AMENDMENT_0002.pdf

W912P6-13-R-0019

AMENDMENT #0002

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1. GENERAL. This amendment is being issued to answer contractors’ questions and make minor revisions to the Synopsis (as described in the answers to the questions).

2. SUBMISSION DATE. The response date and time remain unchanged at October 22, 2013 by 4:30 PM CDT.

3. ANSWERS TO CONTRACTORS’ QUESTIONS.

QUESTION 1: I have a question regarding the performance requirement with regard to personnel. The announcement includes the FAR requirement that “At least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the concern.”

Paragraph 2 (Project Information) states that “The work consists of geotechnical engineering services including: drilling, soil and rock sampling, borehole testing, well installation and pump testing, borehole and surficial geophysical testing, rock joint mapping, laboratory testing, geotechnical analyses and design, instrumentation installation and programming, quality assurance testing, and report preparation.

The announcement also includes a wide range of “specialized experience and technical competence” to be demonstrated in the responding firm’s SF 330. Although not specifically stated, the order presented for the anticipated work would imply that geotechnical data collection and instrumentation installation would probably constitute the majority, or at least a very large amount, of the price for the anticipated delivery orders. Typically geotechnical engineering firms do not contain in-house capabilities, but rather subcontract to specialty firms.

If the aforementioned FAR requirement does not preclude including those services, satisfying the FAR requirement may not be possible for most of the small business firms responding. Please address this point or possibly clarify the intent or scope of the delivery orders anticipated. If the geotechnical data collection and instrumentation installation could be excluded, or at least the scope of the anticipated delivery orders clarified, the concern would be eliminated.

ANSWER 1: The type of work under the proposed contract would be of the types listed in the announcement. The Corps disagrees with the assertion that the synopsis implies any amount of any specific type of work. The quantity of each type of work listed may be extremely variable, from extensive to none, depending the needs of the Corps as project needs develop over the duration of the contract. The FAR requirement applies to each task order placed under the contract satisfy the requirements of the clause as each order is negotiated. The decision to submit qualifications for this contract is with the firm. We encourage participation from interested firms.

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QUESTION 2: How are we to submit original subcontractor committal letters for the referenced solicitation? We have them from our subs which were e-mailed as pdf to us? Please instruct us on how to include in the package or should original be sent in us mail to USACE from each sub?

ANSWER 2: As stated in the synopsis, “copies of the original letters of commitment” are acceptable.

QUESTION 3: Item F under selection criteria, can we simply answer this with a dollar number, total awards over last 12 months?

ANSWER 3: The question is unclear; item F under selection criteria is “Geographic Proximity,” which is defined as the “geographic location of the principal design office…” If you meant to refer to item G under selection criteria, “Volume of DoD Contract Awards,” firms should provide any information which may help it win a tie-breaker between technically equal firms. The information could include a dollar number and/or total awards over the last 12 months.

QUESTION 4: “At least 50 percent of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel shall be expended for employees of the concern." I wanted to clarify whether this pertained to the total cost of the task, including subcontractors or if was related only to the hours spent related to the professional services.

ANSWER 4: The requirement pertains to the total cost of personnel employed by the concern. Which duties the personnel are performing is irrelevant.

QUESTION 5: The request asks us to send five copies of SF 330 part I and Five copies of SF 330 Part II. Do you want those sections bound into two separate documents or do you want them sent in all together bound in one document?

ANSWER 5: SF 330 parts I and II shall be submitted together in one document. The synopsis has been revised to reflect the change.

QUESTION 6: It is listed as a pre-solicitation, but has a due date for 330’s and says an award will be made. Is this a pre-solicitation or solicitation?

ANSWER 6: The announcement operates as a pre-solicitation; for Architect-Engineer acquisitions, the solicitation is not posted to fbo.gov. However, submittals are required from this pre-solicitation notice. Through the evaluation process, an Architect- Engineer firm is selected to be furnished a solicitation and to negotiate a contract. As stated in the announcement, "Firms responding to this announcement before the p 3 closing date will be considered for selection. Following an evaluation of the qualifications and performance data submitted, four or more firms that are considered the most highly qualified will be chosen for interviews. Selection of firms for negotiation shall be made in order of preference based on demonstrated competence and qualifications necessary to satisfy the performance in accordance with the specific selection criteria listed in the announcement."

4. ACKNOWLEDGE AMENDMENT. Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation, or as amended by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing Item 4 below, and returning 1 copy of the amendment;

(b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

(c) By an email which includes reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers.

5. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMENDMENT:

NAME OF CONTRACTOR _____________________________

NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER _____________________________

SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED PERSON _____________________________

DATE SIGNED _____________________________