Questions and Answers - May 13, 2009.pdf

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

MAY 13, 2009

SOLICITATION NOS. W91238-09-R-0017 & W91238-09-R-0018

1. QUESTION: Section Ld.(3)Tab 3: Factor Three - Organizational Plan: Does "entity" mean the name of an individual, the firm's office, and/or the firm's business group? The solicitation requests that the offeror’s Organizational Plan identify which entity will be managing the contract...and which entity(s) will be responsible for providing.... flood damage reduction studies, economic analyses (flood risk management and benefit/cost analysis), watershed studies, ecosystem studies, flood plain studies, and civil and military environmental (including natural and cultural resources) planning analysis, compliance, and management."

ANSWER: In instances where this Factor Three requests the identification of an individual, as in “identifies the name, title, and location of the single point of contact for the Government on this contract, ” it is obvious that we are asking for the name of an individual. In the other instances, where the word entity(s) is used, it is up to the discretion of the offeror to decide how to address this factor.

As stated in the solicitation, the Government will be reviewing this information to

“…..1. To determine the offeror’s ability to respond to the requirements of the contract in order to provide expeditious, responsive, and cost effective service; 2. To determine the offeror’s understanding of the organizational coordination necessary for proper operation/management of the contract; and 3. To determine the size, technical diversity and organizational structure of the team and which entity will be responsible for the different aspects of the work, and if the proper balance of these services have been proposed, including the distribution of work between in-house staff and team/key subcontractors.”

2. QUESTION: Section Ld.(3)Tab 1: Factor One - Organizational Experience -

Planning and Environmental Studies Projects: Can an offeror submit a specific project as a single “project” if it was performed under multiple contract vehicles for the same customer?

ANSWER: Yes.

3. QUESTION: Section Ld.(3)Tab 1: Factor One - Organizational Experience - Planning and Environmental Studies Projects: Can an offeror submit two separate and distinct “contracts/programs” that each consist of multiple TOs that were performed under the same GSA Schedule contract but for a different customer? For example, under one overall GSA Schedule, Tetra Tech performed several task orders for Ft. Irwin, and another few task orders for CESPK Planning. We would like to represent these as two separate contract/program descriptions.

4. QUESTION: Section Ld(3)Tab 4: Factor Four - Socio-economic Considerations: This section is identified as “Socio-economic Factors” in the table shown in L(d)(2). Please clarify which nomenclature should be used in our submittal.

ANSWER: Socio-economic Considerations. Amendment No. 0004 on W91238-09-R-0018 corrects this.

5. QUESTION: Attachment 2: Service Contractor Data – Summary Form, “Service Rendered” box. Please clarify if you want us to indicate the service capabilities of the corporation or the service capability or specialty of each branch office in this box?

ANSWER: Brief description of the service capabilities of just the offeror

6. QUESTION: Attachment 2: Service Contractor Data – Summary Form. For the “Date Organized” box, does this box remain blank if we have not organized a Joint Venture but are an incorporated firm? In this case, would we fill in the next box, “Date Incorporated: State:” box, instead?

7. QUESTION: Attachment 2: Service Contractor Data – Summary Form, Section “I. Present Payroll Personnel (List Number of Each Category Below)” box. This box asks us to list categories and there are no categories specified.

Please clarify which categories we are to list.

ANSWER: See Amendment No. 0004 on W91238-09-R-0018 & Amendment No. 0003 on W91238-09-R-0017.

8. QUESTION: Attachment 2: Service Contractor Data – Summary Form, Section “II. Equipment Owned” box. As a corporation, we own extensive equipment. Please specify what type of equipment we are to list? Do you want a list or type of equipment owned by the offices proposed for this project?

ANSWER: No, just the prime.

QUESTION: Are you interested in heavy construction equipment related to civil work, office equipment, meters, measuring devices, etc.? Please specify the types of equipment information sought for this procurement. The list of all equipment owned could take numerous pages.

ANSWER: Equipment owned by the offeror—prime office only. Whatever boilerplate equipment listing an offeror has. The preaward survey is used for determination of responsibility.

9. QUESTION: Attachment 2: Service Contractor Data – Summary Form, Section “V. Largest Job Ever Contracted (If other than in past three years)” box. Please clarify the type of information you are requesting for this box, i.e., project name, client, contract number, dollar value, period of performance? Or do you just want a dollar value and date?

ANSWER: Pre-Award Survey is amended in Amendment No. 0004 to W91238-09-R-0018 and Amendment No. 0003 to W91238-09-R-0017.

10. QUESTION: Can IDIQ contracts be submitted as "projects"?

11. QUESTION: Can bidders assume that the Corps evaluators would consider (not reject from consideration or disfavor) an IDIQ submitted as a "project", with individual task orders completed or substantially completed under that IDIQ identified in the narrative and other descriptive information submitted under tabs # 1 and # 2 for that "project"?

ANSWER: Yes.

12. QUESTION: Regarding the IDIQ for planning and environmental studies within the SPD boundaries, small business procurement (W91238-09-R-0017), please clarify the following language given on page 116, at Section L(5)(d)Tab 1, Factor 1: "Provide information in the format in ATTACHMENT No. 3, section J, for up to 5 projects/contracts (projects can be task orders or contracts)...." It is clear from the language that "projects" submitted to document Factor 1, Organizational Experience, and Factor 2, Past Performance Quality, can be individual task orders (assumedly issued under an IDIQ, but maybe not always). What is less clear is whether "projects" submitted to document Factors 1 and 2 can also be IDIQ's themselves. Can IDIQ's be submitted as "projects"? If yes, then can bidders assume that the Corps evaluators would consider (not reject from consideration or disfavor) an IDIQ submitted as a "project", with individual task orders completed or substantially completed under that IDIQ identified in the narrative and other descriptive information submitted under tabs # 1 and # 2 for that "project"?

ANSWER: Yes and Yes.

13. QUESTION: The "Sample formats in Section J, attachment No. 1-5" - Do these examples show exactly the format we are to use or are they just showing the information required and the order in which to be answered?

ANSWER: They are the formats to be used.

14. QUESTION: With respect to obtaining past performance reviews under Factor 2, please confirm who the questionnaire should be provided to in a situation where a firm was a subcontractor to another firm. Should the questionnaire be sent to the prime or the agency for which the work was completed?

ANSWER: The solicitation states on Page 109," F. REFERENCES/PRIMARY POINTS OF CONTACT: (For prime contractors, use the project owner. For subcontractors, use the business concern that awarded the subcontract.....")

15. QUESTION: With regard to W91238-09-R-0018 for indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity multiple award task order contracts for planning and environmental studies within the Corps of Engineers, South Pacific Division (SPD) boundaries, Attachments 3 and 4 describe format for project descriptions and client reference information. Can firms who acted as subconsultants to another firm on a government project use the government project manager/contracting officer as a reference, or must the reference come from the contracting firm holding the government contract? In other words, can a subcontractor use the contracting government agency as a reference rather than the prime consultant?

ANSWER: The solicitation states on Page 109," F. REFERENCES/PRIMARY POINTS OF CONTACT: (For prime contractors, use the project owner. For subcontractors, use the business concern that awarded the subcontract.....")

16. QUESTION: The solicitation directs us to mark the title page with the following legend: “This proposal includes data that shall not be disclosed outside the Government and shall not be duplicated, used, or disclosed--in whole or in part--for any purpose other than to evaluate this proposal. If, however, a contract is awarded to this offeror as a result of--or in connection with-- the submission of this data, the Government shall have the right to duplicate, use, or disclose the data to the extent provided in the resulting contract.

This restriction does not limit the Government's right to use information contained in this data if it is obtained from another source without restriction. The data subject to this restriction are contained in sheets [insert numbers or other identification of sheets].”

By “title page” do you mean the outside cover of each volume of the proposal, or the proposal cover sheet that belongs in Tab 1 of the price proposal?

ANSWER: The outside cover of each volume of the proposal.

17. QUESTION: Page 135 of the solicitation: Item (b) beneath Identification of Uncompensated Overtime states: “(b) For any proposed hours against which an uncompensated overtime rate is applied, the offeror shall identify in its proposal the hours in excess of an average of 40 hours per week, by labor category at the same level of detail as compensated hours, and the uncompensated overtime rate per hour, whether at the prime or subcontract level.” By “the offeror shall identify in its proposal” do you mean the proposal we are submitting in response to this solicitation (due May 27), or do you mean proposals that will be submitted on task orders once the contracts are awarded?

ANSWER: The proposal you are submitting in response to this solicitation due May 27th.

----- Pre-Award Survey (page 107) form for Tab 4 of the price proposal:

If the offeror decides to pursue this contract as a joint venture, how should the items listed below from the Pre-Award Survey (page 107 of the RFP) be addressed?

18. QUESTION: As a joint venture formed specifically to pursue this contract, does the “Date Incorporated” and “State” need to be filled out, or will it be adequate to simply denote the “Date Organized”?

ANSWER; Since each entity of the joint venture will complete preaward surveys, the date incorporated and the state will be included for each of the corporations, if they are corporations.

19. QUESTION: As a new joint venture, the items in boxes “I – Present Payroll Personnel,” “II – Equipment Owned,” and “III – Financial Data” would conceivably be N/A as the JV has no previous work experience as an entity. Should these boxes be filled in as “N/A” or should we provide the information for the individual corporations that comprise the JV?

ANSWER: Since each entity of the joint venture will need to complete a separate preaward survey, you will be providing the information for the individual corporations that comprise the JV.

20. QUESTION: Can you please define what is meant by “Total Value of Work in Past 3 Years Exclusive of Joint Venture”? As a joint venture, do we need to provide this information for each corporation that comprises the JV?

Additional questions regarding the Pre-Award Survey:

21. QUESTION: Under Payroll Personnel it says to “list number of each category below” but there are no categories listed. Please clarify.

ANSWER; See Amendment No. 0004 for W91238-09-R-0018 and Amendment No. 0003 for W91238-09-R-0017.

22. QUESTION: What types of equipment are you expecting us to list under

“II – Equipment Owned”?

ANSWER: A boilerplate listing of equipment that is owned by the prime entity submitting an offer. If it is a joint venture, each member of the JV will submit a listing.

23. QUESTION: Are consolidated financial statements adequate or are you looking for full financial statement (i.e. Form 10-K) (Joint Venture Question) ANSWER: We expect to see a financial statement for each entity of the joint venture.

These financial statements are comprised of balance sheets which reflect assets and liabilities, and statements of income.

-----------------SF 33 blocks 16 and 17 (page 3 and 4):

24. QUESTION: If we are a corporation submitting as a member of a joint venture, do we have to fill out both items “(1) – Joint Venture” and “(3) – Corporation”, or just item (1)?

ANSWER: Just Item (1)

25. QUESTION: There is only one “Corporation Authorization to Participate in Joint Venture Certificate” provided under item (1). Does only one member of the JV have to fill this out, or can we modify the form to add a second certificate for the other JV member?

ANSWER: Both members of the JV need to complete the "Corporation Authorization to Participate in Joint Venture", so you will need to either modify the form or xerox the page for each member of the joint venture to use.

26. QUESTION: Where can resumes be placed (under which tab) in the existing lay-out?

ANSWER: There are four technical evaluation factors in Solicitation No. W91238-09-R-0018. Please address the requested information in the format described in the solicitation.

27. QUESTION: Can a new tab be created/included for resumes?

ANSWER: No, please address the requested information in the format described in the solicitation.

28. QUESTION: Can general discussion of firm’s technical expertise be included under Tab Factor 2 – Past Performance Quality – Planning and Environmental Studies?

ANSWER: No, please address the requested information in the format described in the solicitation.

29. QUESTION: Can a new tab be created/included for technical expertise?

ANSWER: No, please address the requested information in the format described in the solicitation.

----------------------------------the RFP states that for:

“F. REFERENCES/PRIMARY POINTS OF CONTACT: (For prime contractors…If possible, provide at least one reference from each category below. …) G. Describe…THE GOVERNMENT IS ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN EXPERIENCE IN: 1. Flood Damage Reduction Studies; 2. Economic Analyses including Flood Risk Management and Benefit/Cost Analysis; 3. Watershed Studies; 4. Ecosystem Restoration Studies; 5. Flood Plain Studies; 5. Civil and Military Environmental (Natural Resources & Cultural Resources) Planning, Analysis, Compliance, & Management.”

Then, .......the RFP states that the consultant shall “Provide information ...for up to 5 projects/contracts…”

30. QUESTION: Since there are actually 6 categories, may we provide project reference information for up to 6 projects contracts in Factor One, one for each category?

ANSWER: No. The solicitation allows for " up to 5 projects/contracts."

31. QUESTION: On page 7 of the RFP, there is a place to put the consultant’s ODC Multiplier “to be applied as appropriate to other direct costs (ODCs) and consistent with the offeror’s accounting system.” Can you please provide further clarification regarding the definition and applicability of this Multiplier?

ANSWER: The multiplier is equivalent to the "indirect cost rate to be applied as appropriate to other direct costs (ODCs) and consistent with offeror's accounting system."

32. QUESTION: I have a question about solitation # W9123809r0017. In attachment 3, section G, item 4, it states: “Were any of the key personnel proposed for the current acquisition utilized in the same capacity on this project? If so, state which.” I do not see anywhere in the proposal where key personnel are asked for, so, I am unsure how to respond to this item.

ANSWER: Technical Factor Three- Organization Plan asks for the identification of some individuals. However, the acquisition does not ask for resumes of key personnel.

However, an offeror will be able to answer this question from the knowledge that they possess about who they are planning on working on the contract.

33. QUESTION: ref: solicitation # 291238-09-R-0018, Planning and Environmental Services Can you confirm that if the Government awards 3 IDIQ MATOCs then just three firms/JVs will receive an award or is it a number of different firms will be receive an award within a single MATOC? In other words, will just 3 firms receive awards (one per MATOC) or will there be 3 groups of firms receiving awards (more than one firm per

MATOC)?

ANSWER: If the Government awards 3 IDIQ MATOCs then just three firms/JVs will receive an award.

34. QUESTION: We are considering to respond to this solicitation. Could you kindly let me know who the incumbents are for this contract?

Unrestricted Contractors: MWH Americas Inc, 3321 Power Inn Road, Ste 300, Sacramento, CA (916)924-8844; Tetratech, 10860 Gold Center Drive, #200, Rancho Cordova, CA (916)852-8300; HDR/Jones & Stokes, Joint Venture, 2365 Iron Point Road, Ste 300, Folsom, CA (916)817-4700; Brown & Caldwell/CDM Joint Venture, 10540 White Rock Road, Ste 180, Rancho Cordova, CA (916)444-0123;

Small Business Set-Aside Contractors:

Gulf South Research Corporation, 8081 GSRI Avenue, Bton Rouge, LA 70820 (225)757-8088; North State Resources Inc., 5000 Bechelli Lane, Suite 203, Redding, CA96002 (530)222-5347

35. QUESTION: We have thoroughly reviewed the Solicitation and noticed that it does not mention the Standard Form 330. Please clarify whether or not a SF-330 is required of the Prime and its Subconsultants? If so, please confirm that all sections of the SF-330 should be included in the submittal.

ANSWER: Since this procurement is not an Architect-Engineer Services contract, no SF330 is involved.

36. QUESTION regarding W91238-09-R-0017- Our firm is certified small business and is interested in providing an offer for the subject solicitation. Our question is: Since the procurement is set aside 100% for small business are the sub-contractors subject to small business qualification requirements as well as the prime?

ANSWER: No. However, Federal Acquisition Regulation clause 52.219-14 Limitations on Subcontracting does apply.

37. QUESTION: The "Sample formats in Section J, attachment No. 1-5" - Do these examples show exactly the format we are to use or are they just showing the information required and the order in which to be answered?

ANSWER: The format to be used

38. QUESTION: In reviewing Solicitation No. W91238-09-R-0017 for IDIQ, there appears to be missing text on page 32. At the top of the page, the paragraph that begins with "(i) Dry paper and paperboard..." appears to prematurely end with the word "resulting". The next paragraph begins with the words "special district," This paragraph and all the text that follows appears to be part of a different section heading. Therefore, there appears to be an unkown amount of missing text on page 32.

Is there anything significant missing?

ANSWER: Amendment to both solicitations corrected this error.

39. QUESTION: In reviewing the soliciation I did not see a request for resumes for proposed staff. Would it be permissible to include these as an appendix?

ANSWER: No

40. QUESTION: Do you know if this is a new IDIQ contract or if a similar one has already been issued by the US Army Corps?

ANSWER: Similar contracts exist and the names of the present contractors are listed in the answer above.

41. QUESTION: Also, I read where 4 awards will be issued to the small business interests. Do you know if the 4 awards will be split amongst different geographic regions within the South Pacific Division boundaries?

ANSWER: The four awards will not be split among the regions. If they were to be split among the regions, the solicitation would have to state that.

42. QUESTION: Alternatively, do you know if the proposed work/projects will be located in certain geographic regions, and if so, which ones?

ANSWER: The solicitation states that the region covers the South Pacific Division boundaries which can be accessed at the website that is listed on Page 9 of the solicitation and which covers the areas listed in Paragraph 1 on Page 9.

I've included the direct link to a map that can be accessed on the South Pacific Division website and it is:

http://www.usace.army.mil/ABOUT/Pages/Locations.aspx

43. QUESTION: We are certainly interested in the work and we are wondering if the Army Corps would be interested/would consider a Statement of Qualifications from a stand-alone, small business, cultural resources management firm?

ANSWER: No. Offerors wishing to participate in this procurement have two choices:

1. To participate as a prime contractor and to submit a proposal in response to the requirements of the solicitation; or

2. To participate as a subcontractor to a prime contractor. One tool a potential subcontractor might use is to view the "interested vendors" list in Fedbizopps and to contact potential prime contractors.

44. QUESTION: In the past when responding to state/federal procurements we have used the SF 330, should I be using the SF 330 for this response?

ANSWER: The form to use is the SF33 which is the second page of the solicitation and is labeled the "Solicitation, Offer and Award" form. The SF330 form that you are referring to is used in Architect-Engineering procurements covered under the Brooks Act and this is not an Architect-Engineering procurement.

45. QUESTION: What is the DD Form 1707 and should I be using this instead?

ANSWER: The DD Form 1707 is an instructional form only.

46. QUESTION: I'm also confused about the "Section A", it doesn't seam to be labeled as such in the solicitation paperwork is it pages 3-4?

ANSWER: Section A is comprised of the solicitation contract form which are the first four pages of the solicitation. The SF 33 is the second page of the solicitation.

47. QUESTION: Section K, representations and certifications (section K & registration in www.orca.gov <http://www.orca.gov/> ) When going to this website I get a "unable to open" message, is this the right website?

ANSWER: Amendments correct the website address.

48. QUESTION: Several sections of the Technical Proposal has a restriction on using 8 1/2" x 11" pages. Would the District consider allowing graphics such as Figure or Charts to be on 11"x17"?

ANSWER; No.

49. QUESTION: In Factor 1 of the Technical Proposal, there is a limit of "four 8 1/2"x11" pages per reference project. We assume that there is no limit on the overall Factor 1, therefore we can have a 2 page introduction to the section prior to the reference projects.

ANSWER: No

50. QUESTION: Under Tab 5 - Reps and Certs paragraph on p. 126, it states that "If the offeror is a Joint Venture, all participants must separately complete both the ORCA Representations and certifications and Section k". Is it acceptible for the JV to provide Representation and Certification for the JV and not have to do them separately for each member of the JV?

ANSWER: No

51. QUESTION; In Part I Section B, various technical labor categories are listed but do not provide classifications for personnel to conduct noise and airspace analysis as requested in Section C. 2. items 22, 24, and 25. Are we limited to those labor categories or can we add those that are necessary to support that component of the statement of contractor services?

ANSWER: Note #4, Page 8 states, "4. The job titles and classifications included in the pricing schedule are the Government's anticipated job titles and classifications. All offerors must include and price all of these job titles and classifications as a minimum,” .

52. QUESTION: Please confirm the time proposals are due on May 27th. One “Changed” link on the website indicates 2:00 Eastern while other links indicate Pacific.

The solicitation indicates “local” time.

ANSWER: The due date and time have not changed. Proposals are still due on May 27, 2009, at 2:00 P.M, local California time. Local California time is presently Pacific Daylight Savings Time. The word "Eastern" on the FedBizOpps website has been corrected to read "Pacific".