Notice of Sole Source Award

MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD
SUBJECT: Sole Source Justification - Construction Services at Barro Colorado Island, Republic of Panama
The Smithsonian Institution hereby provides notice of its intention to issue a sole source stand alone contract with Construcciones Electromecanicas, SA ("Conelsa") for construction services. The contractor will complete a previously approved Scope of Work required to raise Buildings A & B of the Smithsonian's Research Facility at Barro Colorado Island. This project will address the expected impact of ongoing expansion of the Panama Canal on Smithsonian facility at Barro Colorado Island (BCI) (Lake Gatun is an artificial lake and is an integral part of the Panama Canal system.) The BCI facility is located on the banks of Lake Gatun, approximately 2 hours from SI-STRI headquarters in Panama City (Tupper). As a direct result of the addition of more shipping lanes in the Canal, the elevation of Lake Gatun is expected to rise approximately 3.0 - 4.5 feet. Testing of newly constructed shipping lanes was initiated in June 2015, with official re-inauguration of the Canal to take place next year in April 2016. The Smithsonian's Barro Colorado Island (BCI) research facility, includes among other amenities, a dock, docking storage facilities and dock-level office and maintenance facilities. When the Canal expansion is complete, these areas will be partially submerged, leaving the facilities without an effective means of personal transportation, loading areas for needed equipment and supplies, administrative space for the Game Warden program, or maintenance space for or marine and facilities personnel at BCI. The price of the contract will be $2.35M.
The contract will be awarded as a sole source based on usual and compelling urgency associated with the addition of shipping lanes to the Panama Canal system expected to cause Lake Gatun to rise approximately 3.0 - 4.5 feet. Conelsa currently has a contract for a related construction project at Barro Colorado Island which is located two hours from Panama City. Transport to BCI requires vehicular travel along an unpaved, one lane, re-purposed railroad bridge, as well as a 60 - 90 minute boat crossing. Conelsa may most efficiently retain skilled workers for the project on an expedited basis and at a savings to the Smithsonian.
As Conelsa has recruited skilled workers for the BCI project, it has the means, technical skill and requisite knowledge for raising Buildings A & B on the compressed schedule required to meet the re-inauguration of the Panama Canal in 2016. It is the Smithsonian's position that awarding this contract to any contractor other than Conelsa would likely result in the project not being completed prior to the expected rise in the elevation causing serious impact to the BCI research facility and that the duplication of costs would far exceed what would be gained through competition.
For subcontracting opportunities
Contact Conelsa
Attn: Construcciones Electromecanicas, S.A. Jorge Campbell , Phone Number at Republic of Panama Area Code 507 - 268-5151 Panama, Registration Number: 853635191