After a contracting and engineering review, the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USDA-FS) has determined that Richard Acree and ADA Inspections Nationwide, LLC, (ADAIN) has been selected to the Southern Research Station (SRS) shortlist pool of Architect and Engineering (A&E) firms for Region 8. Please see the map on the right. This award will be in effect from May 20, 2021 through April 30, 2024.

WHAT IS THE SHORT SELECTION DATABASE USED FOR?

The Short Selection database will be available for use by any USDA Contracting Officer to meet USDA-FS A&E requirements and to award contracts below $250,000 in all States and territories included within the USDA-FS SRS, Region 8. The SRS Region 8 of the Forest Service is a dynamic collection of lands that encompasses 13 states and Puerto Rico. The thirteen states include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

Region 8 within the Forest Service consists of 14 national forest units and two special units. With 1,695 developed recreation sites and 11,262 miles of trails, Southern National Forests are visited by more than 23 million people a year.

The Forest Service employs about 250 people at the Region 8 headquarters in Atlanta, and nearly 2,500 throughout the South. Acquisition support is provided from SRS Headquarters located in Asheville, NC and all files will be located at the SRS Headquarters.

National Forests in the Southern Region are managed to strike a balance between resource development and protecting wild places for recreation and wildlife. National Forests and Special Units in SRS Region 8 include:

• Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest

• Cherokee National Forest

• Daniel Boone National Forest

• El Yunque National Forest

• Francis Marion & Sumter National Forest

• George Washington and Jefferson National Forest

• Kisatchie National Forest

• Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area

• National Forests in Alabama

• National Forests in Florida

• National Forests in Mississippi

• National Forests in North Carolina

• National Forests and Grasslands in Texas

• Ouachita National Forest

• Ozark-St. Francis National Forest

• Savannah River

Examples of Projects

Examples of some of the types of work required includes but is not limited to; design of small warehouses and offices, laboratory repairs and renovations, historic preservation, renovations to improve energy efficiency and address safety concerns, energy audits and studies, design of photovoltaic and other renewable energy systems, green building construction and certification consultation, review and design of HVAC systems upgrades and replacements, bridges, roads and trails, design of repairs to small dams and impoundments, review and design of electrical systems, construction inspection, drafting services, surveying (construction and property), overall facility condition assessments, geotechnical investigation, and environmental investigations, reviews, inventories, audits and coordination of waste disposal.

There is an average of 40 firms listed in our database each year. On an annual basis, an average of twenty requirements are expected to be executed using this database, throughout all states covered.

WHAT IS THE SHORT SELECTION PROCESS?

For A&E projects with an estimated total fee under the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (currently $250,000) agencies may review current data files for eligible A&E firms, perform a technical review and evaluation to determine the three (3) most highly qualified firms, and have discussions with the three (3) firms to determine the best qualified firm for that particular project. A price proposal will then be requested from the highest technically rated firm. If a reasonable price cannot be negotiated, discussions will be held with the second best qualified firm, and so on. A&E data files will be maintained by State and NAICS code. The A&E's ability to provide licensed professionals in the State/Territory where the project is located (FAR 36.602-1(a)(1) and the firm's geographic proximity and knowledge of the local area (FAR 36.602-1(a)(5)) as identified on the A&E's SF330 and supplemental information, will be used for the first preliminary screening of firms when a large list of potential firms exist.

All acquisitions utilizing this short selection database shall be set-aside for small business concerns only. The database is set up with filters for State, Zip Code, NAICS Codes, Small Business Size, and Small Business Socio-Economic Classification.

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ADA Inspections Nationwide, LLC, offers ADA/ABA/FHA accessibility compliance inspections for buildings and facilities, as applicable to the different laws, and expert witness services with respect to ADA/ABA/FHA laws for facility owners, tenants and managers. Also, ADAIN offers consulting for home modifications as a CAPS consultant for people wishing to age in place in their homes. For a complete list of services please see ADAIN Services.

Thank you.