translation needed, please. Federalese to English

[Kali]

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=f66d62e4d7e5afccceaa3956c83dba0f&tab=core&_cview=0&cck=1&au=&ck=

specifically do they want somebody to build and maintain a facility or do they have one and actually want somebody to feed/care for horses. Do they need someone on-site all the time?

Anything else (relevant) you can tease out of that would be most appreciated.

thanks!

[county worker]

1. They have the facility, you take care of the horses I think,

I didn't read anything in the requirements about building anything. It says to take care of horses. That means feeding, clean up horse shit, exercising, grooming and working with the vet. I think that is what is required.

[Kali]

2. that is what I would think

you know, something you maybe pay some kid cash to do, not a job that reads like you need a freaking contract attorney to fill out the app!

[crispini]

5. It's not a job.

It's a request for a vendor. In other words, they don't intend to hire an employee, they want someone who already has some kind of horse-care small business to contract with them to take care of their horses. If you own or manage a stable or something like that you could apply, but probably not an individual who's just done some taking care of horses in the past.

[Kali]

7. it's damned unreadable to me

I think they have like 3 horses, at least I've only ever seen a single rider a couple of times in the last 10 years.

Seemed like it might be something one or more of my kids could do, but my god...
"Contractor must be currently registered in the Central Contractors Registration and provide DUNS numbers and TIN with quotation." and even worse:

The following provisions and clauses apply and may be accessed electronically at www.arnet.gov/far, www.farsite.hill.af.mil: 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors, Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items, 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications, Commercial Items (must be completed and submitted with the offer); 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions, Commercial Items; 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders, Commercial Items (including 52.219-6, 52.219-14, 52.219.28, 52.222-3, 52.222-19, 52.222-21, 52.222-26, 52.222-35, 52.222-36, 52.222-37, 52.222-39, 52.225-13, 232-33); 52.217-5, Evaluation of Options; 52.217-9, Option to Extend the Term of the Contract; 52.252-1, Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference; 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference; 252.212-7001, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Applicable to Defense Acquisitions of Commercial Items (including 52.203-3, 252.225-7001, 252.232-7003, 252.247-7023(iv)); and 252.204-7004.


:crazy: :wow: :wtf: :argh:

[crispini]

10. It's not something your kids can do.

Unless your kids own a small business already. Like I said, they're not looking for employees, they're looking for a contractor.

[Kali]

11. well we have two small businesses in the family

and one is a livestock operation, but I'm not jumping through those hoops to get the kids some paying work!

They are just stuck working for room and board here, I guess! no paperwork either:scared:

[crispini]

14. Well, one thing to consider,

it looks to me like once you get signed up as a government contractor in their system you can then use that to apply for other things. I don't know if there are other things around you but since you already have the small business set up, you might want to go for it. It would depend on how much it was going to be, of course!

Good luck! :)

[Ian David]

3. Does this help...

[Kali]

6. ...

:spray: :rofl:

[sinkingfeeling]

4. The catch is that each bidder or 'offeror' has to describe their "past performance

on similar contracts held within the last three years which are of a similar scope, magnitude and complexity to that which is detailed in this RFQ."

You'd have to know the number of animals and what 'equipment' and supplie you would be required to provide.

And RFQ stands for 'request for quote' which means they're hunting for vendors to bid on this contract.

Edit to add above.

[Kali]

8. probably want a contractor so they don't have to deal with as much paperwork as an employee

:eyes:

[gleaner]

9. They are looking for ...

a vendor, a small business to provide care to the horses. The vendor will be bidding to assume a contract with them. They want a business with prior experience in that area which can provide its own supplies. They are looking for three years of experience with recommendations and descriptions of performance to back it up. You get extra points toward winning their contract for past performances that are good. You lose points for past performances which are bad. If you have no experience their rating of your ability to assume their contract will be neutral. Like all government contracts this one requires the bidders to have the materials, procedures and other necessities in place when they make their bid. They are stating that this posted solicitation for bids on the contract will be the only solicitation and that there will be no further written solicitation by them to individual businesses. Potential vendors must follow up from this. They want the businesses to be listed with what appears to be a national registry of business which are eligible and meet their requirements. I am not familiar with the acronym of the registry. That would be part of the requirement that the potential vendor already have everything necessary to perform the work so that they would not have to provide supplies or training. They are very light on what duties they want the vendor to perform. I saw nothing specific at all. Perhaps you could get clarification on some of the issues by contacting whomever put the solicitation out, though I don't see any contact information.

My federal employment was as an individual employee, and I contacted the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) they may not be able to help with the specifics of this, but maybe they could tell you who you had to contact for clarification if you own a small business listed with the registry named and met the other qualifications. Other than than that, I don't know what to tell you to do or where to check. Good luck.

[Kali]

12. they are looking for way more than anybody around here is going to do

maybe some wannabe horsey person recently arrived from AZ will bother with it, but from what I have seen it will be a hell of a lot of paperwork for very little compensation - I should call and find out how many horses they have just for the hell of it. My hunch is NOT MANY.

[gleaner]

17. Good Idea ...

Ask how many horses and see if they will tell you what the heck they want the company they hire to do. Even for a government announcement that was full of doublespeak and the assumption that whomever read it would already know what it was.

I think the amount of compensation would be based on lowest bid. That used to be the way most government contracts were awarded. I don't know what happened after Bush. I retired when Clinton was still president.

But, good luck in whatever endeavor you choose to pursue.

[Kali]

13. ah found something more readable, sheesh!

Statement of Work (SOW)
Horse Caretaking Services for U.S. Border Patrol Tucson Sector
Willcox Station - Kansas Settlement Facility

BACKGROUND: The United States Border Patrol has used horses to patrol the border since its creation in 1924. The Tucson Sector’s currently has the largest Horse Patrol Unit in the entire U.S. Border Patrol. The men and women of the Tucson Sector Horse Patrol are tasked with patrolling approximately 262 linear miles of the most remote and inaccessible areas in the sector. The Willcox Border Patrol Station requires daily care of the horses at the Kansas Settlement location.

SCOPE: The Willcox Station requires a Contracted vendor to provide the labor, supervision, necessary equipment, supplies, training, and transportation to provide caretaking to approximately 10 to 15 horses that are owned by the U.S. Border Patrol at the Kansas Settlement facility. The number of horses may be subject to increase or decrease due to retirement or changes in the needs of the U.S. Border Patrol Tucson Sector.

APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS: Certification of the feed must be in line with the State of Arizona and the Arizona Crop improvement Association. The Contractor shall meet all applicable state and local regulations.

SPECIFIC TASKS: The Contractor will provide horse caretaking daily to approximately 10-15 horses located at the Willcox Station Kansas Settlement facility. The Horse caretaking must take place as outlined below:

The Contractor will feed horses twice daily.
The Contractor will feed horses in accordance with the directions of the Supervisory Border Patrol Agent responsible.
The Contractor must treat and clean minor abrasions and galls as instructed.
The Contractor will administer minor medications as well as maintenance.
The Contractor must provide general care and condition of the horses. This will include but not limited to the following duties:
Pick hooves daily
Brush horses daily
Wash horses as instructed and as weather permits.
Place horses in exercise area.
The Contractor will clean and maintain the corral area and stalls daily.
The Contractor must remove manure from the stalls daily and place in the contracted waste disposal container.
The Contractor must clean the feed bins daily.
The Contractor must clean the water trough and fill with fresh water daily as needed.
The Contractor must remove the trash from the corral area and stalls daily.
The Contractor will fill holes in the pens and may be required to spread sand in the pens as directed by the Supervisory Border Patrol Agent.
The Contractor must clean the horse trailers which must include:
The Contractor will clean the manure daily.
The Contractor will clean the rubber mats once a month.
The Contractor will clean the boards once a month.
The Contractor will dispose the manure in the contracted waste disposal container.
The Contractor will perform tack maintenance to ensure that all equipment is clean and serviceable.
The Contractor will maintain general common area of facility as well as feed area to an acceptable standard and to provide a safe and clean environment for the horses.
The Contractor must maintain a log for each horse which will include:
A log of any medication
Behavioral problems of the horse
A log of all prescribed services and activities
The Contractor must report any abnormalities to the Supervisory Border Patrol Agent.
The Contractor must maintain a daily maintenance log for the facility to include work performed and any problem encountered.

DELIVERABLES AND DELIVERY SCHEDULE:
Feed each horse 2 times a day
Pick Hooves Once a day
Brush each horse Once a day
Wash each horse As instructed and as weather permits
Clean corral area Daily
Dispose of Manure Daily
Clean feed bins Daily
Clean and fill the water troughs with water Daily
Remove manure from stalls Daily
Remove trash from corral area Daily
Clean rubber mats Once a month
Clean boards Once a month
Maintain a log and report all medication given, behavioral problems, and prescribed services and activities. Daily

GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED EQUIPMENT AND INFORMATION: The Government shall provide adequate space in a suitable area to care for the horses.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: The Contractor will care for the horses at:
Kansas Settlement - 3293 E. Kimzey Rd. Willcox, AZ 85643.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The period of performance for this effort shall be for a twelve (12) month period from date of award.

SECURITY: During all operations on Government premises, the contractor’s personnel shall comply with the rules and regulations governing the conduct of personnel and the operation of the facility. The Contractor shall not enter any area to which access is restricted unless specifically authorized in writing by the designated POC.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:
Point of Contact for this effort is: John Duenes
2430 S. Swan Rd., Tucson, AZ 85711 Tel: [phone]

The Contractor will mail a copy of the invoice to the POC and a copy to:
U.S. Border Patrol, Tucson Sector HQ’s
C/O Rich Miderski
2430 S. Swan Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85711

[ddeclue]

15. They have the facilities

looks like you have to provide the food, veterinary care, tools, etc.

[galileoreloaded]

16. THAT is a $250,000 contract that ARAMARK will get, not a local...

That is fat cash right there.

See, Federal contracting is gamed heavily by the big boys in everything from concessions to construction. Diapers to defense.

I got smoked by a billion dollar Canadian company on a construction job ( you know, shovel ready and all) that would have saved my company last summer on a "American Reinvestment and Recovery Act" project in a national park.

The Friday before, after the contracts had been signed and we were getting ready to get on the road on Monday, the called and said "forget it". Seems they had heavy equipment operators from Canada that were already sponsored and close by, so they did it in house.

Without serious financial backing, an average person will never get a contract of any real relevance, certainly not this one. That is why the FEDS pay so much more for similar (at least in construction)work as the states, there are a select few who can meet the quals, and they keep the margins high.

Well, off to buy cat food.....Mom's gotta eat!!