Retention of Engineering Firms [29 Pa.B. 2825] Northampton County Project Reference No. 08430AG2357 The Department will retain an engineering firm to provide supplementary construction inspection staff of approximately fourteen (14) inspectors, under the Department's Inspector(s)-in-Charge for construction inspection and documentation services on S.R. 0033, Section 002, Lower Saucon and Bethlehem Townships, Northampton County, PA 33 Extension North. This project involves the construction of a new four (4) lane limited access divided highway and the construction of two (2) major interchanges.
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 acceptable 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 Department during the evaluation of the firms submitting acceptable letters of interest:
a. Review of inspectors' resumes with emphasis on construction inspection capabilities and specialized experience in the Maintenance and Protection of Traffic, soils, structures, concrete, asphalt paving, drainage, traffic signals, pavement markings and guide rail. The TCI-M has to be nuclear gauge certified; a TCI has to be PennDOT CDS certified.
b. Understanding of Department's requirements, policies, and specifications.
c. Past Performance.
d. Number of available inspectors in each payroll classification.
e. Number of NICET certified inspectors in each payroll classification.
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.
It is anticipated that the supplementary construction inspection staff for this assignment will consist of the following number of inspectors who meet the requirements for the following inspection classifications:
No. of Classification Inspectors Transportation Construction Manager 1 (TCM-1)
(NICET Highway Construction Level 4 or equivalent)1 (1) Transportation Construction Ins. Super. (TCIS)
(NICET Highway Construction Level 3 or equivalent)4 (3) Transportation Construction Inspector-- Materials (TCI-Materials)
(NICET Highway Materials Level 2 or equivalent)1 (1) Transportation Construction Inspector (TCI)
(NICET Highway Construction Level 2 or equivalent)6 (3) Technical Assistant (TA)
(NICET Highway Construction Level 1 or equivalent)2 (0) The number(s) in parenthesis above indicate the number of inspectors in each Classification that must meet at least one of the following requirements:
1. Be certified by the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) in the field of Transportation Engineering Technology, subfield of Highway Construction, or subfield of Highway Materials, at the Level required for the Inspection Classification.
2. Be registered as a Professional Engineer by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with the required highway experience specified for the Inspection Classification.
3. Be certified as an Engineer-in-Training by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with the required highway experience specified for the Inspection Classification.
4. Hold a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering or a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering Technology with the required highway experience specified for the Inspection Classification.
5. Hold an Associate Degree in Civil Engineering Technology with the required highway experience specified for the Inspection Classification.
The maximum straight-time reimbursement per hour of inspection for each Department Payroll Classification for calendar year of 1999 shall be as follows:
Maximum Straight Time Reimbursement Per Hour Payroll Classification Of Inspection (TCM-1) $46.27 (TCIS) $40.54 (TCI-Materials) $36.55 (TCI) $35.47 (TA) $24.39 The maximum straight-time reimbursement per hour of inspection includes all costs for providing construction inspection services at the project site during the normal work week.
The maximum straight-time reimbursement per hour of inspection for subsequent calendar years, if applicable, will be established at the scope of work meeting.
The firm selected may be required to attend a pre-construction conference with the Department and the construction contractor for this project. Under the supervision and direction of the Department, the selected firm will be required to keep records and document the construction work; prepare current and final estimates for payment to the construction contractor; assist the Department in obtaining compliance with the labor standards, safety and accident prevention, and equal opportunity provisions of the contract item; and perform other duties as may be required. Firms applying must have qualified personnel capable of climbing structures during painting, rehabilitation, or construction.
The firm selected will be required to supply the following equipment at no direct cost to the Department:
1 Nuclear Densometer Gauge/License 1 Vehicle for the Transportation of Nuclear Gauge 1 Base Radio Station 12 Two-Way Radios 1 Two-Way Radio Repeater Station 1 Camera (type 35mm, film, developing) 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).
Letters of interest for this project must include a letter, signed by the individuals you propose for all TCM-1 and TCIS positions, giving their approval to use their name in your letter of interest for this specific project.
The maximum number of resumes to be included in the letter of interest shall be as follows:
Classification No. of Resumes TCM-1 2 TCIS 5 TCI-M 2 TCI 8 No resumes are required for the TA Classification.
This project reference assignment is considered non-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), required information, and additional resumes, if applicable. (See the General Requirements and Information Section).
The Letter of Interest submission shall be sent to:
Mr. Walter E. Bortree, P.E., District Engineer
Engineering District 5-0
1713 Lehigh Street
Allentown, PA 18103
Attention Mr. Brian H. GraverThe 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. Brian H. Graver, District 5-0, at (610) 791-6022.
Northumberland County Project Reference No. 08430AG2358 The Department will retain an engineering firm to perform preliminary engineering, final design and construction services for a roadway project, S.R. 0054, Section 037 in Rush Township, Northumberland County.
The project consists of constructing truck-climbing lanes at various locations on a 4.5 mile stretch of S.R. 0054. Also included is a box culvert extension. Estimated construction cost is $6.7 million.
The selected engineering firm will be required to perform a variety of engineering services as indicated below, but not limited to:
1. Preliminary engineering including, but not limited to: field surveys; type, size and location; Step 9; soils and geological reconnaissance; maintenance and protection of traffic plans; right-of-way plans; roadway design; structure design; hydrologic and hydraulic studies; and coordination with utility companies.
2. Preparation of final roadway and structure plans, including but not limited to: final design; and preparation of plans, specifications and estimates.
3. Consultation during construction
All engineering services for this project will be performed in accordance with current Department Metric Design Standards.
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 performance of firm with respect to quality of work, administrative and cost controls, ability to meet schedules, and previous experience on roadway widening engineering projects. The specific experience of individuals who constitute the firm shall be considered.
b. Specialized experience and technical competence of firm.
c. Demonstrated familiarity with the project scope.
d. Resumes of key personnel and listing of proposed sub-consultants.
e. Relative size of firm to size of project to be completed under this contract.
f. Demonstrated capacity for innovative engineering to resolve complex problems.
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), required information, and additional resumes, if applicable. (See the General Requirements and Information Section).
The Letter of Interest submission shall be sent to:
Mr. Paul E. Heise, P.E., District Engineer
Engineering District 3-0
715 Jordan Avenue
Montoursville, PA 17754The 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 sixth (6th) day following the date of this Notice.
The District will announce the firms that have been shortlisted at an open public meeting scheduled for June 30, 1999, at 10 a.m. at the Engineering District 3-0 office at 715 Jordan Avenue, Montoursville, PA. All candidates that submitted a letter of interest will be notified if this date changes. Specify a contact person in the letter of interest.
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).
Any technical questions concerning the requirements for this project should be directed to: Mr. Russell E. Campbell, District 3-0, at (570) 368-4380.
Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton and Schuylkill Counties Project Reference No. 08430AG2359 The Department will retain an engineering firm for an Open-End Contract for various engineering services on various projects located in Engineering District 5-0, that is, Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton and Schuylkill Counties. The Contract will be for a sixty (60) month period with projects assigned on an as-needed basis. The maximum amount of the Open-End Contract will be $500 thousand.
The Department will establish an order of ranking of a minimum of three (3) firms for the purpose of negotiating an Open-End Contract 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 acceptable letters of interest. Technical proposals will not be requested prior to establishment of the ranking.
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 (timeliness, responsiveness, quality, cost control, and ability to meet schedules).
b. Diversity of experience and technical competence.
c. Location of consultant with respect to the District.
d. Relative size of the firm to potential assignments.
e. Avoidance of potential conflict of interest in review tasks.
The majority of work performed under this Open-End Contract will be in the areas of:
* Review of large consultant designs including, but not limited to: traffic signal designs; work zone traffic control plans; signing and pavement marking plans; delineation; RRM, etc.
* Step 9 Safety reviews.
* Support for the District's new ''Road Safety Audit'' process and the District's ITS initiative.
* Design of municipal traffic signals.
* Highway Occupancy Permit reviews where the review cannot be performed by the consultant currently under contract to perform these reviews due to a conflict of interest.
Review tasks will be subject to the condition that the selected consultant (or any subconsultant retained to perform work under this Open-End Contract) will not be permitted to review any work performed for a developer for which they are also under contract or for a municipality in which they provide engineering services.
The services identified above are the general work activities that can be expected under this Open-End Contract. A more specific and project-related Scope of Work will be outlined with each individual Work Order developed under this Open-End Contract.
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), required information, and additional resumes, if applicable. (See the General Requirements and Information Section).
The Letter of Interest submission shall be sent to:
Mr. Walter E. Bortree, P.E., District Engineer
Engineering District 5-0
1713 Lehigh Street
Allentown, PA 18103
Attention: Mr. David A. Earp, 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. David A. Earp, P.E., District 5-0, at (610) 791-6021.
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.
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 the Central Office, Bureau of Design by the deadline stipulated in the individual advertisements.
By submitting a letter of interest for the projects that requests 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.
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.
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 maximum 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, 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.
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. 99-871. Filed for public inspection May 28, 1999, 9:00 a.m.]
