F--Operation and Maintenance of Wildlife Habitat

Synopsis for O&M Wildlife for Ice Harbor Natural Resources This is a pre-solicitation notice for solicitation W912EF-12-R-0008. No response is necessary to this synopsis. The purpose of this synopsis is to announce an upcoming solicitation for services for the operation and maintenance of wildlife habitat and structures along the lower Snake River between Lower Monumental and Ice Harbor Dams, and along the Columbia and Yakima Rivers at McNary Dam. The solicitation will be posted on or around November 22, 2011. Presentation of the scope and site visit dates will be included in the solicitation announcement. General information: The intent of the solicitation will be to procure for the Government complete, efficient, and proper operation, maintenance, and repair of wildlife habitat and structures on; upper portions of McNary and Ice Harbor Locks and Dams, and lower portions of Lower Monumental Lock and Dam between Columbia River mile 315 and mile 345, Yakima River mile 0 and mile 6, and Snake River mile 0 and mile 59 in the state of Washington. The requirement for intensive management of wildlife habitat along the Lower Snake River is to mitigate the negative impacts on wildlife resources caused by construction of McNary, Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose, and Lower Granite Lock and Dams and the inundation of existing habitat as well as the construction of the I-182 Bridge on the Yakima River. Development of habitat components began in 1980, and presently 6 irrigated sites consisting of interspersions of tree and shrub plantings, meadows, pastures, fields, annual food plots, gallinaceous guzzlers, and various nesting structures are being managed on an intensive basis. Most of these sites are irrigated with Nelson big gun sprinkler systems, and several are accessible only by boat. Other non-irrigated sites are also being managed and incorporate most of the remaining lands along the Lower Snake River, the Yakima River delta, and on the Columbia River between Finley and Richland, Washington. The Wildlife Habitat Management Units (HMUs) along the Lower Snake River reached by boat are Skookum and 55-Mile and various islands on the Columbia River along the Tri-Cities. The geographic range of items under the proposed scope extends nearly 90 river miles, and encompasses roughly 20,000 acres of land managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Scope: The proposed scope will include all aspects of the operation and maintenance of wildlife habitat management units (HMUs) managed by Ice Harbor Natural Resources. Work will include planting and irrigating wildlife food plots; establishing and maintaining wildlife shrubs and trees; removing Russian olive trees, wire fence repair, constructing new fence, installing new information kiosks, placement of rock boulders for parking areas and trails, gravel hauling, placement, and grading on roadways and parking lots, removing and disposing of litter; erecting and maintaining goose tubs, quail roosts, and gallinaceous guzzlers, routine maintenance and weed sterilization of roads and parking lots, treating weeds and using Geographical Information Systems to document weed control activities and insect pests; repairing damage caused by vandalism; repairing broken facilities and equipment due to normal wear-and-tear; and providing replacement parts necessary for repairs integral to equipment and operating systems. The award will be a Firm Fixed Price Contract Base Year with four Option Years. This is a small business set aside. Once the solicitation is posted, all responsible small businesses may submit a proposal for consideration by USACE.