V--SWAN Vessel Charter July1-15, 2013

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format found in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested, and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation number for this request is P13PS00735 and the solicitation is issued as a request for quote (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through the current Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC 05-66) and Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). This is a small-business set-aside procurement under NAICS classification code: 483112, and PSC: V214. The small business size standard is 500 employees. BASE ITEM: Contractor shall provide a vessel to include all equipment, materials (i.e., fuels, meals, lodging), and labor in support of the National Park Service (NPS) Southwest Alaska Network (SWAN) Nearshore Monitoring Program. The vessel shall provide transportation and support for nine (9) NPS SWAN and United States Geological Survey (USGS) passengers and associated expertise to facilitate the nearshore marine sampling in the coastal area of Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska. The survey will take place for 10 days between July 1, 2013 and July 15, 2013. Actual trip timing and length will depend on weather conditions, vessel capabilities (speed, weather conditions vessel can operate in), funding and tides. The trip will originate and end in Homer, Alaska. Daily Rate: $______ X 10 days = $__________ OPTIONAL ITEM: Option to add up to 3 additional days to vessel charter described in Base Item depending on weather conditions, vessel capabilities (speed, weather conditions vessel can operate in), funding and tides. Daily Rate: $______ X 3 days = $__________ SCOPE OF WORK AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS: VESSEL OPERATIONAL SPECIFICATIONS: 1.Name and detailed description of the vessel designated to be used under this contract, and a vessel survey that is not more than two (2) years old. NPS Contracting Officer must approve any change in the vessel designated in this bid document. 2.Vessel must meet U.S. Coast Guard standards for an "oceanographic research vessel" for safe operations at sea in the geographic area of Katmai National Park and Preserve. 3.Current color photographs of the vessel and of inside spaces shall be provided with the firms quote. 4.The vessel shall be made available for inspection by NPS/USGS personnel after bid submission and prior to contract award. Vessel shall be made available for inspection in one of the following ports: Whittier, Valdez, Cordova, Homer, Seward, or Kodiak, Alaska to be coordinated with Government personnel. 5.Name, proof of U.S. Coast Guard license, and a description of the watercraft experience of the Captain. Captain shall have at least three (3) years of experience operating watercraft of the size being offered in the following specific region of Alaska: Cook Inlet, and the outer coast of the Alaska Peninsula. 6.Contracted vessel shall have marine and general public liability insurance with limits of liability in accordance with Department of the Interior insurance regulations, 1452.228-70 -- LIABILITY INSURANCE - DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR (JUL 96). Proof of insurance shall be provided after contract award. VESSEL REQUIREMENTS: 1.Vessel shall be fully licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard as required by law and shall have passed all appropriate U.S. Coast Guard requirements for safety and seaworthiness. Proof of certification shall be provided with the quote. 2.Vessel shall be capable of maintaining a cruising speed of at least 6 knots and be willing to move each day to a new mooring spot as directed by the project leader. Areas of safe anchorage will be identified by the vessel master. 3.Vessel shall be equipped with radar, GPS, depth sounder, EPIRB, safety equipment, medical kit, current nautical charts, two VHF radios, and enough U.S. Coast Guard approved immersion suits to outfit all nine (9) scientists/passengers in addition to vessel crew members. 4.The vessel shall be capable of either towing or deck-loading one 16-foot, ~650 lbs. USGS rigid hull inflatable (Brand: AB Inflatable Model: Profile A 16 Website: http://www.abinflatables.com/i_producto.asp) with a Honda 50 hp outboard motor. 5.The contract vessel must be capable of safely carrying at least 2 14-foot inflatable boats (fully inflated) and 15-horsepower outboard motors (2) on board for transport to and from work sites. 6.When the crew is not required for the vessel operations, as determined by the vessel master, the crew shall assist scientists with loading and off-loading skiffs, gear, and supplies, and maintenance of government-owned equipment. 7.Contractor shall be able to carry up to 220 gallons of gasoline in either 55 gallon barrels or tanks for survey skiffs. NPS will pay separately for gasoline consumed by survey skiffs (< 25). Contractor will be responsible for fueling before leaving Homer, AK. Contractor shall supply gasoline containers. Gasoline containers shall be clean and rust-free, and a fuel pump with a water separating fuel filter shall be provided for the pumping system. 8.Contractor shall be responsible for providing fuel, lubricants, and other consumables for operating the charter vessel. NPS/USGS will provide oil and other consumables for government boats. 9.Any mechanical breakdowns in excess of 24 hours that cause rescheduling of the NPS/USGS operational schedule shall require the contractor to deduct the operational costs (daily contract rate) for that period of time from their final invoice. 10.Vessel shall carry enough fuel, potable water (approximately 100 gal/day), and food sufficient for up to fourteen (14) days at sea without a port call. All port calls shall be prearranged with the NPS/USGS Project Leader before contract begins. 11.Vessel shall be a minimum of 65 feet in length GENERAL GUIDELINES: 1.All areas of the vessel shall be accessible to the scientific staff, unless agreed to beforehand. 2.No alcohol will be permitted on the vessel. 3.The vessel master or designee will, at all times, maintain radio contact with scientists working in small boats (<25) from the vessel, according to a pre-arranged radio schedule to assure their safety. In event of a problem or an accident, immediate steps will be taken to assist scientists. 4.Safety orientation shall be given on the first day by the vessel master to all scientists/passengers aboard, including location of exits, locations and operation of life rafts, communications, storage of immersion suits, vessel evacuation and man overboard procedures and procedures for evacuation of vessel in the event of an emergency. 5.The length of the work day will be jointly determined each day by the Captain and the NPS/USGS project leader. In the event of a disagreement, the NPS/USGS project leader has final authority, except for work stoppage due to uncontrollable circumstances, such as unsafe weather or sea conditions, or other safety-at-sea considerations as determined by the Captain. The Captain will have ultimate authority and responsibility for the vessel and all personnel aboard and therefore retains the right to operate the vessel in a safe manner based on his/her best judgment. With this responsibility in mind, the Captain must ensure that enough crew members are on the vessel to run a safe 24-hour operation. Low tides are often in early morning hours and sites may need to be sampled during these times. For this reason, it must be agreed upon beforehand that some reasonable and safe level of support is available around the clock. ACCOMMODATIONS: 1.Vessel shall have at least nine (9) permanent bunks with mattresses and bedding available for personnel and additional permanent bunks for required crew members. Bunks shall be a minimum of 76 inches in length and 30 inches wide and, if stacked, there will be a minimum space of 24 inches between upper and lower bunks. 2.Berthing area(s) shall be separate from the galley, wheelhouse, and deck areas, and shall be heated and have adequate ventilation. 3.Vessel shall be clean and provide quality living conditions. This includes being free from continuous noise levels greater than 80 db in the living and work areas and from undesirable and noxious odors. 4.Vessel lights, heat, hot water, sanitation facilities (including wash basins, toilet, and shower), galley, and cooking and eating supplies shall be appropriate to support nine (9) scientists and the vessel's crew members. Berthing spaces, heads, sinks, and showers will be thoroughly cleaned daily by a vessel crew member. 5.Vessel shall be capable of providing a hot water shower for each scientist every two days. 6.Vessel shall have a heated drying area separate from living accommodations and routine work areas, and must be capable of drying wet clothing, rain gear, etc. overnight for nine (9) people. The drying area must be large enough to hang these items away from walls. 7.Vessel shall have a flat, dry space available for setup and operation of at least 3 NPS/USGS laptop computers. 8.Vessel shall have 110-volt AC electricity to recharge NPS/USGS computers and VHF radios. MEALS: Three meals per day for nine (9) scientists/passengers shall be provided. The intended work will require odd working hours and, thus, flexibility in meal times and provision of snack food throughout the day. Breakfast and lunch may be either hot or cold meals, but dinner shall be a hot meal. Meals shall be well balanced, nutritious, palatable and varied. If special dietary needs (e.g., low-sodium, vegetarian, diabetic, etc.) are required, NPS/USGS will notify the contractor at least 10 days prior to scheduled departure of the nature and number of special dietary requirements. SCHEDULE/DEPARTURE: 1. Research passengers/personnel will meet the vessel in Homer, Alaska to load equipment and supplies on the day before departure. Passengers/research crew will be responsible for loading supplies aboard the vessel in Homer, Alaska. Vessel must be available for loading of gear the day prior to charter and staterooms will be available for sleeping quarters (no food is provided on the loading day). 2. For trip planning and billing purposes, a day is defined as a 24-hour period starting at a time agreed upon by the skipper and the NPS/USGS project leader prior to the beginning of the trip. The trip officially ends when all NPS/USGS gear is off-loaded from the charter vessel. This is a fixed price contract and contractor shall invoice based on per day rate. ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA: Contractors compliance will be measured by the specifications provided for the vessel they will be providing and then how the vessel and crew meet the requirements. Acceptance to be determined by Project Leader or suitable named representative. OTHERS: 1) PUBLIC AFFAIRS: The Contractor shall not make available to the news media or publicly disclose any data generated or reviewed under this contract. When approached by the news media, the Contractor shall refer them to the Contracting Officer or her representative for response. Project reports and data generated under this contract shall become the property of the government and distribution to any other source by the Contractor, unless authorized by the Contracting Officer or her representatives, is prohibited. 2) CONTRACTING OFFICER AUTHORITY (per Federal Acquisition Regulation 1.602-1): The Contracting Officer is the only person with the authority to act as agent of the Government under this contract. Only the Contracting Officer has authority to: (a) direct or negotiate any changes in the Statement of Work or specifications; (b) modify or extend the period of performance; (c) change the delivery schedule; or (d) otherwise change any terms and conditions of this contract. The Contracting Officer is the only person authorized to make or approve any changes in any of the requirements of this contract and not withstanding any provisions contained elsewhere in this contract, the said authority remains solely in the Contracting Officer. In the event the Contractor makes any changes at the direction of any person other than the Contracting Officer, the change will be considered to have been made without authority and no adjustment will be made in the contract price to cover any increase in costs incurred as a result thereof. CONTRACT CLAUSES & PROVISIONS FAR 52.212-01 Instructions to OfferorsCommercial Items FAR 52.212-02 EvaluationCommercial Items (a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: 1. A vessel survey that is not more than two (2) years old. 2. Name, proof of U.S. Coast Guard license, and a description of the watercraft experience of the Captain. 3. Vessel suitability for the project 4. Price When combined, all price and non-price factors are approximately equal in importance. (b) Options. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s). (c) A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer's specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award. FAR 52.212-03 Offeror Representations & CertificationsCommercial Items FAR 52.212-04 Contract Terms and ConditionsCommercial Items FAR 52.212-05 Contract Terms & Conditions Required to Implement Statues of Executive OrdersCommercial Items. (52.204-10, 52.209-06, 52.209-10, 52.219-06, 52.219-28, 52.222-03, 52.222-17, 52.222-19, 52.222-21, 52.222-26, 52.222-36, 52.223-18, 52.225-01, 52.225-13, 52.232-33, 52.222-53) FAR 52.217-08 Option to Extend Services FAR 52.217-09 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract D1452.228-70 Liability InsuranceDepartment of Interior (a) The Contractor shall procure and maintain during the term of this contract and any extension thereof liability insurance in form satisfactory to the Contracting Officer by an insurance company which is acceptable to the Contracting Officer. The named insured parties under the policy shall be the Contractor and the United States of America. The amounts of the insurance shall be not less than as follows: $500,000 each person $1,000,000 each occurrence $500,000 property damage (b) Each policy shall have a certificate evidencing the insurance coverage. The insurance company shall provide an endorsement to notify the Contracting Officer 30 days prior to the effective date of cancellation or termination of the policy or certificate; or modification of the policy or certificate which may adversely affect the interest of the Government in such insurance. The certificate shall identify the contract number, the name and address of the Contracting Officer, as well as the insured, the policy number and a brief description of contract services to be performed. The contractor shall furnish the Contracting Officer with a copy of an acceptable insurance certificate prior to beginning the work. POINT OF CONTACT: This combined synopsis/solicitation is a request for competitive quotes. Offerors interested in submitting a quote, or requiring additional information on this solicitation should contact: Christie VandenDries, Contracting Specialist, National Park Service, +1 (555) 000-0000, contact@example.gov PROPOSAL SUBMISSION: Quotes must be received at the following address, by via email, fax, or mail, prior to the closing date of this solicitation. Closing date of this solicitation is May 29, 2013 at 2:00pm ET: National Park Service Contracting and General Services 240 W. 5th Ave. Anchorage, AK 99501 Ph: +1 (555) 000-0000 contact@example.gov