NIHOF2017154_-_Amendment_01_(06.01.2017).pdf

No. Government Response Response By

(a) FAR 14.502(a)(3) states that, among the presence of other conditions, if "more than one technically qualified source is expected to be available", two-step sealed bidding may be used. Therefore, the minimum number of bidders that must submit technically acceptable proposals during stage 1 is two (2). (b) Yes, it is possible that only one or two bidders are evaluated by the government and considered acceptable to advance to stage

2. Per FAR 14.503-1(i), "when step one results in no acceptable technical proposal or only one acceptable technical proposal, the acquisition may be continued by negotiation."

Contracting Officer

The Government will take into consideration the number of significant (i.e. cGMP / BSL- 2/ hospital spaces) complexity similarities and their relevance to the E-Wing Renovation project as described in the statement of work. Importantly, as set forth in Section L- Instructions, at a minimum, one (1) Similar Project shall include a cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practice) space / facility -- the first complexity factor listed under the Government's definition of a Similar Project.

Program Manager

The term "Construction / Renovation" is intended to mean "Renovation Construction".

Offerors are required to demonstrate experience performing a large scale renovation project that is a multi-level general or highly specialized Bio-Medical research laboratory facility and all associated support areas similar to the E-Wing Renovation requirements.

Constructing new buildings or new additions to existing buildings demonstrates construction experience but does not demonstrate renovation experience; the intent is not either or, it is specific to renovation.

Note - many of the complexity factors are directly tied to renovation requirements and not applicable to new construction.

Program Manager

Each Similar Project must be a single large scale renovation project of similar complexity having construction cost between $100,000,000 - $200,000,000. Offerors may elect to submit a single project of more than $200 million but no less than $100 million.

Submitting multiple similar projects, with a combined sum-total volume costs within or exceeding this requirement is not considered similar - i.e. Similar Project costs shall not be combined to meet the size definition.

Program Manager

Laboratory/Planner Coordinator: The E-Wing Renovation is a large scale biomedical research laboratory project that includes Generic, BSL-2, cGMP Cell Processing Laboratory, and related facilities. As such, these labs are highly specialized, will include specialized scientific equipment, including clean rooms and laboratories that require installation of specialized casework and utilities. The Lab/Planner/Coordinator is the Offeror's expert on facilitating the construction and program operation of these requirements.

IT/Equipment/Monitoring Systems Coordinator: This person is responsible for coordinating the installation of all building and scientific equipment infrastructure and monitoring systems based on laboratory research and program functions, including teaching laboratories, conference areas IT equipment, computer network requirements, etc.

Program Manager

Concerning the Step One RFTP on Page 106, IV.L.2.b.2.c.: This section requires submission of resumes for key staff personnel. Many of the key personnel titles are self explanatory (i.e.

superintendent) but two can be interpreted in varying ways: Specifically, "Laboratory Planner/Coordinator" and "IT/Equipment/monitoring systems coordinator" are not clear. For example, we understand that the cGMP space is not fully designed (allowance in the contract) and perhaps this Lab Planner may be asked to participate in the pre-construction of the cGMP space or perhaps it will just be to coordinate lab equipment with the currently planned MEP infrastructure. Please provide additional explanation of these roles so that we may propose professionals that meet your expectations.

Solicitation No. NIHOF2017154 - Building 10 E-Wing Renovation Requests for Information (RFI) and Government Responses

Concerning the Step One RFTP on Page 102, IV.L.2.b.2.a.3 Complexity: The Complexity section indicates 18 separate project complexity factors. It is very difficult for every submitted project to meet every one of these factors. Please confirm that while it is desirable that the submitted projects meet as many of these requirements as possible, it is not required that submitted projects meet all of the 18 complexity factors.

Concerning the Step One RFTP on Page 102, IV.L.2.b.2.a.2 Type: Paragraph a.2 Type, states to submit projects with "Construction / Renovation of a large scale, multi-level general or highly specialized Bio-Medical research laboratory facility." Large scale strictly renovation lab projects of this type are very rare and thus we are interpreting the "Construction/Renovation" as meaning that submitted projects may be either Construction (new construction, additions, etc.) OR Renovation (generally interior modifications without significant changes to the frame or exterior elements) or a combination of both and not 100% renovation. Please confirm that this interpretation is correct.

Concerning the Step One RFTP on Page 102, IV.L.2.b.2.a.1 Size: Currently section IV.L.2.b.2.a.1 states that projects shall be between $100,000,000 and $200,000,000. Please confirm if it is acceptable to submit relevant projects over $200,000,000 in volume.

RFI

(a) What is the minimum number of bidders that must submit technically acceptable proposals during stage 1 to advance to stage 2? (b) Is it possible that only one or two bidders are evaluated by the government and considered acceptable to advance to stage 2?

Solicitation No. NIHOF2017154 - Building 10 E-Wing Renovation Requests for Information (RFI) and Government Responses

RFI

It is intended that Offeror's obtain a letter from their bonding agency that confirms their ability to comply with the bonding requirement. This letter serves as evidence.

The Government will NOT count the letter/evidence towards the Technical Proposal 75 page limitation.

Program Manager

Page 83 describes Section K - Representations and Certifications of the intended contract. Section K is not considered Mandatory Criteria.

Page 113 instructs the Offerors to submit Section K information as part of the Step Two submission.

Program Manager

8 The Organization Chart is not included in the Resource Management narrative's three (3) page count limitation. The Org chart is one additional page.

No. The PPQs are specific to NIH's requirement. It is the Offeror's responsibility to ensure that all Past Performance Questionnaires are received by the Contracting Officer prior to or by the Technical Proposal due date.

Contracting Officer

Reference is made to page 83 Section K instructions "If you intend to submit a proposal, you must:...(item 2) Complete and Include as part of your Business Proposal Section K - Representations, Certifications, and Other Statements of Offerors."

Per page 100, Step One Mandatory Qualification Criteria, Section K information is not requested.

Per page 93, 2a General Instructions for Step One, the Offeror is advised "Do not submit a sealed bid or associated business related information at this time."

Please confirm that Section K information is to be provided at Step 2 and not with Step 1. If required for Step 1, please confirm the information is not counted against the 75 total page count.

Reference is made to page 108, item 6 Resource Management & Organization Plan. Instructions state "The Offeror shall provide a narrative, not to exceed three (3) pages, describing the Offeror's proposed Resource Management Plan."

In subparagraph (d), it states "The Offeror shall provide an Organization Chart, not to exceed one

(1) page.."

Please clarify if the one page organization chart is in addition to the maximum 3 page narrative or if the 3 pages allowed for the Resource Management & Organization Plan is to include the organization chart.

Reference is made to page 110, Factor D - Offeror's Past Performance, item 3 which states " All Past Performance Questionnaires must be received by the Contracting Officer on or prior to the proposal submission due date."

In the event that PPQs cannot be secured prior to the proposal due date for reasons beyond our control, can existing PPQs or final CPARS evaluations be provided, and will they be counted towards the overall page count?

Reference is made to page 93 of the Solicitation, item 4.c.1 Page Limitations and page 100 item 1(a) Mandatory Qualification Criteria 1: Bonding.. The Solicitation states "The total page count of the TECHNICAL Proposal shall not exceed seventy five (75). The Mandatory Qualification Criteria 1: Bonding states "Offeror shall submit evidence from a corporate or an individual surety indicating a single and aggregate bonding capacity of the Offeror. Subpart 1 states "....The Surety Letter shall Guarantee that the Offeror has the bonding capacity to perform the work based on the Offeror's own merit...." In one place, the Solicitation seems to request evidence (this evidence may consist of multiple pages) and in another place it seems to indicate that a one page letter is sufficient. Will the evidence of bonding capacity (potentially 8 or 9 pages) be treated as one page against the total page count even if it is provided as multiple pages?

Solicitation No. NIHOF2017154 - Building 10 E-Wing Renovation Requests for Information (RFI) and Government Responses

RFI

Prime contractors receive credit for small business concerns performing as subcontractors on any tier for subcontracting goals. This applies to solicitation number NIHOF2017154. Large firms are required to make good faith effort to achieve first tier small business subcontracting goals. For example, if electrical work may be awarded to a small firm on the first tier, the large firm may not substitute that opportunity on the plan with dollars awarded to small business on lower tiers. It is important to note it is the Contracting Officer who determines good faith effort. Failure to maximize first tier subcontracting goals may negatively impact the Government’s consideration of an offeror’s submission.

Small Business Specialist

Offerors must comply with Federal Sustainable Requirements; LEED is a completely separate requirement.

The Construction Documents include acceptable manufacturers and suppliers for required equipment and materials; this does not limit offerors for subcontractor buyout provided that approved equal products are submitted, reviewed and accepted.

Program Manager

There will be a Construction Quality Management (CQM) Services requirement associated with the E-Wing Program. The NIH is looking to acquire the CQM services under a separate contract.

Contracting Officer

Yes, FAR 52.208-9 was added to Solicitation Number NIHOF2017154 – Step One Request for Technical Proposal for Building 10 E-Wing Renovation at NIH Bethesda, MD campus. It was added to the General Clauses – Fixed Price Construction section of the solicitation prior to posting on MAY 9, 2017.

Contracting Officer

Was FAR Clause 52.208-9 “Contractor Use of Mandatory Sources or Services” added and or considered for your Project - # NIHOF2017154, previously Project # HHSNIHORFSBSS17006?

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) amended its regulations to implement Section 1614 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, Public Law 113-66, December 26, 2016. (NDAA 2014), effective January 23, 2017.

Section 1614 amended section 8(d)(6)(D) of the Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. 637(d)(6)(d), to provide that where a prime contractor has a subcontracting plan for a specific prime contract with an executive agency, as required by Section 8(d) of the Small Business Act, the prime contractor will receive credit towards its subcontracting plan goals for awards made to small business concerns at any tier under the contract.

Please confirm this recent amendment applies to Solicitation Number NIHOF2017154

Reference is made to page 108, section 7 - Sustainable Acquisition Plan. The instruction states "The Offeror shall provide a draft Sustainable Acquisition Plan, not to exceed five (5) pages, describing the Offeror's approach, and the quality assurance mechanisms in place for applying FAR 23.1, Sustainable Acquisition Policy (and other Federal laws, regulations and Executive Orders governing sustainable acquisition purchasing) to this acquisition."

The Sustainable Acquisition plan focuses on the procurement of products and services that meet specific standards across varying categories including Energy Star Appliances, Bio-based products, Non-ozone depleting materials, etc. Because this project is not a design-build, the general contractor does not have the authority to control what products are specified in the Contract Documents by the design team; and is therefore limited in ability to ensure that sustainable acquisition requirements are met outside of the subcontractor procurement and submittal review process.

The specified products and systems are understood to be already in compliance with Sustainable Acquisition Policy.

Please confirm since the general contractor does not control which products are specified that the intent of this section is for the Offeror to provide a draft plan to demonstrate how to achieve the LEED construction credits we will be responsible for under LEED v4 in the form of a LEED Action Plan.

The solicitation for the E wing construction identifies AECOM/Smith Carter as the CxA (Commissioning Agent). Does the Government expect to have any other professional services required for this project or will the team be complete once you have retained a construction firm?