SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- Range Services in Utah
- Notice Date
- 3/23/2009
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Utah State Office, 125 South State Street, Room 4402, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84138-1100
- ZIP Code
- 84138-1100
- Solicitation Number
- AG-8D43-S-09-0002
- Archive Date
- 4/22/2009
- Point of Contact
- Tammy M. Moore,, Phone: 801-524-4252
- E-Mail Address
-
tammy.moore@ut.usda.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- 1. Writing New Ecological Site Descriptions (ESDs) - Estimated Qty per year 10 each. An ecological site description shall be written based on a set of soil components identified by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in a published or current project soil survey. Ecological site descriptions shall meet all of the criteria described in the most current version of the NRCS National Range and Pasture handbook and conform to examples of completed ESDs provided by Utah NRCS. All available sources of existing data such as existing Range Site Descriptions, NRCS files, National Resource Inventory (NRI) data, data collected by other government agencies or institutions that is ESD specific, and/or other sources specified by NRCS shall be utilized in the development and documentation for the new ESD. Procedures specified by Utah NRCS for summarizing data sources shall be used, including use of NASIS Reports, EXCEL spreadsheets, GIS, and professional judgments. An electronic and paper file shall be created for the new ESD with documentation for each section of the ESD included, as well as notes concerning the rationale used in the ESD development. The ESD shall include a State and Transition Model (S&TM) as specified in Item #2 and a Rangeland Health Reference Worksheet (RHRW) as specified in Item #3. ESDs shall be considered completed when each section is completed with documentation in the attendant electronic and hard copy files and input into the Ecological Site Information System (ESIS) database for review and approval by the NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist and other interested parties. 2. Writing State and Transition Models (S&TMs) - Estimated Qty Per year 20 each. A state and transition model specific for an ecological site shall be developed using the most current terminology, concepts, and procedures provided by Utah NRCS. This shall include documentation of all plant community phases represented in the model by utilizing a combination of remotely sensed data (i.e.GAP Analysis), photography, existing data from a variety of sources, literature, site visits, or other sources. S&TMs shall include a “Reference State” that will typically represent historic conditions including the full range of historic plant communities and their dynamic relationships, and any other state as appropriate for the ecological site with their attendant plant community phases. S&TMs shall conform to the current naming and numbering convention in the most current version of Ecological Site Information System (ESIS). A narrative for the overall model, each state, transition, community phase, and community pathway shall be included in Microsoft Word electronic format. A minimum of one photograph to represent each community phase shall be included. The model graphic shall be delivered in Microsoft Visio format and must fit on a single 8 ½ x 11 page and be in black and white so as and be easily reproduced with a photocopier. S&TMs shall be considered completed when input into the Ecological Site Information System (ESIS) database for review and approval by the NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist and other interested parties. 3. Writing Rangeland Health Reference Worksheets (RHRW) - Estimated Quantity per year 20 each. A rangeland health reference worksheet shall be written specific to an ecological site. Terminology, concepts, and procedures specified in latest version of Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health (TR 1734-6) shall be used. All available sources of existing data such existing Range Site Descriptions, NRCS files, National Resource Inventory (NRI) data, data collected by other government agencies or institutions that is ESD specific, and/or other sources specified by NRCS shall be utilized in the development and documentation for the new RHRW. RHRW shall be considered completed when input into ESIS for review and approval by the NRCS State Rangeland Management Specialist. 4. Correlation of Ecological Site Descriptions to Soil Components in Soil Survey Estimated Quantity about 500 hours. Work with the soil survey staff to assign ecological sites to the soil components in initial and update soil surveys. The sites assigned shall utilize existing Ecological Site Descriptions or identify where new sites need to be written. The sites shall be consistent with the MLRA soil survey area protocol (Major land Resource Areas, Land Resource Units, Moisture and Temperature Regimes, etc.), or identify recommended changes to the protocol that shall be approved by the NRCS State Range Specialist. Documentation of the major plant communities that occur on the selected ecological sites within the soils components shall be recorded on Field Data Sheets or electronic databases that will be provided by NRCS Utah. 5. Field Data Collection for ESD Development - Estimated Quantity 500 each. Field data including annual production, cover, canopy gap, soil stability, and photography shall be collected in the field. Sites shall be selected that are representative of the soil, ecological site and plant community specified by the NRCS. Methods shall conform to the Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland, and Savanna Ecosystems (USDA-ARS). Field data sites shall be considered complete when input into the electronic database specified by the NRCS, and summary reports for each data collection point are provided to NRCS in hard copy and electronic format. 6. Providing Training to Staff on ESD Development, Soil Component & ESD Correlation and Plant Identification - Estimated Quantity - 100hrs. Field and/or classroom training shall be provided to soil scientists, conservation planners, and range specialists utilizing the current protocols in ESD development. Training shall include plant identification and the relationship of ESDs to climate and soil factors. In addition, it shall include the development of Ecological Site Descriptions, State and Transition Models, Rangeland Health Reference Worksheets and in particular how these tools are utilized in conservation planning. 7. National Resources Inventory Rangeland Field Study Data Collection - Estimated Qty. 60 each. •Inventory sites (called segments for NRI purposes) are on private lands scattered around the state of Utah •Specifications will be provided in the task order; standards are outlined in the NRI “Handbook of Instructions for Rangeland Field Study Data Collection” •Contractor will complete all field data collection and data entry as specified; all data must pass data completion and quality assurance tests •Data collection may include but isn’t limited to the following: landscape and soils data, ecological site, rangeland trend, Rangeland Health, apparent erosion, land cover code, point coordinates using GPS, conservation practices applied, vegetation transects, cover density and height, species composition by weight, identification of resource concerns •Some of the work will be conducted with a team including NRCS staff MOST LIKELY THIS IS WILL BE 100% SET ASIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESS. ENSURE THAT YOUR ARE REGISTERED ON THE CENTRAL CONTRACTOR'S REGISTRY AT www.ccr.gov as this is mandatory for all federal contractors. In addition, before award, contractors must have completed their Annual Representations and Certifications at https://orca.bpn.gov/ The current plan is to issue this as an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Task Order/Firm-Fiexed Price contract. It is expected to have a Base Year (date of award - 9/30/2009) and Four Option Years. Each task order will be negotiated to determine pricing and each task order is funded independantly. Qualifications for Rating (DRAFT) - Final will be in the Solicitation. 1)Bachelors and/or Advanced Degree in Range Science. 2)Experience in writing Ecological Site Descriptions, State and Transition Models, and/or Range Health Reference Worksheets. 3)Experience in field data collection for Ecological Site Description development. 4)Experience in correlating Ecological Site Descriptions to soil components for Soil Survey. 5)Experience in Range Specialist work in the Western United States. 6)A list of similar projects under contract or completed within the past 5 years. 7)A list of references.
- Web Link
-
FedBizOpps Complete View
(https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=9758c6fd75ca58a71d50cd4adbd3eeb7&tab=core&_cview=1)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Throughout Utah, Utah, United States
- Record
- SN01775109-W 20090325/090323214943-9758c6fd75ca58a71d50cd4adbd3eeb7 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |