F--Guatemala Forest Fires/ Peten Region

The United States Department of the Interior, National Business Center, Acquisition & Property Management Division, on behalf of the Department's International Technical Assistance Program ("ITAP"), intends to award on a sole source basis a firm fixed-price contract to Wildlife Conservation Society of New York, NY for the following services: 1) Combat fires within the Maya Biosphere Reserve in the Peten Region of Guatemala with particular concern for Laguna del Tigre, the Laguna del Tigre-Mirador Biological Corridor, community forest concessions in the center of the Maya Biosphere (Ruta Carmelita), Sierra del Lacandon National Park, and Yaxha National Park. Fires are currently burning and pose a threat to these areas. 2) The contractor will work with the Guatemalan National Park Service ("CONAP") to strenthen its abilities to prevent fire outbreaks and improve response capabilities and effectiveness. 3) Contractor will work to strengthen the communications network of the Maya Biosphere Reserve with CONAP. These services are required immediately as fires have been burning since March 2005. Funding is provided by the US Agency for International Development. Services are estimated to be needed from May 6, 2005 through August 15, 2005. DOI requires a contractor with a strong working knowledge of the biological and cultural landscape of the Peten region of Guatemala and with a functioning infrastructure already in place in Guatemala. Furthermore, it requires a contractor with wide experience with managing fire prevention and control under difficult conditions that include fire setting by drug traffickers, human traffickers, illegal poachers onto park lands, and illegal wildlife and timber poachers. It is a further enhancement that the contractor be a current strategic partner of CONAP working under a cooperative agreement and is a strategic partner of IDAEH, the Guatemalan Archaeological Management Agency. This requirement is much more that fire fighting and prevention; it is imperative that the contractor understands and appreciates the cultural and wildlife resources that are at risk and how they are to be protected. Based upon information available to it at this time, and as required at FAR Part 6.302, the Government believes that only Wildlife Conservation Society ("WCS") can perform these services and in a timely (emergency) manner. However, if additional sources should be identified, they will be considered. Firms that feel that they can furnish the required services are invited to submit in writing an affirmative response by no later than 12:00 noon local time in Washington, DC, on Wednesday May 4, 2005. This information will be evaluated and used to determine if competitive opportunities exist. Since no solicitation document exists, requests for such documents without axxompanying information will be considered non-responsive to this request without further consideration. Interested parties are urged to take special note of the fact that the conditions under which these services will be performed are extremely perilous. In addition to the fire and smoke dangers, the region is suffering from violence caused by drug traffickers, poachers and traffickers of human beings. Contractors must provide for their own security. Affirmative responses are to be sent to Marc G. MacKeigan, Contracting Officer, at [email protected] inquiries will not be entertained.