FIRE/BIL: Aerial Herbicide Application (Helicopter), Big Oaks NWR, Madison, IN
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Big Oaks NWR, Madison, IN has a requirement for a commercial item or service. This combined synopsis/solicitation is prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6 (as supplemented with additional information included in this notice). This posting will be referred to under Request for Quotation (RFQ) Number 140FS224Q0168. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. A written solicitation will not be issued. This RFQ falls under procedures in FAR Parts 12 and 13. This document incorporates provisions and clauses updated by way of the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) # 2024-05, effective May 22, 2024. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) number is 115310, Support Activities for Forestry-Forest Fire Suppression, and the business size standard is $34 million. This requirement is a Total Set-Aside for Small Business. This announcement constitutes the Government's only official notice of this procurement. The Government does not intend to pay for any information provided under this synopsis.
The government anticipates awarding a firm fixed price purchase order for this requirement. FWS' salient characteristics that will satisfy the Government's needs for its requirement of aerial herbicide application on Big Oaks NWR is as follows:
The Big Oaks NWR is seeking a qualified contractor to provide all parts, labor, materials, supplies, and equipment necessary to perform aerial spraying with helicopter of selected herbicides at the rates listed below to treat a treatment area of approximately 3500 acres with herbicide mixtures of #1 and #2 and #3. Mixture #3 will be used in areas with higher densities of autumn olive and other invasive species. Maps with detailed spray areas with specific herbicide mixtures will be provided to successful contractor once bid quotes are known; general spray areas are shown on attached refuge map. While we anticipate around 3500 acres area to be contracted, should bid prices differ from our estimate, we reserve the right to adjust the number of acres to be sprayed to increase the number of acres or to decrease the number of acres to reflect the budget for this project. Please provide per acre pricing for each herbicide mix.
Herbicide Mix #1
16 oz Method 240 sl/ac
12 oz Arsenal-4 lb AC (or 24 oz Arsenal-2 lb)/ac
2 oz Escort/ac
32 oz MSO /ac
8 oz Interlock or RRSI Velocity/acre as drift control agent if needed (ideal conditions preclude use or the use of devices that control droplet size)
Carrier (water) 25 gallons per acre
Herbicide Mix #2
1.5 gallon Krenite S or generic equivalent active ingredient Fosamine /ac (e.g., Sumter-S)
16 oz Method 240 sl/ac
12 oz Arsenal-4 lb AC (or 24 oz Arsenal-2 lb)/ac
2 oz Escort/ac
32 oz MSO / ac
8 oz Interlock or RRSI Velocity/acre as drift control agent if needed (ideal conditions preclude use or the use of devices that control droplet size)
Carrier (water) 25 gallons per acre
Herbicide Mix #3
15 oz Method 240 sl/ac
16 oz Arsenal-4 lb AC (or 32 oz Arsenal-2 lb)/ac
2 oz Escort/ac
32 oz MSO /ac
8 oz Interlock or RRSI Velocity/acre as drift control agent if needed (ideal conditions preclude use or the use of devices that control droplet size)
Carrier (water) 25 gallons per acre
The priority time period for the work would be from August 1 to September 8, 2024. Upon unfavorable conditions (excessive drought, windy conditions, rain, etc.) in 2024 that would prevent contract completion during that time period, FWS will work with the successful contractor to modify the 2024 requirement to for the dates of August 1 to September 8, 2025.
Description of Project Area:
Big Oaks NWR is situated on over 50,000 acres approximately 5 miles north of Madison in southern Indiana about 55 miles north/northeast of Louisville, Kentucky and just north of the Ohio River. The Refuge is rectangular with the approximate dimensions of 15 miles in the north-south direction by 6 miles in the east-west direction. The Refuge occupies land north of the firing line of the former Jefferson Proving Ground.
Herbicide application will be to grasslands/shrubland areas of various sizes to control invasive trees including black locust, sweetgum, sumac, autumn olive, and to a lesser extent other woody species and invasive plants, such as sericea lespedeza, encroaching into grassland areas.
A complete statement of work and a map are attached.
All quotes are to be submitted on a "PER ACRE" unit-price basis, including a quote for each herbicide mixture.
Delivery Address:
Big Oaks NWR
1661 West JPG Niblo Road
Madison, IN 47250-9700
The Government intends to issue a firm fixed-price contract as a result of this combined synopsis/solicitation to the company that submits a proposal that conforms to the technical specifications, and who, based on the decision of the government, offers the lowest price technically acceptable. Vendors shall identify equipment they plan to use to accomplish the project, include information regarding insurance held (see # 7 of the SOW), and pesticide licenses.
Technical Proposal
Offerors shall provide a cover letter outlining general information regarding their company's history, organizational structure, size, primary expertise, e-mail address, website address, and any other pertinent information. (Maximum two pages, one-sided). In addition, they should provide a Capability Statement that addresses the tasks in the Statement of Work, and document insurances and pesticide licenses that are required by the State of Indiana to perform such services, if required.
Past Performance: vendors must exhibit and document that they have successfully completed three similar projects in terms of size, complexity, and price. See attached past performance form for more information.
The information provided shall be factual and complete. Proposals that merely offer to provide services as described in the SOW will not receive further consideration for award.
Delivery Timeframe: vendors must indicate anticipated project completion date NLT September 8, 2024.
Price Proposal
Interested parties shall submit a price proposal on company letterhead that includes all pertinent point of contact information including point of contact name, email, and phone number, SAM UEI number, business size/type, estimated number people and number of hours/person, and cost/hour for each person taking into account the applicable wage determination, equipment costs, chemical costs, fuel costs, travel costs, mobilization costs, incidental expenses etc. All bids are to be submitted on a "PER ACRE" unit-price basis. Also submit a bid for each herbicide mix (three mixes). The provisions on pages 20-25 of the B08 Solicitation Clauses and Provisions and the Past Performance/References form shall also be completed and submitted with the quote. Vendors shall also submit a copy of their license and insurance information. No formal format is required as this is a combined synopsis/request for quote solicitation. If your company has a GSA contract, please provide the GSA Contract No. as well.
The factors listed above will be evaluated equally and considered more important than price during the evaluation phase. Award will be made on a firm-fixed price basis. Due to time constraints, the government anticipates awarding this order based on initial proposals. Contractors are strongly encouraged to propose their 'best and final' pricing with the initial proposal.
Offerors must comply with all instructions contained Internet Payment Platform (IPP) DOI Electronic Invoicing, Notice to Contractors-CPARS, and in FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items. The provision at 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. Also included in this acquisition are the following clauses: 52.202-1, 52.203-3, 52.203-12, 52.203-17, 52.204-13, 52.204-18, 52.204-19, 52.204-21, 52.217-8, 52.223-2, 52.223-5, 52.228-5, 52.232-1, 52.232-8, 52.232-11, 52.232-16, 52.237-2, 52.242-13, 52.243-1 Alt. 1, 52.247-34, 52.252-2, 52.252-4, and 52.252-6. In addition, the following provisions are included in this acquisition: 52.204-7, 52.204-16, 52.204-22, 52.204-24, 52.204-26, 52.204-29, 52.212-3, 52.219-1, 52.223-1, 52.237-1, 52.252-1, 52.252-3, 52.252-5.
The clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items and Commercial Services applies to this acquisition, no addenda applies. Additional FAR clauses cited in this clause applicable to this acquisition are: 52.203-6, 52.203-19, 52.204-10, 52.204-23, 52.204-25, 52.204-27, 52.204-30, 52.209-6, 52.209-10, 52.219-6, 52.219-8, 52.219-13, 52.219-28, 52.222-3, 52.222-19, 52.222-21, 52.222-26, 52.222-35, 52.222-36, 52.222-37, 52.222-40, 52.222-41, 52.222-42, 52.222-50, 52.222-55, 52.222-62, 52.223-23, 52.225-1, 52.225-13, 52.226-8, 52.232-33, 52.232-40, 52.233-3, 52.233-4.
The full text of any solicitation provision or clause referenced herein may be accessed electronically at http://acquisition.gov/far/.
In order to have a quote considered, quoting vendors must be listed on the SAM.gov website (https://sam.gov) as an active vendor, and must have completed the on-line representations and certifications in SAM.gov by the closing date of this solicitation. Quotes received from firms not actively registered in SAM.gov by the closing date of the solicitation will not be considered.
Offers must be received by 5 pm ET June 28, 2024. Offers received after this date and time will be considered non-responsive in accordance with 52.212-1(f) and will not be evaluated. Offers shall be e-mailed to the attention of: darla_freyholtzballard@fws.gov.
All questions regarding the subject combined synopsis/solicitation shall be directed to the attention of Darla Freyholtz Ballard at 701-339-3829 or darla_freyholtzballard@fws.gov.
Attachments:
Attachment 1-SOW
Attachment 2-Map
Attachment 3-Wage Determination
Attachment 4-Past Experience/References Form
