Performance_Work_Statement.docx

Project Inspector Performance Work Statement, (PWS) For the El Vivero Cambalache & the US Virgin Islands Nurseries Repair/Rehabilitation Work To begin In accordance with the Notice to Proceed

1. INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (FS) International Institute of Tropical Forestry seeks a qualified Project Inspector with expertise in conducting engineering quality assurance inspections for the repair and rehabilitation of the El Vivero Cambalache of Arecibo nursery owned and managed by Puerto Rico's Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, and the nurseries located on Saint Thomas, St. John and Saint Croix islands. Candidates must have at least 2 years of verifiable experience and/or training equivalent in inspecting similar types of work. Candidates must be registered in the System of Award Management (SAM), the US Federal Contractor Registration System prior to award. The candidates must have knowledge of and experience with federal regulations and reporting proceedings. The candidate must be completely fluent in the English and Spanish languages.

2. BACKGROUND

The El Vivero Central Cambalache and the nurseries in Saint John, Saint Croix and Saint Thomas islands are owned by the US Virgin Island’s Department of Agriculture and are the primary tree nurseries for their respective jurisdictions.

The Vivero Central Cambalache supplies most trees for all 7 regional nurseries on San Juan Island. The site is composed of an administrative building, irrigation and power systems, green houses, shade houses, open dry areas, and a seed house laboratory.

Repair/Rehabilitation work consists of repairing and rehabilitating the existing irrigation system, installing three (3) shade houses, installing ten (10) hoop houses, replacing galvanized benches, installation of shade cloth on three (3) additional existing hoop houses, repair and replace as needed the irrigation system, repair the well, well pump and piping; check and repair electronics and electrical wiring for soil mixing and pot filling equipment in the machinery shed; assembling a seed testing laboratory and a germination room.

The tree nurseries at the US Virgin Islands (St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas) were heavily damaged by hurricane Irma (St. John and St. Thomas) and hurricane Maria (Saint Croix) in September 2017. The facilities are the primary tree nurseries of the US Virgin Island's Department of Agriculture. In order to begin to address the need of forest recovery in the three islands, the tree nursery infrastructure needs to be repaired and the seed collection/germination/storage facilities need to be restored and/or improved.

3. SITE LOCATIONS

The Vivero Central Cambalache is located on PR Road #682, km. 6.6, Barrio Garrochales in the Municipality of Arecibo Puerto Rico, on the premises of the Cambalache State Forest at the main entrance. There is a Job Corps facility nearby. It is 55 miles northwest of the San Juan Metro Area (approximately). Access from the San Juan metro area is available through PR Road #22 west and PR Road #2 west.

The Virgin Islands nursery facilities are located in the US Virgin Islands as follows:

On St. Croix:

#1 Estate Lower Love Kingshill, VI 00850 On St. Thomas:

#7944 Estate Dorothea, Dorothea, VI 00802 On St. John #11 Estate Carolina, Coral Baym VI 00830

4. CONTRACT OBJECTIVES

Through expertise and experience, the Project Inspector shall:

· Assist in the coordination of the pre-bid conference meeting;

· Participate of the pre-bid conference meeting;

· Assist the program leader/designee, and the Contracting Officer (CO) in the selection of a firm to accomplish the repair/rehabilitation work at the El Vivero de Cambalache and the US Virgin Islands;

· Oversee that the construction work is performed in accordance with the construction contract agreement;

· Any infractions are to be reported immediately to the CO/representative for corrective action;

· Oversee that all laws and regulations that govern the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Commonwealth of the US Virgin Islands are observed and applied;

· Any infractions are to be reported immediately to the CO/representative for corrective action;

· Oversee compliance with regulations and safety provisions of the US Government and the US Forest Service;

· Any infractions are to be reported immediately to the CO/representative for corrective action;

· Conduct daily inspection visits to the construction site in PR for the first three months of the project. Provided the construction lasts that long and after that, as necessary, visit the construction site three times a week per month;

· Conduct weekly inspections to the nursery sites in the US Virgin Islands;

· Prepare daily progress reports (with observations of the work progress) will be maintained and submitted to the CO/representative on a weekly basis. A copy of the reports is to be provided to the program leader/designee as well. This report is to include a percentage complete statement;

· The daily visits shall be for eight hours max including travel time to and from the nurseries;

· Report change order requests and submit recommendations to the CO/program leader/designee immediately;

· Submit monthly reports on work progress to program leader/designee;

· Any concerns or disputes which may arise between the Contractor and any government employee will be reported to the CO/representative immediately for resolution;

· Submit a final report to the State and Private Forestry program manager on the Contractor's work performance.

5. SCOPE

The highest quality project management support is provided to ensure an efficient and effective project execution.

Task 1 - Project Management Outcome:

1.1 The Contractor shall be responsible for project management for this effort including, but not limited to:

a. Scheduling meetings

b. Coordinating and communicating with the State and Private Forestry program manager/designee and State agencies being reviewed.

c. Monitoring and rep01ting on the project status.

1.2 The Project Inspector shall review the project plan submitted by the Contractor. A draft project plan shall be delivered to FS within five business days of the kickoff meeting. A final project plan shall be delivered within five business days of receipt of FS comments on the draft.

1.3 The Project Inspector shall ensure that all deliverables for all tasks under this contract are complete, accurate and delivered according to established schedules and are provided to the Government for review, comment, and acceptance.

Reporting

1.4 The Project Inspector shall prepare and submit a monthly status report within 5 business days of the last business day of the preceding month to the State and Private Forestry program manager. In this report the Contractor shall include any areas of concern.

6. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

(AQL)

Monitoring Method

Candidates must be registered or be able to registered into the System of Award Management (SAM) US Federal Contractor Registration System

and random program leader/designee

Services

(AQL\

Monitoring Method

PS-1

Candidates must prove at least 2 year experience and/or training equivalent in inspecting similar type of work.

Candidates must have expertise in conducting engineering quality assurance inspections.

Similar experience will be considered

finalize reports of findings and recommendations Reports are delivered in accordance with the project plan and PWS requirements.

Reports are thorough, accurate, actionable, helpful, professional and free of errors.

Fill out Contractor Performance Report for approval prior to submitting it via IPP.

No deviation.

No deviation.

No deviation Program leader/designee receipt of reports.

Program leader/designee review of reports.

7. DELIVERABLES

Specific deliverables, as noted in the tasks above, are identified in the following table.

7.1. Table of Deliverables

The following table includes deliverables and expected due dates. Deliverables shall be provided electronically in a Microsoft Office Suite product pre-approved by the State and Private Forrest program manager.

PWS

Task #

7.2. Inspection and Acceptance

The Government will perform inspections of the deliverables and services received from the Contractor in accordance with this contract. All initial draft deliverables, any corrections and final deliverables will be submitted to the Contracting Officer, who in turn will submit them to the Program Manager/Contractor in order to maintain proper distribution channels, as well as, proper records of all correspondence and help to keep the timelines of the reviews in accordance with paragraph 7.1, above. The Government has the right to perform periodic surveillance of the Contractor to ensure that the Contractor's work products and processes are in compliance with the contract requirements. The Government and the Contractor will coordinate Government surveillance in a manner that will not unduly delay or disrupt the Construction Contractor's performance of his/her contract.

The State and Private Forestry program manager will have five (5) business days to review draft deliverables and make comments. The Contractor will have five (5) business days to make corrections. Upon receipt of the final deliverables, the program leader/designee will have five (5) business days for final review prior to acceptance or providing documented reasons for non-acceptance. Should the Government fail to complete the review within the review period the deliverable will become acceptable by default.

The State and Private program manager will have the right to reject or require correction of any deficiencies found in the deliverables that are contrary to the information contained in the Contractor's accepted proposal. In the event of a rejected deliverable, the Contractor will be notified in writing by the program leader/designee of the specific reasons for rejection.

The Contractor shall have five (5) workdays to correct the rejected deliverable and return it per delivery instructions.

8. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Anticipated Project Inspector Start Date: Will be in accordance with the Notice to Proceed. Anticipated contract end date: August 31, 2020. At the option of the Government, the contract may be modified (extended) based on unexpected circumstances.

9. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The Project Inspector shall perform tasks at The El Vivero Central Cambalache which is located on PR Road #682, km. 6.6, Barrio Garrochales in the Municipality of Arecibo Puerto Rico, on the premises of the Cambalache State Forest near the main entrance. There is a Job Corps facility nearby. It's approximately 55 miles northwest of the San Juan Metro Area. Access from the San Juan metro area is available via PR Road #22 west and PR Road #2 west.

In addition, the Project Inspector will travel to the US Virgin Islands sites at the addresses stated in Section 3 of this document.

10. TRAVEL

All travel must be included in the candidate’s offer as incidentals.

11. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY AND INFORMATION

No government furnished property shall be provided. With regards to information, FS shall provide:

· Contact information of the Construction Contractor.

· Contact information for the applicable Forest Service, State and Private Program Manager and program leader/designee.

· Templates of Federal Daily Progress Report.

12. ADMINISTRATIVE CONSIDERATIONS

12.1. Designation of Contracting Officer's Representative (COR)

In the event a COR is appointed, the COR will be responsible for the technical direction of the construction contract work.

12.2. Contract Administration

The Contracting Officer is the only person authorized to approve changes. This authority remains solely with the Contracting Officer. In the event that the Contractor affects any changes at the direction of any person other than the Contracting Officer, the changes will be considered to have been made without authority and no adjustment will be made to the contract price to cover any increase incurred as a result thereof.

Amelia Davila Contracting Officer International Institute of Tropical Forestry 787-764-7280 amelia.davila@usda.gov