SPECIAL NOTICE - REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (SF-330) NAICS Code: 541330 Engineering Services (Small Business size standard $22.5 million dollars) A. INTRODUCTION: The VA Connecticut Healthcare System (VACHS), Newington Campus, located at 555 Willard Avenue, Newington, CT, has a requirement for a firm fixed price contract to provide engineering and design services to include site investigation, development of complete drawings, specifications, cost estimates, and construction period services for Project 689A4-23-123, Newington Energy Center (Replace Boiler and Chiller). The VA Newington CT Campus currently has (3) water tube boilers, one (1) Zurn Industries and two (2) Bigelow Company, all of which are past the useful life expectancy of approximately 40 years and require replacement. boilers installed in 1981 that all contain a capacity of 40,000 IBS/HR. The useful life expectancy is estimated at about 40 years. The current capacity of first boiler is about 12 thousand IBS/HR and other two boiler each current capacity is 20 thousand LBS/HR. The boiler burners installed in 1995 are not capable of seamless fuel firing transition (natural gas to No. 2 oil) and require tuning by a boiler technician when changing fuel sources. Reports estimate that the Boiler and the heating distribution systems are beyond their useful life and that though some changes, modifications and upgrades are needed. The primary switchgear in B168 supplies power to all facility buildings. Underground conduits are used to connect distribution feeders from the switchgear to the various building locations. Multiple 22.8kv/480V transformer are located adjacent to building 2W, 2E and 2C to serve electric load. Plant electrical power/distribution to be assessed and modified as requested. Additionally, the chiller plant with variable flow secondary chilled water pumping throughout building 2 and part of building 1. The existing 500-ton Chiller plant was built in 1995 which are beyond their expected useful service life and need replacement. Design consideration/modification as requested. The design shall conform to all VA requirements outlined in the FGI Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals, Facilities Guideline Institute (FGI), ADA, Joint Commission Accreditation Standards, ANSI, SMACNA, IBC, NEC, NFPA as well all requirements of the VA design manuals posted by discipline in the VA Technical Information Library This procurement for Architect & Engineering services is assigned NAICS 541330 Engineering Services which has SBA small business size standard of $22.5 million in average revenue. See attached Statement of Work for complete details. B. CONTRACT INFORMATION: The Magnitude of Construction is between $50,000,000 and $100,000,000. This acquisition is a Total Set-Aside for Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) in accordance with VAAR 852.219-10 with NAICS Code 541330. Any subsequent award will require the firm to be registered in System for Award Management (SAM www.sam.gov) and the VETBIZ Vendor Information Pages (https://www.vip.vetbiz.va.gov/) or the SBA VetCert Page (Veteran contracting assistance programs (sba.gov)); whichever is active at the time of award. SDVOSB/VOSB firms need to be registered with the applicable NAICS Code of 541330 at the time SF330 s are submitted. Prospective firms are reminded they must certify that in accordance with VAAR 852.219-77, VA Notice of Limitations on Subcontracting-Certificate of Compliance for Services and Construction, in the case of a contract for services (except construction), the contractor will not pay more than 50% of the amount paid by the government to it to firms that are not VIP-listed SDVOSBs as set forth in 852.219-10. Any work that a similarly situated VIP-listed subcontractor further subcontracts will count towards the 50% subcontract amount that cannot be exceeded. Other direct costs may be excluded to the extent they are not the principal purpose of the acquisition and small business concerns do not provide the service as set forth in 13 CFR 125.6. SF330 packages shall address how each firm anticipates meeting these criteria. This requirement is in accordance with the Selection of Architects and Engineers as implemented in Subpart 36.6 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation and Subpart M836.602-1 of the VA Acquisition Manual. All submissions will be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation criteria. A "short list" of the three to four most highly rated firms after initial source selection will be chosen for discussions through interview presentations, format to be determined by the Contracting Officer. The most highly rated firm at the conclusion of the interview process will be invited to submit a proposal in anticipation of a contract award. The Government will not pay, nor reimburse, any costs associated with responding to this request. The Government is under no obligation to award a contract because of this announcement. Respondents are put on notice that firm(s) selected by the Selection Authority will be required to submit a Fixed Price Rate Proposal on the VA Form 6298 to include labor, overhead, profit, and other costs for this project for negotiation by the Contracting Officer prior to contract award. The negotiated agreement will be incorporated into the resulting contract. C. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL: This is a request for SF 330's Architect/Engineer Qualifications packages only. Any requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. No material will be issued and no solicitation package or bidder/plan holder list will be issued. D. PROJECT INFORMATION: Provide Engineering services to develop a complete design package to include drawings, specifications, cost estimates, and construction period administration services associated with Project 689A4-23-123, Newington Energy Center. The attached statement of work for this project provides competed details of the requirements of this project. E. EVALUATION SELECTION CRITERIA: Each respondent s SF 330 submittal package will be evaluated in accordance with FAR 36.6 procedures. The selection criteria, in descending order of importance will be as follows: 1. Specialized Experience and Technical Competence 2. Professional Qualifications 3. Past Performance 4. Experience in Construction Period Services 5. Geographic Location 6. Capacity 7. Commitment to the use of SDVOSB, VOSB and SB as Subcontractors F. SELECTION CRITERIA DESCRIPTIONS: The selection criteria descriptions (1 through 7) are provided below. Specialized Experience and Technical Competence: The Engineering firm shall demonstrate recent specialized experience and technical competence in projects for health care facilities (to include joint ventures), including, where appropriate, recent experience in energy conservation, pollution prevention, waste reduction and the use of recovered materials. This factor evaluates the amount of experience the Engineering firm has in designing similar types of boiler and chiller replacement projects related to healthcare facilities and evaluating their technical competence in this type of project. Submitting firms shall provide a detailed narrative of up to 5 (maximum) and no less than 3 (minimum) relevant projects completed within the last 5 years, which best illustrate overall team experience relevant to this project scope. List projects that demonstrate the teams experience with projects of similar size and scope to those to be performed under this requirement. The specialized experience should demonstrate examples of removal of an existing boiler distribution system and installation of new boilers while maintaining the required boiler capacity as well as chiller plant replacement where temporary systems are installed to maintain redundancy at a healthcare facility. Higher ratings will be provided to firms who demonstrate experience at the VA or in a hospital environment. Professional Qualifications Necessary for Satisfactory Performance of Required Services: The Engineering firm will be evaluated according to their ability to demonstrate the education, training, registration, overall and relevant experience, and longevity with the firm of key management and technical personnel as is normally expected of a company actively providing the required services and shall have demonstrated experience to perform a project such as this within a VA Medical Center or hospital environment. Firms shall provide brief resumes of proposed team members who will specifically serve as the project managers and designers of record, as well as of other relevant team members or subcontractor team members who will perform technical tasks under this contract. Subcontractor team member resumes shall indicate their record of working together with the prime contractor. The Designers of Record shall perform and direct the design within their respective discipline and shall sign and seal the drawings. All Designers of Record must be professionally registered in their discipline, and this must be shown on their resume. Each resume shall include a minimum of three (3) specific completed projects that best illustrate the individual team members experience in their technical field relevant to this project scope. Past Performance: The Engineering firm shall submit a minimum of three and maximum of five (5) past performance evaluations on recent projects relevant to the one being procured under this notice. Firms will be evaluated for past performance on recent and relevant contracts with Government agencies (emphasis on VA work) and private industry in terms of cost control, professional performance, general management, cooperativeness, quality of work, compliance with performance schedule and a record of significant claims against the firm due to improper or incomplete engineering services (references required). Recency is defined as performance occurring within five (5) years of the date of this Notice, except that ongoing projects must have begun no less than one (1) year prior to the issuance of this Notice. Relevancy is defined as performance of work on projects that are similar in scope to the type of project anticipated under the resultant contract. Respondents with no previous past performance shall so state when addressing the selection criteria. Documentation supplied should detail firms ability to work with government entities and design standards or similar relevant experience with other entities. Provide a copy of all performance evaluations (Engineering Services) issued for government contracts (as applicable). For Non-Federal contracts, provide facility owner documentation of the firms performance issued on that contract. If known documentation exists, so state. Provide accessible owner points of contact: name, title, address, telephone number, e-mail, and fax number and provide copies of awards and letters of appreciation/recommendation as desired. If there is no CPARS data available, Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQs) will be accepted. Please utilize the attached PPQ document. NOTE:Â We recommend you contact every reference listed and let them know we may contact them for information. Their timely replies would be appreciated. Experience in Construction Period Services: Respondents must provide one recent project and provide a narrative on how the Engineering firm incorporated the following into their project: Professional field inspections during the construction period Review of construction submittals Support in answering requests for information during the construction period Support of construction contract changes to include drafting statements of work and cost estimates Any project provided in addition to the one will not be evaluated as part of this criteria. Geographic Location: The Engineering Firm must demonstrate that it has general knowledge of the locality of the project, location in the general geographical area of the project and knowledge of the locality to include specific knowledge of certain local conditions or project site features such as: geological features climate conditions local construction methods construction firms and trades labor availability permit requirements local laws and regulations Location of the firm is measured by the driving distance between the Offeror s principal business location and the VA CTHCS Newington Campus, 555 Willard Avenue, Newington, CT. Determination of the mileage will be based on Google Maps (https//www.google.com/maps/dir/) Capacity: The Engineering Firm shall show current and projected workload within the firm overall and for the specific team members. Documentation supplied shall support that the firm has the capacity to accomplish the work in the required time. A signed statement shall be provided stating that the firm acknowledges that prior to award of the contract, they are required to notify the Government of any changes in their capacity that could limit their ability to perform the work within the required time. Commitment to the use of SDVOSB, VOSB, and other Small Businesses as Subcontractors: Respondents must provide a narrative on how they will commit to the use of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned small businesses, Veteran-owned small businesses, and other types of small businesses as subcontractors. Prospective firms are reminded they must certify in accordance with VAAR 852.219-77, VA Notice of Limitations on Subcontracting-Certificate of Compliance for Services and Construction. This certification shall be included in any resultant contract. G. QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS: a. Questions and comments regarding this notice must be submitted by email only to the Contract Specialist, Judith Ruggiero at
[email protected] by Monday, January 23, 2023, at 1:00 pm EST. b. Oral questions will not be answered. c. The deadline for questions is Friday, February 10, 2023, at 4:00PM EST. H. SF 330 SUBMITTAL PACKAGE PAGE INSTRUCTIONS: a. SF 330 submittal packages shall be submitted no later than 1:00PM EST on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. Respondents are responsible for ensuring SF 330 submittal packages, any revisions, and modifications are submitted by this time. b. Qualified Engineering firms are required to submit ONE (1) electronic copy via email to
[email protected]. Subject line to Read : SF330 Project 689A4-23-123, Newington Energy Center. If file size exceeds 7MB then firms are required to send multiple emails with a sequence stating, Email 1 of __ . SF 330 forms are available on-line at: http://www.gsa.gov/portal/forms/type/SF c. Submission of information incorporated by reference is not allowed. d. Prospective firms shall address all selection criteria factors within their submitted SF 330 package. e. Submissions are limited to 65 pages. i. Absolutely no photographs shall be submitted. ii. Title pages and tables of contents, if applicable, are excluded from the page count limitation. iii. Pages submitted more than the limitations specified in this Notice will not be evaluated by NCO 1. f. Telephone or Fax inquiries will not be accepted. I. SF 330 PACKAGE CONTENTS: a. The SF 330 submittal packages shall consist of a completed SF 330, specific information addressing each of the seven (7) selection criteria described in this Notice. b. Respondents are required to meet all requirements in addition to those identified as selection criteria. c. SF 330 submittal packages not consistent with the requirements and selection criteria of this Notice may be determined unacceptable and removed from consideration. d. Any SF 330 submittal package, modification, or revision, that is received after the exact time specified for receipt is late and will not be considered unless it is received before award is made, the contracting officer determines that accepting the late submittal would not unduly delay the acquisition; and there is acceptable evidence to establish that it was received at NCO 1 installation designated for receipt of submittal packages and was under NCO 1 s control prior to the time set for receipt of submittal packages; or it was the only submittal package received. J. SF 330 PACKAGE PREPARATION: a. Electronic copy shall be in searchable PDF format of the SF 330. b. A cover sheet should be included, clearly marked with the Respondent's name, complete address with 9 digit zip code, phone number, e-mail address, DUNs number and Unique Entity Identifier, date of response, title, and Notice identification. c. Information not provided elsewhere in the SF 330 submittal package shall not be incorporated by reference. d. A table of contents shall be provided for ready reference to sections and figures. e. SF 330 submittal packages shall be consistent with the following structure and formatted accordingly: SF 330 PART I CONTRACT SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS 1. Sections A through D 2. Section E 3. Section F 4. Section G 5. Section H 6. Section I 7. Other additional information and attachments SF 330 PART II GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS (Note: Respondents shall clearly label additional information and attachments). K. FAR, VAAR, and VAAM: The FAR and VAAR citations referenced in this Special Notice can be accessed via the following internet links: FAR https://www.acquisition.gov/ VAAR https://www.va.gov/oal/library/vaar/index.asp VAAM https://www.va.gov/oal/library/vaam/ END OF SPECIAL NOTICE