Construction Liaison at Unified Business Technologies Inc – Mojave National Preserve, California

Description: Rehabilitate South Kelbaker and Kelso-Cima Roads (MOJA 310980/326192)This project will complete rehabilitation and safety improvements for portions of South Kelbaker and Kelso-Cima Roads. Work will address deferred maintenance and repair needs for both roads.
Rehabilitation and safety improvement requirements vary depending on the condition of roadway sections, including methods such as demolition of deteriorated road surface, widening to provide a minimum consistent width, repaving, construction of pullouts, restriping of roads, and installation of rumble strips, additional traffic signs, culverts, drainage structures, and features such as wildlife exclusion fencing for the protection of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) and other small animals.
Rehabilitated assets will provide improved traffic safety and an improved driving experience for visitors and members of the public traveling through the park. Work will reduce the number of vehicle accidents, especially incidents of severe injury and fatalities. The project will repair some of the most traveled roads in the park, serving an estimated 200,000 vehicles annually. Fencing or crossing features will help protect the desert tortoise, consistent with the park’s mission to protect and preserve the native species of the area.
The construction liaison will facilitate communication and cooperation between the National Park Service (NPS) and the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA)[BJ2] to ensure an open and effective working relationship throughout the construction period.
Some of the most essential tasks of the CL are direct observation of construction activities and reporting to ensure: the construction contractor is strictly following environmental mitigation requirements; appropriate NPS specialists are involved for urgent decisions; no work is being performed outside of the approved limits of work; and desert tortoise protections are being followed.
The CL is responsible for ensuring the FHWA construction management team is effectively coordinating construction activities with the Park's daily operations. All work performed on NPS projects shall be undertaken with the utmost care to ensure the respect and preservation of natural and cultural resources. All work shall proceed in a manner that will minimize disruption of on-going NPS operations including facility maintenance activities within the park as well as visitor use and enjoyment of MOJA.
Period of Performance:Anticipated time frame: April 2026 thru October 2027. Exact dates of performance have yet to be determined and are dependent upon start of construction activities. The duration of construction is anticipated to be approximately 18 months. Requirements:

Task 3.1— Safety

• Monitor construction activities to verify the work is being completed in a safe manner without danger to NPS staff - in accordance with the construction contractor’s safety plan, contract requirements, OSHA regulations, and heat injury and illness prevention standards.
• Notify the Contractor and COR immediately if an unsafe condition or situation is found to exist. Document unsafe conditions and situations in the daily inspection reports and discuss at the weekly progress meeting.
• Document and contact law enforcement to report any instances of speeding, vandalism, and resource damage observed and document any contacts in the daily inspection reports and discuss at the weekly progress meeting.
• Abide by all pertinent safety requirements and wear personal protective equipment at all times when on the construction site.

Task 3.2 — Project Documentation

• Review, comment on, and recommend acceptance or rejection of informational and material submittals as requested by the COR/PM and/or FHWA.
• Assist with draft Requests for Proposal (RFPs) that define work to be performed and cite relevant specification sections including appropriate sketches illustrating work to be performed.
• Assist in resolution, draft response, and follow up on Requests for Information (RFIs).
• Assist the COR/PM with reviewing proposed construction modifications and evaluating labor, materials, and equipment costs.
• Provide pertinent additional documentation if a Request for Equitable Adjustment (REA) has been submitted, if differing site conditions are encountered, or if a claim is developing.

Task 3.3— Project Schedule

• Review the Contractor’s schedule and verify sufficient time has been allocated to accomplish NPS environmental requirements, mitigations, and monitoring. Notify the COR if the baseline schedule changes at any point throughout the project and any schedule updates are not properly compared to the accepted baseline schedule.
• Review the 2-3 week look ahead schedule in collaboration with FHWA staff, noting any inaccuracies or potential problems, and ensure construction activities are being effectively coordinated with the Park's daily operations.

Task 3.4 — Meetings

• Pre-Construction Conference – A pre-construction conference will be scheduled between the construction contractor and the Government. The CL Firm shall have all necessary personnel present to effectively provide the tasks outlined in this scope of work. The CL shall prepare notes to identify any errors or omissions in the meeting minutes prepared by the FHWA and serve as supporting documentation should any conflicts arise between the contractor and the Government.
• The CL shall attend the weekly progress meetings between the construction contractor and the Government. The purpose of the weekly meeting is to update the project team on the work progress, address outstanding project issues, and coordinate upcoming work activities. The CL shall prepare notes, independent of the meeting minutes prepared by FHWA, for each weekly meeting. The CL notes shall be used to identify any errors or omissions in the meeting minutes and serve as supporting documentation should any conflicts arise between the construction contractor and the Government.
• The CL shall attend the construction contractor’s quality control meetings and verify the contractor’s Quality Control Plan is being executed properly. Assume one meeting per week.
• The CL shall arrange and conduct a variety of other meetings, as requested by the COR, at the park, or at the project site(s). The CL shall facilitate these meetings and shall prepare and distribute meeting agendas and minutes for all such meetings. Assume two meetings a month.
• The CL shall meet with FHWA construction management staff weekly to drive the construction site and discuss work progress and updates. Record discussions and observations in the daily report.

Deliverables:

• Agenda for other meetings as requested (due 24 hours prior to meeting).
• Minutes for other meetings as requested (due no later than two (2) workdays following meeting).

Task 3.5 — Inspection

• Observe daily construction activities, ensuring compliance with NPS requirements.
• Provide thorough photographic documentation of construction progress and problems. Give special attention to photographing items such as insufficient environmental protections, resource damage, or other instances of non-compliance with NPS requirements. Provide digital images in the daily reports.
• Conduct inspections or gather data at specific locations or during specific activities, at the request of the COR or park staff.

Task 3.6 — Reports

• Complete a Daily Report for each scheduled workday, whether work was performed or not. Review the Contractor’s Quality Control (QC) Daily Reports for accuracy and completeness and notify the COR of differences between the two reports.
• The CL shall prepare a Weekly Project Progress Report[BJ3] using information from the Daily Reports and photographic documentation referenced above. This report updates the COR and designated Park staff on weekly accomplishments, highlights issues that were identified and resolved, and flags any matters requiring escalation. It also includes the construction contractor’s two-week look-ahead forecast of planned construction activities and anticipated coordination needs with Park staff / operations. The CL shall deliver the report to the COR and Park staff point of contact by close of business each Friday.

Deliverables:

• Upload daily reports to project file management website or send to COR if no management software is used, no later than 10:00am the following workday or as agreed to by the COR.

Resumes should include the following:

• Name and title
• Education and/or professional qualifications
• Active professional registration or relevant certifications; year first registered, if applicable
• Years of experience, including field of expertise and discipline
• Other experience and qualifications relevant to the same or similar work described in the solicitation
• List of recent and relevant projects in which the individual has worked: to include name of project(s) and project location(s). Provide information regarding the project and the specific work performed. In addition, include project owner representative contact information.
• Prior experience working with Federal Government Project Managers / Contracting Officer’s Representatives on work described in the solicitation
• Prior experience with resource protection measures required by government agencies to avoid and minimize construction related adverse impacts to natural and cultural resources.
• Computer skills including use of spreadsheets, word processing, and email correspondence programs.