A04_Invasive_Species_Performance_Work_Statement1.pdf

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (PWS)

Invasive species management and rapid response on and off National Wildlife Refuges due to border barrier system construction and installation within the Rio

Grande Valley of South Texas, USA Part 1

General Information

1. GENERAL:

This is a non-personnel services contract supporting work evaluating if and how border barrier system construction and installation may have affected the establishment and spread of invasive species on and off National Wildlife Refuges within the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, United States. Border wall construction and operation has removed established habitat and disturbed soils, increasing their susceptibility to the establishment and spread of invasive species. The use of heavy equipment, vehicles, and material deliveries may have also introduced invasive species into this area. The spread of invasive species, especially grasses, from such land disturbances, could negatively affect ecosystem integrity, land restoration and ranching in the region.

Contract work will focus on inventorying invasive species, treating infested areas, and monitoring the effectiveness of the invasive species treatments. Project work would occur in equipment staging areas, road cuts, new wells, areas grubbed or otherwise uncovered, plus locations impacted by erosion and runoff, as a result of disturbance from border barrier system construction and installation. The action threshold for invasive species treatment is when the spatial extent of invasive species exceeds 3% of the surveyed area, the threshold typically employed by National Wildlife Refuges within the Southwest.

To meet contractual obligations all areas with more than 3% areal cover of invasive species must receive at least one management action cycle of inventory, management, and monitoring. Locations having less than 3% of their area infested with invasive species may receive management but are considered secondary priorities. This contract work occurs in close collaboration with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).

The evaluations if and how border barrier system construction and installation may have affected the establishment and spread of invasive species on and off National Wildlife Refuges within the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, focus on the counties including Cameron, Starr, Hidalgo, and Zapata.

1.1 Description of Services/Introduction: The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personnel services necessary to evaluate if and how border barrier system construction and installation may have affected the establishment and spread of invasive species on and off National Wildlife Refuges within the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, United States, as defined in this Performance Work Statement except for those items specified as government furnished property and services. The contractor shall perform to the standards in this contract.

1.2 Background:

The South Texas border contains Federal and State threatened species, biologically important thorn scrub habitats, active ranching communities, all of which can be negatively affected by invasive species establishment and spread. Construction and installation of the border barrier system has removed established habitat and disturbed soils, making them more susceptible to invasive species invasion. The introduction of invasive species may also have occurred from operation of heavy equipment, vehicles, and material deliveries. The spread of invasive species, especially grasses, from land disturbance could pose a significant conservation concern for ecosystem integrity, habitat quality and ranching in the region.

This contract will address the potential establishment and spread of invasive species on and off National Wildlife Refuges in South Texas. A first phase of work will identify and quantify the scale and scope of invasive species issues resulting from border barrier system construction and installation to identify subsequent treatment strategies and ensure that they are pursued appropriately. The second phase of contract work will pursue the appropriate treatment efforts to prevent invasive species establishment and spread within the surveyed area and onto surrounding lands. The final phase of work will monitor the invasive species treatments and neighboring areas to measure the efficacy of invasive species treatments. Based on the results of the monitoring, the contract supports additional, appropriate treatment of invasive species to further minimize invasive species establishment and spread.

This contract work occurs in close collaboration with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Customs and Border Patrol, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and publica and private landowners within Texas. The Government shall not exercise any supervision or control over the contract service providers performing the services herein.

Such contract service providers shall be accountable solely to the Contractor who, in turn, is responsible to the Government.

1.3 Objectives (Tasks): The service objectives are as follows:

1. Conducting work to identify the scale and scope of invasive species issues resulting from border barrier system construction and installation to ensure appropriate treatment strategies.

2. Conducting appropriate invasive species treatment efforts to prevent invasive species establishment and spread onto surrounding lands, based on results of Task #1.

3. Monitoring invasive species treatments in surveyed and neighboring areas to measure treatment efficacy and subsequently act with further appropriate treatments to minimize invasive species establishment and spread.

4. Generate a final project report.

1.4 Scope: Services include the following tasks.

Contract accomplishments and measurables are in italics.

Task #1: Identify the scale and scope of invasive species issues resulting from border wall construction to ensure appropriate treatment strategies.

Contracted work requires surveying all impacted areas for non-native invasive species including, but not limited to, the list of “Invasive Species of Texas” found at inaturalist.org. The contract requires building a geospatial survey with data collection on mobile devices (e.g., mobile phones, iPads) with a conventionally used app for collecting geospatial data in the field. The factors to include when recording data are: species, size and density of infestation, and growth stage of invasive species. A grid-based survey method may be used in lieu of recording points, lines, and polygons. The USFWS and CBP will provide Geographic Information System (GIS) based maps delineating areas potentially impacted by invasive species and requiring surveys.

Contractor must use a GIS based field app to capture survey data geospatially (such as Field Maps) for invasive species data collection describing species, size of established area, density of the infestation, and growth stage of the invasive species. Location of the infestation will be automatically logged by using the field app. All data collected will be centrally housed on-line and available to the USFWS, CBP and other project collaborators. Contractor should generate maps describing the location, size of established areas, density and growth stage of invasive species. Contractor should generate a virtual project dashboard for tracking survey progress and results. Contractor generates yearly reports describing work accomplished to date, until survey work is completed.

Task #2: Conducting appropriate invasive species treatment efforts to prevent invasive species establishment and spread onto surrounding lands.

The action threshold for treatment is when the spatial extent of invasive species exceed 3% of the surveyed area. To meet contractual obligations all areas with more than 3% areal cover of invasive species must receive treatment. Areas less than 3% infested may receive management but are considered secondary priorities. Contractor must utilize integrated pest management (IPM) approaches, to help ensure effective, economical and environmentally sensitive methods of invasive species treatment. IPM approaches rely on current, comprehensive information on the life cycles of invasive species and their interaction with the environment, combined with common sense, while ensuring the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment. Typical treatment applications can use chemical, mechanical and prescribed burning, and whichever method is used, it must be based on sound science and proven techniques including minimizing drift onto unintended targets. The type and approach of invasive species treatment within a given area must be presented to the USFWS and CBP partners for approval, before any treatment activity occurs.

All equipment including trucks, off road utility vehicles, trailers, application equipment, boots, snake chaps, and any other project equipment must be thoroughly cleaned based on the standards found within the Bureau of Reclamation manual (https://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g2000/envdocs/EquipmentInspectionandCleaningManua l2021.pdf ) before entering the project area each day. Pesticides used on Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) lands must be approved in the Pesticide Use Proposal System (PUPS). Contractor will provide a brief written work plan with timeline to the Refuge point of contact to ensure pesticides are entered and approved in PUPS on time. All management actions will be recorded using mobile GIS technology.

Contractor must use IPM methods (for example: mechanical, prescribed burning, chemical) to treat locations infested with invasive species when the area of infestation is > 3% of the surveyed areas. Contractor records all management activity (type of treatment, area of treatment) within a GIS platform that syncronizes with GIS data collected within the survey step. All data collected will be centrally housed on-line and available to the USFWS, CBP and other project collaborators. Contractor should generate maps describing the location, size of treated areas and types of treatment pursued. Contractor uses a GIS dashboard to record work progress and type.

Contractor will provide a brief written work plan with timeline to the USFWS to ensure pesticides are entered and approved in PUPS on time. Contractor generates yearly reports documenting treatment activity.

Task #3: Monitoring invasive species treatments in surveyed and neighboring areas to measure treatment efficacy and subsequently act with further appropriate treatments to minimize invasive species establishment and spread.

Effectiveness monitoring will occur in the growing season after initial treatment activities. Monitoring must cover entire treatment areas. Treated areas remaining above the action threshold of 3% infested, or that achieved less than 80% control, must be retreated as soon as feasible. Monitoring data will be recorded in a GIS platform synchronizing with all survey and treatment data. Metrics when recording monitoring data include (but are not limited to): species, area and density of infestation, and growth stage of pest species. A grid-based survey method may be used in lieu of traditional points, lines, and polygons to acquire monitoring data.

Contractor must monitor all treated areas. Monitoring data to collect include (but are not limited to): invasive species located and location, area and density of infestation, and growth stage of pest species. Contractor records all monitoring within a GIS platform that synchronizes with the GIS data collected within the survey and treatment steps. All data collected will be centrally housed on-line and available to the USFWS, CBP and other project collaborators. Contractor should generate maps describing the location and size of monitored areas and monitoring results. Contractor uses a GIS dashboard to record work progress and type. Contractor generates yearly reports documenting monitoring activity.

http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/g2000/envdocs/EquipmentInspectionandCleaningManua

Task 4: Final project report.

A final project report will be generated and submitted to the USFWS documenting and describing all project activity: surveys, treatments, and monitoring. All geospatial data collected should be organized with metadata produced, and then provided to the USFWS.

1.5 Period of Performance: The period of performance shall begin on date of contract approval and operate up to 9/30/2027

1.6 General Information

1.6.1 Quality Control: The contractor shall develop and maintain an effective quality control program to ensure services are performed in accordance with this PWS. The contractor shall develop and implement procedures to identify, prevent, and ensure non-recurrence of defective services. The contractor’s quality control program is the means by which they assure themselves that their work complies with the requirement of the contract.

1.6.2 Quality Assurance: The government shall evaluate the contractor’s performance under this contract in accordance with the Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan. This plan is primarily focused on what the Government must do to ensure that the contractor has performed in accordance with the performance standards. It defines how the performance standards will be applied, the frequency of surveillance, and the minimum acceptable defect rate(s).

1.6.3 Recognized Holidays: The contractor is required to perform services on holidays for work involving the care and welfare of live animals in captivity or potentially trapped, if traps remain active over holiday periods. Contractor must also be prepared for emergencies to ensure the viability of any collected and held biological specimens used in captive propagation.

New Year’s Day Labor Day Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday Indigenous Peoples Day President’s Day Veteran’s Day Memorial Day Thanksgiving Day Juneteenth Christmas Day Independence Day

1.6.4 Hours of Operation: The Contractor must at all times maintain an adequate workforce for the uninterrupted performance of all tasks defined within this PWS. When hiring personnel, the Contractor shall keep in mind that the stability and continuity of the workforce are essential.

1.6.5 Place of Performance: The work to be performed under this contract will be performed on private and public lands throughout South Texas.

1.6.6 Type of Contract: The government will award a Firm Fixed Contract.

1.6.7 Security Requirements: Not applicable

1.6.7.1 PHYSICAL Security: The contractor shall be responsible for safeguarding all government equipment, information and property provided for contractor use.

1.6.7.2 Key Control: Not applicable

1.6.7.3 Lock Combinations: The Contractor shall establish and implement methods of ensuring that all lock combinations are not revealed to unauthorized persons. The Contractor shall ensure that lock combinations are changed when personnel having access to the combinations no longer have a need to know such combinations. These procedures shall be included in the Contractor’s Quality Control Plan.

1.6.8 Special Qualifications:

Work to evaluate the effects of border barrier system construction and installation on the establishment and spread of invasive species in South Texas, USA, requires a cooperating agency(ies) having much experience and demonstrated rapport working constructively, positively and successfully with Texas Parks and Wildlife, nongovernmental organizations, Universities and private landowners on invasive species surveys, treatments and monitoring in South Texas, USA.

The Contractor shall, without additional expense to the Service, be responsible for obtaining any licenses and permits in a timely fashion, and for complying with any applicable State and Federal laws, codes, and regulations in connection with prosecution of the work.

1.6.9 Post Award Conference/Periodic Progress Meetings: After contract award, the Contractor agrees to attend and participate in meetings with FWS, CBP, United States Geological Survey (USGS) and other collaborators to discuss the project work, refine methods and clarify projected contractual accomplishments. The Contractor agrees to attend any post award conference convened by the contracting activity or contract administration office in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 42.5.

The contracting officer, Contracting Officers Representative (COR), and other Government personnel, as appropriate, may meet periodically with the contractor to review the contractor's performance. At these meetings the contracting officer will apprise the contractor of how the government views the contractor's performance and the contractor will apprise the Government of problems, if any, being experienced.

Appropriate action shall be taken to resolve outstanding issues. These meetings shall be at no additional cost to the government.

Project meetings shall be conducted periodically to enable orderly review during the progress of the work and to provide systematic resolution of problems. The Contractor’s representative and other responsibility employees shall attend and participate in these meetings. The Contractor’s representative shall have the authority to commit the Contractors to activities under the Contract.

Progress meetings can be held at or near the Project Site. Progress meetings may be conducted via telephone conference call.

A Kick-Off Meeting shall be held before the Contractor begins any work on the project.

The Contractor shall ensure attendance by an individual authorized to sign the Contract, its Project Manager, superintendent, and major subcontractors. The Kick-Off meeting will be conducted via video conference call. Date and information on at least the following topics will be distributed and discussed.

a. Organization

b. Responsibilities and authority of the COR, IQAR, and other personnel.

c. Contract documents, including distribution of the required copies of the original documents and revisions.

d. Channels and procedures for communication.

e. Discuss all deliverables that are required to be submitted prior to this meeting.

f. Bonds, insurance requirements, permits, and proof of compliance

g. Work Plan and Work Schedule

h. Payments

i. Field decision and change orders

j. Rules and regulations governing performance of the work

k. Procedures for safety, first aid, security, quality control, and housekeeping

l. Reports

m. Permits

n. Government contact information

o. Collaboration between Contractor, Sub Contractor, USFWS and interested parties.

1.6.10 Contracting Officer Representative (COR): The (COR) will be identified by separate letter. The COR monitors all technical aspects of the contract and assists in contract administration. The COR is authorized to perform the following functions:

assure that the Contractor performs the technical requirements of the contract; perform inspections necessary in connection with contract performance; maintain written and oral communications with the Contractor concerning technical aspects of the contract; issue written interpretations of technical requirements, including Government drawings, designs, specifications; monitor Contractor's performance and notifies both the Contracting Officer and Contractor of any deficiencies; coordinate availability of government furnished property; and provide site entry of Contractor personnel. A letter of designation issued to the COR, a copy of which is sent to the Contractor, states the responsibilities and limitations of the COR, especially with regard to changes in cost or price, estimates or changes in delivery dates. The COR is not authorized to change any of the terms and conditions of the resulting order.

1.6.11 Key Personnel: The following personnel are considered key personnel by the government: The contractor shall provide a contract manager who shall be responsible for the performance of the work. The name of this person and an alternate who shall act for the contractor when the manager is absent shall be designated in writing to the contracting officer. The contract manager or alternate shall have full authority to act for the contractor on all contract matters relating to daily operation of this contract. The contract manager or alternate shall be available between 8:00 a.m. to 4:30p.m. Central Time, Monday thru Friday, except Federal holidays or when the government facility is closed for administrative reasons. Qualifications for all key personnel are listed below:

Contract Specialist: Lauretha Randle Contracting Officer’s Representative: TBD Project Manager: TBD Refuge Point of Contact: Grant Harris

1.6.12 Identification of Contractor Employees: All contract personnel attending meetings, answering Government telephones, and working in other situations where their contractor status is not obvious to third parties are required to identify themselves as such to avoid creating an impression in the minds of members of the public that they are Government officials. They must also ensure that all documents or reports produced by contractors are suitably marked as contractor products or that contractor participation is appropriately disclosed. Contractor personnel are not required to obtain and wear badges in the performance of this service.

The contractor shall provide a contract manager who shall be responsible for the performance of the work. The name of this person and an alternate who shall act for the contractor when the manager is absent shall be designated in writing to the contracting officer. The contract manager or alternate shall have full authority to act for the contractor on all contract matters relating to daily operation of this contract. The contract manager or alternate shall be available between 8:00 a.m. to 4:30p.m. Mountain Time, Monday thru Friday, except Federal holidays or when the government facility is closed for administrative reasons.

1.6.13 Contractor Travel: All travel pursued by the Contractor are under the responsibility of the Contractor with costs already included in the contract budget.

1.6.14 Other Direct Costs: Inapplicable.

1.6.15 Data Rights: Documents and materials are the property of the Government with all rights and privileges of ownership/copyright belonging exclusively to the Government. These documents and materials may not be used or sold by the contractor without written permission from the Contracting Officer. All materials supplied to the government shall be the sole property of the Government and may not be used for any other purpose. This right does not abrogate any other Government rights.

1.6.16 Organizational Conflict of Interest: Contractor and subcontractor personnel performing work under this contract may receive, have access to or participate in the development of proprietary or source selection information (e.g., cost or pricing information, budget information or analyses, specifications or work statements, etc.) or perform evaluation services which may create a current or subsequent Organizational Conflict of Interests (OCI) as defined in FAR Subpart 9.5. The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer immediately whenever it becomes aware that such access or participation may result in any actual or potential OCI and shall promptly submit a plan to the Contracting Officer to avoid or mitigate any such OCI. The Contractor’s mitigation plan will be determined to be acceptable solely at the discretion of the Contracting Officer and in the event the Contracting Officer unilaterally determines that any such OCI cannot be satisfactorily avoided or mitigated, the Contracting Officer may effect other remedies as he or she deems necessary, including prohibiting the Contractor from participation in subsequent contracted requirements which may be affected by the OCI.

1.6.17 PHASE IN /PHASE OUT PERIOD: Inapplicable.

1.6.18 Payments: An itemized invoice shall be submitted at least monthly, attached to the invoice shall be monthly progress reports.

PART 2

DEFINITIONS & ACRONYMS

1. DEFINITIONS AND ACRONYMS:

2.1. DEFINITIONS:

2.1.1. CONTRACTOR. A supplier or vendor awarded a contract to provide specific supplies or service to the government. The term used in this contract refers to the prime.

2.1.2. CONTRACTING OFFICER. A person with authority to enter into, administer, and or terminate contracts, and make related determinations and findings on behalf of the government. Note: The only individual who can legally bind the government.

2.1.3. CONTRACTING OFFICER'S REPRESENTATIVE (COR). An employee of the U.S. Government appointed by the contracting officer to administer the contract. Such appointment shall be in writing and shall state the scope of authority and limitations.

This individual has authority to provide technical direction to the Contractor as long as that direction is within the scope of the contract, does not constitute a change, and has no funding implications. This individual does NOT have authority to change the terms and conditions of the contract.

2.1.4. DEFECTIVE SERVICE. A service output that does not meet the standard of performance associated with the Performance Work Statement.

2.1.5. DELIVERABLE. Anything that can be physically delivered, but may include non-manufactured things such as meeting minutes or reports.

2.1.6. KEY PERSONNEL. Contractor personnel that are evaluated in a source selection process and that may be required to be used in the performance of a contract by the Key Personnel listed in the PWS. When key personnel are used as an evaluation factor in best value procurement, an offer can be rejected if it does not have a firm commitment from the persons that are listed in the proposal.

2.1.7. PHYSICAL SECURITY. Actions that prevent the loss or damage of Government property.

2.1.8. QUALITY ASSURANCE. The government procedures to verify that services being performed by the Contractor are performed according to acceptable standards.

2.1.9. QUALITY ASSURANCE Surveillance Plan (QASP). An organized written document specifying the surveillance methodology to be used for surveillance of contractor performance.

2.1.10. QUALITY CONTROL. All necessary measures taken by the Contractor to assure that the quality of an end product or service shall meet contract requirements.

2.1.11. SUBCONTRACTOR. One that enters into a contract with a prime contractor.

The Government does not have privity of contract with the subcontractor.

2.1.12. WORK DAY. The number of hours per day the Contractor provides services in accordance with the contract.

2.1.12. WORK WEEK. Monday through Friday, unless specified otherwise.

2.2. ACRONYMS:

ACOR Alternate Contracting Officer's Representative AFARS Army Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement AR Army Regulation CCE Contracting Center of Excellence CFR Code of Federal Regulations CONUS Continental United States (excludes Alaska and Hawaii) COR Contracting Officer Representative COTR Contracting Officer's Technical Representative COTS Commercial-Off-the-Shelf DA Department of the Army DD250 Department of Defense Form 250 (Receiving Report) DD254 Department of Defense Contract Security Requirement List DFARS Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement DMDC Defense Manpower Data Center DOD Department of Defense FAR Federal Acquisition Regulation HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of KO Contracting Officer OCI Organizational Conflict of Interest OCONUS Outside Continental United States (includes Alaska and Hawaii) ODC Other Direct Costs PIPO Phase In/Phase Out POC Point of Contact PRS Performance Requirements Summary PWS Performance Work Statement QA Quality Assurance QAP Quality Assurance Program QASP Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan QC Quality Control QCP Quality Control Program TE Technical Exhibit

PART 3

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT, AND SERVICES

2. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES:

3.1. Services: The Government will provide key personnel during the full term of the contract for collaboration, questions or need for clarification.

3.2 Facilities: The Government may provide housing at Laguna Atascosa NWR or Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR if room exists.

3.3 Utilities; The Government will provide no utilities.

3.4 Equipment: The Government will provide no equipment.

3.5 Materials: The Government will provide no materials.

PART 4

CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND SERVICES

3. CONTRACTOR FURNISHED ITEMS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

3.1 General: The Contractor shall furnish all supplies, equipment, facilities and services required to perform work under this PWS.

3.2 Secret Facility Clearance: Not applicable.

4.3. Materials: The Contractor shall furnish all materials, supplies, and equipment necessary to meet the requirements under this PWS.

4.4. Equipment. The Contractor shall furnish all supplies, and equipment necessary to meet the requirements under this PWS.