W9133L-21-R-6000 - Fire Suppression - Synopsis Attachment (QAs) 20210519.pdf

No. Question Answer

Under Submission Requirements, the solicitation states that, “SF330,in Adobe format and the most current edition (Caution-https://www.gsa.gov/forms-library/architect-engineer-qualifications), must be used…”. However, we are instructed to provide two-page resumes and project sheets, which cannot be done using the Adobe format, and the information required in Section H requires multiple pages, which also cannot be done using the Adobe format. We are limited to the number of characters that can be provided in the Section F project title, which makes it impossible to fulfill the requirement to include the contract number or IDIQ number and individual task order number associated with the project in the title.

Please confirm that it is acceptable for the most current edition of the Adobe format to be converted to Word documents in order to provide the required information.

The SF330 PDF Section F Project Title fillable PDF allows for 135 Characters, which should be adequate to meet Project title requirement. Firm to attach additional sheets as required.

Should we include CPARS for Section F projects? If so, do you want these included with Section H or under a separate tab?

CPARS should not be included in to Section F of the SF330. CPARS can be provided under Criteria D and submitted under Section H.

As the Small Business Subcontracting Plan is not required with the SF330 submittal, we are not planning to name any small business subcontractors in our proposal and plan. Our plan is to utilize qualified local small business firms for particular services (e.g.; surveying, geotechnical services, environmental hazmat testing, etc.) with specific expertise that will be beneficial to the government.

Will the government allow the use of local subcontractors in the execution of task orders that are not named on our SF330?

Yes, a firm can use local subcontractors. However, Key subcontractors must be named and identified with required documentation for the proposed key role for which they intended to be evaluated. If a subcontractor is utilized in a "key role" resumes should be provided. Refer to Enforceability of proposal section of this synopsis.

In Criteria C, subparagraph 4 requests to demonstrate the ability to meet anticipated contract requirement if the A-E is awarded more than one contract under any of the other regions being procured for National Guard Bureau for Vertical, Horizontal, Fire Suppression, and for Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands.

Is this question directed to Small Businesses or is it also requested of “Other than Small Businesses” (Unrestricted)? If it is requested for Unrestricted firms the schedule for issuing RFPs for other regions will likely be a determining factor in our decision to pursue those other regions. Can you advise what the schedule is for releasing the other opportunities identified in subparagraph 4?

Criteria C, Subparagraph 4 is directed toward all firms. Anticipated release of other regions within the next 30 to 60 days.

Can we provide more than one resume per discipline? For example, can we provide two Project Manager resumes?

Yes. However, the firm must identify the role of each PM as it relates to their role in this requirement. Minimum requirements for the PM are described in the synopsis.

Can you provide the referenced 2014 Selection of A&E Contracts Act selection procedures

Please refer to 40 U.S. Code Chapter 11, Selection of Architects and Engineers (hereinafter referred to as the “Brooks Act”)

7 Will inclusion of a cover letter count towards the 75-page limit? No, a single page cover letter will not count towards 75-page limit

In evaluation the Project Manager qualification will registrations such as Professional Project Manager (PMP) and Certified Energy Manager (CEM) suffice for relevant professional registration?

No, License Professional engineer and/or registered architect is the minimum.

Provided additional qualifications as applicable in the SF330.

Is the definition of “Firms” (as cited in Criteria F. Secondary Criteria, 4. Geographic Proximity) inclusive of all team members (prime and subcontractors) listed in Part I, Section C.

For Geographic Proximity, the Government will be evaluating "core disciplines" within the firm. The definition of "Firms" can include the prime as well as subcontractors whose role is considered a core discipline as described in this secondary criteria.

NOTE: To avoid a conflict of interest, any contractor proposing as a prime may not have a subcontractor who is also proposing as a prime.

Is this definition of a conflict only within each of the two pools (UR and Set-Aside).

It’s very common that a UR firm will have a SB on its team, and subsequently the SB will have the same UR firm on their team for the Set-Aside contract. Would this arrangement be considered a conflict of interest?

Correct, Any contractor proposing as a prime may not be a subcontractor to a firm who is also proposing as a prime.

Sequentially number all pages of the final bound product submitted.

Please confirm there are no bound copies required and that we are to only submit electronically via DoD SAFE.

Correct, however, electronic submittals still require sequential number of all pages.

In Section H of the SF 330, describe the firm's quality management plan, including quality assurance process, coordination of in-house work, coordination with consultants, and prior experience of the prime firm and significant consultants or partner firms. Demonstrate project design-to-bid performance showing final design estimate and compared it to initial awarded bid amount. Provide explanations for any variance greater than 5%.

Would the NGB like this answered in both Section H, as indicated, and within each Section F project since it is numbered #12 in the instructions for Specialized Experience? Also, under which Criteria will the client be evaluating this within Section H?

Criteria B subparagraph (8) requires utilizing Section H of the SF 330 answer that portion of the specialized Experience. The client's Criteria B subparagraph (8) information in Section H will be evaluated under Criteria B.

National Guard Bureau ‐ National Architect‐Engineer Fire Suppression Design Requirements

Solicitation No. W9133L‐21‐R‐6000

Questions & Answers ‐ Initial Synopsis Posting Attachment

19 May 2021

Volume of Past DOD Contracts awarded to the firm during the previous 12 months:

Offerors shall provide the volume of work awarded by DOD agencies during the previous 12 months. The volume of work shall be demonstrated in a table format and be categorized by contract, task order, project award, completion dates, and design fee dollar amount. Work previously awarded to the firm by DOD will be reviewed to effect an equitable distribution of contracts among equally qualified firms. Data from the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) may be also utilized by the Government.

Please clarify that this table will NOT be counted against the 75-page limit for Part I. A large firm will have a table of multiple pages in length to list all DOD task orders awarded in the last 12 months.

Correct, this table will not be counted towards the 75-page limit for Part I

Are the minimum small business subcontracting goals intended to represent the percentage of the total contract value or percentage of subcontracted dollars?

As stated in the announcement, the subcontracting plan will be based on subcontracting dollars.

In Criteria D, “Relevancy is defined in the DOD guide…” Please confirm the DOD guide referenced.

The Guide referenced is listed in DFARs PGI 215.300. "See the policy tab for Director, Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy memorandum dated April 1, 2016, entitled “Department of Defense Source Selection Procedures"". This guide can be readily accessed at https://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/policy/policyvault/USA004370-14-DPAP.pdf

Criteria B – Specialized Experience and Technical Competence: Will greater consideration be given to new construction or rehabilitation projects?

No, Greater consideration will not be given on the merits solely between new construction and rehabilitation projects but the whole breadth and depth of experience identified in Criteria B and similarities to the scope identified in this announcement.

Criteria B – Specialized Experience and Technical Competence: Will greater consideration be given to Design-Bid-Build projects or Design-Build RFP projects?

Or will both project types be evaluated equally?

Yes, Design-Bid-Build experience will be evaluated as a stronger indicator of specialized experience and technical competence than similar Design-Build experience due to the amount of technical design required. Note: The Government is requesting a minimum of (1) design-build experience under Criteria B – Specialized Experience and Technical Competence Subsection (9) to be evaluated in conjunction with all Criteria B – Specialized Experience and Technical Competence requirements.

Criteria D – Past Performance: In many instances when performing services as the Designer of Record (DoR) for a Design-Build (DB) project, the accepted industry-practice for past performance feedback for the AE firm is the use of Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQs). Please confirm that PPQs are acceptable documentation of Past Performance for offeror’s Section F projects?

Yes, PPQs is an acceptable documentation of Past Performance for offeror’s Section F projects.

Additional Requirements – The solicitation notes ‘To avoid a conflict of interest, any contractor proposing as a prime may not have a subcontractor who is also proposing as a prime.’ Can you please confirm that this statement only applies to subcontractors for the region the offeror is responding to, and not if that subcontractor is submitting on other NGB Horizontal and/or Vertical regions.

Yes, Only for the region the offeror is responding to they may not overlap.

However, this solicitation shall be viewed as one singular solicitation, and a firm submitting a package as a prime may not also be listed as a sub in another submitted package under this solicitation (i.e. a small business may not be a sub on a submitted package from an unrestricted firm, and also submit a package as a prime for a small business submission).

What are the T02 Testing & Inspection Services that you are interested in us providing experience with? Typically for facility projects, these services are passed on to the construction contractor and we just oversee the testing and results. Or is this a request for environmental testing such as asbestos or lead based paint survey? Please elaborate.

The Government is looking for demonstration of T02 Testing and Inspection experience in evaluating contractor's submittals, request for change, request for information, and performing construction surveillance. Refer to Criteria B subsection (5).

As the Designer of Record, we have been contracted for Type C Services on most projects going into construction. We feel Type C Services includes professional services as it includes such services as Title II oversight, commissioning, LEED, FF&E, RFIs, submittal reviews and value engineering analysis which typically include further design services during construction. We typically also complete the record drawing set at the end of construction which is professional services.

Therefore, please verify the six years preceding the date of announcement does include the professional services provided during Type C Services.

In Past Performance (SF330, Part I, Section H), The Government would be able to consider construction administration activities (Type C) if applicable. Type A/B designs will not be considered if that portion of the design services was complete prior to the acceptable 6-year time period, regardless of whether or not those services were provided under the same contract as Type C services started or completed within the acceptable 6-year time period.

We plan to include PPQs, Letters of Commendation, CPARS etc as an appendix to our submission. We request verification that the appendix will not be considered part of the 75-page limit?

After further review the Government decided that, bound Letters of Commendation attached separately as an appendix for ease, will not count against the 75-page limitation.

The revision to the past performance section requires firms to submit information for relevant contracts and subcontracts including the name, address, and telephone number of references. We have interpreted this to mean we need to submit name, address, and telephone number of a reference for all relevant contracts and subcontracts started or completed within the past six (6) years measured from the date of the notice. The six years requirement is for the portion of the professional services (i.e. design efforts). As a large business, this is a multi page list of information. Would you consider excluding this list from the 75 page count for the Part I submittal?

Per Criteria D, "Firms must provide relevant past performance in the accomplishment of similar work... Relevancy is defined in the DOD guide, as it pertains to the collection and use of past performance, as information that has a logical connection with the matter under consideration and application period.."

However, firms are asked to only submit past performance deemed to be the most relevant. Tabulated data and written summaries submitted to address this criteria will count towards the 75-page limit, with the exception of specific exclusions noted previously (letters of commendation, CPARS, etc.) which may be attached as an appendix and will not count towards the 75-page limit.

24 Can we use 8 point font for charts and graphics in Section H? No, 8 point font will not be acceptable

Please confirm that additional minor SF 330 Section C support team members may be added at a later date to meet specific local task order needs.

All Key Personnel listed in the synopsis will be evaluated by the Government.

Please refer to Enforceability of Proposal paragraph in the synopsis for instructions regarding substitutions of key personnel and subcontractors.

Under SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS, the solicitation indicates we are invited to submit an electronic copy of the SF330 via Secure File Exchange. However, further in the document it indicates that Section D and Section G can be on 11 x 17 in sheets if folded to 8 ½ x 11 in size and bound in the SF330. Please confirm only an electronic submission is required.

Correct, Only electronic submission is required

NGB National A-E Fire Suppression Design Requirements Solicitation No. W9133L-21-R-6000 Questions & Answers - Initial Synopsis Posting Attachment

The Solicitation lists the Volume of DOD Contracts awarded to the firm during the previous 12 months as included in Part I, Section H of the SF330. To meet the full requirement including the table and listing all categories NGB requests, this will take up multiple pages in Part I, Section H. Would you allow us to list the Volume of DoD table as an attachment in Part II of the SF330 rather than in Part I or exclude from the page count limitation?

No, the firm shall provide all data for these secondary criteria on Part I, Section H, of the SF330.

Does this preclude licensed professional engineers with decades of significant federal IDIQ experience from serving as engineers on this contract?

See Criteria A for minimum requirements for all disciplines.

May we include significant disciplines relevant to the work described in the announcement that are not one of the 14 discipline roles outlined under Criteria A.

Additional information is not discouraged as long as the entire minimum synopsis requirements have been met.

Is there an SBE or other set aside for this Contract? Refer to the CONTRACT INFORMATION listed in the solicitation, for Small

Business reservations.

Are the potential projects being considered under these contracts primarily airport/airfield projects

Refer to the Project Information section of the Synopsis.

NGB National A-E Fire Suppression Design Requirements Solicitation No. W9133L-21-R-6000 Questions & Answers - Initial Synopsis Posting Attachment