Aerial Seeding of Cover Crops - NRCS-Tennessee

- 1 - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Solicitation No. AG-2B46-S-16-0019 Aerial Application of Cover Crops Wetland Reserve Easements Sheep's Ridge Lake County, Tennessee (i) This is a COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; QUOTES ARE BEING REQUESTED AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED. (ii) The USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service in Tennessee is soliciting and plans to award one (1) firm fixed price contract for the aerial application of multi-species cover crops to approximately 1,300 acres of Wetland Reserve Easements to meet the requirements of the Statement of Work (SOW) that is included with this solicitation. Solicitation number AG-2B46-S-16-0019 is being issued as a Request For Quote (RFQ) and the acquisition procedures at FAR Parts 13 are being utilized. The work is to be performed within the Sheep's Ridge Area of the Mississippi River Floodplain in Lake County, Tennessee. There are four (4) different areas delineated on the map for aerial application. Each area has its own seed mix for application. The Government plans to make award without negotiations. The estimated commencement date is May 12, 2016 and the estimated completion date is May 30, 2016. Contractor shall be required to provide aircraft of sufficient capacity to provide required aerial seeding, qualified pilot(s), expertise, fuel, predetermined seed mix as indicated in the specifications, and all other necessary equipment and supplies to achieve the requirements of the contract. The Government reserves the right to make no award and will not be liable for any costs incurred in response to this Request for Quote. (RFQ). The Government will evaluate offers based upon lowest price technically acceptable. Responses are due by 1:00 p.m., Central Time, May 10, 2016 at USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) (Attn: Nancy Harris), 675 U.S. Courthouse, 801 Broadway, Nashville, Tennessee 37203. QUOTES MAY BE SUBMITTED VIA E-MAIL TO contact@example.gov. Contact Nancy Harris, Contracting Officer, via telephone at +1 (555) 000-0000 or by email at contact@example.gov for information regarding the solicitation. (iii) This solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-87 effective April 6, 2016. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Agriculture Acquisition Regulation (AGAR) clauses and provisions referenced in this solicitation can be found respectively in full text format at www.acquisition.gov and http://www.da.usda.gov/procurement/policy/agar_x/agar04.pdf . (iv) This requirement is a 100% SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE. The North American Classification System (NAICS) Code is 115112, and the small business size standard is $7.5 million. Only quotes from small businesses will be considered. A size standard is the largest that a concern can be and still qualify as a small business for Federal Government programs. Size standards are the average annual receipts of a firm. How to calculate average annual receipts of a firm can be found in 13 CFR 121.104. For more information on these size standards, please visit http://www.sba.gov/size . - 2 - (v) Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs) BID SCHEDULE AERIAL SEEDING COVER CROPS - WETLAND RESERVE PROGRAM - SHEEP'S RIDGE LAKE COUNTY, TENNESSEE The bid schedule covers the aerial application to 4 (four) areas (located on the map) covering several Wetland Reserve Program Easements located in Lake County, Tennessee. Item Specification Number Services Number Quantity Unit Unit Price Amount 1 Aerial Seeding-Cover Crops 6 352.0 Acres ______ __________ Area A 2 Aerial Seeding-Cover Crops 6 333.5 Acres _______ __________ Area B 3 Aerial Seeding-Cover Crops 6 381.5 Acres _______ __________ Area C 4 Aerial Seeding-Cover Crops 6 190.5 Acres _______ __________ Area D __________________________________________________________________________________________________ TOTAL BID ________________ Contractor DUNS Number _______________________ - 3 - (vi) Description of Requirements: Recent floods along the Mississippi River Floodplain have left large areas damaged from scouring, flooding, and sand deposition within the WRP Easements on Sheep's Ridge. NRCS is attempting to establish trees in these locations. It is imperative that the NRCS establish cover on the soil surface on these easements to protect from future scouring via flooding and to provide cover to reduce weed populations. NRCS is partnering with the USACE to protect this area as it was severely damaged by the 2011 flood event. USACE shear stress models suggest that the long-term success of their works of improvement rely heavily on NRCS restoring vegetation to these areas. NRCS is seeking a commercial applicator to apply multi-species cover crops to the four (4) areas shown on the map. Recent floods have left these areas nearly impossible to plat via traditional methods (tractor and planter). NRCS will provide projected shapefiles in addition to the maps if it will assist the applicator. This work must be completed by May 30, 2016 (vii) Date(s) and Place(s) of Delivery and Acceptance. The delivery location and place of performance will be the Sheep's Ridge Area of the Mississippi River Floodplain in Lake County, Tennessee. Invoices will be approved by the Contracting Officer at the NRCS Tennessee State Office. Background: NRCS Agency: The Natural Resources Conservation Service is within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and provides financial and technical assistance to private landowners and managers in voluntary conservation of natural resources. 1. GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY AND SERVICES Personnel: The Government will provide the services of a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) for interpretation, inspection, invoice review and certification to assure quality in the performance of this order. Equipment: No government furnished equipment. 2. CONTRACTOR-FURNISHED ITEMS - Labor, equipment and materials including seed mixture to complete the Contract requirements. 3. SPECIFIC TASKS: See Description of Work 4. KEY PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS: The contractor must be a qualified licensed pilot experienced in performing aerial seeding. - 4 - 5. CIVIL RIGHTS AND PROGRAM DELIVERY The contractor must ensure that its personnel prohibit discrimination in all aspects of programs and activities related to the contract on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. 6. PAYMENT - "Electronic Invoicing and Payment Requirements - Invoice Payment Platform (IPP) Invoices must be submitted electronically through the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Invoice Payment Platform System (IPP) or the Contractor must be willing to accept payment by Government purchase card. The Contractor must use the IPP website (https://www.ipp.gov ) to register, access, and use IPP for submitting invoices. Contractor assistance with enrollment can be obtained by calling +1 (555) 000-0000. Invoices submitted by means other than IPP will not be accepted unless the Contracting Officer authorizes alternate procedures in writing. Payment will be made in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Clause 52.232.25, Prompt Payment. Payments will be directly deposited into the contractor's account. 7. CONTACTS Administrative Contact: Nancy W. Harris Contracting Officer USDA-NRCS 675 US Courthouse, 801 Broadway Nashville, TN 37203 Phone: +1 (555) 000-0000 Email: contact@example.gov Technical Contact and COR: Will Pinson Supervisory Civil Engineer NRCS-Tennessee-Jackson Area Office 235 Oil Well Road Jackson, TN 38305 +1 (555) 000-0000 Ext. 106 Office +1 (555) 000-0000 Mobile 8. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: Estimated Performance Period: May 12, 2016 - May 30, 2016 9. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Sheep's Ridge Area of the Mississippi River Floodplain in Lake County, Tennessee. 10. ESTIMATED PRICE RANGE: The estimated government price range for this project between $25,000-$100,000. 11. SOURCE SELECTION PROCESS- 5 - The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror based upon lowest price. The provision at FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. 1. System for Award Management (SAM) Registration In order to comply with the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, all Contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management, or SAM (formerly Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA)) prior to award of a Federal Contract. However, due to the need to promptly award a contract after receipt of proposals, registration in SAM, to include completion of the Representations and Certifications, and having a status of "Active" is required BEFORE submitting an offer. For information regarding registration visit www.sam.gov . A DUNS is required to be registered in SAM. FAR provision 52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Items does not apply to this acquisition. Award will be made on the basis of the lowest evaluated aggregate price for the quote which is responsive to the solicitation, and which is submitted by a responsible source. FAR provision 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items. (APRIL 2016) This must be completed at www.SAM.gov and the registration must be in "Active" status. The clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items (May 2015), applies to this acquisition. 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items (March 2016) (a) The Contractor shall comply with the following Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clauses, which are incorporated in this contract by reference, to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items: (1) 52.209-10, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations (Nov 2015) (2) 52.233-3, Protest After Award (Aug 1996) (31 U.S.C. 3553). (3) 52.233-4, Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim (Oct 2004)(Public Laws 108-77 and 108-78 (19 U.S.C. 3805 note)). (b) The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (b) that the Contracting Officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items: 52.203-6(Oct 1995); 52.203-13 (Oct 2015); 52.204-10 (Oct 2015), 52.209-6 (Oct 2015), 52.219-6 (Nov 2011), 52.219-8(Oct 2014); 52.219-14(Nov 2011); 52.219-28(Jul 2013); 52.222-3(June2003); 52.222-19(Feb 2016); 52.222-21(Apr 2015); 52.222-26(Apr 2015); 52.222-35 (Oct2015); 52.222-36(Jul 2014); 52.222-37(Feb 2016); 52.222-40(Dec 2010); 52.222-50, (Mar2015)52-222-54 (Oct 2015); 52.223-14 (Jun 2014); 52.223-15, (Dec 2007) 52.223-16, (Jun 2008) 452.246-70 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE (FEB 1988) The Contracting Officer or the Contracting Officer's duly authorized representative will inspect and accept the supplies and/or services to be provided under this contract. Work that, in the opinion of the CO, does not meet data quality standards- 6 - will be returned to the Contractor for correction. Inconsistencies/edits may be reviewed, resolved and approved via communications. SUBMITTALS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR AWARD: 1. Completed bid schedule that is included in this solicitation 2. Proof of active registration in SAM. END OF SOLICITATION