A04_-_140L1723Q0040-Statement_of_Work.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

Contract Title- Threatened, Endangered and Sensitive Species (TES) Monitoring and Habitat Improvement Work

There are 3 categories of work to be completed by the contractor: 1. TES population monitoring, 2. TES habitat assessments, and 3. TES habitat improvement project work. Work will be coordinated weekly, with Monday a.m. meetings to identify work tasks for the week and review accomplishments from prior week. Contract is being set up with 1 base year, with 4 option years.

Population monitoring:

1. Conduct population monitoring and assess numbers of Southwestern willow flycatcher territories on BLM’s McIntire/Simpson property, Rio Grande Natural Area, La Garita wetlands and other sites as needed and identified by BLM, using established US Fish and Wildlife Service survey protocols modified for our specific area (5 surveys over 3 survey periods).

2. Conduct population monitoring and assess numbers of Yellow- billed cuckoo on BLM’s McIntire/Simpson property and other sites as needed and identified by BLM, using established US Fish and Wildlife Service survey protocols modified for our specific area.

3. Conduct population monitoring and assess amphibian populations on Blanca Wetlands and other sites as needed and identified by BLM, using both established US Geologic Survey survey protocols and protocols developed by L. Harvey.

4. Conduct population monitoring and assess pollinator diversity and abundance on BLM lands as identified, using survey protocols developed by A. Rawinski and L. Harvey.

5. Conduct population monitoring and assess numbers of Gunnison sage grouse at Poncha Pass, using established US Fish and Wildlife Service survey protocols.

6. Conduct population monitoring for other wildlife species, using established survey protocols, as identified by BLM.

7. Upon completion of survey efforts, detailed reports using a scientific format that lays out the methods, dates surveyed, and results for each of the projects will be completed. These reports shall include maps and be provided in both written and electronic format, due by July 31st of each year.

Habitat assessments:

1. Conduct Land Health Assessments on SLVFO lands, using established protocols.

2. Conduct wildlife habitat surveys using established protocols and BLM-approved methods, including establishing baseline monitoring of the habitat and assessing changes to habitat quality by assessing the condition and quantity of habitat features, including plant composition, percent ground cover, vertical and horizontal diversity, overstory composition, habitat fragmentation and other disturbances, among other factors that BLM might identify.

3. Collect water quality data including temperature and a wide variety of water quality parameters including pH, alkalinity, turbidity, etc., using thermographs and meters and/or collecting and preparing samples for laboratory analysis. Data and samples will be collected following identified protocols.

4. Upon completion of habitat assessments, detailed reports using a scientific format that lays out the methods, dates surveyed, and results for each of the projects will be completed. These reports shall include maps and be provided in both written and electronic format, due by July 31st of each year.

Habitat Improvement Project work:

1. Fence work for habitat protection- Construct and/or repair fencing, build and/or repair riparian exclosures, and remove or mark fences in Gunnison sage grouse habitat.

2. Noxious weed treatments- Mechanically remove Russian olive and tamarisk, using shovels and hand tools, and remove noxious weeds carefully by bagging to reduce seed dispersal.

3. Woody vegetation control- using hand tools, trim perches to deter predators in Gunnison sage-grouse habitat, remove decadent willow in Southwestern willow flycatcher habitat, and thin pinyon-juniper in areas of unwanted encroachment.

4. Riparian habitat improvements- Install or maintain Zeedyk instream structures and other erosion control structures, plant willow and cottonwood trees.

5. Public use management- Replace or maintain public user signage, and perform basic trail and infrastructure maintenance using hand tools.

6. Upon completion of habitat improvement projects for the year, a report documenting all project work completed, with dates and description of work with maps and photos will be provided by July 31st of each year.

DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES AND SERVICES PROVIDED TO MEET THE AGENCY’S NEEDS:

Population monitoring:

1. Southwestern willow flycatcher surveys– 10 trips @ 8 hours/trip (80 hours total)

2. Yellow-billed cuckoo survey – 1 trip @ 8 hours/trip (8 hours total)

3. Amphibian monitoring- 5 trips @ 8 hours /trip (40 hours total)

4. Pollinator monitoring- 5 trips @ 8 hours/trip (40 hours total)

5. Pollinator Gunnison sage grouse monitoring- none in 2023.

6. No other surveys identified in 2023.

7. Report writing- 32 hours total Total Population monitoring= 200 hours total

Habitat assessments:

1. Conduct Land Health Assessments- 5 trips @ 8 hours/trip (40 hours total)

2. Wildlife habitat surveys- 5 trips @ 8 hours/trip (40 hours total)

3. Water quality assessments- 5 trips @8 hours/trip (40 hours total)

4. Report writing- 20 hours total Total Habitat Assessments = 140 hours total

Habitat Improvement Project Work:

1. Fence work- repair fence at McIntire Simpson; build 1 riparian exclosure (85 hours total)

2. Noxious weed treatments- remove Russian olive and tamarisk at Blanca wetlands (90 hours total)

3. No woody treatments in 2023.

4. No riparian treatments in 2023.

5. Report writing- 5 hours total.

Total Habitat Improvement Work = 180 hours

Total Work Hours in 2023 = 520 hours

CONTRACTOR WILL FURNISH:

1. Contractor must provide proof of liability insurance to operate a government vehicle.

2. Contractor must provide their own medical insurance.

3. Contractor is expected to complete all required BLM trainings as required by project inspector.

BLM WILL FURNISH:

1. Government provided vehicle.

2. All equipment and supplies needed to perform work, including computer/tablet, hand tools, project materials.

CONTRACT PERIOD:

This contract is tentative to have a base year with 4 option years. To begin in August 2023, and end in or on July 31, 2028.

STIPULATIONS

52.232-19 AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR (APR 1984)

Funds are not presently available for performance under this contract beyond July 31, 2024. The Government’s obligation for performance of this contract beyond that date is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds from which payment for contract purposes can be made. No legal liability on the part of the Government for any payment may arise for performance under this contract beyond July 31, 2024 until funds are made available to the Contracting Officer for performance and until the Contractor receives notice of availability, to be confirmed in writing by the Contracting Officer.

INSPECTION/ACCEPTANCE

· Inspection/Acceptance of all services performed in accordance with this contract for purpose of initiating contractor payment shall be by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), Tayler Rocha.

· Payments will occur bi-weekly and will cover portions of all of the deliverables listed above in the Statement of Work, all portions may not be completed within the contract period due to complexity of plan revision, time-frames of conservation agreements and easements.

· Annual reports as described above with all supporting data (tabular and spatial) will be submitted to BLM by July 31st of each year.

· The project inspector (Tayler Applewhite) has the ability to make minor alterations or adjust the project terms and deliverables over the period of the contract, in consultation with the contractor, project coordinator, COR, and Contracting Officer.

· The BLM COR or other designated inspector will make periodic inspections as a basis for payment and recommendations for adjustments in work quality while work is in progress. The contractor is encouraged to observe inspections while they are being made.