Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Procurement Operations Branch, MS2500, 381 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817

B -- ENVIRONMENTAL SURVEYS OF POTENTIAL BORROW AREAS ON THE EAST FLORIDA SHELF AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS OF SAND REMOVAL FOR COASTAL AND BEACH RESTORATION SOL 1435-01-00-RP-31044 DUE 120799 POC Jane M. Carlson, Contracting Officer, (703) 7878-1364 E-MAIL: Contracting Officer's email, Jane.Carlson@mms.gov. The Minerals Management Service (MMS), a bureau within the U. S. Department of the Interior, has jurisdiction over all mineral resources on the Federal Outer Continental Shelf (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. The Shore Protection Provisions of the Water Resource Development Act of 1999 (S. 507 as passed by Congress on August 4, 1999) amended that law by prohibiting charging non-Federal interests a fee for using OCS sand. To date, MMS has provided sand to the U.S. Navy to restore the beach at the Navy's Fleet Combat Training Center at Dam Neck, Virginia, to Duval County, Florida to renourish Jacksonville Beach, to the City of Virginia Beach to renourish Sandbridge Beach, to the National Park Service for the restoration of a portion of Assateague Island, and is actively working with the State of Maryland and Brevard County, Florida relative to potential beach nourishment projects using OCS sand.The MMS intends to competitively award a contract to address environmental questions, both biological and physical, concerning dredging sand from Federal waters on the OCS offshore the East Coast of Florida for the purposes of beach nourishment. The MMS has been working with the Florida Geological Survey (FGS) to characterize the beach nourishment potential of sands found in Federal waters off the east coast of Florida. This includes Federal waters out to eight miles offshore of south Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin Counties. SCOPE OF WORK: The Contractor will be required to design and carry out an oceanographic field program to address the following five elements:(1) Assessment of the baseline benthic ecological conditions in and around the potential borrow areas identified by the MMS/FGS cooperative effort;(2)Evaluation of the benthic infauna resident in the potential borrow areas and assessment of the potential effects of offshore dredging activity on these organisms, including an analysis of the potential rate and success of recolonization following cessation of dredging activities; (3) Development of a schedule of best and worst times for dredging offshore the east coast of Florida as regards transitory, pelagic species;(4)Evaluation as to the potential modifications to waves that cross within the study area due to offshore dredging within the potential sand borrow areas;(5)Evaluation of the impacts of dredging in Federal waters offshore the East Coast of Florida and consequent beach nourishment in terms of the potential alteration in sediment transport patterns, sedimentary environments, and impacts to local shoreline processes. A final scientific/technical manuscript will be required, as will a presentation at a professional conference, and publication of a paper in a scientific refereed journal. The period of performance of the resultant contract will be thirty-two (32)months with a cost range of $500,000 to $550,000. However, all field work is required to be completed approximately twenty-two (22) months following contract award and a draft scientific manuscript will be required for submission twenty-four (24) months following contract award. In order to compete for this contract, an offeror must demonstrate that they are qualified to perform the work by providing, not later than COB DECEMBER 7, 1999, a Capabilities Statement describing in detail: A) Key personnel with the expertise and experience to conduct the described multidisciplinary program. Particularly relevant is their expertise in the fields of numerical wave modeling and sediment transport, benthic biology and oceanography, their familiarity and understanding of marine mining/offshore dredging effects and impacts, their experience in the types of work proposed, demonstrated ability to do the work, and an understanding of the directed missions of theMMS. Principal scientists must collectively illustrate relevant experience in the scientific disciplines demonstrated through authorship in appropriate peer-reviewed publications, work history, and professional affiliations.(B) The organization's expertise with this type of work and a description of your facilities and resources; and (C) Specific references (including project identifier and description, period of performance, dollar amount, and client name and phone number) for previous work of this nature that your organization or personnel is currently performing or has completed within the last three (3) years. REFERENCES WILL BE CHECKED. Offerors shall submit their Capabilities Statement in original and four (4) copies to Jane M. Carlson, Contracting Officer, Minerals Management Service, 381 Elden Street, MS-2500, Herndon Virginia 20170-4817. Time of receipt of submissions will be determined by the time received in the Procurement Operations Branch, Herndon, Virginia. Your Capabilities Statement will be evaluated based on: (A) Experience and expertise of all technical Key Personnel, (particularly in the fields of numerical wave modeling and benthic biology and the evaluation/study of offshore dredging effects and impacts), their experience in the types of work proposed, and demonstrated ability to do the work. Scientific personnel must collectively demonstrate relevant experience in the scientific disciplines demonstrated through authorship in appropriate peer reviewed publications. "Key Personnel" will also include the lead technical personnel responsible for the supervision of laboratories, deck watches, and logistical activities; organization and handling of information; and the technical editing and production of documents. Evaluation factors include: 1. The length and quality of experience for each person assigned to perform specific tasks; 2. The level and quality of formal education in the disciplines and technical fields necessary, examining the level of relevant education attained as well as, honors, awards, and recognition of previous work; 3. Experience on similar programs on the U.S. East Coast and Gulf of Mexico or in similar areas zoogeographically and oceanographically. (B) The Project Manager shall have: 1. experience and demonstrated leadership ability required for the coordination of the study process; 2. experience in managing a large multi-disciplinary team and the interdisciplinary processes required for this study; and 3. ability to control costs and to keep project performance and document preparation on schedule; and (C)Your organization's history of: 1. successful completion of similar projects (similar in size, scope, complexity, duration, and dollar value); 2. producing high-quality documents; and 3. conducting similar projects on schedule and within budget. Questions should be faxed to Jane Carlson at (703) 787-1387 or e-mailed to Jane.Carlson@mms.gov. All correspondence should include the RFP number, your full name/company name, address and phone and fax numbers. Requests or questions by telephone are strongly discouraged. Posted 10/31/99 (W-SN396601). (0304)

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