Retention of Engineering Firms [30 Pa.B. 739] Mon/Fayette Expressway Project
Uniontown to Brownsville
Fayette and Washington Counties, PennsylvaniaReference No. E-015 The Turnpike Commission (Commission) will retain eight engineering firms to provide preliminary and final design services for the Mon/Fayette Expressway Project between Uniontown and Brownsville. Selected Firms will be responsible for the design of a limited access highway on new alignment between routes 119 and 51, Uniontown, PA and Routes 43 and 88, Centerville, PA. The total length of the design section is approximately 15 miles. The total construction cost is estimated at $360 million. This project will be financed with Federal, State and Turnpike funds and will be subject to Federal review and oversight in accordance with Federal aid regulations (23 CFR Chapter 1).
Open-end contracts will be assigned with primary responsibility for individual roadway sections however, consultants may be assigned work in more than one section. Project teams will be evaluated for workload of the prime consultant and sub-consultant in relation to the team's capacity to meet the schedules.
Firms selected may be required to: perform field surveying; base mapping; geotechnical and mining considerations; hazardous waste remediation; development of line and grade; design of structures; seismic analysis; foundation design and investigation; interchange design; contour and grading plans; typical section approval; cross sections; utility verification and relocation; Step 9 field view plans; field views; drainage and drainage structures; stormwater management; preparation of right-of-way plans; defining environmental impacts; preparation of permit applications; development of environmental impact mitigation plans; utility investigation and coordination; soil and erosion control and earth disturbance permits; noise wall design and mitigation; traffic analysis, Phase III archaeology; pavement marking plans; preparation of construction plans, specifications and estimates; value engineering; public involvement; coordination with various agencies and special interest groups; and coordination with consultants involved in other design sections.
The following factors will be considered by the Commission during the evaluation of the firms submitting Letters of Interest for this project:
a. Specialized experience and technical competence of prime consultant and subconsultants. The Team must clearly demonstrate an ability to analyze available data to make decisions, completing the project in a timely and cost effective manner.
b. Past record of performance with respect to cost control, work quality ability to meet schedules and previous experience on similar projects. The consultant should identify similar projects that have been completed by that firm as the prime, the magnitude of the project, and the client.
c. The specific experience and number of individuals who constitute the firm.
d. Location of consultant's office where the work will be performed.
e. Workload of the prime consultant and subconsultants for all Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission projects.
f. Other factors, if any, specific to the project.
Address these items and any necessary further details in a brief yet comprehensive manner in the letter of interest.
Firms expressing interest in this 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 maximum opportunity to participate in any subcontracting or furnishing supplies or services approved under Form 442, Section 1.10(a). The act 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 of DBE participation in these contracts shall be 15% of the total contract cost. 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, it shall be required to demonstrate its good faith efforts to attain the goal. If further information is desired concerning DBE/MBE/WBE participation, direct inquiries to the Office of Equal Opportunity Development, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission at the above address, or by calling (717) 939-9551 Ext. 4241.
The Commission will shortlist 12 firms at a public meeting after the evaluation of acceptable letters of interest. Technical proposals will then be requested from the 12 shortlisted firms based on a sample project Scope of Work. It is anticipated that the assignment of the above services will be made to eight of the 12-firms following the evaluation of the technical proposals.
Direct inquiries about this advertisement to Kenneth L. Slippey, at 939-9551, extension 5150; or by E-mail at kslippey@paturnpike.com.
General Requirements and Information Firms interested in providing the above work and services are invited to submit two copies of a Letter of Interest with the required information. The Letters of Interest must include the following:
1. One page transmittal letter clearly identifying the project reference number, brief description of the project from the advertisement, the firm's Federal identification number, the firm's legal name, contact person or project manager, address of corporate office and project office. (If the firm has multiple offices, the location of the office performing the work must be identified)
2. Three page (maximum) expression of interest on the advertised project. Each firm should demonstrate their ability to perform the specific requirements indicated for this project and provide explanation that the firm has successfully completed similar type projects of the same magnitude.
3. An organization chart for the Project, identifying key personnel and any subconsultants and their roles. Any deviation from the subconsultant's listed in the letter of interest will require written approval from the Commission.
4. Tabulation of workload for the prime consultant and all subconsultants for all Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission projects.
5. A copy of the Annual Qualification Package similar to the one submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for the current year that is in the same District as this project or one that is best suited for this project.
The Annual Qualification Package should contain at a minimum, the following information for the prime consultant and all subconsultants which should be attached to the back of the letter of interest (subs to follow primes):
* Standard Form (SF) 254--Architect-Engineer and Related Services Questionnaire in its entirety, not more than 1 year old as of the date of the advertisement.
* Resumes of key personnel expected to be involved in the project. (limit to one 8 1/2 x 11 page, 1 side, per person). Only resumes of key personnel should be included.
* Copy of the firm's registration to do business in the Commonwealth as provided by the Department of State for firms with out-of-state headquarters or corporations not incorporated in Pennsylvania.
* A copy of the Department's DBE/WBE Certification, if applicable.
If a Joint Venture responds to a project advertisement, the Commission will not accept separate letters of interest from joint venture constituents. A firm will not be permitted to submit a letter of interest on more than one 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 subconsultant to another firm that responds to the same project advertisement. This does not preclude a firm from being set forth as a designated subconsultant to more than one prime consultant responding to the project advertisement.
Firms interested in performing the above services are invited to submit two copies of a letter of interest and required information to Frank J. Kempf, P.E., Assistant Chief Engineer-Programs/Projects, at the PA Turnpike Commission Administration Building located at 176 Kost Road, Carlisle, PA 17013-9779 (parcel delivery address) (Mailing Address: P. O. Box 67676, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7676).
The letter of interest and required information (two copies) must be received by 12 p.m. (noon), Friday, February 18, 2000. Any letters of interest received after this date and time will be time-stamped and returned.
The Commission will be advertising in the near future for two additional firms to perform specialized design activities for the Uniontown to Brownsville section of the Mon/Fayette Expressway. The Commission is anticipating a firm to perform the preliminary and final design of a structure crossing the Monongahela River and a firm to perform preliminary and final design of the Toll Plazas.
The Commission reserves the right to reject all letters of interest, to cancel solicitation requested under this notice, and/or to re-advertise solicitation for the work and services.
JAMES F. MALONE, III,
Chairperson[Pa.B. Doc. No. 00-233. Filed for public inspection February 4, 2000, 9:00 a.m.]
