National Visitor Use Monitoring for Lassen National Forest

(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; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. (ii) The solicitation number is AG-9AC7-S-15-0065. This solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). (iii) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 79. (iv) This requirement is a small business set-aside and the associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code is 541910 and small business size standard is $15.0 million average annual receipts. (v) There is one contract line item (CLIN) 0001 for 160 surveys to be price at each. The government intends to make a firm fixed price single award from this solicitation. (vi) The purpose of this proposed contract is to obtain visitor use data through methodology described in the US Forest Service Visitor Use Monitoring Training Manual, dated July 2014 attached to this solicitation. This work includes in-person interviews and traffic counts to obtain data at selected locations for the National Visitor Use Monitoring (NVUM) program managers. Data shall be collected for the dates and locations provided on the solicitation attachment "NVUM Survey Locations & Data". Concurrent with the visitor survey, area use patterns shall be measured through traffic and trail counters and observations of vehicles using the area. The survey schedule was developed specifically to identify random samples; therefore deviation from the schedule will directly impact the accuracy of the study. Satisfactory performance is dependents on the extent the Contractor meets the established survey schedule and accurate completion of the survey forms. All data and survey information collected belongs to the government and may not be shared by the contractor with any other entity without specific written permission by the Contracting Officer. The contractor is responsible for the following: - Implementation of Survey Protocol: Follow procedures established for the NVUM project in overall survey methodology and sampling design implementation. - Personnel: Provide sufficient field personnel to conduct surveys at all designated locations and times in the survey schedule provided by the Forest Service. Field personnel shall attend a training course in advance of field work at the Supervisor's Office, Lassen National Forest. Field personnel shall maintain a professional appearance with a name tag identifying the surveyor and the organization for which they work. - Oversight: Provide supervision and logistical support to the field crews; including all forms of transportation and communication. At all times during performance of this contract the Contractor shall directly superintend the work or assign and have on the worksite a competent superintendent who is satisfactory to the Contracting Officer and has authority to act for the Contractor. - Safety: The contractor is responsible for project safety and shall comply with all federal and state safety requirements in addition to the contract clause entitled Accident Prevention (FAR 52.236-13) included by reference in this the contract. Contractor shall establish interview stations at safe locations that are accessible by Forest users who may have disabilities whenever possible in accordance with the NVUM survey protocol. The Forest Service maintains a job hazard analysis and law enforcement plan for agency employees for this type or work and will share this document with the successful contractor - Reporting: Submit original and one copy of the Daily Summary Report and completed interview forms at regular two week intervals in the prescribed format to the designated government representatives as provided at the prework meeting. - Quality Control: The Contractor shall provide a Quality Control Plan describing methods used to ensure that the services comply with the applicable specifications of the contract. In accordance with FAR 52.212-4, this inspection system must be acceptable to the Government. Government provided material: The government will provide the following materials at the pre-work meeting or at another mutually agreeable date prior to work beginning: - Survey Forms - Traffic Counters - Signage (vii) Work shall be performed from March 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015 at various locations on the Lassen National Forest. See attachment "NVUM Survey Locations and Data" for specific survey locations. (viii) The provision at 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. A quote submission form is attached for contractor's convenience. Quotes without a response to the non-price evaluation factors listed below may not be considered. (ix) The provision at 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items is applicable. The government intends to evaluate quotes on the following factors (1) past performance, (2) capability/experience and (3) price. (x) Offerors shall be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) and complete the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items. If an exception to a size standard for this project is applicable please submit paragraph (b)(2) from the above provision with your quote. The provision at AGAR 452.209-70 Representation by Corporations Regarding an Unpaid Delinquent Tax Liability or a Felony Conviction - Alternate 1 (FEB 2012) (Alt 1) shall be completed and submitted with your quote. This provision is included in the quote response document attached to the solicitation. (xi) The clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition (xii) The clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition; the following FAR clauses cited in the clause are applicable to the resultant contract. 52.209-6, Protecting the Government's Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment. (Aug 2013) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note). 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 644). (15 U.S.C. 657 f). 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation (Jul 2013) (15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2)). 52.222-3, Convict Labor (June 2003) (E.O. 11755). 52.222-19, Child Labor-Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (Jan 2014) (E.O. 13126). 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Feb 1999). 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Mar 2007) (E.O. 11246). 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (Jul 2014) (29 U.S.C. 793). 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving (Aug 2011) (E.O. 13513). 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-System for Award Management (Jul 2013) (31 U.S.C. 3332). 52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67). 52.222-42, Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires (May 2014) (29 U.S.C. 206 and 41 U.S.C. chapter 67). In compliance with the Service Contract Labor Standards statute and the regulations of the Secretary of Labor (29 CFR part 4), this clause identifies the classes of service employees expected to be employed under the contract and states the wages and fringe benefits payable to each if they were employed by the contracting agency subject to the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 5341 or 5332. This Statement is for Information Only: It is not a Wage Determination Employee Class Monetary Wage -- Fringe Benefits Survey Worker $15.15 + $3.81 52.222-55, Minimum Wages Under Executive Order 13658 (Dec 2014) (Executive Order 13658). (xiii) The following USDA Acquisition Regulation (AGAR) Clauses are incorporated by reference and can be accessed at the following website. http://www.dm.usda.gov/procurement/policy/agar.htm - 452.236-77 Emergency Response (AGAR) (NOV 1996) - 452.237-75 Restrictions Against Disclosure (FEB 1988) (xiv) Quotes are due February 11, 2015 by 4:30 pm local time. Quotes may be faxed or emailed to the Contracting Officer contact information below. (xv) The Contracting Officer is Marilyn Ladd at +1 (555) 000-0000. Fax number is +1 (555) 000-0000 and email is contact@example.gov. (xvi) List of attachments: The following attachments are included with this synopsis/solicitation (1) National Visitor Use Monitoring Training Manual, (2) "NVUM Survey Locations & Data", (3) Service Contract Act Wage Determination, and (4) Quote Response Form.