F -- WILD HORSE MAINTENANCE FACILITIES WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI -- PASTURE SETTINGS

Notice Date

March 1, 2001

Contracting Office

BLM, BC-660, Bldg #50, Denver Federal Center, P.O. Box 25047, Denver, CO 80225-0047

ZIP Code

80225-0047

Solicitation Number

NAR010044

Response Due

May 22, 2001

Point of Contact

Ms. Marty Coffey, Procurement Technician, (303) 236-9439, FAX (303) 236-9470

E-Mail Address

l30hugh@BLM.gov (l30hughe@BLM.gov)

Description

The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has a requirement for the two (2) pasture facilities to maintain wild horses. The facilities must be located West of the Mississippi River. The following sets forth the background of BLM's need, and the basic requirements needed for wild horse holding facilities. BACKGROUND: a. Wild horses and burros on public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management ( BLM), and Forest Service are protected, managed and controlled under the provisions of the Act of December 15, 1971, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1331-1340). As resource conditions and other factors warrant, excess wild horses and burros are removed from the public lands and placed in private maintenance through the Adopt-A-Horse program. Horses that have not been adopted because of age or other factors are being cared for on private land. The purpose of this solicitation is to obtain two (2) facilities (located west of the Mississippi River), one to initially pasture a maximum of 2,000 (plus or minus) mares, and another to initially pasture a maximum of 2,000 (plus or minus) geldings. b. The BLM started the implementation of the Wild Horse and Burro program's strategic plan "Living Legends in Balance with the Land" This plan will be removing more animals than the BLM has facility space to maintain animals and continue to gather animals to active Approbate Management Levels on the Public Lands. During the first years of this contract the majority of the horses will be younger adoptable animals. These animals will be received and shipped from the facility year round. Because of the large number of animals being removed from public lands there is an excess of adoptable animals. These animals will be kept in a pasture setting while they are maintained at this facility. All stallions over the age of 6 years will be gelded, and the younger stallions will not be gelded . c. Older horses may be shipped into the facility during the first years , but will be increasing as the contract continues. The horses maintained for long term will be a non-reproductive herd consisting of primarily older horses in the age range of 6-30 years old. d. One contract will hold geldings and one contract will hold mares. For the long-term holding, all the stallions will be gelded, and there should be no stallions in the herd. For the mares long-term holding, some of the mares may be in foal. All foals will be removed from the facility after they are weaned. As horses die, they may not be replaced with additional horses. Therefore, the number of horses may decline during the period of the contracts. OBJECTIVES: a. To maintain excess wild horses on private land in pastures that are large enough to allow free-roaming behavior and that can provide the food, water, and shelter necessary to sustain the animals in good condition. b. In the long-term holding, to minimize to the extent possible handling of wild horses by humans and sorting of the animals through chutes, gates, and corrals. c. To provide pasture and semi-free roaming behavior in the younger adoptable animals, until they are shipped to an adoption. d. To provide humane care during receiving, holding, preparing and shipment of horses. e. To provide regular on-the-ground, observation of the wild horses to ascertain their well being and safety. f. To provide management by individuals who are knowledgeable and experienced about the behavior and nutritional requirements of equine and the management of land for the sustained production of grass and other desirable forage plants. This requirement is 100% set aside for small business under NAICS 924120 (formerly SIC 8999). Solicitation documents should be available on or about March 20, 2001. Potential offerors may request a copy of the solicitation in writing only. Telephone requests will not be honored. See Note 1.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010302/FSOL002.HTM (W-059 SN50E965)