C -- DESIGN COMPETITION -- NEW EMBASSY COMPOUND, BEIJING, CHINA

Notice Date

January 29, 2001

Contracting Office

Department of State, Office of Acquisition, P. O. Box 9115, Rosslyn Station, Arlington, VA 22219-0244

ZIP Code

22219-0244

Solicitation Number

SALMEC-01-R-9999

Response Due

March 15, 2001

Point of Contact

Pat Regalo-Warren, Contracting Officer (703) 875-6282

E-Mail Address

Click here to contact the contracting officer via (regalo-warrenpa@state.gov)

Description

The Office of Logistics Management, U.S. Department of State, on behalf of the Office of Foreign Buildings Operations (A/FBO), seeks qualified A/E firms to design a new U.S. Embassy compound in Beijing, People's Republic of China (PRC). A minimum of three firms will take part in a design competition as part of the selection process. A contract award will be made in accordance with Brooks Act and Federal Acquisition Regulation, Part 36. The contract will be fixed price. The specific program for the proposed new U.S. Embassy compound of diplomatic related facilities will include, on a site of approximately ten acres in area, a new: Embassy Office Building(s) (EOB) of 38,000gsm (approx. 410,000gsf), General Services Office (GSO) -- office and shops facilities of 2600gsm (approx. 28,000gsf), Marine Security Guard Quarters (MSGQ) of 1000gsm (approx. 10,800gsf), Ambassador's Residence of 1,400gsm (approx. 15,100 gsf), and a Staff Community Center of a size to be determined but likely to be approximately 2000gsm (approx. 21,600gsf). The scope of A/E services under this proposed contract will include at a minimum: architecture and urban design; structural, civil, mechanical, electrical, and geotechnical engineering; space planning and systems furniture integration; interior design; security and communications systems design; blast and fire protection engineering; site master planning and landscape design; cost estimating; scheduling; value engineering; RF shielding and acoustical shielding; lighting design; administrative coordination of the various disciplines involved; construction drawings and specifications; services during construction; and compliance with U.S. Government requirements and the applicable laws, codes, and standards of the PRC. The site, building, and related facilities will be designed and constructed in hard metric (System International) units. Each design submission, including drawings prepared for the competition, shall include AutoCad R 14 or AutoCad 2000 files. This completed Embassy compound project will represent the people and Government of the United States of America in the People's Republic of China (PRC), and, as such, must reflect the vigor and strength of the United States and the critically important relationship between the US and the PRC. The project will be a showcase for American architecture and will require exceptionally creative design, managerial talent, and depth of architectural and engineering ability. The A/E selection will be completed in three stages. Stage 1 will focus on the evaluation of qualifications of design firms, partnerships, corporations, associations, joint ventures, or other legal entities, and the proposed lead designers for this project. In this stage, submissions will be evaluated on the basis of past performance on design, philosophy and design intent, and key designer profile. Qualified firms will participate in Stage 2 of the A/E selection process by submitting a full A/E team for evaluation. The A/E teams selected for further consideration under Stage 2 will be invited to participate in Stage 3, a "vision" competition. No security clearance is required for participation in Stages 1 and 2. The Department of State will sponsor uncleared firms selected for further consideration for SECRET facility security clearances (FCL) to be issued in accordance with the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM). Sponsorship does not guarantee that a firm will receive the SECRET clearance. If a sponsored firm does not obtain the SECRET FCL prior to Stage 3, the Department of State will not be obligated to include the firm in the Stage 3 competition. Other than sponsorship of the firm, the Department of State assumes no responsibility for clearance processing. All firms selected for participation in Stage 3 (including firms that form joint ventures) must possess a SECRET FCL. These firms will then be sponsored for TOP SECRET FCLs by the Department of State. Sponsorship does not guarantee that a firm will receive the TOP SECRET clearance. The top ranked firm selected from the Stage 3 competition must have a TOP SECRET FCL and SECRET safeguarding capability consistent with the requirements of the NISPOM prior to the release of the Request for Proposal (RFP). If a sponsored firm does not obtain the TOP SECRET FCL prior to being asked to develop a detailed price and technical proposal in response to the RFP, the Department of State will not be obligated to delay the release of the RFP and may request a proposal from the next ranked firm in Stage 3 that does have the TOP SECRET FCL. Other than sponsorship of the firm, the Department of State assumes no responsibility for the clearance process. If the A/E design firm is a partnership, corporation, association, joint venture, or other legal entity, then the proposed working and legal relationships between its components shall be briefly described and included with the Stage 1 submittal. This entity must be in place, with all legal requirements for its existence met, to participate in Stage 3. A/E design firms planning to partner or joint venture with other A/E firms should factor into their decision making that small business subcontracting plans of qualified firms will be considered as part of the evaluation selection process during Stage 2. Under Stage 1, interested firms will submit portfolios of accomplishments that establish the design responsibilities of the A/E firm and its Lead Designer. The Lead Designer is the individual or design studio that will have primary responsibility for design concept and the building architecture. The A/E firm must address the contractual relationship with the Lead Designer and its ability to manage the design and production of construction documents. All documentation will be in an 81/2" X 11" format. The portfolio should include a cover letter referencing this Commerce Business Daily (CBD) announcement and briefly describing the firm and its location, organizational makeup, and noteworthy accomplishments. Identification of consultants is not required at this stage. Submission requirements, evaluation criteria and scoring (100 points maximum) follows: STAGE ONE -- (1) Past Performance on Design: The A/E Firm will submit graphics (maximum of three pages per project) of not more than five new construction projects completed in the last ten years. The narrative (maximum of two pages per project) shall address the design approach with salient features for each project and discuss how the client's program, functional requirements, image, mission, economic, performance schedule, cost control, and operational objectives were satisfied by the overall design/planning solution. Include tangible evidence where possible such as certificates, awards, and peer recognition demonstrating design excellence. Provide a client reference contact for each project, including name, title, address, phone, and fax numbers -- 35 points max. (2) Lead Designer Profile and Portfolio: Submit a biographical sketch including education, professional experience, and design awards received. Identify and describe proposed areas of responsibility and commitment to the Beijing project. Submit 8" X 10" graphics or photographs (maximum of three per project) and a typewritten narrative description (maximum of two pages per project) of not more than three recent designs, including dates of design completion and construction completion. (These may be in addition to or related to any of the five designs submitted in response to (1), above.) Also, explain the role, if any, of the proposed Lead Designer in the projects described in response to (1), above. The narrative should include a discussion of design challenges and resolutions, including how the designs responded to user requirements -- 15 points max. (3) Philosophy and Design Intent: In the Lead Designer's words (maximum of two typewritten pages), state the following: (a) overall design philosophy; (b) methods for identifying, analyzing, integrating, and interpreting design parameters, including user's functional, operational, and technical requirements; (c) philosophy of creating a new U.S. Embassy with a focus on any unique considerations because of its location in the PRC; and (d) professional responsibility as the Lead Designer -- 15 points max. (4) Security Statement: In not more than 1,500 words provide a description of the philosophy, organization and concepts of management and administration of the firm's internal security program or efforts as they apply to design projects. Include an explanation of hardware and operational security systems and other measures for access to and control of information. Explain how security measures (if applicable) were followed during the design phase for any relevant projects presented in the portfolio. Provide the Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code, if available, for the A/E firm -- 25 points max. (5) Management Statement: In not more than 1,500 words provide a business management plan for design projects that explains clearly how quality in scope comprehension and execution, schedule establishment and control, and budget allocation and administration are guaranteed -- 10 points max. An A/E Evaluation Board consisting of Department of State representatives will evaluate the Stage 1 submissions and establish a short-list of approximately six to ten firms for Stage TWO. STAGE TWO: Under Stage 2, the most qualified design firms short-listed in the Stage One shall be identified and the Department of State shall evaluate their entire project team, including subcontractors and consultants that will work on the project. The design firms short-listed in Stage One may form a project team by joining with other firms or individuals. To facilitate team building, the names of the short-listed firms will be available after May 1, 2001. Request list from contracting officer named in this announcement. Short-listed firms will be invited to submit Standard Forms 254/255 and more detailed information for their entire project team. Firms will be required to have as a design consultant an approved local architect (Design Institute). Further information on this requirement will be issued when the selection for Stage Two is made. Evaluation criteria and the due date for Stage Two submissions will be provided after the shortlist is prepared from Stage One. Criteria will include, at a minimum, each project team's professional qualifications, experience and past performance, organization and management, and subcontracting plans, including the placement of subcontracts to the maximum practicable extent with small and disadvantaged businesses in designated socio -- economic groups. The arrangements for any interviews to be conducted will also be provided to the short-listed firms. The short-listed firms should be prepared to discuss all aspects of the criteria provided and to demonstrate their ability to fulfill all project, security requirements, and socio-economic subcontracting goals. Emphasis will be placed on the unique aspects of the project design philosophy, possible approaches in carrying out the project and project management. Stage Two rankings will be used in conjunction with Stage One rankings to determine the firms that will be invited to participate in Stage Three. STAGE THREE -- Approximately three to five firms will be invited to participate in Stage Three and will be further evaluated in a design competition judged by a jury of independent design professionals. The purpose of the design competition is to further evaluate the designer's approach to solving programmatic criteria, as well as the merits of each designer's "vision" for this specific project. The design "vision" submissions will be used in conjunction with Stage Two rankings in the final evaluation of the A/E firms. The designer's "vision" will weigh substantially in the final A/E Team selection by FBO. The submitted design concepts will become the property of the Department of State and may or may not be the basis, in whole or in part, for the development of the final building design. The "vision" design competition will constitute the final stage in the selection process. The three to five firms that qualify for further consideration after Stage Two will be notified and a package of information including project requirements, site information, procedural rules, submission requirements and evaluation criteria will be distributed and used to prepare the submissions for the design competition. A fixed stipend, in an amount yet to be determined, but intended to defray the costs of the conceptual design competition, will be provided to offerors submitting timely design "visions" that comply with the requirements that will be provided for Stage Three submissions. The competition will have a fixed period of approximately 30 days during which the firms are expected to develop free-flowing graphic expression that explores what the facility could be. In the event any firms decline to participate, and if others are qualified, then the next highest-ranked firm will be invited. Firms to be evaluated under this announcement and considered for award must meet the definition of a "United States person" of P.L. 99-399, Section 402 thereof, as follows: (1) be legally organized in the United States 24 months prior to the announcement in the CBD; (2) have its principal place of business in the United States; (3) have performed within the U.S. professional services similar in complexity, type of construction, and value of the project; (4) employ U.S. citizens in at least 80 percent of principal management positions in the U.S.; (5) have existing technical and financial resources in the U.S. to perform; and (6) have no business with Libya. Firms not meeting the "United States persons" requirement will not be considered. Design firms that meet the above-listed requirements are required to submit two copies of certifications related to Public Law 99-399 with their Stage One submission. The certification forms are available from Pat Regalo-Warren. All submissions listed in Stage One (including certifications relevant to Public Law 99-399) must be received by 4:00 p.m. local time on March 15, 2001. The following information must be on the outside of the sealed package (1) Solicitation Number and Title, (2) Due Date, (3) Closing Time. U.S. Postal mailing address: Department of State, Attn: Pat Regalo-Warren, A/LM/AQM/FDCD, Room L-600, P.O. Box 12248, Rosslyn Station, Arlington, VA 22219. Delivery address for Express Mail or Courier: Department of State, A/LM/AQM/FDCD, Room L-600, 1701 N. Ft. Myer Dr., Arlington, VA 22219. (The U.S. Postal Service does not deliver to the 1701 N. Ft. Myer address). Requests for information by facsimile or e-mail please, no telephone calls. Facsimile number is (703) 875-6292. E-mail address is regalo-warrenpa@state.gov.***

Web Link

Clik to download solicitation when it is posted. (http://state.monmouth.army.mil/)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010131/CSOL004.HTM (W-029 SN50C127)