General. This is a SOURCES SOUGHT and is for informational/market research purposes only. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, QUOTATION OR BID, NOR A SYNOPSIS OF A PROPOSED CONTRACT ACTION UNDER FAR SUBPART 5.2.
This Sources Sought is to gain knowledge of the interest, capabilities, and qualifications of industry so the government can make informed business decisions. We are seeking responses from both large and small business members of industry to include: Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Businesses to include 8(a) firms, Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone), Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) to include Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small business (SDVOSB) and Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB). All interested parties are highly encouraged to respond.
Reponses to this Sources Sought announcement will be used by the Government to make business decisions and to inform potential future solicitations.
The North American Industrial Classification Code (NAICS) for this requirement is: 237990 - Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction. The related size standard is: $45 million.
Produce Service Code (PSC) for this requirement is: Z2KA – Repair or Alternation of Dams
Formal Sources Sought Response Due – 15 October 2024 at 3:00 pm Pacific Time.
Project Background.
Bonneville Dam is located 145 miles from the mouth of the Columbia River, approximately 40 miles east of Portland, Oregon. The Bonneville First and Second Powerhouses combined are a Main Stem Columbia project that is of strategic importance in the FCRPS due to its size and location. The rehabilitation of the Powerhouse 1 headgate repair pit will provide a local, efficient, safe and up-to-standards work area for headgate maintenance and rehabilitation. The headgate repair pit at Powerhouse 1 will only be used to maintain Powerhouse 1 headgates as the draft tube bulkheads have their own pit for maintenance, the trash racks are repaired on the deck, and the chain gates are taken to the shop for maintenance. The existing headgate repair pit at Powerhouse 1 currently has no systems or equipment. It currently is a pit with four walls, a floor, and a ceiling with removable hatches.Project Scope.
The following information represents the project objectives:
The purpose of this project is to re-equip the gate repair pit to allow for future maintenance of the headgates. Maintenance activities performed on the headgates will include general corrosion repair, wheel bearing replacement, anode replacement, and seal replacement. All systems will meet ASHRAE, OSHA, and EM-385-1-1 standards.
- The pit is required to vertically support the gates, including seismic restraints. This is a requirement because unsupported gates would likely cause worker injury and property damage. New vertical supports for gates are required.
- The pit is required to horizontally support the gates, including seismic restraints. This is a requirement because unsupported gates would likely cause worker injury and property damage. Horizontal supports are somewhat independent of the vertical constraints and therefore looked at as a separate design requirement.
- Workers require safe and efficient access to multiple work levels at the same time, on all sides of the gate. The safe and efficient access is a requirement because workers need to access multiple levels and sides of the gate throughout the day without being exposed to fall hazards and excessive worker fatigue. Reference EM 385 – Section 21, 22, and 24. Multiple workers are required at different levels at the same time to replace seals and anodes.
- Work platforms must extend close to the headgates with less than 1 inches gaps to eliminate a fall hazard (OSHA 1910.23 (a) (9). Also, enough room must be provided for the headgates to be lowered and raised in the pit.
- New stairs and landings are required for the workers to access multiple levels of platforms.
- The pit is required to have non-restricted means for entry or exit. This is a requirement to ensure that the pit is not classified as a confined space, which poses serious hazards to workers. Reference EM 385 –Section 34 and Appendix Q.
- Workers require hoisting of tools and materials at each work level. This is a requirement because maintenance work occurs at multiple levels of the gate and requires various heavy tools and materials to perform the work.
- Workers require adequate compressed air in all work areas. This is a requirement because compressed air tools are used on all levels of the gate, requiring hoses. The hoses shall not cause tripping or other hazards by extending excessively long distances and/or across multiple levels of the gate. EM 385 – 14.D.04.
- Workers require adequate heat and ventilation. This is a requirement to perform work safely. Reference EM 385 –Section 6, 9, and10.
- Workers require a fire protection for work activities. This is a Life Safety Code requirement to perform work safely. Reference EM 385 –Section 9.
- Workers require a fire detection and alarm system. This is a Life Safety requirement. Reference NFPA 70, 72, and 101.
Anticipated Construction Schedule: CENWP intends to advertise March 2024 and award May 2025 Construction Contract with estimated construction completion by the end of calendar year 2026.
Estimated Construction Cost (ECC): The current ECC is between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000. Ref. FAR 36.204 Disclosure of Magnitude and DFARS 236.204 Disclosure of Magnitude.
Number and Type of Contracts: NWP contemplates awarding one (1) Firm-Fixed Price Construction Contract. The acquisition strategy decision has not yet been determined. Maximum Small business participation is being sought at both the Prime and subcontracting levels.
Anticipated Source Selection Process: The expected method to determine the best value to the government is Invitation for Bid (IFB).
Project Specific Constraints and Challenges:
- Blasting, stripping, and applying paint is not an approved activity considering the limitations provided in NFPA 70 and NFPA 101 for the equipment which will be installed in this contract.
- Paint removal and application causes flammable gasses, vapors, and dust. A location in which these flammable articles are present at any frequency is defined by NFPA 70, The National Electrical Code, as a Class 1 and 2, Division 1 and 2 location. As such, fire suppression and explosion proof electrical devices are required.
- Other Constraints:
- The west wall is made of concrete blocks and requires modifications/additions for supporting the platforms and for gate horizontal supports.
- Maintenance and repair activities include metal grinding, welding and painting.
- Any removable or extendable platforms require efficient manipulation by one worker.
- Powerhouse gate repair pits at Bonneville PH 2, John Day, and McNary Dams perform similar functions and may provide useful design analogies.
- The gates require approximately 6 inches of horizontal clearance between gate and new platforms to be lowered and raised out of the pit.
- The bottom web plates of the headgates do not have adequate capacity to be vertically supported for gate’s self-weight.
- Modification of the headgates is a higher risk option and not preferred by HDC for the following reasons.
- Modifying the bottom of the gate could potentially affect hydraulic flow characteristics changing down pull forces.
- Heating process during welding could cause an existing lamination or crack to propagate.
- Potential to over restrain weldment, which could create cracks.
Questions for Industry:
- Is there anything in our scope of work that would discourage you from bidding?
- Is there anything in our scope that would cause enhanced pricing uncertainty?
- Are there any market conditions or industry practices that you feel the government needs to be aware of?
Submission Instructions. Formal responses to this Sources Sought notice must be submitted electronically (via email) with SUBJECT: Sources Sought – PAN24004625 Bonneville Powerhouse 1 Headgate Repair Pit. Please email to Andrea Smothers, Contracting Officer, at andrea.k.smothers@usace.army.mil and Kristel Flores, Contracting Specialist, at kristel.m.flores@usace.army.mil before 3:00 pm Pacific Time on 15 October 2024.
Interested parties’ responses to this Sources Sought shall be limited to six (6) pages and should include the following information:
Firm's name, address, point of contact, phone number, e-mail address, CAGE and Unique Entity ID.
Firm's business category and size: Large Business (include summary of small business participation metrics), Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Businesses to include 8(a) firms, Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone), Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB) to include Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small business (SDVOSB) and at the subcontracting level, Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB).
An explanation of the prime firm’s capabilities, special qualifications/certifications and equipment and describe the work to be self-performed as it pertains to the proposed work outlined in the Project Scope.
A description of work performed under similar project constraints and challenges listed under paragraph 3.
Project Examples (for Joint Ventures, please include projects completed by the Joint Venture if available):
- To be considered for a potential set aside strategy, provide a maximum of three (3), minimum of one (1), headgate repair pit project(s). These project examples must be similar in size, scope and complexity to the work described in paragraph 3 of this notice, with a description of each project (to include pertinent qualitative and quantitative information about featured scope elements), and include the following:
- Project Title
- Contract Number
- Contract award date
- Customer name, phone number and email address
- Prime or Subcontractor
- Initial contract dollar value
- Final contract dollar value
- Initial contract completion date
- Final contract completion date
- Customer satisfaction
- The Government may verify information in CPARS or PPIRS.
Firm's Joint Venture information if applicable - existing and potential
Firm's Bonding Capability in the form of a letter from Surety.
Firm's interest and the likelihood in bidding on the solicitation when it is issued. (Refer to planned advertise and performance dates)
Responses to the government’s questions in paragraph 5 and any other information the contractor feels the government needs to be aware of.
Disclaimer and Important Notes.
- This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this Sources Sought or any follow up information. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's capabilities to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or to provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.
- All interested firms must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov to have size status considered. You must remain current for the duration of the source selection process to be eligible for award of a Government contract.
