USDA, Forest Service, 100 West Capitol Street, Suite 1141, Federal Building, Jackson, MS 39269

C -- LANDLINE LOCATION AND REFURBISHMENT AND TOPOGRAPHIC AND CONTROL SURVEY WORK SOL FS-WOC-99-410 DUE 120498 POC Contracting Section, 601/965-4391, Ext. 127, Contracting Officer Julia Cain The Mississippi National Forests plan to contract approximately 800 miles of landline refurbishment and 20 to 40 miles of landline location work and topographic and control survey work associated with a 1000 acre lake project in Franklin County, MS. between December, 1998 and December, 2000. The survey work will be state-wide. This year we are requesting your SF-254 and SF-255 forms only once rather than requiring a separate form on each job. Based upon the established criteria, the evaluation process will select a "pool" of three or four best qualified firms. There will be two pools selected, one for the northern and one for the southern portions of the state. The northernmost line of Issaquena County, MS, will be the dividing line. The northern area contains the Holly Springs National Forest and the Tombigbee National Forest. The southern area contains the Delta National Forest, the Bienville National Forest, the Homochitto National Forest, and the De Soto National Forest. Interested firms should indicate, with their submitted SF-255 form, the area or areas for which they wish consideration. Negotiations will be held during the year to secure individual projects based on priority needs and the availability of project funds. Projects will range in size from 15-200 miles for landline refurbishment and similar work, and from 0.25 -- 12 miles for landline location and monumentation work. As the vast majority of individual projects to be acquired under the process are estimated to be less than $50,000 in value, individual procurements are reserved for Emerging Small Business Development Program established by Public Law 100-656. An Emerging Small Business for these purposes, is a concern, including its affiliates, whose average annual gross receipts for the preceding three fiscal years do not exceed $2.50 million. The Business Size Representation and Certifications will be obtained prior to individual negotiations. To be considered for this work, a firm must have in its employ a Mississippi Registered Professional Surveyor, and said surveyor is to be in responsible charge of all work awarded to said firm. A geographic area of consideration is established as a firm having a main or fully staffed field office within 100 air miles of the Administrative (Acquisition) boundary of the National Forests in Mississippi. The "Short List" will consist of a minimum of three of the highest ranked firms in each geographical area responding to this prospectus and will comprise the "Pool" for each area (Northern and Southern). Selection of the "Pools" will be determined by an evaluation process based upon the following criteria. Your SF-255 form should SPECIFICALLY address these areas. The significant evaluation factors are as follows: (1) The firm's capacity, technical competence and qualifications for satisfactory performance of the project. (2) Specialized qualifications and experience of key personnel including technical skills, project coordination, and management skills. (3) Past performance on contracts performed in rural, wooded terrain similar to the project areas, with Government agencies and/or private firms in terms of cost control, quality of work, and compliance with performance schedules. (4) Knowledge of local surveying history and practices, records repositories, and land ownership patterns. (5) Proximity of the firm to the local project area. Selection from the "Pool" for negotiation of individual projects will be based upon the following criteria: (1) Proximity to the general geographical area of the project and specific knowledge of that particular locality. (2) Volume and nature of the firm's current workload previously awarded by the Forest Service will be considered, with the objective of effecting an equitable distribution of the contracts among qualified firms, including minority disadvantaged firms. (3) Knowledge of Mississippi surveying historical practices in a particular geographical area. To be considered, interested parties are to submit an SF-254 (Architech-Engineer and Related Services Questionnaire) and SF-255 (Architech-Engineer and Related Services Questionnaire for Specific Project). Individual Purchase Orders (AD-838) will be issued at the conclusion of successful individual negotiations for a particular area. Closing date for SF-254 and SF-255: December 4, 1998. Estimated Contract Time: Varies with individual project requirements. Should you have any questions please contact Julia B. Cain at 601/965-4391, Ext. 127, or C.B. Reed at 601/965-5516, Ext. 163. NO COLLECT CALLS. Posted 11/06/98 (W-SN269250). (0310)

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