Inactive Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Set-Aside (FAR 19.14)

Page 7 of 9 DESCRIPTION: This is a Pre-Solicitation Notice for the establishment of an Architect-Engineering (A-E) contract with services to be performed at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, C... Page 7 of 9 DESCRIPTION: This is a Pre-Solicitation Notice for the establishment of an Architect-Engineering (A-E) contract with services to be performed at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, Cheyenne, WY, 82801. This requirement is being set-aside to Small Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) firms. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL; NO SOLICITATION PACKAGE WILL BE ISSUED UNTIL AFTER AN EVALUATION HAS BEEN MADE ON THE PROVIDED SF-330s. The SF-330 can be downloaded through the GSA Forms Library at: https://www.gsa.gov/reference/forms/architectengineer-qualifications, scroll down to locate and click on the SF-330 hyperlink entitled, Architect-Engineer Qualifications. Interested firms should submit their current SF-330, Parts I and II, to Josiah.benton@va.gov. The SF-330s are due no later than 2:00 PM, MT, October 31, 2025. SCOPE OF WORK: This contract will provide for a design for SPS Renovation Project No. 442-25-002 and to comply with VA Directives at the Cheyenne VA Medical Center. 2360 East Pershing Blvd. Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001. The contractor shall design the following: Statement of Work: Project Summary: The Cheyenne Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) is seeking architect/engineering firms to provide all A/E services for the investigation, design, cost estimating, preparation of construction documents, and construction administration services for the SPS Renovation project which includes but are not limited to: Evaluate the current air handling unit (AHU) serving the SPS/SPD department to identify the required modifications or confirm the need for replacement to achieve compliance with the latest specifications and codes concerning temperature control, humidity regulation, air change rates, and pressure differentials. Provide design for AHU. Evaluate and perform new load calculations on existing VAV and exhaust fan capacities and replace them if they cannot meet performance requirements. Modify supply, return, and exhaust ductwork as needed to suit current use of space. Install digital pressure monitors in areas required by specifications and code. Conduct a thorough evaluation of the current Sterile Processing Services (SPS)/Sterile Processing Department (SPD) to enhance operational efficiency and optimize the layout of equipment, ensuring that the new design facilitates streamlined workflows and adherence to industry standards and regulations. Build an enclosed drying area for carts on the clean side of the cart washer to prevent contamination and ensure proper drying conditions. Assess the current reverse osmosis (RO) system's capacity and performance; if insufficient, design and install a separate RO system tailored for the Sterile Processing Services (SPS) area to ensure optimal water purity. Remove existing flooring and install new, durable, and easy-to-clean flooring throughout the SPS/SPD, adhering to relevant health and safety regulations. Design and construct a new ante room adjacent to the preparation area. Install automatic doors for the Sterile Processing Services (SPS) decontamination area to enhance hands-free access, improve workflow, and maintain contamination control standards. Redesign and expand, if possible, the decontamination ante room to improve workflow and capacity, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations. Assess the hospital requirements and determine if temporary SPS trailers are needed during construction. Assess hospital campus to select location for SPS trailers, ensuring all utilities are available. Install emergency lighting where necessary to comply with on codes and life safety requirements. Evaluate adding a medivator to the SPS department. The design is to include all necessary electrical, mechanical, civil, structural, and architectural components necessary to furnish a complete design for the specified work. This includes providing details of all systems. There will be required investigation and verification of the building areas stated in this scope for the project. Original mechanical plans for this building are included for reference. Additional plans are available upon request. All aspects of the design must adhere to the NEC Design manuals posted on the VA technical information library at the following sites: http://www.cfm.va.gov/til/ and https://vatilms.va.gov/vatilms/catalog. All electrical, architectural, and mechanical work for these systems will be designed by the A-E. The installation must, at a minimum, be in accordance with all applicable codes indicated in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Design Manuals and VA Publications (Master Construction Specifications, Construction Standards, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Underwriters Laboratory, International Building Code IBC 2003, NFPA and National Electric Code (NEC), building codes and standards, and VA Information Security Handbook 6500.6, etc.). DESIGN CRITERIA: As part of the design the following list needs to be considered: All electrical work will be terminated by the contractor. The design must be clear who and what is supplied for the termination equipment. Any penetrations through any fire barriers whether a floor or wall it will be done in this contract to meet VA standards and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The installed system and its components shall be tested and commissioned. This will be included in the design and construction documents. Implement new technologies in electrical systems to improve and facilitate energy usage reductions. The system will be compatible with the existing control systems on station. All finishes will be coordinated with the VA interior designer and called out in a finish schedule. All testing and balancing parameters will be provided by the A-E. Construction documents showing the red lines will be submitted by the construction contractor to the AE. The AE shall then incorporate these changes into the AutoCAD drawings and submit them to the COR within 30 days of receiving them. This shall be done according to VA standards as outlined in the VA Specifications and Technical Information Library Management System (TILMS). 8. All existing utilities which are designed to be relocated or modified shall have directions to the contractor on the new location and modifications. INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES: A report on 8 1/2 x11 paper (bound) and an electric Portable Document Format (PDF) version will be submitted. It will provide pro and cons of the project. It shall include a preliminary cost estimate and any results from preliminary testing and investigations. The results and sketches from this report should be used to develop the design. Interview and work with medical center staff to determine how the current system is working and what needs there are from the Facilities Management staff. In person inspections are required before the start of design due to the need for phased designed in the specified areas. The A-E will need to understand the workings of the area to facilitate a smoother design. OFFERORS WILL BE EVALUATED ON THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: The submitted SF-330s will be evaluated on the following criteria: This acquisition will be in accordance with FAR Part 36.602-1 and VAAR Part 836.601-1. The following evaluation criteria will be used to evaluate SF-330 technical proposals: The A/E must demonstrate its qualifications with respect to the published evaluation criteria for all services. Evaluation Criteria (1) through (4) are considered most important and equal among themselves; Criteria (5) and (6) are of slightly less importance than (1) through (4) but are equal value among themselves; Criteria (7) is least important and listed in descending order of importance. Specific evaluation criteria include: 1. Specialized experience and technical competence in the performance of services similar to those listed in this SOW. 2. Professional Qualifications necessary for satisfactory performance of required services. 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. Specific experience and qualifications of personnel proposed for assignment to the project and their record of working together as a team. 6. The extent to which potential contractors identify and commit to the use of service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, veteran-owned small businesses, and other types of small businesses as subcontractors. 7. Experience in construction period services to include professional field inspections during the construction period, review of construction submittals, support in answering requests for information during the construction period, and support of construction contract changes to include drafting statements of work, and cost estimates shall be included as an evaluation criterion when construction period services is included in the statement of work for A-E services. Criterion 1 - Specialized experience and technical competence in the performance of services similar to those listed in this SOW Offerors will be evaluated on specialized experience and technical competence in the performance of services similar to those anticipated under this contract with regard to: · Experience with design of SPS/SPD departments. · Experience with multi-phased hospital design and construction programs. · Experience with construction and renovation phasing in hospitals. · Experience in providing post construction award services (shop drawing review, as-built drawing and Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) preparation, construction inspection services, and Operating and Maintenance Manuals). Submission requirements: Provide up to five (5) projects completed or substantially completed within the past five (5) years that best illustrate specialized experience of the proposed team in the areas outlined above. Example projects shall note project s square footage. All projects provided in the SF-330 must be completed by the office/branch/regional office/individual team member actually proposed to manage and/or perform work under this contract. To enable verification, firms should include the SAM UEI number along with each firm name in the SF-330 Part 1, Section F Item 25 Firms from Section C Involved in this Project, block (1). Include a contract number or project identification number in block 21. Include an e-mail address, and phone number for the point of contact in block 23(c). Include in the project description the contract period of performance, award contract value, current contract value, a summary of the work performed that demonstrates relevance to specialized experience as outlined above. If the contractor served as a subcontractor on a project, indicate the value of the work they provided towards the performance of the overall project. If a project was performed by a joint venture, and not all joint venture partners are on the team proposed for this contract, the offeror/team should specifically address the work performed by the joint venture partner offering/teaming on this contract. Likewise, if the offeror/team member worked as a subcontractor on a project, the description should clearly describe the work actually performed by the offeror/team member and the roles and responsibilities of each on the project, rather than the work performed on the project as a whole. If the project description does not clearly delineate the work performed by the entity/entities offering/teaming on this contract, the project could be eliminated from consideration. NOTE: If the Offeror is a joint venture, information should be submitted as a joint venture; however, if there is no information for the joint venture, information should be submitted for either joint venture partner, not to exceed a total of five (5) projects for this criterion. Projects shall be submitted on the SF-330. For submittal purposes, a task order on an IDIQ contract is considered a project, as is a stand-alone contract award. Do not list an IDIQ contract as an example of a completed project. Instead, list relevant completed task orders or stand-alone contract awards that fit within the definition above. Examples of project work submitted that do not conform to this requirement will not be evaluated. Failure to provide requested data, accessible points of contact, or valid phone numbers could result in a firm being rated lower. All information for Criterion 1 should be submitted in Part 1, Section F of the SF-330. The Government WILL NOT consider information submitted in addition to Part 1, Section F in evaluating Criterion 1. Criterion 2 - Professional Qualifications necessary for satisfactory performance of required services. Offerors will be evaluated in terms of the qualifications, competence and experience of the key personnel and technical team proposed to accomplish this work. Key personnel are individuals who will have major contract or project management responsibilities and/or will provide unusual or unique expertise. Provide a balanced licensed and or certified workforce in the following disciplines Architecture, Interior Design, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing. Submission requirements: Provide resumes for all proposed key personnel. Resumes are limited to one page each and should cite project specific experience and indicate proposed role in this contract. Provide professional registration, certification, licensure and/or accreditation. Indicate participation of key personnel in example projects in the SF-330 Part 1 Section G. Criterion 3 - Capacity to accomplish the work in the required time. Firms/teams will be evaluated in terms of their ability to plan for and manage work under the contract and capacity to accomplish the work in the required time. Submission requirements: Describe the firm s ability to concurrently perform and manage multiple projects in different locations to meet aggressive schedules, multiple disciplines, and control costs and the firm s capacity to accomplish multiple projects simultaneously. Criterion 4 - Past Performance Offerors will be evaluated on past performance with Government agencies and private industry in terms of work quality, compliance with schedules, cost control, and stakeholder/customer satisfaction. Evaluating past performance and experience will include information provided in Past Performance Questionnaires (PPQs) or CPARS for Criterion 1 projects and may include other information provided by the firm, customer inquiries, Government databases, and other information available to the Government including contacts with points of contact in other criteria. Failure to provide requested data, accessible points of contact, or valid phone numbers could result in a firm being rated lower. NOTE: Past performance information for projects listed under Criterion 1. Submission requirements: SUBMIT A COMPLETED CPARS EVALUATION FOR EACH PROJECT UNDER CRITERION 1. IF THERE IS NOT A COMPLETED CPARS EVALUATION, the Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) included in this notice is provided for the offeror or its team members to submit to the client for each project the offeror includes under Criterion 1. AN OFFEROR SHALL NOT SUBMIT A PPQ WHEN A COMPLETED CPARS IS AVAILABLE. IF A CPARS EVALUATION IS NOT AVAILABLE, ensure correct phone numbers and email addresses are provided for the client point of contact. Completed PPQs should be submitted with your SF-330. If the offeror is unable to obtain a completed PPQ from a client for a project(s) before the response date set forth in this notice, offerors should complete and submit with their responses the first page of the PPQ (Attachment), which will provide contract and client information for the respective project(s). Offerors may submit a PPQ previously submitted under a different Notice/RFP (legible copies are acceptable) as long as it is on the same form as posted with this Synopsis. Offerors should follow up with clients/references to ensure timely submittal of questionnaires. If requested by the client, questionnaires may be submitted directly to the Government's point of contact, Network Contracting Office 19, Attn: Josiah Benton via email at Josiah.benton@va.gov prior to the response date. Offerors may incorporate by reference into their response PPQs or CPARS previously submitted in responses to other A/E services procurements, as long as the referenced project has been completed prior to SF330 submission for the current Pre-Solicitation. However, this does not preclude the Government from utilizing previously submitted PPQ information in the past performance evaluation. Criterion 5 - Specific experience and qualifications of personnel proposed for assignment to the project and their record of working together as a team Submission requirements: Offerors shall submit evidence of individuals experience and qualifications in their respective fields. Additionally, documentation must be provided to show these individuals have worked together as a team on previous projects and their role. (Completing Sections E, F, and G, on the SF330 meets the documentation requirement). Furthermore, offerors shall describe the ability of the firm to manage, coordinate and work effectively with team members, both internal staff and consultants. Discuss the history of working relationships with team members, including joint venture partners where applicable. Criterion 6 - The extent to which potential contractors identify and commit to the use of service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, veteran-owned small businesses, and other types of small businesses as subcontractors. Submission requirements: Offerors to submit a signed S22 attached and Self performance attachment and evidence showing commitment to using Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), and Small Business firms/teams previously used on projects submitted in Criterion 2. Criterion 7 - Experience in construction period services to include professional field inspections during the construction period, review of construction submittals, support in answering requests for information during the construction period, and support of construction contract changes to include drafting statements of work, and cost estimates shall be included as an evaluation criterion when construction period services is included in the statement of work for A-E services. Submission requirements: Offerors shall provide documentation based on using the projects submitted in Criterion 2 indicating the extent and magnitude of the construction period services provided on those regarding the areas stated above. SELECTION INTERVIEW: Interviews shall be scheduled with firms slated as the most highly qualified. Firms slated for interviews may be asked to explain or expand on information contained in the SF-330 submittal. Elaborate presentations are not desired. GENERAL INFORMATION: All design and work will conform to the current edition of the VA Master Specifications and VA Design Standards as published at the following site: www.cfm.va.gov; ASME, OSHA, IBC 2009, NFPA and NEC building codes and standards. Coordinate all work through the COR of Facilities Management Service. Contractor is responsible for all cleanups and refuse disposal throughout the construction period. The A-E firm will prepare drawings and specifications in sufficient detail such that qualified outside General Contracting companies can prepare accurate and timely proposals for the desired construction work. Microsoft Project scheduling and management software will be used by both the A-E and Contractors to allow for regular tracking of schedules and work by the VA Medical Center. Schedules with MS Project will be regularly sent to the COR upon project initiation and whenever significant changes occur in the schedule. The estimated magnitude of construction is between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000. The A-E will provide an initial estimate of cost to perform the above work and will design only those items that can be provided within the cost limitation. The Medical Center must remain operational throughout the construction period and a detailed sequence of work will be provided by the A-E to minimize impact of the construction. The A-E will provide documents at each submission as indicated in the statement of work. The NAICS code for this procurement will be 541330, Engineering Services. The current small business size standard for 541330 is $25.5 million. Requirement for Electronic Submission Unless paper offers are specifically authorized, all responses to this pre-solicitation notice must be submitted electronically as described below. The only acceptable paper form for this requirement is the receipt of past performance questionnaires. Failure to comply with this requirement may jeopardize the possibility of receiving an award for the contract due to non-compliance with the terms of the solicitation. You must submit your electronic offer, and any supplemental information (such as spreadsheets, backup data, technical information), using any of the electronic formats and media described below. In addition, contractors are notified of the award via an electronic Notice of Award e-mail. The award document will be attached to the Notice of Award e-mail. Acceptable Electronic Formats (Software) for Submission of Offers Files readable using the current Microsoft* Office version Products: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Access. Spreadsheet documents must be sent in a format that includes all formulas, macro, and format information. Print or scan images of spreadsheets are not acceptable.  Please see security note below for caution regarding use of macros. When submitting construction drawings contractors are required to submit one set in AutoCAD and one set in Adobe PDF. (Purpose: contracting can open the PDF version and engineering can open AutoCAD files) Files in Adobe* PDF (Portable Document Format) Files: When scanning documents scanner resolution should be set to 200 dots per inch, or greater. Other electronic formats. If you wish to submit an offer using another format than those described in these instructions, e-mail the Contracting Officer who issued the solicitation. Please submit your request at least ten (10) calendar days before the scheduled closing date of the solicitation. Request a decision as to the format acceptability and make sure you receive approval of the alternate format before using it to send your offer. Please note that we can no longer accept .zip files due to increasing security concerns. E-mail Submission Procedures: For simplicity in this guidance, all submissions in response to a solicitation will be referred to as offers. Subject Line: Include the solicitation number, name of company, and closing date of solicitation. Use only one of the terms Quotation, Offer, or Bid depending on the solicitation type. Size: Maximum size of the e-mail message shall not exceed five (5) megabytes. The SF330, in its entirety, shall not exceed one email of 5MB. The SF330 (not including past performance questionnaires) are limited to 50 pages. If the page limits are exceeded, the pages in excess of the limit will not be read or considered. Only one email is permitted unless otherwise stated in this paragraph or in writing by the Contract Officer submitting the solicitation. The Microsoft Outlook © Email time/date stamp will be used to date and time stamp offers for the official record of receipt for the submission. The date and time stamp in recipients inbox is the official record of receipt. Security Issues, Late Bids, Unreadable Offers Late submission of offers are outlined at FAR Parts 52.212-1(f), 52.214-7, and 52.215-1(c)(3). Particular attention is warranted to the portion of the provision that relates to the timing of submission.  Please see FAR 15.207(c) for a description of the steps the Government shall take with regard to unreadable offers.  To avoid rejection of an offer, vendors must make every effort to ensure their electronic submission is virus-free. Submissions or portions thereof submitted and which the automatic system detects the presence of a virus, or which are otherwise unreadable will be treated as unreadable pursuant to FAR Parts 14.406 and FAR 15.207(c). The virus scanning software used by our e-mail systems cannot always distinguish a macro from a virus. Therefore, sending a macro embedded in an e-mail message or an e-mail attachment may cause the e-mail offer to be quarantined. You may send both the spreadsheet, and the spreadsheet saved in PDF format to ensure that your proposal is readable. Password protecting your offer is not permitted. The Contracting Officer will file the offer electronically which will allow access only by designated individuals. Important Notice: Apparent successful offerors must apply for and receive verification from the Small Business Administration (SBA) through the SBA certification database via 13 CFR Part 128, VAAR 819.7011, and VAAR 819.7003 by submission of documentation of Veteran status, ownership and control enough to establish appropriate status. Offerors must be both VISIBLE and VERIFIED by the SBA certification database at the time of offer submission. Failure to be both VERIFIED by SBA and VISIBLE on the SBA certification database at the time of offer submission and contract award will result in the offeror s proposal being deemed non-compliant. All offerors are urged to contact the SBA and submit the required documents to obtain verification of their SDVOSB status if they have not already done so. VA NOTICE OF TOTAL SET-ASIDE FOR CERTIFIED SERVICE-DISABLED VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES (JAN 2023) (DEVIATION) Definition. For the Department of Veterans Affairs, Service-disabled Veteran-owned small business concern or SDVOSB : (1)Means a small business concern (i) Not less than 51 percent of which is owned by one or more service-disabled Veterans or, in the case of any publicly owned business, not less than 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more service-disabled Veterans or eligible surviving spouses (see VAAR 802.101, Surviving Spouse definition); (ii) The management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one or more service-disabled Veterans (or eligible surviving spouses) or, in the case of a service-disabled Veteran with permanent and severe disability, the spouse or permanent caregiver of such Veteran; (iii) The business meets Federal small business size standards for the applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code identified in the solicitation document; (iv) The business has been certified for ownership and control pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 8127, 13 CFR 128, and is listed as certified in the SBA certification database at https://veterans.certify.sba.gov/; and (v) The business agrees to comply with VAAR subpart 819.70 and Small Business Administration (SBA) regulations regarding small business size, government contracting, and the Veteran Small Business Certification Program at 13 CFR parts 121, 125, and 128. (2) The term Service-disabled Veteran means a Veteran, as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101(2), with a disability that is service-connected, as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101(16). (3) The term small business concern has the meaning given that term under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632). (4) The term small business concern owned and controlled by Veterans with service-connected disabilities has the meaning given the term small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans under section 3(q)(2) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(q)(2)). (5) The term "SDVOSB participant or certified SDVOSB means a small business that has been certified in the SBA Veteran Small Business Certification Program and listed in the SBA certification database (see 13 CFR 128.102). (b) General.In order for a concern to submit an offer and be eligible for the award of an SDVOSB set-aside or sole source contract, the concern must qualify as a small business concern under the size standard corresponding to the NAICS code assigned to the contract and be listed as an SDVOSB participant in the SBA certification database as set forth in 13 CFR 128. (1) Offers received from entities that are not certified SDVOSBs and listed in the SBA certification database at the time of offer shall not be considered. (2) Any award resulting from this solicitation shall be made to a certified SDVOSB listed in the SBA certification database who is eligible at the time of submission of offer(s) and at the time of award. (3) The requirements in this clause apply to any contract, order or subcontract where the firm receives a benefit or preference from its designation as an SDVOSB, including set-asides, sole source awards, and evaluation preferences. (c) Representation. Pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 8127(e), only certified SDVOSBs listed in the SBA certification database are considered eligible to receive award of a resulting contract. By submitting an offer, the prospective contractor represents that it is an eligible and certified SDVOSB as defined in this clause, 13 CFR 121, 125, and 128, and VAAR subpart 819.70. (d) Agreement/LOS certification. When awarded a contract action, including orders under multiple-award contracts, an SDVOSB agrees that in the performance of the contract, the SDVOSB shall comply with requirements in VAAR subpart 819.70 and SBA regulations on small business size, and government contracting programs at 13 CFR part 121 and part 125, including the non-manufacturer rule and limitations on subcontracting (LOS) requirements in 13 CFR 121.406(b) and 13 CFR 125.6. For the purpose of limitations on subcontracting, only certified SDVOSBs listed in the SBA certification database (including independent contractors) shall be considered eligible and/or similarly situated (i.e., a firm that has the same small business program status as the prime contractor). An otherwise eligible firm further agrees to comply with the required (LOS) certification requirements in this solicitation (see 852.219-75 or 852.219-76 as applicable). These requirements are summarized as follows: (1) Services. In the case of a contract for services (except construction), the SDVOSB prime contractor will not pay more than 50% of the amount paid by the government to the prime for contract performance to firms that are not certified SDVOSBs listed in the SBA certification database (excluding direct costs to the extent they are not the principal purpose of the acquisition and the SDVOSB/VOSB does not provide the service, such as airline travel, cloud computing services, or mass media purchases). When a contract includes both services and supplies, the 50 percent limitation shall apply only to the service portion of the contract. (2) Supplies/products. (i) In the case of a contract for supplies or products (other than from a non-manufacturer of such supplies), the SDVOSB prime contractor will not pay more than 50% of the amount paid by the government to the prime for contract performance, excluding the cost of materials, to firms that are not certified SDVOSBs listed in the SBA certification database. When a contract includes both supply and services, the 50 percent limitation shall apply only to the supply portion of the contract. (ii) In the case of a contract for supplies from a non-manufacturer, the SDVOSB prime contractor will supply the product of a domestic small business manufacturer or processor, unless a waiver as described in 13 CFR 121.406(b)(5) has been granted.Refer to 13 CFR 125.6(a)(2)(ii) for guidance pertaining to multiple item procurements. (3) General construction. In the case of a contract for general construction, the S...