C--Award Notice for IDC for Limited Geotechnical Services for the Great Lakes and Ohio River Division

CONTRACT INFORMATION: This contract is being procured in accordance with the Brooks A-E Act (PL 92-582) as implemented in FAR Subpart 36.6. Firms will be selected for negotiations based on demonstrated competence and qualifications for the required work. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, proposes to obtain the services for up to two multidiscipline Indefinite Delivery Architect-Engineer (A/E) contracts for Limited Geotechnical Services. Architect-Engineer limited geotechnical services are required for projects assigned to Districts within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Great Lakes and Ohio River Division geographical boundaries to include Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Huntington, Louisville, Nashville and Pittsburgh Districts. The majority of the work under this contract will be done within the boundaries of the Huntington District. If work is required outside the Huntington District, wage rates will be furnished and new line items included by modification. One indefinite delivery contract will be negotiated and awarded with a base year and four option years. The amount of the contract will not exceed $4,500,000.00 over the life of the contract. Work will be issued by negotiated firm-fixed price task orders. One of the two contracts will be awarded initially. The remaining contract may be awarded within 12 months depending on workload and contracting requirements. (Note: The remaining contract, if awarded, will also have a base period not to exceed one year with up to four additional option periods not to exceed one year each that may also be awarded.) The criteria to be used in allocating task orders among the contracts will be based on the following: (1) contract minimums - task orders will be distributed to assure the guaranteed minimums are met; (2) past performance on previous task orders - the quality and timeliness of work delivered on prior jobs under the current contract; (3) current capacity to accomplish the task order in the required time; (4) unique specialized experience; (5) equitable distribution of work among the contractors. The first contract is anticipated to be awarded in August 2009. This announcement is open to all businesses regardless of size. If a large business is selected for this contract, it must comply with FAR 52.219-9 regarding the requirement for a subcontracting plan on the part of work it intends to subcontract. The plan is not required with this submittal. The wages and benefits of service employees (see FAR 22.10) performing under the resulting contract must 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). To be eligible for contract award, a firm must be registered in the DoD Central Contractor Registration (CCR). Register via the CCR Internet site at http://www.ccr.gov or by contacting the DoD Electronic Commerce Information Center at +1 (555) 000-0000. PROJECT INFORMATION: The A-E services to be provided under these contracts will be multidisciplinary (see paragraph on Specialized Experience and Technical Competence) in nature to support our mission to plan, design, construct, operate and control reservoirs and dams, flood damage reduction projects, navigation projects, and Support for Others type projects. The A/E will be required to provide the appropriate personnel, materials, equipment, management, quality and cost controls to perform all phases for Limited Geotechnical Services. The contract will include provisions for working outside the LRD boundaries; such work will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis. Work shall be accomplished in full compliance with established Corps of Engineers manuals, policies, standards and practices and other professional practices and standards as necessitated by project conditions or job requirement. SELECTION CRITERIA: The selection criteria for these contracts are listed below in descending order of importance (first by major criterion and then by each sub-criterion). Criteria A-F are primary. Criteria G-H are secondary and will only be used as a tie-breaker among firms that are essentially technically equal. (A) SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AND TECHNICAL COMPETENCE: Firms must demonstrate specialized experience and technical competence and will be ranked in descending order on the ability to perform special studies including, numerical modeling using UDEC; finite element analysis; placement rate slope stability analysis using stress history and normalized soil engineering properties (SHANSEP) methods; earth embankment/ foundation seepage analysis; development of design spectra based on regional seismicity and application to embankment/ foundation liquefaction studies; seismic risk and reliability studies, etc.), the ability to perform drilling and field investigations (including materials investigations, abandoned mine lands investigation and AML remediation design); the ability to perform laboratory rock and soil testing (lab must be inspected and validated by USACE-ERDC prior to award). All drawings and exhibits for design work, surveying work, drawings, maps, and details to be provided under this contract shall be accomplished and developed using computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) software and procedures conforming to the following criteria: Data submitted by the Contractor must be 100% compatible with or must be translated to 100% compatibility. The phrase 100% compatible means data can be accessed directly by the target CADD system without translation, preprocessing or post processing of the electronic digital data files. It is the responsibility of the contractor to ensure this level of compatibility. The target CADD platform is a Generic Personal Computer (PC) running Windows 2000 Professional operating system. The target CADD system shall include, but not be limited to, the following software applications: (1) A/E/C CADD Standard Release 3.0 September 2006, (2) Bentley ProjectWise V8 XM Edition Version 8.9, (3) Bentley MicroStation V8 XM Edition Version 8.9, (4) Bentley MicroStation Iras B XM Edition Version 8.9, (5) Bentley MicroStation Descartes XM Edition Version 8.9, (6) Bentley InRoads Suite XM Edition Version 8.9, (7) Bentley ProjectWise InterPlot Server and Client V8 XM Edition Version 8.9, (8) Bentley InterPlot Raster Offline Driver Pack Version 2.1, (9) NetSPEX Designer Version 3.0.225, (10) Windows XP Professional operating system, (11) Microsoft Office Suite 2003, and (12) Winzip version 10. (B) PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: The evaluation of professional qualifications will consider relevant experience, education, training, professional registration, organizational certifications and longevity with the firm. The firm should indicate professional registrations/licenses, certifications from commercial organizations, professional recognition, professional associations, advanced training and specific work experience of key personnel. The firm must staff Registered/Licensed Geotechnical Engineers and Geologists, Drillers and Inspectors, Laboratory personnel, engineering and computer modelers. (C) PAST PERFORMANCE: Past Performance on DoD and other contracts with respect to cost control, quality of work, ability to work independently and compliance with performance schedules as determined from Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS) and other sources. The PPIRS is the primary source of information on past performance. However, any credible, documented evaluations may be considered, but the government is not required to seek other information on the past performance of a firm if none is available from PPIRS. (D) CAPACITY: Capacity to perform approximately $1,000,000.00 in work of the required type in a one-year period. The evaluation will consider the firms ability to provide required physical plant and supplies as well as the availability of an adequate number of personnel in key disciplines. Evaluation will include capability of the firms listed equipment to perform all required work/availability, condition of equipment, maintenance of equipment, and equipment failure alternatives. Firms should demonstrate strong ability to provide a comprehensive program and project management for complex work; strong ability to provide comprehensive technical support; ability to provide necessary personnel for expedited, complex and unexpected work; ability to initiate, manage and complete multiple concurrent task orders; ability to meet unforeseen schedule changes and maintain delivery of a quality product on a timely schedule. Firms must also submit a list of all significant equipment and software intended to be used on this contract. (E) SUPERVISION AND ADMINISTRATION: The firm shall be evaluated based on key administration and shall provide an organization chart, resumes of key personnel, including registrations/certifications, on-site representative qualification/duties, supervisor/inspector qualifications/duties, placement of personnel on payroll/letter of commitment, how subcontractor(s) will be used, if any, availability of key personnel, personnel management policy regarding Standards of Conduct/disciplinary practices/how work will be accomplished in the absence of key workers. The firm should have one point of contact for this contract and demonstrate past/projected-working relationships with subcontractors. The firm shall provide an evaluation of equipment use, safety policy and plan, job hazard analysis, employee responsibilities, safety training and public safety, and knowledge of USACEs Safety Program and OSHA requirements. The firm shall display evidence of a quality control program, inspection program, system for identification of deficiencies, file maintenance, and method of assignment. (F) SB AND SDB PARTICIPATION: The extent of participation of small businesses (including women-owned, HUBZone, small disadvantaged and service disabled veteran-owned businesses) and historically black colleges/universities and minority institutions (HBCU/MI) measured as a percentage of the total anticipated contracted effort, regardless of whether the small business is a prime contractor, subcontractor or joint venture partner. (G) GEOGRAPHIC PROXIMITY: The firm shall be evaluated based on general proximity to the Huntington District Office. (H) EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF DoD CONTRACTS: Volume of DOD A-E contract awards in the last 12-months, with the objective of effecting an equitable distribution of DoD A-E contracts among qualified firms, including small business and small disadvantaged businesses 4. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: Responses shall reference the solicitation number assigned to this procurement on the face of the envelope/package containing the proposal. Interested firms having the capability to perform this work must submit two copies of SF 330 Part I and two copies of SF 330 Part II for the prime firm and all consultants to the above address not later than 4:30 PM on Thursday, 21 May 2009. Include the firms DUNS number in SF 330, Part II, Block 4. Facsimile transmissions will not be accepted. Solicitation packages are not provided and no additional project information will be given to firms during the announcement period. This is not a request for proposal. The POC for this procurement is contact@example.gov or +1 (555) 000-0000.