SPECIAL NOTICE
99 -- A-E Services
- Notice Date
- 8/20/2015
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541310
— Architectural Services
- Contracting Office
- BIA WRO 000112600 N CENTRAL AVENUEContracting OfficeSUITE 400 MAILROOMPhoenixAZ85001US
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- A15PS00669A3
- E-Mail Address
-
A-E Services
(paul.robinson@bia.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- AMENDMENT NO. 2 IS ISSUED TO SOLICITATION NO. A15PS00669 to provide the Government's response to issues/questions. ISSUES/QUESTIONS: Thank you for speaking with me over the phone earlier this afternoon. I appreciate your candor and willingness to respond to technical questions after consulting your group of internal technical advisors. As I mentioned in our conversation, we are troubled by the decision by BIA to include the burdensome and technically incorrect language that requires an engineer licensed in the states of Arizona and Nevada to be of a structural designation in order to work on the advertised bridge projects. The administrative codes governing the work that may be performed by engineers in these states are quite clear. Section R4-30-221 of Arizonas Administrative code states specifically that Civil includes bridge work: Part 4: Civil: Consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning, design, location, development, and review of construction for projects concerning highways, streets, transportation systems, drainage and flood control structures, surface and subsurface hydrologics, sewers, tunnels, railroads, geotechnical analysis, waterfronts, water and wastewater systems, water power and supply apparatus, wells, pumps, bridges, dams, irrigation structures, water purification apparatus, incinerators, or site fire protection systems. In addition to this, it further states at the beginning of this section: The Board shall recognize the branches of engineering described below for review of experience, selection of examination, definition of examination areas, and definition of demonstrated proficiency areas to be inscribed on the registrants seal. The branches do not limit the areas of a registrants practice of engineering. (See R4-30-301(18)) The requirements in Nevada are similar. The Nevada administrative code clearly states: NAC 625.260 Licensure as structural engineer required for certain activities; exceptions. (NRS 625.140,625.175) 1. Only professional engineers licensed as structural engineers pursuant to this chapter may structurally design: a) A structure requiring special expertise, including, but not limited to, a radio tower and a sign over 100 feet in height, using the bottom of the lowest footing or the top of the pile cap as the point of reference. Dynamic machinery and related equipment within the scope of mechanical engineering are not included. b) A building more than three stories in height. c) A building more than 45 feet in height, using the bottom of the lowest footing or the top of the pile cap as the point of reference. 2. Any professional engineer may design a component part of a building that is more than 45 feet in height if the professional engineer is otherwise qualified to do so pursuant to the particular discipline in which the professional engineer is licensed. If the professional engineer is not licensed as a structural engineer, the design must be reviewed by an engineer of record who is licensed as a structural engineer. 3. A professional engineer licensed as a civil engineer pursuant to this chapter may structurally design a structure, including, without limitation, a bridge, unless the structure is described in subsection 1. All of this information should be enough reason to not place an incorrect and overly burdensome requirement to have an engineer with a Structural designation on these projects. We respectfully ask for your reconsideration of this language and this requirement. I am the bridge engineer on the team that is licensed in Arizona and Nevada and I am more than qualified to oversee the engineering work necessary for these projects. This contractor would greatly benefit from these projects and our team would be very disappointed if we were disqualified because of an incorrect requirement in the solicitation. GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE: The requirement for bridge design from the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Western Regional Office - Division of Transportation (BIA-WRO-DOT) is that a Licensed Structural Engineer in the State of which the work is being completed designs the bridge and a second Licensed Structural Engineer in the State of which the work is being completed performs an independent structural analysis of the bridge. The BIA-WRO-DOT is the owner of these bridges and is responsible for design, construction and maintenance of these bridges. Therefore, we have a high degree of responsibility to the traveling public to make sure bridges meet or exceed Federal Standards. See attached the 25 Code of Federal Regulations Appendix B to Subpart D Part 170. In addition, the BIA-WRO-DOT is funded by the Federal HighwayTrust Fund, which requires us to follow Federal Highway Adminstration (FHWA) Standards. We have a Stewardship and Oversight Agreement with FHWA, that we will follow FHWA Bridge Design Standards, that require Licensed Structural Engineers to design Federal Funded Bridges. See attached sections of the Stewardship and Oversight Agreement and the FHWA Federal Lands Highway Project Development and Design Manual. (To request a copy of the "attached" documents referenced in the Government's response - send email request to: paul.robinson@bia.gov.)
- Web Link
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(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOI/BIA/RestonVA/A15PS00669A3/listing.html)
- Record
- SN03847730-W 20150822/150820235727-91d3202288810f23c01d5bd2ac6d48b3 (fbodaily.com)
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