B08_Combined_Synopsis_Solicitation_RFQ_24Q0012_2.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

National Operations Center Denver Federal Center, Building 85

P.O. Box 25047 Denver, CO 80225-0047 https://www.blm.gov

COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION

Request for Quote No. 24Q0012 - Wyoming AIM Terrestrial Data Collection Services

Pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 12.603(a), this is a combined synopsis/solicitation for non-personal, commercial services 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. This combined synopsis & solicitation notice is a Request for Quotation (RFQ) #24Q0012. A separate written solicitation will not be issued. The incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2024-05.

1) Requested Participation Response: September 6, 2024. This is not a requirement of this solicitation, but a courtesy for planning purposes. Vendors who plan to quote on this acquisition prior to the stated deadline are kindly requested to email ceastburn@blm.gov to let the contracting office know that your company plans to submit a response (ie. “[Company] plans to respond to 24Q0012]”).

2) NAICS Code. This solicitation is being issued full and open (unrestricted) under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541620, Environmental Consulting Services.

3) Description of Services. The BLM Wyoming state office requires non-personal contract support to collect Terrestrial Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) data at locations throughout the state of Wyoming in accordance with Attachment 1 – Performance Work Statement (PWS).

4) Acquisition Procedures. FAR Subpart 13.5 - Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Products and Commercial Services in conjunction with FAR 12.203 Procedures for solicitation, evaluation, and award will be used for this acquisition.

5) Questions: September 6, 2024.Questions and/or comments must be received no later than 2:00pm MT/4:00 ET on Friday September 6, 2024. Question Submission Template. Please use the template provided as Attachment 5 when submitting questions and/or comments related to this

RFQ.

6) Quotation Responses: September 18, 2024. Quotation packages in response to this notice shall be received by email no later than 2:00pm MT, MT/4:00pm ET, on Tuesday September 18, 2024.

Questions and Quotations shall be submitted by email to ceastburn@blm.gov with “RFQ 24Q0012” in the email subject line.

mailto:ceastburn@blm.gov

Request for Quote No. 24Q0012 - Wyoming AIM Terrestrial Data Collection Services

7) Active SAM registration. Pursuant to the policy at FAR 4.1102, Offerors/Quoters are required to be registered in SAM at the time a quotation is submitted in order to comply with the annual representations and certifications requirements.

8) Responsiveness. Responses to this notice shall conform with the instructions, requirements, and terms and conditions contained in this RFQ notice. To be eligible for award, Quoters are required to meet all solicitation objectives, including terms and conditions, representations and certifications, and technical requirements. Failure to provide the required information and documentation or comply with any of the terms and conditions of the solicitation, including taking exception to any of the requirements specified in this RFQ notice may result in a quote being determined as non-responsive and ineligible for award.

9) Assumptions and Exceptions. Quoters must clearly explain any assumptions or exceptions to this solicitation’s terms and conditions. .

10)Attachment 1 PWS (containing 16 pages). By submitting a quote to this RFQ notice, the Quoter confirms they have all of the resources necessary to perform the work detailed in the PWS within the required period of performance.

11)Attachment 2 Price Worksheet (Excel Workbook with 6 tabs, 14 pages). Quoters responding to this RFQ notice shall provide a firm fixed-priced (FFP) quotation, using the Price Worksheet provided as Attachment 2. The FFP quoted shall be inclusive of all resources (labor, travel, and any materials or equipment) necessary for full performance of the work detailed in the PWS.

12)Attachment 3 Provisions and Clauses (containing 34 pages). Full text of the provisions and clauses incorporated in this solicitation and provided in Attachment 3 may be accessed electronically at: https://www.acquisition.gov/.

13) Instructions and Evaluation Criteria are included as provision addenda in Attachment 3 under the following headings:

a. “Addendum 1 - FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Products and Commercial Services” and

b. “Addendum 2 - FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation – Commercial Products and Commercial Services”.

RFQ Attachments:

1 – Performance Work Statement (PWS) 2 – Price Worksheet (external attachment) 3 – Provisions and Clauses (including Addenda) 4 – Department of Labor, Wage Determination 5 – Question Submission Template (external attachment) http://www.acquisition.gov/

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Wyoming Terrestrial

Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring Surveys

Performance Work Statement (PWS)

RFQ Attachment 1 - PWS

1. INTRODUCTION

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the state of Wyoming is collecting Terrestrial Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) data to document effectiveness of the decisions established in its Resource Management Plans, to determine treatment effectiveness, for habitat evaluation, among others. The Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) strategy is one of the approved monitoring strategies for land health monitoring.

This scope of work is for Terrestrial AIM data collection. The requisite scope of work includes 527 points in the 2025 field season, with a potential for four 12-month options periods (2026- 2029) with 375 points per year as reflected in Table 2.

This scope of work also includes optional task 5 to increase the number of required points by up to 100 per contract period as stated below in Section 3.4. This optional task may be exercised during any of the option periods.

2. BACKROUND

2.1 Period of Performance

The base year for this contract is aligned with the federal government fiscal year 2025, with four option years as described in Table 1. The base year of data collection will be field season 2025.

Table 1. Period of Performance.

Description Begin Date(s) End Date(s) Base (2025) 1/2/2025 9/30/2025

Option Year 1 (2026) 1/2/2026 9/30/2026

Option Year 2 (2027) 1/2/2027 9/30/2027

Option Year 3 (2028) 1/2/2028 9/30/2028

Option Year 4 (2029) 1/2/2029 9/30/2029

2.2 Regulatory Guidance

The contractor shall be responsible for collecting data at targeted and randomly distributed points on BLM administered lands throughout individual Field Offices within Wyoming as depicted in Table 2. Data collection occurs in accordance with the most current version of the Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland, and Savanna Ecosystems found on the https://www.blm.gov/aim website. At all plots, core methods as described in the Monitoring Manual will be followed in addition to the following four contingent methods collected in Survey123 software: 1) sagebrush shape, 2) height measurement at every 4th Line Point Intercept (LPI), 3) second herbaceous height measurement at every 4th LPI, 4) forb abundance. See Section 3.2.2 for details on contingent data collection methods. Data https://www.blm.gov/aim collection dates at all plots shall begin no earlier than May 1 and shall end no later than August 30.

Table 2. Workload of plots per Field Office by year.

Field Office Base Year -

Option Year 1 -

Option Year 2 -

Option Year 3 -

Option Year 4 -

Buffalo 36 21 21 21 21

Casper 67 28 28 28 28

Cody 40 25 25 25 25

Kemmerer 44 34 34 34 34

Lander 58 47 47 47 47

Newcastle 31 15 15 15 15

Pinedale 38 28 28 28 28

Rawlins 73 62 62 62 62

Rock Springs 87 77 77 77 77

Worland 53 38 38 38 38

Total Plots 527 375 375 375 375

2.3 Project Timeline and Deadlines

• January: coordinate and conduct kick off meeting

• February/March: hire field crews, equipment set up

• March/April: coordinate and conduct pre-collection meetings

• April: sample point coordinates provided to contractor, conduct office point evaluation and start contacting landowners for permission (where needed)

• May: field crew training and calibration

• May: data collection begins after training and calibration

• September 30: all data provided to the BLM

Table 3. Terrestrial AIM implementation roles and responsibilities.

Responsible parties

Data collection phase Task

National

AIM

Team

State Office Lead

Field Office Lead

Contractor Crew

Manager

Contractor Data

Collector Crew

Field season preparation

Hire/onboard field crews Lead

Equipment purchasing, calibration, set-up Lead

Safety training Lead Participate

Pre-training materials Co-lead Co-lead

Co-lead (Field Office training cadre)

Co-lead or Participate

Field training (typically in early May) Assist Assist

Lead (Field Office training cadre)

Co-lead or Participate Participate

Office point evaluation Assist Lead Lead

Provide landowner contacts Lead

Contact landowners for permission where needed Lead Assist

Data collection during field season

Hitch planning Lead Assist

Crew check-in and safety Assist Lead Participate

Monitoring Manual and Data Management Protocol assistance Assist Assist Assist Lead Participate

Field Maps/Survey 123 assistance Lead Assist Assist Participate

Data collection Assist Lead

Field QC of data in Survey123 Co-lead Co-lead

Office QC of data Lead

Regular data checks Participate Participate Participate Lead Participate

After field season

Ensure final data submission meets standards Assist Assist Assist Lead Lead

Field season report submission Lead

• September 30: brief project implementation report submitted, table of contents to be provided by the BLM

• September 30: end of period of performance

The timelines in the base period will be the same in each option period.

2.4 Location Conditions

Data collection often occurs in remote locations, where cellular connection is unavailable or inconsistent. The BLM recommends that field crews be prepared to camp in primitive conditions over several days and to collect data in multi-day “hitches” to minimize travel time. Under oversight of the contractor’s project/crew manager, field crews shall be responsible for safety and for appropriate coordination with local BLM field offices regarding rejection of sample points, and/or protection of local resources. In addition to attending the BLM provided field training, contractor personnel shall attend a general orientation at the local field offices to be informed of local issues, safety measures, and resource concerns.

3. SCOPE / TASKS

3.1 TASK 1 - COORDINATION

Once the contract is awarded, coordination is required between the contractor and BLM Wyoming State Office Monitoring Coordinator, local AIM Field Office Leads and National AIM Team as described in Table 3.

3.1.1 Post Award Kick Off Meeting

After award, the contractor shall coordinate a meeting with the COR and BLM Wyoming State Office lead to discuss the survey design, field methodologies, training, and to answer any questions related to the monitoring effort.

3.1.2 Pre-Collection Meetings

At least one month prior to data collection, the contractor shall coordinate additional meetings with the COR, BLM Wyoming State Office, and Field Office leads to discuss sample order strategy, reach evaluation criteria, and to answer any remaining questions related to the monitoring effort. Sample points shall be available in ArcGIS Online (AGOL) at least 30 days prior to the start of data collection. If a sample point must be rejected in the field, the point shall be replaced in accordance with the standards outlined in the official AIM point rejection protocol found in the Data Management Protocol document (https://www.blm.gov/aim/resources).

3.1.3 Hitch Schedule

The contractor shall provide the COR, BLM State Office lead, and respective Field Office lead with a hitch schedule including dates of field work, planned sample points, planned access routes prior to each hitch, and alternate sample points in case the planned sample points are rejected or temporarily inaccessible. In order to ensure BLM Field Office leads, have time to review and comment on the hitch schedule, the draft hitch schedule shall be provided to the COR, State Office Lead, and the respective Field Office lead at least one week in advance of each hitch.

Given the interdependence of sample point progress among hitches, and unforeseen circumstances or access challenges, a need for flexibility in specific hitch plans is acknowledged.

3.1.4 Field Orientation and Calibration Exercises

The contractor must be present for field orientation and calibration exercises at the start of the field season, early season, and end of season data collection checks. Contractor is responsible for ensuring that field crews can identify local plants to species or sub-species, either by providing specialized local information or training, or by requiring formal education background of crew members.

3.2 TASK 2 – DATA COLLECTION

3.2.1 Timeframe

Data collection shall begin as specified in Section 2.3 ‘Project Timelines and Deadlines’. Data collection must occur between May 15th and September 30th with few exceptions (e.g., for unique weather conditions). This timeframe generally corresponds to when vegetation is most readily identifiable in accordance with the most current version of the Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland, and Savanna Ecosystems, and contingent methodologies as described below. Contractor is responsible for ensuring that data is collected within the timeframe described in Section 2 for optimal vegetative expression, according to climate and local phenology.

3.2.2 Terrain and Systems

The contractor shall collect data at the number of points specified in Table 2. Sample points may be >3 miles from a road (includes 4-wheel drive roads or “jeep trails”) so off trail navigation and moderate hiking may be required. See Table 3 Roles and Responsibilities for specific roles of office and field evaluations, trip planning, data collection, protocol assistance, and other data collection related tasks. The most current version of the Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland, and Savanna Ecosystems found on the https://www.blm.gov/aim website shall be followed. Upon request, the contractor shall allow BLM employees and/or stakeholders such as permittees or members of the public to attend and observe monitoring efforts.

3.2.3 Data Methods

The contractor shall follow the latest version of the Terrestrial AIM Data Management Protocol, which includes the Calibration Protocol, Rejection Protocol, and Data Backup Protocol, and can be found on https://www.blm.gov/aim/resources.

https://www.blm.gov/aim https://www.blm.gov/aim/resources

Plot layout shall include three 25 meter transects arranged in a spoke with a bearing of 0°, 120° and 240°. Orientation of points shall be done using magnetic north with no correction for declination.

Samples points designated as revisits shall be identified with appropriate changes in method collection and with guidance on office plot monument preferences.

3.2.3.1 Core Methods

Core methods shall be completed at each plot and shall include the following (with adjustments regarding revisits in accordance with the revisit guidance):

• Plot Characterization Plot center shall be monumented with capped rebar or similar, where noted as required by a Field Office

• Plot Observation

• Photos

Photos shall be taken and provided to BLM in the Survey123 data collection application.

A photo shall be taken from the start of each Transect facing away (total of three photos, one for each transect) and one photo of soil pit.

• Line-point Intercept (LPI) LPI observations shall be made every 0.5m along each 25m transect, for a total of at least 150-point observations per plot.

• Vegetation Height

Vegetation heights shall be recorded at every 4th LPI observation, per Table 1.

• Gap Intercept

Gap intercept shall be collected along each 25m transect, for a total of 75m of gap intercept data per plot.

• Soil Aggregate Stability 18 soil surface samples shall be collected and tested for stability along three transects (six per transect line).

• Plot-Level Species Inventory

Plants shall be identified to species whenever possible except for sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata and Artemisia arbuscula), which shall be identified to the sub-species level.

3.2.3.2 Contingent Methods

Contingent methods shall be completed as indicated below, with all supplemental data collected in Survey123. These include:

• Sagebrush shape Each time a live sagebrush ≥20 cm in height is recorded as foliar cover when conducting line-point intercept, the shape of the sagebrush shall be recorded (spreading or columnar) as described in the 2019 Modified HAF v. 2.0 guide (p. 14, Attachment 1).

Please note that the 2019 Modified HAF was developed by BLM Idaho for use across the western United States where sagebrush ecosystems are present.

• Height measurement at every 4th LPI The Core Methods manual states on page 36 “Measure plant heights at regular intervals (2.5 m (10 ft) recommended)”. The core AIM method is to measure heights at 2.5 m intervals, or every 5th LPI point. For this Contract, height measurements shall be every

2.0 m, or every 4th LPI point.

• Second herbaceous height measurement at every 4th LPI The Core Methods manual states on page 37: “Record only one height for each plant type (woody or herbaceous) if present.” For this Contract, vegetation heights shall be recorded for three classes as described in the 2019 Modified HAF v. 2.0 guide (p. 13, attachment 2): “tallest woody, tallest herbaceous species (annual or perennial), and second tallest herbaceous species (annual or perennial)”.

• Plant abundance During the Plot-Level Species Inventory, as described in the Core Methods manual (p.

55), an estimate of the abundance of each species shall be made using the following categories and as described in the current Terrestrial Data Management Protocol (found on https://www.blm.gov/aim/resources):

• 1-5 individuals

• 6-10 individuals

• 11-100 individuals

• 101-500 individuals

• 501-1000 individuals

• >1000 individuals

No other contingent indicators or supplemental indicators shall be collected.

3.2.4 Monitoring Methods

All questions regarding monitoring methodology that are not answered by the most current version of the Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland, and Savanna Ecosystems found on the https://www.blm.gov/aim website and other technical guides, as provided, shall first be addressed by the contractor, and then the BLM State Office lead, if further guidance is needed.

3.2.5 Electronic Capture Devices

Electronic data capture while field sampling is required by the BLM. In the event that electronic data capture is not possible due to unforeseen circumstances, any data that is collected using paper forms shall be entered into Field Maps/Survey123 no later than ten working days after data collection takes place. The data shall be error-checked in detail after it is entered into Survey123.

Refer to the Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland, and Savanna Ecosystems – Second Edition and Terrestrial Data Management Protocol in the Field Crew Data Management section for additional information, found on the www.blm.gov/aim website.

Contractor is responsible for providing and setting up electronic capture devices with the current versions of AIM data capture applications. A list of these applications can be found on the AIM Data Capture Applications page: https://www.blm.gov/aim/resources Data Capture Applications.

Prior to fieldwork, applications must be populated with fields and picklists appropriate for the Field Office.

3.2.6 Rejected Points

If a point must be rejected in the field, in accordance with the standards outlined in the Terrestrial Data Management Protocol (found at https://www.blm.gov/aim/resources under Data Management Protocols, the contractor shall move on to one of the oversample points, as directed.

If a point that BLM has identified for plant voucher collection is rejected, the contractor shall contact the BLM within five business days to identify an appropriate replacement point for the voucher collections.

3.2.7 Private Land Access

The contractor shall coordinate with BLM regarding private land access issues. If private land will be crossed in the process of collecting the data, the contractor shall contact the private landowner to acquire permission to cross their land. Contact information will be provided by the BLM field office project lead, if available. To comply with State law, private land permission shall be granted before the contractor crosses private land to comply with State law.

3.3 TASK 3 – QUALITY CONTROL AND DATA TRACKING

The contractor shall follow and implement the Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) steps outlined in the most current version of the Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland, and Savanna Ecosystems and the latest Terrestrial Field Crew Data Management Protocol (https://www.blm.gov/aim/resources Monitoring Protocols). The contractor shall complete the appropriate sections in Field Maps/Survey123 to show that the data has been checked for errors.

https://www.blm.gov/aim http://www.blm.gov/aim https://www.blm.gov/aim/resources

3.3.1 Calibration

During or before the first hitch, the contractor shall work with the BLM Field Office lead(s) to complete a field orientation and calibration (See Table 3). Field orientation and calibration is described in detail in the most current Terrestrial Data Management Protocol.

The contractor shall maintain Calibration Plots in Survey123 using the calibration option. These Calibration Plots will be seen in real time as soon as the information is uploaded for state office and appropriate Field Office lead(s) to review regularly.

3.3.2 Survey123

Field data shall be submitted via Survey123. Any data that is collected using paper forms shall be entered into Field Maps/Survey123 no later than ten working days after data collection takes place. The data shall be error-checked in detail after it is entered into Survey123. The procedure for this can be found in the most current version of the Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland, and Savanna Ecosystems and the most current version of the Terrestrial Data Management Protocol in the Field Crew Data Management section.

3.4 TASK 4 – CONTRACTOR SUBMITTED DATA

3.4.1 Survey Synchronization

Completed surveys shall be uploaded to (synchronized with) the AIM enterprise database at the end of each day or as often as it is possible to connect to a Wi-Fi or cellular network with adequate bandwidth. When working in remote areas where it is not possible to connect regularly, backing up survey forms is recommended. The procedure for this is described in the latest version of the Terrestrial Data Management Protocol found at: https://www.blm.gov/aim/resources.

3.4.2 Project Implementation Report

A complete project implementation report shall be submitted at the end of the field season as specified above in Section 2.3 Project Timelines and Deadlines.

3.4 TASK OPTIONAL TASK 5 – QUANTITY INCREASE OF DATA POINTS

At any time during contract performance, the Contracting Officer (CO) may notify the contractor of its intent to exercise Optional Task 5 in accordance with the applicable contract clause. Upon receipt of the executed modification to exercise Optional Task 5, the contractor shall be responsible for collecting data at additional targeted and/or randomly distributed points, up to but not more than the number of points listed below in Table 4 (Optional Task 5 Additional Data collection workload). Data collection at these additional points shall follow the same procedures, guidance, and standards as described for all data collection points as stated in this Scope of Work.

The quantity of additional points required shall not exceed 100 per year. There is no guarantee of this additional work described under Optional Task 5; therefore, the contractor shall not perform any services without an executed modification from the CO.

Table 4. Optional Task 5 Additional Data collection workload Field Office Optional Task 5

Option Year 1 -

# of Points

Optional Task 5 Option Year 2 –

# of Points

Optional Task 5 Option Year 3 -

# of Points

Optional Task 5 Option Year 4

# of Points

Buffalo 9 9 9 9 Casper 20 20 20 20 Cody 9 9 9 9

Kemmerer 9 9 9 9 Lander 9 9 9 9

Newcastle 8 8 8 8 Pinedale 9 9 9 9 Rawlins 9 9 9 9

Rock Springs 9 9 9 9 Worland 9 9 9 9

Total Points 100 100 100 100

4. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED EQUIPMENT

The contractor shall furnish the following list of equipment in performance of this contract.

4.1 Gear and Electronic Devices

All Terrestrial AIM gear, including electronic devices for data capture and equipment required to collect contingent indicators, is listed in the equipment checklist provided at https://www.blm.gov/aim/resources and also below.

o Electronic data capture tablets for Field Maps/Survey 123 data collection. Tablets shall use either Android or iOS operating systems and be upgradable to the current version of their respective operating system, for compatibility with listed applications.

o 10 megapixel or better digital camera o GPS device o Compass o The contractor is responsible for all other materials needed to successfully complete the monitoring including but not limited to:

Shovel 2mm Soil sieve

Transect tapes and stakes Soil Stability kit Munsell soil color chart Plant press Plant books

4.2 Field Vehicles

4.2.1 Four Wheel Drive

Field vehicle (a 4-wheel drive (4X4) vehicle with high clearance is required and all terrain 10-ply tires are highly recommended.

4.2.2 Utility/All-Terrain Vehicle

A UTV/ATV may be needed to access some points. UTV/ATV equipment needed to access a point will be at the discretion of, and supplied by, the contractor. In using UTV/ATV equipment to access sites, no sustained impact to resource values should occur. Motorized access to wilderness or wilderness study areas will not be allowed, unless by written permission of the appropriate BLM Field Office manager. In using equipment to access sites, no sustained impact to resource values should occur.

5. PERSONNEL & QUALIFICATIONS

5.1 Key Personnel: Project/Crew Manager

5.1.1 Project/Crew Manager Qualifications

The contractor shall designate a project/crew manager as its primary point of contract and to lead implementation of tasks as identified herein. At a minimum, the designated project/crew manager shall have the following education and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or a related discipline such as environmental science, conservation, ecology, rangeland management, or hydrology that included a combination of the plant, hydrology, and soil sciences, and natural resources management; and

• A minimum of two years of professional experience managing complex projects and/or field crews relevant to the collection of terrestrial rangeland data.

5.1.2 Replacement Approval

Key personnel assigned to this contract shall not be removed or replaced without prior written approval of the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). Approval/disapproval of key personnel replacement is the responsibility of the Contracting Officer (CO).

5.1.3 Personnel Availability

The contractor shall immediately notify the COR when key personnel are unavailable for work under this contract for a continuous period exceeding five field survey days.

5.2 Field crew

A minimum of three individuals, forming one crew, is required at each monitoring site. Each crew will have one crew lead, responsible for the contractor data collection crew responsibilities noted in Table 3.

Collectively, the individuals in the crew who participate in collecting monitoring data will need to have the following qualifications:

• Field Botanist or Rangeland Management Specialist

• Field Soil Scientist

5.3 Terrestrial AIM Core Methods Training

Seasonal BLM data collectors responsible for Terrestrial AIM data collection must have successfully completed Terrestrial AIM Core methods training during the year in which data will be collected. Contractor staff not collecting Terrestrial AIM data directly, but responsible for Terrestrial AIM crew management and data quality control shall attend training at minimum every other year. Information about these trainings is available at https://www.blm.gov/aim/strategy.

5.3.1 Online Prerequisites/Pre-training

Contractor staff shall complete online training materials before attending field methods training. If a crew member needs to be replaced within a field season by a crew member who has not attended training in last three years, then the crew manager who is trained in AIM within the last three years, must accompany the new crew member in the field for the first three points. All pre-training materials must be completed prior to collecting data. The crew member must demonstrate adequate calibration with other crew members before collecting data.

6. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED INFORMATION AND PROPERTY

6.1 ESRI Access, Monument Markers

https://www.blm.gov/aim/strategy

The BLM will provide the contractor with access to ESRI feature services of the sample points that have been reviewed against office rejection criteria, as well as the associated coordinate locations. If feature services are not available or accessible, the BLM may elect to provide this information in GIS format or CSV spreadsheet. Any other information including GIS data needed to complete the data collection will be considered upon request. Monument markers (rebar stakes or similar) will be supplied by the BLM for Field Offices requiring plot monumentation, as deemed necessary by the individual Field Office. The Government will not supply any other information, equipment, or property for completion of this contract.

7. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED PROPERTY

The contractor shall provide all personnel, resources, tools, equipment and incidentals necessary to complete the services required in this contract SOW.

8. PAYMENTS AND DELIVERABLES

The following (Table 5) includes the required deliverables to be completed before the Government will accept services to allow for payments prior to the end of the period of performance:

8.1 Table 5. Payment and Deliverable Schedule.

Item Date Deliverable(s) Payment Price Proposal

Tasks

1 May 30, 2025 May training + 10% points sampled, quality control conducted, and data delivered

15% of total award 1, 2, 3, 4

2 June 30, 2025 25% points sampled, quality control conducted, and data delivered

20% of total award 1, 2, 3, 4

3 July 30, 2025 30% points sampled, quality control conducted, and data delivered

20% of total award 1, 2, 3, 4

4 August 30, 2025 25% points sampled, quality control conducted, and data delivered

20% of total award 1, 2, 3, 4

5 September 30, 2025 10% points sampled, quality control conducted, data delivered, final quality control complete, final report delivered

25% of total award 1, 2, 3, 4

9. TRAVEL

In accordance with P.L. 99-234, "Federal Civilian Employee and contractor Travel Expense Act of 1985", travel-related expenditures for contractor's personnel are restricted to the limits established for federal employees. This includes mileage for company-owned vehicles. The contractor is responsible for travel coordination and expenses for its personnel as required to support the tasks at the performance locations stated in this PWS. Contractor travel shall comply with all effective Federal Travel Regulations (FTR), including those supplemented by the Department of the Interior (DOI) travel regulations. No Federal travel authorizations are to be issued. The price for travel authorized by Federal and DOI travel regulations shall not include overhead, G&A, nor profit.

10. QUALITY

The Government will measure Quality based on the following Table 6 – Performance Requirement Summary (PRS):

10.1 Table 6 – Performance Requirement Summary (PRS)

PERFORMANCE

OBJECTIVE PERFORMANCE STANDARD

Acceptable Quality Level

(AQL)

METHOD OF

REVIEW

Overall

Timeliness – All contract documentation and contract requirements submitted within required milestone timeframe(s).

Accuracy – all documents conform to formatting requirements, agency directives, department directives and the Federal Acquisition Regulations.

Professional – All Documents are well organized, grammatically correct and demonstrate sound professional evaluation and analysis.

95% BLM COR review

Task 1 Coordination

The contractor shall meet with each Field Office lead on at least one occasion before beginning data collection. The BLM is notified of expected sampling schedules prior to each field hitch by email. The contractor shall hire crew members and ensure the crew members attend training. The contractor shall allow BLM employees or stakeholders, such as permittees or members of the public to attend and observe monitoring efforts to ensure data is being collected in compliance with the methodologies described in the Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland, and Savanna Ecosystems and the latest data management protocol available.

99% BLM COR review

Task 2 Data Collection

The data will be collected using the required methodologies and will be 100% complete, including water quality and macroinvertebrate samples.

100% BLM COR review

Task 3 Quality Control and

Data Tracking

Quality of data submitted to the BLM demonstrates that QA/QC has occurred. Quality of analyses and reports submitted to the BLM demonstrates that careful work and review has occurred. Reports and analyses are complete and on time. The BLM will be allowed 15 days to ensure data quality prior to acceptance.

100% BLM COR review

Task 4 Provide Data to the

BLM

BLM receives the data in Survey 123 and web maps as described in Tasks 2 and 3. Data is received by September 30. Data is accessible and usable for analysis purposes. A complete project implementation report is submitted by September 30.

100% BLM COR review

Optional Task 5 Added Data Points

All of the above stated standards apply to Optional Task 5, as applicable

All of the above stated AQL percentages apply to Optional Task 5, as applicable

BLM COR review

3 – PROVISIONS AND CLAUSES

Full Text of any provision or clause incorporated by reference is available at the below websites:

Federal Acquisition Regulation: https://www.acquisition.gov/far Department of the Interior Acquisition Regulation: https://www.acquisition.gov/diar

PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

52.204-7 SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (OCT 2018)

52.204-16 COMMERCIAL AND GOVERNMENT ENTITY CODE REPORTING. (AUG 2020)

52.204-24 REPRESENTATION REGARDING CERTAIN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND

VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SERVICES OR EQUIPMENT. (NOV 2021)

52.204-29 FEDERAL ACQUISITION SUPPLY CHAIN SECURITY ACT ORDERS—

REPRESENTATION AND DISCLOSURES. (DEC 2023)

52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS—COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND

COMMERCIAL SERVICES. (SEP 2023)

52.229-11 TAX ON CERTAIN FOREIGN PROCUREMENTS—NOTICE AND

REPRESENTATION. (JUN 2020)

52.237-10 IDENTIFICATION OF UNCOMPENSATED OVERTIME (MAR 2015)

52.252-5 AUTHORIZED DEVIATIONS IN PROVISIONS (NOV 2020)

1452.215-71 USE AND DISCLOSURE OF PROPOSAL INFORMATION—DEPARTMENT OF

THE INTERIOR (APR 1984)

PROVISIONS INCORPORATED BY FULL TEXT

52.212-2 EVALUATION—COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES.

(NOV 2021)

(a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. [Reference below 52.212-2 Addendum (below)]

(b) Options. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).

(c) A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.

(End of provision)

RFQ Attachment 3 - Provisions and Clauses https://www.acquisition.gov/far https://www.acquisition.gov/diar

ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-1 – INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS – COMMERCIAL ITEMS

Solicitation Point of Contact (POC): The only authorized point of contact for this acquisition is the Contracting Officer. Please send questions or comments to Carrie Eastburn, ceastburn@blm.gov.

This addendum provides instructions and guidance to quoters who are providing a quotation package in response to this Request for Quotation (RFQ). These instructions include requirements for format, content, and submission of Quotation package.

To be considered for this effort, Quoter’s will be required to submit a complete quotation package with the following separate file volumes:

1 - Past Performance (PP)

2 - Technical Approach Plan (TAP)

3 – Subcontract Plan, as applicable ---* Volume 3 may not be required for all Quoters*----

4 – Price

5 – General (other administration)

1 -PAST PERFORMANCE (PP)

A. Provide a maximum of three (3) recent and relevant Past Performance (PP) references for work within the scope to the work required for this effort as detailed in Attachment 1 PWS of this RFQ.

B. PP references shall not be provided for projects older than five (5) years prior to the date for which the quote of this effort is due.

C. Provide relevant PP references with similarity to this effort in terms of (1) the type and amount of work required, (2) the length of performance, (3) total dollar value, and (4) references requiring multiple/simultaneous geographical performance locations.

D. Each PP reference (up to 3) must include the following minimal information:

o Quoting Company Information. Provide your company name and UEI# at the top of each page containing PP references.

o Past Performance Reference Contact Information. The Agency / Client Point of Contact’s name, email address, and phone number (for whom the work was performed). .

o Past Performance Reference Project Information.

Title and Contract Number: Include the project’s/contact’s title and Contract/Order

Number.

Performance dates. Include the starting and ending dates.

Status: Indicate if your company performed as the “Prime” or “Subcontractor”.

Value: Include the total dollar value of work performed.

Description: Describe the role and work that your company was responsible for completing for each reference. If applicable, include any unique/complex project requirements).

Performance Locations. Whether performance (by your company) was required at one location or multiple geographically disbursed locations. If multiple, include the total number of separate locations and whether work was conducted simultaneously.

o Project Reference Relevance. Provide a brief summary to explain how the work in the

Project Reference relates to the work needed in this RFQ.

2 - TECHNICAL APPROACH PLAN (TAP)

(1) Objective: to demonstrate a full understanding of the requirements and capability to provide quality services meeting all requirements for this effort.

A. Quoter’s shall provide a Technical Approach Plan (TAP) with sufficient information to achieve the above objective. The TAP shall explain how the Quoter intends provide quality services meeting all requirements for this effort within the allocated time frames stated in the PWS. The TAP shall include information pertaining to the Quoter’s management and staffing structure, relative personnel qualifications, designation of key personnel, identification of methods and resources to accomplish the work, and quality control procedures specific to this requirement, describing processes to be implemented and personnel responsible for management of Quality Control.

3 – SUBCONTRACT PLAN (AS APPLICABLE)

(1) A Subcontract Plan shall be provided by “Other than Small Business” Quoters, whose certification under NAICS 541620 in SAM.gov is not reflected as a “Small Business”. Quoters whose certification under NAICS 541620 in SAM.gov is reflected as “Small business” do not need to submit any documentation for this factor.

(2) The Subcontract Plan shall specify information regarding subcontracting participation in the requirements of this RFQ.

(3) The Subcontract Plan shall comply with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)19.702, Statutory requirements and FAR 19.704 Subcontracting plan requirements and identify the type and variety of the work to be performed by small business concerns.

(4) The Subcontract Plan shall include a table, such as the example provided below, to specify small and socio-economic businesses participation by type and the related percentage of work to be performed for this effort.

Small and Socio-Economic Business Type % of Work to be performed Small Business ____% Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Small business (SDB) ____% Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) ____% https://www.acquisition.gov/far/subpart-19.7 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/subpart-19.7 https://www.acquisition.gov/far/subpart-19.7

Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) ____% Historically Underutilized Business District Small Business (HUBZone)

Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises (ISBEE)* ____%

4 – PRICE VOLUME

(1) The contract resulting from this RFQ will be firm fixed-priced (FFP); therefore, the price quoted shall include of all resources necessary to successfully perform requirements in this RFQ (i.e. burdened labor, materials, equipment, and/or travel), as described in Attachment 1 – PWS.

A. Attachment 4 – Price Worksheet. Quoters shall provide complete pricing using the Excel

Worksheet provided in this RFQ as Attachment 4 – Price Worksheet.

o This Worksheet contains a total of six (6) tabs, one for each of the five performance periods (i.e. ‘Base’, ‘Option Period 1’..etc.) and one for the calculated sum named ‘Total Evaluated Price’.

o Quoters shall (only) input information in cells which are highlighted in “YELLOW” in each of the five (5) performance period tabs. The ‘Total Evaluated Price’ tab should self-calculate from the data inputted under the five performance period tabs and thus does not require input.

5 – GENERAL VOLUME

Provide general and administrative information in this volume, as needed, for administrative information, if applicable: clearly explained assumptions and/or exceptions and representations / certifications. Include the following general company information:

o Company name, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI #), o Business Address and Telephone Number, o Name(s) and email address(es) of all Primary Point(s) of Contact.

o Business Size under NAICS Code 541620 as registered in SAM.gov o If applicable, Exceptions or Assumptions to the terms in this RFQ, adequately explained.

o Quote Validity Period. Include the length of time valid for the quote provided.

(End of Addendum)

ADDENDUM TO FAR 52.212-2 – EVALUATION-COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS AND

COMMERCIAL SERVICES

(1) Evaluation of Quotes. Evaluations will be conducted in accordance with FAR 13.106-2 - Evaluation of quotations or offers and FAR 52.212-2 - Evaluation—Commercial Products and Commercial Services..

(2) Basis of Award. Pursuant to FAR 52.212-2(a) and FAR 13.106-3, The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible quoter, whose quote conforms to the solicitation, whose price is determined fair and reasonable, and whose quote is determined to be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. Technical and past performance, when combined are significantly more important than price . The Government reserves the right to award the contract to a higher priced quote that provides more value and less risk based on non-priced factors.

(3) Communications. As set forth in FAR 52.212-1(g), the Government intends to evaluate quotes and award without discussions with quoters (except potential clarifications as limited exchanges). Therefore, quotations shall contain the Quoter’s best terms from a price and technical standpoint..

1 – PAST PERFORMANCE (PP)

(1) The evaluation of the past performance factor will result in an assessment of the Quoter’s likelihood of successful contract execution in meeting requirements of this RFQ.

The Government will consider the recency and relevancy (including context of data) of the Quoter provided past performance information which pertain to the services outlined in the RFQ.

(a) Recency. The assessment of recency is based on past performance records for efforts performed within the last five (5) years (prior to the date for which the quote of this effort is due).

(b) Relevancy. Relevancy is based on past performance of work with similarity to the work required for this effort in terms of (1) the type and amount of work required; (2) the value; (3) the length of performance; and (4) the size of the performance location and/or quantity of performance locations over a geographically disbursed area.

(2) Lack of recent and relevant past performance information will result in a neutral rating. A neutral rating resulting from a lack of recent and relevant past performance will not be considered as “favorable” nor “unfavorable”.

(3) In accordance with FAR 13.106-2(b)(3)(ii)(A), the evaluation of past performance may be based on the quoter provided information as well as other sources of information available to the Government.

(4) The valuation to determine the Quoter’s likelihood of successful contract execution in meeting requirements of this RFQ will include an assessment of performance risks associated with an offeror’s record of past performance. This assessment is not intended to be the product of a mechanical or mathematical analysis but rather a judgment by the Government after all available past performance information has been considered during the evaluation.

A past performance reference determined “more relevant” will have more influence on the past performance evaluation than a past performance reference considered “less relevant”.

2 – TECHNICAL APPROACH PLAN (TAP)

Evaluation Criteria: The TAP will be evaluated as a measure of the degree to which it demonstrates

(1) a full understanding of the requirements in the PWS, (2) a full understanding of the associated challenges of those requirements, and (3) the capability to mitigate challenges in order to successfully manage and provide quality services.

3 – SUBCONTRACT PLAN (AS APPLICABLE)

The Government will evaluate the Subcontract Plan of Quoters with a status of other than Small Business under NAICS code 541620 to determine the following:

1) Extent to which the subcontract plan provides detailed explanations and/or documentation supporting subcontract participation.

2) Extent of participation of small and socio-economically disadvantaged business and Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises.

3) Extent to which the subcontract plan meets or exceeds the Department of Interior (DOI) subcontracting goals for small and socio-economically disadvantaged businesses. Subcontract plans that include small or socio-economic subcontractors meeting or exceeding the following DOI’s goals may be evaluated more favorably.

Small or Socio-Economic Business Type DOI Subcontract Goal

Small Business 68% Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) 32.5%

Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) 5% Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small

Business (SDVOSB) 5%

Historically Underutilized Business District Small Business (HUBZone) 3%

Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises (ISBEE)* 13%

4) Extent to which subcontract plans demonstrate substantive commitment to small business firms, such as, letters of commitment, Joint Ventures, mentor/protégé agreements, or other demonstrations of commitment (i.e., binding commitments will become enforceable/contractual requirements). Subcontract plans with firm commitments to small business firms may be evaluated more favorably.

4 - PRICE

(1) The quoted price will be evaluated for fair and reasonable pricing in accordance with FAR 13.106-3.

If the Contracting Officer determines there is not adequate price competition, then additional data (other than certified cost data) may be required by the quoter, in order to make the price fair and reasonable determination.

(2) Options. Pursuant to FAR 52.212-2(b), the Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options (including optional tasks) to the total price for the basic requirement.

The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).

(End of Addendum)

52.212-3 OFFEROR REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS—COMMERCIAL

PRODUCTS AND COMMERCIAL SERVICES. (MAY 2024)

The Offeror shall complete only paragraph (b) of this provision if the Offeror has completed the annual representations and certification electronically in the System for Award Management (SAM) accessed through https://www.sam.gov. If the Offeror has not completed the annual representations and certifications electronically, the Offeror shall complete only paragraphs (c) through (v) of this provision.

(a) Definitions. As used in this provision— Covered telecommunications equipment or services has the meaning provided in the clause 52.204-

25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment.

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…