On-call Geotechnical Consultant Request for Proposal Iowa Department of Transportation Introduction The Office of Design for the Iowa Department of Transportation (the Department) is interested in securing assistance from three (3) consulting firms to provide on-call geotechnical engineering services. The selected consultants will be expected to provide drilling, testing, and geotechnical design services on bridge and highway projects. Consultants will be selected on a limited service and full service basis. If your firm is interested in providing the described services, please submit a proposal stating your ability and availability to complete this work. Project Background The Department has and continues to utilize consultant services to augment in-house geotechnical capabilities. The intent of this selection is to replace one consultant whose term has expired and establish two additional consultants to whom projects may be assigned. Consequently, we respectfully request that the current on-call geotechnical engineering service consultant, Braun Intertec Corporation, not submit a response to this Request For Proposal (RFP). One (1) limited service consultant will be selected to provide drilling, testing, geotechnical analysis, and geotechnical design services on various projects, including those associated with bridges, highways, and emergency response/repair efforts. In general the work can be characterized as field and laboratory phase services on small to medium size projects where, in many instances, the geotechnical analysis, design, and plan preparation will be provided by the Department. Projects involving bridge replacement with approach grading are thought to be typical of this limited service effort. Note, however, that this characterization is not meant to limit the size of project nor the extent of services that may be contracted through the limited service consultant. Two (2) full service consultants will be selected to provide a full range of geotechnical services including drilling, laboratory, geotechnical analysis, geotechnical design, geotechnical plan sheet preparation, and general consultation. Note that plan sheet deliverables that are needed shall be prepared and delivered in MicroStation XM (or MicroStation V8i) format. In general the work can be characterized as providing complete geotechnical services on various projects, including those associated with bridges, highways, and emergency response/repair efforts. The magnitude of service that might be expected of the full service consultant could include a large scale project involving multiple miles of grading for two-lane or multi-lane roadway. Note, however, that this characterization may not be typical; the full service consultant will be called on to provide varying magnitudes of service on a variety of projects including those more characteristically described for the limited service consultant (above). Project Scope The anticipated projects under these selections may include roadways (on existing and new
alignments), bridges, emergency type responses, materials inspection, and a variety of other types of work. The chosen consultants must be able to react quickly to assigned projects, including those that have been advanced in the DOT production schedule or have short-term deadlines. The limited service scope may include service similar to the full service scope described below, but of generally lesser or limited magnitude, or may involve only such things as field and laboratory phases of geotechnical and geological investigation, or construction-related geotechnical services. Activities may include, but are not limited to: Site investigation and characterization Drilling Sampling of soil and rock Geotechnical laboratory testing Evaluation of site materials Construction-related geotechnical services The full service scope includes involvement in all phases of geotechnical and geological investigation, testing, analysis, and design services from concept and location through design and construction of transportation facilities. Anticipated activities include, but are not limited to: Site investigation and characterization Drilling Sampling of soil and rock Geotechnical laboratory testing Evaluation of site materials Determination of constructability and cost effectiveness Subgrade and drainage design Stability, settlement, and foundation design Construction-related geotechnical services Preparation of plan documents in MicroStation V8i Coordination with other design disciplines or parties. Installation and reading of geotechnical instrumentation General consultation Emergency response In general, the Department will work with the selected firms on a project-by-project basis to determine the types of services required on a project. Contract Information The Department anticipates that the selection process will be completed in late June, 2013. Negotiation with the top selected consultants will commence upon notice that the selection process is completed. The selection is intended to cover on-call geotechnical services for a three year period. It is anticipated that a Lump Sum, Cost plus Fixed Fee, or Fixed Overhead Rate payment method may be used dependent on project complexities and duration.
Previous Department expenditures for full service category, including subcontracted costs, have typically been $1,000,000 or less over the three-year period. Department expenditures for limited service category are anticipated to be $500,000 or less over the three-year period. There is no specific allocated dollar amount dedicated or assigned to this work, and expenditures will vary dependent on the number and magnitude of work orders over the contract period. The Department will not guarantee a set amount of work or contract value for these services. General Requirements The consultants and their subconsultants are required to be prequalified as defined in the Department s Policy and Procedure Manual, Policy No. 300.04, for the duration of the contract. Work under this contract will require prequalification in work category 321 - Geological and Geophysical Studies. Failure to remain prequalified during the contract will result in cancellation of any remaining portion of the contract. Details regarding prequalification are available at the Consultant Utilization webpage, http://www.prof-techconsultant.dot.state.ia.us/. It is the policy of the Department that Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) and Targeted Small Businesses (TSBs) shall have the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in the performance of DOT contracts. Funding of the work assignments made under this selection is not expected to involve federal-aid highway funds. Should it be determined a DBE goal is needed, it will be negotiated as part of a specific contract. When a DBE goal is not established, the department still encourages the spirit of the program to be incorporated in the proposed contract whenever possible. A list of certified DBE firms may be found at http://www.dot.state.ia.us/contracts/contracts_eeoaa.htm. A list of TSB firms may be found at https://dia.iowa.gov/tsb/. Selection Information A consultant need only submit one proposal to be considered in both the limited service and full service categories. Consultants will need to identify whether their proposal is intended to be evaluated for the limited service, full service, or in both service categories. In the absence of an indication, proposals will be scored in the greatest number of service categories applicable. A firm will be allowed to participate in more than one proposal. However, the Department s intent is to have several qualified firms available for project assignment. Therefore, the Department may limit the number of awards a firm receives, in either a prime or subconsultant role, or both, and in either the limited or full service categories, or both. The selection committee has established the following criteria for evaluating the proposals submitted. The weighted value of each criterion is indicated.
1*. Staffing expertise and past experience -- small to medium size projects with limited scope. (Staff expertise and past experience in site investigation and characterization, drilling, sampling of soil and rock, geotechnical laboratory testing, and evaluation of site materials to be addressed under this criteria.) 20 points 2. Staffing expertise and past experience all types of projects including those large scale projects encompassing a comprehensive or complete scope of geotechnical services. (Determination of constructability and cost effectiveness, subgrade and drainage design, stability, settlement, and foundation design, and plan preparation to be addressed under this criteria.) 30 points 3*. Resources the consultant has available and proposes to use on projects, including drilling and laboratory equipment on small to medium size projects with limited scope. 15 points 4. Additional resources, including drilling and laboratory equipment, which the consultant has access to and can activate on large scale projects which encompass a comprehensive or complete scope of geotechnical services on limited time frames. 25 points 5*. Ability to meet schedules and the level of commitment by key staff personnel. 10 points NOTE: Limited Service proposals will be evaluated utilizing the three (3) criteria denoted with asterisk (*) for a total possible score of 45 points. Full service proposals will be evaluated utilizing all five (5) criteria for a total possible score of 100 points. Proposals competing in both service categories (for both full and limited service) will be evaluated in a manner consistent with the other proposals in those same categories (i.e. using 45 or 100 possible points as applicable). The proposal may include additional information, as deemed appropriate, subject to the overall length restriction established in Proposal Requirements. Contacting any selection team member other than the RFP contact person identified below is inappropriate. The selection committee does not anticipate the need for oral interviews. Proposal Requirements The Department requires the following information to be included in the proposal: - The name and office address of the project manager who will direct the work. - The names of key staff who will be working on the contract.
- The location of the consultant s office where the majority of the work will be performed. - A list of the subconsultants to be used, the work they will perform, and an expected percentage of work that is anticipated to assigned to each. - The proposal must include a disclosure of any work for other clients that may be affected by the work under this request for services, to avoid a potential conflict of interest. - Cost information should not be submitted as part of the proposal, and if submitted, will not be considered. - The proposal must be submitted as a single electronic PDF and be formatted to print on 8.5 x 11 pages. The proposal must be limited to 25 single-sided pages. All pages will be counted including: proposal covers, cover letter, dividers, etc. The maximum size limit of a proposal is 7 megabytes for electronic receipt through the Department s web server. - No more than eleven (11) single-sided pages, including, proposal covers, cover letter, dividers, etc., shall be utilized to describe the Consultant s Limited Service capabilities. - On the cover page of the proposal, please include title of the RFP for which the proposal is submitted and the email address of the person who should receive the results of the selection. Also include the words Full Service, Limited Service, or Both to describe how the proposal is to be evaluated. Inclusion of promotional literature of a general nature will not be considered in the selection process. - The electronic proposal must be submitted via email to Stephen.Megivern@dot.iowa.gov. An email will be sent confirming receipt of the proposal within 30 minutes or by 1:00 p.m. on the submittal deadline date, whichever is later. - For a firm to be considered, their proposal must be received by 3:00 pm on Thursday, May 23, 2013. Any technical questions or questions regarding this RFP shall be submitted via email to Stephen.Megivern@dot.iowa.gov. Any questions about this RFP must be received by noon on Thursday, May 16, 2013. Questions and answers regarding this RFP will be posted with the RFP on the Consultant Utilization website, http://www.prof-techconsultant.dot.state.ia.us. Public Records Law The Iowa DOT will treat all information submitted by a consultant as open records following the conclusion of the selection process. Open records are public records that are open for public examination and copying. The Iowa DOT's release of records is governed by Iowa Code Chapter 22 and 761 IAC Chapter 4. Consultants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with these laws before submitting a proposal. Statement of Non-Discrimination Federal and state laws prohibit employment and/or public accommodation discrimination on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran s status. If you believe you have been
discriminated against, please contact the Iowa Civil Rights Commission at 800-457-4416 or Iowa Department of Transportation's affirmative action officer at 515-239-1693. If you need accommodations because of a disability to access the Iowa Department of Transportation s services, contact the agency's affirmative action officer at 800-262-0003.