ABCD
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Enter your question below:University Response:
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I understand lead designers should:

- Include a brief description of sub-consultant type(s)/role(s).
- Submit a list of 1 - 3 potential sub-consultants for each service-area with initial lead design proposal.

Does this mean it is appropriate for sub-consultants to be included at the outset, even if NCSU ultimately selects the sub-consultants?

NC State will be initially contracting with the Lead Designer only, who will then collaborate with NC State to complete the team needed for the work. Therefore, it is very appropriate that in their proposal the Lead Designer suggest up to three possible Sub-Consultants in each service-area. The Lead Designer will hold the contracts with selected Sub-Consultants.
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May I please obtain the RFP? Thank you.https://facilities.ofa.ncsu.edu/files/2020/10/Form-1-Project-Summary-Physical-MP-2020-10-01-2.pdf
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There is currently a very ambitious NCSU Sustainability Plan for the years 2017 - 2022. This document has a section on Operations, Planning and Design, as well as integrating teaching opportunities with the campus and sustainability goals. While sustainability and Resilience are referenced in the RFP, the RFP and pre-bid call did not seem to make any mention of the Sustainability Plan as a document to be referenced (e.g the pending Strategic Plan). How does the NCSU Sustainability Plan play into the current master planning goals as outlined in the RFP?The Sustainability Plan will be a resource for the Physical Master Plan, along with many other plans and studies that have been completed since the 2014 Physical Master Plan Update. These plans will be provided to the selected Lead Design firm as the starting point for discussions in their respective areas.
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Given the uncertainty around the pandemic and potential limitations to in-person meetings, can you please clarify what the University’s expectations are for project and stakeholder meetings as part of the study? We believe that the success of this master plan necessitates involvement of a broad cross-section of the campus community during its development. If opportunities for in-person meetings remain limited during the project, we will be interested to know how proposers have successfully used other communications tools and technologies to engage the public in a planning process of this magnitude.
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Do you see technology needing to be addressed as part of the connectivity component (with innovative solutions for outside areas/pathways)? Or as any part of the Physical Master Plan?The primary challenges with connectivity result from the physical distances between destinations and the barriers to safe and comfortable movement (e.g. the NC Railroad, Western Boulevard). Technology in outside areas may play a supporting role in wayfinding on campus.
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Would you please elaborate on the expectations for the Infrastructure Investment Process? Is the goal to develop an approach for decision-making during the planning process and for use after the plan is completed?We envision the Infrastrucure Investment Process to be a tool or process that is developed during the master plan project. Following creation of this deliverable, it would then be used by the campus administration to make decisions regarding capital proposals and projects.
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Would you please elaborate on the planning outcomes for the Field Labs?Compared to the five campus precincts, the planning for the field labs will be a higher-level, more broad-brush assessment. It will not focus on technical aspects of agricultural processes or operations. Rather, it will include analysis and recommendations regarding issues such as adjacencies, and connectivity (within the field labs and to other parts of campus.)
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What are the space planning expectations for the master plan?The university will provide the Lead Designer with all of the space data for this project. The focus for space planning will be on innovative approaches to space management, and may include some peer analysis of existing space data. This project will not be developing a capital plan.
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Please confirm whether the stated $1,000,000 project budget is for the prime firm alone, or if it inclusive of all prime and sub-consultant fees. The extent that the stated budget applies to the Lead Designer alone will depend on the roles and scope of services that the Lead Designer will perform as compared to the the proposed roles for the sub-consultants. Please note that NC State selects designers based on qualifications and will negotiate fee based on a proposal from the Lead Designer.
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Will there be another proposal submission after the shortlist is chosen, before the interviews?There will not be another proposal submission before the interviews.
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Is it acceptable for subconsultant HUB certification to be in progress at the time of proposal submission?Since there will be further discussion regarding selection of sub-consultants following selection of the Lead Designer, it is acceptable for HUB certification to be in progress at the time of the submittal.
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Will NC State University be bringing in an additional engagement consultant for the project?Engaging the campus community in the project is part of the scope for the selected Lead Designer whether that function is performed with in-house resources or through a proposed sub-consultant.
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Should SF330 Part IIs be provided for our potential subconsultants, or only for the Prime?SF330 Part IIs for the potential sub-consultants are not needed in this submission.
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Please clarify how Critical Selection Factor #5 “Historically Underutilized Business representation in proposed consultant team” will be evaluated if the team provides more than 1 subconsultant option for any particular discipline and some are “HUB” certified and some are not.HUB participation will be reviewed across the entire consultant team. HUB participation is important and proposers should note if any of their proposed subconsultants are HUB firms.
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Is the discipline of cost estimating anticipated/expected to be included in the scope of the master plan?High-level, order-of-magnitude cost estimates may be needed to evaluate the feasibility of proposed framework plan concepts. This project will not develop detailed cost-estimates nor a capital plan.
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Please clarify what the term “infrastructure” refers to in Project Description #4 “Infrastructure Investment Process”. Does “infrastructure” refer specifically to systems such as utilities, stormwater, and energy, or to a broader meaning that includes all systems related to the campus design (landscape, buildings, roadways, parking, etc)?For this process, Infrastructure refers to all systems that are part of the physical campus, including buildings, utilities and their distribution, streets, parking, transit, stormwater management, courtyards, plazas, paths, plants, green infrastructure.
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In the pre-bid call, it was described that a process for community engagement is under consideration and may run separate but parallel to the master plan. Please clarify the intention for community engagement (campus community and external community) and if the master plan team will be responsible for leading the community engagement.The process (discussed in the pre-proposal meeting) that may be a separate deliverable from the master plan is the Infrastructure Investment Process. The Lead Designer will be responsible for involving the campus leadership and the community in developing this new decision-making tool. Engaging the campus community in development of the physical master plan is also part of the charge of the selected Lead Designer whether that function is performed with in-house resources or through a proposed sub-consultant.
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Will a scope & fee proposal be required to be submitted by shortlisted firms? And if so, when would this proposal be due?No. NC State selects designers based on qualifications and will negotiate fee based on a proposal from the Lead Designer following their selection.
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It was noted in the pre-bid call that the Strategic Plan is ongoing and will be wrapped up by the end of 2020. Are there any highlights or draft summary documents that you could share with the teams so we can understand NCSU's strategic priorities?The most recent information on the new Strategic Plan can be found at https://strategicplan.ncsu.edu/nc-states-next-strategic-plan/
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Will co-lead designers be considered?NC State will contract with a single firm as the Lead Designer. Joint ventures will not be considered.
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Will the work related to framework plans listed in section 3 of the RFQ involve updating existing plans, or will these be created from scratch? The 2014 Physical Master Plan will be an important resource but this will be a new master plan.
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Does the 52 page limit include a cover page and section tabs?The 52 page limit is inclusive of cover, tabs, etc.
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Please confirm whether a firm needs to be registered to practice architecture by North Carolina Board of Architects to submit, or if individuals from the prime firm licensed to practice architecture in North Carolina meet this criteria.In order to offer architectural or engineering services in response to this solicitation, the firm that is proposing must be licensed in the State of North Carolina.
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Form 1 states the study completion date as spring 2022. Can you please clarify what the expected start date for the study is? Additionally, given the uncertainty around the pandemic and potential limitations to in-person meetings, can you please clarify what the University’s expectations are for project and stakeholder meetings as part of the study?We anticipate the start date to be February, 2021.  Given current operating protocols, we anticipate that the opportunities for in-person meetings will be limited.  We believe that the success of this master plan necessitates involvement of a broad cross-section of the campus community during its development.  If opportunities for in-person meetings remain limited during the project, we will be interested to know how proposers have successfully used other communications tools and technologies to engage the public in a planning process of this magnitude.
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On the RFQ, there is a mention of construction administration capabilities being a factor in the selection of a lead design firm. Could you please offer some clarification as to what you value in this regard from an architecture firm?North Carolina law requires that the university use these critical selection factors when selecting designers based on qualifications. Since this is a planning project, construction administration capabilities will not be a significant consideration.
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Does submitting as Lead Designer prevent a firm from also being considered as a Sub-Consultant on another proposal?No. Firms may be a part of mulitple proposals, and may be considered as both Lead Designer, and as a proposed Sub-Consultant in other proposals.
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