BRIP INC II FL and Dam Gates FRP Fab - Sources Sought.pdf

Sources Sought/Request for Information Brandon Road Interbasin Project – Increment II – Flushing Lock and Dam Gates Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) fabrication

Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of all qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small or large businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran- owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their understanding, capabilities and experience relative to the proposed acquisition to assist the Government in determining the expectation of receiving bids from responsible small business contractors at fair market prices.

Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set- aside is possible. An organization that is not under the applicable NAICS code can submit a response to this notice, however their capabilities may/may not be assessed for the purposes of this notice.

A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement as a set-aside based upon responses to this Notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.

The Corps of Engineers (COE), Rock Island District does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses received. This announcement is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as commitment by the Government, implied or otherwise, to issue a solicitation or make a contract award. NO AWARD will be made from this Sources Sought Notice. This is NOT a request for proposal, quote or invitation for bid.

Interested parties are expected to review this Notice and the Project Requirements to familiarize themselves with the requirements of this project.

NAICS Code and Size Standard: In the event an RFP is issued, North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 326199, Plastics Product Manufacturing, with a size standard of 750 employees, is being considered.

Solicitation Type: The Government is considering using a FAR Part 15 Lowest Price Technically Acceptable Method for solicitation of this project.

Estimated Range: $10 Million to $25 Million

Background:

The Brandon Road Interbasin Project (BRIP) is located at and immediately downstream of the Brandon Road Lock and Dam as shown in Figure 1. The navigation lock is located near Illinois Waterway River Mile No. 286 on the Des Plaines River in the City of Joliet, Illinois in Will County.

The BRIP was developed to control the upstream transfer of aquatic nuisance species (ANS) at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam on the Des Plaines River. The overall project has several components including an Engineered Channel (EC) in the area immediately downstream of the Brandon Road Lock and a flushing lock feature added to the lock itself. Within the EC, several deterrents are proposed to be further modeled, developed, and designed and include: (1) electric deterrent; (2) acoustic fish deterrents; and (3) air bubble deterrents, with additional EC area for future deterrent technologies. Other features of the overall project include upstream and downstream boat ramps to provide access to the waterway for monitoring, utility installations to support the project, and support facilities. The entirety of the project has been divided into three (3) separate design and construction increments, specifically Risk Reduction Increments 1, 2 and 3. The focus of this sources sought is Increment II – Flushing Lock and Dam Gates FRP fabrication.

Figure 1 Site Location

Project Requirements:

BRIP Increment II – Flushing Lock and Dam Gates FRP fabrication includes the design, fabrication, and supply of the fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite structures.

• Two filling and emptying valves nominally 14 feet long by 14 feet tall and 18 inches thick. These two valves are located at the upstream filling and emptying system, one on the land wall and one on the river wall.

• Two filling and emptying bulkheads nominally 14 feet long by 14 feet tall and 18 inches thick. These two bulkheads are located downstream of the upstream filling and emptying system.

• Two flushing valves nominally 8 feet long by 8 feet tall and 12 inches thick. These two flushing valves are located just upstream of the FRP composite filling and emptying valves.

• Two dam head gates nominally 16 feet long by 16 feet tall and 12 inches thick. These two head gates are located on the dam before the spillway section.

All FRP composite structures are to be manufactured with a vacuum assisted resin transfer molding process. The structures are to be designed to meet the physical and engineering properties specified within the contract and validated with physical load testing. The primary composite materials must be commercial grade E-glass fibers and vinyl ester resin. Other resin additives such UV inhibitors, fillers, or pigments are permitted to meet requirements such as color and environmental protection. The composite structures are to be compatible with the existing steel hardware used for operation. Edges and other areas subjected to high flow velocities are required to have protection for impact durability and abrasion resistance using ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) sheeting.

This will be a supply contract to be primarily constructed during 2027.

Capability Statement/Information Sought: All parties interested in this project must demonstrate that they would have the potential to be a responsive and responsible contractor.

Interested businesses shall include the following information to be considered for this Sources Sought announcement:

1. Company Name, DUNS/CAGE (If your company does not have at the time of this sources sought, please be aware that you will be required to register your company in the System of Award Management (SAM) system to be eligible for any future Federal contracts), POC information including an email, and your current small business status for the NAICS code listed above.

2. Three references of successful FRP fabricated structures of similar size and weight to that of BRIP Increment II – Flushing Lock and Dam Gates FRP fabrication.

3. Company’s interest if a solicitation for this project is issued.

4. Company’s business category and size

5. Company’s capability to perform on the project description outline above.

In order for the Government to make Small Business (SB) set-aside (or other socioeconomic subcategory) determination, it is emphasized that SB concerns provide sufficient written information to clearing demonstrate their capacity, capability, and responsibility (in accordance with FAR 9.1 and the requirements at FAR 19.502(b)(1) to successfully perform and manage all the requirements of this effort.

Information Submission Instructions:

1. Page Limitations: Interested qualified firms should submit a tailored response that clearly details the firm’s ability to perform the aspects of the notice described above and in the Project Requirements. An organization’s submission is not to exceed ten (10) single sided pages.

2. Number of Copies: All submissions sent in response to this SOURCES SOUGHT/Request for Information notice must be submitted via e-mail to the contract specialist, Sam Johanson at samantha.k.johanson@usace.army.mil and Deputy, Small Business Programs, Troy Robbins at Troy.A.Robbins@usace.army.mil. The e-mail subject line must specify Response to Sources Sought: Brandon Road Interbasin – Increment II Flushing Lock and Dam Gates FRP fabrication

3. Due Date/Time: Electronically submitted submissions are due no later than the date listed on the SAM.gov Sources Sought Notice, however this does not restrict the Government from accepting responses after this time, if it is in the best interests of the Government for market research purposes, and also does not prohibit the Government from seeking potential capable, and responsible sources from information available from other resources (for instance: small business databases, known sources, previous contractors) to determine a final procurement strategy.

mailto:samantha.k.johanson@usace.army.mil mailto:Troy.A.Robbins@usace.army.mil