Presolicitation_Q&A_GS-00-P-17-CY-D-0001_1-11-17.docx

NATIONWIDE IDIQ STRUCTURAL AND BLAST ENGINEERING SERVICES

Technical and Procurement Questions and Answers Solicitation Number: GS-00-P-17-CY-D-0001

The following is a list of questions that have been asked during the open solicitation period. The answer follows each question.

Q1: The 100% small business set-aside GS-00-P-17-CY-D-0001 solicitation for Nationwide IDIQ Structural & Blast Engineering Services prevents larger AE design firms with specialties in blast resistant design, structural design, façade design, restorative design and applied sciences expertise from competing, which may limit the comprehensiveness of protective services the Government may draw from. Would the Government consider changing the RFP to partial small business?

A1: The Governments goal is to use a mixture of small and large businesses to fulfill it needs. Historically, this requirement has been successfully filled with small business firms. A large firm can support the small firm. When a more comprehensive program with large work requirements are needed, GSA has used fully open competition to meet the demand. This requirement will remain limited to small business.

Q2: Has a contractor performed similar work to this for the government in the past? If so, could you please provide the incumbent contract number for this opportunity? If not, is this a new requirement?

A2. Yes. The incumbents are listed below:

1. Protection Engineering Consultants P.O. Box 1777 Dripping Springs, Texas 78620 (Contract Number: GS-09P-11-KT-D-0052)

2. Hinman Consulting Engineers 1 Bush Street, Suite 510 San Francisco, CA 94104 (Contract Number: GS-09P-11-KT-D-0055)

3. McMullan & Associates 8381 Old Courthouse Road, Suite 350 Vienna, VA 22182 (Contract Number: GS-09P-11-KT-D-0054).

Q3: At this time, is it possible to clarify what font size you are stipulating for the submissions? I believe it was accidentally left out of the RFP and it would greatly help to know prior to any release of answers after the 9th.

A3: Within the Solicitation statement “Font size shall not be less than 8.5"x11", the words “Page size” was mistakenly substituted out for “Font Size” causing this confusion. The format use for all submissions will be Times New Roman at font size not less than 10 and the page size shall not be less than 8.5’x11.

Q4: Criteria V states:

CRITERIA V: LOCATION IN THE GENERAL GEOGRAPHICAL AREA (5%)

To meet the criteria, the Engineers principle office for the IDIQ contract must be within a fifty (50) mile radius to GSA Headquarters at 1800 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20405 or GSA Region 9 Headquarters at 50 United Nations Plaza, San Francisco, CA 94102. Meeting Criteria V is not required for selection of the team.

Is the second sentence then somewhat retracting what the first sentence says by stating we don’t have to be within a 50 mile radius of one of the two cities to be considered, or is it saying our principle office needs to be within 50 miles but we could assign a team from a branch off that was outside the 50 mile radius to work with your team?

A4: The firm does not have to be within a 50 mile radius of one of the two cities to be considered. Meeting the criteria is valued at 5% or 5 points on a 100 point scale. Not meeting the criteria does not disqualify a firm.

Q5: Typically on a nationwide IDIQ of this nature we would expect to see page limits on the order of 65-75 pages. Most of the time the SF330 part II is excluded from this page count. If you consider that Section A-C would be 1-2 pages, Section D org Chart 1 page, Section E resumes (Structural only) at least 8-10, section F projects usually 10, Section G 1 page, and Section H usually 15-18 to respond to the selection criteria. That would be 40 pages and that is before we get to the SF330 part IIs. In addition we would anticipate needing Architects, Mechanical Engineers, and Electrical Engineers etc. on our team, since quite often seismic studies and upgrades are included as parts of a more comprehensive Facility Condition Assessment, or Facility upgrade respectively. We would ask that the page limit be increased to 65 to 75 pages particularly if SF330 part II is included as part of the page count.

A5: The SF330 page limit is 30 pages. The limit is intended to direct focus on the evaluation factors. While other A/E disciplines are likely to be needed for the IDIQ contract work, they are not being evaluated at this time.

Q6: We assume that the type of work included with ‘Pre-design and pre-purchase surveys’ includes geotechnical site investigation, on-site investigation, and condition assessment in the context of the other possible types of work listed. Please clarify if any other activities should be assumed to be included in this type of activity.

A6: The most likely types of work to be associated with the contract were listed in the solicitation. Since this contract is by definition “indefinite”, other types of work are possible, but not known at this time.

Q7: The RFQ states that the response is to be submitted via email; however, there is reference to a “sealed envelope” under the Submission of Qualifications section. Please confirm that the submission shall be entirely via email and that the referenced information can be contained within the body of the email. If a mailed hard copy is required, please confirm the address to which it must be mailed and required date/time of postmark.

A7: This submission will be entirely via email and that the reference information can be contained within the body of the email.

Q8: This is identified as a Total Small Business Set-Aside – does that mean that the entire design team needs to qualify as a Small Business? Or can the team comprise of small and large businesses, with small businesses completing more than 51% of the work?

A8: The Prime Contractor has to be small business completing 51% of the overall work. The sub consultants and/or remaining team may be comprised of small or large businesses.

Q9: Location in the General Area – “the Engineers principal office for the IDIQ contract must be within a fifty (50) mile radius…” To meet Criteria V, does that mean just the Prime contractor needs to have an office within the 50 miles or does the entire team needs to be within the 50 miles?

A9: If the principal office working on the contract is within a 50 mile radius, the criterion is met. Not having the primary office within 50 miles does not disqualify the firm.

Q10: Under “Criteria III: Capabilities of Firm”, it states that “the team must also demonstrate the capability to work nationally”. Please clarify/define the metrics that will be used to evaluate a team’s capacity to work nationally. For example, will project experience in a specific location be acceptable, or will it be required to show evidence of a brick-and-mortar office in a specific location to receive credit?

A10: GSA’ building inventory encompasses the whole country, the successful firm will show the capability and knowledge to work in all parts of the US and territories. Brick and mortar offices placed around the country are not required.

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