1. -Attachment A. Acoustic Bat Monitoring Support Services.pdf

Acoustic Bat Monitoring Support Services

Introduction:

Furnish all materials, labor and equipment necessary to analyze acoustic bat data. The Hawaii’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) is seeking qualified consulting services to support DOFAW in their gathering of acoustic bat data to document Hawaiian hoary bat activity on DOFAW lands on Maui.

Scope of Work:

1. Acoustic Detector Training:

a. Task includes time necessary for a bat biologist to provide training to DOFAW staff to aid in their deployment and maintenance of acoustic detectors (SM4 units). This would include training on how to install and maintain the field equipment as well as how to collect and manage the raw data. The training would include a PowerPoint presentation and online meeting to review the equipment, common problems and resolutions, as well as best practices for data management and transfer for review and analysis.

2. Data Management and Analysis:

a. This task assumes that DOFAW staff will visit detectors to swap data cards and provide the raw data to the consultant for management and analysis. Once received by the consultant, data will be downloaded and processed using current Kaleidoscope Pro (Wildlife Acoustics) or similar software to filter noise files from the larger set of recordings. Once noise files have been filtered, the remaining files will be analyzed to confirm the presence of sufficient echolocation pulses (minimum of two) to qualify as a bat pass consistent with the pulse parameters of Hawaiian hoary bat (HAHOBA) (frequency and pattern), and to classify the pass type as a searching/location pass and/or feeding buzz (if possible). Following initial analysis, all bat call data will be saved and backed up.

b. Upon completion of each round of analysis (expected to occur quarterly), the consultant will provide feedback on any issues with detector function that may be evident based on the data. Upon completion of one year of data collection, the consultant will provide an annual report summarizing the acoustic activity for each detector over the duration of the study. The report will provide basic summary data including the following metrics, by season.

i. Bat pass abundance = total bat passes/total active detector nights (a detector night was defined as one detector operating for one night),

ii. Bat pass nightly detection = total nights with bat passes/total active detector nights,

iii. Feeding buzz abundance = total feeding buzzes/total active detector nights, and

iv. Feeding buzz nightly detection = total nights with feeding buzzes/total active detector nights.

c. Should additional analysis or reporting be required/requested, a change order may be necessary, which will be worked out with DOFAW prior to completing any additional analysis.

3. Schedule: (Tentative)

Time Frame Task May-June 2026 Training & Initial Detector Deployments/Visits June 2026 Data review and summary provided by consultant (if data are available) Aug 2026 Data collection / Data provided to consultant Oct 2026 Data review and summary provided by consultant Nov 2026 Data collection / Data provided to consuttant Jan 2027 Data review and summary provided by consultant Feb 2027 Data collection / Data provided to consultant April 2027 Data review and summary provided by consultant May 2027 Data collection / Data provided to consultant July 2027 Data review and summary provided by consultant September 2027 Annual Report

*Costs should include completed tasks as described in the Scope of Work section and based on the Key Budget Assumptions listed below. The consultant would provide the above services on a time and materials, cost not-to-exceed basis. Any additional request for services beyond those described above will be assessed considering available funds but may necessitate a budget amendment. Any such out-of-scope work would be discussed with DOFAW prior to completion.

Key Budget Assumptions:

• Training and technical assistance will be through virtual meetings only (i.e., no field support).

• Acoustic WAV data from up to six (6) detectors will be provided to the consultant and analyzed by their biologists. Additional detectors may result in additional cost.

• DOFAW will be responsible for the procurement, deployment, maintenance, and data collection from acoustic detectors.

• Data analysis assumes detectors will be checked quarterly throughout the monitoring year.

If checked more frequently, the consultant will assume quarterly reviews of the cumulative data for the quarter.

• Assume no more than 20,000 recorded WAV files per detector over the course of the full year-long survey period will require manual labeling. Files that Kaleidoscope’s automated identification labels as Noise will not be reviewed.

Specification Contact:

Lance De Silva Lance.K.DeSilva@hawaii.gov

* Please call Mr. Lance De Silva at 873-3980, if you have any questions or are requesting for an on-site visitation.