Consultant/Expert Support on Tribal Law

The USDA, AMS, Specialty Crops Program (SCP) Marketing Orders and Agreements Division (MOAD), Hemp Branch requires expert support on Tribal Law and how it relates to the Hemp Program.  USDA plans to award a contract to  Ms. Penny Coleman, Principal at Gwe Nis Consulting.  This contract will be a time and materials contract on an as needed basis.  The period of performance shall not exceed two years.  The contractor will:  1. Respond to questions related to tribal requests that impact the Hemp Program, including: a. Ensuring that the AMS Hemp Program is working with Federally recognized tribes
b. Ensuring that the AMS Hemp Program is in contact with correct, authorized tribal authorities;
2. Provides clarity on tribal jurisdiction as it pertains to the Hemp Program; 3. Provides clarity on the relationship between the USDA, AMS Hemp Program and the Tribes, as the USDA provides oversight and regulation to the tribes operating as businesses, a. Provides clarity between the USDA and the Tribes as the Tribes regulate their own programs; 4. Review comments on rule-making which pertain to Tribes; 5. Other requests from the USDA, AMS, Hemp Program related to Tribes; 6. Attend any Tribal consultations as requested by the USDA, AMS Hemp Program as an observer and provide any insights or responses to AMS staff questions related to the Tribal consultation.  This is a notice of intent and not a request for proposal.  USDA plans to award a contract on February 11, 2020.    Questions regarding this notice may be sumitted in writing to BeverlyS.Brown@usda.gov.