DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

WYOMING WILD HORSE AND BURRO PROGRAM

HOOF TRIMMING SERVICES

WHEATLAND OFF-RANGE CORRAL

1005 N. Wheatland Highway

Wheatland, WY 82201

Section A: STATEMENT OF WORK

1) BACKGROUND:

a) Wild horses and burros on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 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

(WH&B) are removed from the public lands.

b) The Wheatland Off Range Corrals (ORC) is a wild horse and burro holding facility located approximately

10 miles north of Wheatland, WY at 1005 N. Wheatland Highway.

i) From the town of Wheatland, take WY-320 North approx. 10 miles, the facility will be on the West side of the road.

c) The average number of WH&B expected at the Wheatland ORC is approximately 2,000 head with a maximum capacity of 3,500 head. The number of WH&B in holding will fluctuate depending on private placement events, shipping, and gather/removal operations.

2) OBJECTIVES

a) During the time the WH&B are maintained at holding facilities their hooves will need to be trimmed, possibly several times a year.

b) The BLM has the need to contract for the services of hoof trimming at Wheatland ORC.

c) Period of Performance will have a base year (09/01/2026 – 08/31/2027 Option Year 1 09/01/2027 –

08/31/2028, Option Year 2 09/01/2028 – 08/31/2029, Option Year 3 09/01/2029 – 08/31/2030, Option Year

4 09/01/2030 – 08/31/2031.

3) QUALIFICATION

a) The Contractor shall have the knowledge and skill to trim wild horses and burros’ hooves with minimal stress and injury to the animals.

b) The Contractor shall have at least three years of experience trimming wild horses and burros’ equines hooves.

c) The Contractor shall hold a current Farrier License in the state of Wyoming. All renewals must be provided to the BLM COR/CO.

d) The Contractor shall be able to work effectively with BLM and other Contract staff to efficiently trim wild horses and burros’ hooves.

e) The Contractor shall be available to work full days and trim up to 100 animals per day at the Wheatland

ORC.

I. Workdays at the Wheatland ORC are conducted Monday through Friday between 0600 and 1600, depending on the number of wild horses and burros’ requiring hoof trimming that day.

II. Weather may impact the start and stop times during certain times of the year. Weather may also necessitate canceling or moving scheduled days. BLM will determine if a workday is cancelled based on inclement weather or conditions.

f) All proposals shall include:

1. Offerors shall provide a signed certification stating that the company, its employees, and any subcontractors proposed under this contract have not been convicted of, and are not currently under investigation or indictment for, animal cruelty, abuse, neglect, or mistreatment charges.

2. Offerors shall provide a resume for all employees and subcontractors showing years of experience working with wild horses and burros’ and provide a description of their experience and knowledge in trimming wild horses and burros’ hooves.

3. Provide a copy of a current Farrier License for the state of Wyoming for all employees and subcontractors providing Farrier services.

4) COMPREHENSIVE ANIMAL WELFARE PROGRAM

The BLM has developed a Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program (CAWP) that is a requirement of all

BLM staff and contractors:

a) The CAWP standards (Attachment 1) address the care, handling, and treatment of wild horses and burros and are included in all wild horse and burro contracts. The CAWP standards are tied closely to the items in the

Statement of Work of the contract. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is utilizing a CAWP assessment program to ensure that BLM employees, contractors, and contractor employees involved in the WH&B program are adhering to the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program standards. The scheduling of assessments will be coordinated within the BLM and the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) will notify the contractor and arrange specific dates for the assessment to occur.

b) The CAWP assessment program was implemented by Permanent Instruction Memorandum (PIM 2021-002) dated December 2020. The CAWP assessment program will randomly conduct CAWP assessments during

WH&B operations. The BLM CAWP assessment report will be provided to the contractors by the COR upon completion as applicable. The BLM will make the CAWP assessment report publicly available on the WH&B website after completion of the assessment report. The contractor can respond to the report at any time, and the COR will work with the CAWP Coordinator to determine if the responses will be posted to the website with the report or if any additional coordination is necessary. Names of contractors, contract numbers, or other personal information will not be included in the report or posted.

c) PIM 2021-002 requires training annually for all personnel, including contractors and partners involved in

WH&B operations including but not limited to the care, handling, and transportation of wild horses and burros at off-range corrals/pastures, gathers and adoption/sale events. Off-Range Corral, Transportation, and

Adoption/Sale Event training would be the required training under this contract. The free online training typically takes approximately an hour to complete. After the training is completed, the Contractor will provide the certificate of completion to the COR. The training is available on DOI Talent for completion at any time and can be accessed through DOI Talent. Instructions to access DOI talent are attached. Additional training opportunities for Off-Range Corrals, Transportation, and Adoption/Sale Events are available throughout the year as provided by the CAWP Coordinator, or through request by the COR and those trainings will also result in a certificate of completion and will also meet the annual training requirements.

5) GENRAL SERVICES

Acceptable Methods:

a) Hooves can be trimmed with an electrically powered and/or cordless (with battery pack) angle grinder compatible with an aluminum flat disc with carbide teeth, and/or an aluminum oxide abrasive pad of the type commonly used for trimming animal hooves.

b) The contractor is responsible for providing and maintaining any equipment used to trim hooves. Including, but not limited to, angle grinder, discs, carbide teeth, abrasive pads, hoof knives, hoof picks, hoof nippers, and Personal Protective Equipment for the contractor and their employees.

c) All trimming shall be conducted with the animal secured in a government provided hydraulic tilt chute.

d) The contractor, or their employees, shall be responsible for securely, and safely, restraining the hooves/legs of the animal in a way to minimize injury to all personnel and the animal.

e) The contractor shall provide and maintain the ropes used to secure the legs/hooves of the animals.

6) SPECIFIC SERVICES

https://www.blm.gov/programs/wild-horse-and-burro/comprehensive-animal-welfare-program https://www.blm.gov/policy/pim-2021-002 https://www.blm.gov/policy/pim-2021-002

a) Heels shall be trimmed to a natural angle and length.

b) Toes are trimmed to a natural angle and length.

c) Bars shall be trimmed to be straight and tapered.

d) The necessary amount of sole is removed to ensure a level hoof.

e) Wall flares shall be addressed as necessary.

f) The outer hoof wall shall be rolled (Mustang Roll). As directed by the COR, for natural break-over, entire hoof wall may need to be rolled, toe to heel.

g) Every hoof shall be approached with the concept of “Target Trimming” – that is, trim that which is most important first, and only that - one item at a time. This means that every single part of the hoof is not always trimmed; focus only on what is necessary.

7) RESPONSIBILITIES OF BLM

a) BLM and/or facility contract wranglers will gather and load the WH&B to be trimmed for the day into the chute system.

b) BLM and/or facility contract wranglers will operate the hydraulic chute to allow the individual animal to be tilted and tied up for ease in hoof trimming.

c) If needed, a facility veterinarian will administer any drugs that the BLM manager thinks are appropriate or necessary.

d) BLM will notify the contractor 5 days prior to the start of work. BLM will also provide an estimate of the number of animals needing trimmed for each day of work.