Mbabane Swaziland NEC DB FEDBIZOPPS.docx

SAQMMA-12-R0097

Department of State 2012 Design-Build Contract for US Embassy Mbabane, Swaziland

RFP SAQMMA-12-R0097

Notice of Solicitation of Submissions for Contractor Pre-Qualification

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (DOS), Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) is requesting submissions to pre-qualify firms for Design-Build (D/B) services for the design and construction of a modified Standard Embassy Design New Embassy Compound (NEC) in Mbabane, Swaziland. This project will be executed under OBO’s Design Excellence Program (http://www.state.gov/obo/designexcellence/). The project will consist of the design and construction of a compound to house U.S. Diplomatic functions at the particular overseas location listed below. The project is described below.

1. Project Description (Secret Facility and Personnel Security Clearances Required)

SAQMMA-12-R0097: Mbabane, Swaziland New Embassy Compound. Anticipated work includes: New Office Building (NOB), warehouse, maintenance facilities, perimeter security, vehicle and pedestrian access control facilities, site improvements, utility building, bathhouse/cabana, and surface parking. Approximate NOB size: 6,100 gsm. Other buildings total approximate size: 2,900 gsm. The site is approximately 36,100 sm (8.9 acres) in size. Estimated design-build cost: $95 – 125 million.

The constructed compound will demonstrate an elevated standard of design quality for diplomatic facilities in its architecture, engineering, and construction. OBO requires that the completed compound be sustainable with high-performance facilities. The design requirements documents, which will be provided by OBO in the Project Solicitation Phase II, are an example of OBO’s commitment to Design Excellence.

2. Project Solicitation The project solicitation will consist of two phases.

Phase I – Pre-Qualification of Offerors This announcement of solicitation of pre-qualification submissions is Phase I. DOS will evaluate and rate the pre-qualification submissions based on the procedure and evaluation criteria set forth below. DOS may refuse to pre-qualify any Offeror receiving less than a satisfactory rating on any evaluation factor or sub-factor.

The Government may conduct an information session for interested Offerors prior to the receipt of pre-qualification submissions. A separate announcement will be issued on the Federal Business Opportunities webpage (www.FBO.gov) to specify the location, date, and time.

Phase II – Requests for Proposals from Pre-Qualified Offerors Those Offerors determined to be pre-qualified in accordance with this notice will be issued a formal Request for Proposal (RFP) for the project and invited to submit proposed pricing in Phase II. The RFP will include a statement of work, standards, and criteria for the project that set out the project scope, design requirements, design process, design documentation, design expertise, construction process, post-construction activities, reference drawings and specifications, codes and standards, and security requirements.

Firms submitting proposals in Phase II may be required to make oral presentations to DOS. Offerors may be invited to present their project approach and Technical Submission in response to this RFP in person at the offices of OBO in Rosslyn, VA in a 60 minute interview following the proposal submission date. Interview times and details will be published by the Contracting Officer at least 2 weeks prior to the first interview. The presentation should emphasize the notable aspects of the offeror’s written technical proposal. Offerors are cautioned: DO NOT INCLUDE ANY PRICE INFORMATION IN THE PRESENTATION.

The selected D/B Contractor’s Architect/Engineer will be the “Designer of Record” and responsible for completing the construction drawings and specifications in accordance with the solicitation documentation provided. The contract will be “firm fixed-price.” Construction services will include providing construction labor and materials to execute the OBO-accepted design; on-site organization with management to ensure overall project coordination; and overall control throughout the life of the project. Required services include preparation of construction documents, quality control plans, safety plans, project schedules, cost estimates, and project close-out activities.

The types of design services to be provided may include architecture, structural, civil, energy conservation, mechanical, fire protection, electrical, seismic and geo-technical engineering; space planning and systems furniture design and integration; interior design; signage; security; communications; blast protection design; potable water treatment and waste water treatment; landscaping design; photo-voltaic systems; cost estimating; scheduling; energy modeling; value engineering; and administrative coordination of the various disciplines involved.

The RFP will require the D/B contractor to complete all design and engineering documents based on the project specific design direction that will be provided in the RFP design requirements. The Government will provide bridging level design documents that will include, at a minimum, a site utilization plan; building massing and exterior elevations; space and requirements standards, organizational relationships, space requirements program; building utilities and infrastructure design; and supporting narratives, where applicable.

Firms submitting information for Phase I qualification shall address the following criteria in the proposal to provide design and construction services: management of a large complex project; schedule management; logistics management to include site and transportation security; safety; and design excellence including adherence to integrated design and design quality, life-cycle cost management, maximized LEED ratings for sustainability, and reduced maintenance and operating costs.

Due to time constraints, DOS anticipates that the pre-qualified Offerors will be required to participate in visits to the project site within 30 days after the issuance of the RFP. To offset some of the cost of the site visits and other related costs, pre-qualified Offerors that do not receive the D/B contract award will be paid $25,000.00 for responsive project proposals they submit in Phase II.

DOS anticipates that a tradeoff process may be in the best interest of the Government to consider award to other than the lowest priced offeror or other than the highest technically rated offeror. DOS anticipates that evaluation of technical and past performance considerations may play a significant role in the selection process. Evaluations to determine the best value to the Government will be made strictly on materials submitted. All evaluation factors other than cost or price, when combined, will be approximately equal to cost or price.

3. Prior Pre-Qualification of Certain Offerors – NOT APPLICABLE This solicitation requires a complete prequalification package submission.

4.C. CONTENT OF SUBMISSIONS AND FACTORS FOR EVALUATION:

FACTOR 1: Joint Venture Agreement/Signed Statement of JV Intent & Description of Partnership.

The failure of Factor 1 will result in the failure of the entire submittal. DOS will not review the remaining portions of the submittal if there is the failure of Factor 1.

If the offeror is organized as a Joint Venture, DOS will evaluate whether the roles and responsibilities of the JV parties have been adequately described. This factor is not applicable if there is no JV or “de facto” JV.

FACTOR 2: Technical Project Experience and Past Performance.

The failure of Factor 2 will result in the failure of the entire submittal. DOS will not review the remaining portions of the submittal if there is the failure of Factor 2.

Subfactor 2A: Technical Project Experience This section is intended to evaluate the technical project experience of the Offeror and its JV partners, if applicable, and is not intended to evaluate subcontractor technical project experience. Do not submit technical project experience for any proposed subcontractors.

DOS will evaluate the Offeror’s technical project experience in executing relevant projects. For Offerors who do not have individual projects representative of the project scope and complexity, DOS will evaluate the technical project experience demonstrated by the combined project examples.

Subfactor 2B Past Performance

If an Offeror previously submitted information responding to this factor for a different FY12 project, DOS will accept the previously-submitted information. In this case, identify the name of the project and contract number for which the references were submitted.

DOS will evaluate the quality of the Offeror’s past performance based on information submitted for Factors 2B.1-4. DOS will evaluate the Offeror’s record of compliance with Industrial Security and Construction Security requirements for Factor 2B.5. DOS will evaluate the Offeror’s record of project completion and close-out, its approach to problem and change resolution, and its responsiveness to issues and problems raised by OBO for Factor 2B.5. Additionally, DOS may gather information from other sources to assist in evaluating the quality of the Offeror’s past performance.

NOTICE: As prescribed in the Federal Acquisition Regulation at 15.305(a)(2)(iv), an offeror without a record of relevant past performance or for whom information on past performance is not available will receive a neutral rating.

FACTOR 3: The Offeror’s Organization and Management The failure of Factor 3 will result in the failure of the entire submittal.

DOS will evaluate the Offeror’s management processes and typical organization, considering decision-making; communication within the team; communication between the Home (headquarters and support) and Field Offices; authority assigned to the Field Office; and tracking of schedules, procurement, and cost. DOS will evaluate the design resources, considering whether the proposed design team has sufficient experience on projects similar in scope, complexity, and dollar value; and whether the Offeror will be able to staff the design team with appropriate licensed professionals in the required disciplines.

5. Mandatory Pre-Qualification Requirements The requirements of this section are separate and distinct from that of Section 4, Technical Requirements. Format information for this section so that it is complete without cross-referencing information submitted for other elements of the solicitation.

5.A. Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986. Firms being considered for award under this acquisition are limited to "United States Person" bidders as defined in the Act. The Offeror must complete and submit as part of its pre-qualification package the pamphlet "Certifications Relevant to Public Law 99-399, Statement of Qualifications for Purpose of Section 402 of The Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986." (The pamphlet is attached to this FEDBIZOPPS announcement and may be obtained from the DOS Contract Specialist listed at the end of this notice.) If a Joint Venture (JV) is formed, the company having 51 percent or greater interest in the JV must be the one completing the pamphlet. This is a pass/fail evaluated area. Submissions from Offerors who do not receive a pass rating in this area will not be further evaluated.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Organizations that wish to use the experience or financial resources of any other legally dependent organization or individual, including parent companies, subsidiaries, or other related firms, must do so by way of a joint venture. A prospective offeror may be an individual organization or firm, a formal joint venture (where the arrangement among the co-venturers has been reduced to writing), or “de facto” joint venture (where no formal agreement has been reached, but the offering entity relies upon the experience of a related U.S. person firm that guarantees performance). To be considered a “qualified United States joint venture person,” every joint venture must have at least one firm or organization that itself meets all the requirements of a U.S. person listed in Section 402. The U.S. person co-venturer will be required to sign a guarantee making the U.S person individually responsible for performance of any contract awarded, notwithstanding the terms of any joint venture agreement.

5.B. Security Clearance Requirement. In order to be eligible to perform under this contract, the pre-qualified firm(s), including all entities which comprise a JV and the JV itself, must possess or be able to obtain a Defense Security Service (DSS) Secret facility security clearance (FCL) with Secret safeguarding capability, issued in accordance with the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), DoD 5220.22-M. Specifically designated personnel requiring access to classified information or to the Controlled Access Areas (CAAs) must possess a Secret personnel security clearance issued by DSS. Offerors already possessing the necessary FCL must submit their appropriate Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code, facility clearance and safeguarding level with the required pre-qualification documentation.

If an otherwise pre-qualified Offeror does not possess the necessary FCL, DOS will sponsor the firm for an FCL at the time the Offeror is determined to be pre-qualified. DOS will allow 90 calendar days from the notice of pre-qualification for firms to obtain the necessary FCL. Firms will not receive the classified portions of the Phase II RFP until they have been issued the appropriate FCL and received Defense Security Service (DSS) approval to safeguard classified documents. DOS sponsorship does not guarantee that the Offeror will receive the FCL, or that it will be received within the 90-day period. The Government will not be obligated to extend its solicitation schedule, or to make an award to a sponsored, pre-qualified firm, if that firm has not been issued a FCL.

NOTICE: The phase II apparent successful offeror selected for contract award must possess or obtain an Information System (IS) or standalone computer, approved by DSS, for processing classified information. Performance on this contract will require access to the Department’s ProjNet-C, for receipt and transmission of all classified information, and a DSS approved classified IS for processing classified information.

6. Closing Deadline for Submissions ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 3:00 P.M. Eastern Time on February 16, 2012.

TRANSMISSION OF PROPOSALS: Offerors shall hand deliver or submit proposals by courier (FedEx, UPS Express Mail, DHL, ETC.) to the following address:

U.S. Department of State:

A/LM/AQM/FDCD/CON, Room L-600, SA-6 1701 North Fort Myer Drive Arlington, VA 22209

(DO NOT USE THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE (PO Box) ADDRESS) Include the project solicitation number(s) on the face of the package.

REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATIONS must be submitted in writing to James Thomas, AND Lily Savic by email ThomasJG2@state.gov AND SavicL@state.gov.