Attach_3_Contract_Specs_LC_Forks_AA_Botanical_Survey.docx

SECTION C – DESCRIPTION / SPECIFICATION / WORK STATEMENT

C.01. SCOPE OF WORK

Contractor shall furnish all equipment, supplies, transportation, labor, and supervision necessary to survey for botanical species on approximately 3,638 acres of National Forest land (Long Cane Ranger District, Sumter National Forest).

Botanical surveys shall target: 1) threatened, endangered, and Forest Service sensitive plant species; 2) rare plant communities; and 3) non-native invasive plant species.

Surveys shall take place between August 1, 2019, and July 31, 2020. Final report is due September 1, 2020.

C.02. PROJECT LOCATION

Botanical surveys shall be performed on National Forest land (Long Cane Ranger District, Sumter National Forest) in the Forks Analysis Area. The project area is located in McCormick County, South Carolina. Listed in Table 1 are the stands that are to be surveyed (also see attached maps).

Table 1. Botanical Survey Stands

C.03. PROJECT DESCRIPTION / TARGET SPECIES

Botanical surveys shall be performed for the following categories:

1) Threatened, endangered, and Forest Service sensitive (TES) plants (see Table 2);

2) Rare plant communities (1 acre in size or larger) (see Table 3); and

3) Non-native invasive plant species (NNIS) (see Table 4).

Table 2. Threatened, endangered, and Forest Service sensitive (TES) plant species

Faded Trillium Trillium discolor

Florida Gooseberry Ribes echinellum

Georgia Aster Symphyotrichum georgianus

Lanceleaf Trillium Trillium lancifolium

May White Azalea Rhododendron eastmanii

Mountain Witch Alder Fothergilla major

Oglethorpe Oak Quercus oglethorpensis

Relict Trillium Trillium reliquum

Shoal’s Spider Lily Hymenocallis coronaria

Sweet Pinesap Monotropsis odorata

Table 3. Rare plant communities

Rare Plant Community Group Rare Plant Community (NatureServe Database Code)

Atlantic Upland Depression Willow Oak Swamp Forest (CEGL007403) Piedmont Low Elevation Headwater Seepage Swamp (CEGL004426)

Southern Piedmont Oak Bottomland Forest (CEGL008487) American Beech-Southern Sugar Maple/Common Pawpaw Forest (CEGL007321) Piedmont Triassic Basin Oak Bottomland Forest (CEGL007356)

Piedmont Granitic Flatrock Glade, Annual Succulent Zone (CEGL00434 Granite Flatrock Complex, Perennial Zone (CEGL004298) Granite Flatrock Complex, Gravel Seepage Zone (CEGL004299)

Piedmont Diabase Barren (CEGL003558) Piedmont Acid Hardpan Woodland (CEGL004413)

Piedmont Montmorillonite Woodland (CEGL003714)

Xeric Hardpan Forest (CEGL003713)

Mafic Xeric Piedmont Oak Forest (CEGL004416)

Piedmont Mafic Shortleaf Pine-Oak Woodland (CEGL004447)

Rich Granitic Lower Piedmont Deciduous Woodland (CEGL008489)

Southern Inner Piedmont Mafic Barren (CEGL008485)

Table 5. Non-native invasive species (NNIS)

C.04. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

The Government shall make available to the contractor the following material (hereinafter referred to as “Government-furnished property”):

· District Map

C.05. SPECIFICATIONS

1) The contractor shall survey all listed stands (3,638 acres) for TES plants, rare plant communities, and NNIS.

2) Surveys shall take place between August 1, 2019, and July 31, 2020. Final report is due September 1, 2020.

3) Each stand shall be surveyed at least once, and shall be surveyed more than once if necessary to confirm plant identification. Surveys shall be performed during the appropriate time of year to ensure species detection and identification.

4) The contractor shall use intuitive controlled, cursory, general, or complete survey methods based on the quality of the habitat encountered.

5) All TES plant species shall be documented in a written report. The contractor shall document all known Element Occurrences and all newly identified occurrences. The following information shall be recorded in the written report:

a) Survey date(s)

b) Name(s) of surveyor(s)

c) Species name (scientific and common)

d) Habitat description (include associated dominant overstory/midstory/understory vegetation, slope, distinctive geology and/or soil types, and known threats)

e) Number of plants (specify estimate or exact number)

f) Percent of plants flowering, fruiting, and/or in seed

g) Color photographs depicting representative examples of TES plant species that are located within project stands

TES plant species locations shall also be recorded with GPS or the Collector for ArcGIS mobile app (see below for GPS and GIS requirements). When collecting geospatial data for TES plant species, use point feature types for capturing small or single occurrences (< 10 m diameter circle) and use polygon feature types for capturing larger occurrences (≥ 10 m diameter circle).

6) All rare plant communities (1 acre in size or larger) shall be documented in a written report. The contractor shall document all known rare plant communities and all newly identified occurrences. The following information shall be recorded in the written report:

a) Survey date(s)

b) Name(s) of surveyor(s)

c) Rare plant community name (including NatureServe Database Code)

d) Habitat description (include associated dominant overstory/midstory/understory vegetation, slope, distinctive geology and/or soil types, and known threats)

e) Color photographs depicting representative examples of rare plant communities that are located within project stands

The “Floodplain Canebrake” (CEGL003836) rare community only applies to patches of giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea) exhibiting high densities that result in nearly monotypic conditions.

Rare plant community locations shall also be recorded with GPS or the Collector for ArcGIS mobile app (see below for GPS and GIS requirements). When collecting geospatial data for rare plant communities, use polygon feature types.

7) All NNIS shall be documented in a written report. This includes all known infestations and all newly identified infestations. The following information shall be recorded in the written report:

a. Survey date(s)

b. Name(s) of surveyor(s)

c. Species name (scientific and common)

d. Habitat description (include associated dominant overstory/midstory/understory vegetation and slope)

e. Horizontal distance to water (water is defined as an intermittent stream, a perennial stream, or any permanent body of water; for distance, use 0-10 m, 11-25 m, or >25 m)

f. Estimate of percent area infestation (use <10%, 11-25%, 26-50%, 51-75%, 76-100%)

NNIS locations shall also be recorded with GPS or Collector for ArcGIS mobile app (see below for GPS and GIS requirements). When collecting geospatial data for NNIS, use point feature types for capturing small or single occurrences (< 10 m diameter circle) and use polygon feature types for capturing larger occurrences (≥ 10 m diameter circle).

For Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) and Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) infestations, there is no need to collect geospatial data. If found, accurately mark on a project map to show their location within the survey stand and include in the written report.

It is not necessary to document the presence of Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) in the written report or to collect geospatial data unless it threatens TES plants or rare plant communities.

8) GPS and GIS Requirements

The locations of all TES plant species, rare plant communities, and NNIS shall be collected using a geographic positioning system (GPS) unit or the Collector for ArcGIS mobile app.

If using GPS to collect point data, lat/long coordinates and attribute information shall be entered into an Excel spreadsheet. The Excel spreadsheet will be provided by the Forest Service.

If using GPS to collect polygon data, a GIS shapefile shall be used. The shapefile will be provided by the Forest Service.

If using Collector for ArcGIS to collect point or polygon data, the use of the Excel spreadsheet and GIS shapefile is not necessary. Collector for ArcGIS is a mobile app that synchronizes field data collection with GIS databases. The Forest Service will make available a map and data layers for Collector to streamline this field data collection. Also, the Forest Service can provide training on the use of the mobile app if needed. The contractor will need to use their own Android, iOS or Windows mobile device with GPS capabilities.

Listed below are the mandatory attributes that shall be recorded for each botanical survey category:

TES Plant Occurrences ID (unique identifier), Date, Scientific Name, Examiner_Name, Original EO_Number, Plant Found (Yes, No), Plant_Count, Plant_Type (genets, ramets, or undetermined), Population Comment (if any), Habitat_Comment, Threat_Comment, Directions (if different from original occurrence directions), Lat, Long

Invasive Plant Infestations Infestation ID (linked to geographic file), Inventory Date, Species Code from PLANTS, % Infested, Examiner Name, Ownership

Rare Communities Name, Rare Community Type, Ranger District, Inventory Date, Examiner Name, Condition (High, good, fair, poor), dominant native plant species, threats

9) Data collected and reports prepared under this contract are the property of the Forest Service. Data publication is prohibited without prior consent of the Forest Service. The Forest Service reserves the right to edit any potential publications. The Forest Service shall be acknowledged in any publications using such data.

C.06. CONTRACTOR EVALUATION CRITERIA

The contractor must be familiar with plant identification and taxonomy, the flora of the piedmont of South Carolina, and of field survey methods. The contractor must have a working knowledge of GPS mapping and GIS data management. The contractor must exhibit a combination of experience and education to ensure that he or she is technically qualified to complete the work. Professional references must be provided on request to verify the contractor’s expertise and previous accomplishments related to the scope of this contract. The contractor must be willing to work outdoors in hot, strenuous conditions.