C -- Civil/Structural/Water/Wastewater Design/Build Services Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ)

The USDA Forest Service - Northern Region anticipates awarding up to three Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts for design build architect-engineer (A-E) services. The contract shall be a Design/Build arrangement with the engineering design professional as the primary contractor, responsible to the Forest Service for all design and construction. Subcontractors to perform specific design and construction services shall be responsible to the design professional. The North American Industrial Classification System code is 541330, which has a size standard of $4.0 million in average annual receipts. Following an initial evaluation of the qualification and performance data submitted, three or more firms that are considered to be the most highly qualified to provide the type of services required, will be chosen for negotiation. Each contract will operate with individually negotiated task orders issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract. Task orders may be issued under the resulting contracts as Firm Fixed or Time and Materials. Task orders may be issued for engineering design services only, design and construction, or design, construction and construction inspection services. This announcement does not guarantee work to selected firms. The issuance of task orders between all concurrent contracts will be based on a unilateral assessment by the Government of any or all of the following unranked issues: a. Equitable allocation of work among contracts; b. Specific and unique capabilities; c. Apparent capacity of the contractor to perform the anticipated type of work; d. Timeliness and historical work performance; e. Required delivery schedule; f. Experience and/or ongoing work (locality and/or type); g. Understanding of local factors and geography; h. Remaining contract capacity; i. Availability of personnel. If the contractor fails to provide a quality product at a reasonable price and on schedule, the contractor may not receive additional task orders under this contract over the minimum specified by the contract. Each contract awarded will consist of 1 base year with options to extend the contract for four additional one-year periods. The typical task order would be for work with a construction cost estimated at approximately $200,000 or less. However, task orders for larger projects may be issued. The guaranteed contract minimum shall be $50,000 per year, per contract, with a maximum not-to-exceed 5-year total for all contracts of $10 Million. If in the event funding levels significantly increase within the contract period, the not-to-exceed amount may be increased to a mutually negotiated amount. PROJECT INFORMATION: The predominate geographic areas include Montana, Northern Idaho, North Dakota, and a small portion of South Dakota. Projects will primarily involve providing civil, structural, water and wastewater design and construction services for the Forest Service transportation systems and recreation and administration sites. Typical projects may include a variety of inspection, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, decommissioning, construction, or reconstruction needs for roads, bridges, culverts, bottomless arches, retaining walls, trail bridges, snowsheds, haysheds, picnic shelters, campgrounds, recreation and administrative site water distribution systems, and storm water or wastewater systems. Subsidiary design and construction services needed to complete a task order such as geotechnical, hydraulic engineering services and minor mechanical/electrical design and construction are included within this contract. This contract may also include minor facility maintenance or repairs associated with Forest Service office buildings, bunkhouses, and warehouses and other building structures. Major construction or reconstruction of forest Service office buildings, bunkhouses and warehouses and other building structures ins not a part of this contract. In order to meet the objectives of this contract, the contractor must provide with its own workforce or with subcontractors design, construction, construction inspection, and total project management expertise in order to accomplish the required work with respect to typical Forest Service projects listed above. The associated expertise and engineering disciplines required include but are not limited to: Total Project Management, Civil Engineering, Surveying, Structural Engineering, Sanitary engineering (water/wastewater), Hydraulic Engineering, Hydrology, Environmental Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Landscape Architecture, Construction expertise with materials, methods and systems on typical Forest Service projects, Subcontractors for construction may vary depending on type and location of task order, Construction Inspection expertise with materials, methods and systems on typical Forest Service projects. SELECTION CRITERIA - Potential Contractors shall be evaluated in terms of the criteria identified below. For each criteria, the contractor shall demonstrate their understanding of the Forest Service, Forest Service policies, regulations and standards, the intent and objective of the contract, the type, size, and scope of potential Forest Service civil, structural, and sanitary (water/wastewater) projects and the General Requirements. 1) Professional Qualifications necessary for the satisfactory performance of the work. a. Proposed team organization and interrelationship of technical, management, production disciplines, subconsultants, and construction contractors to accomplish the contract program and individual projects. (Note primary contractor may propose various subcontractors for types of work and location.) b. Proposed team members in terms of education, experience, professional registrations, professional qualifications, certifications, training, etc.; 2) Capacity and methods to accomplish the contract program and individual projects in the required time. a. Proposed methods of contract administration. b. Proposed methods of individual task order management. c. Proposed procedures to provide value for individual task orders. 3) Location of firm/firms in the general geographic area of the Northern Region of the Forest Service and the firm's ability to respond to the various Forests in a timely, cost-effective manner. 4) Specialized Experience and Technical Competence. a. Capability demonstrated by relevant examples of previous work similar in size and scope (as a firm or through individual experience of team members).b. Demonstrated capacity for excellence. c. General knowledge of the geographical area of the Northern Region of the Forest Service and demonstrated knowledge of potential work conditions, construction methods, materials, suppliers, access, etc. 5) Past Performance on contracts of similar type, size and scope of potential Forest Service projects with government agencies and private industry in terms of cost control, quality of work, cooperation with client, and compliance with contract requirements. 6) Response to the following scenarios. A. Bridge Scenario: After a flood event on the Kootenai NF outside Troy, MT, a small bridge completely washed out on a Forest collector road. The road needs to be reopened as soon as possible. The Forest Engineer has contacted you to immediately install a 50 foot Hamilton EZ portable bridge located at the Regional yard in Missoula at the existing site until such time that a permanent replacement bridge can be funded. Forest Engineer also asks for recommendations on alternatives, issues, and schedule for programming a permanent crossing in the future. Provide a Work Plan (scope of work) outlining your proposed plan, project team, and work items identifying the level of effort for completing the work. State any assumptions needed. B. Sanitary Scenario: A Forest Service administrative site located on 10 acres within city limits currently has water supplied by a well. The well is experiencing bacteriology problems and the distribution system is aging and failing. The sewer system has a septic tank and drain field. The water and sewer systems service a 30-person office, a warehouse, and two residences. Provide a Work Plan (scope of work) outlining your proposed plan, project team, and work items identifying the level of effort needed to provide the Forest Engineer with alternatives, issues, and schedule for programming this project in the future for management. State any assumptions needed. C. Civil Scenario: A Forest Engineer contacts you stating their Forest has discussed the need to expand and upgrade a forest campground and trailhead. The campground has multiple uses including overnight vehicle camping, hiking, stock use and day use activities. The Forest has no other information at this time and does not have the resources to study the project. The Forest Engineer asks you to provide a Work Plan (scope of work) outlining your plan, project team and work items identifying the level of effort needed to provide him with alternatives, issues, and schedule for programming this project in the future. State any assumptions needed. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: Firms desiring to be considered must submit documents containing copies of completed SF 254s and SF 255s. Only responses received in this office (USDA Forest Service - Northern Region, 200 E. Broadway, Missoula, MT 59807) no later than 3:00 p.m. MST, March 22, 2004 will be considered. No other general notification to firms will be made and no further action is required. This is not a request for proposal. No solicitation package is available at this time. All Contractors must be registered in the Central Contractors Register (CCR) in order to be considered for award. Information on the registration process can be found on the internet at http://www.ccr2000.com then go to subtopic Central Contractor Registration or by calling +1 (555) 000-0000 for help. Selection of firms for award shall be in accordance with FAR 36.602-3 and 36.602-4. All questions relating to this synopsis shall be direct to Marge Schafer at +1 (555) 000-0000.