SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Integrated Water Management Research and On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency in Pakistan
- Notice Date
- 5/16/2005
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 221310
— Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
- Contracting Office
- Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Acquisition and Property Division, Acquisition Branch (MD), 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Building 3, Mailstop: 5116, Beltsville, MD, 20705
- ZIP Code
- 20705
- Solicitation Number
- 05MM454602
- Response Due
- 5/25/2005
- Archive Date
- 6/9/2005
- Description
- SCOPE OF WORK The USDA, Office of International Research Programs are seeking sources for the following: Technical Assistance for Integrated Water Management Research and On-farm Irrigation Efficiency in Pakistan BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Pakistan has suffered from many prolonged droughts over the past 45 years. Rainfall in the region is erratic and scanty. The rivers continually flow at subsided levels. The water in Tarbela dam reaches the ?dead? level almost every year in February and March, and these are crucial months for irrigation of wheat and cotton crops. There is a major dependence on subsurface irrigation water to meet shortages. Barren watersheds are being eroded and these sediments find their way into Pakistani reservoirs and rivers, depriving Pakistan of necessary water storage capacity needed for household and industry consumption and agricultural irrigation. Existing and future water resources for irrigation are projected to decline even more. Therefore, improved irrigation and drainage practices become increasingly important to enhance water quality, conserve water, and sustain food production. Innovative irrigation and drainage management techniques are essential to increase the cost-effectiveness of crop production, improve water quality, reduce soil erosion, reuse waste water, and reduce energy requirements while enhancing and sustaining crop production and water use efficiency. Advanced technologies, such as precision irrigation, site-specific management, remote sensing, and decision support systems, are needed to address the water quantity and quality problems in irrigated agriculture. Sustainable irrigation and drainage systems are needed in arid areas to minimize environmental impacts on agricultural and urban sectors through the development of improved integrated water resource management. Under an Interagency Acquisition Agreement (IAA) between the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), dated 08-17-2004, the ARS is to furnish support of scientific, technological or environmental initiatives in Pakistan which are to be implemented by the ARS and Pakistan. Under the IAA, ARS will 1.) Assess Pakistan's needs in integrated water management and determine future areas in which Pakistan and the U.S. may benefit by cooperative research and/or technology transfer; and 2.) Achieve technology and information transfer by assisting Pakistani researchers to become acquainted with current ARS research in the appropriate areas of interest. This is to be accomplished by visiting ARS research stations and commercial applications and observing and studying these projects, and 3.) Assist Pakistani researchers to tailor applicable technologies to local Pakistani circumstances. The purpose of this purchase order is to provide short-term Technical Assistance for Integrated Water Management Research on On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency in Pakistan. Tasks The contractor shall: 1. Provide technical advice to the Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) with whom OES and ARS have an established partnership. Irrigation systems on selected sites in Pakistan will be evaluated for efficiencies. New technologies, such as bed and furrow or drip irrigations systems, will be examined and adapted to better suit site specific conditions. 2 Study the situation in Pakistan and recommend improved irrigation and drainage technologies, management practices, and integrated cropping systems that are environmentally sustainable and economically viable. Special emphasis should be placed on methods for managing salts and trace elements in irrigation and drainage waters that would reduce their harmful effects on soils, groundwater, and crop productivity. Drainage practices will be developed that enable crops to use shallow groundwater efficiently, while reducing the use of agricultural chemicals. 3. Evaluate current field research in the application of high efficiency irrigation systems and recommend such changes as may be needed in their research to optimize irrigation water utilization. 4. Recommend and develop a study tour of pertinent research and commercial applications for the study of U.S. technologies in high efficiency irrigation systems. 5. Facilitate the selected PCRWR researcher's program for study of current U.S. technologies in high efficiency irrigation systems. Tasks 3, 4 and 5 will be performed which working directly with the PCRWR researchers. QUALIFICATIONS The Offerors will be more highly rated during evaluation for demonstrating superior technical and research skills. Possession of Agricultural Engineering degrees and a greater number of years of experience in the research design and operation of on-farm irrigation systems will be counted towards superior technical and research skills. In addition, strong verbal communication skills that enable the contractor to communicate with US and Pakistani researchers and government officials; strong writing skills, including the development of documents for both technical and non-technical audiences; and International, preferably in a Muslim country, are critical and will be considered in evaluation of quotes.
- Place of Performance
- Address: Pakistan
- Record
- SN00808446-W 20050518/050516211654 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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