SOLICITATION NOTICE
F -- Long Term Wild Horse Holding Facility for up to 4,400 head in the state of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska or Oklahoma
- Notice Date
- 2/13/2006
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- BLM-BC NATIONAL BUSINESS CENTER* BC663 BLDG 50, DFC, PO BOX 25047 DENVER CO 80225
- ZIP Code
- 80225
- Solicitation Number
- NAR060059
- Response Due
- 4/12/2006
- Archive Date
- 2/13/2007
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has a requirement for a pasture facility to maintain up to 4,400 wild horses from October 1, 2006 through September 30, 2007, with 4 additional one year option periods. The facility must be located in one of the following states: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska or Oklahoma. The following sets forth the background of BLM's needs and the basic requirements needed for each Wild Horse & Burro Holding Facility: Wild horses on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service are protected, managed and controlled under the provisions of the Wild and Free Roaming Wild Horses and Burro Act of December 15, 1971, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1331 1340). As resource conditions and other factors warrant, excess wild horses are removed from the public lands and placed in private maintenance through the Adopt A Horse Program. Some of the horses that have not been adopted because of age or other factors are currently being cared for by the Shadow 7 Ranch in Cassoday, Kansas. The purpose of this contract is to continue the maintenance of these animals for the remainder of their lives. The possibility exists that more unadoptable animals will be removed from the range and transported to the facility. This is not the preferred management method for these animals; however, on occasion it will be necessary to place animals at the facility, on an as needed basis. It is the intent of the BLM that the number of animals at the facility will decline during the period of this contract. On December 8, 2004 Public Law 108-341; Section 142 amended the 1971 Wild and Free-roaming Horses and Burros Act ( Public Law 92-195) that requires the BLM to sell excess wild horses and burros which meet the following criteria: Animals that are 11 years of age and older or have been offered unsuccessfully at three adoptions. This will require the BLM to remove animals that meet the above criteria from the Cassoday, Kansas facility during the course of the contract. All animals that are in too poor of health to be prepared or transported will be released back to the pastures or humanely destroyed to avoid undo suffering. All wild horses that do not meet the above criteria will remain in a free-roaming environment. The horses currently being maintained at the Cassoday facility are a non-reproductive herd consisting of primarily older horses in the age range of 6 to 30 years old. They consist of geldings and mares, with no stallions in the herd. Some of these horses have been maintained at the Cassoday facility for approximately 5 years. The objectives of this contract are: To maintain the unadopted excess wild horses currently located at the Cassoday facility in pastures large enough to allow free roaming behavior and that can provide the food, water and shelter necessary to sustain the animals in good condition; To gather and prepare all horses in a humane manner that falls under the criterion of saleable animals; to minimize the handling of wild horses by humans and sorting of the animals through chutes, gates and corrals; to provide regular, on the ground monitoring of the wild horses to ascertain their well-being and safety; provide management by individuals who are knowledgeable and experienced about the behavior and nutritional requirements of equines and the management of land for the sustained production of grass and other desirable forage plants. The contractor shall provide all necessary land, facilities, personnel and supplies to perform the following general tasks. Specific requirements for each are set forth in the subsequent paragraphs of the Description/Specifications/Work Statement. Provide land, forage, shelter, salt, minerals, water and fences necessary to properly care for and maintain a maximum of 4,400 wild horses (mares and geldings) grazing in pastures. The contractor must also provide supplemental feed as necessary to maintain the horses in good condition (i.e. during periods of drought, deep snow, ice storms, fire, during times when the forage is depleted of protein content, or when other circumstances warrant). Provide corrals and adequate facilities to load and unload wild horses on an as needed basis. Unload, sort and segregate animals upon their arrival, in the event that additional horses are transported to the facility. Gather and move horses from pasture to pasture as needed, supervise their health and welfare, provide supplementary feed as needed and maintain the facilities in a safe condition. Gather and hold horses that fall under the criterion of adoptable or saleable wild horses for a minimum of 30 days, until time for shipment. Provide corrals, chutes, and adequate facilities to vaccinate and draw blood samples for horses prior to shipment. Provide regular monitoring (at least once a week) of horses on site and a record keeping system that documents the frequency and results of observations. Provide a record keeping system that identifies the location of each horse on site and other information, such as its overall condition, death, etc. The records shall be made available for duplication within 5 days after a request is made by the COR and/or PI. Dispose of the remains of dead horses. The contractor may be required, after consultation with the COR and/or PI or a designated representative, to euthanize horses that are suffering or are in pain. In the event that animals are transported to the facility, they will normally arrive at the site in trailer loads of approximately 35 to 40 head per load. The contractor will provide a telephone number where they can be reached 24 hours per day for scheduling shipments. BLM will attempt to schedule shipments for daytime arrival. However, horses shall be unloaded immediately, regardless of arrival time. The contractor will unload, sort by age, and condition, if determined to be appropriate by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and/or the Project Inspector (PI), into various groups. All horses shall be handled, treated and maintained in a humane manner. Horses in corrals and chutes shall be worked in a manner that minimizes excitement of the horses to prevent injuries from crowding or trampling. Gathering or movement of horses from pastures shall be done with the concurrence of the COR and/or PI, except in emergency conditions, when the contractor determines an immediate gather or movement is necessary for the safety and welfare of the horses. The contractor shall notify the COR and/or PI within 24 hours after such movement. Handling of the horses will be kept to a minimum. However, it may be necessary to move the horses from one pasture to another because of range management practices. Gathering for the purpose of removing animals will be conducted when it is deemed necessary by the COR/PI. The gather time will be determined by the COR and/or PI. A BLM designated representative will be on site during the gather. The gather will be conducted in a humane manner. Horses will be maintained separate in a corral area for a minimum of 30 days, until notified by the COR and/or PI for shipment. Contractor will provide sufficient labor and facility to move and sort horses during holding prior to shipment. The contractor will be notified by the COR and/or PI one week prior to gathering of the animals. The COR and/or PI will notify the contractor of the number of animals that need to be gathered, prepared and shipped. This requirement is 100% set aside for small businesses under NAICS 115210. This solicitation will be available on or about February 27, 2006. Hard copies of the solicitation will not be provided. Facsimile proposals will not be accepted. Vendors must be registered at http://www.ccr..gov to be considered for award.
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- Record
- SN00987335-W 20060215/060213212522 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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