Inactive Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

1. Purpose of Acquisition The USDA Forest Service (USFS) is seeking to contract for delivery of a Decision Memo regarding work for the Nebletts Creek Forest Health and Wildlife Habitat improvement pro... 1. Purpose of Acquisition The USDA Forest Service (USFS) is seeking to contract for delivery of a Decision Memo regarding work for the Nebletts Creek Forest Health and Wildlife Habitat improvement project. This document will address the application of mechanical management treatments on approximately 4,400 acres of the Sam Houston Ranger District, National Forests & Grasslands in Texas. in San Jacinto County. The application of treatments will consider thinning consistent with the Forest Plan as well as mechanical and chemical treatments to manage understory vegetation to work towards the Desired Future Condition (DFC) as identified in the Forest Plan. Proposed management actions include: • Thinning to a basal area of approximately 50-70 feet squared per acre. To be accomplished by cutting trees by mechanical methods in selected stands. 2. Services to Be Completed The contractor shall provide all materials, labor, equipment, tools, transportation, supervision, and expertise necessary to successfully perform the tasks described in this Statement of Work (SOW). The contractor shall be required to have staff and/or sub-contractors available for this project with credentials and expertise in the fields of land resources, water resources, air resources, biotic resources, cultural resources, or any of the sciences pertaining to natural resources to perform the work and duties required to finish the project. The Contractor will provide sufficient evidence and analysis to determine whether the proposed action would require preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) or a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) to address hazardous fuels reduction treatments. All work shall be technically and legally defensible and in compliance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); the Council on Environmental Quality NEPA Regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508); the Department of Agriculture NEPA Regulations (36 CFR Part 220); and its NEPA Handbook; Forest Service National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Procedures and Guidance; Planning, Silviculture, and Fire Management- Prescribed Fire Forest Service Manuals, project-level pre-decisional administrative review process (36 CFR 218), Planning (36 CFR 219), the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and implementing regulations (50 CFR 402); the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) and implementing regulations (36 CFR 800); 516 Department Manual (DM), 25 CFR 162, 25 CFR 166, 25 CFR 167, and other applicable laws, policies, and regulations.