THIS IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. Under the authority of FAR 13.106, the USDA Forest Service Research and Development, Washington Office intends to award, on a sole source basis, a Fixed Price Level of Effort Contract with one 12-month period of performance. Award to be made to SCION Research Institute, registered in SAM as New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited. The contractor will provide communication, facilitation, drafting, editing, and reporting services in support of the Montréal Process for Sustainable Forest Management, an international organization of which the USA is a founding member. The proposed contract will fund ongoing work, along with support staff, for a period of twelve months. This contract follows similar contributions to fund ongoing work from other Montréal Process countries, most recently Canada in 2020. This is highly technical work requiring a broad knowledge of forestry as well as specific knowledge regarding the application of Criteria and Indicators to comprehensive forest sustainability assessment and management. Significant portions of the work entail the continuation of current project. Basis for sole source is prior collaboration with the SCION and specific expertise, knowledge and experience with the Montréal Process, its activities, and its member country representatives. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. This is a notice of intent to solicit and award a sole source contract under Simplified Acquisition Procedures, FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i). The anticipated award date is 1 Aug 2021. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for this requirement is 115310, Support Activities for Forestry, and the size standard is $16.5M. However, all interested parties who believe they can meet the requirements are invited to submit in writing complete information describing their ability to provide the product/services listed above. All inquiries on this action can be submitted in writing via e-mail to Chandria Fulghum Contracting Specialist,
[email protected] and Keith Friot, Contracting Officer,
[email protected] no later than 27 Jul 2021 at 11:59 PM EDT. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed action based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. All information shall be furnished at no cost or obligation to the Government.