Loren Data's SAM Daily™

FBO DAILY ISSUE OF OCTOBER 26, 2006 FBO #1795
SOURCES SOUGHT

F -- Professional Services for the Preparation of 20 Individual Programmatic Environmental Assessments for FSA

Notice Date

10/24/2006
 

Notice Type

Sources Sought
 

NAICS

541620 — Environmental Consulting Services
 

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

AG-3151-20-PEAS
 

Response Due

10/31/2006
 

Archive Date

11/15/2006
 

Description

The USDA/FSA/Conservation and Environmental Programs Division, has a requirement for the following: Any companies that has the capability to provide such services should submit capability statements to: USDA/FSA/Acquisition Management Division/SpecialProjects Branch, Attn: Alonzo Jacobs at 1280 Maryland Avenue, SW, Portals Bldg., Suite 580A, Washington, DC 20024, not later than October 31, 2006 at 3:00PM. This address accepts USPS and Express Mail deliveries. This requirement will require a firm that has the ability to capably manage an effort that wiil produce 20 (Twenty) Individual Programmatic Environmental Assessments in 20 States. This effort may require extensive subcontractor effort and presence in those 20 States. Companies that are capable and interested should forward capability statements, and experiences in managing an effort of this scope and complexity, and be capable of delivering high quality technical products. Companies that are experienced in delivering this service may share with USDA its experiences, problems encountered and any suggestions that may aid USDA in acquiring these services. Conservation Reserve Program Twenty Individual Programmatic Environmental Assessments 1. INTRODUCTION The Food Security Act of 1985, as amended, authorized the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The program is governed by regulations published in 7 CFR, part 1410. The program is implemented by FSA on behalf of the United States Department of Agriculture?s Commodity Credit Corporation. CRP is the largest voluntary conservation program operated by the Federal government and has implemented conservation practices on over 36 million acres of private land. CRP has evolved from its early roots as primarily an erosion control initiative to an environmental program that addresses diverse local and national natural resource priorities. The program offers participants annual rental payments for 10 to 15 years and cost share assistance to eligible producers who establish long-term, resource-conserving covers on eligible land to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat. FSA bases rental rates on the relative productivity of the soils within each county and the average cash rent or cash rent equivalent. Haying and Grazing Haying and grazing of CRP acreage is authorized under certain conditions to improve the quality and performance of the CRP cover or to provide emergency relief to livestock producers due to certain natural disasters. There are two types of haying and grazing authorization: managed and emergency. Primary Nesting Season Generally, CRP acreage may not be hayed or grazed during the Primary Nesting Season for certain wildlife established by state FSA committees in consultation with USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Technical Committee. Managed Haying and Grazing Managed haying and grazing is authorized no more frequently than one out of every three years after the CRP cover is fully established. Managed haying and grazing may be available less frequently in a particular area depending upon local conditions, resource capacity, and the conservation goals of the program. Also, acreage either hayed or grazed under managed or emergency provisions in either of the previous two years is ineligible for managed haying or grazing in the current year. Managed haying is authorized for a single period up to 90 days. Managed grazing is authorized for a single period up to 120 days or for two 60-day periods. CRP participants requesting managed haying and grazing must file a request with their local FSA office indicating the acreage to be hayed or grazed before the activity begins. Additionally, CRP participants requesting managed haying and grazing are assessed a 25 percent payment reduction except when managed haying and grazing is conducted in an "emergency" area. 2. OBJECTIVE The Agency seeks the services of an experienced contractor to coordinate all relevant environmental planning, studies, and documentation services, including public involvement and coordination support, for the preparation of 20 individual Programmatic Environmental Assessments (PEA) for the following States: Arizona New York California North Dakota Colorado Oklahoma Idaho Oregon Indiana South Dakota Kansas Texas Montana Utah Nebraska Washington Nevada Wisconsin New Mexico Wyoming Due to the size and complexity of the tasks related to this contract, it is envisioned that the Contractor shall serve as a Prime Contractor working with other consulting firms and utilizing subcontractors in each of the 20 States to furfill the requirements of this project. It is highly recommended that qualified state environmental consulting firms, familiar with state agricultural and wildlife issues, be used in completion of these PEAs. The State-level PEAs shall specifically focus on the potential effects of allowing managed haying and grazing on land enrolled in CRP and the potential impacts on ground nesting birds and other wildlife. The primary focus of these PEAs shall be but are not limited to: Establishment of beginning and ending dates for primary nesting seasons; Frequency of allowing managed haying or grazing; Intensity (stocking rates); Effects of managed haying and grazing on environmental resources such as soil, water, wildlife, and plants; Effects of managed haying and grazing on various conservation practices; Effects of managed haying and grazing on different land types such as riparian areas versus upland areas; and Socio-economic factors. Each of the PEA documents prepared for the 20 States shall be consistent in their analysis, methodology, and approach with multiple Alternatives being examined. All PEAs shall be as clear and concise as possible in accordance with 40 CFR Sec. 1508.9. FSA recognizes that programmatic NEPA documents can be substantial in size; however, the analysis shall not be more excessive than necessary to inform the decision makers of the environemtnal impacts. In addition, such analysis shall consider a managed haying and grazing alternative that seeks to optimize the benefits of that activity, consistent with meeting soil conservation and water quality objectives of CRP with FSA seeking the input of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on such alternative. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES: The Contractor shall supply all necessary labor, materials, expertise etc. to successfully complete all relevant Federal and State statutory and regulatory requirements necessary to complete 20 individual PEAs. Any and all software, data, and other materials acquired during this project are the property of FSA and shall be turned over to FSA at the close of this project.
 

Place of Performance

Address: TO be determined after contract award

Zip Code: 20250

Country: UNITED STATES
 

Record

SN01169782-W 20061026/061024220044 (fbodaily.com)
 

Source

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

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