Notice of Intent to Sole Source to White Cloud Preserves for Site Access & Support

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), Cold Regions Research Laboratory (CRREL) intends to award a contract on a sole source basis White Clouds Preserves, Inc. upon the basis of the authority provided at FAR 13.106-1(b). ERDC-CRREL requires land irrigation support and site access at the White Clouds Preserve (WCP) in Clayton, Idaho on the East Fork of the Salmon River for the next three years.

The CRREL has collected preliminary soil and remote sensing data at this site and requires continued access at the site to extend these research observations for the current and next two (2) years. The Government shall only contract directly with the outfitter and the outfitter shall not subcontract this work.

Specifications: Under this action CRREL requires WCP field support, scheduled irrigation, and onsite access to advance the research project as follows:

WCP Irrigation Support - The contractor shall provide CRREL with operational pivot irrigation systems. Maintenance, electrical, and water services shall be upkept as well as water usage scheduling to meet the needs of the CRREL research. Site Access - The contractor shall provide site access support to CRREL during the funded period of this task.

CRREL will require access passes for up to 10 CRREL personnel (High Demand User / Special Use Permit), for an unlimited number of trips per year for instrumentation installation and maintenance, data collection, data hosting, and personnel site access. CRREL personnel shall be allowed site access during all seasons, with specific dates agreed by WCP and CRREL. WCP shall provide one site access training session.

Onsite Support and Access Pass to Field Site: Access passes for up to ten (10) CRREL personnel (High Demand User / Special Use Permit), for unlimited trips per year. Assistance for CRREL to transport equipment onsite tractor, truck, or machinery as needed. Provision of one site access training per season. White Clouds Preserve, Inc. has been identified as the only source capable of fulfilling the Government’s requirement.

White Cloud Preserve, Inc (WCP) was identified as the custodian of the research site and capable of providing the necessary access to permit scientific exploration on privately controlled land and support within the projects specified timeline. Due to the unique scientific exploration access and support required, White Cloud Preserve, Inc is deemed the only provider reasonably capable of fulfilling the Government's requirements. This Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive quotations.

However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. Any interested party that believes they can fulfill this requirement should submit a capability statement to be reviewed. All submissions will be considered, however there is no guarantee that submissions in response to this notice will in any way alter the Government's acquisition strategy.

Responses to this notice shall be submitted NLT 12:00 PM CDT, 18 June 2024 to Melodie.Y.Fisher@@usace.army.mil Telephone responses will not be accepted. Responses to this notice will not be considered as a response to any solicitation, a request to be added to a prospective offerors list, or to receive a copy of any solicitation. A determination by the Government not to compete the contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

Note: In order to be eligible for award of a Government contract, vendors must be actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), have no active exclusions, and complete the FAR and DFARS representations and certifications.