Architect-Engineer (AE) Services to Support Energy and Water Resiliency

CONTRACT INFORMATION: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, SAD, Mobile District requires AE Services for Energy and Water Resiliency. Services are to be provided under a Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC). This procurement will be conducted in accordance with the Architect and Engineer Selection Procedures (formerly referred to as the Brooks Act). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this action is 541330. It is open to all AE firms regardless of size. The Government intends to award three (3) or more contracts that will utilize a total shared capacity of $49,000,000 for an ordering period not to exceed five (5) years. The Government intends to award three (3) or more contracts on an Unrestricted (UR) basis that will share $49,000,000 in capacity. Work under this contract will be subject to satisfactory negotiation of individual firm fixed price task orders. Rates will be negotiated for each 12-month ordering period of the contract. Task orders will be competed among the MATOC holders using Architect and Engineer Selection procedures pursuant to FAR Subpart 36.6 in accordance with EP 715-1-7, the USACE TORN Process, and FAR 16.505(b)(1). All MATOC awardees shall provide AE services, as defined by 40 U.S.C. 1102 and FAR 2.101, to support Energy and Water Resiliency. All interested AE firms are cautioned to review the restrictions of FAR Part 9.5 (Organizational and Consultant Conflicts of Interest). Awardees must also comply with FAR Clause 52.204-25 (Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment) and FAR Provision 52.204-24 (Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment). PROJECT INFORMATION: AE services to support Mobile Districts Planning and Environmental Division for Energy and Water Resiliency will provide planning, studies, management, and support services. The selected firms must have the capability thru in-house staff or consultants to perform the required services. The work for the environmental initiatives for Energy and Water Resiliency, Studies, Planning and Strategy Development will be on military/federal installations throughout the world, including the Continental United States, its territories, South and Central America and other world nations. Similar work for the environmental initiatives for Civil Works will be in the southeastern United States (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi) as well as Central and South America. This procurement is seeking AE services as defined in 40 U.S.C. 1102 and FAR 2.101. The services to be provided are full range comprehensive planning and environmental support for Mobile District to support the Planning and Environmental Divisions projects specifically for Energy and Water Resiliency Studies, Planning and Strategy Development. Work supporting the Energy and Water Resiliency Studies, Planning and Strategy Development for Planning and Environmental Division include performing tasks and providing deliverables which result in organized data, analytical assessments, specific technical expertise and recommended solutions to problems within the Energy Community. These services provide deliverables and knowledge to support informed decisions for energy policy execution, development or modification of new or existing plans and procedures, and implementation of future centralized energy management endeavors to include: assistance with collecting, processing, and analysis of energy performance data, conducting assessments to identify vulnerability/resilience gaps, maintenance of installation energy assurance and resiliency plans, and recommending concept projects to address resilience requirements. AE Services will also include but are not limited to all products and studies associated with comprehensive environmental compliance; energy and water resiliency and strategy development, planning, conservation, NEPA, Environmental Supporting Studies, Master Planning, miscellaneous sustainment for Military, Civil, and Federal Agencies, and all phases of USACE Mobile District Civil Works projects including but not limited to preliminary studies through complete feasibility reports for ecosystem restoration, flood risk management, shallow and deep draft navigation, water supply, hurricane and storm damage reduction, recreation, plan formulation, socio-economic analysis, dredged material testing, water quality studies, and wetland delineation, being an extension of the project development team and be involved in all major technical discussions, being responsible for accuracy and completeness of quantity calculations and analyses to support and develop all stages of the project including planning, programming, being a member of the project team and attend appropriate project internal quality control/assurance and review meetings, receiving, interpreting, disseminating, and implementing engineering guidance, direction, and correspondence from higher authority in a timely manner, conducting field reviews of district commands execution of quality management and recommend necessary corrective actions when warranted, performing Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Technical Assistance and Technical Review of engineering products. SELECTION CRITERIA: The source selection factors for this procurement are listed below in descending order of importance. Factors 1 through 6 are primary. Factor 7 is secondary and will only be used as a tie-breaker among technically equal firms. Primary factors will be assigned a rating from outstanding to unsatisfactory, based on the risk to the Government that the Offeror will successfully perform that evaluated factor. An overall rating will also be applied to the proposal submission using the same rating scale. Proposals failing to respond or provide complete information for each factor, as required by this solicitation, will be determined non-compliant and will be removed from further consideration. After all ratings have been assigned, Offerors will be ranked as Most Highly Qualified, Highly Qualified, and Not Qualified in accordance with EP 715-1-7 Architect-Engineer Contracting In USACE. For purposes of this solicitation, a stand-alone contract (such as a C or P-type contract) or single task order under an Indefinite Delivery Contract is considered one project. Separating activities performed under a contract or task order will not be considered multiple projects; conversely, combining activities performed under separate contracts or task orders to produce a single project will not be considered. Projects in which the AE Service is not 100% complete will not be evaluated. Factor 1. Professional Qualifications (SF330, Part I, Section E) Part A Resumes of Key Personnel (Section E, Blocks 12 18): Offerors must have, either in-house or through consultants or subcontractors, the disciplines listed below. To demonstrate qualifications, resumes for persons filling these disciplines are to be provided in Section E. Each resume shall not exceed one page in length. All Professional Registrations, Licensures and/or Certifications must identify the state in which Professional Registration, License and/or Certification is obtained; Professional Registration, License and/or Certification number; and expiration dates (as applicable). Specialist disciplines shall have a degree certifications as indicated/required below and training in the area of specialization. In Block 13, the role listed must use the exact same discipline nomenclature as listed below. Individuals shall not serve in more than one role, and all disciplines shall be clearly indicated in Block 13. The SF330 may be modified in order to meet the Submission Requirements (font size); however, the content of Section E is not to be altered (removal or deletion of required Blocks) and all items within Section E shall be answered completely. Additionally, all Key Personnel must be shown on the organizational chart in Section D. The following disciplines are required: Program Manager The Program Manager is the only discipline permitted and required to demonstrate experience managing programmatic IDCs Project Manager Biologist/Ecologist/Environmental Scientist Water Resource Planner/Specialist Cultural Resources Specialist Real Property Master Planner, AICP certification required Civil Engineer, professional registration required Electrical Engineer, professional registration required Mechanical Engineer, professional registration required Community Planner Landscape Architect, professional registration required Certified Energy Manager, professional certification required Facilitator Architect, professional registration required Part B Relevant Projects (Section E, Block 19): All Key Personnel are required to have a minimum of five (5) years of project experience in their discipline demonstrated by projects with scope, magnitude, and complexity comparable to this solicitation. The definition of a project is as noted in Project Information and Selection Criteria above. Relevant projects are those that reflect experience performing the respective discipline. Relevant Project information should be brief and highlight specific roles and tasks performed by the Key Personnel, Project Type, Scope, and Costs. No more than five projects should be listed for each resume, and each project listed must have been 100% complete within five (5) years of publication of this solicitation announcement. (Note: The projects provided for this factor may also be used to address Factor 2.) The evaluation of Factor 1 will take into consideration the education and current registration, licensure, certification(s), or specialized training, as applicable, of each person named for each discipline and that persons longevity with the firm named in Block 15. It will also take into consideration the persons relevant project experience provided in Block 19. More weight will be given to experience with Energy and Water Resiliency projects that are of scope, magnitude, and complexity similar to that described above in the paragraph titled Project Information. This factor may be assessed Strengths or Weaknesses, as appropriate. Only the Key Personnel disciplines requested in this solicitation will be evaluated. The basis of evaluation for Factor 1 will be information submitted in Part I, Sections E and G. Factor 2. Specialized Experience and Technical Competence (Projects) (SF330, Part I, Section F) For Factor 2, Offerors are to demonstrate specialized experience and technical competence which meets the definition of AE Services as defined in 40 U.S.C. 1102 and FAR 2.101. In Section F Offerors are to submit a minimum of six (6) but no more than ten (10) projects that best illustrate the proposed teams qualifications for award of a contract. (Note: The projects provided for Factor 1 may also be used to address this factor, however, not by reference only.) The definition of a project is as noted in Project Information and Selection Criteria above. For each project use only one page and note the contract or task order number, as applicable. The SF330 may be modified in order to meet the Submission Requirements (font size); however, the content of Section F is not to be altered (removal or deletion of required Blocks) and all items within Section F shall be answered completely. Projects in which the AE Service is not 100% complete will not be evaluated. All projects must have been conducted within five (5) years of publication of this solicitation announcement (see Block 22) and must be 100% complete at the publication of this solicitation announcement. At least six (6) of the projects presented must show that the Offeror (the firm submitting the SF330 as the prime contractor), whether as a prime contractor or subcontractor, performed the majority (>50%) of the work on the project. To demonstrate such performance, Offerors are to specifically describe the type(s) of work performed and state the percentage they performed of each type of work. If a proposed subcontractor also worked on the project, state the type(s) and percentage(s) of work it performed. If an Offeror submits more than six (6) projects, those projects must reflect performance of work by the Offeror, or one or more of its proposed subcontractors. For each such project state the percentage of work performed by the Offeror, and/or the percentage of work performed by each proposed subcontractor. Clearly identify the Project Number (as indicated above), Type and the Offerors role on the project. In Block 24, cost is the total value of the project, not simply the value of the work performed by the Offeror and/or any proposed subcontractor. The Government reserves the right to review any official performance evaluation system of records to inform its source selection decision. When completing Section G, in Block 26, along with the name of key personnel, include the firm with whom the person is or was associated at the time the project was performed. Those firms submitting as Joint Ventures (JV) must follow the same procedures as any other Offeror with the following exception. If the JV (the Offeror) cannot provide at least six (6) projects that demonstrate performance by the JV of 50% or more of a project, as either a prime contractor or subcontractor, the JV may provide projects performed by any partner of the offering JV that reflect performance of 50% or more of a project, as either a prime contractor or subcontractor. JV Offerors are not required to submit projects of both partners, but more consideration may be given for projects that were performed as a JV. Of the projects submitted as prescribed above, relevant projects are those that reflect the specialized experience and technical competence of the Offeror and/or proposed subcontractor(s), as prime contractors or subcontractors, performing services similar to those described above in the paragraph titled Project Information. More weight will be given to experience with Energy and Water Resiliency projects that are of scope, magnitude, and complexity similar to that described above in the paragraph titled Project Information. This factor may be assessed Strengths or Weaknesses, as appropriate. The basis of evaluation for Factor 2 will be information submitted in Part I, Sections F and G. Factor 3. Specialized Experience and Technical Competence (Technical Capabilities) (SF330, Part I, Section H) In Part I, Section H, the Offeror must provide a proposed work management plan demonstrating its teams breadth of knowledge and experience with complex projects supporting the Mobile Districts Planning and Environmental Division, specific to Energy and Water Resiliency. The narrative shall describe knowledge and experience with implementation/ preparations of master planning regulations/guidance/general plans, various DoD installation, mission and project-level energy planning and strategy development for continuity of operations, gap analysis, vulnerability and/or resiliency assessments, and other project planning initiatives undertaken, Sustainable Infrastructure Assessments, and Community Partnership Initiatives/IGSA. The narrative should specifically discuss knowledge and experience with environmental energy projects/issues with DoD agencies, Civil Works, other Federal agencies, and USACE. The narrative shall also describe the Offerors quality management plan, to include quality assurance processes, version control management, and proactive internal and external communication protocols in the context of providing services under multiple task orders. This factor may be assessed Strengths or Weaknesses, as appropriate. Factor 4. Past Performance (SF330, Part I, Section H) Offerors shall demonstrate in narrative (or other format) a history of customer satisfaction with the Offeror's quality of work, cost control and scheduling. Past Performance history is not to be limited to information presented in Factor 2. Past performance can be substantiated by presentation of CPARS or PPQ ratings, or customer ratings from other project evaluation systems. Submission of CPARS or PPQs in their entirety are not required. Customer excerpts or quotes from prior evaluations for the purposes of substantiating the narrative are not desired. The narrative should describe the corporate approach for maintaining success with customer satisfaction with the Offeror's quality of work, cost control and scheduling. This factor may be assessed Strengths or Weaknesses, as appropriate, with more weight given to successful performance ratings in these three areas on DoD contracts. Factor 5. Capacity to Accomplish the Work (SF330, Part I, Section H) All Offerors are to clearly demonstrate the capacity to accomplish at least four (4) $500,000 task orders simultaneously. This factor may be assessed Strengths or Weaknesses, as appropriate. Factor 6. Knowledge of Locality (SF330, Part I, Section H) Offerors are to clearly demonstrate their knowledge of the locality of the Mobile Districts Planning and Environmental Division. The narrative should describe the any known features that are unusual of unique to Mobile District, specifically in support of Energy and Water Resiliency. This factor may be assessed Strengths or Weaknesses, as appropriate. Factor 7. SB and SDB Participation (SF330, Part I, Section H) Offerors shall provide the extent of participation of small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, historically black colleges and universities, and minority institutions. The participation is to be measured as a percentage of the total anticipated contract effort, regardless of whether the small businesses, small, disadvantaged businesses, historically black colleges and universities, or minority institutions are the prime contractor, subcontractor, or joint venture partner; the greater the participation, the greater the consideration. This factor is not to be confused with a formal subcontracting plan. This factor is a secondary criterion and will only be evaluated as a tie-breaker among technically equal firms. Interviews. As required by acquisition regulations, interviews for the purpose of discussing prospective contractor qualifications will be conducted by the AE Evaluation Board (Selection Board). Interviews will be held with those offerors deemed by the Board to be qualified for award. Interviews will be conducted by telephone and will most likely occur the same week that the Selection Board convenes. Phone calls and personal visits for the purpose of discussing this solicitation are not allowed. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: Interested AE firms or joint ventures (JVs) with the capabilities to perform this work are invited to submit one (1) complete PDF of their SF330 (Architect-Engineer Qualifications) proposal. Offerors must submit the electronic proposal package to the USACE via DoD SAFE (https://safe.apps.mil/). Emailed submissions of proposals are not permitted and will not be accepted under any circumstances. DoD SAFE provides a time stamped notification to the Government when a file is uploaded. The Government must receive your proposal no later than the time and date as specified in this solicitation. The DoD SAFE system notification must show the proposal Drop-Off or submission was prior to the specified time. DoD SAFE requires a unique Request for Drop-Off code in order to upload proposal files. Offerors must submit their requests for a Request for Drop-Off code no later than midnight CST the day prior to the proposal submission date. Requests received the day proposals are due will not be honored or fulfilled. The Government will begin to issue the Request for Drop-Off codes the day before submittals are due in order for Offerors to upload proposal files. All DoD SAFE requests and submission exchanges shall be sent to each of the following recipients: Ms. Cheryl Ayler at [email protected] and Ms. Courtney Perry at [email protected]. The current edition of the SF330 must be used and may be obtained from the Government Printing Office or from the following web site: http://www.gsa.gov/portal/forms/download/116486. PDFs shall be compatible with Adobe Acrobat XI or an earlier version. Proposals submitted in a format other than as described above will not be accepted. All Offerors responding to this solicitation MUST identify on the front cover of the SF330 their company name and solicitation number for which they are submitting. Firms submitting separate proposal responses for more than one category must upload all files at one time to DoD SAFE as the Request for Drop-Off grants only a single use for upload(s). All Offerors, to include JVs, submitting proposals shall obtain a DUNS number. Include the DUNS number in Part I, Section B, Block 5 next to the name of the firm. Additionally, all Offerors, to include JVs, must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM). For instructions on registering with the SAM, go to https://www.sam.gov/SAM. JVs are to include a fully executed JV Agreement with their proposal at Part II. JVs submitting as 8(a) are to include a JV Agreement that has been reviewed by their respective SBA District. All fonts shall be at least 12 or larger in Arial (not Arial Narrow) to include text, tables, and figures. Pages shall be 8-1/2 inches by 11 inches. The Organizational Chart required in Part I, Section D and the Matrix required by Part I, Section G may be presented on a sheet up to 11 inches by 17 inches, each counting as one page respectively. Do not use multi-column formatting. The SF330 is to be organized as indicated below. Part I of the SF330 shall not exceed 40 pages, including cover sheets, cover letters, separators, and blank sheets, and shall be organized as follows: SF330, Part I, Sections A, B, C and D. SF330, Part I, Section E. SF330, Part I, Section F. SF330, Part I, Section G. SF330, Part I, Sections H and I. Part II of the SF330 shall not exceed 30 pages, including cover sheets, cover letters, separators, and blank sheets. A Part II is required for each branch office of the Offeror and any subcontractor that will perform a key role under the contract. Part II shall be organized as follows: SF330, Part II SF330, Part II, Offeror and Subcontractor Information and Joint Venture Agreement (as applicable) (This document does not count against the page limitation for Part II). OFFERS MUST BE RECEIVED AT THE ADDRESS INDICATED ABOVE NO LATER THAN NOON CENTRAL TIME ON 17 NOVEMBER 2021. The Agency will not accept any offers received after this time and date. ALL QUESTIONS SHALL BE SUBMITTED VIA THE BIDDER INQUIRY PORTAL IN PROJNET at http://www.projnet.org/projnet. No other means of communication (e-mail, fax, or telephone) will be accepted. Questions should be submitted no later than 03 November 2021, NOON Central Time to allow time for a response. On this date and time, the portal will be closed. To submit and review inquiries, firms will need to be current registered users of the ProjNet system. To register, go to the link above, click the BID tab, select BIDDER INQUIRY, select USACE, enter the Bidder Inquiry Key for this solicitation as listed below, and your e-mail address, and then click login. Complete all required information and then click CREATE USER. Verify that information on the next screen is correct and click CONTINUE. From this page you can view all bidder inquiries for this solicitation or add an inquiry. Offerors or Bidders will receive an acknowledgement of their question via e-mail, followed by a response to their question after it has been processed by our team. The Solicitation Number is: W9127821R0072. The Bidder Inquiry Key is: KR9B4Q-TCACKB. Firms are requested to review the Bidder Inquiry Portal for previous questions and responses, prior to submission of a new inquiry on the Portal. CAUTION: Any inquiry submitted and answered within this system will be accessible to view by ALL FIRMS interested in this solicitation. The call center for the ProjNet operates weekdays from 8 AM to 5 PM U.S. Central Time Zone. The telephone number is 1-800-428-HELP.