Statement_of_Work_Revised_08_18_2022_0001.pdf

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES/PRICING SCHEDULE

1. POTENTIAL CONTRACT PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

October 1, 2022– September 30, 2032

Base Period: October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023 Option Period 1: October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024 Option Period 2: October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025 Option Period 3: October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026 Option Period 4: October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027 Option Period 5: October 1, 2027 – September 30, 2028 Option Period 6: October 1, 2028 – September 30, 2029 Option Period 7: October 1, 2029 – September 30, 2030 Option Period 8: October 1, 2030 – September 30, 2031 Option Period 9: October 1,2031 – September 30, 2032

2. CONTRACT PRICING INFORMATION

The Contracting Officer (CO) will be issuing a single award Firm-Fixed Price (FFP)/Unit Price contract for the performance of services of care, training, and adoption of wild horses and burros. The offeror shall provide pricing for all of the services listed in the schedule of services/pricing schedule portion of this document; the offeror is required to provide pricing for the base period and all option periods.

Offerors shall use the applicable wage determination for the location that is the primary place of performance for this contract.

The Contractor shall only be paid for items that are listed in the pricing schedule and shall only invoice for actual charges. Information provided below is for line items that may need clarification.

• Unit price for feed and care shall be all inclusive of total contractor costs for performing the tasks identified in the Feed and Care section of the SOW.

• The Contractor will be paid the feed and care daily rate for each animal that is maintained at their facility until the time that the animal is placed into adoption or purchased. A feed day is assessed for each animal at the facility at 5:00 PM (local time) of each calendar day. The Contractor shall develop and maintain a daily log on the number of animals at their facility each feed day; the contractor shall submit the daily log with invoices.

• The Contractor shall receive payment for each animal that is adopted or purchased while in the contractor’s care or any animal that is adopted at a BLM adoption event. Payment shall be based on the level of training the animal has received in accordance with the schedule of services/pricing schedule.

• Mileage unit price for transportation of animals shall include mileage, travel related expenses (lodging, meals, etc.), and labor rates.

• The Contractor shall be paid for transportation charges incurred in the performance of this contract.

Transportation charges will be based on loaded rates and empty rates. The mileage rate shall be all inclusive of charges to transport animals.

• The Contractor shall be paid to attend Wild Horse and Burro Program events and/or provide gentling and training demonstrations/clinics as requested and approved in advance by the BLM. The

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES AND UNIT PRICES

contractor shall receive a daily fee, which will cover reimbursement of all associated travel related expenses (lodging and meals separate from transportation of animals) and labor for themselves and up to four (4) assistants. Assistants are only to be used for training demonstrations (at contractor facility and BLM events), the CO and/or COR shall approve the number of assistants to be used for training demonstrations. Payment for these services is included in the training demonstration/clinic fee and the contractor shall invoice as such.

• The extra assistants for events (i.e., training assistants, laborers, etc.) shall be used to capture the costs associated with employing assistants, above and beyond the four (4) assistants in the training demonstration fee, for events. These total contractor costs for extra assistants will include salaries, insurance, equipment, etc. The COR must approve the number of extra assistants that the contractor proposes for an event.

• Brand Inspections shall include the costs of brand inspection certificate only.

3. SCHEDULE OF SERVICES/PRICING SCHEDULES – See Schedule of Services/Pricing

Attachment

*** The quantities listed in the attached Schedule of Services/Pricing Schedules are estimated quantities only. This in no way represents the actual quantities that the contractor may perform. The Government reserves the right to increase or decrease these quantities as needed. ***

The Contractor shall only invoice the Government for actual quantities performed.

STATEMENT OF WORK

1. ACRONYMS/DEFINITIONS

Adoption: BLM maintains federal ownership of the animal until the title is granted; one year after the adoption date.

Animals: Reference to animals in this Statement of Work document shall include wild horses and burros only.

BLM: Bureau of Land Management

CO: Contracting Officer

COR: Contracting Officer Representative

Events: Events can be held at the contractor’s facility or at an offsite location (i.e., Cheyenne Frontier Days, State Fair, etc.)

Halter Trained: Training in a normal and routine manner and with little or no resistance, which can be safely caught, haltered, and led, stands tied, accepts touching and brushing of all parts of the body, allows feet to be lifted and handled, and can be led to a stock trailer and walked into the trailer.

Henneke Scale: A consistent method of objective evaluation of a horse’s body condition based on visual and palpable fat cover over set points on a horse.

IM: Instruction Memorandum

Internet Program Adoption/Purchases: Adoption/Purchase event conducted over the internet.

PI: BLM Project Inspector

Purchase: Provides immediate ownership of a trained or untrained animal to the purchaser.

Saddle Trained: Will meet the criteria for a halter-trained horse plus accepts a saddle and rider and will routinely perform basic maneuvers with little difficulty. These basic maneuvers include turning in either direction, backing, and knowing the cues for walk, trot, and lope. The horse must be capable of these maneuvers in a large arena as well as a round pen.

Saddle Trained Horses for Law Enforcement Agencies: In addition to the meeting the criteria above for saddle trained these horses would continue training to become more finished for the work that law enforcement would need. Horses will be supple in the bridle, respond to the riders’ aids for walk, trot, lope, and side pass. Can pick up correct leads at the lope, be used to open gates and handle most obstacles without flight or fear. Ride through and handle crowds and road traffic. Horse should be able to handle load noises such as gun shots and busy events.

Wild Horse and Burro (WH&B): An unbranded, unclaimed, free-roaming horse or burro on public lands in the United States

2. BACKGROUND

WH&Bs ranging on the public lands that are administered by the United States, Department of Interior (DOI) Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the United States Forest Service (USFS) are protected under Public Law 92-195, issued December 15, 1971. WH&B populations on public lands shall be maintained to ensure a healthy rangeland and to promote healthy ecosystems. The BLM will perform periodic gathering and removal of animals to maintain healthy inventory levels of WH&B. The BLM WH&B Adoption and Purchase Programs seeks to place these animals with qualified adopters or purchasers. Providing trained animals makes it easier to place animals into private care.

3. REFERENCES

The following references are applicable to the performance of this contract (click on hyperlink to access):

Requirements for Selection of Wild Horses and Burros for the Internet Events | Bureau of Land Management (blm.gov) Animal Health, Maintenance, Evaluation and Response | Bureau of Land Management (blm.gov) IM 2014-132 - Guidance for the Sale of Wild Horses and Burros 2022 Adoption Incentive Program For Wild Horses And Burros Wild Horse and Burro Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program | Bureau of Land Management Euthanasia of Wild Horses and Burros Related to Acts of Mercy, Health or Safety. - Bureau of Land Management

The following references are informational only:

Wild Horse and Burro | Bureau of Land Management (blm.gov)

Wild Horse and Burro Quick Facts

IM 2014-133 - Required Timelines and Naming Conventions for Entering Data into the Wild Horse and Burro Program System and Recording/Reporting Requirements for Other Data |

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Transfer of Excess Wild Horses and Burros to Federal, State, and Local Government Agencies for use as Work Animals | Bureau of Land Management

4. REQUIREMENTS

This contract is for the feeding and caring, training, transportation, and adoption/purchase of wild horses/burros. The contractor must provide all necessary labor, materials, equipment, and facilities required to:

• Feed and care for up to 200 wild horses and/or burros at one time

• Facilitate Adoption/Purchases

• Transportation (loaded and empty)

• Training of animals using non-restraint methods https://www.blm.gov/policy/im-2017-057 https://www.blm.gov/policy/im-2017-057 https://www.blm.gov/policy/im-2015-070 https://www.blm.gov/policy/im-2014-132 https://www.blm.gov/policy/im-2022-014 https://www.blm.gov/policy/pim-2021-002 https://www.blm.gov/policy/pim-2021-007 https://www.blm.gov/policy/pim-2021-007 https://www.blm.gov/whb https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/about-the-program/program-data https://www.blm.gov/policy/im-2014-133 https://www.blm.gov/policy/im-2014-133 https://www.blm.gov/policy/im-2014-133 https://www.blm.gov/policy/im-2022-035 https://www.blm.gov/policy/im-2022-035

• Event training demonstrations/clinics

• Brand Inspections

5. FACILTIES

a. The contractor’s facilities must be located in either the states of Nebraska or Wyoming and within a 150-mile radius of Cheyenne, Wyoming.

b. The contractor’s facilities shall have the capacity to care for at least 100 animals with the potential of a maximum of 200 animals, up to 10 of these animals may be burros (jacks or jennies), at one time.

c. Except a tilt chute (which will be provided by BLM for providing veterinary care and farrier care) the contractor will provide all necessary facilities to support all requirements of this statement of work document.

d. The training facility shall have pens and runways to use for the movement of animals. All pens and runways shall be 6 feet high and of sufficient strength to hold wild horses. Acceptable materials in order of BLM’s preference are: Pipe, wood, and/or mesh wire with openings smaller than 2 X 4 inches. Mesh wire with larger openings must be covered with plastic snow fence or equivalent material. Corrals constructed of mesh wire must be covered with plastic snow fence (or equivalent material) or equipped with sight boards (2 X 6 inch lumber). The sight boards shall be located at the upper and middle portion of the corral fence. Corrals that are constructed of pipe or wood shall have proper spacing between members (no more than 12 inches).

e. Pursuant to 43 CFR 4750.3-2(3)(i) minimum of 144 square feet (SF) of corral space shall be provided for each animal that is in training and exercised daily, if animals are not exercised daily the corral shall be a minimum of 400 SF. The training facility shall provide separate corrals for each animal being trained with some type of wind break or shield appropriate for the area.

f. The contractor shall provide an indoor training facility for training horses and conducting training clinics during the winter and inclement weather. This facility should be a minimum of 10,000 SF in size.

g. The training facility must be clean, and the animal waste removed at least monthly. The facility must be designed and built to comply with all applicable Federal and State regulations relating to livestock waste control and off-site pollution. The entire facility must have sufficient drainage to eliminate any standing water and/or muddy conditions in the areas where the animals are being held.

h. Pasture fencing may be of common fencing materials but must be of sufficient height and condition to prevent the escape of these wild horses. The contractor is responsible for the recapture of any animals that may escape. Forage condition in the pastures must be sufficient so the animals are content and do not pressure the fence lines. Pastures must have natural or manmade shelter to accommodate all animals that are turned out to pasture. Animals on pasture shall have access to water at all times.

i. The Contractor shall have a designated area for quarantining animals that need segregation from general population due to illness, injury, or other reasons as determined by the Contractor or a veterinarian.

6. FEED AND CARE

a. The BLM will ship animals to the contractor’s facility for holding/training. Upon receipt of animals, the contractor shall inspect animals at time of delivery. The contractor shall advise the COR and/or the PI of any animals that have physical defects that make the animal undesirable for adoption. The COR and/or PI will make a determination, with a veterinarian’s recommendation as needed, if the animal shall be relocated to another holding facility that does not provide training or adoption services.

Animals may require sorting upon receipt based on the following criteria. The COR will direct the contractor on sorting requirements.

• Age – less than 1 year old separated from other animals

• Compromised (Injuries/Illnesses) As the number of animals at the contractor’s facility declines, the COR and/or PI will arrange for BLM to bring replacement animals, delivered by either semi-truck or horse trailer. Delivery by horse trailer will depend on the availability of animals within a one-day driving radius.

b. All horses will be mares or geldings between the ages of six (6) months and five (5) years of age, unless the BLM and the Contractor agree on a case-by-case basis to accept animals outside of this age range. The BLM shall minimize, to the extent practical, the number pregnant mares sent to the contractor.

c. The Contractor shall work with COR to set up farrier care as needed for the animals. Farrier services shall include trimming, cleaning, and shoeing the animals. The animals’ hooves shall be trimmed as needed to maintain the proper shape and length of the feet.

d. The Contractor shall be required to inspect animals on a daily basis. The contractor shall notify the COR and contact a contracted veterinarian for any animal that requires immediate treatment.

The veterinarian shall invoice the Government directly. The COR will coordinate routine veterinarian care, vaccinations, and deworming.

e. The contractor shall gather all animals on pasture as requested by the BLM. The BLM shall provide the Contractor with at least a one-week notice for any gathering operations.

f. Hay must be good quality, non-moldy, non-dusty grass, alfalfa, or a mix.

g. Deworming and vaccinations shall be conducted in accordance with Animal Health, Maintenance, Evaluation, and Response, IM 2015-070 Attachment 1- De-Worming and Vaccination Schedule.

7. HUMANE CARE AND TREATMENT OF WILD HORSES AND BURROS - Wild Horse and

Burro Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program - PIM 2021-002

a. The contractor shall maintain animals that are not in training or segregated from other animals on pasture. All animals, both on and off pasture, shall have access to water at all times.

b. The Contractor shall provide feed, including hay, grains, and protein supplements, as necessary to ensure that animals maintain an acceptable body condition in accordance with IM 2015-070 Attachment 3 – Henneke Equine Body Scoring Chart (Henneke condition score of 4). The BLM shall make every effort to deliver animals to the contractor’s facility that fit this body condition in https://www.blm.gov/policy/im-2015-070 https://www.blm.gov/policy/im-2015-070 https://www.blm.gov/policy/pim-2021-002 order to prevent the contractor from incurring unneeded expenses to get the animal to the desired body condition. If an animal cannot maintain that condition, the contractor shall isolate the animal in a separate sick pen and provide special attention including nutritional and or veterinary care.

c. All animals shall be maintained, treated, and handled in a humane manner and in accordance with the above referenced IM’s and all applicable Federal, State and local laws and regulations.

d. Follow standards listed in:

Wild Horse and Burro Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program | Bureau of Land Management

8. TRAINING

a. Halter training will be the minimum amount of training acceptable for horses offered at BLM events. The BLM may request a higher level (i.e., saddle trained) of training for certain adoptions/purchases at the discretion of the COR.

b. The Contractor may gentle or train the animals to any level necessary to increase the potential that the animal will be adopted or purchased.

c. The Contractor shall conduct training using least resistance techniques.

d. Law Enforcement (LE) Training Program

i. Horses will be trained for potential transfer to LE agencies in accordance with the requirements specified in Section 1 “Saddle Trained Horse for Law Enforcement Agencies” of this Statement of Work.

ii. The Contractor shall select horses (number to be determined by BLM), based on the Contractors professional judgement, that are ideal candidates for the LE Training Program. Selection factors shall include age (less than 3 years old), size, and demeanor.

iii. A 90-day Law Enforcement Training Suitability period will be conducted. At the conclusion of the 90-day period a LE visitation day will be scheduled (BLM will schedule meeting). LE and the Contractor will evaluate the horses and select horses that will continue in the LE Training Program. Horses that are not selected for further training will be removed from the training program and can be adopted by the public as a saddle trained horse at no additional cost to the Government.

iv. Horses that are selected for further training will receive an additional training. At the conclusion of the LE Training Program LE will select the horses that will be transferred.

v. Any horses that are not accepted by LE at the conclusion of the training program will be available for adoption/purchase by the public as a saddle trained horse at no additional cost to the Government.

9. TRANSPORTATION

a. The COR and/or PI can request the contractor to transport animals to event locations. The Contractor will be required to transport animals that are not adopted or purchased back to the Contractor’s facility. As requested by the BLM COR or PI, the Contractor may transport adopted animals from the Contractor’s facility to another BLM adoption facility or to an adopter or purchaser’s facility.

b. The BLM or COR can request the contractor to pick up and transport previously adopted or purchased animals that have been relinquished or repossessed by the BLM. The contractor may be requested to transport animals to another BLM adoption facility or to the contractor’s facility.

c. Contractor furnished stock trailer tops must be permanently covered, no bar top or open top trailers allowed. Floors must be made of non-skid materials or covered with non-skid materials.

Trailers must be mechanically sound, have no sharp edges or protrusions, and a single back gate that opens the full width of the trailer and has no openings that could allow horses to jump through. The back gate may not be a drop ramp gate.

10. ADOPTION

The Contractor shall make every effort to adopt or sell as many of the animals maintained at their facility each year. All potential adoptions at the Contractor’s facility will be by scheduled appointment, scheduled during a BLM event (locally or out of state), or via the internet adoption system in accordance with IM 2017-057.

Adopters or purchasers that select animals at the Contractor’s facility shall provide the following prior to finalization of the transaction.

• Required applications

• Private Maintenance and Care Agreements (PMACA)

• Payment to the BLM

11. EVENTS

a. The Contractor will only provide trained animals for BLM events, the BLM may provide untrained animals at these events. Trained animals will be adopted or purchased in the same manner as untrained animals offered at events (i.e., live competitive bids, silent auctions, first come first serve, etc.). The contractor may conduct training clinics at his/her facility for qualified adopters or purchasers.

b. The Contractor shall setup and tear down of corrals, pens, and other facilities that are required at events. The Contractor will use the Government provided panels for construction of these facilities; the Contractor shall provide a skid loader used for moving panels to desired locations.

The Contractor will be responsible for constructing facilities for any untrained animals the BLM provides for the event.

c. The Contractor shall be responsible for providing all necessary equipment and supplies to ensure that animals have access to food and water during events. Untrained animals brought to an event by the BLM will be the responsibility of the BLM to provide feed and water.

d. The Contractor shall conduct up to two (2) training demonstrations for each day of an event.

Training demonstrations may include multiple animals.

e. The Contractor will be required to participate in an annual WH&B events coordination meeting.

This will be a one-day (full day) meeting.

f. The Contractor will be required to participate in scheduled conference calls with the BLM team.

The COR will schedule these calls as needed; the Contractor shall include the costs for participating in these meetings in the Events Training Demonstration line item.

12. DEATH OR EUTHANASIA

a. Death and/or euthanasia shall be handled in accordance with Euthanasia of Wild Horses and Burros Related to Acts of Mercy, Health or Safety - PIM 2021-007.

b. The death of a wild horse or burro in the contractor’s facility shall be reported to the PI or COR within 48 hours, along with the cause of death.

c. Should it become necessary to euthanize an animal, the contractor and the veterinarian shall contact the BLM COR or PI before such euthanasian is performed. However, if the animal is suffering, the contractor may euthanize the animal as an act of mercy. In all cases the contractor shall provide the COR or PI with documentation supporting the need for euthanasia.

d. The contractor will dispose of the carcass in accordance with applicable sanitation laws and regulations.

13. GOVERNMENT PROPERTY

a. The Government will provide the following property for contractor use during the performance of this contract. This property will be stored at the contractor’s facility and shall only be used for the performance of this contract. The government will maintain ownership of the property.

i. Chute

ii. Panels

iii. Gates

iv. Stock Trailer

v. Flatbed Trailer (modified)

b. Any loss or damage due to the fault or negligence of the contractor may result in charges to the contractor for the replacement or repair costs of property.

14. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED PROPERTY

The contractor must provide all necessary materials, equipment, and facilities required to perform the requirements listing in this statement of work document and any incorporated references.

15. QUALITY CONTROL PLAN

The contractor shall develop and maintain an effective quality control program to ensure services are performed in accordance with this SOW. The plan shall address the contractor's processes to ensure quality control during performance of services. The contractor shall develop and implement procedures to identify, prevent, and ensure non-recurrence of defective services. The contractor’s quality control program is the means to assure work complies with the SOW and terms and conditions on contract.

Throughout the life of this contract any proposed changes will be provided to the contracting officer for written approval.

16. CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

a. The contract will have a Contracting Officer Representative (COR) designated by the Contracting Officer (CO). Designated COR will participate in administration of this contract, specifically to evaluate contractor performance and inspect and accept services for the Government. This https://www.blm.gov/policy/pim-2021-007 https://www.blm.gov/policy/pim-2021-007 designation does not include authority to modify or amend contract terms and conditions. In no event shall any understanding or agreement, contract modification, change order, waiver, or other matter in deviation from the terms of this contract between the Contractor and a person other than the CO be effective or binding upon the Government. All such actions must be formalized by a proper contractual document executed by the CO. The contractor shall not take direction of any contract revisions without the written authority of the CO. Upon designation the CO will notify the contractor in writing of names, duties, and limitations of appointed CORs. Acceptance of all work and effort under this contract (including “Reporting Requirements,” if any) shall be accomplished by the CO or the designated COR.

b. Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this contract, the Contracting Officer shall be the only individual authorized to:

• Accept nonconforming work,

• Waive any requirement of this contract, or

• Modify any term or condition of this contract.

c. Correspondence Procedures:

To promote timely and effective administration, correspondence submitted under this contract shall include the contract number and shall be subject to the following procedures:

• Technical Correspondence:

Technical correspondence (as used herein, excludes technical correspondence where patent or technical data issues are involved and correspondence which proposes or otherwise involves waivers, deviations, or modifications to the requirements, terms, or conditions, of this contract) shall be addressed to the Contract COR, with an informational copy of the correspondence to the Contracting Officer.

• Other Correspondence:

All correspondence, other than technical correspondence, shall be addressed to the Contracting Officer, with informational copies of the correspondence to the Contract COR.

d. Post Award Conference:

A Post Award conference with the successful offeror(s) may be held. If needed, it will be held within ten (10) calendar days after the date of the contract award, and it will be held at time and place agreed to by the BLM and, in consultation with, the contractor.

e. Key Personnel:

The contractor shall assign to this contract the following key personnel:

• Program Manager

• Wild Horse & Burro Specialist (potential skillset of trainer, laborer, truck driver, and wrangler)

Individual names shall be included in the resultant contract as an attachment to the contract. Revisions in accordance with the provisions of this clause will be made by superseding letters to be included in the contract.

During the first year of performance, the contractor shall make no substitutions of key personnel unless the substitution is necessitated by illness, death, termination of employment, or otherwise approved by the CO. The contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer within 15 calendar days after the occurrence of any of these events and provide information required below. After the initial year, the contractor shall submit the information required below to the Contracting Officer at least 15 calendar days prior to making any permanent substitution. All changes in personnel will require a resume with address, phone number, references, and their availability to work during the gather season and their role in the organization.

The contractor shall provide an explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitution, complete resumes (phone numbers, address, references, and availability to work during the trapping season) for the proposed substitutes, and any additional information requested by the Contracting Officer. Proposed substitutions should have comparable qualifications to those of the persons being replaced. The Contracting Officer will notify the contractor within 15 calendar days after receipt of all required information of the decision on substitutions. The key listing of personnel shall be modified by superseding letters.

f. Basis for Payment

Contractor shall only invoice and be paid for actual unit pricing as identified in the schedule services/pricing schedule

17. CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT REPORTING SYSTEM (CPARS)

The Government will assess the contractor’s performance on this contract in accordance with FAR

42.15. Emphasis will be placed on the contractor’s quality, schedule, cost, and management; to include quality of problem identification, corrective action plans and efforts to demonstrate continual improvement. The contractor may be invited to provide input prior to completion of the assessment report. The contractor is encouraged to comment on the assessment report. The contractor shall return any comments to the Government within 30 days of receipt of an assessment report through CPARS.