A04_-_Soil_Analysis_Service_Statement_of_Work.docx

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

FWS NEW ENGLAND ESFO

70 COMMERCIAL STREET, SUITE 300

CONCORD NH 03301-5094

Statement of Work

Soil Analysis of Puritan Tiger Beetle Habitat, Rainbow Beach, Northampton, Massachusetts

1. General:

1.1. The proposal, Soil Analysis of Puritan Tiger Beetle Habitat, Rainbow Beach, Northampton, Massachusetts, will be managed for the Fish and Wildlife Service by the New England Field Office (NEFO), 70 Commercial Street, Suite 300, Concord, NH 03301.

1.2. The project purpose is to further the recovery of the federally threatened Puritan tiger beetle, by characterizing the sand grain size in order to determine optimal habitat for Puritan tiger beetle egg laying and larvae. The habitat soil analysis will inform the development of a suitable habitat map at Rainbow Beach and provide additional information to the Service for recovery strategies related to the impact of hydropower operations and management (flows) and climate change.

1.3. Contractor Qualifications: The contractor must be a professional geologist/soil scientist with demonstrable experience in conducting applied geological science research at Rainbow Beach. The work includes: 1) collecting up to 150 surface soil samples at Rainbow Beach, 2) analyzing the soil samples to characterize grain size, and 3) drafting a report summarizing the results. Rainbow Beach supports the only known population of Puritan tiger beetles (PTB) in Massachusetts and was one of two designated release sites for the PTB captive rearing and reintroduction efforts (Service’s 2017 Cooperative Recover Initiative (CRI) project).

1.4. This project compliments projects funded by the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge and addresses tasks outlined in the March 3, 2021 Puritan tiger beetle recovery meeting. Specifically, the Project outcome will inform translocation protocols by adding to the knowledge base of habitat characteristics, and providing critical information needed to model impacts of climate change on the Rainbow Beach Puritan tiger beetle population.

2. Place of Performance and Period of Performance (Where and When) the project is being completed.

2.1. The project will occur at Rainbow Beach in Northampton, Massachusetts.

2.2. The period of performance will be from the date of award through January 31, 2023.

2.3. Normal duty hours: N/A

2.4. Non-duty hours: N/A

3. Scope

3.1. The contractor shall:

3.1.1. Collect soil samples along established transects throughout Rainbow Beach. For each sample, the sample date, transect number, GPS location, and sample ID will be recorded.

3.1.2. Analyze collected samples using appropriate equipment. Samples will be run on a Camsizer Particle Size Analyzer, which is designed to measure coarse sediment (i.e., larger than 20 micrometers). If samples contain significant portions of smaller silt and clay sized particles, samples will be manually sieved prior to Camsizer analysis to remove fine grained particles. If necessary, organic material will be burned from samples prior to measuring grain size.

3.1.3. Provide a report. Data will be used by the Service to map substrates throughout Rainbow Beach, in relation to PTB larval density and beach elevation information.

4. Deliverables and/or Delivery Schedule:

4.1. Report to include:

4.1.1. A summary of the number of samples collected, tabular data showing soil analysis results by location, and interpretation of results.

4.1.2. Draft electronic report to be submitted to NEFO for review no later than October 31, 2022 and final electronic report to be submitted prior to January 31, 2023.

5. Data Management Plan (DMP) for Science Data Agency Reference.

The Project Lead or technical cognizant has used discretion as to whether or not a DMP is relevant or not relevant and has determined it to be ___relevant or _X_ not relevant .

6. Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE) / Government-Furnished Information (GFI) N/A

7. Evaluation and Acceptance N/A

8. Quality Control/Quality Assurance:

N/A

9. Technical Coordinator:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/New England Field Office 103 East Plumtree Road, Sunderland, MA 01375 p: (413) 548-8002 ext 8124 | Melissa_Grader@fws.gov