IDIQ contract for architect-engineering services for research facilities in the North Atlantic Area

****The purpose of this amendment is to 1) remove evaluation criteria number 7, and 2) to add the email address for electronic submission of SF-330's**** The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has a requirement for an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity Contract (IDIQ) for Architectural and Engineering, Design, and Construction Management/Administration Services for repair and maintenance, modernization, and/or new construction projects for a broad range of agricultural requirements, including laboratory, greenhouse/headhouse, and other miscellaneous agricultural research projects in the North Atlantic Area (NAA). A-E services are required for the entire design and construction process, including programming, design, design review, bid phase services and construction management. This work includes but is not limited to solicitation reviews, evaluation of bids, responses to RFIs, change order reviews, negotiation services, final inspections, commissioning, and as built drawings. Specialized experience is required in the disciplines of telecommunications, security, energy savings including compliance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, sustainable design, compliance with ASHRAE 90.1, and cost estimating. The main office for the North Atlantic Area is located in Wyndmoor, PA. However, projects are located over several states, including Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, Delaware, Maine, and West Virginia. The A-E must be able to manage multiple projects over several locations simultaneously. A firm whose main office is located near Wyndmoor, PA is desirable. The contract shall be for a period of 12 months from the date of award, with option for four (4) additional 12-month periods. 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 $2,000,000. If all option years are exercised, the cumulative amount of all task orders will be a minimum of $5,000 and will not exceed $10,000,000. The Government reserves the right to make multiple awards. All offerors will be evaluated in accordance with FAR Subpart 36.6 and the evaluation criteria below. The evaluation factors, which will be used to determine the most highly qualified contractors, are listed in descending order of importance as follows: (1) Professional qualifications necessary for satisfactory performance of required services to include general education, training and experience of the design A-E and its primary consultants necessary to provide the quality planning and design services PORs, Investigative Reports, drawings, specifications, calculations, cost estimates, etc.) needed to support a broad range of projects. (2) Specialized experience and technical competence in the type of work required, including planning and design of construction and modernization projects of agricultural research facilities, including laboratories and greenhouses. Expertise in the disciplines of telecommunications and security; Experience in the inclusion of energy-saving and sustainable features into the design as shown by the use of the requirements of ASHRAE90.1, EPACT 2005, Executive Order No. 13423 and LEED. (3) Capacity of the Design A-E and its consultants, in terms of numbers and diversity of in-house disciplines and equipment, to accomplish all work on schedule and to successfully manage multiple task orders simultaneously. (4) Past performance on contracts with Government agencies and private industry as measured by the quality and cost control of the submissions and services required by the contracts and the success of the project overall. (5) Location in the general geographical area of the project and knowledge of the locality of the project. Specifically, it is desirable that a main or major office is located in or near Wyndmoor, PA. (6)Qualifications of the Design A-E and its primary consultants to provide quality Bid and Construction Phase Services, including, but not limited to, solicitation reviews, evaluation of bids, daily and periodic inspections, construction reports, minutes of meeting, shop drawing reviews, responses to RFI's, change order reviews, cost estimates, - as-built drawings, negotiation services, quality assurance work, final inspections, commissioning services and record drawings. Firms qualified and interested in providing professional Architectural Engineering Design Services are hereby invited to submit a completed Standard Form (SF) 330, Architect-Engineer and Related Services Questionnaire. One (1) original and three (3) copies shall be provided in hard copy format, or an electronic PDF document is acceptable when submitted via email to Stacey.Walker@ars.usda.gov. The closing date for receipt of the SF-330's shall be 3:00 p.m. EDT, October 16, 2008. Please include the project number on all submitted material. Information on the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and its mission and research locations may be found on our website at http://www.naa.ars.usda.gov. This is not a request for proposal. The Government will not pay for information submitted in response to this notice.