VA101-17-R-0413-RFP-02001.pdf

NMCA - VA101‐17‐R‐0413

RFI Responses nmca - va10117r0413 rfi responses 1/6

1. Please reference page 47 of 65, which states, “The evaluation team will utilize the adjectival definitions below to assess each Offerors’”. This sentence appears to be incomplete. Would the Government please provide the rest of this sentence?

VA Response: each Offerors' past performance.

2. As of 02/13/2018, no RFI answers have been posted for the abovenamed solicitation. Due to the unanswered RFIs, we respectfully request a two‐week extension to allow offerors time to incorporate necessary changes to our approach based on the government’s answers.

VA Response: The submission date of March 1, 2018 will not be extended.

3. What areas shown in the 2016 Master Plan shown at the site visit presentation are to be developed in the next phase of work?

On p. 41 is this statement:

Identified as Phase 2 in the 2016 Master Plan (pg. MP-12) for the 104-acre expansion, this investment will develop approximately 25 acres of undeveloped land to provide approximately 26,400 gravesites, including both casket and cremation sites in new burial sections. Also included in this project is the construction of an Honor Guard Building, an expansion/renovation of the existing Administration Building, improvements to the Maintenance Area, and security enhancements at the cemetery entrance. This project will also include an evaluation of the existing structures and accomplish and retrofit/incorporate Guiding Principles for High Performance and Sustainable Buildings and Renewable Energy Initiatives as required.

And on p. 42 is this:

Preparation of Schematic Design, Design Development, and Construction Documents:

The DB Contractor shall be responsible for the preparation of all design and construction documents for l all work activities to support the construction of the Phase 3 cemetery expansion and improvements in accordance with the 2016 Master Plan, the accompanying bridging documents, all applicable VA/NCA design guides found on the VA’s Technical Library web site, and all applicable Federal, State, and local rules and regulations.

VA Response: The presentation files will be posted on FBO which clearly delineates the limits of Phase 3 construction.

4. Is there a reserved corridor in Sections 63 and/or 64 for the southern road shown in the Master Plan’s Phase 2 area?

VA Response: The 2016 Master Plan identifies a road connection from Phase 3 through Sec 64 intersecting Silver Star Way. This connection is part of the Phase 3 construction project.

5. When will the Feb 8, 2018 Site Visit Sign-in Sheet and Presentation be posted on FedBizOpps?

VA Response: With the posting of the RFI responses.

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6. Can you please send a clean copy of Attachment 2, Past Performance Questionnaire? Also, do we need to reference the solicitation number on the PPQ anywhere?

VA Response: Yes

7. Can we use previously submitted PPQs’? Do we include the solicitation number of NMCA Phase 3 on the PPQ being submitted by the reference?

VA Response: Previous PPQ's may be submitted but should be updated to include this solicitation number.

8. Columbariums A - G at the NMCA site have precast concrete caps.

Columbariums I and J are being installed with natural stone caps. Can you please confirm if Phase 3 will require that all columbarium caps are to be natural stone or will precast concrete be allowed?

VA Response: Per recent NCA policy, columbaria caps shall be natural stone.

Pre-cast concrete caps will not be allowed.

9. The RFP does not include instructions for submission of the SF1442 or acknowledgement of amendments as part of the Phase 1 submission. Please explain where within the proposal Offerors shall include the signed SF1442 and acknowledged amendments (SF30) for Phase 1.

VA Response: Please see Instruction to the Offeror clause. VA Response: The 1442 shall be signed for phase 1. A copy of all amendments must be submitted with proposal.

10. According to GAO decisions B‐403209 and B310340, the past performance/experience of specialized major subcontractors may be used to satisfy the RFP requirements. Furthermore, FAR 15.305(a)(2)(iii) states, “The evaluation should take into account past performance regarding predecessor companies, key personnel who have relevant experience, or subcontractors that will perform major or critical aspects of the requirement when such information is relevant to the instant acquisition.”

Please confirm that:

a. The past performance/experience of specialized major or critical subcontractors can be used to satisfy Factor 1 and Factor 2 (inclusive of both sub‐factors), and

b. The subcontractors' experience will be weighed equally to the prime contractor's?

VA Response: Factor 1, Past Performance will evaluate the performance of the Offeror (Prime Contractor, the joint venture partnership, or mentor-protégé partnership) as the case may be. If a joint venture or mentor-protege, the past performance of each partner will be evaluated. As stated on page 51 of the solicitation, Factor 2, Relevant Experience evaluates the experience of major subcontractors and the team holistically.

11. RFP Page 51 of 65: Sub‐factor 2A requires the Project Master List to include 10 projects “with a construction value over $20 million and a size exceeding 15‐acres.”

Sub‐factor 2B requires summaries to be written about the projects submitted on the master list, but also states, “Offerors without projects meeting the dollar and/or size nmca - va10117r0413 rfi responses 3/6 thresholds described above should submit the requested information for the most relevant projects regardless of value or size.” Please confirm that Offerors are to submit projects which are most relevant regardless of value or size on the Project Master List for Sub‐factor 2A.

VA Response: Yes, projects less than $20M and 15-acres in size may be submitted but the burden of demonstrating their relevancy lies with the Offeror.

12. Please confirm that any Joint Venture (JV) Offerors must submit at least one project from each participant firm that is greater than $20‐M and completed within the last 5 years for Factors 1 and 2.

VA Response: As noted in RFI #10 response, Factor 1 is evaluating the Offeror (prime contractor, joint venture and/or mentor-protégé partnership). The prime contractor or partner must have experience with at least one project exceeding the $20M and 15-acres size threshold. Factor 2 evaluates the relevant experience of major sub-contractors (design and construction) and in some cases these firms may not have relevant experience on projects exceeding $20M and 15-acres. Consequently, for Factor 2, projects less than $20M and 15-acres in size may be submitted.

13. To adequately convey the level of qualifications and experience of our personnel, as required and requested in Factor 4B Staffing Plan – Key Personnel, will the Government allow up to 2 pages per resume? This is particularly beneficial, as the SF330 Form, Part I, E resume template does not allow significant space for construction personnel.

VA Response: No, only one page for each resume. The solicitation does not require the use of SF330, Part I.E nor does it prohibit the Offeror from modifying the form to fit its particular needs. The solicitation only suggests you consider it for submission of key personnel resumes. The format for submitting resumes is at the Offeror's discretion.

14. RFP Page 51 of 65 states, “the owner’s representative most knowledgeable of the project complete block 8 on the form and submit the Past Performance Questionnaires directly to the CO identified on the form no later than the Phase 1 technical proposal due date.” In the interest of reducing the workload and saving time for our previous government clients, will the government accept recently completed past performance questionnaires (such as the PPQ‐0) that answer similar and/or the same past performance questions?

VA Response: Yes, as long as the author of the evaluation is identified and can be verified through email or phone call.

15. RFP page 45 of 65 states, “Print shall be of a minimum 12‐point font size.”

However, form SF330 Part I, E (Resumes of Key Personnel Proposed for This Contract) includes several fields which are NOT 12‐point font. For example, the field heading “13.

ROLE IN THIS CONTRACT” is font size 7. Please confirm that Offerors are not required to alter SF330 Part I, E to match the 12‐point font requirement.

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VA Response: Correct, Offerors are not required to alter the font size of the SF330, Part I.E.

16. The proposal package on FBO includes Attachment 1 – Release of Claims.

There are no instructions provided within the RFP for how/where to submit this form with Phase 1. Please confirm that this form does not need to be submitted with Phase 1 proposals.

VA Response: The Release of Claim does not have to be submitted with Phase 1

17. RFP Page 51 of 65 states, “the owner’s representative most knowledgeable of the project complete block 8 on the form and submit the Past Performance Questionnaires directly to the CO identified on the form no later than the Phase 1 technical proposal due date.” In the interest of reducing the workload and saving time for our Government clients, will the Government consider accepting Interim or Final

CPARS evaluations in lieu of a newly‐completed Past Performance Questionnaire?

VA Response: Yes, we consider all available CPARS

18. RFP Page 46 of 65 requires a CD version of the proposal to be submitted in a format “readable by MS Word 2000 or higher.” In order to preserve the overall look and feel of the proposal for text boxes, underline, bold, or other allowed formatting adjustments, would the Government consider allowing proposals to be submitted in PDF format instead? Using PDF will ensure that should our Firm use a unique font that it will not impact the page count of any section when opened on a Government computer.

VA Response: The MS Word requirement is waived. PDF is our preferred submittal format.

19. Attachment 6 – Project Master List includes a field labeled, “Relevant Project (see 3.8.1.2).” However, no paragraph 3.8.1.2 is provided within the RFP. Could the Government please provide paragraph 3.8.1.2, or adjust the template to refer to a different, relevant paragraph?

VA Response: See updated Attachment 6.

20. RFP Page 54 of 65 states that the SF330, Part I, E Resumes of Key Personnel Proposed for this Contract should be used as a template for key personnel resumes.

This template is set up for use by A/E firms, and is not very practical for Construction firms. For example, “Field (2) Year Completed” has space for “Professional Services” which isn’t applicable to a construction person’s experience. Please confirm that the use of SF330, Part I, E for resumes is not required.

VA Response: As noted in RFI #13 response, use of SF330 is not required.

21. RFP Page 50 of 65 states that the summary listing should include, “10 major construction projects completed or ‘well underway’ within the past 5 years.” Please confirm that “well underway” is any project which is has reached 50% completion or greater.

VA Response: Correct nmca - va10117r0413 rfi responses 5/6

22. RFP page 45 of 65 states, “Print shall be of a minimum 12‐point font size.”

However, the provided Attachment 6 Project Master List includes fields that are 10‐point font size. Please confirm that Offerors are not required to alter the Project Master List to match the 12‐point font requirement VA Response: Correct

23. RFP Page 51 of 65 includes a paragraph for Factor 2 which begins: “The purpose of this factor is to holistically evaluate the Offeror…” and ends, “…commercial projects within the last five years. This same paragraph is nearly identical on RFP Page 52 of 65 under Factor 3. Please confirm that for Factor 3, Offerors are only to submit information as requested for Sub‐factors 3A, 3B, and 3C?

VA Response: Correct

Attachment 6 Project Master List nmca - va10117r0413 rfi responses 6/6

# Project Name Project Location

(City, State) Design-Build?

Company(s) Performing This

Project Role on Project If CM, At Risk?

Date of Notice to Proceed

Y N Y N

Contract/ Subcontract Type

Contract Number Original Contract/ Subcontract Value

Final Contract/ Subcontract Value

Original Contract Duration

Final Contract Duration

Date of Substantial Completion

Project Description Project Point of Contact

Name

Title

Phone Number

Email

# Project Name Project Location

(City, State) Design-Build?

Company(s) Performing This

Project Role on Project If CM, At Risk?

Date of Notice to Proceed

Y N Y N

Contract/ Subcontract Type

Contract Number Original Contract/ Subcontract Value

Final Contract/ Subcontract Value

Original Contract Duration

Final Contract Duration

Date of Substantial Completion

Project Description Project Point of Contact

Name

Title

Phone Number

Email