Pennsylvania Code & Bulletin
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

• No statutes or acts will be found at this website.

The Pennsylvania Bulletin website includes the following: Rulemakings by State agencies; Proposed Rulemakings by State agencies; State agency notices; the Governor’s Proclamations and Executive Orders; Actions by the General Assembly; and Statewide and local court rules.

PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 04-852

NOTICES

Retention of an Archaeological Consulting Firm; Project Reference FDC-500-578

[34 Pa.B. 2579]

   The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Department) will retain an archaeological consultant to conduct Phase 1--3 surveys at various State parks and forests in this Commonwealth. This consultant's area of responsibility shall include projects throughout the entire Commonwealth. Bureau of Facility Design and Construction (Bureau) personnel will identify the sites to be surveyed.

   The services shall include the required archaeological surveys and subsequent reports for each project. These surveys and reports are for support of the Bureau's construction program. It is important that, upon assignment of a specific site, the selected firm must be capable of completing the surveys and reports in a timely and expedient manner. The selected firm may be required to complete surveys on multiple sites concurrently and complete and submit reports to the Bureau in a format acceptable to the Historical and Museum Commission (Commission). The contract shall be based on the hours of service and qualifying expenses not exceeding the contract amount. Reports will be mailed to the Commission. The Bureau will receive a duplicate copy of the report. The survey reports will be reviewed by Bureau personnel and, when acceptable, approved by the Bureau. The Bureau will obtain other agency approvals necessary.

   Interested professionals and firms must be listed in the most recent edition of Archaeological Consultants as maintained by the Commission. Personnel involved in providing these services shall have at least the minimum educational and professional experience requirements as defined by the Commission in Appendix B of A Comprehensive State Plan for the Conservation of Archaeological Resources, Volume I; PHMC; 1985.

   The Commonwealth strongly encourages the submission of proposals by Socially and Economically Restricted Businesses (SERB).

Information Concerning SERBs

   SERBs are small businesses whose economic growth and development have been restricted based on social and economic bias. Small businesses are Bureau of Minority and Women Business Opportunities (BMWBO)-certified minority and women-owned businesses, other disadvantaged businesses and businesses whose development has been impeded because their primary or headquarters facilities are physically located in areas designated by the Commonwealth as being designated enterprise zones. A small business will not be considered socially/economically restricted if it has gross annual revenues of $8 million ($18 million for businesses in the information technology sales or services business) or more, is dominant in its field of operation or employs more than 100 persons.

   A company and its affiliates have achieved success and are graduated from this State-sponsored program when its gross annual revenues are $8 million ($18 million for businesses in the information technology sales or service business) or more. Other small business in which an owner of the graduated firm has a financial interest or control over, either directly or through family members, will not qualify for SERB status. Control is defined as the power, whether or not exercised, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a firm, whether through the ownership of voting shares, by contract or otherwise or through the making of day-to-day as well as major decisions in matters of policy, management and operations. A determination of control shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following factors: capital investment and all other financial, property, acquisition, contract negotiation and legal matters; officer-director-employee selection and comprehensive hiring, operating responsibility, cost-control matters and income and dividend matters; financial transactions; and rights of other shareholders or joint partners.

   Contractors and others seeking to identify businesses for joint venture and subcontracting opportunities are encouraged to contact the Department of General Services, Bureau of Minority and Women Business Opportunities, Room 502, North Office Building, Harrisburg, PA 17125, (717) 787-7380, www.dgsapp.state.pa.us/cabd/mwbdata.asp.

SERB Information

   To receive credit for being a SERB, entering into a joint venture agreement with a SERB or subcontracting to a SERB (including purchasing supplies or services through a purchase agreement), a company must include proof of SERB qualification in the SERB portion of the proposal:

   1.  SERBs qualifying as a result of MBE/WBE certification from the BMWBO must provide their BMWBO certification number or a photocopy of their BMWBO certificate.

   2.  SERBs qualifying as a result of having their headquarters located in a designated enterprise zone must provide proof of this status, including proof of the location of their headquarters (such as a lease or deed) and confirmation of the enterprise zone in which they are located (obtained from their local enterprise zone office). More information on the locations of enterprise zones can be obtained by calling the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), (717) 720-7409, fax (717) 787-4088, akartorie@state.pa.us.

   3.  SERBs qualifying as disadvantaged businesses certified by the Small Business Administration must submit proof of Small Business Administration certification.

   4. Companies claiming SERB status, whether as a result of BMWBO certification, Small Business Administration certification as a disadvantaged business or the location of their headquarters in an enterprise zone, must submit proof that their gross annual revenues are less than $8 million ($18 million for businesses in the information technology sales or services business). This can be accomplished by including a recent tax or audited financial statement.

   In addition to these verifications, the SERB portion of the proposal should include the following information:

   1.  The name and telephone number of the project contact person for the SERB.

   2.  The company name, address and telephone number of the prime contact person for each specific SERB business included in the proposal. The SERB businesses to which commitments are made must be specified. Credit will not be received by stating a SERB will be found after the contract is awarded or by listing several companies and stating one will be selected later.

   3.  The specific work, goods or services the SERB will perform or provide.

   4.  The location where the SERB will perform these services.

   5.  The timeframe for the SERB to provide or deliver the goods or services.

   6.  The amount of capital, if any, the SERB will be expected to provide.

   7.  The form and amount of compensation each SERB will receive. In the SERB Information portion of the proposal, provide the estimated dollar value of the contract to each SERB.

   8.  The percent of the total value of services or products purchased/subcontracted under the proposal that will be provided by the SERB.

   9.  In the case of a joint venture agreement, a copy of the agreement, signed by all parties, must be included in the SERB portion of the proposal. If subcontracting, a signed subcontract or letter of intent must be included in the SERB portion of the proposal.

   The SERB portion of the proposal must be identified as SERB information and bound and sealed separately from the remainder of the proposal. Only one copy of the SERB section is needed.

   The dollar value ratio designated for SERB commitment should be placed in a separate sealed envelope and stapled to the SERB section of the proposal or included in the bound and sealed envelope.

   The selected contractor's SERB commitment amount, name of the SERB and services to be provided including timeframe for performing services will be included as a contractual obligation when the contract is executed.

SERB Participation

   The following options will be considered as part of the final criteria for selection:

   Priority Rank 1--Proposals submitted by SERBs.

   Priority Rank 2--Proposals submitted from a joint venture with a Commonwealth-approved SERB as a joint venture partner.

   Priority Rank 3--Proposals submitted with subcontracting commitments to SERBs.

   A proposal will be rated for its approach to enhancing the utilization of SERBs. Each approach will be evaluated, with option number one receiving the greatest value and the succeeding options receiving values in accordance with the previously listed priority ranking.

SERB Contract Requirements

   Contracts containing SERB participation must also include a provision requiring the contractor to meet and maintain those commitments made to SERBs at the time of proposal submittal or contract negotiation, unless a change in the commitment is approved by the contracting Commonwealth agency upon recommendation by the BMWBO. Contracts containing SERB participation must include a provision requiring SERB contractors and SERBs in a joint venture to incur at least 50% of the cost of the subcontract or SERB portion of the joint venture, not including materials.

   Commitments to SERBs made at the time of proposal submittal or contract negotiation must be maintained throughout the term of the contract. A proposed change must be submitted to the BMWBO, which will make a recommendation as to a course of action to the contracting officer.

   If a contract is assigned to another contractor, the new contractor must maintain the SERB participation of the original contract.

   The contractor shall complete the Prime Contractor's Quarterly Utilization Report (or similar type document containing the same information) and submit it to the contracting officer of the agency that awarded the contract and the BMWBO within 10 workdays at the end of each quarter the contract is in force. If there was no activity, the form must also be completed, stating ''No activity in this quarter.'' This information will be used to determine the actual dollar amount paid to SERB subcontractors, suppliers and joint ventures. Also, it is a record of fulfillment of the commitment the firm made and for which it received SERB points.

   Note: Equal employment opportunity and contract compliance statements referring to company equal employment opportunity policies or past contract compliance practices do not constitute proof of SERB status or entitle a proposer to receive credit for SERB utilization.

General Requirements and Information

   Firms interested in performing the required services for this project are invited to submit letters of interest to Eugene J. Comoss, P. E., Director, Bureau of Facility Design and Construction, RCSOB, 8th Floor, 400 Market Street, P. O. Box 8451, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8451. Contact Marcus Snyder at (717) 787-9290 for general information concerning the archaeological work.

   Letters of interest must include the firm's Federal identification number and the project reference number. Letters of interest shall also include a description of the firm's three most recently completed archaeological surveys similar to the work being proposed. The description shall include the client, contact person and phone number and the estimated or actual cost of the portion of the work which the firm completed, the project manager and the names of all personnel who made major contributions to the project.

   A standard Department of General Services Form 150-ASP must accompany the letter of interest and shall indicate the individual in charge. The Form 150-ASP is available by downloading from the Department of General Services' website: www.dgs.state.pa.us. Form 150-ASP may also be obtained in hard copy or on disk in Word '97 format only by contacting the Selections Committee, Department of General Services, Room 104, 18th and Herr Streets, Harrisburg, PA 17125, pbianchi@exec.gsinc. state.pa.us. Additional information pertinent to the firm's qualifications to do the work of this contract may be included.

General Requirements

   Direct costs other than payroll, such as travel and subsistence, shall be based on the current State rates. Miscellaneous expenses such as copies, prints, sepias, postage and film shall be reimbursed at cost upon approval by the Department.

   The following factors will be considered during the evaluation of the firm's letter of interest:

   Criteria evaluated by the technical review will include:

   1.  Professional's understanding of the problem as demonstrated in the letter of interest, and as stated in the interpretation of the tasks to be performed.

   2.  Qualifications of the firm.

   3.  Professional personnel in the firm.

   4.  Soundness of approach as demonstrated in the letter of interest, and as stated in the interpretation of the tasks to be performed.

   5.  Available manpower to perform the services required.

   6.  SERB participation. (Evaluated by the Department of General Services.)

   7.  Equitable distribution of the contracts.

   Proposers shall relate their proposals to the previous criteria.

   One copy of the SERB section bound and sealed separately from the remainder of the proposal and six copies of the complete set consisting of the letter of interest and the required forms must be received by 4 p.m. on June 18, 2004. Six copies shall be submitted in six complete sets that shall be spiral bound or in folders or secured by binder clips. The assignment and services will be made to one of the firms responding to this notice. However, the Department reserves the right to reject all letters of interest submitted, cancel the solicitation requested under this notice and/or readvertise solicitation for this service.

   The Department will not offer a debriefing session to the unsuccessful firms. The Department disclaims any liability whatsoever to its review of the proposals submitted and in formulating a recommendation for selections. Recommendations made by the Department shall be final.

MICHAEL F. DIBERARDINIS,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 04-852. Filed for public inspection May 14, 2004, 9:00 a.m.]



No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit.

This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Bulletin full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.