B09_-_SOW_Revision_0001.pdf

Section 1: Statement of Work Range and Wild Horse & Burro Program Instructor

Background

The class “Interpreting and Measuring Indicators of Rangeland Health” (IIRH) class was initially started in 1994 with curriculum development and was the first class was conducted in 1996. Over the past 30 plus years 5 versions of the IIRH handbook have been rewritten to remain relevant with current methods for monitoring and data collection. Currently, 2023, the BLM and its partners are on Version 5 of the Technical Reference. The IIRH class changes location from year to year to assist in meeting the needs regionally and hold 3 classes in a typical year. To remain current the IIRH curriculum is reviewed annually after the training season is completed. Review includes rewrites, additions and deletions of the current curriculum to ensure all sections are up to date and are with in policy and regulation for the BLM.

The Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems (RSE) class was initially started in 1995 with curriculum development and the first class was conducted in 1997. This course discusses the current approved methods of Restoration practices for the sagebrush steppe and includes other habitat types managed by the BLM. The RSE class changes location from year to year to assist in meeting the needs regionally and hold 1 class in a typical year. To remain current the RSE curriculum is reviewed annually after the training season is completed. Review includes rewrites, additions and deletions of the current curriculum to ensure all sections are up to date and are with in policy and regulation for the BLM.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) National Training Center (NTC) has a requirement for course instruction of BLM-owned courses.

Courses

a. Interpreting and Measuring Indicators of Rangeland Health 1730-37

1. Sessions Overview

The contractor will instruct the following sessions:

a. Overview of Interpreting & Measuring Indicators of Rangeland Health and Introduction to Version 5 to the Training Technical Reference o Includes instruction to students on what IIRH will capture for monitoring data

b. IIRH 17 Indicators & Attributes o Includes instruction on what the 17 indicators are and their definitions to include attributes of the 17 indicators

c. Field Quantitative Methods & Soil Stability Kit Exercise o Includes instruction on how to use and interpret the Soil Stability Kit and will look at infiltration rates as well as soil textures

d. Ecological Site Identification Field Exercises (including soil pit description & soil texturing) o Covers ecological sites with instruction on understanding the ecological site that is being used, digging a soil pit to understand the horizons and soil texturing of soils understanding infiltration rates associated with differing soil types

e. Initiate IIRH Site 1 Assessment o Session has instruction at a field location on how to locate a suitable site and use the 17 indicators as an assessment tool

f. Assessment and Complete IIRH Site 2 and Site 3 Assessments o Session has instruction at a field location on how to locate a suitable site and use the 17 indicators as an assessment tool

g. Field Exercise Wrap-up & Discussion o Session is a closing session for the 17 indicators and allows students to ask questions based on the field exercises that they completed. It contains instruction, knowledge transfer and learning opportunities on how to interpret the 17 indicators in real time

h. Version 5 Class Discussion o Covers technical reference V5 for “Interpreting and Measuring

Indicators of Rangeland Health” Technical Reference 1734-6

i. Post-Course Assessment o Instructor conducts a post assessment for those courses with the students, scores for the course will be shared with the Training Coordinator.

2. Minimum Qualifications

Lead Instructor

a. Education Master of Science in Botany with an emphasis in Range

Science

b. Experience

18 years of instructing interpreting and measuring rangeland health assessments

b. Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems 1730-60

1. Sessions Overview

The contractor will instruct the following sessions:

b. Overview of Restoration of Sagebrush Ecosystems o Includes instruction to students on principles of Restoration of

Sagebrush Ecosystems and tools available for the restoration process in various habitat types o Field location selection and instruction

c. Overview of Invasive Species Control and Sagebrush Steppe Restoration o Instruct the “how to” of appropriate site preparation and equipment selection o Instruct selecting appropriate seed/vegetation species mixtures and application of “how to” in various habitat types

d. Biological Control – Livestock for Annual Grass Control o Instruct on Livestock as an appropriate biological control tool

e. Class Exercises o “Making it real” this exercise has participant’s use the tools available in a mock environment to assess knowledge gained throughout the class

f. Post-Course Assessment o Instructor conducts a post assessment for those courses with the students, scores for the course will be shared with the Training Coordinator.

2. Minimum Qualifications

Lead Instructor

a. Education Master of Science in Botany with an emphasis in Range

Science

b. Experience

18 years of instructing restoration of sagebrush ecosystems

Periods of Performance

Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) awarded for instruction of courses included in this statement of work are estimated to have periods of performance as indicated below (date of award will be updated upon award)

Base Period: Date of Award – 09/29/2023 Option Period 1: 09/30/2023 – 09/29/2024 Option Period 2: 09/30/2024 – 09/29/2025 Option Period 3: 09/30/2025 – 09/29/2026 Option Period 4: 09/30/2026 – 09/29/2027 Option to Extend: 09/30/2027 – 03/29/2028

Places of Performance

The contractor will be required to instruct in both classroom and field environments. The specific location of the course will be detailed at Call Order Level.

Travel

All travel will be in compliance with Federal Travel Regulations (FTR) and FAR 31.205-46.

Travel will be negotiated at Call Order Level. The contractor is only entitled to compensation for travel approved through the individual Call Orders by the Contracting Officer.

Contractor Personnel

a. Government Facilities

Contractor personnel will, on occasion, be required access to government facilities to carry out the course of their responsibilities in accordance with this Statement of Work. All contractor personnel will be escorted by a BLM employee at all times while within government facilities.

b. Replacement of Contractor Personnel

The contractor is responsible for notifying the BLM Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) or Contracting Officer (CO) if the need arises for replacement of key personnel. All key personnel will be replaced with candidates who has equal or greater qualifications at the approval of the CO.