Straight from the Horse's Heart
The BLM, with Dean Bolstad as the Program Office Point of Contact (POC), continues to waste tax dollars on experimentation on wild horses & burros, which is a clear violation of the Wild Free Roaming Horse & Burro Act of 1971. The BLM is NOT protecting wild horses when it uses them for experimentation (under the guise of “research”).
This is going to be done ON THE RANGE. They will trap the wild horses & burros and do the experimentation IN THE FIELD. The BLM is creating NON-REPRODUCING HERDS, which leads to EXTINCTION. Most wild horse & burro herds are ALREADY NON-VIABLE.
The BLM has been gelding for a long time. They already have the methods. They already have chemical and surgical ways to sterilize/use contraception.
The BLM is doing this experimentation while they continue ongoing bait-trapping and helicopter roundups, without accountability or public access.
The BLM is using the word “RESEARCH” as a coverup. Notice the solicitation below is open-ended (there are no time or number limitations). So how many wild horses and burros, and what herds, will be subjected as part of this experimentation? It could be all of them.
STATEMENT OF PROGRAMMATIC INVOLVEMENT (SPI)
For a Proposed Financial Assistance Agreement (AA)
1. Title and Description:
A. Proposed Name or Title of Project/Program:
Request for Information – WILD HORSE and BURRO STERILIZATION or CONTRACEPTION: DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNIQUES AND PROTOCOLS
B. Description of Project/Program.
This Request for Information invites research project ideas aimed at refining techniques and establishing protocols for the permanent sterilization or contraception of either male or female wild horses and/or burros in the field. While these projects would be conducted in a controlled environment, the final goal of this work would be to apply the refined sterilization or contraception techniques to free-roaming animals on the range, so please keep that environment in mind when presenting ideas. Any sterilization or contraceptive method, including surgical, chemical, pharmaceutical, or mechanical (such as IUDs) approaches, will be considered (with the exception of surgical castration).
We are particularly interested in the following components of a potential protocol:
1. The logistics of the full procedure as applied in wild horses and burros: a) pre-operative procedures, b) restraint techniques required, c) sedation and anesthesia protocols, d) the method of sterilization or contraception, e) post-operative care required, f) recovery time and follow-up
2. Animal welfare and practitioner safety considerations (due to the wild nature of these animals on the range)
3. Expected efficacy and duration of sterilization or contraception
4. Anticipated effects on the health of mares or jennies: What are the limitations that the stage of gestation may place on the procedure? Can the procedure be conducted on pregnant mares? Will the procedure cause miscarriage in pregnant mares?
5. Projected approximate cost of the refined procedure per animal as applied in the field
6. Approximate total budget required to implement the research project idea
2. Legislative Authority that authorizes BLM to enter into this AA:
A. Specific legislative authority for this project/program?
Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, Public Law 92-195, as amended, Section 1336 and Section 1333.b.2.iv.B
B. How does the legislative authority apply?
The Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burros Act of 1971 specifies the following:
§ 1333(b)(1). Powers and duties of Secretary
(1) The Secretary shall maintain a current inventory of wild free-roaming horses and burros on given areas of the public lands. The purpose of such inventory shall be to: make determinations as to whether and where an overpopulation exists and whether action should be taken to remove excess animals; determine appropriate management levels of wild free-roaming horses and burros on these areas of the public lands; and determine whether appropriate management levels should be achieved by the removal or destruction of excess animals, or other options (such as sterilization, or natural controls on population levels).
3. Principal Purpose:
A. What is the principal purpose of this proposed project/program, what is the support or stimulation, i.e., how does the public benefit from this project?
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program protects, manages, and controls wild horses and burros under the authority of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 to ensure that healthy herds thrive on healthy rangelands. Development of effective population growth suppression methods for wild horses and burros is vital to effectively managing herd population growth rates as an alternative to gathering and removing animals from BLM lands. There are currently no contraceptive techniques that are highly effective, long lasting, easily and safely administered, delivered only once during the lifetime of the horse, practical, and affordable for use across all BLM Herd Management Areas (HMAs).
B. Identify the BLM Performance Measure(s) and number that apply to this project/program (http://web.blm.gov/wo-800/wo880/). If a measure is not identified to accurately describe your project, please select the one that comes closest and expand on that.
Mission Area 1.0 – Resource Protection
GOAL 3 – Protect Cultural and Natural Heritage Resources.
Intermediate Outcome: Improve the condition of cultural and natural heritage resources.
1.3.15 – Wild Horse and Burro Management Areas: Cumulative number of herd management areas (HMAs) achieving appropriate management levels (Bureau measure).
4. Funding:
A. Estimate the total Federal funding amount to be provided to the recipient during the term of the agreement.
Since this is a Request for Information, no funding is associated with this announcement.
B. Is there a requirement for matching funds for this project/program? If yes, what amount?
N/A
C. If project is being done as a Single Source you will need to estimate the total commitment by the recipient(s) during the term of the agreement if known. Recipient commitments could be in the form of cash expenditures for supplies or services, the value of contributed services, etc. Also, estimate third party commitments
N/A
D. Estimate the number of awards to recipients/cooperators/partners for this project/program.
N/A
5. Involvement:
A. Describe the nature of the relationship between the recipient and BLM during performance of the agreement if known. Will the BLM be substantially involved? For example, will the BLM have management responsibility, issue directions to the recipient regarding the timing of work to be done, or otherwise exercise control over the project?
BLM RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THIS TYPE OF WORK
Wild horses and burros could be made available for future research. Studies could be conducted at select BLM holding facilities (boarding and feed costs would be covered by the holding facility), or at other locations approved by BLM.
HOW TO SUBMIT A RESPONSE TO THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
To ensure consideration, responses must be received by December 1, 2013 and must be submitted electronically to wbethune@blm.gov.
Responses to this RFI are voluntary and may be submitted anonymously; please do not include any personally identifiable or other information that you do not wish to make public. Proprietary, classified, confidential or sensitive information should not be included in your response.
A Request for Proposals based on the information provided through this RFI may be released in FY14 dependent on available funding.
B. Who will be the BLM program office point of contact (POC) before and after award?
Dean Bolstad
Senior Advisor, Division of Wild Horses and Burros
Room 2134 LM
20 M Street, S.E.
Washington, DC 20003
Telephone: 202-912-7297; email: dbolstad@blm.gov
6. Single Source:
Is the proposed agreement directed to one entity only? Place an X in the appropriate block below.
Yes
No
If yes, which of the following criteria apply for justifying award without competition is applicable?
A. Unsolicited proposal – The proposed award is the result of an unsolicited assistance application which represents a unique or innovative idea, method or approach which is not the subject of current or planned contract or assistance award, but which is deemed advantageous to the program objective.
B. Continuation – The activity to be funded is necessary to the satisfactory completion of, or is a continuation of an activity presently being funded, and for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity.
C. Legislative intent – The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congress’ intent to restrict award to a particular recipient or purpose.
D. Unique Qualifications – The applicant is uniquely qualified to performed the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location, property ownership, voluntary support capacity, cost-sharing ability, if applicable, technical expertise, or other such unique qualifications;
E. Emergencies – Program/award where there is insufficient time available (due to a compelling and unusual urgency, or substantial danger to health or safety) for adequate competitive procedures to be followed.
7. If using Single Source provide the name(s) of potential eligible recipients.
N/A
8. Provide justification criteria for noncompetitive federal assistance.
N/A
9. Approval:
Program Officer Signature: Date: 09/16/2013 .
Program Officer Name: Dean Bolstad . Title: Senior Advisor
Supervisory Signature: Title: Wild Horse and Burro Division Chief
INSTRUMENT SELECTION DETERMINATION
FINDINGS:
Based on the findings in the Statement of Programmatic Involvement, there is:
1. Legislative authority to enter into an assistance agreement;
2. There is a public purpose of support or stimulation;
3. BLM is transferring something of value;
4. BLM’s involvement is substantial; and
5. There is justification for a noncompetitive award because:
6. Determination and Certification:
Based upon the above findings, I have determined that a cooperative agreement is the appropriate instrument that most accurately reflects the nature of the proposed relationship between the Bureau of Land Management and a recipient.
I hereby certify that the above project/program will be announced as a RFA (synopsis and full announcement) in Grants.gov and will follow the procedures as required in the Department of the Interior Manual 505 DM 2, Grants Administration, Procurement Contracts, Grant Agreements and Cooperative Agreements and BLM Instruction Memorandum No. 2006-151, Assistance Agreements.
Requested/Approved By:
Grants Management Officer
Date
Approved/Concurrence By:
Procurement Analyst/Chief of the Contracting Office
Date
7. Washington Office (WO-850) Approval:
Approved By:
(If Required)
Procurement Analyst (WO-850)
Date
8. Solicitor Review: If your project is complex in nature and you would like the Solicitor review, have them sign after the Washington Office Approval. Delete if no review sought.
Reviewed By:
Solicitor
Date
A New York City carriage driver tells the story in yesterday’s Daily News of how he rescued Roger, a broken down, emaciated and wound-covered Amish buggy horse, 15 years ago.
