Wetland Design Assistance

Posted by USDA-NRCS

Description

Announcement for Funding Opportunity (AFO) for a Competitive Grant Agreement.ANNOUNCEMENT FOR FUNDING OPPORTUNITY The NRCS requests proposals for wetland and associated upland restoration services from individuals and organizations that share a common interest in the conservation and restoration of wetland resources throughout Oklahoma. Services shall be provided throughout the State of Oklahoma.One or more grant agreements may be awarded as a result of this AFO.SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONA.Proposals must be received no later than 10:00 a.m. July 11, 2011. Proposals received after that time will not be considered. Proposals will not be accepted by facsimile machine submission. Applicants must submit one original and four copies of their proposal to USDA-NRCS, Attn: Martha J. Worlein, 100 USDA, Suite 213, Stillwater, OK 74074-2655.B.Electronics Submission - In accordance with NRCS General Manual 401(E) - 401.40 Grants and Electronics Submission1. In order to submit proposals electronically, applicants must be registered with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). This database is used as a central location for maintaining organizational information for organizations seeking and receiving grants/agreements from Federal agencies. Please visit the: http://www.grants.gov Get Started section to register. Allow a minimum of 5 days to complete the CCR registration.2. The Federal Government requires that all applicants for Federal Grants and Cooperative Agreements excluding individuals other than sole proprietors have a unique nine digit identification number provided by Dun & Bradstreet, Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number. The DUNS number will be used to identify related organizations receiving Federal funding under Grants/Cooperative Agreements; and to provide consistent name and address data for electronic submission through grant application systems. To request a DUNS number, please call 1-866-705-5711 (toll free), between 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (M-F) local time of caller when calling within the United States or visit: RequestaDUNS.htm. The process to request a number takes about 5-10 minutes. A DUNS number will be assigned at the conclusion of the call. Please have the following information ready before requesting your DUNS number: Legal Name of Entity or Doing Business as (DBA), Employer/Vendor Identification Number (EIN/VIN), Address, and Telephone Number.AGENCY CONTACTMartha J. Worlein, Contracting Officer, martha.worlein@ok.usda.gov Sharla Goforth, Contract Specialist, Sharla.goforth@ok.usda.govPROPOSAL CONTENTA. The application package must include the completed Standard Form 424. B. The application shall include a capabilities statement that addresses the following as a minimum:1. A description of the specialized experience, technical competence, financial responsibility, and available organizational resources necessary to successfully perform legal boundary and engineering surveys, planning, design, construction, and construction management services to implement wetland and associated upland restoration services.2. The hourly prices for each discipline and unit prices for associated supplies required to perform legal boundary and engineering surveys, planning, design, construction, and construction management services for wetland and associated upland restoration in conservation plans.3. Past experiences providing legal boundary and engineering surveys, planning, design, construction, and construction management services for wetland and associated upland restorations for conservation.4. The application shall include an appendix. Material should be included only when necessary to support information provided in the narrative. Copies of documents, brochures, etc., are encouraged to demonstrate experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.SELECTION Each proposal will be evaluated in accordance with the evaluation factors listed above. Discussions may be held with each applicant to clarify aspects of the proposal.A. In accordance with the NRCS National Engineering Manual Part 505.31 - B., Non-NRCS engineering sources must be approved by the State Administrative Officer and the State Conservation Engineer and must meet the following requirements:1. Registration is necessary in the State in which the work is to be undertaken if registration is required by State law, and non-NRCS engineering sources must be properly authorized to practice in compliance with other State laws.2. They must have had satisfactory experience in the kind of engineering work to be undertaken and must be available to supervise the work directly.3. They must have the necessary facilities and staff to do the work in the specified time. AUTHORITYSection 3837 of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 authorized the Secretary of Agriculture to provide technical assistance under this program to eligible producers.TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE AWARDNRCS has the option to cancel the solicitation or limit the number of awards made form this solicitation. See Attachment 1 for statutory requirements included in the AFO.I. PURPOSE The WRP is a voluntary wetlands conservation program that promotes the restoration, enhancement, and protection of wetland systems and associated uplands. Through WRP, landowners may receive financial and technical assistance to install or implement structural or vegetative wetland and associated upland restoration practices on eligible land. WRP was authorized by USC16 Section 3837; regulations at 7CFR Part 1467 and the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 which provides that the Secretary may request the services of non-Federal entities to assist in providing services necessary to develop and implement conservation programs. There are presently in excess of 52,000 acres enrolled in WRP in Oklahoma. The agency is directing resources toward the restoration of degraded wetlands across the state of Oklahoma.II. OBJECTIVES The objective of WRP is to provide technical and financial assistance to landowners in planning, designing and implementing wetland and associated upland restoration that maximizes wildlife habitat in wetland systems, as well as provide water quality improvements, reduced soil erosion, reduced impacts of flooding and improve wildlife habitat for threatened and endangered species. III. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARTIESA. The NRCS will:1. Conduct an initial briefing at the Oklahoma NRCS State Office in Stillwater, Oklahoma to negotiate the terms of individual projects.2. Designate a liaison to coordinate activities and provide quality assurance.3. Provide access to NRCS technology and technical tools to the maximum extent possible.B. The Recipient will:1. Perform all services in accordance with applicable NRCS policy and criteria that can be found at the following websites: i. NRCS Field Office Technical Guide: http://efotg.nrcs.usda.govii. NRCS National Engineering Handbook References: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/ENG/iii. NRCS National Engineering Manual: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/ENG/2. Sign and seal all legal boundary surveys and engineering designs according to Oklahoma State Law. C. It is Mutually Agreed:1. The agreement is effective upon signature of the NRCS State Conservationist or designated official.This agreement may be amended at the request of either party. Any changes will be made with mutual consent through a bilaterally signed and dated amendment prior to changes in performance or additional expenses incurred. NRCS will not fund any changes not properly approved in advance. The signed amendment becomes part of the agreement and supersedes that part of the original agreement. The amendment request shall include a cover letter requesting/justifying the request for change and a revised SF 424 Application for Federal Assistance and SF424(c )Budget. The following changes require a formal amendment to an approved NRCS agreement:i. Need for additional fundingii. Need to revise the objectives, deliverables, schedule, or key personnel of the agreementiii. Need to extend the period of performance; andiv. Need to de-obligate funds prior to the end of the performance period. 2. NRCS and the Recipient may mutually terminate this agreement upon reaching acceptable terms to terminate conditions. NRCS may terminate the agreement in its entirety should the Recipients request to terminate a portion of the project or objectives will compromise the agreements original purpose.3. This agreement may be temporarily suspended by NRCS if determined that corrective action by the Recipient is needed to fulfill the terms of the agreement. When the Recipient is delinquent in submitting deliverables or required reporting, NRCS will issue a suspension notice and set a final date by which the outstanding items must be received before one or more administrative action is required by NRCS:i. Make no further payments until all deliverables and reports are provided to the technical liaisonii. Make no new agreement with the Recipient or amend a monetary increase or time extension to the existing agreementiii. Make a site visit to determine whether the Recipient is violating other terms of agreementiv. Request the USDA Inspector General to make a special audit of the Recipient.4. NRCS may suspend the agreement until progress is brought into compliance with the agreed upon objectives and schedule. Payments withheld during the period of delinquency, if otherwise payable, shall be released when payments are resumed. If the items or an acceptable explanation is not received by the date identified in the suspension notice, the suspension shall be converted into a termination. 5. NRCS may terminate this agreement in whole or in part if NRCS determines the Recipient has failed to comply with any of the conditions of this agreement. NRCS shall promptly notify the Recipient in writing of the determination and reasons for the termination, together with the effective date. Payments made by or recoveries made by NRCS

Eligibility

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Parent Grant Program

Agency Contact

Key Dates