RFP 140F0621R0003 -QA Amendment No. 2_0002.pdf

AMENDMENT NO. 2 RFP NO. 140F0621R0003

AMENDMENT NO. 2

February 2, 2021

TO: ALL BIDDERS UNDER REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) NO.

FROM: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

SUBJECT: RFP NO. 140F0621R0003, “AL - FY20-22 Bon Secour NWR AL Beach Mouse Survey” is hereby modified as follows:

A. REVISED and ATTACHED “Scope of Work”

B. We have received questions pertaining to this RFP. The questions and their resulting answers appear below:

1. Question 3) With regards to Scope, is there flexibility regarding the 6-day window based on the new moon phases described on page 4? “Trapping efforts will begin within a 6-day window 3 days before and after the new moon and, weather permitting, must be consecutive.” The document titled “TRAPPING PROTOCOL TO ASCERTAIN PRESENCE OF BEACH MICE” from the USFWS Panama City Field Office states “Trapping should not be conducted when the moon phase is three-quarters to full, if feasible.” I want to know if this protocol could be followed for this proposed scope instead of how it is currently written.

Answer: Unless there is a weather delay this cannot be changed.

2. Question: Throughout the document the preferred option is described as, “3.1.1 Methods (Preferred Option): The survey effort will consist of trapping 12 predefined grids for 6 consecutive trap nights for the spring of 2021 season”. However, the Preferred Option 1 matrix on Page 8 shows “Spring 2021 (3 grids) and “Spring 2022 (12 grids)”. I just wanted to get clarification on this discrepancy.

Answer: The correct language for 3.1.1 is below and in the Revised Scope of Work that is attached.

This specific error occurred throughout the Original Scope of Work document and is corrected in the Revised Scope of Work. This is a significant error that has been corrected, so please read the Revised Scope of Work in its entirety before submitting a bid.

3.1.1 Methods (Preferred Option): The survey effort will consist of trapping within 3 predefined grids for 6 consecutive trap nights for the spring of 2021 season and 12 predefined grids for 6 consecutive trap nights for the spring of 2022 season on the Fort Morgan and Perdue Units of Bon Secour NWR.

Therefore, 15 unique grids will be trapped between the spring of 2021 and the spring of 2022. The months that can be trapped in the spring are February, March and April. May be only be trapped due to weather or permitting delays and must be approved by the Site Representative. Likewise, the grids will contain 100 stations (two traps per station; 200 traps/grid) on 15-20 meter spacing. Trapping efforts will begin within a 6-day window 3 days before and after the new moon and, weather permitting, must be consecutive. The data collected and recorded will include date, grid id, trap station and start and end time of grid check, species for non-ABM captures, and for ABM captures will also include sex, weight, age, reproductive capacity, if the animal was a recapture or first capture, tag number and any relevant observations.

AMENDMENT NO. 2 RFP NO. 140F0621R0003

Additionally, weather conditions should be recorded each night to include temperature, wind speed and direction, cloud cover, and moon phase. Likewise, stations closed due to flooding or other environmental conditions will be collected. Lastly, if an ABM dies during mark/recapture efforts (i.e., found dead in a trap, or dies during handling), a written report will be submitted within 24 hours to the designated Site Representative at Bon Secour NWR and others as specified in the Contractor’s Endangered Species Sub- Permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services.

ABM will be captured in non-ventilated Sherman live traps (5x6.5x16.5 cm), with two traps placed directly adjacent to each other and facing the same direction at each trap station. Traps will be internally baited exclusively using black sunflower seeds due to difficulties with fire ants when using rolled oats.

Cotton will be used to insulate the back door of the traps from within and prevent hypothermia during trapping efforts of all BSNWR trapping grids when temperatures are predicted to fall below or approach 60ºF. Traps can be set/opened after 12pm and checked/closed between 11:30pm and a half hour after sunrise. Traps must remain checked and closed from a half hour after sunrise until 12pm.

Upon capture, mark Alabama beach mice individually with one ear-tag, weighed (to the nearest 0.5g), and aged as juveniles, sub-adults, or adults based on weight and reproductive condition. Weight and aging parameters used for aging Alabama beach mice will be provided upon award of this contract. Female reproductive condition should be recorded as lactating, pregnant and lactating, or non-lactating (inactive) depending on weight and condition of teats. Males should be described as either abdominal or scrotal based on the status of their testes. After work-up, mice should be released at the point of capture.

Recaptured mice should be released after recording their ear-tag number and morphological data.

3. Period of Performance for this requirement is 02/15/2021 - 05/30/2022.

4. It is the responsibility of each bidder to ensure all awareness of all amendments issued under this RFP.

Please sign and return this amendment with your bid submittal. You may email Merenica Banks, Contract Specialist at Merenica_banks@fws.gov before the bids are due to confirm the number of addenda issued.

All other conditions remain in full force and effect.

Merenica Banks -Contract Specialist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service merenica_banks@fws.gov

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Date: ______________________________

The above Amendment is hereby acknowledged:

(NAME OF PROPOSER)

(Signature) (Title) mailto:Merenica_banks@fws.gov