AM RAT ERADICATION FEASIBILITY STUDY
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, AK has a requirement for a commercial item or service. This combined synopsis/solicitation is prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6 (as supplemented with additional information included in this notice). This posting will be referred to under Request for Quotation (RFQ) Number 140F0719Q0025. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. A written solicitation will be issued and attached to this posting for reference only. This RFQ falls under procedures in FAR Parts 12 and 13. This document incorporates provisions and clauses updated by way of the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2019-03, effective June 12, 2019. This requirement is not set aside for small businesses. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) number is 541620, Environmental Consulting Services and the business size standard is $15M. This announcement constitutes the Government's only official notice of this procurement. The Government does not intend to pay for any information provided under this synopsis.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is requesting quotes to conduct a Rat Eradication Feasibility Study in accordance with the following performance work statement:
The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service seeks an expert evaluation of the feasibility of rat eradication on one more of the following four Aleutian Islands in Alaska: Great Sitkin, Amchitka, Kiska, and Attu. The vendor must have demonstrated prior experience with successful rat eradication from remote islands with diverse wildlife populations. The project will consist of four parts.
First, the vendor will conduct a desktop feasibility evaluation of at least two of the four islands. The vendor may evaluate three or all four of the islands. The evaluation will consider island size, remoteness, logistical constraints, presence of non-target species, topography, climate, weather, human use of the island, cultural and historical site protection, and other factors to create an initial feasibility evaluation. This desktop feasibility will be completed by a person or people with demonstrated prior experience in evaluating rat eradication feasibility on remote islands.
Second, the vendor will conduct a comprehensive field analysis of at least one island to allow preparation of a more informed and refined feasibility report. The vendor will cover travel expenses to and from a designated Alaska port where they will be transported to the designated island(s) by the refugeB?s research vessel at no further ship transportation cost to the vendor. The refuge will cover ship costs to transport people to and from the island for an approximately six week field camp for up to six people. The ship will not remain at the camp site during the field camp deployment, but will return at the appropriate time to pick up the field camp. The vendor will cover all of their personnel costs, camp costs, and travel costs outside of the ship transportation costs necessary to conduct the field work. The field evaluation project will be directed by the vendor in close consultation with Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge staff to include such things as unique geological island features, areas which would allow for helicopter rodenticide application versus areas requiring hand application, consideration of non-target species presence and optimal ways to minimize non-target mortality, permitting requirements (such as the Federal MBTA, MMPA, ESA, ARPA, and applicable State laws for example), and other elements required to complete a comprehensive feasibility assessment. The field camp will be led by a crew leader with demonstrated prior experience in remote island rat eradication.
Third, the vendor will participate in and lead a multi-day feasibility workshop in Homer, Alaska to include members of the refuge staff and outside rat eradication experts such as specialists from New Zealand and other experts (selected jointly by vendor and refuge staff) to evaluate the findings from the desktop and field analyses. The vendor will cover travel and any other costs to and from Homer Alaska for all participants except for Fish and Wildlife Service participants whose agency will cover their travel costs. Precise attendance is flexible, but vendor should assume up to two participants from New Zealand or other distant international sites, up to two from Hawaii, and up to two from other locations, plus members of the vendorB?s own team of experts. Total participation is uncertain and flexible, but is estimated at 8 participants plus Fish and Wildlife Service staff participants.
Fourth, the vendor will use information from the desktop analysis, the field work, and the workshop to write a comprehensive feasibility report for rat eradication on at least one of the four islands. The analysis shall include a description of how to conduct a successful project, a cost estimate, critical non-target mortality risks and associated mitigation methods, recommended treatment techniques, project time estimate, a candid assessment of uncertainties, identification of permitting requirements, and all other elements important to a comprehensive plan which will allow the refuge to proceed with National Environmental Policy Act review, budget planning, and a final decision to proceed or not. If the vendor finds that the project is not feasible, a thorough description of barriers to success and requirements to overcome those barriers is required in the analysis.
The bid must include a statement of the organizationB?s experience and expertise with successful rat eradication on remote islands. The bid must also include a statement explaining the relevant remote island rat eradication experience of the primary author of the report and the field camp leader.
Timing:
The desktop analysis must be completed by March 1, 2020 to allow the field camp island selection in for the refuge to finalize the 2020 ship schedule to include field camp deployment and pickup from the appropriate island(s).
The field work portion of the project must be completed between June 1 and September 30, 2020, with precise dates to be negotiated by the vendor and the refuge. The selected dates are subject to the scheduling demands for R/V Tiglax.
The workshop shall be held in Homer, Alaska at the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center between September 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021 with the precise dates subject to refuge concurrence.
The final feasibility report is due May 1, 2021 in electronic and paper form delivered to:
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
95 Sterling Highway, Suite 1
Homer Alaska 99603.
The basis for award is Best Value to the government.
Organization to be supported:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
Homer, AK 99603
Please submit your quote on the attached SF-1449 or company letterhead with all pertinent point of contact information including SAM, Cage Code, DUNS No., and business size/type. In addition, your proposal should provide unit price and total price. No formal format is required as this is a combined synopsis/request for proposal solicitation. Offers must be received by 3:00 pm Eastern Time, 06/26/2019, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 E. Tudor Rd M/S171, Anchorage, AK. It is preferable that quotes are emailed, however quotes may be mailed or e-mailed to the attention of: anthony_kuntz@fws.gov.
Offerors must comply with all instructions contained in the Internet Payment Platform (IPP) DOI Electronic Invoicing instructions, and all clauses in the attached solicitation documentation.
The full text of any solicitation provision or clause referenced herein may be accessed electronically at http://farsite.hill.af.mil/.
In order to have a quote considered, all offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) website (https://www.sam.gov) as an active vendor by the closing date of this solicitation. Quotes received from firms not registered in SAM by award date may not be considered.
Additional document information and attachments can be accessed at the FedConnect link under the (Additional Info) heading. Click (Public Opportunities) and search by using the reference number 140F0719Q0025 to find any documents related to this requirement.
All questions regarding the subject synopsis/solicitation shall be directed to the attention of Tony Kuntz via email: anthony_kuntz@fws.gov or telephone: (907) 786-3436.
Kuntz, Anthony
