Attachment 1_Statement of Work.pdf

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE - COLORADO

STATEMENT OF WORK

NATIONAL RESOURCES INVENTORY

FEDERAL AND NON-FEDERAL ON-SITE GRAZING LAND DATA

COLLECTION

A. GENERAL

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture is mandated (through the Rural Development Act of 1972, the Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act of 1977, and other supporting legislation) to assess the status, condition, and trends of soil, water, and related resources on the Nation's Non- Federal lands. Resources inventory legislative authorities, NRCS policy, and responsibilities for conducting the National Resources Inventory (NRI) are contained in NRCS General Manual 290, Part 400. Separate authorities govern NRCS completing NRI on Federal lands under agreement with other federal agencies.

B. OBJECTIVE/SCOPE

The objective of this solicitation is to acquire specified inventory data on up to two data points within each of 59 segments (a potential total of 115 points) located in 13 counties on Bureau of Land Management- owned land in Colorado. Similarly, this solicitation is also to acquire specified inventory data on up to two data points within each of 35 segments (a potential total of 90 points) located in 14 counties on privately owned land in Colorado. The above Federal and Non-Federal segments are pertinent to the resulting base contract. Follow on option years may occur across all of Colorado and are not limited to only the counties on the base contract. Data will be collected in accordance with the standards outlined in the 2023 NRCS National Resources Inventory Grazing Land On-Site Data Collection Handbook of Instructions and its supplements, amendments, and appendices (hereafter referred to in this document as the 2023 Handbook, as referenced in Section P. Reference Materials), and elsewhere. Sample segments are often located in remote areas on steep, rugged terrain. Access to segments may require 4-wheel drive vehicles and hiking long distances over rough terrain.

The Government anticipates the award of one firm fixed-priced task order with a base period (FY23 measuring season) and two option periods (FY24 and FY25 measuring seasons) as a result from this solicitation. The number of Federal and Non-Federal segments for the option years are unknown. The number of Non-federal segments is predicted to remain consistent throughout the order period; however, Federal segments are expected to increase.

NRCS policy requires obtaining landowner/operator permission before entering private property. Access to private lands can be an issue in many areas. The Contractor, acting on behalf of NRCS, shall strictly adhere to NRCS policy of securing permissions to access non-federal lands prior to entry onto the land where the point is located. Prior to data collection, contractors shall make reasonable effort, using all publicly available information/sources to obtain ownership information for all assigned points, follow the procedures in the 2023 Handbook, and statement of work for securing and documenting permissions to access non-federal land.

Required data to be collected on non-federal points is detailed in the 2023 Handbook referenced in Section P, and includes:

• Landscape information

• Soil component determinations

• Ecological site assignments

• Pasture condition

• Rangeland health assessments

• Plant identification and census

• Species composition, standing biomass

• Disturbance indicators

• Sagebrush shape and identification

• Identification of resource concerns

• Occurrence of conservation practices and conservation needs

• Plant cover, density, and height

• Other attributes

The Contractor shall enter the data collected into hand-held Trimble computers using NRCS approved software - the Computer Assisted Survey Instrument (CASI). All data is to be collected in accordance with National Resource Inventory Grazing Land On-Site Data Collection Handbook of Instructions (2023), based on ownership status (BLM vs. private-owned). The Handbook provides specific guidance on activities for each ownership category.

C. DEFINITIONS, ROLES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES

a. Contractor The Contractor, its subsidiaries and affiliates, joint ventures involving the Contractor, or any entity with which the Contractor may have merged or any individual or entity that assisted or advised the Contractor in the preparation of its quote under the solicitation resulting in this contract.

b. Contracting Officer (CO) The duly appointed and warranted government NRCS person authorized to enter, administer, or terminate contracts, and make related determinations and findings. The contracting officer is the only person authorized to contractually obligate the government. The contracting officer is responsible for ensuring performance of all necessary actions for effective contracting, ensuring that the requirements of all pertinent laws and regulations have been met, ensuring compliance with the terms of the contract, and safeguarding the interests of the United States in its contractual relationships. The contracting officer ensures that sufficient funds are available for government contractual obligation and ensures that all contractors receive impartial, fair, and equitable treatment in the solicitation process.

c. Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) The Contracting Officer will appoint and delegate in writing limited authority for certain contract- related decisions to an NRCS employee who will serve as the COR. The COR

Appointment Letter details exactly what responsibilities lie within the scope of the COR's authority. The COR will notify the CO of recommendations for technical acceptance or rejection by the Government of all articles and services required to be furnished and/or performed under the contract; will receive, for the Government, all articles and services called for by the contract and will represent the Contracting Officer in the technical phases of the work. The COR monitors the Contractor's performance to ensure compliance with technical requirements of the contract, verifies and certifies that the items have been inspected and meet the requirements of the contract. The COR notifies the CO if performance is not meeting the requirements of the contract.

d. Segment (formerly referenced as PSU) A bounded area of land from 40 to 640 acres in size. Within the segment, sample points are assigned. Certain data elements are collected for the entire segment, while others are collected at the segment points. The size of the segment is based on the shape, size, and complexity of the resources being inventoried. In the Western United States, segments are often 40 or 640-acre square areas; the 40-acre units are used in most irrigated areas, and the larger segments in homogeneous areas containing large tracts of range, forest land, or barren land.

e. Point Refers to a known location contained within a segment boundary line, identified by a pair of coordinates using a commonly defined global coordinate system derived from the official NRI spatial data base, where data is collected. Contractor performance is, in large part, determined by completed inventory data collection competently concluded at the Point.

f. OPGL – Onsite Private Grazing Lands Are non-federal range and pasture lands where assigned segments and points are owned by non-federal entities. These points are subject to securing explicit, documented permission for access prior to commencing data collection activities.

D. CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT

The NRI program is based upon rigorous scientific sample survey protocols. These protocols include maintaining and protecting the integrity and confidentiality of data gathering sites.

USDA and NRCS policy states that: "The geographic locations of data gathering sites used for USDA's NRI are not public information and are to be used only for purposes of official NRI data gathering activities or for such purposes approved by the Secretary". The Contractor's data team leaders and all crew members shall sign a Confidentiality Statement under United States Code (USC), Title 18, Section 1905; USC, Title7, Section 2276 and USC, Title 7, Section 2240 for non-disclosure of confidential information relative to data site locations and/or private/corporate non-use of composite data. All confidentiality statements shall be signed and transmitted to the COR prior to starting data collection. The NRI data that identifies owners, operators, or data collection sites are never to be released to the public.

E. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE AND DELIVERABLES

Attend NRCS sponsored training

Training for the 2023 data collection year must be completed prior to commencing field data collection.

See Section H.

Field Data Collection Field Data collection to commence by May 8, 2023 (or date of award) and completed by September 30, 2023. See Map 1

CASI data transmission Sample segments must be electronically transferred to the Iowa State University (ISU) server no later than 10 days after commencing field data collection at the point. All assigned point data to be transmitted to ISU by 4 PM on September 30, 2023

Digital Camera Images and Equipment returns

Digital Point Images meeting all 2023 Handbook requirements, and all GPE, must be returned to COR or their designee no later than October 6, 2023

Invoices Final Invoice to be submitted by 4PM October 18, Onsite Data Collection Survey Landowner Access Record (non-federal points only)

Documentation confirming landowner permission to access and collect NRI data onsite at assigned points must accompany any invoice requesting payment.

Segment casefiles Segment casefiles and all other GPM must be returned to the COR no later than October 18, 2023

1.1.1 MAP 1. Expected NRI data collection periods across Colorado.

F. DESCRIPTION OF WORK

a. The Contractor shall furnish all personnel, labor, materials, and transportation; and shall perform the work in accordance with the contract specifications, and various NRCS manuals, handbooks, technical releases, and all other releases transmitted by the COR.

Materials to be furnished by the Contractor include:

• (3)150’ flexible tapes with 0.1-inch increments (NRCS may supply these at its option)

• One dozen 12” survey pins

• 2 stretch tapes 25-foot or 11.75-foot length of string for woody plots

• Grass clippers, pruning shears

• Quadrate frames (1.92 sq. ft., 4.8 sq. ft., 9.6 sq. ft.)

• Paper bags for containing and weighing vegetation samples

• Gram scales: 0-100gram x 1.0-gram increment, 0-300-gram x 5.0-gram increment, 0-500-gram x 5.0-gram increment

• 11.5” x 17” Dry-erase board, markers

• Survey pole or pasture stick or some other measuring stick for plant height measurements

(Inches)

• Clinometer, Compass with adjustable “bearing” setting ring

• Digital Camera (8-mega pixel or better) and applicable download software (.jpg)

• Small bottle of 1N or 1M HCl for testing effervescence class

• Tile spade, Soil auger, Spud bar, Cleanout shovel

• pH meter or reagents with spot plate

• Munsell color book

• Inches tape

• 10 Power hand lenses

• Soils knife

• Distilled water for soil stability test

• Pen, pencil, and clipboard for a writing surface

• (15) 2-foot Wire Flags (More as they may get bent)

• Wire flag for doing the point intercept method

• Penetrometer or steel rod for soil compaction detection (pasture condition)

• Soil stability Test Kit

• Stopwatch or chronograph watch (CASI also provides timer-good idea for backup)

• Small spray bottle (atomizer or equivalent with very fine mist)

• Metal diameter tape (metric) with millimeter graduations

• Laptop or desktop computer with the Microsoft™ operating system Windows 2010 with communications hardware and software enabling connection to the internet.

• Internet access to the ISU server for PSU/point data transmission

• All other items required, but not provided for under this contract by the US Government

b. Overview of work to be completed in 2023 Colorado NRI

i. There are 35 non-federal inventory segments in 14 counties in Colorado selected for data collection for 2023. Each segment has one or two sample points upon which data are to be collected. There are 59 segments on land owned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in 13 counties in Colorado. Each segment has one or two points that are eligible for data collection. Each inventory segment can range from approximately 19 acres to approximately 900 acres in size. Sample segments are often located in remote areas on steep, rugged terrain.

ii. Data collection teams should consist of a team leader and one to two crew members.

Team leader and crew members qualifications and experience requirements are outlined in Section G of this Statement of Work.

iii. The Contractor shall enter data into a hand-held Trimble computer loaded with the NRCS computer-assisted survey instrument (CASI) software.

iv. The Contractor shall work with the COR to achieve the transmittal of the data to the server at USDA-NRCS Iowa State University Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology located in Ames, Iowa. Alternatively, the Contractor - at their option -may use NRCS- approved paper data forms to collect the data in the field to enhance data collection efficiency, prior to the Contractor entering the data into the CASI for review and transmission. Paper forms shall be retained and provided to the COR inside a segment casefile when it is returned to the COR following completion of NRI.

v. Assigned BLM and OPGL segments will have one, two or three sample points available per segment. The Contractor shall seek permission to access all assigned BLM segments and OPGL points from the appropriate owners of property, requiring transit to the point, prior to passage or initiating data collection.

vi. Up to two points per segment shall then have data collected at assigned BLM and OPGL locations. OPGL points have additional protocols that are required for data collection – see the 2023 Handbook for guidance.

vii. Colorado contract area NRI USDI-BLM and Onsite Private Grazing Lands (OPGL) workload for FY23 fiscal year is detailed elsewhere.

c. Rangeland Data Collection:

i. The Contractor shall collect data for the following elements in accordance with the standards outlined in the latest version of the National Resources Inventory Grazing Land On-site Data Collection, Handbook of Instructions (P. Reference Materials).

Site locations maps and aerial photographs will be furnished by the COR. The data shall be free of errors and be collected in chronological order with minimal number of trips to the field for data collection. To be considered complete, range data collection protocols will be collected for the first one or two as required for that sample segment and certified by the COR. Work shall begin on or after May 8 of each year and be completed in accordance with the table set forth at section E (Period of Performance) of this Statement of Work. The NRI data collection option in the CASI software will be used.

d. Highlights of the 2023 protocol are described below:

i. GPS Navigation and Point Coordinate Capture – navigate to and record sample segment data point position with the hand-held computer.

ii. Transect Layout; (2) 150 foot linear transects NE/SW-NW/SE intersecting as an

“X” at the 75-foot mark (point location)

iii. Minimum of 10 Digital photos (oblique) per sample point.

iv. Ownership – NRI ownership code

v. Land Cover/Use – NRI cover/use code

vi. Landscape Parameters:

• Vertical Slope Shape

• Horizontal Slope Shape

• Slope Percent

• Slope Length

• Slope Aspect

vii. Soil Identification – in a min 20-inch-deep pedon or deeper to correlate soil (unless a shallow soils)

• Soil component name and soil profile description (each horizon – texture, color, structure, etc.)

• Soil Survey Area (SSAID) number

• NASIS Map Unit Symbol (MUSYM)

viii. Ecological Site Identification and Land Use

• Ecological Site Number

• Grazing Use or Haying

• Apparent Rangeland Trend

ix. Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health Assessment (17 attributes to achieve indicator summary of Soil/Site Stability, Biotic Integrity, and Hydrologic Function)

x. Plant Census (plant symbol, as on https://www.plants.usda.gov/java/)

xi. Disturbance Indicators: macroplot and conservation management unit- presence or absence (Yes/No)

xii. Identification of Conservation Practices Applied: Yes/No NRCS Technical Guide

Section IV - Part C:

• Brush Management (314)

• Prescribed Burning (338)

• Pond (378)

• Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment (380)

• Fence (382)

• Riparian Herbaceous Cover (390)

• Pasture and Hay land Planting (512)

• Pipeline (516)

• Prescribed Grazing (528)

• Grazing Land Mechanical Treatment (548)

• Range Planting (550)

• Spring Development (574)

• Animal Trails and Walkways (580)

• Water Well (642)

• Watering Facility (614)

• Wildlife Watering Facility (648)

xiii. Identification of Resource Concerns; Yes/No NRCS Technical Guide Section V - Part A

• Soil erosion (6 concerns)

• Soil condition (3 concerns)

• Water quantity (3 concerns)

• Water quality (2 concerns)

• Plant condition (5 concerns)

• Domestic animal (1 concern)

xiv. Soil Stability Test – 9 samples along transects

xv. Line Point Transects for Cover Composition

• Record plant canopy cover by species (up to six species) at three-foot intervals along two 150-foot transects.

• Record basal cover at the same points by plant species, or lichen cover, or moss, or rock fragments, or none (bare soil)

• There are 51 points on each transect

xvi. Line Intercept Transects for Canopy Gaps

• Record the beginning and end of plant canopy gaps equal to or greater than

1.0 foot to the nearest 1/10th of a foot. Plant material may be dead or alive.

Uses the same Line-Point transects.

xvii. Plant Height

• Record the maximum height of the tallest rooted plant (both herbaceous and https://www.plants.usda.gov/java/ woody) at 14 locations along the Line Point transects.

xviii. Sagebrush Identification and Shape – characterization of shape for listed Artemisia and related species at selected intervals on the Line Point Transects

xix. Species Composition by Weight (Rangeland) or Standing Biomass (Pastureland)

• Collect actual field weight, in grams, of plants in production plots.

• There are 5 production plots located along transect lines.

• Each of the 5 production plots will have herbaceous material sampled.

• Two of the 5 plots will also have woody material (if present) sampled.

• Herbaceous (circular) plots will be either 4.8 or 9.6 square feet.

• Woody plots will be 435.6 square feet or 0.01 acre (a circular plot with a radius of approximately 11.8 feet).

• Collect actual field weight by species (Rangeland) or total quadrat green field weight (Pastureland).

• Actual field weight by species may be determined by clipping the whole plot at each location (Pastureland) or by double sampling the group of locations (Rangeland).

xx. Reconstruct field weight of plants to normal annual air-dry weights (Rangeland)

• For each species:

• Determine the percent air dry weight.

• Determine the percent of current year’s growth that has not been removed by grazing or harvest.

• Determine percent of current year’s growth that should normally have occurred at the time of sampling.

• Determine the climate adjustment factor comparing current year’s growth to normal years growth.

xxi. Pasture Condition (Pastureland)

• Determine the pasture condition score using the National Pasture Condition Score Sheet. Refer to instructions.

e. Range and Pastureland Access Permissions on non-federal OPGL points

i. The Contractor shall obtain permission from the landowner(s) of any properties that need to be accessed to reach segments on federal (BLM) and non-federal land grazing land (private land). Private landowners may refuse permission to access or cross their land to reach the points on the BLM land. When this occurs, the contractor will not enter or cross the private land and will not be paid for that point.

ii. Data collection shall only proceed on assigned OPGL points when permissions been granted by the owner or their authorized designee to access the point. Permission to access non-federal (private) land must be granted by the owner or their designated, approved representative, and documented per the 2023 Handbook Appendix C guidance, prior to Contractor entry and data collection.

iii. Acquisition of private landowner permission shall be obtained by the Contractor for all assigned NRI points located on non-federal lands, with or without the assistance of NRCS. Access approval by private landowners for NRI data collection is neither implied nor guaranteed by this contract.

iv. A properly documented report of attempts to secure landowner permission to access a non-federal point shall include all dates of attempted contact/successful contact on the Access Record.

v. Contractor shall furnish the COR a copy of these records at the time of invoice, or as requested. Contractor will not receive payment for NRI data collection activities on non-federal points where the Contractor does not include with their invoice sufficient documentation (following Appendix C guidelines and including all dates of contact or attempted contact) documenting owner approval to access the non-federal point(s).

vi. Landowner permissions are not always granted nor possible or available, thus the number of non-federal points where permissions are sought prior to data collection are expected to exceed the actual number of points where data is approved for collection.

The Contractor shall collect range or pastureland inventory data only on OPGL sample points where access permission has been documented to have been expressly granted by the owner or their authorized designee.

f. The Contractor shall collect data in full accordance with the standards outlined in the 2023 Handbook (see section P. Reference Materials), or as directed by the COR.

The following identifies certain expectations during the contract period:

i. Segment site location maps and aerial photographs will be made available to Contractors by the COR.

ii. The NRI data collected shall be free of errors and collected in a logical order to minimize the number of trips to the field for data collection.

iii. To be complete, range and pasture data collection protocols in the 2023 Handbook will be followed, and all data elements populated and verified by the Contractor as complete and accurate for each point required on a segment.

iv. NRI data shall be entered into the NRCS CASI software. All sample segments and point data elements must pass the completion check on the CASI to meet "completed/CO" status before being transmitted to the ISU server for the final time.

a. Sample points and segments will be considered complete when all field data is collected and entered in the NRCS CASI software. Data has fully passed all electronic completion and scientific checks in the CASI, and is successfully transmitted electronically to the ISU server as per specifications outlined in the 2023 Handbook, or as advised by the

COR.

v. To ensure data safety and security, sample segment/point data elements must be electronically transferred to the ISU server no later than 10 days after commencing field data collection on sample points and segments.

vi. Work shall begin and conclude in accordance with the table set forth at Section E (Period of Performance) of this Statement of Work. Deadlines for completing OPGL non-federal Range and Pasture points, were established by using generalized USDA Plant Hardiness Zone information; these dates may be subject to change by the Government in response to conditions.

vii. The NRI data collection option in the CASI software will be used in the field.

g. Deliverables:

i. The Contractor shall submit the following: All required data (above) shall be collected and entered in the NRCS CASI software. Sample segments shall be considered completed when all field data is collected and entered in the NRCS CASI software, all data has fully passed all electronic completion checks in the CASI (designated as “completed/CO” status) and has been transmitted electronically to the ISU server as per specifications outlined in the latest version of the National Resources Inventory Grazing Land On-Site

Data Collection, Handbook of Instructions (P. Reference Materials). All sample segments and point data elements must pass the completion check on the CASI to meet “completed/CO” status before being transmitted to the ISU server. To ensure data safety and security, sample segment/point data elements must be electronically transferred to the ISU server no later than 10 days after commencing field data collection for said sample segments. No partially completed sample segments in non-completed status (designated as uncompleted/ “UC”) will be accepted. All sample segments must be returned to the ISU server no later than midnight on September 30 of each year.

G. REQUIRED EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/CONTRACTOR PROFICIENCY

a. The Contractor's Team Leader(s) must meet the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standard for a GS-454-11 Rangeland Management Specialist.

Qualifications for this position are described below and are published in the "OPM Operating Manual for Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions". Refer to:

http://www.opm.gov/gualifications/index.htm. Note: College transcripts, resumes and references may be requested by the government to verify education, experience, and performance.

Basic Requirements:

A. Degree: in range management; or a related discipline that included at least 42 semester hours in a combination of the plant, animal, and soil sciences, and natural resources management, as follows: Range Management - at least 18 hours of course work in range management, including courses in such areas as basic principles of range management, range plants, range ecology, range inventories and studies, range improvements, and ranch or rangeland planning. Directly related plant, animal, and soil sciences - at least 15 semester hours of directly related courses in the plant, animal, and soil sciences. Courses in such areas as plant taxonomy, plant physiology, plant ecology, animal nutrition, livestock production, and soil morphology or soil classification are acceptable. Related Resource Management Studies - at least 9 semester hours of course work in related resource management subjects, including courses in such areas as wildlife management, watershed management, natural resource or agricultural economics, forestry, agronomy, forages, and outdoor recreation management.

-OR-

B. A Combination of education and experience - at least 42 semester hours of course work in the combination of plant, animal, and soil sciences and natural resources management shown in A above, plus appropriate experiences or additional education.

-AND-

One year of specialized experience in rangeland plant identification and rangeland site inventory methods equivalent to at least the GS-457-9 level or 2 years of progressively higher- level graduated education leading to a master's degree or equivalent graduate degree.

http://www.opm.gov/gualifications/index.htm

b. Additional Requirements:

i. The Contractor's Team Leader(s), in addition to meeting the OPM Qualification

Standard for a GS-454-11 Rangeland Management Specialist, shall have experience in the following:

• Working in Western states in range and/or pastureland assessments, management and conducting rangeland inventories, knowledge and understanding of all aspects of range and pastureland plant growth patterns, accessing, and correctly interpreting seasonal climate conditions, and conducting and training others on plant production estimates on range and pastureland.

• The ability to identify Colorado NRCS Ecological Sites (or Range Sites) and the various alternative states associated with that site.

• Global Position System (GPS) equipment to navigate to sample sites.

• Use of soil survey information and ability to identify and describe the soil component at the point location (depth, texture and modifier, effervescence, other features).

• Apparent rangeland trend indicators.

• Training and experience in conducting interpreting indicators rangeland health assessments using the 17 indicators of rangeland health.

• Colorado plant identification

• Identification of resource concerns

• Identification of disturbance indicators

• NRCS Conservation Practice Standards (see Description of Work above)

• Establishing and inventorying rangeland vegetation using line transects - plant cover, canopy gaps.

• Vegetation cover density and height measurements

• Soil stability measurements

• Sagebrush identification and shape

ii. Crew members shall have experience in the following:

• Global Position System (GPS) equipment to navigate to sample sites.

• Use of soil survey information and ability to identify and describe the soil component at the point location (depth, texture and modifier, effervescence, other features)

• Colorado plant identification

• Working in Western states in rangeland management and conducting rangeland inventories, including understanding plant growth patterns, correctly interpreting seasonal climate conditions, and conducting plant production estimates on range and pastureland

• Establishing and inventorying using line transects

• plant cover composition and canopy gaps

• Vegetation cover density and height measurements

• Soil stability measurements

• Sagebrush identification and shape

H. NRCS-PROVIDED TRAINING

a. All Team Leaders and crew members must be authorized by the COR before collecting NRI grazing land data for the 2023 field season.

Successful contractors shall submit a list of contractor staff to be considered for attendance for training, and the COR will authorize attendance in part through consultation with Contractor. All field crew members must be authorized before collecting NRI grazing land data in 2023. Each field crew must have at least one authorized technical team leader; all other crew members must have at least crew member level authorization.

There are two levels of authorization:

Technical/team leader Crew member

To be granted technical leader authorization, you must:

Participate in an annual NRI Grazing Land On-Site Study training, Participated in an Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health training, Pass a written test, Pass a performance-based test, Perform calibration exercises, and Sign an NRI confidentiality certification agreement.

To be granted crew member authorization, you must:

Participate in an annual NRI Grazing Land On-Site Study training, if approved by

COR,

Pass a written test, Perform certain calibration exercises, and Sign an NRI confidentiality certification agreement.

b. The training element listed above can be satisfied by attending NRCS-sponsored training to be held in four locations across the U.S. this year. Contractors can attend a session if authorized by the COR or Contractors can attend the instate (Colorado) training. NRCS will not charge for the NRCS-provided training.

i. Training:

a. As referred to above, if approved, Contractors can attend the instate Training.

State rangeland/grazing land specialists and State Resource Inventory Coordinators (SRIC) will provide training sessions in NRI grazing land on-site protocols. The NRI Grazing Land On-Site Data Collection Training Syllabus (See Appendix B, NRI Grazing Land On-Site Data Collection Training Syllabus) is provided to standardize training sessions with both classroom and field components.

b. Classroom component:

• Review NRI Grazing Land On-Site Data Collection handbook of instructions.

• Demonstrate NRI grazing land on-site data collection protocols.

• Demonstrate use of data recording instruments and software (CASI).

c. Field component:

• Demonstrate and practice use of GPS navigational instruments.

• Practice use of data recording instruments and software (CASI).

• Demonstrate and practice data collection protocols.

• Calibration exercises for data collection protocols.

ii. Written post-training test:

a. The written post-training test will be provided to the states through the NRI

Help Desk.

iii. Performance-based post-training test

a. Trainers will observe trainees performing grazing land on-site data collection protocols and record the outcome on the NRI Grazing Land On-Site Data Collection Protocol Performance Checklist (See Appendix A). Trainers will work with the crew members to correct any misapplied techniques.

iv. Calibration exercises

a. During the training session, all trainees will perform calibration exercises

(See Appendix D, Quality Assurance Calibration for Grazing Land On-Site Quantitative Protocols, in the National Resources Inventory Handbook of Instructions for Rangeland Field Data Collection Data Collection) for:

• Soil stability,

• Line point intercept,

• Line intercept transects for canopy cover,

• Plant height, and

• Species composition by weight (required only if double-sampling is used by crew).

b. Calibration data collected by crew members during the training sessions will be uploaded to the server at Iowa State University.

c. Contractor will be required to complete no more than two additional quality assurance calibration exercises onsite with the COR during the data collection season.

The Contractor will schedule the quality assurance calibration exercises with the COR by written notification prior to commencement of the field season data collection or will be completed at the instate (Colorado) training.

d. Contractor shall coordinate with the COR to schedule an in-person coordination conference in Canon City, CO NRCS Field Office.

This coordination conference shall be attended, at minimum, by all Contractor technical team leaders. The in- person meeting will be scheduled for approximately 4 days (half day Monday and Friday) and will cover the NRI Grazing Lands On-Site Study training, review scheduling, timing of data collection, and other common logistical matters supporting data collection. The meeting will be scheduled concurrent with the time of exchange of Government Furnished Property (GFP) and Government Furnished Materials (GFM). The Contractor shall schedule these meetings directly with COR upon initiation of contract, to be held prior to commencement of the field season data collection. Contractors should include their cost to attend this coordination conference in their per-unit contract price. Training for option periods is assumed to be in- person in unless notified otherwise.

I. QUALITY ASSURANCE (QA)/PERFORMANCE BASED REQUIREMENTS

a. The COR and/or their designee will coordinate and carry out evaluations of

Contractor performance. For each activity required of the Contractor the following Quality Assurance (QA) standards will be applied:

i. Task - Collection of Colorado NRI Grazing Land On-Site Data Collection on USDI- BLM and Non-Federal Lands.

ii. Indicator(s) - Timeliness and Accuracy; Access permissions properly documented for non-federal points.

iii. Standard - data meets the specifications as defined in the 2023 Handbook. Data collection is free of errors, work is performed in a logical order, with minimal number of trips to field for information gathering. Work is to begin at a date climatically appropriate to optimizing the collection of seasonal range and pastureland attributes but be completed by September 30, 2023, of the year as described in Section E, and with good quality as defined elsewhere in this statement of work.

iv. QA data entry – The data collection software has quality assurance built into the data entry software. The Contractor must resolve all (100 percent) errors and warnings identified by the software and COR.

b. All Contractor work shall be performed in a professional manner in accordance with the 2023 Handbook and guidance provided by the COR, as applicable.

c. NRCS shall provide for Quality Assurance Reviews (QAR) for a minimum of 10% of collected data for sample segments per team.

i. The QARs will consist of an in-field review, and/or review of data submitted to the

ISU server by the Contractor. See Appendix A and Appendix C

ii. Any issues relative to the quality or correctness of collected data brought to the attention of the Contractor by the COR will be corrected by the Contractor as soon as possible and before submission of an invoice for payment for the point.

iii. The Contractor will transmit corrected sample points and segments, as needed, to the ISU server, and notify the COR concurrent with transmission.

d. The Contractor's team leaders and crew members may be required to participate in at least two periodic quality assurance calibration exercises during the data collection period, but after initial training and calibration.

i. Calibration exercises are in addition to the training required by Section H of this

Statement of Work. See Appendix D

ii. The Contractor will schedule in response to a call for calibration by the COR at a time and place mutually agreed-upon the quality assurance calibration exercises with the COR by written notification at least one week prior to commencement.

J. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY, MATERIALS, AND

FACILITIES

a. Government Furnished Property (GFP):

i. The property supplied by the NRCS shall only be used for direct performance of the work specified in this contract.

ii. Use for purposes other than this contract is prohibited.

iii. NRCS will maintain the GFP and will provide access to all equipment manuals for provided equipment.

iv. GFP includes the following items: Hand-held Trimble computers (Trimble TDC-

600) loaded with the NRCS Computer Assisted Survey Instrument (CASI) software and chargers.

v. All government furnished equipment must be returned to the COR at the end of the performance period, as identified in Section E. The final invoice cannot be processed for payment until all equipment and NRI support materials have been returned, in good order, to the COR or their designee.

b. Government Furnished Materials (GFM):

i. NRCS will provide GFM in the form of NRI sample segment case files, support materials (soils map, Ecological site map, map unit descriptions if available), map with imagery of official location of segment boundary, and data collection points located and labeled.

ii. Additional information may be provided by the NRCS.

iii. Materials will be delivered by the performance start date by mutual arrangement of the Contractor and NRCS.

iv. All NRI support materials provided shall be returned to the COR by the date identified in Section E. The final invoice cannot be processed for payment until all equipment and NRI support materials have been returned, in good order, to the COR or their designee.

c. Government Furnished Facilities (GFF):

i. NRCS may provide the Contractor temporary, intermittent use of Government workspace within NRCS facilities as needed and available.

ii. Use of Government workspace shall be coordinated with the COR in writing 14 calendar days prior to scheduled need.

d. Contractor Responsibility for GFP and GFM:

i. The Contractor shall notify the COR in writing within two working days after the discovery of lost, damaged, or destroyed GFP, GFF, or GFM.

ii. The notification shall include the specific Property Number or other identifying codes and property nomenclature; the circumstances surrounding the loss, damage, or destruction; estimated cost of alleviating the problem, if appropriate; and the expected impact on provision of Contractor services.

iii. The Contractor may be held financially liable for any shortage, loss, damage, or destruction of GFP or GFF as determined by the contracting officer (CO).

iv. Deductions may be made by the CO to the Contractor's payment accordingly.

K. CONTRACTOR-PROVIDED PROPERTY

The Contractor shall furnish all property including, but not limited to Section F to perform this contract that is not specifically identified as GFP, GFM or GFF above.

L. COMMUNICATIONS

a. "As-needed" Teleconferences with NRCS shall be scheduled whenever requested by the CO, COR, or the Contractor to review items including progress, questions relating to the project, work revisions, or decisions which need to be made with the intention of expediting the completion of the contract.

b. All contracting inquiries shall be directed only to the CO.

c. All technical inquiries shall be directed to the COR.

d. Communications shall be verbal or in written form, via email, or hand delivered.

e. The CO or COR may also request follow-up written communications regarding any specific inquiry.

M. REVIEW PROCEDURES

Work completed by the Contractor will normally be reviewed and approved by the COR within 20 calendar days from the submittal of data to the ISU server. Invoices cannot be submitted until sample segments are reviewed and approved by the contractor and properly posted as completed/CO status on the ISU server. Invoices will not be processed for completed points unless sufficient documentation related to private land access permissions, as explained in Section F, accompanies the invoice.

N. CHANGES

a. Throughout the period of this contract, the Contractor may anticipate government- directed changes to the way processes and procedures are performed. Changes include minor changes in data collection instructions and data collection software.

b. Directives may be written communications, or verbal followed up by written communications. Only the Contracting Office can authorize changes by executing a contract modification.

c. The Contractor shall immediately implement changes to processes approved by the CO and COR that result in a decrease to or no change in the contract price.

i. A quote documenting the decreased cost will be submitted within 10 working days.

ii. Any changes that result in decreases or increases in price can only be approved by the

CO.

iii. A quote showing the revised work and increased cost must be submitted to the CO and approved in a written modification before commencing the change in work.

O. PAYMENT PROCESS

a. Full Payment:

i. Payments shall be made in accordance with the contract requirements at the unit price of per point, for the work at each assigned point within assigned sample segment.

ii. Sample points within an assigned segment become eligible for unit payment when they are reviewed and approved by the COR and posted as completed/CO status to the ISU server.

iii. Partial payments will not be made for incomplete points or absent data elements at the segment. Invoices shall not be submitted unless and until sample points within assigned segments have been reviewed and approved by the COR, posted as completed/CO status on the ISU server, and accompanied by all required supporting documentation.

iv. No payment will be made for points within assigned OPGL segments where no, or incomplete, NRI data has been collected.

v. The Contractor shall be paid a defined amount up to a maximum of 100% of the assigned points, for documented performance of 2023 Handbook Appendix C guidance for the purpose of securing access permission to all assigned OPGL points.

a) Payment for Contractor services carrying out 2023 Handbook Appendix C guidance (See Section P) to secure access permissions will not be contingent upon landowner approval (access approved, or access denied).

vi. The final invoice will not be processed for payment until all equipment and NRI support materials have been returned to the COR.

b. Partial Payments

i. May apply, under certain circumstances. Partial payments for data collection activities at any point determined to be “inaccessible” will be addressed on a case-by-case basis, at the rate no more than 50% (one-half) of the unit cost for data collection, as enumerated in this contract.

1. OPGL points may be designated “inaccessible, or not required”, as defined below in O.3.A.

2. Points on OPGL where landowner permissions are not confirmed prior to accessing the point, shall not be subject to the designation of “inaccessible, or not required”, and are not eligible for partial payment.

3. Points on OPGL where landowner permissions have been confirmed may be subject to the designation of “inaccessible, or not required”, and are subject to a partial payment of the Contractor’s unit data collection payment rate, at the sole discretion of the COR, under the following circumstances:

a. The Contractor must attempt travel to the data collection site, as documented by photos and field capture of a GPS waypoint at the closest possible location the Contractor was able to traverse to, and while attempting to do so, was prevented from access by any of the following circumstances:

• a locked gate

• the only way to access the point is by traversing very steep (>65% slopes), and/or dangerous terrain, consistent with previous attempts by NRI staff to access the point,

• change in ownership resulting in denied permission to access OPGL point,

• greater than 4 miles from a road or trail, consistent with previous inventory attempts by NRI staff to access the point,

• change in land use/cover, unbeknownst to the Contractor,

• point burned in a wildfire that occurred during the current growing season, or

• where post-wildfire hazards put personnel at an unreasonable risk of injury,

• road washouts or similar travel hazards prevent access,

• permission to access the point(s) is withdrawn by the landowner on a non-federal Point, after the Contractor has begun to incur travel costs,

• other conditions or circumstances deemed reasonable by the COR.

ii. Partial payments will not be made if no Contractor staff data collection or travel costs are accrued towards completing data collection at the “inaccessible, or not required” point.

iii. Partial payments may not be approved if no other successful data collection on other accessible, nearby points are successfully completed by the Contractor within two working days following the attempted access to the “inaccessible, or not required” point.

P. REFERENCE MATERIALS

a. Instructions, 2 0 2 3 NRI Handbook of Instructions for Grazing Land On-Site Data Collection https://grazingland.cssm.iastate.edu/reference-materials

b. Appendix C - Landowner Contact Guide, Access Record, and Contact Letter Example https://grazingland.cssm.iastate.edu/reference-materials

c. Field Book for Describing and Sampling Soils USDA NRCS https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-09/field-book.pdf

d. Technical Reference 1734-4, 1999, Sampling Vegetation Attributes https://www.blm.gov/noc/blm-library/technical-reference/sampling- vegetation-attributes

e. NRCS Field Office Technical Guide, Colorado https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/#/state/CO/documents

f. NRCS National Range and Pasture Handbook, 2022 as amended https://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/viewerFS.aspx?hid=48448

g. Technical Reference 1734-6 2020, Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health, Version 5 https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-06/Interpreting_Indicators_1734- 6_ver5_08272020%20%281%29.pdf

h. USDA NRCS National Plants Database https://plants.usda.gov/home

- End -https://grazingland.cssm.iastate.edu/reference-materials https://grazingland.cssm.iastate.edu/reference-materials https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-09/field-book.pdf https://www.blm.gov/noc/blm-library/technical-reference/sampling-vegetation-attributes https://www.blm.gov/noc/blm-library/technical-reference/sampling-vegetation-attributes https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/#/state/CO/documents https://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/viewerFS.aspx?hid=48448 https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-06/Interpreting_Indicators_1734-6_ver5_08272020%20%281%29.pdf https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-06/Interpreting_Indicators_1734-6_ver5_08272020%20%281%29.pdf https://plants.usda.gov/home

Appendix A–NRI Grazing Land On-Site Data Collection Protocol Performance Checklist

Data Collector Reviewer

Date

Type of Point (circle one): Rangeland or Pastureland

Chapter 3 – Point Location and Plot Transect Layout Pass Redo -Use of GPS to navigate to the correct location Pass Redo -Lay out of the two transects Pass Redo -Orientation Pass Redo -Tapes are straight, low to the ground, and tight Pass Redo -Use of digital camera Pass Redo -Photo card label and placement Pass Redo -Photo clarity Pass Redo -Photo targets

Notes:

Chapter 5 – Ownership Pass Redo -Ownership determination

Chapter 6 – Land Cover/Use Pass Redo -Land cover/use determination

Chapter 7 – Landscape and Soils Pass Redo -NASIS SSAID determination for area where the soil is located Pass Redo -NASIS MUSYM determination for area where the soil is located Pass Redo -Soil component name Pass Redo -Soil component ID number Pass Redo -Vertical slope description Pass Redo -Horizontal slope description Pass Redo -Slope percent Pass Redo -Slope length

Pass Redo -Slope aspect

Chapter 8 – Ecological Site (ESD)/Forage Suitability Group (FSG) Information Pass Redo -MLRA determination Pass Redo –Site (ESD/FSG) determination Pass Redo N/A -Apparent Rangeland Trend determination Pass Redo N/A –Pastureland use determinations

Notes:

Chapter 9 – Line Point Transects for Cover Composition

Pass Redo -Data collector stands on the south side of the transect when reading Pass Redo -Vertical placement of pin Pass Redo -Eye is positioned directly in line with the pin when reading intercepts Pass Redo -Species identification Pass Redo -Canopy hit determinations Pass Redo -Litter hit determinations Pass Redo -Basal hit determinations

Chapter 10 – Line Intercept Transects: Basal and Canopy Gaps Pass Redo -Data collector stands on the south side of the transect when reading Pass Redo -Eyes are positioned 90 degrees vertical to the transect tapes Pass Redo -Gaps reading determinations

Chapter 11 – Soil Stability Test (optional for pastureland) Pass Redo N/A -Sample soil ped collection technique and placement in sieve Pass Redo N/A -Sample soil ped size (thickness and area) Pass Redo N/A -Dipping methods and timing Pass Redo N/A -Soil stability rating

Chapter 12 – Plant Height Pass Redo -Plant height determination (correct units)

Chapter 14 – Species Composition by Weight (for rangeland only)

Pass Redo N/A -Percent air dry weight for each plant species Pass Redo N/A -Estimated percent of the current plant growth Pass Redo N/A -Percent of…