A04_RFQ_SOW.pdf

Project Title: Assessing Metal Concentrations in Imperiled Bat Species Across the Broader

Great Lakes to Inform Bat Conservation

I. Introduction and Background

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) requires assistance in the trace metal analysis of bat samples (e.g., fur) collected across the broader Great Lakes to fulfill project objectives set forth in the R3 FY26 funded proposal. The Michigan Ecological Services Field Office

(MIFO) seeks to assess metal concentrations in bat species (e.g., little brown bats and big brown bats) across the broader Great Lakes. Understanding metal accumulation in bats is important for informing restoration and conservation planning, as metals can impair immune function and potentially reduce bats’ ability to withstand additional stressors such as white-nose syndrome (WNS). This project will evaluate how metal concentrations in bat fur vary across bat species and spatially across the region to further elucidate contaminant hotspots.

The findings will provide data necessary to assess the level of metal contamination and inform restoration and conservation planning for imperiled bat species. This work will also fill data gaps in our geographic understanding of metal concentrations in bats and foster collaboration across FWS offices, Michigan tribes, state governments, and academic partners.

II. Description of Required Services

The contractor shall provide:

• Coordination and collaboration for in-house pricing of a suite of trace metal analyses

(e.g., Be, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, Tl, Hg, Pb, U), QA/QC review of results, and submission of results to the Service.

• Expertise to interpret, analyze, and summarize data.

• Development of a report to be submitted to the Service and available to Service partners.

• Analyses of samples and interpretation of data to help the Service inform bat conservation.

Based on sample size, geographic reach, and sample biomass, any remaining analytical funds may be utilized for additional analyses, including stable isotope preparation and analyses to determine food source, trophic level, and potential source location. Additional fur samples collected from non-target species of bats may also be submitted for metal analyses. All analyses will inform project objectives.

The contractor shall provide labor, supplies, and materials (billable to this contract) required to accomplish the following tasks:

Task 1- Coordinate with MIFO on sample receipt, data analyses, project objectives, and completion of report

The contractor shall consult with MIFO through performance period on important project updates related to sample receipt, data analysis, and fulfillment of project objectives and the final report.

Figure 1. Project components, objectives, and anticipated outcomes that the contractor will be instrumental in assisting the Service in completion of this project.

Task 2- Coordination for in-house trace metal analysis

Task 3-Data analyses and interpretation of data

The contractor will be responsible for assisting in requested data analyses, including statistical analyses to compare metal concentrations across sites, to determine differences in species and whether other biological variables (e.g., age, mass, wing score) are associated with metal concentrations. Based on preliminary discussions with MIFO, GIS-based land-use analyses may also be conducted, depending on the initial data. For example, hotspot analyses or relating known land-use to metal concentrations (e.g., using the National Land Cover

Database data estimates of % urbanization, % forest, % agricultural land) to better interpret results.

Task 4-Development of a final report

Upon completion of data analyses, the contractors will be expected to discuss the results with the Service and prepare a final report of results. The report will not be finalized until after the results are presented to MIFO and any comments from MIFO are received and discussed.

Task 5-Finalization of report and submission of data

Sixty days after submission of any comments from MIFO to the contractors, the contractor shall submit the final report, including raw data and any associated GIS or statistical scripts

(e.g., R). See the Data Deliverables Requirements section below.

III. Contract Schedule

Item Description Due Date

1 Communication and meetings as needed to discuss project objectives, timelines, and results

As needed throughout performance period

2 Collaboration and coordination for sample submission and metal analysis

Within 30 days after receiving samples

(dependent on FWS-

MIFO timelines)

3 Data review (as needed for any additional QA/QC), data analyses, including statistical and/or land-use analyses (e.g., GIS analyses)

Prior to end of period of performance, tentatively by early

4 Post-data analysis briefing call/communication with the Service to review general findings and discuss submission of final data report

Prior to end of period of performance

(December 31, 2027)

5 Submit final report, raw data, and any supporting data. By end of period of performance

(December 31, 2027)

IV. Quarterly invoices shall be accompanied by a progress report to the Contract Officer, identifying expenditures and discussing progress and any problems encountered.

Deliverables shall be provided electronically in Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF format.

Spreadsheets and data generated as part of this contract shall be provided.

V. Period of Performance

The period of performance for this contract will be until December 31, 2027.

VI. Designated Officials

The Service’s Field Representative and Contract Officer’s Representative is Amanda Curtis, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Michigan Ecological Services Field Office, East Lansing, Michigan amanda_curtis@fws.gov.

An alternative contract is Mandy Annis, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Michigan Ecological

Services Field Office, East Lansing, Michigan, mandy_annis@fws.gov.

VII. Data Deliverables Requirement

The Contractor must ensure that all documents, reports, and data deliverables, whether tabular, geospatial or otherwise, and associated metadata produced by contractors are wholly and completely delivered to the Service. Data are required to be made publicly available in a machine-readable, open format following the OPEN Government Data Act of 2018.

a. All software products, scripts, and code are data deliverables and shall be released into the public domain as human readable Open-Source Software with no restrictions on the use, re-use, modification, or re-distribution by the users of such software.

b. Methodology, analysis procedures, and models are considered process steps for data deliverables and are required deliverables.

Data documentation requirement

Data must be adequately described so that it can be found, understood, and used by the Service and others in accordance with 274 FW 1 Data Management section 1.8B; adherence to the FAIR principles is best practice.

Metadata standard requirement

All datasets will be documented with the attributes necessary to meet the minimum requirements of the Service and sponsored program.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/4174 https://www.go-fair.org/fair-principles/ https://www.go-fair.org/fair-principles/