AEI-Q A_(Round_1).pdf

National Architect Architect/Engineer/Interiors IDIQ Contract

Questions and Answers (Round 1)

1. Can you cite some upcoming projects in FY 2016 for which GSA plans to use this IDIQ?

Answer: The projects will vary across a broad spectrum of agencies. Answer: The minimum guaranteed order amount in the solicitation is the only information we can provide at this time.

2. Since the idea is to have other agencies fund the IDIQ services, can you tell us which agencies are planning to use this IDIQ vehicle to procure space planning services?

Answer: See question 1.

3. Do you anticipate competing all 8 firms on each task order?

Answer: In accordance with Brooks Act procedures, all firms will be given fair opportunity.

If not, how will you decide which firms to compete on which task orders?

Answer: This would be an internal selection using Brooks Act procedures.

4. Under Stage 1, the Solicitation states that “identification of team members, other than the lead designer(s), is not required…” However, also under Stage 1, under “Management and Quality Control Plan” it states the factor evaluates “the quality of the Firm/team’s proposed key personnel…” Does this also refer only to the Lead Designer or do other key team members need to be identified for this factor?

Answer: The “identification of team member” section has been removed, please see amendment 001.

5. Please clarify what you would like to see as part of the Stage I portfolio. We understand it is to be no more than 1/4 inch thick, double-sided where feasible. Please confirm if that ¼ inch thick portfolio should include a full SF330 Part 1 (Sections A-I) and Part II for the prime firm, in addition to the cover letter referencing the FBO announcement and briefly describing the firm and its location, organizational makeup, and noteworthy accomplishments. Also, as far responses to the submission requirements and evaluation criteria within the FBO notification, please confirm those should be included primarily in Section H, supplemented by information in Sections E, F, and H.

Answer: We are looking for the full SF330 in the Stage I submittal for the Lead Designer /Firm. The SF330 is not included in the ¼ inch requirement.

6. Regarding the requirements for Specialized Experience and Technical Competence, reference is made to Section F of the SF330 as the main source of information for the evaluation. Assuming Part 1 of an SF330 is required, are there any specific criteria that will be used to evaluate projects submitted as Part of Section F?

Answer: See amendment 001.

Also, are our standard 10 projects within Section F where you are looking to evaluate our “portfolio” or is the “portfolio” separate from the SF330?

Answer: See amendment 001.

7. Regarding the evaluation criteria for Professional Qualifications for Key Personnel, and the Management and Quality Control Plan, it appears as if the evaluation criteria and information to be provided for these two criteria has been inadvertently reversed in the RFP. Please confirm if this is correct.

Answer: See amendment 001.

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8. The RFQ states that “Identification of team members, other than the lead designer(s), is not required at this stage”. Assuming the criteria or Professional Qualifications for Key Personnel and the Management and Quality Control Plan have been inadvertently reversed in the RFP, please confirm that the only Key Personnel required to be submitted in Stage 1 (including Section E resumes) are the lead designer/team.

Answer: The “identification of team member” section has been removed, please see amendment 001:

9. Regarding Past Performance, are you requesting three references in Section H to be included in addition to the Project Owners Information provided in Block 23 of Section F projects?

Answer: See amendment 001

10. Based on the due date for Stage 1 (August 21, 2015) and the date identified for the interviews (week of August 31, 2015), we assume that a shortlist will be developed between August 21 and 31, and that shortlisted firms will be interviewed prior to the Stage II/Phase II submittals and the establishment of a full team. Is this correct?

Answer: See amendment 001 for revised tentative interview date.

11. Can you direct me to where I can find information which shows which architecture, engineering, and interiors firms are currently in the pre-qualified pools of professionals? I understand that there may not be a pool exactly like what is being requested but I am curious what types of firms have met the criteria for Design Excellence previously.

Answer: A pool of Architecture, Engineering, and Interior firms does not exist, this is an open competition to all business concerns under NAICS Code 541310.

12. Understanding that this is a Design Excellence solicitation for Federal Office Buildings, does it require the submitting firm to be represented by a design excellence approved design leader?

Answer: No, GSA does not have pre-approved design excellence designers for this procurement.

This is open to all business concerns under NAICS Code 541310.

13. In the summary on FBO, it says under “STAGE I” that bidders should submit “Standard Form 330 Architect Engineer Qualifications (only Part II)”. However, under submission requirements, it says that each evaluation criteria will be judged by sections filled out in Part I of the form (i.e.

Specialized Experience will be judged by section F on the form, which is located in part I). Is Part I required to be filled out, or do you require the bidder write a separate summary of their experience, quality control plan, etc?

Answer: See amendment 001, the full SF330 is required for Stage I for the Lead Designer / Firm.

14. Will this contract be managed out of Chicago?

Answer: The procurement is managed out of Region 5 (Chicago). The AEI IDIQ will be managed out of the Central Office (Washington DC), Office of Client Solutions Division.

15. Will most of the work from this contract be within GSA Region 5?

Answer: Specific work locations are unknown at this time and will be throughout the U.S.

16. The Stage I portfolio requirement lists Standard Form 330 Part II only, however, the “Submission Requirements and Evaluation Criteria” make reference to other sections of the SF330 Part I. Should we submit information about our “Specialized Experience and Technical Competence” and “Management and Quality Control Plan” in the SF330 Part I (Sections E, F and H)? Please clarify.

Answer: See Amendment 001, the full SF330 is required for Stage 1 for the Lead Designer / Firm. .

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17. I'm reaching out in regards to the National Architect-Engineer-Interiors (A/E/I) IDIQ Contract.

Under its "Places of Performance" section, it states that firms must have an existing office in one of the Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas within the GSA regional cities. Our firm is located in Richmond, Virginia, which is about 108 miles from Washington, D.C.. Would you advise that our firm still submit for this solicitation?

Answer: This procurement is open to all business concerns under NAICS code 541310. Your firm would not be excluded but Geographic location is an evaluation factor.

18. The IDIQ says that the firm needs to submit just Part II of the 330 Form for the lead design firm.

However, the evaluation criteria is looking at Sections E, F, and H of the 330 Form. My question is, if we are the lead design firm, do I need submit a complete 330 Form (Parts I and II)?

If we only provide architectural/interior design services only, do we need to include other disciplines on our team?

Answer: See Amendment 001, the full SF330 is required for Stage 1.

19. Has a contractor performed similar work to this for the government in the past?

If available, please provide the incumbent contract number.

Answer: This is a new requirement and there is not an incumbent contractor.

If you are unable to provide a contract number, is it safe to assume this is a new requirement for the government?

Answer: This is a new requirement for the GSA.

20. Is there a specific contractor currently performing the same or similar work? If yes, can you provide me the basic contract details if available (i.e. contract number, vendor, and value)?

Answer: See question 19.

21. Since all buildings are going to be LEED certified, there is mandatory Commissioning service for all LEED buildings. How will GSA procure Commissioning (Cx) service? Will Cx service directly under owner, or Architect or GC?

Answer: We have multiple resources for commissioning services and they will be determined by individual project teams.

22. The FBO posting does not seem to provide for us to ask questions? Could that still happen?

Answer: Please email all questions to Edgar Delgado at Edgar.Delgado@gsa.gov. All questions must be submitted by August 7, 2015 at 3:00 pm.

23. As required by law, all facilities will meet federal energy goals and security requirements and the facility will be designed in metric units. Please confirm “metric units”?

Also, all projects will be LEED certified, is this correct?

Answer: All projects will be designed to comply with current requirements at the time of each task order award.

24. Regarding scope of services - very wide field, can you be more specific as to responsibilities?

Answer: This is a Brooks Act procurement and is established to cover the wide range of services involved in proper workplace design.

25. FAR 36 doesn’t appear to address travel expenses. How is travel addressed?

Answer: Travel will should be priced at the individual task order level and must adhere to the Federal Travel Regulations (FTR)

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26. Per FBO posting: The capacity to dispatch personnel to multiple locations simultaneously, if needed. Multiple teams may be required. Do all the team members have to come out of the Chicago office?

Answer: No.

27. Per FBO posting: A/E firms are advised that at least 35% of the level of contract effort must be performed in the state in which the project is located. Would the team or members of the team have to be located at the project site for some amount of time? What is effort?

Answer: This section has been removed, please see amendment 001.

28. Confirm that associated A/E firms each submit Part II?

Answer: See Amendment 001.

29. Per FBO posting: Identification of team members, other than the lead designer(s), is not required at this stage. Consultant and “production firm” (if different from the design firm) information should not be included in the Stage I portfolio.

Please confirm this should read, “...other than lead designer(s) and associated A/E firms” where only the lead Architectural Firm and lead Engineering Firm would submit documentation Answer: The “identification of team member” section has been removed, please see amendment 001.

30. Per FBO posting: Contract will be procured under the Brooks A/E Act and FAR Part 36. The government will not allow payment for travel, living expenses, computer time, or hookups for the prime or the consultants during the selection process. This is not a Request for Proposal.

Can you provide a copy of the Contract or direct us to a copy?

Answer: This is a Request for Qualification and the government is not responsible for any expenses incurred. The RFP/Scope of work will be provided to the firms selected utilizing the qualifications based selection process.

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