Surveying and Monitoring of At-Risk Karst Features and Species at Fort Hood, Texas

The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineering Research and Development Center-Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC-CERL) has a requirement for services to document and monitor karst features, associated troglobitic species, and karst water geochemistry Fort Hood, Texas, and to assist with at-risk species management and conservations. The contractor will 1) conduct karst surveys, mapping and monitoring of karst features, 2) install a small gate to limit access to a karst sink near a trail with Soldier traffic flow, and 3) collect and analyze karst water samples. The contractor will subsequently provide a detailed report to include identification of all specimens, results of all surveys, maps of karst features, water analyses results and recommendations for management. ERDC-CERL intends to award a purchase order on a sole source basis to Zara Environmental in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1). Zara Environmental is uniquely qualified to carry out the tasks associated with the proposed contract. The contractor is expected to survey, monitor, map, and identify karst and karst associated species at Fort Hood, Texas, as well as assist with installation of a gate across a small sink located near a tank trail commonly used by soldiers in the karst species habitat. Zara personnel have experience coordinating karst monitoring on Fort Hood since 1989. They alone are familiar with all of the karst features on the installation (currently listed at >1000 features) and have access to detailed databases of their findings. Their specific experience includes: identification, surveying, and monitoring of central Texas karst invertebrates and karst microhabitats; surveying and mapping karst features; water sample collection and analyses; vertically proficiency in SRT techniques; trained in NCRC Cave Rescue and SPAR; trained in cave diving; and experience in writing management plans for karst-adapted fauna IAW USFWS protocol. In addition, Zara currently possesses all relevant permits including relevant USFWS endangered species permits and/or Texas Parks and Wildlife Scientific Permits for state listed and state species of concern, is an AAUS Organizational Member, and is able to fully comply with the OSHA scientific diving exemption. In addition, many of the karst species on Fort Hood are endemic to the area and so require very specialized identifications skills. Zara was involved in development of the karst management plan for Fort Hood and all subsequent reports and publications on the karst features of the installation. This is not a request for proposal and in no way obligates the Government to award any contract. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541715'Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) which has a size standard of 1,000 Employees. This is not a small business set aside. Any interested party that believes they can fulfill this requirement should submit a capability statement to be reviewed. All submissions will be considered, however there is no guarantee that submissions in response to this notice will in any way alter the Government's acquisition strategy. Please provide responses to this notice no later than July 27, 2021 at 12:00pm, Central Standard Time (CST), to: contact@example.gov Telephone responses will not be accepted. Responses to this notice will not be considered as a response to any solicitation, a request to be added to a prospective offerors list, or to receive a copy of any solicitation. A determination by the Government not to compete the contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.