New plot management including herbicide application

\n\nDepartment Office/Division/Program: | Inland Fisheries & Wildlife\nDepartment Contract Administrator or\nGrant Coordinator: | Karen Estabrook\n\n(If applicable) Department Reference #:\n\nAmount:\n(Contract/\u2019Amendment/Grant) $ $30,000.00 | Advantage CT /RQS#:\n\nCONTRACT Proposed Start Date: | 5/1/2024 Proposed End Date: | 9/30/2024\n| Original Stat Date: | \u2014 | STASI\nAMENDMENT Previous EndDate: | | NewEndDte: | |\nProject Stat Date: | | GrantSart Date: | |\nN Projeet EndDte | | SrantEnddte:\n\nCity, State: | Groton, VT\nBrief Description of | Food plot management including herbicide application\nGoods/Services/Grant: | on two WMAs in one Administrative Region\n\nPART Il: JUSTIFICATION FOR VENDOR SELECTION\nCheck the box below for the justification(s) that applies to this request. (Check all that apply.)\n\na] A common m] ccm\n0 | 8. Amenment | H. State Statute/Agency Directed\n| \u00a9. Single Source/Unique Vendor | | l. Federal Agency Directed\n\n| 0 | _D.

Proprietary/Copyright/Patents | J. Willing and Qualified\na Emm |\n\n3] OF. Une Oooperive Pr |\n\nK. Client Choice\n\nL. Other Authorization\n\nREV 11/9/2023 Page 1 0f 3\n" "DocuSign Envelope ID: E6F76C55-09D9-4E49-8609-7782DAB113E0\nProcurement Justification Form (PJF)\n\nPlease respond to ALL of the questions in the following sections.\nPART Ill: SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION\n\n1. Provide a more detailed description and explain the need for the goods, services or grant to\nsupplement the response in Part |.\nThree fields at the Page Farm WMA and one field at the Bud Leavitt WMA are managed as food plots. Work\nincludes liming and fertilizing twice (late spring and late summer), three mowing entries, and an additional\nherbicide application on the first entry to combat competing vegetation. Replanting is conducted as needed.\nFood plot establishment is a wildlife habitat practice that is growing in popularity with the public. They are\nextremely beneficial to a wide variety of wildlife species including pollinators, gamebirds, and large\nmammals. Department WMAs also serve as demonstration areas for the public.\n2. Provide a brief justification for the selected vendor to supplement the response in Part Il.\nReference the RFP number, if applicable.\nThe Department has contracted with the vendor since the beginning of the project over ten years\nago. Therefore, he has an intimate knowledge of the work done to date. This long-term working\nrelationship is a valuable asset to have. Unique qualifications include:\nSoil micronutrient management: matching the soil needs to specific herbaceous forage mixture and\nincluding site preparation and seeding rates. Vendor has years of experience working with food\nplot development and maintenance in several northeastern states and a wide variety of habitat\ntypes. The vendor has all the necessary equipment including several types of tractors and related\ntractor implements. A specific list of equipment is available on request.\n\n3. Explain how the negotiated costs or rates are fair and reasonable; or how the funding was\nallocated to grantee.\n\nThe vendor (contractor) when completing wildlife habitat work for the Department considers it as an officially\nsubsidized NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Service) practice. Rates are based on % of current fair\nmarket value which equals 25% savings. The contractor is also a Whitetail Institute dealer and can\npurchase seed at 65% of cost (this is the seed that was used to establish the food plots and should continue\nto be used). Savings are therefore passed on to the Department. The contractor is charging the\nDepartment an average of $200.00 less per acre.\n\n4. Describe the plan for future competition for the goods or services.\n\nThe Department is not aware of any other vendor that can do all the work required and in all the locations at\nthe reduced cost available and has all the equipment necessary. Should other vendors become available\nand can be competitive in cost, quality, and knowledge of the work, the Department would consider their\nservices.\n\nPART IV: AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) / MAINE JOBS & RECOVERY PLAN (MJRP)\n\nDoes this request utilize ARPA/MJRP funds?\nOD Yes, MJRP funds (023) - If Yes, please attach the approved Business Case(s).\n\nREV 11/9/2023 Page 2 0f3\n\n" "DocuSign Envelope ID: E6F76C55-09D9-4E49-8609-7782DAB113E0\nProcurement Justification Form (PJF)\n\nOD Yes, ARPA funds (025) - If Yes, please be aware of the requirements from awarding federal\nagencies.\n\nNo - If No, proceed to Part V.\n\nPART V: APPROVALS\n\nThe signatures below indicate approval of this procurement request.\n\nSignature of requesting | _.usnaany:\nDepartment's Commissioner | JH, A (amuso\n(or designee): E\n\nTe\n\nSignature of DAFS DocuSigned by:\nProcurement Official: Kehl, Pagudde\n\n41C2BAS6FAFA4ACD...\n\nREV 11/9/2023 Page 3 0f 3\n"