Description
A site visit will be held on 7 February 2023. Please email: philip.johnson@ibwc if you plan to attend by 6 February . The Government will not pay for any expence to include travel and per diem. 865 RIO RICO INDUSTRIAL PARK INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION RIO RICO AZ 85648-4063 US This is not a notice of Solicitation Issuance. This is a request for information (RFI) for planning purposes only. If a solicitation is posted for this requirement in the future, it will not have the same reference number. This is a Request for Information (RFI) only as defined in FAR 15.201(e) to obtain information about capabilities and market information related to dewatering/drying technologies alternatives and is for planning purposes only. This RFI is not a request for competitive proposals; therefore, responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. No formal solicitation for this work exists at this time. The United States International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC), is seeking information from all interested parties to make recommendations on necessary or desirable upgrade to the existing dewatering/drying system at the Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant (NIWTP). Site visits are strongly encouraged and will be available upon request over the period 10 January 2023, through 10 February 2023 excluding weekends and Federal Holidays. Please make scheduling requests seven or more days prior to the date requested. Information responses will be accepted through 10 February 2023. 1. OVERVIEW/PURPOSE/ DESCRIPTION OF PROCUREMENT The objective of this RFI is to collect information to assist the Government in evaluating available technologies to significantly reduce the current volume and weight of sludge generated at the NIWTP resulting in a safe, cost-effective, and timely manner. The Government anticipates that a mature technology alternative, which can be implemented on-site, can be identified to address this system. 2. BACKGROUND The NIWTP currently treats approximately 15 Million of Gallons per Day (MGD) of raw sewage entering from Nogales, Mexico and Nogales, Arizona using the Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) process. The plant treats the Waste Activated Sludge (WAS) by drum thickening followed by an open pit aerobic digestion. Digested sludge flows to a storage pond to be pumped into one of two belt filter presses for polymer assisted dewatering. The final dewatered sludge is then conveyed from the filter presses into a sludge hauling truck for disposal at the local landfill Santa Cruz County landfill - Rio Rico. In recent months staff from the local landfill have indicated that the landfill is nearing capacity and there is a strong possibility that will stop accepting sludge trucks. Should that be the case, the sludge generated at the NIWTP will have to be transported to a City of Tucson or Town of Marana landfill (84 miles from NIWTP). The cost of doing so would increase significantly due to longer travel distances and the need to use larger capacity trucks. IBWC is interested in reducing the weight and volume of the sludge and increase the average dry solids content to 80% solids or better. If this process is successful NIWTP will reduce the number of loads and trips to the landfill and may no longer have to contract to have the sludge removed and disposed since reduced loads could be transported with in-house. During calendar year 2021 the amount of sludge processed were as follows: Monthly Wet Sludge generated: 1,500 to 1,700 Tons average, 2,400 Tons maximum. Average dry solids: 18.2 % Dry solids = 3,194 Tons Water = 14,356 Tons Disposal: Approx. 5 trucks/day through contract Landfill: Rio Rico, 4.6 miles from NIWTP 3. SCOPE OF EFFORT The potential technology alternative must meet the following requirements: • Capacity to process up to 28,000 tons of wet sludge per year • Increase the average dry solids content from 18% to 80% or greater dry solids. • Biosolids must be in an enclosed area or covered until ultimate disposal. • System can be operated on electric power, diesel fuel or natural gas and have a usable life expectancy of 20 years or more. • System must be OSHA compliant and meet all National Electric Codes Standards. • System must meet requirements of Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency. • Space area availability is subject to the technology. 4. REQUESTED INFORMATION Capability Statement. Interested vendors are requested to provide a company capability statement. The capability statements should demonstrate the firm’s experience and capability to perform the principal components of services listed above. Capability statements should include pricing information for market research purposes only and include the following information: General company description: Business Name and Address, Point of Contact to include E-Mail Address and Telephone Number, DUNS NAICS code(s) applicable to this requirement, and Business Size and Type: 8A, HUBZone, Women-owned, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned, Small Business, Large Businesses, etc, Description of recommended dewatering technology with general layout drawings, description of dewatering system alternatives, cost estimates (to include operations and maintenance costs), labor and maintenance requirements (to include number of operators and work hours per day), safety concerns, and comparison data. The technology should be a total solution that addresses the requirements listed above. Demonstrated evidence of recommended dewatering technology being implemented on similar wastewater treatment plant conditions. Estimate of the required investment, including material, equipment, installation, engineering and prove-out costs along with expected life cycle operational costs. Major partners or suppliers. Provide minimum and maximum monthly production rates of past production of same or similar technology. Respondents ability to assess environmental impacts. 5. RESPONSE GUIDELINES: Interested parties are requested to respond to this RFI with a white paper. Submissions shall not exceed 25 pages, single-spaced, 12-point type with at least one-inch margins on 8 1/2" X 11" page size. The response shall not exceed a 10 MB e-mail limit for all items associated with the RFI response. Responses must specifically describe the contractor's capability to meet the requirements outlined in this RFI. Oral communications are not permissible. SAM.gov will be the sole repository for all information related to this RFI. 6. INDUSTRY DISCUSSIONS: Government representatives may choose to meet with potential offerors and hold one-on-one discussions. Such discussions would only be intended to obtain further clarification of potential capability to meet the requirements, including any development and certification risks. 7. QUESTIONS: Questions regarding this announcement shall be submitted in writing by e-mail to the POC Listed in this announcement. Verbal questions will not be accepted. Answers to questions will be posted to FBO. The Government does not guarantee that questions received after above response date will be answered. The Government will not reimburse companies for any costs associated with the submissions of their responses. 8. DISCLAIMER: This RFI is NOT a Request for Proposal (RFP) and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals nor will any award be made as a result of this synopsis. All information contained in the RFI is preliminary, subject to modification, and is in no way binding on the Government. FAR clause 52.215-3, "Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes", is incorporated by reference in this RFI. The Government does not intend to pay for information received in response to this RFI. Responders to this invitation are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. This RFI will be the basis for collecting information on capabilities available. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes. Proprietary information and trade secrets, if any, must be clearly marked on all materials. All information received in this RFI that is marked "Proprietary" will be handled accordingly. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned nor will receipt be confirmed. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract.