B -- MODEL DEVELOPMENT OR MODIFICATION FOR ANANLYSIS OF BENTHIC AND SURFACE PLUME GENERATION AND EXTENT DURING OFFSHORE DREDGING OPERATIONS

Notice Date

December 11, 2000

Contracting Office

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

ZIP Code

20170-4817

Solicitation Number

1435-01-01-RP-31127

Response Due

January 16, 2001

Point of Contact

Ms Lisa S. Goins-Berntsen, 703-787-1359

E-Mail Address

click here to contact the contracting officer via (lisa.goins@mms.gov)

Description

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 Agency also has the authority to conduct competitive lease sales and interest has been expressed by private companies in obtaining leases for offshore deposits of coarse-grained material, which can be used to make construction aggregate. A potential point of impact during offshore dredging for sand and gravel, shell, or placer deposits, is on benthic communities that lie within the path of the plume created at the sediment/water interface. The effects of this stirring up of bottom particles may include burial of certain species of non-mobile bottom organisms and decreased organism growth and reproduction if turbid conditions are prolonged and persist. A major long-term concern is the potential impact on bottom organisms and populations resulting from the altered substrate as a consequence of the blanket of fines raining down from the surface and benthic plume. Various models have been developed to estimate the levels of sediment disturbance and suspension associated with dredging activities and water column discharges, with various degrees of success. Most of these models have concentrated on upper water column discharges and range in complexity from simple, closed form exponential functions to massive, finite-element computer simulations. Some of these models have taken into account physical characteristics of the receiving waters. However, in large part, these models have been concerned with coastal, river, or other nearshore waters and processes and not with the open-ocean or outer continental shelf. Therefore, they are generally not suited for impact analysis in the areas with which the MMS is concerned. In addition, the current models which have been developed to predict dredging impacts do not, as determined by recent dredging impact studies in the United Kingdom, correctly predict the physical processes at both the overspill point of the dredge vessel and at the draghead; studies fully suggest that the biological impact of sediment deposition surrounding a dredged area is likely to be much smaller than has been predicted from conventional sediment deposition simulation models in the past. The MMS intends to competitively award a contract to develop or, if practical, modify an existing computer mathematical model which can be used to predict the level and extent of water column and bottom sediment disturbance, the resulting water column/near-bottom turbidity, the degree to which the disturbed sediment persists within the various water layers during offshore sand and gravel dredging operations, and, ultimately, the resultant aerial "footprint" of the disturbed material on the seabed. Using available site-specific biological information, the model runs/output relative to the "footprint" of impact could then be used as a predictive tool to assist in the evaluation of the impact of a proposed dredging operation on resident benthic biological communities. SCOPE OF WORK: The Contractor will be required to develop or modify an existing computer model as outlined above. Sensitivity testing and performance evaluations of the model must be conducted prior to delivery. The model must be mouse and menu-driven and be capable of running on a Windows 98 platform. A final scientific/technical manuscript/report, as well as a complete user's guide will be required to be delivered along with the final software package. The period of performance of the resultant contract will be twenty-four (24) months with a cost range of $150,000 to $200,000. The final model/software package must be delivered twenty (20) months after contract award. Scientific papers for publication in a refereed journal, as well as presentation of the study results at a scientific conference are required. 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 January 16, 2000, a Capabilities Statement describing in detail: (A)The scientific personnel who would be responsible for the collection, interpretation and synthesis of information and model development; (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 Lisa Goins-Berntsen, 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 relevant is their expertise in the fields of physical and biological oceanography and their past experience/work in developing and undertaking modeling efforts dealing with dredging plume dispersion and settlement. The proposed scientific team's overall experience in the type of work proposed and demonstrated ability to do the work will be evaluated. Scientific personnel must collectively demonstrate relevant experience in the scientific disciplines. 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. The technical personnel who will be responsible for the organization of information and the production of documents and manuscripts will also be evaluated. 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 with similar modeling programs and studies. (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 Lisa Goins-Berntsen at (703) 787-1387 or e-mailed to lisa.goins@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.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20001213/BSOL001.HTM (W-346 SN508630)