VR1_RFI Responses 20210428.pdf

RFI

Beta

SAM

No. RFI Text KO Response

Amend No./ Clarification

(C)

Change Reference Paragraph

1 “Regarding the requirements for a Security/Cybersecurity Specialist, will you reconsider requirements and change or add credentials that pertain to facility related control systems (operational technology – OT) such as a Global Industrial Cybersecurity Professional (GICSP) vice the IT certifications cited?”

Justification: This contract is for design of vertical facilities and implementation of UFC 4-010-06 which is what firms should have to show specific experience having implemented to include related certifications such as GICSP. Specifically, Chapter 5 is where the bulk of the security occurs which is in the design phase whereas the cyber credentials called out for are primarily IT related. The GICSP certification is the most applicable certification for OT/control systems.

Recommend that ANG utilize DoD 8570.01-M defined categories to request certifications commensurate with the anticipated design activities for industrial control systems (FRCS – as required by UFC-4-010-06). These categories define commensurate certifications to demonstrate appropriate knowledge of the domain rather than locking into specific certifications which may not fit the requirements for the project.

The current ANG request is for CISM which is a IAM Level 2 certification focused on IT system management including development of policies and procedures. The combined skills for IAM Level 1 and IAM Level 2 do not apply towards facility related control system knowledge or design and analysis of security controls required by Risk Management Framework. To most closely align with the other service branches requirements for FRCS and the skills required to perform RMF, I would recommend that ANG require: Certifications to achieve IAT Level II which includes the GICSP which is specifically targeted at facility related control systems. Please see the following website but also the attached memorandum that discusses these requirement. Caution-https://public.cyber.mil/cw/cwmp/dod-approved-8570-baseline-certifications/ < Caution-

1. Change from "(14) Security/Cyber Security Specialist; the security/cyber security specialist(s) must be certified by Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) in Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and hold CompTIA Security+ with minimum of 5 years of relevant experience" to

"(14) Security/Cyber Security Specialist; the security/cyber security specialist(s) must have minimum of five years' of experience in cybersecurity of facility related control systems."

Amend 001 Selection Criteria A.14

2 Criterion B(3) states, “note that the Government may provide additional consideration for engineers and architects who have attended a DoD Security Engineer Course.” Our personnel complete multiple continuing education courses concerning DoD security.

Question: Under Criterion B(3), is there specific DoD Security Engineering Course that this criterion refers to?

1. The synopsis will b changed as follow: The word "a" will change to "any" as shown below:

"..note that the Government may provide additional consideration for engineers and architects who have attended a DoD Security Engineer Course..."

to "...note that the Government may provide additional consideration for engineers and architects who have attended any DoD Security Engineer Course..." A formal change of the requirement is in Amendment #001.

Amend 001 Selection Criteria B.03

3 Reference: Criteria A – Statement: “All engineers, architects and the project manager must have a bachelor’s degree…” Question: Will the government consider removing the requirement that all engineers, architects and the project manager must have a bachelor’s degree? This requirement does not take into account the differing prerequisites for licensing set state by state. For example, many states prior to the year 2000 allowed a certain number of apprenticeship hours to be equivalent to a bachelor’s degree. A requirement to have a bachelor’s degree would disqualify industry professionals who have been licensed for twenty, thirty, forty or more years and gained decades of invaluable experience in the AEC industry.

The follow requirements will change as show below:

"All engineers, architects and the project manager must have a bachelor’s degree, professional registration, and at least five years of relevant experience in the role they are assigned to on the project team. The Government may provide additional consideration for special training or certifications, additional registrations, higher level of education degrees, and/or years of experience that exceeds the five-year minimum requirement."

to

"All engineers, architects and the project manager must have a the following in the role they are assigned to on the project team; a bachelor's degree, proessional registration, and at least five years of relevant experience. The Government may additional consideration for special training or certifications, additional registration, higher level of education degrees, and/or years of experience that exceeds the five-year minium reguirement." A formal change of the requirement is in Amendment #001. Amend 001

Selection Criteria A Second Paragraph

4 Regarding the requirement that projects within the SF330 PART I, Section F shall be projects within the past six (6) years preceding the date of the announcement (April 11, 2021):

For constructed projects, "completed" can refer to construction completion within the past six years (as contrasted to the design completion date)?

The synopsis will be changed from: Submit information for all relevant contracts and subcontracts started or completed within the past six (6) years measured from the date of the award.

To

Submit information for all relevant contracts and subcontracts started or completed within the past six (6) years measured from the date of this notice of the award. The six years requirement is for the portion of the professional services (i.e. design efforts)

C 5 For the Criteria D – Past Performance (SF330, Part I, Section H) requirement to submit information for all relevant contracts and subcontracts started or completed within the Past six (6) years measured from the date of the award:

For constructed projects, would contracts and subcontracts started or completed include those for which construction completion occurred within the past six years (as contrasted to the design completion only)?

In Past Performance (SF330, Part I, Section H), The Government would be able to consider construction administration activities (Type C) if applicable. (Suggested answer: See also RFI Response #4)

C 6 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.

C Selection Criteria E Last Sentence

7 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.

C 8 Criteria E requires us to, “List construction contractors with references from within the area who you have designed work for and partnered with to construct.” Partnering with contractors is part of design-build projects. Although we often provide construction phase services in support of our clients, we do not design work for particular contractors, nor do we partner with contractors for the full design of military projects or the development of design-build RFPs. Because of this, can this requirement be deleted?

The synopsis will be changed from "List construction contractors with references from within the area who you have designed work for and partnered with to construct" to

"List construction contractors with references from within the specified region who you have worked for as the Designer of Record on a construciton project (i.e. Type C/Title II services)." A formal change of this requiremnt is in Amendment 001

Amend 001

W9133L-21-R-6001 (VR1) Synopsis RFIs

9 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.

C 10 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 60 to 90 days.

C 11 Can we provide more than one resume per discipline? For example, can we provide two Project

Manager resumes?

Yes, The primary key personnel must be identified for the primary key personnel's qualifications to be evaluated toward the most highly qualified firm. C

12 Is the Environmental Engineer required to be a licensed Professional Engineer The Government believes this requirement is covered in Criteria A subparagraph (9) C

13 Criteria E Knowledge of Locality of the Project Areas…the solicitation states “List construction contractors with references from within the area who you have designed work for and partnered with to construct.” Please clarify the how this information will be evaluated as it relates to a FAR Part 36.6 Architect Engineer Selection. Typically A-E firms work for the owner and not the construction contractor in a design-bid-build project . Is the Government asking about design-build experience?

See Amendment 001 as identified in RFI 8.

Amend 001 14 Can PPQ, Letters of Commendation be included as an appendix to not count against the 75-page limit?

Yes, bound Letters of Commendation separately as attached as an appendix for ease, count against 75-page limitation.

C 15 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”

C 16 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

C 17 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.

C 18 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.

C 19 Does the 6 year limit of services inclusive of Type C services during construction? In Past Performance (SF330, Part I, Section H), The Government would be able to consider construction administration activities (Type C) if applicable. See also RFI Response #4

C 20 21. What role does the government see Security/Cyber Security Specialist performing on an A/E design contract?

See Amendment 001 as identified in RFI 1 response.

Amend 001 Selection Criteria A.14

21 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 have a subcontractor to a firm who is also proposing as a prime.

C 22 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 submitalls still require suequential number of all pages.

C 23 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 12 requires utilizing Section H of the SF 330 answer that portion of the specialized Experience. The client's Criteria B subparagraph 12 information in Section H will be evaluated under Criteria B.

C 24 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 willNOT 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

C 25 Are the minimum goals for subcontracting included in the solicitation of Small Business (all types of small business combined) 14%; Small Disadvantaged Businesses 3%; Woman Owned Small Business 5%; HUBZone Small Business 1%; Veteran-Owned SB 3% and Service-Disabled Veteran Owned SB 3% intended to represent 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.

C 26 Under the Past Performance criteria, it is requested that we submit name, address, and telephone number of references for all relevant contracts and subcontracts started or completed within the past six (6) years measured from the date of the award. As a very large firm, we have started or completed 600+ contracts and subcontracts within the past six years. Is it appropriate for us to select a subset of the most relevant projects to satisfy this requirement?

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..

C

27 The solicitation requires that the Security/Cyber Security Specialist be certified by Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) in Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and hold CompTIA Security+. There are other certifying authorities that offer equivalent certifications to the CISM. In addition to ISACA, the International Council of Electronic Commerce Consultants (EC Consultants) and the International Information System Security Certification Consortium, (ISC)² offer equivalent certifications. To not show preference to one certification versus another, will you accept an equivalent certification that focuses on cybersecurity or secure management of information systems and networks?

See Amendment 0001 as identified in RFI 1 response.

Amend 001 Selection Criteria A.14