SOLICITATION NOTICE
66 -- Steel Bridges Testing Program
- Notice Date
- 7/26/2006
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 334516
— Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Office of Acquisition Management, HAAM, Room 4410 400 7th Street, S.W., Washington, DC, 20590
- ZIP Code
- 20590
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-SBTP01
- Response Due
- 8/21/2006
- Archive Date
- 9/5/2006
- Description
- NONDESTRUCTIVE CRACK DETECTION TECHNOLOGIES FOR STEEL BRIDGES The Federal Highway Administration's Non-Destructive Evaluation Validation Center (FHWA-NDEVC), located in McLean VA, has a requirement to conduct a steel bridge testing program to facilitate the development and field deployment of nondestructive technologies that are able to detect fatigue cracks in steel bridges. FHWA?s interest will be focused on identifying the presence of cracks in steel girders at fatigue prone, high stress, or critical detail locations. Parameters of interest in this study include crack size, depth, orientation, and potentially the capability to determine crack growth rates. Accordingly, both promising crack detection technologies and crack growth technologies are of interest. COMMERCIAL SOLICITATION Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 12 This notice is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in [FAR] Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included herein. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The provisions at FAR 52.212-1 apply. FAR 52.212-4 and 52.212-5 will be included in any award resulting from this notice. Full text for these FAR provisions and clauses may be accessed at http://acquisition.gov/far/index.html. OBJECTIVE The Government?s overall objective for the steel bridge testing program is to develop an informational database of current, state-of-the-art, developmental, and prototypical technologies and their associated capabilities and parameters. Ultimately, the database will be used by bridge owners and inspectors to meet their bridge inspection, evaluation, and safety needs by facilitating proper and cost-effective mitigation and repair strategies. The primary purpose of the database is to provide information on the types of technologies available and their associated capabilities, characteristics, and limitations, rather than side-by-side brand name comparisons. Inclusion of particular products within the database does not constitute an endorsement by the Federal Government. TECHNOLOGY CHARACTERISTICS The candidate crack detection technology shall possess at least one of the following characteristics: Capable of detecting both surface and subsurface cracks in steel. Require minimum if any surface preparation. Can be implemented on uneven surfaces to detect cracks in crown, toe or root of the weld. Ability to detect cracks through surface coatings or the rust coat on weathering steels. Portable and field deployable. Such technologies may include, but are not limited to, ultrasonic (UT), acoustic emission, eddy current, thermographic imaging, radiography, magnetic particle, and dye penetrant techniques. EVALUATION PROCESS This solicitation is designed to cover only commercially available products, or those products which can meet the Government's requirements with minimal modification. The Government is seeking responses from manufacturers (or their authorized Washington D.C. representatives), including value-added resellers. Developmental products and/or prototype systems will not be considered under this solicitation, but may be evaluated under a separate Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) or Sources Sought notice which may, at the Government's sole option, be issued at a later date. Evaluation of commercial products under this solicitation will take place in two phases. In Phase I, the Government will conduct a preliminary screening of crack detection technologies to identify those which show the most potential to meet the Government's requirements, and that may be suitable for further laboratory assessment and field testing. The Government will review commercial product literature and any supplementary information provided, including existing test results and current installations (as applicable). The result of Phase I will be an invitation to selected manufacturers to proceed to Phase II. In Phase II, manufacturers will be invited to make an oral and/or electronic presentation of their company and technology, and conduct a demonstration of their system at the FHWA-NDEVC. Each manufacturer is responsible for all costs associated with the presentation and demonstration. The Government will not reimburse manufacturers for such costs. Specific details will be provided to those manufacturers who are selected to participate in Phase II. IDIQ CONTRACT AWARD Based on the Phase II evaluation, the Government intends to award one or more Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts utilizing firm fixed-price task orders. The purpose of these contracts will be to enable the Government to continue evaluating selected representative technologies, both in the laboratory and in the field. Task orders under these IDIQ contracts will purchase, rent, lease, or license (as applicable) the products and/or systems to be evaluated. Technical services to support the Government's testing program may also be ordered as required. EVALUATION CRITERIA For each Phase of this solicitation, offerors will be evaluated on the following factors: Technical, Price, Delivery, and Past Performance. The Government will use the Best Value Trade-Off process to advance offerors through each phase of the solicitation. INSTRUCTIONS Offerors should note that the FHWA Office of Infrastructure R&D uses contractors to provide laboratory technical support services, including testing of research prototypes and commercially available instrumentation, and technical advice and requirements analysis relating to new or existing NDE technology and techniques. The current laboratory support contractor is Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates (WJE). As such, WJE will be involved in both phases of this solicitation. In Phase I, WJE will participate in the literature review process, and provide input to Government evaluators. In Phase II, WJE will be in attendance at both the presentation and the system demonstration. Again, WJE will provide input to Government evaluators. During the post-award phase, WJE will assist the Government in performing in-depth laboratory and field testing and analysis. Offerors may request a copy of the WJE Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) by sending an e-mail to benjamin.zaslow@dot.gov. Offerors shall clearly mark as proprietary and confidential any information or data (other than that which is commercially available to the public) that is to be covered under the NDA. Phase I (Literature Screening) Offerors with more than one type of NDE technology which will meet the Government's needs are encouraged to submit multiple proposals. Each product will be evaluated as a separate offer. Offerors should provide a total of 4 copies of Phase I information in two volumes as follows: Volume 1 - Technical, Past Performance, and Delivery Volume 2 - Cost NOTE: Volume 1 shall not exceed 30 pages including charts, illustrations, and attachments such as resumes of key personnel. Volume 1 - please provide: 1) Commercial brochures, test results, and/or other information sufficient to show how the product will meet specific capabilities listed under Technology Characteristics above. Additionally, provide specific information as delineated below: Capabilities relating to crack size, depth, orientation, and crack growth rates (as appropriate and applicable). A description of how the NDE technology is applied in practice and on an actual bridge structure including a description as to how the total system functions, how long the system is required to be left on the bridge, temperature effects, data processing and interpretation techniques, and the level of required training for routine operation. A brief description of how the proposed technology could be evaluated using controlled laboratory specimens. This includes a description of test specimens and loading conditions necessary to demonstrate the technology. 2) Describe standard or additional warranty terms offered. 3) Describe level of customer support / service provided. 4) Describe any available options and accessories (pricing in separate volume). 5) Delivery - please specify time of delivery after receipt of order. 6) Past Performance - please provide a minimum of one, and a maximum of three, customer references for recent and similar products/efforts, including: a) company or agency name, b) point of contact with phone and e-mail, and c) type of system installed and how it is being used. Volume 2 - please provide a price per unit / system. Include separate descriptions and pricing for rental, lease/purchase, licensing arrangements (if applicable), and rates for technical support services. Cite any GSA Schedules and discounts which may be applicable. Pricing should reflect FOB destination to the FHWA-NDEVC, Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC), 6300 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101. Phase II (No-Cost Presentation and Demonstration) For the Phase II demonstration, offerors have a maximum of six hours for both the presentation and the system demonstration. Offerors must specify whether they will bring their own test specimens, or alternately, use test specimens provided by the FHWA-NDEVC. Specific details on the logistics of the presentation and demonstration will be discussed at a later date with those manufacturers who are selected to participate in Phase II. CONTRACT AWARD To receive an award of a contract from FHWA, manufacturers must be registered in the CCR database prior to award. CCR may be accessed at: www.ccr.gov Offerors must also have on file a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items. Offerors may complete the provision during any phase of this solicitation. The automated system for complying is called ORCA, and is available at: https://orca.bpn.gov/login.aspx For additional information, see the ORCA FAQ sheet at: https://orca.bpn.gov/faq.aspx Comments or questions should be submitted via e-mail to: Ms. Robin Hobbs, at robin.hobbs@dot.gov, with a copy to benjamin.zaslow@dot.gov No phone calls please. This competition is unrestricted. All manufacturers of commercial equipment are invited to propose, including Small Businesses, Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB), and those businesses located in HUBZones (https://eweb1.sba.gov/hubzone/internet/). The NAICS code for this solicitation is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, with the Small Business Size Standard being 500 employees (http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/naics.html). Proposals should be received at the below address via uniformed common carrier such as FEDEX, UPS, or DHL for example, no later than 3:00 p.m. EST August 21, 2006. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration 400 Seventh Street, S.W. Washington, DC 20590 Attention: Robin Hobbs, HAAM-30. Late proposals will be handled in accordance with FAR 15.208
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