The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Contracting and General Services in Falls Church, VA intends to award a purchase order to the Government of Canada, 5421 Robertson Road, Delta, DC, V4K3N2, Canada, to study the abundance of breeding waterfowl inhabiting the central Interior Plateau of central British Columbia. Annually, waterfowl population estimates from Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California (1990 to present) are used in a harvest strategy assessment for western mallards to inform decisions about appropriate duck harvest regulations in the Pacific Flyway portion of the United States. The Contractor shall furnish the necessary personnel, material, equipment, and services to conduct a survey and produce statistically valid estimates of the abundance of breeding waterfowl inhabiting the Interior Plateau of central British Columbia. The area to be surveyed includes eight ecosections (Babine Upland, Bulkley Basin, Cariboo Basin, Chilcotin Plateau, Nazko Upland, Nechako Lowland, Quesnel Lowland, Western Chilcotin Upland) covering a total of 11 million hectares. The survey is to be conducted in May via helicopter using procedures found in the Standard Operating Procedures for Aerial Breeding Ground and Habitat Survey (Canadian Wildlife Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1987). The product from the survey is data (geo-referenced counts of waterfowl along established transects) necessary to calculate a statistically-based population estimate for breeding waterfowl in the survey area. This requirement will be a Base Year plus two Option Years. The proposed contract is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b). All responsible sources may identify their interest and capability for this requirement by responding to this announcement. All proposals received within fifteen days after date of publication of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Point of Contact(s): Sarah DeLawder - [email protected]

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