Synopsis amd1_2.docx

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WILD HORSE AND BURRO OFF-RANGE CORRALS ID, NV, UT
Solicitation number
140L0120R0008
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This document outlines requirements for a federal solicitation to provide off-range corral facilities and care for wild horses and burros. The Bureau of Land Management seeks to contract for a minimum of 500 and maximum of 10,000 horses and burros to be held at off-range corrals in Idaho, Nevada and Utah. The solicitation will be open to full and open competition with a proposal due date of November 18, 2020. The contract consists of a one-year base period and up to nine one-year option periods to be exercised through task orders, for a total potential period of performance of ten years. Required services include facilities, feeding, watering, handling, record keeping, observation and disposal of remains in compliance with state and local laws.

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The purpose of Amendment 1 is to change the minimum from 1,000 wild horses and burros to 500 wild horses and burros. Please review the solicitation in its entirety to view all changes from the initial synopsis.

WILD HORSE AND BURRO OFF-RANGE CORRALS IN IDAHO, NEVADA, AND UTAH

This announcement serves as a synopsis for the Wild Horse and Burro Program. The solicitation, 140L0120R0008, will be issued on or about October 19, 2020, with a proposal due date on or around November 18, 2020.

This solicitation will not be set aside for small businesses. This solicitation is a full and open competition.

Wild horses and burros on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service are protected, managed, and controlled under the provisions of the Act of December 15, 1971, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1331-1340). As resource conditions and other factors warrant, excess wild horses and burros are removed from the public lands and placed in private maintenance through adoptions and sales. Before the horses are placed into private maintenance through adoptions and sales or off-range pasture holding, they may be held in off-range corrals (ORC).

The BLM has initiated a management strategy that provides for the removal of more wild horses and burros than our nationwide off-range corrals and pastures can accommodate. The intent of this proposal is to provide an ORC for these animals while they are cared for, until they are shipped to off-range pastures, adopted, sold, or transferred.

BASE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE – XXXX, 2020 THROUGH XXXX, 2021

Item Number

Services
Est.

Qty

Unit
Unit

Price Total

0010
Provide all necessary facilities, personnel, hay and supplies for an Off-Range Corral/Wild Horse & Burro Maintenance Facility for a minimum of 1,000500 wild horses and burros and maximum of 10,000 wild horses and burros. (Contractor shall propose number), from the date of award through one (1) year after award, with animals arriving at the facility on or about 120 days after contract award, in accordance with the specifications, terms and conditions contained herein.
*
Feed

Day

*Contractor shall complete by multiplying the number of animals they propose to care for by 365 (for evaluation purposes only)

OPTION PERIOD 1 – XXXX, 2021 THROUGH XXXX, 2022

Item Number

Services
Est.

Qty

Unit
Unit

Price Total

0010
Provide all necessary facilities, personnel, hay and supplies for an Off-Range Corral/Wild Horse & Burro Maintenance Facility for a minimum of 1,000500 wild horses and burros and maximum of 10,000 wild horses and burros. (Contractor shall propose number), from the date of award through one (1) year after award, with animals arriving at the facility on or about 120 days after contract award, in accordance with the specifications, terms and conditions contained herein.
*
Feed

*Contractor shall complete by multiplying the number of animals they propose to care for by 365 (for evaluation purposes only)

OPTION PERIOD 2 – XXXX, 2022 THROUGH XXXX, 2023

Item Number

Services
Est.

Qty

Unit
Unit

Price Total

0010
Provide all necessary facilities, personnel, hay and supplies for an Off-Range Corral/Wild Horse & Burro Maintenance Facility for a minimum of 1,000500 wild horses and burros and maximum of 10,000 wild horses and burros. (Contractor shall propose number), from the date of award through one (1) year after award, with animals arriving at the facility on or about 120 days after contract award, in accordance with the specifications, terms and conditions contained herein.
*
Feed

*Contractor shall complete by multiplying the number of animals they propose to care for by 365 (for evaluation purposes only)

OPTION PERIOD 3 – XXXX, 2023 THROUGH XXXX, 2024

Item Number

Services
Est.

Qty

Unit
Unit

Price Total

0010
Provide all necessary facilities, personnel, hay and supplies for an Off-Range Corral/Wild Horse & Burro Maintenance Facility for a minimum of 1,000500 wild horses and burros and maximum of 10,000 wild horses and burros. (Contractor shall propose number), from the date of award through one (1) year after award, with animals arriving at the facility on or about 120 days after contract award, in accordance with the specifications, terms and conditions contained herein.
*
Feed

*Contractor shall complete by multiplying the number of animals they propose to care for by 365 (for evaluation purposes only)

OPTION PERIOD 4 – XXXX, 2024 THROUGH XXXX, 2025

Item Number

Services
Est.

Qty

Unit
Unit

Price Total

0010
Provide all necessary facilities, personnel, hay and supplies for an Off-Range Corral/Wild Horse & Burro Maintenance Facility for a minimum of 1,000500 wild horses and burros and maximum of 10,000 wild horses and burros. (Contractor shall propose number), from the date of award through one (1) year after award, with animals arriving at the facility on or about 120 days after contract award, in accordance with the specifications, terms and conditions contained herein.
*
Feed

*Contractor shall complete by multiplying the number of animals they propose to care for by 365 (for evaluation purposes only)

OPTION PERIOD 5 – XXXX, 2025 THROUGH XXXX, 2026

Item Number

Services
Est.

Qty

Unit
Unit

Price Total

0010
Provide all necessary facilities, personnel, hay and supplies for an Off-Range Corral/Wild Horse & Burro Maintenance Facility for a minimum of 1,000500 wild horses and burros and maximum of 10,000 wild horses and burros. (Contractor shall propose number), from the date of award through one (1) year after award, with animals arriving at the facility on or about 120 days after contract award, in accordance with the specifications, terms and conditions contained herein.
*
Feed

*Contractor shall complete by multiplying the number of animals they propose to care for by 365 (for evaluation purposes only)

OPTION PERIOD 6 – XXXX, 2026 THROUGH XXXX, 2027

Item Number

Services
Est.

Qty

Unit
Unit

Price Total

0010
Provide all necessary facilities, personnel, hay and supplies for an Off-Range Corral/Wild Horse & Burro Maintenance Facility for a minimum of 1,000500 wild horses and burros and maximum of 10,000 wild horses and burros. (Contractor shall propose number), from the date of award through one (1) year after award, with animals arriving at the facility on or about 120 days after contract award, in accordance with the specifications, terms and conditions contained herein.
*
Feed

*Contractor shall complete by multiplying the number of animals they propose to care for by 365 (for evaluation purposes only)

OPTION PERIOD 7 – XXXX, 2027 THROUGH XXXX, 2028

Item Number

Services
Est.

Qty

Unit
Unit

Price Total

0010
Provide all necessary facilities, personnel, hay and supplies for an Off-Range Corral/Wild Horse & Burro Maintenance Facility for a minimum of 1,000500 wild horses and burros and maximum of 10,000 wild horses and burros. (Contractor shall propose number), from the date of award through one (1) year after award, with animals arriving at the facility on or about 120 days after contract award, in accordance with the specifications, terms and conditions contained herein.
*
Feed

*Contractor shall complete by multiplying the number of animals they propose to care for by 365 (for evaluation purposes only)

OPTION PERIOD 8 – XXXX, 2028 THROUGH XXXX, 2029

Item Number

Services
Est.

Qty

Unit
Unit

Price Total

0010
Provide all necessary facilities, personnel, hay and supplies for an Off-Range Corral/Wild Horse & Burro Maintenance Facility for a minimum of 1,000500 wild horses and burros and maximum of 10,000 wild horses and burros. (Contractor shall propose number), from the date of award through one (1) year after award, with animals arriving at the facility on or about 120 days after contract award, in accordance with the specifications, terms and conditions contained herein.
*
Feed

*Contractor shall complete by multiplying the number of animals they propose to care for by 365 (for evaluation purposes only)

OPTION PERIOD 9 – XXXX, 2029 THROUGH XXXX, 2030

Item Number

Services
Est.

Qty

Unit
Unit

Price Total

0010
Provide all necessary facilities, personnel, hay and supplies for an Off-Range Corral/Wild Horse & Burro Maintenance Facility for a minimum of 1,000500 wild horses and burros and maximum of 10,000 wild horses and burros. (Contractor shall propose number), from the date of award through one (1) year after award, with animals arriving at the facility on or about 120 days after contract award, in accordance with the specifications, terms and conditions contained herein.
*
Feed

*Contractor shall complete by multiplying the number of animals they propose to care for by 365 (for evaluation purposes only)

Offerors have the option to propose pricing on:

Base Year + four (4) options years for a total of five (5) years, or Base Year + nine (9) option years for a total of ten (10) years.

All five or ten years will be on one Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) on the Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. A new task order will be issued each year with funding for the year. This notice should not be construed as an obligation on the part of the Government to exercise the option, nor does it commit the Government to actual renewal or authorized payment of Government funds.

** A feed day is defined as: "The price to feed one animal for one full day, except mare/foal pairs, which count as one animal feed day until their foals become approximately four months of age. At four months of age foals are counted as a single unit. The Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and/or Project Inspector (PI) will make the determination when foals become approximately four months of age.

NOTE: The Contractor will be reimbursed based on the actual number of feed days per month, using the unit price per feed day, as offered by the Contractor.

1. FUTURE TASK ORDERS AS-NEEDED (IDIQ)

Initial task orders are funded and issued based on the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) need. By virtue of award of an IDIQ each awardee was determined technically acceptable. Order will be communicated electronically, by phone, or other means determined appropriated by the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).

2. CRITERIA FOR ISSUING TASK ORDERS

1. Minimums and Maximums are for the life of the contract and inclusive of the options period(s) if exercised.

1. Delivery of animals will be at the discretion of the CO and/or COR based on the availability of each contractor.

3. GENERAL OVERVIEW

The only work authorized under this Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) is work ordered by the Government through the issuance of Task Orders.

4. BASE WITH OPTION PERIODS

The IDIQ awarded from this Solicitation will contain requirements for a base year up to 12-months with four (4) or nine (9) 12-month options to be become binding upon the exercise of the option/or issuance of a task order by a BLM authorized Contracting Officer.

5. GENERAL OVERVIEW

Wild horses and burros on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service are protected, managed, and controlled under the provisions of the Act of December 15, 1971, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1331-1340). As resource conditions and other factors warrant, excess wild horses and burros are removed from the public lands and placed in private maintenance through adoptions and sales. Before the horses are placed into private maintenance through adoptions and sales or off-range pasture holding, they may be held in off-range corrals (ORC).

The BLM has initiated a management strategy that provides for the removal of more wild horses and burros than our nationwide off-range corrals and pastures can accommodate. The intent of this proposal is to provide an ORC for these animals while they are cared for, until they are shipped to off-range pastures, adopted, sold, or transferred.

6. WORK HOURS

Contractor shall be available to support the care, feeding, and holding of animals year-round, 365 days per year.

7. MINIMUM/MAXIMUM

Total estimated quantity per awarded contract is between 1,000500 (minimum) – 10,000 (maximum) head/ horses or burros/ animals per feed day. There is no guarantee of award of any work, except to meet the minimum amount in the base year of $5,000.00. Each period of performance will be awarded as a separate Task Order under this contract. (Reference FAR 16.505 and the contract resulting from this solicitation)

6. APPROACH, EXERCISE OF OPTIONS

The IDIQ may reflect the total possible period of the contract (base and all options). This is not intended and does not indicate nor convey a multiple year contract. This does not obligate the government to exercise any future options (via a task order). The base contract remains active with the issuance of a funded task order. The preliminary notice, and options for the contract will be issued in combination with a funded task order. Unexercised options (via a funded task order) prior to the end of the total possible period of performance listed in the IDIQ will not result in a termination. The final contract period will be modified (as needed) to reflect the actual end date of the contract/IDIQ and closed-out in accordance with FAR Part 4. No termination is required for options not exercised via a funded task order. (Reference FAR Clause 52.217-9 and 52.216-22)

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK

1. BACKGROUND

a) Wild horses and burros on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service are protected, managed, and controlled under the provisions of the Act of December 15, 1971, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1331-1340). As resource conditions and other factors warrant, excess wild horses and burros are removed from the public lands and placed in private maintenance through adoptions and sales. Before the horses are placed into private maintenance through adoptions and sales or off-range pasture holding, they may be held in off-range corrals (ORC).

b) The BLM has initiated a management strategy that provides for the removal of more wild horses and burros than our nationwide off-range corrals and pastures can accommodate. The intent of this proposal is to provide an ORC for these animals while they are cared for, until they are shipped to off-range pastures, adopted, sold, or transferred.

c) On December 8, 2004 Public Law 108-341; Section 142 amended the 1971 Wild and Free-roaming Horses and Burros Act (Public Law 92-195) that requires the BLM to sell excess wild horses and burros which meet the following criteria:

a) Animals that are 11 years of age and older, or

b) Animals that have been offered unsuccessfully at three events.

d) This may require the BLM to remove animals that meet the above criteria from the contracted ORC during the course of the contract.

e) The purpose of this contract is to provide for a WH&B preparation and holding facilities within the states of Idaho, Nevada, and Utah. The following geographic boundary within each state can be identified below:

· For Nevada, facility may be located anywhere in the state of Nevada.

· For Idaho, following Interstate 84, from the Oregon boundary easterly to the junction of Interstate 15 south to the Utah state line and westerly of said interstate.

· For Utah, facility may be located west of Interstate 15 and US Highway 191.

The offered property may be located outside of said boundary, but by no more than 30 miles of described highway boundary and accessed by an all-weather road or highway. The offered facility(s) must be able to facilitate the preparation of animals after they are gathered, relocated from off-range pastures, and/or existing off range corral facilities. Facility proposal cannot be located in a Herd Management Area (HMA) or an occupied Herd Area (HA). See attachment maps of these locations.

f) Wild horses and burros as well as employee saddle horses will be the only livestock maintained and cared for within the contracted square footage at this facility. No other privately owned animals/ livestock will be permitted within the contracted square footage at this location unless otherwise stated by the BLM Contracting Officer and COR.

If an ORC exceeds in size more than the contracted square footage, the contractor may use that portion to accommodate other livestock at no expense to the government. However, if a non-contracted portion of the ORC exists, it must have its own separate loading and off-loading chutes, squeeze chutes, holdings pens, alley ways, feed, and water troughs, etc.

g) The contract ORC needs to be able to accommodate a minimum of 1,000500 wild horses and burros and a maximum of 10,000 wild horses and burros in a safe and humane condition.

2. OBJECTIVES

a) To maintain and prepare excess wild horses and burros from BLM wide gather operations or from the western preparation facilities, within a contract ORC.

b) Provide land, pens, feed, salt, minerals, and water necessary for maintaining a minimum of 1,000500 wild horses and burros.

c) To provide corrals and adequate facilities to load, unload, prepare, and sort wild horses.

d) Provide humane care of all wild horses and burros during receiving, holding and preparation, prior to shipment to off-range corral or pasture, adoption, or sale.

e) Provide regular, on-the-ground observation of the wild horses and burros to ascertain their well-being and safety.

f) Provide facility management by individuals who are knowledgeable and experienced about the behavior and nutritional requirements of equines.

g) Provide opportunity for the BLM to host an annual public tour and/or tours in order for the public to view animals and facility operations. Due to the fact that the facility is privately owned and not open to public for adoptions, the facility personnel will make best efforts to participate on the BLM internet adoption web site (on-line corral) so the public will have the opportunity to adopt animals from the facility throughout the year. Participation with the on-line corral will be subject to facility workload, availability of animals and their condition, and any other unforeseeable circumstances.

3. GENERAL SERVICES

The contractor shall provide all necessary land, facilities, personnel, and supplies to perform the following general tasks. Specific requirements for each are explained later in this section.

a) Provide corrals and adequate facilities to load and unload wild horses and burros.

b) Load, unload, sort, and segregate wild horses and burros upon their arrival at the site.

c) Provide feed and water to all animals on a daily basis.

d) Provide all corrals, loading chutes and adequate facilities necessary to prepare animals for adoption, sale, transfer, and shipment to off-range pastures, other off-range corral locations, or approved BLM approved events and locations. This preparation work may include but is not limited to vaccinations, hoof trimming, deworming, castration, blood draws, and microchipping.

Provide regular observation on a daily basis of animals on site and a record keeping system that documents the frequency and results of observations.

e) Provide a record keeping system that identifies the pen location, sex, age group, and quantity to include per pen of inventory animals. The contractor will update the form on a bi-monthly basis. (Example of form shall be provided by BLM). This information is not used to determine the monthly payment.

f) Death of any animals must be recorded, documenting each animals’ identification number (freezemark and/or microchip number), age and physical description. If the freezemark and/or microchip number is unreadable, a complete physical description and age is required. In case of the death of wild horses or burros, the Contractor shall dispose of the remains in accordance with state and local sanitation laws. This information will need to be relayed to the COR by the end of the following business day.

g) The contractor may be required, after consultation with the COR and/or PI, to euthanize an animal for an acute or chronic illness, injury, physical condition, or lameness that cannot be treated or has a poor or hopeless prognosis for recovery reasons related to acts of mercy, health and/or safety.

h) Provide personnel that are intimately familiar with the health requirements of equines.

i) Have personnel with knowledge, skill, and ability to safely handle wild horses and burros.

4. SPECIFIC SERVICES

a) Handling

(1) All horses shall be handled, treated, and maintained in a humane manner in accordance with BLM guidance and policies (See attached - Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program Standards for Off-Range Corrals). Wild horses and burros in corrals and chutes shall be worked in a manner that minimizes excitement and stress of the animals in order to prevent injuries from crowding or trampling.

(2) Upon arrival at the facility, wild horses and burros will be unloaded, sorted, and identified by the COR and/or PI and the Contractor. Sorting of the wild horses and burros will be done primarily by sex, age, and gender. This will include the separation of studs, mares, mares with foals, geldings, weanlings, and yearlings.

(3) The COR and/or PI will notify the Contractor of any required dates and number of animals that need to be prepared and shipped for adoption, sale, transfer or moved to off-range pasture or ORCs.

(4) The Contractor shall be responsible for providing staff assist the COR and/or PI in the handling and movement of animals to administer booster vaccinations, as well as assist BLM or BLM Contractor in treating sick or injured animals, drawing blood for Coggins tests, castration, micro-chipping, and de-worming.

(5) Handling will be limited to individuals with expertise in the humane handling and movement of wild horses and burros.

b) Corral Facility

(1) The corrals must be at least 72" high and made of stoutly constructed material i.e. pipe, portable panels, steel, lumber, etc. No barbed wire or single-strand smooth wire will be allowed in the construction of corrals. Any holding corral constructed of solid lumber must have a non-chewable surface (for example mesh wire, cable, metal panel, etc.) to prevent wild horses and burros from eating the wood. Any corral constructed of mesh wire (openings no larger than 2 by 4 inches) must be equipped with at least 3 wood sight boards (2 by 8 inches) located on the upper portion of the fence. The three sight boards shall be spaced no more than 12 inches apart. Corrals must have openings of not more than 12 inches between horizontal members. Corrals and holding areas need to be free of protrusions, and hazards. Corral gates shall be constructed of wood, pipe, portable panels, or steel the same height as the fences.

Material to obstruct the animal’s vision should be used on all gates that horses or burros will encounter when they are being sorted. The contractor will furnish at a minimum: a covered building with sufficient walls that block prevailing winds and weather elements from personnel while working at the chute area, concrete pad, and electricity suitable for a hydraulic chute. The Bureau will furnish the hydraulic squeeze chute for the working area.

(2) The contractor shall assure that dust in the corrals and alleyways do not become a health problem for the animals or employees. Proper dust abatement shall be at the direction of the COR.

(3) Pens shall be cleaned at a minimum of twice a year to remove excess manure, or as directed by the COR and/or PI.

(4) Separate corrals (with a minimum of 400 sq. ft./animal) shall be available for confining lame, sick, or compromised animals needing special care and must have access to overhead shelter and wind break available within the corrals.

(5) Slopes within the pens shall provide for adequate drainage.

(6) The corrals will have sufficient space to hold wild horses and burros with a maximum of 100 per pen and allowing for 700 sq. ft. per head or 70,000 sq. ft. per pen, (i.e.), based on 100 head, the pen shall have 70,000 sq. ft.

(7) The ORC will have the following:

i. ORC will obtain the necessary permits required for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) in accordance with their state requirements. ORC will adhere to and maintain the proper reporting documents pertaining to this permit. The contractor will be responsible for construction and maintenance of any infrastructure associated with this permit.

ii. Access to the unloading and loading chute shall accommodate semi-trucks. Loading and unloading areas shall have adequate lighting to facilitate operations any time of day or night. Access shall be available during inclement weather. An area to load and unload gooseneck stock trailers shall be provided.

iii. Adequate chutes, runways, and crowding alleys to facilitate preparing, sorting, and shipping of animals.

iv. Unloading and Working Facility

1. Unloading and Loading Facility:

The loading and unloading facility shall have a ramp, sufficient to safely unload and load semi-trailer trucks and small stock trailers. The loading ramp floor should be at least 4 feet high (standard height for loading and unloading both drop-center and straight-deck trailers). Height of the sides of the loading and unloading alley should be approximately 5-1/2 to 6 feet. The ramp shall have solid sides which restrict the animal’s vision and will minimize the risk that the animal will attempt to jump out of the ramp. The ramp must be at least 32 inches wide and 15 feet long. In order to load horses at the site, a crowding pen and or alleyway with at least three gates will be required. A catwalk will be required for at least one side of the ramp.

2. Working Facility:

A catwalk is required for at least one side of the crowding pen and the first 30 feet of the runway. The runway leading to the working hydraulic chute must be solidly constructed of steel or lumber, be at least 30' in length, 28-32” wide and at least 72"tall. The Bureau will furnish the hydraulic squeeze chute for the working area.

v. Perimeter Fences

All entry gates into the facility must have the ability to be locked to provide adequate security during non-work hours. The facility will have a fence around its entirety in the event a wild horse or burro escapes from an individual pen. Exterior fencing will need to be 48” in height. The material shall be at a minimum barbed wire with steel and wood post construction.

vi. Feed Requirements

1. The contractor shall be responsible to provide all hay on site at all times to animals maintained in facilities. Animals shall be fed good quality long stemmed alfalfa, and/or grass-alfalfa mix hay, with energy and protein sufficient to meet the nutritional needs of the animals. The amount of hay fed must be as needed to maintain the animals in good condition. Most horses or burros should be maintained with a Henneke body condition score of 4 or greater. The minimum acceptable body condition is a Henneke body condition score of 3. No more than 5% of the animals should be < than BCS 4 and no animals should be maintained with BCS < 3.

This means animals should be fed 2% to 2.5% of their body weight on a dry matter basis assuming the average horse weighs 1,000lbs and the average burro weighs 500lbs. Greater amounts must be fed if necessary to maintain animals in good condition. Hay used shall be leafy, green, well cured, and free of dust, mold, weeds, and foreign material. Alfalfa hay as described above should have a relative feed value between 125 and 150 and a crude protein between 16 and 20. Feed shall be provided to the animals in a clean, well-drained area free of mud or standing water.

2. No ground hay or feed products will be used as feed for these animals. Processed hay (cubes, chopped, pelleted, or other processed) would need to be approved by the COR/PI. Those situations will be identified as they arise, and feed rates will be determined by the COR and/or PI at that time.

3. Some animals may require grass hay as determined by the COR/PI. If grass hay is used it should be good to very good quality with a crude protein between 8 and 14%.

4. Animals with a body condition < 4 will require additional or even free choice feed to achieve or maintain an acceptable body condition on the Henneke scale. In this case the ration must be approved by the COR/PI.

5. Feed will be provided daily for animals maintained in the corral areas.

6. Mares with foals shall be fed sufficient quantity of good quality alfalfa and/or grass-alfalfa mix hay to maintain both the mare and foal in good condition. Proper ratio for mares and foals will be determined by the COR and/or PI ( in some instances, mare/foal (pairs) may require up to 30 pounds of good quality feed to maintain both mare and foal in good condition).

7. Standing hay feeders, stanchions, or feed lines on the ground shall provide sufficient feed access for all horses in each pen to eat at the same time plus an extra 20% of linear (bunk) space to allow more timid animals to find a place to eat. The design of the feed bunks/troughs shall place feed not more than 2’ away from the horse’s chest when feeding. The back or center of the feed bunk should have slanting features that move the hay to within the 2’ distance. If feeding through stanchions, there shall be adequate stanchions to accommodate all animals housed in the pens to access feed at the same time plus 20% extra space. The space between the uprights of stanchions that horses must place their heads through shall not be more than 13¾” and not less than 12½” apart. If a feed apron is used instead of a feed bunk/trough with stanchions, hay must be pushed back regularly throughout each day to allow horses to consume the entire daily ration. Free choice feeders, open bunks, or ground feeding may need to be provided for horses or burros that refuse to utilize feed stanchions.

vii. Water, Minerals, and Salt

1. All holding corrals shall have a continuous supply of water available to animals at all times. Water shall be made available for the animals in troughs that are designed to prevent injury to the animals, i.e., rounded trough corners and lips. The troughs shall be kept cleaned on a monthly basis or as often as needed to be maintained clean.

2. Granulated or block trace mineral and salt shall be accessible to all horses and burros in each pen.

viii. Deaths and Disposal of Remains

1. Dead horses shall be identified by freezemark/microchip number and/or physical description and disposed of in accordance with State and/or local sanitation laws.

2. Rendering plants may be used for carcass disposal provided no compensation is received by any agency or individual disposing of the remains. The contractor shall notify the COR and/or PI immediately if the death of a horse is other than by natural causes or euthanasia, and it appears that a postmortem examination should be performed by a veterinarian. The COR and/or PI shall hire a veterinarian and make the arrangements for this procedure.

3. The contractor may be required, after consultation with the authorized officer (COR and/or PI), to euthanize an animal for reasons related to acts of mercy, health, and/or safety, in accordance with the most recent BLM euthanasia policy. BLM will be responsible for the cost of disposing the remains.

ix. Observation of Horses

1. The animals shall be observed by the contractor a minimum of once per day. Records shall be maintained, as requested by the COR to document as a minimum, the date of the observation, the condition of the animal, problems and concerns, and the name(s) of individuals) making the observation.

2. Any problems or concerns shall be reported to the COR and/or PI within 24 hours.

x. Observation by the Public

1. The contractor shall notify the COR and/or PI within 24 hours of any request from media, public, humane organizations, or wild horse interest groups, to observe the horses.

2. All such individuals, organizations and groups shall be allowed to tour the site during the specific times BLM/COR set aside for public viewing. This remains under discretion, approval, and guidance of the COR and/or CO.

x. Records

An inventory shall be kept at the ORC, which identifies all horses delivered to the ORC. Wild horses and burros will be identified by physical description. Animals that die shall be identified as soon as possible and noted on the inventory. Probable cause of death shall also be noted (as directed in previous section). A copy of the records will be submitted with each invoice. (BLM can provide an example of record keeping forms.)

xi. Office building with restrooms

1. Contractor shall furnish a building suitable for adequate office space to include internet access in order to perform record keeping duties associated with this ORC. The building must be compliant with all state and local building codes and meet all building safety standards.

2. Building will be equipped with electricity, phone, fax machine, office furniture (i.e. desks, chairs, filing systems), heating/cooling system, and restroom(s) equipped with running water, toilets, and sinks.

3. Contractor shall furnish the necessary toiletries needed for restroom(s) and have available at all times.

4. Contractor will also be responsible for performing cleaning and janitorial duties of the office and restroom facilities on a weekly basis. Additionally, contractor will be responsible to make any necessary maintenance/repairs to office building as needed.

5. THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (NEPA) REQUIREMENTS

a) Facilities formerly used by the BLM for which the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act have been met will be awarded upon the completion of a Documentation of NEPA Adequacy (DNA).

Facilities for which the BLM has not previously met the requirements of NEPA may be awarded but will be dependent on the completion of the requirements. This team will need the following information prior to their visit:

(1) All improvements of land and ownership on a 1:24,000 scale topographic map;

(2) Legal descriptions of all lands in the facility (to accommodate USFWS and SHPO clearances);

(3) Contractor schedules;

(4) Directions to the facility from a major highway;

(5) Name(s) of the contractor’s key contact(s), phone number(s), and email address(es), if any.

b) The items listed above shall be submitted to the BLM with the proposal.

6. RESPONSIBILITIES OF BLM

Veterinary Care

a) The BLM will provide and pay for a veterinarian to treat sick or injured animals as deemed necessary by the COR and/or PI. The veterinarian may be used to perform euthanasia on animals and conduct post-mortem examinations as requested by the COR and/or PI. The contractor may be required to assist the veterinarian.

b) BLM shall be responsible for the preparation of all wild horses and burros prior to shipment.

c) BLM shall be responsible for notifying the contractor within two (2) working days prior to conducting veterinary services and preparing animals for adoption, sale, or transfer, except for emergencies that require immediate action.

d) BLM will be responsible for preparing the appropriate paperwork for the shipment of animals to other locations.

e) BLM shall be responsible for the update of any paperwork related to vaccination or other action taken with respect to the wild horses and burros held at the ORC.

f) BLM will provide and onsite COR/PI at a minimum of five (5) days a week or any time animals are being handled (prepped, shipped, vaccinated, vet care, etc.).

g) BLM will provide hoof trimming services to all animals in a timely manner. All animals will have feet trimmed a minimum every six (6) months.

File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .