ATTACHMENT B 2024_WRDPollinators_678684_StatementofWork_20240108 - Copy.docx

US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Statement of Work

Contents

Project CNF - CON NFXFD723(0901) - Moquah Barrens Pollinator Survey

General Information

1.0 Scope of Work

The Washburn Ranger District has a need of a proficient contract surveyor who is familiar with visual identification of butterfly, moth, and bumble bee species. This contractor will survey potential habitat within the Moquah Barrens Management Area and other satellite barrens and upland opening areas (Survey Focus Area: 2,035 acres) located on the Washburn Ranger District of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Bayfield County, Wisconsin.

2.0 Background

Work will take place during three defined survey periods from approximately May 13, 2024, to October 31, 2024, to correspond with the approximate emergence and flight periods of specified target species. For example, Survey Period 1 corresponds with the earliest and latest documented Chryxus arctic (Oeneis chryxus) emergence dates on the Washburn District. The defined survey periods may be adjusted to account for seasonal weather variability and shifts in emergence and/or flight periods of the target species. Any likely adjustment(s) shall be discussed with the designated Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). These surveys will encompass selected historic and managed locations on the district for Chryxus arctic and other pollinator species of interest. The last documented sighting of Chryxus arctic on the Washburn District was in 2011. Most of the habitat is comprised of open barrens and includes a section of powerline that is of similar open barrens habitat.

The focus of this survey is to 1) confirm the presence of the Chryxus arctic on the district, beginning with confirming presence at previously known locations and within the designated survey areas of potentially suitable habitat, and 2) document the presence of other listed target pollinator species. Survey target species include LEPIDOPTERAN: chryxus arctic, Cobweb Skipper (Hesperia metea), Henry’s Elfin (Callophrys henrici), Tawny Crescent (Phyciodes batesii), Monarch (Danaus plexippus), and Pink Sallow (Psectraglaea carnosa); BUMBLE BEES: Rusty-patched (Bombus affinis) and Yellow-banded (Bombus terricola); TIGER BEETLES: Northern Barrens Tiger Beetle (Cicindela patruela). Other species observed during these surveys should also be documented.

Work will be done under a wide variety of field conditions, including potentially rough terrain and long-distance foot travel. Generalized areas where surveys are to take place are designated on the provided project maps. Unless indicated on the provided maps as a “Survey Focus Area”, specific locations of the surveys within these areas will be left to the contractor’s discretion and expertise based on likely habitat suitability, occurrence for species of interest, and expected/current weather conditions. A discussion regarding survey areas will take place during the scheduled pre-work meeting between the successful contractor and designated COR.

Contractor Requirements

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

Survey activity is to be conducted during the following defined survey periods: 1) May 13, 2024 – June 21, 2024; 2) August 12, 2024 – September 20, 2024, and 3) September 21, 2024 – October 31, 2024. However, as described above, these dates may be adjusted to account for seasonal weather variability and shifts in emergence and/or flight periods of the target species. Any likely adjustments shall be discussed with the designated COR. For the first survey period, surveys may begin prior to May 13th, but it is expected that surveys shall not start any later than May 22nd. The day-to-day work schedule can be at the discretion of the Contractor. Survey activity will generally be concluded near the end of each defined survey period unless otherwise arranged ahead of time with the designated COR. The Contractor will ensure that an approximately equal amount of survey effort is completed between survey periods. For example, if the Contractor spent 6 days covering the designated survey areas during Survey Period #1, they would then strive to spend at least 6 days to survey the areas during each of the remaining two survey periods. Deliverables shall be submitted no later than December 31, 2024, unless other arrangements are made with the COR prior to this date.

The contractor is:

· Required to furnish all labor, equipment, and supplies necessary to accomplish the work.

· Responsible for having all required safety equipment, as applicable.

· Responsible for maintaining all equipment in good operating condition and will assume all costs of maintenance and operation of the equipment furnished by contractor.

Special conditions:

· Area and timing of work is weather dependent and must follow suitable survey conditions to maximize detectability of the species of interest/target species.

· Work will take place during the appropriate season for active/flying butterfly, moth, and bumble bee target species.

· Survey area locations can be found on the provided project maps.

4.0 Government Furnished

The government will furnish a Forest map, and if desired, geo-referenced PDF maps, GPS waypoints/GIS shapefiles, and/or photocopies of aerial photos. Forest Service administrative access can be granted for gated forest roads upon request to the COR by the contractor. The designated COR will review and approve all reports and final products generated under this contract.

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule

Deliverables include:

· Excel spreadsheet with GPS waypoint Latitude/Longitude data (in datum WGS84 and recorded in Decimal Degrees) noting the locations of any observed species of interest, rare species, habitat information, date, number of individuals observed, and other incidental observations of invertebrates. High-quality digital photographs may be submitted to document individuals and provide proof of identification. Photographs of bumble bees are encouraged over physical specimens. DO NOT COLLECT VOUCHER SPECIEMENS OF CHRYXUS ARCTIC OR COBWEB SKIPPER. Photographs and/or professional judgement observations will be accepted as verified evidence or presence.

· Within each designated survey area, the contractor shall document any patches of milkweed spp. encountered that are approximately greater than or equal to 5 x 5 meters in size. Documentation will consist of a GPS waypoint of the location and an estimate of the observed patch size.

· Project report detailing methods, results, and discussion at a minimum. Any habitat descriptions including plant species compositions would be preferred/helpful.

· Spreadsheet, or similar, documenting the hours and dates worked at each site. Metrics to demonstrate survey effort will be recorded, including start and stop times to determine individual numbers per unit of effort, survey efforts utilized, weather (including temperature, wind, and sky conditions) and results.

· If applicable, any notes on habitat/species management recommendations.

Inspection and Acceptance:

· The Contractor will keep the COR informed of progress and survey results on a regular basis. The frequency of check-ins can be discussed at the scheduled pre-work meeting.

· Written reports and electronic GPS track files will be provided as described above. Acceptability of work will be based on completion of work area, and the submission and acceptance of final reports and other deliverables.

· Inspections may be made any time after the start of work. The contractor shall take prompt corrective action for any deficiencies or deviations that may occur under this contract.

· The contractor shall notify the COR when surveys are complete. Upon notification, a mutually agreed date for inspection will be arranged.

Schedule/Timeline

Survey activity is to be conducted during the following defined survey periods: 1) May 13, 2024 – June 21, 2024; 2) August 12, 2024 – September 20, 2024, and 3) September 21, 2024 – October 31, 2024 unless otherwise adjusted as described above. Deliverables will be submitted no later than December 31, 2024.

6.0 Travel

The contractor is responsible for all travel arrangements and related expenses. Maps of the survey areas will be provided. Shapefiles of survey areas may be provided upon request.

GENERALIZED LOCATION: T48N R7W Sec. 20. Bounded, generally, on the west by the National Forest Boundary, Forest Road (FR) 241, and FR 246; on the north by FR 248; to the east by FR 236; and to the south by FR 242, 244, 420, 849, and the power line/pipeline corridor.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS: Take Highway 13 south out of Washburn, WI approximately 6.5 miles to US Highway 2. Turn west onto US Highway 2 and continue approximately 17 miles to the intersection of FR 241. Turn north onto FR 241 and continue approximately 3-4 miles until you reach the Moquah Barrens Management Area.

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

A proficient contract surveyor who is familiar with the visual identification of butterfly, moth, and bumble bee species. Information provided to support key qualifications may include, but is not limited to, a list of past awarded similar contracts, a description of past performance on similar projects including dates of performance and the respective entity the work was completed for and/or a CV or resume.

8.0 Security Requirements

None

9.0 Data Rights

Publication and Data Sharing: Data collected, and reports prepared under this contract are the property of the Forest Service. Data publication is prohibited without prior consent of the Forest Service and the Forest Service reserves the right to edit any potential publications. The Forest Service will be acknowledged in any publications using such data. Publication includes, but is not limited to, hard copy print, sharing on social media, uploading to on-line publication services such as ResearchGate or other similar platforms. Additionally, observations may not be shared via websites or applications (e.g., iNaturalist, Bumble Bee Brigade, etc.).

10.0 Section 508 – Electronic and Information Technology Standards The final report and associated deliverables shall be Section 508 compliant.

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