Request_for_Information.pdf

Request for Information (RFI) for

Fire Watch Laborers

Capabilities

1.0 Description: This sources sought announcement is published for market research purposes only. This market research will be used to help identify Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and/or any Small business sources in the market.

Preference will be given to SDVOSB first and then other small businesses. Request that prospective offerors complete and return a

Capabilities Statement as described below to determine which contractors possess the capability, experience and financial ability to provide continued comprehensive process and management activities support to the Production Resource Branch, Code 900R for

Fire Watch Laborers. This should not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach or otherwise reimburse respondents for any costs incurred in preparation of a response to this notice.

This effort is not currently under contract, therefore is no incumbent.

2.0 Background: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard requires a contractor to provide Fire Watch Laborer services. The contractor shall also provide competent supervision for workers. Contractor personnel shall prepare worksites for hot work, stand fire watch for ongoing hot work operations, and perform worksite housekeeping duties. These tasks include:

Prepare work sites for hot work: will require the contractor’s workers to interface with other PNS production trades, identify work location, string welding leads/hose, stage fire extinguishers, tie/tape-up fire retarding blankets, remove burnable debris left by another trade, identify equipment/services that shall be moved to avoid damage, locate ventilation lines and install metal preheating devices. Once welding is complete, the worker will be asked to de-stage the area, restore it to the way it was prior to hot work and clean up the area prior to turning space over to waiting trades.

Fire watch: workers shall observe hot work operations, be prepared to prevent a fire from occurring and/or sound a general alarm if danger presents. Utilizing the correct fire extinguishing devices, the laborers stand ready to douse an errant spark, halt ongoing welding because of apparent smoldering from a surrounding material, monitor components during post-welding cool down to ensure no flare up and ensure a safe hot work area is maintained during welding operations. “Hot work” is considered all flame heating, ferrous grinding, welding, brazing, torch cutting, plasma cutting, air carbon arc gouging, or any work which produces heat by means of 400 degrees Fahrenheit or greater. Overall responsibility for hot work sites and operations will remain the responsibility of the government hot work operator. Critical elements of fire watching include:

(a) Individual fire watch shall stay alert, and not engage in any other activity or work during the hot work operation.

(b) Prior to starting hot work, the fire watch shall identify closest general quarters fire alarm pull station.

(c) Shall stop work and attempt to extinguish any fire that develops from hot work. If fire can not be extinguished, the fire watch will shout for help and activate alarm.

(d) Shall remain at the worksite for 30 minutes (or longer) after all hot work has been completed to ensure that smoldering fires have not been overlooked.

Minimum training, experiences and qualifications:

At least 2 years general experience in a heavy industrial work environment such as ship building, power plant construction, At least 3 months of experience fire watching for “hot work” operations in a heavy industrial work environment and shall be currently qualified to stand fire watch duties. Fire watch laborers shall have had live-fire training, using both CO2 and Air Pressurized Water, as part of their qualification process.

Experience preparing hot work sites, anticipating hazards and covering-up areas/components to contain sparks/slag. The workers shall understand the requirements in 29 CFR 1915 Subpart D and NFPA Standard 51b and be able to work under the guidance of government welders to ensure safe hot work operations.

Laboring: The contractor’s workers may be required to perform non skilled tasks (e.g., act as helping hands) to support accomplishment of work performed by other trades to ensure hot work operations execute on schedule. Additionally, since work site cleanliness and clear access/egress routes are a major component of a ship’s fire safety plan the contractor’s workers may be required to sweep/vacuum debris, wipe down spaces/components and/or hand carry equipment/tooling/waste off ships.

3.0 Requested Information: Interested SDVOSB or other small businesses are requested to submit a maximum 6 page capability statement of their ability and experience to perform the following:

1. Project planning, scheduling, facilitating, meetings, program support, admin support.

2. The contractor selected to deliver this capability must be able to understand, interpret, and provide subject matter expertise to ensure the appropriate monitoring of the contractor’s employee efficiency, safety and quality of work, written training record as evidence that each employee assigned is qualified to the requirements. The contractor’s supervisor(s) shall meet the same

Workforce Requirements as outlined in the statement of work, and have at least 12 months supervisory experience.

The Government is contemplating a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract. The term of the resulting contract will be a base year period

(base period plus two option years).

4.0 Sources Sought: Respondents shall classify their company using the following North American Industry Classification System

(NAICS) Code:336611 Ship Building & repair

5.0 Questions and Responses: Questions regarding this RFI shall be submitted in writing by email to the Contracting Officer and

Contract Specialist. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. Questions will be answered by posting answers to the Federal Business

Opportunities (FedBizOpps) website; https://www.fbo.gov/; accordingly, questions shall NOT contain proprietary or classified information. The Government does not guarantee that questions received after 24 September 2014, will be answered.

Responses to this RFI are to be submitted in writing by email to the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist and received by

11:00 AM EST, 29 September 2014 to be considered by the Government. Responses should be single-spaced, Times New Roman, and12 point font with one inch margins, and compatible with MS Office Word 2007.

Late responses will not be considered. Responses should provide the business's DUNS number and CAGE code and include a statement of self certification under the NAICS code. Additionally, responses should include recent (within the past two years or work that is on-going) and relevant experience (work similar in type, scope and complexity) to include contract numbers, project titles, dollar amounts, and points of contact with telephone numbers. Provide a list of the current contract vehicles your services may be procured from, to include the General Service Administration (GSA), Federal Supply Schedule (FSS), and any other government contract vehicle. Marketing brochures and/or generic company literature will not be considered. Not addressing all the requested information may result in the Government determining the responder is not capable of performing the scope of work required.

Points of Contact:

Joseph A. LeFebvrel

Contract Specialist

Email: joseph,lefebvre@navy.mil

Office: (207) 431-2940

6.0 Summary: THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO AWARD A CONTRACT ON THE BASIS OF THIS RFI OR

REIMBURSE ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS RFI.

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. DISA has not made a commitment to procure any of the items discussed and release of this RFI should not be construed as such commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought.

Proprietary information and trade secrets, if any, must be clearly marked on all materials. All information received that is marked proprietary will be handled accordingly. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. The Government shall not be held liable for any damages incurred if proprietary information is not properly identified. The information provided in response to this RFI will be used to determine how to proceed in the acquisition process for In accordance with FAR Subpart 13.5, Test Program for Certain Commercial Items, responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities

(FedBizOpps) website. It is the responsibility of the potential offerors to monitor these sites for additional information pertaining to this requirement.