Amendment_1_Questions.pdf

Please Note: Duplicated questions were combined and answered only once. As discussed in the pre-proposal conference, questions deemed evidently answered in the original solicitation documents were not documented in this Amendment 1.

Question: Are contractors required to identify an architect at this time? Or, are they allowed to select architects on a task order basis?

Answer: No they are not. Contractors will be able to use different architects on task orders. This will give them the opportunity to select the best qualified architect for the work that will be provided.

Question: Regarding the Small Business Subcontracting Plan Template – Page 2 indicates the GSA FY 2014-2015 Goals to be:

a. Large – 50%

b. Small – 50%

c. HUBZone – 4.44%

d. Small Disadvantaged – 7%

e. Woman-Owned Small Business – 5%

f. Veteran-Owned Small Business – 3%

g. Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business – 4.44%

It is our understanding that the GSA’s final FY 2015 agency-wide prime contract goals (per OSBU and approved by the SBA) are:

a. Large – 68%

b. Small – 32%

c. HUBZone – 3%

d. Small Disadvantaged – 5%

e. Woman-Owned Small Business – 5%

f. Veteran-Owned Small Business – 3%

g. Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business – 3%

Please confirm that the FY 2015 goals are per the OSBU/SBA and not as listed in the Small Business Subcontracting Plan Template.

Answer: The Subcontracting Plan Template goals are incorrect. You are correct in that the approved numbers are the 68% for Large, 32% for Small, etc. Remember that specific subcontracting plans will be done at the task order level. This base contract will not contain specific goals and will be a Master Plan.

Question: In putting together our project evaluations, can we attach project photos and letters of reference we have received for each one?

Answer: Project photos and letters of reference that would exceed the page limit of the solicitation will be disregarded.

Question: Please clarify what costs should be included in the hourly rates for select contractor personnel shown on the pricing form. Should costs associated with trucks, phones, computers, subsistence, relocation costs, etc. be included in hourly rates or should this type of costs be provided separately as direct costs during future task order negotiations or proposals?

Answer: The hourly rates should be non-loaded rates.

Question: Section V.F. of the Solicitation on page 19 of 27 states that "similar" projects include "major repair, alterations or renovations of spaces in a commercial or government owned building." The standard for evaluation for Factor 1 on projects 1, 2 & 3 indicates that the standard is met when "The offeror has performed satisfactorily or better on similar projects as evidenced by Past Performance ratings (PPIRS)". Please confirm that if the offeror submits "commercial" projects and does not have "similar" Federal government projects (dollar amounts) in PPIRS, they will still be able to meet the standard for evaluation for Factor 1.

Answer: Commercial projects not in PPIRS are acceptable.

Question: The risk management section of the solicitation states "The offeror has provided their firm's Experience Modifier Ratio (EMR) for the current year and two (2) previous years and the average of the three EMR's is between .75 and 1.0." Please confirm that Offerors with EMR less than 0.75 will be evaluated more favorably, or will meet the evaluation criteria since a lower EMR indicates a higher level of safety performance.

Answer: An EMR lower than 0.75 will be viewed more favorably. The listing of between 0.75 to 1.0 is just to meet the standard.

Question: Do projects submitted as Project Experience and Past Performance have to have CPARS completed on them Answer: No

Question: What is the reasoning behind the project price range of $150,000 to $3,000,000? Can submitted projects be over $3,000,000 and still be counted?

Answer: As stated during the pre-proposal meeting the dollar range is a normal size project that will be solicited on this contract. Projects submitted over $3 million will be disregarded.

Question: Do the three (3) projects submitted under Evaluation Factor 1 (Specialized Project Experience and Past Performance) have to come out of Region 6?

Answer: No

Question: Do key personnel that we submit have to be currently employed by our company? Would commitment letter suffice?

Answer: Yes they must be employed currently. A letter of commitment will not be accepted.

Question: The wording for Standard for Evaluation Factor 4 is “met” when: on page 26 of 27 in the solicitation is confusing. It states that one project must be provided in at least two (2) of the five (5) geographic areas. Do you mean two projects must be provided that cover at least two of the five areas?

Answer: If a firm has at least one (1) project located in at least two (2) of the geographical areas then the standard is met. For example, a firm with projects only located in St. Louis, MO would not meet the standard for this criterion and no points would be added to their score. Not meeting this standard does not penalize any firm, they just will not have their score increased.

Question: If our firm has performed numerous jobs that are similar in multiple states, but the work was not in Region 6, why is that a disqualifier? Can that requirement be removed as we feel it is restrictive and limits which contractors can bid on this opportunity?

Answer: It is not disqualifying as you are still able to submit a proposal. There are no points taken away for not having projects in Region 6.

Question: Price Proposal. The description of the contents of the Price Proposal in paragraph II.B. of the Solicitation does not match the text description in paragraph II.C. Please confirm that the Price Proposal includes: Contract Price Form (from The Agreement); C301; SF1442; GSA Form 527 and Subcontracting Plan – Master.

Answer: Section II.C explains what information will be evaluated as the price proposal. Section II.B explains how the files should be submitted. Follow the format in Section II.B when creating your files for submission.

Question: Price Proposal. Are all of the contents of the Price Proposal supposed to be combined into a single PDF format file, or can it be a folder containing individual PDF format files for the different parts of the Price Proposal?

Answer: Section II.B explains the format of the proposal and how the files should be combined.

Question: Project Specific Information. With regard to the selection of projects for Projects 1-3 as described on page 21 of The Solicitation, is there any preference between submitting a GSA project, a Federal project for another agency or a non-governmental project in terms of evaluation? The evaluation criteria seem to favor federal projects since Past Performance ratings only reference PPIRS.

Answer: Any project may be submitted if it meets the requirements.

Question: Task Order Methods. The Task Order Methods available for this solicitation are described on page 19 of The Agreement. Please explain the difference between Method 1 DBB and Method 3 DB as both state that 100% design documents will be provided and that Contractors submit a firm fixed price.

Answer: DBB is designed by an Architect that GSA will hire, DB task orders will provide bridging documents and the contractor will complete the design. 100% on DB is listed but realistically you will never receive 100% bridging documents on a DB contract.

Question: Solicitation Number. The Solicitation number on the FBO site does not match the solicitation numbers printed on The Solicitation and The Agreement downloaded from FBO. Please confirm these are the appropriate documents for this solicitation.

Answer: These are the correct documents for this solicitation. GSA is currently in the process of implementing a new contract system; the current number listed on the Solicitation was created in the newest system.

Question: I see in the “Form E Project Location Data Sheet” that contractors should be able to complete projects throughout the entire GSA Region 6. We work as a GC across the state of Iowa, but not outside of Iowa. As we are only willing to do work in one of the five geographic areas, would you still be interested in receiving a proposal from our company?

Answer: Yes we would! Contractors will not be required to work outside of their geographical area.

While the source selection is set up to give points to contractors who do work in multiple areas, none will be taken away if you do not. GSA welcomes any proposal from companies that only work in one area and if your firm is good at what you do, you will be competitive.

Question: If we provide a past performance project that was not completed for the government, and would not have an evaluation in the PPIRS system, how will we be evaluated?

Answer: The information you provide with your technical package will be evaluated. PPIRS is a tool available to us to evaluate projects but the main source for evaluation will be your provided narrative.

Question: Are we limited to submitting a Form D for only those company personnel who performed on the three projects submitted on Form A, or can we submit Forms D for company personnel who are anticipated to perform in these roles for this contract solicitation?

Answer: You are limited to submitting Form D’s for only those still working for the company and who worked on the projects listed in Factor 1.