A.03 Draft Evaluation Criteria for RFI - Swinomish Eelgrass Survey.docx

E. Evaluation Criteria

(1) Technical Factors (Volume 1 Technical Submission) Experience The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will evaluate the extent to which the Contractor’s previous experience with projects of similar scope, magnitude, and complexity demonstrates its capability to successfully perform the requirements of this Request for Quotation (RFQ).

Submission Instructions: Submit a detailed descriptive listing for at least two (2) and no more than five (5) projects performed within the past ten (10) years that are similar in nature to the one described in this RFQ. “Similar” is defined as projects comparable in terms of such factors as physical environment, duration, dollar value, types of services performed, or level of Contractor responsibility and authority. Include, at a minimum, the following information in the detailed description submitted for each project:

1. Project title and location

2. Total Dollar Value of the Contractual Instrument

3. Offeror’s Role (e.g., Prime, JV, Subcontractor, etc.) and responsibility (e.g., design work, field sampling, lab analysis, etc.)

4. List of subcontracted services and subcontractors used (if applicable)

5. Type of contract (e.g., cost reimbursable, incentive fee, award fee, time and materials, fixed price, etc.)

6. Date of contract start and completion, including options.

7. Name, title, address, phone number, and email of customer contact. (It is incumbent on the offeror to ensure the customer information is current and accurate.)

8. Brief narrative description that demonstrates how the project is relevant to this RFQ and demonstrates one or more of the experience bullets listed below.

The Offeror’s quote submission must demonstrate the following experience:

a) Eelgrass Surveys in Coastal/Marine Environments: Demonstrated experience performing eelgrass distribution and abundance surveys on the West Coast of the United States that utilize video, biosonics (such as specialized sonar systems and/or echosounders), hydroacoustic, and/or visual survey methods to detect, identify, monitor and map the extent and density of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV).

b) Development of Sampling and Analysis Plans: Demonstrated experience designing Sampling and Analysis Plans in accordance with USACE eelgrass survey guidelines and other relevant protocols, and that include detailed descriptions of sampling methods, survey logistics, and image analysis procedures.

c) Data Collection, Processing and Mapping: Demonstrated experience delivering quality assured datasets that quantify key survey metrics including but not limited to: presence/absence of eelgrass (Zostera spp. and non-native seagrasses (e.g., Z. japonica), shoot density, and canopy extent as well as estimates of % cover for other types of SAV (e.g. kelp, sargassum, algae, seagrass). Proven ability to process eelgrass survey data and produce accurate, attributed GIS maps and data products.

d) Report Generation and Scientific Communication: Capability to compile field data into clear and scientifically sound reports that include written summaries, data interpretation, tables, and figures.

The USACE will evaluate experience on an Acceptable/Unacceptable basis as follows:

· Acceptable: The quote meets the requirements of the RFQ, demonstrates previous experience with projects of similar scope, magnitude, and complexity, and shows the capability to successfully perform the requirements of this purchase order. The Offeror submits the required number of relevant project examples, and those projects, when combined, clearly demonstrate experience in all four of the specific areas (a, b, c, and d) listed above. Not all experience items must be demonstrated in any one project.

· Unacceptable: The quote does not meet the requirements of the RFQ, does not demonstrate previous experience with projects of similar scope, magnitude, and complexity, and does not show the capability to successfully perform the requirements of this purchase order. The Offeror fails to submit the required number of projects, or the submitted projects, when combined, do not demonstrate experience in all four of the specific areas listed above.

Past Performance The USACE will evaluate the quality of the Offeror's past performance deemed relevant to the requirements of this RFQ. The USACE will use information submitted by the Offeror and any other sources of information available to assess past performance.

Submission Instructions: Provide past performance information for no more than three (3) of the most relevant contracts performed for Federal agencies, state/local governments, and/or commercial customers within the last ten (10) years from the issue date of this RFQ or currently being performed. Relevant contracts include contracts similar to or greater in scope, magnitude, and complexity than the effort described in this RFQ. Provide a Contractor Performance Assessment Report (CPAR) for the referenced project if one is available. If a CPAR is not available, submit a Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ) signed by the customer reference (See Attachment 3 to this RFQ). It is the responsibility of the Offeror to include the completed CPAR and/or PPQ as part of its quote.

The PPQ included in the solicitation is provided for the offeror or its team members to submit to the client for each project the Offeror includes in its proposal for Past Performance for the Prime Contractor. Ensure correct phone numbers and email addresses are provided for the client’s point of contact. Completed PPQs should be submitted with your quote. If the Offeror is unable to obtain a completed PPQ from a client for a project before the quote closing date, the Offeror should complete and submit with the quote the first page of the PPQ, which will provide contract and client information for the respective project. Offerors should follow-up with clients/references to ensure the timely submittal of questionnaires. If the client requests, questionnaires may be submitted directly to the Government’s point of contact, Della Overton via email at Della.S.Overton@usace.army.mil prior to the quote closing date. Offerers should not incorporate by reference PPQs previously submitted for other RFQs. However, this does not preclude the Government from utilizing previously submitted PPQ information in the past performance evaluation.

In addition to the above, the USACE may review any other sources of information for evaluating past performance. Other sources may include, but are not limited to, past performance information retrieved through the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS), using all CAGE/UEI numbers of team members (partnership, joint venture, teaming arrangement, or parent company/subsidiary/affiliate) identified in the Offeror’s proposal, inquiries of owner representative(s), Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS), and any other known sources not provided by the Offeror. While the USACE may elect to consider data from other sources, the burden of providing detailed, current, accurate, and complete past performance information rests with the Offeror.

The USACE will evaluate past performance on an Acceptable/Unacceptable basis as follows:

· Acceptable: Based on the Offeror’s performance record, the USACE has a reasonable expectation that the Offeror will successfully perform the required effort, or the Offeror’s performance record is unknown.

· Unacceptable: Based upon the Offeror’s performance record, the USACE does not have a reasonable expectation that the Offeror will be able to successfully perform the required effort.

NOTE: In the case of an Offeror without a record of relevant past performance or for whom information on past performance is not available or so sparse that no meaningful past performance rating can be reasonably assigned, the Offeror shall be determined to have unknown (or “neutral”) past performance.

(2) Price (Volume 2 Price Submission) Pricing shall consist of a quote sheet (Attachment 2) covering all tasks, deliverables, and key and/or non-key personnel requirements.

The Offeror’s price quote will be evaluated to ensure that it complies with all requirements provided in this RFQ. The Contracting Officer will determine the reasonableness of the individual offered rates, consider any discounts offered from the MAS awarded prices, and evaluate the total price. All proposed prices, for the base year and option year(s), if any, shall be provided.

Prices that are excessively high, low, or unbalanced may be deemed unrealistic and unreasonable and may receive no further consideration.

F. Basis of Award The USACE reserves the right to make an award based on initial quotes; therefore, Offerors are encouraged to submit their best quote from both a technical and price aspect and not assume that the USACE will hold discussions.

Award of this purchase order will be made on a competitive basis. Evaluation will be made to identify all Offerors whose quotes are technically acceptable in accordance with the Government’s requirements and the evaluation criteria. The award will be made to the Offeror from the pool of technically acceptable quotes, whose price is the lowest whose quote conforms to the requirements of the solicitation.