Attachment A Performance Work Statement.pdf

Performance Work Statement National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Alaska Region Protected Resources Division (PRD) Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response

Background The contractor will work closely with the Alaska Region (AKR) Stranding Program Coordinator, Entanglement Coordinators, Alaska Region staff, and with the Alaska Stranding Program Network Members (Network). This requirement provides veterinary and health expertise as well as some outreach, administrative, and data support.

The services may cover a variety of tasks within the scope of the Stranding Program including:

• Veterinary/Necropsy/Disentanglement Support,

• Administrative support,

• Education and Outreach,

• Stranding Data Management, and

• Unusual Mortality Event Investigations

Tasks Key tasks include the following:

Task 1: The contractor shall provide veterinary, necropsy, and disentanglement support, including:

A. Identify needed sampling and necropsy supplies for the Stranding Network (e.g., knives, tissue sampling kits, rope, coolers, etc.); and, upon approval by the Stranding Program Coordinator or NMFS AKR, Protected Resources Division management, purchase and distribute supplies to Stranding Network;

B. Assist in coordinating or leading marine mammal necropsies throughout Alaska as necessary;

it is anticipated that the majority of events will be in the Gulf of Alaska and Southeast Alaska regions, however travel to other areas of the state to conduct necropsies may be required;

C. Transfer of biological samples collected from stranded marine mammals to labs and state veterinary pathologist for analysis following network protocols and standard operating procedures;

D. Obtain/maintain Co-Investigator role on NMFS Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) permit as a large whale entanglement responder (level 4), and may coordinate/assist with large whale entanglement responses in Alaska as requested by the Large Whale Entanglement Coordinator;

E. Prepare for large whale entanglement responses by obtaining, maintaining, and distributing entanglement response gear (VHF, cutting tools, satellite tags, inflatable response vessel);

F. Obtain/maintain Co-Investigator role on NMFS MMHSRP permit, and may lead or assist Steller sea lion disentanglements in coordination with the Stranding Program Coordinator and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game;

G. Serve as a health specialist on interagency Pinniped Entanglement Working Group and perform follow-up actions as necessary;

H. Purchase sedatives and other medications for pinniped disentanglement response (typically, this requires professional medical credentials);

I. Assist with the development, contribute to, and/or distribute proper documentation, health reports, or publications associated with these activities. Including completing level A data forms and regional forms for responses the contractor is lead on as well as finalizing pinniped and large whale entanglement forms from all responders.

Deliverables:

A. Yearly comprehensive inventory of all biological samples collected, storage location, and transfers to labs for analysis for permit reporting.

B. Organized and comprehensive inventory of sampling, necropsy, and disentanglement gear stored in NMFS Juneau Offices.

C. Reports and publications on health, strandings, and entanglements as requested.

D. Documentation of sampling and necropsy supplies ordered and distribution to stranding network members.

E. Participation in interagency meetings when requested.

F. Co-Investigator on Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program permit and documentation of activities under permit.

G. Inventory of sedatives and other medications including expiration dates and storage location.

H. Complete level A and human interaction forms that the contractor is lead on, and review of regional entanglement forms and enter into regional databases as requested.

Task 2: The contractor shall provide administrative support, including:

A. Consult with the Stranding Program Coordinator and stranding staff on a weekly basis (or more frequently, as warranted) in-person or via teleconference.

B. Provide a valid cell phone number to the Stranding Hotline answering service as a member of the Stranding Program team and Large Whale Entanglement Response team. When contacted, collect the stranding-related information and coordinate the appropriate response. The answering service operates 24 hrs/day but the Stranding Program team (and Specialist.

Messages are not relayed between 11pm and 7am Alaska Time zone.

C. Advance approval of travel and supply purchases. Once approved, make own travel arrangements (e.g., airfare, lodging, transportation) for on-site stranding or entanglement-related responses

D. Assist with the coordination with Stranding Network members to arrange for field responses when contractor is not available, or the logistics are more practical for a network member to respond;

E. Communicate with the Stranding Network and NMFS Office of Law Enforcement as necessary to accomplish various tasks;

F. Maintain updated work schedule by posting working hours on the NMFS AKR staff Google calendar, identifying times working at the NMFS offices (during regular business hours) as well as times working offsite.

Deliverables:

A. Meet weekly with Stranding Coordinator and stranding staff.

B. Large Whale Entanglement Response and collection of data through stranding hotline coverage.

C. Receipts and documentation of purchases and travel.

D. Maintain an accurate work calendar at least one month out.

Task 3: The contractor shall provide education and outreach support, including:

A. The contractor may write or assist with 2-4 articles for the two Stranding Program newsletters per year;

B. Educate others by attending and participating in marine mammal health or stranding meetings as requested to present summaries of the Stranding Program data and status of Alaska UME investigations;

C. Assist with the development or review of outreach materials including public service announcements, videos, fliers, press or web stories on strandings and entanglements.

D. Participate and/or assist with coordinating meetings hosted by Stranding Program staff;

Deliverables:

A. Prepare up to four articles or content for the Stranding newsletter per year.

B. Distribute information on marine mammal health, stranding, and entanglements to the public, stakeholders, and partners.

C. Prepare draft and final versions of outreach materials.

D. Present results at annual AKR stranding meeting.

Task 4: The contractor shall provide stranding data management support, including:

E. Complete all level A forms, regional forms and all necropsy reports for which they are lead within 30 days;

F. Assist with annual summary reports (including tables, charts, and histograms of species totals, locations, dates, cause of death, and findings of human interaction);

G. Assist with requests for stranding and entanglement data including maps, tables and figures for reports and presentations.

H. Assist with determining fishery assignments for stranding events where fishery interaction has occurred and add this information to stranding data;

Deliverables:

A. Accurate and complete data forms.

B. Prepare draft and final summary reports (annually).

C. Prepare maps, tables and figures of stranding and entanglement data.

D. Documentation and reports of human interactions.

Task 5: In the event of an ongoing or recently declared Unusual Mortality Event (UME) in Alaska, the contract may assist in the investigation(s) as requested, including:

A. Analyze relevant NMFS stranding records to support the declaration of an UME or other disaster;

B. Analyze UME-related data to respond to requests from the UME team;

C. Coordinate UME-related activities and fulfill the role of on- or off-site coordinator if requested, including leading meetings and developing recommendations for UME responses and future activities;

D. Participate in carcass surveys or necropsies as part of identified or potential UME investigations;

E. Work with other veterinarians or experts to analyze available health data to help determine cause of death or illness in UME cases;

F. Document UME-specific information in summary reports or case closure-related documents.

Deliverables:

A. Survey and necropsy reports for those events associated with the potential or declared

UME.

B. Determination of cause of death and evaluation of stranding reports and data associated with UME team requests.

C. Participate in UME meetings.

D. If requested, assist with draft and finalization of UME reports and open or closure-related documents.

E. Reports and publications on UME data and investigation as requested.

The following is a schedule of all deliverables, including administrative deliverables, required during the period of performance of this purchase order:

Item Description Quantity Due Date Deliver to Reference Task 1A Stranding response two October 30 and

April 30 AKR Stranding Coordinator Deliverable 1A, B, D

Task 1B Stranding response varies

As requested, usually between May 1 and Sept 30

AKR Stranding Coordinator Deliverable 1A, B

Task 1C Stranding response varies Continuous AKR Stranding Coordinator Deliverable 1A, B

Task 1D-F

Large whale entanglement response varies

As requested, with reports due within 2 weeks of completion of activities

AKR Large Whale Entanglement Coordinator

Deliverable 1A, B, C, F, H

Task Pinniped entanglement varies As requested with AKR Stranding Deliverable 1C, E, F, G, H

1G-I response reports due within 2 weeks of completion of activities

Coordinator and AKR Pinniped Entanglement Coordinator

Task 1J Stranding response varies Within 30 days of request AKR Stranding Coordinator Deliverable 1A, C, 1H

Task 2A administrative support varies Weekly

AKR Stranding Coordinator and AKR stranding staff

Deliverable 2A

Task 2B administrative support varies Continuous

Large Whale Entanglement Coordinator

Deliverable 2B

Task 2C administrative support varies Continuous, usually May-Sept AKR Stranding Coordinator Deliverable 2C

Task 2D-F administrative support varies

Continuous, with reports due within 2 weeks of completion of activities

AKR Stranding Coordinator and AKR stranding staff

Deliverable 2C, D

Task 3A education and outreach support

Up to 4 annually

Within 30 days of request, Every 6 months

AKR Stranding Coordinator and AKR stranding staff

Deliverable 3A, B, C

Task 3B, C, D education and outreach support varies Within 30 days of request

AKR Stranding Coordinator and AKR stranding staff

Deliverable 3B, C, D

Task 4A stranding data management support varies Continuous AKR Stranding

Coordinator Deliverable 4a

Task 4B, C stranding data management support varies Within 30 days of request

AKR Stranding Coordinator and AKR stranding staff

Deliverable 4B, C, D

Task 4D stranding data management support varies Annually

Coordinator and AKR stranding staff

Deliverable 4D

Task 5A UME Stranding response varies Within 30 days of request

AKR Stranding Coordinator and/or national UME Coordinator and UME Team

Deliverable 5A, B, E

Task 5B UME Stranding response varies Within 30 days of request

AKR Stranding Coordinator and/or national UME Coordinator and UME Team

Deliverable 5A, B, C, D, E

Task 5C UME Stranding response varies Duration of declared UME

AKR Stranding Coordinator and/or national UME Coordinator and UME Team

Deliverable 5A, B, C, D, E

5D, E UME Stranding response varies

Within 30 days of request during the duration of declared UME

AKR Stranding Coordinator;

collaborators and UME Team

Deliverable 5A, B, D, E

Task 5F UME Stranding response varies

Annual reports on June 30th or Within 30 days of request

AKR Stranding Coordinator and UME Team

Deliverable 5A, B, D, E

Qualifications

The proposed personnel must have experience in the following:

● Working with diverse teams, public and subsistence users.

● Excellent verbal and written communication skills

● Marine Mammal health and necropsy including evaluating human interactions.

● Large whale and pinniped disentanglement responses

The proposed personnel must possess and maintain the following skills/certifications and/or credentials during the period of performance:

● Veterinary and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) licenses

● Obtain/maintain Co-Investigator role on NMFS MMHSRP permit as both a large whale entanglement responder (level 4 or higher) and pinniped disentanglements.

● Current MS Office skills

● Arc GIS skills

● Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) & First Aid

The contractor shall provide interdisciplinary expertise related to program and project management, business processes, best practices and procedures, database management, and meeting facilitation. The contractor shall have knowledge and expertise of NOAA Fisheries policies and programs, as well as experience with planning, and Federal financial management and operations.

Performance Requirements Summary

This contract includes a Performance Requirements Summary (PRS) and Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP). The PRS plays an integral role in the administration of the contract. In addition to any applicable inspection clauses or other related terms and conditions contained in the contract, the PRS shall serve as a primary tool for inspection and acceptance of services as facilitated by the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). Evaluation of the Contractor’s overall performance shall be in accordance with the performance standards set forth in the PRS, and will be conducted by the COR. The PRS constitutes a material aspect of the contract and will not be changed or otherwise modified without prior written approval of the Contracting Officer.

Required Service and Designation

Desired Outcome

Performance Standard

Acceptable Quality Level

Monitoring Method

Incentive/ Disincentive

Deliverable 1A-I

-Supplies are ordered, organized, and distributed for sampling, necropsies, and disentanglements -Necropsies are completed, reports completed and accurate; samples submitted/ shipped and accurate inventories.

-Attend PEG working group meetings and complete follow up actions on schedule.

Performance standard met at least 95% of time

-Stranding Coordinator will check invoices and inventory lists of supplies

- Stranding or entanglement Coordinator will review reports

- Stranding Coordinator will solicit feedback from PEG and AKR Pinniped Entanglement Coordinator

- Review of agendas/ meeting notes by requester and/or attendees -Review of health reports, documents, entanglement forms

Material-poor performance evaluations;

corrective action plan

Task

Deliverable 2A-D - Attend weekly meetings -Accurate calendars

Performance standard met at least 95% of time

-check meeting agendas and notes -check travel requests and invoices and compare to email dates requesting approval -check calendars

Material-poor performance evaluations;

corrective action plan

Task

Deliverable 3A – F

-Write articles for newsletter

Performance standard met at least 90% of time

- review articles -check meeting agendas and presentations from health and stranding meetings and conferences -Review outreach materials

Material-poor performance evaluations;

corrective action plan

Deliverable 4A-D - Performance standard met at least 90% of time

-review stranding forms and datasets, summaries, maps, and reports -review fishery assignments for relevant stranding events

Material-poor performance evaluations;

corrective action plan

Task

Deliverable 2A-F -support UME investigations, if declared and participation is requested

Performance standard met at least 90% of time

-review documents compiling stranding data including historical and recent data.

-review agendas and notes from UME related meetings -review carcass survey and necropsy reports associated with

UME

Material-poor performance evaluations;

corrective action plan

Confidentiality and Data Privacy

This contract may require that services contractors have access to Privacy Information. Services contractors are responsible for maintaining confidentiality of all subjects and materials and may be required to sign and adhere to a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA).

Government Furnished Resources

The Government will provide all necessary information, data and documents to the Contractor for work required under this contract.

The Contractor shall use Government furnished facilities, property, equipment and supplies only for the performance of work under this contract, and shall be responsible for returning all Government furnished facilities, property, and equipment in good working condition, subject to normal wear and tear.

Place of Performance

The majority of large whale and Steller sea lion disentanglements occur in Southeast Alaska, and the gear caches for these types of responses are NMFS property located in the Federal Building in Juneau, Alaska at

709 W 9th Street. We require that the stranding response specialist be primarily available for field response in Juneau, Alaska, from May 1 to September 30, throughout the period of performance. The contractor may work remotely from another location during the remainder of the contract.

Overtime, Travel, and Training Overtime is not anticipated or authorized at this time. If overtime is required, a contract modification must be executed by the Contracting Officer prior to performance.

Any overtime worked in excess of the authorization is at the Contractor’s own risk and expense.

Reimbursement for overtime or premium pay related to work on holidays, including unscheduled Executive Orders, is not authorized at any time.

Travel is anticipated for this purchase order. The consultant will need to travel to respond to stranded or entangled marine mammals and perform surveys. Any travel conducted prior to the receipt of proper written authorization from the COR will be done at the Contractor’s own risk and expense.

Training is authorized for NMFS/NOAA/DOC specific systems and requirements. Completion certificates must be submitted to the COR no later than 3 business days after the start of the contract/task order or completion of courses after authorization. The following training is currently required to be completed under this task order. The COR may authorize additional training that is necessary for the task order and not commercially available.

● NOAA IT security

● NOAA Safety training

● Sexual Assault/Sexual Harassment Prevention and Response Training IAW NAM 1330-52.222-

70(b)(6)

● Records Management 101

Additional commercial or non-task order specific training may be permitted under the following circumstances: 1) prior written approval is obtained from the COR, 2) there is no additional cost to the Government for attendance, 3) the time is not billed to the Government, and 4) there is no relief/change for deliverable due dates.