NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD SOLE SOURCE FOR VEGETATION MAPPING TO NATURE SERVE

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to award a fixed-price purchase order under authority of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 6.302-1, Other Than Full and Open Competition and FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This acquisition is required to support the Camas National Wildlife Refuge, Hamer, Idaho. This acquisition is to initiate a pilot project with NatureServe, for vegetation mapping in wildlife refuge management decision support. The mapping will develop future guidance for vegetation mapping and condition assessment on wildlife refuges. This sole source award will provide project continuity and protocol standardization. NatureServe is widely acknowledged within the vegetation ecology community and is the only organization that actively maintains, develops, and manages the National Vegetation Classification Standard. It is critical to begin this project within a short timeframe to assess vegetation plant cycles and before the biological aging processes begins and NatureServe is immediately available to start the project. This is not a request for competitive quotes. The intent of this pre-award notice is for informational purposes only. However, all information received by 4:00 p.m. PST, July 15, 2011 will be considered by the Government. Questions must be submitted in writing via email to [email protected]. Any information received will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based on the information received to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.