Sources_Sought.docx

Sources Sought Notice

THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION - Currently, a solicitation DOES NOT exist.

This Sources Sought notice is a means of surveying the market to obtain information and does not constitute a solicitation. Submission of any information in response to this notice is purely voluntary. This shall not be considered as a request for proposal nor as an obligation for the Government to acquire these services. The Government assumes no monetary responsibility for any costs that may be incurred in preparation of a potential source’s response.

Background. Bureau of Land Management Applegate Field Office is requesting a Prescribed Fire Support Module (PFSM) up to 15 days per year to implement hand or machine pile ignitions, unit or pile preparation, prescribed fire holding functions, and prescribed fire unit mop-up. Applegate BLM field office has conducted extensive fuels reduction work which has created a backlog of machine and hand piles within BLM administered public land.

Purpose of this Notice. Following FAR 10.001(a)(3)(i), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is issuing this Sources Sought notice as one method of conducting market research. The purpose of market research for this action is to identify potential qualified and capable sources with the capacity and interest in competing for an award. Additionally, it is of the interest of BLM to better understand how capable sources could potentially propose by allowing BLM this opportunity to present questions in efforts to better construct a productive solicitation.

Performance Work Statement. The Performance Work Statement (PWS) attached to this notice includes the Specific Tasks associated to this requirement. A PWS issued with any future solicitation may be different depending on responses to this notice and field level needs/assessments. If a solicitation is issued, the Performance Work Statement (PWS) will include any specific requirements, qualifications, and equipment limitations (if applicable) Performance Locations. All prescribed burning operations will occur on Bureau of Land Management administered public lands managed by the Applegate BLM Field Office in Modoc, Lassen, Siskiyou or Shasta Counties California, and Washoe County Nevada. Many established fuels reduction units requiring hand or machine pile ignitions exist within the Applegate BLM Field Office.

General project areas include:

· Vya pile units, Washoe County, NV

· Bull Creek/Duck Flat pile units, Washoe County, NV

· Applegate WUI pile units, Modoc & Siskiyou Counties, CA

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code:115310 - Support Activities for Forestry- Fire prevention, forest, Fuels management services with a current small business size standard of $34M.

Product Service Code (PSC): F004 Natural Resources/Conservation- Forest/Range Fire Rehabilitation (Non-Construction)

Submission Instructions. Interested parties who consider themselves qualified and capable (based on the criteria of this notice and all attachments to perform these services are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice.

1) Submission Deadline. Vendor submissions in response to this notice shall be received by the contracting point of contact, Karianne Lerum, at klerum@blm.gov not later than Thursday, June 1, 2023 at 1:00 pm, PT.

2) Vendor Questions/Comments. Capable vendors are encouraged to provide comments and insight based on previous experience regarding proposal submission. This could include comments on information the government can provide to better assist vendors in constructing a better proposal. Government does not intend to provide responses to this notice, but rather will consider comments and questions that will assist the Government in creating a better solicitation. Questions and/or Comments, if applicable, shall be be received by the contracting point of contract, Karianne Lerum, at klerum@blm.gov not later than the stated submission deadline.

3) Qualifications. Qualified potential sources shall (1) have an active registration in System for Award Management (SAM) and (2) be eligible for doing business with the U.S. federal Government. Additional qualification requirements (i.e., education, licensing, or certifications) will be stated in any future solicitation.

4) Responses from Potential Sources shall include:

· Response to Questions. Potential Sources’ shall include responses to the questions below which will assist BLM in better constructing a solicitation. In reference to the work mentioned in the draft Performance Work Statement attachment:

· What are industry standards for scheduling? Does the Contractor work with the Government to determine a schedule or does one party decide the schedule?

· What are typical crew sizes?

· Is travel considered in proposed rates or is that separately priced/addressed?

· Are there minimum workday requirement to justify travel?

· Is mobilization required for any/each day of work?

· Capability. Potential Sources’ responses shall include a tailored capability statement or a similar specifically detailing recent and relevant[endnoteRef:1] experience as a prime contractor and a response to the following: [1:

a) Pricing Information– What information from the Government would be needed to better assist the vendor in providing a quotation submission? Examples include:

a. Acreage

b. Pile Amounts Per Acres. How are they constructed?

c. Days

b) Organizational information: full company name, company address, website address, UEI number, and number of years in business, and contact information for the individual responding to this notice: name, title, email address, and telephone number(s).

c) Capability through Experience. Submit a tailored capability statement (or similar) detailing the recent and relevant experience (as defined herein). Include point of contact information (name and email address and/or telephone number) for the proper individual to verify the experience detailed in your response (i.e., contract administrator or management team member).

· IF A SOLICITATION IS RELEASED, IT WILL BE SYNOPSIZED ON https://SAM.GOV IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF POTENTIAL SOURCES TO MONITOR SAM.GOV FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THIS REQUIREMENT

Attachments:

1 – Draft Performance Work Statement

// End of Notice //