Attachment_3_Statement_of_Work.pdf

Solicitation (Request for Quotes) no. 140P8324Q0085, Attachment no. 3 Statement of Work (8/20/24)

Environmental Compliance Service, Mount Rainier National Park (MORA) \

SOLICITATION (REQUEST FOR QUOTES) NO. 140P8324Q0085

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MOUNT RANIER NATIONAL PARK

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE SERVICES

(State Route 410 White River Project)

SOLICITATION ATTACHMENT NO. 3 - STATEMENT OF WORK

August 2024

Project Identification:

PMIS: NA

PEPC: TBD

Confidentiality: The information developed under this task order is the property of the U.S.

government and shall be kept in strict confidence.

Project Title: Environmental Compliance Services for SR410 White River Project

Location: Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

A. Introduction / Background:

State Route (SR) 410 serves as a vehicular gateway to Mount Rainier National Park. From milepost 56 to 60 within Mount Rainier National Park, SR 410 is directly adjacent to and within the floodplain of the White

River. The White River is a glacier-fed river that drains the Emmons Glacier, the largest glacier in the continental United States. This glacier supplies the river with prodigious quantities of sediment and water that pose imminent risk to SR 410. Within the park, several locations along SR410 are prone to flooding and bank erosion, either from the main stem and side channels directly abutting the highway, or from avulsions that cause expansion of side channels into the SR 410 road prism.

Flood events occurred in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2016, and resulted in the Washington State Department of

Transportation (WSDOT) installing emergency rip rap bank protection in several of these locations to prevent further damage to the highway. Sections of the highway are still in imminent danger of flooding and bank erosion. A new side channel and head cut formed in the floodplain during spring 2017, and both are at serious risk of developing into partial avulsions aimed toward the roadway. This development is of urgent concern, as such an avulsion could result in catastrophic damage to the highway prism. The project concept originated within WSDOT’s Chronic Environmental Deficiency (CED) Program. The CED Program stems from an agreement with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). It intends to reduce environmental harm to fish from frequent repairs on state highways by constructing longer-term, resilient, fish-friendly repairs.

The WSDOT proposes to install engineered log structures at two locations in the floodplain (outside the SR

410 road prism) that pose the immediate threat to the highway. These structures consist of a head cut fill structure and an engineered log jam that would be installed to arrest the development head cuts and prevent the river from establishing new flow paths aimed directly toward and adjacent to SR 410.

The existence of the highway within the floodplain interrupts natural floodplain processes and prevents fish from using portions of the floodplain. The traditional use of rip rap to protect the roadway embankment further interrupts these processes, tends to only provide a short-term solution, and can exacerbate the problem of reducing complexity of the riverbank and directing the erosion further downstream. Currently, floodplain forests provide some buffer against erosion of the floodplain. The proposed engineered log structures would be a more nature-based solution that would protect the highway by treating the most urgent avulsion pathways, reducing energy from the river flow along the embankment, protecting the old-growth floodplain forests from mortality from inundation or burial, and simultaneously maintaining fish habitat quality in the floodplain.

The proposed construction would primarily be away from the SR 410 road prism and would consist of within-floodplain excavation and backfill, and construction of two engineered log structures built from large logs and root wads. The construction would include associated water pollution control, fish isolation, and traffic management. This work, if approved, would be constructed during the in-water work windows established through consultation pursuant to the Endangered Species Act and other permitting requirements.

Sites proposed within MORA include areas within the National Wilderness Preservation System, designated pursuant to the 1964 Wilderness Act. Sites proposed may also include areas within or adjacent to the Mount

Rainier National Historic Landmark District and have the potential to affect properties listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places pursuant to the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

MORA also includes habitat for federally listed species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The proposed project is within a designated wilderness area of Mount Rainier National Park. The proposed project occurs off the Right of Way within the floodplain and side channels of the White River. This area is a corridor for wildlife migration and provides suitable habitat for northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet, gray wolf, and wolverine. The river provides suitable habitat for Chinook salmon, coho salmon, chum salmon, bull trout, winter steelhead, and resident trout.

The National Park Service (NPS) will be the lead federal agency for the National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA) and other environmental compliance, with the WSDOT as a cooperating agency to the environmental analysis, providing design details and engineering expertise.

B. Purpose / Project Objectives:

The purpose of the proposed project is to provide sustainable vehicular access along the State Route (SR) 410 corridor within Mount Rainier National Park (MORA or Park) and also to maintain this critical highway connection with the state highway system adjacent to the park by taking interim measures to prevent loss of the road corridor at specific locations.

The goal of the project is to provide timely environmental planning and compliance services to the NPS in response to the WSDOT proposal to support agency decision-making. This includes preparation of documents and associated analyses to support requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National

Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the Wilderness Act, among others.

This includes evaluation of the proposed action, the “no action” alternative and other feasible alternatives that would meet the project objective, including options that would occur outside of designated wilderness and may include further modification to the road structure outside of designated wilderness.

Internal scoping identified an environmental assessment (EA) to be the appropriate NEPA compliance pathway and is the level of analysis for this scope of work. However, this proposed NEPA compliance pathway will need to be approved by the NPS Regional Director. If potentially significant impacts to resources are identified in the EA process, then the NPS will prepare a Notice of Intent (NOI) and pursue preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

The objectives for the project include incorporating preliminary (pre-NEPA) project planning and early outreach and using best available information to complete NEPA impact analysis and documentation. The tasks shall include the following:

• Preparation of a draft EA and appendices for agency review.

• Preparation of a final EA and appendices for public review and comment.

• A draft and appendices review.

• Preparing a draft and final biological assessment to support formal consultation with the United States

Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to meet the requirements of the Endangered Species Act.

• Conducting a wetland delineation to determine if wetlands are present within the project area and to determine if a Wetland Statement of Findings or Floodplain Statement of Findings are required to comply with Executive Order 11990 and Executive Order 11988. If required, prepare draft and final

Wetland and Floodplain Statement of Findings to meet requires of National Park Service Policy.

The following items are examples of the material that shall be provided by the government at the request of the

Contractor for their use in completing the services specified:

• Park Foundation and General Management Plan documents

• Preliminary Environmental Screening Form

• Cultural Resources Data o National Historic Landmark District Nomination o Historic Property Inventory Card o Archeological Survey Report o Ethnographic Resource Information (e.g., Tribal watershed/fisheries reports) o Archeological Monitoring and Inadvertent Discovery Plan o Typical mitigation measures

• Natural Resources Data o Aquatics Report for White River o Vegetation Classification and Mapping Reports o Wildlife Monitoring Reports (northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet, wolverine, etc.)

o Geological Information, including Site and Reach Assessment for SR 410 MP 57.7-60.00 at

Upper White River and White River Geomorphic Reach Analysis.

o GIS Base Data (park roads, hydrology/streams, vegetation data, sensitive species habitat areas) o Stream temperature data

• Draft Environmental Assessment, Draft Biological Assessment, Draft Floodplain Statement of

Findings, Draft Wetland Statement of Findings from earlier planning effort in 2012.

• Draft Purpose & Need, Draft Proposed Action, Preliminary Alternatives, Preliminary Impact Topics from 2024 planning discussions.

• Visitor Use Data (visitor and vehicle count information as available)

• A dedicated interagency SharePoint site has been established to facilitate document review and coordination among the NPS and WSDOT project team.

o , including Site and Reach Assessment for SR 410 MP 57.7-60.00 at Upper White River and

White River Geomorphic Reach Analysis.

C. Conflict of Interest Disclosure:

Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI).

The quoter [] is [] is not aware of any information bearing on the existence of any potential organizational conflict of interest. If the quoter is aware of information bearing on whether a potential conflict may exist, the quoter shall provide a disclosure statement referring to the potential

OCI with their quotation. (see FAR 9.507-1)

Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCI) Certification

Conflict of Interest Disclosure:

After award and prior to commencement of work, the Contractor shall disclose any potential conflicts of interest and provide the following statement for each of the key personnel assigned to this project:

“To the best of my knowledge and belief, neither I, xxxxxx, as owner or delegated representative of xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx company, nor any member of my family, have any direct interest, financial or otherwise, in the outcome of this project, and that our participation in preparing the environmental assessment therefore presents no conflict of interest. In the event that I later become aware of such conflict of interest, I agree to disqualify myself and report this fact to the Contracting Officer and to abide by any instructions that he/she may give me in this matter.” (see FAR 9.507-2)

D. Key Personnel and Substitutions:

D.1 Personnel and Qualifications: Interested Contractors/Quoters shall provide names and resumes of all key personnel with their quotation, (i.e., Project Lead or Project Manager, Field Supervisor/s, and all Resource

Specialists (e.g. Wildlife Biologist, etc.)).

D.2 During the first 90 days of performance, the Contractor shall make no substitutions of key personnel unless the substitution is necessitated by illness, death, or termination of employment. The Contractor shall notify the NPS Contracting Officer within 15 calendar days after the occurrence of any of these events and provide the information required below. After the initial 90-day period, the Contractor shall submit the information required to the Contracting Officer at least 15 days before making any permanent substitutions.

The Contractor shall provide a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating the proposed substitutions, complete resumes for the proposed substitutes, and any additional information requested by the

NPS Contracting Officer. Proposed substitutes should have comparable qualifications to those of the persons being replaced. The Contracting Officer will notify the Contractor within 15 calendar days after receipt of all required information of the decision on substitutions. This clause shall be modified to reflect any approved changes of key personnel.

E. Services to be Provided:

This statement of work defines information requirements, products, and services to be produced by the

Contractor. Also included are communication and coordination activities such as conference calls and meetings with NPS staff.

The Contractor shall review relevant source materials to develop a clear understanding of the project area, the proposed project, and associated issues. Data gaps shall be identified and brought to the attention of the COR as soon as they are identified.

The Contractor shall provide all personnel, materials, supplies, supervision, coordination, and management necessary to complete the work when required. The Contractor shall perform all necessary technical analyses, edit the documents, prepare graphics, and perform other work as required to produce the products as specified in this scope of work. All work shall be technically and legally defensible and in compliance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); the Council on Environmental Quality

Regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508); the Department of the Interior NEPA Regulations (43 CFR Subtitle A Part

46); Director’s Order-12 Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact Analysis, and Decision-Making, and its NEPA Handbook (collectively, DO-12); and other applicable laws, regulations and policies. Other principal applicable laws include the Wilderness Act, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Wild and Scenic Rivers

Act, the Clean Water Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). CFR is available online at eCFR :: Home or https://www.ecfr.gov/.

The Contractor shall use only scientific information that meets the information quality standards in NPS

Director’s Order 11-B (available at Director's Orders and Related Guidance - Policy (U.S. National Park

Service) (nps.gov), as amended and shall base any impact assessment and resulting conclusions on published and/or peer-reviewed scientific literature, when available. All products must be edited and user-friendly for public review and understanding. The Contractor’s name shall not appear on the cover and/or coversheet of any draft or final products. Draft products shall include line numbers to facilitate the review process. The

Contractor shall perform a consistency check of all data and facts used throughout all deliverable products.

The NPS will conduct consultations with other agencies and organizations in accordance with the requirements of the NEPA, ESA, NHPA, and/or other applicable laws. The Contractor shall use information provided by the

NPS regarding compliance with these laws as well as information from other agencies (e.g., State Historic

Preservation Officer consultation materials, federal and state natural resource management agencies) for inclusion and analysis in the compliance documentation.

F. Deliverables:

Notes on Deliverables

• All deliverables must be fully edited, free of spelling and grammatical errors, and user-friendly for public review and understanding, formatted consistent with the Denver Service Center Editorial Style

Guide (Planning - Denver Service Center (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov), at website click on “Editing Reference Manager (pdf)” to open PDF document) and 40 CFR §1502.8

(eCFR :: 40 CFR Part 1502 -- Environmental Impact Statement).

• The Contractor’s name shall not appear on the cover and/or coversheet of any draft or final products.

• The Contractor shall perform a consistency check of all data and facts used throughout all deliverable products.

https://www.ecfr.gov/ https://www.nps.gov/subjects/policy/directors-orders.htm https://www.nps.gov/subjects/policy/directors-orders.htm https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1804/dscplan.htm https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-V/subchapter-A/part-1502

• The Contractor shall coordinate closely with the COR and other NPS staff (e.g., park staff) while developing draft project deliverables.

• All internal draft deliverables shall be line-numbered and include a comment matrix to facilitate and track resolution of internal comments.

• All print media that will be made publicly available shall be checked and formatted to be Section 508 compliant and must meet NPS Graphic Identity Standards.

• Digital media products shall be Section 508 compliant and compatible with nps.gov (coordination with the NPS will be necessary to ensure compatibility).

• Unless specifically stated, the Contractor shall submit deliverables to the COR in an electronic format.

• Written products will be provided in current version of Microsoft Word or applicable Microsoft Office

Suite (i.e., Word, Excel), and Adobe (PDF) software as indicated unless agreed upon in advance with

COR.

• GIS products shall be delivered in a format compatible with ESRI GIS software.

• As appropriate, the COR will complete a Quality Assurance review to verify the deliverable is complete, meets contract requirements and meets professional standards. Within seven (7) calendar days of receipt of the draft deliverable, the COR will notify the Contractor of any substantive corrections needed before it can be accepted and distributed to the Project Team for review. The

Contractor shall then correct the document and resubmit the draft to the COR within seven (7) calendar days of receiving notification. Once approved by the COR, the Contractor shall distribute the draft deliverable to the Project Team for review and comment.

• When timeframes are specified in the scope of work, they are given in working days, not calendar days unless noted otherwise. All graphics and illustrations (e.g., covers, figures, photographs, graphs, charts) shall be rendered in black and white. Graphics and illustrations submitted in other than black and white may be used with prior approval from the COR.

• The Contractor shall use the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website for the project. The NPS will provide a web link for the computer based PEPC training and any required role based privacy training, which will enable the Contractor to learn how PEPC is used for document sharing and posting, as well as internal and external scoping and comment/response documentation.

To be assigned a PEPC user profile and access password for the project the Contractor specified personnel must have completed the computer-based training.

Submit deliverables to: Teri Tucker, teri_tucker@nps.gov

G. Contractor Tasks:

PART 1. PRELIMINARY (PRE-NEPA) PROJECT PLANNING SERVICES

The purpose of the preliminary project planning phase is to ensure assembly of all key information needed to meaningfully analyze project effects prior to embarking on a formal NEPA process, so that NEPA documents can be prepared effectively, using an efficient and streamlined process. Preliminary project planning shall include the following:

• Verify the project area and issues to be addressed and discuss the defined scope of work.

• Develop and maintain a defined schedule for completion of the tasks in this scope of work.

• Review preliminary purpose and need statements, list of environmental issues which may need to be analyzed, and preliminary alternatives.

• Identify data gaps or additional issues which could affect the efficiency of NEPA reviews and the appropriate NEPA pathway.

Task 1: Preliminary Project Planning Kick-Off Call

Approximately one month after the task order is issued, the Contractor will facilitate a project kickoff conference call. The Contractor shall include core team members on this kickoff conference call;

representatives of the park and WSDOT will participate. The primary purpose of this conference call will be to introduce the core team members, discuss roles and responsibilities and communication protocols, identify dates for the preliminary project planning workshop in Subtask 2-B, and determine the appropriate method for transmitting existing information to the Contractor. Existing information will be transmitted as quickly as possible and will be reviewed by the Contractor prior to the preliminary project planning workshop. The

Contractor shall prepare an agenda and take notes during the call to be disseminated to the Project Team.

By the end of the kickoff call the Contractor is expected to have enough information to develop a robust project schedule based on the contract scope and high-level schedule provided by NPS. The schedule, which will be updated throughout the period of performance each month as necessary, shall include the deliverables as identified in this scope of work, including review periods for NPS, and other important milestones as identified in this scope of work.

Deliverables: Kick-off call agenda and notes

Draft project schedule one week after kickoff call

Task 2: Preliminary (Pre-NEPA) Project Planning Workshop

Subtask 2-A Workshop Preparation

The Contractor shall provide two personnel for up to two conference calls with the project team to prepare for the workshop. The Contractor shall prepare all meeting materials necessary to facilitate the workshop including, but not limited to, the agenda, maps, and PowerPoint presentation. The Contractor shall also have a draft of the proposed action, purpose and need, and very high-level alternatives or questions for consideration in determining the range of alternatives written out for review, as well as a list of potential environmental issues and impact topics.

At the Workshop, the Contractor shall facilitate discussions of the following topics:

• Reviewing applicable background materials to confirm existing issues, conditions, and challenges. The contractor shall conduct a thorough review of these documents prior to the workshop and will give a brief overview at the workshop. Materials include but are not limited to the following:

o Historic Architecture & Engineering Records (HAER) and Cultural Landscape Reports as available o Aquatics Reports for White River o Northern Spotted Owl annual monitoring reports o Visitor Use Data o Available Park GIS data

• Confirming the scope of the project, project area, and area of potential effects.

• Confirming purpose and need for taking action, the proposed action (i.e., the initial WSDOT proposal for taking action), and preliminary alternatives.

• Identifying any operational/management issues that may be addressed within the preliminary proposed action.

• Confirming the environmental issues that will be analyzed, as discussed in NPS NEPA 2015

Handbook and consistent with the Mount Rainier National Park General Management Plan and

Foundation Document. These issues should be succinctly defined and focused and allow for subject matter experts to weigh in on existing conditions, assumptions, and data needed to inform the impact analysis. Issues may include, but are not limited to, cultural landscapes, terrestrial and aquatic species wildlife and wildlife habitat, visitor use and experience, water resources, wilderness resources and wilderness character. The contractor will assist with writing the justifications for dismissal of topics from further analysis for the decision file as applicable.

• Confirming list of key stakeholders, tribes, and/or cooperating agencies—their position on relevant planning or environmental issues and strategies for engaging them in the planning process.

• Constraints and commitments of previous planning documents, agreements, etc.

• Available data and data needed to inform alternatives development, a description of the affected environment, and impact analysis.

Subtask 2-B Workshop Attendance and Facilitation (Virtual or On-site)

Feasibility of travel shall be determined at project kickoff. If feasible, the Contractor shall assume a two-day workshop with one day devoted to a site visit and the second for the workshop meeting. The Contractor should assume one trip for this subtask (four days maximum, including travel). If travel to the park occurs, it is anticipated that the workshop and site visit will take place in/adjacent to the park (assume lodging and travel costs for Ashford, WA). The park will make arrangements for a meeting room and logistics associated with the site visit. If travel is not feasible, a one-day virtual workshop shall occur and will be developed by the

Contractor with assistance from the COR. The Contractor shall provide the host platform for the virtual workshop.

The Contractor shall perform the following tasks as part of the workshop:

• Meeting Facilitation – The Contractor shall provide a facilitator for the workshop. The facilitator shall: design and plan the workshop using appropriate facilitation tools to best help the group address the topics described under Subtask 2-A, ensure there is effective participation from all members of the group by managing the group dialogue, and establish and maintain the group’s focus on the agenda.

The facilitator must be prepared to change strategies or methods throughout the workshop to ensure that the group: makes progress, remains focused, and is well-positioned to accomplish the intended workshop outcomes. The facilitator must also be prepared to summarize the discussions, draw conclusions, make recommendations, identify next steps over the course of the workshop, and revise in real-time the draft purpose and need, preliminary proposed action, potential environmental issues, preliminary alternatives, and preliminary impact topics.

• Site Visit Photographs – The Contractor shall take representative photographs during the site-visit, as applicable, to be used in the document throughout the planning process. Additional photos or graphics may be provided by NPS or WSDOT.

• Note Taking – One member of the Contractor staff shall take notes during the meetings and prepare a meeting summary (see Subtask 2-C).

• Gathering Information – The Contractor shall obtain or make arrangements to obtain copies of the documents necessary to complete the preliminary project planning and subsequent NEPA tasks.

Subtask 2-C Workshop Notes

The Contractor shall prepare detailed meeting notes in summary form (organized by topic rather than a meeting transcription), documenting discussion, decisions, and action items related to each agenda topic listed above under Subtask 2-A. When the Contractor provides the meeting notes, the notes shall include the related information that was prepared for the meeting under Subtask 2-A. The notes shall be submitted to the COR within 5 working days after the meeting. The Contractor shall assume one revision of the notes to produce final notes, assuming the first draft is of acceptable quality to the COR.

Deliverables:

• Draft workshop notes within 5 working days after the workshop

• Final workshop notes within 5 working days of receiving NPS comments

Task 3. Follow-up Calls to the Preliminary (Pre-NEPA) Project Planning Workshop

The Contractor shall participate in up to four calls, each up to 1 hour in length to continue discussions and come to resolution on topics discussed during the preliminary project planning workshop. The Contractor shall work with the NPS to set the agenda; facilitation of these calls will be shared between NPS and the Contractor, as necessary. It is anticipated that at least one call will be specifically related to civic engagement and stakeholder outreach.

The Contractor shall provide two staff on each call, with one dedicated to taking notes. The Contractor shall prepare the conference call notes in summary form (organized by topic rather than a meeting transcription).

The summary shall document the discussion and decisions and/or action items related to each agenda topic, including the elements of the alternatives, rationale/justification for the alternatives selected for analysis and those dismissed from further analysis. The Contractor shall assume one revision of the notes, assuming the first draft is of acceptable quality to the COR.

• Draft and final meeting notes, including any written revisions to proposed action, purpose and need, preliminary alternatives, impact topics, and potential environmental issues, list of stakeholders and data needs.

Task 4. Civic Engagement Media Products (Option)

Civic engagement is undertaken prior to initiating a NEPA process so that the NPS can consider stakeholder input while developing a preliminary proposed action that will be the subject of a NEPA review. Based on the outcome of the stakeholder involvement plan created by the park, the park will conduct civic engagement with relevant stakeholders and gateway communities and the Contractor shall prepare electronic media (e.g., newsletter, if needed) and ArcGIS Story Maps digital media to provide information about the project, potential alternatives, the goals of civic engagement, information on submitting public comments, and the schedule for civic engagement meetings, and submit this to NPS. The Contractor shall submit draft materials for NPS review and comment. The Contractor shall assume one revision of the draft content, assuming the draft is of acceptable quality to the COR. After addressing NPS comments on the draft content, the Contractor shall provide formatted electronic print materials which meet the standards of the NPS Graphic Identity Program and digital media products, which should be mobile-friendly and compatible with nps.gov (coordination with the NPS will be necessary). Both electronic and digital media products must comply with Section 508 requirements. NPS will distribute copies of the electronic media as necessary and post digital media to NPS websites. NPS will also publish notices announcing the availability of civic engagement materials to the public through Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) and other sources.

Deliverables:

• Draft electronic and digital media

• Final electronic and digital media

Task 5. Civic Engagement Comment Analysis*

Subtask 5-A. Entering Hard Copy Civic Engagement Correspondence into the NPS PEPC System

Any hardcopy correspondence received by the park during civic engagement meetings will be provided to the

Contractor which shall be responsible for entering correspondence not received directly through PEPC into the

PEPC system. This correspondence shall be scanned or re-typed into PEPC. For estimation purposes, the contractor should assume up to 10 documents (faxes, hard copy letters, comments from public meetings typed into the PEPC database) would be generated, including those comments received at the civic engagement meetings.

Deliverable: Enter up to 10 hard copy correspondences into PEPC

Subtask 5-B. Prepare Civic Engagement Comment Coding Structure

After reviewing a cross-section of the public/stakeholder comments, the Contractor shall develop a coding structure using the NPS PEPC system to be reviewed and approved by the NPS. No coding shall be done without prior approval by the NPS COR.

• Draft coding structure

• Revised coding structure

Subtask 5-C. Review and Code Unique Civic Engagement Correspondence

Upon review and approval of the coding structure, the Contractor shall review unique pieces of correspondence, code individual comments from the pieces of correspondence, and identify representative quotes (verbatim comments representing the concern statement). The Contractor should assume a total of 75 pieces of unique correspondence (excluding form letters) will need to be reviewed and coded. For cost estimating purposes, it should be assumed that the majority of these correspondences will be short (1-2 paragraphs).

Deliverable: Code up to 75 unique correspondences

Subtask 5-D. Develop Concern Statements for Civic Engagement Comments

After coding the public comments, the Contractor shall develop concern statements for the comments to streamline comment response. The Contractor shall assume that up to 20 concern statements will need to be developed. The concern statements should summarize the issues received from the public as they relate to the purpose, need, scope of the plan, and preliminary alternatives and issues. Concern statements should stand on their own, meaning they should not rely on representative quotes for meaning or context. The Contractor shall deliver draft concern statements to the NPS prior to incorporating into the Draft Civic Engagement Comment

Summary Report under the next subtask. The Contractor should assume one revision to the concern statements after NPS review, assuming the first draft is of acceptable quality to the COR.

Deliverable: Prepare up to 20 concern statements

Subtask 5-E. Civic Engagement Comment Summary Report

Within 15 days after the close of the civic engagement period, the Contractor shall produce a Public Comment

Summary Report for review and approval by the NPS. This report shall contain concern statements, representative quotes for each concern statement, and may include other demographic information that can be generated in PEPC. The Contractor shall discuss the specific content and organization of this report with the

COR prior to developing the draft. After NPS review of this product, the Contractor shall participate in a conference call to discuss the report and identify necessary revisions. The Contractor shall assume one revision of the report would be required after the conference call, if the first draft is of acceptable quality to the COR.

• Draft comment summary report

• Final comment summary report

*Option for Additional Correspondence

(May be awarded through a future modification or modifications, if necessary, based on amount of correspondence received) If more than 75 documents or unique pieces of correspondence are received, the

Contractor shall be responsible for reviewing and coding them in increments of up to 20 additional unique pieces of correspondence per optional subtask. Additional subtasks could be awarded to the Contractor for the entry of each additional group of up to 20 unique pieces of correspondence received.

Task 6. Proposed Action and Preliminary Alternatives Reviews and Refinement Calls

The Contractor shall facilitate one call, up to two hours in length, to review and refine the preliminary proposed action and alternatives based on civic engagement or other consultation. The Contractor shall prepare all materials necessary to facilitate this call including, but not limited to, call agenda, summary of materials prepared to date with regard to the preliminary proposed action and alternatives, and maps of the project area to facilitate discussions. All maps shall be in sufficient detail to illustrate the planning area, and other information relevant to this project. The call materials should reflect information and insights obtained from the interdisciplinary team and civic engagement and will be distributed electronically.

The Contractor shall prepare call notes in summary form and not a transcription. The summary shall document the discussion and decisions related to each agenda topic. The notes shall include a summary of the preliminary proposed action and alternatives in a narrative format (tabular format can supplement the narrative and assist in alternatives comparison), as well as a list of outstanding items needing resolution. When the

Contractor provides the meeting notes, the related background information that was prepared for the call shall also be included. The Contractor shall assume one revision of the notes from the call, if the first draft is of acceptable quality to the COR.

• Draft call materials and notes

• Final call materials and notes

PART 2. NEPA Initiation and Document Preparation

Part 2 cannot commence until Part 1 is fully complete with approval from the COR and NPS Regional

Director.

NPS will continue to evaluate the appropriate NEPA pathway for this project during the pre-NEPA phase.

However, at this time, the Contractor should assume preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA) and

Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) within a year from NPS Regional approval to start the EA. The EA shall be a succinct summary, no longer than 75 pages, excluding appendices. The Contractor shall work with the NPS to develop a schedule for completing the EA and FONSI, to include required internal NPS briefings and approvals.

Task 6. Environmental Assessment Public Scoping

Subtask 6-A. Public Scoping Meeting Materials (Option)

The Contractor will develop an updated Story Map presentation (based on the presentation created for civic engagement in Task 4) for public scoping. Using the existing Story Map, updates will include narrative text about the proposed action, range of alternatives, environmental issues, and potential impacts, creating updated maps (if necessary), and instruction on how to submit public comments. The draft materials shall be delivered first for an initial review and comment by NPS. The Contractor shall assume one revision of the draft text, assuming the draft is of acceptable quality to the COR.

After addressing NPS comments on the draft content, the Contractor shall provide formatted electronic and digital media materials which meets the standards of the NPS Graphic Identity Program (but typefaces will be discussed/determined in advance with the COR). The Contractor should assume one revision of the formatted draft StoryMap and a final StoryMap. NPS will distribute copies of the electronic media as necessary and post digital media to NPS websites. NPS will also publish notices announcing the availability of scoping materials in local papers and/or writing and distributing press releases.

• Draft Story Map materials

• Final Story Map materials

Subtask 6-B. Virtual Public Scoping Meeting Attendance/Support

The Contractor shall assist with the planning and organization, and moderate one, 1-hour virtual meeting during the public scoping period. The Contractor will provide the host platform (e.g., MS Teams, Zoom, etc.).

The Contractor shall facilitate the public virtual meeting, and perform tasks such as, but not limited to welcoming participants, troubleshooting, and gathering questions.

One practice meeting will be conducted prior to the public meeting to get the Project Team familiar with the host platform, establish roles and responsibilities during the meetings, and ensure all meeting presenters are comfortable using the host platform software and anticipate issues and public needs during the meeting.

The Contractor shall have two members of their team participate in the virtual meeting and the Contractor shall record the public meeting for future use (e.g., by the public) and provide the 508-compliant recording to the NPS within 5 days of the meeting. The Contractor shall provide a draft outline/script and submit to NPS for review and comment for which a final outline/script will be created. The Contractor shall take comprehensive notes documenting the meetings including the number and names of attendees and comments and questions received.

• Draft outline/script

• Final outline/script

• Meeting recording

Task 7. Environmental Assessment Public Scoping Comment Analysis*

Subtask 7-A. Entering Hard Copy Public Correspondence into the NPS PEPC System

The Contractor shall be responsible for entering all correspondence not received directly through PEPC into the PEPC system. This correspondence shall be scanned or re-typed into PEPC. For estimation purposes, the

Contractor should assume up to 10 documents (faxes, hard copy letters, and summary of comments from public meetings typed into the PEPC database) would be generated, including those comments received at the public meeting. (Note: one set of public meeting comments is considered one piece of correspondence).

Deliverable: Enter up to 10 correspondences into PEPC

Subtask 7-B. Prepare Coding Structure

After reviewing a cross-section of the comments, the Contractor shall develop a coding structure to be reviewed and approved by the NPS. No coding shall be done without prior approval by the NPS COR.

Deliverable: Draft and revised coding structure

Subtask 7-C. Review and Code Unique Correspondence

Upon review and approval of the coding structure, the Contractor shall review unique pieces of correspondence, code individual comments from the pieces of correspondence, and identify representative quotes (verbatim comments). The Contractor should assume a total of 50 pieces of unique 1- or 2-page correspondence (excluding form letters) will need to be reviewed and coded.

Deliverable: Review and code up to 50 unique correspondences correspondence received)

If more than 50 documents or unique pieces of correspondence are received, the Contractor shall be responsible for reviewing and coding them in increments of up to 20 additional unique pieces of correspondence per optional subtask. Additional subtasks could be awarded to the Contractor for the entry of each additional group of up to 20 unique pieces of correspondence received.

Subtask 7-D. Develop Concern Statements

After coding the public comments, the Contractor shall develop concern statements for the substantive comments as defined in the 2015 NPS NEPA handbook. The Contractor shall assume up to 20 concern statements will need to be developed. The concern statements should represent a summary of the substantive issues and intent received from the public that require a response. Concern statements should stand on their own, meaning they should not rely on representative quotes for meaning or context but accurately capture the intent of the substantive comments. The Contractor shall deliver draft concern statements to NPS prior to incorporating into the Draft EA Public Scoping Comment Analysis Report under the next subtask. The

Contractor should assume one revision to the concern statements after NPS review, assuming the first draft is of acceptable quality to the COR.

Deliverable: Prepare up to 20 concern statements

Subtask 7-E. Public Scoping Comment Summary Report

Within 10 days of the close of the public scoping period, the Contractor shall provide the NPS a document summarizing the comments received during the EA public scoping period for review and comment. The

Contractor shall discuss the specific content and organization of this report with the COR prior to developing the draft. This draft report shall contain the revised concern statements (prepared under Subtask 9-D), representative quotes for each concern statement (taken from PEPC) and may contain other demographic reports and indices that can be generated in PEPC as identified by the NPS. The summary shall also include a discussion of any new issues raised during public scoping for the EA that were not raised during civic engagement, and shall include as an appendix, the civic engagement comment summary report. The Contractor shall assume one revision of the EA public scoping summary report, assuming the first draft is of acceptable quality to the COR.

• Draft EA public scoping comment summary

• Final EA public scoping comment summary

Task 8. Environmental Assessment Outline

Within 5 days of obtaining Regional Director approval of the NEPA pathway, the Contractor shall deliver an outline of an EA. The Contractor shall not proceed with Task 11 until the outline is approved by NPS. The EA shall include, at a minimum, all required content for EAs identified in Appendix A of the DO-12 NPS NEPA

Handbook (2015).

Deliverable: EA Outline in MS Word format

Task 9. Preparation of First Internal Draft Administrative Environmental Assessment

Within 15 days of completing Task 10, the Contractor shall deliver a complete, technically adequate, edited internal draft EA for NPS review and comment written in a manner consistent with 40 CFR §1502.8. The internal draft EA shall include, at a minimum, all required content for EAs identified in Appendix A of the

DO-12 NPS NEPA Handbook (2015). The internal draft EA shall be no longer than 75 pages, excluding appendices, which shall be included as necessary. It is anticipated the EA will contain at least three technical appendices that are written in a manner that can be easily understood by the public. The Contractor shall use information from previous deliverables and information obtained during the scoping period for the EA. The

Contractor shall incorporate by reference as appropriate any materials that cannot be fully described in the EA, including literature reviews. Items such as issues carried forward and issues dismissed may be included in the appendix of the EA.

Deliverable: Internal Administrative Draft EA

Task 10. Internal Review Roundtable Calls

The Contractor shall hold up to three calls, each up to 1-hour in length, to review internal draft EA comments with the park, NPS regional office, and other specialist team members. The purpose of the roundtable meetings shall be to discuss substantive issues associated with the internal draft EA, identify any issues needing resolution prior to publishing the EA, evaluate how alternatives meet the objectives of the plan, and discuss an

NPS Preferred Alternative. The Contractor shall identify substantive NPS comments that need to be addressed in advance of the meeting and prepare a meeting agenda. The Contractor shall take notes capturing all discussions and decisions during the roundtable meeting to enable the Contractor to resolve comments when preparing the camera-ready EA. The Contractor shall assume one revision of the notes, assuming the first draft is of acceptable quality to the COR.

• Draft meeting agenda and call notes

• Final call notes

Task 11. Preparation of Second Internal Draft Administrative Environmental Assessment

The Contractor shall incorporate NPS comments from Task 9 and Task 10 into a revised internal draft administrative EA. The document will build upon the first internal administrative draft EA and retain all attributes of that document including all required content for EAs identified in Appendix A of the DO-12 NPS

NEPA Handbook (2015) and a full technical edit. A comment matrix presenting how NPS comments were addressed will accompany this deliverable to ensure the document is ready for NPS region review.

Deliverable: Revised Internal Administrative Draft EA

Task 12. Camera-Ready EA

The Contractor shall deliver a complete, technically adequate, fully edited camera-ready EA with NPS comments incorporated that is consistent with 40 CFR §1502.8. The complete camera-ready draft EA shall include final graphics and shall be delivered in digital format. The NPS will conduct a review of the camera-ready draft EA for any minor text/layout changes that may need to be corrected by the Contractor, and will use the camera-ready version to obtain permission to print approval for the public EA from the Regional Director.

After incorporation of any minor text/layout changes, the Contractor shall deliver a final camera-ready document which shall include final Section 508 formatting, bookmarking, indexing, and proper format for

Government Publishing Office (GPO) printing as applicable.

The Contractor shall also assume Section 508 formatting for up to two additional supplemental documents that may be posted to the public in support of the EA. These documents may include information that was developed in other parts of this scope of work that was not included in the EA and appendices itself.

• Draft Camera-Ready EA and appendices

• Final Camera-Ready EA and appendices incorporating NPS regional and other comments

Task 13. Environmental Assessment Public Comment Meetings

Subtask 13-A. Public Meeting Materials (Option)

The Contractor will develop an updated Story Map presentation (based on the presentation created for civic engagement in Task 4 and public scoping in Task 6) for public review of the EA. Building upon the existing

Story Map, updates will include revising narrative text about the proposed action, range of alternatives, environmental issues, and potential impacts, creating updated maps, as necessary, and instruction on how to submit public comments. The draft materials shall be delivered first for an initial review and comment by

NPS. The Contractor shall assume one revision of the draft text, assuming the draft is of acceptable quality to the COR.

After addressing NPS comments on the draft content, the Contractor shall provide formatted electronic and digital media materials which meet the standards of the NPS Graphic Identity Program (but typefaces will be discussed/determined in advance with the COR). The Contractor should assume one revision of the formatted draft, assuming the first draft is of acceptable quality to the COR. The Contractor shall provide an electronic version of the final materials to the NPS, in PDF format that complies with Section 508 requirements (see

Notes on Deliverables section above). NPS will distribute copies of the electronic media as necessary and post digital media to NPS websites. NPS will also publish notices announcing the availability of the EA in local papers and/or writing and distributing press releases.

• Draft updated Story Map materials

• Final updated Story Map materials

Subtask 13-B. Virtual Public Meeting Organization and Facilitation

The Contractor shall assist with the planning and organization, and moderate one, 1-hour virtual meeting during the public review period of the EA. The Contractor will provide the host platform (e.g., MS Teams, Zoom, etc.). The Contractor shall provide an outline/script for the meeting, facilitate the public virtual meeting, and perform tasks such as, but not limited to welcoming participants, troubleshooting, and gathering questions.

One practice meeting will be conducted prior to the public meeting to get the Project Team familiar with the host platform, establish roles and responsibilities during the meetings, and ensure all meeting presenters are comfortable using the host platform software and…