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Presolicitation Notice
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Presolicitation Notice
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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 Project #512-22-700 EHRM Infrastructure Upgrades Baltimore VAMC design located at 10 North Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. The A-E shall provide investigative and feasibility design services, schematic design drawings, design development drawings, construction documents, final bid documents, specifications, calculations, cost estimates, narratives, bidding support services, solicitation support services, and construction period services for all facets of work and disciplines/trades to facilitate a construction project to upgrade the facilities infrastructure to allow for the new Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) system.
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 March 31, 2023.
The anticipated period of performance for completion of design is 365 calendar days after notice of award. The VAAR Magnitude of Construction for this project is between $10,000,000 and $25,000,000.

3. SCOPE OF DESIGN
The scope of this project is to provide the following infrastructure improvements to the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center (BVAMC):
A-E Part One Services (also known as Design Phase Services) for this design project includes site visits, field investigation, studies, and user interviews to prepare drawings, specifications, and cost estimates for all facets of work and disciplines/trades to facilitate a construction project to upgrade the facility infrastructure to support the new Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) system in accordance with VA OEHRM Site Infrastructure Requirements (provided by VHA). The project shall include, but is not limited to, upgrade facility fiber throughout the buildings to each IT closet, provide a redundant fiber run throughout the facility to each IT closet, provide redundant fiber mains to the demarcation room from the provider point, install approximately 100 additional IT outlets, install approximately 75 new electrical outlets throughout the facility, provide additional outlets in each IT closet, upgrade facility power distribution as required, upgrade facility HVAC distribution as required, and physical security assessment and upgrades.
A-E Part Two Services (also known as Construction Period Services) for this design project includes responding to construction contractor Requests For Information (RFIs) during the solicitation (solicitation support) and construction phases of the construction project; attendance at pre-bid, post-award, and commissioning kick off construction project conferences; review of construction material submittals and shop drawings; approximately 4 site visits per month during construction (both scheduled and emergent) to ensure compliance with the design drawings and specifications; preparation of site visit reports; coordination with project commissioning requirements; review of any construction project modifications for cost and technical acceptability; attendance and participation during the final acceptance inspection; preparation of the punch list; and preparation of record drawings of the completed construction project based on the construction contractor s as-built drawings. The A-E shall prepare a submittal log to be utilized by the VA during construction period services, maintain RFI log, and provide meeting minutes for weekly construction meetings throughout the duration of construction. All Part Two Services are optional line items and will not be exercised at the time of award.
The above paragraphs constitute a basic outline of the work to be accomplished, and in no way comprise all the details for design of this project. The A-E shall initiate detailed inspection of the project site to determine the needs and conditions for the design of this project. Copies of Baltimore VAMC record drawings and the EHRM infrastructure readiness assessment documents will be made available to the highest rated A-E firm; the A-E will verify the validity of the record drawings prior to the start of design work and conduct site investigations as necessary throughout the design.
The A-E shall be solely responsible for the management, including all associated labor, equipment, materials, mailing costs, and inspection, to meet the requirements of the design project. The A-E shall further provide meeting minutes for all meetings held under this design project.
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 Statement of Work (SOW) (See SOW EHRM Infrastructure Upgrades - Baltimore MD). The deliverables outlined in the SOW are inclusive of the following: Quality Assurance/Quality Control Plan, Basis of Design (10%), Schematic Design (35%), Design Development (65%), Construction Documents (95%), Final Bid Documents (100%), Solicitation Support Services, and Construction Period Services.
Please note that the 365-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 written responses for the short-listed firms and selection of the top ranked firm to receive the solicitation and conduct negotiations. The firms selected for the written responses will be notified by email of selection and provided further instructions as well as all the evaluation criteria requirements. After the written responses are received, 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 written responses 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 written responses, 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 be licensed to practice in any one of the United States of America. Provide Professional License numbers and/or proof of Licensure. 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 proposed for assignment to the project, and their record of working together as a team when evaluating professional qualifications. The lead designer in each discipline must be registered but does not have to be registered in the particular state where the project is located.
Key positions and disciplines required for this project include, but are not limited to: Architect, Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD), Estimator, Civil Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Fire Protection Engineer, Industrial Hygienist, Mechanical Engineer, Plumbing, Project Manager, Quality Assurance, Structural Engineer, and Physical Security Specialists.
Offeror must include the following statement of SDVOSB compliance when submitting the personnel proposed to perform the work under this requirement: I [signatory authority], of [company name] 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 the SF 330 will be used to evaluate this 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 projects similar in size, scope, and complexity. Any provided past performance information on projects should include relevant work with Hospitals, Infrastructure upgrades, Civil, Architectural, Mechanical, Structural, Electrical, new construction tying into existing facilities, and physical security upgrades or installation. Include no more than six Government and/or private experience projects. Any projects submitted that exceed the limit will not be considered during the evaluation. 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. All projects provided in the SF 330 must be completed by a firm, office, branch, or individual team member proposed to perform work under this contract.
The information provided in sections F and G of the SF 330 will be used to evaluate this 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 overall ability to meet the schedule of the 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 clearly presenting workload percentages for each key discipline and/or key team member, all projects awarded by the VA during the previous 12 months including the completion percentages and expected completion dates, 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 Reporting System (CPARS) ratings. Provide performance reports for all projects submitted in section F and include the following information for each project: 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, additional projects in CPARS, and other information available to the Government, including communications with points of contact in other criteria.
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 a firm, office, branch, or individual team member proposed to perform 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. PPQs will be counted towards the page limitation for this submission.
Locality: Knowledge of the locality. Demonstrate and describe specific knowledge of certain local conditions or project site features, such as geological features, climatic conditions, 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: Demonstrate and describe experience in providing construction period services, to include professional field inspections during the construction period; review of construction submittals; support in answering requests for information (RFIs) during the construction period; 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 Baltimore Veteran Affairs Medical Center (BVAMC) located in Baltimore, MD. Determination of the mileage will be based on Google Maps (www.google.com/maps/dir/).
*The secondary selection criterion is used as a tiebreaker, 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 WRITTEN RESPONSES SELECTION CRITERIA
In accordance with FAR 36.602-3(c), discussions will be conducted in the form of written responses. The selected firms will be invited to present their written responses to predetermined questions via email to the A-E Technical Evaluation Board. The instructions for the written responses will be provided to the selected firms only. Each selected firm will be evaluated based on their responses to the evaluation criteria. The highest-ranked firm will be selected based on their ratings from the written responses. The previous ratings from the SF 330 evaluations are not applicable during Phase II.
Below are the evaluation factors for the written responses. All factors listed are of equal importance.
Proposed Management and Coordination Plan: Discuss confidence and approach to completing a project of this scale with an expedited period of performance. Explain quality control methods that will be used throughout each design phase and prior to each submission. Address construction period services quality control methods and plan used throughout the construction phase. Describe strategy for control of estimated cost and solutions for anticipated problems. Discuss proposed design team and their specific strengths and experience that make them the best fit for this project. Discuss how the design teams will work together, and with the VA, to keep this design on schedule, within budget, and compliant with VA design requirements.
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 TRM approved.
Proposed Approach to Design Development: Discuss plan to ensure specifications and drawings are well edited and complete, accurate, all inclusive, and in coordination with each other. Discuss approach to evaluate existing site conditions and ensure new work will not conflict with existing work.
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 to Lachandra Young at Lachandra.Young@va.gov. This shall include Parts I and II and any applicable attachments.
The SF 330 submission is due by 1:00 PM ET ON January 6, 2023.
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 - 36C77623R0010 EHRM Infrastructure Upgrades Baltimore, MD.
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 Lachandra.Young@va.gov with the subject line Baltimore VAMC EHRM Question - 36C77623R0010
. The cutoff for question submission is 1:00 PM ET ON DECEMBER 19, 2022. Questions will be answered through modification to the Pre-Sol Notice posted to Contract Opportunities at 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, Written Response Submission, 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 the time of SF 330 Submission, Written Response Submission, and Award and must 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 SAM.gov for any revisions to this announcement prior to submission of SF 330s.

ATTACHMENTS
See attached document: SOW EHRM Infrastructure Upgrades - Baltimore MD.
See attached document: SOW Attachment 01 - VHA Required Div 01 Spec Sections
See attached document: SOW Attachment 02 - VA OEHRM Site Infrastructure Requirements 2-0
See attached document: PPQ - EHRM Baltimore VAMC.
End of Document

Attachments/Links