PUBLIC NOTICE

REQUEST FOR proposals

FOR INVASIVE PLANT MANAGEMENT IN FORESTED AREAS

ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT,

FORESTRY DIVISION

The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), Forestry Division (Division) is seeking applications (Exhibit A) to address management of invasive plants on state, private, and public non-federal lands from Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMAs) where noxious weeds threaten forested acres.  Eligible Offerors are non-federal governmental entities involved with a CWMA, including tribal governments (as long as other federal money is not involved).  Successful Offerors shall be required to provide 50% matching funds.

This RFP’s primary goal is to increase local capacity to manage and prevent invasions of noxious weeds in forested areas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (Forest Service) has provided these funds specifically to address areas where invasive plants threaten forested acres.  Projects must emphasize prevention and treatment of invasive plants.  Projects that do not specifically target invasive plants threatening forested acres are not eligible for this funding.  Locally-driven CWMAs have been shown to be the best vehicles for implementing weed management programs.  Therefore, this program emphasizes the use of existing CWMAs or the creation of new CWMAs.

Projects must address any or all of the following:

• awareness and education;
• prevention and early detection;
• inventory and mapping;
• planning and coordination;
• integrated weed management; or
• monitoring and evaluation.

EMNRD has approximately $128,143 currently available for this project, with the possibility of additional funds being provided later, and may award multiple contracts as a result of this request for proposals (RFP).

EMNRD shall give the highest priority to programs that apply integrated management practices and demonstrate partnerships and monitoring results.  EMNRD shall link priority to the New Mexico Noxious Weed List, assigning higher priority according to classification in the noxious weed list, which can be found on the following link:

http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SFD/Publications/documents/weedlist2009_final.pdf

Regardless of the targeted weeds species, projects shall use an integrated weed management approach. 

Questions regarding this RFP shall be addressed to: 

                           Shannon Atencio,

                           Timber Management Officer/New Mexico Invasive Plants Program Manager

                           EMNRD, Forestry Division/Las Vegas District

                           HC 33 Box 109-4 

                           Las Vegas, New Mexico 87701

                           Telephone:  (505) 425-7472. 

For assistance specifically with noxious weed issues related to this RFP, contact Jim Wanstall with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture at (505) 269-7761.

Applications are available on the Forestry Division website, http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SFD/ ,under the “Grants/RFPs” tab.  Offerors may also contact Shannon Atencio to obtain application copies.  Applications must be filled out electronically, printed, signed, and mailed with attachments to Mrs. Atencio at the above address. 

Offerors shall submit one original and five copies of the application to the address above, no later than 4 p.m., MDT, December 7, 2012.  EMNRD shall not accept applications received after this date and shall make absolutely no exceptions for applications not received at the above location by the appointed time.  RFP responses MAY NOT be sent by facsimile or e-mail.

This public notice is given pursuant to NMSA 1978, Section 13-1-113.  The Procurement Code, NMSA 1978, Sections 13-1-28 through -199, imposes civil and criminal penalties for its violation.  In addition, New Mexico criminal statutes impose felony penalties for bribes, gratuities, and kickbacks.

More information: http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SFD/RFPs/RFPMain.html