DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES Retention of Engineering Firms; Bridge Design and Analysis; Project Reference No. FDC-500-802 [44 Pa.B. 5064]
[Saturday, July 26, 2014]The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Department) will retain an engineering firm, or firms, for open-end contracts for various engineering, inspection and related environmental and geotechnical services for bridge design and analysis projects located on State Parks and State Forest land in this Commonwealth. The contracts will be for a 12-month period with four 12-month extensions possible. Projects will be assigned on an as-needed basis to ensure proper and safe operation of Department infrastructure and facilities.
Letters of Interest for this project 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.
The services may encompass a wide range of civil and structural design efforts with the possibility of several different types of projects being designed under short completion schedules. The anticipated types of projects may include, but are not limited to, bridge replacement and rehabilitation (single and multispan), roadway reconstruction/rehabilitation, structural evaluation or design of various bridge types, building types and other civil engineering related work as assigned by the Department.
Typically the engineering firm shall be required to furnish a complete set of contract documents (plans and specifications) suitable for public bid and in accordance with a prescribed Department format and in accordance with applicable State and Federal codes and requirement. A quality assurance program shall be in place by the engineering firm assuring that all documents are acceptable and of the highest quality prior to submission of said documents to the Department.
Areas of related environmental study associated with these design projects may include, but are not limited to, wetlands, soil, geology, 25 Pa. Code Chapter 105 (relating to dam safety and waterway management) and Corps of Engineers 404 permits and Department of Environmental Protection water quality management requirements. The environmental studies shall be conducted in accordance with accepted analysis to techniques and methodologies and may include any or all of the following to ensure a complete environmental investigation has been performed; provide all necessary environmental services, material and equipment necessary to collect, analyze and organize data, assess impacts, prepare reports and design mitigation plans. The reports and other graphic material to be prepared may include, but are not limited to, plans of study, meeting minutes, preparation of permit application documents, mitigation plans and reports and wetland and floodplain findings.
PART I GENERAL REQUIREMENTS I-1. Specific Requirements.
A. The engineering firm may be required to perform any or all of the following duties: attend site visits; prepare minutes; perform necessary field surveys; plot topography and cross sections; develop erosion control plans; prepare permit applications, prepare type, size and location reports; prepare construction drawings, specifications and estimates; procure core borings; provide soil and foundation engineering reports; investigate utility involvement; evaluate alternatives, using benefit/cost analysis; develop other details and narratives; inspect major and unusual structures; develop rehabilitation strategies; and also, review shop drawings, catalog cuts and occasional attendance at construction job conferences may be required.
I-2. Addenda to the Request for Proposals (RFP). If the Department deems it necessary to revise any part of this RFP before the proposal response date, the Issuing Office will post an addendum to the Department's web site at http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us. It is the Offeror's responsibility to periodically check the web site for any new information or addenda to the RFP. Answers to the questions asked during the questions and answers period also will be posted, as necessary, to the web site as an addendum to the RFP.
I-3. Small Diverse Business (SDB) Information. The offering firm must be a self-certified Small Business/SDB verified by the Department of General Services (DGS), Bureau of Small Business Opportunities (BSBO).
An SDB is a DGS-verified minority-owned business, woman-owned business, veteran-owned business or service-disabled veteran-owned business.
A Small Business is a business in the United States which is independently owned, not dominant in its field of operation, employs no more than 100 full-time or full-time equivalent employees and earns less than $7 million in gross annual revenues for building design, $20 million in gross annual revenues for sales and services and $25 million in gross annual revenues for those businesses in the information technology sales or service business.
Questions regarding this program can be directed to the Department of General Services, Bureau of Small Business Opportunities, Room 611, North Office Building, Harrisburg, PA 17125, (717) 783-3119, fax (717) 787-7052, gs-bsbo@pa.gov.
The DGS's directory of BSBO-verified minority, women, veteran and service disabled veteran-owned businesses can be accessed by searching for ''Small Diverse Businesses'' at www.dgs.state.ps.us.
I-4. Notification of Selection. Offerors whose proposals are not selected will be notified when contract negotiations have been successfully completed and the Department has received the final negotiated contract signed by the selected Offeror.
I-5. Type of Contract. The type of contract as a result of this RFP shall be an open end, requirements contract. Work shall be assigned on an as-needed basis as determined by the Department. The initial term of the agreement shall be 1 year and renewable for up to 4 subsequent years. Reimbursement for services shall be by fixed fee percentage based upon project allocation or hours of service and qualifying expenses. The reimbursement type shall be at the Department's discretion. The work shall be reviewed by the staff of the Bureau of Facility Design and Construction and, when applicable, approved by same staff.
PART II PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS Offerors must submit their proposals in the format, including heading descriptions, outlined as follows. To be considered, the proposal must respond to all requirements in this part of the RFP. Offerors should provide any other information thought to be relevant, but not applicable to the enumerated categories, as an appendix to the Proposal.
II-1. Letter of Interest. 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 three most recently completed projects similar to the project proposed. The description shall include the client, contact person and phone number, the estimated or actual construction cost of the portion of the work which the firm designed, the project manager and the names of all personnel who made major contributions to the project. The Letter of Interest shall indicate the firm's capability of working on multiple small projects at the same time 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. Form 150-ASP is available by downloading from the DGS web site at http://www.dgs.state.pa.us choose from the menu on left margin: ''Construction and Public Works,'' then ''Project Administration,'' then ''Professional Selections,'' then ''ASP-150 (Rev. 05/14) Instructions.'' In addition, Form 150-ASP can be obtained by means of e-mail by addressing the request to nspade@pa.gov. Additional information pertinent to this firm's qualifications to do the work of this contract may be included.
II-2. Number of Copies. Two copies of the SDB participation section bound and sealed separately from the remainder of the proposal and six copies of the complete set consisting of the Letter of Interest and the required forms must be received no later than 4 p.m. on August 27, 2014. 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 or readvertise solicitation for this service, or both.
II-3. SDB Participation Submittal. Offeror must include proof of SDB qualification in the SDB participation submittal of the proposal, as indicated as follows:
A. Small Business/SDB verified by DGS, BSBO as a Small Business/SDB must provide a photocopy of their verification letter.
II-4. Debriefing. 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.
PART III CRITERIA FOR SELECTION III-1. Selection Criteria. The engineering consulting firm will be evaluated upon, but not limited to, the following criteria:
A. Professional's understanding of the problem as demonstrated in the Letter of Interest.
B. Qualifications of the firm.
C. Professional personnel in the firm and available manpower to perform the services required.
D. Soundness of approach as demonstrated in Letter of Interest and as stated in the interpretation of the tasks to be performed.
E. Quality control and assurance program and procedures of the firm.
F. Equitable distribution of contracts.
G. Offerer is a self-certified Small Business. To be eligible for selection for this project the offerer firm must be a self-certified Small Business/SDB verified by DGS, BSBO. Refer to Part I, I-3.
III-2. Number of Contracts. The Department may select more than one firm.
PART IV MAILING AND CONTACT INFORMATION Firms interested in performing the required services for this project are invited to submit Letters of Interest to Alfred Uzokwe, PE, 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 Charles Lutter at (717) 783-3318 for general information concerning this request for proposal.
ELLEN M. FERRETTI,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 14-1571. Filed for public inspection July 25, 2014, 9:00 a.m.]
