Sol_140F0S23R0006.pdf

140F0S23R0006

1. REQUEST NO.

5a. ISSUED BY

NAME

a. NAME

c. STREET ADDRESS

d. CITY

10. PLEASE FURNISH QUOTATIONS TO

THE ISSUING OFFICE IN BLOCK 5a ON

OR BEFORE CLOSE OF BUSINESS (Date)

2. DATE ISSUED 3. REQUISITION/PURCHASE REQUEST NO. 4. CERT. FOR NAT. DEF.

UNDER BDSA REG. 2

AND/OR DMS REG.1

RATING

6. DELIVERY BY (Date)

7. DELIVERY

9. DESTINATION

a. NAME OF CONSIGNEE

b. STREET ADDRESS

PAGE OF PAGES

5b. FOR INFORMATION CALL: (No collect calls)

TELEPHONE NUMBER

AREA CODE NUMBER

8. TO:

b. COMPANY

e. STATE f. ZIP CODE

c. CITY

d. STATE e. ZIP CODE

IMPORTANT: This is a request for information, and quotations furnished are not offers. If you are unable to quote, please so indicate on this form and return it to the address in Block 5a. This request does not commit the Government to pay any costs incurred in the preparation of the submission of this quotation or to contract for supplies or services. Supplies are of domestic origin unless otherwise indicated by quoter. Any representations and/or certifications attached to this Request for Quotations must be completed by the quoter.

11. SCHEDULE (Include applicable Federal, State and local taxes)

THIS RFQ

REQUEST FOR QUOTATION

(THIS IS NOT AN ORDER)

IS IS NOT A SMALL BUSINESS SET ASIDEX

05/17/2023 0040605278

1 70

FWS, Over SAT G/S 5275 Leesburg Pike Falls Church VA 22041

FWS Over SAT G/S 09/30/2027

FWS SOUTH TEXAS REFUGES COMPLEX

3325 Green Jay Road

ALAMO

TX 78516-9509

000 000-0000Timothy Clapp

06/19/2023 1700 ED

FOB DESTINATION

OTHER

(See Schedule)X

ITEM NO.

(a)

SUPPLIES/SERVICES

(b)

QUANTITY

(c)

UNIT

(d)

UNIT PRICE

(e)

AMOUNT

(f)

Thornscrub Forest Restoration in the Rio Grande Valley- Period of Performance: 07/03/2023 to 09/30/2027

00010 Thornscrub Forest Restoration

Delivery: 09/30/2027

12. DISCOUNT FOR PROMPT PAYMENT

a. 10 CALENDAR DAYS (%) b. 20 CALENDAR DAYS (%) c. 30 CALENDAR DAYS (%) d. CALENDAR DAYS

NUMBER PERCENTAGE

NOTE: Additional provisions and representations

13. NAME AND ADDRESS OF QUOTER

b. STREET ADDRESS

c. COUNTY

d. CITY e. STATE f. ZIP CODE

14. SIGNATURE OF PERSON AUTHORIZED TO

SIGN QUOTATION

16. SIGNER

a. NAME (Type or print)

c. TITLE (Type or print)

a. NAME OF QUOTER

AREA CODE

NUMBER

15. DATE OF QUOTATION

b. TELEPHONE are are not attached

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

Previous edition not usable

STANDARD FORM 18 (REV. 6-95)

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.215-1(a)

B. Supplies or Services/Prices

See Pricing Table

(End of Section B)

Section C – Description/Specifications/Statement of Work

1.GENERAL: This is a non-personnel services contract to provide restore native subtropical thornscrub in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) of South Texas, USA. Thornscrub restoration will help mitigate the loss of previously existing thornscrub forest that was cleared in accordance with recent border wall construction activities.

1.1Description of Services/Introduction: The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personnel services necessary to perform Thornscrub restoration will help mitigate the loss of previously existing thornscrub forest that was cleared in accordance with recent border wall construction activities

1.2Background: Border wall construction activities removed approximately 200 acres of mature, forested thornscrub vegetation within the RGV. Any reductions of mature thornscrub habitat in the RGV are concerning, as the region has lost more than 90% of this historical landcover since the early 1900’s due to agricultural land clearing and development. This subtropical habitat shelters 45 federally and state threatened or endangered species, 519 bird species (58% of all U.S. bird species), 316 butterfly species (42% of all U.S. butterfly species), and 1,200 plant species. Thornscrub requires 25-40 years of growth to reach maturity, the seral stage used by most of these species. The RGV’s expansive population growth, which converts former open space into residential sprawl, along with ecological threats from climate change, invasive species and other factors make local wildlife conservation dependent on thornscrub restoration activities.

This contract addresses the work required to substantially increase the ecological footprint of thornscrub habitat in southern Texas. Data and analyses provided by thornscrub research studies conducted through this contract will fill critical knowledge gaps in conservation and land management for public and private landowners on the border. Strategies that incorporate public outreach, engage underrepresented communities, and enhance agency partnerships, are intended to increase public interest and engagement in thornscrub restoration.

1.3Objectives: The service objectives are as follows:

Thornscrub reforestation/restoration: work supported by this contract will initiate new areas of thornscrub habitat for wildlife and recreational use in areas at lower risk from disturbance in the future. Using a 4:1 restoration value, the project requires 800 reforested acres. Restoration locations will be identified with a close working partnership between USFWS and the contracting team. The expectation is that these restored thornscrub forests will contribute long-term to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem resilience in the RGV.

Contracted work must include the following educational and public outreach components:

1. Promote education about thornscrub forests and the numerous biological and ecological benefits they provide.

2. Actively including social and environmental justice communities and other underrepresented populations in awareness and participation in conservation activities.

3. Periodic training sessions on topics related to public and private land stewardship.

Work also includes the following research components:

1. Research identifying how best to monitor thornscrub restoration.

2. Research for identifying best methods and practices for native seed collection, seed germination and plant propagation.

3. Research identifying how best to scale up thornscrub plantings with different designs and planting configurations to maximize restoration acreage and thornscrub utility by native fauna.

4. Research and protocols identifying best methods and practices for restoring thornscrub habitat.

5. Development and implementation of methods describing how best to restore thornscrub forests making them as climate adaptive as possible.

6. Inform regional partnerships, projects and opportunities for public and private parties addressing land and ecosystem restoration, by identifying future locations for thornscrub restoration based on site conditions and research produced herein as a habitat management planning tool.

1.4Scope: Services include the following tasks.

Contract accomplishments and measurables are in italics.

Task 1: Thornscrub forest restoration.

Contracted work of 800 restoration acres of thornscrub forest planted within the RGV. Specific restoration locations will be identified with a close working partnership between USFWS and the contracting team. USFWS has identified two general locations where restoration sites are needed, one on the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) NWR near the town of Raymondville Texas and the other on the Laguna Atascosa NWR near Laguna Vista Texas. Restoration sites must be established using best practice techniques that incorporate the following factors (but not limited to): site characteristics, abiotic conditions, seasonality, seedling ages, planting density, planting technique, timing of planting and species compositions. The restoration approach addressing these factors needs to be agreed upon in collaboration with USFWS employees prior to restoration techniques occurring.

Contract supports the restoration of 800 acres of thornscrub forest habitat of appropriate density and species composition to promote use by native wildlife such as ocelots.

Contract requires the restoration of 800 acres to occur incrementally annually based on collaborated identified site acreage.

Contract requires the restoration at a minimum, two sites annually, one on the LRGV NWR, and the other on Laguna NWR. Restoration will occur during the Fall season of each year.

Task 2: Promote education about thornscrub forests and the numerous benefits they provide.

Contract requires development and implementation of environmental literacy programming for RGV communities and south Texas residents. Such work includes educating the public on the value of native thornscrub forests and their importance to wildlife, ecosystem services, mitigating climate change (heat, drought), and therefore, improving quality of life in this region. The concept of shared stewardship for the thornscrub ecosystem should be promoted at all levels of public engagement.

Contract requires development of at least 5 environmental literacy programs to include one in each of the following categories: collegiate, secondary education, primary education, community-focused, and, producer-focused. Contractor needs to develop a yearly project report and final report describing literacy program activity.

Contract requires implemening an annual workshop from 2023 thru 2027 to expand awareness of the importance of the thornscrub ecosystem within the Rio Grande Valley and share information on the best management practices for conserving and restoring this habitat. Contractor develops a yearly report summarizing each annual workshop (activities conducted, locations, participants, outcomes etc.).

Contract requires the use of thornforest restoration to enhance education and create connections between urban students and nature by development of at least one wildlife corridor within Rio Grande Valley urban areas through the planting of native trees/shrubs on vacant lots, underutilized public space, and areas identified by neighborhoods as appropriate for urban green space. Contractor develops yearly report summarizing their corridor work (activities conducted, locations, participants, outcomes etc.).

Contract requires work with neighborhood associations, schools, and partners to identify a nursery to grow a minimum of 10,000 native seedlings and support this growth through 2027 for habitat restoration projects supporting urban wildlife corridors identified above. Nursery identification and operation must occur prior to funding year 2026.

Task 3: Actively including social and environmental justice communities and other underrepresented populations in awareness and participation in conservation activities.

Work with community organizations (i.e.,. TEJAS) and other underrepresented populations to disseminate information related to thornscrub ecosystems and thornscrub restoration to enhance environmental literacy. Work closely with the local communities to facilitate culturally sensitive communication, find solutions or reduce the environmental challenges. The Environmental Justice goal is to ensure that all people are protected from disproportionate impacts of environmental hazards (e.g. erosion, flooding) by working with and on behalf of impacted communities. Contractor needs to develop community forests at several locations throughout the region and specifically recruit underrepresented residents in rural areas (e.g., colonias) to participate in the planting and care of these forests. This work will identify and enact opportunities for public and private land restoration.

Contractor must develop a minimum of 5 community forests (one per year, before the end of each performance year). Contractor generates a annual project report describing how underrepresented community residents were recruited and participated in the planting and care of these forests. Complete final report describing how underrepresented community residents were recruited and participated in the planting and care of these forests.

Task 4: Periodic training sessions on topics related to public and private land stewardship.

Contract must produce and disseminate technical guidance on restoration practices, including lessons learned.

This work includes implementing workshops to expand awareness of the importance of the thornscrub ecosystem within the Rio Grande Valley and sharing information on the best management practices for conserving and restoring this habitat for gains in both conservation and economic return. This effort will bring public and private land managers together with researchers, industry professionals in seedling nursery production, resource management and key agency personnel.

Contractor must implement at least 5 workshops (one per year, before the end of each performance year)) to expand awareness of the importance of the thornscrub ecosystem within the Rio Grande Valley and share information on the best management practices for conserving and restoring this habitat. Contractor generates yearly and final reports describing these workshops (activities conducted, locations, participants, outcomes etc.).

Thornscrub forest restoration research components

Task 5: Research identifying how best to monitor thornscrub restoration.

Contract supports research to identify clear and effective techniques to monitor seedling establishment, growth, survival, and the overall development of restored thornscrub forest restoration, to provide ecosystem services over time that are similar to mature forests. The variables of importance include (but are not limited to) plant survivorship over time, species compositional changes over time, and measures of species density.

Contractor must also identify innovative methods for managing restored thornscrub forest structure over time to achieve desired canopy and canopy function.

Contract requires within the life of the contract; the contractor will produce a “best practices” peer reviewed protocol describing clear and effective techniques to monitor thornscrub restoration. The contractor will also produce a peer reviewed document describing the best methods for managing thornscrub forests to achive desired thornscrub forest canopy and canopy function.

Task 6: Research for identifying best methods and practices for native seed collection, seed germination and plant propagation.

Contract supports research identifying best methods for collecting and storing native seeds of thornscrub species (viability tests, seasonality, techniques, etc.). This work must result in a finalized, peer-reviewed protocol describing seed collection and storing methods.

Contract supports research to identify best methods and practices for germinating and propagating native thornscrub seeds and plants. Seedlings should be healthy, and well-suited for restoration plantings. This work must result in two finalized, peer-reviewed protocols describing A) seed germination techniques and B) plant propagation methods.

Contract requires withing the life of the contract the contractor will produce the following:

Peer reviewed protocol (or peer reviewed document) identifying best methods and practices for native seed collection and storage of thornscrub species.

Peer reviewed protocol (or peer reviewed document) describing best methods and practices for thornscrub seed germination.

Peer reviewed protocol (or peer reviewed document) describing best methods and practices for thornscrub plant propagation.

Production of a layman’s guide that simplifies the protocols and translates this information to help steer work conducted by those collecting and storing seeds, germinating seeds and propagating thornscrub plants.

Task 7: Research identifying how best to scale up thornscrub plantings with different designs and planting configurations to maximize restoration acreage and thornscrub utility by native fauna.

Thornscrub restoration is time consuming and expensive, making it difficult to scale up methodologies and cover larger acreages relatively quickly. This contract supports research for guiding future thornscrub restoration implementation in south Texas, such as novel thornscrub restoration designs and planting configurations to scale up thornscrub restoration. These designs can improve travel corridors for wildlife, increase potential denning habitats for ocelots, and increase habitats for native and migratory birds and insects. By scaling up, quality thornscrub forest could become more economical to restore and therefore cover more acreage, quicker.

Results of this research needs to be captured in at least 1 peer reviewed publication and 1 white paper for USFWS (layman’s guide) describing the work and its contribution to thornscrub restoration and wildlife benefits.

Contract requires within the life of the contract the contractor will produce one peer reviewed publication and one layman’s guide describing how best to scale up thornscrub plantings with different designs and planting configurations to maximize their utility by native fauna, and to restore more acreage, quicker.

Task 8: Research and protocols identifying best methods and practices for restoring thornscrub habitat.

Currently, the lack of technical guidance and information describing “how to” restore thornscrub habitat poses substantial challenges to expanding the scope, scale and efficacy of thornscrub restoration in the RGV. Therefore, this contract supports research to identify the best methods and practices for restoring thornscrub habitat that incorporate different planting approaches, planting density, species compositions, and seedling ages. This work should consider the role of herbaceous vegetation in restoration efforts. Native herbaceous vegetation (grasses and forbs) may support healthy and diverse prey bases for native wildlife, much more than invasive grass monocultures. Further, thornscrub restoration may be improved when restored in conjunction with a native herbaceous plant community.

The Contractor must produce a protocol describing the most appropriate and successful thornscrub planting approaches that account for site conditions (e.g., soil types, hydrology) and climatic regimes, thornscrub planting density, herbaceous vegetation, thornscrub species composition and seedling ages to plant. The protocol should include different planting designs and configurations to achieve different restoration objectives, such as 1) Dense thornscrub forest, 2) Wildlife travel corridors, 3) Denning or breeding habitats for ocelots, 4) Forests to maximize utility for neotropical and resident birds, and native insects. Based on the results of this research identifying best methods and practices for restoring thornscrub habitat, he contractor must also produce a “how to” document, describing and summarizing the best techniques to restore thornscrub habitat, as a quick reference guide for restoration crews to reference in the field.

Contract requires within the life of the contract the contractor will develop and produce a peer reviewed protocol describing the most appropriate and successful thornscrub planting approaches that account for site conditions (e.g., soil types, hydrology) and climatic regimes, thornscrub planting density, and thornscrub species composition and seedling ages to plant. The protocol should include different planting designs and configurations to achieve different restoration objectives, such as 1) dense thornscrub core forest, 2) wildlife travel corridors, 3) denning or breeding habitats for ocelots, 4) forests to maximize utility for neotropical and resident birds, and native insects.

Contract requires within the life of the contract the contractor will produce a “how to” document (layman’s guide) summarizing the best thornscrub planting approaches, as a quick reference guide for restoration crews to reference in the field.

Task 9: Development and implementation of methods describing how best to restore thornscrub forests making them as climate adaptive as possible.

Within the Rio Grande Valley, thornscrub restoration practices will need to proactively embrace methodologies that are consistent with mitigating the projected effects of climate change for this region as the 21st century progresses (e.g., intensified droughts, periodically intense flooding). Thornscrub forests need to be resilient to climate change in order to remain viable over the long-term for biodiversity conservation. This deliverable requires contractor to develop on-the-ground strategies and best management practices/tools (e.g., drought-resilient species selection) that will help USFWS transition thornscrub restoration to maximize its sustainability given climatic changes occurring in the project area.

Contract requires within the life of the contract the contractor will produce a peer reviewed document describing on-the-ground strategies and best management practices/tools (i.e., drought-resilient species selection) to help transition thornscrub restoration to maximize its sustainability given climatic changes occurring in the project area.

Task 10: Inform regional partnerships, projects and opportunities for public and private parties addressing land and ecosystem restoration, by identifying future locations for thornscrub restoration based on site conditions and research produced herein as a habitat management planning tool.

Contracted funding must be used to strengthen the regions partnerships to improve the likelihood that thornscrub protection and restoration will outlive the work conducted within the scope of this contract. The contractor must synthesize work conducted herein to identify future thornscrub restoration sites based on site conditions, ownership, wildlife habitat and corridor requirements, best restoration practices and climate change. This should be a widely accessible GIS-based product for USFWS and partners, useful for steering future restoration work.

This work will identify opportunities for public and private land restoration.

Contract requires within the life of the contract the contractor will develop and produce a geospatial tool and accompanying resources (web portal) that synthesize restoration work and best practices, to identify future thornscrub restoration sites based on site conditions, ownership, wildlife habitat and corridor requirements, best restoration practices and climate change. This should be a widely accessible GIS-based product for partners, useful for steering future restoration work. The project will be mindful of protecting data regarding private landowners for any publicly accessible information.

1.5Period of Performance: The period of performance shall begin on date of contract approval and operate up to 9/30/2027

1.6General Information:

1.6.1 Quality Control: The contractor shall develop and maintain an effective quality control program to ensure services are performed in accordance with this PWS. The contractor shall develop and implement procedures to identify, prevent, and ensure non-recurrence of defective services. The contractor’s quality control program is the means by which he assures himself that his work complies with the requirement of the contract.

1.6.2 Quality Assurance: The government shall evaluate the contractor’s performance under this contract in accordance with the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan. This plan is primarily focused on what the Government must do to ensure that the contractor has performed in accordance with the performance standards. It defines how the performance standards will be applied, the frequency of surveillance, and the minimum acceptable defect rate(s).

1.6.3 Recognized Holidays: The Contractor may, but is not required to perform services on these holidays:

New Year’s Day Labor Day Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday Columbus Day President’s Day Veteran’s Day Memorial Day Thanksgiving Day Juneteenth Christmas Day Independence Day

1.6.4 Hours of Operation:

The Contractor must at all times maintain an adequate workforce for the uninterrupted performance of all tasks defined within this PWS. When hiring personnel, the Contractor shall keep in mind that the stability and continuity of the workforce are essential.

1.6.5 Place of Performance: The work to be performed under this contract will be performed on private and public lands throughout Southern Texas.

1.6.6 Type of Contract: The government will award a Firm Fixed Price Contract.

1.6.7 Security Requirements: Not applicable

1.6.7.1 PHYSICAL Security: The contractor shall be responsible for safeguarding all government equipment, information and property provided for contractor use.

1.6.7.2 Key Control. Not applicable

1.6.7.3 Lock Combinations. The Contractor shall establish and implement methods of ensuring that all lock combinations are not revealed to unauthorized persons. The Contractor shall ensure that lock combinations are changed when personnel having access to the combinations no longer have a need to know such combinations.

These procedures shall be included in the Contractor’s Quality Control Plan.

1.6.8 Special Qualifications:

Work to restore thornscrub forest habitat and build public outreach and engagement requires a cooperating agency(ies) having much experience and demonstrated rapport working constructively, positively and successfully with private landowners, governments and other citizens on conservation issues in the RGV of South Texas. The cooperating agency(ies) must be well versed in thornscrub biology, thornscrub restoration techniques and have demonstrated aptitude in conducting thornscrub restoration. Contractor(s) must have demonstrated work in researching forest communities and monitoring vegetation restoration actions.

The Contractor shall, without additional expense to the Service, be responsible for obtaining any licenses and permits, and for complying with any applicable State and Federal laws, codes, and regulations in connection with prosecution of the work.

1.6.9 Post Award Conference/Periodic Progress Meetings: After contract award, the Contractor agrees to attend and participate in meetings with FWS, CBP, USGS and other collaborators to discuss the project work, refine methods and clarify projected contractual accomplishments. The Contractor agrees to attend any post award conference convened by the contracting activity or contract administration office in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 42.5. The contracting officer, Contracting Officers Representative (COR), and other Government personnel, as appropriate, may meet periodically with the contractor to review the contractor's performance. At these meetings the contracting officer will apprise the contractor of how the government views the contractor's performance and the contractor will apprise the Government of problems, if any, being experienced. Appropriate action shall be taken to resolve outstanding issues. These meetings shall be at no additional cost to the government.

Project meetings will be conducted periodically to enable orderly review during the progress of the work and to provide systematic resolution of problems. The Contractor’s representative and other responsibility employees shall attend and participate in these meetings. The Contractor’s representative shall have the authority to commit the Contractor’s to activities under the Contract.

Progress meetings can be held at or near the Project Site. Progress meetings may be conducted via telephone conference call.

A Kick-Off Meeting will be held before the Contractor begins any work on the project. The Contractor shall ensure attendance by an individual authorized to sign the Contract, its Project Manager, superintendent, and major subcontractors. The Kick-Off meeting will be conducted via video conference call. Date and information on at least the following topics will be distributed and discussed.

a. Organization

b. Responsibilities and authority of the COR, IQAR, and other personnel.

c. Contract documents, including distribution of the required copies of the original documents and revisions.

d. Channels and procedures for communication.

e. Discuss all deliverables that are required to be submitted prior to this meeting.

f. Bonds, insurance requirements, permits, and proof of compliance

g. Work Plan and Work Schedule

h. Payments

i. Field decision and change orders

j. Rules and regulations governing performance of the work

k. Procedures for safety, first aid, security, quality control, and housekeeping

l. Reports

m. Permits

n. Government contact information

o. Collaboration between Contractor, Sub Contractor, USFWS and interested parties.

1.6.10 Contracting Officer Representative (COR): The (COR) will be identified by separate letter. The COR monitors all technical aspects of the contract and assists in contract administration The COR is authorized to perform the following functions: assure that the Contractor performs the technical requirements of the contract:

perform inspections necessary in connection with contract performance: maintain written and oral communications with the Contractor concerning technical aspects of the contract: issue written interpretations of technical requirements, including Government drawings, designs, specifications: monitor Contractor's performance and notifies both the Contracting Officer and Contractor of any deficiencies; coordinate availability of government furnished property, and provide site entry of Contractor personnel. A letter of designation issued to the COR, a copy of which is sent to the Contractor, states the responsibilities and limitations of the COR, especially with regard to changes in cost or price, estimates or changes in delivery dates. The COR is not authorized to change any of the terms and conditions of the resulting order.

1.6.11 Key Personnel: The following personnel are considered key personnel by the government: The contractor shall provide a contract manager who shall be responsible for the performance of the work. The name of this person and an alternate who shall act for the contractor when the manager is absent shall be designated in writing to the contracting officer. The contract manager or alternate shall have full authority to act for the contractor on all contract matters relating to daily operation of this contract. The contract manager or alternate shall be available between 8:00 a.m. to 4:30p.m., Monday thru Friday except Federal holidays or when the government facility is closed for administrative reasons. Qualifications for all key personnel are listed below:

Refuge Point of Contact: Sonny Perez, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NWRS-Refuge Supervisor-TX Coastal Zone, Ph: 956-601-6328; Email: sonny_perez@fws.gov

1.6.12 Identification of Contractor Employees: All contract personnel attending meetings, answering Government telephones, and working in other situations where their contractor status is not obvious to third parties are required to identify themselves as such to avoid creating an impression in the minds of members of the public that they are Government officials. They must also ensure that all documents or reports produced by contractors are suitably marked as contractor products or that contractor participation is appropriately disclosed.

Contractor personnel are not required to obtain and wear badges in the performance of this service.

The contractor shall provide a contract manager who shall be responsible for the performance of the work. The name of this person and an alternate who shall act for the contractor when the manager is absent shall be designated in writing to the contracting officer. The contract manager or alternate shall have full authority to act for the contractor on all contract matters relating to daily operation of this contract. The contract manager or alternate shall be available between 8:00 a.m. to 4:30p.m., Monday thru Friday except Federal holidays or when the government facility is closed for administrative reasons.

1.6.13 Contractor Travel All travel pursued by the Contractor are under the responsibility of the Contractor with costs already included in the contract budget.

1.6.14 Other Direct Costs Inapplicable

1.6.15 Payments: An itemized invoice shall be submitted at least monthly, attached to invoice shall be monthly progress reports documenting work performed.

1.6.16 Data Rights Documents and materials are the property of the Government with all rights and privileges of ownership/copyright belonging exclusively to the Government. These documents and materials may not be used or sold by the contractor without written permission from the Contracting Officer. All materials supplied to the Government shall be the sole property of the Government and may not be used for any other purpose. This right does not abrogate any other Government rights.

1.6.17 Organizational Conflict of Interest: Contractor and subcontractor personnel performing work under this contract may receive, have access to or participate in the development of proprietary or source selection information (e.g., cost or pricing information, budget information or analyses, specifications or work statements, etc.) or perform evaluation services which may create a current or subsequent Organizational Conflict of Interests (OCI) as defined in FAR Subpart 9.5. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer immediately whenever it becomes aware that such access or participation may result in any actual or potential OCI and shall promptly submit a plan to the Contracting Officer to avoid or mitigate any such OCI. The Contractor’s mitigation plan will be determined to be acceptable solely at the discretion of the Contracting Officer and in the event the Contracting Officer unilaterally determines that any such OCI cannot be satisfactorily avoided or mitigated, the Contracting Officer may effect other remedies as he or she deems necessary, including prohibiting the Contractor from participation in subsequent contracted requirements which may be affected by the OCI.

PART 2 - DEFINITIONS:

2.1. DEFINITIONS:

2.1.1. CONTRACTOR. A supplier or vendor awarded a contract to provide specific supplies or service to the government. The term used in this contract refers to the prime.

2.1.2. CONTRACTING OFFICER. A person with authority to enter into, administer, and or terminate contracts, and make related determinations and findings on behalf of the government. Note: The only individual who can legally bind the government.

2.1.3. CONTRACTING OFFICER'S REPRESENTATIVE (COR). An employee of the U.S.

Government appointed by the contracting officer to administer the contract. Such appointment shall be in writing and shall state the scope of authority and limitations. This individual has authority to provide technical direction to the Contractor as long as that direction is within the scope of the contract, does not constitute a change, and has no funding implications. This individual does NOT have authority to change the terms and conditions of the contract.

2.1.4. DEFECTIVE SERVICE. A service output that does not meet the standard of performance associated with the Performance Work Statement.

2.1.5. DELIVERABLE. Anything that can be physically delivered but may include non-manufactured things such as meeting minutes or reports.

2.1.6. KEY PERSONNEL. Contractor personnel that are evaluated in a source selection process and that may be required to be used in the performance of a contract by the Key Personnel listed in the PWS.

When key personnel are used as an evaluation factor in best value procurement, an offer can be rejected if it does not have a firm commitment from the persons that are listed in the proposal.

2.1.7. PHYSICAL SECURITY. Actions that prevent the loss or damage of Government property.

2.1.8. QUALITY ASSURANCE. The government procedures to verify that services being performed by the Contractor are performed according to acceptable standards.

2.1.9. QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP). An organized written document specifying the surveillance methodology to be used for surveillance of contractor performance.

2.1.10. QUALITY CONTROL. All necessary measures taken by the Contractor to assure that the quality of an end product or service shall meet contract requirements.

2.1.11. SUBCONTRACTOR. One that enters into a contract with a prime contractor. The Government does not have privity of contract with the subcontractor.

2.1.12. WORKDAY. The number of hours per day the Contractor provides services in accordance with the contract.

2.1.12. WORK WEEK. Monday through Friday, unless specified otherwise.

2.2. ACRONYMS:

ACOR Alternate Contracting Officer's Representative CFR Code of Federal Regulations COR Contracting Officer Representative COTR Contracting Officer's Technical Representative COTS Commercial-Off-the-Shelf FAR Federal Acquisition Regulation CO Contracting Officer OCI Organizational Conflict of Interest POC Point of Contact

PWS Performance Work Statement QASP Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan QC Quality Control QCP Quality Control Program

PART 3 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, AND

SERVICES

3. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES:

3.1. Services: The Government will provide key personnel during the full term of the contract for collaboration, questions or need for clarification.

3.2 Facilities: The Government may provide housing at Laguna Atascosa NWR or Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR if room exists.

3.3 Utilities: The Government will provide no utilities.

3.4 Equipment: The Government will provide no equipment.

3.5 Materials: The Government will provide no

materials. (End of Section C)

Section D – Packaging and Marking

N/A

(End of Section D)

Section E – Inspection and Acceptance

(End of Section E)

Section F - Deliveries or Performances

(End of Section F)

Section G – Contract Administration Data

The following local clauses are provided in full text:

CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT REPORTING SYSTEM (JULY 2010)

(a) FAR 42.1502 directs all Federal agencies to collect past performance information on contracts. The Department of the Interior (DOI) has implemented the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) to comply with this regulation. One or more past performance evaluations will be conducted in order to record your contract performance as required by FAR42.15.

(b) The past performance evaluation process is a totally paperless process using CPARS. CPARS is a web- based system that allows for electronic processing of the performance evaluation report.

Once the report is processed, it is available in the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS) for Government use in evaluating past performance as part of a source selection action.

(c) We request that you furnish the Contracting Officer with the name, position title, phone number, and email address for each person designated to have access to your firm’s past performance evaluation(s) for the contract no later than 30 days after award. Each person granted access will have the ability to provide comments in the Contractor portion of the report and state whether or not the Contractor agrees with the evaluation, before returning the report to the Assessing Official. The report information must be protected as source selection sensitive information not releasable to the public.

(d) When your Contractor Representative(s) (Past Performance Points of Contact) are registered in CPARS, they will receive an automatically-generated email with detailed login instructions.

Further details, systems requirements, and training information for CPARS is available at http://www.cpars.csd.disa.mil. The CPARS User Manual, registration for Online Training for Contractor Representatives, and a practice application may be found at this site.

(e) Within 60 days after the end of a performance period, the Contracting Officer will complete an interim or final past performance evaluation, and the report will be accessible at http://www.cpars.csd.disa.mil/. Contractor Representatives may then provide comments in response to the evaluation, or return the evaluation without comment. Comments are limited to the space provided in Block 22. Your comments should focus on objective facts in the Assessing Official's narrative and should provide your views on the causes and ramifications of the assessed performance. In addition to the ratings and supporting narratives, blocks 1 -17 should be reviewed for accuracy, as these include key fields that will be used by the Government to identify your firm in future source selection actions. If you elect not to provide comments, please acknowledge receipt of the evaluation by indicating ''No comment" in Block 22, and then signing and dating Block 23 of the form. Without a statement in Block 22, you will be unable to sign and submit the evaluation back to the Government. If you do not sign and submit the CPAR within 30 days, it will automatically be returned to the Government and will be annotated: "The report was delivered/received by the contractor on (date). The contractor neither signed nor offered comment in response to this assessment." Your response is due within 30 calendar days after receipt of the

CPAR.

http://www.cpars.csd.disa.mil/ http://www.cpars.csd.disa.mil/

(f) The following guidelines apply concerning your use of the past performance evaluation:

(1) Protect the evaluation as "source selection information." After review, transmit the evaluation by completing and submitting the form through CPARS. If for some reason you are unable to view and/or submit the form through CPARS, contact the Contracting Officer for instructions.

(2) Strictly control access to the evaluation within your organization. Ensure the evaluation is never released to persons or entities outside of your control.

(3) Prohibit the use of or reference to evaluation data for advertising, promotional material, preaward surveys, responsibility determinations, production readiness reviews, or other similar purposes.

(g) If you wish to discuss a past performance evaluation, you should request a meeting in writing to the Contracting Officer no later than seven days following your receipt of the evaluation. The meeting will be held in person or via telephone or other means during your 30- day review period.

(h) A copy of the completed past performance evaluation will be available in CPARS for your viewing and for Government use supporting source selection actions after it has been finalized.

(End of clause)

ELECTRONIC INVOICING AND PAYMENT REQUIREMENTS – INVOICE PROCESSING

PLATFORM (IPP) (APR 2013)

Payment requests must be submitted electronically through the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Invoice Processing Platform System (IPP).

“Payment request” means any request for contract financing payment or invoice payment by the Contractor. To constitute a proper invoice, the payment request must comply with the requirements identified in the applicable Prompt Payment clause included in the contract, or the clause 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items included in commercial item contracts. The IPP website address is: https://www.ipp.gov.

Under this contract, the following documents are required to be submitted as an attachment to the IPP invoice

1. Invoice billed according to contract line items and rates.

2. If partial payment is billed and the invoice states a lump sum, the invoice shall include an itemized breakdown and narrative progress summary of the work performed during this invoice period.

3. If final payment is billed, the last invoice shall state “FINAL”.

4. Contractor’s Release of Claims shall be submitted with the final invoice.

The Contractor must use the IPP website to register access and use IPP for submitting requests for payment. The Contractor Government Business Point of Contract (as listed in SAM) will receive enrollment instructions via email from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (FRBB) prior to the contract https://www.ipp.gov/ award date, but no more than 3 – 5 business days of the contract award date. Contractor assistance with enrollment can be obtained by contacting the IPP Production Helpdesk via email ippgroup@bos.frb.org or phone (866) 973-3131.

If the Contractor is unable to comply with the requirement to use IPP for submitting invoices for payment, the Contractor must submit a waiver request in writing to the Contracting Officer with its proposal.

(End of Local Clause)

(End of Section G) mailto:ippgroup@bos.frb.org

Section H – Special Contract Requirements

(End of Section H)

Section I – Contract Clauses

FAR 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference. (FEB 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):

https://www.acquisition.gov

52.202-1 Definitions (JUN 2020) 52.203-3 Gratuities (APR 1984) 52.203-12 Limitation on Payments to Influence Certain Federal Transactions (JUN 2020) 52.203-17 Contractor Employee Whistleblower Rights and Requirement To Inform Employees of Whistleblower Rights (JUN 2020) 52.204-4 Printed or Copied Double-Sided on Postconsumer Fiber Content Paper (MAY 2011) 52.204-13 System for Award Management Maintenance (OCT 2018) 52.204-18 Commercial and Government Entity Code Maintenance (AUG 2020) 52.204-19 Incorporation by Reference of Representations and Certifications (DEC 2014) 52.209-2 Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations-Representation (NOV 2015) 52.209-5 Certification Regarding Responsibility Matters (AUG 2020) 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items. (NOV 2021) 52.223-5 Pollution Prevention and Right-to-Know Information (MAY 2011) 52.232-1 Payments (APR 1984) 52.232-11 Extras (APR 1984) 52.232-39 Unenforceability of Unauthorized Obligations (Jun 2013) 52.232-40 Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors (DEC 2013) 52.242-13 Bankruptcy (JUL 1995) 52253-1 Computer Generated Forms (JAN 1991)

52.204-21 Basic Safeguarding of Covered Contractor Information Systems. (NOV 2021)

(a) Definitions. As used in this clause— Covered contractor information system means an information system that is owned or operated by a contractor that processes, stores, or transmits Federal contract information.

Federal contract information means information, not intended for public release, that is provided by or generated for the Government under a contract to develop or deliver a product or service to the Government, but not including information provided by the Government to the public (such as on public websites) or simple transactional information, such as necessary to process payments.

Information means any communication or representation of knowledge such as facts, data, or opinions, in any medium or form, including textual, numerical, graphic, cartographic, narrative, or audiovisual (Committee on National Security Systems Instruction (CNSSI) 4009).

Information system means a discrete set of information resources organized for the collection, processing, maintenance, use, sharing, dissemination, or disposition of information ( 44 U.S.C. 3502).

Safeguarding means measures or controls that are prescribed to protect information systems.

(b) Safeguarding requirements and procedures.

(1) The Contractor shall apply the following basic safeguarding requirements and procedures to protect covered contractor information systems. Requirements and procedures for basic http://farsite.hill.af.mil/ http://uscode.house.gov/browse.xhtml%3Bjsessionid%3D114A3287C7B3359E597506A31FC855B3 safeguarding of covered contractor information systems shall include, at a minimum, the following security controls:

(i) Limit information system access to authorized users, processes acting on behalf of authorized users, or devices (including other information systems).

(ii) Limit information system access to the types of transactions and functions that authorized users are permitted to execute.

(iii) Verify and control/limit connections to and use of external information systems.

(iv) Control information posted or processed on publicly accessible information systems.

(v) Identify information system users, processes acting on behalf of users, or devices.

(vi) Authenticate (or verify) the identities of those users, processes, or devices, as a prerequisite to allowing access to organizational information systems.

(vii) Sanitize or destroy information system media containing Federal Contract

Information before disposal or release for reuse.

(viii) Limit physical access to organizational information systems, equipment, and the respective operating environments to authorized individuals.

(ix) Escort visitors and monitor visitor activity; maintain audit logs of physical access; and control and manage physical access devices.

(x) Monitor, control, and protect organizational communications (i.e., information transmitted or received by organizational information systems) at the external boundaries and key internal boundaries of the information systems.

(xi) Implement subnetworks for publicly accessible system components that are physically or logically separated from internal networks.

(xii) Identify, report, and correct information and information system flaws in a timely manner.

(xiii) Provide protection from malicious code at appropriate locations within organizational information systems.

(xiv) Update malicious code protection mechanisms when new releases are available.

(xv) Perform periodic scans of the information system and real-time scans of files from external sources as files are downloaded, opened, or executed.

(2) Other requirements. This clause does not relieve the Contractor of any other specific safeguarding requirements specified by Federal agencies and departments relating to covered contractor information systems generally or other Federal safeguarding requirements for controlled unclassified information (CUI) as established by Executive Order 13556.

(c) Subcontracts. The Contractor shall include the substance of this clause, including this paragraph (c), in subcontracts under this contract (including subcontracts for the acquisition of commercial products or commercial services, other than commercially available off-the-shelf items), in which the subcontractor may have…