Attachment 3 - Synopsis RFI Responses 20210617.pdf

RFI #

Question Answer

Amend No./ Clarification

(C)

1 The solicitation states, “SF 330, in Adobe format and the most current edition (Caution-https://www.gsa.gov/forms-library/architect-engineer-qualifications), must be used..” Does this mean firms may only use the fillable form to be compliant with the solicitation? Or, may we use a different software to produce the SF 330 in an Adobe PDF?

Firms may use different software or word documents, ultimately converted to an Adobe PDF, as long as all of the informatioin required by the most current version of SF 330 is included. The link in the solictation is provided for convenience, but is not mandatory.

C

2 1.Will NGB accept SF 330 submissions developed using the current SF 330 form edition in Microsoft Word and saved to a final Adobe PDF, instead of starting with the Adobe PDF template provided on the GSA webpage? This provides the same information in the same format, but allows space to satisfactorily respond to the solicitation requirements. Using a Microsoft Word template:

- Section E resumes: Avoids the problem of reviewers having to flip back and forth between the 1st and 2nd pages of resumes for block 15 and each of the five projects. The GSA form is so character limited in these fields that we cannot provide a full description in block 15 or the project descriptions. (see attached example)

- Section F projects: Allows us to provide two-page project sheets, as allowed by the solicitation, without wasting 1/3 of the first page for block 25. (see attached example)

- Section F projects: Allows us to provide project name, location, and the required contract numbers in block 21.

Contract/task order numbers can be up to 26 characters and block 21 is so character limited that there might not be room for this.

- Multi-page Section H (in GSA Adobe form, there is only one page provided to respond to all Section H requirements noted in the solicitation.)

- Addition of sequential page numbers, as required by solicitation (in the GSA form, there are page numbers already listed – adding a second page number to meet solicitation requirements could confuse reviewers.)

Firms may use different software or word documents, ultimately converted to an Adobe PDF, as long as all of the informatioin required by the most current version of SF 330 is included. The link in the solictation is provided for convenience, but is not mandatory.

C

3 Criteria B – Specialized Experience and Technical Competence: Does completion mean design completion or construction completion?

See Criteria B, paragraph 5 for completion percentages requirements for design and construction.

4 Criteria B – Specialized Experience and Technical Competence: We are instructed that "If any portion of the work provided as specialized experience is subcontracted, clearly identify that work as such and provide the required experience of that subcontractor as it relates to work the subcontractor is to perform for this solicitation." Is it sufficient to identify the subcontractors and their services in block 25?

As long as information is clearly provided, the firm shall provide the required the information in the SF330 Part I, Section F.

C

5 Criteria B – Specialized Experience and Technical Competence: The solicitation states, "Firms shall only submit projects as evidence of experience if those projects are at a minimum beyond B1/65% design submission for Type A/B experience, and at a minimum 50% complete on construction for Type C experience." Because task orders sometimes include both design and construction phase services, if a project is only at 65% design submission, then construction cannot be 50% complete. Please confirm that these can be two separate requirements - "Firms shall only submit projects as evidence of experience if those projects are at a minimum beyond B1/65% design submission for Type A/B experience, and/or at a minimum 50% complete on construction for Type C experience."

Correct, these are two separate requirements.

C

6 Criteria B – Specialized Experience and Technical Competence: In Item (12), the solicitation states that experience must be within five years, which conflicts with the requirement for Section F projects to have been completed within six years and could exclude those projects from being highlighted in Section H. Please confirm that experience for Section H should be within the last six years, to coordinate with the requirement for Section F projects.

Correct, Criteria B subsection (12) is to match the six (6) requirement stated for Section F projects. An amendment will be issued soon to Criteria B, subsection 12 to say: (12) 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. For each project identified under Criteria B, demonstrate project design‐to‐bid performance showing final design estimate, initial awarded bid amount, and the calculated variance comparing the costs. When the variance is 5% or greater (positive or negative), the firm shall provide a written explanation for that variance.

7 Please confirm that a cover letter acknowledging amendments will not be included in the 75 page limit. See ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS paragraph 2, states SF330 Part I is "accompanied" by a signed cover letter.

Therefore, the cover letter is not part of the the SF 330 Part I and will not be included in the 75 page limit. Also, see Attachment 1 to the synopsis, question #15. C

8 Can we provide more than one resume per discipline, if we stay within the 75-page limit? Yes, however, Key Personnel must be named and identified with required documentation for the proposed key role for which they intended to be evaluated. Refer to Enforceability of Proposal section of this synopsis.

C

HORIZONTAL REGION 03 RFI LOG

W9133L-21-R-6012

9 Please confirm that the volume of work 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 which would unfairly restrict us if included in the page count.

The volume of work table will be counted against the 75-page limit. See the response to question 26 of the Synopsis Attachment (QAs), the firm shall provide all data for these secondary criteria on Part I, Section H, of the SF330.

C

10 Under Submission Requirements, the solicitation states that the due date is "3:00 pm Eastern Time on 03 May 2021". Please confirm that the due date is 3:00 pm Eastern Time on 21 June 2021.

Yes, the due date is 3:00 pm Eastern Time on 21 June 2021. An amendment will be issued soon to reflect this change.

11 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?

The synopsis states "The subcontracting plan will be based on subcontracting dollars". Please see synopsis.

C

12 Regarding the requirements for Environmental Engineer, is registration as a professional geologist acceptable? No, a registered professional Geologist will not be accepted as meeting the Environmental Engineer requirement.

C

13 Question #8 for the Region 8 Vertical IDIQ provided the following answer. Please confirm that this answer also applies to Horizontal Region 3.

Question: The solicitation states, “SF 330, in Adobe format and the most current edition (Caution-Caution-https://www.gsa.gov/formslibrary/architect-engineer-qualifications), must be used.” Does this mean firms may only use the fillable form to be compliant with the solicitation? Or, may we use a different software to produce the SF 330 in an Adobe PDF?

Answer: Firms may use different software or word documents, ultimately converted to an Adobe PDF, as long as all of the information required by the most current version of SF 330 is included.

Yes, see the document "Attachment 2 Synopsis RFI Responses 20210608" RFI 1 and 2.

C

In Criteria D, the synopsis states firms must provide relevant past performance and that we are to submit information “for all relevant contracts and subcontracts started or completed within the past six (6) years [that are] at least B1/65% designed for Type A/B and at a minimum 50% complete on construction for Type C.” For large firms with significant horizontal design experience it would not be possible to provide the requested reference information for all possible relevant contracts and subcontracts. Would the Government confirm that firms may provide a representative sampling of projects vs. all relevant contracts and subcontracts? For example, if a firm provided 20 references from relevant contracts/subcontracts would this meet the requirement for this part of Criteria D?

Answer: Firms are required to provide relevant and recent past performance information as they relate to the scope of this solicitation. Please see Criteria D for details as well as Relevancy ratings and Confidence level ratings in the synopsis.

C

15 Reference: Criteria A, (6). By dropping the requirement in the Horizontal Region 3 solicitation for the Environmental Engineer to have “experience with NEPA processes”, yet still including this requirement in the current Vertical Region 8, 5 and 6 solicitations, it appears NGB/A4 intends to pursue future NEPA activities through the new Vertical Region contracts. Please confirm this is the case, and that the Environmental Engineer presented in our Horizontal Region 3 response is no longer required to have NEPA experience on his/her resume, and/or be a Physical Scientist with supporting registrations that include documented work history, state examination, and state certification board.

Answer: An amendment will be issued soon to change item 6 to say:

(6) Environmental Engineer or Physical Scientist with experience in NEPA processes; registered engineer or similar registration that includes documented work history, state examination, and state certification board."

16 Reference: Criteria B, (12). Please confirm the requirement to “demonstrate project design-to-bid performance showing final design estimate, initial awarded amount, and the calculated variance comparing the costs” in Section H is not applicable for Design-Build RFP projects presented in Section F.

Criteria B subsection (12) is required for Design-Build RFP projects to demonstrate design-to-bid project cost throughout the entire process of the project.

C

17 It was noted in the Horizontal Region 1 solicitation that Criteria B (5) included the requirement to ”Demonstrate experience and familiarity with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 77 and preparing FAA 7460 permit applications relating to construction projects and familiarity with UFC 3-260-1”. As Air National Guard flying missions are largely collocated at large-, medium- and small-hub civilian airports where meeting FAA requirements on the airfield is paramount, please advise if this “experience and familiarity” is something the selecting authority would be interested in seeing in our response in Horizontal Region 3 under Criteria B (5)?

Answer: An amendment will be issued to soon change the requirement From:"(5) Engineering experience in preparing permit applications relating to construction projects with the various permitting agencies;" To: "(5) Demonstrate experience and familiarity with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 77 and preparing FAA 7460 permit applications relating to construction projects and familiarity with UFC 3-260-1." 2