Addendum I - Note_SOW_Questionaire.pdf

Solicitation 12639520Q0143 Subject Matter Expert

ADDENDUM I – SOLICITATION #12639520Q0143

1. NOTE TO OFFEROR:

In order for an offeror to have a complete quotation package, the following checklist items must be submitted to the Contracting Officer to be considered responsive:

□ A signed copy of the solicitation SF-1449 form with fixed-price contract line item prices listed. Offerors shall provide a quotation for feral swine subject matter consulting services, priced per hour for the line items listed on the SF-1449. A signed copy (Block 30 a, b,

c) of the SF-1449 with the line item hourly rates offered shall be returned with the quotation package. Also, the contractor name, address, and telephone number should be filled in on the SF-1449 (Block 17 a).

□ A completed System for Award Management (SAM) registration at http://www.sam.gov. SAM registration is required for all contractors that want to do business with the United States government. An offeror shall submit page one of their SAM information, or the DUNS number used to register in SAM if the registration is not yet fully processed in the SAM system.

□ A resume and a completed SME questionnaire (page 5 below) explaining the experience of the individual to be performing the consulting services. The questionnaire answers should explain the consultant’s relevant background and specific experience to meet the requirements discussed in the statement of work attached below.

□ Past Performance References with previous contracts/POs with this agency or similar scope of work with federal/state/local entities. An offeror shall provide up to 3 customer references from the last 12 months including contact information (organization name, contact person, mailing address, email address, telephone) and any previous contract numbers with the USDA.

□ Solicitation provision FAR 52.212-3 filled in and returned with the quotation (unless completed in SAM). The solicitation provision is found in Attachment 1(page 3). The representations and certifications provision can alternatively be completed in SAM, and it will use NAICS code 541690 with a size standard of $16,500,000 in annual sales for the small business determination.

ALL RESPONSES SHALL BE SUBMITTED BY EMAIL, AND RESPONSES ARE DUE TO

THE CONTRACTING OFFICER LISTED IN THE SOLICITATION STATEMENT OF

WORK BY THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2020, 3:00PM CENTRAL TIME.

http://www.sam.gov/

Subject Matter Expert

2. STATEMENT OF WORK:

I. BACKGROUND

The USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services (WS) program is a non-regulatory, cooperative Federal wildlife management program that provides leadership in resolving conflicts between people and wildlife. Wildlife Service Wildlife Biologists apply an integrated wildlife damage management approach to provide both technical assistance and operational management programs in response to requests for assistance. The Program's efforts help the public reduce and resolve wildlife damage to a wide variety of resources and threats to human health and safety. The National Feral Swine Damage Management Program (NFSDMP) is a mission critical nationally coordinated WS program implemented at the local level.

The WS National Feral Swine Damage Management Program (NFSDMP), 4101 LaPorte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521, is responsible for providing federal leadership to address problems associated with feral swine in the United States, including Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Guam. Program implementation and oversight is the responsibility of the Program Manager and comprises all components of the program including operational, disease monitoring, research, communication and outreach, planning and evaluation, and regulatory approaches. The goal of the Program is to reduce damage and risk to agriculture, natural resources, property, animal health, and human health and safety in the United States by reducing or eliminating feral swine populations, in cooperation with other federal agencies, states, tribes, private organizations, and other partners.

There are considerable requirements to maintain appropriate levels of coordination and communication with other federal, tribal, state, local, county, university and non-profit organizations to identify needs and solutions associated with this complex program. Extensive wildlife damage management and disease training, education, and expertise/experience is required to address these initiatives to protect agriculture, natural resources, property, and human health and safety.

The NFSDMP is an evolving program and opportunities for cooperation and expansion continue to arise, particularly in the Southeast United States. Cooperation has been good for the program and is expected to remain a major component. This mission critical WS program need to be continually apprised of cooperators long-term interest and where they are willing to commit resources, in particular where there are opportunities to develop science-based regional approaches involving multiple states. When committing fiscal resources to national projects, such as research, disease monitoring, and helicopter support it is necessary to fully understand and appreciate State Agency and University perspectives, along with those of non-government organizations, such as Farm Bureau or Southeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

NFSDMP would benefit from contracting a subject matter expert (SME) with appropriate credibility to gather and synthesize relevant information from State Agencies, Universities, and non-government organizations. The SME also would need to coordinate and provide logistical

Subject Matter Expert support to conduct meetings, workshops and targeted field activities. There would be further benefit if the contractor provided advice, opinions, recommendations, or ideas to how best use collected information to form cooperative projects including feral swine research and ensure future partnerships. However, it would remain the Program Manager’s responsibility to determine whether recommendations were accepted and to implement a course of action for feral swine management.

The SME would need to meet specified criteria to benefit the program. This criteria would include: 1) experience working with universities and non-government organizations, such as the Wildlife Federation, Farm Bureau (Farmers’ Federation); 2) experience working with Southeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; 3) credibility and existing contacts within State Departments’ of Agriculture, Health, and Fish and Wildlife along with extensive experience working with these agencies to address wildlife issues, in particular feral swine in the Southeast United States and Puerto Rico; 4) detailed knowledge of national feral swine issues; and knowledge and experience with strategies and methods associated with wildlife damage management.

II. OBJECTIVES

Contract SME: 1) collect information from state agencies, universities, and non-government organizations that informs the NFSDMP on how to best meet their needs and short and long-term approaches to implement cooperative programs; 2) organize and provide logistical support for workshop/ meetings identified as tasks below; and 3) organize and provide logistical support for field activities identified as tasks below.

III. SCOPE

Feral swine are regarded as one of the most destructive invasive species in the world, with likely potential to become a much greater concern if actions are not taken. Failure to apply appropriate management and investigative approaches will result in expanded and prolonged presence of feral swine across the nation.

SME is responsible for determining who and frequency in which contacts are made to meet established tasks/requirements. SME is expected to synthesize information and provide recommendations for future actions, including but not limited to cooperative opportunities and future collaborative approaches. The SME is expected to report on State Agencies, along with other cooperators, needs and expectations; and to report on State Agencies and other cooperators perceptions of how well their needs are being met. Final decisions or approval for implementing concepts is the responsibility of the NFSDMP Manager.

A. Tasks or Requirements

Coordinate and provide logistical support for workshop(s) conducted by partners/collaborators

Subject Matter Expert

Meet with State Wildlife Agencies to gather information and provide recommendations on how best to work with these agencies on operational efforts to address feral swine damages

Meet with the Farm Bureau and other similar non-governmental organizations to generate support for feral swine work

Determine State Wildlife Agencies and Universities perspectives on necessary research to understand impacts feral swine are having on game species and endangered or threatened species, and impacts to water quality

Participate and monitor activities of the Wild Pig Task Force Committees and provide reports to the national program on issues and provide recommendations for moving forward

B. Performance/Deliverable Requirements Provide summaries on partner/collaborator led workshop(s) Provide quarterly updates on the State Wildlife Agency meetings with detailed recommendations Provide a summary report on the Farm Bureau and non-governmental organization meetings with recommendations on how to generate support for feral swine work Provide updates on interest regarding feral swine of pertinent State Wildlife Agencies and

State Agricultural Agencies Provide updates on state agencies and non-government interest in ongoing and potential future Farm Bill Projects Provide feedback and recommendations on Wild Pig Task Force and issues/direction

C. Place of Performance The contractor shall provide appropriate office accommodations, vehicle, and necessary equipment to conduct electronic correspondence. In addition, travel throughout the United States is required.

D. Period of Performance Anticipated hours for these services is not to exceed 1200 total hours for one year from the date of award, and 1 option years.

E. Invoicing The contractor shall provide invoices detailing hours worked and description of work performed and processed through the Invoice Processing Platform (www.IPP.gov).

Authorized contractor travel expenses will be covered by the program for SOW-related travel as-needed; invitational travel. All travel shall be in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations per diem rates and approved by the Contracting Officer’s Representative that is assigned to the contract.

http://www.ipp.gov/

Subject Matter Expert

3. SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT QUESTIONNAIRE:

Please provide brief statements addressing the areas listed below.

a) Knowledge, skills and abilities of the concepts, tools and techniques for managing conflicts between people and wildlife in the USA.

b) Knowledge of feral swine and direct experience with their associated damages and approaches implemented to reduce and alleviate damages in the USA.

c) Knowledge of USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services and specific programs currently being implemented by the agency to address feral swine conflicts in the USA.

d) Experience working with universities (e.g. Auburn University, Mississippi State University, University of Georgia) and non-government organizations (e.g. the Wildlife Federation, Farm Bureau (Farmers’ Federation)) on wildlife damage management.

e) Experience working with Southeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies on wildlife damage management including feral swine management.

g) Experience and current contacts within State Departments of Agriculture, Health, and Fish and Wildlife along with direct experience working with these agencies to address wildlife damage, in particular feral swine in the Southeast United States and Puerto Rico.