ATTACHMENT_2_-_Specifications_FY2018.doc

AG-4670-S-17-0079

ATTACHMENT 2 - SPECIFICATIONS

Contractor shall furnish all equipment, labor, transportation, supervision, and perform all work required for RCW GROUP CHECKS, RCW CLUSTER INVENTORIES & PAINTING AND TAGGING RCW CAVITY TREES on the Francis Marion National Forest in accordance with the specifications and provisions of the contract.

A service contract to monitor and inventory 102 red-cockaded woodpecker clusters on the Francis Marion National Forest. Information to be collected will be RCW group status in each cluster, inventory of each RCW cluster (includes status and needs for each RCW cavity tree in the cluster, mid-story and understory status and needs, and new cavity trees). All cavity trees will be painted, GPS locations annotated using GPS equipment that collects data than can be differentially post processed to obtain 3 meter accuracy, and tagged in each cluster.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

1) Maps will be provided to the awardee upon request. If maps are desired, use the maps of U.S. Forest Service compartments to monitor the listed clusters. Cluster Tables with GPS locations are more beneficial.

2) Record all data on furnished inventory sheets and in an Excel spreadsheet or an empty geodatabase.

3) Supply the US Forest Service with a compact disk with a shapefile containing all collected data from ITEM #1: Cluster Inventory or shapefile containing all data recorded (cavity trees’ GPS locations, completed cluster inventory data sheets) both in hard copy and electronic form.

ITEM #1: Cluster Inventory:

A. Record Cavity Tree Number

B. Record cavity tree type for each cavity tree (insert, drilled start, natural, drilled cavity).

C. Record cavity status (active or inactive) for each cavity tree.

D. Record whether a restrictor is needed for each cavity.

E. Record if the cavity tree is alive.

F. Record if an insert needs replacing.

G. Search within 750 ft. radius of all cavity trees for new cavity trees.

H. GPS and record all data for any cavity trees found in search.

I. Record average condition of understory (% herbaceous cover), and height of mid-story within each cluster.

ITEM #2: RCW Group Checks:

A. Will include determining the group status of each RCW cluster. Group status will be determined using one or all of the following methods

a. Morning clan checks

b. Evening roost checks

c. Nest checks

B. Information to be recorded will be the total number of birds observed in each cluster.

C. Record method used to determine Group Status (morning clan checks, evening roost check or nest check)

D. Record date of the observation.

ITEM #3: Paint and Tag Cavity Trees:

A. Paint all RCW cavity trees with two white bands.

B. Check all cavity trees to insure they are properly tagged with the corresponding number on the supplied inventory sheet.

C. If tag is missing or improper number is present, place a correctly numbered tag on the cavity tree.

D. Ensure that all new cavity trees are tagged with the next available number (ex. last tree recorded was # 9 the next new tree would be # 10).

GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

1. Paint

2. Tags

3. Steel Stamps for making tags

4. Inventory sheets to record data

5. Compact disk

6. GPS Unit if Available

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

1. Inspection and acceptance will be performed by U.S. Forest Service personnel per the inspection clause in the contract.

TABLE#1 – Clusters to Be Inventoried in FY 2018:

TOTAL: 102 Clusters

RCW CLUSTER INVENTORY AND GROUP CHECK DATA SHEET

Cluster:

Data Collected By:

Date:

Cluster Status: Active ( ) Inactive ( ) No. of Birds Obs.:__________ Group Check Method: Morning Clan Check ( ) Roost Check ( ) Nest Check ( ) Cavity Tree Status

Type Cavity

Status Restrictor

Needed

Insert Suit-able

Est

Hgt GPS Coordinates

Remarks – cause of death if recent

Mid-story Needs for Individual Cavity Trees: (List Tree No.’s) ___________________ Mid-story entire Site: YES ( ) NO ( ) Mid-Story Height: ____ %Herbaceous Cover: ______ Additional Remarks: