R17PS00439.docx

THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS. THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS ONLY

This Request for information (RFI) is for the purpose of identifying contractors that possess the capabilities outlined below.

Bureau of Reclamation, Hydraulic Investigations and Lab Services, RDLES Laboratory seeks to work with and international expert in an attempt to find a specific biocontrol agent for the control of dreissenid mussels.

This RFI shall not be considered as a request for proposal or as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of the contractor submission of this RFI or the Government's use of such information. The Government reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any contractor's input resulting from this RFI. No contract will be awarded as a result of this announcement. Data submitted in response to this RFI will not be returned. The following labor capabilities may be required under this requirement:

Agriculture Research and Development

Dreissenid mussel infestations pose a threat to Reclamation facilities, increasing the demands for increased O&M, and potential shut downs. Additionally, these mussels impact the ecosystem of the environment altering the food web from zooplankton to fish species. This project is designed to examine and evaluate specific biocontrol possibilities with several experts in this field. This project will require the use of Reclamation Detection Laboratory for Exotic Species (RDLES) molecular capabilities for verification of the genetics of the dreissenid species involved. The scope of this project is to refine a list of potential candidates.

The objective of this contract is to acquire contractor services to examine and evaluate specific biocontrol possibilities for dreissenid (Dreissena bugensis (quagga) and Dreissena polymorpha (zebra)) mussels with a known expert in the field of invasive mussel research.

In 2016, a research project was funded to evaluate potential dreissenid (Dreissena bugensis (quagga) and Dreissena polymorpha (zebra)) mussel’s biocontrol possibilities. In an effort to fulfill the goals of this project outside experts are needed.

Goals and objectives -Collect and analyze dreissenid species from across Europe for the presence of pathogens and parasites -Examine and evaluate these pathogens and parasites as biocontrol organisms -Compile a refined list of potential biocontrol organism

Results and end products -Review and evaluation of possible biocontrol possibilities for quagga mussels -Creation of a list of biocontrol organism for controlling quagga mussels -Work with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for approval of importation of specimens for testing and approval of viable specific biocontrol species for testing in the U.S.

INSTRUCTION FOR RFI SUBMISSION:

E-mail responses to this request for information are preferred. The due date and time for responses to this Sources Sought is at 12:00 pm Mountain Standard Time on 17 February 2017. Please email your responses to rbolinger@usbr.gov Electronic files should be in Microsoft Office Word or PDF format. All information should be UNCLASSIFIED material only.

Respondents should include as part of their submission:

a. A synopsis of the company's capabilities to provide qualified personnel to provide position description and classification support services (limit 3 pages)

b. DUNS Number

c. Company Name

d. Company Address

e. Business size, SDVOSB, HUBZone, or Woman owned status, as validated via the System for Award Administration (SAM). All offers must register on the SAM located at http://www.SAM.gov

f. Company point of contact, phone and email address.

g. Past work experience. If you have experience working with other Federal Agencies and/or commercial businesses of similar size and scope, please include agency and/or business name contract number (if applicable), amount and type of contract (e.g. FFP, T&M, Labor hour etc).

Any company proprietary information must be marked as such, the RFI information should not exceed a total of 10 one-sided 8 1/2x11 pages, with one inch margins, and font no smaller than 12 point.