NOTICES
Retention of Professional Interpretive Planning and Exhibit Design Firms; Project Reference No. FDC-500-804
[44 Pa.B. 5072]
[Saturday, July 26, 2014]The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Department) is seeking proposals from interested and qualified professional interpretive planning and exhibit design firms for various exhibit design and interpretation projects for various visitor centers, parks and forestry offices and other facilities across this Commonwealth. The contract will be an open-end type with projects assigned on an as-needed basis to meet operational needs and requirements. The Department may select multiple proposals that meet its objectives.
Letters of Interest for this project will only be accepted from individuals, firms or corporations duly authorized to engage in the practice of interpretive planning, exhibit design and fabrication. If an individual, firm or corporation not authorized to engage in the practice of interpretive planning, exhibit design and fabrication desires to submit a Letter of Interest, the 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 interpretive planning, exhibit design and fabrication.
PART I
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS I-1. Specific Requirements.
A. The Department has a need for a range of services for all aspects of visitor contact environments both interior and exterior. These services include, but are not limited to, researching and writing exhibit interpretive plans, developing schematic and concept plans, developing budgets, preparing reports, attending planning meetings, researching text, storyline writing and editing, graphic design and production, web site development or enhancement, or both, exhibit design, lighting design, audio-visual and other interactive media design, production and installation of media, creation of exhibit specifications and engineered drawings, development of specifications and drawings bid coordination with construction plans in areas of planned exhibit installation, exhibit fabrication and installation, exhibit maintenance plan writing, artifact conservation and preparation for exhibits, maintenance and operational training for Department staff, planning for long-term support of the activities listed previously, fixture/furniture design, fabrication and installation, and interpretive and directional (wayfinding) signage (indoor and outdoor).
B. Sustainability should be incorporated into the earliest design decisions. Work may occur in, but is not limited to, interior or exterior exhibit areas, or both, visitor lobbies, sales areas, other public areas such as hallways and any other point of public contact in visitor centers or office buildings.
C. The selected firms will be expected to provide a full range of professional interpretive exhibit planning, design/build services and web site development services for the stated individual facilities and future facilities on an as-needed basis throughout the contract period.
D. It is expected that the firms will assemble a team of professionals who are recognized specialists in their individual fields of expertise or may subcontract or joint venture with other professionals to assemble the most capable team to address the needs and objectives of this Request for Proposals (RFP). Selected firms will be required to work closely with the assigned Department Project Coordinator to develop each project utilizing current Department staff onsite in the creative processes involved. Department Project Coordinators will be responsible for signing off on project development milestones. The Department Project Coordinator may change from project to project. Travel to the project sites will be required.
E. The firm shall have staff available to facilitate rapid services associated with assigned projects. The firm may be called upon to provide services on multiple projects at the same time. The firm and its staff shall have demonstrated knowledge of interpretive planning, web site development and exhibit design/build/fabrication/installation methods. The interpretive designer should have knowledge and experience in interpretive planning, with preference given to staff who are Certified Interpretive Planners as defined by the National Association of Interpretation. Experience shall include the completion of an Interpretive Plan for the exhibits in and around a visitor center or State park, or both, or forestry office.
I-2. Addenda to the RFP.
If the Department deems it necessary to revise any part of this RFP before the proposal response date, the Issuing Office will post an addendum to the Department web site at http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us. It is the Offeror's responsibility to periodically check the web site for any new information or addenda to the RFP. Answers to the questions asked during the questions and answers period also will be posted, as necessary to the web site as an addendum to the RFP.
I-3. Small Diverse Business (SDB) Information.
The offering firm must be a self-certified Small Business/SDB verified by the Department of General Services (DGS), Bureau of Small Business Opportunities (BSBO).
A Small Business is a business in the United States that is independently owned, not dominant in its field of operation, employs no more than 100 full-time or full-time equivalent employees and earns less than 47 million in gross annual revenues for building design, $20 million in gross annual revenues for sales and services and $25 million in gross annual revenues for those businesses in the information technology sales or service business.
Questions regarding this program can be directed to the Department of General Services, Bureau of Minority & Women Business Opportunities, Room 611, North Office Building, Harrisburg, PA 17125, gs-bmwbo@state.pa.us, (717) 787-6708, fax (717) 772-0021.
The DGS's directory of BSBO-verified minority, women, veteran and service disabled veteran-owned businesses can be accessed by searching for ''Small Diverse Businesses'' at www.dgs.state.pa.us.
I-4. Notification of Selection.
Offerors whose proposals are not selected will be notified when contract negotiations have been successfully completed and the Department has received the final negotiated contract signed by the selected Offeror.
I-5. Type of Contract.
The type of contract as a result of this RFP shall be an open end, requirements contract. Work shall be assigned on an as-needed basis as determined by the Department. The initial term of the agreement shall be 1 year and renewable for up to 4 subsequent years. Reimbursement for services shall be by fixed fee percentage based upon project allocation or hours of service and qualifying expenses. The reimbursement type shall be at the Department's discretion. The work shall be reviewed by the staff of the Bureau of Facility Design and Construction and, when applicable, approved by same staff.
PART II
PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS Offerors must submit their proposals in the format, including heading descriptions, outlined as follows. To be considered, the proposal must respond to all requirements in this part of the RFP. Offerors should provide any other information thought to be relevant, but not applicable to the enumerated categories, as an appendix to the Proposal.
II-1. Letter of Interest.
Each Letter of Interest must include the firm's Federal identification number and the project reference number. The Letter of Interest shall also include a description of the firm's three most recently completed projects similar to the project proposed. The description shall include the client, contact person and phone number, the estimated or actual construction cost of the portion of the work which the firm designed, the project manager and the names of all personnel who made major contributions to the project. The Letter of Interest shall indicate the firm's capability of working on multiple small projects at the same time and understanding of the Department needs. A standard DGS Form 150-ASP must accompany the Letter of Interest and shall indicate the individual in charge. Form 150-ASP is available by downloading from the DGS web site at http://www.dgs.state.pa.us, choose from the menu on left margin: ''Construction and Public Works,'' then ''Project Administration,'' then ''Professional Selections,'' then ''ASP-150 (Rev. 05/14) Instructions.''
In addition, Form 150-ASP can be obtained by e-mail by addressing the request to nspade@pa.gov. Additional information pertinent to this firm's qualifications to do the work of this contract may be included.
II-2. Number of Copies.
Two copies of the SDB Participation section bound and sealed separately from the remainder of the proposal and six copies of the complete set consisting of the Letter of Interest and the required forms must be received no later than 4 p.m. on September 9, 2014. The six copies shall be submitted in six complete sets that shall be spiral bound or in folders or secured by binder clips. The assignment and services will be made to one or more of the firms responding to this notice. However, the Department re-serves the right to reject all Letters of Interest submitted, cancel the solicitation requested under this notice or readvertise solicitation for this service, or both.
II-3. SDB Participation Submittal.
The Offeror must include proof of Small Business/SDB qualification in the submittal of the proposal, as indicted as follows:
A. Small Business/SDB verified by DGS, BSBO as a Small Business/SDB must provide a photocopy of their verification letter.
II-4. Debriefing.
The Department will not offer a debriefing session to the unsuccessful firms. The Department disclaims any liability whatsoever to its review of the proposal submitted and in formulating a recommendation for selections. Recommendations made by the Department shall be final.
PART III
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION III-1. Selection Criteria.
The engineering consulting firm will be evaluated upon, but not limited to, the following criteria:
A. Professional's understanding of the problem as demonstrated on the Letter of Interest.
B. Qualifications of the firm.
C. Professional personnel in the firm and available manpower to perform the services required.
D. Soundness of approach as demonstrated in Letter of Interest, and as stated in the interpretation of the tasks to be performed.
E. Quality control and assurance program and procedures of the firm.
F. Equitable distribution of contracts.
G. Offeror is a self-certified Small Business. To be eligible for selection for this project the offerer firm must be a self-certified Small Business/SDB verified by DGS, BSBO. Refer to Part I, I-3.
III-2. Number of Contracts.
The Department may select more than one firm.
PART IV
MAILING AND CONTACT INFORMATION Firms interested in performing the required services for this project are invited to submit a Letter of Interest to Alfred Uzokwe, PE, Director, Bureau of Facility Design and Construction, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 8th Floor, 400 Market Street, P. O. Box 8451, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8451. Contact Amy Hill at (717) 783-4361 for general information concerning this request for proposal.
ELLEN M. FERRETTI,
Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 14-1574. Filed for public inspection July 25, 2014, 9:00 a.m.]
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