U.S. Geological Survey, MS 205A, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192

W -- CHARTER OF RESEARCH VESSEL SOL 99HQSS0036 DUE 081799 POC Nancy Samuels (CO) 703-648-7479, Don Cash (Pro Tech) 703-648-7360 E-MAIL: Click here to contact the contracting officer via, nsamuels@usgs.gov. (a) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. The SIC Code for this acquisition is 7999. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation (a written solicitation will not be issued). Offers are being solicited. The Request for Proposal Number is 99HQSS0036. This is a small business set-aside requirement. The RFP in a more legible format will be faxed upon request: (b) This solicitation applies and incorporates provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-12. (c) This acquisition is for the lease of a crewed research vessel, for 40 days, to cruise the near shore area of Myrtle Beach, SC and the shores of Northern North Carolina. The cruise shall begin in South Carolina and end in North Carolina. Mobilization will take place ether in Charleston or Georgetown, SC, and take approximately 48 hours. The pricing shall include food,fuel, and any other miscellaneous items. Contractor shall submit pricing as follows: Line Item No. 0001 Lease of Crewed Research Vessel to cruise the near shore area of Myrtle Beach, SC and the Shores of North Carolina: 1 NTE $ _____________ The following statement of work and clauses are hereby incorporated 1. Period of Performance The cruise is projected to begin on or about September 21, 1999 through October 31, 1999, and will be for a total of 40 days. There will be at least one port stop in North Carolina, however, the number of port stops in South Carolina have not yet been determined, as well as the port stop locations. Cruise mobilization is projected to begin on or about September 21, 1999. 2. General Requirements The leased vessel should be a fully found vessel, operating personnel, facilities, fuel, oil, food and support equipment as specified to conduct a survey providing a regional framework of the surficial geology and hallow sub-bottom stratigraphy of the near shore area off Myrtle Beach, SC. Work will be conducted in waters as shallow as 8 meters. The contractor shall provide the fully found vessel, personnel, facilities, fuel, food, and support equipment to enable the USGS to conduct continuous 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, near shore side scan sonar and high resolution seismic surveys; be responsible for all preparations and maintenance of the vessel and vessel equipment necessary to ensure safe and proper working conditions for extended periods at sea. The USGS will install, operate and maintain necessary geophysical and positioning equipment. Up to 12 scientific staff shall be aboard at all times; obtain and maintain all necessary permits, inspections, certifications, and insurance required by Federal Statue or local government, or subdivision thereof, or of any other duly constituted public authority. (a) Mobilization represents the time required to load and install Government owned equipment aboard the contract vessel. The vessel's crew may be requested to help in loading and placing equipment. (b) Demobilization represents the time required to remove all Government owned equipment from the contract vessel and return the vessel to the same condition in which it was supplied. (c) Transit time shall be defined as the time required for the vessel to travel from the mobilization site to first work site, between work sites, and between work site and port for re-supply and/or maintenance. Government personnel may or may not be aboard the vessel during transit time. (d) Operation at sea time shall be defined as the time during which the contractor's vessel and crew is available and fully capable of at-sea operations. The course, direction, and ship movement is at Government discretion with due consideration for ship's safety, as determined by the ship's master. (e) While at sea, weather time shall be defined as the time when the vessel is unavailable or unsuitable for operations due to weather conditions. During weather time, vessel shall be considered operational unless it is anchored; in which case the stand by rate shall apply. (f) Contractor's downtime shall be defined as that period when the contractor's vessel and/or crew is not available for Government use and shall include contractor's in port scheduled maintenance and repair of vessel and/or equipment. If downtime exceeds 3 days, the Government reserves the right to terminate or take other remedies as provided for in this contract. Substitution of a vessel by the contractor shall be permitted only with the approval of the Government as to the substitute vessel's equivalent capabilities and endurance. (g) In port re-supply time shall be defined as that time in port required by the contractor to refuel, re-provision, and re-supply the vessel, including rotation of the crew. Each in port re-supply period shall not exceed 1 (one) day. At sea periods between in port re-supply periods shall be no less than 10 days and shall not exceed the endurance period of the vessel. (h) That time during which the Government requests that the contractor's vessel be delayed in port or held non-operational at sea for Government exigency or convenience. During a period of Government stand-by, the vessel shall be ready to proceed into operations given 6 hours notice by the Government, pending availability of pilots and safe navigation. (i) Additional days to be added per negotiation. 3. Vessel Specifications The contractor warrants that the vessel meets the following minimum requirements: (a) Length of 24.384 meters to 36.576 meters (80 to 120 feet), beam of 6.096 (20 feet) or greater, draft of NO more than 4.572 meters (15 feet). Reserve buoyancy to accommodate approximately twelve (12) tons of scientific equipment. (b) Self propelled, have a transit speed of at least 10 knots and be capable of sustaining survey speed of 3 knots without jogging. (c) Shall provide 50 Amps of 220V 3 phase 60Hz. on deck for USGS supplied vans and 25 Amps 220V 1 phase 60Hz. To USGS supplied winches. (d) At a minimum, the vessel presented must provide: 1. Clear afterdeck space of 750 square feet that will accommodate and secure government supplied winches, air compressors, geological sampling gear and government supplied laboratory vans. 2. An A-frame, J-frame or trawl block hanger with 3.048 meters (10 feet) of vertical clearance to the deck when in the vertical position or a crane that may be used underway to tow a 300 pound side scan fish. (e) Accommodations and messing: Berthing for scientific party of no more than ten in a mixed crew (male and female; no more than 4 female) shall be provided. Messing for 10 scientific staff will be required. An acceptable level of cleanliness is an absolute requirement. (f) Special equipment: The contractor shall be responsible for providing general navigation during the contractual period of performance. In addition, the USGS shall provide, install, operate and maintain precision navigation equipment aboard the vessel and shall instruct the contractor personnel in the utilization of the bridge components of the system. 4. Safety/Maintenance/Spare Parts (a) Vessel, equipment, and facilities shall be in proper and safe working condition with normal and emergency equipment and services appropriate to the work and work areas. The contractor shall be responsible for maintaining equipment and facilities in a safe operational condition and for developing safe working procedures. (b) The contractor shall be responsible for all maintenance of the vessel and vessel equipment necessary to ensure proper working conditions. This includes, but is not limited to, an adequate supply of spare parts for the vessel and equipment to perform any necessary maintenance and reduce to a minimum downtime chargeable to the vessel. 5. Required Certifications/Applicable Provisions Firms responding are advised to include a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications -- May 1999, with its offer. As an addendum to this solicitation, a copy of FAR 52.212-3 and 52.225-1 is available from the Contracting Officer in addition to the full text version of the following provisions and clauses, which can also be found on the internet at http://www.arnet.gov/References/References.html; The following FAR provisions apply to this solicitation: 52.212-1 Evaluation-Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items -- June 1999, 52.212-2 Evaluation of Commercial Items (JAN 1999). The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. Award will be made on the basis of the lowest evaluated price of proposals meeting or exceeding the acceptability standards for non- cost factors. 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions -- May 1999 and the following additional FAR clauses which are cited in Clause FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes and Executive Orders -- Commercial Items Contract -- MAY 1999 are applicable to this acquisition: 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting 15 U.S.C. 637(a)(14); 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Feb 1999); 52.222-41, Service Contract Act of 1965, As Amended (41 U.S.C. 351, et seq.). 52.222-26 Equal Opportunity (E.O. 11246); 52.222-36 Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers (29 U.S.C. 793); 52.222-37 Employment Reports on Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era (38 U.S.C. 4212); 52.225-19 European Sanctions for Services (E.O. 12849). All offers are due no later than August 17, 1999, 2:00 pm local time, U.S. Geological Survey, Office of Acquisition and Federal Assistance, Procurement Branch A, Attn: Nancy Samuels, MS 205A, Room 6A331, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192. Faxed offers will be accepted. Posted 08/06/99 (W-SN364499). (0218)

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