B--Over-Wash Testing Services

This contract action was accomplished using other than competitive procedures because there is only one responsible source and no other supplies or service will satisfy agency requirements (FAR 6.302-1). See posted J&A for further information. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, issued a sole source contract to Colorado State University for Over-wash Testing Services. The services to be provided by the contractor include the transportation of Florida soils to contractor's work site, the construction of trays needed for testing, filling of the trays with specified materials, and monitoring trays during one full growing season. These trays will then be used to test protected slope levee armoring materials, subjected to hurricane overtopping waves with a maximum height of 8.0 feet and a maximum wave period of 7.7 seconds. Testing facilities use large U-shaped sloped concrete flumes since this is the only known way to simulate ocean waves overtopping full scale levees. The tests are performed by flowing large quantities of water intermittently (to model wave overtopping) over grass and Turf Reinforcement Mats (TRM), for six hours (per test) within 2 side by side 6' x 50' steel trays in a 13' wide concrete chute (flume) that is over 50 feet long on a 1 on 3 slope. By testing these levee armoring materials to failure, it can determine their adequacy to protect the levees. The testing results will be used for Corps' decision making as to which armoring alternatives will be used for the various overtopping flow rates for the levees around Herbert Hoover Dike, C-43 Reservoir, and Everglades Agricultural Area, and C-44 Reservoir, all within the state of Florida.