This is a pre-solicitation notice. The USDA, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has a requirement for a Multiple-Award Indefinite Quantity Contracts (IQC) for Architect-Engineering Design and Construction Management/Administration Services for repair and maintenance, alteration, and/or new construction projects (including greenhouses and specialized farm buildings) for its research laboratory facilities located throughout the Southeast Area (SEA). The Southeast Area includes facilities in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Services under the contracts will include, but are not limited to, energy-related studies, environmental site assessments and studies, building and/or site investigations/studies, feasibility and conceptual studies, geotechnical investigations, radon testing, asbestos and other hazardous materials abatement, life cycle cost analyses, engineering design criteria development, statements of work/program of requirements development, design analyses, designs, construction drawings, specifications (including specifications for design-build), detailed cost estimates and analyses, bidding phase services, construction management/administration (including on-site construction management/administration, bid evaluations, shop drawings and submittals review and approval), construction inspection and/or monitoring, design review, technical consultation, field surveys, engineering reports, and computer-aided drafting. The contracts shall be for a base period of 12 months from date of award, with options for four (4) additional 12-month periods. Firm-fixed-price task orders will be issued for each individual project. The annual amount of the contract will be a minimum of $1,000 and will not exceed $4,000,000. The cumulative amount of all delivery/task orders will be a minimum of $1,000 and will not exceed $20,000,000 over the life of the contract. The Government anticipates multiple award Indefinite Quantity Contracts; however, the Government reserves the right to award one or more contract at its discretion. Individual funded requirements will be awarded through the issuance of firm-fixed-price Task Orders; however, no project exist currently. A solicitation will be issued on or about November 13, 2019. Consideration of firms will be limited to those firms who can provide professional A-E services primarily in the disciplines of architectural, civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and environmental engineering for pre-design, design and post-design A-E services for research laboratory facilities, including greenhouses and specialized farm buildings such as breeding and rearing facilities, barns, stock-watering systems/facilities, etc. The following specific factors will form the basis for evaluation and determination of those highly qualified firms and selection of the best qualified. All factors are weighted by importance, individual factor weights are listed with each factor description: 1) Specialized experience and technical competence in the type of work required to alter or repair facilities in support of agricultural research in laboratory and field settings, including, where appropriate, pollution prevention, waste reduction, and the use of recovered materials. Experience in the inclusion of energy-saving and sustainable features into the design, as shown using the requirements of ASHRAE 90.1, EPACT 2005, Executive Order No. 13693 and LEED. Various tasks include: Mechanical, Electrical, Structural, Civil, Retro-Commissioning, and Construction Management Services. 2) Professional qualifications; including general education, training and experience of the Design A-E and its primary consultants necessary for satisfactory performance of required services. Professional Licenses of Firms and Team Members in all the states included in the Area of interest. 3) The capacity of the Design A-E and its consultants, in terms of numbers and diversity of in-house disciplines and resources, to accomplish all work on schedule and to successfully manage multiple task orders simultaneously. 4) Past performance on similar contracts with Government agencies and private industry in terms of cost control, quality control, compliance with performance schedules, and demonstrated ability to successfully coordinate all planning, design, bid and construction phase work with all subcontractors, and to communicate effectively with the customer on project progress issues. Demonstrated ability in: quality assurance work, "punch lists," commissioning services, final inspections; and Record Drawings is vital. 5) Location of a major offices within geographic proximity to ARS Area Headquarters; Co-location of the offices of the consultants in the same general location as the Design A-E is preferred. Firms shall describe their procedures for coordinating project activities with consultants and subconsultants which are not co-located within the same general location of the firm. The NAICS code is 541330, and the small business size is $16.5 million or less in average annual receipts. This requirement is being competed to all small businesses who are qualified and responsible A-E firms. Personal visits for the purpose of discussing this requirement are strongly discouraged and will not be scheduled.
