AMENDMENT 0003.pdf

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by one of the following methods:

(a) By completing items 8 and 15, and returning or (c) By separate letter or electronic communication which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted, such change may be made by letter or electronic communication, provided each letter or electronic communication makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not is required to sign this document and return copies to the issuing office.

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT 1. CONTRACT ID CODE

2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NUMBER 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQUISITION NUMBER 5. PROJECT NUMBER (If applicable)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6) CODE

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 11/2016)

Prescribed by GSA FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

FACILITY CODE

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NUMBER

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers is extended. is not extended.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted;

13. THIS ITEM APPLIES ONLY TO MODIFICATIONS OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NUMBER AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT ORDER NUMBER

IN ITEM 10A.

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, appropriation data, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority)

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect.

15C. DATE SIGNED

15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

16C. DATE SIGNED

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

PAGE OF PAGES

6. ISSUED BY CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (Number, street, county, State and ZIP Code) (X)

CODE

15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR

(Signature of person authorized to sign)

16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

(Signature of Contracting Officer)

Previous edition unusable

See Attachment Page.

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1305M223QNCNR00871305M223QNCNR00870003 JUN 05, 2023 NC-NR5000-23-00225

AJ830023

NOAA/AGO/EAD

601 E 12TH STREET

ROOM 1734

KANSAS CITY MO 64106

See Block 6

1305M223QNCNR0087

MAY 15, 2023

See Schedule

Attachment Page

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Amendment 0003 to Solicitation 1305M223QNCNR0087

The purpose of this amendment includes the following:

1. Extend the quote submission deadline to Friday, June 30, 2023, at 3:30 PM Central Daylight Time (CDT). Please see the updated provision at 52.212-1 for changes in red text.

2. Answers to questions received are being finalized and are forthcoming in an amendment. No further questions will be received at this time. There are no further changes to this solicitation.

Table of Contents

52.212-1

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CLAUSES

52.212-1

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52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS—COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL

SERVICES (NOV 2021) ADDENDUM

The text of paragraph “f” is hereby deleted, and the paragraph is annotated as “Reserved.” Paragraph “c” is amended as follows: “The offeror agrees to hold the prices in its quotation (quote) firm for 90 calendar days from the date specified for receipt of quotes, unless another time period is specified in an addendum to the solicitation.”

Offerors shall submit their quotes in Two Volumes: Business Solution and Price.

Offerors interested in submitting a quote in response to this RFQ, must provide the following information by

Friday, June 30, 2023 at 3:30 PM Central Daylight Time (CDT) via email to Kortney Carter at kortney.carter@noaa.gov with a copy to James Price at james.e.price@noaa.gov. The volumes shall be submitted in two separate files in the same email.

All questions shall be submitted via email only by Monday, May 29, 2023 at 11:00 AM CDT to Kortney

Carter at kortney.carter@noaa.gov with a copy to James Price at james.e.price@noaa.gov.

Offerors are required to submit a Business Solution which will be used to assess the offeror’s capability to perform the services described in the Performance Work Statement (PWS). The solution shall clearly demonstrate that the vendor has a thorough understanding of the effort required to successfully meet all tasks outlined in the PWS.

Offerors shall assume that the Government has no prior knowledge of them and that it will base its evaluation on the information presented in the Solution; as such, Solutions must be fully self-sufficient and provide all necessary information for a comprehensive evaluation. Solutions must be sufficient enough so as to show how the vendor proposes to accomplish the effort described in the PWS, including a full explanation of the procedures and techniques to be followed.

To be acceptable, the quote must meet all of the requirements of the RFQ. Failure to follow instructions regarding the format content of the quote may result in the quote not being considered for award. Quotes which merely offer to perform in accordance with the requirements of the PWS or merely state that requirements are understood and will be complied with, which paraphrase the PWS or parts thereof, or use phrases such as "standard industry practices will be employed,” or "well established techniques will be employed,” etc., may be considered unacceptable.

The following material shall be submitted for each quote:

VOLUME I – BUSINESS SOLUTION

Business Solution: Electronic copies shall include all information required for evaluation, excluding any reference to price. Volume I shall be subdivided into the following factors:

A. Technical Approach (Page Limit: 20) (Resumes excluded)

B. Past Performance (Page Limit: 5) (Excludes past performance questionnaires)

The Business Solution shall be subdivided by the factors listed above and shall collectively be no more than 25 pages, exclusive of resumes and past performance questionnaires. Pages submitted above this page count will not be read or considered part of the evaluation. Each side of a single sheet of paper is considered a page, such that a single sheet of 8 1⁄2 x 11, is two pages of the 25-page total, exclusive of dividers and any single sheet front or back cover.

The cover page, and table of contents, are not to be considered part of the allowable 25-page limit. Each page in this volume shall be separately numbered. Font type shall be Times New Roman size 12-point. No reduction of font size will be allowed in the quote. A Sans Serif type 10-point font is to be used for graphics, figures, tables, footnotes and legends. Costly, complex presentations are neither required nor desired. No columnar or newspaper style grid

(columns) pages will be allowed.

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A. Technical Approach

The technical approach shall clearly demonstrate the offeror’s understanding and ability to furnish the full range of solutions and services necessary to meet the requirements of the PWS. Additionally, vendors shall demonstrate the following:

(1) Knowledge of, and practical expertise in the removal of marine debris of all types and sizes. The majority of removal targets shall consist of abandoned and derelict vessels, derelict fishing gear, storm/disaster related debris, shoreline debris, or other types as identified as necessary for removal by the NOAA Marine Debris

Program (NOAA MDP).

(a) The contractor shall demonstrate experience with and proficiency in the techniques needed for debris removal.

(b) The contractor is shall demonstrate the ability to determine the appropriate technique for a given removal requirement that minimizes cost, environmental impact, and time requirements. The term

“debris removal” includes any required surveys and assessments, in-water removals involving vessel operations, debris removal by hand, in-water or shoreline debris removal using heavy equipment, environmental sampling, or other field experiments as may be related to debris removal activities.

(c) The contractor shall demonstrate the capability to perform debris removal throughout the coastal

United States and territories.

(d) The contractor shall demonstrate quality assurance and control measures and procedures that will be in place to ensure removal efforts are completed in a timely manner, and that all best management practices and safety measures will be followed during removal implementation.

(e) The contractor shall demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of executing marine debris removal work. In particular, the contractor shall demonstrate the ability to provide sufficient staffing and oversight in the event multiple removal requirements overlap.

(2) Ability to respond quickly to marine debris removal needs and coordinate and collaborate with the

NOAA MDP and relevant federal, state, and local partners to ensure removal is conducted in a timely manner. This is defined as the ability to start removal activities within 30 calendar days of receiving all required permits;

(a) The contractor shall demonstrate their readiness to deploy quickly and acquire or maintain all appropriate certifications that may be needed to conduct successful debris removal.

(b) Knowledge of all federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and permit requirements relevant to the removal of marine debris, and the ability to adjust removal activities through the use of Best

Management Practices that may be imposed on the project or required by NOAA or other federal, state or local agencies.

(c) The contractor shall demonstrate their willingness and ability to coordinate with NOAA MDP as needed to ensure all environmental compliance requirements are incorporated into removal work, as may be required.

(3) Ability to disseminate removal activity accomplishments, as requested by the NOAA MDP. The contractor may be required to provide follow-on informational briefings and presentations to communicate and disseminate accomplishments, outcomes, and findings to interested parties on an as-needed basis.

(a) The contractor shall demonstrate the ability for all work and removal metrics and outcomes to be documented properly and reported on in a complete, timely, and accurate manner.

(b) The contractor shall demonstrate experience and knowledge in geographic information system

(GIS) mapping, including, but not limited to, applying data standards, technical specifications, and standard operating procedures to process and prepare removal data for the possible development of mapping products.

(4) Provide resumes from key personnel detailing their qualifications, education, geographic coverage, and relevant debris removal experience;

A technical approach shall be submitted for the below marine debris removal scenario. The technical approach shall convey the following:

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(1) Knowledge of, and practical expertise in the removal of an abandoned and derelict vessel (ADV).

(2) The offeror shall demonstrate the ability to determine the appropriate technique for the scenario that minimizes cost, environmental impact, and time requirements.

(3) The offeror shall demonstrate quality assurance and control measures and procedures that will be in place to ensure removal efforts are completed in a timely manner, and that all best management practices and safety measures will be followed during removal implementation.

(4) The offeror shall demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of executing marine debris removal work within sensitive environments and habitats. In particular, the offeror shall demonstrate the ability to provide sufficient staffing and oversight in the event multiple removal requirements overlap.

(5) The offeror shall demonstrate knowledge of all federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and permit requirements relevant to the removal of such a vessel, and the ability to adjust removal activities through the use of

Best Management Practices that may be imposed on the project or required by NOAA or other federal, state or local agencies.

The removal scenario is as follows:

- Removal of derelict fishing vessel BONITA from the nearshore habitat in Suwannee Sound, Florida (lat

29.1277°, lon -83.1583°) near Cedar Key in the Gulf of Mexico. The FV BONITA is a 77-foot-long steel commercial fishing vessel that originally grounded on October 10, 2018 as the BONITA tried to evade

Hurricane Michael. The BONITA is grounded in 11 feet of water about 2 miles from shore, which is a mix of sand beach and mangroves. The four year old wreck of the BONITA was battered by Hurricane

Michael’s winds and several subsequent storms since it initially grounded. Surveys conducted by local resource agencies noted significant additional damage to the hull of the BONITA, with several large pieces in the nearby water or nearshore area. It also appears that the vessel has been pushed further onto her starboard side, likely causing additional damage to the vessel and the surrounding environment. Following consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service, the following Best Management Practices must be followed during the removal work:

Avoidance Measures Stop operating mechanical construction equipment, including response vessels, immediately if a protected species is observed within a 50-ft radius of construction equipment and resume after the species has departed the area of its own volition.

When protected species are sighted while the vessel is underway (e.g., bow-riding), attempt to remain parallel to the animal's course. Avoid excessive speed or abrupt changes in direction until they have left the area.

Avoidance Measures, mammals (general)

If marine mammals are sighted (i.e., dolphins, whales, porpoises, or pinnipeds), maintain a minimum distance of 300 ft., or 1,500 ft for whales. If marine mammals approach the vessel within 300 feet, engines are to be placed in neutral until the animal safely departs.

Reduce speed to 10 knots or less when mother/calf pairs or groups of marine mammals are observed, when safety permits.

Avoidance Measures, sea turtles (general)

If sea turtles are sighted, maintain a minimum distance of 150 ft. If sea turtles approach the vessel within 150 feet, engines are to be placed in neutral until the animal safely departs.

General Avoid and minimize disturbance to sensitive intertidal and benthic habitats including:

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mangroves, salt marshes, salt ponds, other wetlands, tidal flats, seagrasses, kelp forests, hard-bottom reefs, corals, and coral reefs. If marine debris cannot be removed without causing harm to surrounding habitat (especially as it relates to ESA corals, CH PCEs, or

EFH), the item will be disassembled as much as practicable so that it no longer can accidentally harm or trap species.

Avoid deploying anchored items that do not employ stiff, taut, and non-looping anchor lines.

Avoid dragging marine debris across sensitive habitats - items should be hoisted or refloated if possible.

Do not trawl or use grapples for debris removal without a pre-survey or side scan sonar assessment of the targeted removal area. Removal operators should have appropriate training on the use of side scan sonar and removal methods, and safety procedures. This technique should not be used on coral reefs, seagrass beds, or other sensitive areas.

Habitat Avoid and minimize digging, excavation, jetting, use of pump hoses on sediments, and similar methods in and/or near sensitive habitats. If such methods must be used, turbidity barriers should be deployed, even when working on bare sand and mud bottoms (see turbidity control measures, above). When using these methods, permits may be required

(see USACE and State permitting, above).

Avoid pulling marine debris across or onto sensitive habitats - items should be hoisted or refloated if possible. Use of lift bags, rollers, equipment mats, and other methods should be evaluated to minimize impacts, such as bottom scarring and soil rutting and compaction.

Avoid work vessel grounding; prop, bow, keel, and skeg scarring; and prop washing in sensitive habitats, especially locations with mangroves, seagrasses, hard-bottom, and corals. Avoid anchoring/spudding on corals and hard-bottom; avoid/minimize anchoring and spudding in seagrasses; anchor and spud on bare sand and mud bottoms. Use existing mooring balls when available and feasible. If spudding on seagrasses cannot be avoided, divers should fill spud holes to grade with clean sand from nearby sources, as feasible, to minimize impacts. Avoid spudding on native, non-invasive seagrasses.

Prior to hoisting, refloating, and removing marine debris, crews should evaluate the immediate area and determine an ingress/egress path that will have the least impact on sensitive habitats. This should include using divers when applicable, particularly in coral, hard-bottom, and seagrass habitats. Review of habitat maps, bathymetric charts, aerial photography, remote sensing images, and other appropriate data should also be used.

Manatees All work personnel will be advised that there are civil and criminal penalties for harming, harassing, or killing manatees.

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All work personnel will be aware of the potential presence of manatees and the need to avoid vessel/equipment collisions with manatees.

All work vessels will operate at " no-wake/idle" speed at all times in manatee areas;

vessels should follow routes of deep water whenever possible.

Any collision with or injury to a manatee shall be reported immediately to USFWS and the State. Likewise, report any stranded, injured, trapped, entangled, or dead manatee as soon as possible.

If manatees are seen within 100 yards (300 ft.) of an in-water work area, all appropriate precautions shall be implemented to ensure protection of manatees. These precautions shall include operating all work vessels and equipment in such a manner that vessels/moving equipment do not come any closer than 50 to 100 ft. of any manatee. If a manatee is within 50 ft. of in-water work, all in-water activities must shut down, until the manatee moves on its own at least 100 ft. away from the in-water work area. Manatees must not be herded or harassed into leaving the area.

Siltation/turbidity barriers, hard/sorbent boom, anchor and tow lines, etc. will be made of materials in which manatees cannot become entangled or entrapped; and will be properly secured and regularly monitored to avoid manatee entanglement/entrapment. Barriers must not block manatee movement.

Seagrass

All impacts to native, non-invasive seagrasses should be avoided and minimized to the extent practicable.

Avoid/minimize shading of seagrasses with large vessels and barges for more than a few days; move large vessels and barges from over seagrasses and reposition over bare sand or mud substrates when not undergoing active debris removal operations (barge staging areas should be located outside seagrass and other sensitive habitats).

If native, non-invasive, seagrasses are present in marine debris removal or research sites in this area, follow all seagrass related PDCs and BMPs, with the added requirement that seagrass impacts must be avoided in leatherback sea turtle critical habitat.

Marine debris shall be lifted straight up and not be dragged through seagrass beds, coral reefs, coral, or hard-bottom habitats. Trawling also cannot be used as a means of marine debris removal or a research activity in seagrass.

Vessel operation All vessel operators must watch for and avoid collision with species protected under the

ESA and MMPA. Vessel operators must avoid potential interactions with protected species, operate in accordance with the following protective measures, and follow approach regulations.

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All vessels associated with marine debris removal activities shall operate at "Idle

Speed/No Wake" at all times while operating in water depths where the draft of the vessel provides less than a 4-ft clearance from the bottom, and after a protected species has been observed in and has departed the area.

All vessels will follow marked channels and/or routes using the maximum water depth whenever possible.

An absorbent blanket or boom shall be immediately deployed on the surface of the water around any derelict vessel to be removed if fuel, oil, or other free-floating pollutants are observed during the work. If reportable quantities of fuel, oil, or pollutants are released to the environment during removal operations, a National Response Center (NRC) report shall be filed with the US Coast Guard (800-424-8802).

If the detection of species is not possible during certain weather conditions (e.g., fog, rain, wind), then in-water operations will cease until weather conditions improve and detection is again feasible.

Operation of any mechanical construction equipment, including vessels, shall cease immediately if a listed species is observed within a 50-ft radius of construction equipment and shall not resume until the species has departed the area of its own volition.

Qualified personnel must take appropriate measures to remove to the maximum extent practicable all materials that may potentially degrade marine environment, including:

emptying and flushing all fuel lines and tanks; removing other pollutants and readily detachable material from hull.

B. Past Performance:

Offerors shall describe relevant performance on other contracts/orders or affirmatively state that it possesses no relevant past performance. List up to, but no more than three (3) contracts/orders similar in size, scope, and complexity as that of the contemplated award. The requested past performance information shall not be older than three (3) years from the date of issuance of this solicitation.

For each reference, the offeror shall include:

1. Contract Number, Date of Award, Initial and Current Contract Value, and Period of

Performance

2. Name and Address of the Government Agency or Commercial Entity

3. Point of Contact with Current Phone Number and Email Address (verify contact information is accurate)

4. Summary of the contract/order and how it is relevant to this requirement

5. Identification of the similarity in size, scope and complexity to this project

6. Brief Description of Work/Services provided

7. Brief description of amount of work performed and results achieved

8. Extent of Subcontracting (if any)

9. Description of the methodology, equipment, and processes utilized in performing work

10. Adherence to contract schedule and cost

11. Problems encountered and corrective actions taken

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Offerors are required to send Attachment A – Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) to all references provided within its submission if there is not a completed Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) report for the contract/order. Offerors are required to complete Section II on page 1 of Attachment A, PPQ. Offerors shall provide a detailed explanation demonstrating the relevance of the contract/order to the requirements of the solicitation. The offeror is required to send Attachment A, PPQ, to those government and commercial activities provided by the offerors in their submission. The information shall be completed by the references who will then email the completed questionnaires directly to Kortney Carter, Contract Specialist, at kortney.carter@noaa.gov with a copy to James Price, CO, at james.e.price@noaa.gov.

The Government will not accept PPQs sent directly from the offeror; only PPQs received from offeror’s references no later than the quote submission date will be accepted. The Government will accept copies of finalized CPARS

[up to three (3) years] for the contracts/orders provided. Past performance references where an official CPARS record already exists shall be submitted in lieu of a PPQ because CPARS is the final performance record.

The requested past performance information shall not be older than three (3) years from the date of issuance of this solicitation. The Government reserves the right to contact any Government entity and/or private source in addition to those included within the quote in order to obtain information regarding the offeror’s past performance. This information may include CPARS records within the past three (3) years from the date of issuance of this solicitation.

The burden of providing thorough, complete, and relevant past performance information rests with the offeror. Any

PPQs received after the submission due date will be designated as "late" and may not be considered for evaluation.

Offerors that are newly formed entities or otherwise lack relevant prior contracts/orders shall list contracts and subcontracts as required above for all applicable resources to be used in the effort being offered (where it may not be easily apparent, also explain the relevance of the past performance).

Offerors lacking relevant past performance history, or for whom past performance information is either not available or has not been submitted to the Government, must state this within the past performance section of their submission and will receive a neutral rating for past performance. A neutral rating will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably.

VOLUME II – PRICE QUOTE

The price quote shall be submitted separately from Volume I, Business Solution. The offeror shall provide a total price quote in PDF format for the marine debris removal scenario provided in Volume I.

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