Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Plant Survey at Fort Liberty, NC

Auburn University is seeking a service provider to conduct a comprehensive rare, threatened, and endangered plant survey at Fort Liberty, North Carolina. The project involves surveying 22,435 acres in the Northern Training Area and Linden Oaks housing area from June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025. Specific requirements include checking 669 Army Species-At-Risk (SAR) plant sites and 629 state conservation status plant sites, with detailed documentation of stem counts and site conditions. Proposers must have personnel with graduate degrees in botany, ecology, or related fields, and at least 5 years of experience identifying rare plants in the Sandhills region of North Carolina. The contract will be evaluated using a weighted scoring system: 50% pricing (lowest overall cost), 45% history and past performance, and 5% proposal completeness. Proposals are due by February 28, 2024, at 10:30 AM CST, with a bid opening scheduled for February 14, 2024. The service provider must comply with military installation regulations, including obtaining range passes and following strict guidelines for movement and documentation within training areas.

Auburn University emphasizes commitment to small business and small disadvantaged business (SB & SDB) participation, encouraging contractors to involve such businesses in contract performance. The solicitation will be conducted through the JAGGAER Sourcing Event Portal, with bid openings made public via conference call. Bidders must complete a vendor disclosure statement and, if having offices or employees in Alabama, provide an E-Verify Memorandum of Understanding. The commodity codes associated with the project cover forestry resources, management, conservation services, and natural resources training. While a specific contract value is not explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the survey and the detailed requirements suggest a significant scope of work. Contractors will be required to provide monthly progress reports and a final comprehensive report documenting their findings. The project necessitates specialized knowledge of Sandhills ecology and will involve intricate fieldwork within a military installation environment.