Geotechnical Investigation, and Environmental 404 Sampling Access

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District is issuing this sources sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support this requirement for the Geotechnical Investigation, and Access for Environmental 404 Sampling, Ca'o Mart'n Pe'a. The project is scheduled to be awarded in early 2019. The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this procurement is 541330 the size standard is $15.0 million dollars. There is no solicitation at this time. This request for capability information does not constitute a request for proposals; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred. The purpose of this synopsis is to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities and qualifications of various members of industry. The Government must ensure there is adequate competition among the potential pool of responsible contractors. Performance Work Statement: Background: The Ca'o Mart'n Pe'a (CMP) is a waterway approximately 4 miles long, connecting San Juan Bay and San Jos Lagoon, in metropolitan San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is part of the San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE), the only tropical estuary that is included in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Estuary Program. The eastern 2.2-?mile-?long segment of the CMP and adjacent areas, including the San Jos Lagoon, are the focus of this restoration project. The western portion of the canal has been developed to serve as a waterway for small craft. The eastern portion of the canal has been significantly impacted by the encroachment of local urban development. The encroachment has occurred due to the disposal of household refuse, concrete and construction debris, automobile parts and furniture and household appliances which was subsequently capped with soil. As these filled areas were established, homes were constructed on them until the canal was gradually choked. The Ca'o Martin Pe'a Ecosystem Restoration Project (CMP-ERP) addresses the need to restore the natural hydraulic connection between the San Jos Lagoon and the San Juan Bay, which has been eliminated through years of backfilling, sedimentation, and other factors. The CMP-ERP is a key component of the Comprehensive and Conservation Management Plan for the San Juan Bay Estuary, and is necessary to restore fish habitat, species diversity, and overall health of the system. The restored conveyance of tidal flow through the Ca'o Mart'n Pe'a will decrease water residence time within the San Jos Lagoon, returning salinity and dissolved oxygen to more natural levels and restoring benthic habitat in several of the San Juan Bay Estuary water bodies. In addition to restoring connectivity in the estuary, mangrove habitat for aquatic invertebrates and other native species will be restored, providing important nursery grounds for commercial fish species such as snapper and grouper. The Ca'o Mart'n Pe'a Ecosystem Restoration Project is also critical for the revitalization of eight impoverished communities settled along the Mart'n Pe'a tidal channel, and restoration of this system will significantly improve human health and safety in the area by reducing residents contact with sewage contaminated floodwaters during major rain events. Recreational navigation will also be re-established in the area, allowing for increased public and commercial use of the entire estuary. Major Objectives: Find a company/contractor that can conduct geotechnical drilling over water/muddy soil in a forested wetland type environment. Equipment needed; a drill rig capable of drilling down to 65 feet mounted on amphibious platform for the geotechnical portion of the task. The contractor shall have the capability to clear and grub through the center of the canal for access. The contractor shall provide access for environmental 404 sampling as the initial task. The contractor shall coordinate with the 404 contractor through the COR to provide support for the 404 sampling on the amphibious equipment as the second task. The Government will use the amphibious equipment with the contractor to collect approximately 14-18 samples of sediment at a depth of -12 feet below water level. The 404 samples have a short holding time and must be collected in two weeks. A vibracore has been identified as optional equipment that may be needed. The Government currently has a 404 contractor on board with a vibracore device available. Project Objective: A subsurface investigation is needed for design and construction of the various features of the CMP-ERP. Phase II of the geotechnical investigation includes a general characterization of materials within the San Jose Lagoon areas that will potentially be dredged to access the CMP, and characterization of materials along the CMP canal alignment. The contractor shall provide access and coordination for the environmental 404 sampling. Collect twenty-two deep (-65 feet) soil borings (CB-CMP19-01 to CB-CMP19-22) located along the CMP alignment and, nineteen deep (-25 feet) soil borings (CB-CMP19-SJL-01 to CB-CMP19-SJL-19) located within the Laguna San Jos. GPS locations shall be recorded and reported for each boring. The tolerance for boring location shall be two (2) feet horizontal and 0.1 foot vertical, unless the otherwise stated. The USACE (Government), along with ENLACE (local sponsor), will assist in coordinating access of the drilling equipment to the boring locations with the contractor. The core borings shall consist of Standard Penetration Testing (SPT) and be drilled to the depths stated in the attachment, below the existing ground surface. Split spoon sampling shall be performed with continuous sampling starting from the ground surface level until boring termination depth. The blow count, ground water level, and soil descriptions shall be recorded. Photographs will be taken throughout the soil boring collection of the cores, including the sampling crew, the sampling location and cores. The proposed locations of the borings are shown on the attachment. Response Instructions: 1. Firm's name, address, point of contact, phone number, website, and email address. 2. Firm's interest in proposing on the solicitation when it is issued. 3. Firm's products that meet the specifications, interoperability, and support services. 4. Firm's Business category and Business Size -Other than Small, Small Business, other special classification such as 8a. All responses to this sources sought notice/market research will be evaluated and used in determining acquisition strategy. Submission Instructions: Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the above-listed services are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by 30 Nov 2018 at 1:00 PM. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice must be emailed to Gerald.L.Garvey@usace.army.mil and CC Jesse Lugo at Jesse.Lugo@usace.army.mil. Prior Government contract work is not required for submitting a response under this sources sought synopsis. You must be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM) in order to receive a Government contract award. To register go to www.sam.gov. If you have any questions concerning this opportunity, please contact: Gerald.L.Garvey@usace.army.mil.