Attachment 1 - WLO_BotanicalInventory_SOW.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 Wildlife Openings Botanical Inventory

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 botanical surveys of wildlife openings within GMNF. The primary objective is survey of wildlife openings for rare plant species (including Regional Forester Sensitive Species-RFSS) and non-native invasive plants (NNIP), prior to maintenance activities. Wildlife openings that have not had botanical survey, or have not been surveyed since 2012, and that are scheduled for maintenance, will be assigned top priority.

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.

This project has been reviewed and approved through the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) process.

Mitigations have been specified that are intended to protect RFSS and prevent the spread of NNIP in wildlife openings (see attached). 190 wildlife openings (2171 acres) requiring botanical survey were identified. Of these, an initial subset of 83 openings (978 acres) have been flagged as needing botanical survey before planned maintenance occurs over 3 field seasons (2024, 2025, 2026). The remaining 107 wildlife openings require further evaluation to plan future work.

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 necessary to accurately identify rare plants and NNIP in Vermont, as well as the ability to electronically map and document field results. Comprehensive and accurate botanical surveys require knowledge of RFSS, VT-state ranked rare plants, habitat requirements for rare species, and NNIP that occur in Vermont. Contractors must also possess the physical fitness and stamina necessary to safely perform potentially arduous field work, and the ability to independently foresee and implement safety measures while conducting field work.

Specific duties that contractors will be asked to perform include the following tasks:

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

• Plan field surveys at suitable times within the growing season (May-October) such that potential rare plant populations can be detected at the right phenological stage for identification.

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

• Summarize botanical survey results in documents, maps, and spatial data as follows:

a. For each rare plant population found, a Vermont State rare plant form must be completed. Please refer to the most current Vermont rare plant list, and GMNF RFSS list.

b. For each NNIP infestation, a form that describes infestations, plus a general description of each opening.

c. Maps that show exact locations of rare plants and NNIP infestations observed in surveys.

d. Spatial data (shape files) for rare plant and NNIP infestation locations (including projection files).

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 the locations of wildlife openings and a current GMNF RFSS list will be provided. Information about RFSS previously detected in wildlife openings will be shared. The Forest Botanist will review individual botanical survey reports of wildlife openings (as outlined above) for thoroughness and accuracy.

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule

The period of performance under this Agreement shall cover 3 field seasons, commencing on May 1, 2024, and running through November 30, 2026. Pre-survey planning is recommended, for example: 1) identify potential habitat for rare species within openings assigned 2) determine what rare/RFSS species might occur in select openings, and 3) visit openings at the appropriate phenological time so that rare plants may be reliably identified. If suitable RFSS habitat is present, more than one visit to an opening may be necessary to detect the full range of potential rare plant occurrences.

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

Contractors are encouraged to submit data for individual wildlife openings on a running basis throughout the field season (instead of all at once at the end). For each wildlife opening surveyed, a full data package includes the following:

• A Vermont State rare plant form (for each rare species found in the wildlife opening).

• A form that describes NNIP infestations (if present), and the general characteristics of each wildlife opening.

• Maps showing where rare plants and NNIP infestations are located.

• Shape files (including projection files) for all rare plant sites and NNIP infestations.

Periodic communication with the Forest Botanist will be necessary to determine which openings need survey before maintenance work takes place. For example, prescribed fire is a management technique largely dependent upon weather, hence burn dates may change with climate conditions. The aim of the contractor (s) is to perform the botanical survey before scheduled maintenance, and not following it.

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 identify openings scheduled for maintenance

Once per month

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

Via email exchange with Forest Botanist

The 5th day of each month after contract award

2 Botanical survey results

Data packages for each wildlife opening 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 is due by November 25 of each field season (in 2024, 2025, & 2026.

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 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.

It is anticipated 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.

Botanical survey findings are to be 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 (s) 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.