A-E RFI QA-08-21-12.pdf

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

FOR INFORMATION ONLY

WA A-E INDEFINITE DELIVERY CONTRACT

WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT, WASHINGTON, D.C.

W912DR-12-R-0003

AUGUST 20, 2012

QUESTION NO. 1: Can you clarify the subcontracting requirements? Will subcontractors have to be named in the submittal; and if not, how can a WBE/MBE firm market themselves to the awarded firms?

ANSWER NO. 1: An Organizational chart is required that shows a firm’s proposed team members.

Firms that identify themselves as “Interested Vendors” on FBO will be able to access the list of other firms that have also identified themselves as “Interested Vendors” for this solicitation. In addition, the sign in sheet from the orientation will be posted in this amendment.

QUESTION NO. 2: We are a Small Business intending to submit a proposal for this solicitation as a Prime Consultant. Will our Small Business status count towards the 17% subcontracting goal required for this solicitation or will we also need a Small Business subcontractor to fulfill this goal?

ANSWER NO. 2: Per Far 19.702 B.1 Small Business are exempt from submitting a Subcontracting Plan.

QUESTION NO. 3: If we decide to submit a proposal for this solicitation as a Prime Consultant, can we also be a Small Business Subcontractor for another Prime as well?

ANSWER NO. 3: Yes.

QUESTION NO. 4: In the Solicitation it asks specifically for detailed information on “Work and Design Quality Management Plan”. I am not sure where to put that within the SF 330 format. Can I just create a section where the org chart goes in Part 1 with the above title?

ANSWER NO. 4: This information would go in Part 1, Section H - Additional Information.

QUESTION NO. 5: Could you clarify the role of the Visualization Technician?

ANSWER NO. 5: A visualization technician is someone who can provide conceptual and technical input on the best way to present information via charts, poster boards, brochures and other visual aids for meetings, conferences and presentations.

QUESTION NO. 6: Could you please tell us which firm(s) currently holds this contract and also the amounts that were awarded on prior contracts?

ANSWER NO. 6: The current incumbents are: ARCADIS, CDM Smith, Hazen & Sawyer and Narasimhan Consulting Services, Inc. (NCS). The prior solicitation was for a total $14.99M over 3 years.

However, the amount awarded to individual A-Es is privileged information.

QUESTION NO. 7: Please clarify "location of the firm, which must establish an office staffed by a principal within 75 miles of the Baltimore District, Washington Aqueduct Division". Does this mean 75 miles from Wash. D.C. or Baltimore?

ANSWER NO. 7: It means 75 miles from the Washington Aqueduct, which is located at 5900 MacArthur Boulevard, NW, Washington, DC 20016.

QUESTION NO. 8: The solicitation states that “Part II of the SF 330 must be submitted for each consultant to the address below, no later than the close of business on the 30th day after the date of this announcement.” The 30th day after the date of the announcement is September 2nd. The next business day is September 4th. Does this mean that Part II is due on September 4th and Part I is due on September 5th?

ANSWER NO. 8: This is clarified in the amendment. The SF330 and all Parts are due on Sept 5, 2012.

QUESTION NO. 9: Could you please tell me the hours of operation of USACE mail room District Office at 10 South Howard Street in Baltimore?

ANSWER NO. 9: The USACE mail room hours are from 8am to 4pm. If you are dropping your proposals off make sure they dropped off on the 7th Floor Contracting Office.

QUESTION NO. 10: Would the government consider changing the time this proposal is due on September 5, 2012 from 1000 hours to 1400 hours in order to allow for fed priority delivery which does not guarantee delivery earlier than 1030 hours?

ANSWER NO. 10: This is clarified in the amendment. All proposals will be due at 1100 hrs on September 5, 2012.

QUESTION NO. 11: There are separate percentages required for service-disabled veteran-owned small business and veteran-owned small business. If you exceed the percentage requirement for the SDVOSB can you count this against the percentage requirement for VOSB? Thank you for the clarification.

ANSWER NO. 11: A SDVOSB is automatically a VOSB. SDVOSB subcontracting goal achievements may also be applied to VOSB subcontracting goal achievements. However, if you are a VOSB this does not make you a SDVOSB.

QUESTION NO. 12: For each task order, will the Washington Aqueduct request proposals from multiple firms and use price as a factor in selecting the firm for the proposed work?

ANSWER NO.12: Aside from those instances when the Government sets a task order aside for the small business firm, for each task order over $3,000, the Government will follow a fair opportunity process prior to selecting a firm for negotiation. The Government will only request a proposal from the firm selected for negotiation. For orders between $3,000 and $150,000, the Government may make the selection by reviewing the SF330 submitted in response to this solicitation and past performance information. For orders exceeding $150,000, the Government will notify all firms that it intends to select a firm for an upcoming task order, and will afford them the opportunity to provide additional information to the Government regarding their qualifications for that project.