International Institute of Tropical Forestry (IITF) Technical Support Services

Amendment / Modification

This amendment (0001) to solicitation 127EAV2600014, effective 05/04/2026, serves to post responses to vendor questions. These responses are provided in a separate .pdf file.

This amendment does not appear to modify specific sections of the original solicitation but rather provides supplementary information.

While the amendment itself does not explicitly extend deadlines, bidders should review the posted Q&A to ensure their proposals accurately address all requirements. It is important to acknowledge receipt of this amendment as per standard solicitation procedures.

Questions & Answers / Clarifications

This document provides responses to vendor questions regarding the "Technical and Program Support Forest Health and Protection" solicitation (127EAV26Q0014).

• New Requirement: The services are a new requirement for the Government.

• Proposal Submission: Proposals must be submitted electronically via email to the Contracting Officer (daavid.l.watson@usda.gov). Acceptable file formats are PDF and Microsoft Office-compatible. The Government requests proposal volumes be submitted as separate files, but combined submissions are acceptable if clearly organized.

• Evaluation Criteria: Technical factors, when combined, are significantly more important than price.

• Key Personnel & Support: The solicitation contemplates one Key Personnel position ("Forest Health Program and Training Specialist"). However, offerors are responsible for proposing any additional staffing, support, coordination, or resources necessary to accomplish all tasks and deliverables.

• Education Requirement: The Government does not intend to revise the Bachelor's degree requirement for the Key Personnel position.

• Travel: The Key Personnel will perform the majority of required travel. Offerors must include all anticipated travel-related costs (airfare, lodging, per diem, rental vehicles, mileage, etc.) in their proposals. Access to Government vehicles may be available based on availability.

• The due date for proposal submission will not be extended.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This solicitation seeks technical support services to strengthen forest health monitoring and stakeholder engagement in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The goal is to increase forest monitoring, provide technical support to the Forest Health and Protection (FHP) Program staff, and engage federal, state, and private stakeholders. The work supports the FHP Program's statutory requirements under the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 and the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2003.

• Goal 1: Forest Monitoring Support: Coordinate, execute, and report on field monitoring efforts, assist with field and desk record keeping, conduct desk research, and report on forest health trends in the U.S. Caribbean region.

• Goal 2: Develop Forest Health Goals & Understand Local Needs: Assess training needs, conduct stakeholder meetings, develop questionnaires, perform literature reviews, develop a Forest Health Training Curriculum, and organize/deliver two technical workshops.

• Goal 3: Sustain Working Relationships: Support an annual hybrid symposium, develop a report on symposium information, and hold quarterly stakeholder meetings.

• Technical Expertise: Requires knowledge of Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands flora, fauna, ecosystems, protected forests, and ecosystem services. Must be able to walk on irregular terrain carrying up to 25lb of equipment in hot/humid conditions.

• Key Personnel: A Master's degree-level "Forest Health Program and Training Specialist" is required, with experience in relevant fields, conducting interviews, building surveys, developing curriculums, and facilitating meetings in English and Spanish.

• Deliverables: Include monitoring reports, written trend reports, technical workshops, training needs assessments, curriculum development, symposium support, meeting minutes, and progress reports.

• Contract Type: Firm Fixed Price contract.

• Period of Performance: Base Year (12 months after award) with two 12-month option years.

• Delivery: 05/30/2027 (for the base year).

• Estimated Value: Not explicitly stated, but the solicitation is for a single award.

• Submission: Proposals are to be submitted in four volumes: Technical Approach (max 10 pages), Key Personnel (max 3 pages), Past Performance (max 3 pages), and Price.

• Evaluation: Quotations will be evaluated using comparative evaluation procedures (FAR 13.106-2) based on Technical Capability, Key Personnel, Past Performance, and Price. Award may be made to other than the lowest-priced quotation if technical advantages provide the most advantageous value.

• Key Deadlines: Offer Due Date: 05/18/2026 at 1300 ET.

• The acquisition is set aside for Small Business.

• NAICS Code: 541690 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services).

• Size Standard: $19 million.

• Government Furnished Equipment (laptop, mouse, keyboard, peripherals) will be provided. Access to government vehicles may be provided.

• The Service Contract Act applies, and a wage determination for Puerto Rico is included.