A/E Design Services - CWPPRA and RESTORE - Gulf Coast Region
Added: Nov 03, 2016 12:38 pm
A-E DESIGN SERVICES TO INCLUDE GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING, MODELING, DESIGN, SURVEYING, AND INSPECTION SERVICES TO DEVELOP COMPLETE DESIGN PACKAGES FOR PROJECTS LOCATED WITHIN THE COASTAL AREAS OF THE GULF COAST REGION OF THE UNITED STATES (TEXAS, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA AND FLORIDA)The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is requesting professional qualification statements (SF-330's) from qualified firms for Architect and Engineering (A-E) Services. The USDA - NRCS, National Services Delivery Team - Specialized Services Team, Lafayette, Louisiana, is hereby soliciting professional qualifications from all qualified Architect-Engineer (A-E) firms to perform the full spectrum of design services to include design, geotechnical engineering, hydrology, hydrologic modeling, surveying, environmental assessments and studies, and supporting documents relative to permitting for projects to be completed under the Coastal Wetlands Planning Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) and the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economics of the Gulf Coast States (RESTORE) Act primarily located within the Gulf Coast Region (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida).TYPE OF CONTRACT:The NRCS anticipates awarding a firm fixed price contract for these services. The NRCS may award one or more indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity (IDIQ) and/or multiple award task order contracts (MATOC) as a result of this request. Awards may provide for a contract servicing one state, a group of states or all states within the Gulf Coast Region. The anticipated contract period will for a base period of one year with a provision for four, one-year option periods for a total of up to five years. The total anticipated contract amount is estimated at $10 million per year. SET ASIDE STATUS:This procurement is being solicited as a Total Small Business Set Aside. The NAICS Code for these services is 541330 and the SBA size standard is $15.0 million. For purposes of this announcement, a concern is considered to be a small business if its average annual receipts for the past three years, do not exceed $15.0 million (NAICS Code 541330).SCOPE OF SERVICES:Potential projects that may be designed under this contract may include levees, hurricane protection work, deep and shallow foundations, earthwork, reinforced concrete structures, rock riprap or gabion placement, timber structures, steel structures, sheet pile cutoff walls, channel bank stabilization, marsh creation, restoration and nourishment activities, restoration and functionality of wetland hydrology, stream restoration, restoration of fresh water flows via weirs or other water control structures, restoration of water quality, replenish and protect living coastal and marine resources, preservation and restoration of riparian buffer corridors along major waterways, restoration of marsh, swamp and shallow water habitat to create freshwater wetlands, restoration and enhancement of dune and back barrier marsh habitat, man-made or natural breakwater structures, freshwater diversions via culverts, pump stations, water control structures, offshore rock and oyster reef breakwaters and creation of emergent marsh, low water crossings, ditch blocks, bridges, culvert repair and replacement, grade stabilization structures, earthen diversions, grassed waterways, lined waterways, streambank stabilization, and road stabilization. This is not an all inclusive list but a representative sample of the types of projects that may be requested for design services or other services defined below.Design Activities: Services may consist of but are not limited to any part, one or all of the following: design water resource project features: 1) prepare construction and material specifications, 2) prepare construction plans (drawings), 3) prepare land rights work maps, 4) prepare cost estimates, 5) prepare bid schedules, 6) prepare construction performance time, 7) prepare quality assurance plans, 8) prepare operation and maintenance plans, 9) prepare design folders and reports, and 10) obtain all necessary permits (i.e. COE 404 permits, etc.) as may be required for the project. Specifics for each project will be outlined in each individual task order. The typical project could require knowledge and experience in all aspects of engineering design associated with the design of the types of projects denoted above. The firm will be required to interpret hydrologic and hydraulic reports as well as geotechnical reports, and accurately apply the data to the design of the project measures. The firm will be required to perform engineering design activities in accordance with NRCS standards. The majority of the work will be civil and/or agricultural; however, electrical and mechanical engineer expertise may be required on some projects.Ecological Activities: Services may consist of but are not limited to any part, one or all of the following: assessing biological composition and condition, assessing ecological function, interpreting impacts of environment on native flora/fauna, collecting ecological data, capturing and interpreting photos, interpreting ecological data, development ecological resilient and cost effective solutions, developing operation and management plans to facilitate ecological function for target species, developing and implementing monitoring plans, prepare bid schedules, and prepare design folders and reports. The typical project could require knowledge and experience in all aspects of ecology associated with the planning and design of the types of projects denoted above. The firm will be required to interpret ecological data and reports. The firm will be required to perform ecological planning and design activities in accordance with NRCS standards and in accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).Geotechnical Activities: Services may consist of but are not limited to any part, or all of the following: ability to work on sites which are land based, shallow draft and deep draft marine areas, and marshland based areas. Land based investigations may be in areas of rough terrain, such as gullies or heavily forested areas. Services may include field investigations such as geotechnical drilling, field testing, sampling, logging and packaging of soil specimens extracted from locations to be used in the aid of the design, laboratory testing to include the laboratory classification and testing of soil specimens extracted from the soil field investigation. Analysis to include analyses utilizing the data collected and developed from the field investigations and laboratory testing. The analyses shall include determining the engineering properties of the soil including but not be limited to slope stability, settlement, seepage, shallow and deep foundations, various pile design and other analyses as related to geotechnical engineering. Reporting will consist of the formulation of a report defining the field, laboratory and analyses results along with appropriate geotechnical design recommendations.Modeling Services: Services may consist of existing data compilation to include the identification, compilation, review and evaluation of any existing pertinent data to determine its utility for the implementation of a hydrologic study of a project area. Examples of data that may be needed including existing or predicted water levels, stream flows, wave propagation, siphon discharge, salinity, rainfall, wind topography, bathymetry, etc. Additional data collection may require field collection of project specific information if determined necessary for use in modeling/design of a project. Hydrological Analysis/Model Selection consisting of the formulation of a report detailing the proposed method for performing hydrologic study of the project area. The methodology will be approved by NRCS, and contain, at a minimum, the formulas and rationale used for a mathematical simulation and/or a description of the software used for a model. Hydrologic Analysis/Model Setup will include the identification and providing rationale for all parameters, including assumptions used for geometric setup, boundary configuration and data input. Hydrologic Analysis/Model Calibration will include calibration to reasonably assure that the assumptions, setup parameters, and methodology used for the analysis is capable of simulating observed responses. An acceptable level of accuracy, to be determined upon model selection, shall be attained before applying scenarios. Hydrologic Analysis/Model Scenarios may include the simulation of specific scenarios for the given project area. NRCS will provide input regarding project boundaries, scenarios and time frames for which the analyses will be performed. Hydrologic Analysis/Model Results may consist of the formulation of a report containing the following information 1) narrative of items noted above to include all calculations and documentation used to support the model conclusions 2) GIS map showing the project area, project features and any data locations used for the simulation 3) narrative and graphics of the results of the scenarios evaluated and 4) report shall be signed and sealed by a Licensed Professional Engineer.Surveying Activities: The firm must be able to work on sites which are land based, shallow draft and deep draft marine based and marshland based. The firm will perform surveying services which may consist of but are not limited to any part, one or all of the following: 1) boundary surveys, 2) topographic/planimetric surveys, 3) magnetometer surveys, 4) hydrographic/bathymetric surveys, 5) side scan sonar surveys, 6) sub bottom profiling, 7) horizontal and vertical control surveys, 8) design surveys, 9) development of graphical representation of survey data collected and 10) possible use of LIDAR data. A typical project would require knowledge and experience in all aspects of surveying and surveying equipment. The firm will be required to perform surveys in accordance with NRCS policy and standards as well as any requirements of the respective state(s) related to legal boundary surveys. All survey drawings shall be generated in the appropriate format. All electronic raw survey data shall be submitted as ASCII or Hypack software or other format as may be required for the software to be utilized.Inspection Services: The firm must be able to perform construction inspection services for various types of projects. The firm must be able to work sites which are land based, shallow draft, and deep draft marine and marshland based areas. Land based work may be in areas of rough terrain such as gullies. The firm will perform any or all operations necessary to provide construction quality assurance (construction inspection) for various types of projects (land and marine based) within the Gulf State region. Quality assurance activities required may consist of but are not limited to any part, one or all of the following activities: construction layout, quantity computations, field testing and sampling of construction materials, safety compliance checks or construction activities, and development of accurate and complete quality assurance reports. The typical project could require knowledge and experience in all aspects of quality assurance activities associated with the design and construction of deep and shallow foundations (bearing capacity, consolidation, etc.) earthwork, reinforced concrete structures, automated and manual water control gates, pump stations, rock riprap or gabion placement, timber structures, steel structures and structural fabrication, timber, steel and concrete piling, sheet piling, channel bank stabilization measures, excavation for access channels and marsh creation/nourishment, offshore rock and oyster reef breakwaters, ditch blocks, bridges, culvert repair and replacement, grade stabilization structures, earthen diversions, grassed waterways, lined waterways, and road stabilization. The firm should employ technicians that are in good physical condition, as work will require a physically demanding job including but not limited to: climbing in and out of boats, on and off barges, tug boats, ATV's, walking on uneven ground, beams and rock riprap. The firm will be required to perform quality assurance activities in accordance with NRCS standards and specifications. The majority of the construction work will be civil/agricultural in nature; however, electrical and mechanical engineering knowledge may be required on some projects.Under FAR 52-219-14 Limitations of Subcontracting, the prime contractor must perform at least 50% of the cost of contract performance with his/her own employees. This applies to small business set aside contracts.MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:1. Firms must have a Licensed Professional Engineer licensed to perform services in each of the five states.2. Have a minimum of two civil/agricultural engineers. At least one engineer must be a Registered Professional Engineer in the states represented above or hold a temporary permit to practice engineering in these states and have a minimum of ten years of design experience, a majority of which should be specialized in the Gulf Coast Region.3. Have a minimum of one licensed electrical and one licensed mechanical engineer with a minimum of five (5) years' experience in the states represented or hold a temporary permit to practice engineering in these states.4. Have a minimum of three in-house draftspersons employed on a full time basis, with a minimum of ten years AutoCAD experience and at least one of the others with a minimum of three years' experience.5. Have a minimum of one licensed Professional Engineer with a minimum of five years' experience in hydrological analysis or modeling. This engineer shall be licensed in the states represented above or hold a temporary permit to practice engineering in these states.6. Have a minimum of one licensed Professional Civil Engineer with a minimum of ten years' experience in geotechnical investigations and analysis. This engineer shall be licensed in the states represented above or hold a temporary permit to practice engineering in these states.7. Have a minimum of one licensed Professional Land Survey (PLS) with a minimum of ten years' experience in the states represented above to practice surveying in these states.8. Have a minimum of one geographic information systems (GIS) specialist with a minimum of five years' experience in collecting and collating various types of data in order to visually represent that data, in the form of charts or maps.9. Have a minimum of one ecologist with at least five (5) years' experience in assessing ecological function, interpreting impacts of environment on native flora/fauna, collecting and interpreting ecological data.10. Have a minimum of one wetland specialist with at least five (5) years' experience to gather, analyze and evaluate data to address wetland conservation concerns or issues.EVALUATION CRITERIA:This acquisition is for A-E Services and is being procured in accordance with the Section of Architects and Engineers' statute as implemented in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 36.3. A-E firms meeting the requirements described in this announcement are invited to submit the documentation required in this notice. Firms responding to this announcement before the closing date will be considered for selection subject to any limitation indicated with respect to business size or any other limitations listed in this notice.Firms shall be evaluated in terms of the following:PRESELECTION CRITERIA:The following shall be utilized as pre-selection criteria by the Government prior to full evaluation of the Offeror's SF-330's Architect-Engineer Qualifications:1. Gulf Coast Region Preference - The prime contractor's principal office must be located in in one of the Gulf Coast states (i.e. Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama or Florida). Principal office is defined as the principal place of business as filed with the respective Secretary of State's Office.2. The firm (prime) must have a licensed Professional Engineer licensed in each of the five (5) respective states in the Gulf Coast Region (i.e. Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida).3. The firm shall have a licensed PLS in each of the five (5) Gulf Coast states (i.e. Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida). The PLS requirement can be satisfied by either the prime contractor or that of its proposed subcontractor.Those firms not meeting all three of the pre-selection criteria will not be further considered.SELECTION CRITERIA:1. Specialized Experience and Technical Competence - Firms shall possess specialized experience and technical competence similar in nature to the requirements denoted herein. Examples shall include evidence to demonstrate the degree of complexity of work performed.2. Past Performance - The prime contractor and/or team members (as applicable) shall be recent (within 3 years, relevant, successful past performance on similar projects) performed for NRCS, other Government agencies, and/or private industry in terms of cost control, quality of work and compliance with performance schedules similar in nature to the work required as part of this announcement.3. Professional qualifications necessary for satisfactory performance of required services. Qualified firms shall possess professional qualifications necessary for satisfactory performance of required services similar in nature to those required as part of this requirement.4. Capacity - Qualified firms shall have the capacity to accomplish the work in the required time. Firms shall demonstrate their ability to work on 5-10 projects across the five state Gulf Coast region concurrently. Offeror's are reminded of FAR 52.219-14 Limitations of Subcontracting which is applicable to this requirement, which provides that the prime contractor must perform at least 50% of the cost of contract performance with his/her own employees. Offerors shall provide evidence and documentation of their ability to meet this requirement.5. Location - Location in the general geographical area of the project and knowledge of the locality of the project. Offerors shall provide evidence of their knowledge of the locality and general geographical area, i.e. work along major waterways, streambanks, marsh, swamp, shallow water habitats, deep draft marine and land based. This list is not all inclusive but the Offeror shall demonstrate their knowledge of the varied aspects of the Gulf Coast region.The evaluation factors listed above are ranked in their order of importance, with criteria (1) being the most important.Following an evaluation of the qualifications submitted, at least three firms that are considered to be of the most highly qualified will be chosen for interview in accordance with FAR 36.602-1(c). Upon conclusion of these interviews and final ranking of firms, the most highly qualified firm(s) will be selected for price negotiation and other terms and conditions in accordance with FAR 36.606.In order to comply with the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, all contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management System (SAMS) to be considered for an award of a Federal contract. For information regarding registration contact the SAMS Web Site at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/. All interested firms are invited to submit seven copies of their SF-330's Architect-Engineer Qualifications and any other supplemental information deemed relative to the selection criteria. Do not submit cover letters, binders, elaborate coverings, spiral bound material or company brochures/pamphlets, etc. Submit only what is requested on 8 ½ x 11 inch bond paper with a minimum of 10-pitch font. The proposal submitted, including the SF 330 Parts I and II shall not exceed 100 pages in length (includes attachments, subcontractor, consultant information, etc.) Offers exceeding the maximum page limitations may not be considered. Cover pages, tab pages, and divider pages will not count towards the 100 page limit. Submissions may include single or double sided sheets but shall not exceed the 100 page limitation. A page is defined as one side of an 8 ½ x 11 inch sheet of paper, with at least one inch margins on all sides. Offerors may include 11 x 14 inch paper for the exclusive presentation of tables or figures. Each 11 x 14 page will be considered as a single page. Fold out sheets larger than 11 x 14 will be counted as multiple pages in accordance with their size. The SF 330 form is exempt from the marking and character size limits; follow the SF 330 instructions for completing the form. The 1 inch margin and 10 point font limits are only applicable to pages formatted by the Architect/Engineering firm. This is a Request for Qualifications Only, DO NOT SUBMIT A PRICE PROPOSAL.Submissions : Interested firms must submit their SF-330's no later than December 5, 2016, 2:00 p.m. CT, to the attention of Vicki Supler, Contract Specialist, USDA-NRCS, 646 Cajundome Boulevard, Lafayette, Louisiana 70506. Only those firms responding by that time will be considered for selection. Firms responding to the announcement before the closing date will be considered for selection, subject to any limitations indicated with respect to size and geographic location of the firm, specialized technical expertise, or other requirements listed. Facsimile transmissions and email transmissions will not be accepted. Solicitation packages are not provided and no additional project information will be given to firms during the announcement period. Any questions should be addressed to the contracting specialist. NOTE: Work will be located throughout the Gulf States Region.All submissions must be clearly marked with the following caption "Releasable to Government Agencies for Evaluation Purposes Only." The Government reserves the right to request further clarification to enhance the Government's understanding of the Offeror's submittal. Submissions that fail to comply with the above instructions or present ideas not pertinent to subject, may not be reviewed.This notice shall constitute the only notice that will be posted in lrelation to this solicitation. Any and all questions shall be submitted in writing to Vicki Supler, Contract Specialist, at vicki.supler@wdc.usda.gov with a carbon copy to Lauri Eipp, Contract Specialist, at lauri.eipp@wdc.usda.gov. All questions and the answers to be provided will be issued as an amendment to this notice. The cutoff date for all questions is November 23, 2016. Questions received after this date will not be provided a response.
AG-SPEC-S-17-0007 Department of Agriculture National Resources Conservation Service Headquarters
11/3/16, 12:38 PM