C1BG--(598-414) Construct New OI&T Building Minor Design - North Little Rock

The purpose of this mod to previous pre-sol is to provide the SOW, SOW Attachments, and PPQ that were omitted from the original posting.

PRESOLICITATION NOTICE

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR STANDARD FORM (SF) 330 ARCHITECT-ENGINEER QUALIFICATIONS PACKAGES ONLY. ALL INFORMATION NEEDED TO SUBMIT SF 330 DOCUMENTS IS CONTAINED HEREIN. NO SOLICITATION PACKAGE, TECHNICAL INFORMATION, OR BIDDER/PLAN HOLDER LIST WILL BE ISSUED. THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT PAY FOR, NOR REIMBURSE, ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH RESPONDING TO THIS REQUEST. THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Program Contracting Activity Central (PCAC) is seeking sources and intends to award a firm-fixed price design contract for Architect-Engineering (A-E) services for the Project 598-414 Construct New Office of Information and Technology Building minor design located at the Central Arkansas Veterans Health Care System (CAVHS), 2200 Fort Roots Drive, North Little Rock, AR 72114. The A-E shall provide investigative and feasibility design services, schematic design drawings, design development drawings, construction documents, bid documents, specifications, calculations, cost estimates, narratives, solicitation support services, and construction period services.

The A-E Services contract that is anticipated to be awarded will be procured in accordance with the Selection of Architects and Engineers Statute [formerly known as the Brooks Architect Engineer Act], Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 36.6 Architectural and Engineering Services, VA Acquisition Regulation 836.6, and VA Acquisition Manual M836.6 Architect-Engineer Services. In accordance with FAR 36.209, Construction Contracts with Architect-Engineer Firms, no contract for the construction of a project shall be awarded to the firm that designed the project or its subsidiaries or affiliates, except with the approval of the head of the agency or authorized representative.

2. PROJECT INFORMATION

This project is a 100% Set-Aside for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) concerns. The NAICS Code for this procurement is 541330 Engineering Services and the annual small business size standard is $16.5M. A full design team is required to complete this project. The projected award date for the anticipated A-E contract is on or before August 30, 2021.

The anticipated period of performance for completion of design is 270 calendar days after notice of award. The VAAR Magnitude of Construction for this project is between $10,000,000 and $20,000,000.

3. SCOPE OF DESIGN

The scope of this project is to provide all Professional Architectural and Engineering (A-E) services necessary to develop a complete set of drawings, specifications, cost estimates, project phasing, site visits, and construction period services associated with constructing a new Office of Information and Technology (OI&T) building, located at the North Little Rock, Eugene J Towbin VAMC; within the constraints of the construction budget consistent with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) project team goals as prioritized during project meetings and field surveys. Conduct preliminary project scope meetings and site survey investigations to develop the necessary elements for conceptual layout schemes with proposed alternatives consistent with the VA project team goals as prioritized during preliminary project meetings, field surveys and studies.

The A-E shall be professionally licensed in any state in the United States. The A-E is responsible for all services to complete the deliverables listed in the A-E Scope of Work (SOW) (Final SOW - Construct New OIT Building - NLR). The deliverables outlined in the SOW are inclusive of the following: Quality Assurance/Quality Control, Basis of Design (10%), Schematic Design (35%), Design Development (65%), Construction Documents (95%), Final Design Documents (100%), Solicitation Support Services, and Construction Period Services.

Please note that the 270-calendar-day period of performance for the design completion begins with the issuance of the Notice of Award (NOA) and that a Notice to Proceed (NTP) will not be issued for the completion of a design project. The construction period services will be option items that will be exercised after the award of the construction project. The period of performance for construction period services will match the period of performance for the construction project.

4. A-E SELECTION PROCESS

Firms submitting SF 330s in response to this announcement, not later than the closing date and time specified herein and in accordance with submission requirements, will be considered for initial selection evaluation. The selection process will be made using a two-phase process. Phase I consists of the initial evaluation of the provided SF 330s and determination of the highest rated firms. A minimum of three of the highest rated firms will then be short listed and invited to continue with Phase II of the process. All firms not short listed will be notified at this time. Phase II consists of interview presentations for the short-listed firms and selection of the top ranked firm to receive the solicitation and conduct negotiations. The firms selected for the interview presentations will be notified by email of selection and provided further instructions as well as all the evaluation criteria requirements. After the interview presentations are concluded, the firms will be evaluated and the highest rated firm will be selected and sent the solicitation, and negotiations will follow. A site visit will be authorized for the highest rated firm during the negotiation process. Award selection will be made based on the results of the interview presentations and successful negotiation of rates and fees for the project, and not the SF 330 qualifications from Phase I. If negotiations are not successful with the highest rated firm, they will continue with the next highest rated firm, and so on until award can be made.

Please note that during the evaluation of the interview presentations, the prior evaluation of the SF 330s will not be taken into consideration as they shall be considered separate evaluations.

5. PHASE I SF 330 SELECTION CRITERIA

The following are listed in descending order of importance:

Primary Selection Criteria:

Professional Qualifications: Professional Qualifications necessary for satisfactory performance of required service. The design firm and A-E on staff representing the project or signing drawings in each discipline must possess a minimum of 10 years of experience and must be licensed to practice in any one of the United States of America. Provide Professional License numbers and/or proof of Licensure and provide the names and resumes of the offeror s proposed lead key personnel. The evaluation shall consider the specific experience and qualifications (i.e., education, training, registration, certifications, overall relevant experience, and longevity with the firm as full time employees) of personnel assigned to key positions proposed for assignment to the project, and their record of working together as a team when evaluating the firm s professional qualifications.

Key positions and disciplines required for this project include, but are not limited to: Architect (LEED certified), CADD Technician, Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD), Estimator, Civil Engineers, Electrical Engineer, Environmental Engineers, Fire Protection Engineer, Industrial Hygienist, Interior Designer, Mechanical Engineer, Plumbing, Project Manager, Quality Assurance, Structural Engineer, and *Physical Security (see special requirements below).

*Physical Security Requirements for Subject Matter Specialists, the design team must include: (1) a certified physical security specialist with an emphasis on risk and vulnerability assessments, physical security design and Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED), and anti-terrorism force protection; (2) a control systems cybersecurity specialist with in-depth knowledge of the Risk Management Framework; (3) a certified physical security specialist with an emphasis on Electronic Security Systems; (4) a certified information and communications technology (ICT) specialist with an emphasis on networking and cabling; (5) a certified systems integrator specialist with an emphasis on HSPD/PPD-21 integrations; and (6) a licensed professional structural engineer who has specialized training in blast design and analysis (structural blast specialist). These specialists must be part of the design team during the concept phase of this project.

The lead key personnel in each discipline must be registered professionals but do not have to be registered in the particular state where the project is located.

Offer must include the following statement of SDVOSB compliance when submitting the personnel proposed to perform the work under this requirement: I [signatory authority] ___________________, [company] __________________ certify that the team proposed to perform under this requirement demonstrates the capability of 50% SDVOSB performance in compliance of 48 CFR 852.219-10.

The information provided in sections C through E of SF 330 will be used to evaluate this evaluation factor. Do not include this information in section H, unless it is pertinent to support the information listed in the other sections.

Specialized Experience: Specialized experience and technical competence in the design and construction period services provided for data centers, network infrastructure installation, renovations, and/or upgrades to information technology (IT) systems (either as solely IT projects or incorporated into new space/renovation projects). Include specific experience in design for construction in a fully functional hospital. Any provided past performance information on projects should include relevant work with Data Centers, Civil, Architectural, Mechanical, Structural, Electrical, Plumbing, and Physical Security. Work shall include networking back bone fiber optics, structured cabling, electrical distribution design and upgrades, uninterruptable power systems (UPS), electrical bonding, building management systems/building automation systems (BMS/BAS), HVAC, telecommunication room renovations/expansions/relocations, data center reconfiguration, electronic and physical security upgrades, and all such systems and components as may be necessary to achieve project goals. Other specialized experience includes experience in critical path scheduling, fire protection, construction infection control protocols, energy conservation, sustainable design practices, specialized building types requiring physical security measures, and project phasing to maintain operations during construction.

Include no more than six Government and/or private projects that demonstrate relevant experience with projects that are similar in size, scope, and complexity as stated above. The evaluation will consider the management approach, coordination of disciplines and subcontractors, quality control procedures, prior experience of the prime firm and any key subcontractors working together on relevant projects, and familiarity with VA Design Guides/Manuals, Master Specifications, and other applicable standards.

The information provided in sections F and G of SF 330 will be used to rate this evaluation factor. Do not include this information in section H, unless it is pertinent to support the information listed in the other sections.

Capacity: Capacity to accomplish work in the required time. The evaluation will consider the firm s ability to meet the schedule of the overall project, as well as the available capacity of key disciplines to perform the work in the required time. Provide the available capacity of key disciplines by providing current project workload, inclusive of all projects awarded by the VA during the previous 12 months and the full potential value of any current indefinite delivery contracts.

The information for this factor shall be provided in Section H of the SF 330. Please ensure the capacity applies toward the team/personnel provided in the SF 330.

Past Performance: Past performance on contracts with Government agencies and/or private industry in terms of cost control, quality of work, and compliance with performance schedules. The past performance will be evaluated for all projects provided in section F to include a review of Contractor Performance Assessment Rating System (CPARS). The following information is required for all projects noted in section F: Contract/task order number, project title, prime firm, start date, and completion date. Evaluations may also include additional performance-related information from the firm, customer inquiries, Government databases, publicly available sources, and additional projects in CPARS.

Evaluations will consider superior performance ratings on recently completed VA projects as well as the reputation and standing of the firm and its principal officials with respect to professional performance, general management, and cooperativeness. Also, consider, as appropriate, the record of significant claims against the firm because of improper or incomplete architectural and engineering services. Failure to provide requested data, accessible points of contact, or valid phone numbers could result in a firm being considered less qualified. All projects provided in the SF 330 must be completed by the office/branch/individual team member performing the work under this contract.

The information for this factor shall be provided in Section H of the SF 330. If there is no CPARS data available, Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQs) will be accepted. Please utilize the attached PPQ document. *PPQs should not be submitted by the evaluator to VHA PCAC directly. Completed PPQs must be incorporated into the SF 330 submission. The PPQs will be counted toward the page limitation for this submission.

Locality: Knowledge of the locality, to include specific knowledge of certain local conditions or project site features, such as geological features, climatic conditions, and working with local construction methods or local laws and regulations.

The information for this factor shall be provided in Section H of the SF 330. Note that the intent of this factor is to showcase a firm s understanding of the site and locality, and not where the firm is located and how they would travel to the site. Information related to the firm s location shall be provided in section H, under Secondary Selection Criteria Factor 1 - Geographic Location.

Construction Period Services: Experience in construction period services to include professional field inspections during the construction period; monitoring progress; ensuring correct materials are being used; review of construction submittals; support in answering requests for information (RFIs) during the construction period; inspecting workmanship (quality) and reporting findings in writing; support of construction contract changes to include drafting statements of work and cost estimates; attendance at weekly conference calls; providing minutes of meetings between the A-E, VA, and contractors; pre-final inspection site visits; generation of punch-list reports; and production of as-built documentation.

The information for this factor shall be provided in Section H of the SF 330.

Secondary Selection Criteria:

Geographic Location: Location of the firm, as measured by the driving distance (miles) between the Offeror s principal business location and the Central Arkansas Veterans Health Care System (CAVHS), 2200 Fort Roots Drive, North Little Rock, AR 72114. Determination of the mileage will be based on Google Maps (www.google.com/maps/dir/).

*The secondary selection criterion is used as a tie-breaker, if necessary, in ranking the most highly qualified firms following the completion of the SF 330 evaluations. The secondary selection criterion will not be applied when determining a firm s SF 330 submission Excellent, Acceptable, Good, Marginal, or Unacceptable.

The information for this factor shall be provided in Section H of the SF 330.

6. PHASE II INTERVIEW PRESENTATIONS SELECTION CRITERIA

In accordance with FAR 36.602-3(c), discussions will be conducted in the form of interview presentations. The selected firms will be invited to present their qualifications via teleconference to the A-E Technical Evaluation Board. The instructions for interview presentations will be provided to the highest rated, selected firms only. Each selected firm will be evaluated based on their responses to the evaluation criteria during their interview presentation. The top-rated firm will be selected based on their rating from the interview presentations. The previous ratings from the SF 330 evaluations are not applicable during Phase II.

Below are the evaluation factors for the interview presentations. All factors listed are of equal importance.

Team Proposed for this Project: Provide an organizational chart of the team and discuss the roles of the key personnel for this project. If possible, include the assigned key personnel in the interview presentations.

Proposed Management Plan: Address design phase quality control and plan, and construction phase quality control and plan. Explain techniques planned to control estimated cost, project schedule, quality of deliverables, and solutions for anticipated problems. Discuss constructability review process and identify specific personnel performing constructability review for all disciplines, and their qualifications and methods for managing RFIs and submittals in a timely fashion.

Approach to Project Challenges: Discuss approach to overcome geographical obstacles considering the amount of site visits needed for this specific project (address both design phase site visits as well as CPS visits). Discuss ability, familiarization, or experience with VA design guides and directives and their interpretations and application to this design. Describe plans with this project to ensure VA requirements are kept current, and specified equipment will be approved by the VA.

Proposed Approach to Design Development: Discuss plan to ensure specifications and drawings are complete, accurate, all inclusive, and in coordination with each other. Discuss approach to evaluate existing site conditions and coordination with All Engineering Disciplines.

Approach for Physical Security: Provide your firm s approach to physical security design of a mission critical building, such as a government building, with examples. Provide examples of situations that had to be overcome to satisfy the design obligation and meet the needs of the facility.

Expectations for VA A-E Collaboration: Discuss what expectations the A-E firm would have from the VA for this project. Describe strategy for collaboration meetings throughout each phase and their significance to the overall end-product.

7. SUBMISSION CRITERIA/REQUIREMENTS

The below information contains the instructions and format that shall be followed for the submission of the SF 330 Statement of Qualifications:

Submit ONE (1) SF 330 Statement of Qualifications via email to Kara A. Evert at kara.evert@va.gov. This shall include Parts I and II and any applicable attachments.

The SF 330 submission is due by 2:00 PM ET ON JUNE 10, 2021.

The SF 330 shall be submitted in one email and have a file size no larger than 5 MB. No hard copies will be accepted.

The subject line of the email shall read: SF 330 Submission - 36C77621R0097 Construct New OI&T Building - NLR.

The submission must include the SF 330, Architect-Engineer Qualifications (form is available online at http://www.cfm.va.gov/contract/ae.asp).

The SF 330 submission shall not exceed a total of FIFTY (50) pages. This includes CPARS and/or PPQs and any other relevant information. Any pages submitted by an offeror that exceed the limit will not be considered during the evaluation. Each page shall be in Arial or Times New Roman, size 12 font, single spaced. The title page, table of contents, and Part II of the SF 330 Form will NOT count toward the page limitation.

A PPQ from previous projects may be submitted for this project. If significant portions of a project have been completed since the previous PPQ was filled out, a new PPQ should be submitted to accurately assess the project. *Important Note: For this procurement, all PPQs should be completed by the evaluator and returned to the A-E firm. The submitting A-E firm must incorporate completed PPQs into the SF 330 document. PPQs should not be submitted by the evaluator directly to VHA PCAC.

In addition to the SF 330 submissions, firms must provide a second accompanying document that includes the following information (the accompanying document will not count toward the page limitation of the SF 330):

Cage Code

Dun & Bradstreet Number

Tax ID Number

The email address and phone number of the Primary Point of Contact

A copy of the firm s Vet Biz Registry

All questions shall be submitted to kara.evert@va.gov with the subject line NLR OI&T Question - 36C77621R0097. The cutoff for question submission is 2:00 PM ET ON MAY 27, 2021. Questions will be answered through modification to the Pre-Sol Notice posted to Contract Opportunities at https://beta.sam.gov/.

NOTE: This procurement is a 100% set-aside for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) concerns. Offers received from other than SDVOSBs will not be considered. All SDVOSBs must be listed as verified by the VA s Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE). Offerors must be verified by CVE and visible in the Vendor Information Pages (VIP) database (http://www.vetbiz.va.gov/vip/) at the time of SF 330 Submission, Interview Presentations, and Award. Failure to be BOTH visible and verified at these times will result in the offeror being deemed unacceptable and ineligible for award.

All prime firms are required to meet the NAICS code requirement specified for this project. The Contracting Officer shall verify the NAICS code in VIP and/or the System for Award Management (SAM). Failure to meet the NAICS code requirement may result in the rejection of the SF 330 submission.

All Joint Ventures must be CVE verified at time of SF 330 Submission, Interview Presentations, and Award and submit agreements that comply with 13CFR 125.15 prior to contract award.

SF 330 submissions received after the date and time specified will not be considered. Late proposal rules per FAR 15.208 will be followed for late submittals. Firms not providing the required information may not be evaluated. All information must be included in the SF 330 submission package.

It is the offeror s responsibility to check the Contract Opportunities website at https://beta.sam.gov/ for any revisions to this announcement prior to submission of SF 330s.