Climate Change

The US Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency is issuing this announcement on behalf of US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Risk Management Agency (RMA) to SEEK INFORMATION from sources that have the capability of demonstrating the following: The ability to perform an analysis of the potential long-term implications of climate change for the crop insurance program administered by the Risk Management Agency for the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) and delivered by authorized insurance providers (AIP's). This analysis would use the assessments from the Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07285.pdf and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) http://www.climatescience.gov/Library/sap/sap4-3/sap4-3-draft3.pdf to establish sound estimates of expected future conditions. Key components of such an analysis may include: (1) realistic scenarios of future losses under anticipated climatic conditions and expected exposure levels along with a baseline (no impact due to climate change or no climate change) scenario; (2) the potential budgetary implications and consequences of these scenarios for FCIC and AIP's; and (3) potential mitigation options that the FCIC might use to reduce exposure to loss. The development of a program impact model is required to express potential climate changes as changes in mean or variance of crop yields or shifts in production areas. The model should have the capability to analyze the budgetary impacts climate change (or baseline) scenarios have on FCIC and on AIP's under current terms, or potential alternative terms, of the Standard Reinsurance Agreement (SRA) between the FCIC and the AIP's. Studies have indicated that global temperatures are increasing and are projected to continue increasing. Warming is expected to change rainfall patterns. Increased drought is possible in many regions of the U.S. while rainfall could increase in other areas. The frequency and severity of extreme events are also expected to increase. These factors could have a major impact on U.S. agriculture and consequently, FCIC and AIP's. Interested firms must possess the following: Skill and experience in conducting studies of climate change and how climate change will affect insurance. Skill and experience in modeling climate change scenarios and their resulting impacts on an insurance industry. The ability to quickly analyze the present crop insurance infrastructure, including the standard reinsurance agreement requirements, as well as, the information contained in the Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.3 - The effects of climate change on agriculture, land resources, water resources, and biodiversity. The ability to use this analysis to formulate a plan to conduct a study of climate change and how it affects the crop insurance infrastructure. Interested firms may provide proof of previous studies of climate change and it affects on insurance by providing copies or extracts of these studies. Interested firms should also provide a sample plan of how they would approach a study of climate change using the information contained in SAP 4.3 and its affect on the crop insurance infrastructure. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS Interested vendors must submit in a separate cover page their point of contact information along with their Tax Identification Number (TIN), Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS) and business size. Please ensure that your firm is currently registered in Central Contractor Registration (CCR) (http://www.ccr.gov) and is currently certified in the Online Representation and Certification (ORCA) (https:// orca.bpn.gov). CLOSING DATE: TIME: 4PM Central Standard Time Interested vendor shall submit their information via email to Contract Officer Steven Prado at: steven.prado@kcc.usda.gov by the closing date of this RFI. If you have questions regarding this RFI, please submit your inquiries via email to steven.prado@kcc.usda.gov.