RFI Sources Sought Notice.pdf

Sources Sought/Request For Information (RFI) Description:

This is a Sources Sought / Request For Information notice Only. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. This Sources Sought is issued for information and planning purposes only as part of USDA Forest Service market research and does not itself constitute an RFP/RFQ. This requirement is covered under NAICS code 541370 (SBA Size: $19.0 million). The intended requirement is to procure professional land surveying services for National Forests located in the States of Arizona and New Mexico, on an as needed basis, for the United States Department of Agriculture – Forest Service (USDA – FS), Southwestern Region 3.

The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of qualified sources; Small Businesses; HUBZone small business; service-disabled, veteran-owned small business; 8(a) small business; veteran-owned small business; woman-owned small business; or small disadvantaged businesses; Responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible.

The Government does not intend to make an award based on responses to this inquiry. This notice does not constitute a commitment by the Government.

Capability Statement All information submitted in response to this announcement is voluntary, and the Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the Government. Business concerns that possess the capabilities necessary to undertake this work should submit complete documentation of their capabilities to the Contracting Officer. Capability statements shall include the Contractors contact point to discuss their response.

The capability statement should include:

1) Acknowledgement that they are able to provide the subject supplies/services being requested;

2) Interested vendors should identify their size standards in accordance with the Small Business Administration;

3) At least three previous requirements that are similar to the requirement include a discussion of the Contract type, delivery method, duration, etc.;

4) Any other information considered relevant to this requirement; and

5) The government requests that no proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in the response.

6) The parent contract will span a five (5) year period from the date of award and guarantees a minimum purchase of $5,000 for services rendered over the life of the contract.

The performance of work under this contract involves the location and identification of National Forest System (NFS) boundaries coincident with other ownerships. This may include but is not limited to all aspects of boundary and right-of-way surveys encompassing retracement surveys, dependent resurveys, section subdivision surveys, and metes-and-bounds surveys within the Public Land Survey System, Homestead Entry Surveys, Mineral Surveys, Small Tracts Act, Townsite Act Surveys, and Education Land Grant Act Surveys, as well as, marking, posting, and maintaining NFS land boundaries.

All work performed under this contract shall be under the direct supervision of a Registered Land Surveyor (RLS) in the State of Arizona or Professional Surveyor (PS) in the State of New Mexico, as determined by location of work assignment. The Contractor shall furnish all labor, supervision, transportation, equipment, supplies, materials (except Government furnished materials), and incidentals necessary to complete the work as specified. Contractor is further responsible for any printing and recording fees.

Award of this contract does not restrict the Government from performing separate professional surveying with Government employees during the contract period.

Any vendor responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine their qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.

After review of the responses received, a solicitation may be published on sam.gov depending on the responses received.

Responses may not be returned. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this Inquiry. Do not submit pricing information in response to this Request.

Specifications - Page 1

United States Department of Agriculture -

Forest Service Southwestern Region 3

ARIZONA & NEW MEXICO NATIONAL FORESTS

PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYING SERVICES

CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS

Fiscal Years 2025-2030

Specifications - Page 2

CONTENTS

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS Page

C-0 DEFININTIONS 2

C-1 SCOPE OF CONTRACT 2

C-2 DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES & SITE LOCATION 2

C-3 GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY 3

TECHNICAL SURVEY SPECIFICATIONS

C-4 SURVEYS 4

.100 RESEARCH 4

.200 CORNER SEARCH, EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION 4

.300 FIELD SURVEY, DATA COLLECTION AND COMPUTATIONS 4

.400 CORNER MONUMENTATION, PERPETUATION AND ACCESSORIES 5

.500 BOUNDARY LINE MARKING AND POSTING 7

.600 PLATS AND REPORTS 8

.700 OTHER SURVEYS 9

.800 QUALITY CONTROL, INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE 10

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

C-0 DEFINITIONS

Boundary Line: The property boundary line between two established corners, or between meander points on an irregular boundary (such as creeks, ridges, and roads) between property corners.

Control Survey: Survey line run to controlling corners, collateral corners or collateral call objects for the purpose of locating, proving or establishing boundaries of , or within, the subject tract. Generally, control surveys are to locate the relative positions of corners which define the subject tract, but may include corners that are not connected by boundary line.

Positional Tolerance: The maximum acceptable error in the positioning of a survey point, located or established, that is allowed. Unless otherwise expressed, it refers to the diameter of a circle centered on the absolute location of the reported position.

Contested Line: Any boundary line found to be held in dispute by location or title with the adjacent land owner as result of conflicting title, physical or bona fide parole evidence.

Records Research: Refers to the collection of, but mot limited to, deeds, records of survey, survey monument records, boundary surveys, available through public or private means.

USDA, FS: United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.

Specifications - Page 3

Record of Survey: A map or plat that depicts and describes by graphical means, the boundary retracement activity executed per this contract.

Survey Notes: Descriptions of but not limited to citations, sketches, and or notation of conditions, monument descriptions

Survey Control: Monuments that control the location of the National Forest Boundary per this contract.

Monument Accessory: An object permanent in nature that can be readily and uniquely identified and used to reference a monument location. For the purpose of this contract monument accessories may include but not limited to, bearing trees, bearing objects, reference monuments and objects fixed in position.

D.B.H.: Refers to the Diameter at Breast Height of a Bearing Tree.

GPS: Global Positioning System.

GNSS: Global Navigation Satellite System.

NGS: United States NOAA, National Geodetic Survey.

OPUS: Online Positioning User Service (https://geodesy.noaa.gov/OPUS/)

C-1 SCOPE OF CONTRACT

The intent of this contract is to procure professional land surveying services for National Forests located in the States of Arizona and New Mexico, on an as needed basis, for the United States Department of Agriculture – Forest Service (USDA – FS), Southwestern Region 3. The parent contract will span a five (5) year period from the date of award and guarantees a minimum purchase of $5,000 for services rendered over the life of the contract.

The performance of work under this contract involves the location and identification of National Forest System (NFS) boundaries coincident with other ownerships. This may include but is not limited to all aspects of boundary and right-of-way surveys encompassing retracement surveys, dependent resurveys, section subdivision surveys, and metes-and-bounds surveys within the Public Land Survey System, Homestead Entry Surveys, Mineral Surveys, Small Tracts Act, Townsite Act Surveys, and Education Land Grant Act Surveys, as well as, marking, posting, and maintaining NFS land boundaries.

All work performed under this contract shall be under the direct supervision of a Registered Land Surveyor (RLS) in the State of Arizona or Professional Surveyor (PS) in the State of New Mexico, as determined by location of work assignment. The Contractor shall furnish all labor, supervision, transportation, equipment, supplies, materials (except Government furnished materials), and incidentals necessary to complete the work as specified. Contractor is further responsible for any printing and recording fees.

Award of this contract does not restrict the Government from performing separate professional surveying with Government employees during the contract period.

C-2 DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES & SITE LOCATION

https://geodesy.noaa.gov/OPUS/

Specifications - Page 4

Each project will have a task order that will include a Statement of Work for professional surveying services needed and will include project maps and or exhibits. Each task order will then require a cost estimate from both contractor and government under separate standalone provisions that will be further evaluated by the Contracting Officer (CO). The CO will determine whether the cost estimate is favorable to the Government, or if it may require further refinement until an agreement is reached.

C-3 GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY

Government furnished property will not be made available until the Notice to Proceed has been issued.

Pick up of government furnished property will be coordinated between the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) or inspector and the Contractor. All task orders will indicate the government property to be furnished. These items may include:

a. Monuments (post, drivable rod, tablet) and magnetic memorials.

b. Property Boundary signs (#54-2), Land Survey Monument signs (#54-9), and Bearing Tree signs

(#54-3).

c. Signposts (steel, aluminum, or carsonite).

d. Miscellaneous hardware.

e. Pertinent USDA – FS survey records.

TECHNICAL SURVEY SPECIFICATIONS

C-4 SURVEYS

All surveys under this contract shall comply with the respective applicable State statutes, regulations, State survey standards, the principles, practice, and procedures set forth in the applicable Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Manual of Surveying Instructions, as well as, the following specifications for the work to be performed.

.100 RESEARCH

.110 Records Research. It is the Contractor’s responsibility to research the public records to obtain title, ownership and survey information for the property being surveyed and adjoining properties. It may be necessary to perform chain of title work for both the subject property and the adjoining properties.

.120 Landowner Notification. All adjoining landowners shall be notified in writing of intent to survey before beginning field work. Notification letters shall be furnished to the COR upon request.

A sample letter is available upon request by the contractor. It is the responsibility of the Contractor to obtain permission to cross or enter private lands. The USDA – FS may, at its discretion, notify adjoining landowners in writing of intent to contract survey work, and will notify the contractor in advance.

.130 Conflicts, Boundary and Title Disputes. The COR will inform the Contractor of any known conflicts with earlier surveys, title, encroachments, trespass, possession, or occupation of NFS lands along the boundary lines to be surveyed. Any conflicts discovered by the Contractor during the course of the survey shall be reported to the COR as soon as possible. Such discovered conflicts will be shown on the survey plat or surveyor’s report. The Contractor shall report evidentiary facts in regards to possession and or title and provide professional opinion that is relative to the conflict.

.200 CORNER SEARCH, EVALUATION AND DOCUMENTATION

Specifications - Page 5

.210 Corner Search. The Contractor shall make a diligent seach for, with the intent of recovering and locating, all physical corner evidence required to complete this contract.

.220 Corner Evaluation. The Contractor shall evaluate all the physical evidence and pertinent survey information for all previously set monuments and their accessories prior to use and acceptance. Any monuments or accessories accepted or rejected shall be disclosed on the survey plat, with explanation of the reason(s) for rejecting any monuments. Any monuments or accessories utilized, or relevant to the survey shall be shown on the plat, along with a description, and a brief Corner Acceptance/Rejection Statement for each

The contracted surveyor will, when feasible and appropriate, employ parol or testimonial evidence, especially in the absence of other physical or record evidence of a corner position, and document accordingly.

.230 Corner Documentation. Corner search activities and evidentiary findings for all monuments and accessories shall be documented in a field book or electronic data collection devices.

.300 FIELD SURVEY, DATA COLLECTION, AND COMPUTATIONS

.310 Survey Methods and Procedures. The survey methods and procedures used shall comply with the respective State statutes, regulations, survey standards, and the GLO/BLM Manuals of Surveying Instructions.

a. Survey notes. The surveyor shall keep an accurate and complete record of the survey in a standard bound field book, in an orderly and legible fashion, unless using an electronic data collector. All information pertinent to the work, not recorded in the electronic data collector, shall be recorded including personal contacts with landowners and other interested parties.

The field book shall remain the property of the Contractor. Legible photocopies shall then be provided to the COR upon request.

b. Electronic Data Collector. The Contractor may use an electronic data collector system in lieu of a standard hard-bound field book for survey data collection. A separate report shall be furnished to the Government which includes:

1. An ASCII digital copy of the original field data prior to any manipulation or adjustments.

2. Description of the format used, items by line and column, and definition of all descriptor codes.

3. An unambiguous reference system which indexes the data to a Survey Control Diagram.

4. Legible photocopies of all field books used in conjunction with the collection system.

.320 Positional Tolerance. The relative position of each corner established or tied must be determined as part of a closed traverse or point positioning procedure which meets the current standards prescribed by the respective State survey standards.

.330 Basis of Bearings. All bearings shall be based on geodetic (true) north, established by direct astronomic observation, or by use of geodetic control stations that meet or exceed State survey standard requirements, or by GPS/GNSS observations post processed using NGS/OPUS, or other suitable software. At no time will an assumed basis of bearings be deemed as acceptable under the guidelines of this contract.

Specifications - Page 6

.340 Clearing of Survey Lines. No clearing shall be performed on adjoining non-Federal lands and shall only be performed on NFS lands. For survey operations conducted on NFS land, clearing of vegetation shall be confined to the minimum necessary for execution of survey. No trees larger than 4 inches diameter (measured at D.B.H.) shall be cleared without the permission of the COR. Under no circumstance shall fruit, shade or ornamental trees, shrubs or hedges, be blazed, marked, or cut during the course of the survey work.

.350 (left blank for additional info)

.360 Computations. A listing of coordinate values of all survey points shall be provided to the COR on digital media in ASCII format [point #, northing, easting, and descriptor upon request].

..400 CORNER MONUMENTATION AND ACCESSORIES

.410 Monumentation. All corners, including reference and witness corners, requiring monumentation shall be established in accordance with the 2009 BLM Manual of Surveying Instructions, Section 4-1 through 4-78, using the provided USDA – FS monument. The surveyor’s state registration number shall be stamped on the monument cap in addition to the specific corner information. Pertinent monument information such as type, material, length, diameter, cap marking, and depth in ground, shall be documented and reported in the field notes and on the survey plat.

.420 Existing Monumentation. At the discretion of the COR, any existing monuments that have been positively identified, and are in a deteriorated state, subject to imminent disturbance, or otherwise of unsuitable character to perpetuate the position, may be remonumented. In rare cases, an existing monument’s value in place, supercedes that of its replacement to the Government.

Circumstances may also warrant the assent of adjoining landowners before disturbing such a monument. It may be determined that Reference Monuments be set in lieu of disturbing an existing corner.

.430 Corner Accessories. New corner accessories shall be established on NFS land and in accordance with the 2009 Manual of Surveying Instructions, Sections 4-79 through 4-113.

a. All established dug-in and drivable monuments shall be set in a collar of stone with a base width of 2-3 feet and to a height flush with cap, as practicable.

b. A magnetic memorial shall be set beneath new dug-in and tablet monuments. For tablet monuments the plastic casing maybe removed and the magnet itself placed beneath tablet stem.

c. Existing natural or artificial features, such as firmly set fence posts or power poles (??), building corners, chiseled crosses in concrete structures or rock in place, set reference monument, etc. may serve as corner accessories, as available. Signposts and signage may not be required at all corner accessories. Check with COR for practicability.

d. Established bearing trees shall be scribed “X BT” six inches above root crown, scribed in a downward manner with the letter “T” at the base of marked tree, and facing the corner monument. All nestablished bearing trees shall be posted with a 54-3 “BEARING TREE” sign facing the corner AND with either a 54-3, “54-9 LAND SURVEY MONUMENT”, or other signage as determined by the COR on opposite side of bearing tree. Attach signs to tree at D.B.H. and nail sign at top & bottom centers providing for tree growth. Absolutely NO nails or spikes of any type shall be set at base of tree for distance measurement to corner. Seek appropriate section of 2009 BLM Manual of Surveying Instructions for measurement from corner monument to newly established bearing tree(s).

Specifications - Page 7

e. Corner accessory information such as type, material, length, diameter, cap marking, depth in the ground, tree species and D.B.H. of tree shall be documented and reported in the field notes and on the survey plat.

Memorials and a minimum of two new corner accessoriesshall be established on NFS land, in accordance with the 2009 BLM Manual of Surveying Instructions, Sections 4-79 through 4-113, with the exception of mound of stone. All established monuments shall be set in a collar of stone with a base width of 2-3 feet, to a height flush with top of cap, as practicable. Established bearing trees shall be marked “X BT” six inches above root crown scribed in a downward manner with the letter “T” at the base of marked tree.

Memorials shall not be required at any corner. “Two new corner accessories” shall not be required at 1/64th, 1/256th, 1/1024th, or any lesser section subdivision corners. Posts and signage shall not be required at any corner accessory where such post would impede or endanger human, or domestic animal travel or traffic, or would impair the public viewshed. Existing natural or artificial features, such as firmly set fence posts or power poles, building corners, chiseled crosses in concrete structures or rock in place, etc. may serve as corner accessories, as available.

.440 Existing Corner Accessories. All existing corner accessories shall be maintained to ensure the accessory is properly signed, legible, securely attached, and flagged.

.500 NFS LAND BOUNDARY LOCATION, MARKING, AND POSTING

.510 Boundary Location. NFS land boundaries shall be posted within 1.0 foot of the true line between the two corners that define the boundary line.

.520 Boundary Marking. The NFS land boundaries shall be marked with provided signposts in accordance with the “Property Line Marking and Posting Guide” (Figure 3).

a. At each corner monument established: Set a signpost firmly in the ground facing the private land or other ownership.

b. Set signposts at intervals of 250 - 330 feet along the line, as determined by the COR, or as would be intervisible if the trees, brush, or other obstructions were removed, unless intervals are specified otherwise by the task order.

c. Set signposts at all streams, trails, road crossings, and ridge tops. Signposts shall not be placed directly within the actual stream or travel way, but approximately five (5) – ten (10) feet from the top of the bank, edge of right of way or trail (outside of travel way for safety concerns).

Specifications - Page 8

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T ra il

In te rv is ib le

R id ge

Pr op er ty

C or ne r

Pr op er ty

C or ne r

H or iz on ta l N um be re d o r H ig he r

St an da rd

R oa d

St re am

C re ek or R iv er

Intervisibility Range:

220 ft. - 280 ft., Unless otherwise noted.

Sign #54-2, "PROPERTY BOUNDARY" Sign #54-9, "LAND SURVEY

MONUMENT"

Use either Sign #54-2 or

#54-2A, PROPERTY

BOUNDARY" between property corners along NFS land boundary.

Figure 3. Property Line Marking and Posting Guide

.530 Boundary Posting.

a. At an established corner monument, securely attach a #54-2 “PROPERTY BOUNDARY” sign (above) and #54-9 “LAND SURVEY MONUMENT sign (below) to firmly set signpost, facing the private land or other ownership, and attach flagging. See Figure 4 “Sign Placement Guide”.

NON-FEDERAL LAND

NATI

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FO

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NATIONAL FOREST

NATIONAL FOREST

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NON-FEDERAL LAND

B ou nd ar y

Boundary

Boundary

Boundary

Property Corner

Sign Post & Sign at Corner

Sign Post & Sign Online

Figure 4. Sign Placement Guide

Specifications - Page 9

b. Along the NFS land boundary being located and posted, securely attach a #54-2 “PROPERTY BOUNDARY” sign, facing the private land or other ownership, and attach flagging.

.540 Existing Marked Boundary.

a. Signposts found along NFS land boundaries shall be verified to conform to section .510. All reusable signposts determined to be within the location limits of 1.0 foot of the true line between two corners that define the boundary line shall be reset plumb and firm in the ground facing the private land or other ownership. All existing signage shall be dealt with on a case-by-case basis in coordination with the COR.

b. Follow and set new signpost as prescribed under .530 b.

.550 Existing Posted Boundary.

a. Replace sign on found maintained signpost if found sign is illegible, loose, damaged, or detached. Follow posting procedures per .540 a. and b.

.560 Erroneous Marked and Posted Lines. The Contractor will notify the COR upon the discovery of signposts whose locations appear to be erroneous and/or tampered with, along NFS boundaries.

.600 INSPECTION

The COR may make periodic inspections of each project as work progresses. The contractor shall, without charge, make available for inspection, original or copies of such items as field notes, working plats and drawings, material obtained through research, computation sheets, computer printouts, correspondence to and from adjoining landowners, and any other item deemed necessary to ensure contract compliance, and to verify accomplishments. The Contractor shall request an inspection upon completion of the field work as outlined in the contract. The Contractor shall request an inspection upon completion of any corrective field work required by the COR.

.700 PLATS AND REPORTS

.710 Plats. Unless the task order directs otherwise, the Contractor shall prepare a recordable survey plat in compliance with the current respective State statutes, regulations, and survey standards. The survey plat shall be filed with the respective County Recorder’s or Clerk’s Office.

The survey plat shall: show the relationship of recovered and established corner positions used in the survey, location, marking and posting of NFS land boundaries; describe all monuments recovered, established, and rejected, along with their accessories; provide a short narrative explaining the reason any monument was rejected or accepted; and include the record and measured ties to existing accessories.

All survey plats shall show a tie from either an existing control point that is a part of the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) or a tie from a created control point based upon the NSRS to a controlling monument of the survey. Control point information/metadata must be clearly annotated on the face of the plat. Control point data must also reference North American Datum 1983 (2018 adjustment) or later.

Prior to filing or recording, the Contractor shall submit one paper or electronic pdf copy of the survey plat(s) or corner record form(s) to the COR for review. Upon any corrections and final acceptance, the Contractor will file or record the survey plat. Electronic pdf copies of recorded survey plat(s) shall be provided to the COR and hard copies maybe requested by the COR.

Specifications - Page 10

In addition, a Computer Aided Drafting file in DWG or DXF format shall be provided to the COR.

.720 Forest Supervisor’s Certificate. In addition to the survey plat requirements under section

.710, each survey plat shall contain the following Forest Supervisor’s signature block (with correct supervisor & forest name). The COR will obtain the supervisor signature and return the survey plat to the contractor for filing within approximately 10 business days.

“I hereby certify this survey was made at my request for National Forest Management purposes.”

NAME Date Forest Supervisor Name of Forest

.730 Encroachment Diagram. A separate detailed encroachment diagram may be required of encroachment area(s) to show in greater detail the difference between lines of occupation and lines of title. All features that indicate occupation, where such occupation conflicts with title, shall be shown with a stationing scheme or leaders showing boundary posts set and the location of potential conflicts, encroachments, trespass, or unauthorized use in relation to the nearest survey corner. Only minimal encroachment information shall be shown on the survey plat.

In addition, the contractor shall provide photo documentation of the encroachments with geotagged pictures that display the date, time, and location. Create a brief report in reference to the plat of survey and attach the photos and provide copies to the COR.

.740 Surveyor's Report. The Contract surveyor shall prepare a Surveyor's Report for all work performed under this Contract, unless the same information is exhibited on the survey plat. The report shall contain any information the contractor considers pertinent to the project. At a minimum, the report shall contain the following:

1. History of surveys and a synopsis of the work performed.

2. Results of search for all corners.

3. Methods used for re-establishing missing corners.

4. Written description of any conflict between lines of occupation and title lines.

5. Statements relevant to the project made by adjoining landowners or other interested parties.

6. The surveyor shall sign and date report.

.750 Corner Recordation Form. For Arizona contracts, the Contractor shall complete that form prescribed by ARS 33-106, a Corner Record Form, for each corner as required by applicable state laws and regulations, unless the method of documentation meets the requirements of section .710 herein. For New Mexico contracts the Contractor may prepare a plat as prescribed by the “Minimum Standards” section 12.8.2.17.E. After approval by the COR, the Contractor shall file the original document in the office of the recorder in the appropriate jurisdiction. A copy of the original form with filing information shall be furnished to the Government.

.800 RIGHT-OF-WAY SURVEYS

Specifications - Page 11

In addition to the requirements for surveys as outlined under C-4, the following specifications shall be followed.

.810 Specifications. Right-of-Way shall be surveyed along existing or proposed centerlines, show relevant curve data (a minimum of three elements), and shall not be monumented unless directed by the COR. If monumented, shall be at the right-of-way corridor PCs, PTs, and point of ingress/egress intersection with NFS land boundaries. All points of ingress/egress intersection with NFS land boundaries shall be tied to the nearest controlling monument on each side of center line of subject property. Any USDA – FS provided right-of-way monument set shall be properly stamped with the appropriate information and marked with a signpost provided and posted with a provided #54-9 “LAND SURVEY MONUMENT” sign, at a reasonably safe distance from the travelled way, facing the right-of-way corridor.