International Boundary & Water Commission, United States Section, The Commons, Building C, Suite 310, 4171 N. Mesa, El Paso, TX 79902-1441

R -- PARTNERING SERVICES FOR RIO GRANDE AMERICAN CANAL EXTENSION (RGACE) - REACH B SOL RFP 95-16 due 033095. Contact Maria C. Smith, Contract Specialist at (915) 534-6682, Delfina C. Lechuga, Contracting Officer. The International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico, United States Section (IBWC/US), intends to implement the partnering concept in the construction of 2.66 miles of the Rio Grande American Canal Extension (RGACE). Reach B, in El Paso, El Paso County, Texas. The estimated price range for construction of the RGACE. Reach B is between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000. This request for proposal (RFP) is for the selection of a firm that will act as a facilitator for partnering between the IBWC/US and the Contractor who is awarded the RGACE. Reach B contract. The partnering requirement may not be awarded as partnering is at the Contractor's option. The construction of the 2.66 miles of a reinforced concrete-lined trapezoidal canal section from design canal centerline station 499+70 to station 640+00 begins in the area of Ascarate Wasteway and ends just upstream of the first convergence of the Playa Lateral along the United States levee. The project includes construction of a four barrel box sag culvert, retaining wall, concrete canal covered section, placement of approximately 3,591 feet of PVC pipe and gated structure, excavation and placement of compacted embankment, seeding of embankment slope, demolition and plugging of two small turnouts, placement of levee gravel surfacing, and appurtenant structures. The contract period is 457 days after issuance of Notice to Proceed. The facilitator shall serve as a neutral third party with no direct or indirect involvement with the IBWC/US or the Contractor.The facilitator's responsibilities shall include conducting a one daypartneringfamiliarization workshop for approximately 20 attendees. A combination of group activities, lectures, and experimental learning exercises shall be conducted at the workshop setting to be held at the IBWC/US headquarters located in El Paso, TX, and shall be attended by the IBWC/US and the Contractor's key project personnel. The facilitator shall provide all workshop material. At the conclusion of the workshop, the parties shall create a charter. The facilitatorshall draft the charter, prepare the agendas for follow-up meetings, develop partnering procedures, and submit partnering reports. The facilitator shall arrange follow-up meetings between key leaders to meet on a monthly basis for 1/2-day during the contract period. These meetings shall be conducted off-site at a neutral site pre-arranged an paid for by the facilitator. The first follow-up meeting shall evaluate the goals and objectives established during the initial workshop. This evaluation shall be the focus of subsequent meetings where problems shall be addressed and the value of partnering is encouraged and reinforced. (045)

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