Request for Qualifications

FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION

EASTERN FEDERAL LANDS HIGHWAY DIVISION

FOOTHILLS PARKWAY

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

PROJECT FOOT 8E17, BRIDGE 2, PMIS 79797

DESIGN-BUILD SOLICITATION

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

DTFH71-09-R-00007

In accordance with Public Law 104-106 (41 U.S.C. 253m), the Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division (EFLHD) of the Federal Highway Administration is conducting a "two phased" Design- Build (D-B) selection process. Under this Notice, the EFLHD is soliciting D-B firms/teams (Offerors) to participate in Phase One – Qualifications Based Selection – of this "two phased" D- B selection process.

Project Description: Foothills Parkway Bridge 2 is located in Blount County, Tennessee, northeast of the city of Townsend. The proposed project is to design and construct a 2 lane bridge plus approaches along the Foothills Parkway. The structure, as conceived, consists of 2 abutments and 4 piers and is approximately 790 feet long. Steel structures and AASHTO Girder structures will not be considered. The roadway approaches are up to 200 feet long and may include both cut and fill retaining walls. The walls, piers, and abutments are to continue the same aesthetic stone masonry look and characteristics of Foothills Parkway bridge structures 209P, 210P, and 213P, located within 1 ½ miles of the proposed project site. The terrain is mountainous and extremely difficult to access with any vehicles. The only permissible access to the project site is from the entrance to the Parkway at the intersection of U.S. Route 321 in Wear Valley, Tennessee. This is a gated entrance and remains closed at all times. The project site is approximately 4 miles from the gate.

The proposed project limits are within existing National Park Service (NPS) right-of-way. The design and construction cost for this project is estimated to exceed $25,000,000.

Design-Build Statement of Work (SOW): The SOW for this project includes Design and Construction work, Project Management and Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) for Design and Construction including Materials Sampling and Testing and includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Design Work:

Field survey and mapping Subsurface soils and water investigation Acid Producing Runoff material field investigation and treatment Anomaly detection during field investigations and design of avoidance or mitigation methods when applicable Pavement design Roadway design including verification of horizontal and vertical layout Bridge design Slide repair / stabilization (slope stability) and geotechnical analysis and design

Context Sensitive Solution for bridges Site access and Landscape Restoration design Hydraulic and Hydrologic analysis and design Soil erosion and sediment control design Retaining wall design Temporary support of excavation and safety protection systems design

Construction Work:

Construction of bridge Construction of slide repair / stabilization (slope stability) Construction of roadways Construction of drainage devices, and storm water management facilities Construction of retaining walls Construction of guardwalls Landscape Restoration Installation of temporary and permanent sediment and erosion control measures Removal and disposal of acid runoff producing material Obtaining all permits and implementing permit requirements including erosion and sediment control measures Construction in environmentally sensitive areas Installation of sheeting, shoring, and other temporary safety protection devices

Procurement Overview of the Project

A copy of the draft Request for Proposal (RFP) will be available to interested Offerors during Phase One around July 30, 2009. All interested Offerors are strongly encouraged to review the Draft RFP.

A selection committee will review and evaluate the Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) submitted by all responsive Offerors. The selection committee will select a maximum of four (4) of the most highly qualified Offerors to participate in Phase Two of this D-B selection process based on the established RFQ evaluation criteria. During Phase Two, those Offerors short-listed will be sent a final RFP, which will outline the remainder of the selection process requirements. The RFP will contain the requirements necessary for the short-listed Offerors to submit both a Technical Proposal and a Price Proposal during Phase Two. Those Offerors will be required to provide the necessary information to the EFLHD within 35 calendar days after receiving the RFP. A site visit/pre-proposal meeting will be held within the first 21 calendar days of this Phase Two period for Contractor’s questions and clarification. Offeror’s are reminded of the mountainous terrain and lack of access when planning their participation in the site visit.

After receipt of the Phase Two Technical and Price Proposals, an Evaluation Board will conduct a "best value" analysis, to include Offeror presentations, and submit their recommendations to the Selection Official for approval. Award of one Firm Fixed Price contract is anticipated approximately December 15, 2009, with Notice to Proceed issued approximately January 15, 2010.

A stipend of $125,000 will be awarded to each Phase Two Offeror who provides a responsive, but unsuccessful proposal.

It is not the intent of EFLHD to receive project specific design or engineering recommendations as part of this Phase One selection process. Offerors should limit their SOQs for the information required by this Notice, and other information that may be relevant to the qualifications and experience of the Offeror. No reimbursement will be made for any expenses associated with the preparation of Phase One SOQs.

Evaluation and Weighting Criteria: All Offerors responding during Phase One will be evaluated using the following criteria and weightings:

1. Experience (Total Maximum Score = 30). The Government will review and evaluate the Offeror's personnel and highway and bridge design experience, including technical and geographical similarities between the Offeror's design experience and the work described in this solicitation.

Submit documentation for all key design personnel to be involved in the design and construction of the project, indicating their specific experience within the past five (5) years performing technically the same or similar bridge, highway, geotechnical, field survey and mapping, erosion control, permitting, project management, construction, landscape restoration, and QA/QC work for EFLHD, NPS, Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and/or similar Department of Transportation (DOT) or agencies. Submit documentation for the following key personnel, demonstrating a minimum of two (2) years experience within the past five (5) years performing technically the same or similar proposed design and construction work, including experience on curved bridges and in steep terrain environments in Tennessee or an adjacent state:

Design-Build Project Manager - The Contractor’s principal point of contact for all activities throughout the entire design-build process.

Designer of Record - The Contractor’s single point of responsibility for all design procedures and decisions. This individual shall be a registered, licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Tennessee.

Project Engineer – The Contractor’s on-site engineer, responsible for all engineering decisions, judgments and work at the site. This individual shall be a registered, licensed Professional Engineer.

Construction Superintendent – The Contractor’s authorized representative in charge of the construction work. This individual shall be a registered, licensed Professional Engineer.

Quality Management Manager - The Contractor’s single point of responsibility for all quality management procedures and decisions. The Contractor may separate the design and construction Quality Management Manager responsibilities by assigning a Design Manager separate from the Construction Manager. The Quality Management Manager may not also serve as the Project Engineer or Construction Superintendent.

Bridge Engineer – The Contractor’s representative in charge of the bridge design.

This individual shall be a registered, licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Tennessee.

Geotechnical Engineer - The Contractor’s representative in charge of the bridge foundation design, retaining walls design, slide repair/stabilization and geotechnical design analysis. This individual shall be a registered, licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Tennessee.

Safety Engineer – The Contractor’s representative in charge of safety with authority to halt work if warranted by safety violations.

Obligation to keep team intact:

In connection with the services covered by this procurement process, any in-house personnel, subcontractors, and outside associates or consultants will be limited to the individuals or firms that are specifically identified during the RFQ submittal process.

The contractor shall obtain the Contracting Officer’s written consent before making any substitution for these designated in-house personnel, subcontractors, associates, or consultants.

2. Construction Capability and Resources (Maximum Score = 30). The Government will review and evaluate the information about each Offerors' past performance in the design and construction of roadway and bridge projects based on the Offeror's record and reputation for satisfactorily completing projects similar in size and scope.

Submit the organizational structure, identifying major participants and describing their roles in the project. Identify how each partner and subcontractor will interact and fit into the overall D-B team makeup.

Submit documentation that shows direct experience of the Offeror, joint venture partners, Offerors related by an ownership agreement, and/or experience of subcontractors that the Offeror proposes to utilize in the execution of this D-B project. Identify any projects where the lead contractor and the lead designer have worked together, on the same project, in a D-B relationship. The lead design firm and lead construction contractor shall each list at least three (3), but no more than five (5), relevant roadway and bridge projects, including any D-B projects, performed in the past five (5) years. The lead construction contractor's projects should be those with a contract value of greater than $25,000,000. If any D-B project is provided as a reference that was not performed together by the lead design firm and lead construction contractor, then the Offeror shall identify the design professional or construction entity with whom it contracted for each such project.

Submit documentation detailing any claims filed within the last ten years, relative to the construction of a roadway facility for (1) a default termination, (2) the imposition of liquidated damages, (3) a termination for convenience that adversely affected your firm, or (4) any damages caused by the owners determination that you did not perform in a timely, safe, or contractual manner.

Submit documentation of the Workmen’s Compensation Experience Modifier Rates for the last 3 years.

Submit documentation that shows evidence of performance with past and present customers; past and present subcontractors; Federal, State, and local government agencies; and/or consumer protection organizations. Include names, titles, and phone numbers for all references submitted.

3. Quality Control Plan (Total Maximum Score = 15). The Government will review and evaluate each Offerors' quality control plan to assess the soundness and reasonableness of the Offeror's planned QA/QC for Design and Construction including Materials Sampling and Testing.

Submit a description of the system to be used to manage the design and construction schedule, and the management system to control cost and quality of materials and QA/QC. Describe how the systems will be updated and monitored.

Submit evidence of construction performance within the past five (5) years, indicating that quality work was completed on-schedule and within budget. Include any statements as to the Offeror's integrity, reasonable and cooperative conduct, and commitment to QA/QC and customer satisfaction. Submit a minimum of two (2) current references.

4. Financial Condition (Total Maximum Score = 10). The Government will review and evaluate each Offerors' financial condition to perform the design and construction of the project.

Submit the most recent audit report performed by the Defense Contract Audit Agency, or similar audit, reflecting the Offeror's rates and detailing the makeup of cost pools from which the rates are derived. Include audits for all joint venture partners and architect-engineering firm subcontractors. Include a Dun and Bradstreet Comprehensive Report, or a similar report, prepared by an independent business reporting agency that provides a company profile to include the number of employees; a debt to asset ratio; payment history; a credit evaluation/rating and a comparison of this rating to other firms in the same industry; and a history of the Offeror's ownership.

If the Offeror is a limited liability company, joint venture or any form of partnership, provide complete copies of the organizational documents that allow, or would allow by the time of contract award, the Offeror to do business in the State of Tennessee.

Describe any projects that the lead contractor or lead designer were involved in within the past five (5) years that resulted in: (a) the assessment of liquidated damages against one of such parties; (b) claims being submitted by or against one of such parties that involve the project owner; (c) one such parties having received a notice to cure a default due to the party’s non-performance or poor performance of the underlying contract; or (d) one of such parties being terminated for cause. For any such situation, explain the circumstances and identify the project owner’s representative and his/her current telephone number.

Disclose any outstanding litigation that could materially and adversely affect the financial condition of the lead contractor and/or the lead designer.

5. Project Understanding and Approach (Maximum Score = 15). The Government will review and evaluate each Offerors' understanding of tasks involved and approach to managing, designing, and constructing the project.

Submit a general description of the tasks involved in the project and the approach the Offeror will take for design and construction administration, including the involvement of the design members of the Offeror's team during construction.

Identify potential risk factors, special issues or problems that are likely to be encountered and explain the approach to mitigate those risks, issues or problems.

Include discussion on how the Offeror intends to maximize the benefits of the D-B process.

Phase One Submittals: Interested Offerors may use the Standard Form (SF) 330 U.S.

Government Architect-Engineer Qualifications, as the basis for their SOQ. SF 330’s are available on the U.S. General Services Administration website at: http://www.gsa.gov/forms/.

Although SF 330 is formatted for Architect-Engineer and Related Services, the construction elements of the Offeror's SOQ may also be included on the SF 330. Alternate forms and formats may be submitted, provided that the applicable information from the SF 330 is included. The Phase One SOQ shall be bound and tabbed with the major headings.

Each Offeror must provide one original (clearly marked) and seven (7) copies of the completed SOQ. The SOQ should contain no more than forty (40) pages typed on one side only. The SOQ shall be printed on 8.5" x 11" paper. If dividers are used and contain project-specific information they will be counted as pages. All SOQs shall be printed using the Times New Roman font, regular with a size of 12-points. The SOQ should address each of the rating categories in the same order as listed above. The audit report will not be included in the 40 page count.

Send one original (clearly marked) and seven (7) copies of the completed SOQ to the following address:

http://www.gsa.gov/forms/

Federal Highway Administration Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division 21400 Ridgetop Circle Sterling, VA 20166 Attn: Ms. Peggy Schaad (Fax and email submissions will not be accepted.)

Questions concerning this solicitation should first be submitted through the following e-mail address: EFLHD.contracts@dot.gov. Point of contact for this project is Ms. Peggy Schaad at 571-434-1596 or in her absence Ms. Shirley Anderson at 703-948-1407. All Phase One SOQs must be received no later than 2:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, August 27, 2009 in order to be considered for further evaluation.

mailto:EFLHD.contracts@dot.gov