SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- Biological Characterization/Numerical Wave Model Analysis within Identified Borrow Sites Offshore the West Coast of Florida/Physical Implications of Sand Dredging on the Topography of the West Florida Shelf
- Notice Date
- 1/3/2005
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Minerals Management Service 381 Elden St., POB, MS2510 HERNDON VA 20170
- ZIP Code
- 20170
- Solicitation Number
- 0105RP39054
- Response Due
- 1/27/2005
- Archive Date
- 1/3/2006
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- The Minerals Management Service (MMS) of the Department of the Interior intends to competitively award a contract to contribute to the knowledge base that is needed for public officials to pursue balanced decision making in the management and development of Federal sand borrow areas identified for use in nearby beach nourishment coastal restoration projects and HEREBY SOLICITS REQUESTS FOR CAPABILITY STATEMENTS from interested parties to propose on this requirement. INTRODUCTION: The Government intends to award a cost reimbursement-type contract. The Solicitation Number for this requirement is 1435-01-05-RP-39054 and must be referenced on your written documents. This is a 100% small business set-aside. All offerors must be able to qualify under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541710 "Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (less than 500 employees)." The United States (U. S.) Government, and specifically, the Minerals Management Service (MMS), a bureau within the U. S. Department of the Interior, has jurisdiction over all mineral resources on the Federal OCS. 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. MMS has been actively cooperating with coastal states in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico during the conduct of geologic and geophysical studies to identify potential offshore sand sites with sufficient quantity and the required quality of sand needed for planned and future beach and coastal restoration projects. Sand resources in Federal waters offshore the west Florida coast counties of Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier are actively being investigated for long-term use as beach nourishment material despite the fact that Federal jurisdiction begins approximately 9 miles out from the coast. Dredging significant amounts of sand within the offshore area could result in long-term, adverse impacts on the biological and physical environments if mitigation measures are not properly implemented. Site-specific biological and physical information is necessary prior to negotiating leases for the use of offshore sand borrow sites. This information can be used to suggest engineering options and mitigation measures that can reduce and avoid potential long-term, adverse impacts, while allowing for the selective removal of the needed volumes of sand for nearby beach projects. As the Federal agency responsible for regulation of OCS sand resources, the MMS must ensure that sand and gravel dredging operations conducted under its jurisdiction are being conducted in a safe and environmentally sound manner. SCOPE OF WORK: Specific study tasks will include the development and conduct of a biological field data collection/computer numerical modeling program to address the following issues: Characterization and evaluation of benthic habitats, biological communities (infauna, epifauna, demersal, and pelagic fishes), and sediment grain size in potential borrow areas. Biological field data collected will be used in conjunction with existing literature to the maximum extent possible; Assessment of the potential effects of offshore sand dredging on benthic and pelagic communities, including an analysis of the potential rate and success of recolonization following cessation of dredging; Using the procedures and conclusions set out in the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Special Report 262: A Process for Setting, Managing, and Monitoring Environmental Windows for Dredging Projects (http://trb.org//publications/sr/sr262.pdf) as a guide, development of a time schedule of environmental windows that best protects benthic and pelagic species from adverse environmental effects; Examination of the potential for alteration in the local wave field following dredging and the excavation of sand from within potential sand borrow sites offshore the west coast of Florida; Examination of the potential for increased wave action after dredging within potential sand borrow sites and any resultant adverse localized changes in erosional patterns and longshore coastal transport which could result in significant losses of beach sand after renourishment; Examination of the potential for changes in local sediment transport rates as a result of altering the local bathymetry, particularly in light of the recent studies which indicate that bathymetry does influence the manner in which waves approach the shoreline during storm events; Examination of the cumulative physical effects of multiple dredging events and extraction of a large volume of material within the identified potential borrow sites; Examination, on a generic basis using numerical wave modeling, the potential for adverse effects on the physical wave field from dredging along the west Florida shelf, taking into account the differences in topography between this area and the Atlantic offshore area. The period of performance of this effort is anticipated to be a maximum of 32 months from date of contract award. The estimated cost range is $475,000 to $525,000. QUALIFICATION FACTORS: To compete for this contract, an offeror must demonstrate qualifications to perform the work by providing, no later than close of business, January 27, 2005, a Capabilities Statement describing in detail: (A) Key technical personnel and their demonstrated ability to collect, interpret and synthesis information. Particularly relevant is their expertise and experience in the fields of marine benthic biology and ecology, physical oceanography and numerical wave modeling, marine and coastal geology, other oceanography disciplines as required, their experience in the type of work proposed and demonstrated ability to do the work. This experience must be demonstrated through authorship in appropriate peer reviewed publications. Assessment factors will be their qualifications, the relevance of their qualifications to their assigned task, and their estimated level of effort; (B) Key technical personnel who will be responsible for the organization of information and the production of documents and manuscripts. The offerer shall provide information on which tasks(s) each key person will perform; qualifications for completing those tasks; and the rationale for that assignment. (C) The offering organization's expertise with this type of work and a description of relevant facilities and resources. (D) Specific references including project identifier and description, period of performance, dollar amount, and client name and phone number for previous work of this nature conducted by the organization and/or organization personnel. REFERENCES WILL BE CHECKED. Capabilities Statements will be evaluated on the basis of: (A) Understanding of project scope and objectives; (B) Experience and expertise of all key technical personnel; (C) Relevance of all key personnel's qualifications to their assigned task, and their estimated level of effort; (D) Organizational history of timely completing similar projects, adherence to schedules and budgets, effectiveness of cost controls, and quality of products delivered; (E) The degree of comparability of past projects to the current project, including number, complexity, and size. Subcontracts and partners will be considered. Offerors must submit a Capabilities Statement in original form and five (5) copies of your response to the attention of: Sharon Teger, Contracting Officer, Procurement Operations Branch, Minerals Management Service, and if using regular U.S. mail - MS 2100, 381 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170; or if hand delivered or using a courier service - 381 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170. Please include your full name, the RFP number (39054) & title (Biological Characterization/Numerical Wave Model Analysis within Identified Borrow Sites Offshore the West Coast of Florida/Physical Implications of Sand Dredging on the Topography of the West Florida Shelf), your organization name, complete address, and phone and fax numbers. Any questions regarding this solicitation should be addressed to Sharon.Teger@mms.gov. All correspondence should include your full name, the RFP number (39054), project title, your organization name. PHONE CALLS ARE STRONGLY DISCOURAGED.
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- Record
- SN00728771-W 20050105/050103211923 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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