This is a Sources Sought Notice and is for information purposes only. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, QUOTATIONS, OR BIDS. A Market Survey is being conducted to determine if there are adequate HUBZone, 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran Owned, and Small Business contractors for the following proposed work. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Contracting Services Branch on behalf of the NRCS Colorado State Office, is interested in awarding one or more IDIQ Contracts for the work detailed below. The contract period will consist of a base year with 4 option years. An award for the Contract(s) is anticipated for April/May 2018. The NAICS Code for this requirement is 111998 All Other Miscellaneous Crop Farming and the small business size standard is tiny_mce_marker.75 Million. Responses to this sources sought announcement will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. All interested HUBZone, 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran Owned, Small Business contractors should submit a narrative demonstrating their experience in the specified work, as well as, their technical capabilities. Please include size/classification of your firm, details about your facility and equipment, details of similar projects, completion dates, references and contract amount. Narratives shall be no longer than FIVE (5) pages. Responses should be sent to Ryan Lorimer at
[email protected] on or before 19 March 2018 4:00 p.m. EST. Statement of Work Plant Materials Services IDIQ - for the service area including but not limited to the Southern Rocky Mountains and Colorado Plateau Regions including Western Colorado, Eastern Utah, Southern Wyoming, and Northern New Mexico. The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS) is seeking one or more plant materials research and development organizations with demonstrated successful implementation of USDA NRCS Plant Materials Program (PMP) projects and extensive programmatic experience (10 years or more) to perform the following tasks: conduct scientifically rigorous plant development studies; maintain conservation plant germplasm for conservation needs; assemble, test, and release plant materials for conservation use; scientifically evaluate and monitor plant establishment, growth, and development characteristics; determine techniques for successful use and management of conservation plants and conduct conservation specific studies. The majority of the work must be performed at an elevation above 6000 feet with other projects ranging from 4,100 to 10,000 feet with 6 to 20 inches of annual precipitation (MLRA's 34A, 34B, 35, 36, 47, 48A, 48B, 49). Work will be performed for units of the USDA NRCS including but not limited to in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, or New Mexico. The scope of work includes but is not limited to the following areas. They are listed in order of most frequently used to least frequently used. 1. Plant Technology Studies: Utilizing USDA NRCS regulations, policies and procedures specified in the National Plant Materials Program (NPMP) Manual, work with proprietary germplasm and conduct plant studies as specified by USDA NRCS and other federal partners. Plant studies must include, but are not limited to: comprehensive literature reviews, detailed study plans (NPMP Manual 540.12), establishment of replicated plots, collection of uniform data, statistical analysis of results, greenhouse studies utilizing specified growing media, providing controlled site conditions for in-field studies conducted on or off-site; installation techniques including soil amendments, cover crops and/or other erosion control materials; supplemental watering and establishment care. Deliverables may include but are not limited to: annual reports for the life of the study (typically ranging from 3 to 5 years), drawings and sketches or GIS (Geographic Information System) maps, regarding specific studies or projects; written summaries of site conditions and/or work completed; final study reports, scientific, manuscript quality, written and peer reviewed documents; or preparation of re-vegetation plans or sections of plans for requested projects. All documents will be electronically delivered unlocked and in an editable Microsoft Office format. 2. Plant Release Studies: Utilizing USDA NRCS regulations, policies and procedures specified in the National Plant Materials Program (NPMP) Manual, research, observe, and document characteristics and comparative performance of wildland collected plant assemblies leading to the release of conservation plant materials as specified by USDA NRCS NPMP Manual Subpart C 540.30 to 540.37. a. Plant release studies will include but are not limited to: a review of the literature, including propagation protocols; development of a NRCS approved study plan; determining regions of adaptations of plant species, ensuring collection of NRCS approved plant assemblies are representative across the species geographic range or occurrence (usually a minimum of 15 assemblies); accessioning as outlined in NPMP Manual 540.32; observational plantings and/or replicated plots documenting plant performance utilizing NRCS approved quantitative data collection procedures; documentation and compliance with the provisions of the documentation of environmental conditions requirements (NPMP Manual 540.33); participation in inter-center strain trials and field plantings; and evaluations and summaries. b. Any new conservation plants released will be cooperative between NRCS and the entity. Once released, the entity may be responsible for establishing and maintaining Breeder materials of the new release for specified period of time. This includes installing and maintaining harvest production fields ranging in size from 0.1 acre to 2 acres. Proper isolation distances must be observed to maintain and meet breeder seed certification requirements to American Organization of Seed Certifying Agency (AOSCA) standards, and Colorado Seed Growers Association Standards, and commercial practices. Process and store seed to meet breeder seed quality seed standard of selected NRCS releases. Maintain a current inventory and provide seed as requested for foundation seed increase activities. c. Potential deliverables may include but are not limited to: annual interim reports for the life of the study (typically ranging from 3 to 10 years), documentation and verification of plant taxon identity, a comprehensive final report (which may serve as a notice of release). All documents will be electronically delivered unlocked, and in an editable Microsoft Office format. 3. Seed and Plant Production: a. Site Preparation: Prepare seed and soil as needed, including seed scarification, seed stratification, and addition of appropriate soil amendments. Install erosion control measures as needed. If task order is for this task only provide written summary of the site conditions and the work completed. b. Installation: Deliver and install seed and plant materials. As directed, mulch and perform other associated planting practices. Provide a one-year guarantee for plants installed by the offeror. If task order is for this task only provide written summary of the site conditions and the work completed. Seed production field will range in size from 0.1 acre to 2 acres. Install, and/or maintain, harvest, process and store seed to meet seed quality standard of selected NRCS releases. Maintain a current inventory and provide seed as requested for foundation seed increase activities. c. Seed harvesting and exotic species control: As appropriate and acceptable in the designated area, utilize hand pulling, clearing, tilling and chemical application practices to control exotic species as directed by the task order. If task order is for this task only provide written summary of the site conditions and the work completed, seed storage. d. Plant salvage and direct transplant: Dig native plants mechanically or by hand from designated areas only. Plant where directed. Plants will range in size from seedlings to 2-inch caliper or larger. Hold in storage areas if necessary. Provide care during storage. If task order is for this task only provide written summary of the site conditions and the work completed. e. Plant Provision: Provide native seed and plants in sizes ranging from seedlings to 2" caliper trees that are native to the designated area and adapted to the environmental conditions at the project site, but not necessarily from local genetic stocks. f. Holding: Provide holding for plant materials which will ensure healthy stock if there are changes in the delivery date. Include repotting when necessary. g. Testing: Complete seed testing analysis which will include purity, germination and weed seed content, as requested for applicable projects. Forage testing, obtain wet chemistry to determine forage values. 4. Field Plantings and Evaluations: For the purpose of conducting scientific evaluations, determining region of adaptation, and testing of plant materials, post advanced plant studies trials, across the representative MLRA's of the designated service area above to field verify conservation plant characteristics across varying site conditions. Includes providing the installation equipment, site preparation including exotic weed control, installation of statistically appropriate replicated plots, protection from grazing and wildlife, follow-up care, and post installation scientific monitoring and evaluation. 5. Technical Documents: Develop technical documents including, progress reports, study evaluation summaries, plant reports, release brochures, plant guides, fact sheets, technical notes, video and audio scripts. Follow NPMP Manual manuscript review guidelines as specified 540 Subpart B, 540.10 to 540.17, as well as General Manual (GM) Title 260, Public Information, Part 400, Public Information Policy, National Instruction 260-308. 6. Training: Conduct training as requested by agencies in the areas of seed collection, plant establishment, and installation as requested by agencies. Materials to be produced or supplied: The types of products and materials to be produced include, but are not limited to: Scientific, peer-reviewed technical documents, study plans, reports, progress reports, fact sheets, and plant guides per NPMP General Manual, 540.12, 540.13, 540.14, 540.15, 540.16, 540.17; tree and shrub seedlings in 1 gallon and 5 gallon sizes; and grasses, sedges, rushes and forbs in plugs, tubelings and other small containers; breeder seed; cleaned seed. For areas where a more mature landscape is desired and genetic integrity is not crucial, the contractor may be requested to provide the same sizes of materials from sources that are likely to survive well at the project site. Additional tasks and activities incidental to the conservation plant development and technology transfer noted above: 1. Seed Collection: Contractor will provide a proposal to collect indigenous seed and quantities for plant development activities. A report detailing collection trips, species collected, GPS (Global positioning system) coordinates of collection sites with maps, and bulk weights is required following each collection trip. 2. Seed and Cutting Collection: Collect seed, cuttings and native soil for mycorrhizal inoculum from within designated areas. Provide all labor, materials, equipment, supplies, and transportation needed to collect seed, cuttings and soils for plant propagation. Records must be maintained regarding collection and provided to the agency. 3. Plant Propagation: Provide a permanent greenhouse/nursery facility with heat, water, fertilizer, insecticides, fungicides, and photo periods as needed to ensure the propagation of healthy seedlings. Stock under production must not interbreed with other ecotypes of the same species and potting mix must not be contaminated with weed or species alien to the designated area. Provide appropriate measures of hardening and site adaptation to prepare stock for successful transplanting into the project site. Records must be maintained throughout production and provided to the ordering agency. 4. Protection: Provide protection from human trampling, and surface and underground predators as needed. Methods may include protective netting, photo-degrading protector tubes and repellents, and temporary fencing. If task order is for this task only provide written summary of the site conditions and the work completed. 5. Follow-Up Care: Provide, upon request, care for revegetation installations until the plants are established (approximately 2-3 years). Care to include exotic plant control, weeding and irrigation as needed. Provide written progress reports as specified by ordering agency. 6. Monitoring: Establish baseline conditions and monitor revegetation success following installation for a period of 1- 5 years, depending on the situation. Provide reports as requested. 7. Plant and Seed Delivery: All plants or seed will be personally delivered, picked-up by the buyer or shipped, insured, by FedEx or UPS, with a tracking number, unless otherwise requested. In addition to the above requirements, the following are general requirements for all work conducted under this IDIQ: 1. All germplasm, data, and information produced or derived under this IDIQ are the property of NRCS. Such materials must be returned to the Federal government upon request. The use of any materials generated under this contract for any other than the intended purpose depends on reaching a suitable written agreement with NRCS. 2. Adherence to seed and plant production standards and genetic conservation policies: a. Proper isolation distances must be observed to maintain crop genetic integrity and meet breeder seed certification requirements to Association of Seed Certifying Agency (AOSCA) standards, Colorado Seed Growers Association Standards, State noxious weed seed laws, and commercial practices. b. There may be additional requirements to maintain the genetic integrity of plant materials, as well as additional restrictions on acceptable weed seed content, set forth in task orders under this IDIQ. 3. All final products, including technical reports and other documents, must be reviewed by NRCS and conform to NRCS standards prior to final acceptance and payment. The entity will make appropriate revisions and resubmit such reports to NRCS until final acceptance of the product. 4. Quality Standards shall be in accordance with the NPMP Manual, AOSCA, Colorado Seed Growers Association Standards and commercial practices and as described in this statement of work and future task orders. a) Species Identification: All species identification will be confirmed using an approved source (i.e. Manual of the Grasses of the United States, Hitchcock). b) Location: Plant and seed collection locations will be recorded for all of the species with GPS coordinates. c) Seed Increase Fields: Fields will be established using the Colorado Seed Growers standards for that species. d) Stage of Maturity: All species shall be harvested when the seed maturity is at the hard dough stage or later. e) Purity: Take precautions to ensure that non-target species are not accidentally collected and mixed during the collection process. Often it is impossible to separate similar species once mixed together. f) Seed Cleaning: Dry and allow seed to mature as necessary. Process seed in such a manner as to prevent contamination from off-types. Equipment must be cleaned between species. Cleaned seed will be free of non-target species and contain no more than 12% inert matter. g) Seed Storage: All seed will be stored in climatic controlled conditions to maximize seed viability. References: 1. National Plant Materials Program Manual: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/plantmaterials/about/handbook/ 2. General Manual (GM) Title 260, Public Information, Part 400, Public Information Policy, National Instruction 260-308. https://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/Default.aspx 3. Colorado Seed Growers Association Crop Standards: http://seeds.agsci.colostate.edu/ 5. Colorado Seed Certification Standards Manual: https://seeds.agsci.colostate.edu/files/2017/03/Final-Standards-2017.pdf (the most current version of this document must be used)