INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND Purpose and Request for Qualifications The National Wildlife Federation in partnership with the Northern Cheyenne Tribe’s Environmental Protection Department is interested in hiring an Architectural & Engineering firm (Vendor) to prepare all necessary architectural drawings and specifications for the renovation of the Northern Cheyenne Environmental Protection Department Building located in Lame Deer, Montana. The services are to be with a Registered Licensed Architectural Firm and shall have a registered license with the State of Montana. The existing building prior to being the offices of the Northern Cheyenne Environmental Protection Department was a Mormon church. It is approximately 4,000 square feet and built at least over 20 years ago. The goal is to renovate the existing building to be the first building in southeastern Montana to meet LEED green building standards and to become a showcase green building on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. NWF and Northern Cheyenne EPD office is seeking to identify and select an outside independent firm to perform a feasibility study to renovate the existing building including a proposed total project budget and a visual rendering of the building. The feasibility study will be used for fundraising purposes to renovate the building. The remainder of this document provides additional information that will allow a qualified provider to understand the scope of the effort and develop a proposal for submission. NWF AND THE NORTHERN CHEYENNE TRIBE HAS ESTABLISHED A NOT TO EXCEED PRICE OF $10,000 INCLUDING ALL REIMBURSABLES FOR THE INITIAL FEASIBILITY STUDY. Total Project Budget: The total project budget will be determined using the feasibility study. ADMINISTRATIVE CONTACT INFORMATION Any questions concerning the RFQ must be directed to both NWF and the Northern Cheyenne EPD Office and we would prefer any inquiries to be made by e-mail initially. Donita Sioux Northern Cheyenne Tribe EPD Office P.O. Box Lame Deer, MT 406-477-6556 donitasioux@gmail.com DUE DATES Alexis Bonogofsky National Wildlife Federation 2020 Tired Man Road Billings, MT 59101 406-698-4720 Bonogofsky@nwf.org A written confirmation of the Vendor’s intent to respond to this RFQ is required by February 1, 2011. Two (2) copies of all proposal documents are due by 5:00 p.m. on February 28, 2011. TIMELINE EVENT 1. RFQ Distribution to Vendors 2. Written Confirmation of Vendors with Proposal Intentions 3. RFQ Due Date 4. Target Date for Review of Proposals/Qualifications 5. Anticipated decision and selection of Vendor DATE January 13, 2011 February 1, 2011 February 28, 2011 March 1-13, 2011 March 14, 2011 GUIDELINES FOR QUALIFICATION STATEMENT PREPARATION QUALIFICATION SUBMISSION Award of the contract resulting from this RFQ will be based upon the most responsive Vendor whose experience and past performance will be determined by NWF and Northern Cheyenne EPD representatives in terms of completeness of the statement, adequacy of the identified work product, experience in green building projects and demonstration of competency. NWF and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe EPD reserves the right to: Reject any or all submissions and discontinue this RFQ process without obligation or liability to any potential Vendor; and Award a contract on the basis of negotiated services, taking into consideration discussions or requests for best and final offers. Vendor’s submittal shall be as set forth below. The Vendor will confine its submission to those matters sufficient to define its qualifications and to provide an adequate basis for NWF’s and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe’s evaluation of the Vendor’s qualifications. Vendor’s proposal in response to this RFQ will be incorporated into the final agreement between the Northern Cheyenne Tribe and the selected Vendor. The submissions must include but are not limited to each of the following sections: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Executive Summary Project Deliverables, including Timeline Project Management Outline Detailed and Itemized Cost Appendix: References Appendix: Company Overview and Staffing 7. Appendix: Compliance The detailed requirements for each of the above mentioned sections are outlined on the next page. DETAILED SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS Executive Summary This section will present a high level synopsis of the Vendor’s responses to the RFQ. The Executive Summary should be a brief overview of the engagement, and should identify the main features and benefits of the vendor’s qualifications. Project Deliverables Include descriptions of the types of reports that will be used to summarize the various phases of the work and provide a timeline for delivery of said reports. Project Management Outline Include the method and approach used to manage the overall project and client’s collaboration. Outline in detail how the engagement proceeds from beginning to end. Detailed and Itemized Pricing Include a fee breakdown by project phase and estimates of travel expenses and number of inspections. Include payment schedule based on scope of work, deliverables and reimbursable. Appendix: References Evidence that the company has an architect licensed in the state of Montana. Provide two current corporate references for which you have performed similar work. Include total cost and percent of work accomplished through change order, identifying owner-requested change orders. Submit letter sized drawings and photographs of previous remodel and renovation work your firm has been involved in. Appendix: Company Overview, Staffing and Previous Experience Provide the following for your company: Official registered name (corporate, DBA, partnership, etc.), address, main telephone number, toll free numbers and facsimile numbers. Key contact name, title, address, direct telephone and fax numbers. Person authorized to contractually bind the organization for any proposal against this RFQ. Brief history, including year established and number of years your company has been conducting similar work. Relevant experience and qualifications of key staff and management personnel that would be assigned to this project as well as any relevant professional qualifications (e.g. HERS rater, LEED AP). Please answer the following questions about your company and your experience: o Do you have extensive experience renovating existing buildings? o What is your experience with high performance building design, such as LEED® certified buildings or buildings that have earned the Energy Star®? If so, do you have utility data demonstrating that the building(s) have performed per the design intent? o Are you able to design high performance buildings that can be constructed with conventional building budgets? If so, what kind of strategies do you use? o Do you have experience preparing feasibility studies? Please describe the scope of work you would include in the feasibility study. o Can you complete the feasibility study within the budget and timeline listed above? Appendix: Compliance Provide statement affirming your firm’s compliance with all applicable state and federal requirements that apply to projects using public funds. This renovation will most likely use some federal and/or state funding. EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD CRITERIA Any award to be made pursuant to this RFQ will be based upon the proposal with appropriate consideration given to operational, technical, cost, and management requirements. Evaluation of offers will be based upon the Vendor’s responsiveness to the RFQ. The following elements will be the primary considerations in evaluating all submitted proposals and in the selection of a Vendor or Vendors: 1. Completion of all required responses 2. The extent to which Vendor’s proposed solution fulfills NWF’s & the Northern Cheyenne Tribe’s stated requirements as set out in this RFQ 3. An assessment of the Vendor’s ability to deliver the indicated service in accordance with the specifications set out in this RFQ 4. The Vendor’s stability, experience, and record of past performance in delivering such services NWF and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe EPD may, at their discretion and without explanation to the prospective Vendors, at any time choose to discontinue this RFQ without obligation to such prospective Vendors. SCOPE OF WORK REQUIREMENTS The following information should be used to determine the full scope of this project and suggested phases of work for this engagement: Provide professional design services for renovation of the Northern Cheyenne Environmental Protection Department building located in Lame Deer, Montana. The ultimate goal is to have a showcase green building on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation that will be designed and renovated using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. The renovations may include but are not limited to: New roof with innovative lighting solutions Interior soundproofing Renovation of interior office spaces New HVAC system Solar air and water heaters Water conservation & Landscaping