Review and Analysis of US Army Corps of Engineers Strategic Plans for the Integration of Science and Technology
This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial services prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This annou... This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial services prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation and proposals are being requested. Requisition Number W912HZ22N8089 is being issued as a request for proposal (RFP) with intent to award as a single contract. The solicitation document and incorporated provision and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2022-03. This requirement is an unrestricted competitive action under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 541620 with a Small Business Size Standard of $16.5 million dollars. The US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg MS 39180-6199 has a requirement for the review and analysis of US Army Corps of Engineers Strategic Plans for the Integration of Science and Technology. Technical review and analysis of USACE strategic plans will identify ways to improve integrated water management through evaluation of future water resource risks and identification of knowledge gaps. Additionally, it will offer insight into the various parameters considered and which factors may influence decision making for solving complex problems. The contractor shall gather, organize, and present information from documents and workshops for the USACE to evaluate and use as the USACE deems appropriate in developing tools and operationalizing strategies. It must be emphasized that the contractor is not actively participating in decision making or making recommendations, but rather is gathering all technical information for the Government to use as it sees fit. Task Descriptions Task 3.1 –Review and analysis of the SWD Civil Works Strategic Plan for a Strategic Response Plan The Southwestern Division (SWD) works toward a safe, reliable, sustainable, and resilient water future for the communities they serve and the value these communities provide to the Nation. As such, SWD strives to meet the increasing challenges and demands on the region’s water resources through an integrated approach to their management. This approach is outlined in a strategic plan, known as the “Civil Works Strategic Plan (CWSP).” To continue operationalizing the SWD CWSP, a regional workshop is needed for the review and analysis to identify the long-range known and potential obstacles that could impact water resource management. It will also identify gaps in technology and innovation that could be incorporated into the plan and parlayed to develop Integrated Water Resource Management solutions. The following are objectives for the review and analysis of the SWD CWSP. These objectives will also be included in the workshop: 1. Gain greater insight and understanding of what future/strategic activities other agencies are engaged in to maintain and influence water resource management practices. First at State level, then watershed level. 2. Collectively evaluate future water resource risks in the SWD region and build a shared understanding of the biggest challenges. 3. Collaborate with partners to identify gaps in understanding and develop joint efforts to gain and share knowledge. 4. Collectively identify hurdles that prevent us from effectively partnering and achieving integrated water resource management, then remove those roadblocks in order to achieve shared water resource goals in the region. The Contractor shall review and analyze existing the existing SWD CWSP to identify the long-range known and potential obstacles that could impact water resource management. The Contractor shall also identify knowledge gaps, including those in technology and innovation. The result shall be a “Strategic Response Plan” that will be an appendix to the CWSP. As a part of this task, it is anticipated that one 2-day workshop shall be conducted to uncover aspects of the CWSP that are not currently addressed in the objectives described above. The workshop is scheduled for week of 28 March. The workshop will be a hybrid event, held onsite with virtual participation. The SWD shall host, invite participants, draft an agenda, and engage USACE facilitators. The Contractor shall review and revise the invitations and agenda as appropriate for eliciting participation to meet objective of the workshop. The Contractor shall provide platform for virtual participation and provide facilitation for at least during 6 workshop breakout sessions. Breakout sessions include: • Rapid Population Growth & Urbanization • Changing Regional Landscape • Extreme Weather: Drought & Flood • Uncertain Future of Energy • Increasing Demand on Water Resources • Aging Infrastructure Facilitated break-out sessions will further discuss the identified challenges and opportunities impacting water resource management based on each developed risk driver. This will enable a cross-functional discuss across the entire region (multiple watersheds) at the risk level, ie water demand. The Contractor shall produce a polished workshop and its summary using notes from the main sessions as well as the break-out sessions. The Contractor shall also be responsible for a synthesis of knowledge gaps, hurdles, and commitments to overcome these gaps and hurdles into a comprehensive report, which also will be part of the Strategic Response Plan. It is anticipated that the plan would be 18-23 pages and written for the public audience. It is also anticipated that the plan would be published on the SWD website: https://www.swd.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Civil-Works-Strategic-Plan/. The Contractor may have to follow US Conference Policy for attending a workshop. Deliverables: agendas, workshop notes/analysis of results and outcomes based on objective, a polished workshop summary, and interim draft report of the Strategic Response Plan. An interim draft report shall be delivered to the USACE technical representative (TR) for review and comment within 30 days after the workshop. The USACE shall review the report and provide the contractor with recommended edits and revisions. The Contractor shall make suggested revisions and submit a completed draft final report of the plan by 60 days after the first draft submittal. There may be further iterations to complete a full final report after that date. Estimated Level of Effort: 400-450 hours Period of Performance: This task shall be performed 9 months after award OPTION Task 3.2 –Review and analysis of a Civil Works Strategic Plan The USACE strives to meet the increasing challenges and demands on the nation’s water resources through an integrated approach to their management. This approach is outlined in a strategic plan, known as the “Civil Works Strategic Plan (CWSP).” The Contractor shall review and analyze existing technical documents relevant to a CWSP to identify the long-range known and potential obstacles that could impact water resource management. The Contractor shall also identify knowledge gaps, including those in technology and innovation. Review of these documents will identify the evolution of policies and procedures over time as well as existing gaps relevant to rapidly developing innovative solutions for USACE mission areas into a comprehensive integrated water management strategy. Identification of new documents may be uncovered during the course of the review. Part of this task is also the use of creative data gathering techniques, including stakeholder interviews and notation/reporting during of a series of charettes that review USACE mission areas. It is anticipated that 1 charette with stakeholders will be conducted to uncover aspects of the role of civil works in the USACE mission. Charettes will be approximately 1-2 days. Scheduling will be mutually decided by the ERDC and Contractor. They will be held in-person at ERDC Headquarters in Vicksburg, MS. Virtual participants may also be present. The ERDC shall host, invite participants, and draft an agenda. The Contractor shall review and revise the agenda as appropriate for eliciting participation to meet objective of each charette, provide platform for virtual and in-person participation, provide facilitation during charette, provide notes and summaries/outcomes of charette. Objectives of data gathering events are to report new results, gain new feedback, and organize new concepts for incorporation into the comprehensive draft report (10-15 pages). Deliverables: agendas, charette/interview notes/analysis of results and outcomes based on objective, and interim draft report. An interim draft report shall be delivered to the USACE technical representative (TR) for review and comment within 30 days after the workshop. The USACE shall review the report and provide the contractor with recommended edits and revisions. The Contractor shall make suggested revisions and submit a completed draft final report of the plan by 60 days after the first draft submittal. There may be further iterations to complete a full final report. Estimated Level of Effort: 340-380 hours Period of Performance: This task shall be performed 9 months after award OPTION Task 3.3 –Review and analysis of an Infrastructure Resilience Plan Infrastructure resilience is a concern with the USACE Installations and Operational Environments (IOE) support programs mission areas. The Contractor shall review and analyze existing technical documents relevant to a Infrastructure Resilience Plan to identify the long-range known and potential obstacles that could impact water resource management. The Contractor shall also identify knowledge gaps, including those in technology and innovation. Review of these documents will identify the evolution of policies and procedures over time as well as existing gaps relevant to rapidly developing innovative solutions for USACE mission areas into a comprehensive infrastructure resilience strategy. Identification of new documents may be uncovered during the course of the review. Part of this task is also the use of creative data gathering techniques, including stakeholder interviews and notation/reporting during of a series of charettes that review USACE mission areas. It is anticipated that 1 charette with stakeholders will be conducted to uncover aspects of the role of infrastructure in the USACE mission. Charettes will be approximately 1-2 days. Scheduling will be mutually decided by the ERDC and Contractor. They will be held in-person at ERDC Headquarters in Vicksburg, MS. Virtual participants may also be present. The ERDC shall host, invite participants, and draft an agenda. The Contractor shall review and revise the agenda as appropriate for eliciting participation to meet objective of each charette, provide platform for virtual and in-person participation, provide facilitation during charette, provide notes and summaries/outcomes of charette. Objectives of data gathering events are to report new results, gain new feedback, and organize new concepts for incorporation into the comprehensive draft report (10-15 pages). Deliverables: agendas, charette/interview notes/analysis of results and outcomes based on objective, and interim draft report. An interim draft report shall be delivered to the USACE technical representative (TR) for review and comment within 30 days after the workshop. The USACE shall review the report and provide the contractor with recommended edits and revisions. The Contractor shall make suggested revisions and submit a completed draft final report of the plan by 60 days after the first draft submittal. There may be further iterations to complete a full final report. Estimated Level of Effort: 340-380 hours Period of Performance: This task shall be performed 9 months after award. Proposals should be emailed to Amanda.Andrews@usace.army.mil by 12:00 PM Central on 19 January 2022. Overall Arrangement of Proposal –The overall proposal shall consist of three (3) parts in one volume individually titled as stated below. Page Limitation and Parts: Part Number Page Limitation Part I – Technical Proposal a. Experience 20 b. Key Personnel 10 c. Technical Approach for SWD Strategic Response Plan 40 Part II – Past Performance As Required Part III – Price As Required Part I – Technical Proposal NO PRICE INFORMATION SHALL BE PROVIDED IN PART I. Subfactor 1: Experience The Offeror shall demonstrate relevant corporate experience related to the evaluation criteria. Relevant corporate experience is experience (within the last 5 years) that is of the same or similar scope and complexity to the work described, and is of the same or similar magnitude (i.e., performing services that, on an annual basis, are at least half the dollar value proposed by the Offeror to perform the requirements). To demonstrate its corporate experience, the Offeror shall identify up to three (3) of its most relevant contracts or efforts within the past five (5) years, and provide any other information the Offeror considers relevant to the requirements of the solicitation. Offerors shall provide a detailed explanation demonstrating the relevance of the contracts or efforts to the requirements of the solicitation. To the extent that the Offeror intends to subcontract significant portions of the effort, for each subcontractor the Offeror shall identify up to three (3) of the most relevant contracts or efforts within the past five (5) years and provide any other information the Offeror considers relevant to the requirements of the solicitation. “Significant”, in this case, means work efforts involving more than 4,000 man hours per annum. In evaluating subcontractor experience, the relevance of subcontractor experience will be determined based on the scope, complexity, and magnitude of the aspects of the work in the solicitation for which the subcontractor is proposed to perform. Therefore, the proposal shall detail clearly the aspects of the work in the solicitation that each subcontractor is intended to perform. The Offeror shall also provide information as to where the subcontractor fits into their organizational chart. Subfactor 2: Key Personnel Key Personnel is to include narrative descriptions related to the evaluation criteria. Documents required for evaluation include: ~Staffing Plan to reflect staffing and management of personnel to fill requirements under the contract, resume(s) for the key personnel proposed, and the physical location of the key personnel and identification of teaming and subcontractors partners. ~Quality Control Plan Subfactor 3: Technical Approach i. Demonstrate understanding of requirements. ii. Demonstrate approach to meet technical requirements. iii. Ability to provide labor/skill mix to meet functional/technical requirements. Part II - Past Performance Proposal The Offeror shall demonstrate relevant past performance or affirmatively state that it possesses no relevant past performance. Relevant past performance is performance under contracts or efforts within the past five (5) years that is of the same or similar scope, complexity, and magnitude to that which is described in the solicitation. Offerors are reminded that both independent data and data provided by Offerors in their proposals may be used by the Government to evaluate Offeror past performance. Since the Government may not necessarily interview all the sources provided by the Offerors, it is incumbent upon the Offeror to explain the relevance of the data provided. The Government does not assume the duty to search for data to cure problems it finds in the proposal. The burden of providing thorough and complete Past Performance information remains with the Offerors. Part III - Price Proposal Offerors shall submit the Price Proposal in the following format. Conformance with the requested format for a proposal demonstrates ability to follow directions and understand requirements. Price proposals shall consist of the following basic components: a. Fully completed bidding schedule b. Copies of legal documents outlining joint ventures or partnering arrangements if applicable. c. Labor Rates - Fully loaded labor rates must be provided for each task. d. Other Direct Cost (ODC) Related Information - The Offeror may propose a maximum percentage to be applied to other direct costs. e. Price Proposal must include: a. Breakdown of labor skill/mix, rates and totals for each task. b. Any other direct costs associated with performance RELATIONSHIP OF ACCEPTED PROPOSAL CONTENT TO THE CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS. By submission of an offer pursuant to this solicitation, the Offeror agrees that the capability presented in the proposal becomes a contract requirement upon award of a contract. No changes, substitutions, or deviations from the accepted proposal may be made without the approval of the Contracting Officer. You, as the Offeror, agree that the explicit capability presented in your proposal shall be provided under this contract at the stated price. BASIS FOR AWARD It is the Government’s intent to award one purchase order contract resulting from this solicitation that will be firm fixed-price (FFP). Selection of a Contractor will be made by an integrated assessment of the proposals submitted and in light of the following criteria. The integrated assessment will involve a determination by the Government of the overall merit of each Offeror's proposal, recognizing that subjective judgment on the part of the Government evaluators are implicit in the entire process. Award will be made to the Offeror whom the Government determines able to accomplish the necessary work in a manner most advantageous to the Government. The evaluation of Technical and Past Performance will be accomplished without reference to price. A price analysis will be performed. All factors and significant sub-factors that will affect contract award are listed below: Part I – Technical Proposal Subfactor 1: Experience The Offeror’s corporate experience will be evaluated on the degree of relevance to the requirements on the basis of similarity in size, scope, complexity, contract type and period of performance. Only recent experience (within the last 5 years) will be evaluated. i. Must have demonstrated experience with USACE Civil Works Programs across Business Lines, and proven ability in working on multi-year complex water resources management projects. ii. Must have demonstrated experience in the development and product delivery of an USACE Civil Works Strategic Plan at District, Major Subordinate Command level, or higher. iii. Must have demonstrated experience with organization, coordination, planning, and execution of Civil Works Program engagements with large and diverse team, stakeholder, and partner working groups, including USACE team members, USACE non-Federal sponsors, non-governmental organizations, academia, Executive Office of the President, other Federal entities, state, and local organizations. iv. Must have demonstrated experience with Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) performance assessment and management policy and practices in the USACE Civil Works Program, including knowledge and application of principles and practices of Engineering with Nature® (EWN®) and Natural and Nature Based Features (NNBF), at the regional, national, and international levels. v. Must have demonstrated experience with the review and analysis of USACE planning documents, including R&D plans, to determine the criteria for using technology or innovation vi. Must have demonstrated experience with analysis of economic, environmental, and social aspects of water resources infrastructure and its relationship to policy and regulation. Subfactor 2: Key Personnel i. Resumes of key personnel should be included in the proposal. Evaluation will be made as to the relevance of Key Personnel past experience to the requirements. ii. Quality Control Plan with a schematic of project management Subfactor 3: Technical Approach i. Demonstrated understanding of requirements. ii. Demonstrated approach to meet technical requirements. iii. Demonstrated ability to provide labor/skill mix to meet functional/technical requirements. Part II - Past Performance Proposal The evaluation of Past Performance is a subjective assessment of the Offeror's Past Performance on contracts of a similar nature, size, scope, and complexity, utilizing a comparable number of personnel with like skills. The Government will consider the Offeror's previous and current record of contractual performance. The Government will use data provided in the Offeror's proposal and data obtained from other sources. The Offeror is cautioned that while the Government will consider data from other sources, the burden of demonstrating satisfactory past performance rests with the Offeror. Part III - Price Proposal Price Analysis will be accomplished for the fixed price proposed for each task. Evaluation Weights and Adjective Ratings Evaluation Weights: An award will be made based on the best value proposal that is determined to be the most beneficial to the Government, with appropriate consideration given to the non-price/cost factors. The Technical factor is significantly more important than the Past Performance factor and Price factor. Within the Technical factor, all subfactors are of equal importance. Past Performance is more important than Price. All of the non-price factors, when combined, are significantly more important than price. To be considered for award, the Offeror must be determined to be acceptable in all areas. A deficiency in any of the areas could constitute a basis for rejection of a proposal. The following FAR clauses and provisions are incorporated by reference and apply to this combined synopsis/solicitation: FAR Clause 52.204-4, Printed or Copied Double-Sided on Postconsumer Fiber Content Paper FAR Clause 52.204-13, System for Award Management Maintenance FAR Provision 52.204-24, Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment FAR Clause 52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment FAR Provision 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. FAR Clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. FAR Clause 52.219-4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns FAR Clause 52.223-6, Drug-Free Workplace FAR Clause 52.223-9, Estimate of Percentage of Recovered Material Content for EPA-Designated Items FAR Clause 52.223-10, Waste Reduction Program FAR Clause 52.232-39, Unenforceability of Unauthorized Obligations FAR Clause 252.201-7000, Contracting Officer’s Representative FAR Clause 252.203-7000, Requirements Relating to Compensation of Former DoD Officials FAR Clause 252.203-7002, Requirement to Inform Employees of Whistleblower Rights FAR Clause 252.203-7005, Representation Relating to Compensation of Former DoD Officials FAR Clause 252.204-7003, Control Of Government Personnel Work Product FAR Clause 252.232-7003, Electronic Submission of Payment Requests and Receiving Reports FAR Clause 252.232-7006, Wide Area WorkFlow Payment Instructions FAR Clause 252.232-7010, Levies on Contract Payments The following additional FAR clauses and provisions are incorporated by full text and apply to this combined synopsis/solicitation: 52.204-26 – Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services – Representation, 52.212-2 – Evaluation Commercial Items, 52.212-5 – Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders – Commercial Items, 52.252-1 – Solicitation Provisions Incorporated By Reference, 52.252-2 – Clauses Incorporated By Reference.
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