--Biscayne Bay Feasibility Study, Phase 2, Biscayne Bay, Florida

NA The US Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, and the cost-sharing partner, Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM), are planning the development of a management-accessible, decision support tool to document curre nt conditions and predict changes in Biscayne Bay (Miami, Florida) water quality due to anticipated modifications to loadings and physical changes to delivery and receiving systems. Located on the southeast coast of Florida, extending from Miami-Dade Coun ty south to Monroe County, Biscayne Bay is a shallow, clear water subtropical estuary-lagoon system that supports a wide variety of fish, wildlife, and benthic communities (See figure). The local environmental managers are requesting a tool that can, in general, track and predict the distribution and concentration of substances in the water (particulate and dissolved, and under chronic & acute exposure conditions, including nutrients, suspended sediments, sewage indicators, and selected metals and organic s). The following list includes examples of basic objectives that local managers intend the tool to accomplish: (1) project concentrations or loads of nutrients and other contaminants that must be maintained at the boundaries to prevent degradation of w ater quality in receiving portions of Biscayne Bay, (2) track and predict concentration of contaminants (e.g.. sewage pollution indicators) introduced during acute exposure events; (3) predict and integrate light attenuation and related water quality par ameters with depth and salinity to project water quality conditions likely to affect distribution of submerged aquatic vegetation (Submerged Aquatic Vegetation, or SAV) distribution; and (4) be able to assess fate and transport of substances (e.g. toxins such as metals and organics) in sediment. The tool must be able to validate important cause-effect relationships and also be able to distinguish clearly between man-made and naturally induced variations. A two-dimensional, finite element hydrodynamic cir culation and salinity model (TABS-MDS) has been developed and validated for the Bay and is available but not required for use as the hydrodynamic forcing model. Any alternative hydrodynamic model or any other means of providing hydrodynamic forcing condit ions for the water quality tool proposed by the responder will be welcomed and considered. For further elaboration on the objectives, definition of terms, and a listing of parameters of interest, please see the following site: https://ebs1.saj.usace.army .mil/ebs/AdvertisedSolicitations.asp. This RFI is identified as DACW17-03-Z-0001. After selecting this project, go to - Download/View Solicitation Files. There will be a file available for download containing the information shown above. The purpose of this RFI is to seek interested party input and information regarding the availability of existing tools or alternatives including the feasibility or plausibility of developing new tool(s) to meet the needs of the environmental managers. Request such part ies submit a response of interest, including a statement of whether entity possesses or has experience developing relevant tools that meet the specifications, a brief synopsis of the anticipated approach that would be undertaken, and the type of tool (incl uding FDM, FEM, or other analytical approach or model) that would be recommended. Information that may be submitted includes, but is not limited to, history of entity's experience with similar analysis tools, description of existing mathematical system or computer simulation model that would likely fulfill one or more of the basic objectives listed above, an indication of which of these functions are addressed, and examples of proven successful applications, along with a POC/customer name and phone number. For computer simulation models, supplementary information should be included such as code type, grid characteristics, typical time step, required hardware pla tform, and run time on typical hardware platform. The Government may want to investigate and confirm applicability and acceptability of the tool to address the intended purposes. An estimate or range of projected time and cost required in the development and application of the tool, and if possible, any anticipated cost involved in a more rigorous assessment of the tool's capability, are also desirable. DO NOT SUBMIT PROPRIETARY AND/OR BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL DATA. Please mail, fax or email your written r esponses to this RFI no later than January 6, 2003. Mailing address: P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville, Florida 32232. Fax: +1 (555) 000-0000. E-Mail: contact@example.gov.