1. 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 (temporary solicitation number W9127N24R10LF) 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 (SDS) 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 (Product Service Code [PSC] Y1PZ).
The related size standard is: $45,000,000.
Formal Sources Sought Response due no later than 1:00 PM PST, 2 August 2024.
2. Project Background.
The Dalles Dam (TD) Navigation Lock (NL) measures 650 feet long, 86 feet wide, and has a maximum lift of 90 feet. The lock is raised by two fill valves on the southeast side of the lock, and it is fed by an adjacent intake. The lock is lowered by two drain valves, located at the west end of the lock, with one on the North side and one on the South side of the lock. The downstream gate is a miter type, and the upstream gate is a Tainter type.
The four original Tainter Valves (TV) were built and installed in 1955 during the initial dam and Navigation Lock construction, and they were put into operation in 1957. All four of the original TVs were replaced between 2010 and 2011. In 2018, TD TV1 was found with cracks that traveled through the skin plate. Due to the deterioration and difficulty to repair TV1 , one of the original TVs was repaired and installed in place of TV1. The original TV1 is still in service and is to be replaced under this contract.
3. Project Scope.
The following information represents the project objectives:
The scope of this project is to replace Navigation Lock TV1 at The Dalles. The new valve is a fully open frame with improvements to the seal design. The existing cast trunnion yokes will be replaced. The installation work is to be performed in a confined space and wet environment requiring crane placement and capacity for hoisting a 50,000 lbf (pound-force) gate down to 150 feet below deck level will be necessary.
- The structural scope includes:
- The fabrication of the new vertically-framed 19.5 foot radius, 12 foot wide, 17 foot tall, reverse Tainter valve; removal of existing valve; and installation of the new valve.
- The existing cast steel trunnion yokes must be removed without damaging the existing 3” anchor rods. The existing anchor nuts must be cut off the anchor rods due to concerns about galling between the stainless steel anchor rods and nuts. After removal, the existing anchor rods must be inspected and repaired as necessary, including cutting new threads in place if the existing threads are damaged beyond repair, and reused to install new steel weldment trunnion yokes.
- The fabricating plant and fabricator must be certified under the AISC (American Institute of Steel Construction) Quality Certification Program, and must be designated an AISC Certified Plant, Category CBR: Major Bridge Fabrication, IBR: Certified Bridge Fabricator - Intermediate, ABR: Certified Bridge Fabricator - Advanced or HYD: Certified Metal Hydraulic Fabricator with a fracture critical endorsement (FCE) at time of bid and for the duration of the Contract. The fabricator or fabrication plant must possess five years documented experience on projects of similar scope.
- Additional miscellaneous support features.
- The mechanical scope includes:
- The removal and replacement of the hoisting mechanism for the Tainter valve. All new hoist components shall be stainless steel and shall require stainless steel welding fabrication. The fabricator must be certified to safely handle all toxic fumes associated with stainless steel welding.
- The hoisting mechanism includes over 190 feet of stainless steel tubing up to 9.5 inches in diameter, with various rotation points and translation surfaces, and pins up to 15 inches in diameter, with associated bronze bushings, to connect the new valve to an existing hydraulic cylinder.
- All bushings must be a self-lubricated plugged and/or coated bronze material, with the bushing manufacturer providing all final bushing, bore, and pin dimensions, tolerances, clearances, and surface finishes.
- Installation will require accurate alignment of new components up to 100 feet apart connected via shafting to achieve required clearances and ensure non-binding motion of the hoist. This installation and alignment and operational testing must be planned, directed, and supervised by an erecting engineer.
- A detailed survey locating specified points, surfaces, and axes of interest shall be performed prior to beginning work, and it shall be repeated after installation of the new components.
- Design Elements Requiring Professional Engineer (PE) Services:
- Valve support methods used to adequately support the newly fabricated valve before and during installation.
- Self-lubricated bushing final dimensions, tolerances, clearances, and surface finishes.
- Trunnion anchor nut removal and thread remediation plan to ensure safe removal of the existing anchor nuts to allow anchor rod reuse.
- Installation, alignment, and operational testing plans and procedures.
- Deck analysis for crane placement.
- Anticipated Construction Schedule: CENWP intends to advertise this requirement in April 2025, and an award is anticipated in August 2025. The awarded construction contract will have an estimated construction completion by the end of calendar year 2026.
- Estimated Construction Cost (ECC): The current ECC is between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000. Reference FAR 36.204, Disclosure of Magnitude and DFARS 236.204 Disclosure of Magnitude.
- Number and Type of Contracts: NWP contemplates awarding a 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 Best Value Trade Off.
4. Project Specific Constraints and Challenges:
- The navigation lock will be operational for the duration of this contract.
- There are various constraints regarding coordination with The Dalles Operations such as contractor can only have Hazardous Energy Control Procedure (HECP) or lockout/tagout, support Monday through Thursday, only Government personnel can operate Hydraulics, etc.
5. Questions for Industry:
- Is there anything in the Project Scope (above) that would discourage you from bidding? If so, please explain.
- Is there anything in Project Scope that would cause enhanced pricing uncertainty? If so, please explain.
- Are there any market conditions or industry practices you feel the Government needs to be aware of? If so, please explain.
- What risks do you foresee during construction?
- Part of this project includes removing the existing trunnion yokes and reusing the existing 3” embedded and post-tensioned anchors. The existing anchor nuts must be cut off due to concerns about potential galling between the stainless steel nuts and anchor rods, with thread repair or cutting new threads in place required if the existing anchor threads are damaged. The existing tension force on each anchor rod is not expected to exceed 95.5 kip. What risks do you foresee with this effort?
6. Submission Instructions. Formal responses to this Sources Sought notice must be submitted electronically (via email) with SUBJECT: Sources Sought – W9127N24R10LF | NavLock Tainter Valve Replacement. Please email to Michael Saldana, Contracting Officer, at michael.e.saldana@usace.army.mil and Dana Western, Contract Specialist, at dana.m.western@usace.army.mil before 1:00 pm Pacific Standard Time on 2 August 2024.
Interested parties’ responses to this Sources Sought shall be limited to six pages and shall 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) project(s). These project examples should 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; however, if you have copies of CPARS or PPIRS, please provide those. They will not count against the sources sought page total.
- 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.
7. Disclaimer and Important Notes.
- This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract. No reimbursement shall 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 its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's capabilities to perform the work. Respondents are advised 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.
8. Attachments: None
