--Notice of Intent to Modify Tribal ecoAmbassador Program Purchase Order

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of International and Tribal Affairs (OITA) American Indian Environmental Office (AIEO), under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures, intends to modify EPA Purchase Order EP-11-H-000737 with the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) of Alexandria, Virginia. Under the initial order, AIHEC is tasked with the development of a Tribal ecoAmbassadors Program with professors at up to four Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) to implement research to address a particular environmental or public health challenge in the community or on the reservation. This pilot project addresses specific analysis of environmental issues, which may include climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, air quality, water quality, and waste management. The purpose of this action is to increase the scope of work to accommodate an additional four TCUs, to total eight. The estimated period of performance is from the date of the modification through June 2012. The justification is as follows. Market research indicates that this program is the first of its kind, connecting EPA directly to the TCUs in an exchange of invaluable environmental knowledge. To have a fully successful pilot year, this program needs to reach as many TCU academic institutions as possible. AIHEC is a 501(c)(3) organization governed by a board of directors, which is comprised of the presidents of its accredited U.S.-based TCUs. By automatically providing access to every TCU, EPA estimates a wide variety of types of program proposals (climate change adaptation, water quality monitoring, etc.). AIHEC is uniquely qualified to satisfy this requirement given its members represent all TCUs. EPA is not aware of any other tribal entity with this network of access to the targeted higher education institutions. In addition, no responses were generated from the initial notice. NO SOLICITATION OR REQUEST FOR QUOTE IS AVAILABLE. Notwithstanding, any firm that believes it is capable of meeting this requirement may submit a response, which if received within five days of the closing date of this announcement, will be considered. Responses to this announcement must be in writing to the Contracting Officer via the e-mail link below.