UMESC LOON STUDY B

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document is a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for commercial services to conduct "UMESC Loon Study B." The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) requires a contractor to provide labor, tools, materials, and supervision for surveying the presence/absence of common loons, locating nests, tracking nesting outcomes, and documenting chick survival across 27 territories in 12 lakes within Minnesota counties (Aitkin, Beltrami, Becker, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, and Itasca). The contractor may also be asked to survey additional lakes.

• Conduct weekly surveys of designated lakes from approximately May 20, 2026, to August 19, 2026.

• Provide data on adult common loon presence/absence, nest status, and chick presence/absence for each surveyed territory weekly.

• Provide specific data for each territorial survey: date/time, water conditions, cloud cover, visibility, and number of watercrafts.

• The government will not provide supplies, equipment, or vehicles; the contractor must provide these.

• Field personnel must have over 10 years of experience conducting wildlife surveys.

• Contract Type: Firm-Fixed Price

• Period of Performance: Approximately May 20, 2026, to August 19, 2026.

• Quotes and questions must be submitted via email to beth_wilson@ios.doi.gov.

• Closing date for quotes: May 18, 2026, at 1:00 PM EDST.

• Closing date for questions: May 14, 2026, at 1:00 PM EDST.

• Evaluation Criteria: Award will be made to the responsible offeror whose offer is most advantageous, considering price and other factors. The evaluation factors, in order of importance, are: Personnel Qualifications and Staffing Plan, Data Management/Quality Assurance/Reporting, Availability/Equipment/Logistics, and Past Performance. These four factors are of equal importance and more important than price.

• This acquisition is set aside for Small Businesses.

• NAICS Code: 541620 (Environmental Consulting Services)

• Size Standard: $19.0 Million in average annual receipts.

• Offerors must be current and active in the System for Award Management (SAM) at the time of award.

• Offerors must include their Unique Entity ID (UEI) number.

• This solicitation is prepared in accordance with FAR Subpart 12.6 and FAR Part 13 (Simplified Acquisition Procedures).

• A full survey effort will not be required the weeks of July 19 – August 1, 2026, though a small number of territories may be surveyed.

• Offerors should clearly denote any week(s) where they are not available to complete surveys.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a U.S. Department of Labor Wage Determination (No. 2015-4959, Revision 29) for the Service Contract Act. It establishes the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations in specific areas of Minnesota.

• Area: Minnesota Counties of Aitkin, Cook, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, Lake and Pine.
• Occupational Listings: Provides a detailed list of occupation codes, titles, and corresponding minimum hourly wage rates.
• Fringe Benefits: Indicates that fringe benefits are required and lists specific benefits and rates applicable to all listed occupations:
  • Health & Welfare: $5.55 per hour (or $222.00/week or $962.00/month).
  • Health & Welfare (EO 13706): $5.09 per hour (or $203.60/week or $882.27/month) for SCA-covered contracts also covered by EO 13706.
  • Vacation: 2 weeks after 1 year, 3 weeks after 5 years, 4 weeks after 15 years.
  • Holidays: A minimum of twelve paid holidays per year.
• Executive Orders: Notes applicability of Executive Order 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and Executive Order 13658 (Minimum Wage).
• Hazardous Pay Differential: Details an 8% differential for high-hazard positions and a 4% differential for low-hazard positions involving ordnance and explosives.
• Uniform Allowance: Outlines requirements for furnishing and maintaining uniforms.
• Conformance Process: Describes the process for requesting authorization of additional classifications and wage rates not listed in the determination.

This wage determination is crucial for bidders responding to solicitations that fall under the Service Contract Act. It dictates the minimum labor costs that must be factored into proposals for the specified occupations and geographic area. Bidders must ensure their proposed wages and benefits meet or exceed these requirements to be compliant.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is a U.S. Department of Labor Wage Determination (2015-4955, Revision 31) outlining the minimum wage rates and fringe benefits required for various occupations in the state of Minnesota. It is intended to inform contractors of the prevailing wages that must be paid to employees working on federal service contracts in the specified geographic areas.

• Geographic Area: The determination applies to specific counties in Minnesota: Becker, Beltrami, Cass, Clearwater, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Red Lake, Roseau, Wadena, and Wilkin.
• Occupational Listings: Provides a comprehensive list of job titles (e.g., "Accounting Clerk," "Automotive Worker," "Nurse Assistant," "Electrician") with corresponding minimum hourly wage rates.
• Fringe Benefits: Details required fringe benefits, including Health & Welfare ($5.55 per hour or $222.00 per week) and specific provisions for Executive Order 13706 (Paid Sick Leave).
• Executive Orders: Includes notes on the applicability of Executive Order 13706 (Paid Sick Leave) and Executive Order 13658 (minimum wage rate adjustments).
• Footnotes: Explains specific conditions, such as the inapplicability of the determination to exempt computer professionals and provisions for night/Sunday pay for air traffic controllers and weather observers.

This document is crucial for bidders to understand the labor costs associated with performing services in the specified Minnesota counties. Bidders must ensure their proposed wages and fringe benefits meet or exceed these minimum requirements to be compliant with federal regulations. Failure to comply can lead to contract violations. The document also outlines processes for conforming classifications not explicitly listed.