A16_JOTFOC_fisher_captures_FY19_-SIGNED.pdf

AP&P 1443.06-01 Enhancing Competition and Contracting by Other than Full and Open Competition 7-31-15, Page 1 of 3

JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

for SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITIONS OVER $3,500 ($2,000/$2,500 for

Construction/Services) AND UP TO $150,0001 (See FAR 13.106-1)

Date: 6/17/19 PR Number: 40448238

BACKGROUND

The fisher (Pekania pennanti) is a medium-sized carnivore in the weasel family that was extirpated from the state of Washington, and is now listed by the state as endangered. Olympic National Park began fisher restoration in 2008, with the help of Conservation Northwest (CNW) and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). The current project, in collaboration with the same partners, reintroduced 69 fishers in and around Mount Rainier National Park (MORA) in 2015- 2017 and the effort is now focused on bringing 80 fishers to North Cascades National Park Service Complex (NOCA). Proactive reestablishment of the fisher in Washington may help avoid formal listing under the federal Endangered Species Act and will aid in restoring ecological functions to each park through repatriation of a species to its former ecological niche.

The project goal is to restore self-sustaining populations of fishers in the northern and southern Cascades (including NOCA and MORA) as identified in the Washington State Recovery Plan for the fisher. This will be accomplished by relocating approximately 160 fishers (40 each year for two years for each site) from Canada to the Cascades (including NOCA and MORA) and monitoring these released fishers to assess success of this restoration, as well as to learn about fisher ecology in the Cascades. Project success is defined as a self-sustaining population of fishers in a geographic distribution that allows for their persistence and resilience in Washington, including both parks, and into the foreseeable future (>100 years).

This project is a large collaborative effort. WDFW and NPS are the lead agencies for the restoration and work collaboratively with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations (BCFLNRO), Alberta Ministry of Environment and Parks (AMOE), several local tribes and First Nations, and various non-governmental organizations like Conservation Northwest and Washington National Parks Fund. All operations in Canada for the first 69 fishers translocated to the Cascades were funded by Conservation Northwest, who maintains the infrastructure of licensed trappers, contractors, and veterinary services required to meet the project needs within the framework of all pertinent wildlife permits. Thirty additional fishers were translocated to the Cascades during the winter of 2018-19, as part of the collaborative effort.

1. Nature and/or description of the item/service being procured and its intended use (include the anticipated cost):

The Cascades Fisher Reintroduction Project (PMIS 195423) involves the capture, veterinary care, transport and temporary housing of approximately 60 fishers (Pekania pennanti) in Alberta, Canada, between late summer 2019 and spring of 2020, before the animals are transported to Washington State for release in and around North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Fishers are listed as an endangered species by the State of Washington, but remain a harvestable furbearer in Alberta. Fishers in Canada are captured for this project by independent fur trappers that have enrolled in the project program to humanely capture fishers in accordance with the Alberta Ministry of Environment and Parks permit 19-014. The window to capture fishers is limited to September 2019-March 2020.

1 SAT increased to $250,000 per Class Deviation 2018-01, but not yet permanently incorporated into the FAR through the federal rulemaking process.

Sole Source Justification for Simplified Acquisitions Over $3,500 and Up To $150,000 Template

AP&P 1443.06-01 Enhancing Competition and Contracting by Other than Full and Open Competition 7-31-15, Page 2 of 3

A coordination team based out of Edmonton, Canada, will work with each trapper to retrieve animals as they are captured, transport each animal to the Calgary Zoo. The zoo will provide temporary fisher housing, provide veterinary care and examination, and deliver the animals to the National Park Service at a transfer point in British Columbia. Each animal is examined, vaccinated, and implanted with a VHF transmitter by a veterinarian with specialized experience in treating fishers. NPS and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, in coordination with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, hold the necessary permits to then transport fishers into the United States for reintroduction to their historical range.

Operations for reintroduction in the United States are undertaken between the National Park Service and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife via a Memorandum of Understanding (Agreement Number G9450150004). Operations for capturing, veterinary care, and housing of fishers in Canada has thus far been accomplished through Conservation Northwest, who has provided the infrastructure to implement the international portion of the project’s Detailed Implementation Plan.

Conservation Northwest provided services for the first 69 fishers brought to the US (2015-2017) at no cost to the Canadian, US, or Washington state government. This non-profit organization also provided 30 fishers in 2018-19 under a sole-source contract with NPS. In FY19, NPS intends to award a second non-competitive requirements contract using a firm fixed price for each fisher delivered; payment will be made based on actual number of fishers received.

NPS will authorize services for up to 22 fishers in 2019 (maximum of $69,300), with an option to fund an additional 38 fishers (maximum of $119,700) in 2020. Total cost will not exceed the Simplified Acquisition Threshold ($250,000 per DOI-AAAP-0148). The period of performance will be September 1, 2019 through July 1, 2020, with an option to extend to June 30, 2021.

The price of $3150 per fisher includes the following services provided by Conservation NW:

1. Capture of fishers by licensed trappers in Alberta, Canada, during the annual season set forth by AMOE, and in accordance with the “Obtaining Fishers” section of the Detailed Implementation Plan.

2. Provide project personnel, equipment and vehicles at Edmonton, AB.

3. Transport fishers from trap location to temporary housing at Calgary Zoo.

4. Care for and house fishers for as many days as needed before transport to WA (as determined by the number of animals in holding and veterinary examination schedule). Housing and care standards will comply with specifications given in the “Transfer and Holding in Captivity” section of the Detailed Implementation Plan.

5. Veterinary examination and vaccinations for fishers as described in the Detailed Implementation Plan, under the section “Health Evaluations, Medical Treatments, and Preparation for Reintroduction”.

6. Surgery to implant a radio transmitter in each qualified fisher by a qualified veterinarian.

7. Return disqualified animals (as per criteria stated in the Detailed Implementation Plan) to their original capture location, or an alternate location specified by AMOE.

8. Transport qualified animals to Abbotsford, BC and deliver them to NPS employees.

2. Sole Source Justification rationale (Check one and explain below):

____ The circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name or industrial mobilization) (FAR 13.106(b)).

_____ Only one responsible source.

_____ Urgent and compelling circumstances exist.

___x_ Other: International agreement (FAR 6.302-4).

Sole Source Justification for Simplified Acquisitions Over $3,500 and Up To $150,000 Template

AP&P 1443.06-01 Enhancing Competition and Contracting by Other than Full and Open Competition 7-31-15, Page 3 of 3

Conservation Northwest is permitted under AMOE Collection License 19-014, and the associated AMOE-approved research plan #15180515, specifically to facilitate the capture, transport, veterinary care, and export of fisher from the Upper Peace, Lower Peace, Upper Athabasca, Lower Athabasca, and North Saskatchewan/Red Deer management areas in Alberta, Canada to NPS. Conservation Northwest has the unique relationships and infrastructure in place to complete the required services with all Canadian organizations, including the Calgary Zoo, which will perform veterinary tasks as set forth in the approved, and AMOE-mandated, Welfare, Ethics, and Research Committee protocol (CZWERC 2018-5).

Conservation Northwest is a 501(c)3 and Washington state registered nonprofit organization based in Bellingham (1208 Bay Street #201, Bellingham, WA 98225-4304; DUNS 801153227).

3. Market Research. Please explain the results or why one was not performed. State whether any other offers were received or anyone expressed interest:

No market research was performed because all capture, handling, housing and related services are restricted under the permits issued by Canada for these operations. The selected organization is the only viable entity to provide these services with the personal, location, and expertise, given the urgent nature of the timeline to complete these services. Market research was conducted on the flexible element of veterinary services. The four qualified veterinarians to treat fishers in Alberta are all employed by Calgary Zoo, which also holds the approved Welfare, Ethics, and Research Committee protocol required by AMOE for this project.

4. If this is a determination for sole source, the Contracting Officer certifies:

a. Only one source is available, or urgent and compelling circumstances exist.

b. The anticipated price will be determined fair and reasonable using the price analysis techniques described in FAR Part 13.106-3(a).

(Signature) _______________________________________ (Date) __6/10/2019__________________ Type or Print Name: Jason I. Ransom, Wildlife Biologist and Project Officer

(Signature) _______________________________________ (Date) ___________________________ Sarah J. Welch, Contracting Officer

Over $25,000 (if applicable):

(Signature) _______________________________________ (Date) ______________________ Warranted Individual One Level Above Contracting Officer Rodney J. Roberson, Contracting Officer

Reviewed/Concur/Approved by: (if applicable)

(Signature) _______________________________________ (Date) _______________________ Regional or Center Chief of Contracting Frank Powers, Contracting Officer

Date_3: 7/9/2019