Attachment A Performance Work Statement.pdf

PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT

NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service Pacific Islands Regional Office Protected Resources Division

Veterinary Services for Marine Mammals and Turtles

I. Purpose

The purpose of this procurement is to provide professional veterinary services for marine mammal and sea turtle cases managed and/or authorized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) in the Pacific Islands Region.

II. Background

The NMFS is responsible for responding to marine mammal and sea turtle strandings (live and dead) under authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA). The NMFS also conducts or supports rehabilitation (e.g., temporary captive treatment) of marine mammals and sea turtles under authority of the MMPA and ESA. In the Pacific Islands Region, the NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO) and Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) share responsibility for marine mammal and sea turtle stranding response and rehabilitation. PIRO and PIFSC work in close collaboration with several government and non-government partners in fulfilling these responsibilities.

Veterinary services are frequently needed during marine mammal or sea turtle stranding responses and rehabilitation efforts. In many cases this need can be met by an in-house veterinarian (federal employee) who works for PIFSC. However, there are some situations when veterinary services are required that cannot be met by existing NMFS resources. These situations can occur when multiple strandings, injuries and/or disease incidents happen simultaneously or when services are needed in remote locations. NMFS is seeking to meet this additional need through contractor support.

III. Scope of Work

The NMFS requires on-call veterinary services for marine mammals and sea turtles in the Pacific Islands Region. The Contractor shall provide all veterinary personnel services necessary for the successful completion of the scope of work and tasks described in this Performance Work Statement (PWS). The Contractor shall ensure that all veterinary personnel have and hold appropriate licenses, certifications and degrees for the practice of veterinary medicine in Hawaii and other jurisdictions in which the services will be provided. The Contractor shall provide veterinary care for sick and/or injured Hawaiian monk seals, cetaceans, and sea turtles. The Contractor shall work with NMFS staff and volunteers to ensure animal health and welfare during responses to strandings, injuries and other incidents; and during captures, transports, and captive care of marine mammals. The Contractor shall also provide services during necropsies and medical sampling of dead animals. The Contractor shall provide veterinary services as deemed necessary and appropriate by their professional judgment and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. No services shall be initiated by the contractor without prior authorization by NMFS. In the course of providing these services, the Contractor shall maintain close coordination and communication with the designated NMFS point of contact to ensure consistency with NMFS policies and compliance with any applicable ESA-MMPA permit requirements.

The services will be provided in the field and in captive care situations that are often subject to close public attention and considered to be controversial by some members of the public.

The scope of work includes the following components:

a. Task A

Provide on-call veterinary services, estimated at 300 on-call hours per year (will vary year-to-year), 24 hours per day/7 days per week for Hawaiian monk seal, cetacean, and sea turtle strandings and related activities in the field (main Hawaiian Islands), including:

1) Conduct on-scene emergency veterinary care (handling, restraint, examination, drug administration, treatment, sampling, etc.) for injured, sick or potentially compromised marine mammals.

2) Conduct and/or participate in necropsies of dead marine mammals and prepare and submit within seven business days detailed necropsy reports that include analysis and findings regarding cause of death.

3) Provide advice to PIRO staff on appropriate testing of samples.

4) Provide advice to PIRO staff in stocking and maintenance of equipment and supplies for various types of marine mammal strandings and incident responses.

b. Task B Provide on-call animal husbandry and veterinary health care and consulting for sick and/or injured marine mammals and sea turtles in captive care situations, including:

1) Conduct emergency and routine care (handling, restraint, examination, drug administration, treatment, sampling, etc.) for patients in captive care situations, including patients in federal facilities.

2) Advise PIRO staff on medical treatment and daily care – advice may be provided remotely if physical examination is not necessary.

3) Provide veterinary oversight of husbandry efforts.

c. Task C

4) Provide and/or participate in technical trainings for NMFS personnel and partners, including hands-on training in veterinary care, and animal handling, behavior monitoring, and feeding techniques.

Provide on-call veterinary consultations in-personm and remotely regarding marine mammal and sea turtle veterinary cases, and provide advice to NMFS staff and partners on protocols and procedures related to animal health and welfare.

d. Monthly Fee

The Contractor shall be provided a monthly fee to maintain on-call availability at all times (24 hours per day, 7 days per week) and to cover all administrative and other costs not associated with direct provision of animal care or training (see Section VII below), including but not limited to all work associated with the Contractor engaging in email correspondence, providing telephone consultations, research, preparation of training material, report writing, participating in debriefs and meetings.

e. Hourly Fee

In addition to a monthly service fee, veterinarian services shall be provided at an hourly rate for direct provision of veterinary care for marine mammals and sea turtles provided in the field at strandings and other incident responses (e.g., necropsies), for care provided at captive care locations (e.g., rehabilitation facilities), and for post mortem examinations, including necropsies. The dates, times, and severity of the marine mammal wildlife incidents requiring veterinary services cannot be specified in advance as these incidents are unpredictable. A veterinarian service hourly rate shall include all services required in Task A, B, and C of Section III, Scope of Work.

IV. Travel Work shall be conducted in the main Hawaiian Islands (Kauai, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau and Hawaii Island). The Contractor shall be available to provide the services on the island of Oahu at any time during the period of performance on an on-call basis. The Contractor shall also provide services on neighbor islands within the main Hawaiian Islands.

Travel costs shall be reimbursed in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation (www.gsa.gov/ftr).

Any travel conducted prior to the receipt of proper written authorization from the Contracting Officer Representative will be done at the Contractor’s own risk and expense.

V. Place of Performance The contractor shall be required to provide services in a variety of locations, including in the field at stranding locations throughout the main Hawaiian Islands (Kauai, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau and Hawaii Island), as well as at veterinary care facilities, including facilities on federal government property, such as the Daniel K. Inouye Regional Center on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Oahu.

VI. Government Vehicle The contractor may be required to operate a federal vehicle (such as a NOAA marine mammal response pick-up truck) to provide the services in some cases. The contractor shall meet NOAA requirements for use of government vehicles, including but not limited to completion of a government authorized defensive driving training and possession of a valid driver license.

VII. Trainings Participation in, and/or provision of, training will be required by NMFS, and the Contractor may charge NMFS for time expended participating in and/or providing these required trainings at the same hourly rate approved for other services specified in the PWS. Time spent preparing for trainings shall not be billed at the hourly rate. Time spent preparing for trainings will be covered under the monthly fee (see Section III d above). The Contractor shall receive prior written notification and approval from NMFS before participating in and/or providing such training. No more than 40 hours may be charged each year for Contractor participation in, and/or provision of, trainings.

VIII. Supplies and Materials The Contractor will be expected to provide miscellaneous veterinary supplies, equipment and medications, including controlled drugs, as requested by the Government. The cost of these supplies and materials shall not exceed $3,500.00 each year. It is required for the Contractor to have a Drug

Enforcement Administration (DEA) license. The Contractor shall serve as a “Veterinarian of Record” for NMFS as needed for the procurement of medications and other supplies and procedures by NMFS.

IX. To Be Provided by the Government PIRO will provide information and guidance to the Contractor regarding response and incident coordination, work locations, NMFS designated points of contact, logistical information and permitting compliance information for use by the Contractor in completing the tasks listed above. NMFS staff (PIRO and PIFSC points-of-contact and/or staff designees) will meet with the Contractor on a regular basis to provide direction regarding completion of the tasks. PIRO will supply to the Contractor upon request copies of available NMFS reports and documentation relevant to providing the veterinary services described in this performance work statement. Except for a limited amount of miscellaneous items and controlled drugs (see Section VIII.), NMFS will provide equipment, supplies and materials necessary for the treatment, sampling, capture, restraint, transport and captive care of the marine mammals cared for by the Contractor.. PIRO will be responsible for covering costs associated with obtaining, shipping and analyzing veterinary samples taken in association with this purchase order.

X. Access, Equipment and Security The government anticipates facility and security access as follows:

• Requires access to NOAA facilities

• Requires a PIV or CAC

• For laboratory work, the Government will provide typical lab supplies and equipment for use

XI. Minimum Qualifications

The Contractor shall possess all the following minimum qualifications:

1. Formal education (degrees and coursework) of proposed Contractor in veterinary medicine.

Minimum required: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM).

2. Appropriate licenses, certifications and degrees for the practice of veterinary medicine in Hawaii and other jurisdictions in which the services will be provided.

3. At least 5 years of veterinary experience with marine mammals and sea turtles in Hawaii, and at least 2 years of veterinary experience specific to Hawaiian monk seals.

4. Knowledge of marine mammal species ecology and biology in Hawaii.

5. Knowledge of NMFS marine mammal stranding response data reporting forms and requirements.

6. Availability of adequate personnel, time, and resources to provide the services on an on-call basis (24/7) and deliver follow up products (e.g., reports) in a timely and thorough manner.