RFI's_dated__6_Jan_2014_posted.pdf

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS RELATED TO:

SOLICITATION W90FYQ-14-R-0001

Dated 6 Jan 2014

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Dated 23 Dec 13

Q1. Will you please provide the names of incumbent contractors, or recent contractors if the contracts have expired?

A1. The incumbent contractors are; Jacobs Engineering Group; Burns & McDonnell, Inc.; CH2M Hill;

Pond & Company; HDR Engineering, Inc.; Leidos Engineering, LLC; Atkins North America, Inc.;

Frankfurt Short Bruza; Tetra Tech-Mead and Hunt-JV; AECOM Technical Services, Inc.; HNTB-Black & Veatch, a Joint Venture. These contracts will expire from 25 Aug 2014 to 22 Sep 2015.

Q2. Because of the requirement for NEPA experience, will there be a need for the disciplines of Biologist, Ecologist, Archaeologist, and Architectural Historian?

A2. No. Selection will be based on the core team required by synopsis and offered by the A-E firm.

However, it should be noted that in the course of an IDIQ contract, that an A-E firm may team with specific one time associate firms or bring in specific disciplines, for specific task orders.

Q3. The RFP release date of 19 December 2013 coincides with office closures and staff holiday schedules over both the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Therefore, we respectfully request the RFP due date be extended 2 weeks, to accommodate the lost time during the holiday season, for a due date of Wednesday, 05 February 2014.

REVISED. A3. The SF330's due date has been extended to 28 Jan 2014.

Dated 27 Dec 13

Q4. Would it be possible to get a list of contract holders for the previous solicitation?

A4. See Q1 above.

Q5. Under Selection Criteria, (B) Specialized Experience and Technical Competence, Item (4), could you please define the acronym DS in front of the words Interior Design?

A5. DS is a typeographical error and is not intended to be any acronym. The synopsis will be updated to remove DS. The Statement should read “Experience providing Comprehensive Interior Design for government projects including space planning and applicable Code of Federal Regulation rules, pre-wired workstations, furniture, demountable wall systems and knowledge of the acquisition process including applicable FAR and funding limitations.

Q6. As part of the Submission Requirements for Section F projects, may a joint venture partnership list a project description that included each prime firm delivering the same scope of services in support of the same National Guard Bureau program but was contracted through two separate task orders?

A6. The Selection Criteria part F from the synopsis is for volume of DoD work which will be considered. However, if the question is related to Section F of PART 1 of the SF 330 response, then the anwswer is: Yes. Please note that it is very important to provide clarity with any A-E SF 330 submission.

A-E firms shall not claim credit for scope of services provided by a differing firm under any task order.

Dated 28 Dec 13

Q7. Why not consider setting aside for SDVOSB firms?

A7. In accordance with the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation (DFAR) 219.502-1(2) Requirements for setting aside acquisitions. "Do not set aside acquisitions for- (2) Architect-Engineer services for military construction or family housing projects of $350,000 or more (10 U.S.C. 2855), including indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity contracts if the value of all anticipated orders is expected to total $350,000 or more." The subject IDIQ AE contract is for military construction. The anticipated value of the subject AE IDIQ contract is valued at $45M per contract.

Dated 30 Dec 13

Q8. Review of the incumbent list reveals that almost all firms are large A&E Firms- No small business and disadvantaged business even though the large A&Es may have Small business plan.

Thus, even though we strongly feel that we can provide the required services in the Pacific Rim, we can not go ahead and respond as a EDWOSB. We like to learn how NGB will evaluate and weight small business responders if the interest area is only Pacific Rim.

A8. These are National IDIQ contracts for the Army and Air National Guard for all 50 states and US territories. The services provided by each IDIQ contract may be required in any or all areas as stated in the Location(s) part of the synopsis. Firms are highly encouraged to team with other firms if necessary in various locations. However, a firm does not need to be geographically located in all areas, as stated in the synopsis “firms should demonstrate the ability to deliver services to locations defined in the synopsis.”

Q9. In regards to the resume for the required Environmental Engineer, please clarify the qualifications requirements. Is this individual required to have a degree in Environmental Engineering or will other related degrees be acceptable? Since the work under the contract could include NEPA documentation as well as surveys, reports and documents related to the removal of hazardous materials, what type of experience will be evaluated? It could be that these are two separate individuals.

A9. No specific minimum qualifications or degree is required for this discipline. Evaluation will consider level of relevant experience or education offered. All relevant experience with NEPA, its process and requirements as well as preparation of required documentation will be evaluated.

Q10. Project leadership and success is most often driven by the capabilities of the project or task order manager, however, resumes for these individuals are not required. If provided in the SF330’s they also cannot be evaluated as they are not required. Is it the desire of the NGB to evaluate these individuals and should they be added as a required resume?

A10. The SF330’s will be evaluated in accordance with the Fed Biz Ops announcement evaluation criteria.

Q11. Please clarify the typical project size anticipated under this contract. Under CONTRACT INFORMATION, the Solicitation indicates “Task orders will be primarily for projects with a construction value typically between $5 and $20 million dollars; however, as required, larger and/or smaller projects will be executed under this contract.” Then, under SELECTION CRITERIA, (C) Capacity to accomplish multiple task orders in the required time indicates “the capacity to accomplish at least four individual task orders valued at $2.5-$10 million dollars simultaneously (or greater) will receive additional consideration.”Are both value ranges in reference to construction value? Will relevant projects with construction values between $5 and $10 million receive higher consideration than projects with construction value between $10 and $20 million?

A11. The stated dollar values refer to construction cost at the time of award. Both ranges referenced are construction costs at time of award. SF 330 submissions that demonstrate ability to exceed the evaluation standard may be considered more favorably by the Government.

Q12. In Section F, will projects performed for the National Guard be scored more favorably that projects performed for the Active or Reserve Components of our National Defense Forces; including the Navy and Marine Corps?

A12. No, the projects will be evaluated in accordance with the FBO stated criteria for relevant projects.

Q13. Under the submission requirements section of the solicitation, it states "A maximum of ten projects including the prime and consultants will be reviewed in Part I, Section F." Please confirm that projects submitted by the prime and/or subconsultants will be equally evaluated in Section F.

A13. The Government has privity of contract with only the prime contractors. If the offeror chooses a subconsultant as part of their team for any of the projects submitted under Part 1, Section F, then these firms will be evaluated equally as part of the team.

Q14. Does the five year limitation stated in the SOL under:

“(18) In Block H of the SF 330 describe the firm's quality management plan, including quality assurance process, project design-to-cost control, coordination of the in-house work with consultants, and prior experience of the prime firm and any significant consultant. To be considered relevant, all experience demonstrated shall be within five years of the date of this solicitation.”

Does this five year limitation refer to Section F - Projects only? OR throughout Section H - Additional Information, as well?

A14. The five year limitation applies to Section H also.