Notice of Intent To Issue Sole Source Contract

The Omaha District, US Army Corps of Engineers is seeking qualified members of the Small Community (Small Businesses (SB) Small Disabled Small Business (SDB) Woman Owned Small Businesses (WOSB) Service Disabled Veteran Owned SB (SDVOSB) Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HubZones) and Section 8(a) Participants) or small business-led teams, and small business joint ventures and Other than Small (OTS) concerns that qualify under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 924120 Administration of Conservation Programs for the following requirement : [U1]Scientific Support Activities related to Pallid Sturgeon on the Missouri River between Fort Randall Dam and the Missouri River confluence with the Big Sioux River in the states of South Dakota and Nebraska.

This announcement is part of our market research and responses are sought to identify sources that have the knowledge, skills, and capability to perform the work. Interested firms are hereby invited to submit a response to the market survey to demonstrate their technical, managerial and business capability to provide the requested services. It is anticipated that the Government will issue an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract NTE $5M; period of performance: - five year period. The Contractor may be required to perform all or part of the following services:
A) Pallid Sturgeon Population Assessment: Biological surveys for pallid sturgeon and other native fish species and habitat data collection will be conducted in accordance with the most current guiding documents for Pallid Sturgeon Population Assessment and Missouri River Standard Operating Procedures for Fish Sampling and Data Collection. All data are recorded on standardized data sheets and followed by implementing a variety of QA/QC procedures.
B) Pallid Sturgeon Propagation: The Corps has the responsibility to work cooperatively with the USFWS to capture, hold and spawn broodstock annually. The Corps is responsible for a portion of the annual stocking identified as the Average annual shortfall in the 2000 Opinion and 2003 Amendment to the 2000 Opinion. This component provides support for propagation and population augmentation activities associated with annual stocking goals for pallid sturgeon. Activities associated with pallid sturgeon propagation include: broodstock collection, sexing, and transport; egg staging and spawning; tagging; and stocking. An annual summary report that is in accordance with a standardized format will be submitted highlighting the propagation activities.
C) Aquatic Habitat Assessment and Monitoring: For the benefit of pallid sturgeon, the Corps, through management actions or site-level projects, creates and then monitors aquatic habitat in the channelized segment of the Missouri River. The contractor will be responsible for assessing improvements/changes in the physical habitat characteristics associated with the channelized river, and the biological response to those habitat changes. All data are recorded on standardized data sheets and followed by implementing a variety of QA/QC procedures. An Annual Report that summarizes each years data collection efforts is required. The contractor is also required to attend meetings and trainings directly associated with assessment and monitoring activities; it is estimated that there will be five total occurrences. All sampling must be consistent with the most recent version of the guiding document for Pallid Sturgeon Habitat Assessment and Monitoring, Pallid Sturgeon Population Assessment Project and Missouri River Standard Operating Procedures for Fish Sampling and Data Collection documents.
D) Scientific Studies: To support learning and progress towards recovery of the pallid sturgeon, certain research activities are required to improve understanding, identify relationships, and resolve knowledge gaps for pallid biology and ecology. As the recovery process moves forward, priority information needs will be identified, some of which are included in the Ruckelshaus Report. Data collection and research study design and analysis may be conducted to address high priority information needs for pallid sturgeon in the middle basin of the Missouri River. These needs are identified, in part, under four categories Early Life Stages, Habitat, Reproduction, and Population
Assessment.

THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A REQUEST FOR A FORMAL PROPOSAL. This notice is provided as information to the marketplace and is an invitation for an expression of interest and demonstration of a capability to perform the anticipated work. The proposed contract action is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302. Interested firms may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. The Government will not pay for the provision of any information, nor will it compensate any respondents for the development of such information. All interested, capable, qualified and responsive firms are encouraged to reply to this market survey request. Interested Contractors must furnish the following information:

General Information
1. What is your company name, address, point of contact, phone number, and e-mail address?
2. What is your business size?
3. Do you have any corporate affiliations? If so, please identify.
4. Are you interested in participating as a leader or member of a small business-led team?
a. If so, specify what type of team arrangement (joint venture, prime contractor/subcontractor, other).
b. Provide a list of potential team members and associated disciplines, if known.
c. Describe your current/anticipated team management structure.
Past Performance Information
5. Please provide any past performance information for the previous 3 years that clearly demonstrates familiarity and experience with the requirements. For each project, include the following information:
a. Size, term, and complexity of job;
b. Information on your role as either a prime contractor or subcontractor;
c. Point of contact (POC) at the agency or prime contractors organization to verify contact information, including name, address, e-mail address, telephone number, and information on the specific tasks you performed on the project.
d. Please provide a brief description of your experience either managing a team or acting as a member of a team of businesses working on large, complex projects. Provide POCs (name, address, e-mail address, and telephone number) that can verify this experience
e. Firms responding to the Market Survey must demonstrate that they have the appropriate personnel, materials, equipment, management, quality, and cost controls necessary to perform the services identified under this contract. Firms must demonstrate that they have specific expertise and experience in the following areas: conducting fishery monitoring and research; fish propagation and augmentation activities; familiarity with the plans and protocols for standardized assessments and sampling activities within the basin.
f. The firm must have experienced personnel with expertise in establishing working relationships and coordination with a broad spectrum of outside entities (other states and federal agencies) that are responsible for overseeing natural resource management in this geographic area.
g. Firms must possess or have the ability to obtain and submit one copy of each of the required biological collectors permits: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Section 10 Endangered Species Permit (for federally listed pallid sturgeon); South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks Endangered Species Permit for Pallid Sturgeon).
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT ALL INFORMATION SUBMITTED WILL BE CONSIDERED PROCUREMENT SENSITIVE. Responses to this announcement may be sent electronically to Wanda Carter-Davis at Wanda.C.Carter-Davis@usace.army.mil and should arrive no later than 3:00 p.m. (CST) 28 July 2009. Responses should be limited to no more than 15 pages. If you are unable to send the information via e-mail, you may mail it to the address below. All mailed documents must include a return address on the outside envelope to be accepted. See Note 22.
US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
CONTRACTING DIVISION CECT-NWO
ATTN: Wanda Carter-Davis
1616 CAPITOL AVENUE
OMAHA, NE 68102-4901
Questions should be forwarded to Wanda Carter-Davis via e-mail at the address above.