National Park Service, Denver Service Center, 12795 West Alameda Parkway, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, Colorado, 80225

F -- INDEFINITE QUANTITY CONTRACT FOR NATIVE PLANT PROPAGATION FOR NATIONAL PARKS IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, IDAHO, NEVADA, OREGON AND WASHINGTON SOL 1443CX2000-98-013 POC Marlene R. Haussler 303/969-2046 E-MAIL: National Park Service, Denver Service Center, contracts_dsc@nps.gov. The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking one or more nursery or plant propagation organizations to propagate native plants for National Parks in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. The Government may elect to award a single task order contract or to award multiple task order contracts for the services to be provided by two or more sources under this solicitation. The Government reserves the right to award contracts, based on the selection board's final selection list, in order of preference, of the firms considered most highly qualified to perform the work. Offerors need not have experience in all states listed in order to be selected. Specialists in particular ecosystems are encouraged to apply. Each awardee shall be provided a fair opportunity to be considered for task orders to be issued. The Government will use such factors as past performance, quality of deliverables, cost-control, or other factors that the Contracting Officer, in the exercise of sound business judgment, believes are relevant to the placement of orders. Interested firms are encouraged to team with sub-consultants as needed to meet scope requirements. Native plant materials derived from parent stock originating in the vicinity of specific project sites is needed for revegetation in these states' national parks. National Park Service policy calls for the conservation of native plant communities and their genetic resources wherever possible in natural zones. This policy is less stringently applied for landscaping around developed areas. Accordingly, large areas intended to support self-sustaining native plant communities will usually be restored with local genetic stocks of native species. Landscaping around buildings where large plants are needed for functional and aesthetic purposes will be done with native species. Depending on the site, the project time frame, and the importance of genetic issues there, large landscape plants may be custom-grown or they may be provided from sources other than park gene pools. Preferably provided plants will be site-adapted (i.e., from genetic stocks likely to survive at the project site). The type of materials to be produced includes, but is not limited to: trees and shrubs in seedling, 1 gallon and 5 gallon sizes; forb seedlings and grass plugs. The types of materials to be supplied include 5 gallon and larger shrub and tree species for areas where a more mature landscape is desired and genetic integrity is not crucial. The scope of work includes but is not limited to the following: 1. Revegetation Consulting: Utilizing NPS regulations and policies, prepare revegetation plans or consultation for park projects. Include scheduling, planting prescriptions, installation techniques, recommendations for soil improvements, plant protection, irrigation and care establishment. 2. Seed and Cutting Collection: Collect seed, cuttings and native soil for mycorrhizal inoculum from designated project sites. Provide all labor, materials, equipment, supplies, and transportation needed to collect seed and cuttings for plant propagation. 3. Plant Production: Provide a permanent greenhouse/nursery facility with heat, water, fertilizer, insecticides, fungicides, and photo periods as needed to ensure the propagation of healthy seedlings. Provide capability to perform mycorrhizal innoculation as needed. Stock under protection must not interbreed with other ecotypes of the same species and potting mix must not be contaminated with species alien to the project site. Use appropriate measures for hardening-off and adapting plant materials to the project site. Records must be maintained throughout production and provided to the National Park Service on request. 4. Plant Provision: Provide plants in sizes ranging from seedlings to 2" caliper trees that are native and adapted to the project site for situations where local genetic stocks are not required. 5. Holding: Hold and maintain plant materials in a healthy condition for up to 2 years if required by Government schedule delays. Include repotting when necessary. 6. Site Preparation: Prepare soil as needed, including scarification and addition of appropriate soil amendments. Install erosion control measures as needed. 7. Exotics Control: As appropriate and acceptable to the designated park, utilize hand pulling, clearing, tilling and chemical application practices to control exotic species at the revegetation site. 8. Installation: Deliver and install seed and produced or provided plant material. Include mulching and other associated planting practices. Provide a one-time, one-year replacement guarantee for plants installed by the offeror, if less than 90% survival. 9. Protection: Provide protection from surface and underground predators as needed. Use protective netting, photodegrading protector tubes and repellents as appropriate. Provide temporary fencing in areas susceptible to human trampling. 10. Establishment Care: Provide, upon request, care for revegetation installations until the plants are established (approximately 2-3 years). Include exotics control (see number 7, above) weeding and irrigation as requested. Provide written progress reports as requested. 11. Monitoring: Determine revegetation success following installation for a period of 1-5 years, as specified in individual task orders. Include written reports and photo documentation as requested. The National Park Service will award an indefinite quantity contract to one or more successful offerors whose offers conform to the solicitation and are most advantageous to the Government; cost and other factors considered. Individual task orders will be placed to order services as they are required and the funding becomes available. The total of all task orders per year will not exceed $1,000,000. The maximum task order amount will not exceed $200,000. The selected firms are guaranteed a minimum amount of $25,000 throughout the life of the contract. The term of the contract shall be one year with four additional one-year options. This procurement is set aside for small business concerns. Interested firms are encouraged to team with sub-consultants as needed to meet scope requirements. The Standard Industrial Code for this procurement is 0831. To the fullest extent, the NPS welcomes the participation of women and minority-owned and operated firms. RFP No. 1443-CX-2000-98-013 will be available on or about the 15th day after this announcement is published. Firms that meet the requirements described in this announcement are invited to request an RFP by faxing or writing to the National Park Service, Denver Service Center, Contracting Services Group, Attn: Marlene Haussler, 12795 West Alameda Parkway, PO Box 25287, Denver, Colorado 80225-0287, fax number 303/987-6645. (0357)

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