Conservation Reserve Program Planner Position Request for Quotations

OVERVIEW

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), seeks a qualified Contractor to assist in efforts to build voluntary partnerships with agricultural producers to enhance, restore, and protect aquatic ecosystems for fish and wildlife in Washington State. Specifically, the selected Contractor will contribute to providing technical assistance through NRCS for the USDA-Farm Service Agency's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in Washington State.

BACKGROUND

The scope of work under this contract is to provide conservation planning, technical assistance, and contract management for various USDA programs for the protection of Endangered Species Act (ESA) listed anadromous and resident fish in the Columbia Basin, with a focus on the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). NFWF intends to couple this work with its existing restoration efforts in the Columbia Basin to support conservation-oriented engagement with willing landowners.

Program goals to be addressed through this contract include:

• Support landowners in the Columbia Basin through technical assistance
• Support NRCS staff in Washington State by increasing federal capacity
• Support the smooth and continued enrollment of landowners participating in CRP

SCOPE OF WORK

Please review the below scope of work tasks, deliverables, and schedule:

Tasks:

1. Assist in gathering and assembling preliminary data for all resource concerns for use in developing complete conservation plans. Complete plans using most current NRCS web-based programs. Utilize soil erosion tools such as the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS) and the Pesticide Risk Assessment tool; and other technology tools as part of the conservation planning process.
2. Assist field offices with active and newly enrolled CRP contracts with field visits, status reviews, and verifying practices are installed to NRCS standards and specifications.
3. Provide technical assistance and guidance to landowners, government agencies, non-government organizations and others, as applicable.
4. Provide technical assistance for existing Farm Bill contracts that have a wildlife focus in Douglas, Grant, Adams, and Lincoln counties (contract implementation) in Washington State.
5. Communicate program requirements, complete site visits to determine eligibility, and develop contracts/plans for applicants enrolling in USDA conservation programs or other state and local conservation programs.
6. Coordinate integration and application of biological sciences within the conservation programs in cooperation with the local NRCS District Conservationist and others and consistent with the Field Office Technical Guide.
7. Receive intensive and specialized training in all phases of the soil and water conservation programs, including information and education activities, working relationships with conservation districts, and other state, federal and local groups at the county level.
8. Understand all applicable NRCS and Farm Bill programs available to address resource concerns and explain financial assistance programs and payment procedures to applicants and contract holders. With supervision, provide technical assistance to farmers and ranchers for Farm Bill conservation programs.
9. Planner works towards earning an NRCS Level 3 Certified Planner certificate.

Deliverables:
By the end of the contract period, the contracting entity must:

1. Perform field visits to currently enrolled CRP landowners in Washington State to provide technical assistance, with a focus in Douglas, Grant, Adams, and Lincoln Counties.
2. Assist NRCS and enrolled CRP landowners in gathering and assembling preliminary data for developing complete conservation plans, using most current NRCS web-based programs, through the full duration of the contract.
3. Assist NRCS through execution of the above scope of work tasks through the full duration of the contract.

Schedule: Contract work must start within one month of notice of selection for this contract. Contract work must conclude no later than June 30, 2028.

CRITERIA FOR COMPETITIVE APPLICATIONS

Proposals will be evaluated and scored on the following criteria. Applicant should organize their Proposal Narrative based on these sections:

1. Understanding of the Scope of Work. The Scope of Work must demonstrate an understanding of the goals of the activities involved. This section should include a description of how you will communicate with NFWF and program stakeholders and report on progress, results, and deliverables. Weight: 10%
2. Technical Approach. The proposed technical approach for conducting the tasks should clearly describe the proposed methods necessary to conduct the project. This section must demonstrate that those methods are robust and appropriate for conducting the project and address any areas of complexity or uncertainty associated with conducting the project. Weight: 25%
3. Qualifications of Proposed Personnel. This section should clearly describe which tasks each member of the team will conduct and how their training and experience provide the requisite experience to do so successfully. Weight: 25%
4. Contractor's Past Performance. The proposal should include information on the primary investigator(s)'s past performance experience in the requested field. List recent (last 2-5 years) accomplishments and previous services related to the technical expertise offered. If subcontractors are to be used, information should be provided that demonstrates their past performance as well. Describe how that past performance is applicable to this evaluation. Weight: 10%
5. Budget. The proposed budget should itemize work in sufficient detail to enable reviewers to evaluate the appropriateness of the entire funding request. You must use the attached Contractor Budget Template. You may add columns to the template for additional tasks if needed, but you should not make any other changes. If applicable, please include the proposed budget for equipment purchase in the proposal separate from the Contractor Budget Template. Weight: 30%

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS & CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, other nonprofits, commercial organizations, international organizations, and local, state and Indian tribal governments.

By submitting a proposal in response to this solicitation, the applicant warrants and represents that it does not currently have any apparent or actual conflict of interest, as described herein. In the event an applicant currently has, will have during the life of the contemplated contract, or becomes aware of an apparent or actual conflict of interest, in the event an award is made, the applicant must notify NFWF in writing in the proposal, or in subsequent correspondence (if the issue becomes known after the submission of the proposal) of such apparent or actual conflicts of interest, including organizational conflicts of interest. Conflicts of interest include any relationship or matter which might place the contractor, the contractor's employees, or the contractor's subcontractors in a position of conflict, real or apparent, between their responsibilities under the award and any other outside interests, or otherwise. Conflicts of interest may also include, but are not limited to, direct or indirect financial interests, close personal relationships, positions of trust in outside organizations, consideration of future employment arrangements with a different organization, or decision-making affecting the award that would cause a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts to question the impartiality of the applicant, the applicant's employees, or the applicant's future subcontractors in the matter. Upon receipt of such a notice, the NFWF Contracting Officer will determine if a conflict of interest exists and, if so, if there are any possible actions to be taken by the applicant to reduce or resolve the conflict. Failure to resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies NFWF may result in the proposal not being selected for award.

By submitting a proposal in response to this solicitation, the Applicant warrants and represents that it is eligible for award of a Contract resulting from this solicitation and that it is not subject to any of the below circumstances:

Has any unpaid Federal tax liability that has been assessed, for which all judicial and administrative remedies have been exhausted or have lapsed, and that is not being paid in a timely manner pursuant to a Contract with the authority responsible for collecting the tax liability, where the awarding agency is aware of the unpaid tax liability, unless the agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and made a determination that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government; or

Was convicted (or had an officer or agent of such corporation acting on behalf of the corporation convicted) of a felony criminal violation under any Federal or State law within the preceding 24 months, where the awarding agency is aware of the conviction, unless the agency has considered suspension or debarment of the corporation and made a determination that this further action is not necessary to protect the interests of the Government; or

Is listed on the General Services Administration's, government-wide System for Award Management Exclusions (SAM Exclusions), in accordance with the OMB guidelines at 2 C.F.R Part 180 that implement E.O.s 12549 (3 C.F.R., 1986 Comp., p. 189) and 12689 (3 C.F.R., 1989 Comp., p. 235), "Debarment and Suspension, " or intends to enter into any subaward, contract or other Contract using funds provided by NFWF with any party listed on the SAM Exclusions in accordance with Executive Orders 12549 and 12689. The SAM Exclusions instructions can be found here: https://www.sam.gov/SAM/

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Proposals must be submitted under the same cover at the same time, in three distinctly labeled and separate documents: 1) Technical Proposal, 2) Budget, and 3) Evidence of Financial Stability. Interested parties should submit proposals electronically to NFWF ([email protected]) using the requirements below:

1. Technical Proposal
   • Format: Proposals must be provided in Word format or searchable PDF with a font size no smaller than 11 pt.
   • Contact information: Primary contact person, company name, address, phone, email, website, DUNS number, and EIN/Taxpayer ID#.
   • Narrative: Concise (10-page limit) description of the work plan and a summary of the applicant's expertise and experience, organized by the Criteria for Competitive Applications.
   • Biographies: Resumes and/or Vitae of key staff and their role in the proposed work area.
   • References: List two clients who have received services from the applicant that are similar in nature to the proposed work; include names, phone numbers, and email address.
2. Budget: The budget proposal must be submitted using the following NFWF budget template (NFWF BUDGET TEMPLATE).
3. Evidence of Financial Stability: The applicant shall provide proof of financial stability in the form of financial statements, credit ratings, a line of credit, or other financial arrangements sufficient to demonstrate the applicant's capability to meet the requirements of this solicitation.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

A panel of NFWF and USDA's NRCS staff will review the proposals. Applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work plans, or budgets prior to final approval of the award. Only one award will be made for this project. If multiple institutions are involved, they should be handled through subcontracts.

SUBMISSION DEADLINES