Wildland Fire Support at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico | W9126G 20 2 SOI 1578

Opportunity Information: Apply for W9126G 20 2 SOI 1578

The Wildland Fire Support at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number W9126G-20-2-SOI-1578) is a Department of Defense notice issued through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, to identify qualified partners who can support the U.S. Air Force with wildland fire-related work at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. Rather than requesting full technical proposals up front, the agency is first collecting short Statements of Interest (SOIs) to screen for the best-qualified investigators or teams. The selected respondent(s) may later be invited to submit a full study proposal and budget.

The effort is tied to the Air Force Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) and is intended to help the installation meet its obligations under the Sikes Act (16 USC 670c-1), which supports conservation and rehabilitation of natural resources on military lands. For the initial 12-month base period, the government anticipates about $767,000 in available funding, with the possibility of additional funds for extra tasks or follow-on work in later years. The structure is a cooperative agreement (not a standard procurement contract), reflecting the Sikes Act authority for the military to partner with states, local governments, tribes, non-governmental organizations, and individuals. The notice indicates the award is expected to be made through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) program, using the CESU Network indirect cost rate (17.5%) when mutually agreed and officially authorized by both parties.

Eligibility is a key constraint: applicants must be non-federal partners in the CESU program, with emphasis on the Rocky Mountains CESU Region. In practical terms, this means only organizations already affiliated with CESU as non-federal partners are considered eligible for this particular cooperative agreement pathway.

The anticipated work centers on professional and technical support for Kirtland AFB wildland fire program activities and is organized around three main objectives. First, the partner would help properly plan and conduct prescribed burns and mechanical fuel reduction treatments, with a dual focus on reducing wildfire impacts and supporting recovery of fire-dependent threatened and endangered species. Second, the work includes environmental data management and applied analysis: assembling, editing, summarizing, analyzing, interpreting, and using environmental datasets to inform wildland fire management decisions on Air Force installations, specifically in service of natural resource conservation and rehabilitation goals. Third, a substantial portion of the scope emphasizes risk management and safety support for the Air Force Wildland Fire Branch (AFWFB). This includes preventing accidents, supporting critical incident stress management, reducing risks of loss of life (including suicide), and addressing overall health and wellness concerns for personnel.

The safety and risk management responsibilities described are broad and programmatic. The non-federal entity would be expected to help keep AFWFB compliant with relevant safety policies and standards across multiple frameworks (including NWCG, OSHA, NFPA, DoD, and Air Force requirements). The partner would represent AFWFB Headquarters on safety committees, support regional and module leadership, assist with policy formulation and implementation, interpret policy and guide field-level implementation, and coordinate with partners to maintain and train investigation policies and procedures for injuries and serious accidents. The scope also calls for building and running components of a training program and a safety, health, and wellness program, periodically serving as a duty officer, and producing recurring safety communications and products such as an annual safety plan/template, monthly safety messages, and quarterly safety reviews.

In terms of period of performance, the planned base year is 12 months from the award date, with up to four additional 12-month option years, contingent on available funding. While the base year funding estimate is provided, the total potential multi-year value is not specified, since option years depend on appropriations and government need.

For the initial submission, the government only wants a concise SOI (maximum two pages, single-spaced, 12-point font) submitted by email. The SOI must include basic organizational identifiers and contact information (name, organization, CAGE code, DUNS number, and email contact). It must also include a brief qualifications package consisting of a biographical sketch, relevant past projects and clients with short descriptions, the staff/faculty/students available and their expertise, and any additional capability statements such as access to specialized equipment or facilities (lab, greenhouse, or field capabilities). Importantly, the notice explicitly states that a full study proposal and proposed budget are not requested at the SOI stage, and selection for invitation to submit a proposal will be based on demonstrated experience and capabilities aligned to the stated objectives.

The review process is described as an internal evaluation by a board of one or more individuals at the receiving installation or activity. After comparing SOIs against the program objectives and the investigators specific experience, the government will invite the most suitable respondent(s) to prepare a full proposal. The SOI submission and questions are directed to Alisa Marshall (Contract Specialist) at alisa.marshall@usace.army.mil and Sarah Miller (Project Manager) at sarah.j.miller2@usace.army.mil, with telephone numbers provided in the notice. The announcement was posted January 17, 2020, with a closing date of February 17, 2020, and the agency indicated SOI reviews would begin on February 17, 2020, after the minimum 30-day posting period.

• The Department of Defense, Fort Worth District in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Wildland Fire Support at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.005.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jan 17, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 17, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $767,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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