Targeted Conservation Outreach Delivery

The USDA identifies women as a historically underserved farmer and rancher group. The state of North Dakota has approximately 13,000 women landowners that rent out their land, owning over four million acres of farmland. The Women's Food and Agriculture Network has found that women consistently indicate strong interest in conservation and sustainability of their farmland, but report lack of information that inhibits implementation of conservation practices. There is a missed opportunity to connect with these women in a manner that is reflective of capacity and to provide a comfort zone in which to learn and a missed opportunity to train resource professionals with proper tools to educate and inform this group regarding conservation practices. The ability to engage these female non-operator landowners and aid them in reaching their goals lies in our ability to deliver conservation education in a non-traditional peer-to-peer format that women consistently say they prefer. The Women's Food and Agriculture Network developed a learning circle format to conservation outreach which is implemented through Women Caring for the Land (WCL). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) intends to award a contract to Pheasants Forever under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. Pheasants Forever has a designated staff position (Women in Conservation Coordinator) located in North Dakota specifically geared toward delivering the Women Caring for the Land curriculum. In addition, Pheasants Forever currently has a grant from the USDA Farm Services Agency to deliver this program to producers over a small area and therefore has the specialized experience needed to teach and provide specific training on the Women Caring for the Land curriculum to reach this underutilized group in North Dakota. The period of performance is August 1, 2017 through July 31, 2018. This announcement is not a request for competitive proposals. A solicitation will not be available for this requirement. The intent of this announcement is for informational purposes only. However, any information received within five days after the posting date of this notice will be considered by the Government. Information may be sent via email to Amy Smith, Contracting Officer, at contact@example.gov; no questions or requests are to be made via telephone. A determination by the Government not to compete this action is solely within the discretion of the Government.