NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE COLLIN COUNTY OUTER LOOP SEGMENT 3 ORIGINALLY ISSUED: AUGUST 25, 2017 UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 6, 2017
INTRODUCTION The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) is requesting consultant services to assist with preparing a local environmental document for the Collin County Outer Loop Segment 3 from SH 289 (Preston Road) to US 75. The project requires historical properties and archeological surveys per the Antiquities Code of Texas and a mollusk survey. NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS The NCTCOG is a voluntary association of, by, and for local governments, and was established to assist local governments in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit, and coordinating for sound regional development. The purpose of NCTCOG is to strengthen both the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and make joint decisions. Since 1974, NCTCOG has served as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for transportation in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area. The NCTCOG Transportation Department is responsible for regional transportation planning for all modes of transportation. The Department provides technical support and staff assistance to the Regional Transportation Council and its technical committees, which compose the MPO policy-making structure. In addition, the Department provides technical assistance to the local governments of North Central Texas in planning, programming, coordinating, and implementing transportation decisions. PURPOSE AND NEED NCTCOG is assisting Collin County Toll Road Authority (CCTRA) in preparing a local environmental document for the purposes of purchasing right-of-way and constructing frontage roads and/or main lanes for Segment 3 of the Collin County Outer Loop from SH 289 (Preston Road) to US 75. The project requires historical properties and archeological surveys per the Antiquities Code of Texas (ACT) and a mollusk survey. PROJECT SUPPORT The project will be conducted under the guidance and supervision of a Study Review Committee, which may include members from NCTCOG and Collin County. The responsibilities of the Study Review Committee will be to serve as the principal technical review committee for this project. 2
NCTCOG will serve as the project manager to implement a mutually agreed upon scope of work, monitor progress of firm activities, and serve as a liaison between the firm and other partners. The selected firm will enter into a contract with NCTCOG for the agreed upon scope and budget. NCTCOG shall also serve as the contract manager and procurement administrator for the project. SCOPE OF WORK The work program for the Collin County Outer Loop Segment 3 is summarized by the tasks outlined in the following sections. Consultants are encouraged to review these tasks and to exercise creativity in responding to the study needs. Modifications to the tasks and task sequencing, which will improve the effectiveness of the study while containing costs, are encouraged. The Consultant shall perform cultural resources surveys/investigations to comply with the federal Section 106 process and requirements of the ACT. The Consultant shall also perform mollusk surveys to comply with 50 Code of Federal Register (CFR) 17.94-95. Appropriate design information (MicroStation and/or GIS shapefiles) will be furnished to the Consultant, as available. Access to properties to be surveyed will be secured by Collin County. Task 1: Project Management The Consultant will conduct a kick-off meeting with NCTCOG and Collin County to review the project scope, schedule, deliverables, and project objectives. The Consultant will submit a schedule of expected work and suggested times to reconvene to discuss project updates. The Consultant will provide periodic briefings by phone and/or in-person as needed. The Consultant will submit monthly billing and progress reports to NCTCOG in the required format. Progress reports should include work accomplished and status for each project task; estimated percentage of work completed and budget spent; work activities anticipated for the following month; and existing or anticipated problems that may affect the budget, schedule or work products of the study. Data and deliverables for this study will be shared through e-mail or electronic file transfer as needed. No member of the Consultant team shall release study materials or deliverables to any agency, organization, or person without prior written consent of the NCTCOG Project Manager. 3
Deliverables for Task 1 Handouts/materials for kick-off meeting Kick-off meeting notes Monthly invoices and progress reports Task 2: Archeological Investigations The Consultant will conduct an archeological investigation of the project area as required by the ACT (Title 9 Chapter 191). A review of state site files, historic soil and geology maps, and other reference materials will be conducted prior to survey. The investigation will be performed by professional archeologists walking the entire proposed right-of-way for the corridor, shovel testing where applicable, and examining the creek banks for evidence of archeological deposits. An ACT permit will be required. The Consultant will perform the ACT permit coordination on behalf of Collin County. A report of the results and recommendations will be submitted at the end of fieldwork and analysis. Dependent upon the findings of the survey, coordination with Texas Historical Commission (THC) will be required prior to any additional services such as additional testing, and/or mitigation for impacts to archeological resources. All materials from this project will be curated at a THC-approved repository per the ACT permit. Deliverables for Task 2 Technical Report of Archeological Investigation Task 3: Historic Structures Studies The Consultant will perform a reconnaissance survey of the area of potential effects (APE) defined as approximately one-quarter mile beyond the proposed right-of-way limits. The survey will document each historic-age resource (defined in 36 CFR 60 as a building, structure, object, historic district, or non-archeological site at least 50 years old at the time of letting) within the APE. This investigation will include research, photographic documentation, and condition of any potentially historic structures within APE. The survey shall be documented in a Historic Structures Report that will contain recommendations regarding the National Register of Historic Places eligibility of sites. This report shall be used for coordination purposes with the THC. Deliverables for Task 3 Technical Report of Historic Structures 4
Task 4: Mollusk Survey The Consultant shall perform a survey of rare and protected mollusk and habitat of rare and protected mollusk (per 50 CFR 17.94-95) for the project area. The investigation shall be performed by qualified personnel and will include all rare and threatened mollusk identified by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for Collin County and those species identified to occur in the surrounding area including: Louisiana pigtoe (Pleurobema riddellii) Texas heelsplitter (Potamilus amphichaenus) Texas pigtoe (Fusconaia askewi) The Consultant shall examine existing data to determine the likelihood that the identified mollusk or their habitat could be impacted by the proposed project. Existing data shall include the Element Occurrence Identification records of the TPWD Natural Diversity Database to determine if any mollusk species have been found within 1.5 miles of the project. The Consultant shall perform species-specific habitat surveys and presence/absence surveys for all mollusk or habitat identified for potential presence in the project area. The survey for mollusk and/or their habitat shall be conducted by using commonly understood habitat parameters for each mollusk (including diving, collection, etc.). The survey shall be conducted during the time of the year appropriate for each species. If the consultant believes that a work authorization to conduct a presence/absence survey does not adequately consider timing of the survey, the NCTCOG Project Manager must be notified. Deliverables for Task 4 Technical Report over presence/absence and survey of mollusk in the project area. SCHEDULE AND BUDGET The project is anticipated to take approximately eight (8) months to complete with an anticipated Notice to Proceed date of December 1, 2017. The estimated budget for the project is approximately $150,000. 5
CONSULTANT SELECTION CRITERIA AND AWARD The Consultant Selection Committee (CSC) will review all proposals and select a firm it considers qualified to undertake the project. The following criteria will be used to evaluate the proposals: Project Understanding Scope of Services Project Manager/Staff Qualifications Project Cost Firm Qualifications/Consultant References Project Schedule 25 percent 25 percent 20 percent 15 percent 10 percent 5 percent If the CSC determines that interviews will be required before a final decision can be made, the interviews will take place at NCTCOG offices in Arlington, Texas, the week of October 9, 2017. Proposers should be willing and able to attend these interviews, if necessary. Firm(s) who are invited to an interview will be notified the week of October 2, 2017, that an interview has been scheduled. Costs for developing the proposal and costs attributed to interviews (and subsequent negotiations) are at the proposer s own expense and will not be reimbursed by NCTCOG. Following final negotiations of the work plan and costs satisfactory to NCTCOG, the firm(s) will be asked to execute a contract with NCTCOG. The Sample Contract, provided in this transmittal, contains federal requirements which must be included with all proposals submitted. If awarded, Proposers will be asked to review the terms identified in the sample contract. Proposers should identify in their response any revisions to the terms or conditions they would like NCTCOG to consider. Appendices C through H of the sample contract contain compliance requirements and certification forms which must accompany the proposals. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in finding the Proposal non-responsive. The Texas Legislature has adopted House Bill 1295. In short, the law states that a governmental entity or state agency may not enter into certain contracts with a business entity unless the business entity submits a disclosure of interested parties (Form 1295) to our agency at the time of a signed contract. As part of contract development, the consultant will be asked to complete the disclosure of interested parties electronically and submit through the Texas Ethics 6
Commission website. NCTCOG will provide a specific contract number associated with the award for inclusion in the submittal. Once submitted, the consultant will be requested to return an e-mail confirmation of submittal to NCTCOG. For more information about the process, please visit the following website for Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.ethics.state.tx.us/whatsnew/faq_form1295.html. A Notice to Proceed will be issued upon execution of the contract. NCTCOG reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, to contract for any or all portions of the project with the selected firm(s), or to hire multiple firms. The successful responder(s) to this Request for Proposals is expected to provide qualified personnel to accomplish each portion of the work in this study. NCTCOG will maintain the right to request the removal of any personnel found, in its opinion, during the course of work on this project, to be unqualified to perform the work. DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PARTICIPATION NCTCOG has a 25 percent Disadvantaged Business Enterprise participation goal for USDOTfunded contracting opportunities. A specific DBE participation goal for this contracting opportunity has not been established. Proposers are encouraged to identify DBE contracting opportunities for this initiative. Respondents should also include an Affirmative Action Plan in the proposal. Failure to comply with these requirements may find the proposal non-responsive. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS All questions regarding the services required shall be directed in writing by email to TransRFPs@nctcog.org by the close of business on September 1, 2017. All questions and responses will be posted on the NCTCOG website at http://www.nctcog.org/rfp by the close of business on September 6, 2017. NCTCOG reserves the right to respond to inquiries as it deems necessary. 7