1284M820R0002.pdf

REGION 4 REGIONAL OFFICE AQUISTION INSTRUCTIONAL COVER SHEET

ISSUING OFFICE:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FOREST SERVICE

REGION 4 ACQUISITION

1249 S VINNELL WAY, SUITE 200

BOISE, ID 83709

SOLICITATION NO. 1284M820R0002

OFFERS ARE SOLICITED FOR: Environmental Analysis & Planning Services (NEPA)

IMPORTANT – NOTICE TO OFFEROR:

AT A MINIMUM, OFFEROR SHALL SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS BACK WITH THEIR RESPONSE

TO THIS SOLICITATION:

1.SF-1449 - Request For Proposal (Complete, date, and sign)

2.Section B - Schedule of Items

3.Section M - Technical Proposal: (Evaluation Factors Section)

4.Section L - Instruction to Offerors

IT IS REQUIRED YOU WRITE THE SOLICITATION NUMBER ON THE OUTSIDE OF YOUR ENVELOPE.

Return to: Becky Martinez

1249 S Vinnell Way, Suite 200 Boise, ID 83709 Solicitation No. 1284M820R0003

Please keep a copy of your quote for your records.

IT IS REQUIRED THAT ALL CONTRACTOR’S BE REGISTERED IN SAM (SYSTEM FOR AWARD

MANAGEMENT) DATABASE PRIOR TO AWARD UNDER THIS SOLICITATION. SEE CLAUSE 52.204-7

CENTRAL CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION FOR DETAILS ON HOW TO APPLY.

NO PAPER SOLICITATIONS SHALL BE ISSUED.

IT IS THE OFFERORS RESPONSIBILITY TO WATCH FOR ANY AND ALL AMENDMENTS TO THE

SOLICITATION.

SEE ADDENDUMIS CHECKED

CODE 18a. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY

CODE

FACILITYCODE

17b. CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT SUCH ADDRESS IN OFFER

OFFEROR

84M8

OGDEN UT 84401

324 25TH STREET

INTERMOUNTAIN REGION

CODE 16. ADMINISTERED BYCODE

X

X

X

541620

SIZE STANDARD:

100.00 % FOR:SET ASIDE:UNRESTRICTED OR84M8

RFPIFB

10. THIS ACQUISITION ISCODE

RFQ

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

13b. RATING

NAICS:

SMALL BUSINESS

04/14/2020 1400 MT

03/12/2020

208-373-4231REBECCA MARTINEZ

(No collect calls)

INFORMATION CALL:

FOR SOLICITATION 8. OFFER DUE DATE/LOCAL TIMEb. TELEPHONE NUMBERa. NAME

4. ORDER NUMBER3. AWARD/ 6. SOLICITATION

1284M820R0002

5. SOLICITATION NUMBER

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS 1. REQUISITION NUMBER PAGE OF

1 63 OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, & 30

TELEPHONE NO.

17a. CONTRACTOR/

Multiple Destinations

15. DELIVER TO

OGDEN UT 84401

324 25TH STREET

9. ISSUED BY

7.

2. CONTRACT NO.

EFFECTIVE DATE

$16.50

18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK BELOW

ISSUE DATE

DELIVERY FOR FOB DESTINA-

TION UNLESS BLOCK IS

MARKED

11.

SEE SCHEDULEX

12. DISCOUNT TERMS

THIS CONTRACT IS A

RATED ORDER UNDER

DPAS (15 CFR 700)

13a.

SERVICE-DISABLED

VETERAN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS

HUBZONE SMALL

BUSINESS

8(A)

INTERMOUNTAIN REGION

WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS

(WOSB) ELIGIBLE UNDER THE WOMEN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM

EDWOSB

24.

AMOUNT

23.

UNIT PRICE

22.

UNIT

21.

QUANTITY

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

19.

ITEM NO.

Environmental Analysis and Planning Services

(NEPA)

Environmental Analysis and Planning Services Base June 2020 - June 2021

Delivery Location Code: 84M8

INTERMOUNTAIN REGION

Continued ...

(Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

HEREIN, IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

X

XX

DATED

REBECCA A. MARTINEZ

. YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION (BLOCK 5),

INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES WHICH ARE SET FORTH

COPIES TO ISSUING OFFICE. CONTRACTOR AGREES TO FURNISH AND DELIVER

ARE

ARE

31c. DATE SIGNED

27b. CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-5 IS ATTACHED. ADDENDA

31a. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (SIGNATURE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER)

30c. DATE SIGNED 31b. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

ALL ITEMS SET FORTH OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND ON ANY ADDITIONAL

SHEETS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED.

27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA

26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Govt. Use Only)

OFFER

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 2/2012)

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

ARE NOT ATTACHED.

ARE NOT ATTACHED.

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE

30b. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

30a. SIGNATURE OF OFFEROR/CONTRACTOR

28. CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND RETURN

25. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

29. AWARD OF CONTRACT:

REF.

32e. MAILING ADDRESS OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32c. DATE 32b. SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

ACCEPTED, AND CONFORMS TO THE CONTRACT, EXCEPT AS NOTED:

32a. QUANTITY IN COLUMN 21 HAS BEEN

RECEIVED INSPECTED

40. PAID BY39. S/R VOUCHER NUMBER38. S/R ACCOUNT NUMBER

37. CHECK NUMBER

FINALPARTIAL

36. PAYMENT

FINALPARTIAL

35. AMOUNT VERIFIED

CORRECT FOR

34. VOUCHER NUMBER33. SHIP NUMBER

COMPLETE

32g. E-MAIL OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

42d. TOTAL CONTAINERS42c. DATE REC'D (YY/MM/DD)

42b. RECEIVED AT (Location)

42a. RECEIVED BY (Print)

41c. DATE41b. SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF CERTIFYING OFFICER

41a. I CERTIFY THIS ACCOUNT IS CORRECT AND PROPER FOR PAYMENT

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 2/2012) BACK

24.

AMOUNT

23.

UNIT PRICE

22.

UNIT

21.

QUANTITY

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

19.

ITEM NO.

324 25TH STREET

OGDEN UT 84401 US

Environmental Analysis and Planning Services

Option 1: June 2021 - June 2022

(Option Line Item)

Product/Service Code: F999

Product/Service Description: OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL

SERVICES

Environmental Analysis and Planning Services

Option 2: June 2022 - June 2023

(Option Line Item)

Product/Service Code: F999

Product/Service Description: OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL

SERVICES

Environmental Analysis and Planning Services

Option 3: June 2023 - June 2024

(Option Line Item)

Product/Service Code: F999

Product/Service Description: OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL

SERVICES

Environmental Analysis and Planning Services

Option 4: June 2024 - June 2025

(Option Line Item)

Product/Service Code: F999

Product/Service Description: OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL

SERVICES

32f. TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32d. PRINTED NAME AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

63 2 of

0001 - Base Schedule of Items

ITEM LABOR CATEGORY UNIT RATE

0001A Program Manager Hour 0001B Interdisciplinary Team Leader/Manager* Hour 0001C NEPA/Forest Planning Specialist* Hour 0001D Meeting Coordinator/Facilitator Hour 0001E Writer/Editor Hour 0001F Soil Scientist Hour 0001G Hydrologist* Hour 0001H Botanist Hour 0001I Wildlife Biologist Hour 0001J Fisheries Biologist Hour 0001K Rangeland Management Specialist Hour 0001L Vegetation Ecologist* Hour 0001M Forester Hour 0001N Timber Sale Layout Forester Hour 0001O Fuels Specialist or Fire Ecologist Hour 0001P Air Quality Specialist Hour 0001Q Geologist Hour 0001R Heritage or Cultural Resource Specialist Hour 0001S Recreation Specialist Hour 0001T Wilderness/Inventoried Roadless/Wild and Scenic River Specialist Hour 0001U Landscape Architect/Visual Resource Specialist Hour 0001V Road and Facilities Engineer Hour 0001W Logging Systems Engineer Hour 0001X Economist Hour 0001Y Lands and Specialist Uses Specialist Hour 0001Z Biological Technician Hour 0001AA Archeological Technician Hour 0001BB Forestry Technician Hour 0001CC Range Technician Hour 0001DD Engineering Technician Hour 0001EE General Forest Laborer Hour 0001FF Geographic Information System (GIS) Technician Hour

0001GG Data Analyst and Statistician Hour 0001HH Sociologist Hour

* Key Personnel - All key personnel must have a rate on base and option years.

Note: All rates are fully burdened rates to include profit, G&A, overhead, and profit.

1284M820R0002

0002 – Option 1

ITEM LABOR CATEGORY UNIT RATE

0002A Program Manager Hour

0002B Interdisciplinary Team Leader/Manager* Hour

0002C NEPA/Forest Planning Specialist* Hour

0002D Meeting Coordinator/Facilitator Hour

0002E Writer/Editor Hour

0002F Soil Scientist Hour

0002G Hydrologist* Hour

0002H Botanist Hour

0002I Wildlife Biologist Hour

0002J Fisheries Biologist Hour

0002K Rangeland Management Specialist Hour

0002L Vegetation Ecologist* Hour

0002M Forester Hour

0002N Timber Sale Layout Forester Hour

0002O Fuels Specialist or Fire Ecologist Hour

0002P Air Quality Specialist Hour

0002Q Geologist Hour

0002R Heritage or Cultural Resource Specialist Hour

0002S Recreation Specialist Hour

0002T Wilderness/Inventoried Roadless/Wild and Scenic River Specialist Hour

0002U Landscape Architect/Visual Resource Specialist Hour

0002V Road and Facilities Engineer Hour

0002W Logging Systems Engineer Hour

0002X Economist Hour

0002Y Lands and Specialist Uses Specialist Hour

0002Z Biological Technician Hour

0002AA Archeological Technician Hour

0002BB Forestry Technician Hour

0002CC Range Technician Hour

0001DD Engineering Technician Hour

0001EE General Forest Laborer Hour

0001FF Geographic Information System (GIS) Technician Hour

0001GG Data Analyst and Statistician Hour

0001HH Sociologist Hour

0003 – Option 2

0003A Program Manager Hour

0003B Interdisciplinary Team Leader/Manager* Hour

0003C NEPA/Forest Planning Specialist* Hour

0003D Meeting Coordinator/Facilitator Hour

0003E Writer/Editor Hour

0003F Soil Scientist Hour

0003G Hydrologist* Hour

0003H Botanist Hour

0003I Wildlife Biologist Hour

0003J Fisheries Biologist Hour

0003K Rangeland Management Specialist Hour

0003L Vegetation Ecologist* Hour

0003M Forester Hour

0003N Timber Sale Layout Forester Hour

0003O Fuels Specialist or Fire Ecologist Hour

0003P Air Quality Specialist Hour

0003Q Geologist Hour

0003R Heritage or Cultural Resource Specialist Hour

0003S Recreation Specialist Hour

0003T Wilderness/Inventoried Roadless/Wild and Scenic River Specialist Hour

0003U Landscape Architect/Visual Resource Specialist Hour

0003V Road and Facilities Engineer Hour

0003W Logging Systems Engineer Hour

0003X Economist Hour

0003Y Lands and Specialist Uses Specialist Hour

0003Z Biological Technician Hour

0003AA Archeological Technician Hour

0003BB Forestry Technician Hour

0003CC Range Technician Hour

0001DD Engineering Technician Hour

0001EE General Forest Laborer Hour

0001FF Geographic Information System (GIS) Technician Hour

0001GG Data Analyst and Statistician Hour

0001HH Sociologist Hour

0004 – Option 3

0004A Program Manager Hour

0004B Interdisciplinary Team Leader/Manager* Hour

0004C NEPA/Forest Planning Specialist* Hour

0004D Meeting Coordinator/Facilitator Hour

0004E Writer/Editor Hour

0004F Soil Scientist Hour

0004G Hydrologist* Hour

0004H Botanist Hour

0004I Wildlife Biologist Hour

0004J Fisheries Biologist Hour

0004K Rangeland Management Specialist Hour

0004L Vegetation Ecologist* Hour

0004M Forester Hour

0004N Timber Sale Layout Forester Hour

0004O Fuels Specialist or Fire Ecologist Hour

0004P Air Quality Specialist Hour

0004Q Geologist Hour

0004R Heritage or Cultural Resource Specialist Hour

0004S Recreation Specialist Hour

0004T Wilderness/Inventoried Roadless/Wild and Scenic River Specialist Hour

0004U Landscape Architect/Visual Resource Specialist Hour

0004V Road and Facilities Engineer Hour

0004W Logging Systems Engineer Hour

0004X Economist Hour

0004Y Lands and Specialist Uses Specialist Hour

0004Z Biological Technician Hour

0004AA Archeological Technician Hour

0004BB Forestry Technician Hour

0004CC Range Technician Hour

0001DD Engineering Technician Hour

0001EE General Forest Laborer Hour

0001FF Geographic Information System (GIS) Technician Hour

0001GG Data Analyst and Statistician Hour

0001HH Sociologist Hour

0005 – Option 4

0005A Program Manager Hour 0005B Interdisciplinary Team Leader/Manager* Hour 0005C NEPA/Forest Planning Specialist* Hour 0005D Meeting Coordinator/Facilitator Hour 0005E Writer/Editor Hour 0005F Soil Scientist Hour 0005G Hydrologist* Hour 0005H Botanist Hour 0005I Wildlife Biologist Hour 0005J Fisheries Biologist Hour 0005K Rangeland Management Specialist Hour 0005L Vegetation Ecologist* Hour 0005M Forester Hour 0005N Timber Sale Layout Forester Hour 0005O Fuels Specialist or Fire Ecologist Hour 0005P Air Quality Specialist Hour 0005Q Geologist Hour 0005R Heritage or Cultural Resource Specialist Hour 0005S Recreation Specialist Hour 0005T Wilderness/Inventoried Roadless/Wild and Scenic River Specialist Hour 0005U Landscape Architect/Visual Resource Specialist Hour 0005V Road and Facilities Engineer Hour 0005W Logging Systems Engineer Hour 0005X Economist Hour 0005Y Lands and Specialist Uses Specialist Hour 0005Z Biological Technician Hour 0005AA Archeological Technician Hour 0005BB Forestry Technician Hour 0005CC Range Technician Hour 0001DD Engineering Technician Hour 0001EE General Forest Laborer Hour 0001FF Geographic Information System (GIS) Technician Hour 0001GG Data Analyst and Statistician Hour 0001HH Sociologist Hour

QUOTE ALL ITEMS

Complete Section B, Schedule of Items for all base and option year line items, and for all disciplines.

All hourly rates shall be fully burdened, to include overhead, profit, etc. Failure to comply with the instructions may render your proposal incomplete and ineligible for possible contract award.

AGAR 452.216-73 MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM CONTRACT AMOUNTS (FEB 1988) During the period specified in FAR clause 52.216-18, ORDERING, the Government shall place orders totaling a minimum of $1,500.00 but not in excess of $4,000,000.00

AGAR 452.216-74 CEILING PRICE (FEB 1988)

The ceiling price of this contract is $20,000,000.00 for base and any exercised option years. The contractor shall not make any expenditures over this amount, except at the Contractor’s own risk.

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS AND PLANNING SERVICES

INTERMOUNTAIN REGION

1. Introduction The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service has a requirement in conducting Environmental Analysis and Decision Making (EADM) activities in support of the US National Forest and Grasslands under the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Forest Management Act (NFMA) and other environmental laws and regulations. The services are commercial, non-personal, professional services predominately in support of Region 4 with locations in Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, California and Colorado.

2. Intermountain Region (Region 4) Background Encompassing nearly 34 million acres, the Intermountain Region (Region 4) of the Forest Service comprises twelve National Forests which are located in Utah, Nevada, western Wyoming, southern and central Idaho, and small portions of California and Colorado, as well as one National Grassland in Idaho. The Great Basin, Colorado Plateau, Middle Rocky Mountains, and Northern Rocky Mountains come together in Region 4, forming the Intermountain West. Region 4 has a tremendous diversity of landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural and historic resources. Within Region 4 services and opportunities provided through Forest Service management vary greatly and include recreation, timber production, livestock grazing, and minerals. Region 4 also has several wilderness areas, wild and scenic rivers, national monuments, and other special designated areas.

The National Forests and Grassland of Region 4 are managed under Forest Plans, and some plans date as far back as 1986. To meet the NFMA, Forest plan revision and amendment are needed to ensure the Forest Plans can continue to provide the necessary framework for the National Forests and Grassland to provide the ecological and socio-economic sustainability needed to meet the Forest Service Mission.

3. Scope of Contract The Government, in fulfillment of its multiple use mandates, requires a variety of professional services in the natural, environmental, social/economic and technical sciences to meet legal requirements imposed by such laws as the NEPA, NFMA, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and others. In addition to needing services to meet legislation and regulation, in 2015, the Government issued its policies and direction to meet the implementing regulations for NFMA (Planning Rule), with emphasis on public engagement and use of best available scientific information and an assessment requirement that is ahead of conducting NEPA activities for proposed new and revised forest plans. In 2017 the Government also initiated its EADM effort to reduce the time and cost of its environmental analysis and decision making processes to produce efficient, effective, and high quality land management decisions to accomplish more work on the ground and be more responsive to the public. In 2017, Executive Order 13807 was issued, with subsequent guidance from the Council on Environmental Quality and the Office of Management and Budget, requiring federal agencies to process environmental reviews and authorization decisions for major infrastructure projects under the “One Federal Decision” mechanism, described in the E.O. The Government also has professional services needs to meet program management direction for implementation of projects, monitoring of plans and decisions, and inventory of natural resources and their uses, leading to future project design and decisions.

This contract shall provide scientific and professional environmental services contributing to integrated forest and rangeland restoration programs and other professional services used for land and resource management by the Government. Work under this contract may relate to the following typical subject areas. (This list is not all-inclusive):

Forest Planning (National Forest Management Act) Support, including Public Engagement Project Planning (National Environmental Policy Act) Support, including Public Engagement Data Collection and Analysis Natural Resource Studies Minerals and Geology Water Resources Soils Resources Air Quality and Smoke Management Climate Change, Sustainability, and Carbon Stock Vegetation Management (Timber, Silviculture, Botany) Rangeland Management Fuels and Fire Management Terrestrial and Aquatic Invasive Species Travel Management Logging and Transportation System Planning Logging Road Services and Road Analysis Fisheries and Wildlife Scenery Management Landscape Analysis and Watershed Assessments Recreation, Wilderness, Inventoried Roadless Areas, Wild and Scenic Rivers Cultural, Heritage, and Historic Resource Surveys and Studies Socio-Economic Studies Lands and Special Uses, including major infrastructure projects Development of Communication Site and Transmission Line Corridor Designation Plans Geographic Information System Spatial Analysis and/or Statistical Data Analysis

4. Applicable Laws, Regulations and Policies Key laws, regulations and policies that may apply to work are included below. This list is not all inclusive. Ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations, including state and local requirements. A supplemental list of relevant, but not all inclusive, laws, regulations and policies with web links is provided in Attachment A.

a. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

b. National Forest Management Act (NFMA)

c. Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA)

d. Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA)

e. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA/

Superfund)

f. Clean Air Act

g. Clean Water Act (CWA)

h. Dredged Material Management Program (DMMP)

i. Endangered Species Act (ESA)

j. Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA)

k. Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA)

l. Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA)

m. Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA)

n. National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)

o. Roadless Area Conservation Rules (national or, if applicable, state-specific)

p. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act

q. Americans with Disabilities Act

r. Executive Order 12898, Environmental Justice

s. Code of Federal Regulations

t. Forest Service Handbook and Manuals

u. Forest Service National Best Management Practices for Water Quality

v. Administrative Procedures Act (APA) Pub.L. 79-404

5. Description of Tasks The Contractor shall provide all labor, equipment, supervision, management, transportation, operating supplies, and incidentals to perform environmental analysis and planning services to include analyses, studies and other related work associated with Forest Planning and Project Planning. Work shall be performed in compliance with the basic contract terms, conditions, specifications, task order supplemental specifications and federal, state and local laws and regulations.

The Contractor has the responsibility for all other data collection and reports not provided by the Government that will be used as the basis for deliverables resulting from the task orders. The Government retains approval authority for documents and activities for these tasks.

TASKS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS AND PLANNING PROCESS

Task 1 – ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS A. Collect and gather data for NEPA environmental analysis. Individual tasks may require varying levels of resource analysis, field investigations, public and other government involvement (including meeting coordination and facilitation).

B. Provide writing and editing support for Government-generated documents for the NEPA process.

C. Provide team leader as required.

D. Complete all NEPA analysis and documentation, from the identification of the proposed action through decision, including preparing the scoping package; preparing the proposed action;

conducting the environmental analysis; preparing the environmental analysis document, supporting specialist reports, and draft decision document. The level of environmental analysis may be a categorical exclusion or require an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement. The Government will approve the identified purpose and need of the proposed action and make the determination of the preferred alternative and decision of the selected alternative.

E. Provide project management as required.

F. Conduct comment analysis. This may include analysis of comments in response to scoping and comment on draft environmental analysis. This may include use of the Forest Service Comment and Analysis Response Application (CARA), including coding (categorizing) comments, preparing non-electronic comments for entry into CARA, and providing responses to comments.

G. Provide analysis for Government response to objections.

H. Policy and procedures contained in Forest Service Manuals 1950 and Forest Service

Handbooks (FSH) 1909.15 will be the basis of the required work. Specific progress checkpoints will be established by the Government to facilitate approval of work completed and to assure timely completion of the NEPA actions.

Task 2 – FOREST PLANNING A. Gather existing available data for NFMA assessments and NEPA environmental analysis.

Individual tasks may require varying levels of resource analysis, field investigations, public and other government involvement (including meeting coordination and facilitation).

B. Provide writing and editing support for Government-generated documents for the forest planning process.

C. Provide team leader as required.

D. Complete all NFMA analysis and documentation, from the time the Forest Service begins preparation for initiating a Forest Planning effort, including conducting the assessment, preparing the assessment report, and preparing the report on the preliminary need to change the land management plan.

E. Complete all NEPA analysis and documentation, from the identification of the proposed action through decision, including preparing the scoping package; preparing the proposed action;

conducting the environmental analysis; preparing the environmental analysis document, supporting specialist reports, and draft decision document. The Government will approve the identified purpose and need of the proposed action and make the determination of the preferred alternative and decision of the selected alternative.

F. Conduct comment analysis. This may include analysis of comments in response to scoping and comment on draft environmental analysis. This may include use of the Forest Service Comment and Analysis Response Application (CARA), including coding (categorizing) comments, preparing non-electronic comments for entry into CARA, and providing responses to comments.

G. Provide analysis for Government response to objections.

H. Provide project management as required. Policy and procedures contained in Forest Service

Manuals 1920 and 1950 and Forest Service Handbooks (FSH) 1909.12 and 1909.15 will be the basis of the required work. Specific progress checkpoints will be established by the Government to facilitate approval of work completed and to assure timely completion of the NFMA action, if needed, and NEPA document.

TASKS TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS AND PLANNING ACTIVITIES

Task – PROJECT MANAGEMENT

A. Prepare a project management plan, including a variety of project initiation tasks related to overall project management and establishing the basic groundwork for the NEPA and NFMA processes. These tasks help ensure that the timing and components of critical items is identified and planned for from the beginning. These tasks also help ensure regular communication between the Contractor team and the Government staff and identify pending action items and any problems that need resolution.

B. Prepare resource reports or other related reports to document procedures, findings or recommendations.

C. Submit all reports to the COR designated on the task order.

D. Staff, supervise and assign work of the Contractor team. Supervise Contractor team activities to meet the needs, quality and period of performance specified in task orders.

E. Establish a central point of contact with the Government to provide proactive communications, customer service, problem resolution, and maintain an excellent business relationship with the Government.

Task – PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT A. Develop communications and public engagement plans.

B. Prepare informative documents for public circulation, such as news releases.

C. Prepare for public and interagency meetings, for example, scheduling meetings, finding available meeting facilities.

D. Prepare Federal Register notices and legal notices.

E. Develop story maps and other web-based interactive opportunities.

F. Document, consolidate, or analyze results of public involvement and engagement efforts.

Task – MEETING MANAGEMENT A. Coordinate and facilitate Forest Service meetings, general public involvement meetings, and cooperating agency meetings for specific projects or Forest Planning.

B. Meeting management options should include both in-person as well as electronic meeting opportunities such as webinars, video conferencing or other networking/meeting technology.

C. Meeting coordinators should be prepared to provide the Government with options and trade-offs as to various meeting formats designed to meet Government identified objectives and their associated costs and time commitments.

Task – WRITING/EDITING A. Provide technical writing and/or editing of documents required for support of the NEPA and

NFMA efforts or landscape analyses, watershed assessments, travel management, and other programs.

B. Final documents should be 508 compliant in a format such as pdf and/or word documents and ready for web posting.

C. Make documents camera-ready.

Task 2 – PROJECT RECORD AND ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD MANAGEMENT A. Maintain the official administrative record for the project until the final decision is signed.

B. Deliver the project record to the Government.

C. Prepare the project record in an electronic format (structured similarly to Attachments B and

C).

D. Meet the Project Record Management requirements of the Forest Service Planning Appeals &

Litigation System database.

E. All planning data, maps, files, reports, computer, audio or videotapes, and disks and other records shall be made a part of the permanent administrative record, including all information and data collected by the contractor and any subcontractors. This information and data will be considered non-proprietary and non-confidential with the exception of information protected from disclosure by Exemption 4 of the Freedom of Information Act. Any data provided in support of the NEPA and NFMA analysis by the non-Federal Party which they feel is confidential should be noted as such.

Task – DATA COLLECTION, DATA MANAGEMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC

INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS) ANALYSIS

A. Maximize the use of existing National Forest information available before initiating field investigation, inventory, or monitoring activity. Available information will be identified as part of the Government Furnished Property and Information in individual Task Orders.

B. Digitize for entry into the system, designing and conducting various resource mapping and analysis for projects and monitoring, creating various products for inclusion in the environmental analysis document, or other documents or public display, or other electronic related resource or geographic analysis.

C. Use a computer based Geographic Information System (GIS) compatible with the National

Forest system software, ARCINFO. The electronic data, both products and additions to the database, shall be delivered to the Government at the conclusion of each project or study.

Supply coverage additions, updates and corrections to base layers with full documentation so that the updates may be verified before application to the Forest Service database. Any data capture must meet minimum spatial accuracy consistent with USGS 7.5 minute Quadrangle sheets, 1:24,000 scale or larger. GIS coverage file naming, map projections, items and valid codes shall be consistent with the Regional Forest Resource Data Base Dictionary, or other National or Regional approved database.

D. Conduct statistical data analysis of forest inventory data, wildlife habitat data, geologic data, and others, as required.

E. Do not release data or information gathered through a task order without written permission of the Government.

F. Deliver all data collected and prepared for the basis of summary documentation to the COR at the conclusion of the study in an appropriate electronic format that allows future use by the Government. Original hard copy information such as field data collection forms may also be required to be delivered to the COR.

G. Document any updates made to government furnished data as a result of field checking or other means of verification. As a minimum, state what the updates were, what areas were affected, and why.

Task – MONITORING A. Design monitoring plans for resources, projects, Forest Plans, or programs in support of project and forest planning.

B. Implement monitoring programs.

C. Provide the Government with monitoring results specific to agency standards.

D. Document findings in reports.

E. Prepare consolidated monitoring reports, e.g. project mitigation reports, forest plan biennial monitoring reports, and ESA consultation reports.

Task – ASSESSMENT A. Determine existing conditions and trends B. Establish reference documentation for landscape or project level determinations C. Conduct a search and compilation of relevant literature, field data, and data available by non-

Government sources.

D. Collect and analyze data and information.

E. Prepare assessment reports and documentation of findings.

F. Assess physical, biological and social resources of an identifiable portion of an ecosystem, such as at the landscape or watershed scale, to determine program or project opportunities and possible management practices. Public involvement may be a key component of this NFMA or pre-NEPA type work.

Task – INVENTORY A. Collect and map resource information to specific agency standards B. The inventory work may be updating an existing or initiating a new one.

Task 1 – RESOURCE-SPECIFIC STUDIES Work may include field surveys or investigations, data gathering, statistical analysis, and documentation. Resource areas may include soil, water (surface and groundwater), air, botany, fish, vegetation, range, fuels, wildlife, scenery, recreation, wilderness, wild and scenic rivers, geology, and land/special uses. Resource studies for botany, fish, and wildlife may include biological evaluations or assessment preparation consistent with the appropriate Forest Service manual and handbook direction.

The following are resource-specific tasks.

a. Minerals and Geology

i. Perform the necessary geologic, geomorphologic, or paleontological components of resource inventory, analysis or monitoring. The work will range in specificity from landscape to site-specific, and may include working as part of an interdisciplinary team conducting Ecological Unit Inventory or other inventories, Watershed Analyses, or other integrated work.

ii. Specialized geologic skills shall be required when conducting groundwater studies, or when doing landslide investigations and other work requiring the characterization of soil and rock material for engineering purposes.

iii. Geologist will be utilized to locate and document unstable land hazard areas to facilitate layout, design of transportation and harvest systems and investigate surface and groundwater implications of mineral exploration and mining operations.

b. Water Resources

i. Perform the necessary hydrologic components of resource inventory, analysis or monitoring.

Federal, state, and county regulations pertaining mainly to the Clean Water Act and Forest Service Best Management Practices (BMP) shall be the basis for activities involving water resources.

ii. Gather field data to analyze effects of proposed management activities on watershed hydrology, channel morphology, aquatic habitat, and water quality.

iii. Identify non-point source pollution water quality protection and mitigation requirements in accordance with the Region’s Best Management Practices (BMP).

iv. Identify water BMP implementation and effectiveness monitoring required consistent with the Forest Service’s National Best Management Practices for Water Quality Management (FS- 990a, 2012).

v. Address cumulative watershed effects potential and remediation options.

vi. Include in the documentation an analysis of location and condition of flood plains, wetlands and riparian management areas that may require additional precautions and/or mitigations.

vii. In conjunction with soil and fisheries resources, collect sufficient field information to assess the existing conditions of the water resources for the project area.

viii. Evaluate and document channel, streambank and flood plain stability, and threat of onsite and downstream impacts using local Forest evaluation and analysis protocols.

c. Soil Resources

i. Gather field data to analyze effects of proposed management activities on soils.

ii. Conduct inventory, analysis or monitoring in compliance with policy contained in Forest Service Manual 2550 and using guidelines contained in Intermountain Region Supplement Forest Service Handbook 2550 (Soil Management) and any other pertinent information provided by the Government.

iii. Collect sufficient field information to assess the existing conditions of the soils resources for the project area.

iv. Evaluate and document susceptibility to erosion, soil compaction, soil stability channel, threat of onsite and downstream impacts, and capabilities and limitations of soils for a variety of contemplated uses and activities (e.g., timber sales, watershed rehabilitation projects, transportation planning, or recreation development) using local Forest evaluation and analysis protocols.

d. Air Resources and Smoke Management

i. Determine potential impacts from the proposed use of prescribed fire on designated non-attainment and smoke sensitive areas must be a part of the analysis. Federal, state, and county air regulations pertaining mainly to open burning and the Section 118 requirements of the Clean Air Act and State Implementation Plans (SIP), which include Smoke Management Plans, provide the basis for the analysis. The Government will supply upon request guidelines for preparing Air Quality Analysis for the project areas.

ii. If prescribed fire use is proposed within a SIP non-attainment area, perform a conformity rules determination of the impacts of the burning through modeling. Primary emission sources to be analyzed are: Particulate Matter (PM2.5) prescribed burning activities and fugitive dust from road construction, recreation use, and commercial hauling activities.

iii. Determine total emissions produced by the proposed activity for each alternative displayed by the analysis. Modeling of downwind impacts may be necessary if there is concern over avoiding impact of smoke to sensitive populated areas.

e. Vegetation Resources & Management (Timber, Silviculture, Botany, Invasive Species, Fuels)

i. Conduct formal stand examinations or more general walk through examinations. Using stand and other resource information, develop diagnostic and/or implementation prescriptions for timber sale or stewardship projects. Work may include all aspects of planning timber projects including marking and cruising, road location for NEPA purposes and related document preparation. Work may include analysis needed for determining sustained yields for timber production, timber suitability, planned timber sale programs, timber harvest levels, and other timber production information for Forest Plans. Collect sufficient field information to prepare initial prescriptions, determine feasible treatment options, and assess effects of these treatments on the resource, according to the desired conditions contained within the particular Forest Plan.

ii. Analyze the current condition of insect, disease and fuels buildup for the project area including basic predictions resulting from current conditions. Collect sufficient field information to prepare diagnostic prescriptions, determine feasible treatment options, and to assess effects on listed or proposed plant species.

iii. Prepare a fuels management plan for each stand proposed for harvest or vegetative treatment unit. Data collection for the plan shall be in compliance with policy contained in Forest Service Manual 5150 and any other pertinent information provided by the Government such as County Wildfire Mitigation Plans.

iv. Prepare a silvicultural prescription for each area proposed for harvest or treatment (e.g. fuel treatment, reforestation, timber stand improvement, or mechanical habitat improvement).

Prescriptions shall be prepared by a Professional Forester in compliance with policy contained in Forest Service Manual 2478 and using guidelines contained in Forest Service Handbook

2409.17 (Silvicultural Practices Handbook) and any other pertinent information provided by the Government. The prescriptions shall be prepared to the satisfaction of a Forest Service Certified Silviculturist, who will accept the prescriptions in writing through the COR.

v. Prepare a botanical report and a Biological Assessment/Evaluation, consistent with Forest Service Manual 2670, for any threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate or sensitive plant species that are known or suspected to occur within the project area, or for which potential habitat has been identified. Data collected in support of these evaluations must be in a format that allows assessments to be completed that contribute to determinations of effects under the

Endangered Species Act, consistency with Forest Plan direction, and general NEPA effects disclosure. The Government will provide a list of plants to be assessed. The Government retains approval authority and the ability to reverse determinations for any Biological Assessment / Biological Evaluation written.

vi. Identify, survey, and/or sample for plants, including terrestrial and aquatic invasive species.

f. Rangeland Management

i. Perform the necessary components of rangeland resource inventory, analysis or monitoring.

ii. Gather field data to analyze effects of proposed management activities on the rangeland ecosystem.

iii. Evaluate and assess the environmental impact of various management practices on a rangeland ecosystem. Assessments shall be based on the principles, concepts, and practices of rangeland and ecosystem management applicable to rangeland management, grazing systems, and improvements. Inventory, analysis or monitoring shall be conducted in compliance with policy and guidance contained in Forest Service Manual and Handbooks, 2200 series and any other pertinent information provided by the Government.

iv. Collect sufficient field information to assess the existing conditions of the rangeland resources (range condition and trend) for the project area.

g. Logging and Transportation System Planning

i. Prepare logging and transportation plans that take into consideration the landform stability and related geologic hazards, air quality, water quality, riparian and wetland information, specified resource protection requirements and economic considerations. Logging plans shall document and recommend a logging system and associated transportation network that provides for treatment of the project area. A Civil Engineer or Logging Engineer shall accomplish the work in this section.

ii. Develop a transportation analysis with recommendations for the needed permanent and temporary road system within the Sale Area or Contract Area Boundary. Include a recommended haul route on National Forest System Roads and County roads to reach the State Highway System. The recommended haul route is that which is the most advantageous to the Government.

iii. Transportation planning and analysis shall be done according to the guidance provided in Forest Service Manual and Handbooks, 7700 series, and specifications provided in the task order. Include needed road surfacing and transportation safety enhancement to accommodate existing traffic and projected sale traffic.

h. Logging Road Services and Road Analysis

i. Provide analysis and documents for logging road placement, including conducting consultations, site visits, planning, cost analysis, inspection, documentation and review of documents.

ii. Conduct studies for road analyses to help determine if and where to construct new roads, or reconstruct existing roads, or decommission existing roads. Efforts could include road data collection, resource effects analysis including the cost of road construction, reconstruction, or realignment, public involvement, and report preparation.

i. Fisheries and Wildlife

i. In conjunction with soil and water resources, collect sufficient field information to assess the existing conditions of the fish and fish habitat resources for the project area. Include marine fish resources where appropriate. Data collected must be in a format that allows assessments to be completed that contribute to determinations of effects under the Endangered Species Act, consistency with Forest Plan direction, and general NEPA effects disclosure.

ii. Collect sufficient field information to assess the existing condition of habitats for aquatic and terrestrial wildlife species of concern, including ESA-listed, proposed, and candidate species and Government sensitive species and species of conservation concern.

iii. Evaluate data for the determination of species of conservation concern, with emphasis on best available scientific information. Forest Service Handbook 1909.12, Chapter 10, will provide the basis for the evaluation.

iv. Consistent with Forest Service Manual 2670, complete a Biological Assessment / Biological Evaluation for any threatened, endangered, proposed, candidate or sensitive fish or wildlife species that are known or suspected to occur within the project area, or for which habitat has been identified. The Government will provide by Task Order a list of fish and wildlife species to be assessed. The Government retains approval authority and the ability to reverse determination for any Biological Assessment / Biological Evaluation written.

j. Scenery Management

i. Conduct analysis for scenery and visual resources. Depending on the Forest, either the Scenery Management System (SMS) or Visual Quality Objectives (VQO) processes will be required. In general, both analysis processes will require the current landscape character be described, including a description of the ecological unit, landscape attributes and the landscape’s scenic attractiveness. The Government will provide the latest protocols and classifications for both systems at the time of a Request for Task Order proposal.

ii. Describe the area’s scenic integrity, including historical or past integrity, any interim short-term integrity levels necessary to reach a long-term goal, and an expression of the landscape’s “desired condition.”

iii. Collect information regarding the constituent, including a constituent inventory and analysis; information sources; and use of constituent surveys.

iv. Determine landscape visibility including the identification of travel ways and use areas, constituent concern levels, seen area, distance zones and scenic classes.

v. Conduct ecosystem analysis for planning and implementation, alternative development, evaluation and decision-making relevant to scenery and visual resources, including analysis for achievement of landscape character goals and monitoring.

k. Recreation, Wilderness, Recommended Wilderness, Inventoried Roadless Areas & Wild & Scenic Rivers

i. Compile, evaluate, and analyze information concerning developed and dispersed recreation, travel management, wild and scenic rivers, wilderness, and roadless areas.

ii. Use the Forest Service Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS) to conduct analysis for recreation resources. The Government will provide the latest protocols and classifications for the ROS system.

iii. Analyze effects of proposed management activities on recreation, wild and scenic rivers, wilderness, and roadless resources.

iv. Collect sufficient field information to assess the existing condition of recreation facilities (dispersed and developed), wild and scenic rivers, wilderness areas, and inventoried roadless area resources. Work may include describing the amount and type of recreation use in the project area based upon market research and analysis.

v. Identify and locate recreation facilities.

vi. Analyze effects of project activities on wilderness attributes.

vii. Analyze effects of project activities on roadless area characteristics that may be affected by project activities consistent with requirements under the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, the 2008 Idaho Roadless Rule, or the 2012 Colorado Roadless Rule, whichever is applicable to the area being assessed.

viii. Analyze effects of proposed activities on on wild and scenic river outstandingly remarkable values identified in Forest Plan and other wild and scenic river management plans

ix. Develop protocols and conduct analysis for wilderness evaluations and wild and scenic river eligibility and suitability studies. Forest Service Handbook 1909.12, Chapters 70 and 80 shall be the basis for these evaluations and studies.

x. Collect and analyze data for technical changes to inventoried roadless area boundaries.

l. Heritage Resource Surveys and Studies

i. Conduct studies and analyses for archaeological, anthropological, historical or other related studies or analyses. This may involve the expertise of archaeologists, anthropologists, historians, curators, architects, preservation engineers, or other related professionals and specialists. It usually involves work with archaeological, historic, or traditional cultural resources.

ii. Conduct literature, records, or archival searches; overviews; preparation of research designs;

resource inventories and documentation; ethnographies; histories or oral histories; excavations and data recovery; artifact and data analyses; curation; stabilization or restoration;

interpretation; or other historic preservation activities.

iii. Provide analysis and documentation to complete National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 consultation, involving resource significance or eligibility evaluation, analysis of effects to historic values, and mitigation of adverse effects. Work can also be oriented to Section 110 historic preservation activities such as resource rehabilitation or public education.

iv. Identify and assess traditional cultural properties (TCP) and areas of tribal importance. This may require coordination with Tribal Relations staff and work with local Native American Tribes as requested and coordinated by the Agency. Interaction with tribal entities shall occur only with the approval and in coordination with the Forest Service tribal relations coordinator.

m. Socio-Economic

i. Collect data on the social and economic environment including information related to subsistence resources and uses. This may include analysis of social and economic information for a project scale environmental analysis or landscape analysis. Where local Forest Plans include economic analyses, project scale analyses should build from these broader assessments in a manner where their conclusions can be tied back to those made in the Forest Plan.

ii. Describe the social and economic conditions or contributions of the project area in relation to the local and regional settings. The socio-economic analysis must include various resource values including recreation, scenery, habitat, etc. As requested by the Government, coordination with local states and counties may be required in order to assess implications to non-federal economic development plans.

iii. For Forest planning assessments, identify the areas of influence used for the assessment of social, cultural, and economic conditions, consistent with Forest Service Handbook 1909.12, Chapter 10. Provide the explanation and rationale for the identification of the areas of influence in a document to be made available for public review and comment.

n. Lands and Special Uses

i. Identify encumbrances and investigating their status and ownership within the sale or contract area. Provide forest officer written documentation of investigation that includes a map of acceptable scale.

ii. Provide communication site and transmission line corridor designation documentation and analysis preparation, and/or assessments supporting NEPA analyses for general permit actions in support of accepted proponent applications that do not fall under cost recovery requirements.

iii. Provide a recordable document, which includes an exhibit, in map form, which clearly defines the location and extent of any needed right-of-way, tied to property corners.

iv. Examine federal land status records and document any outstanding ownership rights.

o. Travel and Access Management

i. Conduct analysis for travel and access management. Government regulations (36 CFR 212) pertaining to travel management and travel planning and policy and procedures contained in Forest Service Manual 7712 and Forest…