Attachment 1 - SOW.pdf

Statement of Work

U.S Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Grand Junction Field Office

DeBeque phacelia Biological Surveys

February 01, 2021

Atwell Gulch and Ashmead Draw

Grand Junction Field Office

COR: Hillary Boyd

PI: Anna Lincoln

BACKGROUND

Grand Junction Field Office (GJFO) designated the Atwell Gulch Area of Critical Environmental

Concern (ACEC) for the protection of federally listed and sensitive plants in the 2015 Grand

Junction Field Office Resource Management Plan (RMP). Recent DeBeque phacelia habitat modeling has identified suitable habitat within the ACEC, and Ashmead Draw. The Fish &

Wildlife Service (FWS) listed DeBeque phacelia as a threatened species under a final rule published on July 27, 2011 (76 FR 45054). Critical habitat for the species was designated on

August 13, 2012 (77 FR 48367). Federal threatened and endangered species and designated critical habitat crucial to species viability are managed by the FWS in cooperation with other federal agencies to support recovery. The survey areas are either within or near Designated Critical Habitat for the DeBeque phacelia. BLM land management practices are intended to sustain and promote species that are legally protected by the Endangered Species Act. This biological survey will help the GJFO protect the federally listed species by conducting surveys in suitable habitat and determining presence. These surveys are needed to properly manage public lands and to comply with the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Proposed Project:

The Grand Junction Field Office FY 2021 DeBeque phacelia Biological Survey Project is a survey of suitable habitat, that involves ground truthing modeled habitat, and mapping suitable habitat. The Atwell Gulch ACEC and Ashmead Draw areas are located off of 45 ½ Rd, east of I-

70, between the towns of Palisade and DeBeque. The general legal locations are: Ute Meridian

T. 9S, R. 96W, Sections 28, 31, 32, 33; T. 10S, R. 96W, Section 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 17, 18; T. 9S, R.

97W, Sections 2, 11, 14, 15, 23, 24, 26. (Attachment 1)

Access: The survey area is accessible by I-70 and the 45 ½ Road (DeBeque Cutoff road) This route is a paved county road. Access to Atwell Gulch is limited to one route off 45 ½ Rd, that is limited to Administrative Access. Road access to Ashmead Draw is limited and can be gained from the east via the Sunnyside Road (V Rd). Access through private land has not been preapproved and is dependent upon permission from private landowners. A four-wheel drive with high clearance is recommended for access off the Sunnyside Rd and the single route within the ACEC. Travel on dirt roads in these areas during or immediately after rain showers is not recommended. Few roads exist within the project area, and in many areas, access will be limited to foot travel. Surveys will identify and map Special Status Species resources in the survey polygons.

The biologic resource survey will be between 300 to 2000 acres in the Atwell Gulch ACEC and

Ashmead Draw areas of the GJFO. The surveys will cover mapped, and unmapped suitable habitat. All survey areas may not be contiguous. The final project design will be dependent on the cost per acre provided by the selected consultant. The BLM is requesting that suitable habitat be surveyed using pedestrian surveys in the project areas and does not require full transects of the entire area.

Prospective contractors should provide per-acre bids for the following acre ranges: 1) 300 to 600 acres, 2) 600 to 1000 acres and 3) 1000 to 2000 acres.

PROCUREMENT DELIVERABLES BY TASK

Task 1: Literature Review/File Search CNHP & BLM Records Review:

The purpose of the records review is to ensure suitable habitat within the project area are mapped, and mapped habitat is visited, (verify status), and to determine the presence of DeBeque phacelia. A records review must be completed prior to beginning fieldwork. The Contractor must contact the BLM Ecologist at least two weeks in advance to schedule the records review and fieldwork.

Task 2: Biologic Survey:

Field Inventory

The Fieldwork Authorization will constitute the Notice to Proceed. While reconnaissance may be completed at any time of year, when snow is not present, to determine if suitable habitat exists, the actual plant survey must be completed during the flowering season to determine presence. Although the typical flowering season for the identified species is April – June, the flowering season is determined by consulting the Colorado Rare Plant Field Guide and examining nearby known populations comparable to the surveyed site. Surveyors shall endeavor to verify that a nearby population is flowering at the time the survey is conducted or make a determination about the suitability of the year for germination.

Suitable habitat will be determined using site visits, aerial photos, soils maps, topographic maps and maps of modeled habitat, known populations and consulting with other specialists familiar with Special Status Species in the area, such as Colorado Natural Heritage Program and Fish and

Wildlife Service (FWS).

The biologic resource survey will cover all mapped and suitable habitat. All survey areas may not be contiguous. The BLM is requesting that habitat be surveyed using pedestrian surveys throughout the projects. DeBeque phacelia (Phacelia submutica) habitat should be mapped and population size should be estimated. To limit habitat disturbance, transects within suitable habitat are not required for surveys for DeBeque phacelia.

Atwell Gulch ACEC and Ashmead Draw are located in sparsely vegetated pinyon-juniper and sagebrush shrublands at an elevation of approximately 5000-6200 feet. Plant species of concern in the survey areas include but are not limited to Colorado hookless cactus (Sclerocactus glaucus/Sclerocactus dawsonii), DeBeque milkvetch (Astragalus debequeaes), Naturita

Milkvetch (Astragalus naturitensis), DeBeque Phacelia (Phacelia submutica), Aromatic Indian

Breadroot (Pediomelum aromaticum), and Adobe thistle (Cirsium perplexans). While the survey is limited to DeBeque phacelia habitat, incidental observations of the forementioned species of concern should be recorded.

All fieldwork and documentation shall be performed to Department of Interior, (DOI) Bureau of

Land Management, FWS, and other applicable professional standards. (Attachment 2)

Documentation must include DeBeque phacelia and completed Colorado Natural Heritage

Program (CNHP) Field Survey Forms for any Special Status Species discovered. Copies of the

CNHP Form are available from the CNHP website.

Intensity and extent of surveys will be determined by suitable habitat. Large areas not surveyed must be mapped as such. The site maps will include areas of disturbance that have altered the sites potential to support rare plant species. Areas of disturbance may include but are not limited to sediment catchments, water developments, off road vehicle activity, previous mechanical disturbance, fire scars, cattle trampling or trailing, or erosion.

TASK 2 DELIVERABLE: Acceptance of a written letter with the results of the Biologic survey. The letter is due to the BLM no later than two weeks after completion of fieldwork or no later than July 17, 2021.

1) Brief description of each site, which will include a list of the Special Status Species recorded, dominant vegetation types, and presence of noxious weeds. A DeBeque phacelia field form should be filled out for each site. If DeBeque phacelia is not found, include an assessment of whether the site is believed to contain the species or potential habitat, and rationale explaining this determination.

2) Copy of a 7.5' topographic map showing the project survey boundary and Special Status

Species locations.

The PI’s review of the letter report and verbal notification of acceptance of the results to the contractor within 10 days of receipt constitutes completion of this item of the contract.

Task 3: Draft Final Report

An electronic copy of a draft Final Report, GPS shapefiles (projection data required) of the recorded Special Status Species, survey routes, and areas (habitat) surveyed, completed DeBeque phacelia field forms, and completed CNHP Field Survey Forms to the BLM for review within six weeks of completing the fieldwork, or no later than

August 14, 2021, whichever comes first. The consultant’s editor is strongly encouraged to review the draft before submission to correct grammatical and factual errors.

The Report will document results. The report must include but is not limited to:

i. Detailed maps of the areas inventoried displaying GPS collected features of: the target species found and unusual or relic plant. Surveyed areas will be identified and characterized by the procedure methods suitable to each location based on habitat potential. Base maps used should be 7-1/2 minute United States Geological Survey (USGS) quadrangles, and aerial photos.

ii. In addition to reporting locations of occurrences, shapefiles of the areas surveyed, surveyors’ tracks and recorded occurrences (points, lines or polygons) will be required. GIS deliverables for recorded occurrences should be divided into 2 shapefiles: Special Status Plants and Weeds (if weeds are recorded). Shapefiles must be ArcMap compatible (provided in coordinate system UTM Zone 13, meters, datum NAD83)

iii. Written descriptions of the areas inventoried, including the plant communities and dominant associated species, any noxious weeds present, soil types and/or geologic formations present. Noxious weeds should be mapped, unless a continuous understory occupies the entire project area, and mapping is not practical.

iv. Photographs of the project area and any Special Status Species or significant natural communities found. Photographs should be geo-referenced.

v. Date(s) of the inventory.

vi. Personnel involved in the inventory.

vii. Methodology employed, including techniques and intensity of the inventory. State the size of the area that was surveyed.

viii. Assessments of the size and health of any special status plant populations found.

ix. A list of references cited, persons contacted, herbaria visited, and the location of any voucher specimens collected.

x. Additional data needs.

xi. Other information as appropriate. If no special status species are found, include an assessment of whether or not the site is believed to contain potential habitat, and rationale explaining this determination. (i.e. At times it is not possible to ascertain whether a specific location comprises potential habitat based on topo maps, soils and vegetation maps or other available data prior to conducting a clearance. If during the site visit it is determined that the area does not constitute potential habitat, because, for instance, the soils are not appropriate for the target species, this should be documented for future reference.).

The BLM will provide a response to the draft Final Report within two weeks of receipt. If substantial editing is required, all documents will be returned with general comments, or tagged corrections. If minimal changes are required, specific corrections will be identified in the response and individual corrected pages may be submitted.

Task 4: Final Report

Delivery of the Final report (hard copy and electronic) and supporting records (Task 3) is required no later than September 3, 2021. BLM will notify the contractor of acceptance of the Final Report and final payment within two weeks which constitutes completion of the contract.

PERSONNEL

The GJFO Ecologist will approve all contractors conducting plant inventories prior to conducting fieldwork.

Submit resumes for every surveyor working on a botanical survey. Resumes should include educational background (colleges and universities attended, and any diplomas and degrees received), botanical survey work history, and any related work experience.

All personnel conducting inventories for special status plants should have strong backgrounds in plant taxonomy and have experience with the local flora. A degree in Botany, Plant Science, or

Plant Ecology, with at least 24 semester hours in botany is recommended. Two field seasons of surveying experience for special status species in the geographic area are also highly recommended. A combination of coursework and appropriate experience may be substituted if it is determined that it meets the requirements. Such qualifications help to ensure that all special status plants and noxious weeds occurring in the area are inventoried, located, and properly identified.

CONTRACTING OFFICER’S REPRESENTATIVE (COR) and INSPECTOR

Anna Lincoln alincoln@blm.gov

Work (970) 244-3019

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Costs of technical report revisions and rewriting based on BLM comments shall be included in the initial proposal for individual statements of work. BLM shall not be billed separately for extra costs incurred by the Contractor due to major or successive technical report revisions.

The Contractor shall not receive final payment for an order until all the deliverables have been accepted by BLM. Costs of technical report revisions and rewriting based on BLM comments, shall be included in the initial proposal for individual statements of work. BLM shall not be billed separately for extra costs incurred by the Contractor due to major technical revisions to the site forms or report.

The following payment schedule shall be used:

TASK 1 & 2: Up on acceptance, 75% of award amount

TASK 3: Up on acceptance, 15% of award amount

TASK 4: Up on acceptance, 10% of award amount