RFQ-DC-11-00020, Greening America's Capitals--Little Rock

Posted Date: November 23, 2010

Procurement Office : U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Headquarters Procurement Operations Division, (3803R)

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, and Subpart 13.106, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation number is RFQ-DC-11-00020 and is being issued as a Request for Quotations (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions are those in effect through FAC 2005-46. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation (OPEI), is seeking a contractor to assist state capitals in developing an innovative and implementable vision of distinctive, environmentally friendly neighborhoods incorporating green building and green infrastructure systems. T he North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541320. The Small Business Size Standard is $7.0M. This requirement is a total set-aside for small businesses. Contractors shall indicate in its response how it meets the small business size standard to qualify for award.

EPA anticipates awarding a fixed-rate purchase order with a ceiling established based on an estimated level of effort (LOE) of 720 hours . The period of performance will be nine (9) months from the date of award. Proposals shall address all aspects of the SOW and are limited to 25 pages in length, inclusive of all documents. Offerors shall provide separate cost and technical volumes. Offerors shall submit a cost proposal utilizing fixed rates and any anticipated other direct cost estimates to develop a proposed overall ceiling price based on the Statement of Work (SOW) below.

The technical volume must be sufficiently detailed to enable EPA to make a thorough evaluation and to arrive at a sound determination as to whether the proposed services meet the requirements of the SOW and the offered approach is valid and practical. The technical volume must be specific, detailed and complete to clearly demonstrate how the offerer plans to execute the requirements described in the SOW, including a timeline and details for tasks and deliverables. Clear evidence of services/processes previously demonstrated and currently in place relating to the technical evaluation criteria should be included.

Statements the offeror understands, can or will comply with all statements in the SOW, and statements paraphrasing the SOW are considered insufficient. For example, statements such as “standard procedures will be employed,” or well-known techniques will be used,” etc., will be considered insufficient. Elaborate brochures or other presentations beyond that sufficient to present an effective proposal are not desired.

Questions regarding this solicitation shall be submitted to Kelly Easterling, Contract Specialist, at easterling.kelly@epa.gov by 2:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, December 1, 2010.

Quotes shall be submitted electronically in Word or Adobe to Kelly Easterling, Contract Specialist, easterling.kelly@epa.gov by 10:00 a.m. EST on Friday, December 10, 2010.

The following provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition: 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Items; 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Items; 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions—Commercial Items. The clause at FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders—Commercial Items, applies to this solicitation. Specifically, the following clauses cited are applicable to this solicitation: FAR 52.222-3, FAR 52.222-19, FAR 52.222-21, FAR 52.222-26, FAR 52.222-35, FAR 52.222-36, FAR 52.222-37, FAR 52.222-39, FAR 52.232-33, FAR 52.222-41 and FAR 52.222-42. Interested parties may submit their ORCA information (http://orca.bpn.gov) in lieu of the representations and certifications requested above.

Prospective sources are reminded that an award can only be made to a Contractor who is registered in the Central Contractor Registration Database, IAW FAR 4.11. Contractors may obtain information on registration and annual confirmation requirements by calling 1-866-606-8220 or via online at http://www.ccr.gov .

Evaluation Factors : Quotes submitted in response to this solicitation will be evaluated on a best value basis. Quotes will be evaluated on the ability to meet the requirements listed in the SOW below to include technical competence, personnel and relevant past performance.

• Technical Competence

• Knowledge of and demonstrated work (required) that considers the local ecoregion for Little Rock, including geology, physiography, vegetation, climate, soils, land use, wildlife, and hydrology.

• South/Southeast : Defined by mild winters and hot, humid summers with thunderstorms and heavy rains. The region around Little Rock includes a mix of plains, mountains, forests, and rivers.

• Expertise creating high-quality design drawings and site plans, either freehand or digitally, during an on-site workshop, especially related to smart growth, specifically the creation of compact, walkable neighborhoods.

• Knowledge of and demonstrated design work with creek or waterway restoration projects to reintegrate water systems into a developed urban setting and reconnect people with waterways.

• Experience developing design solutions for public spaces that include consideration of environmental performance through natural systems as well as community benefit and aesthetics, such as for streets, parks, plazas, civic centers that reflect sense of place and local goals, as evidenced by awards received, publications, presentations at national conferences, etc. Experience should include streetscape re-designs in a range of settings, including, but not limited to residential streets, business districts, and arterial roadways.

• Knowledge of and demonstrated design work with green infrastructure solutions, including for minimizing impervious surfaces and managing stormwater runoff, which can achieve multiple benefits. Knowledge of and demonstrated work on green building techniques for private development, e.g., energy and water efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainable landscape design.

• Understanding and experience analyzing and/or developing public policies that are used to support sustainable design strategies, as well as engaging different levels of government and external stakeholders (public, NGOs, developers) to consider design implementation and policy adoption.

• Personnel

• Professional qualifications including education, relevant experience, certifications and capabilities.

• Past Performance

• Offerors should provide a list of previous work, similar in scope to the statement of work , performed in the past five years .

TECHNICAL DIRECTION

EPA will provide technical direction on each request for support with specifics for translation, interpretation, equipment, location, hours, number of pages to be translated, etc.

The following clause, EPAAR 1552.237-71 Technical Direction , will be applicable to this requirement. It is hereby included as part of this synopsis/solicitation and provided in full text below.

1552.237-71 Technical direction.

Technical Direction (APR 1984)

(a) The Project Officer will provide technical direction on contract performance. Technical direction includes:

(1) Direction to the Contractor which assists him in accomplishing the Statement of Work.

(2) Comments on and approval of reports or other deliverables.

(b) Technical direction must be within the contract Statement of Work. The Project Officer does not have the authority to issue technical direction which (1) institutes additional work outside the scope of the contract; (2) constitutes a change as defined in the “Changes” clause; (3) causes an increase or decrease in the estimated cost of the contract; (4) alters the period of performance; or (5) changes any of the other express terms or conditions of the contract.

(c) Technical direction will be issued in writing by the Project Officer or confirmed by him in writing within five (5) calendar days after verbal issuance.

(End of clause)

Greening America 's Capitals- Little Rock , Arkansas

Main Street Corridor Greening and Redevelopment

Scope of Work

Background and Purpose

Greening America 's Capitals is a new project of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) - U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Partnership for Sustainable Communities to help state capitals develop an innovative and implementable vision of distinctive, environmentally friendly neighborhoods that incorporate innovative green building and green infrastructure systems. Greening America 's Capitals will work with city staff of state capitals to foster a strong sense of place by incorporating sustainable design techniques into the streets, parks, waterfronts, town squares, and civic buildings. Sustainable design techniques might include, but are not limited to:

• Integrated, community-appropriate uses for the redevelopment of brownfields and underutilized parking lots that consider cleanup and site preparation requirements;

• Complete streets designs that serve all modes of transportation safely and effectively, including automobiles, pedestrians, bikes, and public transportation.

• Aesthetically and functionally valuable landscape architecture designs for green infrastructure that result in both community and water quality benefits;

• Reduced energy and infrastructure costs through better green building designs that meet multiple objectives;

• Well-designed public art and civic design strategies that highlight the importance of these shared spaces for community identity;

• Planning and design strategies for better climate change adaptation and resiliency.

This place-based design assistance will help selected state capitals plan for clean up and preparation of vacant lands for redevelopment, provide greater housing and transportation choices, reduce infrastructure and energy costs, and build civic pride in neighborhoods and the city as a whole.

EPA will fund a Contractor team to visit Little Rock , Arkansas for up to three days to produce schematic designs and before and after illustrations intended to catalyze, or complement, a larger planning process for the Main Street corridor. The charrette will be an opportunity to develop detailed visuals and graphics for this area and connections to nearby locations, such as the River Market District, as well as consider options for assessment, cleanup and site preparation at brownfields, petroleum brownfields, underground storage tanks, and other properties. This focus area will serve as a place-based pilot for larger, city-wide actions such as changes to local codes and ordinances to better support sustainable growth and green building.

EPA is providing this design assistance to help create stronger communities that protect the environment. Greening America 's Capitals will help communities consider ways to incorporate the ten principles of smart growth, in particular the principle to “foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place,” and similarly, one of the six livability principles of the EPA-HUD-DOT Partnership to “support existing communities.” Furthermore, effective strategies for creating a strong sense of place, such as street and public space design using innovative stormwater practices, and sustainable green building techniques, can also address a community's environmental concerns and help revitalize neighborhoods, spurring additional economic and social benefits.

The Little Rock study area encompasses the Main Street corridor which runs north-south and forms an important connection with the River Market District. The primary area of focus is limited to Main Street and sites along the street. This important corridor has the potential to build off the redevelopment that has occurred through waterfront and neighborhood revitalization in the River Market District, which perpendicularly intersects the northern end of Main Street . A proposed trolley line would run along Main Street down to 17 th Street and effectively connect the vibrant River Market District to southern neighborhoods. Main Street has many redevelopment opportunities on brownfield sites, vacant areas, and parking lots, but Little Rock needs assistance assessing which sites are most feasible for redevelopment into green spaces and civic places to support the larger transition of Main Street into a thriving mixed use neighborhood with sustainable infrastructure and a strong sense of place.

The Greening America's Capitals design team will assist Little Rock with streetscape improvements that will help catalyze the redevelopment potential of the Main Street corridor. Focusing on key activity centers along the corridor, the redesign will highlight the impact that new pocket parks and reuse of vacant parking lots could have on encouraging future redevelopment and more pedestrian activity to support ground-floor retail and a future trolley line. This work should build on work the city has already begun through the Mayors' Institute on City Design to engage the public and identify key assets and challenges that should be addressed in the Main Street area. The Greening America's Capitals project will also consider improvements in the district to facilitate and envision future housing options to accommodate a concentration of governmental workers in this area and an intersecting corridor.

The purpose of this work assignment is to provide a set of illustrations depicting a sustainable civic vision for the Main Street corridor and to provide specific next steps for policy changes that the city can use to either kick-start a public involvement and planning process, or complement a process currently underway.

Personnel

It is expected that the following skills will be required to carry out this technical assistance:

• Knowledge of and demonstrated work (required) that considers the local ecoregion for Little Rock, including geology, physiography, vegetation, climate, soils, land use, wildlife, and hydrology.

• South/Southeast : Defined by mild winters and hot, humid summers with thunderstorms and heavy rains. The region around Little Rock includes a mix of plains, mountains, forests, and rivers.

• Knowledge of and demonstrated design work with creek or waterway restoration projects to reintegrate water systems into a developed urban setting and reconnect people with waterways.

Tasks and Deliverables

Task 1 – Conduct pre-charrette assessment

Purpose: The purpose of this task is to establish baseline conditions for Main Street and develop initial design responses that address the needs of the community and are appropriate for the specific site conditions. The discussions between the Contractor and Little Rock and EPA staff regarding the initial design responses will form the basis for an on-site charrette.

The Contractor shall participate in preliminary calls with Little Rock staff and stakeholders to determine physical area of focus and sustainability challenges to address within approximately two weeks of contract being awarded. Upon determination of the study area boundaries, the Contractor shall develop appropriate base maps illustrating larger site context (e.g., connections to adjacent neighborhoods) and a map at a larger scale illustrating the specific study area(s) using contextual maps, aerials, GIS data and site plans received from city staff. Upon completion of the base map and approval by EPA and city staff, the Contractor shall develop an Existing Conditions map that effectively illustrates site conditions such as floodplain boundaries, vegetation cover, location of confirmed or suspected brownfield contamination, existing bike/ped connections, etc.).

To prepare city staff, stakeholders, and EPA for the charrette, the Contractor shall develop and deliver a set of materials that can include, but is not limited to:

• base maps, larger scale maps, and existing conditions maps

• a selection of six to eight initial design schematics

• a PowerPoint presentation no longer than 20 minutes that defines public realm, green streets, and neighborhood sustainability principles and the applicability to the Main Street corridor and surrounding context. All examples used must be regionally relevant and reflect similar environmental conditions to those of the community.

Task 1 Deliverables and Timeline:

1a. Participate in approximately three conference calls with Little Rock staff and stakeholders within approximately two week of project kick off call.

1b. Base maps and existing conditions maps for review by EPA and Little Rock staff three weeks prior to charrette.

1c. If necessary, respond to EPA comments within one week of receiving comments.

1d. Six to eight initial design schematics to be reviewed by Little Rock and EPA staff two weeks prior to charrette.

1e. If necessary, respond to EPA comments within one week of receiving comments.

1f. PowerPoint presentation no longer than 20 minutes that defines public realm, green streets, and neighborhood sustainability principles and the applicability to the Main Street corridor one week prior to the on-site charrette.

1g. If necessary, respond to EPA comments within one week of receiving comments.

Task 2 – Participate in on-site design charrette

Purpose: The purpose of this task is to describe the primary focus of this scope of work. The Contractor shall participate on site in a three to four day charrette and all associated activities. During the workshop, the Contractor shall create design illustrations with a focus on in-situ, ground-level sketches of key locations along the Main Street corridor that effectively communicate to the viewer what it would be like to be in the space.

Throughout the three to four day on-site charrette, the Contractor shall develop six to eight designs (based on schematics developed in Task 1) for the Main Street corridor that includes redevelopment and pocket park scenarios for existing vacant properties, parking lots and brownfield sites. The contractor shall participate in conversations with city staff as to how the sites selected could inform the location of new housing options at all affordability levels.. Designs should focus on green street improvements and sustainable civic open spaces on current vacant properties and parking lots, so that this area takes on a stronger sense of place and serves as a true main street for Little Rock. Green street improvements and pocket park designs should work to better manage stormwater through natural systems, as well as improve the pedestrian environment and the aesthetic character of the corridor.

Concurrent to the design activity EPA, HUD and DOT staff will be having stakeholder meetings with Little Rock and other groups to discuss policy implications and implementation strategies for the designs that are developed on site. The expected outcomes of these meetings may include but are not limited to options for linking existing greenway plans to the designs created in this charrette, options for using federal and state agency resources to implement project designs, and other ways the City of Little Rock can encourage implementation of designs through local codes, ordinances, incentives, and other programs. The Contractor shall participate in one meeting, no longer than 90 minutes, with Little Rock, EPA, HUD and DOT staff, and selected stakeholder to discuss policy implications of proposed design strategies based on past experiences of the Contractor in other communities.

The Contractors shall participate in a two public open house events that educate participants to the topic of sustainable, green infrastructure and to present the designs created. At the introductory open house, the Contractor shall present the PowerPoint show created in Task 1. The Contractor shall present design illustrations at final public open house event and be able to answer any questions or comments from the public.

Task 2 Deliverables and Timeline:

All deliverables in Task 2 will be delivered and completed on-site during the approximately three-day design charrette in Little Rock.

2a. Present PowerPoint show created in Task 1 to Little Rock staff, selected stakeholders and/or the general public during an introductory open house event.

2b. Develop three to five designs for pocket parks and sustainable civic spaces along Main Street.

2c. Develop green building and redevelopment design schemes for three to four parking lots and vacant properties along Main Street.

2d. Develop between six to eight designs for green street improvements along Main Street.

2e. Participate in interactive meeting no longer than 90 minutes with Little Rock and EPA staff and selected stakeholder to discuss implementation strategies and policy implications of proposed design strategies.

2f. Present design illustrations at final public open house event.

Task 3 – Visually-focused final report

Purpose: The purpose of this task is to provide Little Rock a set of design concepts that staff can use in future public events and for fundraising activities (grant applications, etc). In addition, the report will provide Little Rock a roadmap for implementation.

The Contractor shall provide EPA two comprehensive design options for the study area that refine and build on those designs created during on-site workshop in Task 2. Deliverables for each option should include a range of high-quality visuals and graphics, including but not limited to:

• Five sets of before and after in-situ visuals (street-level perspectives)

• Schematic site plans

• Sections, where necessary

In cooperation with EPA staff, the Contractor shall produce a “next steps” memo, which provides suggested next steps for implementing the design and policy strategies discussed during the charrette. In addition, the memo should also include policy options suggested to support broader citywide implementation. Next steps options shall describe funding opportunities, key partners including federal and state agencies, as well as local partners, and a public outreach process moving forward. Supporting text should introduce Little Rock and Arkansas state staff to a design vocabulary that can then be used with the public and other stakeholders to describe place-based sustainability concepts. This memo should be no more than five pages in length.

The Contractor shall develop three to five regionally-appropriate case studies no more than two pages each in length that provide examples of recommended design solutions. Case studies should include a mix of visuals (photos, designs, and plan drawings) and supporting text that explains policies that support sustainable designs in comparable contexts.

The Contractor shall create a draft PowerPoint presentation illustrating the design options and implementation strategies.

The Contractor shall prepare a final report including text from final memos, case studies, and final illustrations.

Task 3 Deliverables and Timeline:

For the following deliverables, the Contractor shall provide draft versions within 6 weeks of conclusion of charrette, and final versions shall be due 4 weeks following final EPA comments:

3a. Two comprehensive draft design options for the study area to EPA staff within 6 weeks of the conclusion of the charrette

3b. Final design options within four weeks of receipt of EPA comments.

3c. A draft “next steps” memo no more than five pages in length to EPA staff within 6 weeks of the conclusion of the charrette.

3d. A final “next steps” memo within four weeks of receipt of EPA comments.

3e. Drafts of three to five regionally-appropriate case studies of no more than two pages in length each to EPA staff within 6 weeks of the conclusion of the charrette

3f. Final set of case studies within four weeks of receipt of EPA comments.

3g. Draft PowerPoint presentation to EPA within 6 weeks of the conclusion of the charrette

3h. Final PowerPoint presentation within four weeks of receipt of EPA comments.

3i. High resolution JPG or TIF image files for all final illustrations.

3j. Final report that compiles previous memos, case studies, and final illustrations, and that is compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which requires that Federal agencies' electronic and information technology be accessible to people with disabilities ( http://www.section508.gov/ ).

The point of contact for this procurement is Kelly Easterling at easterling.kelly@epa.gov

RFQ-DC-11-00020, Greening America's Capitals--Little Rock

Local Navigation