SOURCES SOUGHT
C -- Onondaga Lake Oxygenation Demonstration Project - Firm Fixed-Price Architect-Engineer (A-E) Services Contract Request for Qualifications
- Notice Date
- 12/24/2002
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- US Army Engineer District, Buffalo , 1776 Niagara St., Buffalo, NY 14207-3199
- ZIP Code
- 14207-3199
- Solicitation Number
- DACW49-03-R-0007
- Archive Date
- 3/24/2003
- Point of Contact
- Lorraine McMullen, (716) 879-4249
- E-Mail Address
-
Email your questions to US Army Engineer District, Buffalo
(lorraine.l.mcmullen@usace.army.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- NA CONTRACT INFORMATION: The contract is for the provisions of various A-E services to prepare a Preliminary Experimental Design Plan Report for an in-lake air/oxygenation delivery system. The contract is anticipated to be awarded in February 2003. This an nouncement is open to all businesses regardless of size. If a large business is selected, it must comply with FAR 52.219-9 regarding the requirement for a subcontracting plan on that part of the work it intends to subcontract. The wages and benefits of s ervice employees performing under these contracts must be at least equal to those determined by the Department of Labor under the Service Contract Act. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Onondaga Lake, an urban lake located in metropolitan Syracuse, New York, is approximately 4.6 miles long by 1 mile wide, has mean and maximum depths of 35 and 63 feet respectively, and a drainage basin of 248 square miles. The major hydrologic inputs to O nondaga Lake are Nine Mile Creek, Harbor Brook, Onondaga Creek, Bloody Brook, Ley Creek and the Metropolitan Sewage Treatment Plant (METRO). The lake outlet is located at the northern end of the lake where it empties into the Seneca River. The Seneca Ri ver combines with the Oneida River to become the Oswego River, which ultimately enters Lake Ontario at the City of Oswego. Onondaga Lake?s present water and sediment quality and biological conditions are the result of more than a century of waste inputs. Contributing factors include extensive quantities of treated domestic sewage, combined sewage overflows, various industrial wastes, runoff from urban and agricultural land and leaching of various substances from hazardous waste sites around the lake. Another likely factor is the probable release of mercury, phosphorus and other contaminants from the lake?s bottom sediments. F ishing was banned in 1970 because of mercury contamination and currently, a fish advisory exists which severely limits fish consumption. Some of the water quality problems in Onondaga Lake result from the fact that the effluent from the METRO represents approximately 20% of the annual inflow to the lake, and 60-70% of the total inflow during low flow conditions. Pollutant loading in this e ffluent may contribute to low hypolimnetic dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations. In addition, during late summer and early fall turnover, Onondaga Lake has undergone temporary lake-wide oxygen depletion, resulting in violation of New York State?s minimum DO concentration of 4 mg/L for several weeks. The fall mixing period DO has steadily improved each year since 1998. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: As part of the Amended Consent Judgment (ACJ), entered into between New York State, Atlantic States Legal Foundation and Onondaga County in January 1998, Onondaga County is required to implement a program to improve the water quality of Onondaga Lake. Thi s program includes determining the feasibility of oxygenating Onondaga Lake. The Onondaga Lake Oxygenation Demonstration Project is the first step in the determination process. The scope of this contract is for the preparation of a Preliminary Experimental Design Plan Report (similar in content and detail to a facilities plan/design report) that will set forth the details and specifications to be used by others in the future to d evelop work plans to determine the feasibility and appropriateness of in-lake oxygenation. The Preliminary Experimental Design Plan must include specifications and instructions for all critical scientific, engineering, and cost factors that are necessary for future preparation and development of plans, specifications, operation and maintenance plans, sampling and analysis plans, etc. The Preliminary Experimental Design Plan Report must include sufficient detailed information and specifications to enable o thers to develop the appropriate work plans. The Preliminary Experimental Design Plan Report shall, at a minimum, adequately address the following: 1. To what deg ree will the demonstration project improve the habitat for fish and other aquatic life? Oxygen depletion in Onondaga Lake is chronic during the warmer part of the year throughout the hypolimnion. After overturn in the fall, dissolved oxygen levels in the epilimnion often drop to levels that may affect fish populations and other aquatic organisms. The timing and amounts on oxygen added to the hypolimnion must be geared to reducing both these problems. The sampling program must conclusively demonstrate th e potential for improving fish habitat. 2. What will be the impact of the demonstration project on the bioaccumulation of mercury and other chemical contaminants? More specifically, how will the project affect production, release and distribution of methyl mercury in the lake system? When diss olved oxygen is added to the hypolimnion, it is assumed that fish and other organisms will migrate into the lower waters of the lake. Will this movement result in increased exposure to mercury and other chemical contaminants? The project sampling program must be designed to evaluate this possibility. 3. What potential changes in water chemistry can be expected during the Lake Oxygenation Project and how will the sampling program address these changes? Parameters of particular interest include soluble reactive phosphorus, suspended solids and water cla rity. What changes in habitat, biota and biological communities would be expected as a result of these changes? How will they be documented and evaluated? 4. Does or can the Lake Oxygenation Project be designed to produce a uniform lake-wide dissolved oxygen concentration that is at a minimum level to support a healthy fish community? 5. Will the Lake Oxygenation Project reduce the release of phosphorus from the bottom sediments? What impact will this have on the phosphorus budget for the lake? 6. Should the demonstration project be conducted at a whole-lake scale, a partial lake scale or at a series of scales encompassing this range? What is the best way to phase a series of scaled experiments? 7. What are the economic and regulatory obstacles to scaling up the demonstration project to a permanent long-term oxygenation project? 8. How will the project affect lake stratification and turnover regimes, and with what effect on lake ecology? 9. What is the energy efficiency of the process? 10. What are the operation and maintenance cost estimates for the process? 11. How much land area will be occupied? SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: Firms having the capabilities to perform this work and desiring consideration for selection are invited to submit six (6) copies of a completed SF 254, unless a current copy is on file at the address listed below, and six copies of SF 255, by 30 JANUARY 20 02. Additionally, responding firms are requested to provide six (6) copies of an overview narrative intended to demonstrate the firm?s understanding of the subject project. This overview narrative shall include a list of relevant projects that the firm h as worked on, the unique problems addressed on each project, and the firm?s approach to addressing such problems. The overview narrative must demonstrate a workable understanding and perspective related to the following items: ? Design and construction of an in-lake air/oxygenation delivery system. ? Operation and control of an in-lake air/oxygenation delivery system. ? Selection of appropriate experimental design scale. ? Cost estimation for feasibility if whole-lake implementation including installation, operation and maintenance, parts replacement and energy costs. In addition, the overview narrative must demonstrate a workable understanding and ability to design an appropriate monitoring program for the following items: ? Measurement and/or assessment of chemical, physical and biological parameters in the water column. ? Measurement and/or assessment of chemical, physical and biological parameters at the sediment/water interface. Fin ally, the overview narrative must demonstrate a workable understanding of the inherent issues involved in the design of an oxygenation demonstration project on a lake with significant conventional and hazardous pollutants by addressing the following: ? Experience with Onondaga Lake or similar lakes showing an understanding of the pollutant issues. ? Potential effects on hazardous pollutants. ? Confounding effects of sediments related to the sediment waste interface. Responding firms are requested to state whether they are large business, small business, small disadvantaged business and/or women-owned business in Block 4 of SF 254. No other general notification of firms under consideration for this contract will be ma de, and no further action is required. This is not a request for proposals. Submittals should be mailed to: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Engineer District, Buffalo, Attn: Contracting Division (M. Restall) 1776 Niagara Street, Buffalo, NY 14207-3199 SELECTION CRITERIA: The following selection criteria, listed below in descending order of importance (first by major criterion and then by sub-criterion) will be used to select an A-E Firm. Criterion (a) through (d) are primary. Criterion (e) and (f) are secondary and will only be used as ?tie-breakers? among technically equal firms. (a) Professional Qualifications: The project team is expected to have the qualifications, education, training, and experience necessary to implement this project. The minimum education level required for the technically specific project team components is a Ph.D. or it?s equivalent (i.e., Master?s of Science Degree with ten or more years related experience) in a relevant field. Documentation (i.e., pertinent published reports, journal articles, etc.) and resumes should be submitted to include qualificatio ns, education, certifications, training and experience. (b) Specialized Experience and Technical Competence: At least one member of the team must have demonstrated specific experience on a minimum of one similar project for each requisite facet (i.e., design, construction, operation and control of in-lake air- oxygen delivery systems; design, implementation and data interpretation of chemical, physical and biological monitoring programs of lakes inclusive of water column and sediments). Biographical sketches, resumes, additional documentation and relevant public ations will be evaluated to determine if the team has experience in design, construction, operation and control of air/oxygen delivery systems and designing, implementing, and interpreting chemical, physical, and biological monitoring programs (inclusive o f the water column and sediments). (c) Capacity to Accomplish the Work: Every member of the project team must be committed to a minimum availability of 25%. Team members and specialized staff are not required to be retained for the duration of the project, but only for those requisite fac ets which require a particular team member?s field of expertise. The project matrix should also specify which entity/individual would conduct each element of the Preliminary Experimental Design Plan and the total amount of time committed to each element. (d) Past Performance: Past performance on Department of Defense (DoD) and other contracts with respect to cost control, quality of work, and compliance with performance schedules. Past performance ratings shall be provided. (e) Location(s) of the firm in the general geographic area of Onondaga Lake (f) Extent of participation of small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned businesses, historically black colleges and universities, and minority institutions in the proposed contract team, measured as a percentage of the total estimated effort. RANKING PROCEDURE (Primary Selection Criteria): Selection Criterion (a): Professional Qualifications Superior (GREEN): The respondent?s submission clearly demonstrates that the respondent?s project te am possesses significant relevant professional qualifications. Submission includes resumes and documentation (i.e., pertinent published reports, journal articles, etc.) detailing qualifications, education, certifications, training and experience. Marginal (YELLOW): The respondent?s submission establishes that the respondent?s project team possesses minimal relevant professional qualifications. Submission may include resumes and documentation detailing qualifications and experience. Unacceptable (RED): The respondent?s submission fails to demonstrate that the respondent?s project team possesses relevant professional qualification necessary to implement this project. Submission may not include resumes and documentation detailing qual ifications and experience. Selection Criterion (b): Specialized Experience and Technical Competence Superior (GREEN): The respondent?s submission clearly demonstrates that the respondent?s project team possesses significant specialized experience and technical competence on similar projects for each requisite facet (i.e., design, construction, operation and control of in-lake air-oxygen delivery systems; design, implementation and data interpretation of chemical, physical and biological monitoring programs of lakes inclusive of water column and sediments). Submission includes biographical sketches, resu mes, additional documentation and relevant publications. Marginal (YELLOW): The respondent?s submission establishes that the respondent?s project team possesses minimal specialized experience and technical competence on similar projects for each requisite facet (i.e., design, construction, operation and control of in-lake air-oxygen delivery systems; design, implementation and data interpretation of chemical, physical and biological monitoring programs of lakes inclusive of water column and sediments). Submission may include biographical sketches, resumes, addi tional documentation and relevant publications. Unacceptable (RED): The respondent?s submission fails to demonstrate that the respondent?s project team possesses specialized experience and technical competence to implement this project. Submission may not include biographical sketches, resumes, additi onal documentation and relevant publications. Selection Criterion (c): Capacity to Accomplish the Work Superior (GREEN): The respondent?s submission clearly demonstrates that every member of the respondent?s project team will be committed to a minimum availability of 25% for those requisite facets which require a particular project team member?s field of e xpertise. Submission includes a project matrix specifying which entity/individual will conduct each element of the Preliminary Experimental Design Plan and the total amount of time committed to each element. Marginal (YELLOW): The respondent?s submission establishes that the respondent?s project team will be committed to some availability (e.g., less than 25%) for those requisite facets which require a particular project team member?s field of expertise. Sub mission may include a project matrix specifying which entity/individual will conduct each element of the Preliminary Experimental Design Plan and the total amount of time committed to each element. Unacceptable (RED): The respondent?s submission fails to demonstrate that the respondent?s project team will be committed to some availability for those requisite facets which require a particular project team member?s field of expertise. Submission may not include a project matrix specifying which entity/individual will conduct each element of the Preliminary Experimental Design Plan and the total amount of time committed to each element. Selection Criterion(d): Past Performance Superior (GREEN): The respondent?s submission clearly demonstrates the respondent?s project team ability to perform work for Government agencies, or other customers, efficiently, correctly and within the time constraints given. Submission inc ludes past performance ratings that convey a high probability of successful performance on this project. Marginal (YELLOW): The respondent?s submission establishes that the respondent?s project team has performed very little work for Government agencies, or other customers, efficiently, correctly and within the time constraints given. Submission may include past performance ratings that convey a high probability of successful performance on this project. Unacceptable (RED): The respondent?s submission fails to demonstrate the respondent?s project team ability to perform work for Government agencies, or other customers, efficiently, correctly and within the time constraints given. Submission may not inclu de past performance ratings that convey a high probability of successful performance on this project.
- Place of Performance
- Address: US Army Engineer District, Buffalo 1776 Niagara St., Buffalo NY
- Zip Code: 14207-3199
- Country: US
- Zip Code: 14207-3199
- Record
- SN00230359-W 20021226/021224213721 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |