Description
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), Region 5, is soliciting to acquire Expert Consulting and Technical Fishway Services for indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract(s) (IDIQ) for the Northeast Region. This solicitation will use a multi-step technical evaluation/proposal process as outlined in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 15. Interested parties or individuals must submit a proposal including, but not limited to, the Company Name, Address, Phone Number, Fax Number, Point of Contact, Names and Resumes of the proposed team members, examples of projects best illustrating proposed team's qualifications and the role the individual played in the project, and any additional information deemed important by the firm or indivdual. The Service anticipates awarding a minimum of one contract with the option to award multiple IDIQ's. Personnel proposed for these tasks must meet the following minimum qualifications: Fifteen or more years experience providing services related to complex technical fishways upstream and downstream, at federally regulated hydroelectric projects primarily in the Northeast, for the purpose of advancing restoration of migratory fish such as American eel, American shad, Atlantic salmon, river herring, and sturgeon species; Expert competence in: 1) technical fishway planning and design, construction, operation, maintenance, and performance evaluation; 2) interpretation and application of flow data; 3) review of technical hydropower documents and drawings filed with FERC; and 4) preparation of technical assistance documents; Education, experience, and expert knowledge in hydraulic engineering related to technical fishways; Significant experience providing technical assistance on fishways and settlements involving USFWS hydropower program. This may include providing expert advice or testimony in support of fishways prescribed by USFWS pursuant to Section 18 of the Federal Power Act, and trial-type hearings conducted by the Department of the Interior in accordance with its regulations. Applicant (including individuals and business) has no financial holdings or interests in hydroelectric projects or companies and work has been predominantly with the Federal government; and, has trained individuals to the point of competence in the art and science of technical fishways, and capable and willing to train others. The types of work and services to be performed by the contractor may include, but not be limited to; Provide expert consulting and technical services to the Regional Directorate, Fisheries and Ecological Services programs within the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), primarily in Region 5, and the Department of Interior Northeast Office of the Solicitor (SOL); Contact and communication with staff from USFWS and state migratory fish restoration and hydropower licensing programs in the Northeast and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); Consulting services related to technical fishways at federally regulated hydroelectric dams; The work will involve: 1) planning, design, location, construction, operation, performance, testing, and maintenance of technical fishways for upstream and downstream passage at complex hydroelectric facilities primarily in the Northeast; 2) interpretation and application of flow data; 3) review of technical hydropower documents and drawings filed with FERC; and 4) preparation of technical assistance documents for USFWS; Services to the USFWS Ecological Services Hydropower and Fisheries Programs and SOL will require: 1) providing technical assistance on fishways during settlement negotiations, 2) preparing Prescriptions for Fishways and supporting administrative record, and 3) may require serving as an expert witness for the USFWS during any trial-type hearings conducted by the Department of the Interior in accordance with its regulations. Evaluation Criteria Elements will be rated as indicated: (1) Fifteen or more years experience providing services related to complex technical fishways upstream and downstream, at federally regulated hydroelectric projects primarily in the Northeast, for the purpose of advancing restoration of migratory fish such as American eel, American shad, Atlantic salmon, river herring, and sturgeon species = 25%. (2) Expert competence in: 1) technical fishway planning and design, construction, operation, maintenance, and performance evaluation; 2) interpretation and application of flow data; 3) review of technical hydropower documents and drawings filed with FERC; and 4) preparation of technical assistance documents = 25%. (3) Education, experience, and expert knowledge in hydraulic engineering related to technical fishways = 25%. (4) Significant experience providing technical assistance on fishways and settlements involving USFWS hydropower program. This may include providing expert advice or testimony in support of fishways prescribed by USFWS pursuant to Section 18 of the Federal Power Act, and trial-type hearings conducted by the Department of the Interior in accordance with its regulations. Applicant (including individuals and business) has no financial holdings or interests in hydroelectric projects or companies and work has been predominantly with the Federal government = 15%. (5) Trained individuals to the point of competence in the art and science of technical fishways, and capable and willing to train others = 10%. Qualifications of firms or individuals will be rated by applying a numeric rating system to the evaluation factors listed above. A short list will result from the rating system and the Service reserves the right to request oral presentations from the highest rated firms or individuals as well as a cost breakdown for particular task and personnel. Short-listed firms or individuals will also be provided with a detailed Statement of Services under the proposed IDIQ. Awards will be made for a one base year period with four one-year options. Maximum delivery orders awarded during any period of the contract will be $1,000,000 per year; with a minimum guarantee of $2,500. Task orders will be issued for each project as a result of negotiations. The North American Industry Classification System Code is 541611 with a small business size standard of $6.5 million. This solicitation is set-aside for small business, solicited for full and open competition. Interested parties must submit three copies of their qualification package by COB, July 25, 2008 to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Contracting and General Services, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley MA 01035-9589, Attn: Dale E. Aubin.