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REQUEST FOR QUOTE TO DHS/FEMA

RE: INTENDED ISSUANCE OF THREE BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENTS FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL, ARCHITECTURAL NATIONAL REGISTER AND OTHER HISTORIC BUILDINGS SURVEY AND REPORTING PROJECTS

(THE “BPA PROJECTS”)

OUTLINE

1. INTRODUCTION

2. SUB-CONTRACTING PERMITTED

3. CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

4. FORM AND CONTENT OF QUOTATION

5. POC—FILING DEADLINE—SELECTION

1. INTRODUCTION

There remain a large number of Katrina-related projects, many still undefined, for which FEMA requires survey, reporting and other services in the archaeological, architectural historic preservation (including National registry), and, in some instances, possibly other related fields. These projects may include private or public structures or facilities, predominantly situated in Southeast Louisiana.

The timing and extent of anticipated projects, and FEMA’s timely response to each, precludes the normal issuance of solicitations for each project, receipt and evaluation of technical and cost proposals, and award thereafter. Because the anticipated volume of work that may be required in the next twelve months exceeds $600,000.00 FEMA wishes to enter into three (3) separate Blanket Purchase Agreements—called BPA’s—under which separate project task orders can be quickly issued.

The attached, proposed Scope of Work or “SOW,” gives a general idea of the types of services that may be required and establishes standards of compliance (“Standards”) in conducting the work.

FEMA proposes to issue two of the BPA’s to local area, small business enterprises which presently are parties to current MOBIS contracts under which they provide a broad range of archeological, architectural and other services (SIN 899-1).

FEMA likewise proposes to issue a BPA to a local area, small emerging business enterprise (a SEB”), which possesses in-house the majority of services provided under a MOBIS-designated contract, or can secure some services through sub-contracting.

Each BPA shall have an initial term of twelve (12) months. All BPA’s will run concurrently.

In some instances a specific service may be required of one BPA contractor on a BPA Project and other service(s), on the same Project, required of another contractor. This approach will require flexibility of the contractors. It is also possible that, given political or economic circumstances, another BPA Project may have to be commenced even as the contractor(s) are engaged in providing services under other task orders. For these purposes FEMA will include in each BPA, Clause 52.243-1 “Changes—Fixed Price,” together with related clauses, and will utilize the procedures generally prescribed in the FAR when dealing with changed circumstances and FEMA’s need to react promptly to address new, more pressing concerns.

FEMA intends to secure price quotations from those solicited but will not seek technical proposals. Task orders which issue under the BPA’s may require the prior submission of technical proposals and proposed pricing, but FEMA hopes to keep them to a minimum. In lieu of competing the task orders, FEMA is competing the BPA’s and seeks the lowest price for services whether discounted from the MOBIS contract schedule or, in the case of an SEB, a discount from an established list of charges for various services at least equal to the prices afforded by the enterprise to its best customers.

Further in keeping with the desire to avoid the time consumed in competing task orders, FEMA will fund each BPA and, commencing with the first BPA Project, will issue the first task order to the contractor with the lowest overall price. The second task order will issue to the contractor with the second lowest price, and the third task order will issue to the contractor with the third lowest price. Thereafter task orders will continue to be issued in that order for the remainder of the original term of the BPA. Depending on overall pricing for the first or second option years (see below), the sequence of awarding may alter from the first twelve month period.

Presently FEMA anticipates funding each MOBIS-related BPA with not less than $200,000 and placing up to $100,000 on the BPA awarded to the SEB. These sums are not final and reference to these amounts does not equate to a guarantee that these exact amounts will be placed on any of the BPA’s. The amount of funding of each will depend on the price submissions of the MOBIS-related small businesses, and the price quotation and professional qualifications of the SEB.

As noted above, FEMA seeks two twelve (12) month options to extend the BPA’s. Price quotations submitted in response to this solicitation should reflect any price changes for the second and third twelve-month periods. FEMA is not obligated to exercise either option; but if the system established during the first twelve month period proves workable, and the prices quoted for the two option periods are reasonable, additional BPA Projects may be assigned under the BPA’s if the option(s) is (are) exercised.

The timing of this RFQ is to release it to potential contractors no later than 2:00 p.m. CDST, Wednesday, April 7, 2010, and receive final price quotations from interested parties no later than 12:00 noon, CDST, Thursday, April 22, 2010. Barring clarifications and possible discussions among potential contractors, notification of award is anticipated to occur no later than close of business Wednesday, April 28, 2010, with release of task order to follow as soon as possible after defining the first BPA Project.

2. SUB-CONTRACTING TO BE CONSIDERED BY AGENCY

A potential contractor may include in its price quotation an approach for sub-contracting some, but not a substantial portion, of the work to be performed under a BPA Project. To the extent a contractor expects to employ a sub-contractor on some part of a BPA Project, the contractor should submit an hourly charge for such sub-contractor confirmed by such sub-contractor’s submission of such rate on the firm’s letterhead. To the extent a contractor, on submitting its quote in response to this solicitation, does not expect to sub-contract one or more services, it will not be barred from later considering the placement of a sub-contractor on a BPA Project so long as such personnel are acceptable to FEMA and contractor confirms that it has a lower hourly rate for work than the equivalent job rating set out for such work in the contractor’s quote submitted in response hereto. In all instances, whether direct or through sub-contracting, all work must be performed by, or directed by, those personnel who meet all of the requirements and Standards as set out in the suggested SOW. Sub-contractor personnel need not be MOBIS-listed, but, as set out in the foregoing may only perform work where individually qualified or under the direction of contractor personnel who are qualified to perform the work.

3. PROVIDER REQUIREMENTS

FEMA seeks written price quotations from MOBIS-listed contractors and from qualified SEB’s that each is located and primarily doing business within the State of Louisiana. The price quotations, or cover letters enclosing the quotations, shall contain language that the contractor “meets the requirements for local set aside under the provisions of the Stafford Act, as amended.” Contractors who do not comply with this requirement will not be considered.

Each potential contractor must also affirmatively undertake in writing in its price quotation, or cover letters enclosing the quotation, to comply with the Standards, as defined and referred to in the SOW.

FAILURE TO PROVIDE THESE UNDERTAKINGS IN THE QUOTATION OR COVER LETTER issue to the contractor with the second lowest price SHALL BE REASON TO DISQUALIFY SUCH PROPOSAL.

4. FORM AND CONTENT OF QUOTATION

Price quotations in response to this solicitation may be the form of Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and/or Microsoft Word document. Font type is not restricted but font size should not be less than 12 point. Courier, 12 point is preferred.

FEMA anticipates that price quotations of a contractor with a MOBIS contract will include the current year hourly rates set out for each employee type listed for the present year of its contract with GSA, followed by a column in which are set out the discounted hourly prices stated in dollars and cents rather than a percentage of discount, being offered for the up-coming twelve month period This information should be followed by columns for those rates offered in option year one and two. For ease of production, any rate which does not change from one period to another may be abbreviated as “N/C” for “No change.”

FEMA anticipates that any SEB submitting a quote will present a list of its professionals and staff whom the contractor would assign to a BPA Project, together with any known sub-contractors it intends to utilize. That listing will be followed with columns for its standard charge for each position listed, its discounted pricing for each category for the up-coming twelve month period, followed by columns for those discounted rates in option year one and two. For ease of production, any rate which does not change from one period to another may be abbreviated as “N/C” for “No change.”

A. Solely for small emerging businesses In addition to the price quotation referred to above, a SEB shall submit:

1. A summary of federal government contracts it has performed in the past three years, or recently was awarded, in the field of archaeological, architectural, historic preservation, engineering, or related survey and reporting work. In each instance a contact person at the federal agency which awarded the work shall be shown, including a phone number where FEMA may make contact during normal business hours.

2. A resume or CV of each professional employee or sub-contractor employee whom the SEB anticipates will take part in a BPA Project. The SEB should also enclose a listing of any publications which any professionals have authored, or any honors that professionals have received, in the past three years. Please keep this submission as brief as possible.

Note: Preference is afforded small emerging business enterprises under provisions of the FAR. FEMA reserves the right to meet with any small emerging business enterprises to assist in understanding the requirements of this solicitation or submitting its response thereto.

5. POC—INQUIRIES—FILING DEADLINE—SELECTION

Email inquiries are encouraged rather than phone inquiries and should be forwarded to the Agency POC at richard.roberg@dhs.gov. Phone inquiries will be accepted at 504-762-2268. The deadline for asking questions under either method is 12:00 noon Monday April 12, 2010.

For written quotations to be considered they must be submitted in writing, in triplicate, not later than 12:00 noon, Thursday, April 22, 2010, delivered in person, by courier or by US mail to FEMA’s POC at the following address:

Richard M. Roberg DHS/FEMA Mail Room Contracting 1 Seine Court New Orleans, LA 70113

For email quotations to be considered, they must be directed to the Agency POC address noted above. To be considered timely, they must be received not later than 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 22, 2010, in order to allow copying and distribution to the evaluation committee.

Any Proposal which is untimely in filing or found to be incomplete shall not be considered.

Final selection of qualified quotations will be made by the evaluation committee. As stated above, the sole criteria for award of a BPA will be the final prices submitted, with emphasis on the initial twelve-month period.

Award of each BPA shall be forwarded and executed by contractor and Agency as soon as possible after the Agency reaches its decision.

For purposes of filing at fedbizopps, the terms of the proposed, general Scope of Work are set out beginning on the next page.

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SCOPE OF WORK

Overarching Task Order for Architectural History and Archaeological Services

FEMA-DR-1603-LA, FEMA-DR-1607-LA,

New Orleans, Louisiana

This form of Scope of Work is the suggested form for use in connection with the issuance of various task orders under Blanket Purchase Agreements entered into between FEMA and contractor. Depending upon the circumstances of projects in which FEMA engages contractor’s services, not all of the services listed below may be included in each task order’s scope of work. In certain instances additional services or tasks may be identified that expand the services listed in Section III.

I. INTRODUCTION

FEMA Historic Preservation, in response to the above disasters, has responsibilities to identify, evaluate and resolve adverse effects to historic properties in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. §470f) (NHPA), its implementing regulations (36 CFR Part 800), and the Programmatic Agreement among FEMA, the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP), the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, the Caddo Nation, the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma, the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation dated August 17, 2009.

FEMA Historic Preservation is required to respond swiftly and professionally to accomplish specific tasks in support of FEMA’s infrastructure recovery projects at and adjacent to public and non-profit facilities, such as educational facilities, historically significant public buildings, and the like. These tasks necessitate architectural historian and archaeological services. It is anticipated that these services, listed below, will be utilized in the next calendar year to fulfill FEMA’s Section 106 responsibilities including those in negotiated agreements such as Memoranda of Agreement and Programmatic Agreements.

II. OBJECTIVE

FEMA wishes to procure historical architectural and archaeological services as required within the next calendar year. The period of performance and any option periods are part of the Blanket Purchase Agreement. These services will be professionally conducted by or under the direct supervision of an individual who qualifies under one or more of the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards set out at 48 FR 44716, September 29, 1983, for History, Archaeology, Architectural History, Architecture, or Historic Architecture to generate a cost-effective result using current best methods of conduct as specifically required by FEMA.

FEMA shall set deadlines or timeframes for each individual project identified in a task order. Following are examples of the architectural historian and/or archaeological services that FEMA may require in those task orders:

· Archaeological Reporting

· Archaeological Monitoring/Report Services

· Archaeological Identification and Testing - Phase I/II

· Archaeological Data Recovery – Phase III

· Archaeological Curation

· Digital Recordation

· National Register Nomination

· Historic Narrative

· Architectural Plan Procurement

· Interpretive Plans

· HABS/HAER Recordation

III. SERVICES

A. For the purposes of establishing quality benchmarks for performance of any of the services set out at Paragraph B., this Section uses the following definitions. Services provided under any task order shall comply with the requirements of the Standards or Policies as in existence at the time the services are performed. Unless otherwise set out in a task order, all services provided shall be performed by, or under the supervision of, an individual who meets the Professional Standards, as defined below.

“Standards”—shall mean the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation (Federal Register 48(190) 1983:44716-44737) and the Louisiana State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Division of Archaeology monitoring report standards.

“Professional Standards”—shall mean the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards set out at 48 FR 44716, September 29, 1983, for History, Archaeology, Architectural History, Architecture or Historic Architecture.

“Digital Photographic Policy”—shall mean the Proposed Update Photographic Policy National Register of Historic Places (revised March 2008) including the National Archives and Records Administration’s (NARA’s) guidance to supplement requirements in 36 CFR §1228.270 for transferring permanent electronic records to NARA.

B. The contractor shall perform all work required to meet FEMA’s objectives as stated in the task order, to include the following services and deliverables:

Archaeological Reporting

To fulfill FEMA’s Section 106 responsibilities, contractor shall provide report(s) on archaeological activities and associated curation of forms, notes, photos, and artifacts. Reports will be written in accordance with the Standards. The contractor shall, at minimum, conduct background research, synthesize all notes, site forms, literature and records compiled during the monitoring effort, analyze and curate the collected artifacts, edit site forms as necessary and produce required report(s).

Archaeological Monitoring

To fulfill FEMA’s Section 106 responsibilities, contractor shall provide archaeological monitoring, associated report(s), and related curation of forms, notes, photos, and artifacts. Monitoring activities and report(s) will be written in accordance with the Standards. The contractor shall conduct background research, provide archaeological monitors to observe ground disturbing activities at a project site, recommend National Register eligibility of finds, participate in consultations to address effects, synthesize all notes, site forms, literature and records compiled during the monitoring effort, analyze and submit artifacts for curation, edit site forms as necessary and produce required report(s).

Archaeological Identification and Testing – Phase I/II

To fulfill FEMA’s Section 106 responsibilities, contractor shall provide archaeological services for Reconnaissance Surveys, Phase I Surveys, and/or Phase II Archaeological Testing; associated report(s) production; and related curation of forms, notes, photos, and artifacts. Archaeological identification and evaluation investigations and related report(s) will be written in accordance with the Standards. At minimum, the contractor shall conduct background research, field work, recommend National Register eligibility of finds, participate in consultations to address effects, synthesize all notes, site forms, literature and records compiled during the monitoring effort, analyze and submit artifacts for curation, edit site forms as necessary and produce required report(s).

Archaeological Data Recovery – Phase III

To fulfill FEMA’s Section 106 responsibilities, contractor shall provide archaeological services for Phase III Archaeological Data Recovery; associated report(s) production; and related curation of forms, notes, photos, and artifacts. Archaeological data recovery investigations and related report(s) will be written in accordance with the Standards. At minimum, the contractor shall conduct background research, field work, recommend National Register eligibility of finds, participate in consultations to address effects, synthesize all notes, site forms, literature and records compiled during the monitoring effort, analyze and submit artifacts for curation, edit site forms as necessary and produce required report (s).

Archaeological Curation

To fulfill FEMA’s Section 106 responsibilities, contractor will process and submit artifacts found during archaeological investigations and/or monitoring associated with FEMA-funded projects for curation. All artifacts will be curated in compliance with the Standards. All collected artifacts, notes and photos shall be prepared and submitted to the Louisiana Division of Archaeology for long-term curation.

Digital Recordation

To fulfill FEMA’s Section 106 responsibilities, contractor will photographically record buildings or structures specified by FEMA. At a minimum, the digital photography must comply with the requirements of the Digital Photographic Policy. The recordation will be professionally conducted by or under the direct supervision of an individual who qualifies under one or more of the Professional Standards.

National Register Nomination

To fulfill FEMA’s Section 106 responsibilities, contractor will create or revise National Register nominations. The nomination forms or amendments will be professionally conducted by or under the direct supervision of an individual who qualifies under one or more of the Professional Standards. The nomination forms or amendments will be consistent with the guidance in the National Register Bulletin #16A, How to Complete the National Register Registration Form.

Historic Narrative

To fulfill FEMA’s Section 106 responsibilities, contractor will produce a narrative history. This history may include the types of information required in Historic American Building Survey (HABS) Historical Reports: Short Form, Outline Form, or other as specified by FEMA. The narrative history will be professionally conducted by or under the direct supervision of an individual who qualifies under one or more of the Professional Standards.

Architectural Plan Procurement

To fulfill FEMA’s Section 106 responsibilities, contractor will procure copies of architectural plans or other documentation as specified by FEMA. Contractor will contact the archival or other facility to procure plans or documents required by FEMA, produce a copy of the stipulated plans and/or documents, and deliver to FEMA within the time frame specified by FEMA.

Interpretive Plans

To fulfill FEMA’s Section 106 responsibilities, contractor will develop and implement interpretive plans as specified by FEMA. Contractor will describe the interpretive plan in general terms. Once these general terms are approved by FEMA, contractor will further develop and implement the plan to FEMA’s specifications. The interpretive plan will be professionally conducted by or under the direct supervision of an individual who qualifies under one or more of the Professional Standards.

HABS/HAER Recordation

To fulfill FEMA’s Section 106 responsibilities, contractor will record buildings or structures specified by FEMA utilizing, at minimum, HABS or Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) standards and guidelines. At a minimum, recordation must comply with the standards and guidelines set by the Heritage Documentation Program as administered. Documentation may include measured drawings, large-format photography, written histories, and field notes. The recordation will be professionally conducted by or under the direct supervision of an individual who qualifies under one or more of the Professional Standards.