V3232061_WHSA_Data Collection SOW.pdf

Procurement Request Number: V3232061

Statement of Work

White Sands National Park Data Collection

BACKGROUND AND PROJECT DESCRIPTION

White Sands National Park (WHSA) faces several unique access and safety challenges related to its location and infrastructure. The park has a single point of entrance along US-70 in New Mexico, a high-traffic, high-speed arterial road. The transportation infrastructure inside the park can become congested during periods of peak visitation, due to limited parking capacity near the main visitor center (also referred to as the historic district) and back-ups at the entrance station, sometimes impacting traffic operations along US-70. WHSA was officially dedicated as a National Park in December 2019 (previously designated as a National Monument), which has led to a steady increase in visitation. The increase in visitation exacerbates the various transportation challenges throughout the park.

The Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) is leading an assessment of WHSA transportation issues for the National Park Service (NPS). The purpose of this data collection effort is to better understand visitation patterns and visitor flow throughout the park to inform transportation management decision-making at WHSA. The primary data will include traffic volume data at driveways and along the primary access road, Dunes Drive, as well as parking turnover information at key parking lots. Additionally, this data collection effort will include vehicle circulation patterns to track vehicles through the park. GPS data loggers will not be used due to reports that the military scrambles GPS data throughout this area. Therefore, a series of vehicle matching checkpoints with time stamps will be used to identify vehicle origin-destination patterns, length of stay, and travel times, as well as other trends.

See the Volpe Center Data Collection and Analysis Plan (DCAP) in an appendix to this SOW for further information on WHSA and this data collection.

STUDY LOCATIONS

The study locations will encompass all WHSA transportation facilities. Transportation data will be collected along Dunes Drive, at key intersections throughout the park, and parking areas at key points of interest. The detailed list of data collection points of interest is noted in Appendix A. This data will be used to inform considerations on active visitor use management strategies. The requirements of this order will be performed both onsite at WHSA and at the Contractor’s place of business. WHSA’s

Administrative Offices are located just east of the intersection of Dunes Dr and Residence Cir, 500 ft north of US-70. The mailing address is PO Box 1086, Holloman AFB, NM 88330.

TASK ORDER REQUIREMENTS AND DELIVERABLES

Task 1.0 Study Design

This data collection effort will collect a variety of data throughout WHSA to accurately capture the complexities of the transportation information there. Discussions with the Contractor will be necessary to refine the data collection strategy. Data to be collected include the following for each measurement site:

Traffic count on main roads (see below Section 1.2 for details)

Speeds on main roads (see below Section 1.2)

Number of cars in parking lots (see below Section 1.2)

Parking duration (see below Section 1.2)

Before collecting transportation data, it is necessary for the Volpe Center to understand the data collection methodology, protocols, and instruments that clearly demonstrate what data will be collected, when the data will be collected, and how the data will be collected. Correlations among visitation inputs and locations of management interest (i.e., parking areas, trailheads, key attraction sites) will be accounted for in the study design and will describe conditions across the season and year.

Task 1.1 Kick-Off Meeting and Scoping Calls

The Contractor shall:

● Organize and schedule two project-scoping phone calls, approximately 1 hour each, with the

Volpe Center, WHSA, and other project stakeholders to understand the nature of park visitation

(i.e., locations, timing, volumes of visitor use) and relevant information to develop the study and sampling plan.

o The first scoping call shall be designated as the kick-off meeting, during which the contractor shall understand the transportation challenges and management objectives related to transportation.

o The second scoping call shall include a presentation of data collection methods and a description of how the data collection methods accomplish the transportation data goals, as described in the SOW.

Task 1.2 Study Design

The Contractor shall:

● Design a study to collect the following transportation data at WHSA, pending alterations and adjustments based on the Contractor’s recommendations from Task 2.1:

o Turning Movement Counts (TMCs) at the following three intersections:

▪ US-70 at Dunes Drive;

▪ Dunes Drive at Front Parking Lot;

▪ Dunes Drive at Residence Circle (Rear Parking Lot).

o Automated Traffic Recorder (ATR) counts, collecting vehicle volumes and traffic speed at the following five locations:

▪ Dunes Drive, south of WHSA Entrance Station;

▪ Dunes Drive, north of WHSA Entrance Station (mile 0.0);

▪ Dunes Drive north of Dune Life Natural Trailhead Driveway (mile 2.3);

▪ Dunes Drive in proximity to the end of the paved road/start of gypsum road surface (mile

4.7), and

▪ The Sunset Stroll meeting area (mile 4.7).

o Parking Turnover Data, for each vehicle that enters and exits the following parking lots:

▪ Historic District, Front Parking Lot;

▪ Historic District, Rear Parking Lot;

▪ Administrative Park Lot west of Dunes Dr;

▪ Dune Life Nature Trailhead.

o Origin-Destination data for each vehicle summarizing how visitors move throughout the park to include travel patterns, length of stay, and travel times, collected by vehicle identification matching and time stamps (HH:MM:SS) at three checkpoints throughout the park. The checkpoints will align with the ATR data to include the following locations:

▪ North of WHSA Entrance Station (mile 0.0);

▪ North of Dune Life Nature Trailhead Driveway (mile 2.3);

▪ In proximity to the end of the paved road/start of gypsum road surface, and the Sunset

Stroll meeting area (mile 4.7);

● All TMCs and ATR data will be collected and aggregated to 15-minute bins. Parking lot turnover and visitor flow information should be collected using time stamps for every vehicle in the format of HH:MM:SS to calculate the parking duration, travel time, or length of time vehicles are in different sections of the park.

● The park is open from dusk to dawn therefore transportation data will be collected to coincide with the park’s operating hours when it is open to visitors.

● During full moon nights, the park is open for extended hours, and therefore additional data will be collected to coincide with the monthly full moon event.

● Transportation data will be collected for one four-day data collection period in the Summer and during a second four-day data collection period in the Fall. Preliminary dates are defined in the

TASK COMPLETION AND DELIVERABLE SCHEDULE. It is assumed Contractor project support will begin June 1, 2025, and conclude January 31, 2026. The final data collection dates will be documents in the Study Design developed by the Contractor.

Task 1 Deliverables

1.1 Kick-off meeting and scoping calls

1.2: Draft data collection study design

1.3: Final data collection study design

Task 2.0 Data Collection, Validation, and Delivery

This task will include the collection of all transportation data at WHSA during the Summer data collection period and the Fall data collection period. The Contractor shall be responsible for quality assurance/quality control of all transportation data collected. The Contractor shall be responsible for setting up and breaking down data collection equipment. If necessary, the Contractor shall work with

WHSA staff to obtain permits to place equipment. Lastly, the Contractor shall be responsible for delivery of all data to the Volpe Center technical POC in formats consistent with typical data delivery such as

(pdf), and (xls(x)) formats, as well as providing the raw video footage through a downloadable link.

Task 2 Deliverables

● 2.1: Summer Data Collection, Validation, and Delivery o 2.1a: Permit for equipment installation o 2.1b: Summer data collection o 2.1c: Data validation o 2.1d: Data delivery

● 2.2: Fall Data Collection, Validation, and Delivery o 2.2a: Permit for equipment installation o 2.2b: Fall data collection o 2.2c: Data validation o 2.2d: Data delivery

Data Delivery:

The Contractor shall provide all raw data collected and video files through a Contractor-generated link to download the information. The data will be provided in Microsoft Excel and Adobe PDF format. All video files will be provided in .mp4 format. If alternative formats are necessary, the Contractor shall discuss and receive approval from the Volpe Center.

The draft and final iterations of the reports will:

Fully explain the data sources, methods, results, and limitations. While this material is essentially technical in nature, the narrative will use plain English where appropriate for general audiences. The draft and final reports are the main data deliverables.

Be provided electronically to the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) identified in this SOW. The reports will be submitted in both Adobe (pdf) and Microsoft Excel (xls(x)) formats.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

This data collection will be performed remotely at times. Site scoping and study implementation will require on-site presence at WHSA. The extent to which this is required is dependent on the approach and methods yet to be determined. Deliverables, including data processing and validation, may be prepared at the Contractor’s place of business. An assigned WHSA Project Manager will help to orient the team to the data collection locations, provide meeting spaces, and act as the Contractor’s Point of

Contact throughout the project.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance for this purchase order will commence upon award and end January 31, 2026.

GENERAL SCHEDULE

● Task 1.2 Study Design – completed within 20 business days from Notice to Proceed.

● The Volpe Center will have 5 business days to review and comment on the Draft Study Design and 15 business days to review and comment on the data received.

● The Contractor shall have 20 business days to revise deliverables to incorporate review comments.

TASK COMPLETION AND DELIVERABLE SCHEDULE

It is assumed project support will start no later than June 1, 2025, and conclude on January 31, 2026.

CLIN Task Item/Deliverable Date

00100

Task 1.1: Kick-off meeting and scoping calls Within 10 business days of contract award

Task 1.2: Draft data collection study design June 15, 2025

Task 1.3: Final data collection study design June 30, 2025

Task 2.1b: Summer Data Collection* Thursday, July 10, to Sunday, July 13, 2025

Task 2.1: Summer Data Collection, Validation, and Delivery July 31, 2025

Task 2.2b: Fall Data Collection* Friday, November 28, to Monday, December 1, 2025

Task 2.2: Fall Data Collection, Validation, and Delivery January 31, 2026

* Dates are subject to change based on final team scheduling.

Volpe Center Technical Point of Contact:

Michael Littman

Transportation Engineer

220 Binney Street

Cambridge, MA

(M) 857 259-7594 michael.littman@dot.gov

All deliverables shall be emailed to the TPOC, Michael Littman, at michael.littman@dot.gov. The deliverables will be reviewed by the Volpe TPOC for compliance with the SOW, timeliness, and format to determine acceptability. The TPOC will acknowledge acceptance of each deliverable by email.

APPENDIX A: Data Collection Analysis Plan (DCAP)

Roadway Counts (ATR):

Dunes Drive, south of WHSA Entrance Station;

Dunes Drive, north of WHSA Entrance Station (mile 0.0);

Dunes Drive north of Dune Life Nature Trailhead Driveway (mile 2.3);

Dunes Drive in proximity to the end of the paved road/start of gypsum road surface (mile 4.7), and

Sunset Stroll meeting area (mile 4.7).

Intersection Counts (TMC):

US-70 at Dunes Drive;

Dunes Drive at Front Parking Lot;

Dunes Drive at Residence Circle (Rear Parking Lot).

Parking occupancy and parking turnover:

Historic District, Front Parking Lot;

Historic District, Rear Parking Lot;

Administrative Park Lot west of Dunes Drive;

Dune Life Nature Trailhead;

Interdune Boardwalk;

Sunset Stroll.

See below for maps with additional detail

Data Collection along Dunes Drive

Roadway Counts (ATR) and

Vehicle Matching Checkpoints

Parking Lot Turnover

Dunes Drive, south of WHSA

Entrance Station

Dunes Drive, north of WHSA

Entrance Station (mile 0.0)

Dunes Drive north of Dune Life

Nature Trailhead Driveway (mile

2.3)

Dunes Drive in proximity to the end of the paved road/start of gypsum road surface, and the

Sunset Stroll meeting area (mile

4.7)

Sunset Stroll

Interdune Boardwalk

Dune Life Nature Trail

Data Collection in Zone 1, Historic District

Historic District, Front

Parking Lot

Historic District, Rear Parking Lot

Turning Movement Counts

Parking Lot Turnover

Administrative Park

Lot west of

Dunes Drive

Dunes Drive at Residence

Circle (Rear Parking Lot)

Dunes Drive at Front Parking

Lot

US-70 at Dunes Drive.