Questions_and_Answers_as_of_15_September_2014.pdf

Questions and Answers as of 10 September 2014

W911XK-14-R-0027

Architect Engineer (A-E) Indefinite Delivery Type Contract Planning, Engineering and Design Services Detroit District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Question 1:

In Section 5 of the subject solicitation, it states that “Section E shall be limited to 15 pages with one page per individual.” Does this mean:

(1) Only 15 resumes should be included (15 pages and one page per resume), or

(2) Can there be multiple resumes per page, but there is a limit on the total number of pages (15) and a maximum length per any single resume (1 page).

Answer 1:

Section E; One page per individual, no more that 15 resumes.

Question 2:

In the SF330 Instruction under Section D Organizational Chart of Proposed Team, it states, “…Present an organization chart of the proposed team showing the names and roles of all key personnel listed in Section E…”

What the instructions do not state is if additional names can or cannot be provided on the org chart. Could you please clarify if additional names other than the key personnel listed in Section E can be added to the org chart or if the org chart can only contain the names of personnel listed in Section E.

Answer 2:

Additional names other than the key personnel listed in Section E can be added to the org chart.

Question 3:

Item 5 (Page Limitations) states "Section H shall be limited to 20 pages and include a Project Management Plan and a Quality Management Plan." These plans can be rather lengthy and could exceed the page limit on their own. Is it acceptable to include an outline of the plans or a summary of our approach rather than including the entire documents?

Answer 3:

A summary or outline of the Project Management Plan and Quality Management Plan would be acceptable.

Question 4:

Item 3h states: "Responding firms should cite all contract numbers, award dates and total negotiated fees for any DoD A-E contract awarded within the past twelve (12) months. Also indicate all Task Orders and Modifications awarded to your firm by DoD agencies under an indefinite delivery type contract within the last twelve (12) months,. Indicate date of Task Orders and fee for each (this will be based on Part II, block 11 of SF 330). Do not include options that have not been exercised." For some large A-E firms, this listing could be several hundred pages in length. Please confirm that it is acceptable to focus on DoD contracts held by the office that would hold this contract. The lengthy company-wide listing could then be provided upon request.

Answer 4:

The A/E should submit relevant projects to list and the geographic areas and agencies to include. The total company wide numbers can be indicated. (See updated amended synopsis.

Question 5:

Item 4, Submission Requirements, states that responding firms must submit six copies of Part I and two copies of Part II. For ease of reference, we typically include the Part I and Part II documents in a single bound proposal, separated by a tab. This would result is sending you six (not two) copies of the Part II. Is that acceptable?

Answer 5:

The Engineering and Construction Office does not have a strong preference as to whether the two documents are keep separate or together. As we discussed yesterday, this is probably a call that Contracting needs to make based on whether Contracting wants to have a file containing Part II General Qualifications for the A-Es utilized by our District. Contracting Offices that utilize A-E services are supposed to maintain qualifications data files on A-E firms and are supposed to review and update these files at least once a year.

Question 6:

There appear to be two requirements related to project management and QA/QC

In Section 4 (Submission Requirements) the requirements indicate that:

"The firm shall present a proposed organization chart and a narrative describing how the organization will function, including how the QA/QC plan will be implemented"

In Section 5 (Page Limitations) the requirements indicate that:

"Section H shall be limited to 20 pages and include a Project Management Plan and a Quality Management Plan"

Are the responding firms required to do both, 1. a description of how the organization will function from Section 4 and 2. a formal PMP and QMP from Section 5? The formal PMPs and QMPs can be fairly lengthy. Please review and provide clarification.

Answer 6:

Yes, firms are required to do both. A summary or outline of the Project Management Plan and Quality Management Plan would be acceptable.

Question 7:

Value Engineering

Section 3c) Professional Capabilities - Please confirm if a certified Value Engineering specialist is required or if staff experience in Value Engineering (but not certification) will suffice.

Answer 7:

Yes, the firm needs to have at least one Certified Value Specialist (CVS) accredited by SAVE International.

Question 8:

The USACE small business office requires subcontracting goals as a percentage of the total anticipated fee, rather than a percentage of the amount subcontracted, as the excerpt from the solicitation requires:

The subcontracting goals for the Detroit District, which will be considered in the negotiation of this contract are (1) at least 43.3 of a contractor's intended subcontract amount be placed with small businesses (SB); (2) at least 10% of a contractor's intended subcontract amount be placed with small disadvantaged businesses (SDB); (3) at least 6.2% of a contractor's intended subcontract amount be placed with women-owned SB (WOSB); (4) at least 10% of a contractor's intended subcontract amount be placed with service-disabled veteran-owned SB; (5) at least 11% of a contractor's intended subcontract amount be placed with HUB Zone SB.

Could you confirm the subcontracting requirements for this solicitation?

Answer: 8

The subcontracting goals will be based on the % of the amount subcontracted.