Y--Open-End MEP IDIQ AE Contract at VAMC Milwaukee - 695 Project # 695-11-168

This requirement is for MEP architectural and engineering services necessary to perform various projects at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI. The A/E will provide professional services necessary for the design of various in-house and non-recurring maintenance (NRM) construction projects at this Medical Center that are primarily multi-discipline engineering in nature. Design will include but is not limited to conceptual design, preliminary designs, working drawings and specifications, cost estimating, site visits, miscellaneous reports, and construction period services. The AE firm selected must be located within 100 miles of the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee to allow for ease of bi-weekly meetings and bi-weekly site visits once the construction projects have been awarded. In accordance with FAR 36.601-1 and -2, Acquisition of A/E Services shall be made through competitive procedures. A review of CCR in NAICS 541330 was conducted to ascertain if there were sufficient SDVOSB firms to meet the competitive requirement. The search resulted in 67 SDVOB firms. Previous AE solicitations, we've received responses from 8 and more SDVOSB AE firms. Therefore, it has been determined that there will be sufficient SDVOSB AE response/competition for this project. A/E Selections are based on FAR Part 36 - FAR Part 36.602-1 Selection criteria states: (a) Agencies shall evaluate each potential contractor in terms of its- (1) Professional qualifications necessary for satisfactory performance of required services; (2) Specialized experience and technical competence in the type of work required, including, where appropriate, experience in energy conservation, pollution prevention, waste reduction, and the use of recovered materials; (3) Capacity to accomplish the work in the required time; (4) Past performance on contracts with Government agencies and private industry in terms of cost control, quality of work, and compliance with performance schedules; (5) Location in the general geographical area of the project and knowledge of the locality of the project; provided, that application of this criterion leaves an appropriate number of qualified firms, given the nature and size of the project; and (6) Acceptability under other appropriate evaluation criteria. (b) When the use of design competition is approved by the agency head or a designee, agencies may evaluate firms on the basis of their conceptual design of the project. Design competition may be used when- (1) Unique situations exist involving prestige projects, such as the design of memorials and structures of unusual national significance; (2) Sufficient time is available for the production and evaluation of conceptual designs; and (3) The design competition, with its costs, will substantially benefit the project. (c) Hold discussions with at least three of the most highly qualified firms regarding concepts, the relative utility of alternative methods and feasible ways to prescribe the use of recovered materials and achieve waste reduction and energy-efficiency in facility design (see Part 23). In addiiton, FAR Part 36.602-3 Evaluation board functions. Under the general direction of the head of the contracting activity, an evaluation board shall perform the following functions: (a) Review the current data files on eligible firms and responses to a public notice concerning the particular project (see 36.604). (b) Evaluate the firms in accordance with the criteria in 36.602-1. (c) Hold discussions with at least three of the most highly qualified firms regarding concepts and the relative utility of alternative methods of furnishing the required services. (d) Prepare a selection report for the agency head or other designated selection authority recommending, in order of preference, at least three firms that are considered to be the most highly qualified to perform the required services. The report shall include a description of the discussions and evaluation conducted by the board to allow the selection authority to review the considerations upon which the recommendations are based. In conclusion, it is my determination that there are sufficient SDVOSB firms qualified with this area of expertise available to proceed with a competitive A/E procurement. In addition, after review of the SDVOSB firms under this NAIC in VetBiz, a determination was made there is sufficient qualified SDVOSB firms within 100 mile radius in order to set this procurement aside as an SDVOSB. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the government to advertise this requirement as an SDVOSB set-aside and allow for a SDVOSB preference during evaluations. Leon A. Jutrzonka Contracting Officer