Statement_of_Work-revised_0001.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK, REVISED

Assistance to the U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center

Re-photography and Measurements of Joshua Trees after 15 to 20 years

1.0 Introduction

The U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, has a requirement for re-photography, measurements, and condition of Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) at multiple sites in the Mojave Desert of California. The Joshua trees will be measured and then compared to previous photographs to provide a basis for evaluating growth, life spans, and other demographic characteristics. The U.S. Geological Survey has photographic histories of the sites dating from the 1930s to 1970s. Re-visits to important Joshua tree sites will provide background for one or more future publications of value to land managers and other scientists.

2.0 General Background & Scope

This project requires photographic expertise, specifically in re-photographing and perfectly matching old and previous photographs with new photographs of sites with Joshua trees for comparisons and measurements of demographic and life form changes of Joshua trees.

Measurements will be taken of the Joshua trees and data recorded on size, development, branching and position of branches, fruiting, leaves, and other variables. The sites are primarily in the western and southern Mojave Desert (Inyo, Kern, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Los Angeles counties, California), and are accessible by paved and graded or dirt roads. Planning and field work will occur in 2023.

3.0 Scope and Technical Requirements, Description of Services

3.1 General location of the sites to be rephotographed and Joshua trees to be remeasured. The sites are in the northern, western, and southern Mojave Desert regions in Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino County. The length of the regions to be covered is estimated at 230 miles.

3.2 Sites. A minimum of nine and up to 16 locations (camera stations) shall be visited, rephotographed, and measurements of up to 20 specific Joshua trees shall be taken at each site.

The number of calendar days expected to be required is likely to be a minimum of 9 full field days, depending on the number of Joshua trees to be measured at each site (up to 20) and skill of the contractor.

3.3 At each site, Joshua trees may be several hundred meters apart and distant from the camera. Specific live and dead trees within the previous and historic photographs shall be identified for measurement and shall be noted to the Contractor on a copy of the older photograph.

The Contractor shall locate each specified Joshua tree (live or dead) and measure it using a metric stadia rod, metric tape, and other metric equipment. For each Joshua tree to be measured, data shall include, but not be limited to 28 to >30 records, including, but not limited to: plant number, status and condition, stem number, age class, total height, height at first branch, diameters at 1 m and first branch, number of branching and maximum branching, condition of bark, leaves, and stems (e.g., whether bare and percentages), condition of leaf clusters (e.g., live, dead, senescent and fallen), whether the tree is dead, the number of parts, condition of the trunk, leaves and bark, flowering stalks (live and dead), within or part of a cluster of related trees and diameters of clusters. Specifics and definitions and rating systems exist for these characters; details shall be provided to contractor upon award. The data shall be recorded on U.S. Geological Survey data sheets in permanent black ink in the field and when taken, not on a tape recorder or notes and in accordance with scientific protocols. The measurements shall be carefully and accurately taken and recording to ensure a high level of scientific quality,

3.4 The previous photographs of each site shall be matched in the field using a high quality digital camera mounted, when necessary, on a tripod. The resulting electronic data shall be 600 dpi.

3.5 The sites shall be visited in a priority order to be determined by the USGS.

3.6 The Contractor shall have the following skills:

3.6.1 A demonstrated history of rephotographing plants and landscapes in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts using old and recently taken photographs and creating perfect matches at several hundred sites. The photographs were of a quality to be included in publications in peer-reviewed journal articles and books.

3.6.2 Knowledge of the life forms and characteristics of Joshua trees and Mojave yuccas, including, but not limited to a background and history of taking hundreds of metric measurements for single trees, tree-clusters, or clones at several dozen sites within the geographic range of the species. The focus was on previously photographed and measured individual yuccas. This skill set includes locating the specific, previously measured trees within the older photograph, taking measurements and recording data for each tree in permanent black ink on USGS data sheets. For each specified tree, >30 measurements were taken, and when appropriate, a diagram of each tree or cluster of related trees. For each tree, the status and condition was recorded according to a specific protocol.

3.7 Quality Control and Quality Assurance Program. This is a scientific project. An essential aspect of this project is to ensure quality of all images, maintain safety of historic images, and data sheets containing collected, new information. The accuracy of selecting the specified trees to measure and taking each of the specified measurements with precision is essential.

4.0 Deliverables/Reporting

4.1 The Contractor shall deliver:

4.1.1 Photography

4.1.1.1 A minimum of 9 and up to 16 post-processed digital files of the full-frame view of the new images;

4.1.1.2 The same 9 and up to 16 post-processed digital files cropped and photo-shopped to perfectly match to the previous photographs with appropriate lighting and contrast;

4.1.1.3 A minimum of 9 and up to 16 cropped prints of the cropped and perfectly matched new images on high rag content 8 x 11.5 inch paper; side margins of 0.25 inch, bottom margin of 1.5 inch with camera stake number and location specified.

4.1.1.4 Digital images shall be suitable for viewing on a PC. These files can be sent electronically to the Technical Liaison/PI, and/or via a CD.

4.2 The Contractor shall provide the raw data sheets with all data on Joshua trees in permanent black ink and perfectly legible and readable via Fedex to the U.S. Geological Survey Technical Liaison/PI as part of the deliverables.

4.3 Address for Deliverables: Provided upon award

4.4 Payment schedule.

4.4.1 All products are due no later than January 15, 2024

4.4.2 One third of contract shall be paid when all data sheets are submitted (raw), all government-furnished back-up equipment is returned, and half of the field work (5 days with up to 12 sites) of the completed rephotographs. The remainder shall be paid when the final products are submitted for both photographic materials and excel file.

5.0 Government furnished materials

The government shall provide the Contractor with the data for the work specified in Background and Scope, Technical Requirements, and Description of Services. The government shall provide a back-up tripod, back-up camera, and back-up stadia rod for use in the field to avoid failure of the project. All equipment must be returned to receive the first third of the contract monies. All provided images must be returned prior to final payment.

6.0 Packaging and Marking

The Contractor shall provide all deliverables (e.g., word, data files, digital images, prints) via electronic email, zip files or similar, and/or a CD or CDs to assure safe arrival at the destination. The products of the demographic and life form data shall be on raw data sheets. Digital images of photographs shall be in 600 dpi minimum, to allow for publication. Prints shall be sent in separate folders to the address for deliverables with copies of all data and images on the CDs.

7.0 Inspection and Acceptance

7.1 Inspection: Final inspection of all services, materials, etc., delivered hereunder shall be made by the Technical Liaison and Contracting Officer.

7.2 Final Acceptance: Final acceptance of all deliverables shall be made by the Technical Liaison.

8.0 Special Contract Requirements

Telephone Conferences:

Immediately following award of the contract, and prior to initiating field work, a pre-work conference shall be held between the Contractor and Technical Liaison/PI for the purpose of transferring Government-supplied data bases and discussing the specific responsibilities of each party. The date and time of the meeting shall be determined by the Technical Liaison/PI and the Contractor in consultation.

The first meeting shall require approximately ~45 minutes. Discussions relative to contract requirements for tasks and specific responsibilities of each party will be covered at this time. Discussions about final tasks shall occur no later than the September 2023,

9.0 Rights in Data

All deliverables required by this contract shall become the property of the Government. The Government may publish, reproduce, and use all deliverables in any manner and for any purpose, without limitation, and may authorize others to do the same. Unless otherwise provided herein, the Contractor agrees that he/she shall not assert any copyright at common law or equity and shall not establish any claim to a statutory copyright on such deliverables. The Contractor shall be acknowledged as appropriate in publications by the USGS (e.g., co-author or in Acknowledgements).

10.0 Redirection of Effort

Notwithstanding any other clauses of the contract, the Contracting Officer shall be the only individual authorized to redirect the effort or in any way amend any of the terms of the contract.

11.0 IT SECURITY PROCEDURES AND SECURITY IN GENERAL

11.1 The Contractor shall sign a Non-disclosure Agreement before beginning work and provide a copy to the Technical Liaison/PI (Provided upon award).

11.2 All disks of electronic data shall be free of malicious code.