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Contract Opportunity

THIS IS A SPECIAL NOTICE ONLY. This is not a request for offers or proposals. This notice does not represent a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or award a contract. The Government seeks feedback from industry and invites qualified architectural and engineering firms and construction contractors to schedule a feedback session via the information below.

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), Public Buildings Service, Southeast Sunbelt Region intends to design and construct a new United States District Courthouse for the District Courts, Eastern District of Tennessee in Chattanooga, TN. The courthouse will consist of a total of 7 courtrooms and 9 chambers and 39 inside, secured parking spaces. Space will also be provided for the United States Marshals Service, Probation/Pretrial, District and Bankruptcy Clerk offices, trial prep space for the United States Attorney’s Office and the General Services Administration. The total gross square feet of the courthouse is 185,819, which includes the 39 inside, secured parking spaces. To date, GSA has only received partial funding for the project. The balance of funding is currently not expected to be appropriated and authorized by Congress until FY2025.

GSA is currently in the site selection phase and expects the site to be selected by first quarter CY 2024 with the federal government fully acquiring (i.e.owning) the site by first quarter CY 2025. Concurrent with the site selection phase, GSA also intends to develop a Program of Requirements (POR) under a Construction Manager as Advisor (CMa) contract.

GSA seeks industry feedback on the following:

1.Currently, it is anticipated that this project will be required to comply with Executive Order 14063, Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects, signed by President Biden on February 4, 2022. Do you have experience with PLA projects ?

2. If you have experience with PLA projects, GSA seeks industry feedback on the risks / challenges/ opportunities.

3. For prime construction contractors, would you and/or your key subcontractors pursue the project if the project has a requirement for PLA ?

4. Does the project delivery method have any bearing on your firm’s decision to pursue the project? For example, would you pursue the project if the project delivery method was Construction Manager as Constructor (CMc) vs. Design Build vs. Design Build Bridging ?

5. For both the design build and design build bridging delivery approaches, GSA is considering the inclusion of a stipend for unsuccessful offerors that complete Phase 2 and seeks industry feedback on the appropriate stipend amount(s) for both delivery methods.

6. For both the design build and design build bridging delivery approaches, GSA is considering including an option in the solicitation for the Design/Build contractor to provide Facility Operations & Maintenance of the Courthouse, commonly referred to as a DBOM (Design Build Operate & Maintain) upon completion of the construction for between 1 and 5 years after substantial completion and requests industry feedback on this approach. This would be funded separately from the design/construction of the facility and would be focused on the operations of mechanical equipment and life safety equipment in the building, not janitorial services etc .

7. For both the design build and design build bridging delivery approaches, GSA requests industry feedback on the appropriate time frame for shortlisted firms to respond to the phase 2 RFP.

8. For both the design build and design build bridging delivery approaches, GSA seeks industry feedback on structuring the design build contract as a design/build with options if all funding is not available at the time of award.

9. For CMc delivery method, GSA anticipates providing 6-8 weeks for firms to respond to the RFP and requests industry feedback on this timeframe.

10. The CMc delivery method currently requires contractors to comply with CAS (Cost Accounting Standards). What is your firm’s experience with CAS? And would this affect your decision to pursue this project?

11. For CMc delivery method, GSA is currently not authorized to conduct a true two phase procurement with a shortlist, but could use the multi-step advisory procedures outlined in FAR 15.202 wherein the Government could request information about qualifications early in the procurement process and then issue an advisory as to the firm’s viability to be competitive. Firms advised not to compete may still submit proposals notwithstanding the advisory. a) Would this affect your decision to pursue this project? b) Do you have any feedback on whether or not the multi-step advisory process would be of value to you as an offeror?

12. Are you familiar with GSA’s P100 requirements? This project will be required to be designed and constructed in accordance with GSA’s 2022 Addendum to the 2021 P100. Attached is a chart that summarizes the changes. GSA is seeking industry feedback on risks and opportunities with meeting these requirements.

13. GSA seeks industry feedback on the type and extent of professional services and studies that would assist firms in putting together the most complete proposal.

14. GSA seeks industry feedback on what challenges, suggestions, or solutions are currently being pursued to address long lead time supply chain issues and market conditions?

15. GSA seeks any other industry feedback or ideas that industry feels will assist GSA in achieving the best value for the taxpayer in the design & construction of the new U.S. Courthouse in Chattanooga, TN under current market conditions.

Rather than requesting written responses, GSA invites qualified architectural and engineering firms and prime construction contractors with a sufficient bonding capacity to schedule a virtual feedback session with the GSA project team by completing the following google form https://forms.gle/59YkhKp7yQtFjGJs7 (may need to copy and paste the URL into your web browser). We hope to schedule virtual feedback sessions the week of January 30 via google meets video conference.

Within a few days of completing the form, GSA Contracting Officer Will Peterson will confirm your time slot by emailing you a meeting invitation. Should you have any questions about this process, please email Will Peterson at william.peterson@gsa.gov

Thank you for your interest in GSA Region 4 projects.

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