Special Notice - JD TRGR Industry Input 2.pdf

SPECIAL NOTICE

Supply/Construction Hybrid Acquisition - Industry Feedback Request

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Portland District (NWP)

John Day Dam Turbine Runner Replacement and Generator Rewind Project

1. General. This is a SPECIAL NOTICE and is for informational/market research purposes only. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, QUOTATION OR BID, NOR A SYNOPSIS

OF A PROPOSED CONTRACT ACTION UNDER FAR SUBPART 5.2.

2. Notice Details. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Northwestern Division, Portland District (NWP) is seeking industry input as it evaluates project risks, industry capabilities, and technical issues and challenges for a major rehab at John Day Dam on the Columbia River. The project is titled, “John Day Dam Turbine Replacement and Generator Rewind”.

The North American Industrial Classification Code (NAICS) for this potential requirement would be 237990, “Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction”. The related size standard is $39.5M.

3. Project Site Background/Scope. The purpose of this requirement is to provide a hybrid design, manufacturing, and construction type contract with an estimated magnitude of over $500,000,000 for the turbine runner replacement and generator rehabilitation of up to sixteen turbines and generators and John Day Dam, spanning the Columbia River between Washington and Oregon.

The goals of the project are to address decreasing reliability and efficiency of the hydroelectric generating units and to maximize the net economic benefits over the next several decades, while maintaining an acceptable level of operational f lexibility, all within the hydraulic and environmental constraints imposed on the project. Economic benefits will be realized through increasing reliability and efficiency of the hydroelectric generating units after replacing existing turbines with improved fish passage turbines that provide improved power generating efficiency, rewinding the generators, and replacing and refurbishing other powertrain equipment. The design of the state-of-the-art turbines will be an iterative and collaborative process that focuses on improved fish passage design features and criteria to improve survival of turbine-passed fish.

Finally, this project will decrease the risk of oil entering the water passageway and river through improved sealing technologies, design considerations for new adjustable-blade turbine runners, and the introduction of some fixed-blade turbine runners.

Anticipated period of performance: Portland District anticipates soliciting the requirement in March 2023. The contract will include three main stages of performance: design, manufacture/fabrication, installation/on-site work. These stages will begin in approximately 2024 for a period which could exceed fifteen years.

4. Acquisition Strategy Method. A similar requirement (McNary Turbine Replacement) was awarded by USACE as a Fixed-Price “C” type contract with economic price adjustment.

Portland District intends to award a Fixed-Price “C” type contract as described below.

Fixed-Price Contract w/ EPA – The Government, at time of contract award, would have a defined requirement with optional CLINs which may or may not be exercised dependent upon final design elements. Each CLIN would include a schedule and scope, each of which may require modification should there be changes in either.

5. Communications for Industry. Portland District is interested in feedback from interested firms capable of performing as a prime contractor on the requirement, particularly in relation to the following questions. Firms must follow the submission instructions below to coordinate a date and time for a 90-minute one-on-one discussion, which Portland District will host via teleconference or Webex meeting, to discuss concerns that that f irm sees for the requirement, the firm’s capabilities, and any recommendations.

Portland District Questions:

1. Final weights and sizes for some components will be unknown at time of contract award and will be determined through the iterative design process between the Contractor and the Government. For the items in question, the Government is considering calling out specific component weights to be assumed by the bidder at solicitation to ensure fair pricing comparison across bids. Given the differing means and methods and approaches that may be used by Industry, what things should the Government consider when developing an approach to ensure fair pricing comparison?

2. NWP’s plan for performance and payment bonds requirements is that they will be required on a rolling basis and apply only to the onsite construction installation work. The Contractor must have the capability to bond 100% of the construction CLINs over the anticipated performance period; however, bonding will be permitted on a rolling basis such that after each unit or pair of units is installed and the one-year construction warranty period ends for that unit or pair of units, bonding will commence for the next unit(s) in the queue for installation. Does Industry foresee any issues from doing it this way?

3. The Government is considering requiring the Contractor to complete asbestos abatement as part of the contract. What issues does Industry foresee with this approach? Is there a better way to address asbestos abatement? Is there some asbestos Industry will handle? If yes, which items are acceptable (e.g. rotor poles, dust, wiring, stator windings)? If the answer is “no items”, what approach does Industry recommend the Government consider for asbestos abatement for these items that will not potentially result in schedule delays?

4. The Government would like to hear Industry’s thoughts on streamlining the submittal process. Can Industry identify critical submittals to assist in planning and minimize potential for schedule delays?

5. Does Industry have any concerns about doing more than one unit at a time? What would be the expected outage length per unit? Assume no more than two units at a time shall be removed from service for rehab. Identify specific types of work that is most at risk of being on the critical path (e.g. offsite refurbishment of specific pieces of equipment, generator rewind, core replacement, discharge ring replacement, stay vane extension installation, draft tube modifications, etc.).

6. Based on the provided drawings, are there any concerns with storage and laydown requirements (inside and outside of the powerhouse)? Assuming two units are out of service at one time, what things should the Government consider? See drawings attached.

7. Assuming two units are out of service at one time, what is an estimated level of staffing anticipated to complete the work on the hydroelectric generating units? How many parking spaces are expected to be needed? What things should the Government consider?

8. Does Industry see any transportation concerns as it relates to delivering equipment into the powerhouse? If so, what specific concerns do you have (e.g. public highway access, offramps, overhead clearances, road turning radii, road weight restrictions, turnaround locations)? What means of transportation are most likely to be utilized (e.g. truck/trailer, rail, barge, etc.)? See drawings attached.

9. What type of work does Industry envision being subbed out with the possibility of performance by small business sub-contractors?

Portland District will schedule one-on-ones on a rolling basis as it receives responses to this announcement. This announcement closes August 13, 2021 at 5:00 P.M. PDT.

Portland District hopes to conclude all one-on-ones by close of business August 25, 2021.

6. Submission Instructions. To be offered a 90-minute one-on-one session with the Government, interested parties must contact the POC listed on this announcement via email, in the following format:

SUBJECT: “JD TRGR – Industry Technical Feedback - One-on-One Request”

CONTENT: Responses to the questions included in section 5 above (further detail may be discussed during a one-on-one), and responses to the following are also a condition for receiving a one-on-one invitation:

Contractors’ responses shall be limited to 20 pages and shall include the following information:

a. Firm's name, address, point of contact, phone number, e-mail address, CAGE & DUNS numbers, and Construction Bonding Level

b. A summary of any projects the contractor has performed and deems of similar complexity and with similar features and scope ($250M-$500M) within the past ten years

c. A summary of the firm’s experience with various contract types including Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustment Contracts

d. The firm’s interest in proposing/bidding on the requirement, should it be solicited

e. Any questions, recommendations, or concerns the firm has which may influence solicitation evaluation criteria or risk reduction strategies and would like to discuss in the one-on-one

POC: Carolyn.J.Randolph@usace.army.mil

RESPONSE DUE DATE/TIME: All responses are due to the POC on or before 5:00 P.M. PDT on 13 August 2021. Responses received after this date/time will not be given an opportunity for a one-on-one discussion.

*PLEASE NOTE: The Government will use responses to the questions in section 5 and information discussed in one-on-ones for its own purposes and in making decisions concerning development of the solicitation, but no responses will be released publicly. The Government will use the responses to the questions to determine if a contractor is capable of performing as a prime contractor on the requirement and should be offered a one-on-one.

7. Disclaimer. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this Special Notice or any follow up information. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's capabilities to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or to provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.

mailto:@usace.army.mil