Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attn: CGS, Arlington Square Building, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 212, Arlington, VA 22203

F -- DATA GATHERING AND ANALYSIS IN CONDUCTING ECONOMIC STUDIES!! SOL 14-48-98210-00-R010!! POC Claudia L. Speakes-Harbour/703-358-1909 E-MAIL: Contracting Officer, claudia_speakesharbour@fws/gov. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) plans to issue a Request for Offer (RFO) to the firm identified below. The purpose of this proposed procurement is to support the Division of Economics by providing economic analyses in support of Service programs and initiatives. The Government requires expert assistance with litigation support activities in the area of economic analysis for program responsibilities in such areas as natural resources damage assessments, hyropower licensing, and endangered species critical habitat designation. Over the next ten years, the FWS will be involved in reviewing and providing comments on more than 450 hydropower relicensing applications. Economic analyses and other litigation activities will be required to support FWS claims for mitigation for lost habitat services during Federal Energy Regulatory Commission hearings. In addition, the FWS will continue to be involved in natural resources damage assessment claims and endangered species analyses, both of which involve litigation support economic analyses. The FWS intends to purchase the services from Industrial Economics, Inc. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c)(3), as implemented by FAR 6.302-3(a)(2)(iii), to acquire the services of expert or neutral person for any current or anticipated litigation or dispute. The statutory authority is based upon the following: Need for Natural Resources Economic Damage Assessment Experience -- As a major participant in natural resources economic damage assessment studies and litigation cases since 1990, IEC possesses unique levels of background information and experience that will be applied to a variety of FWS programs. Furthermore, the demonstrated ability to guard the confidentiality of Government records and strategies is essential to the successful performance of this contract. IEC has developed analysis tools over the past 14 years that cover junior and senior level economists skilled in natural resource damage assessment,regional and national economic impact assessment, and natural resource valuation. Need for Experience in Testimony and Trial Support -- Experience in testifying in a variety of regulatory and litigation settings, and participation in numerous presentations to government agency personnel and the public. In addition, experience in witness preparation, case strategy development, and the deposition of expert witnesses brought by defendants in courts cases. The FWS requires that any contractor doing litigation analyses for the Government cannot also accept contract work for the industry that is the subject of Government litigation in order to ensure neutrality. History of on-time performance for many of the economic analyses required under this contract will have strict deadlines imposed by Federal Courts and other legal processes. A history of timely performance is essential to the Government for these analyses. Based on in-house knowledge of natural resources economics practioners, IEC is the only cost effective company with the depth of experience in litigation quality analyses that has never worked for industrial clients that are the subject of Federal Government litigation actions. In addition, they have sufficient experienced staff to handle the multiple tasks required by the Government. Need for specialists in natural resource economic damage assessment -- IEC staff are recognized as leaders in their respective fields which covers related technical disciplines which includes expert natural resource economics issues. Need for knowledge of and experience with statutes and regulations including but not limited to the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, and the Clean Water Act. Interested firms have 15 days from the publication of this synopsis to submit in writing to the identified point of contact, their qualifications/capabilities fully addressing all the requirements above. All qualified responsible sources may submit an offer which shall be considered by the agency. Such qualifications/capabilities will be used solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government to not compete this proposed effort on a full and open competitive basis, based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Requests merely asking for a copy of the RFO will not be honored. Unless a determination is made to issue a competitive solicitation, this notice will constitute the Governments only communication of this requirement. If a subsequent competitive solicitation is issued, notice will be published in accordance with FAR. See Note 22. Posted 10/26/99 (W-SN395199). (0299)

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