The Port of Bellingham (Port) is issuing this Request for Professional Services (RFPS) to solicit responses from consulting firms with suitable expertise and experience in providing design, permitting and bid document development services for a portable barge ramp for Bellingham Shipping Terminal (BST) to support the movement of cargo between the Port of Bellingham and Port of San Diego as part of the West Coast M-5 Coastal Connector Barge Service. The new barge ramp location is adjacent to Warehouse 2, located at 629 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham, Washington.   Contract documents are available on our website at https://www.portofbellingham.com/bids.aspx.

The deadline for RFPS submittals is 2:00 PM on October 8, 2024. One electronic copy, not to exceed 15 pages, including signed cover letter and attachments, shall be transmitted to: 

Brian Wilson 

Port of Bellingham 

PO Box 1677 

Bellingham, WA 98227-1677

BrianW@portofbellingham.com 

Interviews will be scheduled with the top respondents (minimum 2). The Port of Bellingham reserves the right to reject any and all responses submitted. The selected firm will be required to execute the Port of Bellingham’s Standard Agreement for Professional Services.

APPLICABLE LAWS, REGULATIONS AND COMPLIANCE: The selected firm will be required to comply with applicable provisions of the Part 200 – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards found at 2 CFR Part 200 (the “Uniform Grant Rules”). These rules are promulgated by the Office of Management and Budget (the “OMB”). Without limiting the foregoing, interested firms should review Part 200 – Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, Subpart D – Post Federal Award Requirements §§200.317, 318, 319 and 321. The selected consultant will be required to comply with the Uniform Grant Rules and reasonably cooperate with the Port in its compliance with the Uniform Grant Rules. The Port reserves the right to reject any subconsultants that are not in compliance with the Uniform Grant Rules.  

The Port encourages minority businesses, women’s business enterprises, labor surplus area firms, and veteran-owned firms to apply or to team with another firm. 

The selected consultant will be required to take affirmative steps to; the extent sub consultants are used; recruit minority businesses (MBE), women’s business enterprises (WBE), and labor surplus area firms as the terms are defined in the Uniform Grant Rules. 

It is the Port’s policy to assure that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, or sex, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise discriminated against under any of its programs and activities. 

The Port of Bellingham, in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d to 2000d-4) and the Regulations, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full and fair opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award. 

The Port of Bellingham in accordance with Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) and the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), commits to non-discrimination on the basis of disability, in all of its programs and activities. 

SCOPE OF WORK: The selected firm will provide support with the following:

•    Develop comprehensive plans and technical specifications for an approximate 20-foot-wide by 70-foot-long steel ramp. Design stages to include 30%, 60%, and 90% reviews and a final 100% set that is suitable for a public works bid.

•    Develop a comprehensive, quality management plan including all testing, inspection, and documentation necessary to control and independently assure performance of Work is in strict compliance with all applicable standards, specifications, and design requirements.

•    If necessary, survey work can be added to the work.

•    Coordination and compliance with all local, state, and federal regulatory agencies as required by law to design, bid, construct, and deliver the portable barge ramp.

•    Provide grant administration and documentation support.

•    Prepare technical, operational and environmental reports and /or manuals.

•    Obtaining all necessary permits for the design, bid, construction and delivery of the portable barge ramp to its designated location.

•    Provide a detailed engineers estimate with a proposed construction schedule. 

In a subsequent phase of work, the selected firm may be called upon for assistance with bid support including submittal review and approval, pre-construction services, submittal review and approval, construction inspection, administration and post construction services.

This project is funded in part by a U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) Marine Administration (MARAD) grant agreement under the fiscal year 2023 United States Marine Highway Program (USMHP). 

The U.S. Maritime Administration has concluded that the barge ramp has no significant effect on the human and natural environment, individually or cumulatively, under normal conditions, and is categorically excluded from further documentation requirements under the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) by Maritime Administrative Order 600-1 Categorical Exclusion #4. If additional environmental permitting is required, the Consultant may also need those efforts. 

DEBARMENT AND SUSPENSION: By submitting a response to this solicitation, Consultant certifies that neither it nor its principals are presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, or declared ineligible or voluntarily excluded from participation in this transaction by any Federal department or agency. It further agrees by submitting a response to this solicitation that it will include this clause without modification in all lower tier transactions, solicitations, proposals, agreements, contracts, and subcontracts.  Where the offeror/consultant or any lower tier participant is unable to certify to this statement it shall attach an explanation to its response to this solicitation. The Port reserves the right to require Consultant to replace a sub-consultant or lower tier participant who cannot meet the foregoing certification requirements. 

PROJECT PURPOSE: The portable landside barge ramp will facilitate handling of cargo and movement of freight along the West Coast M-5 Connector. It will also improve connectivity, and support the movement of cargo by allowing documented vessels to develop, expand, or promote the use of the nation’s navigable waters to relieve landside congestion, reduce air emissions, and generate other public benefits by increasing the efficiency of the surface transportation system. 

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE: The consultant performing the work shall have exceptional knowledge and demonstrated experience with the following:

•    Maritime Administration (MARAD) / US Department of Transportation (USDOT) grant management.

•    Civil, structural, marine, and transportation engineering.

•    Geotechnical exploration and analysis.

•    Hydrology & hydraulics.

•    Permitting of similar projects at the local, state, and federal levels.

•    Construction planning, scheduling and phasing at an active shipping terminal.

•    City of Bellingham Development Guidelines and Improvement Standards, and the Bellingham Municipal Code.

•    City of Bellingham and Department of Ecology standards for storm water management, per the most recently adopted version of the SWMMWW.

•    Construction administration and management in compliance with USDOT/MARAD grant funding.