Combined_Synopsis_and_Solicitation_FireBGCv2.pdf

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Assessing wildfires and climate as drivers of landscape transformation in vulnerable ecosystems:

Implications for ecological resilience, carbon, and human and natural communities

PERFORMANCE BASED STATEMENT OF WORK

I. GENERAL INFORMATION

A. Introduction:

The United States Geological Survey (USGS), Alaska Science Center (ASC), has a requirement for data analysis and synthesis work to be performed by a Data Scientist. As identified by the USGS Wildland

Fire Strategic Plan (Steblein et al. 2021), USGS Climate Adaptation Science Centers1, the USGS Land

Change Science Program2, and other mission guidance, identifying rates, causes, and consequences of land-cover and ecosystem change and vulnerability of future landscapes to transformation is a top priority. Climate-driven shifts in landscape characteristics and natural communities typically occur at decadal and longer time scales, but superimposed on these shifts are severe large-scale disturbances (e.g., wildfires) that can reorganize ecosystems on time scales of weeks to months (Falk et al. 2022). These regime changes pose serious threats to ecosystem integrity and resilience and profound challenges to ecosystem managers (Loehman et al. 2020). The current research will provide scientific analyses, data, and tools that inform current and future land management decision making and promote understanding of fire-related and fire-responsive earth system processes and patterns in boreal and montane forested ecosystems, including changes to terrestrial carbon balance and carbon cycling, biodiversity and community composition, and post-disturbance rates of recovery; altered fire regimes and land cover characteristics; and risk and vulnerability assessments for human and natural communities. This project builds upon research conducted in previous years and is in support of ASC’s FY23-24 research project funded by the USGS Southwest Climate Science Center and research funds provided by the USGS Land

Change Science Program.

B. Background:

Global change drivers are altering ecosystems and natural disturbance regimes in ways that may fundamentally reorganize and transform landscapes during the 21st century (Turner 2010). Altered climate has already increased disturbance frequency and extent (Dale et al. 2001, Anderson-Teixeira

2013), and although many ecosystems are well adapted to their historical climate and disturbance regimes, the “double whammy” of novel changes in climate and disturbance may fundamentally alter ecosystems fundamentally (Savage et al. 2013). Of particular concern is whether these changes may compromise ecosystem resilience, or the capacity of a system to tolerate disturbance without shifting to a qualitatively different state that is controlled by a different set of processes (Walker et al. 2004).

Ecological resilience is maintained by keystone structuring processes across a number of scales, functional biodiversity, and sources of renewal and reformation including, importantly, functional redundancy in communities promoted by resource heterogeneity and refugia (Van Looey 2019, Gunderson 2000).

In fire-prone environments the spatial patterns of large fires produce a diversity of habitats and include places less affected by fire. These fire refugia foster survival of a wide array of species and communities, surviving legacies that repopulate surrounding areas and play a key role in ecosystem recovery (Meddens et al. 2018). Refugia may be present as the result of microclimates that can provide persistent habitats for specific taxa and serve as foundational populations when conditions become favorable in the broader landscape, because of topographic barriers to fire spread, as the consequence of species life history traits, resistance to disturbance, or phenotypic or genotypic plasticity, or because of fire patterns that are entrained on the landscape over many centuries of fire activity (Krawchuk et al. 2016, Haire et al. 2022).

1 https://www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-adaptation-science-centers 2 https://www.usgs.gov/centers/geosciences-and-environmental-change-science-center/science/landscape-change

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Refugia are particularly important components of resilience in ecosystems whose fundamental processes of renewal are particularly exposed to impacts of amplified wildfire regimes and climatic shifts. Two such

“ecosystems on the edge” are Alaskan high-latitude boreal forests and the montane forests of the southwestern US. In Alaska, temperatures are warming at a rate almost twice the global average (Serreze and Barry 2011), linked to intensification of wildfire activity and shifting, post-fire patterns of forest species dominance (Johnstone 2020). In the southwestern US, warming temperatures and multi-decadal megadroughts are drivers of shifts in fire regimes, widespread tree mortality, and failed post-fire recovery across broad regions (Coop et al. 2023).

As climate and disturbance regimes shift, the degree to which historical analogs and past empirical studies become less appropriate as templates for understanding future landscape and ecosystem dynamics

(Loehman et al. 2020). Simulation models are extremely effective tools for guiding management decisions in an era of rapid change (Cuddington et al., 2013) because they can be used to extrapolate limited empirical data over larger areas and longer time spans to provide greater spatiotemporal scope for management decisions, visualize the effects of alternative management strategies, explicitly incorporate ecological feedbacks, simulate interactions among various elements of the modeled system (e.g., climate, weather, biota, disturbances), and project emergent ecosystem responses as the result of changing conditions (Loehman et al., 2018, Loehman et al. 2020).

C. Scope:

This project incorporates existing modeling simulations from the FireBGCv2 landscape-fire model

(Keane et al. 2011). The FireBGCv2 platform has been used widely in the lower 48 states to model climate- and disturbance-driven shifts in forest composition, structure, and ecosystem services, and to evaluate management effectiveness under emerging climate and fire regimes (Clark et al. 2017; Holsinger et al. 2014; Keane et al. 2011; Loehman et al. 2018; Loehman et al. 2020). Previous awards from the

USGS and other sources have funded the establishment, parameterization, calibration, simulation design, and execution of a range of modeling scenarios for a ~250,000 ha study landscape in the Tanana Valley, Alaska and a ~150,000 ha study landscape in the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico, and a range of other biomes throughout the intermountain West.

The objective of this project is to identify the impacts of shifting climate and wildfire regimes and patterns on ecosystem patterns and fundamental ecosystem processes and to assess the resilience and vulnerability of landscapes to ecological transformation. Importantly, this project focuses on identifying the spatial patterns and temporal dynamics of refugia, places where habitats and distributions of plants species and plant communities are expected to remain relatively buffered from past, current, and future regional climate extremes and wildfire impacts (Haire et al. 2022). This work represents a novel application in spatial simulation modeling studies, and resulting information provides an important focus for science and conservation planning. Among landscape fire models FireBGCv2 modeling platform is uniquely able to assess presence and persistence of refugia, which are influenced by the complex interaction of multiple factors – stable landscape features that influence microclimate, reduce flammability or create topographic or hydrologic barriers to fire spread, stochastic weather factors, long-term climate, and legacies from past fires (Krawchuk et al. 2016, Haire et al. 2022) – because these elements are explicitly incorporated into the FirebGCv2 complex modeling framework.

Specifically, for the FireBGCv2 landscape-fire model study regions described above, this project develops advanced metrics and analytical methods to identify refugia and quantify refugial dynamics

(e.g., shifts in species dominance or community composition) and spatial extent of refugia over long time frames, understand and attribute the influence of natural processes and human activities, and compare outcomes under varying future climates; use spatial model attributes generated across centuries-long simulations to develop species-specific definitions of fire refugia that reflect expected response to fire at different return intervals and severities, and identified links between ecological stability and underlying

140G0323Q0147 Page 6 of 30 environmental (physical and bioclimatic) characteristics. Spatial-statistical analytical methods will then be used to identify landscape and ecosystem attributes that are vulnerable or resistant to climate- and wildfire-driven change, and places or characteristics of places in each landscape that may serve as refugial legacies, initially in the Tanana Valley, Alaska, and the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico with potential to expand to other ecological regions pending available funding. We will relate those findings to science and management issues of concern including landscape carbon stores, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, resilience, sustainability, and longevity of cultural and heritage landscapes, in the form of maps, models, publications, and management-ready assessments and summaries.

II. WORK REQUIREMENTS

A. Technical requirements: Several technical issues must be considered to successfully complete the project goals within the larger context of USGS Land Change Science/Southwest Climate Science

Center goals and priorities. Performance requires on-site or cloud-based capacity for computer-intensive data processing; assembly of spatial datasets and data layers in georeferenced formats; and development of advanced spatial analytical code and metrics using the very large array of tabular and spatial data produced as outputs by the FireBGCv2 modeling platform. Analysis functions designed to complete project tasks must be tested for performance and reliability; and delivery of computer code, georeferenced and tabular products must be delivered in accessible formats for use in commonly available GIS, spreadsheet, and statistical software.

B. Specific requirements: The project has specific technical and background knowledge requirements.

Demonstrated experience working with large spatial data sets is necessary to completion of tasks.

Experience in the use of advanced spatial analysis and modeling, visualization of spatial data, generalized linear and flexible modeling techniques, multivariate statistics, as well as machine learning approaches for spatial modeling are prerequisite. Modeling experience will preferably be documented by published studies. The R Project free software environment will be used for statistical and spatial analysis; prior experience and proficiency in R programming is essential. Successful completion of the project will require a PhD with emphasis in ecology, fire ecology, and/or landscape ecology. Good communication and professional relationship skills will ensure successful participation on a research team.

C. Tasks and Deliverables

Task 1: For two FireBGCv2 landscape-fire model study regions (Tanana Valley, Alaska and the Jemez

Mountains of New Mexico), develop advanced metrics and analytical methods to identify refugia and quantify refugial dynamics (e.g., shifts in species dominance or community composition) and spatial extent of refugia over long time frames, understand and attribute the influence of natural processes and human activities, and compare outcomes under varying future climates; use spatial model attributes generated across centuries-long simulations to develop species-specific definitions of fire refugia that reflect expected response to fire at different return intervals and severities, and identified links between ecological stability and underlying environmental (physical and bioclimatic) characteristics.

Description of work to be performed

Deliverables Schedule for completion

Gain familiarity with the study landscapes from published studies and exploration of available spatial data including physical and bioclimatic attributes.

Literature database and collection of ancillary base maps for future analyses in conjunction with simulation model outcomes.

December 2023

Construct conceptual models of refugia for each region that are

Results in report form to be discussed and revised in

March 2024

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Description of work to be performed

Deliverables Schedule for completion testable using simulation data.

Propose a set of metrics that could be useful in these tests.

collaboration with project lead and team members.

Identify refugial attributes (e.g., landscape structure) and dynamics

(e.g., shifts in location) based on simulation outcomes under different fire regimes.

Visualizations (graphical outputs) of model outcomes in dataspace and geographic space.

September 2024

Develop linkages between identified outcomes and underlying factors using visualizations and flexible modeling techniques.

Write up of methods and results

(summary/model statistics, graphs) in report form.

December 2024

Task 2: For two FireBGCv2 landscape-fire model study regions (Tanana Valley, Alaska and the Jemez

Mountains of New Mexico), apply analytical methods described in Task 1 to identify landscape and ecosystem attributes that are vulnerable or resistant to climate- and wildfire-driven change, and places or characteristics of places in each landscape that may serve as refugial legacies.

Description of work to be performed Deliverables Schedule for completion

Develop alternative definitions of vulnerability based on results of Task 1, identifying the full spectrum-- from places with the greatest potential for stability to those that are most likely to experience rapid change in ecological attributes.

Maps/spatial models of vulnerability spectrum publishable on agreed upon platform such as DataBasin or

ScienceBase.

June 2025

Task 3: Through development of maps, models, graphical summaries, and contributions to publications and management-ready assessments and summaries, relate findings to science and management issues of concern including landscape carbon stores, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, resilience, sustainability, and longevity of cultural and heritage landscapes.

Description of work to be performed Deliverables Schedule for completion

Develop a roadmap for publications, assessments, and summaries in collaboration with project leader and team members. Design the roadmap so that it corresponds to the study questions and types of information to be produced and can be modified as the project moves ahead.

A list of proposed publications and other ways of distributing results; include a proposed timeline.

December

Based on the road map, identify literature, data and results that will contribute to each product.

Outline of products (reports, maps, etc.)

resulting from the study at each step and their association with items listed on the roadmap.

Ongoing, throughout the project

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Task 4: Expand the scope of the work described above in Tasks 1-3 above to additional study areas in the intermountain West, to allow for comparative analyses of climate- and fire-driven changes across broad regions and to encompass additional resource and management concerns.

Deliverables:

Contractor will provide written documentation on methods that describes the process in enough detail that the work could be replicated, and with enough metadata information that would be suitable for publication in a USGS data release and/or a scientific manuscript. The contractor will provide digital maps, tables, graphs, and code resulting from each of the above tasks.

III. SUPPORTING INFORMATION

A. Place of Performance: Vendor’s facility

B. Period of Performance: 09/01/2023 – 08/31/2025 and 3 Option years, subject to availability of funds and continuing needs.

C. Government Furnished Property (GFP): None

D. Special Considerations.

1. Key personnel qualifications:

-Spatial patterns of large fire events, their influence on forest regeneration and post-fire communities, and relationships to biotic and abiotic factors.

-Familiarity with ecological patterns and processes across a broad array of ecosystems including high-latitude forests of the US and Canada and montane forests of the southwestern US.

-R Project for Statistical Computing for all data management and analysis tasks.

-Refugial dynamics and spatial patterns in response to disturbance and landscape change assessment from FireBGCv2 simulation models.

2. Data Rights, Safety, Environment: Data will be archived with USGS ScienceBase or another governmental archive.

3. Security/Privacy issues (ingress to Federal buildings, personnel clearances, computer security): No access needed.

REFERENCES

Anderson‐Teixeira, K.J., Miller, A.D., Mohan, J.E., Hudiburg, T.W., Duval, B.D. and DeLucia, E.H., 2013. Altered dynamics of forest recovery under a changing climate. Global change biology, 19(7), pp.2001-2021.

Clark JA, Loehman RA, Keane RE (2017). Climate changes and wildfire alter vegetation of

Yellowstone National Park, but forest cover persists. Ecosphere, 8(1), 1–16.

Coop, J.D., 2023. Postfire futures in southwestern forests: Climate and landscape influences on trajectories of recovery and conversion. Ecological Applications, 33(1), p.e2725.

Cuddington, K., Fortin, M.J., Gerber, L.R., Hastings, A., Liebhold, A., O'connor, M. and Ray, C., 2013.

Process‐based models are required to manage ecological systems in a changing world. Ecosphere, 4(2), pp.1-12.

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Dale, V.H., Joyce, L.A., McNulty, S., Neilson, R.P., Ayres, M.P., Flannigan, M.D., Hanson, P.J., Irland, L.C., Lugo, A.E., Peterson, C.J. and Simberloff, D., 2001. Climate change and forest disturbances:

climate change can affect forests by altering the frequency, intensity, duration, and timing of fire, drought, introduced species, insect and pathogen outbreaks, hurricanes, windstorms, ice storms, or landslides.

BioScience, 51(9), pp.723-734.

Falk, D.A., van Mantgem, P.J., Keeley, J.E., Gregg, R.M., Guiterman, C.H., Tepley, A.J., Young, D.J.

and Marshall, L.A., 2022. Mechanisms of forest resilience. Forest Ecology and Management, 512, p.120129.

Gunderson, L.H., 2000. Ecological resilience—in theory and application. Annual review of ecology and systematics, 31(1), pp.425-439.

Haire, S.L., Villarreal, M.L., Cortés-Montaño, C., Flesch, A.D., Iniguez, J.M., Romo-Leon, J.R. and

Sanderlin, J.S., 2022. Climate refugia for Pinus spp. in topographic and bioclimatic environments of the

Madrean sky islands of México and the United States. Plant Ecology, 223(5), pp.577-598.

Holsinger L, Keane RE, Isaak D J, etc. (2014). Relative effects of climate change and wildfires on stream temperatures: a simulation modeling approach in a Rocky Mountain watershed. Climatic

Change, 124(1–2).

Johnstone, J.F., Celis, G., Chapin III, F.S., Hollingsworth, T.N., Jean, M. and Mack, M.C., 2020. Factors shaping alternate successional trajectories in burned black spruce forests of Alaska. Ecosphere, 11(5), p.e03129.

Keane RE, Loehman RA, Holsinger LM (2011). The FireBGCv2 Landscape Fire Succession Model: A

Research Simulation Platform for Exploring Fire and Vegetation Dynamics. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-

255, USFS, Fort Collins, CO, USA, 137.

Krawchuk, M.A., Haire, S.L., Coop, J., Parisien, M.A., Whitman, E., Chong, G. and Miller, C., 2016.

Topographic and fire weather controls of fire refugia in forested ecosystems of northwestern North

America. Ecosphere, 7(12), p.e01632.

Loehman, R., Flatley, W., Holsinger, L. and Thode, A., 2018. Can land management buffer impacts of climate changes and altered fire regimes on ecosystems of the southwestern United States. Forests, 9(4), p.192.

Loehman, R.A., Keane, R.E. and Holsinger, L.M., 2020. Simulation modeling of complex climate, wildfire, and vegetation dynamics to address wicked problems in land management. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 3, p.3.

Meddens, A.J., Kolden, C.A., Lutz, J.A., Smith, A.M., Cansler, C.A., Abatzoglou, J.T., Meigs, G.W., Downing, W.M. and Krawchuk, M.A., 2018. Fire refugia: what are they, and why do they matter for global change. BioScience, 68(12), pp.944-954.

Savage, M., Mast, J.N. and Feddema, J.J., 2013. Double whammy: high-severity fire and drought in ponderosa pine forests of the Southwest. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 43(6), pp.570-583.

Serreze, M.C. and Barry, R.G., 2011. Processes and impacts of Arctic amplification: A research synthesis.

Global and planetary change, 77(1-2), pp.85-96.

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Steblein, P.F., Loehman, R.A., Miller, M.P., Holomuzki, J.R., Soileau, S.C., Brooks, M.L., Drane-Maury, M., Hamilton, H.M., Kean, J.W., Keeley, J.E. and Mason Jr, R.R., 2021. US Geological Survey wildland fire science strategic plan, 2021–26 (No. 1471). US Geological Survey.

Turner, M.G., 2010. Disturbance and landscape dynamics in a changing world. Ecology, 91(10), pp.2833-

2849.

Van Looy, K., Tonkin, J.D., Floury, M., Leigh, C., Soininen, J., Larsen, S., Heino, J., LeRoy Poff, N., Delong, M., Jähnig, S.C. and Datry, T., 2019. The three Rs of river ecosystem resilience: Resources, recruitment, and refugia. River Research and Applications, 35(2), pp.107-120.

Walker, B., Holling, C.S., Carpenter, S.R. and Kinzig, A., 2004. Resilience, adaptability, and transformability in social–ecological systems. Ecology and society, 9(2).

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COMMERCIAL CLAUSES

52.252-1 Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998)

This solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. The offeror is cautioned that the listed provisions may include blocks that must be completed by the offeror and submitted with its quotation or offer. In lieu of submitting the full text of those provisions, the offeror may identify the provision by paragraph identifier and provide the appropriate information with its quotation or offer. Also, the full text of a solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es):

http://www.acquisition.gov/far/

Provision Title Date

52.204-07 System for Award Management Oct 2018

52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items Mar 2023

52.252-02 Clauses Incorporated by Reference (February 1998)

This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es):

http://www.acquisition.gov/far/

Clause Title Date

52.204-13 System for Award Management Maintenance Oct 2018

52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items Dec 2022

52.232-40 Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors Mar 2023

52.212-2 Evaluation – Commercial Items (November 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. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: Trade-off.

● Qualifications and experience

-Familiarity with ecological patterns and processes across a broad array of ecosystems including high-latitude forests of the US and Canada and montane forests of the southwestern US.

-R Project for Statistical Computing for all data management and analysis tasks.

-Refugial dynamics and spatial patterns in response to disturbance and landscape change assessment from

FireBGCv2 simulation models.

● Capability, including technical capability, work plan, and capacity to perform in the required time

● Price

● Past performance

In evaluating capability, we will review your work plan and consider such things as availability of equipment and personnel, availability to work and to meet the overall project timeline, contingency planning, etc.

Recent and relevant experience will be evaluated with preference given to work with federal agencies. Examples are resumes, published works, listings of prior relevant and recent contracts, etc. Past performance is the measure of how well you have performed similar work before. Submit at least two references with contact information.

It is the prospective contractor’s responsibility to submit sufficient information to allow a meaningful evaluation in each of these areas. Failure to do so will negatively impact our evaluation of your quotation.

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We will select for award the prospective contractor whose quotation conforming to this solicitation will be most advantageous to the USGS.

52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Dec

2022)

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 with 13 CFR part 127. It automatically qualifies as a women-owned small business eligible under the WOSB Program.

Forced or indentured child labor means all work or service—

(1) Exacted from any person under the age of 18 under the menace of any penalty for its nonperformance and for which the worker does not offer himself voluntarily; or

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Immediate owner means an entity, other than the offeror, that has direct control of the offeror. Indicators of control include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: ownership or interlocking management, identity of interests among family members, shared facilities and equipment, and the common use of employees.

Inverted domestic corporation, means a foreign incorporated entity that meets the definition of an inverted domestic corporation under 6 U.S.C. 395(b), applied in accordance with the rules and definitions of 6 U.S.C. 395(c).

Manufactured end product means any end product in product and service codes (PSCs) 1000-9999, except—

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(10) PSC 9630, Additive Metal Materials.

Place of manufacture means the place where an end product is assembled out of components, or otherwise made or processed from raw materials into the finished product that is to be provided to the Government. If a product is disassembled and reassembled, the place of reassembly is not the place of manufacture.

Predecessor means an entity that is replaced by a successor and includes any predecessors of the predecessor.

Reasonable inquiry has the meaning provided in the clause 52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain

Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment.

Restricted business operations means business operations in Sudan that include power production activities, mineral extraction activities, oil-related activities, or the production of military equipment, as those terms are defined in the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-174). Restricted business operations do not include business operations that the person (as that term is defined in Section 2 of the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007) conducting the business can demonstrate—

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(1) Are conducted under contract directly and exclusively with the regional government of southern

Sudan;

(2) Are conducted pursuant to specific authorization from the Office of Foreign Assets Control in the

Department of the Treasury, or are expressly exempted under Federal law from the requirement to be conducted under such authorization;

(3) Consist of providing goods or services to marginalized populations of Sudan;

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(2) Does not include information or informational materials the export of which the President does not have the authority to regulate or prohibit pursuant to section 203(b)(3)of the International Emergency Economic

Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(3)).

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(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 veteransor, in the case of a service-disabled veteran with permanent and severe disability, the spouse or permanent caregiver of such veteran.

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Small business concern—

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Small disadvantaged business concern, consistent with13 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 at13 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 CFR124.104(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.

Subsidiary means an entity in which more than 50 percent of the entity is owned—

(1) Directly by a parent corporation; or

(2) Through another subsidiary of a parent corporation

Successor means an entity that has replaced a predecessor by acquiring the assets and carrying out the affairs of the predecessor under a new name (often through acquisition or merger). The term "successor" does not include new offices/divisions of the same company or a company that only changes its name. The extent of the responsibility of the successor for the liabilities of the predecessor may vary, depending on State law and specific circumstances.

Veteran-owned small business concern means a small business concern—

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(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 business concern means a concern which 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 its stock is owned by one or more women; and whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more women

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 least51 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) Annual Representations and Certifications. Any changes provided by the Offeror in paragraph (b)(2) of this provision do not automatically change the representations and certifications in SAM.

(2) The offeror has completed the annual representations and certifications electronically in SAM accessed through http://www.sam.gov. After reviewing SAM information, the Offeror verifies by submission of this offer that the representations and certifications currently posted electronically at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror

Representations and Certifications-Commercial Products and Commercial Services, have been entered or updated in the last 12 months, are current, accurate, complete, and applicable to this solicitation (including the business size standard(s) applicable to the NAICS code(s) referenced for this solicitation), at the time this offer is submitted and are incorporated in this offer by reference (see FAR 4.1201), except for paragraphs ______________.

[Offeror to identify the applicable paragraphs at (c) through (v) of this provision that the offeror has completed for the purposes of this solicitation only, if any.

These amended representation(s) and/or certification(s) are also incorporated in this offer and are current, accurate, and complete as of the date of this offer.

Any changes provided by the offeror are applicable to this solicitation only, and do not result in an update to the representations and certifications posted electronically on SAM.]

(c) Offerors must complete the following representations when the resulting contract is for supplies to be delivered or services to be performed in the United States or its outlying areas, or when the contracting officer has applied part 19 in accordance with 19.000(b)(1)(ii). Check all that apply.

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

(2) Veteran-owned small business concern. [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.

(3) Service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern. [Complete only if the offeror represented itself as a veteran-owned small business concern in paragraph (c)(2) of this provision.] The offeror represents as part of its offer that it □ is, □ is not a service-disabled veteran-owned small business concern.

(4) Small disadvantaged business concern. [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 CFR124.1002.

(5) Women-owned small business concern. [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 women-owned small business concern.

(6) WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program. [Complete only if the offeror represented itself as a women-owned small business concern in paragraph (c)(5) of this provision.] The offeror represents 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)(6)(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

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WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program participating in the joint venture shall submit a separate signed copy of the WOSB representation.

(7) Economically disadvantaged women-owned small business (EDWOSB) concern. [Complete only if the offeror represented itself as a WOSB concern eligible under the WOSB Program in (c)(6) of this provision.] The offeror represents that-

(i) It □ is, □ is not an EDWOSB concern, 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)(7)(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.

Note: Complete paragraphs (c)(8) and (c)(9) only if this solicitation is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold.

(8) Women-owned business concern (other than small business concern). [Complete only if the offeror is a women-owned business concern and did not represent itself as a small business concern in paragraph (c)(1) of this provision.] The offeror represents that it □ is a women-owned business concern.

(9) Tie bid priority for labor surplus area concerns. If this is an invitation for bid, small business offerors may identify the labor surplus areas in which costs to be incurred on account of manufacturing or production (by offeror or first-tier subcontractors) amount to more than 50 percent of the contract price:____________________________________

(10) HUBZone small business concern. [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)(10)(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) Representations required to implement provisions of Executive Order11246- (1) Previous contracts and compliance. The offeror represents that-

(i) It □ has, □ has not participated in a previous contract or subcontract subject to the Equal

Opportunity clause of this solicitation; and

(ii) It □ has, □ has not filed all required compliance reports.

(2) Affirmative Action Compliance. The offeror represents that-

(i) It □ has developed and has on file, □ has not developed and does not have on file, at each establishment, affirmative action programs required by rules and regulations of the Secretary of Labor (41 CFR parts

60-1 and 60-2), or

(ii) It □ has not previously had contracts subject to the written affirmative action programs requirement of the rules and regulations of the Secretary of Labor.

(e) Certification Regarding Payments to Influence Federal Transactions (31 http://uscode.house.gov/ U.S.C.

1352). (Applies only if the contract is expected to exceed $150,000.) By submission of its offer, the offeror certifies to the best of its knowledge and belief that no Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress or an employee of a Member of Congress on his or her behalf in connection with the award of any resultant contract. If any registrants under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 have made a lobbying contact on behalf of the offeror with respect to this contract, the offeror shall complete and submit, with its offer, OMB Standard Form LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, to provide the name of the registrants. The offeror need not report regularly employed officers or employees of the offeror to whom payments of reasonable compensation were made.

(f) Buy American Certificate. (Applies only if the clause at Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 52.225-1, Buy American-Supplies, is included in this solicitation.)

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(1) (i) The Offeror certifies that each end product, except those listed in paragraph (f)(2) of this provision, is a domestic end product.

(ii) The Offeror shall list as foreign end products those end products manufactured in the United

States that do not qualify as domestic end products.

(iii) The terms "domestic end product," "end product," "foreign end product," and "United States" are defined in the clause of this solicitation entitled "Buy American-Supplies."

(2) Foreign End Products:

Line Item No. Country of Origin

[List as necessary]

(3) The Government will evaluate offers in accordance with the policies and procedures of FAR part 25.

(g) (1) Buy American-Free Trade Agreements-Israeli Trade Act Certificate. (Applies only if the clause at FAR

52.225-3, Buy American-Free Trade Agreements-Israeli Trade Act, is included in this solicitation.)

(i) (A) The Offeror certifies that each end product, except those listed in paragraph (g)(1)(ii) or (iii) of this provision, is a domestic end product.

(B) The terms "Bahrainian, Moroccan, Omani, Panamanian, or Peruvian end product,"

"domestic end product," "end product," "foreign end product," "Free Trade Agreement country," "Free Trade

Agreement country end product," "Israeli end product," and "United States" are defined in the clause of this solicitation entitled "Buy American-Free Trade Agreements-Israeli Trade Act."

(ii) The Offeror certifies that the following supplies are Free Trade Agreement country end products

(other than Bahrainian, Moroccan, Omani, Panamanian, or Peruvian end products) or Israeli end products as defined in the clause of this solicitation entitled "Buy American-Free Trade Agreements-Israeli Trade Act."

Free Trade Agreement Country End Products (Other than Bahrainian, Moroccan, Omani, Panamanian, or Peruvian End Products) or Israeli End Products:

(iii) The Offeror shall list those supplies that are foreign end products (other than those listed in paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this provision) as defined in the clause of this solicitation entitled "Buy American-Free Trade

Agreements-Israeli Trade Act." The Offeror shall list as other foreign end products those end products manufactured in the United States that do not qualify as domestic end products.

Other Foreign End Products:

140G0323Q0147 Page 17 of 30

(iv) The Government will evaluate offers in accordance with the policies and procedures of FAR part 25.

(2) Buy American-Free Trade Agreements-Israeli Trade Act Certificate, Alternate I. If Alternate I to the clause at FAR 52.225-3 is included in this solicitation, substitute the following paragraph (g)(1)(ii) for paragraph

(g)(1)(ii) of the basic provision:

(g)(1)(ii) The offeror certifies that the following supplies are Canadian end products as defined in the clause of this solicitation entitled "Buy American-Free Trade Agreements-Israeli Trade Act":

Canadian End Products:

Line Item No.

(3) Buy American-Free Trade Agreements-Israeli Trade Act Certificate, Alternate II. If Alternate II to the clause at FAR 52.225-3 is included in this solicitation, substitute the following paragraph (g)(1)(ii) for paragraph

(g)(1)(ii) of the basic provision:

(g)(1)(ii) The offeror certifies that the following supplies are Canadian end products or Israeli end products as defined in the clause of this solicitation entitled "Buy American-Free Trade Agreements-Israeli Trade

Act":

Canadian or Israeli End Products:

(4) Buy American-Free Trade Agreements-Israeli Trade Act Certificate, Alternate III. If Alternate III to the clause at 52.225-3 is included in this solicitation, substitute the following paragraph (g)(1)(ii) for paragraph

(g)(1)(ii) of the basic provision:

(g)(1)(ii) The offeror certifies that the following supplies are Free Trade Agreement country end products

(other than Bahrainian, Korean, Moroccan, Omani, Panamanian, or Peruvian end products) or Israeli end products as defined in the clause of this solicitation entitled "Buy American-Free Trade Agreements-Israeli Trade Act":

Free Trade Agreement Country End Products (Other than Bahrainian, Korean, Moroccan, Omani, Panamanian, or Peruvian End Products) or Israeli End Products:

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(5) Trade Agreements Certificate. (Applies only if the clause at FAR 52.225-5, Trade Agreements, is included in this solicitation.)

(i) The offeror certifies that each end product, except those listed in paragraph (g)(5)(ii) of this provision, is a U.S.-made or designated country end product, as defined in the clause of this solicitation entitled

"Trade Agreements."

(ii) The offeror shall list as other end products those end products that are not U.S.-made or designated country end products.

Other End Products:

(iii) The Government will evaluate offers in accordance with the policies and procedures of FAR part 25. For line items covered by the WTO GPA, the Government will evaluate offers of U.S.-made or designated country end products without regard to the restrictions of the Buy American statute. The Government will consider for award only offers of U.S.-made or designated country end products unless the Contracting Officer determines that there are no offers for such products or that the offers for such products are insufficient to fulfill the requirements of the solicitation.

(h) Certification Regarding Responsibility Matters (Executive Order 12689). (Applies only if the contract value is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold.) The offeror certifies, to the best of its knowledge and belief, that the offeror and/or any of its principals–

(1) □ Are, □ are not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, or declared ineligible for the award of contracts by any Federal agency;

(2) □ Have, □ have not, within a three-year period preceding this offer, been convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered against them for: commission of fraud or a criminal offense in connection with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or performing a Federal, state or local government contract or subcontract; violation of Federal or state antitrust statutes relating to the submission of offers; or commission of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, making false statements, tax evasion, violating Federal criminal tax laws, or receiving stolen property;

(3) □ Are, □ are not presently indicted for, or otherwise criminally or civilly charged by a Government entity with, commission of any of these offenses enumerated in paragraph…