NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Retention of Engineering Firms
[26 Pa.B. 545]
Allegheny, Beaver and Lawrence Counties
Reference No. 08430AG1974The Department of Transportation will retain an engineering firm for an open-end contract for various engineering services and environmental studies on various projects located in Allegheny, Beaver and Lawrence Counties in Engineering District 11-0. The contract will be for a 30 month period with projects assigned on an as-needed basis. The required services may encompass a wide range of design and environmental efforts with the possibility of several different types of projects having short completion schedules. The anticipated types of projects may include, but are not limited to, bridge replacements or bridge rehabilitations with minor approach work, roadway betterments (3R Type), SAMI studies, SAMI final design, Capital Improvement Projects (bridges or roadways), and minor location studies. The maximum amount of the open-end contract will be $750,000.
The Department will establish an order of ranking of a minimum of three firms for the purpose of negotiating an open-end contract based on the Department's evaluation of the acceptable letters of interest received in response to this solicitation. The ranking will be established directly from the letters of interest. Technical proposals will not be requested prior to the establishment of the ranking.
The following factors, listed in order of importance, will be considered by the Department during the evaluation of the firms submitting letters of interest:
a. Specialized experience and technical competence of firm. Emphasis will be placed on a firm's geotechnical capabilities for this open-end contract.
b. Past record of performance with respect to cost control, work quality, ability to meet schedules and previous experience on open-end contracts. The specific experience of individuals who constitute the firms shall be considered.
c. Available staffing for this assignment.
d. Relative size of firm to size of projects that may be completed under this contract.
e. Current workload.
f. Location of consultant in respect to the District.
The firm may be required to perform any or all of the following engineering services: attend field views and prepare minutes; prepare submissions for field views and safety review meeting; field surveys; plot topography and cross sections; prepare submissions and materials necessary for the Department to prepare the application to Public Utility Commission (PUC) for the PUC field conference; attend and supply any required information for all PUC meetings and hearings during project design; develop erosion control details and narrative; develop right-of-way plans; prepare type, size and location reports; prepare hydraulic report for waterway approval; prepare bridge drawings; traffic control plans and narrative; procure core borings; provide the soil and foundation engineering report; investigate utility and property involvement; prepare and disseminate right of entry letters; prepare prints and information required for a value engineering review; make the necessary investigations and adjustments to the design as a result of the value engineering review comments; make all necessary contact with railroad officials for any railroad-related costs estimates, permits, insurance, approvals and other required information; collect traffic signal timing and accident data; perform traffic counts and speed delay studies; prepare plans for signal design and implementation of signal interconnections; evaluate alternatives using benefit/cost analysis; document study activities and findings; and prepare construction plans, specifications and estimates.
The format and content of all documents, plans and specifications will be consistent with applicable State and Federal regulations and guidelines.
The firm may be required to perform any or all of the following environmental studies: air quality; surface water and groundwater hydrology; terrestrial ecology; wetlands; soils; geology; farmland; visual quality; socioeconomic; cultural; section 4(f) and section 106 documents; and other related studies not identified above. The environmental studies will be conducted in accordance with Department policy and accepted analysis techniques and methodologies.
The firm may also be required to perform any or all of the following in order to ensure a complete environmental investigation has been performed: provide all necessary environmental services, material and equipment necessary to collect, analyze and organize data; assess impacts; conduct agency and public involvement activities; and prepare reports and design mitigation plans.
The reports and other written graphic material to be prepared may include, but are not limited to, early coordination and scoping correspondence; meeting minutes; public meetings and hearing presentations; handouts and displays; technical basis reports; NEPA environmental documents; section 106 documents; section 4(f) evaluations; mitigation plans and reports; and wetland and floodplain findings.
The engineering services and environmental studies identified above are the general work activities that can be expected under this open-end contract. A more specific and project-related scope of work will be outlined for each individual work order developed under this open-end contract.
Technical questions concerning the requirements for this project should be directed to Robert Collins, District 11-0, at (412) 429-4928.
Questions concerning the submittal of the letter of interest can be directed to the Consultant Agreement Division at (717) 783-9309.
General Requirements and Information Firms interested in performing any of the above services are invited to submit letters of interest to: Director, Consultant Selection Committee, Room 1118, Transportation and Safety Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120.
A separate letter of interest and required forms must be submitted for each project for which the applicant wishes to be considered. The letter of interest and required forms must be received within 13 calendar days of this notice. The deadline for receipt of a letter of interest at the above address is 4:30 p.m. of the thirteenth day.
If the project advertisement indicates that the Department will retain an engineering firm, letters of interest will only be accepted from individuals, firms or corporations duly authorized to engage in the practice of engineering. If an individual, firm or corporation not authorized to engage in the practice of engineering desires to submit a letter of interest, said individual, firm or corporation may do so as part of a joint venture with an individual, firm or corporation which is permitted under State law to engage in the practice of engineering.
If a goal for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation is established for an advertised project, firms expressing interest in the project must agree to ensure that Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) firms as defined in the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 and currently certified by the Department of Transportation shall have the maximum opportunity to participate in any subcontracting or furnishing supplies or services approved under Form 442, Section 1.10(a). The act requires that firms owned and controlled by women (WBEs) be included, as a presumptive group, within the definition of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE). The goal for DBE participation shall be as stated in the individual project advertisement. Responding firms shall make good faith efforts to meet the DBE goal using DBEs (as they were defined prior to the act), WBEs or combinations thereof. Proposed DBE firms must be certified at the time of submission of the letter of interest. If the selected firm fails to meet the goal established, it shall be required to demonstrate its good faith efforts to attain the goal. Failure to meet the goal and to demonstrate good faith efforts may result in being barred from Department contracts in the future.
Responses are encouraged by small engineering firms, disadvantaged business enterprise engineering firms and other engineering firms who have not previously performed work for the Department of Transportation.
Each letter of interest must include in the heading, the firm's Federal Identification Number and the Project Reference Number indicated in the advertisement. The letter of interest must also include the following:
1. Standard Form 255, ''Architect-Engineer and Related Services Questionnaire for Specific Project.''
2. Standard Form 254, ''Architect-Engineer and Related Services Questionnaire'' not more than 1 year old as of the date of this advertisement, must accompany each letter of interest for the firm, each party to a joint venture and for each subconsultant the firm or joint venture is proposing to use for the performance of professional services regardless of whether the subconsultant is an individual, a college professor or a company. Please disregard the statements on Standard Form 255 that indicate a Standard Form 254 is only required if not already on file with the contracting office. The Department does not maintain a file for Standard Form 254 for contracting purposes; therefore, this Form is required for the prime consultant and each subconsultant as stated above.
3. Two copies of the Department's Form D-427 (Rev. 6-89), ''Current Workload'' for the firm submitting the letter of interest. At least one copy of Form D-427 must remain free and not bound in any way to any other portion of the letter of interest or accompanying documentation. Copies of Form D-427 are available upon request from the above address or by contacting the Department's Consultant Agreement Division at (717) 783-9309.
4. Firms with out-of-State headquarters or corporations not incorporated in Pennsylvania must include with each letter of interest a copy of their registration to do business in the Commonwealth as provided by the Department of State. Firms who are not registered to do business in Pennsylvania at the time of this advertisement must document that they have applied for registration to the Department of State, Corporation Bureau. The telephone number for the Corporation Bureau is (717) 787-1057 or (717) 787-2004.
The Standard Form 255 must be filled out in its entirety including Item No. 6 listing the proposed subconsultants and the type of work or service they will perform on the project. If a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal is specified for the project, the DBE must be presently certified by the Department of Transportation, and the name of the firm and the work to be performed must be indicated in Item 6. If a Women Business Enterprise (WBE) firm is substituted for the DBE, the WBE firm must also be presently certified by the Department of Transportation and indicated in Item 6.
The Standard Form 254 must be signed and dated and must be less than 1 year old as of the date of this advertisement. A Standard Form must accompany each letter of interest for the firm submitting the letter of interest, each party to a joint venture, and for each subconsultant shown under Item 6 of the Standard Form 255.
Unless other factors are identified under the individual project reference number, the following factors, listed in their order of importance, will be considered by the Committee during their evaluation of the firms submitting letters of interest:
a. Specialized experience and technical competence of firm.
b. Past record of performance with respect to cost control, work quality, and ability to meet schedules. The specific experience of individuals who constitute the firms shall be considered.
c. Current workload and capacity of firm to perform the work within the time limitations.
d. Location of consultant.
e. Special requirements of the project.
f. Other factors, if any, specific to the project.
The Department currently limits its participation in the remuneration of principals or consultant employes performing work on projects to $72,800 per annum or $35 per hour or their actual audited remuneration, whichever is less. The Department currently limits its participation in the consultant's indirect payroll costs (overhead) on design and miscellaneous projects to 130% of the direct payroll cost or the consultant's actual audited overhead rate, whichever is less. The Department currently limits its participation in the consultant's indirect payroll costs (overhead) on construction inspection projects to 85.2% of the direct payroll cost or the consultant's actual audited overhead rate, whichever is less. The Department's limitations will apply to the projects advertised above unless the Department policy is revised prior to the negotiation of an agreement or contract.
The assignment of the above services will be made to one of the firms responding to this notice, but the Committee reserves the right to reject all letters of interest submitted, to cancel the solicitations requested under this notice, and/or to readvertise solicitation for these services.
BRADLEY L. MALLORY,
Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 96-156. Filed for public inspection February 2, 1996, 9:00 a.m.]
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