WNA-BNR_SOW_ConservationPlan_FBFA2_0001.pdf

Scope of Work - Conservation Plans

1.0 Purpose and Objectives

1.1 The purpose and Objective of this Scope of Work is to develop conservation plans as part of a grazing permit transfers that will be approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Navajo Regional Office (NRO). The conservation plans must be consistent with the Navajo Nation’s (NN) Agricultural Resource Management Plan (ARMP) and/or Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRMP) or other applicable management plans, if they exist.

1.2 To identify and prescribe specific management actions and conservation practices that address current resource concerns and to ensure sustainable agricultural production at the Customary Use Area (CUA) level or Grazing Compartment level. These CUAs and Grazing Compartments are mostly associated with open range areas.

1.3 According to American Indian Agricultural Resource Management Act (AIARMA), 1993

(as amended) and 25 CFR 166.207(b), 166.213 and 166.312, a BIA grazing permit requires a conservation plan to conduct grazing operations in accordance with the principles of sustained yield management, agricultural resource management planning, sound conservation practices and other community goals as expressed in tribal laws. BIA manages grazing permit and leasing on tribal trust and allotted lands within Western Navajo Agency compliant with 25 CFR 166 and 167 and other pertinent regulations. To responsibly manage these lands, BIA will contract with subject matter expert contractor to develop, to the extent deemed appropriate, conservation plans consistent with regulations.

1.4 A conservation plan is a signed agreement between the land user and BIA that specifies the conservation and management objectives and goals of the land user, landowner(s), and the BIA. The conservation plans are specific to the land use, management unit, and term covered by a permit.

1.5 Develop feasible management options that yield acceptable economic returns and conservation benefits by considering the land user’s management objectives, goals, and capabilities, as well as prevailing economic conditions (commodity process, production costs, etc.).

1.6 Enable producers to use the information to participate in government incentive programs and/or implement range improvements, identify, and provide information to the Navajo Nation for well-informed decisions on livestock grazing permitting.

2.0 Background

2.1 The Navajo Nation developed the Biological Resource Land-Use Clearance Policies and Procedures to protect the biological resources of the Navajo Nation and to assist the Navajo Nation Government and Chapters to ensure compliance with federal and Navajo Nation laws to protect wildlife resources and plants. The Biological Resources are classified as Area 1 (highly sensitive), Area 2 (moderately sensitive), and Area 3 (low sensitivity).

2.2 The Western Navajo Agency is about 5.5 million acres in size and consists of about 5,034,448 acres categorized as rangelands (based Summary of Vegetation Inventories) and about 53,528 acres that are deemed as Non Grazeable Acres. The Agency is divided into five (5) Land Management Districts (LMD) 1, 2, 3, 5, and 8, and all are located within Colorado Plateau Major Land Resource Area (MLRA). These 5 Districts are within the Coconino, Navajo, and Apache Counties, Arizona, and San Juan County, Utah. Out of the total number of all permits that exist, 2,620 are for grazing with 2,518 being active. Of these permits, 410 are pending transfer and need Conservation Plans written for them.

2.3 This Statement of Work only addresses the required Conservation Plans for the pending permits within LMD 3. There are 132 pending permits for LMD 3 that Conservation Plans will be written for.

2.4 In preparation for the 2024-2025 grazing permit renewal, BIA will complete range vegetation inventories for all Agencies by 2026. Previously, range inventories were completed between 2004 to 2017 and are now mostly expired to be used successfully, where vegetation characteristics measured included biomass production, ground cover, and species frequency; and the data analyzed to determine carrying capacity based on available forage and similarity to the historic climax plant community were measured.

Carrying capacities will be adjusted using animal unit month (AUM) for grazing permits renewed in 2024/2025 and all non-grazeable areas (i.e., roads, housing areas, and rock outcrop) have been excluded when determining grazeable acres. BIA has conducted numerous public meetings and informed the public, tribal officials, and permittees on the importance of switching from per acre to AUM as part of the renewal work. This effort will continue for the present and unforeseen future. All previous data (inventory studies, carrying capacities), analysis, and associated maps will be made available for the contractor to use in completing this project.

2.5 Access to Project Area. The project area is well complimented with roads. Local maintained paved and unpaved roads all interconnected and or many bifurcated segments of roads by State, Federal, local, and county routes, and both BIA and NN routes that can be accessed thru AZ, NM, CO, and UT. U.S. Highway 160 runs East and West and U.S.

Highway 89 runs North and South through LMD 3. In addition, Arizona State Routes 64 and 264 also traverse through LMD 3. The LMD 3 also has many secondary maintained roads spurring off in all directions. There are numerous unimproved roads and trails in many areas. For the most part the project area is easily accessible.

2.6 Climate. The climate over most of the area is considered a cold desert. The temperatures in the summer range in the mid 90’s and 100’s in the day time on the hotter days, occasionally there are strong occurrences of thunderstorms in the afternoon with isolated thunder cell activity which can be violent for short durations of time. These may result in heavy lightning and downpours with high velocity winds. The winters can be cold with snows from a historic perspective in the higher elevations, but in most recent times the winters have been mild with very few days of freeze. The area is associated with 6 to 15” inches of precipitation annually depending on elevation and Land Resource Unit (LRU) but can be < 6” at times. The possibility of rangeland fires is extremely rare except in areas of pinyon/juniper woodlands to ponderosa pine forests during drought. There also have been prolonged periods of drought with minimal precipitation.

3.0 Project Area and Need for the Work

3.1 The project area covers parts of Land Management 3 of the Western Navajo Agency and is wholly in Arizona. The area will also consist of two fenced areas, a few Individual Indian Allotted Lands, and mostly what is known as Tribal Trust Land in “open” range condition setting. See Project Area Map in the Appendix. The work is needed to support program decisions, assist the Navajo Nation with their decisions and permittees with their plans, and to comply with the AIARMA and 25 CFR 162, 166, and 167.

4.0 Personnel and Professional Qualification

4.1 The Contractor shall be required to have staff and/or sub-contractors available for this project with credentials and expertise in the fields of land resources, water resources, air resources, biotic resources, cultural resources, or any of the sciences pertaining to natural resources to perform the work and duties required to finish the project, and those especially associated closely with range and soil science. Field personnel should have land navigational skills and be able to accurately perform required tasks in isolated areas.

All field work shall be followed by written reports but specifically Conservation Plans.

All bidders will submit a statement of professional qualifications, including previous consulting assignments. For quality assurance, personnel selected will remain part of the contract and no person will switch out with another.

Scope of Work - Conservation Plans - Navajo Regional Office

5.0 Services to Be Completed, the Contractor shall:

5.1 Provide all labor, equipment, materials and supplies, and services to perform the tasks described in this Scope of Work (SOW).

5.2 Conservation Plan Development. Following are the general steps in developing a conservation plan. Also attached is the BIA Navajo Regions draft protocols for doing a Conservation Plan details.

5.2.1.1 Assemble baseline natural resource information.

5.2.1.2 Use the current BIA rangeland condition spreadsheet (August 2023) and inference from past vegetative inventory information for LMD 3 to identify productivity, potential stocking rate, and potential carrying capacity correlating with Soil Survey information for relevant inference to Ecological Site Descriptions for each range unit and or grazing area.

5.2.1.3 Research and collect data information (from existing records and/or on-site field assessments).

5.2.1.4 Conduct a range unit and or grazing area visit to determine range condition and existing infrastructure.

5.2.1.5 Interview permittee(s) on their goals and objectives, type of operation, plans, and relevant historical data. The WNA-BNR uses a Conservation Plan Questionnaire to get standard information from the person getting the Grazing Permit, which is attached in the appendix

5.2.2 Draft Planning

5.2.2.1 Develop a draft plan aligned within the capabilities of the land user.

5.2.2.2 Identify resource protection and management needs with input from resource specialists.

Review the Navajo Nation Biological Resource Land Use Clearance Policies and Procedures (RCP) maps. The purpose of the RCP is to assist the Navajo Nation government and chapters ensure compliance with federal and Navajo Nation laws which protect, wildlife resources, including plants, and their habitat resulting in an expedited land use clearance process. The RCP Policies and Procedures will help direct development to areas that minimize impacts to wildlife and/or their habitat.

5.2.2.3 Develop and implement an existing and or future range improvement map. Include any RCP conditions.

5.2.2.4 Discuss the draft plan with the appropriate BIA personnel.

5.2.2.5 Review with the land user and with the landowner, if necessary.

5.2.2.6 Submit the final plan to BIA.

5.2.3 Final Planning

5.2.3.1 Develop the final conservation plan.

5.2.3.2 Review with the land user and with the landowner, if necessary.

5.2.3.3 Submit the final plan to BIA.

5.3 Progress Reporting

Provide Monthly Progress (Status) Reports no later than 30 calendar days after the notice-to-proceed, and then subsequently at the end of each month. In addition to the requirements of the Monthly Progress Report, the Contractor shall include in the Monthly Progress Report:

a) Any problems encountered in performing the work with recommendations for corrective actions; and b) An estimated percentage of completion for all work specified in this SOW including work completed in the current month. If the Contractor identifies any problem(s), the Contractor must elevate to COR. upon discovery and not wait to include in the Monthly Progress Report especially if the problem(s) impacts project development and schedule.

5.4 Perform a consistency and quality check of all data, facts, and appropriate reviews used for all deliverable products. The Contractor is responsible for securing guidance on any areas that might need clarification, not the BIA.

6.0 Government furnished Materials, Services, and Equipment

6.1 The BIA shall provide:

a. Digital maps (or shape files) of the project area, such as, the Districts, Grazing Communities, and range unit boundaries; and land ownership showing the location of the individual Indian allotments and tribal trust lands.

b. Legal description and land ownership showing the location of the individual Indian allotments and tribal trust lands.

c. Range Unit Inventory Report and Stocking Rate

d. Range Unit Soil Map

e. Range Unit RCP Map

f. Template of conservation plan

g. Web link to Navajo Nation Fish and Wildlife’s Navajo Nation Biological Resource Land

Use Clearance Policies and Procedures (RCP)

7.0 References:

a. Soil Surveys: Kayenta Area, AZ Navajo Mountain Area, AZ, Parts of Apache and

Coconino and Navajo Counties, AZ (AZ 711); Soil Survey of the Little Colorado River Area, AZ Parts of Coconino and Navajo Counties, AZ (AZ 707)

8.0 Deliverables

8.1 The Contractor shall furnish to the BIA, assigned reference folder (containing all contents) and softcopies of completed conservation plans on a bi-weekly basis. Final Plan in its entirety in a digital format utilizing the most current version of Microsoft Office Word and Excel with any photographic inclusions presented in a JPG format.

8.2 All maps shall be shape files suitable to be utilized in the most current version of ESRI

ArcGIS Pro v3.3 geodatabase formats with the appropriate attribute tables and data configured to the coordinate system UTM, Zone 12N as applicable and a datum of NAD 1983 (Conus) with coordinate units and altitude units in meters.

8.3 The Contractor shall coordinate with the BIA to finalize the conservation plan outline; a sample outline is in the Appendix. This outline may not be all-inclusive, or some subjects may not be appropriate for the draft and final plan.

4.0 The Contractor will submit proposals for the following:

Conservation Plans to be completed

Option Agency # of Plans

Approx.

Acres

1 WNA LMD 3 140 1,320,000

140 1,320,000

5.0 Project Schedule and Coordination

9.1 The Contractor shall prepare a draft project schedule within 10 calendar days after the notice-to-proceed. The schedule shall include the conservation plans and supporting documents as identified in the SOW, review periods with BIA and other important milestones.

9.2 The Contractor shall make the necessary changes to the draft schedule, after receiving BIA’s comments, to produce a final schedule. The Contractor shall submit the final project schedule to BIA no later than five (5) working days after receiving the comments.

9.3 The Contractor shall be responsible for updating the final project schedule on a quarterly basis and, upon the request of BIA, to reflect changes to the final project schedule. The Contractor shall adapt to an extension of the project schedule if BIA deems the extension necessary to complete the project. Any extension will require BIA’s approval based on consultation with the Contractor.

10.0 Communication and Coordination

10.1 The Contractor shall maintain a strong communication and coordination with the BIA to acquire range unit access; the BIA will contact the local Land Board representative or the local Chapter.

10.2 The Contractor shall keep the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) informed, maintain contact with BIA as it relates to issues they have and address any access issue to tribal trust and individual Indian allotment lands with BIA as practicable as possible.

10.3 The Contractor shall post public notices and radio announcements at all the affected Agency

Chapter Houses on the conservation plan work.

11.0 Invoices and Payments

11.1 The Contractor shall be responsible for properly and timely submitting progress payment invoices to the DOI Financial and Business Management System’s Invoice Processing Platform (IPP). The COR will review the invoice for acceptability and processing.

11.2 All invoices submitted by the Contractor for payment must identify the period covered by the invoice; and the sum of previous payments and current invoice will not exceed the total amount of the contract.

12.0 Liquidated Damages will be assessed for any work not completed within assigned and agreed timelines. Liquidated damages will be calculated at $200.00/day for each day work is not completed beyond the completion date.

13.0 Coordination Meetings

14.0 The Contractor shall attend a pre-work meeting (one day) scheduled by the Contracting Officer.

14.1 The Contractor shall conduct monthly progress teleconferences to update BIA on all work and activities. During the teleconference, the Contractor may request assistance of BIA to address issues or concerns.

15.0 Appendix

15.1 Conservation Plan Outline

15.2 Planning Considerations

15.3 Project Area Map

15.4 Map of Navajo Nation

Appendix

15.1 Conservation Plan Content

Generally, a conservation plan will include the following:

• Cover/title page (with photos, logos, map images, etc., if available)

• Signature page

• Table of contents and list of figures

• Content outlined as

I. Physical and Natural Resources within the Management Unit

A. Maps, photos, and text that describe or show the physical location and area (size) B. Legal description, land use designations and restrictions, management sub-units, landforms and topography C. Soil type, ecological sites, climate zones, water features D. Wildlife habitats E. Roads, fences, utilities, and other infrastructure (indicate estimated value and condition) F. Conservation structures and recent land treatments (indicate estimated value and condition) G. Cultural sites, as appropriate (exercise care in identifying sensitive sites.)

H. Environmentally sensitive areas and areas containing threatened or endangered species

II. Goals and Objectives

A. Landowner, land user, and BIA integrated goals and objectives for the resources (soil, water, vegetation, wildlife, etc.) and the management unit (tie to ARMP or IRMP, if it exists)

B. Historical content, current situation, and condition(s) desired in 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years C. Production capacity – forage production, carrying capacity, resource condition, trend, health, and utilization

III. Land Management A. Ranch management – type of operation and mode of production (cow-calf operation, sheep, goats, etc.), organizational structure (co-op, association, etc.), business plan, economic conditions, etc.

B. Field operations – on-the-ground field operations (grazing schedules, seasonal activities, etc.), including who does what/when/where/how C. Issues – problems and concerns, and proposed or anticipated resolutions

IV. Conservation Practices

A. Conservation treatments and practices described and prioritized B. Existing plans/projects/contracts from other agencies (NRCS, BOR, State, etc.) integrated into this conservation plan, as applicable C. Estimated benefits and costs associated with practices proposed, and sources for technical and financial assistance D. Best management practices conservation stipulations, as applicable

V. Agreements

A. Conservation practice agreements for construction of new conservation measures and for the operation and maintenance of existing improvements (see 25 CFR 162.233, and 166.316)

B. Monitoring methods and how management will adapt if necessary

VI. Reviews A. Annual reviews to evaluate progress toward goals (see 25 CFR 162.250 and 166.312) B. Periodic field visits with the land user, tribe, NRCS, and others

VII. Appendix

15.2 Planning Considerations - Items to consider in planning and developing Conservation Plans:

General

• Access – roads, trails, gates, bridges, water fords, rights-of-way (ROWs)

• Aesthetics, view shed.

• Agricultural lands -- amount and demand pastureland, rangeland

• Agricultural leases and permits – granting and approving authority, administration, compliance, and enforcement.

• Agricultural values, goals, and objectives

• Best management practices and technical specifications

• Other species of management concern (e.g., wolves, grizzly bears, prairie dogs, black-footed ferrets)

• Conservation Districts – representation at local, state and national levels, NRCS program delivery

• Conservation easements

• Construction, future – schools, roads, housing, waste systems, public facilities

• Cultural sites, including culturally significant areas or resources – surveys, protection, and management.

• Drought – monitoring and response

• Economic develop plans.

• Ecotourism – guided tours, nature trails, special events

• Environmental issues

• Equipment needs – trucks, trailers, radios, cell phones, computers, GPS units.

• Equipment, fuel

• Ranch headquarters – location, maintenance

• Rangeland improvements – plans, maps

• Fences

• Feral and wild animals (cattle, horses, burros, dogs, etc.)

• Floodplain management – flood preparedness and response

• Forest/woodland management – grazing opportunities and forest/woodland products (posts, pols)

• Funding for Agriculture program

• Growing season, growing degree days, soil moisture and temperature

• Historical use – stocking rates, traditional use areas

• Hunting – seasons, farm or livestock issues

• Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRMP) or Comprehensive Resources Plan

• Land ownership status – tribal, allotted, government, fee, state.

• Land use/management priorities

• Land use zoning

• Land users’ capabilities or limitations, -- management level, skills, time commitment, financial constraints

• Laws and regulations – federal, tribal

• Marketing practices and opportunities

• Memorandums of Understanding/Agreement related to agriculture.

• Minerals – coal, oil, and gas exploration

• Noxious weeds, invasive species, poisonous plants – prevention, detection, and control

• Off-road vehicle use – ATVs, etc.

• Operating units – economically viable minimum range unit size, maximum size unit

• Photographic documentation

• Plants – cultural, ceremonial, medicinal, threatened and endangered

• Prescribe fire – planning, approval, implementation, monitoring

• Public Safety

• Quarantine policy and enforcement for livestock or agricultural products entering or leaving Indian lands

• Rangers – workforce and workload

• Record-keeping and accountability

• Recreation – uses, conflicts

• Resource data needs – inventories, surveys, condition and trend assessments, basic and applied research

• Riparian and wetland areas – use and management

• Rodent, insect, and predator prevention, detection, and control

• Season of use

• Seeding – native, introduced species

• Sensitive species – threatened and endangered, culturally significant

• Socio-economic factors

• Soils –use and management (suitability, classifications, limitations, potentials, hazards)

• Solid waste

• Specialty products and markets

• Technical assistance – other tribes, tribal organizations, non-governmental organizations, private vendors, Conservation

Districts, Colleges and Universities, BIA, NRCS, BOR, COE, CES, Others

• Temperature, precipitation, wind and other climatic characteristics

• Temporary and permanent closures – resource protection, species protection, hunting season, celebrations/festivals

• Trespass

• Tribal rangeland policies and customs

• Tribal or landowner interest and involvement in agriculture

• Water developments – existing and needs

• Water supplies – available surface water and groundwater

• Watershed size, elevation, topography, relief, elevation, hydrologic characteristics

• Wildfire threats and preparedness

• Wind and water erosion – soil surface protection

• Windbreaks

Rangeland

• Degree of use – range utilization studies and mapping, livestock and wildlife census

• Ecological site conversion/transition – natural or human caused

• Wildland fire emergency stabilization and restoration (a.k.a. BAER)

• Forage quality and nutritional value

• On-and-off grazing

• Plant community composition, indicator species, key forage species

• Plant palatability and grazing value

• Prescribed grazing system

• Range units

• Accelerated rangeland treatments – chaining, seeding, spraying, etc.

• Rangeland health and condition assessments (qualitative monitoring)

• Rangeland trend transects (quantitative monitoring)

• Stocking rates/capacity

• Wildlife – habitat needs and grazing allowances

Livestock

• Branding, castrating, dehorning, docking, dipping, vaccinating

• Breeding program – genetics, cow/bull ratio, timing, calf-crop yield and birth weights, weaning, culling and replacement

• Certified herds

• Herding, trailing, and riding

• Holding pastures

• Kind of stock – type, grade, class, age, sex

• Livestock counts and egress/ingress onto reservation

• Livestock disease prevention, detection, and control

• Livestock handling facilities – corrals, pens, traps, chutes, weight scales

• Livestock nutritional needs throughout the year

• Spring/fall pastures

• Supplemental feed, salt, and minerals

• Transporting stock

• Veterinary Services

• Wrangling

iii. Project Area Map