826 Retention of engineering firms (2 documents)

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Retention of Engineering Firms

[28 Pa.B. 2459]

Bucks and Montgomery Counties
Project Reference No. 08430AG2198

   The Department of Transportation will retain an engineering firm to perform environmental mitigation design, final design, and construction consultation for S. R. 0202, Section 711, U. S. 202 Relocation in Montgomery Township, Montgomery County, and Warrington Township, Bucks County. The project involves a portion of the New Alignment Alternative for U. S. 202 between Montgomeryville, Montgomery County and Doylestown, Bucks County as outlined in the U. S. 202, Section 700, Final Environmental Impact Statement (October, 1997). The project also includes improvements to the following intersection: U. S. 202, PA 309, and PA 463 (Five Points) in Montgomery Township, Montgomery County and Limekiln Pike and Upper State Road in Warrington and Upper State Road in Warrington and New Britain Townships, Bucks County.

   The limits of the design project are U. S. 202 at a point just south of Horsham Road in Montgomery Township, Montgomery County and Pickertown Road in Warrington Township, Bucks County a distance of approximately 4 miles. The estimated construction cost of this portion is $80.0 million.

   The selected firm will be required to provide the following engineering and design services: surveys; roadway design; pavement design; preparation of cross sections; soils and geological investigations; erosion and sedimentation control design; highway lighting design; right-of-way investigation and plan preparation; structure design; hydrologic and hydraulic analysis; preparation of traffic control, pavement marking and signing plans; traffic signal design; sign lighting plans; utility coordination and design; highway lighting; coordination with PUC, PennDEP, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, municipal officials, and the public; preparation of final plans, specifications and estimates; shops drawing reviews; alternate design review; and construction consultation.

   The selected firm will also be required to provide environmental mitigation services to complete the following: groundwater protection; noise abatement; and hazardous waste contamination remediation. These services will be conducted to complete the design and construction proposals. The selected firm will be required to provide all necessary environmental services, material and equipment necessary to collect, analyze and organize data, assess impacts, conduct agency and public involvement activities, and prepare reports and plans. The reports and other written graphic material to be prepared may include, but are not limited to, meeting minutes; and coordinating the development of the design with various agencies and special interest groups.

   Firms that are currently serving, or are being considered for selection as municipal engineer in the municipalities listed in the project description will not be considered for this assignment.

   Also, firms that are under contract, or are being considered, to provide engineering services to a land developer for a site located along the project will likewise not be considered for this assignment. Firms should state in the letter of interest that they are not serving in either capacity as a municipal engineer or as a representative of a site developer. Any questions concerning this requirement should be directed to Mr. Tim O'Brien, at the telephone number listed below.

   The consultant selection meeting will be held in the District 6-0 Engineering Office, large conference room, 200 Radnor-Chester Road, St. Davis, PA on June 26, 1998 at 10 a.m.

   The goal for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation in this Agreement shall be fifteen (15%) percent 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).

   The District's copy of the Letter of Interest and required forms (see general requirements and information section) shall be sent to: Mr. Andrew Warren, District Administrator, Engineering District 6-0, 200 Radnor-Chester Road, St. Davids, PA 19087.

   Any technical questions concerning the requirements for this project should be directed to: Mr. Tim O'Brien, P.E., District 6-0, at [phone], or Mr. Randy Wanger, P.E., District 6-0, at [phone].

   Any questions concerning the submittal of the letter of interest can be directed to the Consultant Agreement Division at [phone].

Indiana and Cambria Counties
Project Reference No. 08430AG2199

   The Department of Transportation will retain a firm specializing in Right-of-Way acquisition to perform Right-of-Way Acquisition Assistance Services for a nine (9) mile section of Route 22, Section 495 in Indiana and Cambria Counties. The western terminus of this project is near the S. R. 0403 interchange in East Wheatfield Township, Indiana County, and the eastern terminus is near the S. R. 0271 Interchange in Jackson Township, Cambria County. These services include, but are not limited to, relocation assistance planning, appraisal planning, negotiations, title and settlement services, property management, and assistance during construction. It is anticipated that approximately one hundred fifty-five (155) parcels will be affected with approximately thirty-three (33) displacements. Relocation will involve both residential and commercial properties. Appraisal services will not be part of this agreement.

   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 following factors, listed in order of importance, will be considered by the Engineering District 9-0 Office 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.  Specialized experience and technical competence of the individuals committed to this assignment.

   c.  Workload and available staff.

   d.  Past records of performance with respect to technical competence, cost control, work quality and ability to meet or exceed schedules.

   e.  Internal procedures of Quality Assurance/Quality Control.

   f.  Location of office to perform work.

   Administration of the Agreement will be provided by Engineering District 10-0 Office.

   The District's copy of the Letter of Interest and required forms (see general requirements and information section) shall be sent to: Mr. Earl Neiderhiser, P.E., District Engineer, Engineering District 9-0, 1620 North Juniata Street, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648, Attn. Mr. David L. Sherman, P.E.

   Any technical questions concerning the requirements for this project should be directed to: Mr. David L. Sherman, P.E., at [phone].

   Any questions concerning the submittal of the letter of interest can be directed to the Consultant Agreement Division at [phone].

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 [phone] or [phone].

   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

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 98-826. Filed for public inspection May 22, 1998, 9:00 a.m.]