Notice of Intent to Sole Source Veterinary and Rehabilitative Services for The Old Guard Caisson Horses

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

Veterinary and Rehabilitative Services for The Old Guard Caisson Horses at Contractor Owned/Contractor Operated Facility

The U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command intends to negotiate a contract on a sole source basis for veterinary and rehabilitative services for The Old Guard Caisson horses to be performed at a contractor owned/contractor operated equine facility. The services consist of equine facilities maintenance, rehabilitation services, and draft horse finishing. In conjunction with the facilities requirements, a staff is required to provide training, conditioning, rehabilitative services for horses as the enhanced interim solution. The facility not only provides a place to quarantine, train, and integrate new horses into the caisson herd, it also provides a place to rest, condition, and rehabilitate current horses in the herd under the watchful eye of an established and experienced team. The civilian staff and expertise will work closely with the Army, so that the horses will receive the consistency of care needed to maintain readiness to support caisson operations in Arlington National Cemetery (ANC). The civilian staff is able to provide the needed equine expertise to get well faster and alleviates as much of the burden on Soldiers as possible by shifting the day-to-day chores of running a facility to a civilian work force familiar with running an equine facility. Facility must be within 50 miles of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, VA.

Contractor shall provide and maintain 35 stalls minimum, 12ft x 12ft preferred size 14ft x 14ft, wash stalls, minimum of one indoor/one outdoor (indoor hot/cold water and heat lamps). Climate controlled tack room required and large enough to accommodate 35 horses. Outdoor training arena approximate size 200ft x 100ft with high quality footing and ability to accommodate 12 horses at one time with dusk control measures. Indoor training arena minimum 200ft x 100ft with indoor lighting, high quality sand and fiber footing; dust mitigation; and rider safety guards installed on the outer edges. Provide a covered exercise walker that accommodate a minimum of six horses; walker must have auto reverse, variable speed setting, electrified separation panels, and rubber crumble footing. Pasture/turnout area a minimum of 30 acres separated into dry turnout lots and grass paddocks of various sizes (half of acre to 3 acres). Dry lots must be approximately 24ft x 40ft with 8ft separation between other dry lots. Dry lots will not be any smaller than 12ft x 12ft. Pastures shall have adequate drainage. Provide run-in shelters four larger grass paddocks; must have three sides/walls, roof, and able to accommodate horses 17 hands or taller. Provide a clean potable water source to include measures to prevent pipe freeze. Must provide hay storage. If hay storage is indoors there must have a fire suppression system and able to store enough hay for 35 horses for one month. Provide equine fencing of wood posts and rails (3 or 4 acceptable) minimum height 54 inches. Synthetic fencing is acceptable as well. Provide lockable entry/exit points that can accommodate a trailer up to 53ft in length. Provide lodging and shower/bathroom to accommodate an overnight stay for a minimum of three soldiers.

The contractor will provide adequate staff to ensure the day-to-day operation of the facility is provided. Key positions include but are not limited to program manager, facility manager, barn manager, assistant barn manager, barn hands/grooms, horse riding instructors, horse carriage trainer, horse trainer (ground training/behaviorist). Total quantity of personnel and length of service will be determined by the contractor.

The statutory authority permitting Other than Full and Open Competition is 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1), as implemented by Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii), Only a limited number of responsible sources and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

This notice of intent is not a request for proposals or quotations and a solicitation will not be issued for this requirement. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency. Any responses or inquiries to this notice must demonstrate clear and convincing evidence that competition of this action will be advantageous to the Government. The Government will not pay for information submitted. A determination by the Government not to compete this procurement action, based on responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.

Responses to this notice are due by 1:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, 2 June 2023. Email responses to the Contracting Officer, LTC Matthew Wernert at matthew.e.wernert.mil@army.mil