Sources Sought Synopsis: NATIVE GRASS AND FORB SEED INCREASE AND SUPPLY Reference: 140L0618R0015 The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Operations Center, Denver, CO is issuing this sources sought synopsis as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having an interest in and the resources to support this requirement to increase seed availability of genetically appropriate native species by focusing on Ecoregions and the commensurate seed transfer zones that occur within these Ecoregions. The result of this market research will help finalize the requirement. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this procurement is 111998, Miscellaneous Crop Farming. The BLM solicited for a five year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contract under Request for Proposal (RFP) L17PS00762; however, BLM cancelled the solicitation that was advertised because we received many questions and realized we needed to do further market research to solidify our requirements. This request for capability information does not constitute a request for proposals; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred. The cancelled solicitation along with the statement of work and attachments is found at www.fedconnect.net by searching reference number L17PS00762 or click on the link below: https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/default.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fFedConnect%2f%3fdoc%3dL17PS00762%26agency%3dDOI&doc=L17PS00762&agency=DOI If your organization has the potential capacity to perform the services, please provide the following information: 1) organization name, address, email address, website address, telephone number, and Duns and Bradstreet number; and 2) tailored capability statements addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability and 3) comments/responses to our questions listed below. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, organizations should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements. After reviewing the cancelled solicitation along with the statement of work and attachments, the BLM is interested in your opinions and/or comments on the following questions to solidify our requirements: 1. Is it generally clear what the goal of the solicitation is, e.g. to increase seed availability of genetically appropriate native species by focusing on Ecoregions and the commensurate seed transfer zones that occur within these Ecoregions? 2. After reviewing the Pricing Worksheet, Attachment 3*, of the cancelled solicitation, considering small lots are less than 500 lbs. of seed and large lots are quantities over 500 lbs., would it be more cost effective to price forbs based on a per pound price or by lot size? Do you believe there should be separately priced forbs depending on the species and method used to increase or would the pricing be significantly different if we priced forbs based on small or large lots only? If pricing is based on small and large lots, there would be one price for any quantity ordered under 500 lbs.; and vice versa....no separate prices for per pound or testing, method used. If there is an industry standard in offering or buying forb seed, what is it? *Remember only the yellow highlighted columns are filled out for entering prices. The office placing the order will fill out the other columns contained in Attachment 3 for information purposes. 3. After reviewing the Pricing Worksheet, Attachment 3*, of the cancelled solicitation, Pricing less and over one acre.....Do you believe it was adequate to price species based on "less than one acre" and "over one acre"? Or would the price significantly change between 1/10, 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 of an acre? What quantities do you recommend should be requested? (Choose one of the following) a. Less than one acre and greater than one acre? b. 1/10, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, 1, 2 and more than 2? c. 1/10, 1/2, 1, 2, 5 and more than 5? d. 1/2, 1, 2, 4, and greater than 4? e. If you believe the pricing worksheet should have been structured differently? How? *Remember only the yellow highlighted columns are filled out for entering prices. The office placing the order will fill out the other columns contained in Attachment 3 for information purposes. 4. Did you have difficulty understanding the statement of work? How? 5. Did you research the expected yields or use your experience in calculating expected yields? 6. Would it have been more beneficial if the BLM provided the expected yields for each species? 7. Was the SOW missing any information that would have been helpful? Please describe. 8. Would a pre-proposal conference be necessary or requested to fully understand the requirement? BLM will use the market research to determine the most adequate acquisition strategy for this requirement. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions. Submission Instructions: Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the above-listed services are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by February 27, 2018, 1700 hours, EST. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice must be emailed to April Blodgett,
[email protected]. If you have any questions concerning this opportunity, please contact: April Blodgett,
[email protected].