Attachment_1_-_Statement_of_Work.pdf

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Attachment 1

Statement of Work for Field Data Collection for Food Security Act Wetland Determinations in North Carolina

US Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service

This Statement of Work (SOW) describes the outside assistance needed by the USDA-NRCS in North Carolina to conduct wetland determinations for Food Security Act purposes for the entire state. There are 31 counties on the eastern side of North Carolina. This SOW also outlines the items that NRCS will provide to the vendor and the services and list of deliverables the vendor will provide to NRCS.

UBackgroundU: Wetland determinations are conducted for USDA participants in order for them to maintain compliance with Wetland Provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended. These determinations are requested by the participant by submitting the Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation Certification form (AD-1026) at the local Farm Service Agency office. The AD-1026 is then transmitted to the local NRCS office.

The AD-1026 request with relevant documentation gathered by the local NRCS personnel is then submitted to the NRCS State Office to review and record as a pending wetland determination request. Once the determination is conducted, a Preliminary Technical Determination (PTD) is sent to the participant outlining its results and the appeal rights afforded to the participant. Once received, the participant has 30 days to appeal the PTD. If no notification of appeal is submitted by the participant during the 30 day period, the PTD is then signed by NRCS and considered as an official certified wetland determination.

URequested AssistanceU: The requested assistance serves the entire state of North Carolina. The average size of wetland requests during 2017 is 20.2 acres.

NRCS for the year of 2017 has a pending 3,000 acres already identified, this SOW identifies a need to service future additional AD-1026 wetland determination requests during the agreement period in these counties.

UDelivery: UContractor is required to complete 10 determinations/properties per month as a minimum.

UOn-site Investigations for FSA Wetland DeterminationsU: These deliverables apply to on-site field investigations for Food Security Act Preliminary Technical Determinations for Wetland Conservation compliance issued by North Carolina NRCS.

NRCS will provide a checklist that includes these items:

• Producer/landowner/affiliate contact information

• Farm Service Agency Farm/Tract/Field information

• Copy of the signed and submitted AD-1026

• Farm Service Agency map clearly indicating location of requested determination

• Historic aerial imagery: pre-1985 and post 1985 imager as available

• Soil Map with legend

The Contractor should have training, knowledge and experience in the use of the following:

• US Army Corps of Engineers Clean Water Act (Section 404) wetland delineation training

• Following determination methods in accordance with Part IV of the US Army Corps of Engineers

Wetland Delineation Manual (January, 1987) for on-site delineation of wetland boundaries

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• Knowledge of wetland identification procedures in accordance with the National Food Security Act Manual Circular 6, Part 527 Appendix (December, 2010). Experience using these procedures is preferable.

• Use of the current version of the appropriate Corps of Engineers Regional Supplement to document hydric soil, hydrophytic vegetation and wetland hydrology indicators.

• Use of the Van Schilfgaarde equation to provide calculated lateral effects.

In conducting the on-site wetland determination, the Contractor will:

• Arrange the on-site field investigation with landowner/operator prior to visit

• Follow determination methods in accordance with Part IV of the US Army Corps of Engineers Wetland

Delineation Manual (January, 1987) for on-site delineation of wetland boundaries

• Follow wetland identification procedures in accordance with the National Food Security Act Manual

Circular 6, Part 527 Appendix (December, 2010)

• Use the current version of the appropriate Corps of Engineers Regional Supplement to document hydric soil, hydrophytic vegetation and wetland hydrology indicators.

• Use the Van Schilfgaarde equation to calculate the lateral effect of existing ditches, if needed.

Documentation to provide NRCS:

• Completed Regional Supplement data sheets documenting the presence/absence of hydric soils, hydrophytic vegetation and wetland hydrology. Submit at least one wetland/non-wetland data sheet pair for each wetland type present (i.e. depressional, drainage way, floodplain, broad flat, etc.). For complex wetland situations, more than one data sheet pair may be required for each wetland type. This will be determined on a case by case basis in conjunction with NRCS.

• Lateral effect calculation data sheet (if needed) using the Van Schilfgaarde equation

• Each wetland/non-wetland sampling point identified and located on a base map

• From field collected GPS data, a geospatial boundary dataset (ESRI polygon shapefile and raw data points) projected to UTM, (predominant zone), NAD83. Sample additional soil sites and capture additional GPS points of site locations as needed to establish wetland/non-wetland boundary.

• On a base map, a record of each appropriate Food Security Act wetland label polygon and the acreage of each.

UPreliminary Technical Determination DeliverablesU: Upon completion of each PTD conducted by the contractor, a packet of supporting materials will be submitted, which should include the following:

• Memo style cover letter (template provided below)

• Site location Map

• Summary of site (topography, vegetation, water features)

• PTD Map showing delineations of all appropriate Food Security Act wetland labels

• Completed Regional Supplement data sheets

• Locate by drawing on map the wetlands and non-wetlands boundary(s)

• GPS polygon Shape File(s) compatible with ArcGIS

• Site photographs and photo log with description of each photograph that support field data sheet findings

To complete the Preliminary Technical Determination, NRCS will:

• Review the PTD packet and other documentation submitted for completeness and technical accuracy

• Prepare PTD letters to send to participants

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• Complete and sign the Highly Erodible and Wetland Conservation Determination form NRCS-CPA-026e

• Send via certified mail a packet containing the letter, CPA-026e, PTD map and appeal rights document to the participant

• Track the delivery of the PTD packet to the participant

• Certify the wetland determination 30 days after participant receipt (if no appeal field visit is requested)

• Record the completion of the determination in the State Office determination spreadsheet

**If an appeal field visit is requested, the contractor will be available to meet the participant along with a NRCS representative to discuss the determination at a place and time of mutual convenience.

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UTEMPLATE SAMPLE COVER LETTER TO PRESENT FINAL REPORTING DELIVERABLES

Wetland Determination Report Subject: Wetland Conservation Determination

Date:

To: M. Kent Clary, NRCS State Soil Scientist:

34TUKent.Clary@nc.usda.govU34T

Milton Cortes, NRCS Asst. State Soil Scientist 34TMilton.Cortes@nc.usda.gov34T

From: (list personnel involved in site delineation)

Site Information:

County:

Farm Number:

Tract Number:

Owner/Operator Name:

Summary of wetland delineation activities and findings:

mailto:Kent.Clary@nc.usda.gov mailto:Milton.Cortes@nc.usda.gov