F--Feed, Care, Adoption and Training of Wild Horses and Burros

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has a requirement for the feed and care of, adoption of, training of and transportation of up to 200 wild horses/burros. The contractor must provide all necessary labor, materials and facilities to: Feed and care for up to 200 wild horses and burros on pasture and/or corral - Handle, sort, load, unload, and provide necessary veterinary and farrier care to the animals - Train the animals using non-restraint methods; and - Conduct training clinics and seminars to persons who have been approved by the BLM to adopt wild horses or burros. Requirements: The contractor shall maintain a minimum of 100 and a maximum of 200 animals at his/her facility, WHICH MUST BE LOCATED IN THE STATES OF EITHER WYOMING OR NEBRASKA and WITHIN A 150-MILE RADIUS OF CHEYENNE, WYOMING. Up to 10 of these animals may be burros (jacks or jennies). All horses will be mares or geldings between the ages of six (6) months old and five (5) years old, unless both parties agree (on a case by case basis) to accept a mare or gelding over the age of five (5). No more than one half (1/2) of the horses held at the facility, at any one time, will be under the age of two (2) years. BLM will minimize as much as possible the number of pregnant mares sent to the contractor. The contractor will inspect the animals when first delivered. He/she will then advise the BLM COR or PI of any animals that have physical defects that may make the animal unadoptable. The BLM COR or PI will then determine, with a veterinarian=BFs recommendation when necessary, if the animal should be placed at another holding facility where training is not available. The contractor shall gather all animals on pasture at BLM=BFs request. A one-week notice shall be given for gathering. The contractor shall provide for adoption as many of the animals maintained at his/her facility as possible each year. The contractor may gentle or train the animals to any level necessary to get them adopted and may adopt untrained animals. All potential adoptions at the contractor=BFs facility will be by scheduled appointment, scheduled BLM satellite adoption event (locally or out of state), or via the internet adoption system. Any qualified adopters that select animals at the contractor=BFs facility will have to provide applications, signed PMACA=BFs, and payment to the Wyoming State Office. Animals adopted at BLM satellite adoptions will be adopted in the same manner as untrained animals offered there. The contractor may conduct training clinics at his/her facility for qualified adopters. The contractor will be requested to transport animals to adoption sites specified by the Government and demonstrate the amount of training each animal has received. If specifically requested by the BLM COR or PI, the contractor may transport adopted animals up to 300 miles from the contractor=BFs facility to another BLM adoption facility or to an adopter=BFs facility. The contractor may be requested to pick up and transport previously adopted animals that have been relinquished or repossessed by the BLM. If specifically requested by the BLM COR or PI, the contractor may transport these animals up to 400 miles from the contractor=BFs facility to another BLM adoption facility or back to the contractor=BFs facility. As the number of animals at the contractor=BFs facility decline, the COR and/or PI will make arrangements for BLM to bring replacement animals, delivered by either semi-truck or horse trailer. Delivery by horse trailer will depend on the availability of animals within a one day driving radius. The Contractor shall be paid to attend satellite adoption events and/or provide gentling and training demonstrations as requested and approved in advance by the BLM. The contractor shall receive a daily fee which will cover reimbursement of all associated travel related expenses and labor for him/herself and up to two assistants. All training will be conducted using least resistance techniques. Except for those animals in training, animals will be maintained on pasture. Animals on pasture shall have free access to water and those in training shall have daily access to water. Supplemental feed including hay and protein supplement will be fed as necessary to maintain the animals in an acceptable body condition (Henneke condition score of 4). The BLM will make every effort to deliver animals to the contractor=BFs facility that fit this body condition in order to prevent the contractor from incurring unneeded expenses to get the animal to the desired body condition. If an animal cannot maintain that condition, the contractor shall isolate the animal in a separate sick pen and provide special attention including nutritional and or veterinary care. Hay must be good quality, non-moldy, non-dusty grass, alfalfa, or a mix. All animals shall be maintained, treated, and handled in a humane manner and in accordance with all applicable Federal, State and local laws and regulations. The animals=BF hooves shall be trimmed as needed to maintain the proper shape and length of the feet. FACILITIES -Except for a portable tip chute (which will be provided by BLM for the purpose of providing veterinary care and farrier care) the contractor will provide all necessary facilities. The training facility shall have pens and runways to use for the movement of animals. All pens and runways shall be 6 feet high and of sufficient strength to hold wild horses. Acceptable materials in order of BLM=BFs preference are: Pipe, wood, and/or mesh wire with openings smaller than 2 X 4 inches. Mesh wire with larger openings must be covered with plastic snow fence. Corrals constructed of mesh wire must be covered with plastic snow fence or equipped with sight boards (2 X 6 inch lumber). The sight board shall be located at the upper and middle portion of the corral fence. Corrals that are constructed of pipe or wood must have proper spacing between members (no more than 12 inches). A minimum space of 144 square feet of corral space shall be provided for each animal that is in training and exercised each day in accordance with 43 CFR 4750.3-2(3)(I). The training facility shall provide separate corrals for each animal being trained with some type of wind break or shield appropriate for the area. The contractor must provide an indoor facility for training horses and conducting training clinics during the winter and inclement weather. This facility should be at least 10000 square feet in size. The training facility must be clean and the animal waste removed at least once per month. The facility must be designed and built to comply with all applicable Federal and State regulations relating to livestock waste control and off-site pollution. The entire facility must have sufficient drainage to eliminate any standing water and/or muddy conditions in the areas where the animals are being held. Pasture fencing may be of common fencing materials but must be of sufficient height and condition to prevent the escape of these wild horses. The contractor is responsible for the recapture of any animals that may escape. Forage condition in the pastures must be sufficient enough so that the animals are content and do not pressure the fences. Pastures must have natural or manmade shelter. Animals on pasture shall have free access to water at all times. Delivery by horse trailer will depend on the availability of animals within a one day driving radius. This is not intended to be a complete list of the specifications. The full requirement will be posted in solicitation L12PS00318, which will be available at http://www.fbo.gov on or about April 15, 2012. This requirement is 100% set aside for small businesses under NAICS 115210. Hard copies of the solicitation will not be provided. Vendors must be registered at http://www.ccr.gov to be considered for award. Contracting Officer, Danny Lavergne, contact@example.gov