A05_PWS_Lotic_Data_Collection_PWS_2025_29_V4.pdf

140L0625Q0006

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

LOTIC AIM

ALASKA TASK ORDER

BLM Alaska

Developed 9/11/2024

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Contents

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Project Timeline and Deadlines

2 BACKGROUND

3 SCOPE

3.1 TASK 1 – COORDINATION

3.1.1 Project Lead Requirements

3.2 TASK 2 – DATA COLLECTION

3.3 TASK 3 – QUALITY CONTROL AND DATA TRACKING

3.4 TASK 4 – PROVIDE DATA TO THE FIELD OFFICE(S)

4 EQUIPMENT

5 SCHEDULE

6 KEY PERSONNEL

7 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

8 CONTRACTOR FURNISHED PROPERTY

9 CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT

10 QUALITY:

11 IDENTIFICATION OF CONTRACT EMPLOYEES

12 BLM CONTACTS

13 ATTACHMENTS

14 INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

14.1 EVALUATION COMMERCIAL ITEMS

14.2 EVALUATION FACTORS

14.2.1 Technical Factor - Criterion 1: Hitch Schedule

14.2.2 Technical Factor – Criterion 2: Number of Crews

14.2.3 Technical Factor - Criterion 3: Project Plan

14.2.4 Past Performance Factor

14.2.5 Price Factor

14.3 Proposal Submission

List of Tables Table 1. CLIN 00010 Sites per project and methods requested Table 2. CLIN 00020 Sites per project and methods requested Table 3. CLIN 00030 Sites per project and methods requested Table 4. CLIN 00040 Sites per project and methods requested Table 5. CLIN 00050 Sites per project and methods requested Table 6. CLIN 00060 Sites per project and methods requested Table 7. Proposed 5-year sampling schedule Table 8. Project timeline and deadlines for initial year Table 9. Lotic AIM Roles and Responsibilities

List of Figures Figure 1. Map showing the Central Yukon Field Office project area extent Figure 2. Map showing the Kobuk-Seward Peninsula project area extent Figure 3. Map showing the Wrangell St Elias project area extent Figure 4. Map showing the Eastern Interior Field Office project area extent Figure 5. Map showing the Yukon Charley project area extent Figure 6. Map showing the Denali National Park and Preserve project area extent Figure 7. Map showing the Arctic Coastal Plain (northern portion of the National Petroleum

Reserve) project area extent Figure 8. Map showing the Bay project area extent

1 INTRODUCTION

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages over 178 thousand miles of stream within the state of Alaska. The BLM is mandated to conduct land health monitoring to document effectiveness of decisions established in Resource Management Plans, to determine treatment effectiveness, or for habitat evaluation, among other applications. The Assessment, Inventory and

Monitoring (AIM) strategy is one of the approved monitoring strategies for land health monitoring.

This task order is for data collection and support for the 2025-29 field seasons.

The Contractor will be responsible for collecting data at randomly distributed points on BLM administered lands throughout field offices and project areas described in Table 1 (CLIN 00010) and Table 5-X (if additional Option CLINs are funded). Table 7 outlines a proposed sampling schedule. Typically, 1-2 sites are completed per data during a 12-day sampling hitch (10 field days) with roughly 70-100 sites completed per field season. Data collection will occur in accordance with the BLM Technical Reference 1735-2 found on the www.blm.gov/aim/resources website.

Sample site coordinates will be provided to the selected Contractor as specified in Project

Timelines and Deadlines (Table 8), at least two months prior to the start of data collection (in

Alaska, data collection generally starts in June, but exceptions can be made for specific climatic and hydrologic regimes). The Contractor shall provide support in terms of coordination, pre-season support, data collection, data quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC), and data submission as explicitly specified in the roles and responsibilities table (See Scope section below). All processes shall occur in accordance with the most recent versions of information posted on the www.blm.gov/aim/resources website.

Table 1. CLIN 00010 Sites per project and methods requested

CLIN 00010

Project Name Collection

Dates

Total Random and/or Targeted

Sites

Methods Requested

Central Yukon Field

Office

June 1 –

September 31

40-60 stream sites

Core methods

Contingent: Total nitrogen and phosphorus, turbidity

Supplemental: surveyed channel cross sections, continuous thalweg profile

Anchorage Field

Office (Kobuk-

Seward)

June 1 –

September 31

40-60 stream sites

Core methods

Contingent: Total nitrogen and phosphorus, turbidity

Supplemental: surveyed channel cross sections, continuous thalweg profile

Wrangell St. Elias

National Park

June 1 –

September 31

30-40 stream sites

Core methods

Contingent: Total nitrogen and phosphorus, turbidity

Supplemental: surveyed channel cross sections, continuous thalweg profile

Within the Central Yukon Field Office project area, sites will be randomly located within the project boundary shown in Figure 1. The project boundary is based upon the Central Yukon and

Kobuk-Seward planning areas. Geospatial data and web map services showing project boundaries can also be found at https://www.blm.gov/services/geospatial/GISData/alaska. Expect that points will fall in BLM-managed land across this entire project area. Sample locations were identified in

2016 and is expected to be in the final season of data collection during this Task Order period.

Viable locations for base camp operations include, but are not limited to, Coldfoot (BLM Marion

Creek Administrative site), BLM 7-Mile Administrative Site (just north of the Yukon River, 65.938622, -149.854531), Galena, Manley, and Bettles. No points are located north of the Brooks

Mountain Range.

Figure 1. Map showing the Central Yukon Field Office project area extent

Within the Anchorage Field Office/Arctic District project area, sites will be randomly located within the Kobuk-Seward Peninsula Planning Area shown in Figure 2. Geospatial data and web map services showing project boundaries can also be found at https://www.blm.gov/services/geospatial/GISData/alaska. Sample sites were identified in 2022 and sampling has continued annually since that time. Spike camps along the road system at Tisuk

River (64.97149, -166.200221) and Quartz Creek (65.4059331, -164.6557247) have been used https://www.blm.gov/services/geospatial/GISData/alaska for past AIM projects within the Kobuk-Seward West and East project areas. Kotzebue is a viable base location for accessing the Kobuk-Seward North project area. Dahl Creek

(66.9425614, -156.8913686) and Bear Creek airstrips (65.4059331, -164.6557247) are viable locations for accessing the Kobuk-Seward Northeast project area.

Figure 2. Map showing the Kobuk-Seward Peninsula project area extent.

Within the Wrangell St. Elias National Park project area, sites will be located on NPS managed lands shown in Figure 3. Geospatial data and web map services showing project boundaries can also be found at https://www.blm.gov/services/geospatial/GISData/alaska. Sampling of Wrangell

St. Elias is expected to begin in 2025. Viable locations for base camp operations include, but are not limited to Glennallen, Chisana, Slana, and Nebesna.

Figure 3. Map showing the Wrangell St Elias project area extent.

Wrangell St.Elias

Table 2. CLIN 00020 Sites per project and methods requested

CLIN 00020

Project Name Collection

Dates

Total Random and/or

Targeted Sites

Methods Requested

Eastern Interior

Field Office

June 1 –

September

40-50 stream sites

Core methods

Contingent: Total nitrogen and phosphorus, turbidity

Supplemental: surveyed channel cross sections, continuous thalweg profile

The Eastern Interior Field Office project area, is described as a separate Option (CLIN 00020). If funded, sites will be randomly located on BLM managed lands within the White Mountains, Steese, 40-Mile, and Draanjik planning areas as shown in Figure 4. Geospatial data and web map services showing project boundaries can also be found at https://www.blm.gov/services/geospatial/GISData/alaska. Expect that sites will fall across this entire project area. Initial sampling of BLM lands in this region was completed in 2016 with the exception of the Draanjik planning area. Most sampling on BLM managed lands would include resampling of established sites with a proportion of new randomly selected sites. Viable locations for base camp operations include, but are not limited to, Central, Nome Creek, and Chicken. The

Draanjik planning area will likely require basing out of Circle, however, BLM does not have any facilities in this location. The NPS maintains a remote camp at Coal Creek (44 miles east of

Circle), which may be available as a base camp location for northern portions of the Eastern

Interior Field Office.

Figure 4. Map showing the Eastern Interior Field Office project area extent.

Table 3. CLIN 00030 Sites per project and methods requested

CLIN 00030

Project Name Collection

Dates

Total Random and/or

Targeted Sites

Methods Requested

Yukon Charley

Rivers National

Preserve

June 1 –

September

30-40 stream sites

Core methods

Contingent: Total nitrogen and phosphorus, turbidity

Supplemental: surveyed channel

The Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve project area, is described as a separate Option

(CLIN 00030). If funded, sites will be randomly located on NPS managed lands within the

Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve as shown in Figure 5. Geospatial data and web map services showing project boundaries can also be found at https://www.blm.gov/services/geospatial/GISData/alaska. Expect that sites will fall across this entire project area. Sampling in this area was initiated in 2022 and is ongoing. The National Park

Service maintains a remote camp at Coal Creek (44 miles east of Circle), which may be available as a base camp location for this project area. Sampling from Eagle may also be a viable option.

Figure 5. Map showing the Yukon Charley project area extent.

Yukon

Charley

Table 4. CLIN 00040 Sites per project and methods requested

CLIN 00040

Project Name Collection

Dates

Total Random and/or

Targeted Sites

Methods Requested

Denali National

Park

June 1 –

September

30-40 stream sites

Core methods

Contingent: Total nitrogen and phosphorus, turbidity

Supplemental: surveyed channel

The Denali National Park and Preserve project area, is described as a separate Option (CLIN

00040). If funded, sites will be randomly located on NPS managed lands as shown in Figure 5.

Geospatial data and web map services showing project boundaries can also be found at https://www.blm.gov/services/geospatial/GISData/alaska. Expect that sites will fall within 100 nautical miles of Kantishna. Sampling of NPS lands in this region was initiated in 2018 and is ongoing. The National Park Service maintains a remote camp at Kantishna/Moose Creek which will be available as a base camp location for sampling this area. Aviation resources will be provided by the NPS for lotic AIM data collection in this area.

Figure 6. Map showing the Denali National Park and Preserve project area extent.

Table 5. CLIN 00050 Sites per project and methods requested

CLIN 00050

Project Name Collection

Dates

Total Random and/or

Targeted Sites

Methods Requested

Arctic Coastal Plain July 1 –

September

40-50 stream sites

Core methods

Contingent: Total nitrogen and phosphorus, turbidity

Supplemental: surveyed channel

The Arctic Coastal Plain project area is described as a separate Option (CLIN 00050). If funded, plots will be randomly located within the sampling area shown in Figure 6. Geospatial data and web map services showing project boundaries can also be found at https://www.blm.gov/services/geospatial/GISData/alaska. Expect that sites will fall across this entire project area. Initial sampling of BLM lands in this region was completed in 2018. Most sampling on BLM managed lands would include resampling of established sites with a proportion of new randomly selected sites. Viable locations for base camp operations include, but are not limited to: Wainwright and Inigok (BLM camp) based on past sampling.

Figure 7. Map showing the Arctic Coastal Plain (northern portion of the National Petroleum Reserve) project area extent.

Table 6. CLIN 00060 Sites per project and methods requested

CLIN 00060

Project Name Collection

Dates

Total Random and/or

Targeted Sites

Methods Requested

Anchorage Field

Office (Bay)

June 1 –

September

40-50 stream sites

Core methods

Contingent: Total nitrogen and phosphorus, turbidity

Supplemental: surveyed channel

The Bay Project Area is described as a separate Option (CLIN 00060). If funded, plots will be randomly located within the sampling area shown in Figure 7. Geospatial data and web map services showing project boundaries can also be found at https://www.blm.gov/services/geospatial/GISData/alaska. Expect that sites will fall across this entire project area. Viable locations for base camp operations given the proximity of BLM managed lands include, but are not limited to, Dillingham, King Salmon, and Platinum.

Figure 8. Map showing the Bay project area extent

Across all project areas, accommodations at BLM administrative sites may be available but cannot be guaranteed.

A proposed 5-year schedule is outlined in the Table 7. Locations where sampling has previously taken place can be viewed online at the AIM data portal.

Table 7. Proposed 5-year sampling schedule. Typically, a single crew will complete 1-3 hitches from each base camp location annually depending on the proximity of sites identified for sampling. Generally, 6-9 hitches are completed per field season by a crew with 70-100 sites being sampled.

Proposed Schedule 2025-2029

2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 project area base camp project area base camp project area base camp project area base camp project area base camp

Central Yukon Field Office (CYFO) CYFO Galena CYFO

Yukon Crossing/ Manley Hot Springs

Anchorage Field Office (Kobuk- Seward)

Kobuk- Seward Nome

Kobuk- Seward

Quartz Creek

Anchorage Field Office (Bay) Bay

Dillingham/ Platinum/Ki ng Salmon Bay

Dillingham/ Platinum/Ki ng Salmon Bay

Dillingham/ Platinum/Ki ng Salmon

Yukon Charley Rivers

Yukon Charley Rivers

Coal Creek

Yukon Charley Rivers

Coal Creek

Yukon Charley Rivers Coal Creek

Eastern Interior Field Office (EIFO)

40-Mile/ Steese/ White Mts

Chicken Field Station/ Central

40-Mile/ Steese/ White Mts

Chicken Field Station/ Central Draanjik Circle

Denali NPP Denali Kantishna Denali Kantishna

Wrangell St.

Elias

Wrangell St. Elias

Nebesna /Chisana

Wrangell St. Elias

Nebesna/ Chisana

Arctic Coastal Plain (ACP) ACP Inigok ACP Wainwright ACP Inigok

1.1 Project Timeline and Deadlines

The following table describes the relative timeline of project tasks and deadlines.

Table 8. Project timeline and deadlines for initial year.

Date Year Task

Fall/Winter 2024 Project kick-off calls

Spring 2025 Sample site coordinates provided to Contractor

May 2025

Attend Lotic AIM field core methods training in Anchorage with post training calibration 2-3 weeks later in Anchorage/Mat-Su or

Fairbanks

June 2025 Data collection begins

October 31 2025

All data provided to the BLM-NOC, including macroinvertebrate samples provided to the Utah State University National Aquatic

Monitoring Center

October 1 –

December 31

BLM will provide office support to Field Data Specialist to complete data QC

December 31 2025 End of Award Period

2 BACKGROUND

The Contractor shall be responsible for collecting data at the number and types of wadeable points indicated in Table 1. Sample reach coordinates will be provided to the selected Contractor as specified in Project Timelines and Deadlines above, at least one month prior to the start of data collection (data collection generally starts in June, but exceptions can be made for specific climatic and hydrologic regimes such as those influenced by summer monsoons). The Contractor shall provide support in terms of coordination, pre-season support, data collection, data quality assurance (QA), data submission, and macroinvertebrate and water quality submission as explicitly specified in the roles and responsibilities table (See Scope section below). All processes shall occur in accordance with the most recent versions of Technical Reference 1735-2 posted at:

https://www.blm.gov/learn/blm-library/agency-publications/technical-references.

Data collection often occurs in remote locations, where cellular connection is unavailable or inconsistent. The BLM recommends that field crews be prepared to camp in primitive conditions over several days and to collect data in multi-day “hitches” to minimize travel time. In some instances, lodging will be provided at BLM field stations at no cost to the Contractor. In other instances, lodging may be available from commercial vendors. Lodging and per diem are reimbursable expenses and should be equal to or less than approved federal lodging and per diem rates for the location. The Contractor is responsible for all meals and incidentals for the crew. Field crews will be responsible for safety and for appropriate coordination with local field offices regarding access across private lands, rejection of sample points, and/or protection of local https://www.blm.gov/learn/blm-library/agency-publications/technical-references resources. Contractor personnel will need to attend general orientation at the local field offices to be informed of local issues, safety measures, and resource concerns. Contractors will be required to include an example hitch schedule and safety plan as part of their submission.

3 SCOPE

3.1 TASK 1 – COORDINATION

After the Task Order is awarded, the Contractor shall meet with the BLM project leads and state lead and/or monitoring coordinator (via phone or in person at the respective field offices) to discuss the survey design, field methodologies, training, and to answer any questions related to the monitoring effort. At least one month prior to data collection, a second meeting shall be scheduled to acquire reach coordinates (base, oversample, and targeted), discuss sample order strategy, and site/reach evaluation criteria.

Upon request the Contractor shall allow BLM employees (including and beyond project leads) or public lands stakeholders such as permittees or members of the public to attend and observe monitoring efforts to ensure data is being collected in compliance with the methodologies as described. (The Contractor would not be responsible for providing transportation to the site locations.)

The Contractor shall provide the BLM field office project lead or other designated points of contact and the state monitoring coordinator with a hitch schedule including dates of field work, planned sample reaches, and planned access routes prior to each hitch. In order to ensure that the BLM project leads have time to review and comment on the hitch plan, hitch plans shall be provided at least a week in advance. Those hitch plans not submitted sufficiently in advance may not be reviewed by BLM project leads.

Standard:

The Contractor shall meet with the BLM project leads and BLM state lead and/or monitoring coordinator at least once prior to the start of data collection. The Contractor must also be present for field orientation and calibration exercises1 at the start of the field season (see below), for one month of data collection checks (phone-based), and for an end of the field season closeout (phone-based) - these are minimum requirements. The Contractor provides a hitch schedule including dates of field work, planned sample reaches, and planned access routes at least five business days prior to each hitch. Given the interdependence of sample reach progress among hitches, and unforeseen circumstances or access challenges, a need for flexibility in specific hitch plans is acknowledged. Contractor shall allow BLM employees (beyond BLM project lead(s)) or BLM

Public Land Stakeholders, such as permittees or members of the public to attend and observe field collection days upon request. The contractor is not responsible for transportation to/from field sites for BLM personnel or Public Land Stakeholders.

1 Calibration exercises typically include at least 2-3 days in the field within 2-3 weeks of field methods training.

Calibration locations are weather dependent and could be located in the Anchorage/Mat-Su or Fairbanks, AK areas.

Table 9. Lotic AIM Roles and Responsibilities

Responsible parties Project phase

Task AIM Team State Lead

Project Lead

Contractor Contractor Crew

Field season preparation

Hire/onboard field crews Lead Equipment purchase, calibration, set-up

Assist Assist Lead

Safety training Lead Participate Pre-training materials Lead Participate Participate Participate Field training Lead Participate* Participate* Participate* Understand the design Assist Assist Lead Participate Participate Identify targeted sample points and points for merging (if applicable)

Assist Assist Lead Assist

Identify reaches for measurement of contingent/supplemental indicators

Assist Assist Lead

Office point evaluation Assist Lead Assist Assist Provide landowner contacts Lead Participate

Crew management & assistance

Trip planning (e.g., timing, access)

Lead Assist Assist

Crew check-in and safety Assist Lead Participate Protocol assistance Assist Assist Lead Participate Data collection app assistance

Lead Assist Participate

Design & data management

Weekly update of web map Assist Lead Verification of reach sample status

Lead Assist

Data backup Assist Assist Lead Data submission Assist Assist Lead BMI and WQ sample submission

Lead Participate

QA/QC Field orientation Assist Lead Lead Participate Post-training calibration Assist Lead Lead Participate Field QA of data Lead Critical concepts QC Lead Assist Participate QC of field data Lead Assist Participate Early-season checks Participate Lead Participate Assist Participate End of season checks Participate Lead Participate Assist Participate QC of computed field indicators

Assist Lead

*See Lotic Data Management and QAQC Protocol for guidelines on who should attend training and how often.

Note: This table should be reviewed at the pre-season meeting and any edits or clarifications made at that point. This table is subject to change.

3.1.1 Project Lead Requirements

Project leads are required to lead, assist, and participate in the roles and responsibilities as outlined above (See Table 9), including field trainings, pre-season preparation, office point evaluations, field orientation and calibration with Contractor crews, and critical concept/field data QC review.

Project leads will review/approve sample point statuses, following crew manager review of points, using the office evaluation and rejection protocol as outlined in the BLM Field Protocol for

Wadeable Lotic Systems. Sample points will be available at least two months prior to field data collection. If a sample point must be rejected in the office or in the field, the Contractor will utilize the provided points from the appropriate oversample panel to select an appropriate replacement point. Sample points designated as revisits should be identified with appropriate changes in method collection and with guidance on office plot monument preferences (See monumenting section

3.2.5.1 below).

3.2 TASK 2 – DATA COLLECTION

Data collection will begin as specified in Project Timelines and Deadlines. Data collection must occur between June 1st and Sept 30th with a few exceptions for unique climatic and hydrologic conditions. This time generally corresponds to when streams and rivers are at base flow conditions - specifics provided in TR 1735-2 Version 2. Data collection must be completed, and the data submitted to the National AIM Team as specified in Project Timelines and Deadlines.

The BLM will be allowed 45 days to ensure the quality of the data prior to final payment being made.

The Contractor shall collect data at the number and reaches specified in Table 1 with 1-2 sites completed per field day. The total number of sites completed per field season should range from

70-100 based on the completion of 6-9 sampling hitches, assuming minimal weather or mechanical delays. Sample points are typically not accessible by road so aviation resources will be utilized to access most sites, except on rare occasions. In rare instances, sample reaches may be >3 miles from a road (includes 4-wheel drive roads or “jeep trails”) so off trail navigation and moderate hiking often occurs. All reaches will be on wadeable systems. See roles and responsibilities table for specifics regarding BLM versus Contractor roles for office and field evaluations, trip planning, data collection, protocol assistance and other data collection related tasks. The AIM-NAMF Field Protocol for Wadeable Lotic Systems (TR 1735-2 Version 2), Evaluation and Design Management Protocol, Data Management and QA/QC Protocol, and

Technology and Applications Manual for more information on field methods, reach evaluation, data management, and technology. These protocols are available at https://www.blm.gov/documents/national-office/blm-library/technical-reference/aim-national-aquatic-monitoring-0.

At each reach the Contractor shall collect data in accordance with the AIM National Aquatic

Monitoring Framework: Field Protocol for Wadeable Lotic Systems (TR 1735-2 Version 2).

https://www.blm.gov/documents/national-office/blm-library/technical-reference/aim-national-aquatic-monitoring-0 https://www.blm.gov/documents/national-office/blm-library/technical-reference/aim-national-aquatic-monitoring-0

All Core Methodologies will be utilized including:

4.0 Reach Evaluation

5.0 Water Quality

5.1 pH, Specific Conductance, Temperature

6.0 Benthic macroinvertebrates. The Contractor does not need to budget for the processing of these samples.

7.0 Physical Habitat and Canopy Cover

7.1 Channel Widths

7.2 Floodplain Connectivity

7.2.1 Bankfull Height

7.2.2 Bench Height

7.3 Bank Stability and Cover

7.4 Canopy Cover

7.5 Streambed Particle Sizes

7.6 Large Wood

7.7 Pool Dimensions

8.0 Riparian Vegetation

8.1 Priority Noxious Riparian Vegetation

Covariates

7.9 Flood-prone width

7.10 Slope

9.0 Human influences

10. Photos

In addition to the Core AIM Methodologies, the following contingent and supplemental data may also be collected at each reach based on field office designs. See Tables 1-3 for specific indicators requested for this Task Order:

Possible contingent or supplemental indicators include:

Water quality

• Water sample collection (NOTE: Contractor does not need to budget for the processing of samples or supplies to collect the sample)

• Turbidity

Instream physical habitat

• Pool tail fines (NOTE: Contractor does not need to budget for sampling equipment or supplies.)

• Surveyed bankfull channel cross sections

• Continuous thalweg profile (NOTE: Contractor does not need to budget for sampling equipment or supplies.)

Biodiversity and riparian habitat

• Alaska Supplemental Protocol - Riparian Vegetation Cover and Complexity and Priority

Noxious Vegetation

• eDNA (NOTE: Contractor does not need to budget for sampling equipment or supplies.)

Data collection shall occur using cross-sectional transects (typically 11 main transects and 10 intermediate transects) arranged throughout the reach. Most measurements are taken at transects, but a few are taken between transects, at a single transect only or at the reachwide scale. All questions regarding monitoring methodology that are not answered by the AIM National Aquatic

Monitoring Framework: Field Protocol for Wadeable Lotic Systems (TR 1735-2 Version 2) shall first be fielded by the Contractor and then the BLM point of contact if further guidance is needed.

Please note specific instructions on keeping water quality samples at appropriate temperatures.

Arrangements need to be made up front for the storage of water quality samples at the local field office, as well as macroinvertebrate samples in some instances.

The Contractor shall record data in electronic format using BLM applications for data capture and geotagging photographs in the field. Only electronic data shall be submitted to the BLM-NOC after review and all final data must be received as specified in Project Timelines and Deadlines.

Contractor is responsible for providing and setting up the electronic capture device (iPads preferred

- see AIM website for specific guidance on Lotic AIM gear) with all specified applications as outlined in the Lotic Technology Manual. The iPad needs to have a cellular data plan with a provider that is appropriate for the project area. The BLM has established databases to ingest and manage all data; therefore, unless otherwise noted, no data management services are requested beyond data collection and QA/QC by field personnel.

If a reach must be rejected in the field, in accordance with the standards outlined in the Lotic

Evaluation and Design Management Protocol the Contractor shall move on to one of the oversample points provided, as directed. The “fate” of sample points will be tracked and provided with the monitoring data.

The Contractor shall coordinate with BLM regarding private land access issues. If private land will be crossed in the process of collecting the data, the Contractor shall contact the private landowner to acquire permission to cross their land after obtaining permission and contact info from the BLM. Contact information will be provided by the BLM field office project lead, if available. This will occur before the Contractor crosses private land to comply with State law.

The Contractor shall be responsible for reach monumenting, which includes a minimum of photos, distinct geographic features, and GPS coordinates. If required, more involved monument types will be specified by the associated BLM Project Lead, and materials will be furnished by the BLM if desired. For example, reach markers such as engraved or stamped aluminum survey caps and fence posts may be utilized.

Standard:

All data to be provided as specified in Project Timelines and deadlines as specified above.

Additionally, raw data files shall be uploaded for review at the end of each hitch. All points are sampled within the specified timeframes. Data must be approved by the appropriate BLM field office prior to final data submission. The data shall be collected using the required methodologies and will be 99% complete and accurate.

3.3 TASK 3 – QUALITY CONTROL AND DATA TRACKING

The Contractor shall follow all data management and Quality Assurance/Quality Control steps as outlined within the Lotic Data Management and QA/QC Protocol. The Contractor will also follow the Lotic Evaluation and Design Management Protocol for reach tracking as described in the data management protocol noted above.

During or before the first hitch, the Contractor shall work with the BLM project lead(s) to complete a field orientation and calibration (See Table 9). Field orientation and calibration is described in detail in the Lotic Data Management and QA/QC Protocol and involves spending 2-

3 days in the field with the crew to review processes for identifying critical concepts of TR 1735-

2 Version 2 (e.g., bankfull, scourline, and thalweg), as well as riparian vegetation, across a diversity of stream and river types. A calibration exercise is also conducted with BLM and

Contractor staff leading the effort to assess the precision and accuracy of the crew’s data at a test reach. At the end of each hitch, the Contractor shall meet with BLM field office project lead(s) to review critical concepts and photos within the data collection application as a final step in the

QC process prior to submitting the data (See Roles and Responsibilities table). If the project lead(s) cannot meet in person to view the reach summary on the iPad, a file can be exported and provided to the project lead for review. Final data shall be submitted via Survey 123.

The BLM will furnish the Contractor with shapefiles of the sample points and associated GPS locations, BLM landownership and other shapefiles necessary to evaluate and implement the sample design. All this information is being provided online using ESRI web maps. Upon request the BLM will provide the Contractor with any other GIS data needed to complete the project.

The Contractor shall track the fate of sample reaches using web maps and other online tools following guidance in the Lotic Reach Evaluation and Design Management Protocol. All data shall be managed in accordance with the Lotic Data Management and QA/QC Protocol.

Standard:

Quality of data submitted to the BLM demonstrates that QA/QC has occurred after each hitch including the submission of results from post-training calibration exercises. The fate of all sampled and evaluated reaches is documented in the web map. The BLM will be allowed 45 days to ensure data quality prior to acceptance.

3.4 TASK 4 – PROVIDE DATA TO THE FIELD OFFICE(S)

All data shall be provided to the BLM in an electronic format by the date specified in Project

Timelines and Deadlines above, and as described in Section 3.3. Final field data shall be submitted within the Field Maps and Survey 123 applications, while the fate of sampled and evaluated reaches shall be tracked in the webmap. A complete project implementation report shall be submitted at the end of the field season as specified above in Project Timelines and

Deadlines.

Standard:

BLM receives the data in Survey 123 as described in Tasks 2 and 3. All final data and a completed implementation report is received as specified in Project Timelines and Deadlines.

4 EQUIPMENT

The Contractor shall need the following equipment to conduct this monitoring:

• All Lotic AIM gear listed in the equipment checklist provided at:

https://www.blm.gov/documents/national-office/blm-library/technical-reference/aim-national-aquatic-monitoring-0.

• Electronic device for AIM data capture; Lotic AIM gear list specifications provided at:

https://www.blm.gov/documents/national-office/blm-library/technical-reference/aim-national-aquatic-monitoring-0

• Equipment required to collect AIM supplemental indicators (e.g., surveyed cross section, continuous thalweg profile).

5 SCHEDULE

Date of award through December 31, 2029.

6 KEY PERSONNEL

Historically, a minimum of 3-person crews have been required at each monitoring reach.

Collectively, the individuals who participate in collecting monitoring data will need to have the following qualifications or experience:

https://www.blm.gov/documents/national-office/blm-library/technical-reference/aim-national-aquatic-monitoring-0 https://www.blm.gov/documents/national-office/blm-library/technical-reference/aim-national-aquatic-monitoring-0 https://www.blm.gov/documents/national-office/blm-library/technical-reference/aim-national-aquatic-monitoring-0 https://www.blm.gov/documents/national-office/blm-library/technical-reference/aim-national-aquatic-monitoring-0

• Aquatic Ecologist or Fish Biologist: Must be proficient in the identification of stream habitat features, and basic habitat assessments methodologies of geomorphic features.

Qualifications may be met through education, experience, or a combination.

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Fisheries, Hydrology, Biology, Ecology, or other

Natural Resources with at least 9 semester hours in fisheries or hydrology focused courses. Courses in such areas as fluvial geomorphology, fisheries assessment or techniques, fisheries management, freshwater ecology, hydrologic principles, and watershed management are acceptable subjects.

• Experience: minimum of 1 year field data collection assessing stream or river habitat conditions

• Field Technician I (two): Background in natural resources, with experience conducting field data collection. Qualifications may be met through education, experience, or a combination.

Conducts field-based monitoring.

• Education: At least halfway towards a bachelor’s degree in any biology, ecology or natural resources field.

• Experience: minimum of 1 year field data collection.

• Project Manager: Demonstrated specialized experience in all service areas requested.

Provides leadership to coordinate and oversee efforts of multiple crews or personnel associated with projects. Develops project plans, budgets, and ensures completion of project deliverables and objectives. Provides technical advice on project goals and associated disciplines, techniques, and services. Project Manager shall: (1) provide overall management of the Task Orders issued; (2) ensure compliance with all applicable Federal, State, Local, and Department of the Interior regulations and policy, as well as the Contract terms and conditions; (3) monitor and control quality of the Task Orders; (4) assign personnel consistent with Task Order requirements. (Aquatic ecologist may also function as the project manager)

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree.

• Experience: minimum of 5 years.

• Program Manager: Specialized experience in support services. Provides leadership in program execution and development, project management, and personnel management.

Coordinates resources needed to achieve program objectives and provides technical advice regarding terrestrial and lentic monitoring. Program Manager shall: (1) provide overall management of this Task Order; (2) ensure compliance with all applicable Federal, State, Local, and Department of the Interior regulations and policy, as well as the Task Order terms and conditions; (3) monitor and control quality of the Task Order; (4) assign personnel consistent with Task Order requirements.

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree

• Experience: minimum of 5 years.

• The minimum qualifications noted for field crew members (technicians) is preferred because of cost constraints and ease of trainability. More experienced staff often have diverse experience collecting similar habitat assessment data involving different and possibly conflicting methods than those described in the 1735-2 methods protocol. Costs and complexities associated lotic AIM method training are reduced when technicians have basic levels of experience working in aquatic systems.

• All individuals present for data collection must have successfully completed Lotic AIM core methods training during the year in which data collection is to occur (information about these trainings is available at https://www.blm.gov/aim/strategy).

• Training will be provided by the BLM’s National Operations Center with support by BLM

State Leads and Aquatic Resources Program staff in Alaska.

• Contractor staff must complete online training materials before attending field methods training.

• If a technician needs to be replaced within a field season by a technician who has not attended training in last two years, then a project manager, who is trained in AIM within the last two years, must accompany the new technician in the field for the first three reaches.

Furthermore, all pre-training materials must also be completed prior to collecting data.

7 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

Any information including GIS data needed to complete the project will be furnished upon request. Sampling gear required for supplemental data collection would be provided as noted previously. Maintenance and/or replacement of furnished sampling gear damaged during data collection would be the responsibility of the Contractor. The government will not supply any other property for completion of the data collection projects. (Note: At the indicated based camps the government may provide aviation fuel: please see the quote schedule for specific locations and the applicable conditions.)

8 CONTRACTOR FURNISHED PROPERTY

Contractor is responsible for all transportation, equipment, and incidentals necessary to complete the monitoring studies in accordance with the following specifications/directions.

9 CONTRACTOR PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT

After completion of a Contract, a Contractor evaluation will be completed in the Contractor

Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) at https://www.cpars.gov/ . A CPARS shall be done for awards over $250,000.00.

10 QUALITY:

All work shall be checked and technically reviewed and approved in accordance with BLM AIM policies, directives, and guidelines.

Quality shall be measured based on the following:

PERFORMANCE

OBJECTIVE

PERFORMANCE STANDARD

Acceptable Quality Level

(AQL)

METHOD OF

SURVEILLANCE

For all submittals per the PWS

Timeliness – All task order documentation and task order requirements submitted within required milestone timeframe(s).

Accuracy – all documents conform to formatting requirements, agency directives, department directives and the Federal Acquisition Regulations.

Professional – All Documents are well organized, grammatically correct and demonstrate sound professional evaluation and analysis.

95% Reviewed by BLM Project Lead

PWS Task 3.1

The Contractor shall meet with the BLM project leads and BLM state monitoring coordinator on at least one occasion and shall allow other BLM employees or BLM Public Land Stakeholders, such as permittees or members of the public to attend and observe field collection days upon request.

99% Reviewed by BLM Project Lead

PWS Task 3.2

By October 31, 2024, all data will be submitted to the BLM-NOC and water quality and macroinvertebrate samples to the Utah State University National Aquatic Monitoring Center. Data must be approved by the appropriate BLM field office prior to submittal. The data will be collected using the required methodologies and will be 99% complete and accurate.

99% Reviewed by BLM Project Lead

PWS Task 3.3

Quality of data submitted to the BLM demonstrates that QA/QC has occurred. A fully completed Design Management Spreadsheet will be submitted to the BLM upon completion. Raw Data Entry and edited Data Analyses files will be submitted to the BLM upon completion. The BLM will be allowed 45 days to ensure data quality prior to acceptance.

100% Reviewed by BLM Project Lead

PWS Task 3.4

BLM receives the data in Survey 123 and web maps as described in Task 2 and 3. Data is received by October 31, 2024. Data is accessible and usable for analysis purposes. A complete project implementation report is submitted at the end of the field season (October 31, 2024).

100% Reviewed by BLM Project Lead

11 IDENTIFICATION OF CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES

All Contractor personnel are required to identify themselves as Contractors. Whether attending meetings, answering Government telephones, or working in other situations where their contractor status is not obvious to third parties, they must make their status known to avoid creating an impression that they are Government employees.

12 BLM CONTACTS

Bureau of Land Management

Alaska State Office

222 West 7th Avenue, #13

Anchorage, AK 99513

Contracting Officer’s Representative

Tina Boucher

E-mail: tvboucher@blm.gov

Bureau of Land Management

Alaska State Office

222 W 7th Avenue #13

Nicole Hayes

E-mail: mnhayes@blm.gov

Bureau of Land Management

Alaska State Office

222 W 7th Avenue #13

Contract Contacts:

Contracting Officer:

Shawn P Haubner

National Operations Center Acquisitions

Department of Interior / Bureau of Land Management

Email: shaubner@blm.gov

Contract Specialist:

Stephen Loftus

National Operations Center Acquisitions

Department of Interior / Bureau of Land Management

Email: sloftus@blm.gov

13 ATTACHMENTS

Attachment 1 – Quote Schedule

Appendix 1 –

Appendix 2 –

Appendix 3 –

14 INSTRUCTIONS, CONDITIONS, AND NOTICES TO OFFERORS

14.1 EVALUATION COMMERCIAL ITEMS

BLM will conduct this procurement using GSA E-Buy under FAR Par 8.405-2 Ordering procedures for services requiring a statement of work to conduct a Best Value procurement and evaluate the proposals by conducting comparative evaluation of Vendors. This RFQ is not stating nor required to state the relative importance assigned to each evaluation factor and/or sub factor.

1. Technical:

2. Past Performance

3. Price:

14.2 EVALUATION FACTORS

The following factors shall be used to evaluate the offers to determine if an offeror provides a sound, compliant approach that meets the requirements of the specifications and demonstrates a thorough knowledge and understanding of those requirements:

14.2.1 Technical Factor - Criterion 1: Hitch Schedule

HITCH SCHEDULE: The offeror shall submit a sample hitch schedule (day by day activities per hitch) for this requirement and will be evaluated on how well the schedule aligns with the work needed in the PWS.

14.2.2 Technical Factor – Criterion 2: Number of Crews

NUMBER OF CREWS: Offeror shall submit the number of crews and crew schedule for this requirement (proposed schedule for multiple crews). The offeror shall be evaluated on whether the number of crews and schedule proposed per the PWS requirement seems reasonable given the work requested.

14.2.3 Technical Factor - Criterion 3: Project Plan

PROJECT PLAN: The offeror shall submit a project plan (10-font with ¾” margins). The project plan shall include the overall project approach, project assumptions, equipment requirements, personnel resumes, and certifications/qualifications, and or project risks. The project plan shall not exceed six pages. Any pages (other than the personnel pages, and equipment requirements) in excess of this length will not be evaluated. The project plan shall be evaluated on how well the offeror addresses the items above. Please note that the vendors shall include the pricing of the specialized equipment in the quote schedule with the labor quotes.

Moreover, Vendors are also reminded that charging the government rental for (an) item(s) they own is a disallowable expense.

14.2.4 Past Performance Factor

The government shall review the offeror’s past performance, if applicable and present in CPARS that shall be recent, (within the last 3-years) and relevant to the requirements. (Note: If the

Contractor has no CPARS on record, they shall receive a neutral rating).

14.2.5 Price Factor

14.3 The price shall be determined fair and reasonable based on labor costs; however, this project also involves travel reimbursement so the government will review the contractors proposed travel and lodging costs to ensure they fall at or below the limits of the Federal

Travel Regulations and/or the Alaska Camp Rates.

14.4 Proposal Submission

Technical Proposal: Shall include the project plan, hitch schedule, the number of crews and crew schedule needed to complete the work in the PWS.

Price Proposal: The offeror shall submit a price proposal. The price proposal shall be submitted utilizing the attached excel price spreadsheet (Attachment 2).

Proposal Due Date: To Be Determined. Proposals shall be submitted electronically by e-mail to sloftus@blm.gov.