B09_Amendment_Questions_and_Answers_0001.docx

Solicitation 140L3925R0008 Questions and Answers

1. The PWS states data collection will begin April 2026 in the Southern Nevada District and May 2026 elsewhere in Nevada. Given the need for early season sampling in the Southern Nevada District, it’s expected field crews will attend April 2025 training in Cedar City (April 14-19, 2025). Will MIM greenline training be made a component of the Cedar City training to allow for the training of MIM botanists on the Nevada contractor crews? The 2026 dates for AIM and MIM trainings have not been posted yet on BLM's AIM website, and it is not certain as to whether the Cedar City Lotic AIM Training will include MIM overlap training. However, MIM training has typically been provided as a component of the Cedar City Lotic training in past years. In 2025, MIM training was not provided as part of the Cedar City Lotic AIM training because a MIM training was also being held in Richfield, Utah in April 2025. If a MIM training or a modified MIM training conducted concurrently with a Lotic AIM training are not available for completion by the Field Botanist(s) by May 1, 2026, then BLM will provide an alternative MIM greenline training that will conclude no later than May 1, 2026. If circumstances prevent BLM from providing this training by May 1, 2026, then the training will not be required for the Field Botanist as per PWS Section 5.2.1.

1. Will a local field orientation and calibration between the field crew and BLM be required in each of the districts prior to data collection or will a single field orientation and calibration event be conducted at the start of the field season? Only a single field orientation and calibration event is required at the start of the field season.

1. PWS Section 3.2.3 lists thermistor deployment-based continuous temperature monitoring in contingent methods; however, this method is not specified in Table 1 of the PWS. Can BLM confirm if continuous temperature monitoring via thermistor deployment is intended to occur at each of the 60 sampling reaches? If so, will field crews be responsible for thermistor unit recovery or just deployment? Please use Table 1 to determine District-specific contingent methods. Thermistor deployment is not required at any of the 60 reaches.

1. PWS Section 3.4.1 states that survey forms shall be uploaded to the AIM database at the end of each day; however, section 3.3.2 states that contractor crews shall meet with BLM field office project lead(s) to review critical concepts and photos within the data collection application as a final step in the QC process prior to submitting the data. Should field crews submit survey forms from the field or in the office after reviewing critical concepts and photos with project leads and their crew manager? Section 3.4.1 states that forms shall be uploaded to the AIM database at the end of each day or as often as it is possible to connect to Wi-Fi or cellular network with adequate bandwidth. If data collectors are implementing a hitch plan in an area that lacks connectivity, then the survey forms should be submitted at the end of the hitch when they have returned to an area with cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity. The purpose of this synchronization is to minimize potential data loss from a lost, damaged, or malfunctioning electronic data collection device and is not considered final data submission. Section 3.3.2 of the Performance Work Statement is out of date with the most current Lotic AIM Quality Control practices regarding critical concepts and photo review. Please disregard the following sentences of Section 3.3.2: At the end of each hitch, the contractor shall meet with BLM field office project lead(s) to review critical concepts and photos within the data collection application as a final step in the QC process prior to submitting the data (See Roles and Responsibilities table). If the project lead(s) cannot meet in person to view the reach summary on the iPad, a file can be exported and provided to the project lead for review. Please see Step 3 (page 16) of the most recent version of the Lotic AIM Data Management and Quality Assurance and Control Protocol for the correct guidance; the critical concept and photo review can be conducted in person or virtually at the end of each hitch using the Data Review Dashboard. The field crew(s) can conduct this review with either the contractor's Data Collection Manager and/or a BLM Project Lead within one week of completing a hitch.

1. Box 10 of the solicitation states the acquisition is unrestricted; however, FAR 52.219-14 is included indicating the solicitation may be at least a partial small business set-aside. Can BLM confirm the solicitation is indeed full and open? This clause being checked is a typo, the requirement is Unrestricted.