Yellow-billed Cuckoo Monitoring
Added: Mar 23, 2018 5:23 pm This is a Sources Sought announcement for acquisition planning purposes. No formal solicitation for this work exists at this time. All eligible and qualified contractors may submit capability statements for consideration. Capability statements received will be reviewed to determine the quantity and availability of contractors who have the experience, technical level of expertise, administrative and management capability to perform the effort described below. The capability statements received will be used to determine The Bureau of Reclamation's (Reclamation) overall procurement strategy. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has been conducting surveys for the presence of yellow-billed cuckoos along the lower Colorado River (LCR) since 1998. Based on censuses conducted from 1975 to 1979, Rosenberg et al. (1991) estimated 242 yellow-billed cuckoos (YBCU) along the LCR with an additional 208 at the Bill Williams Delta. By 1986, the estimate for the LCR had declined to 18 YBCU and 50-60 at the Bill Williams Delta (Rosenberg et al. 1991). Other reports describe population changes following surveys conducted annually since 2008 (Halterman et al. 2009, Johnson et al. 2007, McNeil et al. 2010, 2011, 2012). In 2016, there were no detections of YBCU on the Bill Williams River, and the majority of YBCU on the LCR are located in LCR MSCP restoration sites (Parametrix and Southern Sierra Research Station 2015, 2016a, 2016b). The major factor for the decline of yellow-billed cuckoos along the LCR has been habitat loss within riparian systems (Gaines and Laymon 1984, Rosenberg 1991). The YBCU was listed as teatened under the Endangered Species Act on 3 November 2014 (Federal Register /Vol. 79, No. 192 / Friday, October 3, 2014 /Rules and Regulations). The Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Plan (LCR MSCP), signed in April 2005, was developed for long-term endangered species compliance in association with management of LCR water resources. The LCR MSCP's conservation measures call for continued YBCU surveys and research to better identify and evaluate this species and its habitat. Reclamation is procuring services to conduct field surveys for yellow-billed cuckoos on LCR MSCP Conservation Areas along the Lower Colorado River and Bill Williams River. The Contract Period of Performance is from January 1, 2019 to April 15, 2023. The period from January to June 14 each year allows for hiring, equipment, housing procurement, and training for the subsequent field work, which begins on June 15. The final year of the contract shall be dedicated to preparation of a Year 5 Summary Report. All services are to be conducted in accordance with the LCR MSCP¿s Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) (LCR MSCP 2004a); the associated biological opinion (File Number: 02-21-04-F-0161) (USFWS 2005a) and Section10(a)(1)(a) permit (TE-086834-0) (USFWS 2005b); and the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (LCR MSCP 2004b). The LCR MSCP is a multi-stakeholder federal and non-federal partnership responding to the need to balance the use of the Lower Colorado River (LCR) water resources and the conservation of native species and their habitats in compliance with the Endangered Species Act. The LCR MSCP is a 50 year plan to conserve at least 26 species along the LCR from Lake Mead to the Southerly International Boundary with Mexico tough the implementation of a Habitat Conservation Plan (LCR MSCP 2004a). Reclamation is seeking firms having extensive biological monitoring services to inventory yellow-billed cuckoos within LCR MSCP project areas to determine presence and breeding status. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for this acquisition is 541620 Environmental Consulting Services. The small business size standard for NAICS Code 541620 is $15 million. If an offeror feels that there is a more suitable NAICS Code classification for this item, please indicate when submitting your capability package. Interested contractor's may submit capability packages that include the following information: (1) Firm¿s name, address, telephone and fax numbers, business size and type (8)(a), HUB Zone, Service Disabled Veteran, Small Business, Large Business, etc.), and point of contact to include e-mail address and telephone number; (2) Demonstration of the firm's previous experience (as a prime contractor or a subcontractor) performing avian monitoring in the southwest. Contractors should submit a list of past projects that were similar in scope and complexity to the requirement referenced in this announcement. Offeror shall provide the project title, location, and detailed descriptions of the effort and how it was similar, the project's dollar value, contract award number, completion dates, and the customer's name and telephone number (3) Capability statements are to be submitted not later than 12:00 P.M. Local Time on April 6, 2018 . All responses to this Sources Sought notice shall be provided to Bureau of Reclamation, LCR to the attention of Kathy Berry, Contract Specialist -via e-mail kberry@usbr.gov. Call Kathy Berry at 702-293-8460 if you have any questions. When it is determined that a formal solicitation will be issued, a pre-solicitation notice will be posted on Federal Business Opportunities web site at http://www.fedbizopps.
140R3018R0023 Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation
3/23/18, 5:23 PM Yellow-billed Cuckoo Monitoring
(i) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested. (ii) A request for proposal (RFP No. 140R3018R0023) is being issued subsequent to this combined solicitation/synopsis. The RFP and all associated documents may be found by going to the following website: https://www.fedconnect.net/, then clicking on "Search Public Opportunities Only", and then searching by "Reference Number" 140R3018R0023. (iii) This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect tough Federal Acquisition Circular number 2005-100. (iv) This requirement is unrestricted. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for this acquisition is: 541620 - Environmental Consulting Services. The small business size standard for NAICS Code 541620 is $15.0 million. (v) Line item 0010 - Yellow-Billed Cuckoo Monitoring, in accordance with Attachment 1 - Performance Work Statement. The Performance Work Statement provides more detailed information about the requirement and is attached to the RFP at FedConnect.net (public opportunity reference number 140R3018R0023). Optional Line Item, Line item 0011 - Yellow-Billed Cuckoo Monitoring, in accordance with Attachment 1 - Performance Work Statement. The Performance Work Statement provides more detailed information about the requirement and is attached to the RFP at FedConnect.net (public opportunity reference number 140R3018R0023). Option Year 1 Optional Line Item, Line item 0012 - Yellow-Billed Cuckoo Monitoring, in accordance with Attachment 1 - Performance Work Statement. The Performance Work Statement provides more detailed information about the requirement and is attached to the RFP at FedConnect.net (public opportunity reference number 140R3018R0023). Option Year 2 Optional Line Item, Line item 0013 - Yellow-Billed Cuckoo Monitoring, in accordance with Attachment 1 - Performance Work Statement. The Performance Work Statement provides more detailed information about the requirement and is attached to the RFP at FedConnect.net (public opportunity reference number 140R3018R0023). Option Year 3 Optional Line Item, Line item 0014 - Yellow-Billed Cuckoo Monitoring, in accordance with Attachment 1 - Performance Work Statement. The Performance Work Statement provides more detailed information about the requirement and is attached to the RFP at FedConnect.net (public opportunity reference number 140R3018R0023). Option Year 4 Note: Offerors shall furnish pricing for the base year and the options in Section B of the solicitation package. (vi) The Bureau of Reclamation has a requirement for services to conduct field surveys for yellow-billed cuckoos on the lower Colorado River (LCR) Multi-Species Conservation Plan (MSCP) Conservation Area along the Lower Colorado River and Bill Williams River. The Contractor shall study and document the presence/absence of the Yellow-Billed Cuckoo along the LCR as outlined in Attachment 1 - Performance Work Statement. Reclamation anticipates awarding one firm-fixed price contract as a result of this RFP with a base year and four option years. (vii) The performance will begin on or about January 1, 2019 and will run for a 12-month performance period. There will be four (4) Option provisions included that if exercised tee (3) will also run for a 12- month performance period and the fourth will run for 4 A months. THE FOLLOWING CLAUSES, PROVISIONS, AND ADDENDUMS ARE APPLICABLE TO THIS COMMERCIAL ITEM ACQUISITION: (viii) FAR provision 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items is applicable to this RFP. The following addendum is also applicable to this RFP. In addition to the requirements of the Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items provision of this solicitation, each offeror shall submit a proposal in accordance with the instructions contained in 1452.215-81, General Proposal Instructions-Bureau of Reclamation, 1452.215-82, Technical Proposal Instructions-Bureau of Reclamation and 1452.215-83, Pricing Proposal Instructions. E.3 52.212-2 EVALUATION - COMMERCIAL ITEMS OCTOBER 2014 (a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The evaluation factors for this solicitation are listed below in descending order of importance. The past performance sub factors are equal in importance. Technical merit carries more weight in the award evaluation process than price. The following four (4) evaluation factors shall be used to evaluate offers: 1. Technical Approach 2. Experience 3. Past Performance (timely delivery, quality/customer satisfaction, adherence to socio-economic goals on previous contracts) 4. Price (all proposed prices will be reviewed for price reasonableness and any instances of unbalanced pricing) Basis for award will be best-value "trade-off." (b) Options. The Government will evaluate proposals for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that a proposal is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s). (c) A written notice of award or acceptance of a proposal, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the proposal, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the vendor's specified expiration time, the Government may accept a proposal (or part of the proposal), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award. Technical Evaluation Criteria: Factor 1 - Technical Approach: Proposal Submission Requirements: The offeror's proposal shall include a detailed description of their technical approach for achieving the tasks and objectives in the PWS. The technical proposal must clearly reflect that the offeror has the expertise, available resources and equipment required to successfully perform the tasks described in the PWS. At a minimum, the offeror shall address the following elements in their technical approach: - Preparation and implementation of yellow-billed cuckoo surveys - Logistical planning for all aspects of the project Ex.) crew size, housing, transportation needs, equipment, supplies Preparation and training of the field crew - Correct recording and evaluation of data - Estimation of breeding status (POS, PRB, COB) from survey data - Methods to minimize disturbance to cuckoos while conducting field activities - Understanding and implementation of data management requirements Data collection Naming convention Metadata QA/QC Field work Data storage and backup Analysis - Reporting Use of writer guidelines and report template Editing procedures to minimize grammatical, formatting, technical, and spelling errors Scheduling of deliverables to ensure timely delivery - Preparation and implementation of capture and banding activities at LCR MSCP conservation areas. Purpose and need for capture and banding (based on specified number of captures in PWS.) Training of banders Ability to acquire needed permits Use of protocols to ensure that birds are captured and banded safely without causing harm to any birds - Safety for all staff during all activities Technical Approach Evaluation Criteria: This factor is used to determine the feasibility of the offeror's technical approach to see if it is technically sound (uses proven, successful methods) and if the methods are practical for achieving the goals and objectives outlined in the Performance Work Statement (PWS). Factor 2 - Experience: Proposal Submission Requirements: Offeror's shall specifically address their experience, field knowledge and expertise in performing yellow-billed cuckoo monitoring services similar in scope and magnitude to the tasks described in the PWS. Offeror shall specifically address under this factor, their experience with data collection and management on the projects they performed on. Offerors shall indicate whether they performed the work they describe as a prime contractor or a subcontractor to another firm. All examples of experience provided to show similar and/or relevant projects shall at a minimum include: name of the project; description of the work that addressed the below rating factors; contract number; contract period of performance; name and address of the client; and name(s), emails, and telephone number(s) of references from the client who may be contacted for further information. Experience Evaluation Criteria: Under this factor, an offeror's technical proposal should clearly demonstrate field knowledge, and expertise in performing work similar in scope and magnitude to the tasks described in the PWS. Offerors are to demonstrate experience conducting at least one (1) or more yellow-billed cuckoo monitoring projects during the past five (5) years where the work performed was similar in scope to the PWS. Factor 3: Past Performance: Under Past Performance, the Government will evaluate if previous relevant work was completed on time, within budget and to the satisfaction of the customer (additionally, large businesses will be evaluated for adherence to meeting subcontracting goals). When submitting Past Performance information on similar projects performed on and/or on Lower Colorado River projects, at a minimum, the offeror must provide the following information for each project in order for the project to be evaluated: name of the project; description of the work; contract period of performance; contract number; name and address of the client; initial contract amount and final contract amount; any problems encountered in performance of the work and corrective action(s) taken; name(s), emails, and telephone number(s) of references from the client who may be contacted for further information. NOTE: An offeror without relevant past performance, or for whom information on past performance is not available; a Neutral rating will be assigned. Offerors are encouraged to submit past performance information on projects where they performed work as subcontractors or as part of a team or joint-venture as well as on work where they performed as the prime contractor. Also, if you intend to use a partner arrangement and / or a subcontractor to perform on this work, past performance information should be submitted for them as well. Offerors shall specifically identify in their proposal any past performance shown that is attributed to current or to prospective employees and or subcontractors.) The offeror shall submit a Past Performance Questionnaire (PPQ), for each past performance project. Offerors are strongly encouraged to inform previous clients of the importance of the questionnaires as it is a determining factor in rating the proposal. It is the offeror's responsibility to ensure that Kathy Berry receives via email (kberry@usbr.gov) the requested questionnaires by the time and date specified in the solicitation for the receipt of proposals. If an offeror intends on utilizing subcontractors to perform any of the work beyond supplying materials, PPQs shall be submitted on behalf of each proposed subcontractor. The Government may also use past performance information obtained from other than the sources identified by the offeror. Information obtained from the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS) located at http//www.ppirs.gov is one of the sources that will be utilized. PPIRS functions as the central warehouse for performance assessment reports received from several Federal performance information collection systems and is sponsored by the DOD E-Business Office and administered by the Naval Sea Logistics Center Detachment Portsmouth. The Government will also use information obtained from The Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) http://www.fai.gov/FAPIIS/trailer/module.htm will be utilized as well. Past Performance Evaluation Criteria: The Government will evaluate the offeror's Past Performance information for currency, relevancy, source of the information, context of the data, and general trends in the contractor's performance to determine the Government's confidence in the likelihood of the offeror successfully completing the contract requirements. Factor 4: Price (a) For award consideration purposes, the Government will calculate a Total Evaluated Price (TEP). The TEP is the sum of the total proposed prices listed on Schedules 1 tough 5. This is the same price as that reflected on the "Total for All Schedules (Total Evaluated Price)" line in the table on page B-5 of this solicitation. All proposed prices will be evaluated for price reasonableness and balanced pricing in accordance with FAR 14.404-1. (b) Options. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s). (c) A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer's specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award. (End of Provision) (x) FAR provision 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items Offerors are advised include with their offer, a completed copy of the provision 52.212-3, or indicate completion of the provision online. Offerors may complete the annual representations and certifications online at https://www.sam.gov/. (xi) FAR clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items. (xii) FAR clause 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items. The following additional FAR clauses cited in this clause are applicable to the acquisition: 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government (Sept 2006), with Alternate I 52.204-10, Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Award 52.204-14, Service Contract Reporting Requirements 52.209-9, Updates of Publicly Available Information Regarding Responsibility Matters 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns 52.219-9, Small Business Subcontracting Plan 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program Representation 52.222-3, Convict Labor 52.222-19, Child Labor-Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans 52.222-40, Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons 52.222-54, Employment Eligibility Verification 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging while Driving 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-System for Award Management 52.242-5, Payments to Small Business Subcontractors 52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards (xiii) Additional contract requirements include the following clauses and provisions: Provisions - - Addendum to 52.212-1, Instructions to Offeror - Commercial Items - 52.252-1, Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference - 52.204-7, System for Award Management -52.204-16, Commercial and Government Entity Code Reporting - 52.217-5, Evaluation of Options - 52.215-20, Requirements for Certified Cost or Pricing Data or Data Other than Cost or Pricing Data - 52.252-6, Authorized Deviation in Clauses - 1452.215-71, Use and Disclosure of Proposal Information Department of Interior - 1452.211-80, Notice of Intent to Acquire Metric Products and Services - Bureau of Reclamation - 1452.215-81, General Proposal Instructions Bureau of Reclamation - 1452.215-82, Technical Proposal Instructions Bureau of Reclamation - 1452.215-83, Price Proposal Instructions Bureau of Reclamation - Addendum to 52.212-2, Evaluation Commercial Items - 1452.225-82, Notice of World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement Evaluations Bureau of Reclamation - Addendum to 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Items - 52.252-1, Provisions Incorporated by Reference - 52-209, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations Representations - 52.203-18, Prohibition on Contracting with Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentially Agreements Representations - 52.209-7, Information Regarding Responsibility Matters - 52.209-11, Representation by Corporations Regarding Delinquent Tax Liability or a Felony Conviction Under Any Federal Law - 52.225-25, Prohibition on Contracting with Entities Engaging in Certain Activities or Transactions Relating to Iran Representative and Certification Clauses - Addendum to FAR Clause 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Items - 52.252-2, Clauses Incorporated by Reference - 52.203-17, Contractor Employee Whistleblower Rights and requirement to Inform Employees of Whistleblower Rights - 52.204-4, Printed or Copied Double-Sided on Postconsumer Fiber Content Paper - 52.204-13, System for Award Management Maintenance - 52.204-18, Commercial and Government Entity Code Maintenance - 52.204-19, Incorporation by Reference of Representation and Certifications - 52.227-14, Rights in Data, General - 52.232-40, Providing Accelerated Payment to Small Business Subcontractors -52.217-8, Option to Extend Services -52.217-9, Option to Extend the Term of the Contract - 52.242-15, Stop-Work Order - 52.252-2, Clauses Incorporated by Reference - DOI-AAP-0028, Electronic Invoicing and Payment Requirements-Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) - DOI-AAP-0050, Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System -1452.222-81, Employment Verification -1452.223-81, Safety and Health - Bureau of Reclamation -1452.237-80, Security Requirements - Bureau of Reclamation -1452.242-80, Post Award Conference -Bureau of Reclamation -1452.201-70, Authorities and Delegations -1452.228-70, Liability Insurance -Key Personnel (xiv) Not applicable (xv) All questions shall be submitted via email to kberry@usbr.gov by no later than 12 PM pacific time on Wednesday, October 10, 2018. No additional questions will be accepted after this date. Responses to any questions received will be provided via an amendment. Submission of Proposal Package: All responses to this Request for Proposal (RFP) shall be sent to the attention of Kathy Berry, Contract Specialist and clearly marked on the outside package with the RFP No. 140R3018R0023, the time and date for receipt of proposals and the name and address of the offeror. NOTE: The Government is not responsible if proposals are marked incorrectly and not received by the date and time set for closing. Mailed proposal packages can be sent to Bureau of Reclamation, P. O. Box 61470, Boulder City, NV 89006 (Attention Kathy Berry LC-10305). If you are sending by express mail, send to Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Region (Attention Kathy Berry LC-10305) - 500 Date Street, Boulder City, Nevada, 89005. Electronic proposals are not authorized, nor may portions of your proposal be submitted electronically. Paper copies are required. If you have questions please contact Kathy Berry at kberry@usbr.gov or call at 702-293-8460. Hand carried proposals can be dropped off to Kathy Berry at 500 Date Street, Bldg 1400, Boulder City, Nevada 89005. Please go to the main door and buzz for the receptionist. Ask for someone from the Contracting Division to take your proposal package. It is best to call ahead to notify Kathy Berry at 702-293-8460 if you wish to drop off your proposal package. To prevent your proposal package from mishandling, please follow the instructions. Proposal packages are due no later than 2 PM pacific time on Wednesday, October 31, 2018. Responsible offerors are requested to submit a proposal for this requirement. Offerors shall submit all the requested information listed under (viii) FAR provision 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors Commercial Items, and any addenda to 52.212-1 and (ix) FAR Provision 52.212-2, Evaluation to be considered for award. All documents pertaining to this RFP are located at www.fedconnect.net, Reference Number 140R3018R0023. Submission of proposal instructions are found in section (viii) FAR provision 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items is applicable to this RFP. (xvi) The Point of Contact for this solicitation is Ms. Kathy Berry, Contract Specialist. She may be reached via e-mail at kberry@usbr.gov, or by phone at 702-293-8460. *End of Combined/Synopsis Solicitation.
140R3018R0023 Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation
9/25/18, 11:13 AM