Amendment 2 - Questions and Answers.doc

GS11P08MKC0038, Amendment 2

July 31, 2008

Questions and Answers

1. B.6.4 – Regarding CM provisions for all computer software, does this include the software and licenses necessary for the e-PM? If so, how many anticipated users should be included?

Answer:

a. Not for e-PM. GSA will procure the software for e-PM if used on the project.

b. For all other software – there will be 10 users not including the CM staff.

2. C.1.2 – The schedule indicates that design has commenced for bid packages 3 & 4. What stage (PDS, program of requirements, concept, design development, etc) is the design at the time of CM award?

Answer:

a. The design stage for bid package 3 & 4 will be at 35% at award of the CM contract.

3.

C.1.6.19 – Definition of PM infers that this is a GSA employee. Elsewhere in the RFP, PM is referred to within the CM staff. However, the supplemental pricing sheets do not include a CM labor category for PM.

Q1: Is it GSA’s intent to have a full time PM (from the CM staff) overseeing design, procurement, construction and post construction phases? Q2: Or can the PM (from the CM staff) be part time along with the CEx or the same as the part time construction executive? Please clarify.

Answer:

A.1 & 2: GSA’s intent is to have active and timely project management by the CM throughout the project for all phases. How you plan your staff time and allocation is a decision you must make to accomplish the project requirements stated in the RFP.

4. C.1.6.20 – This paragraph instructs the CM to include costs for three one-day partnering workshops. Partnering workshop infers for the construction contract for bid package 2. How many participants should be included in pricing each workshop, and where should the pricing be included in section B?

Answer:

a. Plan on having 30 participants in the each Partnering Session.

5. C.3.3.2 – With no design reviews required for bid package 2, can you clarify the extent of structural drawings for bid packages 3 and 4?

Answer:

a. The structural drawings for BP-3&4 shall consist of non-bearing office partitions, mechanical and electrical shafts cut through the existing concrete structure, and structural drawings to support HVAC and Electrical equipment.

6. C.3/C.4 – During the design and procurement phases, it is understood that the staff will be required to meet with GSA at the NCR building – does GSA anticipate a full time CM presence at the NCR, and if so, for design phase or for design and construction phases?

Answer:

a. GSA does not anticipate a full time CM presence at the NCR.

7. C.3.3.2.D – Requires CM to conduct 2 constructability reviews…one at mid point and on e at 95% construction documents. The corresponding table below this paragraph shows 4 constructability reviews. Please clarify.

Answer:

a. There will be 2 constructability reviews for each BP-3 and 4 which would account for the 4 reviews.

8. C.3.4 – Per this paragraph, the A-E is conducting all independent government estimates for the various design submissions and the CM is responsible for review and reporting only. Please confirm that the CM is not providing a 2nd independent government estimate for each design submission.

Answer:

a. The CM is not tasked with preparing the independent government estimate; however, the requirement in C.3.4. is quite extensive and would actually be equal to an IGE.

9. C.3.9 – Can the CM qualified staff lead the VE studies, or does GSA intend for this to be 3rd party, independent of the CM cost engineering staff? How many VE studies are anticipated for bid packages 3 & 4?

Answer:

a. The CM can use a qualified (certified) VE specialist within their staff to perform the required VE studies. We anticipate there will be 2 VE s required for this project.

10. C.3.2 – For the purposes of reviewing the A-E design submissions, will the design drawings be allowed for distribution without being subject to DOS security clearances?

Answer:

a. Most of the drawings will be classified as Sensitive But Unclassified and will be handled as required in the DOS classification guide. However, there are portions of the drawings (e.g., security communications) that will be classified as SECRET and must be handled appropriately.

11. C.7.2.3.10 - Please delineate the extent of the A-E’s and CxA responsibilities for developing the commissioning specifications. Will the A-E develop the specifications and plans for review by the CxA? Or will the CxA develop the specifications and plan for review and subsequent integration into the contract documents?

Answer:

a. The CxA will develop and the specifications and commissioning plan for review and will work with the A-E and DOS for integration into the construction documents.

12. L.13.1 – Q1: Regarding experience on similar projects, can we assume that the $40 million requirement is for total construction costs, and not for each phase of a construction project? Q2: Also, will construction awards less than $40 million be considered non-responsive or will this be one of several evaluation factors when reviewing a past project as a whole? Q4: Can projects be nearly completed (i.e., design, procurement, 3 of 4 construction phases completed, with 4th phase nearly completed) and still be considered responsive or will this be one of several evaluation factors when reviewing a past project as a whole? Q5: Will a project be considered responsive if the design phase (for several bid packages) is complete, but construction is on hold, pending approved funding, as this has been the case in the metropolitan area over the past 3-4 years?

Answers:

Q1 - Yes

Q2 - Construction awards less than $40 million will not be evaluated.

Q4 - No. The construction project must be completed no more than 10 years prior to the date of the RFP's issuance.

Q5 - No, the project will be considered non-responsive and will not be evaluated.

13. L.13.3.f – Is this schedule for the entire phase 1B or for bid package 1, 2 and/or 3&4?

Answer: The schedule is for both Phase 1B and 1C.

14.

Section B - Reference the pricing sheets for Options 1-19. The suggested GSA rates appear to be outdated. More recent suggest rates have been published in other GSA RFPs. Could GSA consider an amendment that replaces the pricing sheets with up-to-date suggested rates?

Answer: See Revised Section B in Amendment 2.

15. On page I-B-3 of the RFP for the CM Services for the Harry S. Truman Building, it reads in the 3rd paragraph from the bottom "For award purposes, Phase 1B Design Phase Services (Bid Package 3&4), Procurement Phase Services and Commissioning Design Phase Services.... will initially be awarded. Such award shall constitute the Base Contract."

However on the next page, I-B-4, the Procurement Phase Services is listed not as base, but as "Option # 1". I wanted to make sure we are to include the Procurement Phase Services in our Base Contract fees.

Answer: The Procurement Phase Services is an option. See Amendment 1.

16. 1st Concern - Experience and qualifications of key personnel.

QUESTION 1. Is the experience for key personnel 5 years and 2 construction projects OR 5 years and 2 construction modernization projects?

Background:

Section H.1.3.2 (B) states. “Acquired architecture, engineering, construction projects…”…(page I-H-3)

However, Section L.13.2 (a) - Evaluation Factor 2 requirements include “…architectural, engineering, construction management, or construction experience of at least five (5) years on at least two (2) construction modernization projects …” (more restrictive) (page I-L-11)

Answer: “….. experience of at least 5 years on at least 2 construction projects..” See Amendment 1.

17. 2nd Concern - Number of resumes allowed under Evaluation Factor 2.

QUESTION 2. Is Evaluation Factor 2 limited to the submission of just the resumes for the five (5) Key Personnel called out in the RFP, OR can resumes for other phase management/technical personnel be included?

Answer: Yes, Other phase management/technical resumes may be included

18.

3rd Concern - The Section J forms

QUESTION 3. Do these forms belong in the pricing or the technical proposal and under which tab?

Background: Section J designated the following forms, but the RFP does not show them in either the technical or pricing proposal:

Certificate of Procurement Integrity

GSA Form 527, Contractor’s Qualifications and Financial Information

· Standard Form LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying

Answer: They will be included in the price proposal. See Amendment 1.

19.

4thConcern - Clearances

QUESTION 4. Are the key personnel and others that are “shown” at the time of bidding required to have an active SECRET clearance?

Background:

The April 2, 2008 Presolicitation synopsis posted as part of the solicitation states:

“Construction Management personnel specifically designated to work on this contract shall have been issued a SECRET personnel security clearances issued by DSS prior to bidding on the contract.”

The RFP address personnel clearances in 3 areas:

C.2.1.3.1 Security Clearances. All CM staff must have a SECRET security clearance for the duration of the Phase 1B and Optional Phase 1C projects.

Additionally, designated contractor personnel requiring access to classified information to perform on this contract shall possess Secret personnel security clearances issued by DSS prior to contract performance.

H.6.5 The contractor personnel specifically designed to work on this contract shall have been issued a SECRET personnel security clearances issues by DSS prior to commencing contract performance on the contract.

L.13.2 Evaluation Factor 2 – experience and qualifications of key personnel

(8) Security clearance level and date obtained.

We suspect the answer is “NO”, but want to confirm that that only the three (3) requirements of the RFP are applicable.

Answer: No. Key personnel and others that are shown at the time of bidding are required to have a SECRET clearance prior to contract performance not at time of bidding.

20.

Is a table of contents required? The only mention I see for it is on page IV-L-9.

Answer: You may include a table of contents, however it is not required. The table of contents is not included in your page count.

21.

Are you counting the cover letter in the page count?

Answer: No.

22.

Are you counting tabs in the page count? We find that tabs help the reviewers and usually are not counted.

Answer: No tabs are not included in the page count.

23. Would GSA considering allowing a 10 point font and single spacing for graphics in this proposal? This allowance has been made on other GSA solicitations, and it allows the offerors the chance to make their proposals more visually pleasing.

Answer: Yes, we will allow for a 10 point font and single spacing for graphics and single spacing for resumes only.