121213_IP_Pre_Proposal_Conference_Presentation.pdf

U S F O R E S T S E R V I C E i n t e r n a t i o n a l p r o g r a m s

Briefing for Pre-Proposal Conference

Solicitation Number AG-3187-S-12-0164

International Forest Research, Development, Technical and Support Services

December 13, 2012

Official Opening Cassandra Carey, Contracting Officer, Business Operations, Acquisition Management, US Forest Service

Announcements

1. Solicitation No: AG-3187-S-12-0164

2. Due date: January 4

3. NAICS Code: 541712

4. Small business set-aside: size standard is 500 employees

5. Register attendance on sheet provided

6. Written responses to questions to be distributed

7. Q&A during conference must be written and answers will be distributed as an amendment

Purpose of Acquisition

To acquire forestry research and development expertise, project management and technical support services to effectively implement and execute international sustainable forestry, natural resource management, and disaster mitigation projects.

Recap IDIQ Parameters

• Period of performance

• Base period 1 year plus four 1-year options

• Overall Maximum value $100,000,000

• Overall Minimum value $100,000

Objectives of the Conference

1. Ensure clear understanding of the requirement and the solicitation.

2. To gather potential questions.

Please send all questions to: cncarey@fs.fed.us

CONFERENCE AGENDA

8:45 Attendee sign in

9:00 Official opening – Cassandra Carey

Welcome – Val Mezainis

Section B —Cassandra Carey

Section C sow — Jennifer Peterson

Sections E F, G, H, I, J, K — Cassandra Carey

10:30 Break – collect written questions

10:45 Section L — Cassandra Carey

Section M— Cassandra Carey

Sample task proposal—Jennifer Peterson

12:00 Break — Collect Questions

Wrap up — Tentative Answers — Cassandra Carey

12:30 Closure of conference

Introduction to Agency Representatives

• Val Mezainis, Ph.D., Director, International Programs, US Forest Service

• Jannelle Starks, Program Manager, International Programs, US Forest Service

• Jennifer Peterson, Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator, International Programs, US Forest Service

• Matthew Edwardsen, Africa Coordinator, International Programs, US Forest Service

• Cassandra Carey, Contracting Officer, Business Operations, Acquisition Management, US Forest Service

• Brad Bauer, Branch Chief for Operations, Acquisition Management, Program Overview

Val Mezanis, Ph.D., Director

International Programs

Agenda

• The US Forest Service

• International Programs Office

(IP)

• IP Projects

US Forest Service Background

Established in 1905 to safeguard watersheds and timber resources

“Multiple-use” philosophy

Manages 10% of the United States landbase on behalf of the American people

Landscapes are forests, deserts and grasslands

Largest forestry research organization in the world

State and private forestry – extension to local governments and private landowners

Current Staffing 35K-45K

Current Budget $5 billion

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

Main Staff Units

Technical Cooperation

Disaster Programs

Policy

Outreach and Partnerships

Director’s Office

Operations

THE FOREST SERVICE WORKS

INTERNATIONALLY TO:

Bring our expertise to bear on natural resource policies, such as climate change, conservation and trade

Bring important research and technology gained overseas back to the US

Assist countries in responding to disasters

Internationalize the US Forest Service

Leverage our investments in workforce diversity awareness—overseas assignments provide agency personnel with cross-cultural experiences

USFS works in over 90 countries to improve natural resources management

ASIA

China

India

Vietnam

Bangladesh

Indonesia

Nepal

Bhutan

LATIN

AMERICA

Mexico

Brazil

Central America

The Caribbean

Bolivia

Peru

MIDDLE EAST

Israel

Jordan

Lebanon

Egypt

EUROPE &

EURASIA

Russia

Greece

AFRICA

Central Africa

South Africa

Kenya

Tanzania

Liberia

West Africa

PARTNERSHIPS

The Forest Service—National Forests, Research

Stations, State & Private cooperators

Other USDA agencies—Foreign Agricultural

Service, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service, Agriculture Research Service

Other USG agencies— Department of State, US Agency for International Development (USAID), Bureau or Land Management (BLM), Fish and

Wildlife Service (FWS), US Trade Representative, US Geological Survey (USGS)

Host-country governments more…

PARTNERSHIPS

Private sector—American Forest and Paper

Association, Hardwood Federation

Non-governmental organizations—Wildlife

Conservation Society, Wild Salmon Center, Ducks

Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, Memphis Zoo, in-country NGOs

Universities—Land grant universities, including

University of California at Davis, Colorado State U., University of Montana

Multilateral organizations—Food and Agriculture

Organization of the UN (FAO), International Tropical

Timber Organization (ITTO), International Union for the

Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

SUBJECT AREAS

Illegal Logging

Carbon monitoring and REDD

Invasive species

Migratory species

Fire

Improved forestry practices

Protected areas

Ecosystem services

Habitat management

Watershed management

Global natural resource policies and trade

Global disaster support

Forest planning and monitoring

Ecotourism

Conservation education 18

INVASIVE SPECIES PROJECTS

Collaborative research fruitful—similar ecosystems and forest pests

• Emerald Ash Borer

• Mountain Pine Beetle

• Sudden Oak Death

• Asian long-horned beetle

• Hemlock Woolly Adelgid

Collaboration with other USDA agencies

(APHIS, ARS, etc.) and Chinese counterparts

Benefits to the US include:

• Improved control of existing pests

• Prevention of potential infestations

US MIGRATORY SPECIES IN THE

CARIBBEAN

Habitat restoration for:

• Bicknell’s thrush in the Dominican Republic

• Kirtland’s warbler in the Bahamas

• Cerulean warbler in Ecuador/Venezuela

Wings Across the Americas – an integrated all-bird conservation program

Benefits to the US include:

• Protection of bird species vital to the ecological and economic health of many local communities

• Reduced listed and declining migratory bird species under Endangered Species Act—

Prevent land-use restrictions in the US

• Protects US investments at home

IMPROVING FORESTRY PRACTICES

IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON

Conventional logging practices highly destructive

Logging degradation fire deforestation

Reduced-impact logging conserves forest benefits

Benefits to the US include:

Conservation of world biodiversity

A sustainable source of tropical timber needed by US manufacturers

Ghana Community-Based Carbon Project

Work in partnership with the Forest Research

Institute of Ghana to develop a method for community-based carbon monitoring

Derive baselines for degraded, restored, and intact dry forests

Document the methodology and identify elements that could be adapted

Involve local population in management, monitoring and benefits distribution

BANGLADESH:

FOREST INVENTORY IN

SUNDARBANS

•The Sundarbans is the largest mangrove ecosystem in the world

• Research by USFS scientists shows that carbon storage in mangroves is significantly higher than other tropical forests, making them excellent candidates for REDD programs

• In October 2009 USFS facilitated a hands-on training on forest inventory in wet forests that includes carbon

• Trained participants completed a forest and carbon inventory in Sundarbans, with USFS assistance in data analysis and resulting reports

• Other USFS work in Sundarbans includes forest planning and tourist infrastructure planning

HABITAT MANAGEMENT IN RUSSIA

Managing the Siberian Tiger’s habitat— threatened by illegal logging and catastrophic fires

Managing forests for biodiversity while meeting the needs of users

Tahoe-Baikal partnership addressing habitat management and eco-tourism

GLOBAL DISASTER SUPPORT

US Forest Service applies Incident Command System to disasters around the world.

US Forest Service has responded to both natural and human-caused disasters.

Recent responses:

Haiti’s earthquake, Pakistan’s floods, Russia’s wildfires, Syrian refugees

Review of Solicitation Section B

Cassandra Carey

Section B

Single Award IDIQ Task Orders Hybrid, FFP, and CPFF

Min/Max - $100,000/$100,000,000

Proposed rates shall include:

• Indirect Cost Rate

• Indirect Cost Ceiling

• Fixed Fee Ceiling

• Percentage fee for payment processing

Section B (cont.)

Task Order Proposals

Use the format in attachment 1

Labor Compensation in accordance with accepted practices

Cannot exceed ceiling reference in H.1.G

No direct Management Cost to IDIQ

Labor Categories and Rates Propose fully burdened rates in relation to

Office of Personnel Management (OPM) qualification standards referenced

Task Order Limitations

Section C:

SOW

Jennifer Peterson

Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator, International Programs,

• Long-term natural resource science experts with international experience to serve in Washington and multiple overseas locations with extensive overseas travel

• Short-term technical resource experts and researchers to assist with US-based and overseas assignments

• Leadership and execution of large-scale and longer-term overseas programs

• Administrative services/payment processing

Anticipated Needs

Short & Long Term Forestry Expertise

- Positions based in DC and abroad

- Requirement for quick provision of personnel with appropriate technical abilities

- Sample list in Section C.3.2

Lebanon Reforestation Initiative

• Planting over 700,000 native seedlings across

Lebanon

• Increased production and survivorship in Lebanon’s four native seedling nurseries

• Forestry and diplomatic extension into communities representative of all of Lebanon’s diverse sects, including Sunni, Christian, Shia and Druze communities

Peru Forest Sector Initiative

• New forestry and wildlife law (establishment of this law was a binding requirement for the Free Trade Agreement between Peru and the United States)

• Development of a national field manual for permanent production forest inventory

• Establishment of a national forest information system for Peru involving 18 forest authorities and stakeholders in Peru

West African Regional Development

(STEWARD)

• Extensive training in alternative livelihoods in Sierra

Leone, Guinea, Liberia and Cote D’Ivoire

• Joint patrols to improve forest legality and enforcement

• Establishment of new national parks in several countries

Overseas Offices

Overseas Project Offices – Technical Component

Examples:

- Technical experts

- Project Management

- Training

- Database Development

- Language Competencies

Administrative Services/Payment Processing

- Workshops

- Training

- Business Services

- Security

- Translation

- Logistics

Transition of Current Tasks

- Management plan

- Please refer to list in Attachment Two for Current Contractor Activity

- Programs in 90 countries

Key Personnel

Section C.3.6

- Project Manager

- Deputy Project Manager

IDIQ Performance Standards

PS – 1 All task orders completed on time.

PS – 2 All CPFF task orders are completed within the estimated cost.

PS – 3 Qualified staff members are available to USFS immediately upon task order award.

Review of Sections E, F, G, H, I, J, & K

Section E

• Inspection of Services

– Government Right

– Re-performance or reduction in contract price or fee, if not accepted

Section F

IDIQ Period of Performance –Base plus four option years

IDIQ Place – Specified in each Task Order

Travel – In accordance with Federal Travel Regulations

Place of Delivery – Specified in each Task Order

Section G

Ordering Procedures Task Order Awards will include:

Background, Scope and Objectives

Period of Performance

Place of Performance

Travel requirements

Place of delivery

Contracting Officer Representative (COR)

Invoicing and Payment

Section H

• AGAR 452.237-74 – Key Personnel

• Additional Requirements for Personnel

Compensation

• Work week and overtime

• Medical Evacuation Services

• Organizational Conflict of Interest

• Supervision of Contractor Employees

Section I

• Clauses incorporated by reference

• 452.204-71 Personal Identity Verification of Contractor Employees – HSPD-12 and LincPass http://hspd12.usda.gov/

• Central Contractor Registration (CCR)

– DUNS

– SAMS (www.sam.gov) http://hspd12.usda.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/

Section I (con’t)

• 52.216-18 Ordering

• 52.216-19 Order Limitations

• 52.216-22 Indefinite Quantity

• 452.209-71 Felony Conviction and Tax Delinquencies

Section J

– Attachment 1: Task Order Budget Template

– Attachment 2: Transition Activities

– Attachment 3: Past Performance Worksheet

– Attachment 4: USFS Agreement with USAID

– Attachment 5: Lebanon Project Performance Monitoring Framework

– Attachment 6: Lebanon Project Branding Agreement

– Attachment 7: Lebanon Sample Task Order

– Attachment 8: Letter of Acknowledgement

Section K

• Representations and Certifications

– https://orca.bpn.gov/ https://orca.bpn.gov/ https://orca.bpn.gov/

BREAK

Submit written questions on sections already covered

Review of Section L:

Standard Clauses

Proposal Preparation Instructions

Section L

• Instructions

Cover –Include Company DUNS, Tax ID number and Table of Contents

Due date: January 4, 2013

Letter of Acknowledgment

Format

Numbering

Page Limitations

Provisions

Section L (cont’d.)

• Volume 1 – IDIQ Technical Proposal

– Technical Approach and Management Approach Include all information stipulated on pages 48-

• Volume 2 – Sample Task Order Proposal

Include all information stipulated on pages 49-

• Volume 3 – Past Performance Include all information stipulated on page 51

• Volume 4 - IDIQ Cost Proposal Include all information stipulated on pages 51-

Review of Section M

• Basis of Award

• Relative Importance of Evaluation Criteria

• Evaluation Criteria

• Price/Cost (15.404-1)

• Fair and Reasonable comparison with Independent Government Estimate

• Options-Review of fixed fees, indirect rates and fees for administrative services for all option years

Section M (cont’d.)

• Pricing evaluation shall include:

Sample task price/cost, Weighted percentages as provided on page 60.

Sample Task Order

Jennifer Peterson

Lebanon’s Forests

• Provide myriad ecosystem services, particularly water, carbon and biodiversity.

• Income generators

• Prominent national unification symbol

• Estimated 35% decline in cover over the last 50 years

USAID/USFS Cooperation in Lebanon: LRI

1) Strengthen the production of vigorous tree seedlings by native tree nurseries and increase survivability of planted trees.

2) Build greater technical capacity and coordination among those promoting reforestation in Lebanon

3) Raise institutional capacity and public awareness to prevent and respond to wildfires and promote forest biodiversity protection.

LRI Today

• Entering third year of a four year project.

• MOUs with diverse communities and municipalities throughout Lebanon

• Suite of tools and products for sharing between stakeholders, such as planting standards, seedling germination protocols, maps and monitoring protocols

• Eleven local staff and a project director

Sample Scope

• Technical leadership and overall project management in Beirut

• Short-term technical assistance to accomplish program objectives

• Washington, D.C.-based back-stopping project support

• Payment processing to overseas vendors at the direction of the Forest Service

• Pages 3 – 9 of the sample task elaborate on specific technical needs.

Budget Template

• Reflective of hybrid order

• Technical leadership and overall project management in Beirut (CPFF)

• Short-term technical assistance to accomplish program objectives (CPFF)

• Washington, D.C.-based back-stopping project support (FFP)

• Payment processing to overseas vendors at the direction of the Forest Service (FFP)

• Template includes prime and sub

BREAK

Submit written questions on sections already covered

Wrap-up

• All questions and answers will be provided in a written amendment posted to FBO

• Information received during this conference related to the solicitation is not to be considered contractual

• Interested parties and prospective offerors to monitor Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) for the release of subsequent amendments