AG-64R4-S-13-0010AY_-_Exhibit_1_-_Specifications.docx

SOLICITATION NO. AG-64R4-S-13-0010AY

EXHIBIT 1 - SPECIFICATIONS

BOTANICAL SURVEY – MARK TWAIN NATIONAL FOREST

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

for THREATENED, ENDANGERED, SENSITIVE and NON-NATIVE INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES SURVEYS and

VEGETATION PLOT INVENTORIES

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FOREST SERVICE

MARK TWAIN NATIONAL FOREST

MAY 2013

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

RESOURCE PROTECTION, USE AND MAINTENANCE OF IMPROVEMENTS: The Contractor shall use every precaution necessary to prevent damage to public and private property.

A. Protection of Land Survey Monuments: The Contractor shall protect all known survey monuments, witness corners, reference monuments, bearing trees, and boundary line trees against avoidable destruction, obliteration, or damage during the operation.

B. Refuse Disposal: Papers, cans, bottles, or other refuse resulting from the Contractor's operations shall be removed from National Forest lands.

C. Protection of Cultural Resources: Discovery of historic or prehistoric sites, buildings, objects, and properties by either the Government or the Contractor shall promptly be reported to the other party.

D. Protection of Improvements: When the Contractor's operations are adjacent to private property, railway property, utility company property, or other property, work shall not begin until all necessary arrangements to prevent damage have been taken by the Contractor.

E. Protection of Species at Risk: Species at Risk shall be protected from damage or destruction during the Contractor's operations. Damage includes that which may jeopardize the sensitive plant population or single specimen, particularly extraction of plants by the roots which may result in a taking of the species.

F. Fire Prevention and Control: Warming fires will not be permitted except when leaves are wet or a place cleared of flammable material is used. If conditions warrant, the Government may prohibit fires. All fires must be completely extinguished before leaving.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

SPECIFICATIONS FOR TES AND NNIP SURVEY WORK

SURVEY PLAN:

The survey plan will be developed, and will include the planned route through each stand, and the Contractor’s prediction of which TES plants are likely to occur in the survey areas. The likelihood of occurrence is based on evaluation, soil type, land-type associations, aspect, slope, etc. of the areas and the Contractor’s knowledge of the plants and their habitat requirements. The Contractor’s likelihood of occurrence table will be based on the Forest-wide map included in Attachment A.

CONDUCT OF SURVEY:

The Contractor shall survey specific compartments as listed within each task order. Compartments must be visited at least once during the search time, but may be visited more than once. If high potential habitat for a particular TES species is present, a recheck may be needed during the time best suited for identification (search period, if known, is given in the attached likelihood of occurrence table). The Contractor is expected to search high potential habitats during the listed time frames, but adjustments may be made for specific phenological variations of the given year. Field surveys will be conducted during the date range provided in each task order. Deviation from these time frames may not occur without written approval of the Contracting Officer. In conducting the survey, the Contractor shall:

1. Note presence of unusual communities and unusual species seen but not listed on the TES or NNIS plant list for the Mark Twain National Forest.

2. Use a global positioning system (GPS) with computer downloading capabilities to take site location readings for each population of TES and high priority NNIS found. All GPS locations must have a horizontal accuracy of 5 meters or less.

3. Use a GPS to document survey routes through each stand that is surveyed. Minor gaps in route documentation due to inadequate satellite coverage or unfavorable PDOP are expected; however, GPS route documentation must be thorough enough to demonstrate good coverage of each stand.

For all TES species sites found in the survey stands, the Contractor will:

1. Report all the information requested in the electronic data tables for TES locations and TES survey sites.

2. Provide GPS location data. For populations that are less than 50 feet long in their longest dimension, a single GPS point near the approximate center of the population will suffice. For populations that are greater than 50 feet long in their longest dimension, GPS points that form a minimum convex polygon around the population will be collected. Precise delineation of convoluted population boundaries is not required.

3. Multiple small patches of the same species within a contiguous habitat patch (e.g., a TES species scattered across a talus slope) may be treated as one population and depicted by a minimum convex polygon surrounding the multiple locations. Alternatively, each of the multiple patches may be represented by an individual GPS point if this results in less effort for the Contractor.

For all high priority NNIS sites found in the survey stands, the Contractor will:

1. Provide GPS location data using the same standards outlined above for delineating TES plant populations.

2. Report all information requested on the electronic data table for NNIS plant locations and survey sites.

All low priority NNIS found will be reported in the species list for that stand. GPS locations are not necessary for low priority NNIS. If any of these species appear to threaten the ecological integrity of the stand, the nature and extent of the threat will be explained in the final report.

For any TES and high priority NNIS populations observed within the project boundary while traveling between survey stands, the Contractor will:

1. Provide a single GPS point located at the center of populations that are less than 50 feet long in the longest dimension.

2. Provide a sketch depicting the approximate extent of any population greater than 50 feet in length in the longest dimension.

3. Multiple small patches of the same species within a contiguous habitat patch (e.g., a TES species scattered across a talus slope or a NNIS scattered along a roadside) may be treated as one population and depicted by a sketch of the approximate extent.

PROGRESS REPORTS:

Report survey progress to the COR every two weeks, to include GPS locations of any TES and high priority NNIS species, as well as GPS documentation of survey routes. Verification of suspected TES and NNIS will be handled by the COR.

FINAL REPORT:

A final survey report will be prepared for each Task Order. Each final survey report will include:

1. Completed electronic location forms for any verified or suspected TES or NNIS plants. Electronic forms must be in MS Excel format or another tabular format acceptable to the COR, and they must be capable of joining or relating to the corresponding GIS data file using a common site ID field.

2. Completed electronic survey site forms for every stand searched, whether or not any TES or NNIS plants were found, including the list of species encountered and remarks. Electronic forms must be in MS Excel format or another tabular format acceptable to the COR, and they must be capable of joining or relating to survey stand geographic information system (GIS) layers via a common stand ID field.

3. Paper data forms are not required; however, if the Contractor chooses to use paper data forms to collect data in the field, the paper forms will be transmitted with the final report. Paper data forms cannot be substituted for the electronic data forms.

4. One electronic file containing any single-point GPS locations for verified or suspected TES plants. The site ID number for each record in the file MUST match the site ID number for the corresponding record in the electronic location forms.

5. One electronic file containing any GPS polygons for larger populations of verified or suspected TES plants. The site ID number for each record in the file MUST match the site ID number for the corresponding record in the electronic location forms.

6. One electronic file containing any single-point GPS locations for verified or suspected high priority NNIS plants. The site ID number for each record MUST match the site ID number for the corresponding record in the electronic location forms.

7. One electronic file containing any GPS polygons for larger populations of verified or suspected high priority NNIS plants. The site ID number for each record MUST match the site ID number for the corresponding record in the electronic location forms.

8. Electronic copies (preferred) or hard copies (acceptable) of any sketch maps showing large TES or NNIS populations encountered in the project area while traveling between survey stands.

9. An electronic file depicting the GPS-located survey routes. GPS-generated time and date stamps will be included in this file.

10. All electronic files containing GPS data will be in ESRI shape file format and will be in UTM projection, WGS 84 datum.

11. A summary report explaining survey methodology and results. The report will include maps depicting survey stands/areas and survey routes. To protect potentially sensitive data, TES plant locations will not be depicted on the maps. All TES and high priority NNIS plants found will be listed by stand.

12. The report and all accompanying data will be submitted to the COR no later than 30 calendar days after completion of the survey. The report and data are subject to approval prior to acceptance and final payment.

SPECIFICATIONs FOR VEGETAtION PLOT INVENTORY WORK

It is anticipated that contract award will be made by June 30, 2013.

The estimated starting date is July 15, 2013. Due to the seasonal growth needed to identify ground vegetation, field work for the quadrat data collection will be limited to the period from May 1 to September 30. Tree data collected on the 1/10th acre plots and the Down Woody Material Transects may take place at any time. The Contractor shall maintain progress at a rate that shall assure completion and acceptance of work by January 30 of each contract year period, unless otherwise specified in a work order.

The Contractor may be assessed actual damages, per day, for any work not completed within the time specified by this contract, unless a time extension has been approved by the Contracting Officer. Actual damages include, but are not limited to time and travel spent on the project by Government officials.

ESTABLISHING PLOT LOCATIONS:

1. The COR will provide a list of plot setting locations (latitude and longitude) within 3 weeks of the date of work order. The Contractor shall locate plots using a global positioning system (GPS). Accuracy of the GPS used must be within 5 meters (16 feet). Recurring errors in location of sample plots greater than the acceptable error shall make the survey unsatisfactory and relocation of sample plots and re-measurement shall be required.

The Contractor shall locate, on the ground, the sample setting locations using a GPS and coordinates provided (Latitude and Longitude), and mark plot centers with ½ inch rebar markers (12 to 24 inches long) driven into the ground so that will stay in place and flagging attached with the plot number. The plot center shall be hardened by nailing a small metal tag identifying the plot center number at the base of the two healthiest maturing trees (6 to 20 inches dbh) closest to the plot center, then spray painting the trees with white cross lines 6-8 feet above the ground. The cross lines shall be aligned with (point at) the plot center.

2. The Contractor shall take two high resolution (5 million pixels or higher) color digital images of the plot location of the plot rebar point 15 paces away from and along the 162 degree line. Images should be sufficient to capture general ground cover and woody structural characteristics (see attached image example). The image shall contain an 8 ½ X 11 inch poster with the plot number clearly labeled and readable at the plot center within the photograph. The Contractor shall make the images available electronically on CD or DVD upon submittal of blocks for payment, with all image file names accurately referenced to sampling plot numbers.

These two images are required for both new and resampled plot settings regardless of data type collected.

3. A standard complete plot setting shall consist of (see Exhibits):

A) One 1/10th acre plot with its SE corner on the plot center and

B) Ten square quadrats covering 0.5 meters square (19.6 inches square) of ground placed twenty five feet apart along each of five radial lines for a total of fifty quadrats. The five radial lines will be two hundred and fifty feet long and will occur at 18, 90, 162, 234 and 306 degrees from plot center and

C) One Brown’s Fuel Transect starting at 45 degrees from plot center and fifty feet long.

Each radial line shall be measured with a standard 300 foot tape commencing from the plot center rebar. The tape shall be positioned as close to the ground as possible taking care to place the tape under overarching vegetation, limbs, etc and stretched firmly when setting quadrat flags. The tape shall be weighted down when crossing dips, ravines, concave depressions to keep the distance between quadrat sampling flags as close to on-the-ground 25 foot intervals as possible.

4. To facilitate inspection, the Contractor shall mark all plot centers with pink flagging or a pink wire flag. This flagging or flag will have the plot number written on it with permanent “magic marker”. Upon inspection, the ½ inch rebar markers shall be used as plot center. The end of each radial line shall be marked with a pink wire flag with the line number written on the flag. The Contractor can remove and retain the pink flags upon completion of work submitted for payment.

DATA RECORDING INSTRUCTIONS

Vegetation data in ¼ meter quadrats will be recorded to either a personal data recorder and/or paper field data sheets and entered into the ExamsPC software in an office setting. This is done to 1) better facilitate identification of unknown species and 2) to help with performance issues of the software when using the vegetation species list. The PDR software used for data entry must be the ExamPC software designed for collecting common stand exam data. A ‘.CSE’ file with the Mark Twain National Forest’s CSE protocols must be obtained from the Forest. ExamsPC and documentation can be downloaded from the internet at: http://www.fs.fed.us/emc/nris/products/fsveg/index.shtml#software, or obtained from the Forest, and loaded onto any PDRs used for data collection prior to starting the contract. The Web site has a list of Data Recorders that the software will work on.

Plot coordinates must be downloaded from a GPS directly into the CSE file on the PDR.

DATA COLLECTION SPECIFICATIONS

Specific protocols for the collection of data follow. There are three parts to the data collection in this inventory. The examination level is considered “1321”. This indicates “quick plots” for the tree data, “extensive plots” for all species for vegetation composition data, and Brown’s transects are installed for the collection of dead & down woody material for fuels data.

The “Setting” is the data collection area and includes 1 tree data plot, 1 Browns transect, 50 ¼ meter quadrats and two high resolution photographs. See Exhibit 2, Setting Layout Diagram which is described as follows:

1. Plot 1 of the Setting includes 1 tree data plot, 1 Browns transect and 1 quadrat on radial arm 1 (18 degrees) 25 feet from plot center.

2. Plots 2-10 are on radial arm 1 (18 degrees) and start 25 feet after plot 1 quadrat and then spaced 25 feet apart.

3. Plots 11-20 are on radial arm 2 (90 degrees) and start 25 feet from plot center and spaced 25 feet apart.

4. Plots 21-30 are on radial arm 3 (162 degrees) and laid out the same as plots 11-20.

5. Plots 31-40 are on radial arm 4 (234 degrees) and laid out the same as plots 11-20.

6. Plots 41-50 are on radial arm 5 (306 degrees) and laid out the same as plots 11-20.

SETTING DATA

Fields that must be completed on the setting form are illustrated in following figure.

These fields include:

User Defined Code (leave blank)

Many of these fields populate automatically using the above defaults. Only a few actually have to be completed by the examiner. Existing Cover type, Aspect, Slope Percent and Slope Position are observed and recorded from plot center. The Contractor shall record any obvious recent disturbances within the immediate Setting area in the setting remarks. Recent disturbances include, but are not limited to, fire, windstorm, oak decline, grazing, timber harvest, etc. Setting locations are predetermined and will be available at the first pre-work meeting.

PLOT DATA

Plot 1 for each Setting, will include Latitude, Longitude, Aspect (ASP), Slope Percent (Slp%), Slope Position (SP), and Existing Tree Cover (ExistVeg) as shown:

Latitude and Longitude is downloaded directly from a GPS. Aspect, Slope Percent, Slope Position and Existing Cover type are observed and recorded from plot center and should be that same as the Setting data recorded.

The above fields for Plots 2-50 of each Setting will be left blank. When all data is collected and the Setting is completed, the plot sample design will be edited to show that Plot one is the only plot where TREE, VEG, SFC and DWDY data is collected. All other plots will show only VEG and SFC.

Tree Data & Sample Design All tree data are collected on a 1/10th acre fixed area plot (66 feet by 66 feet square).

Tree data will include “Tree Status” (T). This will either be “L” for live or “D” for dead. “Tree Class” (Cls) is collected from the drop down list. “Species” is collected using the USDA species codes in a drop down list. “Tree Count” (TCnt) is collected as the number of trees a particular record represents. “DBH” (#DBH|DRC) is collected for overstory and pole trees, estimated in two inch diameter classes (a 5 inch tree would be recorded as 6”, a 7.5 inch tree would be recorded as 8” and so on). Tree “heights” (#Hgt) are estimated to the nearest foot in all cases. “Crown Class” (#CC) is selected from the drop down list. “Wildlife Use” (WU) is either blank or selected from the pull down list. “Log|Snag Decay” (#LS) field must be filled in for dead trees by using the drop down list. No “damage” (D) codes are recorded. “Remarks” regarding each tree is optional.

Only live seedling trees are recorded, so their “Tree Status” will always be “L”. Seedlings are less than 1 inch in diameter. A diameter of .5 shall be recorded for seedling trees.

Vegetation Cover Data for ¼ meter quadrats At each Setting, vegetation data will be collected on 50, 1/4 meter square (19.6 inches square) quadrats. Five radial line transects will be surveyed with each transect having ten quadrats spaced twenty five feet apart. The first quadrat of each radial line will be twenty five feet from plot center. Each quadrat shall be centered on the radial line so that the 25 foot mark is in the center of the quadrat and the quadrat frame parallel to the radial line. If the quadrat location flag intercepts a large tree trunk, the sampling quadrat shall be repositioned along the radial line closest from the center of the tree (to be explained at prework conference meeting). All vascular plant species rooted or vining within each of ten quadrats will be recorded. The five radial lines will occur at 18, 90, 162, 234 and 306 degrees (see attached Setting diagram) from plot center. Numbering of quadrats will start at one using the 1st transect from north and be twenty five feet from plot center. The 18 degree transect will have quadrats 1-10; the 90 degree transect will have quadrats 11-20, etc.

This is essentially a “presence/absence” survey. Species need be recorded only once, regardless of how many times it occurs within the quadrat. The contractor shall provide at least two people to collect the data. Two people can readily reduce the time needed to identify, call out and record plant data, and assure the location/presence of all species within the quadrat. The lead botanist for the work can readily test species concepts and identify individual identification problems or name confusions as it transpires.

The Contractor shall identify and use the codes used in the National Plants Database used by USDA (see: http://plants.usda.gov/checklist.html ).All vascular plant species (inclusive of live vegetative material) will be identified to genus, species and variety where applicable. This step is important to record the correct plant database codes listed on the above website. Contractor shall collect any unknown plant species for later identification and assign each a reference number using Setting and quadrat numbers to ensure correct plot locations. The contractor shall number and label each unknown species and submit to the lead botanist (MTNF Botanist) only after exhausting identification attempts using various references and/or consulting with other expert botanists. The lead botanist will assist the Contractor in proper cross-referencing of species identified in technical guides (Steyermark 1963; Yatskievych and Turner 1990; Yatskievych 1999 and 2006). Identifications shall be fed back to the field crew within 7 working days to allow for improvements in plant identification as the sampling progresses.

Data will be input into the Vegetation Composition, Cover by Species form only. The objective is to record the presence of the species on each quadrat. “Lifeform” (LF) will be recorded for each species observed as indicated in the species list in Exhibit 1. The “Species” Code will be recorded next, also as listed in Exhibit 1. Both Lifeform and Species can be selected from drop down menus. “Canopy cover” (Cvr%) is a required field. The contractor will estimate cover of each species to the nearest 5 percent making sure the total for the quadrat does not exceed 100 percent. A percentage of 1% shall be used for species covering less than 5%. If identification is questionable and a sample is collected, this should be noted in the remarks. Otherwise, the “User Field” and “Remarks” field will be left blank.

Down Woody Material Data Fuels data is collected and recorded on Plot 1 only. The Brown’s transect originates at the plot center and is oriented at 45 degrees. The transect is 50 feet long. Duff layer depth is measured at one and six foot marks along the transect. Fuel Depth is measured at five, twenty five and fifty foot marks along the transect. One-hour fuels (.01 to .24 inch in diameter) and 10-hour fuels (.25 to .99 inch in diameter) are recorded on the first six feet of the transect. One hundred-hour fuels (1 to 2.99 inches in diameter) are recorded on the first twelve feet of the transect. One-thousand hour fuels (3+” diameter) are recorded over the entire fifty foot transect. Diameters are measured, on 1000-hr fuels, where the fuel intersects the transect.

Data will be collected strictly according to the protocols in the Mark Twain NF Browns Field Guide (Exhibit 3). For specifics on down woody material data collection in relation to this contract, please reference this field guide.

Format Data is to be provided The Contractor shall provide data to the Government in the file format created by the ExamsPC software (*.cse). Due to the amount of data collected, a separate file should be created for each Setting. No adjustments will be made due to personnel or program errors that result in data errors or loss of data. The Contractor shall maintain two copies each of the completed data records for each plot to assure redundancy and minimize possible loss of the data.

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