Title Abstract Search and Settlement/Closing Services in Puerto Rico

The United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking a title abstract and settlement services contractor for conservation easement acquisitions in Puerto Rico. The solicitation requires a qualified contractor to provide comprehensive title search, title commitment, post-survey updates, final title policy, and closing services for various NRCS easement programs including ACEP-WRE, WRP, EWPP-FPE, RCPP, and HFRP. Contractors must be licensed in Puerto Rico, maintain active SAM registration, and provide liability insurance coverage. The evaluation will utilize a tradeoff method prioritizing technical capability and past performance over price, with offerors required to submit a technical narrative and price quote demonstrating their approach to services, electronic filing capabilities, and experience with similar projects. Interested firms must submit their quotes by January 14, 2025, at 12:00 Noon Eastern Time, with questions due by January 3, 2025.

The contract is a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 541191 with a $19.5 million size standard. There is no identified incumbent contractor, and the government estimates only 1-5 title orders per year. The contract will be a single-award firm-fixed-price blanket purchase agreement with a five-year period of performance from February 1, 2025, to January 31, 2030, consisting of five one-year ordering periods. The place of performance is specifically Adjuntas, Puerto Rico. Contractors must be prepared to deliver initial title commitments within 21 business days of NRCS request, update title commitments within 14 business days of receiving surveyed legal descriptions, and complete closings within 30 calendar days of receiving federal funds. Payment will be processed through the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) in two stages: after preliminary title commitment delivery and after closing services completion with NRCS/OGC approval.