B09_-__Attachment_8_-_Governemnt_Response_to_Questions_Received_0001.pdf

Questions for Solicitation #140L0622R0028 – Wild Horse & Burro Catch, Treat, Hold, and Release

1. Section 2 – Price & Schedule Information Contract Pricing Information a) Minimum guarantees are per contract award for a total of $25,000.00 per contract. Question; will the government satisfy this amount for all contractors the first year of the contract by not having the contractors bid on the task orders and just giving each contractor a job to satisfy their minimum guarantee?

Government Response: Pursuant to FAR 16.505(b)(2)(D) the contracting officer may utilize an exception to the fair opportunity process to satisfy a minimum guarantee. Minimum guarantees are for the life of the contract and do not need to be satisfied within the first year of the contract.

After all contractors have received their minimum guarantee, will the government ask for bids on each task order?

Government Response: The government will provide all contractors fair opportunity to compete for task order awards unless an exception to fair opportunity under FAR 16.505(b)(2) applies.

Contract Pricing Information a) The overall program funding for the term of the IDIQs is estimated at $20 million. The individual contract ceilings will be set at $10 million; contract ceilings will be for the entire contract period (base and options exercised). Once a contractor reaches their ceiling, they will be ineligible for further award of orders against the contract.

Question, if the overall funding is $20 million and the ceiling for each contractor is $10 million does that mean there will only be two contractors that receive awards?

Government Response: Individual Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract ceiling to match the program ceiling. The ceiling for each individual IDIQ contracts will be established at $20,000,000.00.

Why does the contract have a ceiling amount for each contractor? Past wild horse and burro contracts had an overall program funding amount but did not have a ceiling amount for each contractor.

Government Response: Pursuant to FAR 16.504(a)(4)(ii) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Type contracts must specify the maximum the Government will acquire under the contract; this is accomplished by establishing a IDIQ contract ceiling. All prior IDIQ contracts for wild horse and burro contracts had established ceilings.

2. e) The Contractor shall only exceed the number of animals on the Task Order after approval from the Contracting Officer via a Task Order modification. The Contractor shall not capture more animals than what is identified in specific task order SOWs, unless authorized by the COR/CO. Question. does this second sentence mean that the COR could authorize the contractor to capture more animals than what is identified in a task order?

Government Response: No, it does not mean the COR can authorize the contractor to capture more animals, as that would be a change to the contract. Only the CO can make changes, which is why it states CO/COR. Please see section 5. a. 2. i. 2. The Statement of Work has been revised to state “…unless authorized by the CO.”

3. h) Gathering Daily Rate (GDR) expenses will only apply to drive trapping gathers. Question, why are there no daily rates for bait trapping gathers? Just like in a drive trap gather contract there could be a case of mandatory suspension of gathering activities due to litigation. Direct quote from Drive Tapping Contract, (If BLM asks the Contractor to stop gather operations due to circumstances (gather disturbance, etc.) that were of no fault of the Contractor or there are difficult-to-capture animals, or few animals located in large areas, or a required total removal of all animals in an area, etc.) could this apply to a bait trapping contract?

Government Response: No, Gathering Day Rate do not apply to bait trapping, as stated in section 5. i. 6. Handling Day Rate may apply. Gathering Day Rate includes flight expenses, thus only applies to drive trapping.

4. a. Facility Design (Temporary Holding Facility Area) 9) h) The Government furnished fly chute must be on site during all phases of the Task Order gather, including post gather holding (post gather feed days) until all animals are released back to the range. m) One (1) portable fly chute will be provided by the Government per IDIQ contract and must have the fly chute on site for the entire Task Order Period of Performance for each gather. Question – What if the government issues another task order during the post gather feed days of a task order that a contractor is doing, and they have the personnel and resources to keep feeding the animals and do another job?

Government Response: As stated in Section 3. A. 9. h. The Government furnished fly chute must be on site during all phases of the Task Order gather, including post gather holding (post gather feed days) until all animals are released back to the range.

Will the BLM furnish another fly chute to this contractor? Wouldn’t putting these criteria on the facility design would reduce competitive bidding on task orders?

Government Response: No, as stated in Section 4. a. 2. One (1) fly chute will be provided per IDIQ contract. No additional fly chutes will be furnished to any contractors.

5. Question, could a task order that require the contractor to start with bait and water trapping and then if not successful, complete the gather using a helicopter?

Government Response: No, the task orders will be issued as bait trapping OR as drive trapping.

Will the contractor be able to choose which method of capture he/she prefers?

Government Response: No, capture method will be identified in the specific task order.

6. c. Bait Trapping, Roping, Animal Care, and Handling 7) A temporary holding facility area will be required away from the trap site for any animals that are being held for more than 24 hours.

Question, in some HMA’s there have been occasions when we have been able to attach a temporary holding facility to a bait or water trap? When it is possible to do this it is so much less stressful for the animals because they do not have to be loaded and unloaded and transported.

Government Response: The site-specific task order would identify if the temporary holding may be attached to the trap. If not stated in the task order, then the temporary holding facility must be located away from the trap, as per the IDIQ SOW.

7. c. Task Order Procedures: 5) Task order period of performance for the drive trapping. Question

– Wouldn’t most Catch, Treat, Hold, and Release gathers be almost total removals to get the number of mares to treat?

Government Response: No.

Wouldn’t the task order period of performance have to be more than the Historical Daily Gathering Rates?

Government Response: No.

8. 5. Contract Administration: e. Key Personnel – Question – Will the contractor need to have on their staff a Certified PGS Applicator before they can be awarded this contract?

Government Response: Yes, all offerors must have a certified PGS applicator at the time of technical proposal submission.

What are the requirements for the training at the Science and Conservation Center- ZooMontana? Can anyone take this training and what is the cost?

Government Response: Please refer to the website listed in the Section 5.e.1.

9. g. Task Order Performance: 1. The COR and CO may determine to cease bait trapping activities if successful trapping has declined. Question – Why is this just for bait trapping activities and not for drive trapping activities?

Government Response: These same criteria would apply to both bait trapping and drive trapping if agreed upon by the COR and CO.