Procurement

Professional Services
Question and Answer
For Current Technical Proposals

Technical Proposal

Question 1: The following is the answer to any degree or qualification substitution question:

Answer 1: 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.

Question 2:  Under Section 9, Team Leader/Key Staff qualifications, a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering – Structural does not seem warranted for this solicitation as the scope of work is generally to perform quality assurance, design and constructability reviews, engineering support during construction and review of Value Engineering proposals.  These tasks are more experience based and are not topics typically covered as part of curriculum for an advanced degree.

Would the Department consider deleting the requirement for a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering – Structural?

Answer 2: The Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering – Structural requirement has been removed.

Question 3: Are the PM and Team Leader positions expected to be filled by the same individual or two separate individuals?

Answer 3: The PM position and Team Leader positions can be filled  by the same individual as long as individual meet the qualifications and experience requirements for both PM and Team Leader positions.  However, if the PM and Team Leader are not same person then they need to provide two separate individuals with the required qualifications and experience.

Question 4:  RFP TP-215 for the Structural Value Solutions Staff Augmentation Term Agreement states in Part 3, Section 5 that the Project Manager “must have managed a Bridge Replacement program for at least two transportation projects or served as Deputy Manager for at least five transportation projects.”   What constitutes a “Bridge Replacement program”?  Would that include deck and/or superstructure replacement projects?

Answer 4: “Bridge Replacement Program” constitutes a complete Bridge Replacement project delivery process that include deck, superstructure and substructure replacement projects. Bridge substructure must be replaced to qualify a project under “Bridge Replacement Program”.

Question 5: Are graphic pages permitted on this solicitation?

Answer 5:  Yes. (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 3 PAGE LIMIT WILL BE EVALUATED)

Question 6: Instructions, Part 5 Project Approach, Section 11 Critical Path Model – indicates a CPM is supposed to be submitted however Table A indicates that it is not required (NR).  Please clarify that a critical path model is not required per Table A.

Answer 6:  A Critical Path Model is not required per Table A.

Question 7: Instructions, Part 5 Project Approach, Section 13 Innovative Project Delivery Techniques – indicates a narrative for Innovative Project Delivery Techniques however Table A indicates that it is not required (NR).  Please clarify that a narrative for Innovative Project Delivery Techniques is not required per Table A.

Answer 7: Innovative Project Delivery Techniques are not required per Table A.

Question 8: What is the expected percentage of time that the proposed Key Staff (i.e., the Project Manager and the Structural Civil Engineering Team Leader) will each spend on average on this assignment over this 3-year Term Agreement (for example: 25%, 50%, 75% or 100%)?  Please clarify the Departments intent.

Answer 8: Expected estimate percentage of time will be spend on average by propose project manager 20% and the Structural Civil Engineer Team Leader 80%.

Question 9: Of the percentage of time clarified in Questions 1 above, what is the expected percentage of time that the proposed Key Staff (i.e., the Project Manager and the Structural Civil Engineering Team Leader) will each spend on average at their Firm’s office, at the Department’s E&O Facility, and at the Project Site on this assignment over this 3-year Term Agreement (For example: 50% at the Firm’s office, 30% at the Departments E&O facility and 20% at Project Sites Statewide)?  Please clarify the Departments intent.

Answer 9:Expected estimate percentage of time that the proposed Key Staff will be spend as follows.

Project Manager – 80% at Firm’s office; 10 % at the Department E&O Facility and 10% at Project Sites Statewide. Structural Civil Engineering Team Leader – 60% at Firm’s office; 20 % at the Department E&O Facility and 20% at Project Sites Statewide.

Question 10: Typically, on Quality and Value Engineering Review assignments, our Project Managers and our Structural Civil Engineering Team Leaders engage other support staff to assist in such project reviews.  Will the selected firms be expected to provide additional project support staff beyond the PM and the Structural Civil Engineering Team Leader (i.e., additional in-house Subject Matter Experts, Junior Engineers, CAD Technicians, Clerical, etc.)?  Please clarify the Departments intent.

Answer 10: Yes, Firm should be capable to provide additional support staff to assist in project review to expedite the assignments to maintain project schedule as requested by the Department. Typically, on Quality and Value Engineering Review assignments, firm’s Project Manager and firm’s Structural Civil Engineering Team Leader will be able to complete the review assignments.