SEARCH Contracting
SEARCH is a woman-owned small business enterprise. We are certified as an 8(a) small disadvantaged business by the U.S. Small Business Administration, as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) by the FDOT, and as a Minority Business Enterprise by the State of Florida and various other government agencies. SEARCH has conducted over 1300 projects and has infrastructure in place to ensure the efficient management of all types of contracts, including multi-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts, teaming agreements, and small-scale individual projects. IDIQ & General Service ContractsWhile SEARCH is regularly awarded large IDIQ contracts based on qualifications, these contracts are renewed or extended based on our rapid response, cost controls, quality work, and schedule maintenance. Our high level of service has resulted in our firm being awarded and reawarded 19 IDIQ and multi-year general service contracts with: • Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic Division (NAVFAC LANT)• Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast Division (NAVFAC SE)• Naval Facilities Engineering Command, MidAtlantic Division (NAVFAC MIDLANT)• Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Pacific Division (NAVFAC PAC)• Florida Army National Guard• Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) FDOT District 1* (Southwest Florida) FDOT District 2 (Northeast Florida) FDOT District 3 (Northwest Florida) FDOT District 4 (Southeast Florida) FDOT District 5* (Central Florida)• Progress Energy Levy County Baseload Transmission System• Florida Gas Transmission Company (FGT) FGT Phase IV Expansion FGT Phase V Expansion FGT Phase VI Expansion FGT Phase VII Expansion• South Florida Water Management District/Accelr8 Everglades Restoration Reconnaissance and Training Services Comprehensive and Phase I Survey Services• USACE Mobile District* *as part of environmental engineering teamSEARCH also holds multi-year general service contracts with various public utilities, and County and City governments to provide as-needed cultural resource services. Individual Project Contracts For individual projects, SEARCH performs as a prime contractor and as a subcontractor for the nation’s leading: • Architect/Engineering firms • Environmental engineering firms • Transportation engineering firms • Coastal engineering firms • Global engineering and construction companies • Real estate development companies • International development companies • Energy companies • Mining companies • Cultural Resource Management (CRM) firmsSEARCH has been selected to conduct individual projects for Federal, State, County, and City governmental agencies, including, but not limited to: • USACE Jacksonville District • USACE Galveston District • USACE Huntsville Support Center • USACE Mobile District • U.S. Air Force • U.S. Forest Service • U.S. Marine Corps • U.S. Virgin Islands • Florida Department of Military Affairs • Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission • University of Florida • State of Delaware • Alachua County, Florida • Charlotte County, Florida • Hillsborough County, Florida • Lake County, Florida • Pinellas County, Florida • Volusia County, Florida • West Palm Beach, Florida • City of Edgewater, Florida • City of New Smyrna Beach, Florida • City of Port Orange, Florida • City of St. Petersburg, Florida • City of Tarpon Springs, Florida • Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) • South Florida Water Management District • St. Leo University • Town of Micanopy, Florida SBA 8(a) Small Disadvantaged Business ContractsSEARCH is certified as an 8(a) U.S. Small Disadvantaged Business with the Small Business Administration. This allows federal agencies to offer sole source contracts (either individual task orders or IDIQs) directly to SEARCH rather than going through the competitive bid process. An 8(a) contract can take a few days to a few weeks to set up. There are two ways to contract with an 8(a) firm:1. Sole Source Directly to SEARCH. A federal agency can identify work especially suited for an 8(a) firm and can set aside the project without advertising. In this case, the Project Manager identifies a statement of work, prepares a government estimate, and earmarks funds. The agency then chooses SEARCH to do the work. An authorization to negotiate is obtained from the SBA by filling out a Small Business Coordination Record form. The SBA office or Contract Office completes the form (DOD agencies use DD Form 2579.) The prepared contract documents must include the statement “Request procurement be made pursuant to Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act 15 U.S.C. 637(a) and in accordance with FAR 19.8.” Once the procurement request has been made, the SB Deputy or Contract Officer prepares an offer letter or a proposed project form (FAR 19.804-2). After the offer is received and processed by the SBA (SEARCH’s SBA office is in Jacksonville, FL), the process returns to the Contracting Officer who submits the Scope of Work and Request for Quotation to SEARCH. SEARCH then submits our proposal and the package is evaluated and negotiated by the agency. The contract is then awarded. 2. Sole-Source IDIQ. An agency can sole source a Professional Services IDIQ to an 8(a) if they find an 8(a) company they would like to use on a regular basis. Preparation of the IDIQ is very cost-effective for the agency since it minimizes the time to contract individual task orders and it is not as costly or time-consuming as a competitive IDIQ.The IDIQ can be awarded according to a process similar to the sole-source process described above. The IDIQ limit is currently $3.5 million. Maritime Services Contracts The SEARCH Maritime Division has the capability to operate as a stand-alone division and we are commonly included on project teams by coastal engineering firms, energy companies, government agencies, and other cultural resource management firms. The SEARCH Maritime Division provides the full range of underwater archaeology services around the world, and we are recognized as the premiere underwater archaeology provider in the United States. Our staff meets or exceeds the USACE requirements for Contract Diving Operations (Section 30, EM 385-1-1) and we have the capacity to respond to multiple maritime requests. SEARCH has in place all of the insurance requirements to conduct maritime work anywhere in the world. Contract Administration SEARCH’s commitment to contract administration ensures the seamless delivery of our services. SEARCH has undergone audits of our accounting practices and billing rates, including two Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) audits, and our rates and accounting practices have consistently met with State and Federal approval. In addition to our State and Federal contracts, SEARCH is an approved vendor with the nation’s leading engineering, construction, and energy firms. Our clients benefit from SEARCH’s: • 2 full-time bookkeepers • 1 accounting consultant• 1 accounting firm• Contract Manager for contract administration• Risk Manager who coordinates with Accounting
staff to ensure insurance compliance • Deltek accounting software compliant with
State and Federal requirements• Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) approval
of rates and practices Insurance Assurance SEARCH retains the services of a Risk Manager, and currently holds insurance policies to cover: • Defense Base Act • General Liability • Jones Act • Professional Liability • US Longshoremen and Harbor Workers’ • Worker’s Comprehensive Insurance International Liability
Our Jones Act and US Longshoremen and Harbor Workers polices cover any work that is conducted in, on, or around navigable waters. SEARCH has earned the approval of A-rated insurers for the protection of our staff, our firm, and our clients.
|
|