DRAFT_Combined-Synopsis-Solicitation_SoutheastClusterInitiative.doc

ADDENDA SHEET

PROJECT NAME Southeast Cluster Initiative Program Assessment

OF

DRAFT – DRAFT – DRAFT

This document is an advance copy of a combined synopsis-solicitation anticipated to be issued by the U.S. Forest Service on or about

August 25, 2015. It is being provided as an advance draft so that prospective Offerors can familiarize themselves with the requirement and be in a better position to prepare a proposal.

The time frame for submission of Offers is expected to be approximately 20 calendar days from the date the final solicitation is released. This advance draft notice provides an additional 5 calendar days for review.

Prospective Offerors may submit questions regarding this draft document by e-mailing the Contracting Officer at mmeiners@fs.fed.us.

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued.

The solicitation number is AG-0109-S-15-755508. This solicitation is issued as a request for proposals (RFP).

The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-83. This requirement is being issued as a TBD (anticipated to be a small business set aside). The associated NAICS is 541690, and the small business size standard is $15.0 million.

Contract Line Items

UNIT

UNIT

PRICE

AMOUNT

TOTAL ALL ITEMS

Description of Contract Line Items. The following is a brief description of each line item listed in the Schedule:

001 Research and Analysis. It is expected the contractor will employ a variety of qualitative and quantitative methods to fulfill Southeast Alaska Cluster Initiative program assessment objectives including conducting key-informant interviews, facilitating focus group discussions, collecting and analyzing data, and reviewing historical programmatic documents.

002 Reporting. Produce Southeast Alaska Cluster Initiative program assessment report summarizing cluster work group: 1) participation, activities, and achievements; 2) action initiative outcomes; and 3) participant feedback including chairs, champions, and current and prior members; and 4) overall impact at business, community, and regional levels. The final report should also discuss Southeast Alaska Cluster Initiative programmatic challenges and provide recommendations to increase overall effectiveness as related to growing regional economic opportunity.

003 Presentation. Present program assessment findings and facilitate a discussion with the USDA’s Interagency Economic Diversification Team consisting of the Forest Service, Rural Development, Farm Service, Natural Resource Conservation Service leadership, and additional guests as identified by the USFS.

Contract Type. One firm fixed price contract will be awarded as a result of this solicitation.

Background. Economic development in Southeast Alaska has been historically based on natural resource harvest including timber, seafood, and minerals. The region contains 32 communities of which only three have populations exceeding 5,000 residents including Juneau, Sitka, and Ketchikan. For many decades, Southeast Alaska’s rural and urban communities have built their livelihoods on natural resource employment opportunities, some of which have been in decline and not replaced by alternative industries with similar wage levels. In an effort to facilitate regional economic diversification and grow economic opportunity, the USDA has invested significant resources bringing an industry cluster-based planning approach to Southeast Alaska.

Since its development by Michael Porter (Harvard University) nearly 20 years ago, the concept of industry clusters has become well documented in promoting industry innovation and economic prosperity. An “industry cluster” has traditionally been defined as a group of businesses that operate in the same sector, compete for the same market, and draw upon the same regional resources. They compete with one another, but also complement one another. They generate competitive advantage from their close proximity and shared service and supplier relationships.

Since October 2010, the Juneau Economic Development Council (JEDC) has been implementing a cluster-based approach to economic development in Southeast Alaska under USDA Forest Service contract and as part of the larger Tongass National Forest “Transition Framework” (see “Transition Framework” at www.fs.usda.gov/land/tongass/landmanagement). JEDC’s Southeast Alaska Cluster Initiative (www.jedc.org/seclusterinitiative) has brought private-sector industry clusters together with federal, state, and local agencies, university faculty, trade association representatives, economic development organizations, community leaders, and other stakeholders to address industry needs, concerns, and opportunities. To date, four cluster work groups have been assembled and sustained to address shared challenges and opportunities including Ocean Products, Visitor Products, Renewable Energy, and Research and Development.

Over the past five years, the USDA invested over one million dollars in the Southeast Alaska Cluster Initiative via multiple contracts with JEDC. Major deliverables and achievements span economic development research, planning, and facilitation services. The most important contract performance objective has been the facilitation of four cluster work groups, comprised of private- and public-sector sector entities and volunteers, assembled to design and implement economic development “action initiatives”. Cluster work groups operate at a regional scale on action initiatives that have a good likelihood of growing regional competitive advantage thereby raising overall regional economic conditions. An action initiative is defined as a strategic priority, goal, or project to increase economic opportunity for an industry cluster. To date, approximately three dozen action initiatives have been explored by the four cluster work groups. Notably, cluster work group action initiatives are updated on annual basis as focus shifts from overarching strategies to specific implementable actions to increase economic opportunity. Furthermore, action initiatives may evolve as turnover occurs in the cluster work group membership.

Additional significant contract deliverables have included: 1) Southeast Alaska economic asset map identifying regional economic strengths and opportunities; 2) cluster work group action initiatives detailing economic development opportunities and barriers; and 3) annual programmatic reports summarizing cluster work group activities and significant achievements. Summary reference materials related to the Southeast Alaska Cluster Initiative are located on JEDC’s website (http://www.jedc.org/seclusterinitiative).

Scope of Work. After five years of significant USDA investment and agency support, the USFS is soliciting a program assessment of the Southeast Alaska Cluster Initiative to be completed by a neutral entity with expertise in cluster development, experience in economic development program evaluation, and in-depth knowledge of Southeast Alaska’s economy and communities. Of particular interest is determining whether the Southeast Alaska Cluster Initiative has effectively supported USDA Transition Framework objectives of supporting small business creation/retention/expansion, improving access to capital, creating quality jobs and sustainable economic growth, promoting job training and educational opportunities, maximizing a forest restoration economy and by-product use, and increasing regional economic diversification and community well-being (see “Transition Framework” at www.fs.usda.gov/land/tongass/landmanagement).

It is expected a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods will be utilized to meet the following program assessment objectives:

1. Summarize cluster work group participation, activities, and significant achievements;

2. Assess cluster work group action initiative outcomes;

3. Summarize business, community, and regional level impacts;

4. Collect current and prior cluster work group participant feedback; and

5. Identify current programmatic challenges; and

6. Provide recommendations to improve overall program effectiveness.

The Forest Service is interested in a program assessment of the Southeast Alaska Cluster Initiative with a focus on the outcomes of industry cluster work group efforts. Determining Southeast Alaska Cluster Initiative outcomes, including four cluster work groups, will require a variety of quantitative and qualitative methods to collect primary and secondary data. Primary data collection will likely include cluster work group focus groups, key informant interviews with chairs and champions, and additional outreach to current and prior participants via a survey questionnaire.

While contractors may propose alternative methods for collecting data and evaluating outcomes, it is expected the work will likely include the following substantive tasks:

1. Develop focus group and key-informant interview and questionnaire items to collect feedback from cluster work group chairs, action initiative champions, and other participants.

2. Conduct in-person focus groups, one per cluster work group, to collect feedback from past and present cluster work group participants.

3. Conduct in-person key-informant interviews with past and present cluster work group chairpersons, estimated at 12 individuals.

4. Conduct face-to-face or telephone interviews with past and present cluster work group action initiative champions, estimated at 35 individuals.

5. Develop final report summarizing program assessment findings and providing recommendations to improve overall program effectiveness.

6. Present findings to USDA Interagency Economic Diversification Team and additional guests per USFS discretion.

Period of Performance. The Period of performance for this work is from the date of award for one calendar year.

Project Meetings and Anticipated Deliverables. The Contractor shall provide the following deliverables:

1. Project Schedule – The contractor shall provide a final work schedule at the pre-work meeting. This schedule shall be updated as necessary during contract performance and included in each bi-weekly progress report with a summary of schedule updates.

2. Progress Reports – The contractor shall provide bi-weekly progress reports via email.

3. Initial Contractor/Client Meetings – The contractor will meet with the USFS Contracting Officer and Project Manager within one week of contract award for a Post Award Conference (see AGAR 452.215-73 Post Award Conference). A meeting with other project stakeholders will be held within two weeks of the award.

4. Additional Meetings – Subsequent project status meetings will be held a minimum of one meeting per month for the duration of the project and one additional meeting prior to the Presentation to present final work products.

5. Work Products – The contractor shall provide draft (for review) and final interview scripts and survey questionnaire items (or other proposed data collection tools) for project manager review.

6. Final Report – The contractor shall provide draft (for review) and final report summarizing program assessment findings.

7. Presentation – The contractor shall present program assessment findings to the USDA Interagency Economic Diversification Team, and additional guests of the Forest Service. Presentation to include executive summary of key findings. The Contractor shall provide up to 20 hard copies of presentation materials including the final report.

For pricing purposes, Offerors may assume the following:

1. Post Award Conference will be held at the Juneau Federal Building, 709 W. 9th Street, 5th Floor, Juneau, AK. The Contractor’s Project Manager must attend this meeting in person. Other contractor personnel may participate by phone or VTC (if available).

2. Meeting with additional project stakeholders may be held by telephone (in person is preferred if contractor is located in Juneau).

3. Monthly Meetings may be held by telephone (in person preferred if contractor is located in Juneau). Price proposal shall assume one meeting per month.

4. Meeting prior to the Presentation to present final work products will be held at the Juneau Federal Building, 709 W. 9th Street, 5th Floor, Juneau, AK. The Contractor’s Project Manager must attend this meeting in person. Other contractor personnel may participate by phone or VTC (if available).

5. The Presentation will be held at the Juneau Federal Building, 709 W. 9th Street, 5th Floor, Juneau, AK. The Contractor’s Project Manager and Presenter (may be the same person) must attend in person.

6. Except for the Post Award Conference and meeting with additional stakeholders, the Contractor is responsible for providing an agenda and taking minutes for all meetings and providing the minutes to the Forest Service via e-mail within 7 working days of each meeting.

Project Budget. The Forest Service has committed approximately $50,000 for this contract and shares this figure only as a help to Offerors. An Offeror is not bound to this amount and may submit a proposal for a lesser or higher amount. Offerors are notified that proposals exceeding this amount may be un-awardable; however, a proposal exceeding this amount but offering notable benefit to the Government may be selected for award, solely at the discretion of the Government if funds are available and if the proposal provides the best value according to this solicitation’s evaluation factors.

FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items (April 2014). This clause is incorporated by reference with the following addenda:

Vendor Information:

POC NAME:

PHONE:

ADDRESS:

CELL:

EMAIL:

DUNS:

The Offeror’s proposal shall include two volumes as described below:

1. Volume I – The Technical Proposal. This section has a page limit of 25 total single sided pages. For any proposal that exceeds 25 individual pages when printed, the Government will only evaluate the first 25 pages.

a. Part 1 – Past Performance. The Offeror shall describe its efforts on previous and present contracts for recent similar work. For all such contracts, the Offeror shall provide the project name, a brief project description, the contracting organization or customer, the contract number or identifier, a brief description of the contract work and deliverables, the contract amount, the name and contact information of a person in the contracting or customer organization who can attest to the quality of the Offeror’s performance, a statement of how the contracting or customer organization used the contract deliverables, and a statement of specific success or learning on that contract that can apply to this acquisitions. The Offeror shall present all of this information on a single page for each past performance reference for a maximum of its three most relevant contracts. This part shall not exceed three pages (these three pages are included in the volume limit of 25 pages). The purpose of this part is to give Government evaluators confidence that, based on its past performance, the Offeror will successfully perform this acquisition.

b. Part 2 – Experience and Qualifications. The Offeror shall describe project team members’ backgrounds performing similar work. Experience and Past Performance differ in that Experience defines what kind of work the offeror has done in the past while Past Performance defines how well the contractor has performed in the past. The offeror shall describe the firm’s overall experience designing, implementing, or evaluating cluster based development projects including experience of individual project team members and any proposed subcontractors. Of specific interest is experience in Southeast Alaska economic development research and/or planning. The Offeror shall also describe the project team members’ qualifications in the areas of economic development planning, program evaluation and qualitative and quantitative research methods. The purpose of this part is to allow Government evaluators to rate the level of experience and qualifications of the Offeror’s team in performing similar work.

c. Part 3 – Project Understanding. The Offeror shall describe its understanding of the requirement without merely parroting back words from the solicitation. The Offeror shall explain what the requirement is, why the requirement exists and how its approach will satisfy that need. The purpose of this part is to allow the Government evaluators to rate the Offeror’s understanding of the Government’s need.

d. Part 4 – Approach/Methodology. The Offeror shall describe its approach, the work it will accomplish, the deliverables it will provide, the persons who will perform differing tasks, and the timetable of its performance and deliverables. The Offeror shall describe the form, structure and content of each of its deliverables and the outcomes the Government can expect and how the Government and others might beneficially use the information contained in the deliverables. The purpose of this part is to allow the Government evaluators to rate the soundness and utility of the Offeror’s approach.

2. Volume II – Price

a. Offerors shall submit pricing using the three contract line items listed on page 1. Each of these line items will be awarded at a firm fixed price and may be billed upon completion of each item. Proposals shall include supporting information to allow Government evaluators to understand the level of effort (labor rates, labor categories, number of hours, etc.), travel, materials, and other cost that make up each contract line item’s firm fixed price.

FAR 52.212-2 -- Evaluation -- Commercial Items (Oct 2014).

The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose proposal represents the best value, after evaluation in accordance with this solicitation’s evaluation factors. Proposals will be evaluated using Simplified Acquisition Procedures contained in FAR 13.106. The evaluation factors are:

1. Past Performance

2. Experience and Qualifications

3. Project Understanding

4. Soundness of Approach

5. Price

The Contracting Officer’s decision regarding best value may be a subjective decision, but will be based on the evaluation factors. Award may be made to other than the lowest price offeror if a higher price offeror provides benefits meriting a price-performance trade-off. The Government’s evaluation will include all materials submitted by the offeror and accepted by the Contracting Officer as conforming to the requirements of this solicitation. The government reserves the right to contact other parties for past performance information and to use that information in its evaluation of the Past Performance evaluation factor. The government intends to award based solely on the information provided in the Offeror’s proposal and information independently obtained by the Government without the need to further communicate with Offerors.

Proposal Due Date and Time. Proposals are due not later than TBD (Likely Monday, September 14, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. Alaska Time). Proposals delivered to the contracting officer shall reference the solicitation number on the outside packaging of the proposal or in the subject line of e-mail delivery.

Acceptable forms of delivery are as follows:

Delivery via US Postal Service:

U.S. Forest Service

Alaska Region

Attn: Mari Meiners

P.O. Box 21628

Juneau, AK 99802-1628

Delivery via FedEx/UPS/etc.:

U.S. Forest Service

Or Hand Delivery

Alaska Region

Attn: Mari Meiners

709 W. 9th Street, 5th Floor

Juneau, AK 99801

Delivery via E-Mail:

mmeiners@fs.fed.us Facsimile delivery of proposals is not acceptable.

All questions are to be submitted to the Contracting Officer, Mari Meiners, in writing via e-mail at mmeiners@fs.fed.us.

FAR 52.212-3 -- Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items. (MAR 2015). Offerors are advised to submit a completed copy of the this provision with their offer.

FAR 52.212-4 – Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items. (May 2015). This clause is incorporated by reference.

FAR 52.212-5 -- Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items. (MAY 2015).

(a) The Contractor shall comply with the following Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clauses, which are incorporated in this contract by reference, to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items:

(1) 52.209-10, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations (Dec 2014)

(2) 52.233-3, Protest After Award (AUG 1996) (31 U.S.C. 3553).

(3) 52.233-4, Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim (OCT 2004) (Public Laws 108-77, 108-78 (19 U.S.C. 3805 note)).

(b) The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (b) that the contracting officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items:

_X_ (4) 52.204-10, Reporting Executive compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (Jul 2013) (Pub. L. 109-282) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note).

_X_ (8) 52.209-6, Protecting the Government’s Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment (Aug 2013) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note).

_X_ (10) 52.209-10, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations (May 2012) _X_ (14) (i) 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Aside (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 44).

___ (ii) Alternate I (Nov 2011).

___ (iii) Alternate II (Nov 2011).

_X_ (19) 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 637(a)(14)).

_X_ (22) 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program Representation (Jul 2013) (15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2)).

_X_ (25) 52.222-3, Convict Labor (June 2003) (E.O. 11755).

_X_ (27) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Apr 2015).

_X_ (28) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Apr 2015) (E.O. 11246).

_X_ (29) 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans (Jul 2014) (38 U.S.C. 4212).

_X_ (30) 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (Jul 2014) (29 U.S.C. 793).

_X_ (31) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (Jul 2014) (38 U.S.C. 4212).

_X_ (33) (i) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (Mar 2015) (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627).

_X_ (40) 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging while Driving (Aug 2011) (E.O. 13513).

_X_ (50) 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer— System for Award Management (Jul 2013) (31 U.S.C. 3332).

_X_ (2) 52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67.).

_X_ (8) 52.222-55, Minimum Wages Under Executive Order 13658 (Dec 2014) (Executive Order 13658). This work is expected to involve individuals in a bona fide executive, administrative or professional capacity as defined in 29 CFR 541.

(d) Comptroller General Examination of Record The Contractor shall comply with the provisions of this paragraph (d) if this contract was awarded using other than sealed bid, is in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold, and does not contain the clause at 52.215-2, Audit and Records -- Negotiation.

(1) The Comptroller General of the United States, or an authorized representative of the Comptroller General, shall have access to and right to examine any of the Contractor’s directly pertinent records involving transactions related to this contract.

(2) The Contractor shall make available at its offices at all reasonable times the records, materials, and other evidence for examination, audit, or reproduction, until 3 years after final payment under this contract or for any shorter period specified in FAR Subpart 4.7, Contractor Records Retention, of the other clauses of this contract. If this contract is completely or partially terminated, the records relating to the work terminated shall be made available for 3 years after any resulting final termination settlement. Records relating to appeals under the disputes clause or to litigation or the settlement of claims arising under or relating to this contract shall be made available until such appeals, litigation, or claims are finally resolved.

(3) As used in this clause, records include books, documents, accounting procedures and practices, and other data, regardless of type and regardless of form. This does not require the Contractor to create or maintain any record that the Contractor does not maintain in the ordinary course of business or pursuant to a provision of law.

(e)

(1) Notwithstanding the requirements of the clauses in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this clause, the Contractor is not required to flow down any FAR clause, other than those in this paragraph (e)(1) in a subcontract for commercial items. Unless otherwise indicated below, the extent of the flow down shall be as required by the clause—

(i) 52.203-13, Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (Apr 2010) (41 U.S.C. 3509).

(ii) 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (Oct 2014) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(2) and (3)), in all subcontracts that offer further subcontracting opportunities. If the subcontract (except subcontracts to small business concerns) exceeds $650,000 ($1.5 million for construction of any public facility), the subcontractor must include 52.219-8 in lower tier subcontracts that offer subcontracting opportunities.

(iii) 52.222-17, Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers (May 2014) (E.O. 13495). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (1) of FAR clause 52.222-17.

(iv) 52.222-21 Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Apr 2015)

(v) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Apr 2015) (E.O. 11246).

(vi) 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans (Jul 2014) (38 U.S.C. 4212).

(vii) 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (Jul 2014) (29 U.S.C. 793).

(viii) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (Jul 2014) (38 U.S.C. 4212).

(ix) 52.222-40, Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (Dec 2010) (E.O. 13496). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (f) of FAR clause 52.222-40.

(x) __52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards (May 2014), (41 U.S.C. chapter 67).

(xi) __(A) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (Mar 2015) (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627).

___ (B) Alternate I (Mar 2015) of 52.222-50 (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 E.O. 13627).

(xii) 52.222-51, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Maintenance, Calibration, or Repair of Certain Equipment--Requirements (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67.)

(xiii) 52.222-53, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Certain Services--Requirements (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67)

(xiv) 52.222-54, Employment Eligibility Verification (Aug 2013).

(xv) 52.225-55, Minimum Wages Under Executive Order 13658 (Dec 2014) (Executive Order 13658).

(xvi) 52.225-26, Contractors Performing Private Security Functions Outside the United States (Jul 2013) (Section 862, as amended, of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008; 10 U.S.C. 2302 Note).

(xvii) 52.226-6, Promoting Excess Food Donation to Nonprofit Organizations. (May 2014) (42 U.S.C. 1792). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (e) of FAR clause 52.226-6.

(xviii) 52.247-64, Preference for Privately-Owned U.S. Flag Commercial Vessels (Feb 2006) (46 U.S.C. Appx 1241(b) and 10 U.S.C. 2631). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (d) of FAR clause 52.247-64.

(2) While not required, the contractor may include in its subcontracts for commercial items a minimal number of additional clauses necessary to satisfy its contractual obligations.

AGAR 452.209 – 71 Assurance Regarding Felony Conviction or Tax Delinquent Status for Corporate Applicants (Deviation2012-01) Alternate 1 (Feb 2012).

(a) This award is subject to the provisions contained in sections 433 and 434 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (P.L. No. 112-74), Division E, as amended and/or subsequently enacted, regarding corporate felony convictions and corporate federal tax delinquencies. Accordingly, by accepting this award the contractor acknowledges that it -

(1) does not have a tax delinquency, meaning that it is not subject to any unpaid Federal tax liability that has been assessed, for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability, and

(2) has not been convicted (or had an officer or agent acting on its behalf convicted) of a felony criminal violation under any Federal law within 24 months preceding the award, unless a suspending and debarring official of the United States Department of Agriculture has considered suspension or debarment of the awardee, or such officer or agent, based on these convictions and/or tax delinquencies and determined that suspension or debarment is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government.

b) If the awardee fails to comply with these provisions, the Forest Service may terminate this contract for default and may recover any funds the awardee has received in violation of sections 433 or 434, amended and/or subsequently enacted.

AGAR 452.215-73 Post Award Conferenece (NOV 1996)

(a) A post award conference with the successful offeror is required. It will be scheduled within 7 days after the date of contract award. The conference will be held at US Forest Service, Alaska Region, Regional Office, 709 W 9th Street, 5th Floor, Juneau AK 99801.

(b) Contractor designated Project Manager shall be present (in person) at the pre-work conference.

(c) The Post Award Conference is not expected to exceed one business day (8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.).

AGAR 452.237-71 Pre-Proposal Conference (FEB 1988).

(a) The Government is planning a pre-proposal conference, during which potential Offerors may obtain a better understanding of the work required.

(b) Offerors are encouraged to submit all questions in writing prior to the conference. Questions will be considered at any time prior or during the conference; however, Offerors will be asked to confirm verbal questions in writing. Subsequent to the conference, an amendment to the solicitation containing an abstract of the questions and answers, and a list of attendees, will be disseminated.

(c) The Government assumes no responsibility for any expense incurred by an offeror prior to contract award.

(d) Offerors are cautioned that, notwithstanding any remarks or clarifications given at the conference, all terms and conditions of the solicitation remain unchanged unless they are changed by amendment to the solicitation. If the answers to conference questions, or any solicitation amendment, create ambiguities, it is the responsibility of the offeror to seek clarification prior to submitting an offer.

(e) The conference will begin at

(on or about

September 2, 2015).

AGAR 452.237-74 Key Personnel (FEB 1988).

(a) The Contractor shall assign to this contract the following key personnel: Project Managaer.

(b) During the first ninety (90) days of performance, the Contractor shall make no substitutions of key personnel unless the substitution is necessitated by illness, death, or termination of employment. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer within 15 calendar days after the occurrence of any of these events and provide the information required by paragraph (c) below. After the initial 90-day period, the Contractor shall submit the information required by paragraph (c) to the Contracting Officer at least 15 days prior to making any permanent substitutions.

(c) The Contractor shall provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitationg the proposed substitutions, complete resumes for the proposed substitutions, and any additional information requested by the Contracting Officer. Proposed substitutes should have comparable qualififcations to thos of the persons being replaced. The Contracting Officer will notify the Contractor within 15 calendar days after receipt of all required information of the decision on substitutions. The contract will be modified to reflect any approved changes of key personnel.

52.219-1 -- Small Business Program Representations (Oct 2014)

(a) Definitions. As used in this provision--

“Economically disadvantaged women-owned small business (EDWOSB) concern” means a small business concern that is at least 51 percent directly and unconditionally owned by, and the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by, one or more women who are citizens of the United States and who are economically disadvantaged in accordance with 13 CFR part 127. It automatically qualifies as a women-owned small business concern eligible under the WOSB Program.

“Service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern”--

(1) Means a small business concern--

(i) Not less than 51 percent of which is owned by one or more service-disabled veterans or, in the case of any publicly owned business, not less than 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more service-disabled veterans; and

(ii) The management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one or more service-disabled veterans or, in the case of a service-disabled veteran with permanent and severe disability, the spouse or permanent caregiver of such veteran.

(2) “Service-disabled veteran” means a veteran, as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101(2), with a disability that is service-connected, as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101(16).

“Small business concern” means a concern, including its affiliates, that is independently owned and operated, not dominant in the field of operation in which it is bidding on Government contracts, and qualified as a small business under the criteria in 13 CFR Part 121 and the size standard in paragraph (b) of this provision.

“Small disadvantaged business concern, consistent with 13 CFR 124.1002,” means a small business concern under the size standard applicable to the acquisition, that--

(1) Is at least 51 percent unconditionally and directly owned (as defined at 13 CFR 124.105) by--

(i) One or more socially disadvantaged (as defined at 13 CFR 124.103) and economically disadvantaged (as defined at 13 CFR 124.104) individuals who are citizens of the United States, and

(ii) Each individual claiming economic disadvantage has a net worth not exceeding $750,000 after taking into account the applicable exclusions set forth at 13 CFR 124.104(c)(2); and

(2) The management and daily business operations of which are controlled (as defined at 13 CFR 124.106) by individuals who meet the criteria in paragraphs (1)(i) and (ii) of this definition.

“Veteran-owned small business concern” means a small business concern--

(1) Not less than 51 percent of which is owned by one or more veterans (as defined at 38 U.S.C. 101(2)) or, in the case of any publicly owned business, not less than 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more veterans; and

(2) The management and daily business operations of which are controlled by one or more veterans.

“Women-owned small business concern” means a small business concern--

(1) That is at least 51 percent owned by one or more women; or, in the case of any publicly owned business, at least 51 percent of the stock of which is owned by one or more women; and

(2) Whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more women.

“Women-owned small business (WOSB) concern eligible under the WOSB Program (in accordance with 13 CFR part 127),” means a small business concern that is at least 51 percent directly and unconditionally owned by, and the management and daily business operations of which are controlled by, one or more women who are citizens of the United States.

(b)

(1) The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is _________________________ [insert NAICS code].

(2) The small business size standard is _____________ [insert size standard].

(3) The small business size standard for a concern which submits an offer in its own name, other than on a construction or service contract, but which proposes to furnish a product which it did not itself manufacture, is 500 employees.

(c) Representations.

(1) The offeror represents as part of its offer that it [_] is, [_] is not a small business concern.

(2) [Complete only if the offeror represented itself as a small business concern in paragraph (c)(1) of this provision.] The offeror represents that it [_] is, [_] is not, a small disadvantaged business concern as defined in 13 CFR 124.1002.

(3) [Complete only if the offeror represented itself as a small business concern in paragraph (c)(1) of this provision.] The offeror represents as part of its offer that it [_] is, [_] is not a women-owned small business concern.

(4) Women-owned small business (WOSB) concern eligible under the WOSB Program. [Complete only if the offeror represented itself as a women-owned small business concern in paragraph (c)(3) of this provision.] The offeror represents as part of its offer that—

(i) It [_] is, [_] is not a WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program, has provided all the required documents to the WOSB Repository, and no change in circumstances or adverse decisions have been issued that affects its eligibility; and

(ii) It [_] is, [_] is not a joint venture that complies with the requirements of 13 CFR part 127, and the representation in paragraph (c)(4)(i) of this provision is accurate for each WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program participating in the joint venture. [The offeror shall enter the name or names of the WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program and other small businesses that are participating in the joint venture: _________.] Each WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program participating in the joint venture shall submit a separate signed copy of the WOSB representation.

(5) Economically disadvantaged women-owned small business (EDWOSB) concern. [Complete only if the offeror represented itself as a women-owned small business concern eligible under the WOSB Program in (c)(4) of this provision.] The offeror represents as part of its offer that--

(i) It [_] is, [_] is not an EDWOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program, has provided all the required documents to the WOSB Repository, and no change in circumstances or adverse decisions have been issued that affects its eligibility; and

(ii) It [_] is, [_] is not a joint venture that complies with the requirements of 13 CFR part 127, and the representation in paragraph (c)(5)(i) of this provision is accurate for each EDWOSB concern participating in the joint venture. [The offeror shall enter the name or names of the EDWOSB concern and other small businesses that are participating in the joint venture: _____________.] Each EDWOSB concern participating in the joint venture shall submit a separate signed copy of the EDWOSB representation.

(6) [Complete only if the offeror represented itself as a small business concern in paragraph (c)(1) of this provision.] The offeror represents as part of its offer that it [_] is, [_] is not a veteran-owned small business concern.

(7) [Complete only if the offeror represented itself as a veteran-owned small business concern in paragraph (c)(6) of this provision.] The offeror represents as part of its offer that is [_] is, [_] is not a service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern.

(8) [Complete only if the offeror represented itself as a small business concern in paragraph (c)(1) of this provision.] The offeror represents, as part of its offer, that –

(i) It [_] is, [_] is not a HUBZone small business concern listed, on the date of this representation, on the List of Qualified HUBZone Small Business Concerns maintained by the Small Business Administration, and no material changes in ownership and control, principal office, or HUBZone employee percentage have occurred since it was certified in accordance with 13 CFR part 126; and

(ii) It [_] is, [_] is not a HUBZone joint venture that complies with the requirements of 13 CFR part 126, and the representation in paragraph (c)(8)(i) of this provision is accurate for each HUBZone small business concern participating in the HUBZone joint venture. [The offeror shall enter the names of each of the HUBZone small business concerns participating in the HUBZone joint venture: ___________.] Each HUBZone small business concern participating in the HUBZone joint venture shall submit a separate signed copy of the HUBZone representation.

(d) Notice.

(1) If this solicitation is for supplies and has been set aside, in whole or in part, for small business concerns, then the clause in this solicitation providing notice of the set-aside contains restrictions on the source of the end items to be furnished.

(2) Under 15 U.S.C. 645(d), any person who misrepresents a firm’s status as a business concern that is small, HUBZone small, small disadvantaged, service-disabled veteran-owned small, economically disadvantaged women-owned small, or women-owned small eligible under the WOSB Program in order to obtain a contract to be awarded under the preference programs established pursuant to section 8, 9, 15, 31, and 36 of the Small Business Act or any other provision of Federal law that specifically references section 8(d) for a definition of program eligibility, shall --

(i) Be punished by imposition of fine, imprisonment, or both;

(ii) Be subject to administrative remedies, including suspension and debarment; and

(iii) Be ineligible for participation in programs conducted under the authority of the Act.

AGAR 452.209 -70 Representation by Corporations Regarding an Unpaid Delinquent Tax Liability or a Felony Conviction (Deviation 2012-01) Alternate 1 (Feb 2012).

(a.) Awards made under this solicitation are subject to the provisions contained sections 433 and 434 in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (P.L. No. 112-74), Division E, as amended and/or subsequently enacted, regarding corporate felony convictions and corporate federal tax delinquencies. To comply with these provisions, all Offerors must complete paragraph (1) of this representation, and all corporate Offerors also must complete paragraphs (2) and (3) of this representation.

(b) The Offeror represents that –

(1) The Offeror is [ ], is not [ ] (check one) an entity that has filed articles of incorporation in one of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, or the various territories of the United States including American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Midway Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands. (Note that this includes both for-profit and non-profit organizations.)

If the Offeror checked “is” above, the Offeror must complete paragraphs (2) and (3) of the representation. If Offeror checked “is not” above, Offeror may leave the remainder of the representation blank.

(2) (i) The Offeror has [ ], has not [ ] (check one) been convicted of a felony criminal violation under Federal or State law in the 24 months preceding the date of offer.

(ii) Offeror has [ ], has not [ ] (check one) had any officer or agent of Offeror convicted of a felony criminal violation for actions taken on behalf of Offeror under Federal law in the 24 months preceding the date of offer.

(3) The Offeror does [ ], does not [ ] (check one) have any unpaid Federal tax liability that has been assessed, for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to an agreement with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability Alaska Native or Indian-Owned Buisness.

(a) General. This provision is used to assess the level of procurement opportunities made available to Alaska Native or Indian-Owned Businesses in Region 10 of the USDA, Forest Service. Status as an Alaska Native or Indian-Owned Business is collected for general statistical purposes.

(b) Definitions. As used in this provision—

"Indian" means a person who is a member of an Indian tribe.

"Indian organization" means the governing body of any Indian tribe or entity established or recognized by the governing body of an Indian tribe for the purposes of 25 U.S.C., chapter 17.

"Indian-owned economic enterprise" means any Indian-owned (as determined by the Secretary of the Interior) commercial, industrial, or business activity established or organized for the purpose of profit, provided that Indian ownership constitutes not less than 51 percent of the enterprise.

"Indian tribe" means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians."

“ANCSA Corporation” means any Alaska Native village, urban, or Regional Corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

(c) Representation. The Offeror represents itself, as part of this offer, that it is an:

[ ] (1) Indian or Alaska Native

[ ] (2) Indian or Alaska Native Organization

[ ] (3) Indian-Owned or Alaska Native-Owned Economic Enterprise

[ ] (4) Indian or Alaska Native Tribe

[ ] (5) ANCSA Corporation Workers’ Compensation Laws.

Alaska state law requires that all employers have Worker’s Compensation Insurance for their employees. The Forest Service furnishes contract award information to the Alaska Department of Labor. Failure to comply with the state worker’s compensation laws can be a felony offense in Alaska. The Alaska Workers’ Compensation Division can also fine employers up to $1,000 per employee for each day they are conducting business with employee labor without the required insurance. For the definitions of “employer”, “employee”, and “subcontractor”, and other pertinent information contact:

Alaska Department of Labor

Workers Compensation Division

Special Investigations Unit

P.O. Box 115512

Juneau, AK 99802-5521

907.465.5875 (Direct)

1-888-372-8330 (toll free), 907.465-2797 (FAX)

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