Sol_140L5721Q0020.pdf

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SALT LAKE CITY UT 84101

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04/15/2021 1500 MD

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(435)781-4445Tori Blunt Mayes (No collect calls)

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140L5721Q0020

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BLM Vernal Field Office JWP NCA Special Status Species and Noxious Weed Inventory and Survey

This solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This document incorporates provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-83.

Solicitation number 140L5721Q0020 JWP NCA Special Status Species and Noxious Weed Inventory and

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HEREIN, IS ACCEPTED AS TO ITEMS:

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Survey, BLM-UT VERNAL FIELD OFFICE is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). Firm fixed-price offers are requested under this RFQ. The RFQ is

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Status Species and Noxious Weed Inventory and

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140L5721Q0020

Species and Noxious Weed Inventory and Survey

Product/Service Code: B525

Product/Service Description: SPECIAL

STUDIES/ANALYSIS- NATURAL RESOURCE

NSN 7540-01-152-8067 OPTIONAL FORM 336 (4-86)

Sponsored by GSA

FAR (48 CFR) 53.110

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VERNAL FIELD OFFICE BLM SPECIAL STATUS PLANT

AND NOXIOUS WEED INVENTORY AND SURVEY

STATEMENT OF WORK FY 2021

I. BACKGROUND

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Vernal Field Office (VFO) is requesting a qualified contractor to complete a Special Status Plant Species and Noxious Weeds Survey of approximately 15,000 acres during the 2021 field season phase I with a potential for an additional option phase II of approximately 11,571 acres (pending resource needs and available funds), within the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act. The contractor will survey and inventory for special status plant and noxious weed species within the area designated through the Act as the John Wesley Powell National Conservation Area (JWP

NCA) Uintah County, Utah (Attachment 1).

Inventory is the periodic and systematic collection of data on the distribution, condition, trend, and utilization of special status plant species (BLM Manual 6600).

Inventories are conducted for many reasons; however, for the purpose of this document only one inventory “reason” is addressed:

To ensure compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered

Species Act by having sufficient information available to adequately assess the effects of proposed actions on special status plants and noxious weed occurrences as activity planning progresses within the newly established JWP NCA. Assessments of the effects of these actions are documented in biological assessments (if the project involves Federally listed species and qualifies as a "major construction activity" as defined by the ESA).

Special status plants include plant taxa that are Federally listed as threatened and endangered, proposed for Federal listing, candidates for Federal listing, or BLM sensitive species. Suitable habitat acres for the special status plant species within the project area has been modeled for inventory and survey. Nine special status plants have been identified within the JWP NCA; these plant species are listed in Table1.

Table 1.

Species Common Name Status

Arabis vivariensis / Boechera fernaldiana park rockcress BLM Sensitive

Astragalus equisolensis horseshoe milkvetch BLM Sensitive

Astragalus hamiltonii Hamilton’s milkvetch BLM Sensitive

Cleomella hillmanii var. goodrichii Goodrich’s stickweed BLM Sensitive

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Frasera ackermaniae Ackerman’s green gentian

BLM Sensitive

Lepidium barnebyanum Barneby ridge-cress Endangered

Oenothera acutissima Flaming Gorge evening primrose

BLM Sensitive

Penstemon goodrichii Goodrich’s beardtongue BLM Sensitive

Spiranthes diluvialis Ute ladies’ tresses Threatened

Noxious weed species include plant taxa that may be Federally listed, State listed and/or County listed. The current list of noxious weed species considered as potentially occurring within the project area can be obtained from the BLM botanist, and the Uintah County Weed Program supervisor. The known list of noxious weeds managed by the VFO BLM, the State of Utah and

Uintah County are listed in Attachment 2 of this document.

SCOPE

Inventory surveys will be conducted within modeled acres for special status plant species suitable habitat within the JWP NCA on Federal surface managed by the VFO (Attachment 1).

In addition to special status plant species, noxious weed species as listed above will also be surveyed for within the special status plant species suitable habitat acres. Surveys will be conducted within the flowering period for the applicable species, and / or at a time of year when the species are easily identifiable in the field. We estimate approximately 15,000 noncontiguous acres will be surveyed during the 2021 field season phase I and approximately 11,571 noncontiguous acres in the option phase II. However, acres may fluctuate within the scope of this project based on the availability of funds. The inventory surveys will be completed by a qualified survey crew(s) composed of a field crew lead and field technicians. Field work time does not include travel time to and from the Uinta Basin for the Contractor.

The contractor shall attend a pre-work meeting with the Contracting Officer (CO) and/or

Contracting Officer Representative (COR). The Contractor shall supply the necessary qualified personnel (botanists), subject to BLM approval; materials, equipment, and facilities to conduct the plant resources inventory and survey for the project area.

All work shall be performed in accordance with the BLM standards and guidelines as provided by the BLM. The Contractor shall provide qualified personnel who have knowledge and experience in identifying and evaluating threatened or endangered plants and other plant resources found within and near the project area.

Individual inventory survey reports will be required for each category: 1) Special status plant species and 2) Noxious weed species. The phase I contract period shall be from contract award to

March 01, 2022, with option phase II contract period from April 01, 2022 to March 01, 2023. A draft final report will be submitted to the COR at least 60 days prior to the end of the contracting

3 | P a g e period; no later than December 30, 2021 (December 30, 2022 option phase II). BLM will provide comments on the report within 30 days. A final report will then be prepared and delivered to the BLM no later than March 01, 2022 (March 01, 2023 option phase II). Both the geographic electronic survey data in the format defined below AND a final written report that summarizes the inventory survey effort and results will be required for final payment.

II. OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this special status plant species and noxious weeds inventory are:

1. Geographically map areas surveyed for both special status plants and noxious weeds with GPS and provide (polygon data) shape files for use in GIS data platform operating systems.

2. Identify and map occupied suitable habitat for special status plant species within the project area and provide (polygon data) shape files for use in GIS data platform operating systems.

3. Identify and map unoccupied suitable habitat (negative data) for special status plant species within the project area.

4. Identify and record number of individual special status plants and give an estimate count or percent foliar cover for noxious weeds within an inventoried area.

5. Record overall and phenologic condition of special status plants within an inventoried area.

6. Record the habitat characteristics and site conditions within an inventoried area, including, but not limited to, elevation, soils, geology, aspect, plant community and composition (community dominants and associates).

7. Note any potential threats to special status plant species observed during inventory.

8. Record data on GPS or ArcGIS Collector app using standard data dictionary protocols as per the direction of the Utah Natural Heritage Program.

9. Collect photo of typical habitat and special status plants observed within surveyed areas.

10. Prepare individual reports for both special status plant species and noxious weed species within the project area summarizing inventory survey background, methods, and results.

11. Per metadata standards (Attachment 3), submit recorded data (all geographic data collected as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Shape files (with all corresponding supplemental reference files) in standard UTM zone 12 NAD 83 format to the VFO

BLM no later than March 01, 2022 (March 01, 2023 option phase II).

12. Submit final report (both electronic and hard copy) to the VFO upon completion of tasks described within this statement of work.

Tasks

1. All field crew leads, and crew leaders will be approved by the VFO in order to determine that personnel qualifications are met. In addition to educational background and experience requirements, all surveyors must complete the Uinta Basin Rare Plant

Training Webinar presented annually by United States Fish and Wildlife Service

(USFWS) Utah Field Office and the VFO.

2. Special status plant and noxious weed inventory surveys will be conducted within modeled suitable habitat within the BLM managed project area known as the John

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Wesley Powell National Conservation Area (JWP NCA).

3. Inventory surveys will be coordinated with the VFO botanist.

4. Inventory survey activities comprise pre-field preparations, site characterization, suitable habitat assessment, survey polygon collection, negative data collection, plant inventory, collection of required attribute data, data management and quality control, data submission and reporting.

III. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

The Government will make available the materials, supplies, property, or services listed below.

Government furnished property will be provided to Contractor at the pre-work meeting.

Physical paper maps and/or GIS shape files showing the project area. A geo-referenced PDF map for use with AVENZA software application. The BLM provided map shall have the minimum:

land status, county roads, JWP NCA boundary, applicable polygons, lines, and point data information for the intent of this inventory survey contract.

1:100,000 Surface Management Status maps for each crew lead.

IV. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED PROPERTY

Contractors will provide all necessary field equipment needed to perform the service requested for the purpose of this project, such as: GPS units / tablets / smartphones, cameras, desktop / laptop computers, and field vehicles. Contractors are also responsible for lodging / housing if applicable; this will not be provided by BLM.

V. ADMINISTRATION, SUPERVISION AND PERSONNEL

The Contractor shall be responsible for all phases of the work and for the quality of deliverables. The Contractor shall be able to demonstrate competence in project administration.

Such demonstration may include the following: 1) a record of successful completion of similar projects or types of projects with comparable scope and complexity; or 2) a record of responsibility at the Principal Investigator (PI) level in the successful completion of similar projects.

The Contractor shall verify their staff qualifications and past experience with native plant resources within the Colorado Plateau and surrounding area. Past experience may include surveys, inventories, and report preparation. submit a list of key personnel who will be involved with the project; a list of personnel will be supplied to the CO. The full time BLM VFO botanist will act as the Project Inspector (PI) for the project.

Crew personnel experience will meet the specifications in the: US Fish and Wildlife Service

(USFWS) Utah Field Office Guidelines for Conducting and Reporting Botanical Inventories and Monitoring of Federally Listed, Proposed and Candidate Species (August 31, 2011).

Experience in writing technical reports is also required.

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Qualifications of Personnel Conducting Inventories

The following minimum qualifications are required:

A. Field Crew Leaders: Field crew leaders must meet the same qualifications as a botanist working for the Federal government (Botanist series 0430), namely:

a. Degree: botany; or basic plant science that included at least 24 semester hours in botany. Two field seasons of surveying experience for special status species in the geographic area are highly recommended. OR

b. Combination of education and experience -- courses equivalent to a major in botany or basic plant science that included at least 24 semester hours in botany, as shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education. Two field seasons of surveying experience for special status species in the geographic area are highly recommended.

B. Technicians/Field Assistants: Field assistants must possess at least one year of biological coursework at the college level, to include:

a. At least 6 semester hours in any combination of scientific or technical courses

(biology, entomology, geology, or botany); and

b. At least 1 course in plant taxonomy

All field crew leaders and technicians/ field assistants must attend the Uinta Basin Rare Plant

Training Webinar, presented annually by USFWS Utah Field Office and the VFO.

Field assistants must have the ability to recognize special status plant species in Utah and use technical botanical keys appropriate to the area.

These qualifications help ensure that all special status plants in the inventory area will be located, including taxa that the BLM did not predict at the start of the inventory. All survey efforts must be coordinated with the VFO botanist. Approvals for changes to protocols or other survey methodology must be approved in writing by the COR.

VI. STATEMENT OF WORK AND TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Phase I (Year 2021) – 15,000 acres

It is anticipated that approximately 90-95% of the area will be surveyed through the Intuitive survey protocols. The topography is relatively open, flat and access available.

It is anticipated that only 1%-<3% of this phase will require a Complete survey.

Phase II (optional year) -11,571 acres

No Complete protocol surveys are required for Phase II.

The survey work requested will follow the Intuitive survey protocol only.

It is anticipated that the ~10-15% of the terrain within Phase II may be non-surveyable under this request due to exposed cliffs and excessively rugged rock outcrops.

o 15 % acres likely not accessible for surveys is ~1,736 o Number of Intuitive Survey acres is ~ 9,835

Inventory Survey Protocol

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Field surveys will be floristic in nature, i.e., the contractor identifies every plant taxon observed in the project area to the taxonomic level necessary to determine rarity and listing status. Surveys will be conducted so that they will ensure a high likelihood of locating all the plant taxa in the project area. Depending on the size of the project area and the heterogeneity of the habitats within the project area, surveys will involve one or a combination of the following survey methods.

1. Complete Survey

A complete survey is a 100 percent visual examination of the project area (Figure 1) using transects. The length of the transect and distance between transects might change as the topography changes throughout the project area. Transects should be spaced so that all of the area between transects is visible and so that the smallest special status plant expected to occur is visible. The surveyor (1) compiles a species list while traversing the project area and keeps track of the plant community or habitat type where each taxon occurs; (2) maps the locations of all rare taxa encountered using a GPS unit, and (3) fills out the appropriate Utah Natural Heritage Program occurrence record for each location of each rare taxon encountered.

Figure 1. Complete survey.

2. Intuitive Controlled Survey

An intuitive controlled survey is a complete survey of habitats with the highest potential for supporting special status plant populations and a less intense survey of all other habitats present (Figure 2). This type of survey can only be accomplished by botanists

(botanical surveyors) familiar with the habitats of all the plant species that may reasonably be expected to occur in the project area. The botanist traverses through the project area enough to see a representative cross section of all the major plant habitats and topographic features. During the survey, the botanist compiles a species list of all plant taxa seen in route and keeps track of the plant community or habitat type where each taxon occurs. The surveyor maps the locations of all rare taxa encountered using a

GPS unit and fills out the appropriate Natural Heritage Program occurrence record for

7 | P a g e each location of each rare taxon encountered. When the surveyor arrives at an area of

“high potential” habitat, they will survey that area completely as described above and shown in Figure 1. High potential habitat areas include areas defined in a pre-field review of potential special status plants and habitat and other habitats where a special status species appears during initial field work traversing the project area. Areas within the project area that are not the focus of a complete survey must be surveyed sufficiently so that the botanist and BLM reasonably believe that few if any additional species would be added to the complete species list for the project area. The report must justify why the botanist did not consider these areas to have a high potential for supporting special status plant species and thus did not subject the area to a complete survey.

Figure 2. Intuitive Controlled Survey.

Specific survey protocols have been developed by USFWS and the VFO for Ute ladies’ tresses

(Spiranthes diluvialis) several of the special status plant species that occur within the VFO managed area. These survey protocols are outlined below.

Ute ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis)

Within suitable habitat1, site inventories will be conducted to determine occupancy.

Inventories:

a) Must be conducted by qualified individual(s) and according to BLM and

USFWS accepted survey protocols,

b) Will be conducted in suitable and occupied2 habitat

c) Will be conducted at a time when the plant can be detected, and during appropriate flowering periods (usually between August 1st and August 31st) in the Uintah Basin;

however, surveyors should verify that the plant is flowering by contacting the VFO

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Botanist or USFWS botanist or demonstrating that the nearest known population is in flower,

d) Will include, but not be limited to, plant species lists, habitat characteristics, source of hydrology, and estimated hydroperiod.

1 Suitable habitat is defined as areas which contain or exhibit the specific components or constituents necessary for plant persistence; determined by field inspection and/or surveys; may or may not contain Ute ladies’-tresses.

2 Occupied habitat is defined as areas currently or historically known to support Ute ladies’-tresses; synonymous with “known habitat.”

DATA COLLECTION PROTOCOL

Site Characterization and Habitat Description

Each inventory survey shall include a characterization of the area surveyed, including a description of the habitat quality for the species surveys. Data may be collected in the field, or obtained through USGS, USDA, etc. Site characterization must include the following information, but may include additional information if relevant or applicable:

1) Survey date

2) Weather / climate conditions at site

3) Elevation

4) Geology

5) Soils

6) Plant community, including dominant and characteristic species

7) Presence of invasive plants and/or noxious weeds

8) Presence of pollinators, if observed

9) Presence of current or potential threats

10) Photos of surveyed area, typical habitat, and identified special status plants (if applicable)

GPS Data Collection

Data must be collected using a Mapping Grade GPS Receiver with an accuracy of < 5 meters

Horizontal Root Mean Squared (HRMS). Collector apps such as Survey123 or ESRI Collector may also be used, as long as data are collected with the required attributes included in the metadata (See Attachment 3 for metadata requirements).

All location coordinates must be logged according to the following specifications:

• Datum: NAD 83

• Coordinate System: UTM Zone 12 North

• Units: Meters

The electronic file containing location coordinates must be provided in one of the following electronic file formats:

• Any one of the many commonly used file formats for vector data (e.g., shapefile, coverage, feature class or geodabase)

• A MS Excel spreadsheet, or a delimited text file

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Each unique location (whether a point, line or polygon) must be accompanied by the following information in separate fields:

1. Unique location identifier (e.g., waypoint number, ID field, etc.)

2. The location, expressed in x (or easting) and y (or northing) coordinates

3. Unique photo identifier (e.g., filename of any photographs associated with that specific location)

4. Target species present

5. Date of observation

6. Waypoint accuracy, in meters

7. The number of plants at that location

8. Comments on threats to the target special status plant species (as appropriate, if specific to a given location)

9. Size of weed infestation area

10. Percent foliar cover of weed infestation (as appropriate, if specific to a given location)

11. Positive and Negative survey data (with respect to the presence of target species)

If the GPS data contains a combination of positive and negative survey data (with respect to the presence of target species), it should be possible to quickly identify negative survey data by querying or sorting on a single field.

REPORTING

A survey report will be completed for each inventory survey. Survey reports will be submitted in the following format and must include the following information:

a) Cover page

a. Project applicant and contact information

b. Project Name (name of area surveyed)

c. Legal description of project area location (Section(s), Township, Range, Mercator)

d. Special status species discussed in the report

e. The survey date

f. The lead surveyor / crew leaders that conducted the survey

g. Surveyor contact information

b) Introduction

a. Description of proposed project

b. Acreage of special status plants and noxious weeds surveys

c. Detailed maps or figures to supplement project description.

c) Project Area Description

a. Underlying geology

b. Soils in project area

c. A written description of the biological setting, including descriptions of the native plant communities found in the project area and vicinity, and a map of these communities, if more than one is represented in the project area. Plant communities should be described and mapped using the existing vegetation data ecological systems from Landfire.

d) Survey Methodology

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a. Discussion of the special status plant species that may have suitable, potential, or occupied habitat in the project area.

b. Discussion of data / information used to determine that these species may have habitat in the project area.

c. A detailed description of the inventory methodology, including techniques and intensity of the inventory

i. Methodology of special status plant identification (in the field or in a lab, if the plant was sent to a specialist to be identified, which characteristics distinguished the plant from look-alikes in the area)

ii. The manufacturer and accuracy of the GPS, tablet or other device used to collect survey data

iii. If a habitat assessment is completed:

1. Describe the methodology used to complete the assessment

2. The criterion used to determine suitability of habitat in the project area

iv. In areas of intensive (100 percent) surveys:

1. Describe the distance(s) between transects throughout the study area, and how those distances were justified

2. Include the spacing between surveyors (for example, surveyors were spaced approximately 3 feet from one another)

e) Results

a. State clearly whether the surveyed area was within one of the potential habitat polygons developed by USFWS and BLM-VFO for special status plant species.

b. Provide the total acreage of survey / habitat assessment

c. Provide the acreage of suitable habitat identified.

d. Provide the acreage of occupied habitat identified and show the extent of occupied habitat in a map.

e. Type and number of special status plants identified

f. Phenological stage(s) the special status plant was in when it was identified

g. Habitat, soil type, vegetation type, and associated species of the special status plant species

h. Condition of the population (disease, predation, etc.)

i. Current threats to the population (off-road vehicles, erosion, non-native species, etc.)

j. Provide a list of the dominant and characteristic plant species identified within the surveyed area

k. State whether special status plant species were identified in the surveyed area, and how far individual plants are located from the disturbance area associated with the project.

f) Contractor qualifications

a. The name(s) and qualifications of the persons conducting the inventory

g) References

a. List of references cited

b. Persons contacted

c. Herbaria or reference sites visited

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h) Maps and Data

a. Copies of field data forms

b. Photos

c. Shapefiles of special status plant species point location data, negative survey data, surveyed area, mapped suitable habitat

d. Shapefiles of noxious weeds point location data, infestation polygon data and surveyed area

e. Maps of project and surveyed area, including the following information:

i. Base layer of aerial imagery or topographic map

ii. Land ownership if project intersects land owned and / or managed by multiple agencies or entities.

iii. The project boundaries

iv. Surveyed area. If certain areas within the project area were not surveyed, these should be indicated on the map with an brief explanation of why these areas were not surveyed (for example, habitat was determined to be unsuitable)

v. Identified suitable habitat within the surveyed area

vi. Point locations of individual special status plants identified within the surveyed area.

f. Additional project-specific requirements as determined by the BLM-VFO / GRD botanist.

Voucher specimens of special status plants should not be collected unless the surveyor has a current permit from USFWS (for listed species) or permission from the VFO botanist (for BLM

Sensitive species) to collect specimens of these species. Collection of Federally listed plants on

Federal lands requires a permit from the USFWS. Voucher specimens should only be collected if the permission discussed above is obtained, if voucher collection is absolutely necessary to conclusively document the occurrence of the species, and if the collection will not adversely affect the health of the population at the site. If voucher specimens are collected, they should be deposited in major recognized herbaria for future reference.

Photographs must be taken of the areas inventoried, of all special status plants found (including of identifying characteristics of special status plants, or look-alikes), and of the habitat associated with each special status plant occurrence. Photographs will be georeferenced digitally or through associated field data collection boards depicting exact location and direction photo was taken.

Measure of scale will also be included in photos of individual specimens.

VII. DELIVERABLES AND SCHEDULING

1) The Contractors complete inventory surveys as needed or as assigned by BLM VFO

2) The Contractors are responsible for providing personnel and equipment as listed above under “Tasks.”

3) Inventory surveys will be conducted during the flowering periods for the applicable special status plant species, and / or at a time of year when plants are easily identifiable in the field.

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4) Contractors are responsible for providing all collected and QA/QC’ed data per the metadata standards attached (Attachment 3) and individual inventory reports to the VFO at the end of field data collection, no later than December 30, 2021 (December 20, 2022 option phase II).

a. A copy of the data (flash drive, CDROM, or submitted electronically) collected during inventory surveys will be submitted directly to the VFO botanist.

b. An electronic copy and hard physical copy of each survey report will be submitted directly to the VFO.

5) Contractors are responsible for completion and submission of draft final report summarizing all inventory surveys completed at the end of field data collection, no later than December 30, 2021 (December 30, 2022 option phase II) for a 30-day comment period.

6) The final report shall be delivered back to the BLM VFO no later than March 01, 2022

(March 01, 2023 option phase II) for final payment.

VIII. PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Period of Performance is after contract award to March 01, 2022. (April 01, 2022 to March 01, 2023 option phase II)

The Contractor shall be paid a firm-fixed price for the services performed under the contract.

• 30% payment upon completion of field work

• 40% payment upon delivery of draft final report including complete site forms and associated documentation

• 30% payment upon acceptance of final, revised report and all deliverables

IX. FUTURE USE OF PROJECT DATA

Contractor may use the data resulting from this inventory for future research purposes only with the explicit written permission of the BLM and Utah Natural Heritage Program.

Data may not be made publicly available under any circumstance without the written consent of the appropriate BLM official.

ATTACHMENTS:

1. Project Location Map

2. List of Noxious Weeds

3. Metadata Standards

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Schedule of Items

Acres* Price Per Acre Total

Phase I 15,000

Phase II (optional) 9,835

*Acres are estimated based on availability of funds. The Government intends to award the estimated acres +/- 10% based on funds available at time of award.

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TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA

The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible vendor whose offer, conforming to the solicitation, will be most advantageous to the Government; price and other factors considered. The Government reserves the right to make an award to other than the lowest-price schedule contractor if the superior technical submission or the submission indicating a reduced performance risk, warrants paying a premium. The Government will evaluate proposals submitted in response to this solicitation, which meet the requirements in accordance with the factors listed below. Failure to provide the minimal information needed for each factor may result in the proposal being rejected as nonresponsive.

Responsibility Requirement: Vendor shall meet current BLM and USFWS rare and listed plant surveyor requirements, including current “Uinta Basin Rare Plant Webinar” survey training, valid for three years. This applies to the principal investigator and all field crew leaders. A vendor who provides staffing without this requirement shall be considered non-responsible and award to that vendor shall not take place.

Offers will be considered only from vendors who are regularly established in the business called for, who can provide a principal investigator and field crew leader that meet “U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Utah Field Office Guidelines for Conducting and

Reporting Botanical Inventories and Monitoring of Federally Listed, Proposed and

Candidate Plants” (USFWS 2011). Vendors will also be financially responsible and have the necessary equipment and personnel to furnish service in the volume required under this Contract.

Technical Capability: Vendors shall submit a description of their technical capability in sufficient detail to evaluate experience and proficiency in conducting and reporting special status plant inventory surveys. Technical capability will be evaluated by the vendor’s demonstrated experience and proficiency in conducting the above tasks. This shall include resumes of key personnel, list of staffing for each project and shall provide the government a key timeline plan to ensure performance will begin on time and be completed satisfactorily and shall not simply reiterate the information in the statement of work but shall provide a well-thought-out plan of action to accomplish the task. Resumes should include educational background (colleges and universities attended, and any diplomas and degrees received), botanical survey work history, and any related work experience. All persons conducting special status plant inventories MUST be approved by the BLM prior to surveys taking place. The following minimum qualifications that are required can be found in the Statement of Work under: VI ADMINISTRATION, SUPERVISION AND PERSONNEL

These qualifications help ensure that all special status plants in the inventory area will be located, including taxa that BLM or project proponents did not predict at the start of the inventory. All survey efforts must be coordinated with the BLM botanist. Approvals for changes to protocols or other survey methodology must be approved in writing by the

BLM botanist.

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Past Experience: Vendor shall provide 3 past performance examples including recent and relevant projects of similar size, scope and complexity. The vendor shall provide the names and contact information for these projects. Past performance evaluation shall focus on the quality of previous work produced by the vendor relevant to completing special status plant inventory surveys. Past performance information is an indicator of a vendor’s ability to perform the contract. The assessment of past performance information is separate from the responsibility determination. The vendor should identify Federal, state, and local government, and private contracts performed by the vendor that were similar in nature to the contract being evaluated, so that the Government may verify the offeror’s past performance on these contracts. Timeliness, Quality of Product and Customer service will be evaluated as well as technical soundness of the product produced for that entity.

This section is intended to explain the rationale and minimum criteria by which offers, resulting from the request for quote, will be evaluated by the Government. Vendors shall prepare proposals with these criteria in mind, both in terms of content and organization, to assist the

Contracting Officer in determining the relative merit of proposals. Vendors are advised that they are not restricted in what is presented in their quotes if sufficient materials are provided to allow evaluation of specific elements of quotes as defined by the evaluation factors. Factors of qualification as well as the general plan of work shall be evaluated. The vendor’s experience in conducting special status plant inventory surveys in Utah, complexity of experience, and documenting findings in reports according to USFWS Utah Field Office Guidelines, as well as the general work plan, will be reviewed and evaluated. The plan of work will be evaluated on the strength of the proposed strategy and capacity for accomplishing the work.

PRICE

Vendor shall submit a Total Price per Acre as Volume II – Price Proposal (see submission instructions below)

SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL

Quoters must be registered and active in SAM.gov to be considered. Due April 15, 2021 @ 3:00 pm by email: tbluntmayes@blm.gov to include:

• Signed SF-1449 (blocks 17a and 30)

• SF-30 Amendments to Solicitation (if any)

• Highlighted sections in Service Clauses (page 16 and 17)

• Vendors shall provide two proposal volumes (see format below)

Volume 1 – Technical Factors – will include technical capabilities, key personnel, and past performance in response to criteria above. Cost or pricing information may not be included in the technical proposal.

Volume 2 – Price Quote (see Schedule of Items) mailto:tbluntmayes@blm.gov

Section 2 – Contract Clauses 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/browsefar

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)

52.204-22 Alternative Line Item Proposal (JAN 2017)

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)

52.237-3 Continuity of Services (JAN 1991)

52.242-15 Stop-Work Order (AUG 1989)

52.242-17 Government Delay of Work (APR 1984)

*Special Notice: To combat national security and intellectual property threats that face the United States, Section

889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes two prohibitions regarding certain telecommunications, video surveillance equipment and services (telecom). Part A, effective August 13, 2019, states the government may not obtain nor can a contractor provide certain telecom produced by the following companies or their subsidiaries and affiliates: Huawei, ZTE Corporation, Hytera Communications, Hangzhou Hikvision, and

Dahua Technology Company. Part B, effective August 13, 2020, prohibits the government from contracting with any company that uses certain prohibited telecom, as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of a system, produced by any of the companies, regardless of whether or not that usage is in performance of work under a government contract. The Part B prohibition applies to every business sector and every dollar amount. In making its representation to the government, a contractor must evaluate all systems it uses for prohibited telecom equipment and services.

52.204-25 Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment (Aug 2020)

(a) Definitions. As used in this clause— Backhaul means intermediate links between the core network, or backbone network, and the small subnetworks at the edge of the network (e.g., connecting cell phones/towers to the core telephone network). Backhaul can be wireless (e.g., microwave) or wired (e.g., fiber optic, coaxial cable, Ethernet).

Covered foreign country means The People’s Republic of China.

Covered telecommunications equipment or services means–

(1) Telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities);

(2) For the purpose of public safety, security of Government facilities, physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure, and other national security purposes, video surveillance and telecommunications equipment produced by Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, or Dahua Technology Company (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities);

(3) Telecommunications or video surveillance services provided by such entities or using such equipment; or

(4) Telecommunications or video surveillance equipment or services produced or provided by an entity that the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence or the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, reasonably believes to be an entity owned or controlled by, or otherwise connected to, the government of a covered foreign country.

Critical technology means– https://www.acquisition.gov/browsefar

(1) Defense articles or defense services included on the United States Munitions List set forth in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations under subchapter M of chapter I of title 22, Code of Federal Regulations;

(2) Items included on the Commerce Control List set forth in Supplement No. 1 to part 774 of the Export Administration Regulations under subchapter C of chapter VII of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, and controlled-

(i) Pursuant to multilateral regimes, including for reasons relating to national security, chemical and biological weapons proliferation, nuclear nonproliferation, or missile technology; or

(ii) For reasons relating to regional stability or surreptitious listening;

(3) Specially designed and prepared nuclear equipment, parts and components, materials, software, and technology covered by part 810 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to assistance to foreign atomic energy activities);

(4) Nuclear facilities, equipment, and material covered by part 110 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to export and import of nuclear equipment and material);

(5) Select agents and toxins covered by part 331 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, part 121 of title 9 of such Code, or part 73 of title 42 of such Code; or

(6) Emerging and foundational technologies controlled pursuant to section 1758 of the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. 4817).

Interconnection arrangements means arrangements governing the physical connection of two or more networks to allow the use of another's network to hand off traffic where it is ultimately delivered (e.g., connection of a customer of telephone provider A to a customer of telephone company B) or sharing data and other information resources.

Reasonable inquiry means an inquiry designed to uncover any information in the entity's possession about the identity of the producer or provider of covered telecommunications equipment or services used by the entity that excludes the need to include an internal or third-party audit.

Roaming means cellular communications services (e.g., voice, video, data) received from a visited network when unable to connect to the facilities of the home network either because signal coverage is too weak or because traffic is too high.

Substantial or essential component means any component necessary for the proper function or performance of a piece of equipment, system, or service.

(b) Prohibition.

(1) Section 889(a)(1)(A) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. 115-

232) prohibits the head of an executive agency on or after August 13, 2019, from procuring or obtaining, or extending or renewing a contract to procure or obtain, any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system. The Contractor is prohibited from providing to the Government any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system, unless an exception at paragraph (c) of this clause applies or the covered telecommunication equipment or services are covered by a waiver described in

FAR 4.2104.

(2) Section 889(a)(1)(B) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Pub. L. 115-

232) prohibits the head of an executive agency on or after August 13, 2020, from entering into a contract, or extending or renewing a contract, with an entity that uses any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system, unless an exception at paragraph (c) of this clause applies or the covered telecommunication equipment or services are covered by a waiver described in FAR 4.2104. This prohibition applies to the use of covered telecommunications equipment or services, regardless of whether that use is in performance of work under a Federal contract.

(c) Exceptions. This clause does not prohibit contractors from providing—

(1) A service that connects to the facilities of a third-party, such as backhaul, roaming, or interconnection arrangements; or

(2) Telecommunications equipment that cannot route or redirect user data traffic or permit visibility into any user data or packets that such equipment transmits or otherwise handles.

(d) Reporting requirement.

(1) In the event the Contractor identifies covered telecommunications equipment or services used as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system, during contract performance, or the Contractor is notified of such by a subcontractor at any tier or by any other source, the Contractor shall report the information in paragraph (d) (2) of this clause to the Contracting Officer, unless elsewhere in this contract are established procedures for reporting the information; in the case of the Department of Defense, the Contractor shall report to the website at https://dibnet.dod.mil. For indefinite delivery contracts, the Contractor shall report to the Contracting Officer for the indefinite delivery contract and the Contracting Officer(s) for any affected order or, in the https://acquisition.gov/content/part-4-administrative-and-information-matters#id1989GI040ZO https://dibnet.dod.mil/ case of the Department of Defense, identify both the indefinite delivery contract and any affected orders in the report provided at https://dibnet.dod.mil.

(2) The Contractor shall report the following information pursuant to paragraph (d)(1) of this clause

(i) Within one business day from the date of such identification or notification: the contract number; the order number(s), if applicable; supplier name; supplier unique entity identifier (if known); supplier Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code (if known); brand; model number (original equipment manufacturer number,…