NCO 17 AE Short Selection Database FY24 - FY27   2

The purpose of this announcement is to request A&E qualification information for the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Heart of Texas Health Care Network (VISN 17), AE Short Selection Database for Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) only. NOTE: The Short Selection Process database is not an IDIQ and may only be used to award Architect-Engineer (AE) contracts, below the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $250,000.00). The purpose of this announcement is to create an AE database IAW FAR 36.602-5, all applicable NAICS codes are listed in the body of the announcement. This announcement will not result in the award of an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ). WHAT IS THE SHORT SELECTION DATABASE USED FOR? The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Integrated Services Networks (VISN) 17 utilizes the Short Selection database to award Architect-Engineer (AE) contracts, below the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $250,000.00). VISN 17 includes the following Health Care Systems: Amarillo VA Health Care System (Amarillo, TX); El Paso VA Health Care System (El Paso, TX); West Texas VA Health Care System (Big Spring, TX); Central Texas Veterans Health Care System (Temple, TX), South Texas Veterans Health Care System (San Antonio, TX), VA North Texas Health Care System (Dallas, TX), VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (Harlingen, TX). VISN 17 includes the following VA Medical Centers: Dallas VA Medical Center (Dallas, TX); Doris Miller Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Waco, TX); Kerrville VA Hospital (Kerrville, TX); Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center (Bonham, TX); George H. O Brien, Jr. VA Medical Center (Big Spring, TX); Thomas E. Creek VA Medical Center (Amarillo, TX); VA Medical Center (El Paso, TX) and Corpus Christi Outpatient Clinic (Corpus Christi, TX). The database contains all the qualified, interested AE firms that respond to this notice for consideration for future approved projects falling within the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes indicated. Examples of some of the types of work include, but is not limited to; low volume design, design of small warehouses and offices, design of building renovations, historic preservation, rehabs to improve energy efficiency and safety concerns, energy audits and studies, design of photovoltaic and other renewable energy systems, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) consulting, design of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, design of electrical systems and lighting, water and waste water system design, construction inspection, construction period services, asbestos investigations, mapping services, drafting services, surveying (construction and property), geotechnical investigation, and environmental investigations, reviews, inventories, and audits. There are no known projects currently. We are establishing our pool of qualified, interested Architect-Engineer (AE) firms so that as projects are identified, and funding is available we are positioned to utilize the short selection process to obtain AE services relatively quickly and efficiently. This pool can and will be expanded as interested SDVOSBs submit SF 330s and are added to the database. WHAT IS THE SHORT SELECTION PROCESS? The Short Selection Process utilizes the procedures set forth in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 36.602-5. For AE projects with an estimated total fee under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold, (currently $250,000.00), the Selection Board shall review and evaluate architect-engineer firms in accordance with FAR Part 36 - Construction and Architect-Engineer Contracts | Acquisition.GOV, except that the selection report shall serve as the final selection list and shall be provided directly to the contracting officer. The report shall serve as an authorization for the contracting officer to commence negotiations in accordance with Part 36 - Construction and Architect-Engineer Contracts | Acquisition.GOV. A proposal will then be requested from the highest technically rated firm. If a reasonable price cannot be negotiated, discussions will be held with the second-best qualified firm, and so on. AE data files will be maintained by Geographic Location, Specialized experience, Professional capabilities, and Capacity, with respect to the scope of work that can be undertaken. A firm s ability and experience in computer-assisted design should be considered when appropriate. The AE's ability to provide licensed professionals in the State where the project is located (FAR 36.602-1(a)(1) and the firm's geographic proximity and knowledge of the local area (FAR 36.602-1(a)(5)) as identified on the AE's SF 330, Part II and supplemental information, will be used for the first preliminary screening of firms when a large list of potential firms exist. Currently, as required by VAAR 819.7004, VA Contracting Order of Priority, the Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisitions for AE procurements in all NAICS Codes herein, shall be set-aside for SDVOSB firms. Future Contracts will be for AE Services, including the following NAICS: 541310 Architectural Services 541320 Landscape Architectural Services 541330 Engineering Services 541340 Drafting Services 541350 Building Inspection Services 541360 Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services 541370 Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) 541380 Testing Laboratories 541620 Environmental Consulting Services Firms are encouraged to update their SF 330, Part II data annually by responding to this announcement; however, the Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 17 will retain previously submitted data for a period of three years. WHAT DOES MY FIRM NEED TO SUBMIT TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY AND RECEIVE CONSIDERATION FOR FUTURE AE PROJECTS? All information shall be submitted via email to Eileen Myers at Eileen.Myers@va.gov as a single pdf file no larger than 10 MB in size (zipped files will be accepted). Hardcopy data will not be filed or considered. Only the first twenty (20) pages of your proposal will be considered and retained. The following documents/information is required: 1. An electronic cover letter should precede your other data. The letter should outline the work your firm specializes in and include a brief description of your firm's capabilities specifically relating to the project examples stated above. 2. SAM Print Out: System for Award Management is required for award of federal contracts. SAM.gov | Home - search database for your firm and print out results. ** You must be registered in SAM and accept electronic payments in order to be considered for project work; at VetCert, verification is required for SDVOSB Concerns in order to be considered for project work Veteran Small Business Certification (sba.gov) - search database for your firm and print out results. **Only Firms that have been Verified as an SDVOSB in VetCert will be included in the Short Selection Database. 3. Qualifications data. To be considered for architect-engineer contracts, a firm must file with the appropriate office or board the Standard Form 330, Architect-Engineer Qualifications, Part II, and AE Firms must provide Current Professional Registration. Provide information within Part I of the SF 330 containing current relevant professional registration(s) in a State or possession of the United States, Puerto Rico, or the District of Columbia according to FAR Part 36. 4. Firms shall provide as a part of their submission examples of completed projects that demonstrate their specialized experience, professional capabilities, capacity, with respect to the scope of work that can be undertaken, and experience in computer-assisted design. Submittals shall be brief and concise. Only the first 20 pages of a firm's submittals will be evaluated and consider during the initial review. All submittal documents including the cover letter shall be included in a single PDF document, stored as a single file. Receipt of submittals by 10:00 a.m. Central time, on September 27, 2023, is appreciated as this will facilitate timely establishment of qualifications data. Question shall relate to this announcement shall be referred to Eileen Myers at Eileen.Myers@va.gov. The below selection criteria will be used when evaluating firms using the short selection process database for individual projects. Firms included on the Short Selection Process database will be eligible to receive individual awards for contracts below the simplified acquisition threshold. 36.602-1 Selection criteria. (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.

Background
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Integrated Services Networks (VISN) 17 utilizes the Short Selection database to award Architect-Engineer (AE) contracts, below the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $250,000.00). VISN 17 includes various Health Care Systems and VA Medical Centers in Texas. The database contains all the qualified, interested AE firms that respond to this notice for consideration for future approved projects falling within specific NAICS codes.

Work Details
The types of work include low volume design, design of small warehouses and offices, design of building renovations, historic preservation, rehabs to improve energy efficiency and safety concerns, energy audits and studies, design of photovoltaic and other renewable energy systems, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) consulting, design of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, design of electrical systems and lighting, water and waste water system design, construction inspection, construction period services, asbestos investigations, mapping services, drafting services, surveying (construction and property), geotechnical investigation, and environmental investigations. Firms are encouraged to update their SF 330 data annually by responding to this announcement.

Period of Performance
FY24 - FY27

Place of Performance
VISN-17 Wide; Multiple Texas locations including Amarillo, El Paso, Big Spring, Temple, San Antonio, Dallas, Harlingen, Waco, Kerrville, Bonham, Corpus Christi