Architect - Design Services including Geotechnical, Modeling, Design, Surveying and Inspection Services

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL OR INVITATION FOR BID. SOLICITATION, SPECIFICATIONS AND DRAWINGS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), National Services Delivery Team, Lafayette, Louisiana, is hereby soliciting a capability statement from all qualified Architect-Engineer (A-E) firms to perform the full spectrum of design services to include design, geotechnical engineering, hydrology, hydrologic modeling, surveying, environmental assessments and studies, inspection, and supporting documents relative to permitting for projects to be completed under the Coastal Wetlands Planning Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) and the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economics of the Gulf Coast States (RESTORE) Act primarily located within the Gulf Coast Region (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida). The NRCS is currently investigating issuing one or more indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity (IDIQ) and/or multiple award task order contracts (MATOC) under which to solicit this work. The anticipated contract period would be for a base period of one year with a provision for four, one-year option periods for a total of up to five years. The total anticipated contract amount is estimated at $10 million per year. The responses to this Sources Sought will help determine the appropriate type, size and number of contracts. Depending on the responses, a future solicitation will either be set aside in one of the categories listed below or be issued on an unrestricted basis. The Government does not presently intend to award a contract but desires to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities and qualifications of various members of industry, names the Small Business Community to include 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUB-Zone), Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and other Small Businesses. For purposes of this announcement, a concern is considered to be a small business if its average annual receipts for the past three years, do not exceed $15.0 million (NAICS Code 541330). The Government must ensure there is adequate competition among the potential pool of responsible contractors. Large businesses are also encouraged to submit a response. Potential projects may include levees, hurricane protection work, deep and shallow foundations, earthwork, reinforced concrete structures, rock riprap or gabion placement, timber structures, steel structures, sheet pile cutoff walls, channel bank stabilization, marsh creation, restoration and nourishment activities, restoration and functionality of wetland hydrology, restoration of fresh water flows via weirs or other water control structures, restoration of water quality, replenish and protect living coastal and marine resources, preservation and restoration of riparian buffer corridors along major waterways, restoration of marsh, swamp and shallow water habitat to create freshwater wetlands, restoration and enhancement of dune and back barrier marsh habitat, man-made or natural breakwater structures, freshwater diversions via culverts, pump stations, water control structures, offshore rock and oyster reef breakwaters and creation of emergent marsh, low water crossings, ditch blocks, bridges, culvert repair and replacement, grade stabilization structures, earthen diversions, grassed waterways, lined waterways, streambank stabilization, and road stabilization. Design Activities: Services may consist of but are not limited to any part, one or all of the following: design water resource project features: 1) prepare construction and material specifications, 2) prepare construction plans (drawings), 3) prepare land rights work maps, 4) prepare cost estimates, 5) prepare bid schedules, 6) prepare construction performance time, 7) prepare quality assurance plans, 8) prepare operation and maintenance plans, and 9) prepare design folders and reports. The typical project could require knowledge and experience in all aspects of engineering design associated with the design of the types of projects denoted above. The firm will be required to interpret hydrologic and hydraulic reports as well as geotechnical reports, and accurately apply the data to the design of the project measures. The firm will be required to perform engineering design activities in accordance with NRCS standards. The majority of the work will be civil and/or agricultural; however, electrical and mechanical engineer expertise may be required on some projects. Ecological Activities: Services may consist of but are not limited to any part, one or all of the following: assessing biological composition and condition, assessing ecological function, interpreting impacts of environment on native flora/fauna, collecting ecological data, capturing and interpreting photos, interpreting ecological data, development ecological resilient and cost effective solutions, developing operation and management plans to facilitate ecological function for target species, developing and implementing monitoring plans, prepare bid schedules, and prepare design folders and reports. The typical project could require knowledge and experience in all aspects of ecology associated with the planning and design of the types of projects denoted above. The firm will be required to interpret ecological data and reports. The firm will be required to perform ecological planning and design activities in accordance with NRCS standards and in accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Geotechnical Activities: Services may consist of but are not limited to any part, or all of the following: ability to work on sites which are land based, shallow draft and deep draft marine areas, and marshland based areas. Land based investigations may be in areas of rough terrain, such as gullies or heavily forested areas. Services may include field investigations such as geotechnical drilling, field testing, sampling, logging and packaging of soil specimens extracted from locations to be used in the aid of the design, laboratory testing to include the laboratory classification and testing of soil specimens extracted from the soil field investigation. Analysis to include analyses utilizing the data collected and developed from the field investigations and laboratory testing. The analyses shall include determining the engineering properties of the soil including but not be limited to slope stability, settlement, seepage, shallow and deep foundations, various pile design and other analyses as related to geotechnical engineering. Reporting will consist of the formulation of a report defining the field, laboratory and analyses results along with appropriate geotechnical design recommendations. 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 including existing or predicted water levels, stream flows, wave propagation, siphon discharge, salinity, rainfall, wind topography, bathymetry, etc. Additional data collection may require field collection of project specific information if determined necessary for use in modeling/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 be approved by NRCS, and 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 will include the identification and providing rationale for all parameters, including assumptions used for geometric setup, boundary configuration and data input. Hydrologic Analysis/Model Calibration will 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 analyses 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 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 and 4) report shall be sealed by a Licensed Professional Engineer. Surveying Activities: The firm must be able to work on sites which are land based, shallow draft and deep draft marine based and marshland based. The firm will perform surveying services which may consist of but are not limited to any part, one or all of the following: 1) boundary surveys, 2) topographic/planimetric surveys, 3) magnetometer surveys, 4) hydrographic/bathymetric surveys, 5) side scan sonar surveys, 6) sub bottom profiling, 7) horizontal and vertical control surveys, 8) design surveys, 9) development of graphical representation of survey data collected and 10) possible use of LIDAR data. A typical project would require knowledge and experience in all aspects of surveying and surveying equipment. The firm will be required to perform surveys in accordance with NRCS policy and standards as well as any requirements of the respective state(s) related to legal boundary surveys. All survey drawings shall be generated in the appropriate format. All electronic raw survey data shall be submitted as ASCII or Hypack software or other format as may be required for the software to be utilized. Inspection Services: The firm must be able to perform construction inspection services for various types of projects. The firm must be able to work sites which are land based, shallow draft, and deep draft marine and marshland based areas. Land based work may be in areas of rough terrain such as gullies. The firm will perform any or all operations necessary to provide construction quality assurance (construction inspection) for various types of projects (land and marine based) within the Gulf State region. Quality assurance activities required may consist of but are not limited to any part, one or all of the following activities: construction layout, quantity computations, field testing and sampling of construction materials, safety compliance checks or construction activities, and development of accurate and complete quality assurance reports. The typical project could require knowledge and experience in all aspects of quality assurance activities associated with the design and construction of deep and shallow foundations (bearing capacity, consolidation, etc.) earthwork, reinforced concrete structures, automated and manual water control gates, pump stations, rock riprap or gabion placement, timber structures, steel structures and structural fabrication, timber, steel and concrete piling, sheet piling, channel bank stabilization measures, excavation for access channels and marsh creation/nourishment, offshore rock and oyster reef breakwaters, ditch blocks, bridges, culvert repair and replacement, grade stabilization structures, earthen diversions, grassed waterways, lined waterways, and road stabilization. The firm should employ technicians that are in good physical condition, as work will require a physically demanding job including but not limited to: climbing in and out of boats, on and off barges, tug boats, ATV's, walking on uneven ground, beams and rock riprap. The firm will be required to perform quality assurance activities in accordance with NRCS standards and specifications. The majority of the construction work will be civil/agricultural in nature; however, electrical and mechanical engineering knowledge may be required on some projects. Firms must have a Licensed Professional Engineer licensed to perform services in each of the five states denoted above or the ability to obtain the licensing within a reasonable time period. If a large business would be selected for a contract, it must comply with FAR 52.219-9 regarding the requirement for a subcontracting plan on that part of the work it intends to subcontract. The plan will be required for the total IDIQ contract and MATOC not for each task order. The subcontracting plan is NOT required at this time. Under FAR 52-219-14 Limitations of Subcontracting, the prime contractor must perform at least 50% of the cost of contract performance with his/her own employees. This applies to small business set aside contracts. If the contract is an unrestricted contract, the contractor (large business firm only) must furnish a subcontracting plan. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Have a minimum of two civil/agricultural engineers. At least one engineer must be a Registered Professional Engineer in the states represented above or hold a temporary permit to practice engineering in these states and have a minimum of ten years of design experience, a majority of which should be specialized in the Gulf Coast Region. 2. Have a minimum of one electrical and one mechanical engineer with a minimum of five (5) years experience. 3. Have a minimum of three in-house draftspersons employed on a full time basis, with a minimum of ten years AutoCAD experience and at least one of the others with a minimum of three year's experience. 4. Have a minimum of one licensed Professional Engineer with a minimum of five years experience in hydrological analysis or modeling. This engineer shall be licensed in the states represented above or hold a temporary permit to practice engineering in these states. 5. Have a minimum of one licensed Professional Civil Engineer with a minimum of ten years experience in geotechnical investigations and analysis. This engineer shall be licensed in the states represented above or hold a temporary permit to practice engineering in these states. 6. Have a minimum of one licensed Professional Land Survey (PLS) with a minimum of ten years experience in the states represented above or hold a temporary permit to practice surveying in these states. 7. Have a minimum of one geographic information systems (GIS) specialist with a minimum of five years experience in collecting and collating various types of data in order to visually represent that data, in the form of charts or maps. 8. Have a minimum of one ecologist with at least five (5) years experience in assessing ecological function, interpreting impacts of environment on native flora/fauna, collecting and interpreting ecological data. 9. Have a minimum of one wetland specialist with at least five (5) years experience to gather, analyze and evaluate data to address wetland conservation concerns or issues. All interested firms are invited to submit a Capability Statement with appropriate documentation, literature and brochures and should include the following information: 1. Firm name, address, telephone, fax numbers and email address. 2. Past experience with similar work. 3. Firm's capability to meet the requirements listed in project description above and the minimum capabilities required (personnel and equipment) listed above. 4. Firm's capability to perform a contract of this magnitude and complexity. 5. Provide dollar value range of contracts for which you would be most likely to compete. 6. Firm's small business category (Small Business, HUBZone, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, 8(a), etc.) 7. Firm's Joint Venture information, if applicable. 8. Response must be limited to no more than 10 pages. Firms need to include examples of projects performed with in the past five years that clearly identify their experience in providing requirements listed. Submission of a Capabilities Statement is not a prerequisite to any potential future offerings. However, participation will assist the NRCS in tailoring requirements to be consistent with industry capabilities, including available capacity of various segments thereof. All interested firms must be registered in SAMS to be eligible for award of Government contracts. A formal solicitation is currently not available. This is not a REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL and in no way obligates the Government to award any contract. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes only and is neither to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Respondents WILL NOT be notified of the results of the evaluation. Fax responses will not be accepted. The responses to this SOURCES SOUGHT synopsis may be emailed to vicki.supler@wdc.usda.gov or mailed to Vicki Supler at 646 Cajundome Blvd, Suite 180, Lafayette, LA 70506. Responses must be received no later than 2:00 p.m. Central Time Zone, February 5, 2016. All submissions must be clearly marked with the following caption "Releasable to Government Agencies for Evaluation Purposes Only." The Government reserves the right to request further clarification to enhance the Government's understanding of the respondent's submittal. Submissions that fail to comply with the above