Invitation to tender

Date of publication Simap: 27.05.2016

1. Contracting authority

1.1 Official name and address of the contracting authority

Contracting authority/Authority of assignment: FOBL
Procurement authority/Organizer: Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics (FOBL)
Project Management Abroad,  attn Public Tenders, Fellerstrasse 21,  3003  Berne,  Switzerland

1.2 Applications for participation should be sent to the following address

Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics (FOBL)
Public Tenders,  attn (b16018) Renovation of the Swiss Embassy in Washington DC Chancellery Building-GP, Fellerstrasse 21,  3003  Berne,  Switzerland,  Fax:  +41 58 463 26 98,  E-mail:  beschaffung.wto@bbl.admin.ch

1.3 Desired deadline for questions in written form

13.06.2016

Remarks: Questions regarding the present call for bids may be asked anonymously in English in the call for bids forum (www.simap.ch). A second round of questions during the second Phase of the tendering procedure will take place. Questions received after this date can no longer be answered. Tenderers will be notified by e-mail as soon as the answers have been posted on www.simap.ch.

1.4 Deadline for submitting applications for participation

Date: 29.06.2016 Time of day: 23:55, Specific deadlines and formal requirements:  (Date of Postmark)
Note on the submission of offers: place for submission see No. 1.2 above.
a) Delivery to the FOBL’s incoming goods departement, Fellerstrasse 21. 3003 Berne (by the bidder themselves or by courier) : The bid must be handed over no later than on the above mentioned submission date during the incoming goods departement opening hours am 08:00 – 12:00 and pm 1:00 – 4:00 hrs. for the issuance of a receipt from the FOBL.
b) Delivery to the Swiss Embassy in Washington DC (or another Swiss Representation abroad): Foreign bidders can deliver their application for participation no later than the above-named deadline and during business hours for the issuance of a receipt from a consular representative or Swiss Embassy in their country. In doing so, they are obligated to send the receipt from the respective Embassy to the Contracting Authority (fax no. or e-mail as per No. 1.2 above) by e-mail or fax no later than the filing deadline.
c) For submission by Mail (if not possible otherwise): The date of postmark or barcode from a Swiss or officially recognized foreign post office will be definitive for determining adherence to the deadline (company franking stamps do not count as a postmark).
- In any event the bidder must ensure proof that the offer has been submitted within the stipulated time.
- Offers submitted after the closing date can no longer be considered. They will be returned to the sender.

1.6 Type of contracting authority

Confederation (Central federal administration)

1.7 Type of procedure

Selective procedure

1.8 Type of order

Order for services

1.9 Scope of international treaties

Yes

2. Objects of procurement

2.1 Service category CPC:

[12] Architecture; technical consultancy and planning and integrated technical services; urban and rural planning; relevant scientific and technical consultancy

2.2 Project title of the acquisition

(b16018) For the renovation of the Swiss Embassy in Washington DC we are looking for a General Planning Team

2.3 Reference / project no.

(b16018) 620.000

2.4 Common Procurement Vocabulary

CPV:	71000000 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

2.5 Detailed task description

The Swiss Federation is in possession of a park-like site on Cathedral Avenue N.W. in Washington DC, on which the Swiss Embassy is located. The project described here concerns the Chancellery Building (office building), which was built in 1958-59 by the eminent architect William Lescaze.
The building has been well maintained over the years, with only minor interventions being made when necessary. Today, however, some parts of the building are at the end of their useful life cycle and must be repaired. It is important for the Contracting Authority, that the heritage of the building be preserved.
Both the close and appropriate communication with the Contracting Authority in Switzerland and a demonstration of local professional competence are mandatory conditions of engagement. For this reason, bidding consortia comprised of US firms or / and Swiss are desirable.

The following fields of expertise must be represented in the Proposals:
BCC 291 Architect, as General Planner (leading firm)
BCC 296 Specialists (Acoustic Engineering and Energy Specialist)
BCC 294 Building Systems Engineering (HVAC, plumbing, health and safety)
BCC 293 Electrical Engineering

2.6 Location where service is to be delivered

2900 Cathedral Avenue N.W. Washington, DC 20008-3499

2.7 Division into lots?

No

2.8 Will variants be accepted?

No

2.9 Are partial offers permitted?

No

2.10 Implementation date

Remarks: Deadlines:
Procurement deadlines:
Phase 1: May - July 2016: Prequalification Phase
Phase 2: August - October 2016: Call for Bids (Submission of Bids, Evaluation, Negotiation, Awarding of Contract).
- Intended deadline for submitting Bids: September 30th 2016.

Construction deadlines:
Spring 2017: Project Development und Construction Cost Analysis (+/- 15% accuracy, for credit approval)
October 2017: Construction Documents and Estimate of Construction Costs (+/- 10% accuracy)
2018: Preparation for execution
January 2019: Start of construction

3. Conditions

3.1 General conditions of participation

without indications

3.2 Deposits/guarantees

None

3.3 Conditions of payment

Details to follow in the call for bids (2nd Phase).

3.4 Costs to be included

Details to follow in the call for bids (2nd Phase).

3.5 Consortium of bidders

Are allowed.
Providing one bidder accepts overall responsibility (lead management). Those involved are to be listed, together with the role they play.

3.6 Subcontractor

Subcontractors are not accepted.

3.7 Eligibility criteria

based on the criteria given below:
All commercially and technically competent companies which simultaneously provide the following proof of suitability
(No. 3.8), are asked to submit an offer in US$.

3.8 Evidence required

based on the evidence given below:
The proof of suitability listed below must be submitted together with the offer, otherwise the offer cannot be processed.
Technical competence:
E1 Corporate Structure of the General Planning Team
For joint ventures comprised of firms from Switzerland and the US, information for all firms shall be provided, with indication of the leading firm.
- E1.1 details for Architects as General Planner
- E1.2 details for Acoustic Engineers / Energy Specialist
- E1.3 details for Building Systems Engineers (HVAC, plumbing, health and safety)
- E1.4 details for Electrical Engineers

E2 Principal-in-Charge
- E2.1 details for Key Person, Architecture
- E2.2 details for Key Person, Acoustic Engineers / Energy Specialist
- E2.3 details for Key Person, Building Systems Engineers (HVAC, plumbing, health and safety)
- E2.4 details for Key Person, Electrical Engineers

E3 Language
Confirmation that the named Key Persons are capable of negotiating in both spoken and written English.

E4 Ability to Travel
Confirmation that the named Key Persons can ensure problem-free travel to and from the US.

E5 Bidders absence of debts / Excerpt from commercial registry.
- E5.1 Bidder’s absence of debts, not older than 3 months (original or copy)
- E5.2 Excerpt from commercial registry or equivalent document, not older than 3 months (original or copy)
Submitted as enclosures.

E6 License to submit Building Applications in Washington DC / AIA membership
Submitted as enclosures: valid professional license and proof of membership.

E7 Self-declaration / CAD-directives
Agreement.

E8 Anticorruption Declaration
Willingness to sign an anticorruption declaration.

E9 Secrecy Agreement
Agreement.

E10 Professional Liability Insurance
Submitted as enclosures: Proof of Professional Liability Insurance for the joint leading architecture firm.

E11 Reference Projects, Architecture
(Bidding consortia of architecture firms shall submit a maximum of 2 reference projects).
The Bidder shall provide at least one reference building located in the USA, which has been completed in the last 10 years and is of comparable size.
On two A3 sheets (horizontal), one project per sheet: with a brief explanation as to why each reference project is particularly well suited to represent the experience and expertise of the firm for the project at hand.
- E11.1 Reference project representing a renovation of a historically valuable 20th-century building. It should demonstrate comparability with the project, including architectonic quality as a comprehensive strategy.
- E11.2 Reference project representing an administrative and office building, which demonstrates comparability with the project, including the handling of energy consumption and locally established good standards for workplace comfort.

E12 Project Organization / Communication
The General Planning Team shall provide details on the following topics:
- the internal and external organization of the General Planning Team, the planned means for cooperation and communication within the Team and with the Contracting Authority, situated in Berne, Switzerland.

3.9 Award criteria

Based on the criteria given in the documentation

3.10 Conditions for obtaining the documents for participation

Costs: none

3.11 Max. number of participants admitted

5

3.12 Intended date for the determination of the selected participants

15.08.2016

3.14 Languages for applications for participation

English

3.16 Source for documents for participation in prequalification

at www.simap.ch
Documents for participation in prequalification are available as from: 27.05.2016  until  29.06.2016
Language of the participation documents: English
Further information on obtaining the documents for paticipation in prequalification: The tendering documentation for the abovemetnioned project can also be downloaded via the platform www.simap.ch, under Current procedures, Confederation, Invitations to tender.
To do this you must first register in the abovementioned project; you will then be able to download the required documents by entering your login and password details which will be sent to you by e-mail.

4. Other information

4.1 Conditions for tenderers from Non-Member States of the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement

none

4.2 Terms of business

Details to follow in the call for bids (2nd Phase).

4.3 On-site visit

rights reserved

4.4 Essential requirements

The client only awards public commissions for services in Switzerland to tenderers who comply with job security regulations and the conditions of work for employees, and provide equal payment for men and women. If work is performed abroad, the tenderer undertakes to comply with the fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in accordance with Appendix 2a to the PPO.

4.5 Additional information

1. The Contracting Authority and the Bidder shall treat as confidential all information that is neither obviously or generally accessible.
- A Bidder outside of Switzerland shall agree that, in the case of a negative decision, their elimination from the procedure can legally be published. Article 8 para. 1 letter d of the Federal Law on Public Procurement (BöB) does not apply in this respect. The corresponding statement (Form U, found in Section signature sheet of Application Form) with the secrecy agreement (Form E9, found in Sec-tion E9 of Application Form) must be signed and turned in.
- Alternatively, Bidders outside of Switzerland may, analogous to art. 11b para. 2 of the Administrative Procedures Act (APA, SR 172.021), designate a delivery address in Switzerland.

2. Compensation: No professional fee will be paid for preparing and submitting the Applications for Participation and the Bids.

3. No site visit shall occur during the Prequalification phase.
- For Phase 1, a photo documentation has been made available (see Appendix). Building plans have been omitted for security reasons.
- A site visit will be organized for Phase 2. A voluntary inspection on August 29th or 30th 2016 may be arranged, following registration before August 26th 2016. Appointment confirmation will follow.

4. The Contracting Authority reserves the right to award additional Contracts directly related to the Project to the Team selected in Phase 2 (for example, coordinating construction and moving to temporary facilities, if necessary).

5. Planning experts who have already carried out preliminary services for this Project shall not be considered as having prior involvement:
- EPIQR Rénovation Sàrl, Lausanne, analysis
- Amstein + Walthert Bern AG, Bern, survey of building systems
- H. Furrer, T. Hostettler, H. Weber, Bern, feasibility study / use of alternative energy
- Robert Silman Associates, NW Washington, seismic evaluation
- Bristol Environmental Inc., Odenton MD, asbestos inspection
These documents will be made available to all selected Teams in Phase 2. The documents are primarily in English, with some in German.

6. Validity of offers: Details to follow in the call for bids (2nd Phase).

7. Multiple entries of individual team members are permitted, with the exception of a leading architecture firm.

4.6 Official organ of publication

www.simap.ch

4.7 Procedures for appeal

Pursuant to Art. 30 of the Federal Act on Public Procurement, an appeal against this publication may be filed within 20 days since notification in writing in an official language of Switzerland to the Federal Administrative Court, Postfach, 9023 St.Gallen. The appeal petition must be submitted in duplicate and must contain the application, the grounds of appeal with details of the evidence and the signature of the appellant or his agent; a copy of the present publication and documents cited as evidence must be attached, provided they are in the appellant’s possession.