qualified to pursue this work?

A22:

Answered above Q23:

If a firm provides these feasibility study services, will they be precluded in any way from participating in any eventual design projects that may be related to the studies?

A23:

Answered above Q24:

One of the disciplines you reference is real estate professionals. Please expand in more detail on the type of services to be requested such as, site survey, site selection, transaction advice, etc.

A24:

Real estate activities may include discussion of possible sites, zoning issues, and building area as defined by the ANSI/BOMA Standard Method for Measuring Floor Area in Office Buildings.

Q25:

Evaluation Factor of Award; Factor #1: Does this mean our firm needs to have 5 years of experience working with? Is it acceptable to have other sub consultants with a 5 year working relationship with the GSA?

A25:

Answered above Q26:

Evaluation Factor of Award; Factor # 2 states: A full service A-E firm with sufficient capability and expertise to perform the work required under the contract. Does this mean the GSA requires both Architectural and Engineering professionals be within the same firm?

A26:

Answered above Q27:

In reference to the Small Business Set-Aside; I understand one (1) contract is to be awarded as 100% total small business set aside. Is this supposed to mean that all of the "discipline" firms requested to perform services are to be small business? Or can the prime contractor be a small business with a team of unrestricted specialty consultants?

A27:

A subcontractor can be either a small or large business.

Q28:

Under “Factor 2: Proposed Team/Personnel Qualifications and Experience - 40%” The first sentence reads, “The firm must be a full service A-E firm with sufficient capability and expertise to perform the work required under the contract.”

Could you please clarify the phrase “full service A-E firm”? Would a traditional team structure with an architecture firm as the prime with a team of sub-consultant structural civil, MEP, acoustical engineers, etc. be acceptable?

A28:

Answered above Q29:

Could you please clarify how you would like the Matrix for Factor II to differ from the information presented in Section E: Resumes? It appears that the information requested overlaps with the information for each team member for Section E.

Factor II: The firm must be a full service A-E firm with sufficient capability and expertise to perform the work required under the contract. Document registrations, licenses, and other professional affiliations or accreditations needed for satisfactory performance of the contract. Describe compatibility of the team's previous working experience on similar projects. In a matrix format, summarize the qualifications, professional designation, education, and other significant background information for the key members of the team. For all key personnel, identify the anticipated duties of the person as full-time or part-time, and identify the person as an employee of the A-E firm or as an employee of a consulting firm.

A29:

Section E is required, but a matrix format presentation of the information to aid in review of submittals is also required. Please place in Section H.

Q30:

Please clarify if you are seeking a prime contractor that has specialized experience with the following building types - courthouses, office buildings, or other building types or specialized experience with GSA properties that are courthouses, office buildings or other building types.

A30:

Answered above Q31:

In responding to Evaluation Criteria 1 through 3. Do you expect to see the response in Section H of Standard Form 330, or in separate, tabbed sections?

A31:

Answered above and below Q32:

Responding to Evaluation Criteria 1, Do you expect to see the projects displayed in the table/matrix in section F of standard form 330 as well?

A32:

Section F is required, but a matrix format presentation of the information to aid in review of submittals is also required. Please place in Section H.

Q33:

Responding to Evaluation Criteria 2, do you expect to see the personnel qualifications in Section E of Standard form 330 as well as in a separate answer to evaluation criteria?

A33:

Answered above Q34:

Are interested firms required to hold an FCL or will the firms and their staff only be required to submit to SF-85s, SBU NDAs, Public Trust Questionnaires and applicable background investigations through OMB via eQIP, and/or or is there something else?

A34:

If selected, you will be required to submit fingerprints and SF-85s.

Q35:

I also am seeking to obtain a copy of the Courthouse Feasibility Study Guide, dated 08-27-07, as the link in the document I have received does not appear to be active. I will also attempt to gain such through the FedBizzOps site.

A35:

The Courthouse Feasibility Study Guide was posted with the solicitation on FedBizOpps.gov as an attachment you can download.

Q36:

Could you tell me if there are similar contracts already in place? If so, which firms hold those contracts?

A36:

This is a new requirement. There is no incumbent.

Q37:

The document read that Large Business firms are reminded that the successful firm will be expected to place subcontracts to the maximum extent practical with small, small disadvantaged, and small woman-owned firms as part of their original submitted team.

To that end, Public Buildings Service has established for fiscal 2009 subcontracting goals of 37% for small business, 6% for total small disadvantaged businesses (SDB), 5% for woman-owned, 3% for HUBZone, 3% for service-disabled veteran-owned and 5% for veteran-owned.

Is this goal cumulative equaling a 59% 2009 subcontracting goal for Large Business Firms submitting for this solicitation?

A37:

No. We are not requiring the firms to subcontract 59% of the work. The large business firms are required to submit their subcontracting goals for review and approval by GSA.

Please note that FY2009 goals for small business are 37%. The small business goals are broken into various small business concerns.