C -- Sherman Pass Scenic Byway Corridor Plan

The Colville National Forest is seeking an Architect-Engineering Planning Firm to develop and produce an extensive update to the Sherman Pass Scenic Byway Corridor Plan. The Colville National Forest manages this Scenic Byway, and the corridor planning document must be approved by the Forest Supervisor. The project is located along State Highway 20 between the town of Republic and the junction of Highway 20 and Federal Highway 295 in Ferry County, Washington State (Northeast Corner). The byway is 35 miles long and crosses 24 miles of Colville National Forest. The closest communities to the byway are Kettle Falls and Republic. Both towns are currently involved in community planning efforts. Project Description: There will be three parts to the project: the Strategy, the Interpretive Plan, and the Implementation Plan. The Strategy will: (1) update existing planning documents and redefine the goals and objectives in order to meet current needs, trends, and resource standards; (2) utilize Focus Group analysis techniques and integrate local community planning efforts; (3) include possibilities for High, Moderate, and Low levels of development in order to accommodate variations in use levels and funding (Intent is to provide flexibility and longevity to the Corridor Plan); and (4) tie in with the broader picture, trends and use patterns including other agency and community opportunities (wildlife refuge, fish hatchery, other recreation providers). The Interpretive Plan will: (1) guide the overall and site specific interpretive development along the Byway; (2) highlight the Byways natural, scenic and culturally significant sites by defining the major theme(s), supporting themes, and site specific stories; (3) provide a multi-media approach; and (4) set priorities for implementation and provide design narrative and cost estimates for the interpretive media respective of the High/Moderate/and Low scenarios. The Implementation Plan will: (1) integrate the Interpretive Plan into development of design concepts for each site; (2) set priorities for implementation and provide design narrative and cost estimates for infrastructure changes recommended to accommodate the interpretive media (NEPA and agency overhead are understood to be separate from these cost estimates); and (3) design concepts respective of the High/Moderate/and Low scenarios. The end product will also: (1) be useful to multiple agencies and public as they develop tourism concepts; (2) assess partnership opportunities; and (3) consider how to build a greater appreciation for the Byway. Considerations of the projects includes: (1) Government will furnish all existing Scenic Byway information, preliminary literature search of historical data and photos, and the computer files of site surveys; (2) There are ongoing stream restoration and dam removal efforts at certain sites; (3) National Strategy and Forest Planning efforts; (4) Possible bike or car touring loops; (5) Possible historic and nature tours; (6) Snowplowing and affect on signage; (7) Vandalism; and (8) Minimizing Operation and maintenance costs The following expertise is anticipated: (1) Recreation Planning at sub-regional and community level; (2) public, agency, and community facilitation; (3) natural resource planning; (4) thematic interpretive planning and development; (5) tourism marketing; (6) project management; (7) cultural landscape architecture; (8) computer graphics, mapping, and graphic design; (9) historic preservation planning; and (10) heritage corridor administration and operations. It is estimated the project work will begin in May 2003 and end by early November 2003. Selection of firms for negotiation shall be through an order of preference based on demonstrated competence and qualifications necessary for the satisfactory performance of the type of professional services required. The significant evaluation factors listed are in relative order of importance: (1) Professional qualifications necessary for satisfactory performance of required services; (2) Specialized experience and technical competence in the type of work required, including, where appropriate, experience in energy conservation, pollution prevention, waste reduction, an the use of recovered materials; (3) Capacity to accomplish the work in the required time; (4) Past performance on contracts with Government agencies and private industry in terms of cost control, quality of work, and compliance with performance schedules; (5) Location in the general geographical area of the project and knowledge of the locality of the project; provided, that application of this criterion leaves an appropriate number of qualified firms, given the nature and size of the project; and (6) Additional points may be assigned or credit given to potential Contractors that are or will subcontract with a Small Business Administration certified 8(a) contractor or other small disadvantaged businesses. There is no solicitation package to request. Firms desiring consideration must respond to this announcement by submitting four (4) copies each of SF-254 and SF-255; examples of similar work; and any other appropriate data necessary for evaluating their technical capabilities. Firms shall use the SF-255 form Block 10 (extra sheets may be used) to provide specific information on the firm experience in corridor management planning and other similar experience, an outline of the proposed approach and the schedule for accomplishing this work. All responsible sources, which respond to this synopsis with the required SF-254s and SF-255s and examples of similar work, to the Contracting Officer will be considered. All firms who have standing SF-254/255s on file in any FS office must respond to this announcement with current SF- 254/255 relative to the referenced solicitation. All responses must be received by this office no later than close of business 4:30 p.m, local time, March 24, 2003. The information may be mailed to Cathy Van Alyne, Contracting Officer, Colville National Forest, 765 South Main, Colville, Washington 99114. This project is advertised and solicited by using FAR Part 36.6 procedures. The project will be procured on an unrestricted basis. The NAICS code is 541320. The project is estimated between $25,000 and $100,000. Contractors wishing to view location map and previous byway planning documents, for informational purposes only, may contact the technical representative, Jan Bodie, at (509) 684-7190 or via e-mail at [email protected]. SF-254/255 Forms are available at www.gsa.gov.