C04 Attachment 1 Scope of Work 071426.pdf

George Washington & Jefferson NFs Statement of Work

Paddy Mountain Resiliency and Restoration Project

Environmental Analysis

Revision 01

07/11/2026

Statement of Work for the

Paddy Mountain Resiliency and Restoration Project George Washington & Jefferson National Forests

CONTENTS

Contents

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND

SCOPE

LOCATION

TASKS AND REQUIRED MEETINGS

Task 1: Attend and Participate in Pre-Work Meeting

Task 2: Progress Review Meetings

Task 3: Public Engagement

Task 4: Maps and Graphics

Task 5: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Analysis and Documentation

Task 6: Regulatory Framework Consistency Review

Task 7: Silviculture Analysis and Report

Task 8: Wildlife/Aquatics/Botany Biological Assessment and Biological Evaluation

Task 9: Inventoried Roadless Area Review

Task 10: Fuels and Air Quality Report

Task 11: Soils Report

Task 12: Hydrology Report

Task 13: Recreation Report

Task 14: Economics Report

Task 15: Transportation Report

Task 16: Scenic Resources Report

Task 17: Invasive Plants Report

Task 18: Environmental Assessment, Decision Notice, and Finding of No Significant Impact

Task 19: Project Record

DELIVERABLES

Deliverables Table

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

KEY PERSONNEL

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

APPENDICES PACKAGE

Table of Contents

Appendix A: Project Description

Appendix B: Maps

Appendix C: Available & Needed Information

Appendix D: Proposed Action/ Silvicultural Prescription

Appendix E: EA/DN/FONSI & Technical Report Templates

Appendix F: Regulatory Framework

Appendix G: Aquatic, Botanical, & Wildlife Species List

Appendix H: Public Involvement

Appendix I: Project Record & 508 Compliance Checklist

Appendix A: Project Description

Paddy Mountain Forest Resiliency and Restoration Project

Planning Overview

Appendix B: Maps

Appendix C: Available & Needed Information

Available Information

Needed Information

GIS Data Requirements

Appendix D: Proposed Action/ Silvicultural Prescription Appendix E: EA/DN/FONSI & Technical Reports

Environmental Assessment Template

Decision Notice and FONSI Template

Biological Assessment/Evaluation Template

Specialist Report Template

Appendix F: Regulatory Framework

APPENDIX G: Aquatic, Botanical, and Wildlife Species List

Appendix H: Public Involvement

Scoping Letter Template

Q&A Brief Template

Comment Analysis Template

Appendix I: Project Record & 508 Compliance Checklist

Project Record Index Structure

Section 508 Compliance Checklist

INTRODUCTION

This Performance Work Statement (SOW) provides for the project management, environmental analysis, and documentation in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Forest Management Act (NFMA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), and all other applicable legal, regulatory, policy, and Forest Plan requirements that apply to resource management actions proposed on National Forest System (NFS) lands in the project area.

The Forest Service Responsible Official anticipates issuing an Environmental Assessment (EA), Decision Notice (DN), and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) based on a review of the environmental analysis, comments received, and the project record.

The project is expected to begin in August 2026 with a Decision Notice being issued by the Forest Service in November 2027. The Environmental Assessment (EA) will be concise, clear, and to the point. It shall be supported by the necessary environmental analyses. The Biological Assessment will conform to USFWS standards and the Biological Evaluation will conform to Forest standards. The performance schedule must be adhered to unless directed otherwise.

BACKGROUND

The Paddy Mountain Resiliency and Restoration Project covers approximately 70,000 acres in Shenandoah County, Virginia and Hardy County, West Virginia approximately 60 miles northwest of Edinburgh, VA. Of this, approximately 5,000 acres consist of proposed actions developed by the Lee Ranger District of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.

The project area is located within the Cacapon-Town Watershed and the North Fork Shenandoah Watershed, spanning portions of Hardy County, WV, and Frederick and Shenandoah Counties, VA, within the George Washington National Forest.

The project is designed to address forest health concerns, improve ecological resilience, and restore native species composition and structure. The Forest Service has identified the need to implement vegetation treatments, prescribed fire, aquatic restoration, and transportation system improvements to meet desired conditions outlined in the Forest Plan. Preliminary landscape evaluations and interdisciplinary input have identified resource concerns and opportunities for restoration. The proposed action includes a suite of treatments designed to reduce risk of insect and disease outbreaks, improve wildlife habitat, enhance watershed function, and support long-term forest sustainability. The project will be developed in compliance with NEPA and other applicable laws and regulations, and will incorporate public input and interdisciplinary analysis.

SCOPE

The Contractor will work cooperatively with and under the direction of the USDA Forest Service (Forest Service) to prepare environmental documents that meet the standards set forth in the National Environmental Policy Act, USDA NEPA regulations at 7 CFR 1b, the Endangered Species Act, and Forest Service policy (identified in FSM 2600). Analysis will provide the documented support for the Forest Service line officer to determine whether significant impacts exist that require further analysis in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Contractor will provide the analysis necessary to inform those findings.

This project is being conducted under an emergency situation determination authority for forest health and insect and disease as described in Secretarial Memo 1078-006. This authority allows the Forest Service to streamline environmental compliance requirements by only considering the proposed action and no action alternatives. The authority also waves the requirements for a notice of proposed action and the objection review process described in 36 CFR 218.

The resources that need to be analyzed are specified in the tasks below. The project must also comply with relevant environmental law and be consistent with the George Washington National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) as amended. Work will include contact with Forest Service personnel, public engagement, analysis of relevant environmental effects, preparation of specialist reports, preparation of the EA, consideration of public feedback, maintenance of the project record, botanical surveys, preparation of a Biological Assessment (BA) and Biological Evaluation (BE), and preparation of the FONSI, and DN.

Optional work includes forest inventory, silviculture forester services, GIS specialist services, hydrologist services, botanist services, wildlife biologist, and NEPA planner services.

The Contractor is fully responsible for completing all tasks, analyses, modeling, fieldwork, technical specialist reports, NEPA documentation, and supporting materials necessary to deliver a complete, legally sufficient Environmental Assessment, Biological Assessment/Evaluation, Decision Notice, and FONSI, except where this SOW explicitly states otherwise.

The Contractor will be responsible for understanding and reviewing the background, history, purpose and need, and proposed action for this project that has been provided by the Forest Service. The Contractor must not consult directly with regulatory agencies unless specifically directed by the Forest Service.

Forest Service staff will make available needed data and any supporting documentation related to required forms or templates. For the project tasks listed below, the Contractor must provide all qualified personnel, transportation, labor, supervision, equipment, supplies, permits, licenses, and incidentals that are not provided as Government Furnished Property, that are necessary for field work and completion of the analysis documents.

Documents produced are the sole ownership of the Forest Service and shall not be released to any individual or entity without USDA Forest Service approval.

For all tasks described, correspondence will be between the Contractor and the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). Requests for information from the Government will be in writing and include specifications regarding format and content with a not-to-exceed due date for receiving the information. The COR will coordinate all clarification communications between the Forest and Contractor.

LOCATION

The Paddy Mountain Project Area is located in Shenandoah and Frederick Counties, Virginia and Hardy County, West Virginia approximately 60 miles northwest of Edinburgh, Virginia and 10 miles southeast of Wardensville, West Virginia. The project area is approximately 70,000 acres in size and includes up to 5,000 acres of proposed actions that will be provided to the contractor in late August 2026. The project area is located within the Cacapon-Town Watershed the North Fork Shenandoah Watershed spanning portions of Hardy County, WV, and Frederick and Shenandoah Counties, VA, within the George Washington National Forest.

TASKS AND REQUIRED MEETINGS

The following section specifies the minimum tasks that must be completed to fulfill the obligations of this SOW.

Required meetings will be held at the Lee Ranger District office, 102 Koontz St, Edinburg, VA 22824, unless otherwise noted or agreed to.

Task 1: Attend and Participate in Pre-Work Meeting

1.1 The Contractor must review draft technical specialist reports and any existing environmental analysis or planning documents relevant to the Paddy Mountain Resiliency and Restoration Project to become familiar with the project area, regulatory framework, initial issues and resource concerns, and analyses that overlap the project area.

1.2 Key personnel from the Contractor’s staff will participate in a 2-day (eight hours per day) meeting to be hosted by the Government upon receipt of the Notice to Proceed. The date for the meeting will be agreed to by both parties but will need to take place within 10 days of the project award. The meeting must take place at the address listed above or a nearby location in Harrisonburg, VA, determined by the Government. The coordination and facilitation of the meeting will be the responsibility of the Government. The Contractor must be prepared to actively participate in the meeting, travel to the project area, and lead a discussion of the total time frame for the preparation of project deliverables. Topics to be covered at this meeting include the Contractor’s role in overall scope of services, public involvement, known planning issues, synthesis and analysis, roles and responsibilities, workplan development, and project timeline. The field portion of the meeting will orient the Contractor to the project area, introduce environmental conditions, and develop an understanding of the landscape evaluation and proposed actions.

1.3 The Contractor must record written notes from the meeting that identify participants, summarize the issues discussed, and describe any agreements or decisions reached and/or follow-up needed. Notes are due within 5 business days of the meeting.

1.4 The Contractor must provide field transportation and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for its employees participating in the meeting.

1.5 Based on the Government-provided timeline, the Contractor will develop a draft project schedule and work plan within 5 business days of the pre-work meeting. The work plan shall account for all the tasks within the scope of the task order, deliverables listed, preparation time, and review time for each draft by the Government. The work plan shall include an assessment of the existing data, preliminary identification of any additional data needs for the EA/BA/BE, and preliminary identification of specific technical reports required for the EA/BA/BE.

Concurrence by the Government on the analysis methods used to develop the various sections shall be a part of the work plan. Government acceptance of the work plan is required before proceeding with the remaining tasks.

Task 2: Progress Review Meetings

2.1 The Contractor will, in consultation with the Government, schedule and conduct weekly progress review meetings lasting 15 minutes to 2 hours or as scheduled by the Government’s project leader, to ensure the Contractor’s interdisciplinary team meets scheduled deadlines and identifies potential barriers to meeting deadlines as early as possible to minimize delays. These meetings may be held virtually. Location meetings may be required at critical points within the planning schedule. For pricing purposes, assume location meetings will require at least one full day (8 hours) per meeting and will be held in the Government’s office or in the field, though the actual numbers may vary. The Contractor is expected to have in attendance, or otherwise available, sufficient members of the Contractor’s team to adequately address agenda items that may include report progress, any issues, and preliminary determinations. For pricing purposes, assume 2 location meetings and 32 one-hour calls are needed throughout the length of the contract; however, the actual number of meetings may vary.

2.2 Additional communication and coordination activities with Government specialists is encouraged as necessary to keep the project on schedule. Contacts will be initiated through the COR with advanced notice.

2.3 The Contractor must provide notes from the meetings that identify participants, summarize the issues discussed, and describe any agreements or decisions reached. Notes are due within 2 business days of the meeting.

Task 3: Public Engagement (Optional)

3.1 The Government will schedule, host, and facilitate any public meetings or field trips. While the Contractor is not required to attend these meetings, the Contractor will support public engagement by developing and submitting content for briefing materials and information for public meetings in the project area following issuance of the draft NEPA documents. This includes “Talking Points,” “Question/Answer” summaries, maps, and a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation to be used by the Forest Service at the public meeting and at local briefings (tribes, federal/state/local government officials, community meetings, etc.). All such content will be reviewed and approved by the Forest Public Affairs Officer or designee. For pricing purposes, assume 1 public meeting will occur, although the actual number may vary.

3.2 The Government will provide notes from public meetings and field trips to the Contractor within 5 business days of these meetings.

3.3 The Government will initiate the distribution of project documents for public feedback on the project website. The Government will notify the public that any information provided will be available for public inspection. The Government anticipates that the public feedback submission period will last 30-days. All public input received will be collected using the Forest Service Comment Analysis and Response Application (CARA). The Government will provide all comments to the Contractor in digital format at the completion of the public participation process.

3.4 The Contractor will review the public comments and prepare a report describing any substantive issues to be addressed, and proposals on how these would be addressed (e.g., list of resource topics to be analyzed in detail based on the concerns identified, changes to project design features or proposed action, etc.). Substantive comments are defined in 36 CFR 215.2.

The Government is not requesting a formal response to all comments received. The focus for the Contractor will be on those comments that result in changes to the analysis in the EA or to the design of the project. A summary of general comments themes and any changes that resulted from those comments will be provided in the EA.

3.5 The Contractor will develop a list of commenters, indicating the timeliness of their comments and whether comments were substantive.

3.6 The Government will provide the Contractor with the initial mailing list used for public participation. The Contractor will maintain confidentiality of this list and manage additions and deletions to the mailing list until the Decision Notice is signed and the notice of decision is made available. The final mailing list for public engagement must be filed in the database provided by the Contractor as both an Excel file and a PDF.

Task 4: Maps and Graphics

4.1 The Contractor shall run all geospatial analysis including, but not limited to, clipping, calculating acres, intersecting features, table creation, and create all maps for ALL alternatives, including the preferred/proposed action.

4.2 The Contractor shall modify the geospatial layers for proposed actions as directed by the Government.

4.3 The Contractor shall implement Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QAQC) measures on rendered, created, and produced data to eliminate overlaps, gaps, slivers, topology errors, and other spatial inaccuracies to ensure accurate analysis.

4.4 The Contractor will ensure analysis data contains attributes consistent with tables, analyses, and other content in the final document.

4.5 Mapping products must be returned with a working ArcGIS Pro Version 2.9 (preferred) or ArcMap Version 10.8.1 project package, complete with associated maps, layer files, and data, and without broken links. Maps will be provided in both .pdf and .jpeg formats.

4.6 The Contractor will use a geodatabase schema provided by the Government that is consistent with George Washington and Jefferson National Forest data structure.

4.7 The Contractor will archive project data and proposed actions at key milestones: Draft EA and Final EA.

4.8 The Contractor will deliver final data in File Geodatabase format with completed Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC)-compliant metadata including processes, steps, and any other relevant information for all data, models, scripts, tools, and related products.

4.9 The Contractor will ensure that all analysis and data provided to the Government is in coordinate system NAD 1983 USFS R8 Albers, used by Region 8 Forest Service.

4.10 The Contractor may not manipulate or change Forest Service corporate base data without prior consent from the Government. Any updates must be identified and fully documented in the metadata process steps.

4.11 The Government will retain ownership of any models, scripts, tools, field-collected GPS data, geospatial data, and other products used in contracted GIS analysis and map production.

The Contractor must return all Government-provided data upon completion of the contract.

The Contractor is not authorized to keep or maintain copies of any geospatial data provided by the Forest Service. This data may be used for the completion of the Paddy Mountain Resiliency and Restoration Project only; it cannot be retained or used on any other forest or non-forest contracts or projects.

4.12 The Contractor must use Forest Service-authorized datasets for all analysis and map production where required by any applicable Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), policy, direction, plan, or decision. The Government will provide data as described in Appendix C.

Task 5: National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Analysis and Documentation

5.1 The Government will provide the initial proposed action, project design criteria, mitigations, and monitoring actions for this project to the contractor (Appendix A). Changes and/or additions to these must be approved by the Government; the Contractor will ensure these changes are reflected in the project description, geospatial layers, and all related documentation used in analysis. At a minimum, the Government expects changes to occur after the public participation process. The Contractor must gather information and use the information/data furnished by the Government to prepare narratives documenting baseline environmental conditions. The literature cited and the data used in the analysis must be included by the Contractor in the project record.

5.2 The Contractor shall use the “EA-FONSI-DN-Templates” provided by the Government and will consult with the Government regarding additions to this form as needed to address proposed Forest Plan amendments, potential conflicts with plans or policies of other jurisdictions, and effects on American Indian treaty rights and heritage resources; floodplains and wetlands; prime farm, range, and forest land; public health and safety; and wild and scenic rivers, wilderness, and inventoried roadless areas. Agency guidance on using this form is available on request.

5.3 The Contractor shall gather, assemble, and review existing data describing the resource topics to be analyzed, and prepare additional documentation (i.e., technical reports) sufficient to assess the resources that will be affected, either beneficially or adversely, by the proposed action and demonstrate compliance with NEPA and other laws, regulations, and policy. The Contractor will identify indicators (units of measure) for Government approval with which to track existing conditions, desired conditions, and effects of the project. The Contractor may use the CEQ-compliant specialist report template provided by the Government (Appendix E) or propose an alternate layout for Government approval prior to initiating work on environmental analyses.

5.4 The Contractor shall write the environmental analysis and all documents developed for public distribution using well-organized structure and clear, concise language. Use bulleted or numbered statements rather than narratives where appropriate and display quantitative data in tables or charts to aid in public review and understanding. Translate technical or jargon-filled language into easily understood language and define acronyms. If technical terms are necessary, include a brief, simple translation of the term within the context used to facilitate rapid understanding.

5.5 The Contractor shall adhere to the page limitations for NEPA regulatory documents as described in 7 CFR 1b.5 and 7 CFR 1b.7. The Contractor shall minimize the length of environmental analysis documents by tiering to existing analyses where applicable (40 CFR 1501.11) and by incorporating by reference (see 7 CFR 1b.6 (b)(1) and 7 CFR 1b.8 (b)(1)) background and support materials that are in separate documents (i.e., technical reports), or by placing this information in appendices to the environmental analysis. Incorporated material shall be cited in the document and its content briefly described, and the Contractor shall provide the materials in PDF form to the Government for posting on the project website.

5.6 The Contractor shall ensure that the environmental analysis is site-specific to the location described in the solicitation, with focused analysis that demonstrates how alternatives meet project needs and that addresses significant issues confirmed by the Government. The Contractor shall recommend resource indicators that address these issues for Government approval. Based on knowledge of the project area, available information, and public concerns related to recently proposed treatments in this project area, the Government recommends considering the resource indicators described in draft specialist reports provided on the Paddy Mountain Resiliency and Restoration Project Public Website, adjusted as needed to address new information.

5.7 The Contractor must contrast the impacts of the proposed action with current (baseline) and expected conditions of the affected environment in the absence of action. The Contractor may choose to do this through development of a no-action alternative that describes the current condition and effects of taking no action.

5.8 The Contractor shall consider and analyze the potentially affected environment and degree of the effects of the action as described in 7 CFR 1b.2(f)(3)(3). The Contractor shall describe the potentially affected environment including the condition of the physical, biological, social, and economic factors that may be impacted by an action. In considering the degree of effects, the Contractor shall consider the following:(A) Both short- and long-term effects. (B) Both beneficial and adverse effects. (C) Effects on public health and safety. (D) Economic effects. (E) Effects on the quality of life of the American people.

5.9 The Contractor shall inform the Government at any time during the contract if effects of proposed actions may be significant or unknown and therefore may require an EIS.

5.10 The Contractor shall ensure that environmental effects conclusions are supported by documented rationale, professional judgment, and/or peer-reviewed best available science.

References will be listed as an appendix to the environmental analysis. The analysis of environmental effects shall be conducted in the context of impacts on the "human environment" as described in 40 CFR § 1508.14.

5.11 The Contractor shall ensure that proposed thinning and prescribed fire treatments are clearly described, mapped, and quantified in analyses and the environmental document, including rationale for the selection of treatments, the decision factors used, and analysis of the effects of each combination of actions where necessary (i.e., where the effects of interchangeable actions create more intensive impacts for a specific resource).

5.12 The Government will provide a list of connected actions and ongoing and reasonably foreseeable future actions to consider in the effects analysis. The Contractor may describe the effects of past actions as part of the existing baseline condition.

5.13 The Contractor will be responsible for coordinating with Government for clarification, questions, and any other needs required of specific resource specialists to complete the tasks outlined and particularly for development of technical specialist reports. For all resource areas listed below, the Contractor shall generate desired outputs for the current condition/no action alternative, proposed action alternative, and any other requested modeling. Suggested peer-reviewed science and rigorous, reliable modeling systems are listed in the analyses reports available at the Paddy Mountain Resiliency and Restoration Project Public Website; others may be used with Government approval.

Task 6: Regulatory Framework Consistency Review

6.1 The Government will provide initial project design features and best management practices applicable to the project (Appendix A). The Contractor must evaluate these and propose changes or additions for Government approval as needed to avoid or minimize effects to ESA and ensure consistency with law, regulation, and policy or to address issues that arose during the public participation process.

6.2 The Contractor must provide a professional judgment supported by rationale and documentation regarding project consistency with the desired future conditions and regulatory framework outlined in the Forest Plan and Appendix F. This may be documented in resource-specific technical reports or in a separate document. Example documentation is available in specialist reports on the Paddy Mountain Resiliency and Restoration Project Public Website. The Contractor will notify the Government of any project inconsistencies with the regulatory framework in a timely manner and propose actions to make the project consistent. The Government does not anticipate that any project-specific amendments will be required to comply with applicable GWJNF Forest Plan’s standards and management area specific requirements.

Task 7: Silviculture Analysis and Report

7.1 The Contractor shall maximize use of existing data by using the Paddy Mountain Resiliency and Restoration Forest Conditions * Prescription (Appendix D) and available data (Appendix C) as the basis for comparison when analyzing effects for this project. The Prescription will provide qualitative and/or quantative summaries of existing stand conditions and treatments to serve as the Proposed Action.

7.5 The Contractor shall incorporate by reference (40 CFR § 1501.12) relevant background materials, including the eco-departure analysis, and technical reports. Incorporated materials shall be cited and briefly described in the vegetation report and provided in PDF format for posting on the project website.

Task 8: Wildlife/Aquatics/Botany Biological Assessment and Biological Evaluation

8.1 The Contractor will write the Biological Assessment (BA) for aquatic, wildlife, and botanical ESA threatened, endangered, and proposed species. This report will be written in tandem with the Contractor’s preparation of the Biological Evaluation that addresses USFS Region 8 Sensitive species, Forest Plan Management Indicator species, and Locally Rare species applicable to this project. The relevant species lists for USFS Region 8 Sensitive species, Forest Plan Management Indicator species, and Locally Rare species will be provided by the Government to the Contractor. The Contractor will write the Biological Evaluation to cover aquatic, botanical, and wildlife species and their habitats in one document. The Government will provide a list of species to address (Appendix G). The Contractor must support the Government’s effort by closely coordinating analyses in the biological evaluations with Government specialists and keeping the Government informed of pertinent issues and developments that may affect these species and their habitats. The Contractor will complete geospatial analysis, maps, or provide other information requested by Government biologists for the BA, Biological Evaluation, and ESA consultation.

8.2 The Government will provide the Contractor with information about the ESA consultation pathways used in this project for inclusion in the EA and will conduct ESA Section consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

8.3 The Contractor must access the USFWS’ Information for Planning and Consultation (IPaC) online tool, create a new project, add the relevant Government staff to the project as a member, upload the project spatial data, and generate an Official Species List. The Contractor is also responsible for reviewing the procedures for the online project review process for the USFWS Virginia Field Office at: https://www.fws.gov/office/virginia-ecological-services/virginia-field-office-online-review-process. While the Contractor will not interface directly with USFWS for Section 7 Consultation, the Contractor will be responsible for preparing the supporting documentation for the Project Review Package as described on the USFWS Virginia Field Office website.

8.4 In addition to the Biological Assessment and Biological Evaluation, the Contractor will be responsible for completing (1) any supporting documentation related to specific programmatic consultations, and (2) drafts of documentation required for the Project Review Package Submittal outside of the Biological Assessment.

For the Paddy Mountain Resiliency and Restoration Project, this includes:

(1) Supporting Programmatic Consultation Documentation

(a) Bat Conservation Strategy Tier 2 Biological Assessment Form

(b) Rusty Patched Bumble Bee Tier 2 Biological Assessment Form

(2) Documentation required for the Project Review Package Submittal

(a) Official species list from iPaC https://www.fws.gov/office/virginia-ecological-services/virginia-field-office-online-review-process https://www.fws.gov/office/virginia-ecological-services/virginia-field-office-online-review-process

(b) Draft Review Request Letter

(c) ESA Section 7 Determination Table

(d) A zipped folder of all final spatial data for the project

8.5 The Contractor must describe effects to snag-dependent species and the development and retention of specific forest structure required for wildlife species (e.g., Indiana Bat) and late successional habitats and their spatial and temporal arrangements.

8.6 The Contractor must document project consistency with the GWJNF Forest Plan’s Aquatic Conservation Strategy Objectives described in the GWJNF Forest Plan. The Government will provide a template for this documentation that will be used for this task.

8.7 The Contractor must document each alternative’s impacts on botanical resources using available survey data. Survey work for botanical resources have been completed for this project.

Task 9: Inventoried Roadless Area Review

9.1 The Contractor will document in the project record with supporting maps that no project activities are planned within inventoried roadless areas. A summary of this no effect finding will be described in the EA and FONSI.

Task 10: Fuels and Air Quality Report

10.1 The Contractor must write a fuels report describing each alternative’s impacts on fuel loading and fire behavior using the results of the Landscape Evaluation, nationally available fuels information (i.e., Landfire), and standard fire behavior modeling tools (i.e., FlamMap, Behave, the Interagency Fuel Treatment Decision Support System (IFTDSS)) or other equivalent data/methods to develop geospatial layers to measure desired resource indicators.

Based on previous work in the project area, suggested resource indicators are provided below.

Modeling should use data from Behave Plus, IFTDSS, and/or BurnPro 3d , using 90th percentile weather conditions averaged over 30 years. Access can be granted from Mesowest and indices pages by the Forest Service. Contractor may need to download Behave and receive access to IFTDDS to access data. Potential resource indicators are listed in the Paddy Mountain Resiliency and Restoration Project draft and final fire/fuels report; others may include but are not limited to flame lengths, torching index, crowning index, and fire type.

Task 11: Soils Report

11.1 The Contractor must write a soils report describing each alternative’s impacts to soil resources based on NRCS soil mapping and other relevant information. The Contractor must document in the soils report project consistency with the GWJNF Forest Plan’s standards for soil resources on the alternatives proposed.

Task 12: Hydrology Report

12.1. The Contractor shall incorporate key findings from the final hydrology data into the EA.

The field assessments has already been completed by the Government. The contractor shall also use the report to highlight consistency with the GWJNF Forest Plan’s standards for water resources and write a hydrology report describing impacts of each alternative on watershed health. The Government suggests analyzing effects through road-related resource indicators as well as through changes in groundcover; these reports also described project-specific hydrologic resources indicators that were considered but not analyzed in detail. Specific effects of sediment from project activities on fish habitat should be addressed in the Biological Evaluation. Proposed activities such as mechanical vegetation removal, prescribed fire, road maintenance, and watershed restoration activities like road decommissioning would use best management practices and mitigation measures designed to protect and/or enhance watershed processes including soil properties.

Task 13: Recreation Report

13.1 The Contractor must write a recreation report describing impacts of each alternative on recreation access in the project area, i.e., changes in access to key types of recreation opportunities such as: changes in vegetation on dispersed recreation such as hunting; trails with short-term closures during project implementation.

13.2 The Contractor shall address project effects on permitted special uses and lands activities authorized within the project area.

13.3 The Contractor shall address project effects on the Wild and Scenic Rivers within the project area. Refer to the Draft EA for the Paddy Mountain Resiliency and Restoration Project for relevant information.

Task 14: Economics Report

14.1 The Contractor must conduct an economic analysis on timber output that considers volume, logging costs, and haul costs on timber sales proposed in this project. For pricing purposes, assume 3 timber sales, though the actual number may vary. The Contractor will coordinate with Government timber specialist for location of proposed sales and approval of the modeling outputs and base data generated in modeling and analyses before information is used for this project.

14.2 The Contractor must write an economics report describing impacts of each alternative on economic indicators that may include projected merchantable timber volume (gross and net values) and number of full-time equivalent jobs created or maintained. The report should discuss indirect effects of proposed actions on the local economy, protection of non-market resource values and existing market resource values, the timber market infrastructure, and impacts of created products.

Task 15: Transportation Report

15.1 The Contractor shall write a transportation report describing impacts of each alternative on the existing transportation network in the project area.

Task 16: Scenic Resources Report

16.1 The Contractor shall address comments pertaining to scenic resources and show compliance with the scenic standards in the GWJNF Forest Plan.

16.2 Depending on issues identified during public comment periods, the Contractor shall prepare a Scenic Resources report describing impacts of each alternative on scenic resources. The report shall describe the area's scenic integrity, including historic or past integrity, any interim short-term integrity levels necessary to reach a long-term goal, and an expression of the landscape's "desired condition.". If no issues are identified during the comment period, the government may remove this task from the required deliverables.

Task 17: Invasive Plants Report

17.1 The Contractor shall address comments pertaining to invasive plants and show compliance with the existing GWJNF Forest Plan. The proposed action tiers to the forest-wide Non-native Invasive Plant Control Herbicide Decision Notice for the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest.

17.2 : Depending on issues identified during public comment periods, the Contractor shall prepare an Invasive Plants report describing impacts of each alternative on invasive plants. If no issues are identified during the comment period, the government may remove this task from the required deliverables.

Task 18: Environmental Assessment, Decision Notice, and Finding of No Significant Impact

18.1 The Contractor shall develop and provide an administrative draft environmental analysis and decision notice (Draft EA/DN) for Government review prior to publishing. The format of the EA shall follow the template provided by the Government consistent with what is outlined in the regulations at 7 CFR 1b.5. The Contractor shall prepare a summary for the Government describing changes to the project since the scoping period, including the rationale for changes.

18.2 The Contractor shall prepare the Decision Notice rationale in consultation with the Deciding Official. Support materials shall be arranged in appendices or separate reports and files that are in the Project Record. Information needed to immediately interpret or understand the environmental analysis shall be contained in an appendix. Changes should occur only after input from the deciding official and approved by the COR.

18.3 The Contractor shall follow 7 CFR 1b.6 in the Decision Notice when discussing whether effects are significant and support a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The Contractor shall document the reasons why the proposed action or selected alternative will not have a reasonably foreseeable significant impact on the quality of the human environment. The DN will summarize findings from the EA documenting compliance with the applicable GWJNF Forest Plan’s standards. The DN will further document compliance with other integrated compliance requirements like the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, etc.

18.4 The Contractor shall ensure and certify that the text of the EA is no more than 75 pages, not including appendices (7 CFR 1b.5 (6)(d)(4)). Other specific formatting requirements are described in 7 CFR 1b.5 (6)(d)(3).

18.5 The Contractor shall fill out the USFS Region 8 Environmental Compliance Record (provided by government) and provide it to the Government with the administrative Draft

EA/DN.

18.6 Following Government selection of an agency-preferred alternative and Government review of the administrative Draft EA, the Contractor shall integrate Government edits and comments to the EA. Develop and incorporate appendix materials as approved by Government.

Provide the final document to the Government in Word and pdf format ensuring they meet 508 compliance requirements. The Government will distribute the documents on the project website for public review.

18.7 One week prior to publication of the EA for public review, the Contractor will provide the Government with an updated mailing list for use in distribution of the EA.

18.8 Following public participation on the EA, the Contractor shall update technical reports and prepare an administrative Final EA and Draft Decision Notice for Government review. The Contractor shall include a summary for the Government describing any changes to the project since the public participation period, including the rationale for changes. The Contractor shall integrate edits and comments from the Government in a Final EA, Decision Notice, and FONSI. The Contractor shall finalize the USFS Region 8 Environmental Compliance Record (provided by government) and provide it to the Government with the administrative Final

EA/DN.

18.9 The Contractor shall provide the final documents to the Government in pdf format ensuring that it meets 508 compliance requirements. The Government will distribute the documents on the project website and notify the public of the final decision.

Task 19: Project Record

19.1 The Government will create a file sharing site for the project record and provide access to the Contractor. The Government will provide a Project Record schema and file naming direction at the project initiation meeting.

19.2 The Contractor shall ensure that the project record includes all information and analyses either generated or obtained from other sources or used to support documentation and analyses. A complete project record is the entirety of the information relied upon within the Contractor's possession.

19.3 The Contractor must prepare and maintain a bibliography of references and data sources using the project record format prescribed by the Government. The geospatial data files and metadata must be included.

19.4 The Contractor must organize the information composing the project record by topic and include an index.

19.5 The Contractor must submit original documents (Microsoft Word documents, XLS spreadsheets, GIS shape files, emails) as well as a pdf version (where applicable) to the Government.

19.6 The Contractor shall update the project record biweekly and before the administrative review of the EA, DN, and FONSI, unless another schedule is approved by the Government. The project record will be filed on the Government’s file sharing site.

19.7 The Contractor must prepare and assemble an indexed final project record on the Government’s file sharing site, and furnished on electronic media (e.g. thumb drive) to the Government within 1 week of submitting the final DN. The Government can provide an index template and guidance.

Task 20: Botanical Field Surveys

20.1 Botanical survey up to 5,000-acres with a survey window between May to the end of September (This is an estimate. A more refined estimate will be available after heritage surveys are conducted, which will likely reduce the overall acres needed for survey and contractor will be paid for actual acres surveyed. Anticipated date for refined acres is in Spring 2027

20.2 Field surveys up to 5,000-acres identifying and mapping rare, threatened, and endangered plant species within the project area. Following an internal review the contractor shall be provided with the final acres requiring botanical surveys.

20.3 Work Plan & Target Species List: A brief document outlining the survey methodology

(e.g., intuitive meander or transects), field schedule based on local blooming windows, and the targeted Regional Forester Sensitive Species (RFSS), Threatened/Endangered species, and Noxious Weeds

20.4 Work Plan & Target Species List: A brief document outlining the survey methodology

(e.g., intuitive meander or transects), field schedule based on local blooming windows, and the targeted Regional Forester Sensitive Species (RFSS), Threatened/Endangered species, and Noxious Weeds.

20.5 Spatial and Tabular database of survey

Task 21: Silviculture Forester Services(Optional)

Description of Responsibilities

Note: The responsibilities listed below represent the full scope of potential duties for this role.

Actual tasks assigned within any one-week service period may include only a portion of these activities, depending on project needs. The government estimates approximately 40 hours per week including travel time. All fieldwork performed under this unit will occur within a 70‑mile radius of the Lee Ranger District. Services will directly support Lee Ranger District staff that will provide and assign work as needed. POC will remain at Lee Ranger District.

Conduct on‑the‑ground examinations and analyses of forest stands to determine areas requiring short‑ and long‑term silvicultural treatments consistent with forest plan direction, landscape conditions, and resource objectives.

Coordinate closely with the district silviculturist to prioritize projects, schedule work, and organize annual and multi‑year programs of work.

Prescribe appropriate cutting practices and silvicultural treatments based on stand conditions, desired future conditions, silvicultural principles, and relevant aesthetic or resource considerations.

Collect, manage, and edit forest inventory spatial and tabular data to support stand‑level and project‑level analyses. Produce stand summaries, analytical reports, and geospatial products.

Support internal record management, including digital and physical filing, to assist with record digitization and cross‑referencing historical treatments with current forest management activities.

Interpret deeds, easements, rights‑of‑way, and similar documents to identify appropriate access routes for harvest operations and associated activities.

Perform additional forestry‑related duties as assigned to support program objectives.

Deliverables

Weekly summaries detailing completed work, ongoing tasks, and planned activities for upcoming weeks.

Written report(s) documenting areas surveyed, findings, and the location and mapping of target species or stand conditions.

GIS deliverables including mapping files, raw spatial and tabular data, and summarized datasets or analytical outputs.

TASK 22: GIS Specialist (Optional)

General Responsibilities

Note: The responsibilities listed below represent the full scope of potential duties for this role.

Actual tasks assigned within any one-week service period may include only a portion of these activities, depending on project needs. The government estimates approximately 40 hours per week.

Services will directly support Lee Ranger District staff that will provide and assign work as needed.

POC will remain at Lee Ranger District.

• Maintain and update spatial datasets.

• Provide mapping and spatial analysis support to staff and partners.

• Assist users with GIS software, tools, and data access issues.

• Ensure data quality, consistency, and proper documentation.

• Support field data collection workflows.

• Manage and maintain GIS databases or data services.

• Develop or maintain geoprocessing workflows and automation.

• Develop and configure AGOL-based field data-collection tools.

• Update and streamline forest inventory data schemas and workflows.

• Customize mobile forms and maps for efficient field data capture.

• Automate inventory data QA/QC, processing, and summarization.

• Integrate AGOL data with Forest Service geodatabases and dashboards.

• Coordinate with teams to understand geospatial needs and priorities.

• Manage versioned editing, data integration, and publishing processes.

• Maintain standardized cartographic products, symbology, and templates.

General Deliverables and Products

• Updated geospatial layers and databases.

• Map products: PDF maps, map books, web maps, dashboards.

• Spatial analysis results: acreage summaries, statistics, derived layers.

• Data review reports: quality checks, error logs, corrections.

• Field data imports and processed outputs (GPS/GNSS, app-based data).

• Geoprocessing outputs (clip, buffer, intersect, overlays, raster products).

• Metadata updates and data documentation materials.

• User support logs, issue resolutions, quick guides for GIS tools.

• Automated workflow outputs (scheduled updates, model/script results).

• Data delivery packages for partners or internal teams.

• Service or database maintenance notes (status checks, updates).

• Perform additional GIS-related duties as assigned to support program objectives.

TASK 23: Wildlife Biologist Services (Optional)

General Responsibilities

Note: Services will directly support Lee Ranger District staff that will provide and assign work as needed. POC will remain at Lee Ranger District.

• Provide technical advising on wildlife considerations to support future Environmental Assessment (EA) projects.

• Review existing spatial data, reports, and project information to identify potential wildlife issues.

• Conduct desktop IPaC checks and species reviews based on available datasets.

• Assist with drafting or contributing to wildlife sections of BA/BE, effects analyses, or EA documentation.

• Participate in interdisciplinary coordination regarding wildlife topics as needed.

• Perform other wildlife support tasks as assigned to assist upcoming EA development.

General…