Statement_of_Work.pdf

ATTACHMENT 1

Statement of Work

Farm Bill Programs Clerk

The Contractor shall furnish the necessary personnel to perform the Statement of Work (SOW) below.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) requires the provision of administrative services in various Technical Service Centers and Field Office(s) throughout Oklahoma. The contractor shall exhibit the ability to provide geographic flexibility in the provision of services allowing for growth or reduction of the workforce at the various locations listed below and the potential addition of other locations within Oklahoma. The Technical Service Centers are located in the following Oklahoma towns:

Woodward, Claremore, Clinton, McAlester, Perry, and Pauls Valley. Oklahoma NRCS has a Field Office located in every county of the state.

Services consist of

• Assisting NRCS staff with program documentation, including but not limited to preparing and processing documents and correspondence, checking documents for accuracy and completeness, gathering information, reconciling payment documents, recording data, establishing and maintaining files, and transmitting information.

• Utilizing a variety of computer hardware and software applications and small office machines, to include agency specific software such as Pro Tracts, Toolkit and locally developed Excel databases to extract information needed to develop reports related to scheduling, program tracking, and balancing of funds committed and expended.

• Some interaction with the general public in an office setting. Will work directly with conservation partners, program technicians in the Farm Service Agency, and NRCS Technical Office personnel. Provides a variety of information to program applicants and participants, such as specific program and eligibility requirements and guidance on completion of required program applications.

• Reviewing applications for Farm Bill programs to ensure required information and forms are present and gathers items that are missing to create a complete application package. Determines that correct signatures are in place on applications.

• Data entry in regards to processing contract documents and actions for approved contracts. Monitors and tracks commencement and expiration of contracts, contracts behind schedule, and contracts that have not completed a practice in the first year and prepares modification, termination, waiver, and annual practice reminder letters for signature. Processes annual contract reviews and various audits. Prepares documents for contract appeals and provides documents with open obligation audits. Monitors payment error rates and works to eliminate them.

Farm Bill Programs Clerk

Work shall be performed Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays and other days NRCS offices officially close. Daily schedules shall be coordinated between the appropriate NRCS Technical Program Specialist and the contractor. Once work schedules have been set, there shall be no deviations without prior written approval by the Contracting Officer. Contractor personnel shall identify themselves as “contractor(s)” during the designated hours of performance. NRCS anticipates a requirement of between 2,500 and 16,000 labor hours during the base year.

The contractor shall provide employees to perform services who meet the following qualifications:

• possess valid state issued driving license;

• proficient in word processing;

• knowledgeable and experienced in utilizing a variety of computer hardware and software applications, such as Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel, and Access;

• able to use e-mail and internet browsers;

• knowledgeable and experienced in operating small office machines, such as calculators, fax machines, scanners, and copy machines;

• knowledgeable and experienced in general office procedures, such as preparing reports, spreadsheets, and filing;

• skillful in working with the general public;

• capable of working independently; and

• possess basic telephone skills.

Work shall be completed in accordance with NRCS policies, procedures and the local Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) requirements. Training may be required as determined.

Security Requirements: The Contractor shall conduct pre-screening of all persons proposed for work under this contract and ensure that employees who shall provide services under the contract have submitted to the Government a completed Standard Form 85, Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions no later than 30 calendar days prior to the employees’ start date. Due to the heightened concern for Homeland Security, all Standard Form 85s shall be reviewed by NRCS. NRCS shall concur with or decline the selection of Contractor employees. The Contractor shall pay for fingerprinting services to facilitate background investigations.

Non-Disclosure: Work performance required by this SOW shall involve access to potentially sensitive information about governmental and landowner issues. All Contractor personnel shall comply with the terms of AGAR 452.224-70, Confidentiality of Information, as well as provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a.

Additionally, the Contractor’s personnel shall comply with privacy of personal information relating to natural resources conservation programs in accordance with Section 1244 of Title II of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (P.L.

1078-171) and Section 1619 of Title I of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. The Contractor’s employees shall not disclose contents of NRCS case files

Farm Bill Programs Clerk and/or records to anyone other than authorized United States Department of Agriculture employees without the express written consent of the NRCS Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act Officer.

Civil Rights and Program Delivery: The Contractor shall ensure that personnel prohibit discrimination in all aspects of programs and activities related to this Contract on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. The Contractor shall employ only persons able to speak, read, write, and understand English fluently for those positions interacting with Government personnel and customers in the performance of this contract, and where English is necessary to provide a service under this contract.

The employees of the contractor shall be based at Technical Service Offices or NRCS Field Offices throughout the state of Oklahoma and may be required to travel via a Government Owned Vehicle to other Field Offices as needed. The employees of the contractor shall be allowed to use government vehicles to travel from the established work location to established satellite offices.