1_-_Statement_of_Work.pdf

140G0324Q0025

Estimated Effective Field Start Date: April 1, 2024 Estimated Completion Date: July 20, 2024

STATEMENT OF WORK

1.0. GENERAL BACKGROUND

This procurement deals with conducting perennial and annual plant transects at two sites in San Bernardino County, California. In 1989 and 1990, the desert tortoise was listed as a threatened species by the State of California and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, respectively. The U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, is undertaking research on long-term study plots for the species, both on the species and on its habitats. This procurement includes a single task: gathering perennial and annual plant data and conducting the preliminary analysis at previously established transects on two study plots (Chemehuevia Valley and Wash and Upper Ward Valley) in April 2024.

2.0 OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this small contract/requisition is to gather data on perennial and annual plants along previously established transects at two study plots in April 2024 (Chemehuevi Valley and Wash, Upper Ward Valley), enter the data sets in excel files, and prepare tables of data summaries, using previously established techniques.

3.0 SPECIFICATIONS. Sampling of Vegetation at Chemehuevi Valley and Wash and Upper

Ward Valley study plots. The Contractor shall collect and analyze data on annual and perennial plant species using the methodology described in List of Attachments, Items 1, 2, and 3. The Contractor shall ensure that notes are taken in black ink and that the scientific names (genus, species, subspecies or variety) shall be written out in full first before abbreviations are used. Current scientific names as recording online in the Jepson eflora shall be used. If abbreviations are used, the plant data sets must be accompanied by a glossary. If abbreviations are used on the plant form, then they should be the first two letters of the genus and the first two letters of the species. Where two different species have the same initials, the Contractor shall write out the names.

3.1 Skill set required includes: botanist shall have prior existing knowledge to species and subspecies levels, where necessary, of annual and perennial plant species in this region of the western Sonoran or Colorado Desert of California; recognized ability to collect, dry, and measure mass of each species of plants for each part of each transect; ability to report, without error, the details required in Attachment 1;

demonstrated ability to stay within contract deadlines; and the ability to travel into remote areas on dirt roads, several miles from pave highways. Previous experience in conducting plant transects on these and other desert tortoise plots is highly desirable for demonstrating quality of work and expertise. These skills are essential to produce the kinds of data previously gathered on this plot for scientific and comparative purposes.

3.2 The Perennial and Annual Plant Surveys shall be conducted in April of 2024 (no exceptions). If the sites are in drought, surveys may be conducted early in April or late in March 2024.

3.3 Number of permanent plant transects on the two plots is 6 and 3 (total = 9).

3.4 Digital images of transects. The Contractor shall take a minimum of three high-quality digital images of each transect.

3.5 The Contractor shall record the UTMs of all plant transects, both the starting point and the finish point, on the transect forms. The NAD settings for UTMs shall be

WGS-84.

4.0. REPORTING of Perennial and Annual Transect Data

4.1 The Contractor shall follow the instructions in the Attachments for completing the recordation, compilation, and analysis of perennial and annual plant data sets.

4.2 All data sheets, maps, and other information shall be handled separately for each type of data (by transect number for perennial plants and annual plants) and for each plot. The data shall be filed separately in separate folders and reported separately, etc.

4.3 The Contractor shall develop a computer data base in an IBM-compatible personal computer data base (using an Excel program, MS WORD files) and a CD or flash drive for each plot. The Contractor shall provide a print out/hard copy of the data sets as part of the Deliverables. The data sheets shall be provided in new manila envelope-styled files, labeled by typewriter or with word-processed labels. There shall be a single manila envelope-file for each type of data sheet for each plot.

4.4 The digital images of transects shall be placed on a disk or flash drive with separate files for each plot. The images shall be labeled in permanent black ink by study site name and number, Township, Range, Section, quadrat number, transect number, date, and photographer for Chemehuevi Valley and Wash and Upper Ward Valley and by study site name, transect number, UTMs, date, and photographer.

5.0 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

The following are additional requirements for satisfactory criteria.

5.1. The contractor shall use permanent black ink (non-ball point) from a fine-tipped pen on all forms and notes, etc. A pen with a fine point, shall be used for all handwritten information and labeling; medium and/or wide points or felt-tip pens are not acceptable.

5.2. Handwritten and word-processed deliverables shall be submitted in a state of high editorial integrity, with a minimum (very rare) of spelling and grammatical errors and an absence of inconsistent referencing, repetition, and contradiction within sections.

C.5.3. Abbreviations and initialisms shall be kept to a minimum and shall be approved by the Contracting Officer’s Technical Liaison/Principal Investigator (PI).

6.0 PACKAGING AND MARKING

The Contractor shall package all deliverables so as to assure safe arrival at the destination. The deliverables shall be delivered, in person, to the Contracting Officer’s Technical Liaison (or PI) at the address shown in SECTION F or as arranged with the PI.

7.0 DELIVERIES OR PERFORMANCE

7.1 DELIVERY SCHEDULE

Based on an estimated contract award date on or about January 1, 2024, the completion terms of the contract are to be completed on or before July 20, 2024. Performance period shall commence upon award.

7.2 ADDRESS FOR DELIVERABLES AND INVOICES

Invoices:

IPP.gov (https://www.ipp.gov/)

Deliverables and Copy of Invoice:

Technical Liaison, Principal Investigator United States Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center 3621 Pinot Grigio Drive Reno, Nevada 89509

7.3 DELIVERABLES

7.3.1 For work required under 3.0, the Contractor shall deliver the materials stated below by date to the TECHNICAL LIAISON: The Contractor may abbreviate/shorten the schedule with approval of the TECHNICAL LIAISON as described in Section 7.2.

F.3.2 For Sections 3.0 and 4.1, the due date of the completed project shall be July 20, 2024.

F.3.3 The government shall require 10 working days to review the materials.

F.3.4 All Government-furnished materials (e.g., specially-made labels) shall be returned with the final deliverables.

7.4 WORK SCHEDULE

The Contractor shall provide the Technical Liaison with a written/or electronic mail work plan that details the work force, quality assurance program, and schedule to provide for orderly completion of the contract work within the prescribed performance period. This work schedule must be acceptable to the government and approved by the Technical Liaison prior to the Contractor starting work.

7.5 QUALITY OF DELIVERABLES

Deliverables shall be prepared in accordance with current professional standards for field research, such as standards used by research scientists at major United States botanical institutions and research facilities. The deliverables shall be submitted in a state of editorial integrity with a minimum of spelling and grammatical errors and an absence of inconsistent referencing or contradictions. Abbreviations and initialisms are to be avoided at all times.

The materials shall be presented in a clear, orderly, and collated fashion, and shall be protected at all times from damage.

The quality of all deliverables required by the Contract shall be subject to review and verification of contract compliance by the Technical Liaison/Principal Investigator, who will recommend approval/disapproval for acceptance purposes to the Contracting Officer.

7.6 NOTICE REGARDING LATE DELIVERY

In the event the Contractor encounters difficulty in meeting performance requirements, contract delivery schedule or date, or anticipates difficulty in complying with the established work schedule, the Contractor shall immediately notify the Technical Liaison thereof in writing, giving pertinent details, including the date expected to complete performance or make delivery. Provided, however, that these data shall be informational only in character and that receipt thereof shall not be construed as a waiver by the government of any contract delivery schedule or date, or any right or remedies provided by law under this contract.

8.0 SPECIAL CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS

8.1 PRE-WORK CONFERENCE.

No in-person pre-work conference is necessary. Discussions can be held on via telephone conference.

8.2 GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED PROPERTY

The government shall provide written instructions, archival data sheets and maps.

8.3 CONTRACTOR’S TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

The tasks to be accomplished in the performance of this contract are set forth in 3.0. The award of this contract is predicated primarily on the basis of the Contractor’s cost proposal and agreement to conduct the tasks as described herein. As such, the Contractor hereby agrees that departures from approaches set forth herein or as amended, must be approved by the Technical Liaison/PI prior to implementation.

8.4 KEY PERSONNEL

Personnel specified in the proposal, is considered to be essential to the work being performed hereunder. Prior to diverting this key individual to other programs, the Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer reasonably in advance and shall submit justification (including potential substitutions) in sufficient detail to permit evaluation of the impact on the program. No diversion shall be made by the Contractor without written consent of the Contracting Officer. If the continued commitment of any key personnel is beyond the control of the Contractor, the Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer immediately and shall make recommendations for the substitution of another person.

8.5 PUBLICATION RIGHTS

The government retains all rights to use the data and to publish it. Where appropriate, the Contractor will be acknowledged in any publications and reprints resulting from this contract.

8.6 RIGHTS IN DATA

All deliverables required by this contract shall become the property of the government.

The government may publish, reproduce, and use all deliverables in any manner and for any purpose, without limitation, and may authorize others to do the same. Unless otherwise provided herein, the Contractor agrees that he/she shall not assert any copyright at common law or equity and shall not establish any claim to statutory copyright on such deliverables.

8.7 REDIRECTION OF EFFORT

Not withstanding any other provision of the contract, the Contracting Officer shall be the only individual authorized to redirect the effort or in any way amend any of the terms of the contract.

8.8 TECHNICAL DIRECTION

The performance of work hereunder shall be subject to the technical direction of the Technical Liaison appointed in writing by the Contracting Officer. The Technical Liaison and the Contractor shall work together closely to ensure that all contractual requirements are being met. The term “technical direction” is defined to include, without limitation, the following:

Providing of information to the Contractor that assists in the interpretation of drawings, specifications, or technical portions of the work description. Review and, where required by the contract, approval of technical reports, drawings, specifications, and technical information delivered by the Contractors to the government under the contract.

8.8.1 Technical direction must be within the general scope of work stated in the contract.

The Technical Liaison does not have the authority to issue any technical direction that (i) constitutes an assignment of additional work outside the general scope of the contract; (ii) constitutes a change as defined in the contract clause entitled, Changes; (iii) in any manner causes and increase or decrease in the total contract price or the time required for contract performance: or (iv) changes any of the expressed terms, conditions, or specifications of the contract. The Technical Liaison shall notify the Contracting Officer shall in advance of the anticipated issuance of any technical directions that the Technical Liaison feels may fall within categories (i) through (iv) preceding.

9.0 LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

9.1 Vegetation Sampling Methodology

9.2 Sample data sheet for recording Annual Plants (1 pg)

9.3 Sample data sheet for recording Perennial Plants (1 pg)