Questions and Answers 28 July 2020.pdf

Solicitation Issued Solicitation # W91XK20R0005 Architect Engineering and Design Services IDIQ

Number

Date/Time Received in Outlook

(Govt Exchange Server)

Question Answer Initials of Respondent

Date/Time Answered

7/7/2020 at 6:21

P.M.

The attached opportunity is identified as a "pre-solicitation" but it reads like a solicitation. Is this is actual document to be used for requesting proposals, or is another "solicitation" pending?

This notice is not a request for proposals. We are requesting firms to submit SF 330's. We will request proposals only from the most highly qualified firms after evaluating the SF 330's submitted in response to this notice.

ESM

7/8/2020 at 8:31

A.M.

7/9/2020 at 4:18

P.M.

Does this contract fall under the National Energy Policy Act of 1992? The Energy Policy Act of 1992 will apply if required by an individual task order or if a design requires the use of energy-efficient standards.

NSS

7/14/2020 at 2:05 pm

7/10/2020 at 9:56

A.M.

Is a SB firm allowed to make a submission to pursue the SB Contract as a prime and also make a submission to pursue the Unrestricted Contract as a prime? And if so, are two separate submissions required?

Both large and small business firms can pursue the unrestricted contracts as the prime contractor. A small business must be the prime contractor for the small businesses contract. Only one submission will be required. The contracts will be awarded to the most highly qualified firms.

NSS

7/10/2020 at

3:05 P.M.

7/10/2020 at 3:28

P.M

Seeing that the Government will not maintain an interested vendors list during the announcement period, is there a mechanism for small business to express their interest in this pre-solicitation, for purposes of identifying larger companies with whom to team up?

The interested vendors list has been made viewable to allow vendors to view other vendors on the interested vendors list. If vendors are unable to view the list, they will need to open a ticket with the Federal Service Desk at www.fsd.gov to resolve the issue.

ESM

7/15/2020 at 12:19 P.M.

7/13/2020 at 3:48

P.M.

Can a firm submit on the unrestricted IDIQ contract and also serve as a sub on the SB set-aside IDIQ contract?

A firm may submit a SF 330 package as a prime contractor and be included as a subcontractor in a separate SF 330 package for another prime contractor.

NSS

7/16/2020 at

9:43 am

7/13/2020 at 3:49

P.M.

We note that there is a 20-page limit for resumes and there are 10 key staff specifically identified in the RFP. If we provide resumes for more than 10 staff, will those additional resumes be considered in the evaluation process? If so, should the additional resumes show additional depth in the 10 key areas, or should they focus on expertise in other relevant areas?

Section E is limited to 20 resumes, 20 pages total. If 20 resumes, not exceeding 20 pages, are submitted, then all 20 pages will be evaluated using the selection criteria. The approach to be taken and the content of the resumes is up to the firms submitting the SF 330 packages.

NSS

7/16/2020 at

9:43 am

7/13/2020 at 3:50

P.M.

Is the USACE Detroit contract expected to focus to any degree on Great Lakes Restoration Initiative projects?

Projects could include Great Lakes Restoration Initiative projects, but a particular focus is not currently planned.

NSS

7/16/2020 at

9:43 am

7/13/2020 at 3:52

P.M.

Mechanical and electrical engineers are used on multiple types of projects (generation, distribution, gates, valves, and buildings). Is there a particular sub discipline that the USACE would like our submittal to emphasize?

The firms submitting SF 330 packages are to determine which disciplines they want to emphasize.

NSS

7/16/2020 at

9:43 am

7/13/2020 at 3:52

P.M.

Can a single project that was executed under different TO’s or IDIQ contracts be included as a single description? For example, we have executed planning, design, and EDC tasks for a single project (but under separate contracts) and would like to include it as a one of our ten projects and not three. Is this permissible?

The description for a single project could mention multiple contracts under which work was performed.

NSS

7/16/2020 at

9:43 am

7/15/2020 at 3:59

P.M.

“Under part 3. Selection Criteria, the solicitation under sub-heading b) Professional Capabilities, lists 10 categories of key disciplines. Under the same heading, 3, the sub-heading c) Capacity to Accomplish the Work lists 23 professional and technical personnel disciplines. Under part 4.

Submission Requirements, the solicitation states “Section E shall be limited to 20 resumes, 20 pages total”.

We plan to include at the very minimum the 10 disciplines as required under 3b, Professional Capabilities. In order to fully demonstrate the firm’s qualifications, would the District consider increasing the page count in Section E to accommodate all disciplines? If not, does the District prefer certain disciplines over others, and if so, can you please list?”

The Section E limit of 20 resumes, 20 pages total, will not be increased.

The firms submitting SF 330 packages are to determine which disciplines they want to emphasize.

NSS

7/17/2020 at

2:03 pm

7/17/2020 at 4:26

P.M.

The selection criterion ‘a’ states: “The prime firm and any subcontractors shall demonstrate recent (last 10 years) specialized experience and technical competence in or related to:”

Is it a correct assumption that the collective total experience presented by the prime and all listed subcontractors is allowed towards demonstrating the ability to meet the listed experience/competence;

i.e. the prime does not need to have all competencies internally?

The prime firm and their subcontractors will be evaluated as a team, but the prime needs to identify the functions to be subcontracted, the names of the subcontractors, experience/competence, and where the subcontractors are located. Only include subcontractors that would actually perform the anticipated work. If copies of original letters of commitment from key subcontractors are submitted this will be considered a strength in the evaluation of the SF 330s.

NSS

7/22/2020 at

1:37 pm

7/21/2020 at 11:07

A.M.

Architectural Software – the solicitation appears to list only MicroStation as acceptable software for work involving architecture (construction of new and rehabilitation of building structures and facilities).

Please confirm if Revit and other software, commonly used in Architecture, is acceptable.

Building Structures and Facilities – Please provide clarification as to what types of structures and facilities. Are these DoD structures and facilities or are they related to other federal agencies such as the VA, NPS, GSA or others?

The CAD drawing files are to be prepared using a Windows based operating system and a version of AutoDesk or Bentley product that is compatible with the latest version of that product. AutoDesk products including REVIT will be acceptable.

The types of structures and facilities have not been determined.

NSS

7/22/2020 at

1:37 pm

7/21/2020 at 7:20

P.M.

In Selection Criteria B, the solicitation notes that each team must have the following disciplines: Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Hydraulic Engineering, Value Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Geology, and Architectural Design. The same section also states “Registrations/Certifications in Hydrology, LEED, Industrial Hygiene, and Fire Protection would be optimal.” All told, if we use one resume per discipline in this section, that comes to 14 resumes.

However, in selection Criteria C, the solicitation states that each team shall have “civil engineering, environmental engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical and controls engineering, structural engineering, geotechnical engineering and geology, hydraulic engineering, hydrologist, coastal engineering, archaeologists, industrial hygienists, value engineering, architectural design, cost estimating, data management, specification writers, computer aided design and drafting (CADD) technicians, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) specialists, planners, economists, biologists, and ecologists. The firm must have available a minimum of one qualified person per discipline. Multiple qualified people for a discipline will be considered more highly qualified.” Although this criteria notes that multiple people in a given discipline would be more highly qualified, if we included only one resume per noted discipline in this section, we would be submitting 22 resumes.

Finally, in the “submission requirements” section, the solicitation notes that we are limited to 20 resumes total.

Could you please state which resumes are required within the 20? Although our team has all of the required disciplines regardless of which interpretation, I want to make sure that we are giving all of the required resumes and not leaving any off.

The SF 330 package does not need to contain a resume for each discipline. The firms submitting SF 330 packages are to determine which disciplines they want to include in the resumes and how to present information on disciplines elsewhere in the package. The approach to be taken is up to the firms submitting the SF 330 packages, but the Section E limit of 20 resumes, 20 pages total cannot be exceeded.

NSS

7/22/2020 at

2:09 pm

7/23/2020 at 2:13

P.M.

Regarding the Relevant Experience section, what scope items should we list under: “Major Scope of Work requirements as identified in the project advertisement”?

The approach to be taken and the items to include are up to the firms submitting the SF 330 packages.

NSS

7/24/2020 at

9:57 am

July 2, 2020 Questions Close July 27, 2020