DEPARTMENT OF
CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCESRetention of an Engineering Firm or Firms [30 Pa.B. 1560] Project Reference No. FDC-500-792 The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Department) will retain an engineering firm or firms to perform periodic NBIS inspections on Department owned bridges throughout the Commonwealth. The contract or contracts will be for a 5-year period. Inspections will be assigned on an as-needed basis.
Letters of Interest for these projects will only be accepted from individuals, firms or corporations duly authorized to engage in the practice of engineering. If an individual, firm or corporation not authorized to engage in the practice of engineering desires to submit a letter of interest, the individual, firm or corporation may do so as part of a joint venture with an individual, firm or corporation which is permitted under state law to engage in the practice of engineering.
Bridges of various structure type and material could be involved; that is, reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete, steel beam, steel truss, timber and others. Once signed contracts are in place, a detailed listing of the bridge categories will be distributed during the scope of work meeting.
Approximately 150 vehicle bridges, several railroad structures and numerous culverts will be required to be inspected.
Inspection types shall consist of the following:
a. Periodic (Routine) NBIS Inspection (24 month cycle)
An NBIS Inspection has been previously completed within the last 2 years and that inspection report and/or documentation is available.
b. Partial (Interim) Inspection (12 month cycle)
An NBIS Inspection has been previously completed. The structure is included in the BMS and the previous inspection report is available. Perform an inspection that is usually limited to portions of the structure, which require increased frequency of inspections.
c. Supplemental Inspection
Perform work beyond the scope of periodic inspections, focusing on the entire structure or specific components as authorized by the Department. In-depth tasks may include the following: Non-Destructive Testing (except dye penetrant), Laboratory Analysis, Geotechnical sampling and testing, structure instrumentation and underwater inspection.
d. Flood Inspection
Perform work beyond the scope of periodic inspections assessing the entire structure, focusing on the substructure and its foundation or specific components as authorized by the Department. This could include an underwater inspection.
e. Bridge Load Rating
Perform a structural analysis and load rating of the structure to determine its ability to carry this Commonwealth's legal loads.
f. High Hazard Inspection
Perform NBIS inspection on bridges considered ''high hazard.'' Consultant is responsible for supplying all equipment necessary for a ''high hazard'' inspection, that is, rigging, crane.
Inspection requirements shall consist of the following:
1. All bridges, except closed structures.
a. Conduct a complete field inspection utilizing Forms D-450.
b. Update/supplement the evaluation for posting needs for the structure's current condition. Determine if comparing new vs. existing section loss measurements warrants rerating. If structure is to be rerated, use the existing load rating analysis for updating the revised load-rating summary.
c. Update/amend the Inspection File providing new photographic documentation or sketches as needed.
d. Update and/or complete the required minimum BMS inventory and inspection items on the printout of the BMS records, utilizing Forms D-491.
e. Incorporate the results of previous or new load ratings into the report.
f. Prepare an Inspection Report to document all work and findings with repair costs.
2. Other types of inspection requirements may be discussed at the Scope of Work meeting.
Personnel assigned to the Inspection Project by consultant shall meet the requirements set forth in the National Bridge Inspection Standards for all work levels. Inspection personnel must hold a valid certification as ''Bridge Safety Inspector'' issued by PennDOT.
The services shall also include, but not be limited to: a preliminary meeting in the Bureau of Facility Design and Construction, 8th floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, for each project. Payment for services and expenses shall not exceed the contract amount. The inspection reports will be reviewed by the engineering staff of the Bureau of Facility Design and Construction, and when acceptable, approved by the same staff.
The number of Contracts shall be at the discretion of the Department and the dollar amount of each contract shall be approximately $100,000 for the first year. The extent of the work for the subsequent 4 years of the contract will be dependent on the number of bridge assignments being completed by in-house personnel.
Commitment to Enhance Socially/Economically Restricted Businesses (SERB)
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania strongly encourages the submission of proposals by Socially/Economically Restricted Business (SERB).
To achieve the objective of enhancing SERB participation, the Commonwealth has established SERB utilization as selection criteria in the evaluation process.
The Bureau of Contract Administration and Business Development (BCABD), Department of General Services, will evaluate the aforementioned criteria and will design a point value to be considered within the overall RFP total point tabulation.
Proposals submitted by individuals claiming SERB status or proposals submitted by individuals reflecting joint venture and subcontracting opportunities with SERBs must submit documentation verifying their claim.
SERBs are businesses whose economic growth and development has been restricted based on social and economic bias. These businesses are BCABD certified minority and women owned businesses and certain restricted businesses whose development has been impeded because their primary or headquarter facility is physically located in an area designated by the Commonwealth as being an enterprise zone. Businesses will not be considered socially/economically restricted if one of the conditions listed below exists:
1. The business has gross revenues exceeding $4,000,000 annually.
2. The concentration of an industry is such that more than 50% of the market is controlled by the same type of SERB [Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Women Business Enterprise (WBE)] or businesses within designated enterprise zones.
Proposers not considered being socially/economically restricted businesses seeking to identify these businesses for joint venture and subcontracting opportunities are encouraged to contact the:
Department of General Services
Bureau of Contract Administration &
Business Development
Room 502 North Office Building
Harrisburg, PA 17125
Phone: (717) 787-7380
FAX: (717) 787-7052SERB Information
SERBs are encouraged to participate as prime proposers. SERBs qualifying as an MBE/WBE must provide their BCABD certification number. SERBs qualifying as a result of being located in a designated enterprise zone must provide proof of this status. Proposers not considered being SERBs must describe, in narrative form, their company's approach to enhance SERB utilization on a professional level in the implementation of this proposal. The following options will be considered as part of the final criteria for selection:
Priority Rank 1. Proposals submitted by SERBs.
Priority Rank 2. Proposals submitted from a joint venture with a Commonwealth approved SERB as a joint venture partner.
Priority Rank 3. Proposals submitted with subcontracting commitments to SERBs.
Each proposal will be rated for its approach to enhancing the utilization of SERBs. The optional approach used will be evaluated with option number 1 receiving the greatest value and the succeeding options receiving a value in accordance with the above-listed priority ranking. The selected contractor's SERB Commitment amount will be included as a contractual obligation when a contract is entered into. One copy of the SERB information with the percent designated for SERB Commitment shall be submitted in a separate sealed envelope, clearly marked. The information will be evaluated by the Department of General Services.
General Requirements and Information
Firms interested in performing the required services are invited to submit Letters of Interest to Eugene J. Comoss, P.E., Director, Bureau of Facility Design and Construction, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 8th floor, 400 Market Street, P. O. Box 8451, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8451. Contact James Eppley at (717) 783-3333 for general information concerning the inspections.
Each Letter of Interest must include the firm's Federal identification number and the project reference number. The Letter of Interest shall also include a description of the firm's most recently completed bridge inspection assignments. The description shall include the client, contact person and phone number, the estimated or actual cost of the periodic inspection report, or ''bridge inspection assignments,'' the project manager and the names of all personnel who made major contributions to the inspection. The Letter of Interest shall indicate the firm's capability of working on multiple inspections at the same time throughout the state and understanding of the Department's needs. A standard DGS Form 150-ASP must accompany the Letter of Interest and shall indicate the individual in charge. The Form 150-ASP is available by downloading from DGS Home Page on the Internet at http://www.dgs.state.pa.us/cnprs.htm. Form 150-ASP may also be obtained in hard copy or on disk (in Word '97 format only). Written request for hard copy or disk should be addressed to the Selections Committee, Department of General Services, Room 104, 18th and Herr Streets, Harrisburg, PA 17125. In addition, the Form 150-ASP can be obtained by E-mail by addressing the request to: pbianchi@exec.gsinc.state.pa.us. Additional information pertinent to the firm's qualifications to do the work of this contract may be included. Direct costs other than payroll, such as travel and subsistence, shall be based on the current state rates. The Department shall reimburse miscellaneous expenses such as copies, prints, sepias, postage and film at cost upon approval.
The following factors will be considered during the evaluation of the firm's Letter of Interest:
Criteria evaluated by the Technical review will include:
Professional's understanding of the problem as demonstrated in Letter of Interest, and as stated in their own interpretation of the tasks to be performed.
Qualifications of firm.
Professional personnel in firm.
Soundness of approach as demonstrated in Letter of Interest, including the firm's description of prompt responsiveness to design questions, shop drawings, and construction questions.
Geographic proximity of the professional to the facility or study area.
Available manpower to perform the services required. All inspectors must hold valid ''Bridge Safety Inspector'' certification issued by PennDOT.
SERB participation. (Evaluated by DGS)
Equitable distribution of the contracts.
Each proposer shall relate their proposal to the above criteria.
Six copies of the Letter of Interest; six copies of the required forms and one copy of the SERB information in a separate sealed envelope clearly marked, must be received no later than 2 p.m. on April 18, 2000. The six copies shall be submitted in six complete sets that shall be spiral bound or in folders or secured by binder clips. The assignment and services will be made to one or more of the firms responding to this notice. However, the Department reserves the right to reject all Letters of Interest submitted, cancel the solicitation requested under this notice, and/or re-advertise solicitation for this service.
The Department will not offer a debriefing session to the unsuccessful firms. The Department disclaims any liability whatsoever to its review of the proposal submitted and in formulating a recommendation for selections. Recommendations made by the Department shall be final.
JOHN C. OLIVER,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 00-484. Filed for public inspection March 17, 2000, 9:00 a.m.]
