National Institute of Standards & Technology, Acquisition & Assistance Div., Bldg. 301, Rm B117, Gaithersburg, MD 20899

F -- HERDING SERVICES TO RESTRICT & MINIMIZE CANADA GEESE DUE 021798 POC Teresa A. Reefe, Contract Specialist, (301) 975-6364 WEB: NIST Contracts Homepage, http:/www.nist.gov/admin/od/contract/contract.htm. E-MAIL: NIST Contracts Office, Contract@nist.gov. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is soliciting tailored capability statements from qualified companies. Based on the responses received from this sources sought announcement, the proposed acquisition may be solicited. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) AND DOES NOT COMMIT THE NIST TO AWARD A CONTRACT NOW OR IN THE FUTURE. NO RFP IS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. REQUESTS FOR AN RFP WILL NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. Due to the continuing increase in the number of Canada geese on the 570 acre NIST property located at 820 West Diamond Avenue, Gaithersburg, Maryland, services of a trainer and registered, fully trained Border collie (or other appropriate breed) are required to restrict, minimize, and/or eliminate the presence of the geese using standard herding practices. No animals are to be harmed as a result of the dog's activities. The trainer and dog must work effectively together to restrict herding activities to geese ONLY. Other wildlife on the site include raccoons, groundhogs, fox, white-tailed deer, and various other birds. The contractor's objectives are to restrict the geese to the areas immediately surrounding the ponds and wetland area to minimize goose/staff interactions around all buildings, walkways, and parking lots and to reduce the site-wide population to under 100 Canada geese. Herding services shall be conducted randomly on a weekly basis from several times per day to several times per week based on seasonal and migratory waterfowl practices, nesting periods, and/or nuisance activities. Regular and consistent work sessions will be counterproductive to the program's success. Variable numbers of sessions at randomly selected times each day is expected to be more effective. Contractor will be permitted unrestricted access on Federal workdays from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Visits during all other periods must be coordinated in advance with the Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR). The Contractor shall have sole ownership and responsibility for dog(s) employedin this service. Contractor must have an animal available to meet the requirements of this contract at all times (i.e., if primary animal is ill or injured, a back up must be available). Contractor will be responsible for all shelter, care, transportation, veterinary services, and insurance. If interested, please submit information related to your companies capability to perform this work, pricing structures, and any other market information which will assist the Government in the preparation of a solicitation. An original (1) and two (2) copies of your capability statement and supplemental information specific to this announcement must be submitted within 15 days from the date of this announcement. (0033)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0030 19980204\F-0008.SOL)