A05_PWS__Draft_1.docx

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

Litchfield Veterinarian Services PWS 1.0 Background on the Government’s Requirement Wild horses and burros residing on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service are protected, managed, and regulated under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of December 15, 1971, as amended (16 U.S.C. §§ 1331–1340). As conditions and population management factors necessitate, surplus wild horses and burros are removed from these lands and transferred to off-range facilities for health preparation prior to placement through adoption or sale.

The contractor shall provide routine and emergency veterinary services at the Litchfield Wild Horse & Burro Corrals located near Susanville, CA. The contract veterinarian serves as the primary veterinarian responsible for all clinical and regulatory duties. The primary veterinarian must arrange for qualified relief or backup veterinarians to ensure continuous coverage. Workload fluctuates seasonally, peaking between August and November during gather operations, during which services may be required up to seven (7) days per week. The volume of work depends upon gather activities and herd health status at Litchfield.

Over the past five years, the Litchfield facility has averaged approximately 600 head, with a maximum capacity of 1,000 animals and a minimum of about 30. Veterinarians must be available on-site within four (4) hours of notification for emergency situations and within two (2) business days for routine services. Names, addresses, active licenses, USDA accreditation numbers, and 24/7 telephone numbers of the primary and relief/backup veterinarians must be furnished to the Contracting Officer (CO) and Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) at award and updated immediately upon any personnel changes. Minimum qualifications include holding a valid California veterinary license, USDA Category II accreditation for issuing interstate health certificates, and at least one year of professional equine experience.

Approximately 60% of the workload involves preparing animals for adoption/sale (e.g., Coggins testing, geldings, health certificates), with the remaining 40% covering routine, urgent, and emergency clinical care.

To ensure humane care and handling, all operations must adhere to the BLM Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program (CAWP) per Permanent Instruction Memorandum (PIM) 2021-002 (or current policy). CAWP standards define care, handling, and treatment protocols and form an integral part of this contract. The BLM conducts periodic CAWP assessments coordinated by the COR. Assessment reports are delivered to the contractor and posted publicly on the BLM Wild Horse and Burro Program website within seven (7) business days of completion. Contractors may submit written responses within seven (7) business days of receipt for public posting. Reports redact personal identifying information, contractor names, and contract numbers.

Mandatory annual CAWP training is required for all primary and backup veterinary personnel prior to performing services on-site. The free, online 1-hour course is accessible via DOI Talent (instructions in Appendix 2). Proof of completion must be submitted to the COR and Contracting Officer prior to performing work.

PWS 2.0 General Scope of Work The Contractor shall furnish all qualified personnel, supervision, transportation, specialized tools, surgical equipment, portable digital X-ray equipment, and non-personal services necessary to perform veterinary care at the Litchfield Corrals, except for specific items and services identified as Government-Furnished Property or Services in PWS 6.0. Services include:

a. Arrival Inspections: Inspect all equines upon arrival within timeframes determined by the COR (within 48 hours under standard operations). Submit an Equine Inspection Report (Appendix 4) to the COR within two (2) business days of inspection.

b. EIA / Coggins Testing: Draw, prepare, and ship blood samples to an accredited State Animal Disease Control Laboratory for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) testing. Process Coggins Test Records and Inventory Sheets (Appendix 3 / USDA-APHIS-VS Form 10-11). Provide written test results to the COR within seven (7) days of receipt from the lab.

c. Parasite Control: Formulate internal parasite control advice and direct deworming schedules. Dewormer products (provided as GFP) shall be administered by the veterinarian or trained BLM facility personnel under the advisor's guidance.

d. Treatment & Clinical Logging: Treat sick and injured equines and advise BLM personnel in the administration of continued treatment (e.g., long-acting penicillin). Maintain the on-site BLM logbook ("Sick and Injured Horse and Burro Record"), documenting tag/freeze-mark numbers, herd origin (if known), diagnoses, treatments, and administered pharmaceuticals.

e. Diagnostic Guidance: Diagnose sick and injured horses and burros and establish clear, written treatment plans that can be administered by trained BLM personnel.

f. Interstate Health Certificates: Issue official Interstate Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (ICVI) for interstate shipment of horses and burros in compliance with receiving state entry regulations.

g. Cause of Death Reporting: Provide written probable cause of death reports within 24 hours for animals that die at or en route to the facility, when requested by the COR.

h. Humane Euthanasia: Humanely euthanize equines when necessary in accordance with BLM PIM 2021-007 (Euthanasia of Wild Horses and Burros Related to Acts of Mercy, Health or Safety) and current American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) guidelines using approved chemical injection or gunshot. In non-emergencies, euthanasia decisions are made jointly by the COR/Facility Manager and veterinarian; in acute emergencies, either party has authority to act. Submit a written report detailing reasons to the COR.

i. Postmortem Examinations: Collect tissue and pathology samples for postmortem exams as directed by the COR.

j. Surgical Castration (Gelding): Geld stallions and jack burros using standard surgical methods approved by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) under general anesthesia/sedation and analgesia. The contractor shall furnish all surgical instruments and emasculators. (AAEP Contact: 4075 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY 40511; 859-233-0147).

k. Inoculations: Vaccinate against respiratory and infectious diseases and instruct BLM personnel in proper storage and inoculation protocols.

l. Diagnostic Radiography: Maintain access to a portable, field-ready equine X-ray machine and perform diagnostic imaging on-site as requested by the COR.

m. Proactive Health Plan: Present a written, proactive equine health and biosecurity plan to the COR within 30 days of award and update it annually to maintain herd health and prevent disease transmission.

n. Miscellaneous Lameness: Evaluate and perform treatments for equine lameness as needed.

o. Miscellaneous Surgery: Perform minor surgical procedures (including hernia repairs and cryptorchid castrations) on an as-needed basis upon request of the COR or Facility Manager.

PWS 3.0 Overall Objective(s) This work involves routine, urgent, and emergency veterinary care at the Litchfield Wild Horse & Burro Corrals. Primary objectives include gelding stallions and jack burros, performing blood draws for EIA (Coggins) testing and returning official results, issuing certified health inspections for interstate movement, establishing proactive herd health protocols, and meeting all statutory regulatory requirements. A qualified primary or backup veterinarian must be available on-site within four (4) hours for emergency calls and maintain updated 24/7 contact information with the COR.

PWS 4.0 Specific Tasks General Veterinary Standards & Safety

· Biohazard & Infectious Waste: Dispose of all infectious and biological waste materials in BLM-provided containers in compliance with Lassen County District Health and OSHA/Cal-OSHA standards (29 CFR 1910.1030 / Cal-OSHA 5193). The cost of furnishing containers and final off-site disposal removal is covered by the BLM.

· Single-Use Needle Policy: A new, sterile needle shall be used for every individual animal injection or blood draw. Dispose of all sharps and syringes immediately in designated BLM biohazard containers.

· Team Cooperation: Routine daily activities (vaccinating, aging, deworming) may be performed by veterinarian or trained BLM staff under veterinary direction. Drawing blood for EIA testing and surgical gelding procedures shall be performed exclusively by the veterinarian. Close cooperation between the veterinarian and BLM staff is mandatory.

· CAWP Adherence: Strictly adhere to BLM Policy per the Comprehensive Animal Welfare Program (CAWP) during all handling and medical procedures.

Specific Task Execution

· Task 1: General Veterinary Services & Clinical Care Provide equine clinical care ranging from herd health evaluations to treatment of acute conditions (colic, hoof abscesses, lacerations, lameness, respiratory illness). Formulate concise, written treatment plans to be executed by corral staff or the veterinarian. Inspect arriving animals and submit inspection reports to the COR within two (2) business days. Maintain the "Sick and Injured Horse and Burro Record" logbook.

· Task 2: Coggins Testing (EIA) & Regulatory Certification Draw, process, and ship blood samples to an accredited State Animal Disease Control Lab within five (5) calendar days of collection. Complete group submission forms and USDA-APHIS-VS Form 10-11 (or electronic equivalent) for each sample. Provide written test results to the COR within seven (7) days of receipt. Issue official ICVI health certificates for outgoing interstate shipments.

· Task 3: Castrations (Geldings) Castrate intact male horses and burros under general anesthesia/sedation prior to adoption/sale. Pharmaceutical selection for chemical restraint, anesthesia, analgesia, and post-operative pain management remains at the veterinarian's professional discretion following AAEP guidelines. Contractor furnishes all surgical tools and emasculators.

· Task 4: Preventative Care, Advisory Services, & Travel Billing Administer or direct core vaccinations and parasite control. Formulate and maintain the Proactive Equine Health Care Plan. The Contractor is paid a fixed per-round-trip unit fee for COR-requested service calls; personal convenience trips (e.g., retrieving forgotten tools) are non-reimbursable.

· Task 5: Euthanasia, Necropsy, & Cause of Death Perform humane euthanasia per AVMA guidelines and BLM PIM 2021-007. Provide written cause-of-death reports to the COR within 24 hours. Perform necropsies and collect tissue samples as requested by the COR/Facility Manager. Provide COR with lab necropsy reports within 24 hours of receiving findings from lab.

PWS 5.0 Delivery / Performance Schedule Place of Performance All work will be performed at:

Litchfield Wild Horse & Burro Corrals

474-000 Highway 395 East Litchfield, CA 96117 Period of Performance The period of performance shall consist of one (1) 12-Month Base Period and four (4) 12-Month Option Periods:

PWS 6.0 Government-Furnished Property, Materials, Services Government-Furnished Materials (GFM) The Government shall furnish the following medical supplies and pharmaceuticals on-site for use under this contract:

· Equine Encephalomyelitis Vaccine (EEE, WEE)

· Tetanus Vaccine

· Equine Viral Rhinopneumonitis Vaccine

· Influenza Vaccine

· Strangles Vaccine

· Rabies Vaccine

· West Nile Virus Vaccine

· Dewormer Products

· Penicillin – Long Acting

· Needles and syringes (all standard sizes)

· Blood Collection Tubes (Vacutainers)

· Probiotics Paste

· Hoof Knives

· Biohazard Sharps containers and removal services

· Logbooks ("Sick and Injured Horse and Burro Record") Government-Furnished Services & Facilities (GFS)

· Restraint Services: The Government will provide personnel and mechanical hydraulic chute systems to restrain animals for the veterinarian using mutually agreed procedures that protect personnel and animal welfare.

· Facilities & Utilities: The Government will provide physical corrals, handling alleys, water, and electrical utilities. The Contractor shall practice utility conservation (turning off water/lights when not in use).

· Administrative Workspace: Desk space, telephone access, and restroom facilities at the Litchfield facility for completing records.

General Contractor Requirement The Contractor shall furnish all personnel, specialized materials, surgical instruments, sedatives/anesthetics/euthanasia agents, mobile digital X-ray equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE), and transportation necessary to perform tasks, except for items explicitly listed as Government-furnished above.

PWS 7.0 Security and Administrative Matters Regular Work Hours Standard facility operating hours are 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, excluding federal legal holidays. Work outside regular hours, including weekends and holidays, is required during seasonal gather surges (peak August–November) and emergency call-outs.

Communications Official non-emergency communications received after 3:00 PM PST, or after 12:00 PM PST on Fridays and days preceding holidays, will begin response tracking on the next business day. (Emergency response notifications remain active 24/7/365).

Federal Holidays The facility observes the eleven (11) official federal legal holidays:

· New Year’s Day

· Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

· Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day)

· Memorial Day

· Juneteenth National Independence Day

· Independence Day

· Labor Day

· Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day

· Veterans Day

· Thanksgiving Day

· Christmas Day

Fire Danger Season During periods of declared fire danger, the Contractor shall comply with all state and federal fire prevention laws and special directions issued by the COR, including keeping vehicles on established roads and utilizing required spark arresters.

PWS 8.0 Technical Exhibits and Definitions Standard Definitions

· Contracting Officer (CO): The Secretary of the Interior or designated authorized agent empowered to award or modify federal contracts.

· Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR): The CO’s designated technical representative.

· Quality Assurance (QA): Government surveillance to ensure performance requirements are met.

· Quality Control (QC): Actions taken by the Contractor to ensure services conform to PWS requirements.

Technical Exhibits Index

· Exhibit 1: CAWP Standards (PIM 2021-002)

· Exhibit 2: DOI Talent External User Guide (CAWP Training)

· Exhibit 3: Estimated Workload Data

· Exhibit 4: Sample Equine Inspection Report & Health Log Forms

EXHIBIT X: QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP)

Task 1: General Clinical Care & Inspections

• 100% compliance with CAWP care standards.

• Emergency arrival within 1 hour.

• Reports submitted within 2 business days.

• 2nd Defect: 5% invoice deduction for the performance period.

• 3rd Defect: 10% invoice deduction and adverse CPARS rating.

Task 2: Coggins Testing (EIA) & ICVI

• Blood shipped within 3 calendar days.

• Test results returned to COR within 7 days of lab report.

Task 3: Castrations (Geldings)

• Procedures executed strictly per AAEP standards under anesthesia/sedation.

• Post-op complication rate < 2%.

Task 4: Biohazard & Sharps Safety

• 100% single-use sterile needle policy.

• Immediate sharps disposal per OSHA/Cal-OSHA rules.

Task 5: Euthanasia & Necropsy Reporting

• Compliance with AVMA / PIM 2021-007.

• Written cause-of-death report submitted within 24 hours.