The U.S Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District (CEMVN), seeks to purchase Cypress/Tupelo Gum Swamp (hereinafter "Swamp") mitigation bank credits located in the Barataria Basin watershed, as specified below, to compensate for unavoidable habitat losses associated with the construction of the New Orleans to Venice (NOV), Louisiana Project within the Louisiana Coastal Zone (CZ). As part of CEMVN's plan to mitigate for unavoidable impacts to CZ Swamp habitat associated with the construction of the NOV Project, CEMVN will purchase Swamp mitigation bank credits able to mitigate CZ impacts [Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (LDNR) approved] in the Barataria Basin. The bank(s) from which credits will be purchased will be selected through a competitive solicitation/award process. Any mitigation bank meeting the eligibility requirements and having the appropriate resource type of credits may submit a proposal to sell credits. CEMVN may enter into one or more contracts to purchase the amount of credits necessary to meet the CEMVN's need at the time of purchase; however, CEMVN may purchase a lesser quantity of credits than it requires. Additionally, the amount of credits purchased under this acquisition is also subject to the CEMVN's ability to effectively deliver other CEMVN missions. A separate contract shall be executed for each bank credit purchase. Award will be made based on the low-price, technically acceptable source selection process. 2. MITIGATION REQUESTED The CEMVN desires to acquire LDNR approved Swamp credits representing up to 15.7 Average Annual Habitat Units (AAHUs) to mitigate for impacts associated with construction of the NOV Project. All credit sales MUST be in 1/10th acre increments. 3. MITIGATION BANK ELIGIBILITY A mitigation bank must meet all of the following qualifications to be eligible to sell credits to satisfy the NOV Project mitigation requirements. For the proposal to be considered responsive and for the offeror to be considered responsible, the mitigation bank shall: o be approved by CEMVN and in full compliance with its Mitigation Banking Instrument (MBI), its other legal instruments (such as its conservation servitude and its financial assurances) and the standards set forth in 33 CFR Part 332; and o be physically located within the Barataria Basin, which is coextensive with Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 08090301; and o provide the habitat type that matches the habitat type being mitigated; and o have mitigation credits assessed using version 1.0 of the Swamp Wetland Value Assessment (WVA) Community Model available to compensate for the impacts to the particular habitat to be mitigated; and o have a duly-recorded perpetual conservation servitude/easement. Models used for Civil Works projects are required to be certified by Headquarters USACE Model Certification Panel and comply with the certification criteria presented in EC 1105-2-412. Version 1.0 of the WVA Swamp Community Model has been certified and was used to assess construction impacts. Accordingly, this model will be used to assess compensatory mitigation credit values. To facilitate the solicitation process, CEMVN, in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has run version 1.0 of the WVA on the approved banks in the Barataria Basin with available LDNR approved Swamp credits based on information provided by the bank sponsors to CEMVN during the bank approval process and continuing compliance reviews. Requests for additional information as well as any questions pertaining to this solicitation shall be
submitted in writing via email to Quinton Hamm ( quinton.b.hamm@usace.army.mil) and
Christopher M. Nuccio (christopher.m.nuccio@usace.army.mil) before the deadline of 11:00 am
CST, 10 Aug, 2022
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