Blanket Purchase Agreement for Title Abstract Search and Settlement/Closing Services in Rhode Island

The United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS) is seeking a small business to provide title abstract and settlement services for conservation easement acquisitions in Rhode Island. The contractor will be responsible for conducting title searches, obtaining title commitments, performing post-survey updates, issuing final title policies, and executing closing services for various conservation easement programs including ACEP-WRE, WRP, EWPP-FPE, RCPP, and HFRP. Technical capability and past performance will be weighted more heavily than price in the evaluation process, with quotes required to be submitted in two parts: a technical narrative and a price quote. The solicitation requires potential contractors to be licensed to conduct title insurance business in Rhode Island and maintain appropriate liability insurance. Interested firms must submit their quotes by February 10, 2025, at 12:00 Noon Eastern Time, with any questions due by January 30, 2025, to Crystal Baird at crystal.baird@usda.gov.

The solicitation is set aside exclusively for small businesses under NAICS code 541191 (Title Abstract and Settlement Offices), with a size standard of $19.5 million. The government intends to issue a single award firm-fixed-price blanket purchase agreement with a performance period from February 17, 2025, to February 16, 2030. The place of performance is specifically located in Adamsville and Little Compton, Rhode Island. Contractors will be required to provide title commitments within 21 business days of NRCS request, update title commitments within 14 business days, and complete closing services within 30 calendar days of receiving federal funds. While a specific award value is not explicitly stated, the contract will involve negotiating line item rates at the call order level, including final title policy costs, recording fees, and ALTA closing protection letter fees.