SOLICITATION NOTICE
U -- Technical Assistance For Conservation Plans Training on Continuous Sign-Up Conservation Reserve Program Contracts
- Notice Date
- 9/4/2007
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 611710
— Educational Support Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, Acquisition Management Division, Contracts Operations Branch, 1280 Maryland Avenue, SW Portals Bldg., Room 508A, Washington, DC, 20250-0567, UNITED STATES
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- AG-3151-S-07-0036
- Response Due
- 9/17/2007
- Archive Date
- 9/17/2008
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- C.2. BACKGROUND: C.2.1. The CRP is a Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) program and technical assistance is needed for the implementation of the CRP. The Secretary of Agriculture has assigned lead program responsibility for the CRP to FSA. In 2004, the President signed P.L 108-498, a bill that provides independent authority beginning October 1, 2004, for CRP funds to be used for technical assistance to implement the program. This legislation authorizes FSA to cooperate with and solicit technical service(s) from various Federal agencies, local governments, nongovernmental organizations, and individuals in order to carry out the agency?s roles, responsibilities, and further the conservation mission of FSA on private land(s) enrolled in CRP. C.2.2. FSA will now be required to maintain, administer, and monitor technical assistance contracts for CRP. Currently, CRP participants may select technical assistance from a list of individuals certified as Technical Service Providers (TSP?s) and/or the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). TSP?s are selected and certified as acceptable providers for use by NRCS. The goal of this training is to increase FSA staff knowledge of the technical assistance needed in the development of CRP continuous sign-up conservation plans and to oversee contract implementation. FSA will use this training to develop and/or provide quality control reviews of TSP contracts for CRP continuous sign-up technical assistance. C.2.3. Section 1242 also requires the Secretary to establish a system for approving individuals and entities to provide technical assistance to carry out programs under this title including criteria for the evaluation of providers or potential providers of technical assistance. C.2.4. Sections 1231-1236 of the Food Security Act 1985, as amended (1985 Act) (16 U.S.C. 3831 -3836), authorizes CRP. 7 CFR Part 1410 provides the regulatory and statutory authority for CRP. C.2.5. The following tasks of this SOW outline the proposed steps that will meet the requirements of both FSA and the requirements set forth for the administration of technical assistance for CRP. STATEMENT OF WORK, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TRAINING CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM (CRP) CONTINUOUS SIGN-UP C.2.6. The contractor will provide the necessary training needed for FSA employees to develop and/or provide quality control reviews of TSP contracts for CRP continuous sign-up technical assistance. C.3. GENERAL COURSE DESCRIPTION: C.3.1. FSA has determined that basic conservation technical assistance service training is required by at least one staff member from each pilot State FSA office and at least one program technician from each county FSA office. Please see exhibit 1 for the selected pilot States and counties. C.3.2. Training is necessary in order to provide proper oversight of technical service provided to CRP Continuous Sign-up participants. The selected contractor will provide training specifically designed for CRP Continuous Sign-up land, not whole farm planning. The selected contractor will provide all labor materials necessary to plan and conduct the required training. Training shall be developed and deployed in a classroom style and in the field. Class size will not exceed 34 participants; plus appropriate State and National staff. Total amount for training is not to exceed the total amount committed. C.3.3. The contractor shall include the following: C.4. Training deliverables for each student: C.4.1. ? A copy of the course agenda. ? Copies of power point slides. ? Question and Answer period at the end of each session. ? Application of classroom training during field exercises. ? A written test on material discussed in the classroom, ? A completed CRP plan (developed by each participant) C.4.2. Course content shall include the following information: C.4.3. Conservation Planning Session: ? Overview and time for discussion of the conservation plan process; including basic philosophy and three phase nine step process. ? Review of a CRP conservation plan for continuous sign-up, providing at least 2 copies as examples to each student. ? Preplanning activities and determining land user objectives. ? Discussion of the conservation needs determination. ? Discussion on recording producer decisions. STATEMENT OF WORK, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TRAINING CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM (CRP) CONTINUOUS SIGN-UP C.4.3. Conservation Planning Session, continued: ? Overview of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), historic requirements and economic considerations consistent with NRCS? national manual. ? Discussion on Endangered Species, Section 106, and other Environmental Requirements. ? Discussion on and examples of forms and necessary format(s). ? Discussion of Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) practice standards, job sheets, NRCS? National and State practice standards. C.4.4. Soils Session: ? Thorough discussion on basic soils, agronomy, hydrology, forestry, and new range principles. ? Brief overview on soil survey. ? Discussion of identifying soil erosion, such as: ? water quality, ? air quality, (Only in those States that have concerns with non-attainment areas-other) ? Sheet erosion, ephemeral erosion, gully erosion, and stream break erosion. ? Basic training on soil characteristics, vegetative identification, growth characteristics, and nutrient needs. ? Review of RUSLE II erosion and, if appropriate, Wind Erosion Equation (WEQ) ? Discussion of Soil Limitations as they pertain to CRP practices (agronomic, forestry, etc.) C.4.5. Water Quality Session: ? Discussion of factors impacting water quality, nutrients, sediment, organic, temperature, etc. ? Discussion of CRP practice impacts on water quality. ? Discussion of wetlands that will include using soil and topographic maps in identifying possible wetlands. C.4.6. Wildlife Session: ? Brief discussion of wildlife management and how to develop a CRP plan that benefits certain wildlife species. STATEMENT OF WORK, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TRAINING CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM (CRP) CONTINUOUS SIGN-UP C.4.7. Plant Session: ? Discussion of establishing CRP Stands: ? Seedbed preparation ? Fertilizer requirements ? Seed/plant selection ? Management ? Weed control ? Haying and grazing plans ? Invasive and noxious weeds. ? Establishment of trees ? site consideration, stocking density, tree selection, weed control, O&M. C.4.8. Air Quality Session: Only in those States that have concerns with non-attainment areas-other states just were not interested in this section. C.4.9. CRP Practices Session: ? A comprehensive review of the FOTG with special emphasis on wetland restoration, erosion control, resource management systems, and how conservation practices are used to build these systems. ? Overview of NRCS practice standards. ? Overview and examples of Job Sheets. ? Instruction on how to determine stand quality. ? Training on continuous signup conservation practices that can impact soil, water and air. ? Discussion on resource concerns and how they can be used in building a system that meets resource, economic, cultural and social needs. ? Basic training in working with the land user in evaluating alternative solutions and based on these alternatives, making decisions on what conservation practices should be installed. ? Overview of practices ? Agronomic plantings, ? Forestry, (including shelterbelts, riparian buffers, filter-strips, etc.) ? Grassed waterways ? Wetland practices ? Pipelines ? Stream crossing ? Filter Strips ? Upland bird habitat practice. STATEMENT OF WORK, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TRAINING CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM (CRP) CONTINUOUS SIGN-UP C.4.9. CRP Practices Session, continued: ? Wellhead protection practice ? Saline Seept (only applicable in MT, ND, SD, KS, and CA) ? Assist the students in preparing a CRP continuous sign-up conservation plan. ? Provide a copy of an instructor developed CRP continuous sign-up conservation plan to each student. C.5. WORK ITEMS: C.5.1 The contractor shall provide the COTR a complete training plan and/or training agenda. The plan/agenda shall include: ? Length of the course, not to exceed 1 week, ? Time needed for each session, ? Course overview, approach, philosophy, and course strategy ? Instructor qualifications (see trainer qualifications) ? Copy of materials to be used for instruction, ? Provide time after the first training session for discussion and suggestions to be made by the national office employees, to the contractor, for deployment of future training sessions. Discussion is to take place at the facility used for the training. ? Copy of course evaluation form(s) to be filled out by students, ? Contractor is to provide proof the company has certification by NRCS to provide technical assistance. ? Jointly develop a schedule of training dates, locations and sites with FSA. ? The contractor will deliver work items through a combination of visits with CEPD via phone, email, fax, and in-office visits to the national office, if necessary. STATEMENT OF WORK, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TRAINING CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM (CRP) CONTINUOUS SIGN-UP C.6. TRAINER REQUIREMENTS: C.6.1. The contractor shall provide the COTR each instructor?s qualifications and copies of each instructor?s resume?. These items shall be available within the original proposal. Minimum Qualifications for each instructor shall consist of: ? A Bachelors degree in Natural Resources (agronomy, soils, environmental science, range, forestry, etc.), Civil, Environmental Engineering, or other related material. ? A minimum of 5 years experience in the material in which training will be conducted ? Knowledge of NRCS national planning process, FOTG standards, engineering manual, soil surveys, etc. ? Experience in implementing the CRP. C.7. FSA REQUIREMENTS: C.7.1. FSA will provide: ? Provide the training facility(s), ? Provide travel arrangements for its trainees ? Per-diem for its trainees. ? Provide a projector that can be used to present power point presentations, ? Provide at least one laptop for every 2 participants attending the course. One for each participant is better. ? Make available a white board or flip chart and markers, ? Two (State specific) complete CRP plans (including narratives, maps, job sheets and other attachments at least 3 weeks before the class is scheduled to start in a State. ? Work with instructors in identifying and arranging for a farm that can be used for in-field training. ? Arrange for transportation of participants for field trips. ? Printing capability, so the participants can print the CRP plans they develop. C.7.2. FSA will provide the contractor, upon request: ? Copies of the applicable agency regulations, handbooks, and other guidance documents for CRP, which may be necessary in gaining background knowledge of the program. STATEMENT OF WORK, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TRAINING CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM (CRP) CONTINUOUS SIGN-UP C.8. PROJECT CONTROLS: C.8.1 The contractor shall provide a copy of all course evaluation forms completed by FSA employees to the COTR. The contractor shall inform FSA COTR in writing immediately of any FSA State and/or county Office staff is not complying with course requirements. Such report of incompliance may be emailed to FSA CEPD national office, attention the COTR.
- Place of Performance
- Address: Designated Counties in the States of Illinois, Missouri, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania. (See Schedule)
- Zip Code: 20250
- Country: UNITED STATES
- Zip Code: 20250
- Record
- SN01393728-W 20070906/070904220129 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |