Amendment_0001_QA.docx.pdf

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AG-2B46-S-17-0057

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1 copies of the amendment; (b) By acknowledging receipt of this amendment on each copy of the offer submitted ; or (c) By separate letter or telegram which includes a reference to the solicitation and amendment numbers. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT

THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. If by virtue of this amendment you desire to change an offer already submitted , such change may be made by telegram or letter, provided each telegram or letter makes reference to the solicitation and this amendment, and is received prior to the opening hour and date specified.

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NRCS-PR-12F352

HATO REY PR 00918

Suite 604

654 MUNOZ RIVERA AVENUE

USDA-NRCS CARIBBEAN AREA OFFICE

WASHINGTON DC 20250

NRCS-HQ-122B46

ROOM 6801-S

1400 INDEPENDENCE AVENUE, SW

USDA-NRCS CONTRACTING TEAM 2

NRCS-HQ-122B46

07/06/2017000001

13. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO MODIFICATION OF CONTRACTS/ORDERS. IT MODIFIES THE CONTRACT/ORDER NO. AS DESCRIBED IN ITEM 14.

12. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA (If required) is not extended.is extended, Items 8 and 15, and returning

Offers must acknowledge receipt of this amendment prior to the hour and date specified in the solicitation or as amended , by one of the following methods: (a) By completing

The above numbered solicitation is amended as set forth in Item 14. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers

11. THIS ITEM ONLY APPLIES TO AMENDMENTS OF SOLICITATIONS

FACILITY CODE CODE

10B. DATED (SEE ITEM 13)

10A. MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT/ORDER NO.

9B. DATED (SEE ITEM 11)

9A. AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION NO.

CODE

8. NAME AND ADDRESS OF CONTRACTOR (No., street, county, State and ZIP Code)

7. ADMINISTERED BY (If other than Item 6)CODE 6. ISSUED BY

PAGE OF PAGES

4. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQ. NO.3. EFFECTIVE DATE2. AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION NO. 5. PROJECT NO. (If applicable)

1. CONTRACT ID CODE

AMENDMENT OF SOLICITATION/MODIFICATION OF CONTRACT

06/26/2017

CHECK ONE A. THIS CHANGE ORDER IS ISSUED PURSUANT TO: (Specify authority) THE CHANGES SET FORTH IN ITEM 14 ARE MADE IN THE CONTRACT

B. THE ABOVE NUMBERED CONTRACT/ORDER IS MODIFIED TO REFLECT THE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES (such as changes in paying office, C. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT IS ENTERED INTO PURSUANT TO AUTHORITY OF:

D. OTHER (Specify type of modification and authority) appropriation date, etc.) SET FORTH IN ITEM 14, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY OF FAR 43.103(b).

E. IMPORTANT: Contractor is not, is required to sign this document and return __________________ copies to the issuing office.

ORDER NO. IN ITEM 10A.

16A. NAME AND TITLE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)15A. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

15C. DATE SIGNED 16B. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 15B. CONTRACTOR/OFFEROR 16C. DATE SIGNED

(Signature of person authorized to sign) (Signature of Contracting Officer)

ORIEL VELEZ

STANDARD FORM 30 (REV. 10-83)

Prescribed by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.243

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14. DESCRIPTION OF AMENDMENT/MODIFICATION (Organized by UCF section headings, including solicitation/contract subject matter where feasible.)

1. This amendment is issued to provide questions and answers solicited in response to the work required.

Q1. Are the wetland delineations and determinations in the RFQ scope of work resulting from requests for certification or appeal by landowners to the NRCS, pursuant to the NRCS's mission under the Food Security Act of 1985 (as amended) to delineate, determine, and certify wetlands located on farms or ranches subject to the wetland certification provisions in order to establish a producers eligibility for certain USDA program benefits?

A1. Yes.

Except as provided herein, all terms and conditions of the document referenced in Item 9 A or 10A, as heretofore changed, remains unchanged and in full force and effect .

7/6/2017

ITEM NO. SUPPLIES/SERVICES QUANTITY UNIT UNIT PRICE AMOUNT

NAME OF OFFEROR OR CONTRACTOR

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Q2. Are any of the wetlands in the RFQ scope of work involved in potential violations of the Food Security Act of 1985 (as amended)? If some of these are due to violations, we anticipate a potential scheduling conflict/delay due to landowners possibly not wanting government representatives/contractors on their land delineating wetlands. This will require additional estimated costs for a lump sum project A2. The possibility exists.

Q3. If wetlands included in the RFQ scope of work are associated with violations, will an NRCS representative and/or member of local law enforcement be available to accompany contractor delineation teams during the site visit if needed?

A3. We will not knowingly send you a determination involving a violation. It is possible, however, that you will find a violation during the field work on some of the requests we send you. We require you to call each of the participants a minimum of 1 week in advance to give them notice that you are working with NRCS to complete their determination. You will need to tell them what week you will be onsite to complete the determination. If a producer asks you to leave their property, or refuses access to you, then you are to return the request to NRCS and notify us of the issue. The NRCS will then work with this particular producer.

Q4. Will the wetland delineations in the RFQ scope of work be used for approved jurisdictional determination requests from the USACE within their authority under the Clean Water Act?

A4. No - these are Food Security Act determinations and have nothing to do with the Clean Water Act.

Q5. How many landowners (total number) requesting delineations from the NRCS are included in this RFQ scope of work?

A5. This is unknown at this time. As requests come in during the year, they will be bunched and sent to you to complete.

Q6. What percentage of wetlands included in the RFQ scope of work is involved in (each) appeals/new certifications/violations?

A6. You will not be handling appeals or reconsiderations. You will be completing new requests for wetland determinations.

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Sponsored by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.110

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Q7. Will the contractor awarded this project have access to local NRCS soil scientists to assist in disseminating problematic soil situations in potential wetland areas?

A7. You may call the NRCS South Carolina soil scientists with questions. Once award is made we will hold a conference to introduce the working group.

Q8. The RFQ states that the NRCS will provide historic aerials from 1979-1999. Will the NRCS provide additional historic aerials (2000-2016) upon request should the wetland delineators require additional information regarding potential wetland hydrology at a site?

A8. Each packet sent to you will have an aerial between 2014-2017. If additional aerials are required you may find them on the public online websites.

Q9. Where the RFQ states that the NRCS will provide an electronic "project area" for wetland delineations, is this electronic "project area" consistent with the "potential wetland boundary" (as determined by NRCS via desktop determinations) on each landowner's property that wetland delineators will need to evaluate on the ground? If not, what defines the electronic

"project area" to be provided by NRCS? In other words, we anticipate we will be delineating specific potential wetland areas as determined by the NRCS via desktop determinations and not conducting wetland delineations throughout the entire property owned by each landowner. Please confirm.

A9. We will provide you with a shapefile that is the Area of Interest for each request. You will need to complete the onsite determination within the entire Area of Interest only. You do not need to complete the wetland determination on the entire property, unless the entire property is shown as the Area of Interest.

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Q10. Will the NRCS accept a lump sum cost per county (counties listed in the RFQ) and/or per estimated mobilization period (2-4 weeks) in order to allow for potential scheduling issues with landowners and currently unknown total wetland acreages per landowner (potential travel costs which are difficult to determine - i.e., 10 wetland acres on a single landowner's property will take less time than 10 wetland acres divided between 10-15 different landowners located throughout a county)?

A10. No. The quote should include all costs related to providing this service. This includes travel, labor, material, personnel, equipment, etc.

Q11. Would the NRCS be willing to entertain a Time and Materials (Not to Exceed) cost proposal rather than a lump sum cost for this RFQ?

A11. No. This project will be awarded as Firm Fixed Price Purchase Order.

2. There are no additional changes by reason of this amendment. All other terms and conditions of the solicitation remain unchanged.

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