618-25-200 AE Upgrade Building 222 HVAC - MPLS

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. THIS IS

A PRESOLICITATION. NOTICE FOR ARCHITECT/ENGINEERING (A/E)

DESIGN SERVICES; NO SOLICITATION PACKAGE WILL BE ISSUED

UNTIL AFTER AN EVALUATION HAS BEEN MADE ON THE PROVIDED

SF-330. ONLY THE A/E FIRMS RESPONDING TO THIS

ANNOUNCEMENT BY SUBMITTING AN SF-330 PACKAGE ON TIME

WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR INITIAL EVALUATION.

NAICS: The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)

Code/Size Standard for this procurement is 541330, Engineering Services.

The Small Business Size Standard is $25.5 Million in annual receipts. The

FSC/PSC is C1AZ, ARCHITECT AND ENGINEERING- Construction: Other

Administrative Facilities and Service Buildings.

SET-ASIDE: Notice of 100% Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small

Business (SDVOSB) Set-aside. This is a 100% set-aside for SDVOSB firms

only. The firms registered and visible in the SBA Veteran Small Business

Certification (VetCert) database at https://veterans.certify.sba.gov when

SF330’s are submitted. Failure of a prospective SDVOSB to be verified by

the SBA VetCert at the time the SF 330 is submitted shall result in

elimination from consideration. All Joint Ventures must be verified at the

time of submission and submit agreements that comply with 13 CFR 125.15

prior to contract award.

Prospective Contractors are cautioned that the proposal submitted in

response to this solicitation must meet the criteria identified by 38CFR, Part

74. The SDVOSB concern agrees that in the performance of the contract,

the concern will comply with the limitation on subcontracting requirements in

accordance with VAAR Clause 852-219-75, VA Notice of Total Set Aside for

Verified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION:

The deadline for all Request for Information (RFI) is 4:00 PM CT on May

09, 2025. All RFIs must be submitted in writing via email to Dwayne

Brauch, Contracting Officer, at dwayne.brauch@va.gov and Marc Del Valle,

Contract Specialist, at marc.delvalle@va.gov. An amendment to the RFQ

will be issued to all prospective firms via SAM.gov and will include the RFI

and the corresponding Government response. Unless formally amended in

writing, all terms, and conditions of the RFQ will remain unchanged.

Interested firms should submit their current SF 330 electronically to both the

contracting officer and contracting Specialist. Contracting Officer: Dwayne

Brauch / Email Address: dwayne.brauch@va.gov and Contracting Specialist:

Marc Del Valle / Email Address: marc.delvalle@va.gov. The SF330s are due on

Monday, May 26, 2025, at 10:00 AM (CT).

NO FAX OR PAPER/CD RESPONSES WILL BE ACCEPTED: Personal visits

for the purpose of discussing this announcement will not be entertained or

scheduled. Selection shall be in order of preference from the firms considered

Most Highly Qualified. Questions may be directed only by e-mail to

dwayne.brauch@va.gov and/or marc.delvalle@va.gov.

In accordance with FAR 36.209 – Construction Contracts with A-E Firms and

36.606 (c), all interested contractors are hereby put on notice that no

construction contract may be awarded to the firm that ultimately designs this

requirement.

Security Issues, Late Bids, Unreadable Offers

(a) Late submission of offers is outlined at FAR Part 52.215-1(c).

Particular attention is warranted to the portion of the provision that relates

to the timing of submission.

(b) Please see FAR 15.207(c) for a description of the steps the

Government shall take with regard to unreadable offers.

(c) 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 Part and FAR 15.207(c).

(d) Password protecting your SF 330 is not permitted. The Contracting

Officer will file the offer electronically which will allow access only by

designated Government individuals.

SF 330 DATE OF RECEIPT/DUE DATE: Interested firms having the

capabilities to perform this work must submit one (1) electronic SF 330 and

attachments (if any) no later than (NLT) 10:00 AM (CT) May 26, 2025.

FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES:

All offerors are required to have an active registration in the System for

Award Management (SAM / www.sam.gov) at the time of offer submission.

Firms will be evaluated by the A/E Evaluation Board. The most qualified

firms will be invited to interview with the selection board. The number of

firms selected to interview will be dependent on the number of firms that

submit SF-330s. The three most qualified firms will interview with the

selection board. If multiple firms are equally rated as third place, all firms

rated equally as third place and higher will be invited to an interview.

Responses should be submitted on an SF330. The SF-330 can be

downloaded through the GSA Forms Library at: https://www.gsa.gov/formslibrary/

architect-engineer-qualifications

Prospective firms shall address all selection criteria factors within their

submitted SF330 packages. Submission of information incorporated by

reference is not allowed.

Interested firms shall submit SF 330 via electronic transmission via email to

Dwayne Brauch, Contracting Officer, at dwayne.brauch@va.gov with a copy

to Marc Del Valle, Contract Specialist, at marc.delvalle@va.gov by the

designated date/time specified. Please provide the Pre-Solicitation Number,

618-25-200 AE Upgrade Building 222 HVAC, and Firm Name in the Subject

Line of the email. When submitting SF330s, if more than one email is sent,

please number emails in Subjects as “1 of n” (where “n” represents the total

number of emails to complete the submission). Submittals received after the

date and time identified on page one (1) will not be considered. Ensure the

file size is under 7 MB. No SF 330 hard copies will be accepted. Failure to

comply with this requirement may jeopardize the possibility of receiving an

award for the contract due to noncompliance with the terms of the

solicitation.

Submitted SF330s will include the following elements:

1. Standard Form 330 (Rev. 07/2021) – Architect-Engineer Qualifications

2. SF330, Section H: Additional Information

Firms that submitted SF330s will be evaluated by an A/E evaluation board.

The following evaluation criteria will be used to evaluate SF 330 technical

proposals:

GENERAL SOLICITATION AND CONTRACT INFORMATION:

Network Contracting Office (NCO) 23 has a need for design services at the

Minneapolis VAHCS to provide an AE Upgrade Building 222 HVAC.

This procurement will be procured pursuant to the Selection of Architects

and Engineers (formerly known as The Brooks Act) Public Law 92-582, and

as implemented in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 36.6 and VA

Acquisition Regulations (VAAR) and VA Acquisition Manual (VAAM) Part

836 and M836 respectively.

All offerors are advised that in accordance with VAAR 836.606-71, the

total cost of the contract for A-E services must not exceed 6 percent of

the estimated cost of the construction project plus any fees for related

services and activities. Additionally, FAR Clause 52.236-22 (c) - Design

Within Funding Limitation, will be applicable to this procurement

action. Design limitation costs will be provided to the most highly

rated A-E firm selected to complete the design.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES REQUIRED:

The scope of this design work is to replace the failed VRF system currently

installed in Building 222. Building 222 existing HVAC control system will also

need to be removed and replaced with Johnson Controls (JCI) devices for

compatibility with the facility’s monitoring systems. The replacement of these

systems will alleviate the need for Facilities Management to continuously

contract services to provide temporary cooling units for conditioned air to

Building 222.

Building 222 was originally constructed in 1904 and is listed on the

Minnesota National Register of Historic Places. The building was last

renovated in 2019, and the project included replacing electrical in the

warehouse area, renovating to create usable workspace, exterior

weatherproofing, upgrades to roads and grounds, and installation of the

VRF split system. Spaces in this building include logistics warehouses,

offices spaces and conference rooms, urgent care tele ICU, information

management, home based health care and primary care. For this project,

the selected Architectural and Engineering Firm (A-E) shall provide a

phasing study which will include schematic design for all affected areas at

Building 222 of the Minneapolis VAHA Fort Snelling Campus. Additionally,

the selected A-E shall provide construction drawings, specifications,

estimates, construction period services and commissioning services for the

HVAC cooling system and building automation replacements at Building

222.

The final deliverable will include in both PDF and CAD format:

1. The A-E shall completely survey all existing spaces affected by the

renovation. Survey shall include architectural, life safety, electrical,

mechanical, structural, and low voltage systems. The drawings supplied by

the VA are not As-Built.

2. The A-E shall use the attached schematic design as the starting point to

develop the new schematic design (35% Design) and PTRP phasing study,

as well as construction drawings (CDs). This will require meetings with staff

to review details of the plan and to gather comments from the staff on the

project. The A-E will budget, at a minimum, four (4) meetings for this

purpose. Comments approved by the VA project manager will be

incorporated into the design. These four meetings are in addition to the

required design charrette meetings, and the required meetings at the 65%,

95%, and 100% design reviews of Construction Documents.

3. The design for the renovation of Building 222 will be completed in two

phases:

a. The first phase will be an effort to collect comments from VA staff on the

new schematic design and best practice model projects, and

b. The second phase will incorporate comments that are approved by the

VA project manager and develop 65%, 95%, 100% and final construction

plans (CD issue) and specifications.

4. The plans and specifications must be detailed adequately to award a

sealed bid construction contract, see section G – Deliverables, for design

services requirements.

5. The selected A-E designer shall include construction period services

(CPS) to ensure the construction meets code, specifications, VA design

guides and manuals, quality and design intent of the construction drawings

and specifications; see section G – Deliverables, for minimum CPS

requirements. Provide option years for FY26 & FY27.

6. The A-E shall design the project to incorporate staff relocations or

temporary spaces as required to complete the project.

7. Environmental conditions shall be maintained to adjacent spaces.

8. Energy savings in a priority goal for the VA. The design should

incorporate features to minimize energy use and maximize energy efficiency

SELECTION PROCESS:

This notice is a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) of A-E firms/lead designers

interested in contracting for this work. The A-E firm as used in this RFQ

means an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, association, or other

legal entity permitted by law to practice the profession of architecture or

engineering that will have contractual responsibility for the project design.

This procurement consists of a one (1) stage evaluation process. Stage One

(1) will consist of the evaluation of the technical submission package. All

responsive submissions will be evaluated by the Technical Evaluation Board

(TEB). The firms will be ranked.

The selection of the most qualified contractor will follow the guidance provided in

FAR 36.6 – Architect-Engineer Services. Additionally, this solicitation is also

issued in accordance with Public Law 109-461, the Veterans Benefits,

Healthcare Information and Technology Act of 2006, Sections 502 and 503, as a

set-aside for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)

contractors. Pursuant to 38 USC 8127(d), competition is restricted to SDVOSB

construction firms, as there is a reasonable expectation that two or more offers

from SDVOSB contractors will be received under this solicitation.

Apparent successful offerors must apply for and receive verification from the U.S

Small Business Administration Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) in

accordance with 38 CFR Part 74 by submission of documentation of Veteran

status and ownership and control sufficient to establish appropriate status.

Failure to be both VERIFIED and VISIBLE on VetCert at the time SF 330s are

submitted, when the proposal is received as a result of the solicitation issued to

the most qualified firm, and on the date of contract award will result in the offeror’s proposal/SF 330 being deemed not acceptable. All offerors are urged to

contact the VetCert and submit the aforementioned required documents to obtain

VetCert verification of their SDVOSB status if they have not already done so.

The Government will not pay, nor reimburse, any costs associated with

responding to this request. The Government is under no obligation to award a

contract as a result of this announcement. Firms will be selected based on

demonstrated competence and qualifications for the required work. The

construction magnitude of this project is $1,000,000.00 - $2,000,00.00.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR

STAGE ONE (1):

Submissions of completed Standard Form 330 (SF 330) received in

response to this notice will be evaluated by a government evaluation board

in accordance with The Selection of Architect and Engineering statute, 40

U.S.C. Ch11, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 36, to

determine the most highly qualified firms. Evaluation of past performance

and experience may include information provided by the offeror, customer

inquiries, government databases, and publicly available sources. Offerors

are responsible for collecting and submitting past performance

questionnaires with their final packages to the Veterans Affairs (VA)

Network Contracting Office (NCO) 23 Contracting Officer before the closing

date of this synopsis.

Responding firms, either multi-disciplined or collaborating with consultants, must

demonstrate capability in healthcare architecture, surveying, civil, structural,

mechanical, electrical, communications, environmental, fire protection, cost

estimating, Building Commissioning, Leadership in Energy and Environmental

Design, specification writing, and construction surveillance skills as described

herein. Responses to this notice should include recent (within the past 4 years)

experience in designing projects of this nature.

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. This is a request for SF 330 A-E

Qualification packages only. Any requests for a solicitation will not receive a

response. No material will be issued, and no solicitation package or bidder/plan

holder list will be issued.

The three most highly rated firms based on the technical review of all the SF

330’s received will be notified. A solicitation will only be issued to the most highly

qualified firm at conclusion of the technical review. The second and third place

rated firms will be notified that they were not selected most qualified but that they

may still be contacted for solicitation if award does not proceed with the most

highly qualified firm.

Submission Requirements: Firms must provide a customer reference list with

addresses and telephone numbers, and bidding records (AE Estimate Cost of

Construction vs. Construction Awarded Amount), if applicable for all projects

listed as related experience, and a project workload schedule showing proposed

team members for the project period. All responding firms, including consultants

to the primary firm are required to submit their SF 330 Part 1 and Part 2

electronically to both the contracting officer and contracting Specialist.

Contracting Officer: Dwayne Brauch / Email Address: dwayne.brauch@va.gov

and Contracting Specialist: Marc Del Valle / Email Address:

marc.delvalle@va.gov. The SF 330, Part I must clearly indicate the office location

where the work will be performed, and the qualification of the individuals and

subcontractors proposed to work on the contract and their geographical location.

You must submit your electronical copy, and any supplemental information (such

as spreadsheets, backup data, technical information), using any of the electronic

formats and media described below. However, contractors will be 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 SF 330 packages:

(a) Files readable using the current Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF).

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);

(b) Files in Adobe* PDF Files: When scanning documents scanner resolution

should be set to 200 dots per inch, or greater;

(c) Other electronic format. If you wish to submit an offer using another

format other than 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;

(d) SF 330s shall be provided on standard letter size 8-1/2 by 11-inch paper,

limited to a maximum of seventy-five (75), single-sided, single-spaced,

and numbered pages. If more than seventy-five (75) single-sided pages

are submitted, all pages after seventy-five (75) pages will not be

evaluated. The font for text shall be Times New Roman 12-point or larger.

(e) Please note that we can no longer accept .zip files due to increasing

security concerns.

EVALUATION CRITERIA:

Each firm must demonstrate their qualifications with respect to the selection

criteria listed below. Evaluation criteria (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E) are of equal

importance; criterion (F) is of lesser importance than criteria (A), (B), (C), (D) and

(E); and criterion (G) is of least importance and will be used as a tiebreaker

among technically equal firms. SF-330s will be evaluated to determine the most

highly qualified firm/team based on submitted SF-330 responses. Failure to

provide requested data or comply with the instructions in this synopsis and SF-

330 instructions could result in a firm considered being less qualified or

eliminated from consideration. Specific evaluation criteria include:

A. Professional qualifications:

SF-330, Part I, Block E. NCO 23 will consider any information, which may be

pertinent to this criterion, including the following: proposed key personnel

(reference primary discipline list below), professional registration, and

competence, related experiences to accomplish this work, education, and

years with the company. Key personnel shall be permanent employees of

the prime firm/team rather than temporary “contract hire” employee

arrangements. Failure to provide a balanced workforce in the disciplines

listed could result in the firm being considered not qualified. The combination

of criteria below will be used to determine the ability of the staff to contribute

to the successful completion of project task orders. Firms with greater

breadth of in-house expertise will be rated higher than those needing to hire

sub-consultants. The offeror’s team shall include staff members licensed in

the States covering Veteran Integrated Service Networks (VISN) 23 found in

the statement of work (SOW) in the following disciplines:

• Architectural Design

• Structural Engineer*

• Mechanical Engineer

• Electrical Engineer

• Cost Estimator

• Commissioning Agent

In addition, the offeror’s team shall include staff members in the following

disciplines and shall demonstrate their qualification:

• Project/Program Manager

• Construction Management

• Quality Control Manager

B. Specialized experience and technical competence:

SF-330, Part I, Section F. Region 3 NCO 23 will consider any information

which may be pertinent to this criterion, including the following: specialized

experience and technical competence in the performance of services similar

to those anticipated under this contract in terms of recent and relevant

experience with regard to the project examples described below, as well as

demonstrated experience with VA facility design.

• Example Projects: Submit example design projects in narrative format that

highlight the experience factors listed above. Design project examples

should not exceed two pages each. All experience factors do not have to be

included in a single project. The offeror may submit multiple projects to

demonstrate experience in all relevant types of work, however, do not submit

more than five projects total

a) The narratives of example projects should show contract number, issuing

agency, project name, a current point of contact including telephone and

email information, project scope, size, location, design fees, the total number

of modifications / change orders issued during performance of project, date

of project completion, estimate of construction cost, principal design

elements and features, complexity of the job, challenges faced to include

disagreements regarding design requirements and construction estimates

disputes, and the resolution and results of any challenges faced. In addition,

and if known, list the construction contract award price, and the total number

of construction contract modifications/change orders and their total value.

b) Example projects may be from the private or public sector; however, VA

projects may be rated higher. Projects completed more recently will be

evaluated more advantageously. The design of all example projects must

have been completed within the past four (4) years (prior to the SF-330 due

date for this solicitation). The evaluation will consider the relevancy (design

and construction scope, size and location) of projects identified. For the

purposes of this evaluation the A-E may submit no more than two example

projects which were investigations or studies only. The investigation(s) or

study(ies) must have been completed within the past four (4) years (prior to

the SF-330 due date for this solicitation) as well.

c) Examples of work submitted that do not meet the requirements specified

here will not be evaluated. Failure to provide requested data, accessible

points of contact or valid phone numbers could result in a firm being

considered less qualified and eliminated from further consideration. Identify

any key personnel in SF-330, Part I, Section G that worked on the projects

and their role. Specialized experience and technical competency will be

evaluated for ability to support the range of work required for this contract, as

demonstrated by firm’s submitted projects.

C. Capacity:

SF-330, Part I, Block H. Demonstrate how the firm(s) will manage,

coordinate, and administer the work within the prime and among any

teaming partners. Teaming partners to be included by the prime firm in their

response should be clearly identified as such for evaluation purposes and

will later be agreed to during negotiations of any resultant contract. SF-330,

Part II, Block 11 will also be evaluated to assist in determining this factor.

SF-330 Part I Blocks C, D, F and SF-330, Part II will also be evaluated to

support this criterion. NCO 23 will consider any information which may be

pertinent to this criterion, including the following:

• Capacity to perform work in-house and with teaming members.

• Demonstrate active on-going Federal and Non-Federal work (Address

current dollar value of work, number of current projects, management

approach to your on-going work, and how the team will support the work

requirements outlined in this synopsis in addition to current work). Quantify

the A-E teams reserve capacity (percent of available capacity or man hours

available or number of man hours available).

• Greater weight will be given to offerors who provide quantitative data to

support an assertion of sufficient work-load capacity.

D. Construction period services:

SF-330, Part I, Block H. In a two-page narrative, provide supporting

information on the firms 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.

• Demonstrate how the firm(s) will manage, coordinate, and administer these

services.

• Provide information on technology to be used during field inspections.

• Provide any additional pertinent information relevant to these criteria.

• Greater weight will be given to offerors who provide examples of completed

projects where they’ve successfully completed these services in the past 18-

months.

E. Past performance:

SF-330, Block H. For the example projects provided under Specialized

Experience and Technical Competence, in a single page narrative form

provide past performance in terms of cost control, quality of work, and

compliance with performance schedules for each example project submitted

under Specialized Experience and Technical Competence. In addition to

past performance information provided, the evaluation will include

information available within the VA, Federal, state, private industry, or other

sources. In addition to the narrative described above, forward the Past

Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) of this synopsis, to each project point of

contact. Completed PPQ forms shall be submitted as part of the firms’

proposal package. Firms may include any ratings, letters of appreciation or

performance, awards etc., for relevant experience; however, Federal

database content and PPQs will be evaluated more advantageously.

Reponses will be evaluated to determine firms’ ability to maintain cost,

schedule, quality, and customer satisfaction.

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 23, Attn: Dwayne Brauch via

email at dwayne.brauch@va.gov prior to the response date.

F. Geographic Proximity:

Geographic proximity to the general area of the requiring activity as well as

knowledge of Minneapolis VA Health Care Campus and surrounding Federal

Properties. SF-330, Part I, Block H. In single page narrative form

demonstrate firm’s familiarity with local conditions to include knowledge of,

and experience dealing with, the regulatory agencies, geological features,

logistics, costs, climatic conditions and local design and construction

methods. Narrative shall include team location, including main offices,

branch offices, and any subconsultant offices.

G. Subcontracting Efforts:

Commitment to VHA shall be detailed in SF-330, Part I, Block H. Offerors

shall 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.

JOINT VENTURES:

(1) All qualifications packages submitted by joint ventures must include a

copy of an executed joint venture agreement (with original signatures) which

fully discloses the legal identity of each member of the joint venture, the

relationship between the members, the form of ownership of each member,

and any limitations on liability or authority for each member.

(2) An authorized representative of each member of the joint venture

must sign the contract accompanying an offer regardless of any agency

relationship established between the members.

(3) In the case of corporations that are joint venture members, the

corporation secretary must certify that the corporation is authorized to

participate in the joint venture, either by certifying in the joint venture

agreement, or by submitting a separate certification to the Government.

The joint venture must also provide a certificate that identifies a principal

representative of the joint venture with full authority to bind the joint

venture.

(4) Representations, certifications, and financial information must be

submitted for each member of the joint venture.

VA Primary Point of Contact: Dwayne Brauch / Email Address:

dwayne.brauch@va.gov / Phone Number: 651-293-3039.

VA Alternate Point of Contact: Marc Del Valle / Email Address:

marc.delvalle@va.gov / Phone Number: 651-293-3011.

A.1 List of Attachments

See attached document: S02_Attachment Limitations of Subcontracting Cert of Compliance

{2 pages}.

See attached document: S02_Attachment Performance Questionaire {3 pages}.