Best Available Science_PWS 02252026.pdf

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

Best Available Science

1.0 OVERVIEW & BACKGROUND

In July 2012, the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act (RESTORE Act) established the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (GCERC), which is comprised of governors from the five affected Gulf States, the Secretaries from the U.S. Departments of the Interior, Commerce, Agriculture, and Homeland Security as well as the Secretary of the Army and the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Because of its mission, recent establishment, and collaboration across multiple agencies, GCERC is a unique entity with needs and challenges that most other agencies do not share. The Council is a micro federal agency and has a very small staff. Due to the small size of the Council staff, it is not feasible or cost effective to have dedicated support staff to meet all the Council’s science review requirements

GCERC requires contractual services for ecosystem restoration-based science support, including the review and assessment of whether RESTORE Act Council-Selected Restoration Component and Spill Impact Component applications for natural resource protection and restoration projects are reasonably based on best available science. GCERC also needs science support for the review and assessment of the reasonableness of technical information provided in applications for complex, large-scale projects and programs. Science support must include knowledge and understanding of large-scale restoration planning, how projects and programs support implementation of such plans, and decision-support capabilities to develop tools for large-scale restoration.

2.0 OBJECTIVE/SCOPE OF WORK/ NUMBER OF REVIEWS

The objective of this performance work statement (PWS) is for contractual services for science reviews on an as needed basis. The contractor is required to utilize subject matter experts to independently review and assess whether Council-Selected Restoration Component and Spill Impact Component applications for ecosystem and economic restoration projects and programs proposed in the future are reasonably based on best available science. The contractor shall in no way modify the assessments or put pressure on the reviewers that could compromise the quality of the review.

The main function of the contractor will be to help select reviewers, provide standardized context and guidance to reviewers, and administer funds to compensate the reviewers; it is preferred that few, if any, reviews be done by contractor staff. The use of “best available science” for these types of projects is required by the RESTORE Act and is defined by the Act as:

“…science that—

(A) maximizes the quality, objectivity, and integrity of information, including statistical information;

(B) uses peer-reviewed and publicly available data; and

(C) clearly documents and communicates risks and uncertainties in the scientific basis for such projects”

The assessment must adhere to this definition and reflect an understanding of the relevant science underpinning the proposed projects.

Proposed projects requiring best available science review may include, from eligible activities in the RESTORE Act, those involving:

● Restoration and protection of the natural resources, ecosystems, fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches and coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast region

● Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, and natural resources

● Implementation of a federally approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive conservation management plan, including fisheries monitoring

● Improvements to or on State parks located in coastal areas affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill

● Infrastructure projects benefiting ecological resources, including port infrastructure

● Coastal flood protection and related infrastructure

● This scope of work will cover best available science reviews of novel/non-conventional techniques associated with project or program funding applications.

● The contract will provide for a minimum of 5 reviews per year, and a per-review cost for any additional reviews ordered by GCERC.

The best available science review may require assessment of the reasonableness of technical information provided in applications for novel/non-conventional, or complex, large-scale projects and programs, as well as knowledge and understanding of large-scale restoration planning and how projects and programs support implementation of such plans. This includes the review and assessment of whether RESTORE Act Council-Selected Restoration Component and Spill Impact Component applications for natural resource protection and restoration projects are reasonably based on best available science.

GCERC also needs science support for the potential review and assessment of the reasonableness of technical information provided in applications for complex, large-scale projects and programs. Science support would include access to professionals from nonprofits, Gulf centers of excellence, and academia with knowledge and understanding of large-scale restoration planning and how projects and programs support implementation of such plans; and decision-support capabilities to develop tools and databases for large-scale restoration.

3.0 TASKS AND DELIVERABLES

Program Management and Subject Matter Expert Review Planning.

Primary Task 1 – Coordinate with GCERC personnel to manage the best available science review process:

a. Maintain lists of subject matter expert reviewers and appropriate experience from nonprofits, Gulf centers of excellence, academia, and other environmental professionals for GCERC staff to review and approve.

b. Match appropriate reviewers with applications received; monitor progress on assessments; and produce timely best available science assessments.

c. Develop and maintain a system for tracking subject matter experts and external science reviews that is accessible by GCERC staff.

Primary Task 2 – Coordinate with GCERC personnel to plan, prepare, and conduct assessments and report on identified applications for natural resource protection and restoration projects.

a. Provide GCERC with 3 subject matter experts for each review. Depending on the nature of the proposed project, the expertise may be from the same or similar scientific fields, or from different scientific fields. GCERC has 3 business days to approve/reject reviewers.

b. Reviews will entail going through relevant pieces of a project application, answering yes/no/need more information to a series of assessment questions related to the definition of best available science in the statute, providing GCERC with any additional comments,.

c. Correctly transferring, storing or destroying GCERC’s existing records based on approved schedules.

d. Reviews by the three subject matter experts for a particular project will take place concurrently.

All reviewers must be free of conflicts of interest; reviewers will be compensated for their reviews at a set price per review.

Primary Deliverable 1 – List/table of proposed subject matter experts with tracking regarding previous reviews completed..

Primary Deliverable 2 - Completed Best Available Reviews (3 for each project/program) within 6 weeks of the start of project review. Results should be provided in a side by side summary table along with original review forms.

4.0 PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The work shall be performed primarily at the Contractor facility or Contractor off-site location(s). The contractor shall perform on-site tasks if required at the following Government facility:

Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council 500 Poydras Street, Suite 1117

New Orleans, LA 70130

5.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The overall period of performance will be sixty months, consisting of one twelve-month base year and four twelve-month option years, each of the option years to be at GCERC’s sole option. Any option year exercised by GCERC will provide for a 5-review minimum and a per-review cost for any additional reviews ordered by GCERC, as with the base year.

6.0 ACQUISITION TYPE

This requirement will result in a fixed price award.

7.0 KEY PERSONNEL CONTACT(S) AND QUALIFICATIONS

The contractor will provide a point of contact with environmental experience; This person will coordinate with subject matter experts; managing in-house personnel and outside consultants, and final review of all deliverables. The contractor will be responsible for project tracking, preparing program materials, reviewing documents, and providing comments back to GCERC.

Additional within-scope Subject Matter Experts in the following fields when needed for science reviews:

Biology, Ecology, Hydrology, Habitat Restoration, Habitat Conservation, Environmental Chemistry Environmental Management, Ecosystem Services, Economics, Physical or Geological Science, Social Sciences, Remote Sensing/Geographic Information Systems, Archaeology, Engineering, Numerical & Statistical Modeling.

All reviewers and contractors will need to sign a Conflict of Interest form.