Request for Information for Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) Program chemical treatments

This is a REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI). This is not a request for proposals and in no way obligates the Government to award any purchase order or contract. The Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is seeking to identify sources capable of providing soil and trunk injection treatment services for the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) Program. ALB infestations are currently within Middlesex and Union Counties in New Jersey and in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Nassau and Suffolk Counties in New York. Should ALB infestations be detected in other locations, then chemical treatments may be required in other states. The chemical treatments for the ALB Program are applied during the months of March through June. The number of DBH inches treated on an annual basis could vary. For planning purposes, this could range from 900,000 DBH inches to 400,000 DBH inches annually. In order to qualify for this service, contractors must have the skills, experience and resouces to complete the chemical treatments on all the ALB host trees within the designated area and time period identified by APHIS. Minimum Skills and Experience 1. A valid pesticide applicator's license for the state where the treatments will be completed. 2. All licenses, registrations, and permits required by the state to apply pesticides to soil, trees, etc. 3. Bonded and insured at the minimum levels established by the state, or by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), whichever is greater. 4. Minimum of three years of arboriculture experience. 5. Prior commercial contracts performing application of soil injection and / or trunk injection treatments for trees within the last three years. 6. Documentation shall be provided to USDA demonstrating the size, scope, and success of prior soil injection tree treatments and /or trunk injection treatment contracts. 7. At least one full time arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture, employed by the company on a full time basis, who will be dedicated to work on the treatment contract for the duration of the contract. 8. The Contractor must train, test, and certify in writing that all field personnel engaged in applications or supervision for this contract are able to identify ALB host material. Certification should only be made if field personnel achieve a 90% or better on host identification testing. 9. All Contractor applicator personnel will be trained and certified to conduct chemical treatments using all methods included in the Statement of Work for the Asian longhorned beetle treatment contracts. Currently the methods used by the program include, trunk injection with Mauget capsules, trunk injection with the Arborjet tree injection system, and basal soil injection. 10. The Contractor shall comply with the United States Department of Labor (DOL), - Occupational Safety and Health Administration, regulations, Volume 36, Number 105, applicable DOL wage rates and fringe benefits, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service laws, all other rules and regulations that may be applicable. 11. The Contractor shall take full responsibility to ensure that a complete and thorough background check comparable to the government background check, National Agency Check and Inquiries (NACI), is conducted and that the contractor employees pass the background check. This synopsis is for information and planning purposes ONLY, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. Companies capable of providing the defined services are encouraged to respond by providing their company names, points of contact, both phone number and email address and a 5- 10 page statement of capabilities and relevant corporate background, business size, and GSA Schedule Contract Number, if any. Submit email responses to Margie Thorson at margie.p.thorson@aphis.usda.gov or fax to Area code (612) 336-2106. It is requested that all responses be submitted via email or fax within 10 days of this announcement.