2022_07_26_Cocos Trans Cut_SOW_Rev.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

Clearing Survey Transects on Cocos Island (Islan Dåno') for USDA Wildlife Services’ Brown Treesnake Eradication Efforts

USDA APHIS Wildlife Services 233 Pangelinan Way Barrigada, GU 96913-1277

WORK STATEMENT

A. Background The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Wildlife Services (WS) Guam State Office (WS-GU) intends to award a one-time, fixed price service contract to have transects cleared transversely from the lagoon side to the ocean side of Cocos Island (Islan Dåno'). Cocos Island is located roughly 2.9km (1.8mi) from the Merizo Pier in southern Guam and is 33.5 ha (c. 83 acres) in size. Twenty percent of the island (southwest end) is owned by the Government of Guam and is called Dano Park with the remaining 80% of the island is owned by Cocos Island Resort (CIR). Brown Treesnakes (BTS) were discovered to have an established population on Cocos Island in October 2020 and visual surveys and hand capture are the most effective way to remove snakes from dense vegetation. This necessitates an extensive transect system be made across the entire island to allow access to all areas of the island.

B. Scope of Work USDA intends to award a one-time, fixed price service contract for establishing transects and removal/distribution of pruned vegetation/debris along the sides of these transects.

C. Period of Performance The effective period of the contract shall be 01 September 2022 – 30 November 2022. The period encompasses the time of contract award to selected vendor and establishment of transects. Transect clearing should take 4 weeks or less.

D. Performance Requirement

Specifications required:

· Site Visit Prior to Bid

· Those wishing to bid on this project will be required to do a site visit on Cocos Island to determine vegetation density, site logistics, and scope of labor required to establish transects. Bids will not be considered without a site visit.

· Transportation to Cocos

· The contract winner must provide their own ferry transport to and from Cocos Island. The island is roughly 2 miles by water from the Merizo Pier to the pier on the CIR side of the island. Boats can be docked at the CIR pier, the old GovGuam pier on the Dano Park side of the island, moored on a public mooring buoy, or beached on clear sandy areas.

· Contract winner is responsible for all watercraft maintenance, fuel, and lubricants used under this contract.

· Vessels utilized must be legally registered in territory of Guam and meet US Coast Guard safety requirements.

· Watercraft must be properly maintained to ensure no fuel or lubricants leak into Cocos Lagoon

· Boats must be piloted in a fashion to avoid damage to coral heads, seagrass beds, marine life, beaches, or vegetation while traveling to or docked at Cocos Island.

· Transect Establishment

· All materials needed to clear transects (tools, equipment, fuel, etc.) will be provided by the contractor.

· Hand tools and handheld gas engine/power tools are authorized. No heavy machinery can be used.

· Transects will be cleared along 83 pre-established lines that have been flagged and marked by GPS.

· Transects will be 20m apart and vegetation will be cut to clear a path along the transect that will allow walking without potential for trips/falls while walking along the transect.

· Vegetation should be cleared from transects to a path measuring 2m wide and 2 m high.

· The transects will go around all large trees/obstructions. Whole trees or shrubs will not be removed. Only trimming will be allowed to establish transects.

· Transects will be oriented in a NW (lagoon side) to SE (ocean side) coast configuration. (see map).

· Personnel conducting transect clearing must comply with all federal and territorial laws, regulations, and permits issued to WS-GU.

· Cleanup and Disposal of Vegetation and Debris

· All vegetation and debris cleared from the transect may be moved to the side of the transect and widely dispersed so as not to create a berm along the edge of the transect.

· Ground on the path will be cleared of debris and vegetation so that walking is possible without trips/falls.

· Vegetation and debris may not be burned on Cocos Island and any transport of vegetation/debris from Cocos Island and any offsite disposal must conform to all Guam green waste laws and regulations.

· Quality Control

· The contractor and WS-GU personnel will develop an approved a work plan prior to the start of work.

· An initial site visit by WS-GU personnel and the contractor will be required to go over performance standards, environmental compliance requirements, and confirm established work plan.

· Regular site visits by WS-GU personnel will be conducted during the work period to confirm performance standards and environmental compliance requirements are met.

· WS-GU personnel will conduct an inspection on all completed transects to confirm finished transects meet specifications.

· These inspections may occur while other transects are still being completed

· Any transects not meeting standards will be reworked until they meet specifications

· Biosecurity

· Daily inspections of all equipment, gear, clothing, etc. must be completed before travel to Cocos to prevent the spread of invasive species.

· Specific care should be taken to clean equipment if it was used on Guam prior to coming to Cocos Island.

· Daily inspections of the ferry vessel(s) taking personnel and equipment to and from Cocos Island should be completed to prevent the introduction of invasive species

· No vegetative material, seeds, insects, or vertebrate species should be present on or within items taken to Cocos Island or the ferry vessel(s).

Quantities One time service contract for 83 transects spaced 20m apart and cut to create a clear path 2m wide and 2m high. Roughly 15,300m of transects will be cut, and each transect will be roughly 100-250m long, depending on its location on the island.

Delivery No deliveries will be made to WS-GU on this contract. All materials and equipment will be obtained and maintained by the contract winner.

E. Payment Vendor’s option to register in the Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) @ https://www.ipp.gov/ to download invoice for payment disbursement or provide hard copy invoice at time of delivery. Invoices must be numbered and list vendor address, point of contact name and phone numbers and delivery order numbers. Invoices must be dated no earlier than delivery date.

F. Contracting Officer Todd K. Bierl

Contracting Officer

USDA APHIS

Animal and Plant Inspection Service 250 Marquette Ave., Suite 410 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401 Office#(612)336-3465 Cell# (612)500-1321 Email: Todd.K.Bierl@usda.gov

G. Administrative Point of Contact Lourdes Jubilado 671-635-4400 lourdes.c.jubilado@usda.gov

H. Technical Point of Contact Patrick Barnhart 671-689-2556 patrick.barnhart@usda.gov

I. Maps Guam with inset of Cocos Island off the southern tip.

Departure site at Merizo Pier to potential docking locations at the Cocos Island Resort (CIR) pier and the old concrete dock on the Dano Park side of Cocos Island.

83 planned transects transversing Cocos Island from the lagoon side to the ocean side. Transects are spaced 20m apart and roughly 100-250m long.

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