Sol_140L0321Q0006.pdf

SEE ADDENDUMIS CHECKED

CODE 18a. PAYMENT WILL BE MADE BY

CODE

FACILITYCODE

17b. CHECK IF REMITTANCE IS DIFFERENT AND PUT SUCH ADDRESS IN OFFER

OFFEROR

LXA

SANTA FE NM 87508

301 DINOSAUR TRAIL

BLM NM-STATE OFC-SANTA FE(NM916)

0004276469 CODE 16. ADMINISTERED BYCODE

X

X

541620

SIZE STANDARD:

% FOR:SET ASIDE:UNRESTRICTED ORLXA

RFPIFB

10. THIS ACQUISITION ISCODE

RFQ

14. METHOD OF SOLICITATION

13b. RATING

NAICS:

SMALL BUSINESS

08/27/2021 1400 MS

08/16/2021

(505) 761-8711Anna Salas-Waldo (No collect calls)

INFORMATION CALL:

FOR SOLICITATION 8. OFFER DUE DATE/LOCAL TIMEb. TELEPHONE NUMBER a. NAME

4. ORDER NUMBER3. AWARD/ 6. SOLICITATION

140L0321Q0006

5. SOLICITATION NUMBER

SOLICITATION/CONTRACT/ORDER FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS 1. REQUISITION NUMBER PAGE OF

1 23 0040545829OFFEROR TO COMPLETE BLOCKS 12, 17, 23, 24, & 30

TELEPHONE NO.

17a. CONTRACTOR/

SANTA FE NM 87508

301 DINOSAUR TRAIL

BLM-NMSO-DIV. OF RESOURCES

15. DELIVER TO

SANTA FE NM 87508

301 DINOSAUR TRAIL

9. ISSUED BY

7.

2. CONTRACT NO.

EFFECTIVE DATE

$16.50

18b. SUBMIT INVOICES TO ADDRESS SHOWN IN BLOCK 18a UNLESS BLOCK BELOW

ISSUE DATE

DELIVERY FOR FOB DESTINA-

TION UNLESS BLOCK IS

MARKED

11.

SEE SCHEDULEX

12. DISCOUNT TERMS

THIS CONTRACT IS A

RATED ORDER UNDER

DPAS (15 CFR 700)

13a.

SERVICE-DISABLED

VETERAN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS

HUBZONE SMALL

BUSINESS

8(A)

BLM NM-STATE OFC-SANTA FE(NM916)

WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS

(WOSB) ELIGIBLE UNDER THE WOMEN-OWNED

SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM

EDWOSB

24.

AMOUNT

23.

UNIT PRICE

22.

UNIT

21.

QUANTITY

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

19.

ITEM NO.

Bureau of Land Management New Mexico State Office Preparation of an Land Exchange Resource Management Plan Amendments/Environmental Assessments

AWARD WILL BE MADE AGAINST THE NATIONAL

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT BLANKET PURCHASE

AGREEMENT TO ALL BUSINESSES

Period of Performance: 11/01/2021 to 08/31/2022 (Use Reverse and/or Attach Additional Sheets as Necessary)

HEREIN, IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

X

DATED

Anna Salas-Waldo

. YOUR OFFER ON SOLICITATION (BLOCK 5),

INCLUDING ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES WHICH ARE SET FORTH

COPIES TO ISSUING OFFICE. CONTRACTOR AGREES TO FURNISH AND DELIVER

ARE

ARE

31c. DATE SIGNED

27b. CONTRACT/PURCHASE ORDER INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-5 IS ATTACHED. ADDENDA

31a. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (SIGNATURE OF CONTRACTING OFFICER)

30c. DATE SIGNED 31b. NAME OF CONTRACTING OFFICER (Type or print)

ALL ITEMS SET FORTH OR OTHERWISE IDENTIFIED ABOVE AND ON ANY ADDITIONAL

SHEETS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SPECIFIED.

27a. SOLICITATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE FAR 52.212-1, 52.212-4. FAR 52.212-3 AND 52.212-5 ARE ATTACHED. ADDENDA

26. TOTAL AWARD AMOUNT (For Govt. Use Only)

OFFER

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 2/2012)

Prescribed by GSA - FAR (48 CFR) 53.212

ARE NOT ATTACHED.

ARE NOT ATTACHED.

AUTHORIZED FOR LOCAL REPRODUCTION

PREVIOUS EDITION IS NOT USABLE

30b. NAME AND TITLE OF SIGNER (Type or print)

30a. SIGNATURE OF OFFEROR/CONTRACTOR

28. CONTRACTOR IS REQUIRED TO SIGN THIS DOCUMENT AND RETURN

25. ACCOUNTING AND APPROPRIATION DATA

29. AWARD OF CONTRACT:

REF.

32e. MAILING ADDRESS OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32c. DATE 32b. SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

ACCEPTED, AND CONFORMS TO THE CONTRACT, EXCEPT AS NOTED:

32a. QUANTITY IN COLUMN 21 HAS BEEN

RECEIVED INSPECTED

40. PAID BY39. S/R VOUCHER NUMBER38. S/R ACCOUNT NUMBER

37. CHECK NUMBER

FINALPARTIAL

36. PAYMENT

FINALPARTIAL

35. AMOUNT VERIFIED

CORRECT FOR

34. VOUCHER NUMBER33. SHIP NUMBER

COMPLETE

32g. E-MAIL OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

42d. TOTAL CONTAINERS42c. DATE REC'D (YY/MM/DD)

42b. RECEIVED AT (Location)

42a. RECEIVED BY (Print)

41c. DATE41b. SIGNATURE AND TITLE OF CERTIFYING OFFICER

41a. I CERTIFY THIS ACCOUNT IS CORRECT AND PROPER FOR PAYMENT

STANDARD FORM 1449 (REV. 2/2012) BACK

24.

AMOUNT

23.

UNIT PRICE

22.

UNIT

21.

QUANTITY

20.

SCHEDULE OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES

19.

ITEM NO.

00010 New Mexico State Land Exchange NEPA.

Product/Service Code: B510

Product/Service Description: SPECIAL

STUDIES/ANALYSIS- ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS

32f. TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

32d. PRINTED NAME AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZED GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE

23 2 of

INTRODUCTION

This requirement references Task 4.6 Task 6 – “Land Use Management Plan (Draft, Amendment, Revision) and/or NEPA Documents”; Task 4.7, Task 7 – “Administrative Record/Record of Decision”;

Task 4.10 Task 10 – “Meetings”; Task 4.11 Task 11 – “Writer and Editor Functions”, and Task 4.13 Task 13, “Special Requirements” of the PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT for NATIONAL

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (NEPA) SUPPORT SERVICES: PREPARATION OF NEPA

DOCUMENTS AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL TASKS.

The Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) mission to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations is an immense responsibility. The BLM manages 245 million acres of land, about one-tenth of America’s land base and approximately 700 million acres of subsurface mineral resources, all which must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 42 U.S.C. § 4321. NEPA requires that all branches of government quantitatively analyze and disclose the environmental impacts prior to undertaking any federal action. NEPA provides federal agencies, non-federal agencies, tribes, and the public opportunities for comment on federally proposed actions. The range of actions covered by NEPA is broad and includes decisions on permit applications, adopting federal land management actions, and constructing other publicly owned or financed facilities. As a federal agency, the BLM is required to initiate, coordinate and complete Resource Management Plans (RMPs), NEPA documents including Categorical Exclusions (CX), Environmental Assessments (EAs), Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), and Records of Decision (RODs)/Decision Records (DRs), as well as conduct scientific studies on a variety of resources and issues.

In accordance with the Dingell Act (Public Law 116-9), Subtitle C, Part I, Section 1201(d)(3) of 2019, the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was directed to enter a land exchange agreement with the State of New Mexico for areas within and along the perimeter of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument (OMDP-NM). As directed, the BLM and the New Mexico State Land Office (NMSLO) jointly identified state trust lands and BLM-administered lands for exchange in these areas. This exchange involves eight (8) counties in New Mexico to include Catron, Doña Ana, Grant, Hidalgo, Luna, Otero, Sierra, and Socorro.

Both agencies have worked to ensure that lands to be exchanged are “like for like” to abide by land exchange guidance and appraisal regulation. The difference in acreages proposed for exchange by the BLM and the NMSLO is due to the “value-for-value” nature of the exchange. Land values vary by location, development, and use potential. Although the acreages may differ, all parties to the exchange must agree that the value of the lands being exchanged is equal before final acreages are determined. All final decisions for exchange of lands would follow section 206 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976 (43 15 U.S.C. 1716).

The proposal is to exchange approximately 76,588 acres of New Mexico State Trust surface and minerals, and 8,566 acres of New Mexico State Trust minerals only, to the BLM, in exchange for BLM Federal selected lands of approximately 162,058 acres of surface and minerals, 6,766 acres of surface only, and 797 acres of minerals only of Federal lands identified for disposal and minerals managed by the BLM to the SLO.

https://www.blm.gov/nhp/facts/acres.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_42_of_the_United_States_Code https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/4321

Completion of this exchange will require preparation and approval of one extensive EA covering three Resource Management Plan Amendments (RMPAs) to include: the White Sands RMP, Mimbres RMP, and Socorro RMP, in conformance with NEPA and FLPMA. The EA process will involve collaboration with members of the public, tribal entities, and local governments as well as with the NMSLO. This statement of work addresses an EA requirement. If NEPA analysis determines that impacts may be significant enough for an EIS, the BLM will decide that an EIS should be prepared. If an EIS is required, the BLM will initiate a new contract for those services.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this statement of work (SOW) is to provide clear direction on the requirement for the amendment of three separate RMPs and associated EA in the BLM Las Cruces District and Socorro Field Offices. The BLM is seeking expert assistance in the preparation of this EA, which will be one document with a separate section for each RMP Amendment. The overall deliverables outlined in this SOW will help assess final management decisions regarding planning related activities within these RMPAs. The BLM requires contract support assistance to ensure the requirements are met in the appointed time frames and reach final decisions for each RMPA.

STATEMENT OF WORK

SCOPE

The contractor shall work with the BLM New Mexico State Office, Las Cruces District Office, and Socorro Field Office staff to prepare and finalize three (3) RMPAs and one EA associated with land tenure language and land exchange issues. The three RMPs that will be amended as part of this effort are the White Sands RMP (1986), the Mimbres RMP (1993), and the Socorro RMP (2010).

The tasks outlined include all levels of support in analysis, support, and preparation of these RMPAs for the BLM in compliance with agency policy, NEPA, and FLPMA.

For this effort, the contractor shall work with the BLM to prepare and finalize the RMPAs and EA through approval of the decision records (DRs). This includes but may not be limited to:

● set up a detailed project plan and schedule;

● lead and participate in regular check-in project meetings;

● coordinate review periods;

● work with BLM geospatial information system (GIS) staff in selecting and incorporating appropriate maps for the documents;

● set up comment period(s) in the BLM’s ePlanning system;

● intake, track, parse and respond to planning and NEPA issues from the comment period(s);

● identify planning and NEPA related issues and, working with BLM staff, draft responses to these issues that result from the public comment period;

● provide writer-editor services on documents; and

● maintain and update the administrative record in accordance with BLM policy during the Period of Performance.

The Contractor will present a core team that consists of individuals that meet and/or exceed the following experience criteria. All core team members shall have prior experience on BLM land use plans and NEPA documents. The BLM understands that the position titles listed here may not reflect the

Contractor’s labor categories. The Contractor will provide a “translation” of labor categories in the proposal that will allow BLM to understand if the individual meets the criteria.

Project Manager: Main point-of-contact and contractor lead for coordination and information flow between the BLM and the Contractor, and must have the ability to successfully lead, participate, communicate, and be present for all stages in the collaborative and public process.

This position will oversee the entire RMPAs/EA process and work closely with the BLM Project Manager(s) through the period of performance. The contractor Project Manager will be required to set up and attend all project status meetings.

Planning/NEPA Specialists: At least three (3) NEPA/planning specialists are required to be on the team who are knowledgeable in NEPA and the BLM’s land use planning process.

Writer-Editor: This member of the Contractor’s team will oversee document editing and compilation to produce the final products, and this person will be required to attend project meetings.

GIS Specialist: One GIS specialist will be required to work in conjunction with the BLM GIS Specialist for this effort as needed.

Clerical/Administrative: Clerical support will attend all meetings, take meeting minutes, and set up and maintain the administrative record

For each effort, the BLM shall:

assign a BLM Team Lead;

provide BLM employee team support;

provide an overall schedule for completion;

include the contractor in all team meetings and coordination plans; and maintain regular and thorough communications with the contractor through the decision record approval.

TASKS

Tasks within this SOW are outlined in phases, with specific tasks identified for each phase. The tasks are aligned with the BLM’s “Performance Work Statement for NEPA Support Services: Preparation of NEPA Documents and Other Environmental Tasks”, or NEPA Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), as identified above in the Introduction. The implementation of each phase is dependent upon timeframes and priority projects, and the completion of each task. This statement of work contains a funded base contract with an optional section to be completed as funding becomes available. Contractor’s bids will include both the base as well as the optional contracts.

The BLM will work with the contractor to develop a realistic schedule for specific tasks after the contract is awarded.

CONTRACTOR TASKS

The contractor will be responsible for the following phases and tasks and for timely submission of deliverables identified in this SOW. These tasks apply to three land use plan amendments each with an associated EA.

Tasks are included as Optional later in the process that may be required, and if so, will be funded later.

Phase 1 – Project Management Initiation

Phase 1, Task 1: Initiate Project Management and Project Management Coordination

This task references Task 13, “Special Requirements” of the “NEPA Services BPA”, requiring a project manager to perform project management duties. The contractor shall provide project management support to the BLM Project Manager(s) as needed to ensure proper planning and implementation of required agency tasks, as well as monitoring progress to ensure the project progresses within schedule.

Communication is a critical component of this task. The contractor will facilitate internal recurring meetings as well as a series of interdisciplinary meetings during the development of alternative and preparation of impact analysis (via phone or video conference), including developing agenda and meeting materials. The contractor will also facilitate interdisciplinary team meetings that include the participation of cooperating agencies. Internal recurring meetings will occur weekly or bimonthly, as necessary.

Follow up to all meetings by the contractor will be necessary to ensure all action items are completed, including distribution of meeting notes and all other assignments identified during the meeting. A record of these meetings will be included in the decision file.

The contractor will maintain one or more secure, web-based sites (e.g., Microsoft OneDrive or similar) that will serve as the clearinghouse for document review for the duration of the project.

Deliverables:

Project Schedule. Due: 15 working days after contract award, unless mutually agreed upon by BLM Project Manager(s) and contractor.

Draft and final meeting agendas, information boards, handouts, and materials for meetings. Due: To be dependent on nature of meeting, however in general, final agendas for internal meetings shall be submitted no less than 4 hours prior to the meeting, and for external, public meetings final agendas shall be submitted no less than 10 days prior to the meeting. Final meeting materials may be distributed during the meeting; however, drafts shall be approved no less than one day prior to the meeting. Final meeting notes and records for project file. Due: No later than 5 days following the meeting.

Additional Project Management Tasks may continue after the base contract and into the optional items.

Phase 2: Administrative Record

This task references Task 7, “Administrative Record/Record of Decision” of the NEPA BPA. The contractor will develop and maintain the administrative record (AR) for the EA in accordance with BLM H-1601-1, Land Use Planning Handbook, Appendix F-6, Recommended Administrative Record File Plan for Land Use Planning Projects. The contractor will be responsible for compiling and keeping all records, documents and materials that comprise the administrative record. The official record must be in electronic format, with copies of all relevant documents scanned with a linking index and converted to PDF files and provided on compact discs or other electronic media as specified. A list of relevant supporting records can be found in the BLM NEPA Handbook, Appendix 10: “Items to Include in the Administrative Record.”

The contractor shall update the AR on at least a monthly basis, or more frequently if requested by the BLM. The contractor shall compile and deliver the official AR to the assigned Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) with copies of all materials created, reviewed, used, or cited by the reviewers, including personal communications, electronic messages, and other non-published materials. The contractor will keep files in an organized and readily accessible manner throughout the performance period of the project.

The BLM requires that all data collected under this contract be submitted to the BLM as a reporting requirement before the end of the performance period. Data are important products of the scientific enterprise, and they should be preserved and usable for decades in the future. Data must be in the form of individual data points used in the study, not just summaries. Metadata must be included that comprehensively explain all variables, conditions, etc., such that the results can be understood and replicated by others. The contractor will follow all applicable guidance from the BLM on what materials will be included. The contractor will also clearly identify any materials that include information marked as privileged or confidential and name each document with a unique file name and identify documents in the index with that unique file name, date of the document, author(s), and subject/title. The index must be approved by the BLM prior to the submission of the AR to the BLM. The contractor is referred to the National Planning and NEPA BPA – PWS Task 8, “Data Management” for details on data and metadata deliverables.

The contractor must safeguard all information, including that which is received from, given access to, independently researched/gathered, or produced for the BLM. Any data provided in support of the NEPA analysis by the non-Federal party, which they feel is confidential, must be marked as such.

The BLM retain all intellectual property rights. Publishing of any product (either interim findings or final product) is solely at the discretion of the BLM.

The contractor shall support the assembly, organization, indexing, updating, maintaining, and copying of documents for the AR as necessary for lawsuits and responses to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

The record will be subject to audit by the BLM Project Manager, COR, or Contracting Officer (CO) at any time.

Deliverables:

Submission of timely and frequent transfer of documents for the AR.

Establishment of a computer-based tracking system.

List of documents supplied for the AR upon completion of project.

A proposed index format that will be used for the AR.

A complete electronic version of the AR that would include all records in a searchable database, to include a hyper-linked index and text-readable PDF copies of all records. All records upon export must be capable of sorting chronologically. Providing a secure FTP site for the sharing of records and documents.

The contractor will include PDF versions of all maps used within the AR and publication of the document.

Deliverables from this task will continue from the base contract into the optional items (see

OPTIONAL TASKS).

Quality Standard: All deliverables will meet the quality standards described above for data and textual information associated with each task. Guidance for creating and maintaining an AR is found in Washington Office (WO) IM WO-2006-225 and PIM OC-2019-001.

Phase 3 – Prepare Resource Management Plan Amendments and Environmental Assessment

This Phase references Task 6, “Land Use Management Plan (Draft, Amendment, Revision) and/or NEPA Documents” of the “NEPA BPA”. The contractor will provide all documents in a BLM-approved media using appropriate software to include compatible Microsoft Word and Adobe documents, as required. All electronic communications shall be in formats accessible to agency personnel, to include any ePlanning templates that may be used and requested by the specific BLM office.

Phase 3, Task 1: Prepare Draft RMPAs/Draft EA

The contractor will provide the BLM with a draft EA and three draft RMPAs for review.

Under the direction of the BLM, the contractor will prepare the Draft Resource Management Plan Amendments/EA in compliance with regulations at 40 CFR 1500, current Departmental policy, and the BLM NEPA Handbook (H-1790-1), including knowledge and adherence to page numbers, appendix, etc.

The contractor will draft Chapters 1 and 2 of the Draft Resource Management Plan Amendments/EA.

The BLM will review Chapters 1 and 2 and provide all comments to the contractor for corrections and revisions.

Chapters 3 and 4 will be prepared by the contractor (based on the scope of issues and alternatives established in Chapters 1 and 2). The BLM will review Chapters 3 and 4 and provide all comments to the contractor for corrections and revisions.

A complete administrative draft of the Draft Resource Management Plan Amendments/EA will be provided by the contractor to the BLM and its cooperating agencies for review. Two electronic versions will be prepared for the BLM, a print ready version and a red-lined version highlighting all changes made since the previous version of the document. The contractor will correct and revise the administrative draft document in coordination with the BLM Project Manager(s). A comment matrix will be used to document and indicate responses to all internal and cooperating agency comments.

Review of documents may occur at the field office, district office, state office, headquarters office and/or solicitor’s office, and may also include cooperating agency review. A first round of reviews by the field office interdisciplinary team (IDT) is expected to proceed a second-round review by headquarters and/or solicitor’s office and cooperating agencies.

Review periods are anticipated to be 2-4 weeks, to be determined by the BLM in coordination with the contractor, and as time allows. The contractor will set up a comment process that all internal reviewers will use, and a feedback loop will be built into all the internal comment periods. Collaborative editing may be accomplished through a mutually agreed upon internet cloud-based storage system (e.g., Microsoft OneDrive or similar).

The contractor will print at least two hard copies of the camera-ready Draft Resource Management Plan Amendments/EA, including at least one or the contractor’s writer/editor and/or project manager to review and one for the BLM project manager to review. Any final edits identified by the contractor or BLM project manager will be made by the contractor. The BLM expects the document to be 100 percent accurate and without any typos or misstatements, and that tables, figures, maps, headings, etc. are clearly understood and flow for readability.

The camera-ready Draft Resource Management Plan Amendments/EA will then be prepared for publication for public review and comment, including Section 508 compliance. The contractor will make all documents available to the BLM for posting to ePlanning for public review and comment.

The contractor will draft the Federal Register Notice of Availability (NOA) and associated materials.

package. The NOA package prepared by the contractor will include the NOA, briefing paper, any other documents required per current BLM policy.

Deliverables:

1. Administrative draft of Chapters 1 and 2 of Draft Resource Management Plan Amendments/EA

2. Internal comment response document on Chapters 1 and 2 of Draft Resource Management Plan

Amendments/EA

3. Administrative draft of Chapter 3 of Draft Resource Management Plan Amendments/EA

4. Revised Draft Resource Management Plan Amendments/EA with all editorial changes and revisions made: one print-ready version for electronic distribution and printing production and one red-lined version highlighting all changes made since the previous version of the document.

5. Printer Proof review and comments and delivery

6. Draft news releases

7. Draft Interested Public letter

8. All materials described above for facilitating and conducting a public meeting

9. All facilitation, greetings, zoom/virtual meetings, and handling facilities.

Phase 3, Task 2: Additional revisions and data management to Task 1 and 2 to incorporate BLM New Mexico State Office review comments

As directed by the BLM, the contractor will revise the Resource Management Plan Amendments/EA in response to comments by the BLM New Mexico State Office. Types of revisions may include but are not limited to re-writing and editorial improvements of narrative and language and changes to document structure or format.

As directed by the BLM, the contractor will work with BLM GIS staff to make modifications to the project GIS data and Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) compliant metadata, conduct GIS re-calculations and revise maps to reflect DOI review requested changes in the Resource Management Plan Amendments/EA. Additional data management time and support will allow the contractor to ensure consistency of GIS calculations in all documents of all volumes, including maps.

Phase 3, Task 3: Additional revisions and data management to Task 1 and 2 to incorporate BLM Headquarters (HQ)/Department of the Interior (DOI) review comments

As directed by the BLM, the contractor will revise the Resource Management Plan Amendments/EA in response to comments by BLM HQ and/or DOI leadership. Types of revisions may include but are not limited to re-writing and editorial improvements of narrative and language, changes to document structure or format.

As directed by the BLM, the contractor will make modifications to the project’s GIS data and FGDC compliant metadata, conduct GIS re-calculations and revise maps to reflect DOI review requested changes in the Resource Management Plan Amendments/EA. Additional data management time and support will allow the contractor to ensure consistency of GIS calculations in all documents of all volumes, including maps.

Phase 3, Task 4: Comment Analysis

Following the close of the public review and comment period, the contractor will systematically evaluate all public input, identifying and cataloguing all substantive comments and separating and recording all non-substantive comments. The substantive comments will be organized in a Public Comments Evaluation Report that will be included in the Final EA as an appendix. The BLM will make the final determination as to which comments are considered substantive.

The contractor will draft responses to all substantive comments and coordinate responses with the BLM and its cooperating agencies. Responses will generally include (a) an indication that the document was changed and where the change was made; or (b) a brief explanation as to why a change to the document was not warranted.

Deliverables:

1. Public Comments Evaluation Report

Phase 4 – Prepare Biological Assessment

This task references Task 4, “Biological Assessment” of the “NEPA BPA”. The purpose of this task is to research and prepare documentation necessary to satisfy the requirements of Section 7 (Interagency Cooperation) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) or other required permits.

The contractor shall prepare a Biological Assessment (BA) with an ESA effects determination of Not Likely to Adversely Affect (NLAA - Informal Consultation) listed species or critical habitat. The contractor shall prepare a BA or other programmatic documentation supporting the NLAA determination.

The contractor shall develop, review, and finalize the BA, including all Appendices and Maps, in consultation and approval with the BLM and United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The contractor shall consolidate information, write the document, and submit it to the agencies for review.

The BA shall be completed in coordination with the BLM’s biologist staff. The agency review version of the BA shall follow a format acceptable to both agencies. The final BA shall reflect the BLM’s comments provided to the contractor on the draft version of the BA, the analysis of public comments from the comment period on the Resource Management Plan Amendments/EA and responses to comments, and all revisions made to the Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendments/EA. Coordination with the New Mexico Game and Fish Department will also be necessary to provide for consistency with State plans.

The agency review version of the BA will address consequences of implementing the Agency Preferred Alternative in the Resource Management Plan Amendments/EA. Relative information shall be synthesized to eliminate all informational conflicts, inconsistencies, and shall include all necessary and required mitigation, impacts, and appropriate facets of the agency preferred alternative. Completion of the work in this project will require the production of a document that will allow BLM to consult and conference with the USFWS as needed and as identified in guidance in the “Endangered Species Act, Section 7 Programmatic Consultations and Coordination, Memorandum of Agreement among the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, National Marine Fisheries Service and Fish and Wildlife Service” dated August 30, 2000, BLM Manual 6840, and 50 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 402. The final BA shall comply with guidance, outlines, content requirements, and format agreed to with BLM and the USFWS.

Deliverables:

1. One copy of Draft BA in electronic format. Due: To be determined by agreement between the BLM and USFWS.

OPTIONAL TASKS:

This section outlines optional tasks that may be a continuation of the tasks above as well as tasks required after completion of the those above, based on the continuation of funding of this statement of work.

Optional Phase 1 – Project Management

Phase 1 Task 1: Continuation of Project Management and Project Management Coordination

The contractor will continue to provide project management support to the BLM Project Manager(s) as needed to ensure proper planning and implementation of required agency tasks, as well as monitoring progress to ensure the project progresses within schedule through to completion.

The contractor will continue to facilitate internal recurring meetings as well as set interdisciplinary meetings via phone or video conference, including developing the agenda and meeting materials. The contractor will also continue to facilitate interdisciplinary team meetings to include participation of cooperating agencies. Internal recurring meetings will continue as set in the base contract (weekly or bimonthly, as necessary).

Follow up to all meetings by the contractor will be necessary to ensure all action items are completed, including distribution of meeting notes and all other assignments identified during the meeting. A record of these meetings will be included in the decision file.

The contractor will maintain one or more secure, web-based sites (e.g., Microsoft OneDrive or similar) that will serve as the clearinghouse for document review for the duration of the project.

Deliverables:

1. Project Schedule monitoring, coordination and updating as needed throughout the project.

2. Draft and final meeting agendas, information boards, handouts, and materials for meetings as specified in the base contract and agreed to by the BLM.

Due: No later than 5 days following the meeting.

Optional Phase 2 - Continuation of Administrative Record

The contractor will develop and maintain the AR for the EA in accordance with BLM H-1601-1, Land Use Planning Handbook, Appendix F-6, “Recommended Administrative Record File Plan for Land Use Planning Projects”. The contractor will be responsible for compiling and keeping all records, documents and materials that comprise the AR. The official AR must be in electronic format, with copies of all relevant documents scanned with a linking index and converted to PDF files and provided on compact discs or other electronic media as specified. A list of relevant supporting records can be found in the BLM NEPA Handbook, Appendix 10: “Items to Include in the Administrative Record.”

The contractor shall update the record on at least a monthly basis, or more frequently if requested by the BLM. The contractor shall compile and deliver the official AR to the COR with copies of all materials created, reviewed, used, or cited by the reviewers, including personal communications, electronic messages, and other non-published materials. The contractor will keep files in an organized and readily accessible manner throughout the performance period of the project.

The BLM requires that all data collected under this contract be submitted to the BLM as a reporting requirement before the end of the performance period. Data are important products of the scientific enterprise, and they should be preserved and usable for decades in the future. Data must be in the form of individual data points used in the study, not just summaries. Metadata must be included that comprehensively explain all variables, conditions, etc., such that the results can be understood and replicated by others. The contractor will follow all applicable guidance from the BLM on what materials will be included. The contractor will also clearly identify any materials that include information marked as privileged or confidential and name each document with a unique file name and identify documents in the index with that unique file name, date of the document, author(s), and subject/title. The index must be approved by the BLM prior to the submission of the AR to the BLM. The contractor is referred to the National Planning and NEPA BPA – PWS Task 8, “Data Management” for details on data and metadata deliverables.

The contractor must safeguard all information, including that which is received from, given access to, independently researched/gathered, or produced for the BLM. Any data provided in support of the NEPA analysis by the non-Federal party, which they feel is confidential, must be marked as such.

The BLM retains all intellectual property rights. Publishing of any product (either interim findings or final product) is solely at the discretion of the BLM.

The contractor shall support the assembly, organization, indexing, updating, maintaining, and copying of documents for the AR as necessary for lawsuits and responses to FOIA requests.

The record will be subject to audit by the BLM Project Manager, COR, or CO at any time.

Deliverables (continuation):

Submission of timely and frequent transfer of documents for the AR.

Establishment of a computer-based tracking system.

List of documents supplied for the AR upon completion of project.

A proposed index format that will be used for the AR.

A complete electronic version of the AR that would include all records in a searchable database, to include a hyper-linked index and text-readable PDF copies of all records. All records upon export must be capable of sorting chronologically. Providing a secure FTP site for the sharing of records and documents.

The contractor will include PDF versions of all maps used within the AR and publication of the document.

Deliverables (new):

The final and approved AR will be transferred to the BLM at the conclusion of the project. The BLM will determine the filing system to be used on a regularly agreed-upon basis.

Optional Phase 3 – Prepare Proposed RMPAs/Final EA

A complete administrative draft of the Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendments/Final EA will be provided by the contractor to the BLM and its cooperating agencies for review, which will include the draft responses to public comments. Two electronic versions will be prepared for the BLM, a print ready version and a red-lined version highlighting all changes made since the previous version of the document.

The contractor will correct and revise the administrative draft document in coordination with the BLM Project Manager. A comment matrix will be used to document and indicate responses to all internal and cooperating agency comments.

Review of documents may occur at the field office, district office, state office, headquarters office and/or solicitor’s office, and may also include cooperating agency review. A first round of reviews by the field office IDT is expected to proceed a second-round review by headquarters and/or solicitor’s office and cooperating agencies.

Review periods may be 2-4 weeks, to be determined by the BLM in coordination with the contractor, as time allows. The contractor will set up a comment process that all internal reviewers will use, and a feedback loop will be built into all the internal comment periods. Collaborative editing may be accomplished through a mutually agreed upon internet cloud-based storage system (e.g., Microsoft OneDrive or similar).

The contractor will print at least two copies of the camera-ready Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendments/Final EA, including at least one or the contractor’s writer/editor and/or project manager to review and one for the BLM project manager to review. Any final edits identified by the contractor or BLM project manager will be made by the contractor. The BLM expects the document to be 100 percent accurate and without any typos or misstatements.

The camera-ready Proposed Resource Management Plans/Final EA will then be prepared for publication, including Section 508 compliance. The contractor will make all documents available to the BLM for posting to ePlanning. The contractor will be responsible for proofing a print-ready copy and all printed materials and electronic copies of the document.

The contractor will draft the Federal Register NOA and associated materials. The NOA package prepared by the contractor will include the NOA, briefing paper, any other documents required per current BLM policy.

Deliverables:

Administrative draft of Proposed RMPAs/Final EA Internal comment response document on Proposed RMPAs/Final EA Revised Proposed RMPAs/Final EA with all editorial changes and revisions made: one print-ready version for electronic distribution and printing production and one red-lined version highlighting all changes made since the previous version of the document.

Printer Proof review and comments and delivery.

Printed materials Draft press release Draft Interested Public letter

Federal Register notice materials

Optional Phase 4 – Prepare Final Biological Assessment (BA)

The contractor shall continue the preparation of the BA with an ESA effects determination of Not Likely to Adversely Affect (NLAA - Informal Consultation) listed species or critical habitat. The contractor shall prepare a BA or other programmatic documentation supporting the NLAA determination.

The contractor shall continue work to finalize the BA, and include all Appendices and Maps, in consultation and approval with the BLM and USFWS. The contractor shall consolidate information, write the document, and submit it to the agencies for review. The BA shall be completed in coordination with BLM biologists by a personnel who have previous knowledge of working on a BA for the BLM.

The agency review version of the BA shall follow a format acceptable to both agencies. The final BA shall reflect the BLM’s comments provided to the contractor on the draft version of the BA, the analysis of public comments from the comment period on the Draft RMPAs/EA and responses to comments, and all revisions made to the Proposed RMPAs/Final EA. Continuation of coordination with the New Mexico Game and Fish Department will also be necessary to provide for consistency with State plans.

The agency review version of the BA will address consequences of implementing the Agency Preferred Alternative in the Draft RMPAs/EA. Relative information shall be synthesized to eliminate all informational conflicts, inconsistencies, and shall include all necessary and required mitigation, impacts, and appropriate facets of the agency preferred alternative. Completion of the work in this project will require the production of a document that will allow BLM to consult and conference with the USFWS as needed and as identified in guidance in the ESA, Section 7 “Programmatic Consultations and Coordination, Memorandum of Agreement among the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, National Marine Fisheries Service and Fish and Wildlife Service” dated August 30, 2000, BLM Manual 6840, and 50 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 402. The final BA shall comply with guidance, outlines, content requirements, and format agreed to with BLM and the USFWS.

Deliverables:

1. Three hard copies (bound) and one electronic copy of the Final BA based on the agency’s proposed alternative in the Proposed RMPAs/Final EA. Due: To be determined by agreement between the BLM and USFWS.

Optional Phase 5 – Prepare Decision Record (DR)

The contractor will prepare the first internal version and camera-ready version of the Decision Record (DR) and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendments (ARMPA). The contractor will provide a DR/ARMPA outline to the BLM Project Manager(s) for approval. The DR/ARMPA must conform to the outline approved by the BLM which will be like the outline in BLM Handbook 1601-1 and DRs approved for recent BLM plans and amendments.

This phase includes three tasks:

a. Prepare Draft DR and Approved RMPAs

b. Prepare Final DR and Approved RMPAs

c. Prepare Camera Ready 508-Compliant DR and Approved RMPAs

Phase 5 Task 1: Prepare Draft DR and Approved RMPAs

The contractor will prepare the first version of the DR/ARMP prior to completion of protest resolution (this first version, before protest resolution, is needed to meet the tight schedule deadline). The first version will be an internal review version of the DR/ARMP which the BLM will review during a 1-week review period. This version will not include protest resolution but will have a placeholder for protest resolution. The contractor will incorporate the BLM’s comments into a revised internal version. The contractor will track how comments were incorporated.

Deliverable:

A draft word internal review version of the DR/ARMPAs.

Phase 5 Task 2: Prepare Final DR and Approved RMPAs

Following the initial review period, the contractor will provide a revised Word copy of the DR/ARMPAs to the BLM New Mexico State Office. The BLM will be responsible for including protest resolution, including any changes to the decisions. The BLM will also make final edits to the document following reviews by the Office of Solicitor and BLM HQ.

Deliverable:

A revised draft word internal review version of the DR/ARMPAs.

Phase 5 Task 3: Prepare Camera-Ready 508-Compliant DR and ARMPAs

Once the DR is approved (signed), the contractor will make the document camera-ready and 508 compliant. The camera-ready copy shall be prepared as follows:

Electronic (PDF files) on CD-ROM, of the print-ready documents for printing. These are not required to be 508-compliant.

Electronic version for the ePlanning website for public viewing and downloading. All files shall be 508 compliant. Provide 508-compliant files as follows: 1) files for the entire volume(s); 2) files for the DR/ARMP and separate files for maps and appendices.

Deliverable:

Camera-ready copy of the DR/ARMPAs in accordance with the task description (508 compliant

Adobe pdf).

Quality Standard:

The electronic and paper products shall be 100% accurate, fully viewable when installed on the project website, easily downloadable, and meet BLM and Government Printing Office (GPO) requirements. The pdf shall have page thumbnails and bookmarks for easy navigation. All electronic files shall be 508 compliant.

SCHEDULE AND PROJECT WORK REQUIREMENTS

Project Schedule: The BLM and the contractor will come to agreement on a comprehensive Project Schedule at project initiation. The schedule must comply with regulations and BLM policy on the land use planning process in addition to the time limitations established by 40 CFR 1501.10.

Completion dates for deliverables from the contractor may be adjusted during the planning process due to delays caused by prolonged government review and approval. The contractor must have the ability to be flexible in dealing with unplanned delays in the schedule due to several factors, including but not limited to unresolved resource conflicts or public concerns, printing, and publication delays, EA approval and scheduling delays within higher levels of the agency or department. The contractor must be prepared to manage these potential delays and return resources to the EA effort upon solution of the delaying issue.

Overall Schedule: The BLM will provide the contractor with the overall timeline for completing one (1) EA that will amend three (3) RMPAs and provide a BLM project manager as the main point of contact.

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED ITEMS

1. Team Lead/Project Manager: The BLM will provide technical assistance from a BLM Team

Lead and/or other designated BLM employee(s).

2. Contracting Officer’s Representative: the BLM will provide a designated Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), who will serve as the technical liaison between the contractor and federal government, specifically the Contracting Officer (CO).

3. BLM Staff: The BLM will provide interdisciplinary team members to guide and support the contractor in the development of the land use plan amendments, EAs and associated reviews and milestones.

4. Existing Files for the Administrative Record. The BLM will provide the contractor with any decision files that have been created to date for compilation into the final AR.

5. References: References, guidelines, manuals, handbooks, examples, publication standards, printing standards, and mapping standards will be provided by the BLM for all primary documents as well as for any reports and studies required for the RMPAs/EA supporting documentation.

CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS

The Contractor will furnish all personnel, equipment, supervision, transportation, supplies, and incidentals, except those indicated as government-furnished, to perform all work necessary for completion of the awarded Tasks and deliverables in accordance with this SOW.

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS AND DELIVERABLES

According to the Inspection of Services clause FAR 52.212-4(a) Commercial Items- Inspection/Acceptance and FAR 52.246-4 Inspection of Services- Fixed Price (Deviation – May 2003), the government will inspect the contractor’s performance and has the right to inspect all services called for by the SOW, to the extent practicable at all times and places during performance under this NEPA BPA Order. The CO, COR, and BLM Project Manager shall evaluate whether the contractor is meeting requirements identified in the SOW, the Contractor’s Quality Control Plan (QCPP submitted with the Base NEPA BPA, and the contractor’s response to quality requirements of this NEPA BPA Order to ensure that the government pays only for the level of services and deliverables received that meet the SOW requirements.

Deliverables shall be addressed to the BLM COR. Deliverables shall be approved by the BLM COR following review by the BLM Project manager and other potential BLM staff. contractor is responsible for timely submission of deliverables identified in this SOW. A schedule for due dates for deliverables will be agreed to by BLM and the contractor at the onset of the project. If a contractor deliverable is dependent on the provision of materials, data, information, etc., by BLM, due dates for BLM provision of these materials will be developed as well. Due dates for BLM provisions of materials, data, and information are not expected to take more than one to two weeks. If BLM does not meet agreed upon due dates, contractor due dates will be adjusted accordingly. It is not acceptable if a product is turned in to meet a time frame but does not meet the content requirements (and needs) of the task or document. The BLM retains the option to terminate this contract if more than two deliverables are late based on the timelines agreed upon.

All submitted deliverables must adhere to the following requirements:

1. Meet BLM requirements (quality standards), as required by laws, regulations, and guidance and

2. Be approved by the assigned BLM COR or Project Manager(s), to be determined.

All documents shall be published to BLM standards as identified by COR and/or BLM Project Manager(s). The contractor shall work with the BLM for preparing a camera-ready copy of all published documents, such as the Proposed Resource Management Plan Amendments/Final EA and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendments/DR. All deliverables will follow all publication, printing, or mapping standards provided by BLM and will be received by the BLM Project Manager(s) on time and in the formats and quantities specified.

All maps for inclusion in the various deliverables including those for public meetings, display, presentations (other than regularly scheduled planning meetings), etc. are subject to a quality control inspection by the New Mexico State Office, GIS Mapping Science Division. Each map must be submitted with enough lead time to allow for editing and final approval.

With each published document, the contractor shall deliver on CD-ROM all data used specifically in each document, and FGDC compliant metadata. The metadata shall include detailed process steps such that the process could be recreated from these steps if necessary.

ADMINISTRATION DATA

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The base period of performance is anticipated to be from November 1, 2021,…