Sources_Sought_1.docx

Sources Sought SLV-CB Weed and Herbicide Management Proposed Solicitation No. 140R4023Q0040

NOTICE: THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION, BUT RATHER A SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS TO DETERMINE POTENTIAL SOURCES FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. NO FORMAL SOLICITATION FOR THIS WORK EXISTS AT THIS TIME

The Bureau of Reclamation, Closed Basin Division (CBD), has the responsibility for management of invasive plants, noxious weeds, and undesirable plant species and protection of all Government-owned lands within the Closed Basin Project (Project) in accordance with the most recent Alamosa Field Division Integrated Pest Management Plan. A key feature of the Project is the 42-mile-long conveyance canal known as the Franklin Eddy Canal. Contractors shall not use the canal water for their herbicide mixing, water will be provided. All work performed by the contractor shall be performed in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations, instructions, and commercial practices. There will be two applications with the first starting in the May/June timeframe. The Contractor will be treating approximately 382 acres, with the first area consisting of 312 acres and the second area of 70 acres, with herbicides as specified below. The second application will be predicated on weed growth due to available moisture. Consequently, the Contractor shall be available for spraying the second application within a 10-day notice.

Description of Products and Services:

DESCRIPTION OF WORK:

Work shall be performed along the 42-mile-long conveyance canal, as well as the San Luis Pumping plant and equipment service and storage areas.

Reclamation’s expectations of the contractor are as follows:

1. Control deep rooted, woody plant species to prevent them from damaging the Franklin Eddy Canal liner while maintaining grasses on canal berm for bank stabilization

2. Control common cattail along the entire length of the canal

3. Control undesirable terrestrial plant species, at CBD standard of at least 80%, on slopes of canal, access roads, right of way, boundary fences, shelter belts and facilities

4. Control undesirable terrestrial plant species at the CBD administrative site

5. Application of herbicide shall be applied in a cost effective and environmentally conscious manner in compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations

6. Contractor weed control efforts shall include control/elimination of plant species that when mature, could be blown into the canal and cause floating and submerged aquatic vegetation maintenance removal problems/issues

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

a. Eagle habitat: Both bald and golden eagles use these areas for winter foraging between November and March.

b. Waterfowl habitat: Project waterways consist of the canal (42-miles long) and a half mile long feeder canal. The canal is supplied with approximately 55 °F water from 170 salvage wells on a year-round schedule and, except for brief periods of extremely cold weather, the water surface is free of ice. Such conditions invite many types of waterfowl to use these waterways for foraging, spring nesting, etc.

c. Project water: Water flows into the Rio Grande and is utilized for both agricultural and residential use. In addition, Project water is used to prevent stagnation of two lakes (Head Lake and San Luis Lake), provide drinking water for San Luis State Park, and to create specific habitats on two wildlife management areas (Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge and Blanca Wildlife Habitat Area).

d. Adjacent crops: Adjacent crops consist of potatoes, small grains and alfalfa hay.

e. Aquaculture (grass carp): These fish are stocked and used as a biological tool for controlling aquatic weeds.

Place of Performance Work shall be performed along the 42-mile-long conveyance canal, as well as the San Luis Pumping plant and equipment service and storage areas.

Period of Performance In addition to the Base Period award date – April 2024, this contract will include three option periods in 2024, 2025 and 2026. Weed and herbicide management will be conducted June through October each year.

CONTRACTOR WORK SCHEDULE

Hours of Operation Typically the Project hours are from 6:00 AM to 4:30 PM. If the Contractor wants to work outside of the normal hours, they shall plan with the COR.

No spraying shall be scheduled on the weekends or holidays.

TIMEFRAME This contract will start in early June and continue through the end of September or early October.

Interested vendors are encouraged to respond with their capabilities statement which demonstrates the firm's experience and capability to perform the principal components of the services listed above.

Packages should include the following information:

All responses must be submitted via email to Contract Specialist Nayda Gonzalez at ngonzalez@usbr.gov by April 28, 2023.

All businesses are encouraged to limit responses to no more than 10 pages in length. The purpose of this notice is to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities and qualifications of potential contractors for solicitation planning purposes only. This is NOT a request for quotes and is NOT to be construed as a commitment by the Government. Responses to this Sources Sought Notice will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. All interested sources must respond to future solicitation announcements separately from responses to this Sources Sought Notice. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this notice.

All vendors must be registered in the SAM (System for Award Management) Database https://www.sam.gov prior to contract award pursuant to FAR provision 52.204-7. All contractors must also be registered to perform as a small business under the specified NAICS code and it must reflect accordingly on their SAM profile.

When it is determined that a formal solicitation will be issued, a Pre-Solicitation Notice will be posted on SAM.gov Federal Contract Opportunities at https://sam.gov.

All responses to this Sources Sought Notice shall be emailed to Nayda Gonzalez at ngonzalez@usbr.gov by 4:00 PM (MST) on Friday, April 28, 2023. Again, Offerors shall not provide a quote in response to this Sources Sought Notice.

If you have questions or concerns regarding this Sources Sought Notice, please email the Contract Specialist, Nayda Gonzalez at ngonzalez@usbr.gov .