Synopsis Value Engineering - AE Services - W9128F24R0022.pdf

Synopsis for A-E Value Engineering Services

INDEFINITE DELIVERY CONTRACTS FOR ARCHITECT-ENGINEER SERVICES

FOR

OMAHA DISTRICT, U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

Reference number: W9128F24R0022

1. CONTRACT INFORMATION

This contract is being procured in accordance with the Brooks Architect-Engineer (A-E) Act as implemented in FAR Subpart 36.6 and EP 715-1-7 Architect-Engineer Contracting in USACE. This acquisition will be used to procure highly specialized services required to provide A-E services in support of the Value Engineering Program, Omaha District, Northwestern Division, US Army Corps of Engineers

(USACE).

The Government intends to award a target of five (5) Indefinite Delivery Contracts, with a seven-year ordering period (5-year base with a 2-year option period) and $20,000,000 in shared capacity. There will be a $2,500 minimum guarantee, and task order maximums will be limited to the amount of available remaining contract capacity.

Work will be issued by negotiated firm-fixed price task orders. The Government anticipates that future task orders will range from $100,000 to $250,000. When the Government awards a task order under this MATOC, the Contracting Officer will notify all A-E firms within the MATOC pool of the task order requirement. The Task Order Requirement Notice (TORN) will include a short summary of the scope of work and may include a Request for Supplemental Information tailored to the specific task order requirement. Using the selection criteria specified in FAR 36.602-1, the selection board will evaluate the SF-330s on file and any TORN responses (if requested) to determine the five most highly qualified firms for the specific task order requirement. The board will submit a report to the Source Selection Authority who will then make the selection in accordance with the AFARS 5136.602-4 and 5136.602-5 and USACE implementation guidance. The Government also reserves the right to ask for updated SF-330s later or at a task order level from the firms awarded a contract under this announcement.

This synopsis is set aside for Small Business Participation under North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code 541330, which has a Small Business size standard of $25,500,000 in annual average gross receipts over the past three years. Selected and successful firms will be required to comply with the subcontracting limitations as set forth by the FAR Clause 52.219-14 LIMITATIONS ON SUBCONTRACTING, wherein stated in pertinent part, “Services (except construction). At least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the concern.” The wages and benefits of service employees (see FAR 22.10) performing under these contracts must be at least equal to those determined by the Department of Labor under the Service Contract Act.

Service wage rates will be determined relative to the employee’s office location rather than the location of the work.

Additionally, in accordance with FAR Part 22.1303, all firms must complete their VETS-4212 report.

Information can be found at the Department of Labor website (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/vets4212) or via the service center at 1-866-237-0275; this will require the company name, employer identification number (EIN), and DUNS number.

https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/programs/vets4212

Contract award is anticipated by October 2024. To be eligible for contract award, the Contractor must register in the System for Award Management. Registration is free and Contractors can access the site at http://www.sam.gov. Contractors must ensure that representations and certifications in SAM are current.

If the experience of key subcontractors is offered for any experience requirements, then a Letter of Commitment between the A-E firm or joint venture partnership and the subcontractor is required.

The Letter of Commitment must be signed by both parties to be considered. If the Letter of Commitment is not signed by both parties, the Experience of the subcontractor will not be considered.

2. PROJECT INFORMATION

The A-E services will be required to have sufficient staff, flexibility, and capability to be available on an as-needed basis. Services of qualified A-E firms are sought to conduct and/or participate in Value Engineering studies and related technical review and design analysis of civil, military, and infrastructure projects. Work will primarily be provided for Omaha District of the Corps of Engineers, Northwestern Division. However, other Districts within USACE may also require VE support services. Study reports shall comply with Corps of Engineers Value Engineering guidance as set out in ER 11-1-321 and other applicable guidance.

Multi-disciplined A-E services to be performed include, but are not limited to, the following. The project information is not listed in order of importance.:

(i) Perform third-party Value Engineering for designs done within the USACE Enterprise, primarily for USACE Northwestern Division and more specifically for Omaha District;

(ii) Conduct, document, and/or participate in Value Engineering (VE) studies, planning and design charettes (development of conceptual project plan or design) and related technical review and design analysis of civil works, military, and other projects for the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

(iii) Planning and design of hurricane protection, navigation, flood control, environmental protection, ecosystem restoration, hazardous, toxic, and radiological waste control and/or treatment, military facilities, and urban infrastructure.

(iv) Project features encompass such items as embankments, channels, floodwalls, hydraulic structures, gates, bank protection, structures, structure foundations, sheet piling, roads, bridges, dredging, pumping stations, environmental protection, appurtenant structures, military barracks, military operations facilities, child development centers, military medical facilities, Department of Veterans Affairs facilities, Federal facilities of any type and size, and other miscellaneous civil and military works.

(v) Studies will be conducted by a multi-disciplinary team led by a facilitator with current certification by the Society of American Value Engineers (SAVE) International as a Certified Value Specialist (CVS) or equivalent certification. Studies shall be performed by a team comprised of engineers, architects, scientists, construction managers, and other subject matter experts experienced in the disciplines appropriate for designing the project feature(s) under study.

(vi) In addition to the CVS, the availability of at least one registered professional of each of the following disciplines will be required: architectural, civil, environmental (hazardous waste), structural, geotechnical, hydraulic, mechanical, electrical, construction management, cost engineering, interior design. Therefore, professional design and/or construction experience in architectural, civil, structural, geotechnical, hydraulic, hydrologic, sanitary, mechanical, and electrical engineering; survey and mapping; CAD; construction management; cost engineering; and interior design is required.

http://www.sam.gov/

Services for specific facilities or projects will be assigned by Task Orders on the IDIQ contract(s) established as a result of this solicitation. Each task order to be issued will fully describe the project to be accomplished and will identify all work to be accomplished. The firm selected would be required to have sufficient staff, flexibility, and capability to be available on an as-needed basis.

3. SELECTION CRITERIA

The selection criteria for this solicitation are listed below in descending order of importance. Criteria “a” through “e” are primary. Criterion “f” is secondary and will only be used as a “tie-breaker” among firms that are essentially technically equal. Firms providing information that further exceeds the requirements listed in this section will receive higher ratings.

a. Specialized Experience and Technical Competence

b. Professional Qualifications

c. Past Performance

d. Capacity

e. Knowledge of Locality

f. Volume of DoD Contract Awards

a. Specialized Experience and Technical Competence. Provide examples of not more than ten (10) completed projects that best demonstrate the specialized experience and technical competence of the firm and significant subcontractors working together with the firm to execute the types of projects and activities as indicated in section 2. Project Information. A project is considered completed when the Ready-to-Advertise (RTA) or equivalent final package has been submitted to the customer and accepted. The firm must demonstrate how the previous experience information is relevant to the proposed contract; relevant experience is experience similar in size, complexity, and scope of this requirement.

Only relatable experience that has occurred in the last seven years from the date of this announcement should be included and projects that were completed within the last seven years will be evaluated more favorably than those that have not. All projects cited must identify start/complete dates, size (cost and scope), and the work performed by the prime and subcontractors. Example projects shall clearly state what specific role the firm and/or key subcontractors (i.e., any subcontract which equals 10% or more of the prime contract) had including the names of the key personnel. Projects where the prime performed the majority of the work with inhouse forces will be evaluated more favorably than projects performed predominantly by subcontractors. If more than 10 projects are submitted, only the first 10 projects listed in the proposal will be evaluated. IDIQ contracts, where numerous task orders are listed together, are not acceptable as projects. Rather each task order would be considered a project. Example projects are limited to no more than 2 pages per project. (SF 330, Part I, Section F)

Criterion a Evaluation: The Government will evaluate the specialized experience of a firm based on projects and technical capabilities that demonstrate the items identified in the project information above for the prime firm and committed key subcontractors. Please note that the Government will only use the ten example projects to evaluate this factor. A firm that more effectively addresses the required specialized experience and technical competencies will be considered more highly qualified than one that is not able to. A firm that is able to demonstrate more recent and relevant experience as described above will be considered more highly qualified than one that does not.

b. Professional Qualifications. Firms shall demonstrate professional personnel qualifications and specialized experience for projects described in section 2, PROJECT INFORMATION. This section must include only individuals proposed to perform the anticipated work. Experience in the discipline in which he/she will be working must be identified on the resume. Unless otherwise noted, individuals should have no less than 10 years’ experience in the discipline that they are proposed for. The A-E should identify any past relevant experience on USACE projects. (SF 330, Part I, Sections E & G).

Provide two (2) resumes for each of the following key disciplines:

i. Certified Value Specialist

ii. Architect – Must be a registered architect.

iii. Civil Engineer – Must be a registered professional civil engineer.

iv. Structural Engineer – Must be a registered professional structural engineer.

v. Mechanical Engineer – Must be a registered professional mechanical engineer.

vi. Electrical Engineer – Must be a registered professional electrical engineer.

vii. Cost Engineer - The Government will give additional consideration for an individual with a certified cost engineer (CCE), certified cost consultant (CCC), or comparable certification.

Provide one (1) resume for each of the following key disciplines.

i. Hydraulic Engineer

ii. Geotechnical Engineer

iii. Environmental Engineer

iv. Interior Designer - The designer must be certified by the National Council of Interior Design

Qualifications (NCIDQ), a registered interior designer, or a registered architect with at least five years of experience and training in interior design.

v. Construction Management

vi. Industrial Hygienist

vii. Biologist

Criterion b Evaluation: The Government will evaluate and consider education, training, professional registration, certification, overall and relevant experience, and longevity with the firm.

Submittals should demonstrate that the firm’s staff is capable of certifying that all work is in compliance with all applicable codes and regulations. A firm that provides resumes for key personnel with greater levels of education, relevant experience, and longevity with that firm will be considered more highly qualified than one that provides less qualified personnel, with less education, less relevant experience and a shorter duration with that firm. Please note, the Government will only use SF 330, Part I, Sections E & G to evaluate this factor.

c. Past Performance. Past performance on DoD and other contracts performing work similar in size and scope as described in paragraph 2, PROJECT INFORMATION, with respect to the quality of work, compliance with performance schedules, and overall performance rating as determined by CPARS and other sources. (Note: Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQ) may be used to provide or supplement a firm’s past performance with other than U.S. Governmental clients. Firms which choose to use the PPQ may obtain a PPQ standard form by submitting a request to the below referenced POC via email.) Past performance submittals must match projects submitted for Criterion a. Specialized Experience and Technical Competence.

Criterion c Evaluation: Past Performance of the A-E, joint venture, partners, and key subcontractors on DoD and other contracts with respect to cost control, quality of work and compliance with performance schedules as determined from the PPIRS, completed PPQs other sources will be evaluated. Incomplete and unsigned PPQs will not be considered. The Government will evaluate the Offeror’s past performance to determine how relevant project work is, as described in Factor 1 Specialized Experience and Technical Competence. The Government will evaluate the Offeror’s performance to determine a confidence assessment of the Offeror’s performance. With respect to relevancy, more relevant past performance will typically be a stronger predictor of future performance and have more influence on the past performance confidence assessment than past performance of lesser relevance.

d. Capacity to Accomplish the Work. Capacity is the ability to complete task orders within a reasonably aggressive schedule. Firms shall demonstrate the capacity to accomplish multiple task orders annually with an aggregate value of $800,000 or more. The evaluation will consider the availability of an adequate number of personnel in key disciplines to complete the task orders and offeror’s project execution strategy. The evaluation will consider the key personnel identified in Sections D, E, and G of the SF 330, as well as other available staff and information provided in Section H and Part II.

A Proposed Management Plan shall be presented that articulates how efforts under this contract will be executed (to include an organizational chart) (reference SF 330, Part I, Section D) and addresses team organization (reference SF 330, Part I, Section C), any anticipated subcontractors or entities to supplement the project team, quality control procedures, program optimization as it relates to the utilization of specific testing methodologies to reduce the cost to the government, coordination of in-house disciplines and consultants required to meet work capacity and schedule. The SF 330 shall clearly indicate the primary office where the work will be performed and the staffing at that office. (SF 330, Part I, Section H, Item 2).

Criterion d Evaluation: Evaluation will be based on the board's assessment of the firm's ability to effectively address the Capacity to Accomplish Work as described above. A firm that more effectively addresses all of the Capacity requirements will be considered more highly qualified than one that is not able to. A firm that is able to effectively address all the aspects of this criteria will be considered more highly qualified than one that does not. A firm with a longer relationship with key sub-consultants may be considered more highly qualified than one with a shorter relationship with key sub-consultants.

e. Knowledge of Locality. Submittals shall demonstrate knowledge of performing the type of projects and activities as described in section 2. PROJECT INFORMATION for the multiple sites and locations within NWD. The localized knowledge includes demonstration of executing Value Engineering studies across the NWD AOR, including with the various NWD districts.

Criterion d Evaluation: The Government will evaluate the Offeror’s knowledge of locality based on the experience presented throughout the submittal.

Secondary Criteria:

f. Volume of DoD Contract Awards. Volume of DoD A-E contract awards in the last 12 months, with the objective of effecting an equitable distribution of DoD A-E contracts among qualified firms, including SB and SDB (SF 330, Part I, Section H, Item 4).

4. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

Interested firms having the capabilities to perform this work must submit SF 330 Part I, and SF 330 Part II for the prime firm and all consultants/subcontractors, to Ms. Michelle Alcover at michelle.m.alcover@usace.army.mil and Mr. Tyler Hegge at tyler.hegge@usace.army.mil. PLEASE

SEND SUBMITTAL PACKAGES AS A SINGLE PDF FILE.

Regulation requires that the Selection Board not consider any submittals received after the specified time and date. Late proposal rules in FAR 15.208 will be followed for submittals received after 2:00 p.m.

Central time on June 13th, 2024. The SF 330, 07/2021 edition, must be used, and may be obtained from the following web site: http://www.gsa.gov/portal/forms/download/116486. Include UEI number and mailto:michelle.m.alcover@usace.army.mil mailto:tyler.hegge@usace.army.mil http://www.gsa.gov/portal/forms/download/116486

CAGE code in SF 330 Part I, Section B, Block 5. Additionally, the UEI number and CAGE code should be identified in SF 330 Part I, Section C, Block 9, for EACH TEAM MEMBER.

The submittal shall have a page limit of 60 pages (Part II, Joint Venture/Teaming Arrangements, and Past Performance information is exempt from page count). A page is one side of a sheet. Blank sheets/Tabs separating the sections within the SF 330 will not count against the maximum page count. All fonts shall be at least 10 pitch or larger. Pages shall be 8.5” x 11”. Organizational charts may be presented on a sheet up to 11” x 17” inches and will be counted as one (1) page for the Organizational Charts. Anything other than Organizational Charts submitted on an 11’x17” sheet will be counted as two (2) pages.

A Part II is required for each branch office of the prime firm and any consultants/subcontractors that will have a key role in the proposed contract (i.e., a Part II is required for all entities identified in SF 330 Part I, Section C of the submittal). Cover letters, company literature and extraneous materials are not desired and will not be considered. Sections E and G of SF 330 Part I must include only individuals proposed to perform the anticipated work, including all consultants/subcontractors. In SF 330 Part I, Section G, Block 26, along with the name, include the firm with which the person is associated.

A maximum of ten (10) projects including the prime and consultants/subcontractors will be reviewed for SF 330 Part I, Section F. Use no more than two (2) pages per project. If more than ten (10) projects are submitted, only the first ten (10) projects listed in the proposal will be evaluated. When listing projects in SF 330 Part 1, Section F, an Indefinite Delivery Contract (IDC) with multiple Task Orders as examples is not considered a project; a task order executed under an IDC contract is a project.

SF 330, Part I, Section H (Additional Information) shall contain the following information:

i. Item 1 - Capacity. Reference Paragraph 3.d. Provide a narrative discussing the capacity of the design firm to meet schedules, including adequacy of qualified personnel available to meet the proposed future workload and past experience in meeting tight global schedules.

ii. Item 2 – Management Plan – Include the information requested in Paragraph 3.c.

iii. Item 3 - Volume of DoD Contract Awards – Reference Paragraph 3.f. Provide a complete listing of all DoD A-E awards within the last 12 months. For IDCs, include total value of task orders actually issued by agencies in the last 12 months, not the potential value of the IDCs. For all types of contracts, do not include for consideration options that have not been exercised.

Joint ventures shall submit the following additional documentation of the evidence of a joint venture entity: 1) Firms shall provide a copy of a legally binding joint venture agreement, and 2) Identification of the party who can legally bind the joint venture. Solicitation packages are not provided and no additional project information will be given to firms during the announcement period. This is not a request for proposal.

ALL QUESTIONS SHALL BE SUBMITTED VIA THE BIDDER INQUIRY PORTAL in ProjNet at http://www.projnet.org/projnet. Questions shall be submitted no later than June 3rd, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.

Central Time to allow time for a response. On this date and time the portal will be closed. For questions, no other means of communication, e-mail, fax, or telephone will be accepted. To submit and review inquiry items, prospective vendors will need to use the Bidder Inquiry Key presented below and follow the instructions listed below. A prospective vendor who submits a comment/question will receive an acknowledgement of their comment/question via email, followed by an answer to the comment/question after it has been processed by our team. All timely questions and approved answers will be made available through ProjNet. To submit and review inquiries, firms will need to be current registered users of the ProjNet system.

http://www.projnet.org/projnet

Registration for ProjNet Bidder Inquiry Access: (If you are already registered, go to Entering Bidder Inquiries in ProjNet Bidder Inquiry System below)

1. From the ProjNet home page link above, click on Quick Add on the upper right side of the screen.

2. Identify the Agency. This should be marked as USACE.

3. Key. Enter the Bidder Inquiry Key listed below.

4. Email. Enter the email address you would like to use for communication.

5. Click Continue. A page will then open saying that a user account was not found and will ask you to create one using the provided form.

6. Enter your First Name, Last Name, Company, City, State, Phone, Email, Secret Question, Secret Answer, and Time Zone. Make sure to remember your Secret Question and Answer as they will be used from this point on to access the ProjNet system.

7. Click Add User. Once this is completed you are now registered within ProjNet and are currently logged into the system.

Entering Bidder Inquiries in ProjNet Bidder Inquiry System:

1. For future access to ProjNet, you will not be emailed any type of password. You will utilize your Secret Question and Secret Answer to log in.

2. From the ProjNet home page link above, click on Quick Add on the upper right side of the screen.

3. Identify the Agency. This should be marked as USACE.

4. Key. Enter the Bidder Inquiry Key listed below.

5. Email. Enter the email address you used to register previously in ProjNet.

6. Click Continue. A page will then open asking you to enter the answer to your Secret Question.

7. Enter your Secret Answer and click Login. Once this is completed you are now logged into the system.

8. Follow online screen instructions to enter specific bidder inquiries for the project.

The Solicitation Number is: W9128F24R0022 The Bidder Inquiry Key is: 33JG2T-HBC2G9

The Government requests firms review the Bidder Inquiry Portal for previous questions and responses, prior to submission of a new inquiry in the Portal. Caution: Any inquiry submitted and answered within this system will be accessible to view by all interested firms on this solicitation. The call center for the ProjNet operates weekdays from 8 AM to 5 PM U.S. Central Time Zone. The telephone number is 1-

800-428-HELP.

KEY SUBCONTRACTORS: If an Offeror wishes to be credited with the experience of a key subcontract or supplier in Section F of the SF-330 (i.e., a firm that is not the prime contractor part of the Joint Venture) a letter of commitment signed by the key subcontractor and the prime contractor is required. Letters of commitment will not be counted against the overall page count. The commitment letter must be submitted even if the firm is in some way related to a Joint Venture Partner (for example, the Key Subcontractor is subsidiary of a Joint Venture Partner, or a subsidiary of a firm to which the Joint Venture partner is also a subsidiary). Letters of commitment must unequivocally state that a key subcontractor or firm will perform for the purpose that its experience is being submitted. If the Letter of Commitment is not submitted or signed by both parties, the Experience of the key subcontractor will not be considered.

Forms must be complete and current. Each firm identified as part of this contract including free-lance associates must complete a separate Part II of the SF 330. Firms may be rejected for incomplete or missing SF 330s. Part II must show only the office or offices that are intended to have a key role in the contract.

Section E and G of Part I must include only individuals proposed to perform the anticipated work, including all subcontractors or consultants, in the appropriate columns, and should not include persons that will not actually do the work. Section E must clearly show if individuals are full-time, consultants or free-lance. Do not include promotional brochures, advertisements, or other extraneous material in a submission such as prices, as this is not a request for proposal. Include the firm's point-of-contact, email address, telephone number and facsimile number in the submittal.

FILE DESCRIPTION: Include a “File Description” for each file(s) you upload as described previously. The system will include each recipient and they will receive the “File Description” in the email notice to each of the recipients you choose to have access your file(s). NOTE: Do NOT enter Privacy Act Data (Personal Identification Information (PII)) in the File Description.) Submission shall be in Adobe PDF format.

The Government will not be responsible for submissions delivered to any location or to anyone other than those designated Government personnel identified to receive proposals. Offerors are responsible for ensuring that their submitted proposals reach the designated recipient. Offerors are also responsible for allowing sufficient time for receipt of their proposal in accordance with the instructions provided.