The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to survey the commercial services market for potential prime contractors/team leaders with an interest in providing Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) Technician services (including all supervision, labor, incidental materials, and travel necessary to perform). No determination of set-aside has been made yet, therefore all interested parties including small and small disadvantaged businesses capable of fulfilling this requirement should respond to this RFI by providing the listed contact with statements of their capability to perform this work.APHIS is an emergency response Agency. As such, the Agency must be able to respond promptly to any outbreak situation involving potentially harmful insects, plants, and diseases. These outbreaks can occur anywhere within the United States, requiring potentially hundreds of personnel for the duration of the outbreak. The PPQ Technician is assigned a geographic area within which he/she is responsible for planning, coordinating and directing the survey, control, and regulatory functions for the programs conducted within the area. Assignments are characterized by requirements for a thorough working knowledge and alertness to potentially harmful insects, plants, and diseases; and the exercise of judgment and experience involved in the application and interpretations of rules, regulations and laws in recommending or determining courses of action. The following duties are required: • Inspects and re-inspects orchards, farms, fields, groves, storage sites, nurseries, rail yards commercial industrial sites, etc., to determine the presence and degree of presence of harmful insects, plants, and plants disease; collects insect specimens and soil samples and labels contents of specimens, showing location where found. • Using standardized procedures, conducts the treatment of or removal of infested, infected, or susceptible plants; the fumigation or treatment of equipment, plants and soils; and the elimination of alternate host plants by chemical or physical means. • Cuts and destroys undesirable plants; or, using prescribed formulas, mixes insecticides, herbicides, etc., and applies same to designated areas as directed, using hand or power-driven spray equipment. • Cleans and oils hand tools such as axes, saws, pruning shears; washes and greases hand and power spray equipment. • Collects, labels, and records data such as samples collected, treatments, types and kinds of insects gathered, numbers of traps set, etc. • Prepares simple reports regarding same. • Assembles, maintains, baits, installs, and collects insect traps. Performs a wide variety of pest survey activities as well as biocontrol organism releases and recoveries. • May be involved in applying bait on infested acreage, mapping the area surveyed/treated, and relaying information to work unit. • Ensures that the vehicles assigned to a work unit are maintained properly. This may include establishing a maintenance schedule. Maintains motor vehicle records. • Contacts landowners, tenants, farmers, etc; for the purpose of securing permission to enter property and conduct previously agreed upon survey, control, and/or eradication activities. • Assists with the enforcement of approved Federal and/or State quarantines and regulatory orders which are designed to restrict the movement of plants, plant products, and equipment into or out of regulated areas by inspecting trucks, cars, mobile homes, other motor vehicles, plant products, etc., which are being moved into or out of quarantine areas. • Monitors and/or conducts approved control and eradication measures including the adoption of cultural practices, sanitation measures, and the application of herbicides, insecticides, nematicides, and fungicides in proper proportions or dosages. Also, monitors and/or conducts fumigation treatments of plant pests • Determines and ensures the proper dosage, time of exposure, temperature, and safety conditions are met to avoid damage to the products. • Issues certificates permitting the movement of articles or equipment out of the regulated area if regulatory requirements have been met. • Reviews compliance agreements and determines whether the individual or organization concerned is working within the terms of the agreement. • Some reports prepared through the use of Global Positioning System units and computer data input. Develops maps showing control and eradication treatments used in connection with survey activities. Responses must reference RFI-04-025 number and include the following: (1) name and address of firm, (2) type of business (i.e.: small, small disadvantaged 8(a) certified, HUBZONE, woman-owned small business, small disadvantaged business (not 8(a) certified), veteran-owned small business, or service disabled, veteran owned business.) (3) business point(s) of contact by name, title, phone, fax and e-mail, (4) DUNS number, (5) NAICS codes, (6) contractor’s capabilities statement which covers the information stated above, (7) list of customers over the past 5 years for whom similar services have been provided. This list shall include a summary of work performed, contract number, contract type (cost reimbursement, fixed price, time and material as prime or subcontractor), dollar value, and customer point of contact with phone number. Interested entities are encouraged to provide comments pertaining to the industry’s perception of how the contract line items may be structured, the practicality of multiple awards, contract type and, any known special terms and conditions unique to the industry represented by this requirement. Respondents are advised that responses sent by conventional US Mail service or courier services (Federal Express and UPS) are not routed directly to the below address. Submissions after the closing date may not be evaluated. Interested parties should respond to this RFI no later than JUNE 7, 2004, BY 4:30 PM Eastern Time, to: ORIGINAL POINT OF CONTACT: Julie Cooper USDA, APHIS, MRPBS 4700 River Road, Unit 19 Riverdale, MD 20737 E-MAIL:
[email protected] TEL: (301) 734-7742 FAX: (301) 734-5403 QUESTIONS - Questions regarding this Request for Information (RFI) can be submitted at any time prior to the closing date of this posting. Any questions submitted after the closing date of this publication will not be garanteed a response. Questions can be submitted to Julie Cooper at:
[email protected]. THIS SYNOPSIS IS FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION ANNOUNCEMENT FOR PROPOSALS AND NO CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED FROM THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO REIMBURSEMENT WILL BE MADE FOR ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING INFORMATION IN RESPONSE TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND ANY FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION REQUESTS. RESPONDENTS WILL NOT BE NOTIFIED OF THE RESULTS OF THE EVALUATION. ALL INFORMATION SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT MUST ARRIVE ON OR BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE.