Sources Sought Notice: W912P8-14-SS-0003 Turfgrass Sod (reinforced with High Performance Turf Reinforcement Mat (HPTRM)) for the Armoring Program of the Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity Project, Louisiana and the West Bank and Vicinity Project, Louisiana (Sometimes Jointly Referred to as the Greater New Orleans Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDRRS)) SYNOPSIS: This is a SOURCES SOUGHT announcement; a market survey for information only, to be used for the preliminary planning purposes. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSAL AND NO CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED FROM THIS SYNOPIS. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this synopsis or any follow up information requests. Respondents will or will not be notified of the results of the evaluation. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District has a requirement for the supply of large quantities of turfgrass sod (~3,000,000 sq. yds total). This sod will be placed on and reinforced with synthetic high performance turn reinforcement mat (HPTRM). This is part of the District's levee armoring program. The Government is looking for a single or multiple suppliers who can meet the requirements listed below: 1. Turfgrass sod shall be commercially grown Bermuda grass meeting the Turfgrass Producers International (TPI) 1995 Guideline Specifications for Turfgrass Sodding (revised 2006) (GSS). 2. The minimum quality grade for turfgrass sod shall be, quote mark commercial grade quote mark , as defined in the TPI GSS. In addition to commercial grade requirements, the Bermuda grass sod shall: a. contain no disease or insects; and b. have a thickness of attached soil layer of 3/4 inch to 1 inch thick classified as ML (silt) or CL (lean clay) according to USCS/ASTM D 2487; and c. have an overall total sod thickness of 1-3/4 inch to 2 inch thick; and d. have no weeds and/or patches of foreign grasses exceeding 5% of each sq. yd. of sod verified through digital analysis and/or field inspection before cutting; and e. have a minimum 90% soil coverage for each sq. yd. of Bermuda grass sod, which will be verified through digital analysis and/or field inspection before cutting. 3. Bermuda grass sod shall be supplied in rolls, with a minimum width of 30 inches weighing a max. of 1500 lbs per roll; 4. Bermuda grass sod shall be delivered to a designated destination in the Greater New Orleans area within 24 hours of cutting and meet all state and Federal regulations governing shipment. Sod farmers must have the capability of providing a minimum of 50,000 sq yds per month of Bermuda grass sod detailed below within a continuous 4 month period during one growing season (minimum of 200,000 sq yds). The Government will be installing this sod into the armoring program mostly within the 2015 and 2016 time period. The proposed acquisition type has not been determined. The type of set-aside decision to be issued will depend upon the responses to this synopsis. The purpose of this synopsis is to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities, and qualifications of various members of industry, to include the Small Business Community: Section 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone), or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). The Government must ensure there is adequate competition among the potential pool of responsible firms. Small business, Section 8(a), HUBZone, and SDVOSB businesses, are highly encouraged to participate. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 111421, which has a business size standard is $750,000. The Federal Supply Code is 8730. Bermuda grass sod farms shall provide responses to the following: 1. Firm name, address, telephone/fax numbers, CAGE code, DUNS number, and proof of an active SAM registry, if applicable or available. 2. Identification of the company's size status (large business or small business). If small business, submit proper socioeconomic status, such as 8a, HubZone, Woman Owned, Service Disabled Veteran Owned. NAICS Code 111421 business size standard is not to exceed $750,000, if applicable or available. 3. Number of acres of Bermuda grass sod and soil meeting the above requirements currently grown and/or could be available for this project in 4 months during the growing season. 4. Maximum number of acres available for growing Bermuda grass sod meeting this Sources Sought. 5. Maximum sq. yds. of Bermuda grass sod that can be delivered per month. 6. Maximum sq. yds. of sod that the supplier has cut and delivered per month in the past two (2) years. 7. The type of Bermuda grass sod available such as Tifway, Celebration, or other cultivars of Bermuda grass sod. IMPORTANT: Responses shall be limited to no more than five (5) pages and received by the response time indicated below. This synopsis is for identification, evaluation and planning purposes only and is neither to be construed as a commitment by the Government nor will the Government pay for information solicited. Electronic submissions will be accepted and are preferred. The responses to this SOURCES SOUGHT may be mailed to 7400 Leake Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118-3651, Room 184, Attn: Michelle Lappen, or e-mailed to
[email protected]. Responses must be received no later than 11:00 A.M. Central Time Zone, Friday, May 2, 2014. Contracting Office Address: USACE District, New Orleans, ATTN: CEMVN-CT-W, 7400 Leake Avenue, New Orleans, LA 701118-3651 Place of Performance: Within the New Orleans, LA metropolitan area Point of Contact(s): Michelle Lappen, 504-862-1612