B09-Amendment_0002-Final_Q_A_0002.pdf

RFQ 140M0122Q0029

Questions & Answers

1. Reading through the document it looks like mediation between tribal groups and the US government are the foundational piece of the work. Historically, the US Government has not honored tribal agreements. Has something changed in the current administration?

Answer: BOEM acknowledges that building relationships and trust occur when BOEM and Tribal Nations work together toward solutions and understanding. BOEM’s intent is to encourage Tribal Nations to become more involved in offshore decision making as it pertains to policy. Therefore, BOEM is actively working on creative ways to incorporate feedback received during Tribal Consultations.

2. Is this the same solicitation as Solicitation 140M0121Q0062? Is the work being re-competed?

Answer: No, this is not the same solicitation as 140M0121Q0062. Purchase Order 140M0122P0010 was awarded as a result of 140M0121Q0062.

3. If this is not the same solicitation, do you foresee the work occurring at the same time as the work described in RFQ 140M0121Q0062? Would there be overlap between the efforts?

Answer: This solicitation is expected to be continuation of efforts, meetings, dialogue, and communication with the Regions and BOEM staff and leadership.

4. Are the meetings described in Tasks 1-3, pp. 4-5 expected to constitute formal consultations under National Historic Preservation Act, Section 106? Or are they information sharing meetings not intended to meet the consultation requirements?

Answer: Task 1 meetings may be formal Tribal Consultation meetings regarding BOEM’s Tribal Policy or Department Manual Chapter. The Webinars for Native American Heritage Month Events, Task 2 Virtual Meetings, and Task 3 Meetings will not be Formal Government to Government Tribal Consultation Meetings or Formal NHPA Section 106 Meetings.

5. Under 2.4 DESCRIPTION OF WORK, the solicitation states “support is needed for several BOEM tribal initiatives…in the four BOEM Regions.”

• Is the work anticipated to address federally recognized Tribal Nations (Tribes), Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) corporations, and Alaska Native Villages?

Answer: The four BOEM Regions are Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific, and Alaska.

The work includes all federally recognized Tribal Nations published in the Federal Register which includes 229 Alaska Native Villages. The Department of Interior is expected to release updated ANCSA and Native Hawaiian Guidance November 2022. The Alaska Region may hold a separate virtual meeting or consultation if there is interest in the subject matter.

• Are their specific Tribes identified for the project or will the contractor be developing and supporting the identification?

Answer: Cultural Exchanges Tribes identified are Wampanoag and Inupiat Tribes.

COVID-19 protocols have delayed this exchange for good cause. Cultural bearers who feel safe to meet and/or travel according to their cultural protocols without interference will be encouraged. Tribal autonomy and governance will be of utmost importance. The intent is to have the Tribal communities discuss how their resources can be protected, not how outside influences would like to ‘protect’ their resources.

6. Under 2.5 TASKS, for Task 1 – Tribal Engagement, is the contractor required to determine the Tribes to be included in the Regional Tribal quarterly updates or does BOEM have an established list?

Answer: Each of the four BOEM Regions has Tribal Coordinators that regularly engage with Tribal Nations. BOEM will set the agenda and disseminate the information to the Tribes and email to distribution lists to the successful offeror.

7. Under 2.2. BACKGROUND, list item 1 states “Include more tribal nations in regular meetings, develop and in some cases repair relationships with tribal nations and tribal staff.”

a. “Include MORE Tribal Nations…” –Is there a general list of Tribal Nations that BOEM has active communication with as part of their existing engagement?

Answer: Yes, there is a list of Tribal Nations that BOEM actively communicates with as part of BOEM’s existing engagement. This list will be discussed with the successful offeror at the time of award.

b. “…in some cases repair relationships…” –Is there a list of Tribal Nations that may require particular attention to repair relations and can BOEM identify the relationship challenges they want to overcome?

Answer: No, BOEM does not have an available list of Tribal Nations that may require particular attention to repair relationships. The intent of this requirement is to build relationships and trust between BOEM and Tribal Nations through tribal engagement.

Many tribes do not engage with BOEM, and therefore, BOEM does not know what problems to fix. The goal of this requirement is to have better tribal engagement to be able to work together toward solutions and understanding.

8. Can a list of Tribal Nations that comprise the Tribal Advisory Council be provided?

Answer: No, this list is not available at this time. The list is still being vetted by BOEM’s Solicitor’s Office.

9. Will the contractor be required to attend and facilitate/moderate the cultural exchanges identified in Task 3 – Tribal Leader Council of Advisors, or will the contractor just be required to coordinate and document logistics?

Answer: No, the contractor will not be required to attend the Cultural Exchanges or the Council of Advisor meetings. The Contractor will be required to coordinate and document the logistics and pay the stipends.

10. For Task 3 – Tribal Leader Council of Advisors, can you identify the location(s) for the two Tribal Cultural Exchanges (meetings)?

Answer: The two locations will likely be the following:

• The Inupiat Heritage Center, Utquigvik, Alaska

• Ilisagvik Tribal College in Utquigvik, Alaska (depending on comfort of the villages

Kaktovik or Nuiqsut)

11. Under 2.2 BACKGROUND and 2.3 OBJECTIVES, the solicitation defines what BOEM seeks to accomplish through this requirement; however, the noted actions include additional elements not defined within the 2.5 TASKS and 2.6 DELIVERABLES sections.

a. Will there be meetings scheduled directly with BOEM for coordination of these tasks?

Answer: Yes, meetings will be schedule with the BOEM Tribal Program.

b. Will there be additional meetings with BOEM, deliverables, or actions required for each of the listed items?

Answer: Yes, as necessary.

c. Referenced examples include:

i. 2.2 BACKGROUND – Item 1. “…repair relationships…”

–Will the contractor be responsible for providing a separate deliverable with recommendations?

Answer: No, the Contractor will not be responsible for providing a separate deliverable with recommendations.

ii. 2.2 BACKGROUND – Item 3. “Identify Tribes with historic and cultural ties to proposed lease areas and other renewable energy sites off the coasts…”

–Will the contractor responsible for researching and providing a separate deliverable for this task?

Answer: No, BOEM has contacts with Tribal Nations in its four Regions.

iii. 2.2 BACKGROUND – Item 4. “Propose and advise BOEM leadership on training and education that BOEM staff may need for better dialogue…,” 2.3

OBJECTIVES – Item 1. “Increase BOEM cultural competency and knowledge, skills, abilities in working with tribes, listening to tribes, incorporating tribal knowledge into decision-making processes” AND Item 2 “…increasing our capability and understanding of tribal issues…”

–Will the contractor be required to provide Tribal engagement training to BOEM staff to achieve these objectives?

Answer: No, Council of Advisors and Tribal Leaders that engage with BOEM will help keep BOEM Leadership and Staff more informed of what is happening in Indian Country.

iv. 2.2 BACKGROUND – Item 5. “Propose and advise training and education of BOEM staff about policies and programs available to BOEM which may provide training…”

–Will the contractor be responsible for developing a separate deliverable to meet this objective?

Answer: No, Council of Advisors and Tribal Leaders that engage with BOEM will help keep BOEM Leadership and Staff more informed of what is happening in Indian Country.

v. 2.3 OBJECTIVES – Item 2. “Determine best practices…” –Will the contractor develop these best practices for presentation to BOEM as a deliverable?

Answer: No, additional Tribal Engagement will lead to more engagement to determine best practices. Council of Advisors and Tribal Leaders that engage with BOEM will help keep BOEM Leadership and Staff more informed of what is happening in Indian Country.

12. Task 3 – Tribal Leader Council Advisors (page 5 of 32): How many sponsored Tribal travelers should be included in the budget? How many nights and days of travel will be included?

Answer: Please see revised 2.5.4 Task 4 – Tribal Cultural Exchanges. Travel and logistics are required for two (2) Tribal Cultural Exchanges for two (2) peoples for two (2) nights each.

13. Task 3 – Tribal Leader Council Advisors (page 5 of 32): How many stipends will be paid out for each of the 4 virtual meetings?

Answer: Each Tribal leader will receive a $300 stipend for attendance of a meeting. There will be up to 12 Tribals leaders and 4 meetings. Therefore, there will be up to 48 stipends.

14. 2.6 Deliverables (page 6 of 32): 2.6 lists items A through E, however, there is an additional item listed in the 2.6.1 deliverable table (Meeting Agenda for Virtual Tribal Consultation).

Please confirm the list of deliverables, including due dates and distribution instructions.

Answer: Meeting Agenda for Virtual Tribal Consultation has been removed from Section 2.6.1 Table of Deliverables.

15. 2.5.1 Task 1 – Tribal Engagement: This SOW consists of a total of 20 different meetings within an 18-month timeframe, with over 50 tribes represented?

Answer: Yes, Tribal Nations may call in to Regional meetings outside their Regions but may not engage on the call. Tribal Attorneys may also call in and represent more than one Tribal Nation. Some BOEM Regions have more federally recognized Tribal Nations in their Regions than others. For example, Pacific Region has 109 California Tribes, 9 Oregon Tribes, 29 Washington State Tribes of which all are not actively engaged but can call in to other Regional calls if they desire.

16. 50 tribal nations – is this per meeting or to identify 50 tribal nations to attend 1 of the 12 quarterly updates?

Answer: 50 Tribal Nations is a high estimation. The Regional calls average three (3) to four

(4) Tribal Nations that routinely engage with BOEM. BOEM would like to encourage more dialogue with the Tribal Nations and to include them on environmental studies.

17. What is a tribal cultural exchange?

Answer: A tribal cultural exchange is where traditional cultural practitioners of a Tribal Nation meet with their counterparts at another Tribal and discussing issues and viewpoints. The idea is to not put the Tribal Nations on the spot with Government or outside contractors watching them, taking notes in an awkward manner, but to allow relationship building without government interference.

18. Can I get clarification on travel and logistics for two: Persons? Or attendees for two separate tribal cultural exchanges?

Answer: Please see the revised Section 2.5.4 Task 4 – Tribal Cultural Exchanges. The travel and logistics are for two (2) people.

19. How many attendees and where would they be traveling to and from?

Answer: Please see the revised Section 2.5.4 Task 4 – Tribal Cultural Exchanges. There will be two (2) people traveling from Boston, Massachusetts to Barrow, Alaska.

20. Clarification for $300 stipend: Is this for each attendee?

Answer: Please see the revised 2.5.3 Task 3 – Tribal Leader Council of Advisors. The $300 stipend is for each Tribal leader for attendance of a meeting.

21. Or to be divided among attendees? If so, how many attendees expected to attend?

Answer: Please see Question and Answer #13.

22. With respect to Task 1, what is the timing for each of the 12 regional tribal updates during the 18-month period of performance?

Answer: The meetings will be at least every quarter, as the Tribal Nations request meetings, and as necessary to disseminate information to multiple Tribal Nations.

23. With respect to Task 2, what is the timing for each of the 4 tribal cultural landscape – coastal traditional knowledge meetings during the 18-month period of performance?

Answer: TEK webinars will likely be spring 2023.

24. With respect to Task 2, what is the anticipated duration in hours for each of the 4 tribal cultural landscape – coastal traditional knowledge meetings?

Answer: The TEK webinars are expected to be 60-90 minutes.

25. With respect to Task 3, what is the timing for each of the 2 Tribal Cultural Exchanges during the 18-month period of performance?

Answer: The meetings will occur as Tribal communities can accommodate traditional cultural practitioners to safely travel in 2023.

26. With respect to Task 3, is the contractor responsible for the cost of travel and lodging for the attendees of the Tribal Cultural Exchanges?

Answer: No.

27. With respect to Task 3, how many travelers are anticipated for each of the Tribal Cultural Exchanges?

Answer: Please see the revised Task 4 – Tribal Cultural Exchanges. Two (2) travelers are anticipated for each of the Cultural Exchanges.

28. With respect to Task 3, what is the anticipate location for each of the Tribal Cultural

Exchanges?

Answer: Please see Question and Answer #10.

29. With respect to Task 3, is the contractor responsible for the $300 stipend for the virtual meetings? If so, how many attendees are expected at each meeting?

Answer: Yes. Please see Question and Answer #13.

30. Is there a specific technology platform the government requires (i.e., MS Teams, WebEx, etc.)

for the virtual meeting and webinars?

Answer: The Government requires the use of Microsoft Teams or Zoom.

31. We were wondering if BOEM was open to considering as needed, occasional, in-person meetings for:

(A) The Contractor Project Manager and key staff to collaborate on planning critical tribal consultations and to foster strong inter-personal working relationships between key agency and contractor staff.

Answer: Yes, Contractor may meet with Headquarters or Regional staff to best coordinate tasks, as needed.

(B) The government-to-government consultations, assuming the tribal government officials were willing to meet in-person. Based on BOEM’s 2018 Tribal Consultation Guidance and our experience, robust and meaningful consultation frequently requires more engagement than virtual meetings allow. We recognize that some tribal nations, especially in Alaska, are reluctant to meet in-person due to the pandemic and their priorities would prevail in these cases.

Answer: Yes, Tribal Nations are always welcome to meet with BOEM Leadership and we have a Tribal Reception Room in our Headquarters building in Main Interior, Washington, DC.