Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF SEPTEMBER 22, 2004 FBO #1031
SOLICITATION NOTICE

F -- Tribal Consultation

Notice Date

9/20/2004
 

Notice Type

Solicitation Notice
 

NAICS

541720 — Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
 

Contracting Office

Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, Acquisition Management Branch, Special Projects Section, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0567, Washington, DC, 20250-0567
 

ZIP Code

20250-0567
 

Solicitation Number

FSA-R-45-04DC
 

Response Due

9/30/2004
 

Archive Date

10/15/2004
 

Small Business Set-Aside

Total Small Business
 

Description

The USDA, Farm Service Agency intends to award a firm-fixed price contract to Dr. Thomas King to perform consultation services as required by the following Statement of Work. STATEMENT OF WORK - PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE WITH TRIBAL CONSULTATION UNDER SECTION 106 OF THE NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT PURPOSE The purpose of this SOW is to identify the tasks necessary for providing assistance with tribal consultation to the Farm Service Agency (FSA) as the agency develops statewide agreements under the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). The consultation is specifically required under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), its implementing regulations and other statutes and Executive Orders. CREP is funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). BACKGROUND CCC programs including the Conservation Reserve Program, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, Pasture Recovery Program, Farm Storage Facility Loan Program, and price support program are subject to NHPA and NAGPRA provisions. Under Section 106 of NHPA, CCC program payments, loans or contracts, including CREP statewide agreements would have to go through the time consuming historic preservation review, evaluation, consultation and mitigation process. Consulting with tribal entities is done on a government-to-government basis. FSA has no experience in entering into tribal consultation and requires the assistance of an expert to provide guidance and advice, review documents, and provide background and information on tribal customs and protocols. GENERAL DESCRIPTION FSA has entered into contracts with reputable environmental firms to research and analyze the potential environmental impacts of the CREP agreements, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Historic preservation and cultural resources reviews are incorporated into the NEPA review process. Under regulations at 36 CFR 800, agencies have a unique legal relationship with Indian tribes as set forth in the United States Constitution, treaties, statues, and court decisions. Consultation with tribes should be conducted in a sensitive manner respectful of tribal sovereignty. Since agencies cannot delegate consultation, the contractors conducting the NEPA review are not authorized to consult as required by NHPA. Consultation assistance is required for the following environmental assessments: ? Tribes associated with the California CREP in the North Central Valley?s nine counties: Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Placer, Sacramento, Solano, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba. ? Tribes associated with the Idaho CREP in the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer counties: Blaine, Elmore, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, and Minidoka ? Montana CREP affects the Fort Belnap Tribe ? North Dakota CREP affects the Three Affiliated Tribes and Stranding Rock Sioux Tribe ? Tribes associated with the Oregon CREP area of Coastal and Columbia Basins and the Tualatin Watershed ? Yakama Nation SCOPE OF SERVICES Services will include ? Assisting with identifying relevant tribes in each state that may be interested in the CREP program; ? advising the agency on the appropriate method and tone of consultation; ? providing information on tribal customs and traditions that may affect consultation; ? recommending negotiation items and methods; ? reviewing any culturally related sections of the environmental assessments; ? working in conjunction with the contracted EA schedules; ? identifying individuals and tribal representatives who have an interest in the CREP EAs; and ? assisting the State Environmental Coordinators with their consultation needs. These services will be provided for each of the six EAs being prepared. The contractor will work directly with FSA and not the environmental firm preparing the EAs. The ID and CA EAs should be awarded by the end of September. Once awarded, the preliminary draft of each PEA will be due to FSA 45 days after award. The draft of each will be due 15 days after contractor receives FSA comments on the preliminary draft. Each draft will be published for public comment for a minimum of 30 days. The final PEAs will be due to FSA no later than 15 days after the close of public comment. The final PEAs and FONSI will be published for a minimum of 30 days. The MT, ND and OR EAs were awarded July 29, 2004. The preliminary draft PEA will be due to FSA 45 days after award. The draft will be due 15 days after contractor receives FSA comments on the preliminary draft. The draft will be published for public comment for a minimum of 15 days. The final PEA will be due to FSA no later than 15 days after the close of public comment. The final PEA and FONSI will be published for a minimum of 15 days. The Yakima Nation CREP EA was awarded on August 24, 2004 and is due 160 days after award. TIME FRAMES The project should be completed by within one year of notice to proceed.
 

Place of Performance

Address: PO Box 14515, Silver Spring, MD

Zip Code: 20911

Country: US
 

Record

SN00677323-W 20040922/040920234830 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)

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