Tongass advisory committee meeting management and facilitation

TONGASS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MANAGEMENT AND FACILITATION

THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION, REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP), OR REQUEST FOR QUOTE (RFQ) AND DOES NOT COMMIT THE GOVERNMENT TO AWARD A CONTRACT NOW OR IN THE FUTURE. THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL IS SCHEDULED TO BE RELEASE ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 10, 2014 ON THE FEDBIZOPPS (FBO) WEBSITE.
THIS ACQUISITION IS NOT A SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE; ANY RESPONSIBLE SOURCE MAY SUBMIT AN OFFER. ALL QUALIFIED SMALL BUSINESS COMPANIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE. THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY COST INCURRED BY THE RESPONDENT TO THIS NOTICE. THE NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM CODE (NAICS): 541611. THE CLASSIFICATION CODE: R-PROFESSIONAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES.

Project Description

The Tongass National Forest Service (FS) under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) intends to solicit, negotiate, and award a single Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) contract to the offeror whose offer is best value to the Government based on price and evaluation factors. The period of performance is 12 months.

This project requires meeting management and facilitation services to establish an advisory committee to provide the Forest Service with advice and recommendations for developing an ecologically, socially, and economically sustainable forest management strategy on the Tongass National Forest. Recommendations and advice may directly inform modification of the 2008 Tongass Land Management Plan.

The 2008 Tongass Forest Plan Amendment (2008 Forest Plan) focused on five issues as directed by the Courts after years of litigation. None of these issues were young growth timber volume related but more focused on how the Forest Service estimated timber demand and accounted for resource impacts. As a result of the 2008 Forest Plan decision, nearly half of the existing young growth timber stands reside in Land Use Designations (LUDs) that do not allow for commercial timber harvest. These designations were made to address other resource needs (e.g., wildlife habitat, old growth conservation strategies, and visuals) while old growth timber was harvested in both the "roaded" and "unroaded" portions of the Tongass.

The meeting management and facilitation service provider will work with a committee established under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) that will reflect a diverse group of stakeholders and provide an opportunity for public ownership and involvement in this process. The forest and the Alaska Region are committed to a transparent, inclusive, and collaborative path forward with clear timelines for action; establishing a FACA committee will help to meet that commitment.

Prospective offerors are responsible for downloading the solicitation and any documents related to this procurement. It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor the FBO website for the release of the solicitation and amendments. Offerors must be active in SAM in accordance with FAR 52.204.10 unless you qualify under an exemption. DUNS, TIN, and CAGE CODES must be written on submitted proposal when due. Only electronic responses via email will be accepted. Facsimile responses and telephone inquiries will not be accepted. Submit all inquiries and documents to Ms. Smith, Contract Specialist, at sherilsmith@fs.fed.us.