A0003.pdf

Solicitation GS-08P-09-JA-C-0089 RECOVERY—Tier III Data Center Design/Build

Design/Build Questions

1. RFP Page 9 – Key Personnel Minimum Qualifications. The RFP states that the Project Construction manager/Inspector “shall have a minimum of a four-year college degree in architecture, engineering, architectural engineering, construction management, or related field and shall be a registered Architect or Engineer.”

There is an ambiguity because having a Construction Management degree excludes the person from Architectural and Engineering registrations. Would GSA accept the Corporate Executive with an Architect/Engineer registration and a Construction manager/Inspector with a Construction Management degree?

Response: Yes

2. In consideration for our clients we are requesting that you consider accepting previously completed past Performance Questionnaires in lieu of requesting our clients to complete another questionnaire. We value our clients time and patience to take the time to write reference letters and complete past performance evaluations on our behalf. As of late we have found to be inundating them with frequent requests because past performance evaluations are varying slightly from each federal agency. Each is slightly different, but are still asking for similar main points which is our overall past performance on their projects. Would you please consider accepting our previously completed past performance questionnaires.

Response: To maintain a fair and even evaluation of all offerors, we must ensure that past performance information from all contractors includes the same information and that all references have been solicited for the same information. To this end, we must insist that your references respond to the questionnaire we have provided for this solicitation so that we may be certain that past performance is similarly requested from all offerors.

3. On page 6 of the RFQ the Design Team indentifies includes a Data Infrastructure Consultant and a telecommunications (Data/phone Cabling) Consultant, however no resumes are required for those positions. Please clarify if this is correct? If not, please identify years of required experience.

Response: Resumes and backgrounds for all key personnel that will be involved in this specific project including those responsible for field supervision, quality assurance, and safety. Resumes shall include professional histories, references, training, licenses, and any certifications held. Any subsequent changes from these personnel shall only be allowed once the changes are agreed upon between contractor and Owner

4. On page 6 of the RFQ the Design Team indentifies includes a Data Infrastructure Consultant and a telecommunications (Data/phone Cabling) Consultant, please define the roles and responsibilities of each. We assume the Data Infrastructure Consultant is involved with the design and the Telecommunications (data/phone cabling) Consultant is active during construction.

Response: The Data Infrastructure Consultant will be responsible for the design aspect of the project and telecommunications consultant will responsible for the implementation of the structured cabling.

5. The past Contractor Past Performance Questionnaire on page 10 state “for Construction Manager (as Agent) services”. Please clarify if this is the correct form or will a Design-Build specific form be issued? Can the Government issue the RFQ in Word format, so that the information to be completed on the questionnaire electronically?

Response: This was corrected in Amendment 0001.

6. Evaluation Factors – Design Team, Past Performance, states “The offeror shall submit at a minimum two references for each design team member.” Later it also makes a statement “References should be provided for all key personnel as indentified below under “Design Team Personnel”. Does the first statement refer to the firm that will be providing services for the various disciplines within the Design Team, and then does the second statement is specific to the individual(s) within that firm that are responsible for the delivery of that discipline’s services?

Response: The first statement refers to the firm that will be providing services for the various disciplines within the Design Team. The second statement refers to the specific individuals within that firm who are responsible for the delivery of that discipline’s services.

7. Design Team, Project experience on Similar Projects, a. A List of (3) similar projects completed over the last ten (10) years by the Project Team” as this is for the Design Team, can projects where all design and/or engineering services have been completed for the proposed discipline be provided?

Response: Offerors should submit projects as similar to a 110,000-gsf Tier III Data Center as they can.

8. In consideration for our clients, please reconsider allowing us to include previous completed “Past Performance Questionnaires” & “CCASS/ACASS” in our proposal binder. As we proceed on numerous federal proposals we find we are continuously requesting our clients to complete Past Performance Questionnaires on our behalf. We value our clients time and hope that we don’t have to generate another request if we don’t need to.

Response: To maintain a level playing field for all offerors, please use the past performance questionnaires provided with the RFQ to provide past performance information. If a previously-completed form for a different project does not request the specific information requested for this project, the qualifications statements may not be evaluated from the same initial starting point.

9. Are bridging drawings available yet?

Bridging Documents are not available. They will be made available to those firms included in the Competitive Range for Phase II.

10. Are the Mandatory Requirements to be addressed in the Cover Letter? If not, which Tab should they be addressed in? Does this count in the 150 page count.

The mandatory requirements may be addressed in the Cover Letter. Evidence of bonding capacity may be included as part of your cover letter. This information will not be included in the 150-page limit.

11. Evaluation Factors – Design Team, Project Experience on Similar Projects

“The Offeror shall submit information on at least three (3) projects of similar scope and complexity for the Project Team (Design Team and General Contractor).” Are we to provide three projects where the Lead Designer and the Contractor have worked together?

Response: If the Design Team and General Contractor have worked together on previous projects, these projects should be included.

Does this require that three projects also be provided for each member of the Design Team, including engineers and specialty consultants be provided?

Response: No. Please provide projects for just the Design Team and General Contractor when they have worked together.

12. Elevation [evaluation] Factors – Design Team, Past Performance: “The offeror shall submit at a minimum two (2) references for each design team member” Does this require questionnaires to be provided on behalf of the individual firms or the proposed key individual that are being profiled?

Response: Questionairres should be provided for the individuals.

13. Can a Design Team member position identified on page 6 hold more than one of those stated positions?

Response: Yes.

14. Does the GSA consider any other subcontractors besides mechanical and electrical as key subcontractors?

Response: GSA agrees that key subcontractors are mechanical and electrical.

15. On page 11 of the RFQ it states to provide a minimum of two references for each Design Team Member. The questionnaire form requests the name of Offeror being evaluated. Please confirm this reference is for individuals and not companies.

Response: This reference is for individuals.

16. Under the Evaluation Factors for the Design Team, projects are requested that have been completed in the last ten years. We interpret this to mean Projects where the design is completed and has been substantially constructed (i.e. 70% constructed) would qualify under this factor. Please confirm.

Response: Offerors should submit projects as similar to a 110,000-gsf Tier III Data Center as they can.

17. Similar Projects Submittal Section 4 – is referenced on p. 3 but it is unclear if one of these forms must be filled out for each project submitted in addition to the narratives and illustrations described in the Evaluation Factors. If these forms do need to be filled out, should they be completed by each member of Project Team (Design-Builder, Lead Designer Past Performance on Design, Lead Designer Portfolio, Design Team Similar Projects for each design-team member, i.e. each firm within Design Team).

Response: A specific reference form is not required. Each offeror may present this information in its own custom format.

18. Regarding past performance questionnaires, if the same reference contact person would be used by multiple people within the same firm, does the reference/person have to fill in multiple questionnaires or is one acceptable?

Response: The references are to highlight the projects or experience and expertise of the individuals who will be working on the project and not on the person who is writing the referral. An individual questionnaire for each past performance project or key personnel must be completed.

19. Regarding past performance questionnaires – is the cover sheet to be filled out with information on the offeror or the customer?

Response: This information should reflect the customer information.

20. Evaluation Factors –Design Builder –Qualification/Experience of Key Personnel, e….Minimum experience permitted is as follows: Are these number of years for experience in the industry holding similar responsibilities or actually in role of the proposed position?

Response: These experience requirements should reflect similar responsibilities.

21. (repeat of prior question, specific to design team) Evaluation Factors – Design Team - Qualification/Experience of Key Personnel, ….Minimum experience permitted is as follows: Are these number of years for experience in the industry holding similar responsibilities or actually in role of the proposed position?

Response: These experience requirements should reflect similar responsiblitlites.

22. On page 6 of the RFQ requests 3 similar projects for the Project Team and if the Project Team has not performed work as a team then we are to provide 3 projects for each team member. Since there are over 10+ Team Members listed on page 6, this would mean over 30 project summaries instead of the 3 project summaries which has a huge impact on the 150 single-sided page limit stated in the RFQ. If not all members of the team have worked together but some of the team has, can we group up the members that have worked together on their projects and provide additional projects from the other team members?

Response: If the project team has not worked together before, then send in 3 similar projects for the designer, and three projects for the builder. Leave out the other 8+ team members.

23. What document is considered adequate proof of CCR registration?

Response: You may include a copy of the first page of the CCR Profile or reference your registration including your DUNS Number in your cover letter.

24. Is the CCR Registration counted as part of the page count?

Response: No

25. Is there going to be an interview at any time during the selection process for this project?.

Nothing is referenced in the RFQ.

Response: Interviews will occur during Phase II with those firms include in the Competitive Range. Information on those interviews will be given to those short listed firms.

26. On page 6 of the RFQ it states minimum experience for a project manager is 10 years. Is this the design teams project manager or the construction teams project manager?

Response: This experience requirement is for the Design Team’s project manager.

27. Hiring a Geotechnical Engineer is not specifically required in the list of consultants for the Design Team. Can it be expected that GSA will be responsible for this and no the Offeror?

Response: This is not a reasonable expectation. Information regarding geotechnical requirements will be provided during Phase II to the offerors included in the Competitive Range.

28. In the list of consultants for the Design Team it requires a Data Infrastructure Consultant – what are the specific capabilities/qualifications that will be required of this consultant? Should their capabilities be oriented more towards conceptual design of IT network and system topologies (network architecture) or more toward the design of physical layout and infrastructure?

Response: RCDD, and should focus on development of the physical detail cable plant design.

29. It is understood that the project will be 110,000 GSF. How much of this will be raised floor area (white space)?

Response: Information regarding this requirement will be provided during Phase II to the offerors included in the Competitive Range.

30. In the evaluation factors – it asks for projects completed in the last 10 years. If a project is in process and will be completed in the near future, is it acceptable to use in the qualifications package?

Response: Please follow the submittal requirements as closely as possible.

31. Under the Design Builder section, it requires 4 projects for the Past Performance evaluations. Under the Design Team section, it doesn’t specifically mention how many projects to obtain evaluations on. Can it be assumed that 4 projects are required here as well? And is it 4 projects for each company on the Design Team or just the lead team member of the Design Team?

Response: Yes – 4 projects are sufficient for the Design Team Section and the 4 projects should represent work by the lead team member, only.

32. Under the Design Builder section, it requires 3 projects for Project Experience. It is assumed to mean this will be the General Contractor’s projects.

Response: This is an incorrect assumption. This is a Design/Build team project. Please note the offeror’s response that the design build team has never worked together, if this is in fact the case.

32 (Continued) Under the Design Team section, it also requires 3 projects for Project Experience – but it references the Project Team (Design Team and general Contractor). Are 3 additional projects to be highlighted for the General Contractor from the 1st section? Please clarify.

Response: Ideally, offerors will have three projects on which they have worked together as a design build team. If the design build team does not have experience together, then please submit three separate projects each.

33. Pg.4 of RFQ states:

“Standard for Evaluation: The requirements for this factor are met when the offeror demonstrates itself as a construction business providing verifiable information and references for four (4) projects completed over the last ten (10) years that:”

Pg. 5 of RFQ States:

“Description: This factor considers the extent of the offeror’s past experience and the quality of the offeror’s past performance on projects of similar size and complexity. The Offeror shall submit information on at least three (3) projects of similar scope and complexity.

Are we to submit 4 project questionnaires for completion by 2 references each and only provide 3 projects for past experience?

Response: Correct.

34. Amendment #2: Does EACH firm on our team need to have SECRET Facility Clearances in place at time of submittal? We are confident we can get the Clearances by the time we would be under contract but are concerned if we have to have them by the October 29th due date.

Response: The project schedule does not permit sufficient time to start and complete clearance procedures. Offerors must be in possession of a current SECRET Clearance.

35. Pg. 5 of RFQ States:

“Standard for Evaluation: The offeror shall submit at a minimum two references for each design team member. Each contractor is responsible for providing questionnaires (provided by the Government) to their references to complete in a timely manner to allow a completed questionnaire to reach this office by the time and date specified for receipt of information identified in the solicitation.”

a. Is this correct? Two references for EACH person?

b. There is only one questionnaire and it relates to “PROJECT” type references as compared to “individual” type references.

c. Is GSA certain you want these questionnaires filled out for the “individuals”?

Response: (a) This is correct. (b) Please use the Questionnaire included with this Amendment for individual references.

36. Please confirm that the Design Team – Past Performance section is requesting two references for each individual included in the design Team – Personnel section, and there are no firm or company references required for this section.

Response: This is correct.

37. Should there be an additional questionnaire included in this solicitation for the Design Team Personnel references to complete? We only see a questionnaire for the Design-builder.

Response: The additional Questionnaire is included with this amendment.

38. Page 4 of the RFQ states that a minimum of two references are required for four projects completed by the design builder. (Total eight). It appears that the form to use for these references is the revised form posted as part of Amendment 001 on October 2, 2009. This is titled Contractor Performance Evaluation Questionnaire. These are firm references for the contracting/construction business entity, correct?

Response: Correct.

39. Page 5 of the RFQ states that a minimum of two references are required for each design team member identified as key personnel under design team personnel (project architect, engineers, security consultant, LEED consultant, high performance green building consultant, data infrastructure consultant, telecommunications consultant). Has the form for these references been posted?

Response: This form is posted with this amendment.

40. In addition to the two questions above, I infer from the instructions that firm references are not required for the design business entity(ies) and that personnel references are not required for contractor (design builder) personnel. Is this a correct reading on my part are to the forms/references that are required to be completed and submitted directly to your attention at GSA?

Response: Please respond to the requirements of the Request for Qualifications as you best understand. Please request that the referring customers provide the references directly to GSA.