SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- Examination of the Pysical and Biological Implications of Using Buried Channel Depostis and Other Non-Topographic Offshore Features as Beach Nourishment Material
- Notice Date
- 4/12/2005
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Minerals Management Service Procurement Operations Branch 381 Elden Street, MS 2100 Herndon VA 20170
- ZIP Code
- 22170-4817
- Solicitation Number
- 0105RP39150
- Response Due
- 4/27/2005
- Archive Date
- 4/12/2006
- Point of Contact
- Kimberly B. Luke Contract Specialist 7037871339 Kimberly.Luke@mms.gov;
- E-Mail Address
-
Point of Contact above, or if none listed, contact the IDEAS EC HELP DESK for assistance
(EC_helpdesk@NBC.GOV)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- The Minerals Management Service's Leasing Division, and specifically, the Division's Marine Minerals Branch has been focusing on integrating geologic and environmental information, developed through partnerships with coastal States and contracted or cooperative study efforts, to identify suitable Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) sand deposits for beach and coastal restoration and to provide needed environmental information in regards to environmental management of these resources. The MMS has jurisdiction over all mineral resources on the Federal Outer Continental Shelf. Public Law 103-426, enacted October 31, 1994, gave the MMS the authority to convey, on a noncompetitive basis, the rights to OCS sand, gravel, or shell resources for shore protection, beach or wetlands restoration projects, or for use in construction projects funded in whole or part or authorized by the Federal Government. Since enactment of PL 103-426, MMS has provided Federal sand for beach nourishment projects in New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, South Carolina, and Louisiana. To date, most geological/geophysical investigations associated with the search for new offshore sand borrow areas located in federal waters has been the raised shoal features found along the coast. Recently, however, the continuing search for new sand borrow sites along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts has resulted in the identification of potential sand borrow areas in Federal waters which are not associated with these raised topographic features. Significant quantities of sand suitable for beach nourishment have been found in surficial sand deposits or sand sheets, as well as buried paleochannels. In many instances, buried channel deposits are situated under a significant thickness of overlying sediment which must be side-cast or disposed of in some manner before dredging of the borrow material can be accomplished. A beach restoration effort at Holly Beach, Louisiana used an offshore buried channel deposit in which several feet of fine-grained material was removed and sidecast adjacent of the borrow site. A similar deposit is being considered for use for a project at Pelican Island, Louisiana. A sizable overburden of fine silt and clay must be removed from the Sandy Point borrow site before the clean sand can be accessed. The overburden material will be sidecast into nearby identified disposal areas. Whether it be a shoal or non-shoal deposit, the process involved in the removal of seabed material and subsequent transport and placement of material on the beach or coastal area is called dredging. Offshore sand dredging for beach nourishment projects employ hydraulic dredges almost exclusively and are normally either cutterhead or hopper-type dredges. Regardless of the dredging method employed, however, the process may result in adverse effects on various components of the marine or coastal environment. An Environmental Report prepared by Louis Berger and Associates for MMS (Louis Berger Group, Inc., 1999 - OCS Study MMS 99-0036) contains a complete description of the dredging process. The report is available on the MMS website at http://www.mms.gov/sandandgravel/PDF/environmentalreport1999.PDF. MMS has conducted numerous site-specific biological and physical studies on shoal features identified as possible borrow sites, but has not as yet examined the potential for adverse impacts associated with the dredging of buried channel deposits or sand sheet areas. Studies conducted offshore have clearly shown that benthic community structure is strongly correlated to sediment type. Since sediment type is likely to be different in buried channel or sheet sand deposits than in shoal deposits, it is likely that these types of deposits have very different resident biological communities and may be impacted quite differently during a typical dredging operation. The side-casting or disposal of fine-grained slits, mud, or clays may also pose some adverse impacts. In addition to the biological considerations, the dredging of the deposits might leave a sizable depression in the seafloor which could result in adverse changes in the local wave climate and sediment transport regime. These factors and the biological and physical impacts associated with the use of these deposits, including the potential effects of the side-casting of any overburden material, must be thoroughly investigated before negotiating leases for planned beach nourishment projects. Objective of the study: The purpose of this study is to examine, on a generic basis, the potential for adverse effects on the biology and physical characteristics of areas along the east and Gulf coasts of the United States should dredging proceed in potential borrow sites which are not associated with raised topographic features, such as surficial sheet sands and buried paleochannels. The prospective contractor will be asked to compile and synthesize existing oceanographic literature and data sets to develop an understanding of the baseline benthic ecological conditions and the physical oceanographic regime in and around potential sand borrow areas which are representative of typical sand sheet and buried channel deposits found along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts. The prospective offeror will design and carry out an investigative study effort to evaluate possible adverse biological and physical impacts associated with the dredging of sand sheet or buried channel deposits located in U. S. Federal waters. The prospective contractor shall prepare a technical report with clear, concise writing at a level suitable to a technical audience familiar with the various facets of the marine sciences. Judicious use of tables, figures, and maps is encouraged. The format and organization for the manuscript will be agreed upon between the Program Manager (PM) and the MMS-COTR prior to preparation. A draft final manuscript shall be submitted to MMS for review before preparation of the final document. The prospective contractor shall prepare a Draft Technical Summary after completion and acceptance of the final manuscript, as well as a draft scientific paper describing the study, its purpose, methods, conclusions, etc. for submission to an appropriate technical journal, and will be required to present details of this study at a scheduled MMS Gulf of Mexico Information Transfer Meeting (ITM) or other technical conference as agreed upon between the PM and the MMS COTR. It is expected that the work effort will take a total of 24 months. The cost of this effort is Not to Exceed $300,000. Work products will include a Draft and Final Technical Report. THIS IS A TOTAL SMALL BUSINESS SET ASIDE. The North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) is 541620 "Environmental Consulting Services". The size standard for this NAICS code is $6 Million. For a full copy of this request for proposal, please contact Kimberly Luke, Contract Specialist. Requests must be received no later than 5:00 PM EDT on April 27, 2005. Contact information: Kimberly.Luke@mms.gov; fax: 703-787-1041, physical address: Minerals Management Service; Procurement Operations Branch, 381 Elden Street, MS 2101, Herndon, VA 20170 NOTE: THIS NOTICE WAS NOT POSTED TO WWW.FEDBIZOPPS.GOV ON THE DATE INDICATED IN THE NOTICE ITSELF (12-APR-2005); HOWEVER, IT DID APPEAR IN THE FEDBIZOPPS FTP FEED ON THIS DATE. PLEASE CONTACT fbo.support@gsa.gov REGARDING THIS ISSUE.
- Web Link
-
Please click here to view more details.
(http://www.eps.gov/spg/DOI/MMS/PO/0105RP39150/listing.html)
- Record
- SN00786308-F 20050414/050412211950 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
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