INVITATION FOR BID: Nevada Sagebrush in Prisons lead project coordinator

Invitation Number: SPPNvLCCsage/compost - 2022
Status:  Part time position (approximately 1000 hours total from March 2022 - December 31, 2022)
Closing date: March 31st, 2022 (apply early)

About Us:  The Institute for Applied Ecology is a dynamic nonprofit organization founded in 1999 whose mission is to conserve native species and habitats through restoration, research and education.  We fill a unique niche among nonprofits and work with a diverse group of partners including federal, state and county agencies and municipalities to accomplish our mission.  Our main office is in Corvallis, OR and our Southwest office is in Santa Fe, NM.  

Contract Summary:  Through IAE, the Contractor will support two of our programmatic efforts toward ecological resilience and greater sustainability in the American West (Sagebrush in Prisons and Sustainability in Prisons). Both are multi-state, multi-partner efforts that engage diverse incarcerated people in pro-social action, conservation science, and vocational training. The contractor will coordinate the Sagebrush in Prisons Program (SPP), designed to improve habitat for wildlife that depend on the sagebrush steppe ecosystem. The second is by improving new sustainability practices of the prison through composting.

The Contractor will serve as the coordinator for the Nevada Sagebrush in Prisons Program with work related to one prison in Nevada (Lovelock Correctional Center) - with both sagebrush and compost work taking place here. The Contractor must have their own vehicle and be able to travel.

Mileage will be reimbursed at the current federal rate.
Include your hourly bid rate in this application. Previous successful contracts have varied between $24-$49/hour.
Contract will start in March and end December 31st 2022, with the potential for renewal.  

Duties Include:
•      Coordinate project planning at each prison.
• Delivery of current prison horticulture curriculum - develop new as needed.
• Work on-site (as COVID restrictions allow) with prison inmates to grow sagebrush, review plant health, develop solutions to challenges (watering, disease and pest assessment and control), assist with boxing up plants,  meet with partners and inmates and keep activity log for each facility up to date.
• Coordinate project planning with IAE and the Sustainability in Prisons project (SPP at Evergreen Univ, WA).
• Delivery of composting prisons curriculum - this is brand new curriculum and will require feedback and communication with IAE and SPP.
• Work on-site (as COVID restrictions allow) with high school prison inmates to develop composting stations, deliver curriculum and keep track of particulars within the project.
• Complete any needed Department of Corrections (DOC) training to be cleared for entering prisons.
• Track supply needs and submit order requests and conduct inventory of program supplies.
• Ordering and picking up supplies for the program.
• Communicate with DOC lead, IAE Staff, Nevada assistant and SPP regarding project status, technical difficulties, and any inmate behavior issues. Coordinate with IAE for major purchases, information exchange and support.

Independent Status: Contractor is and shall be an Independent Contractor. While performing the work or services provided, Contractor or Contractor's employees shall not be construed as being IAE employee(s) for any purpose, including but not limited to the accrual of any employee benefits such as health insurance, life insurance, retirement or vacation time. As an Independent Contractor, Contractor assumes full responsibility for making all necessary federal, state and social security tax payments and will file all returns and forms required in connection with compensation received in connection with this Agreement.

Preference will be given to those with:
• Bachelor’s degree in biology, natural resources,  horticulture or a related field.
• Current US driver’s license.
-       Strong project management skills
• Ability to successfully pass a criminal background check and ongoing compliance with Federal, State and Local statutes (required for working in prisons).
• Must have own vehicle and be willing to travel.
• Positive willingness to work with incarcerated individuals at minimum and medium security facilities.
• Positive willingness to work with people of diverse backgrounds.

Up-to-date COVID vaccination REQUIRED.

HOW TO APPLY

You must complete this online application form which includes your bid for performing this contract. In addition, you need to submit a resume as a single PDF document emailed to procurement@appliedeco.org with the subject line “SSPPNvLCCsage/compost - 2022 Application.”

Applications must be received by March 31st, 2022.  INCOMPLETE BIDS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.  

If you have any questions, please contact:  procurement@appliedeco.org