Big Game Harvest Survey Collection and Reporting

This notice is being prepared in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation(FAR) Subpart 5.203 for commercially available services. This announcement is not the formal solicitation and the expected posting date of the full solicitation package is on or about April 27, 2009 with a response date of May 14, 2009. The solicitation will be inclusive of a a request for competitive quotes, and will be advertised as full and open competition under NAISC: 541710 and Product service Code: R499. Project Overview:The US Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7, Alaska, is preparing to issue solicitation for Big Game Harvest Survey collection and reporting within Alaska's Game Management Unit 18. Accurate estimates of large mammal subsistence harvests by residents of Unit 18 communities in the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta region of western Alaska are an important management tool. However, few systematic surveys have been conducted in this region, and the baseline data that do exist for a few communities is dated and sporadic. This project would begin to address the need for accurate harvest estimates for big game species. Accurate harvest estimates contribute to sound conservation and management of resources, which benefits all users, both privately and Govenrment-wide. Work Description:This project will require a professional contractor to conduct systematic household surveys of big game subsistence harvests in the Lower Yukon communities of Russian Mission, Marshall, Saint Marys, Mountain Village, Alakanuk, and Nunam Iqua, as well as in the communities of Kotlik, Scammon Bay, and Chevak where residents also hunt moose in the Lower Yukon River region. All areas are within the State of Alaska. The proposed 9 communities, based on US 2000 Census, represent an estimated 4,500 people and 1,035 occupied households. This project will result in community harvest estimates of big game (moose, caribou, bears, and wolves) harvests and descriptions of harvest location information to support sustainable wildlife management decision making. The contractor will provide the following services and products under the terms of the proposed statement of work: 1) A report summarizing all findings submitted to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7-Alaska, Office of Subsistence Management by no later than February 28, 2010. The solicitation package will outline the specific period of performance dates of this requirement, and the anticipated award will be inclusive of a Base Period of approximately 10 months. Interested parties wishing to respond to the forthcoming solicitation are encouraged to visit www.fbo.gov often and download related solicitation information. Vendors wishing to respond to this announcement may contact the contracting officer listed within this announcement by calling (907) 786-3408, or send a written request noting solicitation No. 70181-9-Q214, via fax to (907) 786-3923. Email requests are also encouraged by email to [email protected]. See Numbered Note 13.