Attach 1 SOW Statement of Work Scientific Writing Support.pdf

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Statement of Work

September 3, 2025

Contents Project General Information

1.0 Scope of Work

2.0 Background

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

4.0 Government Furnished

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule

6.0 Travel

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

8.0 Security Requirements

9.0 Data Rights

Attachment

Project Scientific Writer Support Services for IITF

General Information

1.0 Scope of Work

Scientific writing of hurricane recovery science and project deliveries at the USDA.

Strengthening the USDA FS IITF communication and science delivery capacities to better serve the public, forest managers, USDA Agencies and their clients in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The purpose of this work is to provide services in all aspects of scientific writing to support the development of hurricane recovery, briefings and educational material for the USDA FS IITF. Disaster Recovery: Research related activities support critical Forest Service programs such as Fire (Fire Science), Timber (Forest products, wood utilization, engineering, and Forest Inventory and Trend Analysis), which align with Executive Orders such as: 14223 and 14225.

The contractor will work on: 1) Developing concepts, and text for product reports, brochures, blogs and general outreach products, 2) Providing advice with regards to communication strategies of scientific concepts within the agency, congress and the general public, and 3) Delivering text that translate scientific and technical findings to a general audience.

2.0 Background

The Institute is a unit of the Forest Service within the US Department of Agriculture. The Institute includes representation and functions within the Forest Service Deputy Areas of Research and Development, State Private & Tribal Forestry, International Cooperation and Business Operations. Institute personnel include scientists, technicians, program managers, and administrative personnel. Members of the broader Institute community span a wide range of knowledge and skills, including natural and social scientists, natural resource managers, education outreach and technology transfer specialists, technicians, as well as contracted professionals, students, and volunteers. Together these people engage with collaborators from the public, private, and non-profit sectors, in order to implement programs and carry out the Institute mission.

The influence of the Institute stretches throughout Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, to people and organizations across the United States, and internationally to people and organizations in Latin America and around the globe. Institute science integrates long-term scientific studies with applied investigation, quantitative modeling, and landscape analysis to better understand tropical forest systems and the effects of human-induced pressures, predict future scenarios, devise effective management and governance strategies, and promote sustainable natural resources stewardship.

The Institute Headquarters has 50,000 square feet of modern, state-of-the-art facilities that are secure, functional, accessible, and that service the scientific community of the Institute and its collaborators. The Headquarters complex houses the Institute’s Headquarters building, a Forest Service National Library, a chemistry laboratory, a Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing Laboratory, a technology transfer conference center, and a multipurpose building that houses a dormitory, a gym, general storage area, office space, and lunch area.

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

• Develop monthly briefings on relevant scientific technical findings for the research work unit.

• Provide text for an accomplishment report highlighting scientific findings and capacity of IITF.

• Development science translation blogs, articles, research highlights, and communications related to hurricane recovery projects for USDA and Forest Service outlets.

• Regular meeting to discuss progress and editions of the tasks.

• Consolidate evidence, photos, materials of hurricane recovery projects with communications staff.

• Develop bimonthly reports for the Forest Service American Relief Act 60-day Congressional Report

4.0 Government Furnished

The Contractor will work directly with the Institute staff headquartered at the US Forest Service International Institute of Tropical Forestry. Products and information generated will be products of the USFS International Institute of Tropical Forestry and recognize the support of all partners that contribute to the tasks. Products will be developed by the contractor working in collaboration with Dr. Grizelle González (US Forest Service) and the IITF Staff. All products will be delivered to Dr. González at IITF. The Institute will provide the contractor as the office space needed, access to drive (with appropriate training) official Forest Service vehicles, and any supplies needed to complete the project. The contractor will provide quarterly progress reports.

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule

• Quarterly progress report: The contractor is required to provide written progress reports quarterly. The progress report shall cover all work completed during the specified period and shall present the work to be accomplished during the subsequent period. This report shall also identify any problems that arose and a statement explaining how the problem was resolved. This report shall also identify any problems that have arisen but have not been completely resolved and provide an explanation.

Key Deliverables

Item No.

Deliverable / Item Title

Description Frequency Reference Delivery Format

Due By

1 Quarterly progress report

Quarterly report documenting tasks and issues identified

Every 3 months

Contractor requirements

Via email to COR

The 5th day of each quarter after contract award

2 Monthly Briefings/Scientific Writer services to

IITF

-Develop monthly briefings on relevant scientific technical findings for the research work unit.

-Development science translation blogs, articles, research highlights, and communications related to hurricane recovery projects for USDA and Forest Service outlets.

-Regular meeting to discuss progress and editions of the tasks.

-Consolidate evidence, photos, materials of hurricane recovery projects with communications staff.

Monthly Contractor requirements

Via email to COR

The last day of each month

3 IITF

Accomplishment Report

Provide text for an accomplishment report highlighting scientific findings and capacity of IITF.

Once a year

Contractor requirements

Via email to COR

January 31st, 2026

4 Reports for the Forest Service American Relief Act 60-day Congressional Report

Develop bimonthly reports for the Forest Service American Relief Act 60-day Congressional Report

Bimonthly Contractor requirements

Via email to COR

Every two months

6.0 Travel

N/A

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

The contractor will have specialized skills in scientific writing, communications, and branding. The contractor will have fluency in English and Spanish, excellent writing skills, and at least 5 years of experience working with public affairs knowledge, science writing, and advertising. The contractor will have experience working successfully in a team environment. The contractor will have at least 2 years’ experience with public relations and outreach campaigns and a Masters degree.

8.0 Security Requirements

N/A

9.0 Data Rights

Products and information generated will be products of the USFS International Institute of Tropical Forestry and recognize the support of all partners that contribute to the tasks. Products will be developed by the contractor working in collaboration with Dr. Grizelle González (US Forest Service) and the research team in the IITF R&D Unit. All products will be delivered to Dr. González at IITF.

Attachment Evaluation Factors