2027_NaturalResourcesInvestigations_IDIQ_SourcesSoughtNotice Final.docx

Sources Sought/Request for Information Natural Resource Investigations in the Upper Mississippi River Basin, Mississippi Valley Division (MVD)

Purpose and Objectives:

The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran- owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their understanding, capabilities and experience relative to the proposed acquisition to assist the Government in determining the expectation of receiving bids from responsible small business contractors at fair market prices. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set- aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code can submit a response to this notice, however their capabilities may/may not be assessed for the purposes of this notice.

A determination by the Government not to complete this requirement as a set-aside based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.

The Corps of Engineers (COE), Rock Island District does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses received, however as a result of this Sources Sought Notice, the COE may issue a Request for Proposal (RFP).

Interested parties are expected to review this Notice and the Project Requirements to familiarize themselves with the requirements of this project.

Background:

The US Army Corps of Engineers - Rock Island District, is seeking eligible Small Business Concerns capable of performing a range of natural resource investigations (see Project Requirements section below) at various locations throughout the Upper Mississippi River Basin, or potentially lower Mississippi River, as shown in the Map below. Projects outside the primary mission area of responsibility may be added at the Governments discretion upon agreement of the Contractor.

Project Requirements:

The types of projects may include all or part of the following:

· species surveys and environmental resource inventories, with specific focus on:

· surveys for endangered freshwater mussels of the Upper Mississippi River basin, to include diving capability

· surveys for federally endangered bats of the Midwest

· habitat evaluation & assessment methodologies

· biological and environmental data collection, analysis, and reporting, to include:

· statistical evaluations of biological or environmental data

· literature searches, summaries, and synthesis

· preparation of technical reports

· preparation of mitigation plans

· draft text for National Environmental Policy Documents (e.g. environmental assessments or environmental impact statements)

· vegetation identification and mapping

· habitat improvement /restoration (including design, implementation, monitoring and adaptive management)

· scientific training (e.g. vegetation or mussel identification)

· GIS mapping

NAICS Code and Size Standard:

In the event an RFP is issued, it is anticipated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541690 with a size standard of $19M is being considered.

Capability Statement/Information Sought:

All parties interested in this project must demonstrate that they would have the potential to be a responsive and responsible contractor by submitting a Tailored Capability Statement. Tailored Capability Statements shall demonstrate a clear understanding of all tasks specified in the draft Project Requirements. Tailored Capability Statements for this requirement shall address the following areas:

1. Company Name, DUNS/CAGE (If your company does not have at the time of this sources sought, please be aware that you will be required to register your company in the System of Award Management (SAM) system to be eligible for any future Federal contracts), POC information including an email, and your current small business status.

2. Demonstrate the ability to meet the mandatory criteria as noted below:

a. Ability to perform surveys for federally listed bats and mussels throughout the upper Mississippi River basin, to include:

i. Survey capability, including dive capability for mussels.

ii. Experience in identification of bats and mussels.

iii. Required permits from USFWS and state resource agencies.

b. Ability to perform general biological surveys and habitat evaluations throughout the Mississippi River basin.

c. Ability to perform GIS mapping.

d. Demonstrated knowledge and experience with the National Environmental Policy Act.

e. Ability to mobilize within 7 days of issuance of task order.

f. Ability to perform multiple (minimum 3) task orders at the same time.

3. Project examples with similar complexity and scope (and ideally including all of the mandatory criteria above). Examples should include all pertinent information regarding the requirements to clearly demonstrate the understanding and abilities of your company. It is requested that some similar Federal work completed be submitted if you performed previous work as a part of a team, with subcontractors (or other arrangements) please provide information on that relationship, tasks performed by team members etc. to be able to provide the Government with a sense of prime contract management as well as team member/subcontractor management.

4. Description of how, as a small business, you would be capable of performing the work, either by 100% self-performance or through teaming. Specifically, if you would not be self-performing 100% of the work, please provide:

a. An estimate of your self-performance and a proposed team approach (for example: are you part of an approved mentor protégé team through the SBA 8(a) or All Small Mentor Protégé Program?

b. Will you be teaming with other small businesses to meet the self-performance requirements?

c. Will your subcontractors be primarily small businesses?

d. What type of work would likely be subcontracted?

e. Have you performed this type of work previously with similar teaming arrangements? If so, what were issues with contract performance?

f. If your primary location of business is outside of the Rock Island district boundaries and the performance location of these services, please indicate how you will be able to efficiently and effectively respond to task orders, especially when the district cannot necessarily provide a plan or timeline for task orders? (For instance, do you have satellite offices? Do you primarily work within the district boundaries and have familiarity with the work/workforce/equipment available and ability to successfully complete task orders at a reasonable cost)

g. NOTE: Small businesses may submit a Tailored Capability Statement that includes the expertise of large business partner companies under a teaming arrangement. If a teaming arrangement is contemplated, then the response to this sources sought must clearly discuss the areas of the Draft Performance Work Statement that the small business firm intends to perform and the specific areas that the large business teaming partner intends to perform. Please note that at least 15% of the total cost of the contract value must be incurred by or for personnel of the small business firm (or similarly situated entities) pursuant to the RFO clause at 52.219-14 entitled “Limitations on Subcontracting (NOV 2011)”.

In order for the Government to make a Small Business (SB) set-aside (or other socioeconomic sub-category) determination, it is emphasized that SB concerns provide sufficient written information to clearly demonstrate their capacity, capability, and responsibility (in accordance with RFO 9.1 and the requirements at RFO 19.104-1 to successfully perform and manage all the requirements of this effort.

Information Submission Instructions:

1. Page Limitations:

Interested qualified small business organizations should submit a Tailored Capability Statement for this requirement not to exceed ten (10) single sided pages including all information that clearly details the firm’s ability to perform the aspects of the notice described above and in the Project Requirements.

2. Number of Copies:

All capability Statement sent in response to this SOURCES SOUGHT/Request for Information notice must be submitted via e-mail to the contract specialist, Joe Porter at Joseph.E.Porter@usace.army.mil. The e-mail subject line must specify Response to Sources Sought: Natural Resource Investigations.

3. Due Date/Time Electronically submitted tailored capability statements are due no later than Friday, 4 December 2026 at 2:00 PM CST. This does not restrict the Government from accepting responses after this time, if it is in the best interests of the Government for market research purposes, and also does not prohibit the Government from seeking potential capable, and responsible sources from information available from other resources (for instance: small business databases, known sources, previous contractors) to determine a final procurement strategy.

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