RECOVERY** - Deferred Tail Maintenance, Outfitter Services - Boise NF

(I)This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice and in accordance with the simplified acquisition procedures authorized in FAR Part 13. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.



(II) This solicitation is issued as a request for proposal (RFP). Submit written proposals on RFQ Number AG-82B1-S-10-0289.



(III) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-33.



(IV) This solicitation is being issued as a Total Small Business Set-Aside. The associated NAICS code is

488999 All Other Support Activities for Transportation

The small business size standard is $7M.



(V) This combined solicitation/synopsis is for purchase of the following commercial item/services: Deferred Trail Maintenance, Outfitter Services.



Bid Item A Price per person per day

Bid Item B Price per pack animal per day

(VI) Detailed description of requirements is included in attached statement of work and exhibits. The following is a general description of the services to be performed:



Animal Packing Duties

The USDA Forest Service requires outfitter services to perform specialized animal packing duties, such as packing, securing, and transporting explosives and other sensitive cargo into backcountry wilderness areas by strings of horses and mules. Such activity will support ongoing trail maintenance and construction in Wilderness areas on the Boise National Forest. Services will be needed on an interim basis from June 1 September 30, 2010. The Government estimates the need for 12-14 round trips during this period of time. See Section B for costs/prices. The government will assume a 3-horse/mule minimum per trip.

Contractor shall follow special safety procedures and regulatory requirements that apply to all aspects of hazardous material handling, storing, and packing when working with cargo such as chemicals, acids, pesticides, combustibles, explosives, munitions, or poisons.

Contractor shall provide all livestock , equipment , and transportation necessary to perform the requirement. Contractor shall load animals into various types of equipment and motorized vehicles for transport. Contractor shall load, and transport the full range of cargo, such as bulky equipment, food stuffs, water, salt, hand tools, long timber, pipe, lookout or camp stoves, long lengths of heavy cable, and other items. Contractor shall load and hitch packaged cargo onto pack animals, balance and adjust side packs, and ensure that packing materials do not cause injuries to the animals or damage the cargo.

The contractor may lead pack animals over rugged mountainous terrain to reach a desired destination, choosing the best route to arrive without injury to the pack animals or cargo.

The contractor shall maintain pack equipment in good repair and make repairs as needed to animal packing equipment, such as ropes, halters, pack and riding saddles, cargo boxes, harnesses, pig-tails, and bridles.

The contractor shall provide the full variety of needs in the handling and care of stock which includes the normal functions of grooming, i.e. shoeing, feeding and watering, and in addition cares for the medical needs of assigned stock which involves the "doctoring" of sick and injured animals for such things as bruises, cuts, sores and/or any other medical needs.

(VII) Date(s) and place(s) of delivery and acceptance:



(a) Project Location. Boise National Forest



(b) Start Work. It is estimated that work will begin on or about June 1, 2010.



(c) Period of Performance. EST: 1 June 2010 30 Sep 2010



(VIII) FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial Items (June 2008), applies to this acquisition. See Addendum for additional instructions.



(IX) Offers will be evaluated on their past performance, their technical capability to successfully complete this project, and the price quoted.



(a) The Government will award the contract to the offeror(s) who (a) asserts to the terms of the RFP, and (b) has the best combination of experience, past performance, and price. Experience is a matter of the number of opportunities an offeror has had to do similar work and to encounter the kinds of problems that the Contractor is likely to encounter in the performance of this contract. Past performance is a matter of an offerors reputation for integrity and customer satisfaction. Quality control and the understanding of the work is a matter of the offerors familiarity with the nature of the work and with the kinds of problems the Contractor is likely to encounter during performance. Award(s) may be made without further discussions. Proposals should be submitted initially on the most favorable terms, from a technical and cost standpoint, which the offeror can submit to the Government. However, the Government may, after evaluation of the proposals, conduct further oral or written discussions as appropriate with all offerors whose proposals are within the competitive range.



(b) Offer of award will be made to the Quoter whose quote, as determined by the Contracting Officer, provides the best value to the Government, considering but not limited to, such factors as price, past performance, and capability to accomplish this type of work. When combined, past performance and technical factors are equal to price.



(X) The offeror must submit a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items (June 2009), with its quote or complete the Representations and Certifications on line at HTTP://ORCA.BPN.GOV .



(XI) The clause at FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items (Mar 2009), applies to this acquisition



(XII) The clause at FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items (June 2009), Alternate I applies to this acquisition. The following clauses under subparagraph (b) apply:2, 3, 4,8i, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23,24,25,30 and 38.



The following clauses under subparagraph (c) apply: 1



This solicitation is issued under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and all requirements of the Act apply. The appropriate clauses are included under subparagraph (b) above.



(XIII) The following clauses are also applicable to this acquisition: None



(XIV) Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) and assigned rating does not apply.



(XV) Quotes are required to be received in the contracting office no later than 4:00 P.M. MT on April 27, 2010. All quotes must be mailed or e-mailed to the attention of Paul Pierson. The email address is paulpierson@fs.fed.us. Hardcopy proposals may be sent to USDA Forest Service - Intermountain EROC, 740 Simms St. Lakewood, CO 80401. Proposals may be on the Offerors letterhead and must state the solicitation number (AG-82B1-S-10-0289) on the cover page and in the subject line of e-mails (FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE SOLICITATION NUMBER IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF ANY E-MAILED OFFERS MAY RESULT IN YOUR OFFER NOT BEING CONSIDERED. FAXED OFFERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED). Be sure to include the information requested in (VIII) above as well as the information provided in the addendum with your proposal.



(XVI) Any questions regarding this solicitation should be directed to Paul Pierson at paulpierson@fs.fed.us.