Inland and Western Rivers Orientation 2013

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation, which includes the attached Request for Quotation SF-18 (RFQ) number HSCG25-13-Q-8PS004. The U.S. Coast Guard Base Detachment St. Louis has a requirement to have courses developed and presented entitled Inland River Orientation 2013 and Western Rivers Orientation 2013 as described in the below Statement of Work for Training, utilizing the Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 611519 and the small business size standard is $7.0 million dollars. This is Total Small Business Set Aside procurement and only qualified offerors may submit a quote. Companies quoting should include the following: (1) The solicitation RFQ number. (2) The name, address, telephone number, and point of contact of the offeror. (3) Price, availability and any discount terms. We are a Tax Exempt Agency; please do not include Federal or State Taxes in the quoted price. (4) Completed copy of the representations and certifications FAR subpart 52.2(see document titled FAR Clauses attached to this solicitation). (5) Company Tax Information Number and DUNS Number. Vendor must be registered or agree to register with System for Award Management, www.sam.gov, formerly known as Central Contractor Registration, www.ccr,gov before the award can be made. (6) If the offer is not submitted on the SF 18 provided include a statement specifying the extent of agreement with all terms, conditions, and provisions included in the solicitation. Offers that fail to furnish required representations or information, or reject the terms and conditions of the solicitation may be excluded from consideration. (7) All responsible sources may submit a quotation, which if timely received, shall be considered by this agency. Offers are due at Base Detachment St. Louis Thursday January 10, 2013 at 5:00 PM. Responses to this solicitation can either be submitted via e-mail to Tim Alexander Tim.A.Alexander@uscg.mil or fax to the attention of Tim Alexander (314) 269-2746. Questions may be directed to Tim Alexander (314) 269-2361, Tim.A.Alexander@uscg.mil. Telephone quotes will NOT BE ACCEPTED. Questions regarding the courses may be directed to Mr. Alvia Lee (504) 567-2268 or via email Alvia.M.Lee@uscg.mil. CLAUSES (a): The following FAR provisions apply to this solicitation. Offerors may obtain full text versions of these clauses electronically at: https://www.acquisition.gov/far/html/52_200_206.html (1) 52.204-6: Data Universal Numbering Systems (DUNS) Number. (2) 52.204-7: Central Contractor Registration. (3) 52.212-1: Instruction to Offers Commercial Items (JULY 2003); there are no addenda to this provision. (4) 52.212-2: Evaluation-Commercial Items-Pricing (JAN 1999) is incorporated and the evaluation criteria will be based on meeting or exceeding all specifications listed. (5) 52.212-3: Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items (May 2004) (6) 52.212-4: Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items (Jan 2004); there are no addenda to this clause. (7) 52.212-5: Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statues or Executive Orders, Commercial Items (May 2004). The following clauses listed in 52.212-5 are incorporated: 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (May 2004)(15 U. S. 637(d) (2) and (3), 52.222-3 Convict labor (June 2003) (E.O. 11755); 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Feb 1999), 52.222-26 Equal Opportunity (E.O. 11246), 52.222-35, Affirmative Action for Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era (29 U.S.C. 793), 52.222-36 Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities.52.222-37, Employment Reports on Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era (38 U.S.C. 4212), 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (E.O. 12722, 12724,13059, 13067, 13121, and 13129), 52.232-33 Payments by Electronic Funds Transfer Central Contractor Registration (Oct 2003)(21U.S.C. 3332), and 52.225-1 Buy American Act - Supplies (June 2003) (41 U.S.C. 10a-10d). (b) The following Homeland Security Acquisition Regulations (HSAR) are incorporated as addenda to this solicitation. Offerors may obtain full text versions of these clauses electronically at: http://farsite.hill.af.mil/reghtml/regs/other/hsar/3052.htm#P-1_0 (1) 3052-209-70: Prohibition on Contracts With Corporate Expatriates (June 2006). (2) 3052-209-72: Organizational Conflict of Interest (June 2006). (3) 3052.217-92: Inspection and manner of doing work (Dec 2003). (4) 3052.217-93: Subcontracts (Dec 2003). (5) 3052.225-70: Requirement for Use of Certain Domestic Commodities (Aug 2009). (6) 3052.242-72: Contracting officer's technical representative (Dec 2003). Western Rivers Orientation 2013 & Inland River Orientation 2013 Statement of Work for Training 1. General: Develop and present a course entitled Inland River Orientation 2013 and Western Rivers Orientation 2013. Commercially available curriculums will be considered for acceptability. 2. Location: The Coast Guard will consider offers that will be able to provide the following: Inland River Orientation training at the US Coast Guard Academy located in New London, CT, and Western Rivers Orientation training at Sector Ohio Valley (SOHV) located in Louisville, KY, Sector Upper Mississippi River (SUMR) located in St. Louis, MO, and Sector Lower Mississippi River (SLMR) located in Memphis, TN. The New London, CT Inland River Orientation course will be held during the month of May. The Western River Orientation course will be held during the last 2 weeks of August and September 2013 for SLMR, SUMR, and SOHV. The Academy date will be finalized by 15 February 2013 and the Sector Courses by 15 July 2013. The Coast Guard will arrange for the location of training, most likely at the Sector Office or a nearby hotel meeting facility. The Coast Guard will work with the contractor if other suggestions for a training space are offered. 3. Materials: The Contractor shall provide all course materials including course text and reference materials for each student including but not limited to: training aids, course critiques, certificates of completion, name placards, hi-liters and etc. for the course. Printed directions / maps should be provided to the course facilitator for any field trip outside of the "classroom". 4. Students: Each course session will be attended by 20-30 students. The Inland River Orientation course will be attended by Cadets from the CG Academy. The Western Rivers Orientation course will be attended by CG Officers and Enlisted Personnel who are newly assigned to a Western Rivers duty assignment. Additionally, a Coast Guard Facilitator will be in attendance at all times and visits by Senior Coast Guard Personnel from the District Staff or local Field Commands may occur at anytime for observation purposes. 5. Time and Length: The Inland River course length shall be approximately two days and shall be conducted between Monday and Friday based on the Academy's schedule. The Western River Orientation Course length shall be approximately three days and shall be conducted between Monday and Thursday. Contractors shall submit an agenda that include topics and presentation days and times, length of course as part of their proposal. Do not schedule evening training sessions, but events that involve socializing with industry will be reviewed and considered. Guest speakers presenting current issues should be arranged to meet the requirements outlined in the "Curriculum Section" (Section 11) of this document. The Inland River course will be conducted in May 2013 and the Western River courses will be conducted during the late August/September timeframe. 6. Curriculum: The course should address all "Core Requirements" listed in Section 11 of this document. Subtopics within the core areas can be developed to fit the contractor's method of presentation. These "Core Requirements" constitute the minimum topics and subtopics for this course should be taught in the order listed in Section 11. Additional topics that are current issues within the Western Rivers community can/should be included in the proposal. These additional topic and discussion areas will be added to and presented at the end of "Core Requirements" part of the curriculum. The curriculum and all instructor resumes must be presented to the Coast Guard for approval at least 4 weeks prior to the course convening date. 7. Course Oversight: In order to ensure that the minimum requirements for the course are met, a Coast Guard Facilitator will be in attendance at each presentation. In the event the core presentations digress from an instructional teaching to a discussion on issues beyond the scope of the course or non-related issues, the Coast Guard Facilitator will be authorized to stop the discussion and table the topic to be readdressed during the "Additional Topics" time allowed at the end of the course of instruction. In addition to the Coast Guard Facilitator, it is recommended that the company holding the course provide a Facilitator as well to enhance the overall learning experience of the attendees. 8. Evaluation Criteria: Award of this requirement shall be made to the contractor whose proposal offers the greatest value to the government. Technical factors, including past performance will be considered in addition to price. 9. Technical Evaluation Factors: The following factors will be evaluated and are listed in descending order of importance. The evaluation shall consider the contractor's response to each of these evaluation factors as well as the contracting officer's knowledge of and previous experience with the services being purchased. Technical Evaluation Factors weighted percents follow each factor. a. QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERENCE OF INSTRUCTORS- 25% b. SAMPLE CURRICULA - Provide proposed curriculum including a proposed timeline that will meet the requirements outlined in the "Time and Length" and "Curriculum" Sections of this document - 25% c. PAST PERFORMANCE - Provide contract numbers and government points of contact for similar efforts your company has performed within the last two years. - 20% d. ABILITY TO MEET PROJECT SCHEDULE - shown by material submitted - 15% e. PRICE - While price is not the primary evaluation factor in this requirement, it is important and will be considered when determining contract award. Additionally, location has an impact due to the cost of transporting the students to the site and cost of lodging available in the proposed area. This part of the price consideration is outlined in the "Location Section" of this document. - 15% 10. Evaluation - The following personnel listed by title will evaluate each proposal and recommend the best one based on the above criteria. 1. Contracting Officer, Base Detachment St. Louis 2. Western Rivers Division Chief (dw) 11. Core Requirements for Inland River Course: Suggested Day One Introduction: � Course Introduction � River Transportation System Overview - Include at a minimum; terminology and why it matters, transportation routes, value to nation � Geography � River Terminology Infrastructure: � River System Management � Locks and Dams � Flood Control � Traffic Management CG Roles and Mission on Inland Waterways: � Safety and Security Waterways Management: � River Hydrology � River Stages and Water Conditions � River System Management � Ice conditions The Business Side: � Industry Structure � Industry Infrastructure � Managing Freight � Draft Management � Competition/Cooperation � People Issues Case Study Suggested Day Two Towboat 101: � Types of Operations: line haul vs. fleeting/harbor � Towboat Piloting (including challenges faced during day/night navigation, approaching a Lock and Dam, what can go wrong in these approaches, and the affects of icing and drift in the lock chamber). � Barge types � Restrictive Bridges � River Navigation � Piloting/AIS/ECS � River conditions/Weather � Ice Operations CG Roles and Missions on Inland Waterways: � WLRs and Placement of Aids Towboat 101 - Life on the River � Watches on a Towboat � Mariner Training � Life of a mariner � Crew Endurance Management System (CEMS) � Technology and River OPS Inland Rivers Waterways Action Plan � Flooding and Low Water (presented by CG Speaker if possible) � Coast Guard actions in response to flooding and low water (presented by CG Speaker if possible) � Industry Response to flooding and low water � Waterway Way Action Plan � Inland RNA/MDA/VTS Incident Response Case Study Open Presentation and issues (additional topics) that may be used in conjunction with the above if time permits � New Technology on rivers � Bridges � Industry Groups/Organizations � American Waterway Operators (AWO) � River Committees � Labor Groups � Environmental 11. Core Requirements for Western Rivers Course: Suggested Day One Introduction: � Course Introduction � River Transportation System Overview - Include at a minimum; terminology and why it matters, transportation routes, value to nation � Coast Guard Roles and Missions on the Western Rivers Waterways Management: � Hydrology � Locks and Dams (tour of Lock and Dam if applicable) � River Stages and Water Conditions � River System Management � Aids to Navigation (presented by a Buoy Tender Command if possible) � Ice conditions Passenger Vessels � Industry Overview � Current Issues Suggested Day Two Towboat 101: � Types of Operations: line haul vs. fleeting/harbor � Towboat Piloting (including challenges faced during day/night navigation, approaching a Lock and Dam, what can go wrong in these approaches, and the affects of icing and drift in the lock chamber). � Barge types � Tow Size, making a tow � River and weather conditions and how they affect towboats � Locking and Bridges � Practical Application of Navigation Rules on Western Rivers � Congestion between Commercial and Recreational boaters � Case Studies � Discussion on what types training the crews aboard vessels receive � Towing Vessel Exam Program Sub-Chapter C / Bridging Program (presented by CG Speaker if possible) Towboat Visit and/or Lock and Dam and/or Facility Field Trip � Tour of a local towboat � Watches on a Towboat � Mariner Training � Life of a mariner � Crew Endurance Management System (CEMS) Suggested Day Three Business of Towing (could be done at Facility, but needs to focus on the business) � Industry Structure - company size, cargoes, carriers vs towers, support industries � Contacting and Managing Freight Movement � Draft Management - Weather patterns vs. Water Depth availability, USACE Control � Competition/Cooperation � Licensing Issues � Personnel Issues Captains Panel � Opportunity for several active or retired towboat Captains to have a question/answer session with the group. Inland Rivers Waterways Action Plan � Flooding and Low Water (presented by CG Speaker if possible) � Coast Guard actions in response to flooding and low water (presented by CG Speaker if possible) � Industry Response to flooding and low water Open Presentation and issues (additional topics) that may be used in conjunction with the above if time permits � New Technology on the Western Rivers � Bridges � Industry Groups/Organizations � AWO � River Committees � Labor Groups � Environmental � ATON-WLR OIC brief � CG Auxiliary on the Rivers � Visit towboat with barge attached � Interactive activities between students � Increase videos of incidents on rivers � SAR