AEI-Q A_(Round_2).pdf

National Architect Architect/Engineer/Interiors IDIQ Contract

Questions and Answers (Round 2)

1. Is GSA requesting a complete SF330 Architect-Engineer Qualification form for ONLY the

Prime/A-E Team (no sub consultants), is this the proposal format that GSA is seeking?

Answer: See Amendment 002.

2. Please can you be more specific with the portfolio size? The requested ¼ inch thick size, is that just an estimated size and from what should we measure, the spine. Would a page count requirement be a more specific measure?

3. Specialized Experience and Technical Competence

1. Will a lead design firm be evaluated on how well they demonstrate experience across all three disciplines noted in the IDIQ title – architecture, engineering and interiors?

Answer: See Amendment 002, Under Submission Requirement and Evaluations Criteria.

2. Is there a maximum or minimum limit to the number of projects that can be included?

Answer: See Amendment 002, Supplemental Standard Form 330 Instructions, Section

F.

4. Past Performance

1. Is there a specific format for submission of references?

Answer: Refer to section F of the SF330, Name & Contact information under Project

Owner’s Information must be provided. Also, reference amendment 002, section entitled

Past Performance.

5. Location of Firm

2. Will a firm with offices in more than one of the GSA regional cities noted receive a higher evaluation score?

6. Could you please send me the RFP for this IDIQ project, solicitation #GS-05P-15-SI-D-0052?

Answer: All information for this solicitation is on FBO.Gov.

7. In the amendment, it states under “STAGE I” that submissions will require “responses to the submission requirements and evaluation criteria listed below” in addition to a completed SF330.

However, the submission requirements say that they will evaluate information from SF330. So does the contractor need to submit responses to the submission requirements IN ADDITION to

SF330, or just submit SF330, which will in turn answer the submission requirements?

8. We are in receipt of the first round questions for the above referenced opportunity and would like further clarification about the “portfolio” . In addition to the SF330 where there is an opportunity to share project experience, are we permitted to submit additional project pages as long as they are under the “1/4” limit?

Answer: Reference Amendment 002, under Supplemental Standard Form 330 Instructions, Section F.

Also please provide your definition of a SMSA, how far outside the major cities (in our case, NYC) one needs to be to participate.

Answer: Reference Appendix 001.

9. In Amendment One, on page 2 under the heading Stage I, the note in the second paragraph states “separate stage I and II information with a divider.”

a. Please clarify if stage II material is to be submitted now or at a later date?

b. If now, please clarify what is to be submitted as part of Stage I and what material is to be submitted as part of stage II?

c. If at a later date, then was the reference for a divider intended to separate SF 330 part I and part II material?

10. In Amendment One on page 3 under Stage II it states “firms will be required to submit a complete SF 330 AE qualifications parts I and II that reflect the entire design team.” The following paragraph states “The Board will interview each team that is short listed.” At the end of page 4 it states interviews are tentatively scheduled for the week of September 7, 2015. It is the intention of the government that notification of the shortlist, submission of stage II materials and interviews will all take place within that two week period?

Answer: Limited additional information will be required for Stage II, the two week time period is adequate.

Or will there be more time in between the submission of part II information and the interview?

Answer: See answer above

11. In Amendment One on page 3 under supplemental standard form 330 instructions, section E states “do not provide any more than 6 key personnel.” However on page 2 under Professional

Qualifications for Key Personnel it states to submit SF 330 form E in Stage I for lead designer(s) and in stage II to submit information for 6 key personnel. Further, on page 2 in the first paragraph under selection process it states “The lead designer is the individual or the team of designers who will have primarily responsibility to develop the concept and the project design.”

Is there a limit to the number of team members that can be submitted during stage I as the lead designer when it is a team?

Answer: See Amendment 002, Supplemental Standard Form 330 Instructions, Section E.

12. In Amendment One, on page 3 under supplemental standard form 330 instructions, section

E states “It is required that you include the Lead Architectural Designer and the…” Does the lead designer have to be a licensed architect?

Answer: The makeup and qualifications of your team is at your own discretion.

If yes and the lead designer consists of a team, is it acceptable that at least one member of the team be a licensed architect?

Answer: See answer above.

13. In Amendment One, on page 3 under supplemental standard form 330 instructions, section

F states “3 out of the 5 must be directly attributable to the Key Designer.” If the lead designer is a team as stated in the opening selection process paragraph, can the 3 projects be attributable to team members and not just one key team member?

14. Is the cover letter and other portfolio requirements scored or is just the information provided on the SF330 scored? If the other portfolio material is scored please provide value/weight for those materials.

Answer: See Amendment 002 for all value / weight factors. The information contained within the cover letter and the portfolio will be evaluated in accordance with the factors in amendment

002.

15. In Amendment One on page 2 under management and quality control plan it states “stage I evaluates the Lead Designer(s) philosophy and design intent and stage II evaluates the management and quality control plan.” however, on page 4 under the supplemental standard form 330 instructions, section H states the management and quality control plans are to be included and will be evaluated. Please clarify if the management and quality control plans are to be submitted during stage I along with the lead designer(s) philosophy and design intent.

16. If submitting additional information in stage II for each member of the design team, will there be a limit on the number of personnel during stage II as referenced on page 2 under professional qualifications for key personnel (limit of 6 key personnel)? Is that limitation inclusive of all outside consultants?

17. Please clarify language and definitions of Stage I vs. Stage II. For instance, in the

Evaluation Criteria, when you speak of evaluating the Lead Designer(s), do you mean the lead design firm or do you mean the individual staff designer representing the firm? Scenario 1: If my firm is ‘FIRM A’ and my lead designer is ‘Joe Smith’, are you looking to evaluate only Joe Smith in Stage I, and FIRM A in Stage II?

Or Scenario 2: you are looking to evaluate the design firm (FIRM A) in Stage I and if shortlisted, the rest of the consultant team in Stage II?

If Scenario 1 is true, this will cause the 330 form matrix (Sec G, page 4 of form) to only have one personnel listed in Stage I – is this what is desired?

18. Under “Stage I” of the Selection Process instructions, after the first paragraph, there is a note to “only submit the full 330 for the Lead Design Firm and clearly separate Stage I and

Stage II information with a divider.” We are technically only in Stage I of the process - do you still want both Stage I and Stage II information on the August 21st due date?

19. Under Stage II of the Selection Process instructions, when there is reference to “submit more detailed information indicating each member of the design team, including all outside consultants”, if we are an architecture firm, will you be looking for us to provide MEP, structural, IT, etc. to make a full all-encompassing team? And still only include 6 key personnel for the entire lead design+consultant team?

Or is this outside consultant referring to more specialized areas like a lab planner? It seems that in your request for A/E/I firms, you will be receiving submittals from all disciplines (architects only, engineers only, firms with both, etc.) For instance, on some smaller projects like an MEP infrastructure renovation, the MEP is the main discipline needed and therefore, they are leading the architect who only has a small role.

Answer: See Amendment 002. Additional information regarding Stage II will be provided at that time.

20. Is the “Supplemental Standard Form 330 Instructions” meant to be its own section in this solicitation and apply to the entire 300, or is it intended only for Stage II, which it falls under?

21. The solicitation states “In Stage 1, interested designers and associated A/E/I firms will submit portfolios of accomplishment that establishes the design capabilities of the lead designer(s)”. The amended solicitation requirements focus on additional “proposed team members” and “key personnel.” Is the government looking for a submission focused primarily on the Lead Designer, or a submission that shows a larger team with multiple disciplines and depth?

22. “The assembled content for the Stage 1 portfolio should be no more than ¼” thick.” The requirements of the SF330 are extensive and often result in a submission larger than ¼” thick.

Is this size requirement lifted given the change in content from a typical Design Excellence submission to a full SF 330 for Stage 1?

23. Additionally, in the Q&A it is stated that “the SF 330 is not included in the ¼” requirement.” Is the SF 330 not required in the Stage I submission? Or, what information is required in the ¼” section?

24. The solicitation requests “Full 330, Part I and II required for lead design firm; and response to the submission requirements and evaluation criteria listed below.” Does the government want a modified full SF330 as per the amendment requirements AND a separate Design Excellence submission that addresses the additional criteria?

25. The solicitation states “only submit the full 330 for the Lead Design Firm and clearly separate the Stage I and II information with a divider.” Is the government looking for information requested under Stage I and Stage II in the initial submission due August 21?

26. Under ‘Specialized Experience and Technical Competence,’ the solicitation states “Stage I evaluates the Lead Designer(s) only and Stage II evaluates the Firm/Team.” However, the remainder of the description refers to the “Firm/Team” for evaluation. Is the government looking for information (portfolio and resume) ONLY from the Lead Designer(s) or information from the lead firm and team members?

27. Under ‘Professional Qualifications for Key Personnel’ the solicitation state “Stage I evaluates the Lead Designer(s) and Stage II evaluates all Key Personnel. Limit key personnel to 6.”

However, the remainder of this criteria requirement “evaluates the quality of the Firm/team’s proposed key personnel.” Does the government want only information (resume) for the Lead

Designer in Stage I and key personnel in Stage II?

28. Under ‘Management and Quality Control Plan’ the solicitation states that “Stage I evaluates the Lead Designer(s) Philosophy and Design Intent and Stage II evaluates the Management and Quality Control Plan.” Under ‘Supplemental Standard Form 330 Instructions’ the solicitation requests that Section H cover “Management Plan,” including a “Quality Control Plan.” Does the government want the Management and Quality Control Plan (and related Section H info) in the

Stage II submission only?

29. Under ‘Stage II,’ the solicitation states that “short-listed lead designers and associated firms will be notified and asked to submit more detailed information . . .” Several other areas of the solicitation reference requirements for Stage II. Please clarify that this information is ONLY required in the later Stage II submission issued to shortlisted firms.

30. Under ‘Supplemental Standard Form 330 Instructions’:

- Section C: request “six proposed team members.” Instructions for Section C indicate that this section is for FIRMS being proposed on the team, not personnel. With this solicitation requirement is the government requesting additional firms in Stage I?

- Section E: requests 6 key personnel while elsewhere in the solicitation the requirements appear to be only requesting information from the Lead Designer(s). Please clarify that only the

Lead Designer(s) information is required in Stage I.

- Section F: states that 3 out of the 5 projects must be directly attributable to the Key

Designer. Is the Key Designer the Lead Designer? And based on the statement under

‘Specialized Experience and Technical Competence’ that “Stage I evaluates the Lead

Designer(s) only,” does the ‘Supplement Standard Form 330 Instructions’ requirement apply only the Stage II submissions by the short-listed firms? Should the only projects being shown in

Stage I relate to the Lead Designer(s)?

- Section H: this section requests information on both a management plan and quality control plan. Earlier in the submission these elements are requested only in the Stage II submission. Please confirm that this Section H information is only to be provided in the

“complete SF330 that reflects the entire design team” for Stage II, which is submitted at a later date by the short-listed firms.

31. The solicitation states that the portfolio should include the standard form 330, Part II only, however the Submission Requirements and Evaluation Criteria refers to sections is the 330 Part

I form. For instance, under “Specialized Experience and Technical Competence”, the text explains that the “main source of information for evaluation is section F of form 330”. Does this imply that we should be submitting Part 1 of the 330 or that this text is just a reference to what type of information GSA wants us to incorporate?

32. In reading Solicitation GS05P15SID0052, it appears GSA’s goal is to receive submissions that highlight a Lead Designer’s relevant accomplishments, demonstrate their design philosophy, and showcase the lead firm’s experience and competency. As these requirements are very similar to GSA’s Design Excellence solicitation process, would the use of the Design

Excellence procurement provide the government with a uniform industry response, assisting both the government in ease of evaluation and the industry in providing a known response format?

Answer: Your questions / comment does quote the Design Excellence handbook, although this is a design excellence procurement, the requirements for this solicitation are unique.

For example:

1. Past Performance: five relevant projects from the lead firm that “demonstrate innovation in design and construction approaches on a range of projects including but not limited to innovative building design solutions and strategic (Workplace Engagement) and efforts to achieve sustainable buildings using integrated multidisciplinary teams.”

2. Lead Designer Profile: a resume of the Lead Designer showing their “relevant experience, professional qualifications, training, education, past performance and expected availability”

3. Lead Designer Philosophy: written philosophy that demonstrates “a balance of design quality with other factors that affect public architecture including security, review processes, and budget and schedule. It will take into consideration whether the lead designer’s intent for this contract indicates a flexible and imaginative attitude toward design within the constraints of various types of design projects.”

4. Lead Designer’s Portfolio: three relevant projects from the Lead Designer that

“demonstrate successful past performance on example projects, from the point of view of the owner/client. Have the projects received awards?”

33. May we move the lead designer philosophy from section H to an additional summary package to submit with form 330? We understand this additional summary package is limited to a quarter inch?

34. Can we include more than five example projects if we have multiple lead designers?

35. Under Stage I the sentence: Note: Only submit the full 330 for the Lead Design Frim and clearly separate Stage I and II information with a divider. From the rest of the submittal it is our understanding that Stage II will be submitted when selected for the interview process.

Need to confirm that Stage II items listed in Stage I section are NOT being requested at this time.

36. Can a small architecture/interior design firm be the Lead Design Firm (and Prime contractor)? Our teaming partner is the engineering specialist.

Answer: This procurement is open to all business concerns.

37. Can we include our engineering specialist team member information as part of the Lead

Design Firm with the execution of a Teaming Arrangement, or would we need to execute a Joint

Venture in order to include the engineering specialists on our team as part of our Lead Design

Team?