Request for Comments on a Draft Performance Work Statement SPECIAL NOTICE: Reclamation's Great Plains Regional Office is providing a draft performance work statement (PWS) for market research, information, and planning purposes only. This Request for Information (RFI) does not constitute an Invitation for Bid, a Request for Proposal, or a Request for Quotation. Ideas contained herein may change significantly during the requirement's ongoing program design, consultation, and approval process. In accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation, Reclamation does not intend to pay for and will not return any information/items submitted in response to this RFI. This RFI does not commit the Government to the award of a contract. Reclamation will announce any solicitation resulting from this RFI separately through electronic commerce. Reclamation intends to issue Solicitation Number R13PS60131 via https://www.fbo.gov. Interested vendors may also check Reclamation's website at http://ideasec.nbc.gov. The solicitation and any subsequent amendments and/or notices will be available to vendors on these websites after March 6, 2013. BACKGROUND: As part of the process of converting to performance-based acquisition procedures, the Great Plains Regional Office is sharing a draft PWS with all interested parties for the purpose of requesting comments on its clarity and feasibility for a future solicitation. The intent of the solicitation will be to obtain noxious, invasive, and nuisance weed species treatment services on federal lands surrounding Tiber Dam and Dike and Lake Elwell in Montana. The services shall include all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, incidental services and items, and supervision necessary to satisfactorily conduct an existing and ongoing noxious and invasive weed control program. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 561730 and the associated Small Business Size Standard is $7.0 million. Reclamation intends to issue a Request for Quotation under full and open competitive procedures. The solicitation and resultant contract will be a firm-fixed-price, performance-based, commercial service acquisition, pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulations Part 12, Part 13, Part 17, Part 19, and Part 37. The anticipated period of performance includes an eight-month base period and one one-year option period. OBJECTIVE: Reclamation is soliciting industry feedback relative to a future contract effort and its draft performance work statement. The purpose of this RFI is to: 1. Improve the understanding of Government requirements and industry capabilities, 2. Allow potential offerors to judge whether or how they can satisfy the Government's requirements, 3. Enhance the Government's ability to obtain quality supplies and services at reasonable prices, and 4. Increase efficiency in proposal preparation, proposal evaluation, negotiation, and contract award. Please note that responses to this notice are not offers and Reclamation cannot accept them to form a legally binding contract. INFORMATION SOUGHT: Reclamation considers this draft PWS to be a major element for successful execution of the future requirement. While, the Government is not constraining interested parties on which aspects of the Draft PWS that they may provide comments on, Reclamation is requesting that interested parties pay particular attention to the following items: 1. Based on industry experience of similar contracts are the required tasks and performance objectives consistent with this type of requirement or are there additional objectives that the Government could address to ensure optimal performance of the contract? 2. Can contractors perceive any of the requirements for weed control services as asking for a service that exceeds or will significantly drive price beyond what contractors normally provide in the commercial market? 3. Are there any areas where interested parties believe a potential risk exists or will present itself by fulfilling the terms of the PWS? 4. Is there any area within the PWS where interested parties believe the Government has failed to adequately set forth the stated requirements in a clear and unambiguous manner? 5. Is there any area within the PWS that has an overall positive and/or negative impact on the process of evaluating contractor performance (i.e. performance objectives, evaluation process, etc.)? 6. Is there any area within the PWS that appears unduly burdensome to either the Government or the Contractor towards the goal of achieving superior contractor performance? RESPONSE INFORMATION: Responses to this Draft PWS are strictly voluntary. Interested parties shall provide all feedback in writing no later than 5:00 PM (Mountain Standard Time), on February 11, 2013. Contractors may fax their response to (406) 247-7798, e-mail them to
[email protected] or mail them to the following address: Bureau of Reclamation - GP-5000 Attn: Christine Mundt 316 North 26th Street Billings, MT 59101 For further information about the draft performance work statement, you may contact Christine Mundt at
[email protected] or at (406) 247-7805.