STATEMENT OF WORK Title record copying - FY21.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

TITLE SEARCH SERVICES for

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE (NRCS)

EASEMENT PROGRAMS – Closed Easements

I. OBJECTIVE

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) requires the services of a Title Company for the performance of real property records searches in the states of Mississippi, Rhode Island, Wyoming and South Carolina. The objective of this contract is to obtain copies of certain real property records related to real property interests held by the United States in Mississippi, Rhode Island, Wyoming and South Carolina.

II. BACKGROUND

The Soil Conservation Act of 1935, the Flood Control Act of 1936, the Flood Control Act of 1944, the Watershed Protection and Flood Control Act of 1954 and the Agricultural Appropriations Act of 1953 authorized the Soil Conservation Service to acquire various real property interests on private land, on behalf of the United States, for the purpose of water and soil conservation and flood control. The Food Security Act of 1985, the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 and the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003 authorized the acquisition of easements on private land by the United States for various purposes including the restoration and protection of wetlands, mitigation of damages caused by the conversion of wetlands to agricultural land, protection of lives and property from floods, drought and the products of erosion watersheds throughout the US and in floodplains, protection and preservation of the agricultural viability of eligible land and the restoration and protection of forestlands. NRCS (formerly Soil Conservation Service) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture that is responsible for monitoring and enforcing these various easements. The purpose of this contract is to obtain copies of the recorded deeds for all property interests held by the United States in Mississippi, Rhode Island, Wyoming and South Carolina.

III. SCOPE

The contractor must coordinate and facilitate the following services:

1. Search the real property records in certain counties in the States of Mississippi, Rhode Island, Wyoming and South Carolina pursuant to a list provided by NRCS. The list provided by NRCS will include up to 2100 real property records, including the (i) county name and (ii) deed book and page number for the requested record.

2. Provide copies of the recorded real property records requested in an electronic format.

IV. STANDARDS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Contractor is responsible for having a current knowledge of the requirements of state law in connection with searching real estate transactions. Title insurers authorized by state law to conduct business in the jurisdiction where the subject land is located and who hold membership in the American Land Title Association (ALTA) may be considered competent to examine title.

V. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

The contractor will be provided with a list of up to 2100 real property records in Mississippi, Rhode Island, Wyoming and South Carolina. The list will include the county, deed book and page number of the record. Within 60 days after receipt and acceptance of the list from the Contracting Officer, the Contractor will deliver electronic copies of each of the listed documents as requested by the Contracting officer. The electronic files must each be saved as individual records/files

VI. PAYMENT

Payment will occur upon receipt and approval of the all deliverables mentioned above in Section V. NRCS will approve the Contractor’s payment through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) for services rendered at www.ipp.gov.

VII. AUTHORITY

Only the NRCS Contracting Officer may authorize a modification to this contract. Any questions or requests may be directed to the Contracting Officer identified on the signed contract.

VIII. NON-DISCLOSURE

Work performance required by this Scope of Work will involve access to potentially sensitive information about governmental and landowner issues. All Contractor personnel must comply with the terms of AGAR 452.224-70, Confidentiality of Information, as well as provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U. S. C. 552a. Additionally, the Contractor's employees shall comply with privacy of personal information relating to natural resources conservation programs in accordance with Section 1244 of Title II of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-171).

IX. CIVIL RIGHTS AND PROGRAM DELIVERY

By signing this agreement the Contractor assures the Department of Agriculture that the program or activities provided for under this agreement will be conducted in compliance with all applicable Federal civil rights laws, rules, regulations, and policies.

PRICE QUOTES

All quotes should be firm-fixed price per line item listed below:

http://www.ipp.gov/

Line Item

Product Description Period of Performance

Qty Unit Unit Price

Total

0001 Provide copies of all requested recorded documents

9/30/2021 – 03/31/2022 n/a Per document