Questions_Addressed_0001.docx

140L6221R0038

AMD 001

Questions Addressed 140L6221R0038 Watershed Rangeland Health BFO

1. The RFP indicates that Rangeland Health will be collected following an AIM study design. Will Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health be collected following version 5 (current version)? If so, will vegetation production be collected assess Indicator-15, Annual Production?

a) Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health should be collected using the most recent version. Vegetative production data are collected at both High Priority and Low Priority sites, as listed under Item 7: “Collect vegetative forage production data by clipping three 4.8 square foot hoops within plot and provide the oven dry weight for forage production on lbs/acre.” The oven dry weight information may be used to evaluate Indicator 15.

2. Does the Buffalo Field Office have specific calibration requirements for AIM data collection, or will standard calibration requirements for AIM be followed?

a) The AIM calibration protocol is acceptable, BFO does not have additional requirements.

3. Will the Buffalo Field Office accommodate contractor personnel at any needed trainings such as Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health, Core Methods, or Proper Functioning Condition for Lotic Systems?

a) The needed trainings are provided through the BLM National Operations Center and other entities, BFO is not able to offer these trainings directly to contractors. However, BFO will notify contractor of available trainings and assist in requesting spaces for contractor personnel as much as possible.

4. The RFP indicates that there is 5 miles of PFC to be read. Are the reaches already established or will the Contractor need to work with BLM to establish the reaches.

a) BLM has reaches generally determined and mapped, these may be fine-tuned with the contractor before the start of the field season.

5. Is there a better map with the locations of the PFC segments or coordinates for starting/ending points of the reaches that we could obtain?

a) PFC segments are not yet finalized, coordinates will be provided as early as possible during the planning period to provide appropriate lead time. Generally, PFC reaches will be located in the same watershed as the terrestrial monitoring sites, though there may be exceptions to this depending on data needs.

6. Are there any issues regarding access to the sites both for the AIM sites and PFC sites (i.e. private land access, long hikes to sites, long vehicle travel)?

a) Nearly all sites will require access across private lands, long vehicle travel on gravel county roads and two tracks/4WD roads, and hiking to sites from the nearest vehicle access (typically less than 1-2 miles, and less than 3 miles per AIM rejection criteria). BFO will assist in providing contact information and notifying grazing lessees of planned monitoring activities.