REQUEST FOR STATEMENTS OF INTEREST NUMBER W9126G-20-2-SOI-1678 PROJECT TO BE INITIATED IN 2020 Project Title:
Horse Capture and Maintenance, Fort Polk, LA.

All SOIs must be advertised via www.Grants.gov, responses requested by 5:00 p.m.

Central Standard Time (CST), on 27 February

credit:

202 0.

Responses to this Request for Statements of Interest will be used to identify potential investigators for a project to be funded by Fort Polk which provides professional and technical support for its Range Management Program in order to facilitate successful implementation of the encroachments on military readiness training lands managed by Fort Polk.

Approximately $250,000 is expected to be available to support this project in the base year.

Additional funding may be available for follow on work in subsequent fiscal years to the successful Recipient/Awardee.

Type of Award:
In accordance with section 6305 – Using cooperative agreements of the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreements Act of 1977 (31 U.S.C.

§ 6301 et seq.), all projects must carry out a public purpose of support or stimulation, instead of acquiring goods or services for the exclusive direct benefit of the United States Government.

In accordance with section 6305 – Using cooperative agreements of the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreements Act of 1977 (31 U.S.C.

§ 6301 et seq.), substantial involvement is expected between the federal partner and the nonfederal partner when carrying out the activities specified in the project agreement.

The exact nature of the government’s involvement will be defined in the statement of objectives, issued with a request for full proposal.

As a result, it is anticipated that a cooperative agreement will be awarded.

Brief Description of Anticipated Work:
This research focuses on the following objectives:
1) Objective 1:
Capture:
To contain at large livestock in an enclosure that reasonably assures detention of the animals.

Limitations on number of animals captured:
{on Fort Polk and under the Environmental Assessment – the number of animals captured at any given time is within a loose definition of one to three bands.

The EA specifically states “This COA would start with the capture of lots of horses consisting of one to three bands (10-30 horses).

The intent of capturing small groups of horses over an extended period of time is to permit the various participating organizations sufficient time to move the horses through their adoption programs rather than overwhelming those organizations with all of the horses in a one to three month period.” (§ 2. 3. 7)}.

Methods of capture:
The method of capture is not specified, although the following commitment must be adhered to “Fort Polk intends to capture horses in the least stressful manner to the horses, provided that capture method is sufficiently efficient and successful.

The preferred and intended primary method to be utilized for capture is the baiting of capture pens so that horses move into the capture pens without external pressure.

The secondary method of capture which will likely be utilized is the employment of personnel to physically round up and capture the horses.

Fort Polk will not use or permit the use of aircraft to drive the horses over a long distance in a swift manner for purposes of roundup and capture.” (§EA 2. 3) Capture by Fort Polk Personnel:
FPLA reserves the right to opportunistically capture horses.

In such cases, the co-opportunity partner still executes tasks 2-6 below Government furnished materials:
Fort Polk has available two capture/holding pens.

These pens are constructed of cyclone fence to enclose a 2 acre area.

The pens have two gate access points.

Within this enclosure a ¼ acre lot is constructed.

The fence for this lot is constructed of wood and is six feet tall.

Besides on main gate the lot also has an exit that is a 30’ long chute (also constructed of wood and fully enclosed with a slat board top.

At the end of this chute is a fabricated material squeeze chute.

There are no wing or drift fences inside of the larger (2ac) or smaller (¼ ac) enclosures however heavy duty portable panels (as discussed below) can be used for these purposes.

Fort Polk has available sixty (60) heavy duty portable panels.

These panels are 10’ by 6’ and are constructed with 1. 5 – 2” tubing.

These may be used within the above mentioned enclosures or otherwise for capture, but if used for capture a sufficient number should be held in reserve for flexibility when working captured animals Access to Range Areas:
Access to range areas is controlled by range control and adherence to daily check-in and check-out procedures is required.

Range access will be limited or denied on certain days.

Other suitable capture sites may be developed or current infrastructure may be used, coordination with Fort Polk Range Control is required on a case by case basis.

2) Objective 2:
Unique Identification:
If a 501(c) 3 organization cannot provide scanner, the co-operator conducts physical or electronic Inspection to determine if an animal has a unique identification of ownership.

This includes scanning for microchips; inspection for brands; inspection for tattoos.

The co-operator makes a good faith effort to determine if the horse is stolen, and if so, to locate the owner.

To contain at large livestock in an enclosure that reasonably assures detention of the animals.

3) Objective 3:
Blood Samples:
To immobilize an animal sufficient for a veterinarian and assisting veterinarian technicians to draw blood samples to be used to test for various equine diseases.

The Chutes and panels mentioned in Line Item 1 above are available, but there are no other government furnished materials for this line item.

4) Objective 4:
Maintain Captive Horses:
To provide sufficient feed and water to sustain and care for the animals while in the capture/holding pen(s) and until they are removed from the installation.

Co-operator must be able to transport water.

5) Objective 5:
Load:
Load horses onto trailers (government, private, or 501C3) for transport of capture animals on or off of the installation.

6) Objective 6:
Transportation:
Must be able to transport horses to a different location (whether to a different pen on Post or off Post).

Co-operator provides cost per mile for recoupment up to 30 miles and between 30 to 250 miles.

NOTE:
At this time we are only requesting that you demonstrate available qualifications and skills for performing similar or same type of work.

You will be evaluated for a request for a full proposal based on skills and qualifications demonstrated in your SOI.

Period of Performance.

The base year of agreement will extend one year from award.

Three option periods extending for one year are anticipated pending funds.

Materials Requested for Statement of Interest/Qualifications:
Please provide the following via e-mail attachment to:
Alisa.Marshall@usace.army.mil and Kathy.S.Mitchell@usace.army.mil (Maximum length:
2 pages, single-spaced 12 pt.

font).

1.

SF 424 2.

Brief Statement of Qualifications (Maximum length:
2 pages, single-spaced 12 pt.

font) to include:
a.

Biographical Sketch, b.

Relevant past projects and clients with brief descriptions of these projects, c.

Staff, faculty or students available to work on this project and their areas of expertise, d.

Any brief description of capabilities to successfully complete the project you may wish to add (e.g.

equipment, laboratory facilities, greenhouse facilities, field facilities, etc.).

Note:
A full study proposal and proposed budget are NOT requested at this time.

Review of Statements Received:
All statements of interest received will be evaluated by a board, who will determine which statement(s) best meet the program objectives.

Statements will be evaluated based on the investigator’s specific experience and capabilities in areas related to the study requirements.

The statement or statements selected shall be invited to submit full proposals.

Those not selected to submit full proposals will be notified of the decision in writing.

If you have questions, please contact:
USACE Alisa Marshall, Contract Specialist CESWF-CT Email:
Alisa.Marshall@usace.army.mil Office:
817-886-1068 USACE Kathy Mitchell, Agreement Project Specialist CESWF-CT Email:
Kathy.S.Mitchell@usace.army.mil Office:
817-886-1709 Timeline for Review of Statements of Interest:
Review of Statements of Interest will begin 27 February 202 0.

[End of RSOI]