Environmental Consulting Services
CONTRACT INFORMATION: This Request for Information(RFI) is issued for informational purposes only to identify capabilities of the various vendors. This is not a Request for Proposal. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a IDIQ . Responses will not be considered as proposals nor will any award be made as a result of this RFI. The Government(Acquisition Management Division(AMD)/Farm Service Agency(FSA) will not be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties in responding to this request for information.
SECTION C - DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS/WORK STATEMENT
BACKGROUND
C.1. Performance Work Statement
C.1.1 BACKGROUND
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires that Federal Agencies takes into account the impact of their actions on the human environmental. FSA's environmental compliance program mission is to use all practicable means to ensure FSA compliance with all applicable environmental laws, regulations, and procedures.
This compliance includes the development of documents under NEPA (draft and final) Environmental Impact Statements and Environmental Assessments, Administrative Records, Notices of Intent, Notices of Availability, Comment Response and Analysis, Records of Decision, and Findings of No Significant Impact).
The purpose of this contract is to acquire, basis, services necessary to comply with the provisions under NEPA and other related documents and services supporting environmental compliance of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Services Agency (FSA) and other Agencies as approved by the Contracting Officer.
C.1.2 OBJECTIVE
The Contractor shall:
The firm shall be responsible for providing services required to complete appropriate NEPA documentation and other environmental compliance studies and services in support of FSA plans and programs as set forth in individual task orders. The firm shall furnish all personnel, professional expertise, facilities, equipment, material, supplies, and services required for the services described herein, which will be executed in accordance with state and federal regulations and FSA policy. Regular and direct interface with FSA personnel including the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), FSA Program Managers, and FSA NEPA staff is required under this Contract.
Services will primarily focus on developing documents under NEPA (draft and final Environmental Impact Statements and Environmental Assessments, Administrative Records, Notices of Intent, Notices of Availability, Comment Response and Analysis, Records of Decision, and Findings of No Significant Impact). Services required to support FSA's NEPA and environmental compliance could include: research and scoping to develop detailed descriptions of proposed actions and alternatives; full range of public involvement including planning and conducting public meetings; conducting supporting field and desktop studies and regulatory compliance when required; environmental compliance review and analysis; preparation of public involvement plans; assistance in facilitation of public meetings, workshops, and training; staff support; strategy development; research, literature and data review and synthesis; natural and cultural resources research, analysis, surveys, permitting, and compliance support; habitat evaluations; wetland delineations; social and economic analyses; development of Memoranda of Understanding and Programmatic Agreements with regulatory agencies; drafting procedures, guidance, and training for program users; due diligence; review, evaluation and analysis of FSA and other agency NEPA documents, compliance, policies and guidance; mitigation and monitoring plan development and implementation; and other technical assistance, as determined appropriate, to ensure compliance with environmental laws, Executive Orders, regulations, and policies.
2. DELIVERABLES
1. Services will primarily focus on developing documents under NEPA (draft and final Environmental Impact Statements and Environmental Assessments, Administrative Records, Notices of Intent, Notices of Availability, Comment Response and Analysis, Records of Decision, and Findings of No Significant Impact).
2. Services required to support FSA's NEPA and environmental compliance could include:
a. research and scoping to develop detailed descriptions of proposed actions and alternatives;
b. full range of public involvement including planning and conducting public meetings;
c. conducting supporting field and desktop studies and regulatory compliance when required;
d. environmental compliance review and analysis; preparation of public involvement plans;
e. assistance in facilitation of public meetings, workshops, and training;
f. staff support; strategy development;
g. research, literature and data review and synthesis;
h. natural and cultural resources research, analysis, surveys, permitting, and compliance support;
i. habitat evaluations;
j. wetland delineations;
k. social and economic analyses;
l. development of Memoranda of Understanding and Programmatic Agreements with regulatory agencies;
m. drafting procedures, guidance, and training for program users;
n. due diligence;
o. review, evaluation and analysis of FSA and other agency NEPA documents, compliance, policies and guidance;
p. mitigation and monitoring plan development and implementation; and
q. other technical assistance, as determined appropriate, to ensure compliance with environmental laws, Executive Orders, regulations, and policies.
3. QUALIFICATIONS
The selection criteria are listed below in descending order of importance.
A. Specialized Experience and Technical Competence of Key Personnel: Demonstrated breadth, knowledge and experience of FSA policies, guidance, and regulations for preparation of all levels of NEPA documentation and supporting studies. Demonstrated experience in working environmental projects/issues with FSA including but not limited to experience with NEPA for Farm Bill activities.
B. Past Performance: Demonstrated experience for executing FSA projects similar in scope to services needed under this . Projects should be limited to those performed within the last five (5) years. Project descriptions should also indicate which proposed key personnel worked on the projects being submitted.
C. Professional Qualifications: The selected firm must have, either in-house or through consultants, the following disciplines: (1) Program Manager; (2) Project Manager; (3) Biologist/Ecologist/ Environmental scientist; (4) Cultural Resources Specialist; (5) Air Quality Specialist; (6) GIS Specialist. Resumes contained in Standard Form (SF) 330, PART I, Section E, shall be completed for each discipline. The evaluation will consider education, training, and relevant experience of personnel.
D. Capacity to Accomplish the Work: demonstrate the capacity to accomplish at least four individual task orders simultaneously.
4. LEVEL OF EFFORT AND PERFORMANCE PERIOD
The Contractor shall provide a monthly report that details satisfactory progress toward completion of deliverables and meeting established mileposts. That report will include the numbers of hours spent on each deliverable and will be used as supporting documentation for invoices.
5. ALLOWABLE EXPENSES
All travel shall be performed and reimbursed in accordance with FAR 31.205-46, Travel Costs, only when approved and funded in advance by the Government.
International and domestic travel expenses (airfare, lodging, per diem and other travel costs) of up to is
Douglas J. Joyner, Contract Specalist, Phone 2027729074, Email douglas.joyner@wdc.usda.gov - Billy Rowland, Contracting Officer, Email billy.rowland@wdc.usda.gov
