RFI Questions and Answers - 4-14-2020.pdf

SOLICITATION NO: N62473-19-R-1237

PHASE ONE

INDEFINITE DELIVERY INDEFINITE QUANTITY UNRESTRICTED MULTIPLE AWARD

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, REPAIR, AND RENOVATION OF

COMMERCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FACILITIES AT VARIOUS GOVERNMENT

INSTALLATIONS LOCATED IN CALIFORNIA, ARIZONA, NEVADA, UTAH, COLORADO, AND

NEW MEXICO

Questions & Answers

April 14, 2020

Question 1: RFP proposal submission and evaluation requirements for Factor 2: Experience require all projects submitted to be over $15-M in construction cost.

In order to increase opportunities to Small Business firms interested in the two small business reserved awards, would the Government consider adjusting the criteria to require projects that are over $7-M construction cost just for small business Offerors?

Answer: The Government does not intend to change the minimum dollar thresholds for the relevant project construction costs specified in the RFP under Factor 2 (Experience). The minimum experience requirements are based on the preponderance of work for the projects planned to be awarded under this MACC, which has an estimated task order range of $15,000,000 to $250,000,000.

Question 2: RFP proposal submission and evaluation requirements for Factor 2: Experience require one project submitted to be over $50-M in construction cost.

In order to increase opportunities to Small Business firms interested in the two small business reserved awards, would the Government consider adjusting the criteria to require one project over $15-Ms just for small business Offerors?

Answer: The Government does not intend to change the additional minimum submission requirements specified in the RFP under Factor 2 (Experience). The requirements are based on the preponderance of work for the projects planned to be awarded under this MACC, which has an estimated task order range of $15,000,000 to $250,000,000.

Question 3: Will the past performance requirements for the well qualified small businesses be the same as for the unrestricted Offeror’s?

Would the Government consider 1ea project of $30,000,000 and 6ea $10,000,000 projects, 2ea Design Build?

Answer: The experience and past performance requirements stated in the RFP are based on the preponderance of work for the projects planned to be awarded under this MACC. The requirements are applicable to all Offerors, regardless of business size.

The Government does not intend to change the RFP requirements for Factor 2 (Experience) or Factor 3 (Past Performance).

Question 4: The SF 1442 states that the Government anticipates 3 or more awards and that there will be up to 2 set-aside awards for Small Businesses that are “highly qualified.”

Will there be 3 or more awards to medium/large businesses – AND – an additional 2 awards to highly qualified SBs?

Answer: No. As stated in the RFP, “The Government anticipates three or more multiple award construction contracts.” This is an unrestricted procurement with two awards reserved for highly qualified small businesses. It does not include separate small business set-asides.

Question 5: The SF 1442 states that the Government anticipates 3 or more awards and that there will be up to 2 set-aside awards for Small Businesses that are “highly qualified.” Additionally, the following evaluation criteria apply:

• Firms must have bonding capacity aggregate of at least $150M.

• Firms must have 3-7 projects each of which is greater than $15M in total value.

• At least 1 such project shall have a construction cost of $50M or above.

The current size standard for NAICS 236220 is $39.5M, meaning in order to qualify as a Small Business, businesses must have $39.5M or less in annual receipts averaged over either a 3 year or 5 year period.

The Experience and Bonding requirements are very high as currently stated. How does the Government anticipate awards to Small Businesses under this NAICS code given that the minimum requirements for multiple evaluation factors are incompatible with the definition of Small Business and possibly even impossible to reconcile?

Answer: This is an unrestricted procurement with two awards reserved for highly qualified small businesses. It does not include separate small business set-asides. The minimum experience requirements and minimum bonding requirements are based on the preponderance of work for the projects planned to be awarded under this MACC, which has an estimated task order range of $15,000,000 to $250,000,000.

Question 6: Per PHASE ONE Basis of Evaluation/Submission Requirements/Criteria Description FACTOR 1: TECHNICAL APPROACH - a. Proposal Submission Requirements

The composition and management of the firms proposed for a typical design-build (DB) team for this contract will be evaluated in this factor.

We interpret the statement above as it being acceptable for a General Contractor to include Lead Design Firm (s) and their relevant experience as a part of the submission to this RFQ and using Exhibits A and B to feature that experience. Please confirm.

Answer: For this solicitation, Lead Design Firm project experience will not be evaluated Under Factor 2 (Experience). Under Factor 2 (Experience), Offerors are to “Submit a maximum of seven (7) relevant construction projects for the Offeror that best demonstrate your experience on projects that are similar in size, scope, and complexity to projects that may be ordered under this contract.” There is no RFP requirement to submit design project experience for the Offeror’s proposed Lead Design Firm(s). As stated in the RFP under the Basis of Evaluation for Factor 2 (Experience), “Any projects submitted in excess of the seven (7) for Construction Experience will not be considered.”

Question 7: Regarding “Additional minimum submission requirements – Submit at least one (1) relevant project with a construction cost of $50,000,000 or above.” – Most small business have performed a project of such magnitude. Will the government considering lowering this amount to something that is more likely for a small business to have performed?

Answer: The Government does not intend to change the additional minimum submission requirements specified in the RFP under Factor 2 (Experience). The minimum experience requirements are based on the preponderance of work for the projects planned to be awarded under this MACC, which has an estimated task order range of $15,000,000 to $250,000,000.

Question 8: Is there a way to get the contact list for the solicitation?

Answer: You can register your company as an “Interested Vendor” for the solicitation on the

Beta.SAM.gov website at the following link:

https://beta.sam.gov/opp/85f4fc1351d744bfa6f6117554780ae9/view

This will allow you to view the contact information for other interested firms and will also allow them to view your company’s contact information as well. Instructions for registering as an Interested Vendor are included under the “Attachments/Links” section for this solicitation.

Question 9: This MACC states that there are two slots for qualified small business concerns- However, the evaluation factor requires at least one project with a cost of $50,000,000, completed within the last 5 years – it would be extremely rare that any small business in the applicable NAICS code would have a single project of more than 50 million in a 5 year period –Also, the dual requirement of a 50 million dollar project – and an “Aircraft or vehicle maintenance hangar facility” over 15 million, both completed within the last 5 years, is very, extremely, unlikely for a small business size standard under 39.5 million.

Please consider extension of the evaluation criteria to a 7 year period to provide small business a chance to compete for this MACC.

Answer: See Amendment 0001, which extends the period of time for which projects may be submitted for experience, past performance, or for prior support for small business to seven (7) years from the initial RFP issuance date.

Question 10: Can a Large Business submit two separate Phase 1 Proposals? Meaning can [the large business] submit as a stand-alone Offeror, and then also submit another proposal with our Mentor-Protégé Company?

Answer: No. Per paragraph #9 of the Instructions to Offerors in the RFP, “9. No Alternate or

Multiple Proposals: Neither multiple proposals, nor proposal variations or options, nor alternate or alternative proposals will be considered in the evaluation.”

Question 11: If we do submit as [a Mentor-Protégé Joint Venture], does [the protégé] also need to provide a Relevant Construction Project of at least $15,000,000 or would [the mentor’s] relevant projects be sufficient to meet RFP requirements?

Answer: As stated in the RFP under the Proposal Submission Requirements for Factor 2

(Experience), “If the Offeror is a Joint Venture (JV), relevant project experience should be submitted for projects completed by the Joint Venture entity. If the Joint Venture does not have shared experience, projects shall be submitted for the Joint Venture members.

Offerors who fail to submit experience for all Joint Venture members may be rated lower.

Offerors are still limited to a total of seven (7) projects combined.”

There is no requirement for each Joint Venture member to separately meet the additional minimum submission requirements stated in the RFP. Regarding the specific additional minimum submission requirement to “Submit at least one (1) relevant project with a construction cost of $50,000,000 or above,” an Offeror (whether proposing as a Joint Venture entity or not) is only required to submit one (1) relevant project with a construction cost of $50,000,000 or above.

Question 12: Are the highly qualified small businesses referred to in Item 10 required to be HUBZone

SB firms, or is this open to all small businesses?

Answer: This is an unrestricted procurement with two awards reserved for highly qualified small businesses. The reserves apply to any small business concerns identified at FAR 19.000(a)(3), (i.e., small business (SB), 8(a) participants, HUBZone small business (HUBZone SB) concerns, service-disabled veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB) concerns, economically disadvantaged women-owned small business (EDWOSB) concerns, and women-owned small business (WOSB) concerns eligible under the WOSB Program).

The HUBZone Small Business price evaluation preference only applies to HUBZone SB firms, in accordance with FAR 52.219-4.

Question 13: Will the Construction Experience requirements listed on Pages 12 and 13 of the Phase I

RFP be expected of the highly qualified small businesses? Specifically, would the project size be required to be $15 Million for all projects with at least one relevant project with a construction cost of $50 Million or above?

Would you consider changing the requirement for projects to be completed within the past five (5) years to the past ten (10) years?

Question 14: Considering specific project type requirements, we are requesting the project completion timeframe be extended from 5 years to 10 years in order for the proposers to utilize a more robust project history with valuable, similar projects while providing the Government with the highest level of competition. This will allow highly qualified firms with the bonding capacity, project history, and available capacity to participate in the pursuit.