C--Desing of Behavioral Health Building / Project # 503-307

This announcement is for the selection of an Architect / Engineer Firm to perform design services, technical specifications, working drawings, cost estimates, as-built drawings, construction period services, and site visits for the Construction of Project # 503-307, "Behavioral Health Building" at the VA Medical Center in Altoona, PA. The magnitude of construction for the above referenced project is between $5,000,000.00 and $10,000,000.00. The estimated duration of design is 135 Days from the issuance of the Notice to Proceed. The Construction Period services are expected to begin within 90 to 180 calendar days from receipt of the 100% Submission Documents. The construction period of performance will be 365 Calendar Days from the issuance of the Notice to Proceed. It is anticipated that a Firm Fixed Price Contract will be awarded to the A/E Firm selected for the aforementioned design services. The most highly qualified A/E Firm will be required to participate in a Criteria Review Conference (CRC) prior to the submission of price proposals. Any cost associated with the participation in the CRC is not reimbursable. Contract award is subject to the availability of funds for FY 2012. Please note this is not a request for proposal. Eligible responses received will be evaluated and the most highly qualified will be compiled on a shortlist of candidates who will be contacted for an interview. The following evaluation criteria, listed in descending order of importance, shall be used to evaluate firms and determine the most highly qualified firm for possible contract award. The Professional Qualification and Specialized Experience/Technical Competence (i.e., Evaluation Factors #1 & #2) factors are slightly more important than the other six factors (i.e. Evaluation Factors #3, #4, #5, #6, #7 and #8). 1. Professional Qualifications necessary for satisfactory performance of required services: This factor evaluates the individual experience of the persons that are to be assigned to the design team. The firms should provide information on the individuals from each relative discipline that are anticipated to be assigned to key positions on the design team. The key positions should include Project Managers, Quality Assurance Manager, Architects, Architectural Engineers, Structural Engineers, Electrical Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Civil Engineers, Fire Protection Engineers, and Environmental Engineers. 2. Specialized Experience and Technical Competence in the type of work required: This factor evaluates the experience of the firm and design team in completing projects requiring skills similar to those anticipated for this contract. This project will include the Design of a new 64' x 100' two story building, 6,400 sf per floor a total of 12,800 sf building with a full unfinished 6,400 sf basement. The structure shall be able to accommodate a future two story expansion of identical square footage. Designing general construction of new space to include structural work, roofing, exterior walls, site work, site utilities and work as stated above. Firms may submit any other personnel they feel are significant for the types of work described in Specialized Experience. 3. Past Performance on Contracts with Government Agencies (particularly Department of Veterans Affairs) and Private Industry in Terms of Cost Control, Quality of Work, and Compliance with Performance Schedules: This factor shall be evaluated based on the information provided by the A-E on similar type projects, performance appraisals on file with the Department of Veterans Affairs, any government sponsored performance rating system and contact with personnel listed in the SF 330 regarding past performance as well board members personal knowledge of the firm. 4. Capacity to Accomplish the Work in the Required Time: This factor evaluates the ability of the A-E firm, given their current projected workload and the availability of their key personnel, to accomplish the projects in the required time. 5. Location in General Geographical Area of the Project and Knowledge of the Locality of the Project: This factor evaluates the distance from the A-E firms design office from the location of work (James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center). The personnel identified as the key design team staff are expected to work in the design office identified for evaluation of this factor. 6. Reputation and standing of the firm and its principal officials with respect to professional performance, general management, and cooperativeness. 7. Record of significant claims against the firm because of improper or incomplete architectural and engineering services. 8. Specific experience and qualifications of personnel proposed for assignment to the project and their record of working together as a team. This is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) set-aside. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes for this work are 541310 and 541330. The small business standard is 4.5 million dollars. Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses must be registered and verified in the VetBiz Registry in order to be eligible for contract award. Visit www.vip.vetbiz.gov to complete your company registration. Additionally, any potential awardees must also be registered in Central Contractor Registration Database (CCR). Registration can be accomplished by visiting www.ccr.gov. To be considered for this contract Firms shall submit three (3) copies of their Standard Form 330 (Parts I & II) and a CD copy of their Standard Form 330 (Parts I & II) to the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center to the contact information listed below. Additionally, the submissions must include an insert detailing the following information placed in the front of the Submission. " Duns & Bradstreet Number " Tax ID Number " The E-mail address of the Primary Point of Contact. " A printed copy of the firms VetBiz Registry. " A copy of the letter from the Center for Veterans Enterprise (CVE) verifying the firm's status as an SDVOSB. The letter must be must be current and no more than one year before the submission deadline. " A copy of Errors and Omissions Insurance Policy for the SDVOSB Prime. Special Note: An A/E Firm failing to provide any of the documentation detailed in the Sources Sought Notice will be determined as Non-Responsive and will not be considered. Attention: Contracting Office, Daniel P. Shea, Building 2 / Room 122, 2907 Pleasant Valley Boulevard, Altoona, Pennsylvania 16602-4377. Standard Form 330's must be received no later than 2:00 PM on August 8, 2011. Inquiries regarding this announcement can be sent to Daniel P. Shea via E-Mail contact@example.gov. Submissions by Electronic means are not permitted. The following are excerpts from the Scope of Work for Project# 503-307. As previously stated, this is not a Request for Proposal. The inclusion of the excerpts in the Sources Sought Notice is to provide a broad overview of the design project to assist the A/E Firms to prepare their SF330s. III. SCOPE OF WORK A. INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW This statement of work will be issued under contract "Behavioral Health Building", Project No. 503-307. 1. Background Mental Health Clinics provide general and specialty mental health services for Veterans being evaluated, diagnosed, and treated on an outpatient basis. Services include: " Diagnostic and treatment planning evaluations for the full range of mental health problems " Treatment services, including individual, group, and family psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and sometimes other somatic treatments " Cognitive and psychological assessment services " Patient education " Consultation services Psychology Services are sometimes a distinct component in a medical center and consist primarily of offices and related space used by psychologists, mental health professionals, psychology trainees, and administrative and clerical staff. Computer-related testing is frequently used as part of psychological and neuropsychological assessments. This space should include staff offices, trainee offices, administrative offices, clerical staff space, therapy rooms, one or more conference rooms, a patient waiting room, a library or similar are for storing clinical, educational, and bibliotherapy materials. Audio-video equipment is used by trainees for recording discussions during clinical supervised sessions. 2. Scope of Work The A/E will furnish design services, site survey, technical specifications, assessment reports, working drawings, cost estimates, as-built drawings, construction period services, and site visits for Project No. 503-307, "Behavioral Health Building" a Mental Health Clinic. Key design concepts for this clinic include: 1. Patient spaces should have an attractive, therapeutic environment. Incorporate wall color, trim, accent colors, and securely-anchored artwork in common areas and patient therapy rooms to enhance the environment. Create an attractive, non-institutional environment through careful attention to architectural features and interior design elements. 2. The clinic planning and design should maintain patient privacy and dignity for a diverse Veteran population with different treatment protocols. 3. The circulation (corridors) in this clinic should be open, easily observed from the reception desk, and free of blind corners. 4. There should be ample signage that is clear and has large letters that can be read from a distance by patients, some of whom have imperfect vision. 5. Include an identifiable reception area, for greeting patients, Patient check-in, family members, and other visitors that is adjacent to a comfortable waiting area. The waiting area should provide some privacy from common traffic. 6. Therapy rooms should have appropriate acoustic control 7. Separate sub-waiting areas should be provided for women patients and their families. 8. All areas must be wheelchair accessible. Corridors should be a minimum of 6 feet (1.83 m) clear to allow passage of two wheel chairs. 9. Ample light should be provided in common hall ways. 10. Provide outdoor space to allow patients to sit or talk with others outside, when possible. 11. Exposed devices should be fastened with tamper resistant fasteners. Laminated glass should be used in areas readily accessed by Veterans. 12. Therapy rooms and space for tele-mental health technology should have appropriate acoustic and light control. Architecture Design Guidelines: a. Design a new 64' x 100' two story building, 6,400 sf per floor a total of 12,800 sf building with a full unfinished 6,400 sf basement. The structure shall be able to accommodate future two story expansion of identical square footage. b. The design will allow Buildings #6 and #7 to remain in full operation without interruption. The design will allow for any moves to be provided for in total by the contractor for the construction project.