Attachment 1_Statement Of Work.pdf

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Statement of Work

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

10.0 Section 508 – Electronic and Information Technology Standards

Attachment

Project Rare Plant Monitoring

General Information

1.0 Scope of Work

Provide a brief statement of the overall project, including goals and objectives.

Applications from professional botanists are sought to perform rare plant monitoring surveys within the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF) in Vermont. The primary objective of the Botanist is to relocate and evaluate rare plant occurrences (including Regional Forester Sensitive Species-RFSS) not surveyed for 5 or more years. Top priority will be given to RFSS and plants having the rarest state-ranking in Vermont.

2.0 Background

Provide a general description of the requirement, describing the acquisition history (if applicable), the current environment, and the vision of the future of the requirement. If information technology is a factor, provide pertinent technical facts.

Our goal for rare plants is to prevent a trend toward federal listing or loss of viability on the National Forest. We achieve this by monitoring rare plant sites at designated intervals to comply with the Forest Service Manual (fsm) mandate to protect rare species (fsm 2670.22 - Sensitive Species).

The botany program at GMNF monitors terrestrial rare plants every 5 years, and aquatic rare plants every 10 years.

We are seeking Botanists to survey a backlog of rare terrestrial plants that have not been monitored in 5 or more years.

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

Describe the specific tasks or work the contractor must perform. Provide direction on any specific methodologies.

Contractors must have the educational background and professional experience needed to accurately identify rare plants in Vermont, as well as the ability to electronically map and document field results. Comprehensive botanical surveys require taxonomic expertise of RFSS, VT-state ranked rare plants, knowledge of habitat requirements, and the ability to identify threats such as non-native invasive species (NNIP). Contractors must also possess the physical fitness and stamina necessary to safely perform potentially arduous field work, as well as the ability to independently foresee and implement safety measures while conducting field work.

Under this contract, Botanists perform the following tasks:

• Use global positioning technology (GPS) to physically navigate to rare plant sites of diverse sizes and topographic complexity within GMNF.

• Plan field surveys at suitable times within the growing season (May-October) such that rare plant populations may be detected when the phenological characters needed for identification are present.

• Electronically record locations of search areas, rare plant locations, and NNIP infestations using GPS/GIS technology that is compatible with ArcGIS Pro.

• Summarize botanical field survey results for at least twenty (20) rare plant sites in documents, maps, photographs, and spatial data as follows:

4.0 Government Furnished

List any government-furnished support, data, property, or facilities. Describe government responsibility for reviewing and approving reports and final products generated under the contract. If the contractor will require access to government facilities, identify the facility location and specific area. Identify any federal holidays or other times when access may be restricted.

GIS coordinates, shapefiles, and maps showing locations of rare plant sites, a current GMNF RFSS list, and copies of the most recent field surveys will be provided. The Forest Botanist will review rare plant monitoring survey reports for accurate species identification and thorough evaluation of habitat conditions.

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule

• The period of performance under this Agreement shall cover one field season, commencing on May 1, 2024, and running through October 15, 2024, during which time at least twenty (20) rare plant sites must be surveyed. Pre-survey planning is necessary to pinpoint phenological times during which rare plants can be reliably identified. If characters essential to recognition are not present at the first survey, more than one field visit may be needed.

Previously unknown rare plant sites and/or new subpopulations of existing populations may be detected and should be documented. New subpopulations (if close to the original plant population) can be lumped as one site.

Disjunct populations should be recorded on one rare plant form.

All deliverables shall be prepared and submitted according to the format, content, and schedule described in this SOW.

Contractors are urged to submit data on a running basis throughout the field season (instead of all at once at the end).

For each rare plant site surveyed, a full data package includes the following:

• A Vermont Natural Heritage Inventory (VNHI) form, which includes a diagnostic photograph that clearly shows characters indicative of the rare species. Please refer to VNHI’s most current listing of “Rare and Uncommon Native Vascular Plants of Vermont,” and GMNF’s RFSS list of plants.

• A GMNF form that describes the species, density, and spread potential of NNIP infestations.

• Maps that show exact locations of rare plants and NNIP infestations (if observed) in surveys.

• Spatial data (shape files), and tabular data (GIS coordinates) for rare plants and NNIP.

All deliverables shall be prepared and submitted according to the format, content, and schedule described in the SOW, within the timeframe specified in Exhibit A.

Exhibit A: Key Deliverables

Item No.

Deliverable / Item Title

Description Frequency Reference Delivery Format

Due By

1 Monthly planning meeting

Monthly check-in to discuss any problems encountered and to communicate progress on the contract.

Once per month

Ref. SOO, Page 3, Section 4.2.1, Functional Tasks

Via email exchange with Forest Botanist

The fifth day of each month after contract award

2 Rare Plant Monitoring Survey Results

Data packages for each individual rare plant site surveyed

Periodic data submission & end of season remittance

Ref. SOO, Page 6, Section 5.1.3, Call Order Report Details

Via email to the Forest Botanist

Data on at least twenty (20) rare plant sites must be submitted no later than October 15, 2024.

6.0 Travel

Identify any travel requirements, locations involved, number of trips (if known), and duration of anticipated travel. Specify responsibility for travel reimbursement, e.g., the contractor or the Government. If the travel will be reimbursed by the Government, discuss the method of reimbursement, e.g., in accordance with Federal/agency travel regulations. State the Government official authorized to approve contractor travel, e.g., the Contracting Officer or Contracting Officer Representative.

Travel expenses are included in the daily rate of payment for services; hence mileage records are not required.

Contractors are responsible for their own safe transportation to and from field sites.

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

Describe positions which are considered key to successful performance of the contract and the information required to support key personnel qualifications, e.g., experience which correlates to SOW requirements, education, and past performance on similar projects. Specify if resumes are required and provide resume format if appropriate.

GMNF anticipates that contractors will perform work independently.

8.0 Security Requirements

Specify security requirements that apply to the contract performance. Specify the level of clearances required and identify positions that are applicable.

Rare plant monitoring survey findings are shared only between the contractor and the Forest Botanist. Giving information about rare plant locations to anyone outside of the GMNF is prohibited.

9.0 Data Rights

If data is to be produced, furnished, acquired, or used in meeting contract requirements, delineate the respective rights and obligations of the government and the contractor regarding the use, production, and disclosure of that data.

Ownership of all data and materials collected under this Agreement shall remain with the contractor and GMNF.

10.0 Section 508 – Electronic and Information Technology Standards When information technology is to be acquired, include language describing Section 508 requirements.

Ownership of all data and materials collected under this Agreement shall remain with the contractor (s) and GMNF.

Attachment If applicable, include an Attachment stating Evaluation Factors and significant Subfactors representing the key areas of importance and emphasis to be considered in the source selection decision.