Retention of Engineering Firms [30 Pa.B. 5339] York County
Project Reference No. 08430AG2623The Department will retain an engineering firm to provide environmental studies, preliminary engineering, final design, including preparation of bridge and roadway plans, specifications and estimates; construction consultation and viewers plans for S.R. 0295, Section 001, Susquehanna Trail Bridge, York County.
The firm selected may be required to conduct, but not limited to, the following activities: preparation of intent to enter notices; field surveys; Categorical Exclusion Evaluation Level 2, with emphasis on cultural resources and the potential for state and federal threatened and endangered species; Section 4(f) Evaluation; public meetings; plotting of topography and cross sections; pavement and drainage design; submission of utility verification and relocation engineering; field view; safety design review meeting; Step 9 and value engineering; hydraulic report including Wetland Identification and Delineation report; type, size and location submissions; structure plans; line and grade submissions; right-of-way plans; viewers plans; erosion and sedimentation control plans and narratives; Environmental Assessment Form and Application for Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permit; development of the soil and foundation engineering report; investigation of utility and property involvement; development of maintenance and protection of traffic plans and narratives; preparation of construction plans; specifications and estimates, consultation services during construction, electronic data transfer and shop drawing review.
* The design of this project will be developed using English units.
* Welcom's Open Plan software will be used by the Department for project management and tracking.
* A project specific Quality Development Plan will be prepared for this project.
The Department is seeking a multi-disciplined team with environmental, geotechnical, highway design, and structure design experience, especially in the area of multi-span bridge design.
The following factors, listed in order of importance, will be considered by the Department during the evaluation of the firms submitting letters of interest:
a. Specialized experience and technical competence with replacement of multi-span bridge projects and their ability to provide innovative solutions to complex technical problems.
b. Experience of the team in environmental, highway design, structure design, geotechnical design and hydrological/ hydraulic analysis and design.
c. The project team is expected to visit the site and provide an overview of their understanding of possible issues for the project based on their site observations.
d. Ability of the project team to communicate effectively in various mediums and provide strong public involvement management skills.
e. Past record with respect to cost control, work quality, and ability to meet schedules.
f. Ability to use technology for effectively transferring information and communicating between the Department and the consultant team members.
The goal for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation in this Agreement shall be fifteen percent (15%) of the total contract price. Additional information concerning DBE participation in this Agreement is contained in the General Requirements and Information Section after the advertised project(s).
This project reference assignment is considered moderately complex. The letter of interest shall be limited to a maximum of five (5) pages, 8 1/2" x 11", one sided, plus an organizational chart (up to 11" x 17" size), and additional resumes, if applicable. (See the General Requirements and Information Section).
The Letter of Interest submission shall be sent to:
Mr. Barry G. Hoffman, P.E., District Engineer
Engineering District 8-0
2140 Herr Street
Harrisburg, PA 17103
Attention: Mr. Richard E. Marshall, P.E.The Letter of Interest submission for this project reference number must be received at the address listed above by 4:30 p.m. prevailing time on the twentieth (20th) day following the date of this Notice.
Any technical questions concerning the requirements for this project should be directed to Mr. Richard E. Marshall, P.E., District 8-0, at (717) 787-3324.
Somerset County
Project Reference No. 08430AG2624The Department will retain an engineering firm to provide preliminary engineering and environmental studies for S.R. 6219, Section 019, Maryland State Line to Meyersdale Bypass, Somerset County.
The selected firm will be required to provide, but not limited to, the following engineering and design services for the approximately 8.1 mile section of U.S. Route 219: review the existing needs analysis report; perform limited field surveys to assess right-of-way impacts; provide preliminary engineering to develop and evaluate feasible alternatives to address the project needs; provide an environmental overview of the corridor and compare impacts of each alternative studied; perform three (3) rounds of agency coordination and public involvement to gather information and involve the public in the design process; provide a cost analysis of each alternative studied, and prepare a thorough pro/con evaluation of each alternative alignment. Deliverables will include a Final Environmental Impact Statement, a Mitigation Report, a Final Section 4(f) Report, and a Final Design Field View Submission.
The total estimated construction cost is $140 Million.
The following factors, listed in order of importance, will be considered by the Department during the evaluation of the firms submitting letters of interest:
a) Past record of performance with respect to cost control, work quality, ability to meet schedules, and previous experience. The specific experience of individuals employed by the firm shall be considered.
b) Available staffing for this assignment and the ability to meet the Department's needs. This will include the specific individuals of the prime and the subconsultants who make up the design team.
c) Specialized experience and technical competence of firm.
d) Relative size of the firm to size of the project to be completed under this contract.
e) Demonstrated capacity for innovative engineering to resolve complex problems.
f) Location of Consultant with respect to the District Office.
The District will announce the shortlisted firms at an open public meeting to be held in Engineering District 9-0, 1620 North Juniata Street, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648. All candidates who submit a letter of interest will be notified of the date. Specify a Contact person in the letter of interest.
The goal for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation in this Agreement shall be fifteen percent (15%) of the total contract price. Additional information concerning DBE participation in this Agreement is contained in the General Requirements and Information Section after the advertised project(s).
This project reference assignment is considered complex. The letter of interest shall be limited to a maximum of five (5) pages, 8 1/2" x 11", one sided, plus an organizational chart (up to 11" x 17" size), and no more than six (6) additional resumes, if applicable. (See the General Requirements and Information Section).
The Letter of Interest submission shall be sent to:
Mr. Earl L. Neiderhiser, P.E., District Engineer
Engineering District 9-0
1620 North Juniata Street
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
Attn: David L. Sherman, P.E.The Letter of Interest submission for this project reference number must be received at the address listed above by 4:30 P.M. prevailing time on the twentieth (20th) day following the date of this Notice.
Any technical questions concerning the requirements for this project should be directed to David L. Sherman, P.E., phone number (814) 696-7172, fax number (814) 696-7173.
General Requirements and Information Firms interested in providing the above work and services are invited to submit a Letter of Interest with the required information for each Project Reference Number for which the applicant wishes to be considered.
The Letter of Interest and required information must be submitted to the person designated in the individual advertisement.
The Letter of Interest and required information must be received by the Deadline indicated in the individual advertisement.
For District projects, all consultants, both prime consultants and subconsultants, who desire to be included in a Letter of Interest must have an Annual Qualification Package on file with the appropriate District Office, by the deadline stipulated in the individual advertisements.
For Statewide projects, all consultants, both prime consultants and subconsultants, who desire to be included in a Letter of Interest must have an Annual Qualification Package on file with Central Office, Bureau of Design by the deadline stipulated in the individual advertisements.
Information concerning the Annual Qualification Package can be found in Strike-off Letter No. 433-99-04 or under the Notice to all Consultants published in the February 27, 1999 issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
By submitting a letter of interest for the projects that request engineering services, the consulting firm is certifying that the firm is qualified to perform engineering services in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. A firm not conforming to this requirement may submit a letter of interest as a part of a joint venture with an individual, firm or corporation which is permitted under State law to engage in the practice of engineering.
The letter of interest must include full disclosure of any potential conflict of interest by the prime or any subconsultant based on Engineering Involvement Restrictions Guidelines as established in Strike-off Letter No. 433-00-02 published March 27, 2000. If there are no potential conflicts you shall include the following statement: ''I have reviewed Strike-off Letter No. 433-00-02 and determine that there are no potential conflicts of interest for anyone on this project team.''
If a Joint Venture responds to a project advertisement, the Department of Transportation will not accept separate Letters of Interest from the Joint Venture constituents. A firm will not be permitted to submit a Letter of Interest on more than one (1) Joint Venture for the same Project Reference Number. Also a firm that responds to a project as a prime may not be included as a designated subcontractor to another firm that responds as a prime to the project. Multiple responses under any of the foregoing situations will cause the rejection of all responses of the firm or firms involved. The above does not preclude a firm from being set forth as a designated subcontractor to more than one (1) prime responding to the project advertisement.
If a goal for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation is established for an advertised project, firms expressing interest in the project must agree to ensure that Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms as defined in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st century (TEA-21) and currently certified by the Department of Transportation shall have the opportunity to participate in any subcontracting or furnishing supplies or services approved under Form 442, Section 1.10(a). The TEA-21 requires that firms owned and controlled by women (WBEs) be included, as a presumptive group, within the definition of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE). The goal for DBE participation shall be as stated in the individual project advertisement. Responding firms shall make good faith efforts to meet the DBE goal using DBEs (as they are defined prior to the act, WBEs or combinations thereof).
Proposed DBE firms must be certified at the time of submission of the Letter of Interest. If the selected firm fails to meet the established DBE participation goal, it shall be required to demonstrate its good faith efforts to attain the goal.
Responses are encouraged by small firms, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms, and other firms who have not previously performed work for the Department of Transportation.
Letters of Interest for will be considered non-responsive and eliminated from further consideration for any of the following reasons:
1. Letters of Interest not received on time.
2. Project of interest is not identified.
3. An Annual Qualification Package for the prime consultant and all subconsultants is not on file with the organization receiving the Letter of Interest.
4. Conflict of Interest evaluation statement is not included.
5. A Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation goal is established for the Project Reference Number but no DBE/WBE is identified and no good faith effort is included.
6. Firm submitted a Letter of Interest on more than one (1) Joint Venture or a firm submitted a Letter of Interest as a prime and was also included as a subconsultant, to another firm. Multiple responses under any of the foregoing situations will cause the rejection of all responses of the firm, or firms, involved.
In addition to the above reasons, a Letter of Interest for Construction Inspection Services will be considered non-responsive for any of the following reasons:
1. Prime consultant or any subconsultant does not have a Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Audit Field Overhead Rate on file with the Department.
2. Using an individual's resume without including a letter granting the individual's approval for TCIS and higher positions.
3. Exceeding the maximum number of resumes in a payroll classification.
The assignment of the agreement/contract for the above advertisement(s) will be made to one of the firms who submitted an acceptable Letter of Interest in response to the project advertisement. The assignment will be made based on the Department's evaluation of the firm's qualification and capabilities. The Department reserves the right to reject all letters submitted, to cancel the solicitations requested under this Notice, and/or to readvertise solicitation for the work and services.
BRADLEY L. MALLORY,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 00-1777. Filed for public inspection October 13, 2000, 9:00 a.m.]
