Review Appraiser Statement of Work.IIJA.3.30.22.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

NOAA Office for Coastal Management - Stewardship Division Appraisal Review for Land Conservation Projects Funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

I. Background NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management is seeking real estate appraisal review expertise and services to conduct desk reviews of appraisals for land conservation projects funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Acts and other similar grant-funded land acquisition programs.

NOAA provides matching funds to state and local governments to purchase fee title or obtain conservation easements over threatened coastal and estuarine lands. To be considered, the land must be important ecologically or possess other coastal conservation values, such as historic features, scenic views, or recreational opportunities. All of the projects will be located in the 35 coastal states and territories. Most funded projects are fee simple or conservation easement acquisitions of 2 to1000 acres, with a total property value from $100,000 to $5,000,000. However, some projects may be larger, particularly if there are several funding sources contributing to the acquisition. Many projects include oceanic, Great Lakes, or riverine shoreline frontage. Additional information on the program can be found at: https://coast.noaa.gov/czm/landconservation/

Other NOAA grant-funded land acquisition programs include acquisitions funded through Section 306A of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), and the National Estuarine Research Reserve System’s Procurement, Acquisition, and Construction program under Section 315 of the CZMA.

NOAA does not hold title to properties acquired through these NOAA grant programs. The state or local government grant recipient holds title to properties acquired through these grant programs. The state or local government grant recipient is responsible for contracting for the appraisal for all properties acquired through these programs. Land trusts and other partners may provide technical assistance on the acquisition, and in some cases may take the lead in commissioning the appraisal for properties. Some parcels require evaluation of timber value or mineral interests as part of the appraisal.

II. Scope of Work This contract requires appraisal review support to the NOAA for NOAA-funded land conservation projects. The review appraiser will review up to but not to exceed 50 appraisals over a 5-year period. The total number of appraisals will depend on external grant recipients’ progress towards completing grant-funded acquisition projects but will not exceed 50 during the life of this contract and there is no guarantee of the number of appraisals the government will need on this contract.

The review appraiser will review each appraisal to determine whether the appraisal conforms to federal laws and regulations, and that the project appraiser had properly utilized appraisal principles, techniques, and procedures in accordance with the applicable appraisal standard (UASFLA “Yellow Book” or USPAP). The appraisal reviews will be technical “desk reviews”; in general, no on-site travel will be required. The review appraiser will finalize an appraisal report and email the report to NOAA within 30 days of the final appraisal being provided for review.

The appraisal review report will include a recommendation to NOAA staff to approve or reject individual appraisals. A review appraiser should recommend approval of an individual appraisal if, in the reviewer’s opinion, the value estimate is strongly supported and complies with all contract specifications, and if any needed corrections or revisions are deemed insignificant and will not affect the value conclusions identified in the appraisal report. If the review appraiser recommends against approving an individual appraisal, the review appraiser will provide the reasons that the appraisal was not acceptable in the appraisal review report. The appraisal review report will be included within the NOAA grant files as part of the official agency record of decision for the conservation project.

NOAA does not commission the appraisals to be reviewed by the review appraiser.

The appraisals to be reviewed will be commissioned by the NOAA grant recipient (state or local government proposing to purchase the property) or by another local partner, such as a land trust. NOAA will be listed as an intended user of the appraisal. The review appraiser will work closely with NOAA staff and the appraiser (contracted by the state or local government) during the appraisal review. In some cases, the review appraiser will assist NOAA staff, the NOAA grant recipient, and the contracted appraiser with developing or clarifying the scope of the appraisal question to ensure the appraisal meets the needs of all parties; in other cases, the appraisal will have been completed prior to start of the review process.

III. Tasks Hold a planning call with NOAA project lead prior to reviewing each appraisal. Ideally this call will take place prior to the commissioning of the appraisal, but in some cases the appraisal will be commissioned prior to NOAA’s involvement with the project. In addition to the appraisal reviewer and NOAA project lead, this planning call will likely include the contracted appraiser, the grantee proposing to acquire the property, and other project partners such as land trust staff.

1. If applicable, provide advice and assist NOAA staff , the NOAA grant recipient, and the contracted appraiser with defining the scope of the appraisal question

2. Review each submitted appraisal to determine whether the applicable appraisal standard (USAFLA vs. USPAP), principles, techniques, and procedures are used properly by contracted appraisers, and that appraisal conforms to federal laws and regulations.

Write an appraisal review for each individual appraisal that recommends to the NOAA Program staff whether to approve or reject the appraisal and identifies any material weaknesses or deficiencies in the appraisal. Coordinate with NOAA staff regarding project specific appraisal-related questions and issues, if identified. The appraisal review report will analyze whether the appraiser had properly utilized appraisal principles, techniques, and procedures and whether the appraisal conforms to applicable appraisal standards (UASFLA “Yellow Book” or USPAP), federal laws or regulations. The appraisal report will include a recommendation to the NOAA Program staff to approve or reject the appraisal, and identify any material deficiencies that would need to be resolved. Appraisal review reports shall be emailed to NOAA within 30 days of the final appraisal report being provided for review.

3. If needed, the review appraiser may be asked to express their own opinion of value. The opinion of value should be developed as a written report, and emailed to the NOAA authorized official. However, this need will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the NOAA authorized official and, in these limited cases, will be added to the scope of work for the work order.

IV. Deliverables

V. Qualification Requirements The Contractor must have expertise in appraisal reviews. The key personnel conducting the appraisal reviews must:

· be State-certified general real property appraisers in good standing with the licensing authority where the credential was issued;

· have completed the 15-Hour Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) course (or its equivalent);

· have at least 2 years of experience in conducting appraisal reviews and preferably have obtained the Appraisal Institute’s Review Designation;

· have training in the federal Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisition (aka UASFLA or “‘Yellow Book’), such as the Appraisal Institute’s ‘Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisition’ course or other comparable coursework;

· have at least 7 years of experience in appraising real property, with at least 3 years of experience in appraising properties for conservation acquisition;

· have training and/or at least 3 years of experience in the valuation of Conservation Easements, preferably have completed the Appraisal Institute’s ‘Valuation of Conservation Easements’ course; and

· Preferably have experience in the valuation of timber and/or mineral rights.

The Contractor must include resume or curriculum vitae of key personnel.

VI. Government Furnished Materials The Government will provide the appraisals to be reviewed [and contact information for contracted appraisers and project personnel] OR [and will set up calls with contracted appraisers and project personnel]

VII. Payment Schedule Payment will be tied to acceptance of deliverables. The NOAA Project Manager will review, approve, and authorize payments.

VIII. Period of Performance Period of Performance is a Base and Four Option Years (if exercised)

IX. Place of Performance The Contractor can typically perform the work from their offices

X. Travel No travel is anticipated

XI. IT SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

The C&A requirements of clause 73 do not apply, and a Security Accreditation Package is not required.

XII. Government Point of Contact National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOS/Office for Coastal Management Attn: Elizabeth Mountz 1305 East West Highway, SSMC4 Silver Spring, MD 20910 Email Elizabeth.Mountz@noaa.gov Phone (202) 596-6581