Combined_DTRT5716Q80073.pdf

Type Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

Solicitation No.

DTRT5716Q80073

Title Port/Ocean Carrier Industry Characteristics, Maritime Trade and Transportation Trends Analysis, and Port Performance Statistics Program Support

Classification Code B – Special Studies and Analysis – not R&D

NAICS Code 541990 – All Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Services

Recovery and Reinvestment Act Action No

Point of Contact Christine Guy

(617) 494-3559

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation;

quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation No.

DTRT5716Q80073 is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ). This solicitation is being conducted in accordance with the policies and procedures prescribed in FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items and FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-88, effective May 16, 2016. The NAICS Code is 541990 and the Small Business size standard is $15 million. This procurement is a 100% small business set-aside.

The U.S. Department of Transportation, John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center), Cambridge, MA, has a requirement for a subject matter expert on expertise on global maritime trade and transportation trends, port/ocean carrier industry characteristics, and port performance statistics. The contractor is required to provide all requested services in accordance with the Statement of Work (SOW) below.

Statement of Work (SOW) – Begin

U.S Department of Transportation Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

Port/Ocean Carrier Industry Characteristics, Maritime Trade and Transportation Trends Analysis, and Port Performance Statistics Program Support

STATEMENT OF WORK

BACKGROUND

Section 6018 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act requires the Director of the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) to commission a Port Performance Freight Statistics Working Group composed of representatives from Federal, academic, and private organizations. The Working Group is to make recommendations for port performance measures and a process to collect timely and consistent data. This Working Group is subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA; Pub. L. 92–463) and will function as a Federal Advisory Committee.

In addition, the FAST Act requires the BTS Director to submit an annual report to Congress, which includes at a minimum statistics on capacity and throughput at the top 25 ports by Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit, tonnage, and dry bulk. The BTS Maritime Program previously published the America's Container Ports and Maritime Trade & Transportation series, which are similar in scope to the new annual report. BTS will report existing, and may develop additional, nationally-consistent port performance metrics.

The U.S. Department of Transportation Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) is supporting BTS is facilitating the activities of the Working Group and preparing the annual report. The Volpe Center has identified the need for support from a subject matter expert on global maritime trade and transportation trends, economic factors that impact maritime trade patterns, port and ocean carrier industry characteristics, and port performance statistics to accomplish this tasking.

Objective The objective of this contract is to provide subject matter expertise on global maritime trade and transportation trends, port/ocean carrier industry characteristics, and port performance statistics that will:

• Provide input to guide activities of the Working Group that will make recommendations for port performance measures. The BTS will host meetings of this Working Group, which are public meetings advertised in the Federal Register.

• Contribute to research to define and characterize a “maritime port” through analysis of domestic/international maritime trade and transportation data and statistics

• Identify and compile existing data on U.S.-domestic and international bulk and container cargo values and volumes; port-level vessel calls and capacity;

domestic, regional, and global trade patterns and trends; and major maritime trading commodities.

• Contribute to research and analysis that will lead to development of an annual report on port performance, as mandated by the FAST Act.

REQUIREMENTS:

The contractor shall provide an individual that has expertise in the following areas:

http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/publications/americas_container_ports/index.html http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/publications/maritime_trade_and_transportation/index.html http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot.gov.bts/files/publications/maritime_trade_and_transportation/index.html

• In-depth knowledge of global maritime trade and transportation trends affecting port performance and operations, including forecasted trends and potential impact of major events (e.g., the expanded Panama Canal) as documented in economic assessments and business strategy reports for liners, ports, marine terminals, and rail companies.

• In-depth knowledge of characteristics associated with the domestic and international port industries, including ocean carrier and shipping alliance strategies and potential impact of mergers and shifting alliances as documented in reports developed for government agencies and others; and knowledge of anticipated technological, political, economic, financial, or other types of developments affecting port performance and operations as documented in briefing reports developed for maritime industry stakeholders and others.

• In-depth knowledge of information that will be used to help profile port/ocean carrier industry characteristics and performance (e.g., administrative records, berths, chassis pools, cranes, gates, container/highway/rail connections, storage yards, and transfer facilities), as documented in commercial assessment and market definition/development projects for ports, railroads, and investment companies.

• In-depth knowledge of existing databases/other available sources such as the Global Port Tracker report or the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration’s commodity and trade route database and the ability to extract information from these sources to compile data on: domestic and international bulk and container cargo values and volumes; port-level vessel calls and capacity; domestic, regional, and global trade patterns and trends; and major maritime trading commodities.

• Ability to conduct detailed analyses comparing port performance on a range of metrics including but not limited to metrics related to operations, infrastructure, and economic performance, as documented in financial advisory reports prepared for investment, banking, and legal firms.

• Expertise on port performance record-keeping practices as documented in port financial and planning documents reviewed for feasibility and long-range development plans.

• Strong networking capability with industry members, including ports, marine terminal operators, ocean carriers, and rail operators as documented by projects for and with those industry members, and experience working with them to collect public and proprietary data, as documented by ongoing projects that involve data collection efforts.

• Detailed understanding of past Federal and industry efforts to establish widely-accepted port performance statistics and metrics as documented in the research and development of trade indices.

• Extensive experience in explaining data-heavy concepts to audiences with varied backgrounds and levels of expertise.

• Ability to act as a highly knowledgeable and industry expert facilitator/moderator of the Port Performance Freight Statistics Working Group to share in-depth knowledge of issues relating to port/ocean carrier industry characteristics, maritime trade and transportation tends, port performance, and port performance.

• Ability to work closely and effectively with subject matter expert on port operations and performance as part of the tasks described in this Statement of Work.

• Ability to work on projects that require flexibility and accessibility.

• Ability to work effectively with diverse groups that have differing viewpoints.

• Ability to participate in meetings of the Port Performance Freight Statistics Working

Group.

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED MATERIAL

All materials to be reviewed as part of this work will be provided to the contractor by the Volpe Center by email or direct mail.

Section 6018 of the FAST Act is available at:

http://www.bts.gov/port_performance/freight_statistics_program

The Federal Register notice announcing establishment of the Port Performance Freight Statistics Working Group is available at: https://federalregister.gov/a/2016-03702

Additional information on the BTS Port Performance Freight Statistics Program is available at: http://www.bts.gov/port_performance.

Tasks: Work Tasks will consist of the following:

Task 1: Project Management

Project management best practices will be used to track and report project technical progress, deliverable status, and financial status.

1. Progress Summaries: Written summaries will communicate progress and /or any problems in completing project tasks. The deliverable for this sub-task will be progress summaries provided to the Volpe Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and Project Manager (PM) by email within two weeks of the end of each monthly period starting from the award date.

2. Meetings: The Contractor shall participate in teleconference meetings to support the Volpe Center in identifying potential risks and challenges that may be encountered in the development of national performance metrics;

assessing/identifying opportunities to leverage existing information; and assessing/identifying approaches for accessing port performance data to help address any information gaps. During these meetings, the Contractor shall coordinate with the Volpe Center to refine specific details of Tasks 2 through 4 (and Tasks 5 through 8 if these optional tasks are exercised). During these teleconference meetings the Contractor shall also verbally communicate progress on deliverables as needed, as well as identify next steps and any problems in completing project tasks.

It is expected that teleconference meetings will be held on a biweekly basis, starting with a kickoff meeting to be held within one week of date of award.

Task 2: Working Group Coordination

The Contractor shall travel to up to four (4) anticipated meetings of the Working Group to be held in Washington, DC. The Contractor will provide input into the meeting agendas and will recommend agenda items as prepared by the Volpe Center. The http://www.bts.gov/port_performance/freight_statistics_program https://federalregister.gov/a/2016-03702 http://www.bts.gov/port_performance

Contractor will also develop or provide input for materials to support meeting discussions as needed (e.g., discussion questions, talking points, slide decks, handouts, graphics/other visuals, etc.); review draft/final meeting materials as prepared by the Volpe Center; and review the draft/final report of Working Group findings and recommendations as prepared by the Volpe Center.

Deliverables for this task are: 1. Four (4) information briefings to prepare for four (4) Working Group meetings on topics identified by the Volpe Center such as recommended agenda items; 2. Attendance at four (4) Working Group meeting in Washington, DC; 3.

Comments on draft/final meeting agendas or other meeting materials as prepared by the Volpe Center; 4. Comments on draft/final report of Working Group findings and recommendations.

Travel to Washington, DC, will be required as part of this task.

Task 3: Port Performance Data Research and Analysis

The Contractor will provide input on a definition of “maritime port” for meeting FAST Act Section 6108 requirements including identifying the availability and comparability of port data/statistics. The Contractor will also provide a technical review of draft/final research memos as prepared by the Volpe Center that will inventory existing data and statistics published by U.S. maritime ports, assess the comparability of port data and industry-wide recordkeeping practices, and summarize past Federal and industry efforts to establish widely-accepted port performance metrics.

Deliverables for this task are: 1. Information briefings to develop a definition of “maritime port;” 2. A port data and statistics availability and comparability inventory;

and 3. Comments on draft/final research memo as prepared by the Volpe Center.

Task 4: Port Performance Annual Report

The Contractor will author content (e.g., research, analyses, figures or data tables) and provide input/materials to the Volpe Center that will be used to develop the annual report as mandated by FAST Act Section 6108. This will include developing analyses of domestic and international maritime trade and transportation data and statistics, including but not limited to port capacity and throughput as required by the FAST Act (Pub. L.

114-94).

The Contractor shall support the Volpe Center to profile port governance and marine terminal operations, including (to the extent information is reasonably available from print or online resources) administrative records and records management. In addition, the profiles shall characterize each port’s infrastructure as best as possible, including but not limited to berths, chassis pools, cranes, gates, and container, highway, and rail connections, storage yards, and transfer facilities.

This will also include providing input and data to construct an inventory of currently available data on U.S.-domestic and international bulk and container cargo values and volumes; port-level vessel calls and capacity; domestic, regional, and global trade patterns and trends; and major maritime trading commodities. The Contractor shall also identify where there are information gaps; identify where there are opportunities to obtain data from third-party sources as needed to help address any gaps; and ensure that all data and statistics are as nationally consistent as possible. This may also include providing information briefings to identify appropriate data categories for assessing port performance or other topics as identified by the Volpe Center.

The Contractor will also provide a technical review of draft and final annual reports.

As part of this task the Contractor may be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

Deliverables for this task are: 1. List of ports to be profiled; 2. List of existing port key performance indicators (KPIs) as collected by ports; 3. Profiles of port infrastructure and performance including not limited to berths, chassis pools, cranes, gates, and container, highway, and rail connections, storage yards, and transfer facilities (25 profiles anticipated); these profiles will include data on U.S.-domestic and international bulk and container cargo values and volumes, port-level vessel calls and capacity, domestic, regional, and global trade patterns and trends, and major maritime trading commodities, including identification of information gaps; 4. List of possible sources to obtain data to help address information gaps; 5. Other content for annual report as identified by the Volpe Center (e.g., figures/data tables); 6. Research summaries and/or information briefings on port performance topics to be identified by the Volpe Center (e.g., current domestic and international maritime trade/transportation trends and port performance metric record-keeping); and 7. Comments on draft/final annual report.

OPTIONAL SUPPORT

The Contractor may be funded to provide additional support to the Volpe Center as described in optional Tasks 5, 6, 7, and 8 below.

Task 5: FAST Act Analysis (Optional)

Provide an expanded analyses of port operations and performance to help meet the requirements of FAST Act Section 6018, building upon previous tasks (e.g., developing enhanced profiles for ports to include additional datasets not previously examined)

Deliverable: Enhanced port data profiles

Task 6: Additional Port Performance Research (Optional)

The Contractor shall provide:

• White papers assessing new developments affecting port performance

• Baseline research to assess the domestic or international state of the practice as related to port performance measures

• Technical input into analyses or research prepared by the Volpe Center

Deliverables: 1. White papers on topics related to port performance; 2. Research summaries on port performance state of the practice; and 3. Research input for technical reports prepared by the Volpe Center

Task 7: Communications/Outreach Materials (Optional)

The Contractor shall provide:

• Provide materials to assist Volpe in response to Congressional inquiries

• Author additional figures/data tables to communicate key points on port performance to broader audiences

Deliverables: 1. Material to respond to Congressional inquiries; 2. Additional figures/data tables

Task 8: Provide Meeting Facilitation/Moderation Support (Optional)

The Contractor shall:

• Provide support to facilitate/moderate discussions of the Working Group using standard rules of order

• Provide administrative help, subject matter expertise, and technical support during and between meetings of the Working Group

Deliverables: 1. Input to guide Working Group meeting discussions via teleconference and webinar; and 2. Working Group activity technical support via email, teleconference, and webinar

Travel

The Contractor will be required to travel to each of the four (4) anticipated Working Group meetings that convene in Washington, DC. All travel performed under this contract shall be performed in accordance with Federal Travel Regulation (FTR). The actual costs for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses will be considered reasonable and allowable if they do not exceed the maximum per diem rates in effect at the time of travel as set forth in the FTR. In accordance with FAR Subpart 31.205-46, a written justification must be provided to the COR for amounts higher than the FTR maximum amounts. Travel will be reimbursed at actual costs (with a copy of the receipts for expenses) in the following categories:

1.) Airline Tickets (commercial rates) 2.) Hotel Expenses (Government rates unless pre-approved by the COR) 3.) All Other Modes of Transportation (Taxi receipts are not required if less than $75.00)

Food and other miscellaneous expenses will be reimbursed at the prevailing FTR reimbursement rates.

Travel shall not exceed $6,000.

DELIVERABLES AND PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Project deliverables will be required according to the format and dates outlined in the following table. All work will begin upon date of award and be completed by February 28, 2017.

A detailed list of deliverables and schedule of deliverables is below:

CLIN TASK DELIVERABLE* FORMAT DATES

REQUIRED

0100 1 Progress Summaries MS Word 15th of each Month through February 28, 0200 2 Four (4) Information Briefings to Prepare for Working Group Meetings MS Word

Three weeks before each working group meeting

0201 2 Comments on Draft/Final Meeting Agendas or Other Meeting Materials MS Word

Two weeks before each working group meeting

0202 2 Comments on Draft/Final Report on

Working Group Findings and Recommendations

MS Word One week from receipt of draft/final report

(TRAVEL) 2 Attendance at four (4) Working Group meetings in Washington, DC NA TBD Before February 28, 2017

0300 3 Information briefings to Develop a Definition of “Maritime Port”

MS Word, PowerPoint

TBD Before February 28, 2017

0301 3 Inventory of Port Data and Statistics Availability/Comparability MS Excel TBD Before

February 28, 2017

0302 3 Comments on Draft/Final Research Memo MS Word

One week from receipt of draft/final research memo

0400 4 List of Ports to be Profiled MS Word TBD Before February 28, 2017

0401 4 List of Existing Port KPIs MS Word TBD Before February 28, 2017

0402 4 Profiles on Port Infrastructure and Performance MS Excel TBD Before

February 28, 2017

0403 4 List of Sources to Address Information Gaps MS Word TBD Before

February 28, 2017

0404 4 Other Content for Annual Report (e.g., figures/data tables) MS Word TBD Before

February 28, 2017

0405 4 Research Summaries and/or

Information Briefings on Port Performance Topics

MS Word and PowerPoint

TBD Before February 28, 2017

0406 4 Comments on Draft/Final Annual Report MS Word

One week from receipt of draft/final annual report

0500 5 (Optional) Enhanced Port Data Profiles MS Word TBD Before

February 28, 2017

0600 6 (Optional)

Research Summaries on Port Performance State of the Practice MS Word TBD Before

February 28, 2017

0601 6 (Optional)

White Papers to Assess New Port Performance Developments

MS Word TBD Before

0602 6 (Optional)

Technical Input for Research/Analyses Prepared by the Volpe Center MS Word TBD Before

February 28, 2017

0700 7 (Optional)

Materials to Assist Volpe in Response to Congressional Inquiries MS Word TBD Before

February 28, 2017

0701 7 (Optional) Additional Figures/Data Tables MS Word TBD Before

0800 8 (Optional)

Input to guide Working Group meeting discussions as well as Working Group activities in between meetings

MS Word TBD Before

*Deliverables will be emailed to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and Project Manager (PM)

Statement of Work (SOW) - End

REQUIREMENTS/SPECIFICATIONS

The Government intends to award a firm fixed price purchase order as a result of this Combined Synopsis/Solicitation. This notice is expected to result in a single award, subject to receipt of an acceptable proposal. The Offeror’s proposal shall be prepared in accordance with Attachment 1, Instructions, Conditions, and Notice to Offerors. The Offeror’s price quotation shall include a firm fixed price for each CLIN identified below and the total firm fixed price for CLINS 0100- 0800. CLINs 0600 through 0800 are Optional CLINs that may be exercised at the sole discretion of the Government.

CLIN 0100 – Project Management

CLIN 0200 – Working Group Meeting Information Briefing

CLIN 0201 – Task 2 Working Group Meeting Material Comments

CLIN 0202 – Task 2 Working Group Meeting Final Report Comments

CLIN 0203 – Task 2 Working Group Meeting Travel (NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT)

CLIN 0300 – Task 3 Information Briefing on Definition of Maritime Port

CLIN 0301 – Task 3 Information Briefing Inventory of Port Data and Statistics

CLIN 0302 – Task 3 Information Briefing Final Comments $______________________

CLIN 0400 – Annual Report: Listing of Ports to Profile $______________________

CLIN 0401 – Task 4 Annual Report: Listing of Key Performance Indicators (KPI)

CLIN 0402 – Task 4 Annual Report: Profiles on Port Infrastructure and Performance

CLIN 0403 – Task 4 Annual Report: List of Sources to Address Information Gaps

CLIN 0404 – Task 4 Annual Report: Additional Content (Tables/Figures)

CLIN 0405 – Task 4 Annual Report: Research Summaries

CLIN 0406 – Task 4 Annual Report: Comments on Final Version

CLIN 0500 – OPTION - Task 5 FAST Act Analysis

CLIN 0600 – OPTION - Task 6 Port Performance Research: Research Summaries

CLIN 0601 – OPTION – Task 6 Port Performance Research: White Papers

CLIN 0602 – OPTION – Task 6 Port Performance Research: Technical Input for Research/Analyses

CLIN 0700 – OPTION – Task 7 Communications/Outreach: Congressional Inquiries

CLIN 0701 – OPTION – Task 7 Communications/Outreach: Additional Figures/Tables

CLIN 0800 – OPTION – Task 8 Meeting Facilitation/Moderation

TOTAL for CLINs 0100 through 0800: $______________________

NOTICE TO OFFERORS

FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items applies to this acquisition and is incorporated by reference. All Offerors must include a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certification-Commercial Items (the complete provision is provided in Attachment 2). An Offeror shall complete only paragraph (b) of this provision if the Offeror has completed the annual representations and certifications electronically using the System for Award Management (SAM) accessible via http://www.Sam.gov. If the Offeror has not completed the annual representations and certifications electronically in SAM, the Offeror shall complete only paragraphs (c) through (o) of this provision. All Contractors must be registered in SAM in order to receive an award from a DOT Agency. The Government intends to award one (1) purchase order on a firm-fixed price basis as a result of this solicitation. This RFQ is expected to result in a single purchase order award, subject to receipt of an acceptable proposal.

FAR Clauses and Provisions 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders- Commercial Items, 52.232-40, Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors, 52.203-98, Prohibition on Contracting with Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements-Representation (DEVIATION 2015-02) and 52.203-99, Prohibition on Contracting with Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements (DEVIATION 2015-02) are hereby incorporated by reference. Additional clauses cited in 52.212- 5 that apply to this acquisition are: 52.209.6, 52.217-7, 52.219-6, 52.222-3, 52.222-19, 52.222-21, 52.222-26, 52.222-35, 52.222-36, 52.222-37, 52.222-50, 52.223-18, 52.225-13, and 52.232-33.

The FAR provisions and clauses cited in this notice can be viewed at http://www.acquisition.gov/far.

This combined synopsis/solicitation hereby incorporates all Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provisions and clauses contained herein. The offer should be addressed to the following:

U.S. Department of Transportation, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Attn:

Christine Guy, V222, 55 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02142. The signed offer must be submitted via e-mail to Christine.guy@dot.gov by closing date of May 27, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. ET. No telephone requests will be honored. The Government will not pay for any information received.

It is anticipated that an award resulting from this combined synopsis/solicitation will be made on or about June 6, 2016.

The following FAR provision is incorporated by full text:

52.203-98 - PROHIBITION ON CONTRACTING WITH ENTITIES THAT

REQUIRE CERTAIN INTERNAL CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS-

REPRESENTATION (FEB 2015) (DEVIATION 2015-02)

(a) In accordance with section 743 of Division E, Title VII, of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Resolution Appropriations Act, 2015 (Pub. L. 113-235), Government agencies are not permitted to use funds appropriated (or otherwise made available) under that or any other Act for http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.acquisition.gov/far mailto:Christine.guy@dot.gov contracts with an entity that requires employees or subcontractors of such entity seeking to report fraud, waste, or abuse to sign internal confidentiality agreements or statements prohibiting or otherwise restricting such employees or subcontractors from lawfully reporting such waste, fraud, or abuse to a designated investigative or law enforcement representative of a Federal department or agency authorized to receive such information.

(b) The prohibition in paragraph (a) of this provision does not contravene requirements applicable to Standard Form 312, Form 4414, or any other form issued by a Federal department or agency governing the nondisclosure of classified information.

(c) Representation. By submission of its offer, the Offeror represents that it does not require employees or subcontractors of such entity seeking to report fraud, waste, or abuse to sign internal confidentiality agreements or statements prohibiting or otherwise restricting such employees or subcontractors from lawfully reporting such waste, fraud, or abuse to a designated investigative or law enforcement representative of a Federal department or agency authorized to receive such information.

(End of provision)

52.232-40 Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors.

Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors (Dec 2013)

(a) Upon receipt of accelerated payments from the Government, the Contractor shall make accelerated payments to its small business subcontractors under this contract, to the maximum extent practicable and prior to when such payment is otherwise required under the applicable contract or subcontract, after receipt of a proper invoice and all other required documentation from the small business subcontractor.

(b) The acceleration of payments under this clause does not provide any new rights under the Prompt Payment Act.

(c) Include the substance of this clause, including this paragraph (c), in all subcontracts with small business concerns, including subcontracts with small business concerns for the acquisition of commercial items.

(End of clause)