Areawide Market Analysis for USDA NRCS Vermont

The contract for an Areawide Market Analysis for USDA NRCS Vermont, solicited under number 12FPC426Q0023, is a small business set-aside under NAICS code 531320 with a maximum size standard of $9.5 million in average annual receipts, targeting only small business concerns including women-owned small businesses. The work requires conducting a comprehensive market analysis for wetland reserve easements under the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, including delineating market areas, classifying land use, collecting and analyzing sales data, and determining per-acre fair market values consistent with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. Deliverables include a draft and final digital report, unlocked spreadsheets of sales data, and GIS shapefiles, with annual recertifications required if market values remain within a ±10% threshold. The contract is structured as a firm fixed price with a one-year base period and four one-year option periods, extending potential performance up to August 31, 2030, with the government retaining the right to exercise options with 60 days’ notice. Proposals must demonstrate technical acceptability based on adherence to the Statement of Work, relevant past performance, possession of a valid Vermont appraisal license, and active SAM registration, with award based on the lowest priced technically acceptable offeror as defined by FAR 12.203. Performance is to be conducted from the USDA-NRCS Vermont State Office in Colchester, VT, and all submissions and deliverables must be electronic. Security and cybersecurity requirements are mandated through clauses covering safeguarding of information systems, prohibited supplier terms, and strict compliance with confidentiality obligations under the Privacy Act and AGAR 452.224-70. Offerors must also affirmatively certify compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws and explicitly reject DEI practices that violate Title VI or Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, as required by newly implemented AGAR clauses. No packaging, preservation, or physical marking requirements are specified, highlighting the wholly digital and administrative nature of the deliverables. Invoicing must be submitted exclusively through the Department of Treasury’s Invoice Processing Platform, and payment is processed by the USDA FPAC Business Center. The contract includes numerous FAR and AGAR clauses addressing whistleblower rights, trafficking in persons, subcontracting restrictions, electronic payment, contract protest rights, and security prohibitions, reinforcing a compliance-heavy framework. Submission is via email to designated USDA contacts with a strictly formatted subject line, and all