SPECIAL NOTICE
R -- RFI
- Notice Date
- 5/26/2021 12:33:19 PM
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- USDA FOREST SERVICE WASHINGTON DC 20250 USA
- ZIP Code
- 20250
- Response Due
- 6/3/2021 12:00:00 PM
- Archive Date
- 06/04/2021
- Point of Contact
- Cassandra Carey, Phone: 2026178490
- E-Mail Address
-
cassandra.carey@usda.gov
(cassandra.carey@usda.gov)
- Description
- USDA Forest Service Office of Procurement and Property Services REQUEST FOR INFORMATION General Information Document Type: Request for Information (RFI) Title: Professional Support Services Request for Information Post Date: May 26, 2021 Request for Information Response Date: �June 3, 2021 3:00 PM, EDT Product Service Code: R499 (Support-Professional: Other) Request for Information The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (FS) Washington Office seeks information on Prime Contractors with a legal entity in Latin America in order to acquire professional services in forest management, wildland fire management, climate change, urban forestry, and climate change expertise, project management and technical support services to effectively implement and execute natural resource management� initiatives in Latin America that enable the region to implement programs that will lead to increased technical knowledge and implementation/creation of sustainable activities, policies, and laws.� The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement. Contracting Office Address USDA FS Procurement and Property Services (PPS) 201 14TH ST., Washington, DC 20024 � RFI The Government is requesting input from all the Prime Contractors for Latin America Natural Resource Management Services (IDIQ) with legal entities in Latin America to determine the market availability for professional services across the variety of task areas identified in the draft PWS. Draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) Background The Office of International Programs (IP) works in over 80 countries and has a mandate to coordinate all international activities for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) around the world. IP links all branches of the USFS � the National Forest System, Research and State and Private Forestry � with partners overseas to promote sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation. The USFS works internationally for a number of reasons. Those include mitigating climate change by keeping forests and grasslands intact and healthy, by restoring degraded lands, and by advancing sustainable forest management worldwide; leveling the playing field in international trade by improving the sustainable management of forests overseas; advancing U.S. forestry interests at international policy deliberations and utilizing lessons from overseas for improving forest management at home; improving domestic disaster work by exposure to innovative methods and technologies during assignments; and internationalizing the USFS as assignments with different cultural norms and traditions and exotic forest types add value to the investment that the agency makes into diversity and civil rights training. IP receives funds from Congress, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State and other federal agencies, international and domestic cooperators and partners for the purpose of implementing projects which enhance cooperation between the USFS and other countries on practices and policy related to natural resources management, conservation, disaster mitigation and disaster response. IP works throughout Latin America to leverage USFS technical assistance and support US government goals and initiatives. IP works on a wide variety of natural resource management and environmental protection programming like sustainable forestry management, wildland fire management, urban forestry, watershed management, climate change, etc. Objective The objective of this IDIQ contract is to acquire forest management, wildland fire management, climate change, urban forestry, and climate change expertise, project management and technical support services to effectively implement and execute natural resource management �initiatives in Latin America that enable the region to implement programs that will lead to increased technical knowledge and implementation/creation of sustainable activities, policies, and laws. � Scope of Work C.3.1 General The program will work throughout Latin America with partners including national, regional and local institutions, academia, and non-governmental organizations, communities and the private sector, where appropriate.� Involvement of diverse partners will build a collaborative network to address complex natural resource issues, bringing together groups which share a common interest.� Support will be provided through remote and field-based technical assistance, formal and informal training programs and curriculum development for individual and institutional capacity building, facilitated interagency workshops, strategic planning, policy and economic analysis, technical exchanges, trilateral collaboration, and support of existing cooperation networks and arrangements.� C.3.2 Management of Contractor Personnel The Contractor shall recruit, hire, manage and oversee all aspects of Contractor personnel matters for project personnel, both U.S.-based and in-country.� The Contractor shall provide individuals working in Latin America with the necessary work permits and benefits, which may include housing allowance, insurance coverage, shipping and/or storage of household effects, and education allowance for children. The Contractor shall ensure that all personnel working overseas have the necessary work permits, security clearances, visas, and required documents before beginning the project.� The Contractor shall have procedures for handling emergencies associated with international travel and overseas living, including medical and emergency evacuation. C.3.3 Short- and Long-Term Expertise The Contractor shall provide personnel, including U.S. and foreign nationals, with the appropriate technical, language, administrative and cultural skills, for short-term and long-term assignments to assist with the implementation of USFS and partner projects and programs.� USFS requires a Contractor with the capacity and ability to quickly provide and manage a broad range of available and capable resources. According to the project specifications, individuals must be skilled in the areas of expertise required and detailed on task orders.� These skills may include, but are not limited to, any part or combination of the following: Natural resources and conservation practices Sustainable forestry Wildland forest management Urban forestry Watershed Management Climate change mitigation and adaptation Resource economics Governance and policy development Disaster response and mitigation Administration of complex natural resources programs in foreign settings Information Technology systems - Database development and management Technical Writing/Editing � Communication/Public Relations skills Training/Adult education facilitation and methodologies Communications/Logistics The following list provides examples of the types of Contractor employees and consultants that have been required for previous projects.� The list is not comprehensive and is only intended to help offerors understand the breadth of expertise that will be required under this IDIQ contract. In-country Coordinator Forestry Specialist Wildland Fire Specialist Urban Forestry Specialist Watershed Management Specialist Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Specialist Disaster Mitigation and Response Specialist Operations and Support Coordinator Administrative Support Specialist Contract Specialist Communications Specialist Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist C.3.4 Overseas Project Office Management and Implementation The Contractor shall provide complete solutions, including personnel and supplies, to effectively establish, manage and implement project offices in Latin America.� This may include using U.S.-based and/or in-country personnel to provide: Technical expertise in topics such as natural resource management, wildland fire management, forestry management, urban forestry, watershed management, disaster mitigation and management, forestry, and natural resource law enforcement Project management Contract management Project monitoring and evaluation Training Business support/administrative functions Information technology support Logistics Technical writing, communication and marketing Language competencies C.3.5 Administrative Services/Payment Processing At the request of USFS, the Contractor shall fulfill requests for administrative services or to process payments for the Forest Service overseas for the provision of administrative services.� This may include, but is not limited to the following services: Conference registration Simultaneous language interpretation and translation Identification and provision of secure office and Contractor employee facilities and/or housing which meets the safety and security standards of the USFS and the US Department of State Identification and provision of vehicles and program equipment Salary, benefits and allowances of host country Contractor employees General office support including but not limited to; telephone, internet, reproduction, bank charges, office supplies/computer equipment, utilities, vehicle fuel/maintenance, and vehicle rental C.3.6 Workshop and Training Support� At the request of USFS, the Contractor shall provide workshop and training support. This may include but is not limited to the following services: Conference registration Logistical support Simultaneous language interpretation and translation Transportation support for workshop and training participants Provision of supplies and equipment needed for workshops and training events C.3.7 Support for Local Project Implementation At the request of USFS, the Contractor shall provide support for local project implementation, demonstration projects, assessments and studies.� This may include but is not limited to the following services: Identification of potential activities, firms and service providers Subcontracts and agreements with local firms or service providers Monitoring and evaluation of subcontracts and agreements C.3.8 Start-Up and Transition of Current Tasks PHASE-IN PERFORMANCE The Contractor shall assume full responsibility for an orderly phase-in of operations that minimize the impact to any current activities in the field.� The Government will provide information to all current efforts, facilities and equipment, cited herein, upon contract award to assist with Contractor start-up activities in the field.� The Contractor shall submit a plan within 10 days of award with provides all planned activities to establish services under this contract. PHASE-OUT PERFORMANCE At the end of this contract a follow-on competition shall be conducted by the CO. In the event the current Contractor is not awarded the follow-on contract the Contractor shall, within 30 calendar days of notice by the CO, develop a Phase-Out Plan for the orderly transition of the operations.� The Contractor phase-out procedures shall not disrupt or adversely affect the day-to-day operations and shall result in a smooth and orderly transfer of responsibility to the successor.�� ����������� C.3.9 Key Personnel The Contractor shall designate an IDIQ Management Team composed of a Technical Director and IDIQ Manager.� These two positions are considered key personnel. The Contractor shall designate either the Technical Director or the IDIQ Manager as the primary point of contact on the IDIQ for the USFS Contracting Officer, IDIQ Contracting Officer Representative (COR), and task order CORs. The Technical Director and IDIQ Manager must meet the following criteria: Demonstrated operational familiarity and working knowledge of the Contractor�s administrative, hiring, contracting, recruitment, financial, and other management procedures to perform tasks and responsibilities in their position description; Demonstrated senior-� or mid-� level management experience and technical leadership completing high quality complex development activities with time sensitive deliverables. IDIQ Performance Standards While performance standards will be included in each task order, USFS will apply the following performance standards to the IDIQ.� Performance against these factors will be evaluated on an annual basis to determine if option years should be exercised.� Perf Std # Performance Standards Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) Monitoring Method PS-1 All task orders are completed on time. 95% of task orders are completed on time. Annual review by COR/CO of task order documentation. PS-2 All task orders are completed within the initial budget. 98% of task orders are completed within the initial budget amount. Annual review by COR/CO of initial budgets and final invoices. PS-3 Qualified staff members are available to USFS immediately upon task order award. No deviation. Annual review by COR/CO of task order documentation. Quality Assurance Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) The Contractor shall work with the COR to develop and execute a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) for this contract which will identify all procedures for the performance of this contract for the Contractors and any Subcontractors. The plan will be utilized to support contract oversight and monitoring.� This plan shall be submitted to the COR for approval and should encompass the following: A systematic approach to evaluate contractor performance against the contract standards; this includes the roles and responsibilities of the COR and government team; surveillance methodology, and documenting quality assurance activities and results; Ensure responsibility for performance is on the contractor, minimizing the level of the Government�s inspections; adjusting the frequency of inspections depending on the contractors conformance to contract standards; Identify those tasks most critical to successful contract performance and develop corresponding performance standards/metrics to measure contractor performance; Employ objective quality assurance methods that can be upheld in a court of law; this includes the appropriate use of statistical methods that remove bias on the part of the reviewer and provide an accurate evaluation of contractor performance; Employ subjective quality assurance methods where appropriate to help the Government understand whether the contractor is performing adequately; this typically includes review of validated customer complaint and customer satisfaction surveys; Analyze performance data over time; providing information to the COR to understand contractor performance; Conduct independent reviews as required; Periodically review current performance standards/metrics and surveillance methods and recommend changes to improve the contract quality assurance; updating the QASP as required; and Maintain proper documentation to support contract actions,� Reporting The Contractor shall prepare and submit a quarterly status report within 5 business days of the last day of the quarter to the COR which outlines contract activities on all active delivery orders in accordance with the QASP including any areas of risk, concern or quality issues, and the proposed remedy. Also, address the question below: 1.� If a solicitation is issued will you submit a proposal? There is no solicitation at this time. This request for information does not constitute a request for proposals; submission of any information in response to this market research is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred.� Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback will be provided to firms regarding their submissions. This is strictly for market research purposes. Send response no later than June 3, 2021 at 3:00pm EDT to Cassandra.carey@usda.gov. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this opportunity, please email: Cassandra.carey@usda.gov
- Web Link
-
SAM.gov Permalink
(https://beta.sam.gov/opp/8260c28047b84fd5b6064ea3848c566a/view)
- Place of Performance
- Address: COL
- Country: COL
- Country: COL
- Record
- SN06013278-F 20210528/210526230112 (samdaily.us)
- Source
-
SAM.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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