Procurement

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Question and Answer
For Current Technical Proposals

Technical Proposal

Enclose a 4 page narrative in Technical Proposal of project approach defining both key issues and potential problems with reliable solutions.

This does not specify whether the document should be portrait or landscape in orientation, if there should be 2 column format and if there is a particular font that should be used. Please advise.

Answer 1: The instructions should say the following:

The narrative for both Key Issues and Critical Problems shall be no more than (4) typed, single sided, 8-1/2" x 11" sheets in length, have a font text size of no less than 11 points, 1/2” border all around and no more than 60 lines per 10 inch of page height. The contents should be presented in a 2 column format and in portrait orientation.

NOTE: YOUR FIRM MAY INCLUDE 2 EXTRA 11”X 17” PAGES FOR PICTURES, X-SECTIONS, SCHEMATICS, PLAN VIEWS, ETC. WHICH MAY ENHANCE OR BE REFERRED TO IN YOUR PROJECT APPROACH NARRATIVE WRITE-UP.  NO ADDITIONAL NARRATIVE BEYOND THE (4) PAGE LIMIT WILL BE EVALUATED.

Question 2: Can the same individual be listed as task leader for more than one primary task?

Answer 2: Yes.

Question 3: With regard to the Survey/ROW Engineering, experience criteria #5: The Survey/ROW Engineer doesn’t typically “develop aerial mapping”. Can this be reworded to “Experience using aerial photography for transportation projects?"

Answer 3: Yes. A revised Evaluation Criteria has been posted.

Question 4: Based on page 3 of the solicitation it states, “Only one (1) technical proposal submission is allowed per firm (no teams) unless otherwise noted on page 1 of this solicitation.” If you are priming this solicitation, can you support another team in a task leader capacity?

Answer 4: Yes. Submitting as prime and sub for another consultant is not considered multiple teams.

Question 5: May the Org Chart be 11x17?

Answer 5: Yes.

Question 6: Can a ESBE firm submit this solicitation as a non-ESBE firm?

Answer 6: Yes. This must be indiciated in the transmital letter.

Question 7: Under Traffic Engineering Qualifications, Item#4, Paramics is listed as one of several highway capacity analysis software programs. Is Paramics a requirement for use on this contract or will experience with the other microsimulation softwares listed meet the criteria?

Answer 7: Paramics experience is no longer required. A revised Evaluation Criteria has been posted.

Question 8: Please confirm that the forms for Certification of Non-Involvement in Prohibited Activities in Iran and “Pay to Play” Certification are not required for TP-124 Concept Development Term Agreements. If they are required, are they required for prime only or both prime and subs?

Answer 8: The Certification of Non-Involvement is required of the Prime only. The Pay to Play certification is not required as this is Federally Funded.

Question 9: In Part 4 of the evaluation criteria for Traffic Engineering “Experience Assessing ITS Needs” and “Identification of current ITS systems” is required. This work is typically performed by an ITS professional, would this criteria be better suited under an ITS Team Leader? Please advise.

Answer 9: The requirement will remain under the Traffic Engineer Team Leader.

Question 10: After reviewing the Experience criteria for the Task Leaders, it seems there are some elements that aren’t typically associated with the discipline they are listed under. Specifically:

Roadway Design – Experience criteria #9/Back Calculation of Fwd. Deflection Data is typically associated with the Pavement Task Lead.

Bridge Design – Experience criteria #5/Foundation and subsoil exploration experience is typically associated with the Geotechnical Task Lead and #6/Pavement design experience and preparation of foundation reports is typically associated with either the Geotechnical Task Lead or a Pavement Design Task Lead.

Environmental – Experience criteria #8 thru #11 are typically associated with the H&H Task Lead.

Will the Department consider reviewing the experience criteria in question and removing it from the assigned task leader and creating Task Lead positions for H&H and Geotechnical design?

Answer 10: Yes. A revised Evaluation Criteria has been posted addressing these issues. Three (3) additional team leaders have been added for Pavement Design, Geotechinical, and Hydraulics and Hydrology.

Question 11: What is the limit for projects for the Pavement Design team leader role?

Answer 11: All key staff team leaders have a limit of three (3) projects, the evaluation criteria forms have been revised to reflect this.

Question 12: Please clarify the “Pavement design experience and preparation of foundation reports” requirement under Geotechnical Engineering Team leader, as there is already a Pavement Design Team Leader.

Answer 12: This is a standard requirement for the Geotechnical Engineering Team Leader as outlined in the Key Staff Standards on our website, and will remain as is.

Question 13: Can a Bachelor of Technology in Transportation with a NJ PE License fulfill the BS in Engineering requirement for Utility Team Leader?

Answer 13: It is a business decision of your firm to propose the individual who best fits the qualifications for the Project Manager and/or Key Staff team leader. Specific education and experience substitution questions for Project Manager and Key Staff positions cannot be addressed during the solicitation process, because each project is different, the solicitation provides the stated requirements, and if an answer were supplied it could inadvertently be considered as receiving a “pre-score” for the position before the closing date of the technical proposal submission.