F -- FLYCATCHER MONITORING & COWBIRD CONTROL, ISABELLA DAM AND RESERVOIR, KERN COUNTY CA

Notice Date

March 8, 2001

Contracting Office

USAED, Sacramento, Corps of Engineers, Contracting Division, 1325 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814-2922

ZIP Code

95814-2922

Solicitation Number

DACW05-01-Q-0088

Response Due

March 20, 2001

Point of Contact

Mozella Cottrell (916) 557-5189

E-Mail Address

click here to contact the purchasing agent (mcottrell@spk.usace.army.mil)

Description

PROJECT TITLE: COWBIRD TRAPPING PROGRAM AND SOUTHWESTERN WILLOW FLYCATCHER STUDIES, ISABELLA DAM AND LAKE, KERN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. JOB DESCRIPTION: Sources Sought/Notice of Intent to Negotiate with One Source. The proposed Contract action is for services that the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with Southern Sierra Research Station on a sole source basis. The work effort and information to be secured are required to meet the terms and conditions of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's May 1996, April 1997, and June 2000 biological opinions for routine operations of Isabella Dam and Lake. TASKS: Locate and Monitor SW Flycatcher Nests; Implement a Cowbird Control Program; Participate in Coordination Meetings and Site Visits; Submit Written Reports on SW Flycatcher Monitoring (Task 1) and Cowbird Control Program (Task 2); and Provide Oversight for all Corps Field Work on SW Flycatchers in the Kern River Valley. These studies must be conducted in 2001 to ensure that the Corps is operating the reservoir in compliance with the Endangered Species Act incidental take permit for the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher and least Bell's vireo. The Endangered Species Act restricts the investigations of protected species to individuals who have been granted a permit to handle or interact closely with the listed species. The Southern Sierra Research Station has on staff one of the few individuals who has received a permit from U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service to handle or interact closely with the Kern River Valley population of the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. This staff member is the only permit holder who has interacted this closely with this population since 1989. The Research Station is a private nonprofit organization established in 2000 to conduct and facilitate research in conservation biology, emphasizing long-term studies. The Research Station conducts research on species and ecological processes that will provide critical data for informed land management decisions. Much of the Research Station's research focuses on management of sensitive species in riparian habitats. The Research Station has particular interest and expertise in the biology and population status of the flycatcher. Because of the requirement to comply with the terms and conditions of the 1996, 1997, and 2000 biological opinions on routine reservoir operations at Isabella, and because Sierra Research Station is the only organization with the capability to "handle or interact closely" with the southwestern willow flycatcher, it is the Government's intent to contract with that organization for this worik requirement on a sole source basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract is within the discretion of the Government. Questions should be directed to the Purchasing Agent: Mozella Cottrell, at (916) 557-5189; FAX NO.: (916) 557-5264; e-mail mcottrell@spk.usace.army.mil -- All responses to this announcement must be in no later than March 20, 2001. All responses from organizations or firms believing they have equal qualifications to the named sole source provider must provide very specific qualifications statement that discuss each of the issues raised above as to the qualifications required and possessed by the named sole source provider. Failure of respondents to provide complete and detailed information, not allowing the Government adequate information to decide to open this acquisition for competition, will result in the Government processing the action on a sole source basis. This announcement is not a call for bidders to request copies of a Request for Quotations. Responses to this synopsis will not result in the respondents receiving a Request for Quotations. If the Government decides, based on the responses, that it will open the acquisition for competition, then a separate synopsis will be published inviting bidders to request copies of the Request for Quotations.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010312/FSOL002.HTM (W-067 SN50F6Y8)