Attachment_1_-_Dry_Fork_eDNA_SOW.pdf
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- Attached to
- DRY FORK BLACKFOOT EDNA SAMPLING
- Solicitation number
- 140L3626Q0043
About this file
This is a Statement of Work (SOW) for environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling in the Dry Fork Basin of Montana's Blackfoot River watershed, developed collaboratively by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Missoula Field Office, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MTFWP), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and U.S. Forest Service (USFS). The primary objective is to survey approximately 80 locations across more than 25 stream miles—including Dry Fork, Cabin Creek, Dwight Creek, Canyon Creek, Conger Creek, and unnamed drainages—to detect the presence of bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout eDNA. This information will support the project partners' efforts to increase bull trout distribution and abundance by introducing translocated populations into previously unoccupied habitats above natural barriers. The contractor must secure pack horse assistance as needed, conduct sampling during low-water conditions (July 15 to November 1), and deliver eDNA samples immediately upon completion to the BLM Missoula office. The period of performance extends from contract award through September 30, 2027.
The contractor's responsibilities include collecting samples from remote, backcountry locations accessible only by foot or horseback in the Scapegoat Wilderness Area near Ovando, Montana. The BLM provides 100 eDNA sample kits, sample envelopes, and optionally a Geotech pump with battery and lithium generator for field use. The contractor must record detailed information on trail conditions, intermittent stream reaches, dry sampling locations, fish barriers, and other pertinent observations in a brief summary report submitted via email to pfscarr@blm.gov. All collected samples and government-furnished property must be returned immediately after field work completion. No security requirements are associated with this contract. The eDNA Sampling Information Packet includes a project map with 79 precisely georeferenced sampling locations (provided in Table 1 with coordinates), field collection protocols, and guidance on contamination avoidance procedures using standard filter-based sampling methodology.
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Dry Fork Blackfoot eDNA Sampling
STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)
1.0 Background
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Missoula Field Of�ice developed a collaborative project with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MTFWP), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and U.S.
Forest Service (USFS) to increase the distribution and abundance of bull trout in the Blackfoot River basin. The focus of this project is to introduce translocated bull trout into previously unoccupied habitats above natural barriers. To better understand bull trout distribution and potential donor population sources in the watershed, the BLM would like to survey the Dry Fork of the North Fork of the Blackfoot River (Dry Fork) for bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout environmental DNA (eDNA). Dry Fork, near Ovando, MT, is a remote, relatively large basin in the Scapegoat Wilderness Area and bull trout distribution and presence there is largely unknown. This will provide project partners with information required to make informed decisions associated with the project going forward.
2.0 Scope
The BLM and project partners require the retrieval of eDNA samples from the Dry Fork Basin. Dry Fork is accessed via 6-mile hike from the Hobnail Tom Trailhead. Targeted streams include Dry Fork, Cabin Cr, Dwight Cr, Canyon Cr, Conger Cr, and several unnamed drainages covering more than 25 stream miles.
3.0 Objectives
The goal of this contract is to have approximately 80 locations sampled for eDNA in the Dry Fork Basin. The Dry Fork Basis is remote, only accessed by foot or horseback, and may require the assistance of packstock. The results of this effort will provide important �ish distribution information in this remote section of the Blackfoot River watershed.
4.0 Tasks
The contractor will be responsible for securing any pack horse assistance needed prior to initiation of �ield work. During the period of performance, eDNA should be collected during relatively low-water conditions (i.e. July 15th to November 1st). The contractor is responsible for returning any government furnished property, including collected samples, immediately after completion of �ield work. The contractor is also required to provide a brief summary report detailing trail conditions encountered, intermittent stream reaches, dry sampling locations, �ish barriers, and any other pertinent information. The BLM will have the samples processed as a separate action from this contract.
5.0 Delivery
The contractor shall deliver eDNA samples immediately upon completion to:
Bureau of Land Management c/o Paul Scarr 3255 Fort Missoula Rd Missoula, MT 59804
The report can be emailed to pfscarr@blm.gov at a later date within the period of performance.
6.0 Government-Furnished Property
mailto:pfscarr@blm.gov
• If necessary, BLM can provide a Geotech pump and battery for eDNA collection.
• 100 eDNA sample kits and sample envelopes.
• If necessary, BLM can provide a lithium generator to charge batteries in the backcountry.
7.0 Security
There are no security requirements related to this contract.
8.0 Place of Performance
The place of performance is in the Dry Fork basin, near Ovando, MT. The downstream end of the project area is 6 miles by trail from the Hobnail Tom Trailhead. Completion of the summary report will be completed at the contractor’s facility.
9.0 Period of Performance
The period of performance is from when the contract is awarded until September 30th, 2027.
Dry Fork Blackfoot eDNA Sampling
Information Packet Table of Contents
Page
2……………. Background and Important Information
3……………. Project Map
4……………. Sampling locations
7……………. eDNA sampling protocol
Background and Important Information
• eDNA sampling should be completed during relatively low-water conditions (i.e. July 15th to November 1st). This will ensure greater accuracy in eDNA results.
• BLM can provide a Geotech Geopump if necessary. The pump plus battery weighs 10- 15lbs. We only have one battery, so another battery should be acquired by the contractor or BLM can provide a portable lithium generator (approx. 50lbs) to charge batteries in the backcountry.
• There is a backcountry Forest Service cabin (North Fork Cabin) located near the mouth of Dry Fork. This cabin can likely be used for food and gear storage for logistical purposes. The contractor can likely utilize the cabin facilities (kitchen, bunk beds, etc) if needed. BLM will coordinate with Seeley Ranger District to determine availability.
However, because this cabin is at the mouth of the Dry Fork, it likely will not be a huge benefit as base camp.
• BLM will provide 100 eDNA sampling kits. These kits are not heavy but they are bulky.
Please retain and return all plastic parts from the kits because they are sterilized and reused.
• Most of the sampling locations are accessible by trail and/or short bushwhack. The basin was surveyed by a BLM fisheries technician in 2025 to discern what trails were passable, locations of fish barriers, sightings of fish, etc. This report can be shared to provide contractors with recent status of trail conditions in the project area. Most of the sampling locations for this project was accessed during this effort, but the upper sampling extents of each stream are just past where the BLM fish tech made it to, so there may be relatively longer bushwhacks required to reach these locations.
• We anticipate that many sampling locations will be dry, especially in the mainstem Dry Fork. Please record which sites were dry at the time of sampling. If there is surface water present upstream or downstream within 300m of the provided locations, please take a sample there with the same site ID and accurately record the alternate Lat/Long information.
• The project area is in grizzly bear country. Please have available measures to properly hang or store food and carry bear spray.
• The contractor is responsible for acquiring and coordinating any pack help required.
There are outfitting businesses based in nearby Seeley Lake, Holland Lake, and Ovando, MT.
• There are a total of 79 sampling locations. A georeferenced pdf can be provided for use with Avenza or other compatible GPS/GIS products.
• Please fill out the envelope provided with required information and use the site IDs provided within Table 1 of this document.
Table 1. Sampling Locations-
Site_ID Stream Name Longitude Latitude UTM_Zone UTM_X UTM_Y 2460-1 Canyon Creek -113.01435 47.19524 12 347419 5228827 2490-1 Conger Creek -113.015245 47.19643 12 347355 5228962 2469-2 Canyon Creek -113.005651 47.20206 12 348098 5229569 2587-1 Conger Creek -113.025925 47.1997 12 346556 5229346 2594-1 -113.024688 47.20032 12 346651 5229412 2469-1 Canyon Creek -112.995831 47.20485 12 348850 5229860 2524-1 -112.939781 47.21491 12 353122 5230870 2496-1 Canyon Creek -112.984272 47.21055 12 349741 5230471 2587-2 Conger Creek -113.033362 47.20599 12 346011 5230059 2517-2 Canyon Creek -112.979838 47.21282 12 350083 5230714 2539-1 -112.942873 47.21771 12 352896 5231188 2594-2 -113.021833 47.20831 12 346890 5230294
2529-1 Dry Fork North Fork Blackfoot River -112.942252 47.21891 12 352946 5231320
2551-1 -112.943449 47.22091 12 352861 5231544 2587-3 Conger Creek -113.045029 47.20964 12 345138 5230488 2587-4 Conger Creek -113.057607 47.20902 12 344183 5230445 2517-1 Canyon Creek -112.973689 47.2201 12 350569 5231512 2579-1 -112.939825 47.22546 12 353148 5232043
2562-1 Dry Fork North Fork Blackfoot River -112.949905 47.2257 12 352385 5232089
2577-1 Cabin Creek -112.94819 47.22634 12 352517 5232156 2545-2 Canyon Creek -112.968696 47.22454 12 350960 5231995 2639-1 Cabin Creek -112.948824 47.23241 12 352486 5232833
2605-1 Dry Fork North Fork Blackfoot River -112.955169 47.23217 12 352005 5232818
2545-1 Canyon Creek -112.970626 47.23297 12 350837 5232936 2596-2 -112.984544 47.23163 12 349780 5232814 2591-1 Canyon Creek -112.968551 47.23651 12 351004 5233325
2629-1 Dry Fork North Fork Blackfoot River -112.967904 47.23748 12 351056 5233432
2639-2 Cabin Creek -112.944518 47.24053 12 352834 5233726 2608-2 -112.916883 47.247 12 354943 5234393 2639-3 Cabin Creek -112.936303 47.24667 12 353473 5234393
2646-1 Dry Fork North Fork Blackfoot River -112.97405 47.24402 12 350609 5234171
2608-1 -112.925145 47.25211 12 354332 5234977 2640-1 -112.966433 47.24775 12 351196 5234570 2649-1 Cabin Creek -112.926221 47.25307 12 354253 5235086 2644-1 -112.971639 47.24757 12 350802 5234560
2659-1 Dry Fork North Fork Blackfoot River -112.973953 47.24823 12 350628 5234638
2652-1 Cabin Creek -112.922681 47.25521 12 354527 5235316 2662-1 Cabin Creek -112.921222 47.2568 12 354642 5235491 2672-1 -112.908565 47.25928 12 355606 5235742
2694-1 Dry Fork North Fork Blackfoot River -112.979867 47.25092 12 350188 5234948
2660-1 -112.918471 47.25962 12 354858 5235799 2688-1 Cabin Creek -112.919345 47.26043 12 354794 5235890 2603-1 -113.036064 47.24662 12 345924 5234580 2606-1 -113.052972 47.24483 12 344639 5234415 2681-1 Dwight Creek -113.036986 47.24711 12 345855 5234636 2671-1 Dwight Creek -113.054163 47.24546 12 344551 5234487 2680-1 Dwight Creek -113.047681 47.24681 12 345045 5234624 2700-1 -113.04739 47.24765 12 345070 5234717
2694-2 Dry Fork North Fork Blackfoot River -112.985688 47.25724 12 349766 5235662
2695-1 Cabin Creek -112.916662 47.26735 12 355016 5236654 2678-2 Dwight Creek -113.022357 47.25442 12 346983 5235419 2678-1 Dwight Creek -113.009781 47.25652 12 347941 5235628 2690-1 Dwight Creek -112.991804 47.26023 12 349312 5236006 2723-1 Cabin Creek -112.913785 47.27028 12 355241 5236975 2720-1 -112.915667 47.27018 12 355099 5236968
2701-1 Dry Fork North Fork Blackfoot River -112.991436 47.26136 12 349343 5236131
2724-1 -113.001059 47.2648 12 348624 5236532
2763-1 Dry Fork North Fork Blackfoot River -113.002496 47.26471 12 348515 5236525
2735-1 Cabin Creek -112.905255 47.27681 12 355904 5237685 2731-1 -113.002284 47.26536 12 348533 5236597 2738-1 Cabin Creek -112.900407 47.28182 12 356284 5238232 2745-1 Cabin Creek -112.898897 47.28362 12 356404 5238430
2763-2 Dry Fork North Fork Blackfoot River -113.008789 47.27206 12 348060 5237354
2756-1 Cabin Creek -112.896435 47.28671 12 356598 5238768 2757-1 Cabin Creek -112.892706 47.28988 12 356889 5239114 2781-1 Cabin Creek -112.891641 47.29064 12 356971 5239196
2769-1 Dry Fork North Fork Blackfoot River -112.996014 47.28036 12 349050 5238252
2765-1 -112.988082 47.28309 12 349658 5238539
2777-1 Dry Fork North Fork Blackfoot River -112.986859 47.28568 12 349758 5238824
2779-1 Dry Fork North Fork Blackfoot River -112.983349 47.28646 12 350025 5238904
2776-1 -112.978304 47.2878 12 350411 5239044
2776-2 -112.965901 47.28941 12 351353 5239199 2796-1 -112.984251 47.28747 12 349960 5239019
2790-1 Dry Fork North Fork Blackfoot River -112.978882 47.2887 12 350369 5239145
2791-1 Cabin Creek -112.883494 47.30142 12 357616 5240380
2801-1 Dry Fork North Fork Blackfoot River -112.976061 47.29468 12 350600 5239804
2836-1 Dry Fork North Fork Blackfoot River -112.970658 47.30162 12 351028 5240565
2836-2 Dry Fork North Fork Blackfoot River -112.964493 47.30906 12 351514 5241380
9999-9 -112.94896 47.20801 12 352427 5230161 eDNA Sampling Protocol- (K. Carim et al. 2016)
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