RFP Colorado-New Mexico Regional Extreme Precipitation Study

The State of Colorado Department of Natural Resources, on behalf of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, the Colorado Division of Water Resources, and the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer, issued RFP-PDAA-2016-2 for a Colorado-New Mexico Regional Extreme Precipitation Study. This solicitation seeks qualified contractors to develop updated tools and procedures for estimating extreme precipitation depth, area, and duration relationships using modern meteorological methods. The project comprises four main tasks: Task 1 involves deterministic regional Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP) estimation using HMR-style processes in a gridded GIS-based platform; Task 2 includes regional extreme precipitation-frequency analysis for annual recurrence intervals of 100 years or greater; Task 3 encompasses High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model analysis (to be sole-sourced to NOAA); and Task 4 provides overall project management and coordination. Deliverables include GIS-based tools capable of determining PMP and precipitation frequency estimates at 90 arc-second grid resolution, summary reports documenting all analysis procedures, precipitation-frequency curves, a statewide guidance document, and a draft national standard-of-practice document. Minimum qualifications require full membership in the American Meteorological Society (AMS) or AMS Certified Consulting Meteorologist status, a minimum of five years of experience performing site-specific or statewide PMP studies, five years of experience in extreme precipitation frequency estimation, successful completion of an independently peer-reviewed extreme precipitation study within the past five years, and demonstrated development and implementation of GIS-based precipitation estimation tools within the past five years. An informational pre-proposal meeting was held on December 22, 2015, in Denver, with a deadline for written inquiries on December 30, 2015, and answers posted by January 6, 2016. Proposals were due January 19, 2016, by 4:00 p.m., with evaluation occurring January 20-26, 2016, and potential interviews scheduled for February 4, 2016, leading to an anticipated award date of February 5, 2016, and a project start date of March 15, 2016, with completion by March 15, 2018. Evaluation criteria included qualifications, project approach, references, management summary, project experience, organization, quality control/quality assurance measures, schedule, and price, with award based on best value to the State.

Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSBs) registered with the Center for Veteran Enterprise may receive a 5% bid preference if properly certified, and the State encouraged minority-owned and women-owned business participation. Proposers could submit proposals for one or more components and could form prime contractor/subcontractor partnerships, with separate cost estimates required for each task. Contractors must comply with Colorado contract requirements, including workers' compensation insurance and Commercial General Liability coverage of $1,000,000, as well as Automobile Liability coverage of $1,000,000. All proposal pricing must remain firm and valid for 180 days following the submission deadline. Phase A funding for the Colorado region is budgeted at $500,000 for Task 1, $400,000 for Task 2, $200,000 for Task 3, and $100,000 for Task 4, for a total Phase A budget of $1.2 million. Phase B funding for the New Mexico region is budgeted at $150,000, $120,000, $60,000, and $20,000 respectively for the same tasks, totaling $350,000, with Phase B execution contingent upon New Mexico funding availability anticipated on or about July 1, 2016. The contract term is two years with a maximum contract duration not to exceed specifications established by the State Controller, and payment terms require the State to reimburse within forty-five days of invoice receipt for accepted performance.