Architect-Engineering Services for Building Improvement | Department of Veterans Affairs

Executive Summary

The Department of Veterans Affairs is procuring architect-engineering services for the improvement of Building 194 at the VA Northern Indiana Health Care System. This is a firm-fixed price contract set aside for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

Scope & Requirements

The Architect/Engineer (A/E) firm shall furnish professional services for 100% design for building 194 at the VA Northern Indiana Health Care System, Marion Campus, 1700 E. 38th Street, Marion, IN 46953. The design will include Schematic Design, Design Development, Construction/Bid Documents per the A/E Design Submission Instructions Document, Construction Administration Services, Technical Specifications, and Cost Estimates. The building 194 improvement shall be designed to accommodate the following functions, in accordance with the guides, manuals, and planning criteria:

• Building 194 Electrical Sub-Station
• Convert empty bay into Electrician Workshop
• Administration Office Space
• Work bench space
• Tool and Equipment Storage
• Toilet and Locker Room
• Paving of access road
• Installation of new parking lot
• Sanitary lift station to accommodate plumbing installation
• Elevated storage utilization with weight load considerations
• Climate Control – HVAC

The Schematic Design shall include a comprehensive study, inspection, and report of the existing project area conditions, which shall include HVAC, electrical, architectural components, plumbing, fire protection, etc. A/E shall provide a preliminary construction duration time for planning purposes. Communicate this information to all bidders for their review and inclusion within their bids. State in the bid documents that the contractor will be required to review and note any concerns regarding the projected construction duration. A/E shall develop and provide schedules of equipment and furniture necessary to activate and operate the room/areas located in the project area. A/E will be responsible for complete functional design and provide biddable documents meeting all the requirements. The VA Technical Information Library (TIL) available at http://www.cfm.va.gov/til/index.asp is managed by the VA Office of Construction and Facility Management. It is the master repository for all VA Numbered Standards for Construction to include design and construction specifications, procedures, standard details, BIM/CAD standards, equipment guides, space planning and design guides. The documents of the TIL shall be the minimum design criteria for all VA projects performed in the construction of new facilities and the modernization, alteration, addition, or improvement of its real property. VA additionally through the documents on the TIL has adopted the latest edition of the following codes and standards (but not limited to): Occupational, Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standards, International Building Code (IBC), National Electrical Code (NEC), NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Codes, except for NFPA 5000 and NFPA 900, National Standard Plumbing Code (NSPC), Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) A 17.1, ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, ASME Code for Pressure Piping, International Plumbing Code (IPC), Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standard (ABAAS) for Federal Facilities, Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete, American Concrete Institute (ACI 318 2) and Commentary (ACI 318 R2), Manual of Steel Construction, Load and Resistance Factor Design Specifications for Structural Steel Buildings, American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), Energy policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality ASHRAE Standard 62.1, DOE Interim Final Rule: Energy Conservation Standards for New Federal, Commercial and Multi-Family High-Rise Residential Buildings and New Low-Rise Residential Buildings, 10 CFR Parts 433, 434 and 435, Federal Leadership in High Performance and Sustainable Buildings: Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Executive Order 13423: Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management, The Provisions for Construction and Safety Signs. Stated in the General Requirements Section 01010 of the VA Master Construction Specification, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality ASHRAE Standard 62.1, Safety Standard for Refrigeration Systems ASHRAE Standard 15. U.S. National CAD Standard. Where conflicts exist between VA adopted codes and standards and the documents on the TIL, the A/E shall bring this to the attention of the VA. The resolution of the conflict shall be made by the authority having jurisdiction for VA to ensure consistency department wide. Designs for construction must result in a complete and usable facility or improvement when built. VA policy (VHA Office of Capital Assets Management, Engineering and Support memo Updated Construction Guidance and Expectations dated Sep 12, 2016) requires the A/E to certify that their design (including all bid alternates/bid deducts) does not depend on future construction projects. The A/E must also certify that the design excludes furniture or equipment that will be procured separately, unless otherwise directed by the VA. Equipment included in the design is limited to items required to meet code for building occupancy; items covered in the VA s Master Construction Specifications (PG-18-1), Divisions 1 through 10, 13 through 26, or 28 through 48; non-IT equipment items in Division 27; and items in Division Numbers 12 31 00, 12 32 00, 12 34 00, and 12 36 00. Exclude all other equipment and furniture unless the VA directs their inclusion. The A/E shall submit as part of the Final Bid Documents submittal a signed letter on company letterhead stating the design s independence. The project is to provide all necessary modifications and additions to VA NIHCS existing building structure, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work. A/E shall be responsible to review existing conditions to locations planned for development. Existing drawings of Buildings 194 are on file at the VA NIHCS for review by the A/E. Access to files shall be coordinated with the COR. The AE will employ a third-party commissioning agent to certify the design and construction meet Federal Mandates. The commissioning authority will verify the performance of the components and systems and, to ensure design requirements are met, develop a commissioning plan, inclusion of commissioning or requirements in construction documents, verification of installation and performance of commissioned systems (testing and system monitoring), operation/maintenance manuals and training, and a commissioning report. The A/E team shall work with the commissioning agent throughout the design and construction process to assure all sustainable objectives are met. The AE will employ a third-party construction cost estimator. The cost estimator is to be a separate, independent, un-biased and non-affiliated entity sub-contracted by the A/E. The A/E may not use their own personnel to complete any requirements stated within the Cost Manual. All drawings shall adhere to VA project software requirements for Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Computer Aided Design (CAD) available at http://www.cfm.va.gov/til/projReq.asp. BIM software shall be Revit 2020 or the latest version available to VA NIHCS, Marion Campus. The project BIM model minimum requirements shall be developed to include the systems described below as they would be built, the processes of installing them and to reflect record drawing conditions (possibly incorporating into the Marion VAMC Master Record Drawing pending facility expertise). The deliverable model at the DD and CD design phases shall be developed to include as many of the systems described below (but not limited to) as are necessary and appropriate at that design phase:

• Architectural/Interior Design Square Footage/Volume including Room Names and Numbers
• Departmental Ownership (By Common Name, Capital Asset Inventory Department Definition and Strategic Capital Investment Program Department Definition)
• Architectural Schedules
• Walls and Curtain Wall Sizes, Shapes, and Material Data
• Doors
• Windows
• Louvers
• Roof
• Floors
• Ceilings
• Vertical Circulation
• Architectural Specialties and Woodwork
• Life Safety Information (Fire Extinguishers, Wall Ratings, Door Ratings, Fire Protection/Alarms)
• General Signage Schedules
• Furniture
• Equipment
• Structural Foundations
• Shafts and Pits
• Mechanical
• HVAC
• Plumbing
• Electrical/Telecommunications
• Power and Lighting
• Steam Distribution
• Nurse Call System
• Asbestos/ Hazard Material Info
• Security System Information (Access Controls, Security Cameras, Panic Alarms, Overhead Paging)
• Exterior Building Information
• 3D Model Renderings
• Other Engineering Data

Compliance & Qualifications

• FAR 52.236-25 Requirements for Registration of Designers

How to Prepare Your Bid

1. Ensure your firm is registered in the SBA’s VetCert database to confirm SDVOSB status.
2. Prepare a comprehensive SF330 that addresses all evaluation criteria clearly and concisely.
3. Include detailed past performance examples that demonstrate your firm’s capability in similar projects.

Why Small Businesses Should Consider This

This contract is set aside for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, with a focus on architect-engineering services under NAICS 541330. The project involves significant improvements to Building 194 at the VA Northern Indiana Health Care System, with a response deadline of June 16, 2026.