C--Award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Architect-Engineer (A-E) Contract for Geotechnical Engineering Design and Investigation Services in Support of the South Pacific Division (SPD)-Wide Dam Safety and Levee Safety Programs

1. CONTRACT INFORMATION: This contract is being procured in accordance with the Brooks A-E Act as implemented in FAR Subpart 36.6. One firm will be selected for negotiation based on demonstrated competence and qualifications for the required work. The A-E services are for the investigation, studies and design leading to the construction of flood management structures including major dams, levees and channels and associated appurtenant structures. These services are for use within the Corps of Engi neers, South Pacific Division, military and civil boundaries, and for any South Pacific Division customers, as determined by the Contracting Officer. Project work will include subsurface investigations, geophysical and strength testing, materials testing and materials property development, seismicity and seismic parameters, borrow site investigations to determine suitability of materials, design/construction parameters, designs for dam and levee safety remediation including but not limited to large embank ments, floodwalls and channels, insitu densification, seepage and stability berms, impermeable blankets, cutoff walls, subsurface drainage systems, relief wells, development of methods to mitigate for seismic activity, design of dewatering systems, develop ment of construction plans and specifications (SPECSINTACT), e.g. design alternatives, quantities, plans, cost estimates (M-CACES), and instructions to field personnel are also important elements of the proposed contract. Capabilities in other disciplines, such as Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Computer Aided Drafting Design (CADD) are important elements of the proposed contract. The North American Industrial Classification System Code (NAICS) is 541330, which has a business size standard of maxim um $4.5 million of average annual receipts for its previous 3 fiscal years. This announcement is open to all firms. One contract will be negotiated and will be awarded within one year after the required response date to this announcement. The contract w ill be for maximum one-year base period from the date of award and will contain options to extend 4 additional periods. The contract amount for the base period and any option period will not exceed $3,000,000 for each period. The total contract amount sh all not exceed $15,000,000. Individual task orders shall not exceed the annual contract amount. The options may be exercised at the discretion of the Government. At the discretion of the Government, the option year may be exercised early if the Total Es timated Price is exhausted or nearly exhausted. If the option is exercised prior to the one-year anniversary of the contract award date, or the anniversary of exercising an option, the new option year rates will take effect on the anniversary date of the contract award. If the Total Estimated Price of the base year or any option year is not awarded within the years 12 month performance period and the Government has elected to exercise a subsequent option year, the remaining unused dollar amount may be add ed on to the Total Estimated Price of the option period contract amount. All interested Architect-Engineers are reminded that in accordance with the provisions of FAR Sections 19.7, 52.291-8, 52.219-9 or equivalent DFARS Sections, they will be expected to place subcontracts to the maximum practicable extent consistent with the efficient performance of this contract, with small and small disadvantaged business. The wages and benefits of service employees (see FAR 22.10) performing under these contracts mus t be at least equal to those determined by the Department of Labor under the Service Contract Act, as determined relative to the employees office location (not the location of the work). If a large business firm is selected, it will be required to submit a detailed subcontracting plan at a later date. A detailed sub-contracting plan is not required to be submitted with the SF 330, however, the plans to do so s hould be specified in block H of the SF 330.If a large business is selected it must comply with FAR 52.219-9, regarding the requirement to subcontract Sacramento Districts recommended goal for work intended to e subcontracted is 51.2% for small business. The goal further states that of the 51.2% to be subcontracted to small business, 8.8% is for small disadvantaged business (subset to small business), 7.3% is for small business/woman owned (subset to small business), 3.1% for HUBZone small business (subse t to small business) and 1.5% is for Service-Disable Veteran-Owned Small business (subset to small business). If the selected firm submits a plan with lesser goals, it must submit written rationale of why the above goals are not met. Firms should indicat e personnel and subcontractors selected to work on the contract and state their management structure. To be eligible for contract award a firm or joint venture must be registered in the DoD Central Contractor Registration (CCR). Register via the Internet Site at https://www.bpn.gov/ccr/scripts/index.html or by contacting the DoD Electronic Commerce Information Center at +1 (555) 000-0000 and complete electronic annual representations and certifications at https://orca.bpn.gov. Contractor Performance Evaluat ions: In accordance with the provisions of Subpart 36.604 (Performance Evaluation of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), A-E contractors performance shall be evaluated throughout the performance of the contract. The United States Army Corps of Eng ineers (USACE) follows the procedures outlined in Engineering Pamphlet (EP) 715-1-7 to fulfill this FAR requirement. For A-E contracts awarded at or above $30,000.00, the USACE will evaluate contractors performance and prepare a performance report using the Architect-Engineer Contract Administration Support System (ACASS), which is a web-based system. After an evaluation (interim or final) is written up by the USACE, the contractor will have the ability to access, review and comment on the evaluation for a period of 30 days. Accessing and using ACASS requires specific software, called PKI certification, which is installed on the users computer. The certification is a Department of Defense requirement and was implemented to provide security in electroni c transaction. The certification software could cost approximately $110-$125 per certificate per year and is purchased from External Certificate Authorities (ECA) vendors. Current information about the PKI certification process and for contracting vendor s can be found on the web site http://www.cpars.navy.mil. If the contractor wishes to participate in the performance evaluation process, access to ACASS and PKI certification is the sole responsibility of the Contractor. 2. PROJECT INFORMATION: Task ord ers under this contract may include subsurface drilling and investigations, in-field permeability, geophysical and strength testing, materials testing and materials property development, seismicity and seismic parameters, hydrologic and hydraulic analysis/ design, structural analysis/design, geotechnical analysis/design including slope stability, settlement, seepage, erosion, mechanical and electrical analysis/design, and risk based analyses, borrow site investigations to determine suitability of materials, design/construction parameters, designs for dam and levee safety remediation including but not limited to large embankments, floodwalls and channels, insitu densification, seepage and stability berms, impermeable blankets, cutoff walls, subsurface drainag e systems, relief wells, development of methods to mitigate for seismic activity, design of dewatering systems, development of construction plans and specifications (SPECSINTACT), e.g. design alternatives, quantities, plans, cost estimates (M-CACES), bore hole logging software, Geographical Information Systems, (GIS), groundwater studies, computer aided drafting design (CADD), topographic and hydrographic survey and mapping, and instructions to field personnel are also important elements of the proposed contract. Project support efforts including site reconnaissance, environmental and wetland assessments, wildlife and habitat assessments and historical assessment s in accordance with NEPA and SHPO are included as potential project requirements. Laboratory testing includes testing of disturbed and undisturbed soil and rock samples, using only Corps Materials Test Center certified laboratories. All types of geotech nical testing including classification of all types of soils from organic to rocky, petrographic analysis, water content, specific gravity, density, relative compaction, compaction testing, strength testing, and hydraulic conductivity testing. Also includ ed is the capability to perform detailed dam and levee safety risk analyses (for both economic and life-loss) including analyses for potential operating restrictions. Design effort may include, but are not limited to: design of large earth dam embankments , levee embankments, outlet works, spillways, canals, and/or related structures or other dam remediation techniques, such as cutoff walls, jet grouting, dynamic compaction and other techniques. Engineering support during construction may also be required. This work will include all Architectural-Engineering (A-E) and related services necessary to complete the assigned task orders for studies and designs. A specific scope of work and services will be issued with each task order. 3. SELECTION CRITERIA: T he selection criteria are listed below in descending order of importance. Criteria A through D are primary. Criteria E through G are secondary and will only be used as tiebreakers among technically equal firms. A. Specialized Experience and technical comp etence in performing dam and levee safety work in the categories listed in the project information above. When applicable, significant expertise for work inside the Sacramento District boundaries will be considered in determining the most highly qualified firms. B. Past performance on Corps of Engineers, DOD, and other contracts with respect to cost control, quality of work and compliance with performance schedule. C. Qualified professional personnel who are certified, registered, and highly trained in th e following key disciplines: Project Manager, Civil Engineer, Geotechnical Engineer, Hydrologic Engineer, Hydraulic Engineer, Structural Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Geophysicist, Cost Engineer, Hydrogeologist, Geologist, Seismologi st, Surveyor, GIS Specialists, CADD Designer and CADD Operator. The evaluation will consider education, training, registration, over all relevant dam and levee safety experience and longevity with the firm. D. Capacity to accomplish multiple simultaneous task orders at different locations within the required timeframe, including professional qualifications of firms staff and subcontractors to be assigned to the projects which are necessary for satisfactory performance in the required time. E. Volume of DoD contract awards in the last 12 months as described below. F. Location of the firm in the general geographical area of Central California. G. Extent of participation of small disadvantaged business, woman-owned small business, historically black colle ges and universities or minority institutions in the proposed contract team, measured as a percentage of the total estimated efforts. 4. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: Interested Architect-Engineer firms having the capabilities to perform this work are invited to submit ONE (1) completed SF 330 (6/2004) US Government Architect-Engineer and Related Services Questionnaire for Specific Project for themselves and ONE (1) completed SF 330 Part II (June 2004 edition) for themselves and one for each of their subcontra ctors to the office shown above, ATTN: A-E Administration Section. The SF 330 shall not exceed 100 pages not counting any dividing page used to identify each SF 330 Section. In block E of the SF 330 provide resumes for all key team members, whether with the prime firm or a subcontractor; list specific project experience for key team members; and indicate the team members role o n each listed project (i.e. projec t manager, design engineer, etc). In block D of the SF 330, provide the quality management plan and organization chart for the proposed team. In block H of the SF 330 indicate the number and amount of fees awarded on DoD (Army, Navy, and Air Force) contra cts during the 12 months prior to this notice, including change orders and supplemental agreements for the submitting office only. A task specific quality control plan must be prepared and approved by the Government as a condition of contract award, but i s not required with this submission. The most highly qualified firms may be required to provide in-person presentations prior to final selection and will be advised accordingly. Responses received by the close of business (4:00 pm) the day of the closing date will be considered for selection. If the closing date is a Saturday, Sunday or Federal holiday, the deadline is the close of business on the next business day. POINT OF CONTACT: Ms. Rita Stalker +1 (555) 000-0000. No other notification will be made a nd no further action is required. Solicitation packages are not provided for A-E contracts. This is not a request for proposals. All responsible sources may submit the required SF 330, which shall be considered by the agency.