Government RFI Responses - NB195000-25-00009.pdf

General Architectural and Engineering Services IDIQ RFI Responses RFQ - NB195000-25-00009

# ----------- RFI Comment ----------- ------ RFI Answer ------- 1 Can the number of projects be increased from 5 to 10? This will allow us better demonstration of the full A/E team’s experience.

No.

2 Are consultant firms also required to be licensed and registered in Maryland, or only the Offeror?

NIST is a customer to the offeror/contract holder. The laws and rules that apply to practicing engineering (NAICS code being solicited) in Maryland apply to contract holder.

If offerors have questions about practicing in Maryland those questions are better suited to Maryland Board for Professional Engineers.

3 The RFP refers to “environmental compliance” and “hazardous material survey and risk assessment (e.g., asbestos, mold, lead paint)” but doesn’t request professional qualifications of an Industrial Hygienist. Can you provide additional details regarding

SOW for the environmental engineer?

The IDIQ SOW provides the anticipated possible services for this contract. For the

"environmental compliance" future specific task orders would be more definitive on the expected services being requested

The key personnel is not requesting details on the "industrial hygienist". We are only interested in RFP responses on Senior Environmental Engineer.

4 Can the Response Date be extended into the 1st week of January? From date of issue

(11/25) to submission (12/30) there are 2 federal holidays around which many staff and clients take extended leave. This makes the turnaround challenging, especially when having to request PPQs from clients.

The solicitation closing date will be extended until Monday, 13 January 2025, 2:00 pm, EST

5 For Factor 1: Specialized Experience (Sections F, G, H), can we summarize and/or list additional projects within the Section H narrative?

No, number of projects can't be increased.

6 Factor 1 – If a max of 5 projects are provided for each sub factor 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d, this will equal to 20 pages for Factor 1 Section F only. We would like to request an increase in the page limit for Factor 1.

Subfactors to be summarized within section f, item 24 and section F, item 30.

Maximum of 3 pages per factor (including all subfactors).

7 Factor 1 - Does the 15-page limit apply only to Section F or are Sections G and H also included in the page limit?

The 15-page limitaion applies to Secions F, G, and H.

8 Factor 1 – The RFP states “All designs shall be completed at time of request for qualifications (RFQ). For the purposes of this evaluation, “completed” projects shall mean projects where final work was submitted, approved, and accepted by the project owner.” Please clarify if this means the project must be fully designed or fully constructed?

Fully designed based on either Design-Bid-Build or Design-Build method.

9 Factor 1 - Please confirm if project examples provided for Factor 1 may come from subconsultants only.

One of the example projects shall demonstrate prime firm experience performing any of the subfactors. Prime firms that self-perform larger portions of the work may be rated higher.

10 Factor 2.1 - Please clarify the specific certifications/registrations the Government requires for each of the roles:

a.Principle b.Senior Architect c.Senior Cost Es mator d.Senior Civil Engineer e.Senior Electrical Engineer f.Senior Fire Protec on Engineer g.Senior Geo-Technical Engineer h.Senior Laboratory Planner i.Senior Mechanical Engineer (Piping) j.Senior Mechanical Engineer (HVAC) k.Senior Environmental Engineer l.Senior Scheduler m.Senior Surveyor n.Senior Water Proofing Engineer o.Senior Structural Engineer

Provide professional engineering license, architectural registration, and licensure/accreditation in appropriate disciplines as applicable. Provide registration number and state of registration in resume as applicable.

11 Factor 2.1 - Is there a reason why the non-senior position is listed for Mechanical

Engineer (Piping) only?

RFP is requesting resumes for BOTH senior and non-senior mechanical (piping) engineers.

12 Factor 2.1 - What specific certifications/registrations are required for the Mechanical

Engineer (Piping) position?

Offerors for all resumes are encouraged to present individuals that provide their proposal in the most favorable light. The requirements to be identified as an engineer are defined by the Maryland Board for Professional Engineers

Government RFI Responses

NB195000-25-00009

General Architectural and Engineering Services IDIQ

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13 Factor 2.2 – The RFP states “Senior positions of each discipline shall have a minimum of ten (10) years applicable experience and shall be licensed and/or certified in their applicable discipline.” Do these key personnel have to be registered in Maryland?

NIST is a customer to the offeror/contract holder. The laws and rules that apply to practicing engineering (NAICS code being solicited) in Maryland apply to contract holder.

If offerors have questions about practicing in Maryland those questions are better suited to Maryland Board for Professional Engineers.

14 Factor 2.4 - The RFP states “Submit an organizational chart showing the interrelations of the proposed team including all subcontractors and consultants.” Will Section D be evaluated for this requirement?

Yes. Interrelations and line of authority of the proposed team shall be depicted.

15 Factor 5 – Will the Government allow for the Prime Consultant to complete the PPQ if we were a subconsultant on a relevant project?

No. It shall be completed by the customer identified in the relevant project. If unable to obtain a completed PPQ from a customer for a project(s) before qualification closing date, the Offeror should complete and submit with the qualification the first page of the PPQ, which will provide contract and customer information for the respective project(s). The Government may make reasonable attempts to contact the customer noted for that project(s) to obtain the PPQ information. However, Firms should follow-up with customers/references to help ensure timely submittal of questionnaires.

16 Factor 5 – If projects completed by subconsultants are allowed for Factor 1, please confirm that the Government will accept CPARS/PPQs from the subconsultant.

No. It shall be completed by the customer identified in the relevant project. If unable to obtain a completed PPQ from a customer for a project(s) before qualification closing date, the Offeror should complete and submit with the qualification the first page of the PPQ, which will provide contract and customer information for the respective project(s). The Government may make reasonable attempts to contact the customer noted for that project(s) to obtain the PPQ information. However, Firms should follow-up with customers/references to help ensure timely submittal of questionnaires.

17 Factor 5 – Will the Government allow for previously completed PPQs to be submitted if they were completed on the same form? Yes, it will allow. PPQs submitted shall comply with solicitation requirements.

18 General: The RFP does not reference SF 330 Sections A-C, will these sections be evaluated and if so, what Factor should they be included in?

Refer to response to item #7.

19 Submission Requirements: Please confirm what is required to be submitted as Proof of

Small Business Status.

Offeror must be registered in SAM.gov under the applicable NAICS code as a Small

Business.

20 Fee Proposal: Will it be acceptable to provide approved NIST or other approved government rates in lieu of an Audit? No.

21 Due Date: Will the Government consider an extension on the due date to 1/13/25 or later? This submission requires extensive coordination with sub-consultants. Due to upcoming holidays, many people will be out of office the last 2 weeks of the year which will not allow for the required coordination.

The solicitation closing date will be extended until Monday, 13 January 2025, 2:00 pm, EST

22 FORMATTING: Is an 11x17 size acceptable for the SF330, Part I, Section D Org Chart? Yes, 11X17 size is acceptable to depict the organizational chart.

23 ORDER: Please confirm that the order of the submission shall follow the order of the

Factors 1-5, and not the order of the SF330 Part I.

Proposal submission shall follow the order of the Factors 1-5.

24 Page. 3, no. 2, Submission Requirements-- asks for “Proof of Small Business status”—Please clarify what kind of documentation are you are expecting to confirm our small business status. We self-certify through the SAM system, so we don’t have an official certification form.

Refer to response for item #19.

25 Page 5, Part I: Evalua on of SF-330, Factor 2: Professional Qualifica ons - a.Please clarify what “m. Senior Scheduler’s” role is. Is this the equivalent of a Project Manager?

b.Please confirm that the order of resumes shall be in the same order as listed.

c.Please confirm that the ORG chart shall follow the resumes at the end of Factor 2 section.

a. Senior Scheduler: Demonstrated relevant and professional experience developing, analyzing, and updating schedules. b. Order of resumes shall follow order in the solicitation. c. Chart shall include key personnel for the disciplines included in the solicitation.

26 Can a subcontractor be on more than one team? The proposal shall be based on one team to be depicted in SF330, section C.

27 Can one person hold multiple positions listed under Factor 2: Part 1 (e.g., Senior

Architect and Senior Lab Planner)?

Yes; however, the offeror needs to clearly identify what roles the individual will be completing

28 Am I interpreting the directions for Factor 1 correctly that we need to submit at least 3 but not more than 5 example projects for each subcategory a. through c. and at least 1 but not more than 5 example projects for subcategory d.? So at least ten but no more than 20 sample projects?

Project examples do not necessarily need to be included specifically for each subfactor. One project example may address more than one of the listed subfactors or multiple project examples may address one subfactor. The maximum number of example projects is 5.

29 Is it acceptable to provide Section F projects from both the prime contractor and subconsultants, or should all projects exclusively reflect the prime contractor’s work?

Refer to solicitation Factor 1: Specialized Experience, bullet #1, first sentence:

"Offeror shall demonstrate the specialized experience and technical competence of its firm and its proposed subcontractors performing A/E services meeting the criteria of this solicitation..."

30 Must all Section F projects be 100% completed? Refer to response for item #8.

31 How is "geographic proximity" evaluated? Does it solely refer to the physical location of the prime contractor's office, or are subconsultants' locations also considered? Distance is determined by an internet mapping program (google maps, Waze, MapQuest, etc.) if one was driving. It only applies to offerors not subconsultants

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32 Please confirm identified page limitations are limitations of SF330 pages, not additional pages provided along with the SF 330.

Refer to response to items #7 and #28.

33 For Factor 1, Specialized Experience, 3 sections (F, G, & H) are identified with regard to

Factor 1 and associated page limitations. Is the page limitation applied across all 3 sections, meaning any mention of projects in any of these sections would count toward the page limitation?

Refer to response to items #7 and #28.

34 Can one (1) Specialized Experience project be utilized to address multiple subfactors? Refer to response to item #28.

35 Understanding we have to meet all of the sub factor requirements, would replacement of sprinklers, valves, or piping with new equipment as part of a repair to an existing fire suppression system be acceptable to meet the requirements of fire suppression new installations as described in subfactor 1d?

In part factor 1d states "NFPA 13 fire suppression system modification calculations and new installations" If the offeror is able to address these elements it would be compliant. Although not asked by the potential offeror factor 1d must also address additional elements noted in factor 1d.

36 Please confirm information regarding Factors 3 and 4 should be provided in Section H within stated page limitations, and Section H information is not limited solely to the page requirements of Factor 1, Specialized Experience.

SF330 is not to be used for factors 3 and 4.

37 What is the role of the Senior Environmental Engineer? Is the expectation for the individual to address hazardous materials including asbestos-containing and lead-based paint materials?

Refer response for item #3.

38 With regard to submission of qualifications, what is maximum file size which can be sent as an attachment to NIST?

Files shall not be larger that twenty-five (25) Megabytes (MB). 25MB (including email content and all attachments) is the largest submission that can be received by the Government through email.

39 If the file size cannot meet this required size, can the submission be split up and sent in parts via multiple emails?

No.

40 We assume NIST would like to promote competition. With multiple holidays occurring during the solicitation period, and limited staff for many firms during this time due to the holidays, we request an extension of the due date by a minimum of two (2) weeks to maximize competition and address all addenda. Allowing this time would allow firms who are not incumbents to respond as well.

The solicitation closing date will be extended until Monday, 13 January 2025, 2:00 pm, EST

41 Confirm that there should be a minimum of ten project sheets in Section F, including at least three in 1.a, three in 1.b, three in 1.c, and one in 1.d.

There shall be a maximum of 5 example projects total. More than one subfactor

(e.g., 1.a, 1.b, 1.c, 1.d) can be included in one example project.

42 Are laboratory biosafety cabinets considered equivalent to fume hoods in the context of subfactor 1.b? Can experience with laboratory biosafety cabinets be used to meet the requirements of subfactor 1.b?

No

43 Does construction need to be substantially completed for the project examples in

Section F?

Refer to response for item #8.

44 Is there a page limit for Section H? Yes. One per each example project.

45 Is sealed concrete flooring equivalent to seamless flooring? No equivalent.

46 Can a project be submitted for multiple subfactors at once? For example, can Project

#1 be submitted under both subfactor 1.a and subfactor 1.b if it meets the criteria for each subfactor?

Yes. More than one subfactor (e.g., 1.a, 1.b, 1.c, 1.d) can be included in one example project.

47 With the approaching holidays and many people, including clients and sub-consultants, out of the office with PTO scheduled, will there be a proposal deadline extension to allow clients time to fill out PPQ forms, etc.

The solicitation closing date will be extended until Monday, 13 January 2025, 2:00 pm, EST

48 Can the page counts for the RFP response factors 1 and 2 be increased? No

49 Please describe the requirements for the Senior Environmental Engineer- is this an

Industrial Hygienist ACM’s, LBP position

Refer to response to item #3.

50 Is the NAICS code 541330 correct for this solicitation or is it 541310? 541330 - Engineering Services, is the correct NAICS code.

51 Do all past experiences need to be listed by the prime, or can subconsultant project experience be folded in?

Refer to response to item #29.

52 Factor 1: Please clarify if the 60 month requirement for design complete or construction complete?

Refer to response for item #8.

53 Factor 5: Past Performance information, we may need to send the PPQ’s to our clients and may not get it back before the proposal due date. Please confirm if we can submit the forms and wait for the final response from the clients and submit it once received?

Completed PPQ's must be received before the Request for Qualifications due date.

54 Please clarify what “proof of small business” should be submitted? Refer to item #19.

55 The Submission is required as the standard SF330. But the RFQ under Part I Evaluation

Criteria requires the proposal to have 5 different factors. Please clarify if the SF330 needs to be disassembled as per the Part I Evaluation of SF-330

Refer to response to item #7.

56 Can one person satisfy the roles under professional qualifications? Ex: Senior Architect and Senior Laboratory Planner?

Refer to response to item #27.

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