Questions and Answers - NB195000-20-01799.pdf

RFI’s/Questions and Answers

MEP A/E IDIQ

NB195000-20-01799

Q1 – Are there incumbents doing this work now?

A1 – The previous IDIQ MEP AE IDIQ contracts expired, so there are no active MEP AE IDIQ contracts.

If a potential offeror believes he/she has experience that meets the solicitation requirements, that potential offeror is encouraged to submit on the solicitation. No revisions required.

Q2 – How many total projects can be submitted in Section F in addition to the projects which meet required subfactors 1a, 1b and 1c?

A2 – The solicitation states in part the following:

“Provide at least two (2) examples for each subfactor (1a, 1b, and 1c), no more than four (4) each. All designs shall be at 100% design completion before the date of RFP Issuance….”

Please note the question from this offeror referenced Section “F”.

If the offeror is planning to use the SF 330s Section F solely to respond to the solicitation subfactors 1a, 1b, and 1c – the minimum would be (6) six and the maximum (12) twelve projects. See additionally if an example(s) is being used for multiple subfactors.

If an example is being used beyond one subfactor, state that that project is being used for multiple subfactors. For example, list that the example is responding to subfactor 1a & 1c. That one project would then meet one of the two minimum number of examples for 1a & 1c. It would also count to the maximum of four examples for 1a & 1c. No revisions required.

Q3 – For subfactors 1a and 1b, would NIST consider lowering the minimum capacity to 5,000 tons? This will allow other central plants serving a government campus to be included.

A3 – The solicitation is not being revised. No revisions required.

Q4 – Regarding Subfactor 1a3: Is the addition of a new cooling tower acceptable as modification/renovation?

A4 – An addition of a cooling tower to an existing cooling tower system would meet the solicitation requirements. That would be considered a modification.

The solicitation does not describe the extents of what is a minimum modification threshold for a (chilled water) cooling tower to meet the criteria. Potential offerors would need to describe the modification to the existing (chilled water) cooling tower to be responsive. No revisions required.

Q5 – Would NIST consider only requiring one of the two examples for Subfactor 1a to include part 3, cooling towers?

A5 – The solicitation is not being revised. No revisions required.

Q6 – Would NIST consider lowering the number of connected buildings to four buildings?

A6 – The solicitation is not being revised. No revisions required.

Q7 – Should CPARS be submitted as part of our response to demonstrate Factor 3, past performance?

A7 – NIST will evaluate past performance as specified in the solicitation. Offerors are not required to provide CPARs results. No revisions required.

Q8 – If CPARS are required, are PPQs allowed in place of CPARS for government projects?

A8 – Please see response number seven (7) above. No revisions required.

Q9 – Can we provide labor categories and personnel in addition to the roles included in the solicitation?

A9 – The solicitation requires offerors to list what individuals will be performing the labor categories.

Multiple individuals are able to complete multiple roles if the offeror desires. Offerors are to identify if a person is performing multiple roles, and what those roles will be.

Offerors are reminded to be cognizant of factor #4 which in part states:

“…Interested firms must be capable of demonstrating they have the capabilities to include adequate staff size to support the capacity to accomplish at least three (3) individual Architect & Engineer service task orders valued at $10,000 to 1,000,000.00 simultaneously...”. No revisions required.

Q10 – What is the role of the Senior Environmental Engineer? Our experience is that asbestos and lead based paint studies and safety programs are developed by Certified Industrial Hygienist. May we utilize a Certified Industrial Hygienist to meet the requirements of the Senior Environmental Engineer?

A10 – The State of Maryland does not license PEs by discipline. The expectation for an environmental engineer is the individual design systems, processes, and equipment to control waste and pollution, such as stack scrubbers and wastewater management systems.

As noted in answer nine (9) above, multiple individuals may serve multiple roles. NIST would NOT accept a certified industrial hygienist in lieu of a professional engineer. No revisions required.

Q11 – What is the maximum allowable file size of the submission to be emailed to NIST

A11 – For incoming email from offsite, there is a size limit of 25 MB on all messages, including attachments. No revisions required.

Q12 – The numbering appears off on the evaluation factors (1. repeats). Especially Factor One as the numbering of the sub factors does not match the stated order of 1a, 1b, and 1c. Could you please revise the posting to reflect the correct order?

A12 – See revisions made to RFQ.

Q13 – Is project completion for a design project determined by design completion, substantial construction completion, or final occupancy?

A13 – The solicitation in part states:

“All designs shall be at 100% design completion before the date of RFP Issuance.”

The solicitation is for the exact date the designs were 100% complete regardless of any construction. No revisions required.

Q14 – Please confirm that “SF330s do not count toward the page limit” includes both Part I and Part II of the SF330.

A14 – SF 330s have no page limitation except for section “H” which is limited to five (5) pages. No revisions required.

Q15 – The page limitation is per factor, not five pages total for all factors, correct?

A15 – Factors 1, 2, and 4 EACH have a five-page limitation. Please reference answer fourteen (14) above and the RFQ for additional details. No revisions required.

Q16 – The factors are to be addressed outside of the SF330 submission, correct?

A16 – Offeror are free to prepare their proposals however they choose that maximizes their proposal.

Having responses within SF 330 is acceptable. Having responses within the five-page limitation (see answer #15 above) is acceptable also. Combining both SF 330 and page limitation is acceptable additionally. No revisions required.

Q17 – Is it beneficial to provide any CPARS/PPQ evaluations? If so, are those excluded from the page limit?

A17 – See answers seven (7) and eight (8) above. No revisions required.

Q18 – Under Factor 1 – specialized experience – can we show our engineers’ individual experience as specialized experience?

A18 – Offerors are anticipated to assemble in house personnel and subconsultants to meet the technical requirements. The solicitation does not state the offeror vs. subconsultants are required to have the experience.

If the potential offeror is inferring that “our engineer individual experience” obtained the experience from another firm, unless that other firm was a subconsultant the offeror could not use that experience as the offeror’s experience.

The solicitation states the following:

“…This is a 100% set-aside for Small Business firms. Small Business firms responding to this solicitation must demonstrate the capability to perform a minimum of 50% of the required work with in-house staff...” No revisions required.

Q19 – Under Factor 1 – specialized experience – would you like us to showcase these projects in SF330 Section F Format?

A19 – See answer sixteen (16) above. Offerors are free to “showcase” their past experience that meets the solicitation in SF 330 section “F”, section “H”, or the five pages that are permitted for the factors (see answer fifteen (15) above). No revisions required.

Q20 – Under Factor 1 – specialized experience – can you define subfactor (1a, 1b, and 1c)? Is it the following:

o 1a - The contractor must describe renovations with dates (month/year) that include Renovations of a central utility plant with water-based cooling Towers o 1b - The contractor must describe with dates (month/year) designs that include demonstrated experience with a central plant (gas or fuel oil) that utilizes steam boiler(s) that has a minimum capacity of 50,000 lbs./hr. to at least five (5) interconnected buildings. Underground steam main per ASME B31.1. Steam shall be at least 100 psig.

o 1c – The contractor must descript experience in designing replacement of network protectors, network transformers, and 600V or less switchgear, transformers shall be atleast 500 KVA each

A20 – The solicitation is clear on the requirements. No revisions required.

Q21 – I just received this solicitation this morning and missed the live webinar list below – was this presentation recorded? And if so, could I get a copy/access to it?

A21 – During the virtual presentation, it was noted that it would not be uploaded afterwards nor recorded. No revisions required.

Q22 – Highlighted below you ask for requirements of 2 examples for each subfactor 1a, 1b and 1c;

however, I only see a C1 on the list below. Could you clarify what part is 1a and 1b?

A22 – Solicitation states in part the following:

“Provide at least two (2) examples for each subfactor (1a, 1b, and 1c), no more than four (4) each. All designs shall be at 100% design completion before the date of RFP Issuance. Examples must include ALL requirements (1-3) under subfactors 1a,1b and 1c.”

1a in part states: “…The contractor must describe renovations with dates (month/year) that include Renovations of a central utility plant with water-based cooling towers that include all of the following…”

1b in part states: “….The contractor must describe with dates (month/year) designs that include demonstrated experience with a central plant (gas or fuel oil) that utilizes steam boiler(s) that has a minimum capacity of 50,000 lbs./hr. to at least five (5) interconnected buildings.

Underground steam main per ASME B31.1. Steam shall be at least 100 psig….”

1c in part states: “…The contractor must describe experience designing replacement of network protectors, network transformers, and 600V or less switchgear…”

For the purposes of answering this question the additional criteria under each subfactor (1a, 1b, and 1c) is omitted.

Each offeror is to provide a minimum of two up to four examples for each subfactor (1a, 1b, and 1c).

See answer two (2) above for additional details. No revisions required.

Q23 – If a firm doesn’t meet the 10,000 Ton capacity experience; would the firm receive 0 points for that question? (is this mandatory?)

A23 – Offerors are not awarded points.

The solicitation in part states: “…Professional qualifications will only be evaluated for offerors who meet all of the requirements in Factor One (1a, 1b, 1c)…”

Offeror’s proposals whom fail to meet the requirements for 1a, 1b, and 1c, would not be considered responsive. No revisions required.

Q24 – As a Small Business, we don’t come across many 10,000-Ton capacity Water Cooled utility plants – would you lower the requirements at all since this is a SBE Set-aside to 400-Ton capacity?

A24 – The solicitation is not being revised. No revisions required.

Q25 – Was there any pre-solicitation for this Solicitation where “Interested Vendors” submitted qualifications?

A25 – A sources sought notice was posted to FedBizOpps website on 10 August 2018, in which (4) responses and capability statements were received. No revisions required.

Q26 – For Factor 1: Please confirm numbering of subfactors 1a, 1b, and 1c. The solicitation currently does not show 1a or 1b.

A26 – Please reference answer numbers twelve (12) and twenty-two (22) above. See revisions made to

RFQ.

Q27 – For Factor 2: Will NIST accept multiple resumes for the same labor category?

A27 – See answer number nine (9) above. No revisions required.

Q28 – For Factor 3: Please confirm evaluation of this factor will be based on information provided by the references for the given SF 330 Section F project only and no CPARS or PPQ should be provided in our submission?

A28 – See answers number seven (7) and eight (8) above. No revisions required.

Q29 – For Factor 3: If a PPQ is to be included in our submission, will NIST provide a PPQ template?

A29 – See answers number seven (7) and eight (8). No revisions required.

Q30 – For Factor 3: If a PPQ is to be included in our submission, will NIST accept a previously completed USACE/NAVFAC PPQ form?

A30 – See answers number seven (7) and eight (8) above. No revisions required.

Q31 – For Factor 3: Should a completed PPQ be sent to the NIST CO directly or included in our submission?

A31 – See answers number seven (7) and eight (8) above. No revisions required.

Q32 – General Formatting: Do 11x17 pages/charts count as 2-pages?

A32 – Solicitation in part states the following:

“…The print size of a page shall be 8.5"x11". Pages sized as 11"x17" may be used for graphics and charts. Each side of a sheet of paper is a page. Use no smaller than 11 point-font size, except 10-font size for tables, charts and graphics. …”

Solicitation counts a 11” x 17” page as one page. No revisions required.

Q33 – Where in our submission would NIST like to see our pages for each evaluation factor?

A33 – See answer number sixteen (16) above. No revisions required.