RFI's_Amendment_1.pdf

AE 1 & 2

Amendment #1

Responses to RFI’s

1. Question: Will the associated commissioning work as outlined in this solicitation a prime contract, or is it intended to be included as a sub-contract to the base AE contract?

Answer: The work to be performed under this contract includes a broad variety of architect and engineering services as specified in the solicitation. Commissioning may be one aspect of the services provided but is not intended to be the primary type of work.

2. Question: Does the Small Business Participation Plan (SBPP) count towards the allotted 125 page limit?

Answer: No. The Small Business Participation Plan (SBPP) does not count towards the allotted 125 page limit.

3. Question: Is there a preferred template for offerors to use for the SBPP?

Answer: No. There is not a template for the SBPP.

4. Question: Could you please confirm that a Subcontracting Plan is not required in this initial submission and will only be required from the selected firms?

Answer: A SBPP and Subcontracting Plan are required in the initial submission.

5. Question: Is it acceptable to hand-deliver submissions to the RSFO office located at 300 Sentinel Drive?

If so, are prior arrangements needed?

Answer: Please deliver all proposals at the Baltimore District Office located at 10 Howard Street, Room 7000, Baltimore, Maryland 21201-2536.

6. Question: Do all sub-consultants for this contract also have to have an active Top Secret Facility Clearance, or does this only pertain to the prime or JV?

Answer: An active Top Secret Facility Site Clearance (TSFSC) is only required for the prime contractor(s), so sub-consultants may be submitted that do not possess the TSFSC.

7. Question: Per the solicitation there is a Top Secret Clearance requirement for the Prime Contractor. It specifically states that if the prime is a Joint Venture, that the Joint Venture must have the clearance. There is also a Small Business Plan requirement; however, it does not clearly state if the small business or the sub-contractor must also have the Top Secret Clearance to participate.

Can you please clarify if the sub-contractors and small businesses must also have the Top Secret clearances to participate on the team to be eligible to win this A/E opportunity? Please clarify the requirements.

Answer: Refer to the answer in Question No. 6. An active Top Secret Facility Clearance (TSFSC) is only required for the prime contractor(s), so sub-consultants may be submitted that do not possess the TSFSC.

8. Question: Our firm has an active Top Secret Facility Security Clearance approved by the Defense Security Service (DSS) and with this capability HDR is cleared to hold TS level discussions which we will designate as a JV TS Facility for this contract. We have the appropriate paper work prepared for that designation;

however, the facility cannot be formally designated for the JV without a sponsor – which in this case would be RFSO under this contract. The solicitation requires the JV to have “an active TOP SECRET Facility Site Clearance.” Is the existence of an active top secret facility with clearance adequate under the terms of this solicitation? If not, the solicitation would seemingly preclude JV’s from proposing on this contract.

Answer: As stated in the solicitation, all offerors must have an active Top Secret Facilities Site Clearance (TSFSC) at the time the offer is due, at time of award, and thorough out the life of the contract. In the event of a Joint Venture (JV), the clearance requirement will apply to the JV. JVs that have previously worked together may already have a TSFSC. However, an active TSFSC is only required for the prime contractor(s), so sub-consultants may be submitted that do not possess the RSFSC. The Government does not provide sponsorship or assist in obtaining a clearance. If you do not possess an active TSFSC at the time and date the proposals are due, you would not be eligible for award.

9. Question: Under Factor 2, we are instructed to provide "all clearance information for personnel submitted in the F330, Section H".

• Can you clarify exactly what you mean by "all clearance information"?

• Is a table showing the full names and current clearance status of each person sufficient?

• Are Social Security numbers required so that USACE can verify the clearances using JPAS? (We recommend against this due to sensitivity of personal information)

Answer: A table showing the names, discipline and current clearance status of each person is sufficient.

10. Question: In Factor 1 the solicitation says not to use an IDIQ as a project, individual task orders are projects. My question is this: We have a project that is made up of multiple task orders for the same project on the same site. Can we use multiple task orders for one project in this instance?

Answer: If multiple task orders for the same project are awarded from the same IDIQ, then they may be presented as a single project for this solicitation as long as there is sufficient write-up to describe the work performed by the A-E.

11. Question: We would like to know if our in-house commissioning agent(s) can be included. Both of our commissioning agents are certified CxA ASHRAE Commissioning Process Management Professionals.

That’s not listed in the paragraph below:

“The Commissioning Specialist shall be a licensed professional engineer, and be certified by one of the following organizations: Building Commissioning Association (BCA), National Environmental Balancing Bureau (NEBB), AABC Commissioning Group (ACG), or Association of Energy Engineers (AEE). Any individual that has been the subject of disciplinary action by respective commissioning organizations within the five years preceding Contract Award is not eligible to perform any duties related to Commissioning.

The Commissioning Specialist shall also have documented experience as the lead person responsible for commissioning of building systems of similar type, scope, and complexity and must have at least two projects for which the individual was the documented Commissioning Authority for a LEED certified project. Where a single individual does not have the required experience in commissioning of both mechanical and electrical systems, multiple individuals with the necessary qualifications as stated above shall be engaged under the management of a designated Lead Commissioning Specialist.”

Please let me know if you will accept a certified CxA ASHRAE Commissioning Process Management Professional as the commissioning agent.

Answer: Yes. As long as the individuals meet the requirements set forth in the announcement.