Retention of Engineering Firms [28 Pa.B. 1992] Statewide
Project Reference No. 08430AG2183The Department of Transportation will retain an engineering firm to provide fabrication inspection of prestressed/precast concrete products under the supervision of the Chief Structural Materials Engineer. This inspection will be performed ''Statewide'' and at out-of-state locations as directed by the Chief Structural Materials Engineer. The Contract will include inspection of reinforced concrete pipe and other items incidental to highway construction designated by the Department. Inspection will be conducted in accordance with the Department's Publication No. 145. The Contract will be for a period of twenty-four (24) months, commencing January 1, 1999.
The Department will establish an order of ranking of a minimum of three (3) firms for the purpose of negotiating an Engineering Agreement based on the Department's evaluation of the acceptable letters of interest received in response to this solicitation. The ranking will be established directly from the letters of interest. Technical proposals will not be requested prior to the establishment of the ranking.
The selected firm will be required to furnish approximately fifteen (15) to thirty (30) qualified inspectors at various Statewide and out-of-state fabrication shops as the workload dictates. Occasional field inspection at projects sites is required. Attendance may be required at pre-fabrication meetings with Department engineers and fabrication personnel. The selected firm will be required to furnish two (2) inspection supervisors (one in the eastern region, one in the western region) to provide direct daily supervision of the inspection activities.
Under the direction of the Department, the selected firm will be required to keep records and document the fabrication process; provide quality assurance inspection and perform acceptance tests; submit weekly progress reports; exercise control over materials and workmanship to ensure conformance to specifications; provide a detailed final report and a tabulated list of prestressed/precast concrete quantities shipped to Department projects.
The selected firm must provide all necessary test equipment listed in Publication 145 including a slump cone, air meter and all specification references at each assigned plant.
The project manager may be required to perform professional services as a Staff Engineer, including but not limited to plant approval, quality control plan and mix design review, at the direction of the Department.
The selected firm must also provide the services of a Specifications Engineer and a Forensics Engineer when required. The Specifications Engineer will be required to work in conjunction with Department staff to coordinate and review specification changes from the clearance transmittal process through final implementation. In addition, the selected firm will be asked to participate in the forensic analysis of concrete items by providing the services of a specialized concrete engineer, well versed in the concrete technology field, if directed by the Department.
The job descriptions for all classifications may be obtained from the Structural Materials Engineer who is identified at the end of this solicitation.
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. Ability to package and present the Letter of Interest in accordance with the ''General Requirements and Information'' section.
b. Review of the inspector's qualifications with emphasis on prestressed/precast concrete fabrication inspection experience.
c. Understanding of Department requirements, policies and specifications including the ACI and AASHTO references.
d. Review of the firm's ''supervision plan'' for the plant inspection staff.
e. Number of qualified prestressed/precast concrete fabrication inspectors available for this agreement.
f. Key personnel experienced with precast and prestressed concrete plant fabrication inspection and practices.
g. Firm's past performance of prestressed/precast inspection in fabrication plants.
h. Firm's in-house training program.
i. Branch office in Pennsylvania.
The qualifications and experience required of the firm's inspectors will be established by the Department, and the qualifications of the firm's proposed employees will be reviewed and approved by the Department.
The qualifications and experience required for ninety (90) percent of the inspectors are as follows:
1. Be certified by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) as a technician, Level II or higher in Construction Materials Testing/Concrete, Transportation/Highway Construction, or Transportation/Highway Materials OR
2. Be certified by the American Concrete Institute (ACI) as Concrete Field Testing Technician-Grade I, OR
3. Be registered as a Professional Engineer by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with the required concrete fabrication experience for the specified Inspection Classification acceptable to the Department, OR
4. Be certified as an Engineer-in-Training by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with the required concrete fabrication experience for the specified Inspection Classification acceptable to the Department, OR
5. Hold a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering or a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Technology with the required concrete fabrication experience for the specified for the Inspection Classification acceptable to the Department, OR
6. Hold an Associate Degree in Civil Engineering Technology with the required concrete fabrication experience for the specified Inspection Classification acceptable to the Department.
The staff assigned to prestressed concrete fabrication inspection must be high school graduates with no less than three (3) years in concrete construction of which one (1) year is in the prestressed concrete fabrication field.
The staff assigned to precast box culvert fabrication inspection must be high school graduates with no less than three (3) years in concrete construction of which one (1) year is in the prestressed concrete fabrication field or the precast concrete box culvert fabrication field.
The staff assigned to precast concrete inspection must be high school graduates with no less than three (3) years in construction of which one year is in the concrete fabrication field.
The Staff Engineer (Manager) of the inspection personnel must be a Professional Engineer registered in Pennsylvania with a minimum of three (3) years of prestressed/precast fabrication related experience. One (1) year must be directly related to prestressed concrete plant fabrication.
An Inspection Supervisor is required to be a Professional Engineer registered in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or meet the requirements of a prestressed concrete inspector. The Inspection Supervisor is required to provide direct supervision of the inspection staff by making routine visits to assigned plants.
Also, the following minimum qualifications will be taken into consideration:
a. Ability to speak, write, read and understand the English language.
b. Have basic knowledge of prestressed/precast concrete fabrication.
c. Prior experience in prestressed/precast concrete plant fabrication inspection.
d. Capable of acting as a direct representative of the Engineer.
The maximum straight time reimbursement per hour of inspection for each Department Payroll Classification for calendar years 1999 and 2000 will be as follows:
Payroll Classification Maximum Straight Time Reimbursement Per Hour Of Inspection 1999 2000 Prestressed Concrete- Box
$41.92 $43.38 Culvert Inspector (PS/BC-I) *
Precast Concrete-Reinforced
$37.82 $43.38 Concrete Pipe Inspector
(PC/RCP-I) Inspection Supervisor *
$55.51 $57.46 Staff Engineer *
$88.55 $88.55 Specifications Engineer *
$88.55 $88.55 Forensics Engineer *
$88.55 $88.55 Letters of Interest for this project must include a letter, signed by the individuals you propose for the classifications marked with an asterisk (*) above giving their approval to use their name in your letter of interest for this specific project.
The second copy of the letter of interest and required forms, (see general requirements and information section shall be sent to: Director, Bureau of Construction and Materials, 1118 State Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120. Attention: Mr. William Miller.
Any technical questions concerning the requirements for this project should be directed to: Mr. William J. Miller, P.E., Chief Structural Materials Engineer, Bureau of Construction & Materials at (717) 787-1950.
Any questions concerning the submittal of the letter of interest can be directed to the Consultant Agreement Division at (717) 783-9309.
General Requirements and Information Firms interested in providing the above work and services are invited to submit two copies of a Letter of Interest are required information for each Project Reference Number for which the applicant wishes to be considered.
The first copy of the Letter of Interest and required information must be submitted to:
Mr. Charles W. Allwein, P.E., Chief Consultant Selection Committee 7th Floor, Forum Place 555 Walnut Street P.O. Box 3060 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105-3060
Note: The Zip Code for express Mailing is 17101-1900
The Letter of Interest and required information must be received within twenty (20) calendar days of this Notice. The Deadline for receipt of a Letter of Interest at the above address is 4:30 P.M. prevailing time of the twentieth day.
The second copy of the letter of interest and required information must be submitted to the appropriate District Engineer/Administrator or the Bureau Director as indicated in the individual advertisement. This copy must be postmarked or delivered on or before the deadline indicated above.
If an individual, firm, or corporation not authorized to engage in the practice of engineering desires to submit a Letter of Interest, said individual, firm, or corporation may do so as part of a Joint Venture with an individual, firm, or corporate which is permitted under the state law to engage in the practice of engineering.
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 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 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 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 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 were defined prior to the act, WEBs or combinations thereof.
Proposing 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.
Each Letter of Interest must include the following information and the information must be packaged and presented in the following order:
1. Transmittal Letter (Maximum of two (2) 8 1/2'' x 11'' typed pages, one side)
The subject heading of the transmittal letter must include the project reference number for which the applicant wishes to be considered, the firm's legal name, fictitious name (if applicable), and the firm's federal identification number. If the project advertisement indicated the Department will retain an engineering firm for the project, the applicant must indicate in the body of their transmittal letter the names and Professional Engineer License Number of individuals who are directing heads or employees of the firm who have responsible charge of the firm's engineering activities, and whose names and seals shall be stamped on all plans, specifications, plats, and reports issued by the firm.
2. Project Organizational Chart (one page, one side, maximum size 11'' x 17'')
This Chart must show key staff from the prime and each subconsultant and their area of responsibility.
3. Standard Form 255, ''Architect-Engineer and Related Services Questionnaire for Specific Project'' (one Form 255 for the project team)
The Standard Form 255 must be signed, dated, and filled out in its entirety, including Item No. 6 listing the proposed subconsultants and the type of work or service they will perform on the project.
Under Item 4 of this form, Column A must specify only the number of subconsultant personnel and Column B must specify only the number of prime consultant personnel to be assigned to work on this project reference number. Do not include the total personnel for either the subconsultant or prime consultant under Item 4 unless the total personnel are necessary to provide the required work and services.
The prime and each subconsultant may include no more than one page each for Items 10 and 11.
If a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal is specified for the project, the DBE must be currently certified by the Department of Transportation, and the name of the DBE and the work to be performed must be indicated in Item No. 6. If a Woman Business Enterprise (WBE) firm is substituted for the DBE, the WBE firm must also be presently certified by the Department of Transportation and indicated in Item 6.
4. Standard Form 254, ''Architect-Engineer for Related Services Questionnaire''
A Standard Form 254, not more than one (1) year old as of the date of this advertisement, must accompany each Letter of Interest for the firm, each party to a Joint Venture, and for each subconsultant the firm or Joint Venture is proposing to use for the performance of professional services regardless of whether the subconsultant is an individual, a college professor, or a Company, unless an acceptable Standard Form 254 for the prime and each subconsultant/subcontractor is on file in both the Bureau of Design and the Engineering District Office or Central Office Bureau identified in the individual project advertisement.
If the Standard Form 254 is not submitted with the Letter of Interest, the transmittal letter shall indicate the dates that the Standard Forms 254 were submitted to the Bureau of Design and appropriate Engineering District/Central Office Bureau.
These Forms must be assembled with the prime's form first, followed by the form for each subconsultant in the same order as the subconsultants appear in Item 6 of Form 255.
5. Workload Projection Graph (Not required for Construction Inspection Services)
Separate Workload Projection Graphs for the prime and each subconsultant shown in Item 6 of the Form 255 must be included and must indicate the firm's current and anticipated workload compared to the anticipated capacity available for the next two-year time frame. The Workload Projection Graphs must be submitted for the office(s) where the work would be performed and must only include the personnel classifications required for providing the advertised services and work.
6. Authorization Letters (For Construction Inspections Services, if required)
If the advertisement requires a letter signed by individuals giving their approval to use their name in the Letter of Interest, the letters from proposed prime employees must be first, followed by subconsultant employees, in the same order as shown in Item 6 of Form 255.
7. Registration To Do Business
Firms with out-of-state headquarters or corporations not incorporated in Pennsylvania must include, with each Letter of Interest, a copy of their registration to do business in the Commonwealth as provided by the Department of State. Firms who are not registered to do business in Pennsylvania at the time of this advertisement must document that they have applied for registration to the Department of State, Corporation Bureau. The telephone number for the Corporation Bureau is (717) 787-1057 or (717) 787-2004.
8. Overhead Rates (one page)
A single page summary must indicate the latest audited overhead rate developed in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) for the prime consultant and each subconsultant. If a FAR rate is not available, the latest rate available from a Certified Public Accountant must be indicated. New firms should indicate how long the firm has been in existence and when an audited overhead rate would be available.
9. Additional Information
Additional information, not to exceed ten (10) one sided 8 1/2'' x 11'' pages or five (5) double sided 8 1/2'' x 11'' pages may be included at the discretion of the submitting firm.
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 of Transportation
BRADLEY L.MALLORY,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 98-644. Filed for public inspection April 24, 1998, 9:00 a.m.]
