Attachment 2 - SOW - 2023 Allegheny National Forest Bat Mist Net Telemetry Contract.docx

SECTION C – STATEMENT OF WORK

DIVISION 100 – GENERAL DESCRIPTION/SPECIFICATIONS

110 - Scope of Contract:

It is the intent of this contract to survey structures and selected areas of the Allegheny National Forest for bats with emphasis on the northern long-eared bat, (Myotis septentrionalis), little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), and the tri-colored bat (Pipistrellis subflavin), and Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), specifically pregnant, lactating, or post-lactating females (hereafter referred to as the target species). Surveys will be conducted using mist-nets, following protocols established by the USFWS, for mist-netting for the northern long-eared bat. The location of each survey site will be accurately recorded using a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit. The Contractor will furnish all the supervision, labor, transportation, and other incidentals, except as otherwise provided by the government.

120 - Location and Description:

121- The areas to be mist-netted are located on the Allegheny National Forest. National Forest ownership is scattered, and property boundaries are not well marked or always obvious. Privately owned lands are intermingled with National Forest lands and permission to drive, park, or walk on private land must be secured from the landowner by the Contractor. “Some Forest Service Roads may be barricaded by water bars, earthen barriers or boulders, access down these roads would be walk-in only.”

122 - The project areas may be accessed by County, Township, State, oil/gas/lease, or Forest Service roads. The areas are generally accessible by standard automobile or pickup truck during normal weather. Vehicle travel must be on established roads unless otherwise approved by the Forest Service. The Forest Service assumes no obligation to perform special maintenance to keep roads open. Individual sample sites may be accessible by foot travel only. Terrain varies from flat ridge tops and valley bottoms to steep slopes.

123 - Forest Service System Roads are marked with a signpost or some other sign marking next to the road. If the road is not marked with a signpost, it is a Non-Forest System Road and permission will be required by the contractor to access the road. A list of owners can be provided after award of contract. The use of any vehicles will be subject to conditions of the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) September 30, 2016. The MVUM shows which roads, trails and areas of the National Forest that are designated for motor vehicle use pursuant to 36 CFR 212.51. Use outside of the MVUM designations is not permitted unless written permission is granted by the COR. A MVUM will be provided after award of contract.

130 - Contract Administration:

The Contracting Officer will designate a Contracting Officers Representative (COR) for the purpose of insuring compliance with the specifications and provisions of the contract. Prior to start of work the Contracting Officer or COR will contact the Contractor and inform him or her of the pre-work conference date and location to discuss the contract terms, work performance requirements, and the Contractor's plans for conducting the work.

140 - Government Furnished Property:

The Forest Service shall make available to the Contractor the materials, supplies, property, or services (hereinafter referred to as "government furnished property) as listed below. The Contractor shall be liable for all loss or damage of such delivered, Government Furnished property, until completion and final acceptance of work required under this contract.

The items listed below will be available to the Contractor at the time and place of the pre-work conference. The Government furnished property will be returned to the Forest Service upon contract completion. The receiver and antennae will be transferred to the Forest Service two days after a transmitter is placed on a bat, so that Forest Service personnel can continue the telemetry work.

Items:

150 – Contractor Furnished Property:

All equipment necessary to capture bats including mist nets and poles: all equipment necessary to measure and record bat information including GPS unit, clip boards, data sheets, pens, scales, ruler, camera, holding bags, and head lamps; all equipment necessary to attach a transmitter to a bat including solder gun, surgical glue, and scissors or razor for removing hair. If an Indiana bat is captured, contractor will use their own transmitter. The Forest Service will reimburse contractor with the number of transmitters used.

160 - Substitution of Personnel:

During the contract, the Contractor may add or replace any personnel working for them, only after review by Contracting Officer’s Representative, and obtaining written approval.

170 – Housekeeping:

Papers, cans, bottles, or other refuse resulting from the Contractor's operations shall be removed from National Forest lands. Fire prevention and control - campfires will not be permitted during netting activity.

180 - Special Uses and Easements:

Oil and gas wells, pipelines and power lines are a common occurrence on National Forest land. Driving on pipeline or power line easements is not allowed.

DIVISION 200 - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

210 – Mist Net Surveys:

The contractor shall follow protocols established by the USFWS for mist netting for the northern long-eared bat. Mist nets will be set at night to capture bats, which will then be identified by species, sex, age (adult, juvenile) and reproductive status. Sites will be monitored quietly; loud noises (other than low volume occasional communication), running engines, campfires, and other activities that disturb/alert bats will not be allowed within 300 m of a Site. A completed Line Item (Schedule B) shall be the basis for payment for this section of the contract.

211 – Net Nights:

Net night is defined as one “mist net set” per survey night. A minimum of 1 mist net sets at each site, ≥30 m (98 ft) apart, with each net checked every 10-15 minutes. Mist net sets may be combined as one on sites that exceed 25 m (82 ft) in width (examples: large creek and river corridors). Each net Site will be sampled for 2 nights beginning at sunset for at least 5 hours or until an Indiana or a target bat is captured.

If more than 1 Indiana or a target bat is in the net at a given net check, all can be tagged. However, the number of tagged targets will not exceed 3 per 5-site cluster. Once bats are tagged, mist netting is done at that site and contractor should follow the signal of the tagged bat until a roost site is identified.

212 – Mist Net Set:

A mist net set is defined as: a minimum of 2 sets of poles (4 poles) capable of stacking a minimum of 3 (2.6m high) nets to reach canopy/sub-canopy (>7m/23ft.) Standard net lengths will be available to cover most travel corridors (includes streams and rivers) ranging from 6 m (~19 ft) to 76 m (~250 ft). Poles will have a pulley system for efficient bat removal. An additional assortment of poles will also be available for situations where they are required. Each "net" should be checked every 10-15 minutes.

213 - Netting Locations:

Mist netting sites will be on the Allegheny National Forest in areas delineated on maps, as ½ mile radius. Actual locations will be within the ½ mile designated area and will be selected by the Contractor with input from Forest Service biologists. Sites will be chosen to maximize the likelihood of capturing the target species. To assist in site locations, maps will be furnished by the forest service, who will have final approval of selected locations. The location of each mist netting site will be recorded using UTM’s (NAD83 UTM Zone 17 - North).

214 – Mist Net Specifications:

Mist nets will be of the finest, lowest visibility weights available (50 denier 2-Ply Polyester) which is denoted as 50/2. Mesh size of the nets should be between 1 1/4 inch to 1 3/4 inch.

215 – Mist Net Placement:

Mist nets must be set perpendicular across corridors such as old logging roads, hiking trails, ponds, and streams. Mist net sets should fill the corridor from side to side and up to the canopy to eliminate potential bat escapes. Depending on net size, two to three nets stacked may be needed to reach the canopy in some areas. Nets will be hung in the standard manner to provide bag in panels. Overstretched nets that eliminate panel bagging will not be permitted.

216 – Mist Net Timing:

For the 5 structures, the work is to be done between June 1st and June 15th, 2023(preferred), or from Aug 1st to Aug 15th, 2023. For the remainder of the sites work is expected to begin June 1st and completed by July 31st. Nets must be set prior to sunset and deployed at dusk. Approximate summer sunset times in northwest Pennsylvania run between 8:50 PM EDT at the beginning of June to 8:30 PM EDT at the end of July. Nets will be left up at least five hours from sunset each night or until an Indiana bat or target bat is captured. Nets are to be checked every 10-15 minutes and disturbance near the nets, other than to check them and remove bats, is to be kept at a minimum.

217- Weather Conditions When Netting Should Not Occur or will be Suspended:

1. Rain, steady drizzle, or heavy fog soaks nets.

2. Temperature falls below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Winds result in frequently moving/billowing nets OR wind gusts exceed 18 mph (When small trees in canopy sway).

If weather conditions change and become unfavorable during a survey period, the COR will make the final determination as to whether the survey night is sufficient to meet the requirements of the contract.

218 - Required Permits:

Contractor must obtain a valid, current permit from the Pennsylvania Game Commission that allows for the capture and handling of the Indiana bat. A copy of this permit must be furnished to the COR prior to the beginning of mist netting.

219 - Vaccinations Required:

The contractor and any crew members handling bats must have undergone and kept current the rabies pre-exposure vaccine series.

219a - Telemetry Work:

Any target species that is captured in nets may be radio tagged (a maximum of 1 per site and 3 per 5-site cluster and NLEB and Tri-colored having priority over little brown bats, with the expressed goal of identifying foraging areas and diurnal roost sites using radio telemetry. After a bat has been radio-tagged, it is the contractor’s responsibility to notify the Forest Service (preferably one of the designated inspectors) immediately using a cell phone and leaving a voice message and text message. After the transmitter has been attached to a bat, the bat must be released at the site of capture. Using the receiver, the bat should be tracked throughout the night until it roosts during the early morning. The foraging area and roosts used by the bat should be GPS-ed, flagged in the field, plotted on a topographic map, and included in the draft/final report.

The following day, Forest Service personnel will continue to locate and track the bat at a minimum, two consecutive days.

In the event that no “Target Species” is caught, no telemetry is required at that particular site.

219 b- Required Information for captured bats:

The following information and actions are required for captured bats:

The contractor must notify the Forest Service COR via cell phone leaving a voice message and text message within 12 hours of any target species captures, as well as any tagging that has occurred.

The following information must be collected: sex of bat, reproductive status, the date of capture, weather conditions, age, time of capture, and weight.

A description of the forest habitat in the area and the proximity of water will be recorded.

Any target species captured during this contract must be verified by photographs along with expert identification. Photographs of the face, tragus, and calcar are required on any bats identified as an Indiana bat. Photographs must be in color and in digital format

All bats captured must be released the same night as captured and at the location of capture. Holding bats overnight for verification will not be allowed unless special permission has been granted by the USFS Regional Office.

220 - Draft Report:

A draft of the final report must be submitted to the Allegheny National Forest by October 31, 2023. The Forest Service will have 30 days to review the draft and provide written comments to the contractor. The following information will be required in the draft report and supplied to the Forest Service:

· A topographic map showing all locations of net sets.

· Each site will be GPSed using UTM’s (NAD83 UTM Zone 17) coordinate system in decimal degrees.

· A topographic map (at a scale of 1:24,000) showing the foraging areas and roost sites of each radioed bat.

· A data sheet from each net set location that will include the following information on all bats captured: species of bats caught, sex, reproductive status, the date of capture, weather conditions, age, time of capture, and weight.

· A field map sketch of the net site location showing all pertinent habitat features (ponds, trails, road ruts, etc.) and net placement.

· A description of the forest structure and composition at each net site.

· Photographs of all Target species (including any Indiana Bats) captured and a photograph of at least one individual of the other species captured during the contract.

· A summary of results (no recommendations) at the end of the contract that includes a compilation of results of all site data sheets (summary of species, sex, reproductive status, date, by net site), number of net nights, and habitat description of the areas netted.

· An electronic file (Thumb drive or external drive) of coordinates for each net site is required. Coordinates can be supplied in UTM’s (NAD 83 UTM Zone 17). The file name must indicate the net site number associated with each set of coordinates.

· All data must be recorded by net night and location. Data should be neat and legible. Unreadable or damaged data sheets will not be accepted.

230 – Final Report

After review and acceptance of the draft report (Forest Service is required to complete review not later than November 30, 2023), by the Contracting Officer’s Representative, the contractor must incorporate the review comments and submit 6 hardbound copies (including survey sheets) and 1 electronic copy (word format on thumb drive or external drive) of the final report to the Forest Service by December 31, 2023. All information obtained during the contract period becomes the property of the Forest Service. The contractor will not disseminate information from this study or copies of the report to outside parties without the written consent of the Forest Supervisor of the Allegheny National Forest.

240 – Safety

It is the contractor’s responsibility to ensure that the work environment is safe for themselves as well as their employees. If the contractor feels that a requirement of this contract would place them or their employees in an unsafe environment, then work should stop on that area of work and the contractor should contact the COR/Inspectors. Work on other areas of the contract that the contractor does not view as unsafe should continue.

The qualified biologists will be in contact (2-way radio and/or cell phones) with site workers, or if not possible the qualified biologists will visit all sites every hour.

It is highly recommended that the successful contractor utilizes appropriate personal protective safety equipment/clothing, which may include, but is not limited to, a hard hat, eye protection and hand protection while working in project areas. Cell phones or radios may be appropriate to facilitate communication during the night.

SECTION E--INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

52.246-4 Inspection of Services--Fixed-Price (AUG 1996)

· Each net site will be inspected at least 1 net night.

· Structures must be surveyed during the specified time in the contract- 100%

· Surveys must begin on time each evening – 100%.

· Adhering to weather condition restrictions will be expected – 100%.

· The net specifications will be followed. The net condition during inspection will have no more than four 12” holes per net set (2-3 nets high). 100%

· Forms will be fully completed and need to be legible. 100%

· Placement locations will be inspected prior to beginning survey to ensure the best sites are used.