Type of document: Contract Notice
Country: United States
Engineering and Design Laboratory Soils Testing
Agency:
Department of the Army
Official Address:
Attn: CESWF-CT
PO Box 17300 Fort Worth TX 76102-0300
Zip Code:
76102-0300
Contact:
Ali Marshall, Contract Specialist, Phone 817-886-1068, Email Alisa.Marshall@usace.army.mil
Link:
Date Posted:
09/08/2017
Classification:
H
Contract Description:
This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for Engineering and Design Laboratory Soils Testing intended for performance within NAICS 541380, prepared in accordance with the information in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with the additional information included in this notice. This announcement is to solicit interest for the establishment of a BPA and will be the only solicitation/synopsis to be issued for this service. Responses are requested and additional solicitations or synopses will not be issued. In support of the Small Business Association and DoD Congressionally mandated small business goals, this is a Small Business set aside announcement. It is the intention of the Government to award a minimum of three (3) Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) to those firms who demonstrate they are capable of providing services as identified by the requirements in this document, but the Government reserves the right to make a single award from this solicitation/synopsis. The Government reserves the right to make an award on initial responses received. The Government reserves the right to enter into discussions if necessary. The BPA duration will be for a one-year base period and may be extended in one-year increments not to exceed a total of three-years for the BPA. The establishment of the BPA does not imply any agreement on the part of the Government to place future calls, orders or contracts with the BPA holder. The Government makes no representation as to the number of calls or actual amount of work to be ordered. Interested firms must identify their interest and capability to perform to the requirements set forth in this solicitation/synopsis to be considered for award of the solicited BPAs. The awarded BPA will be an agreement capable of fulfilling the requirements of performance for Laboratory Soils Testing as stated in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) and through-out the complete period of performance as established by the specific award. No calls will exceed the amount of $25,000. The aggregate amount of the BPA will be approximately $200,000 per year with a total maximum of $600,000 for the total three-year duration of all options. ALL QUOTES ARE TO BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT.
The Government will evaluate all submitted responses in accordance with the submissions and evaluation criteria described herein as part of a Single-Step Solicitation Process. The purpose of this description is to establish a uniform submission and evaluation procedure for the technical evaluation of responses by the Government and the development of a Best Value Decision. In as much, the submittal shall describe the capability of the Offeror to perform the requirements and be specific and complete. Responses to this announcement must include your: (1) past performance information for a minimum of three relevant similar projects to include contact names, addresses, phone numbers, contract numbers as well as a description of the supplies/services provided. (2) published pricelist and or labor rates, and (3) short narrative explaining your ability to perform work. The proposal should be prepared simply and economically, providing a straightforward and concise description of capabilities to satisfactorily perform all requirements. The proposal should be practical, legible, clear, and coherent.
The Contracting Officer will award a BPA to those responsible Offeror whose submittals conforms to the solicitation/synopsis and offers the best overall value to the Government, considering all factors described herein. The Government will not award a BPA to an Offeror whose submittal does not adhere to submission requirements.
Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA)
Performance Work Statement
for
Laboratory Soils Testing
Section 1. Contract Description
1.1 Contract Description. This contract is for engineering and design laboratory soils testing for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, Engineering and Construction Division, Geotechnical Branch (CESWF-EC-G).
1.2 Contract Background. The Geotechnical Branch routinely performs geotechnical surface and subsurface field investigations to collect soil and rock (primary) samples from various military and civil sites. The sampling and analytical work will primarily be in conjunction with investigations for military foundation reports.
1.3 Contract Objectives. The objective of this contract is to obtain an engineering materials testing facility to provide geotechnical and construction materials testing for a variety of project types. Testing shall provide technically valid and legally defensible soils and rock data that will meet or exceed the requirements of EM 1110-2-1906, Engineering and Design Laboratory Soils Testing, dated 30 Nov 70 with Change 1 dated 1 May 80 and Change 2 dated 20 August 1986 as well as current specified American Standard Testing Methods (ASTMs). Revisions to the EM shall be forwarded to the contractor as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) approves them. A copy of this EM regulation may be obtained on the Internet
1.4 Contract Testing Requirements and Estimated Quantities. Soil and rock specimens shall be delivered to the testing lab by a Corps employee or authorized contract drilling agency. The Contract Laboratory shall be capable of performing a wide range of soils and rock testing. The primary tests and their designated testing methods required under this contract are given in the attached Table 1, Standard Test Methods. The Contract laboratory shall be required to furnish all labor, instrumentation, equipment, tools, and supplies required to perform the testing. Subcontracted out testing shall be permitted only with the written approval of the Geotechnical Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). In no case shall sub-contracted work exceed 35% of the total contract dollars actually expended.
Section 2: Contract Organization & Responsibilities
2.1 Government Team Organization
2.1.1 The Contracting Officer (KO) will be responsible for the overall contract. This individual or his/her designee will provide selected review of all activities and procedures and provide senior technical oversight throughout the duration of this contract.
2.1.2 The Geotechnical Branch COR will be the main contact for the Contract Laboratory. This individual, or his /her designee, will be responsible for the daily management and execution of this contract.
2.1.3 The COR will be responsible for quality assurance auditing and monitoring. This individual will have access to all work and will identify potential quality problems; initiate, investigate, recommend, or provide solutions to quality problems through designated channels; verify implementation of solutions; and ensure that further processing or action is controlled until proper disposition of unsatisfactory conditions has occurred. As part of quality assurance, split samples may be obtained on a random basis and tested by another laboratory.
2.2 Organization, Responsibilities, and Qualifications of the Contract Laboratory
2.2.1 The Contract Laboratory will perform the testing for this contract. The Contract Laboratory must have an organization with well-defined responsibilities for each individual in the management system to ensure that sufficient resources are available for this contract and to maintain a successful operation. The adequacy of the facilities and equipment is as important as the technical staff to accomplish the required work as specified in this contract.
2.2.2 Contract Laboratory management shall be responsible for actively supporting the implementation of the laboratory’s Quality Management Manual within the laboratory, maintaining accurate standard operating procedures (SOPs) and enforcing their use in the laboratory, maintaining a work environment that emphasizes the importance of data quality, and providing appropriate management support. Laboratory management shall also designate the primary contract for the receipt of delivery orders for this contract.
2.2.3 The Contract Laboratory shall be physically located within a 40-mile radius of the Federal Center, 501 W. Felix, Fort Worth, Texas 76115. Fort Worth District Corps of Engineers personnel or authorized contract drilling agency shall deliver samples to the Contract Laboratory.
2.2.4 The Contract Laboratory shall begin testing after receipt of written or verbal requests for testing from the COR(s) and with samples on-hand. A final, signed and licensed professional engineer stamped report of testing results is required to be delivered to the COR by the date agreed upon by the COR and Contracting laboratory prior to sample delivery. The Contract Laboratory shall retain Fort Worth District owned project samples for a period of at least one year unless specifically requested otherwise. Contract Laboratory personnel shall semi-annually furnish Fort Worth District Civil COR and Military COR a client-owner fact sheet listing all District owned samples being held by the laboratory. Fort Worth District COR will notify Contract Laboratory in writing when project samples may be destroyed.
2.2.5 The submitted Final Testing Report shall be a hardcopy original, submitted in duplicate, and an electronic copy in Excel format. The Final Testing Report shall contain, as a minimum, the following:
Cover with Project Name
Submittal letter with licensed professional engineer’s stamp and signature.
Summary tables of individual test results and testing methods used.
Summary graphical representation of index soil testing.
Graphical representation of all strength, consolidation, swell, expansion, CBR, and laboratory compaction tests.
Presentations required by individual testing methods designated, and as presented in EM 1110-2-1906.
2.2.6 The Contract Laboratory must be inspected and validated by the Materials Testing Center (MTC) of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). Information regarding the process to request an inspection is available at The prospective Contract Laboratory shall possess and include with their proposal a current memorandum of validation from ERDC for their approved testing services which shall be reviewed by the Government as a criteria for selection, in accordance with ER 1110-1-261 and ER 1110-1-8100. The prospective bidders are advised that the validation process is a cost that must be borne fully by the Contractor, and the Contractor is required to maintain a current ERDC validation throughout the term of the contract. If the prospective Contract Laboratory will sub-contract testing work to any other laboratory, the same ERDC validation requirements shall also apply to sub-contracted laboratories, and the prospective Contract Laboratory shall also provide with their proposal a current ERDC validation memorandum for each sub-contracted laboratory they intend to use. The Contract Laboratory also shall be compliant with ASTM E 548. Fort Worth District personnel will inspect the Contract Laboratory for compliance with ASTM E 548 after award of the contract. The Contract Laboratory shall have a minimum of two licensed professional engineers who will take responsibility for the testing and results presented under this contract. Lead testing technicians, performing work under this contract, shall have current NICET certification or equivalent.
Table 1 Standard Test Methods
Standard Test Methods Designation
Description and Identification of Soils (Visual-Manual Procedure) ASTM-D-2488-93
Wet Preparation of Soil Samples for Particle-Size Analysis and Determination of Soil Constants ASTM-D-2217-85 Reapproved 1993
Laboratory Determination of Water (Moisture) Content of Soil & Rock ASTM-D-2216-92
Unit Weights, Void Ratio, Porosity, and Degree of Saturation (COE) EM 1110-2-1906, Appendix II, Par 4. . Displacement Method
Particle-Size Analysis of Soil (Sieve and Hydrometer) ASTM-D 422-63 Reapproved 1990
Amount of Material Finer Than the No. 200 (75-um) Sieve No. 200 and No.4 Sieve ASTM-D-1140-92
Liquid Limit, Plastic Limit, and Plasticity Index of Soils Method A -Multi-Point Test Method B -One-Point Test ASTM-D-4318-95
Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Standard Effort (12,400 ft-Ibf/ft³) ASTM-D-698-91
Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Standard Effort (56,000 ft-lb/ft³) ASTM-D-1557-91
California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of Laboratory-Compacted Soils (Need to specify the range of water contents and the dry unit weight for which the CBR is desired) ASTM-D-1883-94 Mil-Std-621A, Methods 100 and 101
Unconfined Compressive Strength of Cohesive Soil ASTM-D-2166-91
Unconsolidated, Undrained Compressive Strength of Cohesive Soils in Triaxial Compression (one specimen confined to a specified overburden pressure) ASTM-D-2850-95
Triaxial Compressive Strength of Undrained Rock Core Specimens Without Pore Pressure Measurements ASTM-D-2664-86 Reapproved 1995
One-Dimensional Consolidation Properties of Soils ASTM-D-2435-90
One-Dimensional Swell or Settlement Potential Cohesive Soils ASTM-D-4546-90
Control Expansion One-Dimensional Consolidation Properties of Soils ASTM D-2435-90 And ASTM D-4546-90 Method C
Triaxial Compressive Strength Unconsolidated, undrained “Q” with backpressure saturation as required. One to three specimens as directed. (COE) EM 1110-2-1906, Appendix II, Triaxial Compression Test
Direct Shear Strength (COE) EM 1110-2-1906, Appendix IX, Drained (S)Direct Shear Test
Permeability by Constant Head ASTM-D-2434-68 (06)
Consolidated- Undrained Triaxial Compression ASTM-D-4767-04
Preparation of Samples
THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THE BLANKET PURCHASE
AGREEMENT ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH FAR 13.203-1 AND DOD FAR SUPPLEMENT 213.203.2.
1. Extent of obligation. The government is obligated only to the extent of authorized calls actually placed against this Blanket Purchase Agreement.
2. PRICING. The prices to the government shall be as low or lower than those charged the supplier’s most favored customer, in addition to any discounts for prompt payment.
3. CALL LIMITATION. No individual call placed under this agreement shall exceed
$25,000.00.
4. DELIVERY TICKETS. All shipments under this agreement shall be accompanied by one copy of the delivery ticket or sales lip which shall contain the following minimum information:
A. Name of Supplier
B. Blanket Purchase Agreement Number
C. Date of Call
D. Call Number
E. Itemized list of supplies or services furnished
F. Quality Unit Price, and Extension of each item less applicable discounts (Unit Prices and Extension need not be shown when incompatible with the use of automated systems, provided that the invoice is itemized to show this information.)
G. Date of Delivery or shipment
H. Name of person placing call
5. INVOICES. The following method of invoicing may be used to effect monthly payment: A summary invoice shall be submitted at least monthly or upon expiration of the Blanket
Purchase Agreement, whichever occurs first, for all deliveries made during the billing period, the
24th day of the preceding month through the 23rd day of the current month, identifying the delivery tickets covered therein stating their total dollar value, and supported by receipted copies of the delivery tickets. The period of any discounts will commence on the final date of billing period or on the date of receipt of invoices for all deliveries accepted during the billing period whichever is later.
6. If calls against this Blanket Purchase Agreement exceed an aggregate total of $2,500.00 for services or $2,000.00 for construction, the applicable department of labor wage rates shall apply.
7. Individuals authorized to place calls and dollar limitations. The Contracting Officer will provide a list of authorized callers.
See authorization letter
8. DESCRIPTION:
Furnish all labor and equipment to provide engineering and design laboratory soil testing for the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, Engineering and Construction Division, Geotechnical Branch in accordance with the attached Work Statement and Service Determination, if and when requested by the Government for the base period of 1
October 2017 through 30 September 2020.
Base Period: 01 October 2017 to 30 September 2020
This Blanket Purchase Agreement replaces: W9126G-14-A-0032
Point of Contact: Mr. Ken McCleskey (817) 886-1700
BPA MASTER DOLLAR LIMIT $600,000.00
BPA CALL LIMIT $25,000.00
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE 01 October 2017 TO 30 September 2020
9. REPORTING LABOR POWER TO OASA:
The contractor shall report ALL contractor labor hours (including subcontractor labor hours) required for performance of services provided under this contract for the US Army Corps of Engineers via a secure data collection site. The contractor is required to completely fill in all required data fields using the following web address:
Reporting inputs will be for the labor executed during the period of performance during each Government fiscal year (FY), which runs October 1 through September 30. While inputs may be reported any time during the FY, all data shall be reported no later than October 31 of each calendar year of contract/task order performance.
Contractors may direct questions to the help desk at help desk at: to review user manuals and gain an understanding about the data fields that will be included in the reporting structure that is hosted at .
10. AT/OPSEC Requirements:
The following are AT/OPSEC-Anti-Terrorism/Operations Security -requirements for this requirement.
1. AT Level I Training.
All contractor employees, to include subcontractor employees, requiring access to Army installations, facilities, controlled access areas, or require network access, shall complete AT Level I awareness training within 30 calendar days after contract start date or effective date of incorporation of this requirement into the contract, whichever is applicable. Upon request, the contractor shall submit certificates of completion for each affected contractor employee and subcontractor employee, to the COR or to the contracting officer (if a COR is not assigned), within 5 calendar days after completion of training by all employees and subcontractor personnel. AT Level I awareness training is available at the following website: ; or it can be provided by the RA ATO in presentation form which will be documented via memorandum.
15. Pre-screen candidates using E-Verify Program.
The Contractor must pre-screen Candidates using the E-verify Program () website to meet the established employment eligibility requirements. The Vendor must ensure that the Candidate has two valid forms of Government issued identification prior to enrollment to ensure the correct information is entered into the E-verify system. An initial
list of verified/eligible Candidates must be provided to the COR no later than 3 business days after the initial contract award.” *When contracts are with individuals, the individuals will be required to complete a Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, with the designated Government representative. This Form will be provided to the Contracting Officer and shall become part of the official contract file.
Location:
Samples will be taken from various Civil and Military sites though-out the Fort Worth District and taken to the laboratory for testing.
Response Date:
083117
Sol Number:
W9126G-17-A-0006
