RECOVERY - This is a special notice for use of a brand name product specified in solicitation no. N9430100001 issued April 9, 2010 under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The solicitation specifies the use of the following brand name product: NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement manufactured by Soil Stabilization Products Company, Inc, Merced, California. The solicitation was issued as a request for proposal to promote competition for a contractor to resurface the Spruce Mill Trail within Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Vancouver, Washington in accordance with the solicitation project specifications. The contractor will be responsible for the purchase, delivery, and application of the specified brand name product, to create a natural-looking paved pathway (Spruce Mill Trail). The end result will be a new pathway that matches the existing pathways at the Historic Site using the same product and method of application as was used previously for the purpose of maintaining a cohesive trail system. Comments and questions regarding this special notice may be directed to Phaedra Fuller, Contracting Officer, at
[email protected]. Include your business name, qualifications, and point of contact. All comments received before April 19, 2010 will be considered. Use of the brand name product is justified as follows: 1. IDENTIFICATION OF THE AGENCY AND THE CONTRACTING ACTIVITY: U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (FOVA), 612 East Reserve Street, Vancouver, Washington 98661 2. NATURE AND/OR DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION BEING APPROVED: Incorporate the use of a brand name product in Solicitation no. N9430100001, whereby a firm, fixed-price construction contract will be awarded to a single contractor responsible for supply, delivery, and application of a specified brand name resin pavement mix that will be used to resurface the Spruce Mill Trail within Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, in the same color, texture, and application process as previously applied to other trails within the park. The Spruce Mill Trail will match existing trails to maintain a cohesive trail system within the historic site. The nature of this project is a follow-on requirement. The request for proposal will promote competition among contractors who will apply the material. The material is brand name specific and will be a requirement of the solicitation. 3. A DESCRIPTION OF THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED TO MEET THE AGENCY'S NEEDS, INCLUDING THE ESTIMATED VALUE: This acquisition is composed of two major elements which are incorporated into a single solicitation: Construction and Supply. The solicitation is full and open competition, prepared as a request for proposal, specifying the use of a brand name product. A construction contract will be awarded to a single contractor responsible for the purchase, delivery, and application of the brand name product, to create a natural-looking paved pathway. The end result will be a new pathway that closely matches the existing pathways in the park, using the same brand name product and application process as was used previously for the purpose of maintaining a cohesive trail system. FOVA is located in an urban environment, in the city of Vancouver, WA, and nearby, just across the Columbia River, is Portland, OR. FOVA hosts public events throughout the year, and during summer months some events, such as the Fourth of July, draw significantly large crowds. FOVA was concerned about the number of visitors potentially impacting the site's natural landscape during the more popular events, and decided traffic flow was of major concern. Historically, FOVA did not have paved roads or pathways. In order to minimize visitor impact on the natural landscape, control the flow of traffic, and maintain a historic appearance, FOVA constructed a trail system in a manner and of a material that has as little visual impact on the overall landscape as possible. The trails were designed to be wide, accommodating flow of visitor traffic in both directions, comply with ADA requirements, inter-connect at various route locations, and made of a strong, durable material. Concrete paving material was considered, but there was concern about its flexibility, and potential for chipping and cracking in severe temperature fluctuations which are common to areas along the Columbia River. Traditional hot mix asphalt was rejected for similar reasons in addition to its tendency to reflect heat during summer months. In addition, FOVA concluded that a black/dark gray asphalt trail system would represent a stark color contrast to the Historic Site's natural landscape consisting of lighter brown colored dirt and existing vegetation. In an earlier attempt to provide a non-intrusive trail surface (to both sub-surface archaeological resources and the cultural landscape) FOVA utilized a decomposed granite mixture with oly tar. This mixture proved unacceptable and did not bond well, given the amount of foot traffic and water. FOVA later discovered NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement mix which worked well and held up under large amounts of traffic and moisture. NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement mix is manufactured by Soil Stabilization Products Company, Inc. The resin pavement mix produces a flexible pavement that displays the natural coloration and texture of the aggregate material used in the mix formulation. The mix formulation is specific to FOVA. FOVA provided aggregate samples matching local soil color to the manufacturer and the manufacturer designed a specific color-match formula to the aggregate which it used in the original application. 4. AN IDENTIFICATION OF THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), FAR 6.302-1, Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. 5. A DEMONSTRATION THAT THE PROPOSED CONTRACTOR'S UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS OR THE NATURE OF THE ACQUISITION REQUIRES USE OF THE AUTHORITY CITED: NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement was originally purchased and applied at various trails at FOVA, determined to be an appropriate all-weather pavement, ADA accessible, with a smooth joint-free running surface similar to asphalt pavement but with a more environmentally friendly composition, and color-appropriate in FOVA's natural landscape (met aesthetic requirement). The solicitation for this project specifies the contractor supply, delivery, and install (apply) more of the same resin paving material, using the manufacturer's recommended method for application, matched to FOVA's existing trail system, in an effort to create a visually cohesive inter-connected trail system. FOVA's five biggest concerns when originally choosing the trail system surface material were (a) color, (b) heat absorption, (c) stability for ADA/accessibility, (d) strength, believing strength would also indicate flexibility for chipping/cracking in temperature fluctuations, and (e) overall durability (longevity). NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement was the only product found on the market at the time, that met the Government's requirements in all five areas. (a) COLOR. NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement mix produces a flexible pavement that displays the natural coloration and texture of the aggregate material used in the mix formulation. The mix formulation is specific to FOVA. FOVA provided aggregate samples to the manufacturer and the manufacturer designed a specific color-match formula to the aggregate which it used in the original application (original procurement) and then retained the formula for supplying on future FOVA projects. (b) HEAT ABSORPTION. NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement Resin Pavement is the ideal for new pavement installations where the relationship of pavement surface temperatures to human health, urban heat island effect and climate change are of concern. The most important aspect of a cool pavement is its ability to reflect rather than absorb solar energy. Among the traditional pavement materials, concrete is the most reflective (high albedo), while black asphalt is the least reflective (low albedo) and most absorbent of solar energy. Typically NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement mixtures are formulated with light colored aggregate mixtures and consequently have high solar reflectance similar to concrete pavements. The differences in pavement surface temperatures between heat absorbent asphalt and highly reflective NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement can be significant. For example, utilizing an infrared thermometer during mid-August afternoon conditions (98F air temperatures) and measuring areas of pavement subject to full day sun exposure, the following pavement surface temperatures were recorded at a zoo facility in Washington, D.C. New Asphalt Pavement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145FWeathered Asphalt Pavement. . . . . . . . . . . 139FNaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement . . . 121FThe thermal conductivity of a pavement material is also relevant to its effectiveness as a cool pavement. A pavement that has high thermal conductivity, such as asphalt, will rapidly absorb solar energy and transmit heat through the pavement into the base course materials and subgrade soils below the pavement. As indicated by testing at the ASU SMART Materials Testing Facility, both asphalt and concrete pavment materials conduct heat more rapidly than NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement. This means NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement has superior insulation value, or thermal resistance. In combination with high solar reflectance, this advantage in thermal resistance makes NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement the standard for cool pavement technology. Use of such pavement materials reduces heat absorption and radiance as required for a LEED Rating System Point toward "Green Building" Certification from the USGBC as per Credit SS 7.1 (Heat Island Effect) for light-colored/high albedo pavement. (c) STABILITY FOR ADA/ACCESSIBILITY. The US Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (the Access Board) is responsible for setting standards for wheelchair accessibility. The Access Board, in conjunction with the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research, funded research to establish objective standards for surface characteristics that effect trail accessibility, including the relative "Firmness" and "Stability" of outdoor surfaces. A portable testing device, known as a Rotational Penetrometer, was developed as the basis of a general measurement system. This measurement system is able to evaluate the wet weather performance of various trail surfacing materials as well as dry weather performance. Field testing was conducted by Beneficial Designs, Inc., the firm that developed the Rotational Penetrometer measurement device. Both the asphalt and NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement surfaces provided very firm and very stable accessible surfaces in all weather conditions. In both dry and wet testing the NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement surface performed slightly better than the asphalt pavement surface in Firmness and Stability. Stability is a test value that translates into the pavement's resistance to distortion, displacement, shearing stresses, rutting and shoving. The resin pavement mixture performs as well or better than asphalt pavement in both wet and dry Rotational Penetrometer test evaluation of Firmness and Stability for use as an accessible outdoor surface. When NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement mixtures are compared with hot mix asphalt mixtures using the Marshall Stability Test, NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement specimens regularly exhibit Stability values higher than those typical for asphalt. NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement mixtures typically have significantly higher stability and flow test values than the hot mix asphalt pavement mixtures currently in nationwide use. (d) STRENGTH. NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement specifies the resin mixture shall be suitable for vehicular and pedestrian traffic and with high strength such as that exhibited by hot mix asphaltic concrete mixtures. Concrete, with its slab-like behavior and requirement for expansion joints, is classified and tested as a "rigid pavement" material. Hot mix asphalt pavement and NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement, with more elastic behavior and joint-free construction, are classified and tested as "flexible pavement" materials. The resin pavement manufacturer has a record of finished mixtures where TSRST test results demonstrated all of the low temperature performance criteria down to a temperature of -18.4 F (-28 C), where Resilient Modulus test results in accordance with ASTM D-4123 test methods demonstrating layer equivalency equal or better than conventional hot mix asphalt, and where Marshall Stability test results exceeded 10,000 pound stabilities when tested at 140 F (60 C) temperature. Hot mix asphalt pavement specimens often break apart in pieces at the point where their peak stability is measured. NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement specimens, with far higher binding strength and flexibility usually bulge to some small degree, rather than break apart, at the point where peak stability is achieved. The NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement binder technology is equally impressive in low temperature performance. The Thermal Stress Restrained Specimen Test (TSRST) is a standard test for evaluating hot mix asphalt pavement binders. With a requirement of -26 Centigrade performance typical for most of the hot mix asphalt pavement binders used in northern cold climate states, NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement mixtures have performed effectively at temperatures as low as -40 Centigrade. (e) DURABLITY. NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement has proven wear resistance surface without the continuing generation of fine particle material from the full surface of the pavement installation and does not need ongoing or regular application of additional seal coat treatments in order to preserve the integrity of the pavement. 6. A DESCRIPTION OF EFFORTS MADE TO ENSURE THAT OFFERS ARE SOLICITED FROM AS MANY POTENTIAL SOURCES AS IS PRACTICABLE, INCLUDING WHETHER A NOTICE WAS OR WILL BE PUBLICIZED AS REQUIRED BY FAR SUBPART 5.2 AND, IF NOT, WHICH EXCEPTION UNDER FAR 5.202 APPLIES: No exception applies. Solicitation no. N9430100001 will be publicized at the Federal Business Opportunities website for 30 calendar days. Concurrently with the solicitation, the agency will post a "special notice" indicating the Government's specification of a brand name product as a requirement in the above referenced solicitation. This justification will be included in the special announcement. 7. A DETERMINATION BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER THAT THE ANTICIPATED COST TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE FAIR AND REASONABLE: The solicitation is a Request for Proposal, and all proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the Source Selection Plan. Price reasonableness will be determined by competitive proposals received compared to the Government estimate and to each other, following the procedures specified in the Source Selection Plan. 8. A DESCRIPTION OF THE MARKET RESEARCH CONDUCTED (SEE FAR PART 10) AND THE RESULTS OR A STATEMENT OF THE REASON MARKET RESEARCH WAS NOT CONDUCTED: FOVA did previously attempt to provide a non-intrusive trail surface (to both sub-surface archaeological resources and the cultural landscape) utilizing a decomposed granite mixture with oly tar. This mixture proved unacceptable and did not bond well, given the amount of foot traffic and water. FOVA later discovered NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement mix which worked well and held up under large amounts of traffic and moisture. The existing trails at FOVA are paved with NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement manufactured by Soil Stabilization Prodcuts Company, Inc. Other companies also make resin paving material. However, the Project Manager has determined through on-line research that no other company has been found capable of providing an exact equivalent product, meeting the performance and functional specifications of NaturalPAVE XL Resin Pavement. 9. ANY OTHER FACTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF A BRAND NAME PRODUCT: None. 10. A LISTING OF THE SOURCES, IF ANY, THAT EXPRESSED IN WRITING, AN INTEREST IN THE ACQUISITION: None. 11. A STATEMENT OF THE ACTIONS, IF ANY, THE AGENCY MAY TAKE TO REMOVE OR OVERCOME ANY BARRIERS TO COMPETITION BEFORE ANY SUBSEQUENT ACQUISITION FOR THE SUPPLIES OR SERVICES REQUIRED: By announcing the Government's requirement of a brand name product, barriers to competition are removed. In the event a company responds to the announcement they will be given consideration, but will be required to demonstratively prove that proposed products are substantially equivalent to the Government's requirement. In future, if any other product is found equivalent to the specified brand name product, the restriction of the brand name will be removed, and the requirement will be competed. 12. CERTIFICATION: I certify that any supporting data that is the responsibility of technical or requirements personnel (i.e. verifying the Government's minimum needs or schedule requirements or other rationale for justifying the use of a brand name product) and which form a basis for the justification have been certified as complete and accurate: I certify that the justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief: Signature: /s/ J. Alex Patterson Date: April 7, 2010Title: Facility Manager, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site Signature: /s/ Phaedra R Fuller Date: April 7, 2010Title: Contracting Officer, Olympic National Park Signature: Leo R. Guillory Date: /s/ April 7, 2010Title: Assistant Bureau Competition Advocate