A/E Modeling Services

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Louisiana is requesting professional qualifications (SF-330's) from qualified firms for architect/engineering services with experience in performing modeling services for various water resources projects. This is a Request for Qualifications conducted in accordance with the Brooks A/E Act as implemented in FAR Subpart 36.6. This is a Total Small Business Set Aside under the primary NAICS code of 541330 which has a size standard of $4.5M. This announcement constitutes the only notice. For purposes of this announcement, a concern is considered to be a small business concern if its average annual receipts for the past three years, do not exceed $4.5 million. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this requirement or any follow up information requests. The Government anticipates the award of a Firm, Fixed Price, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity A-E contract as a result of this competition. The initial contract period will be for one (1) year and the Government may, at its option, extend the contract a maximum of five (5) years by exercising each of the four (4) one-year renewal options. Work under the contract will be subject to satisfactory negotiation and performance of individual Task Orders. The price of any single task order shall be at least $5,000 but shall not exceed $1,000,000. The maximum order amount for any contract period (base year and each option year) shall be $1,000,000. The guaranteed minimum is $5,000 per year. Task Orders will be negotiated as firm fixed price procurements for individual projects. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES INCLUDE: The contractor shall furnish all supervision, labor, supplies, and materials necessary to complete engineering modeling services for various water resource projects in Louisiana, with emphasis on coastal marshes, as described below: Modeling Services: Services may consist of existing data compilation to include the identification, compilation, review and evaluation of any existing pertinent data to determine its utility for the implementation of a hydrologic study of a project area. Examples of data that may be needed include existing water level, siphon discharge, salinity, rainfall, wind, topography, bathymetry, etc. Additional data collection may consist of field collection of additional data if determined necessary for use in planning and design of a project. Hydrological Analysis/Model Selection consisting of the formulation of a report detailing the proposed method for performing hydrologic study of the project area. The methodology will contain, at a minimum, the formulas and rationale used for a mathematical simulation and/or a description of the software used for a model. Hydrologic Analysis/Model Setup to include the identification and providing rationale for all parameters, including assumptions used for geometric setup, boundary configuration and data input. Hydrologic Analysis/Model Calibration to include calibration to reasonably assure that the assumptions, setup parameters, and methodology used for the analysis is capable of simulating observed responses. An acceptable level of accuracy, to be determined upon model selection, shall be attained before applying scenarios. Hydrologic Analysis/Model Scenarios may include the simulation of specific scenarios for the given project area. NRCS will provide input regarding project boundaries, scenarios and time frames for which the analysis will be performed. Hydrologic Analysis/Model Results may consist of the formulation of a report containing the following information (1) narrative of items noted above to include all calculations and documentation used to the support the model conclusions (2) GIS map showing the project area, project features and any data locations used for the simulation (3) narrative and graphics of the results of the scenarios evaluated (4) report shall be sealed by a Professional Engineer licensed in the state of Louisiana. The firm must be able to work on sites which are landbased, shallow draft and deep draft marine and marshland based areas. PRE-SELECTON CRITERIA will be based on the firm having in-house a minimum of one (1) Registered Professional Engineer in the state of Louisiana with a minimum of five (5) years experience in hydrologic analysis or modeling. This engineer shall be licensed in the state of Louisiana or hold a temporary permit to practice engineering in Louisiana. SELECTION CRITERIA: Each firm will be evaluated on the following: 1. Professional qualifications necessary for satisfactory performance. Evaluation will be based upon the number of qualified personnel, certifications/professional registrations, education, years of experience and qualified personnel's knowledge and level of experience associated with the services above, and their availability to perform work on this contract. 2. Specialized experience and technical competence in the type of work required. Evaluation will be based on the extent of directly related experience in performing hydrodynamic modeling with emphasis on, but not limited to, coastal marshes. Specialized education at the university level and all other applicable education, training, and certifications/professional registrations will also be evaluated. Knowledge of and direct experience in the application of the described services in the coastal marsh environment in Louisiana is a plus. Examples of work shall be provided for review, as well as a description of the type, variety and complexity of the work performed. Previous work samples will be evaluated based on complexity of work performed. 3. Capacity to accomplish the work. Evaluation will be based on the number of qualified personnel available to work on this contract, the quality and quantity of field/office equipment units and software/hardware units available, and the quantity of work currently under contract and the completion dates of said work. Examples of equipment and software considered in the evaluation are: number/size/type of boats, trucks, GPS, RTK, echosounders, magnetometers, AutoCad, MicroStation, plotters, computers, Hypack, gradiometer, side scan sub-bottom sonar, etc. 4. Past performance on contracts with government agencies and private industry. Evaluation will be based upon the firm's and/or team members (as applicable) relevant past performance on similar projects with the NRCS, other government agencies and/or private industry in performing the requirements described including cost control, quality of work and compliance with performance schedules. References with telephone numbers must be provided. 5. Location in the general geographic area and knowledge of the locality. Evaluation will be based on the past work experience and knowledge of the general geographic area of Louisiana where hydrodynamic modeling or studies were or will be performed Knowledge and experience of the project locale is a plus. The evaluation factors listed above are ranked in their order of importance, with criteria (1) being the most important. In order to comply with the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, all contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management System (SAMS) to be considered for an award of a Federal contract. For information regarding registration contact the SAMS Web Site at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/. Firms which meet the requirements described in this announcement are invited to submit 4 copies of Standard Form 330, Architect-Engineer Qualifications, Parts I and II, and any other supplemental information deemed by the Offeror to respond to the selection criteria. Do not submit cover letters, binders, elaborate coverings, spiral bound material or company brochures/pamphlets, etc. Submit only what is requested on 8 - x 11 inch bond paper with a minimum of 12 pitch font. The proposal submittal, including the SF 330 Parts I and II shall not exceed 100 pages in length (includes all attachments, subcontractor, consultant information, etc.). Offerors exceeding the maximum page limitations may not be considered. Cover pages, tab pages, and divider pages will not count towards the 100 page limit. Submissions include single or double sided sheets, but shall not exceed the 100 page limitation. Offerors may include 11 x 14 inch paper for the exclusive presentation of tables or figures. These pages will not count towards the page limitation. Interested firms must submit their SF-330's no later than August 23, 2013, 2:00 p.m. CT, to the attention of Vicki Supler, Contracting Officer, USDA-NRCS, 3737 Government Street, Alexandria, LA 71302. Only those firms responding by that time will be considered for selection. Firms responding to the announcement before the closing date will be considered for selection, subject to any limitations indicated with respect to size and geographic location of the firm, specialized technical expertise, or other requirements listed. Facsimile transmissions and email transmissions will not be accepted. Solicitation packages are not provided and no additional project information will be given to firms during the announcement period. Any questions should be addressed to the contracting officer. NOTE: Work will be located throughout the State of Louisiana. PRICE PROPOSALS: Once the evaluation of firms has been completed, the most highly qualified firm shall provide a price proposal within the requested time period to be identified by the Government (DO NOT SUBMIT UNTIL REQUESTED). The proposal shall include, but is not limited to, a description of direct labor categories, direct labor rates, G&A rates, Overhead rates, Computer Assisted Design rates, and other recurring costs. The proposal will be negotiated and incorporated into the resultant contract. Should the most highly qualified firm fail to negotiate an acceptable price with the Contracting Officer, it will be ineligible for award. The contractor agrees to submit a Certificate of Current Cost or Pricing Data as required by FAR 15.406-2(a) for awards exceeding $700,000. OTHER INFORMATION: The proposal will be evaluated and negotiated for fair and reasonable price. If a fair and reasonable price cannot be negotiated, the Government may request a proposal from the next highest ranked firm and the process will continue until a contract has been awarded. Selection of firms for negotiation shall be made in order of ranking based on the demonstrated competence and qualifications necessary for satisfactory performance in accordance with the specific selection criteria listed in this announcement.