B08_Solicitation_Attachment_1_PWS_8_15_24.pdf

Performance Work Statement

Bathymetric Light Detection and Ranging (bathyLiDAR) and Imaging Erie National Wildlife Refuge

15 August 2024

1. Project Description:

The contractor will collect, process, and deliver topobathymetric LiDAR and Imagery datasets of approximately 215 acres in the Erie National Wildlife Refuge, including priority restoration projects funded under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

1.1. Background

The 9,000-acre Erie National Wildlife Refuge is located about 35 miles south of Lake Erie in Northwest Pennsylvania. Established in 1959, Erie National Wildlife Refuge was founded through lands purchased with funds provided from the sale of the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps (also known as Duck stamps). Erie refuge is a namesake of the Erie Indians, a Native American tribe that resided in the area. The refuge lies entirely within the French Creek watershed, which is considered a nationally significant watershed with globally rare mussels and fish. The goal of the ongoing restoration work at the refuge, including the data collection in this Performance Work Statement, is to restore and maintain natural river processes, reconnect floodplains, improve water quality, and enhance aquatic connectivity through the permanent removal of three obsolete waterfowl impoundments, as well as restore a high priority stream system, Kellys Run. The project offers significant ecological connection to adjacent preserved and protected landscapes. The project seeks to enhance ecological diversity, minimize future operation and maintenance, and strengthen community resilience.

1.2 Scope and Deliverables

The primary scope of this project will be to generate high resolution elevation data of the stream channel, adjacent banks, and marshlands. The outputs from the survey will establish existing conditions and will be used by engineering teams to design solutions for sections of Kelly Run that overran its banks and design of impoundments and culverts in both Sugar Lake and Seneca divisions within Erie National Wildlife Refuge.

The deliverables for this project will include a pre-flight field plan reviewed and approved by FWS personnel, ASPRS LAS 1.4 Classified Point Cloud, Water Surface Model, Digital Terrain Model and Digital Surface Model and a high resolution orthomosaic image. The Contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personnel services necessary to perform the LiDAR, aerial imagery, and bathytopographic survey for Erie NWR, as defined in this Performance Work Statement except for those items specified as government furnished property and services.

Project Location:

Erie National Wildlife Refuge

11296 Wood Duck Lane Guys Mills, PA 16327

Data Collection:

For this project, the contractor will map the project area with a Reigl VQ 840 GL or equal high-precision topobathymetric LiDAR system and high resolution camera, using Real Time Kinematics (RTK) to provide up to 3cm of vertical accuracy in data collection. The salient characteristics for this LiDAR system include:

• the capability of generating 200+ points of elevation per square meter

• up to 3cm of vertical accuracy when utilizing RTK control points

• utilizing green laser technology to penetrate the water surface to reach depths of 15 meters or 2.5 times the secchi depth (clarity level) of the water.

The high resolution, high accuracy LiDAR data provides a vivid look at the terrain including the trees, buildings, ground surfaces and sub-water surface features. The camera system must be able to collect high resolution imagery at 5cm GSD or better.

As a part of the initial project planning, the contractor field team will develop a pre-field work plan that outlines where, when, and how they will conduct the data collection missions and associated field work. This plan will be reviewed in collaboration with the refuge and FWS staff, and will include stating boundaries of the project area, necessary transect width for the agreed upon project resolution, and other rules for operation as to have little to no effect on the wildlife at the given time of year. This plan will be finalized with FWS staff at least 2 days prior to field work beginning.

The Government shall not exercise any supervision or control over the contract service providers performing the services herein. Such contract service providers shall be accountable solely to the Contractor who, in turn, is responsible to the Government.

If using unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), the contractor must only use non-covered UAS which are manufactured in whole (including all critical electronic components), by an entity domiciled in a non-adversary country. The Refuge Project Coordinator reserves the right to deny UAS use if the UAS is not a non-covered UAS. Contract funds will not be expended on covered UAS.

Covered UAS will not be operated on Department managed lands through this contract. The term “covered UAS” as defined in Executive Order 13981, and adopted for official use by the Department of Interior, means any UAS that:

i. is manufactured, in whole or in part, by an entity domiciled in an adversary country.

ii. uses critical electronic components installed in flight controllers, ground control system processors, radios, digital transmission devices, cameras, or gimbals manufactured, in whole or in part, in an adversary country (as defined by the Department of Commerce and referenced in OPM-11.)

iii. uses operating software (including a cell phone or tablet applications, but not a cell phone or tablet operating systems) developed, in whole or in part, by an entity domiciled in an adversary country.

iv. uses network connectivity or data storage located outside the United States, or administered by any entity domiciled in an adversary country; or

v. contains hardware and software components used for transmitting photographs, videos, location information, flight paths, or any other data collected by the UAS manufactured by an entity domiciled in an adversary country.

vi. The term “critical electronic component” means any electronic device that stores, manipulates, or transfers digital data. The term critical electronic component does not include, for example, passive electronics such as resistors, and non-data transmitting motors, batteries, and wiring.

Topobathymetric LiDAR & Imagery Deliverables:

• ASPRS 1.4 Classified LAS - One (1) digital copy containing all LiDAR point cloud points in LAS format version

• High Resolution RGB Orthomosaic (.tif) - One (1) compressed overall digital orthophoto mosaic

• Water Surface Model (.tif) – One (1) digital copy representing the water surface of all areas surveyed

• Digital Terrain Model (.tif) – One (1) digital copy representing the actual terrain of all areas surveyed

• Digital Surface Model (.tif) – One (1) digital copy representing the surface of all areas surveyed

• Data Accuracy Report

Base Processing and Analysis:

After the topobathy LiDAR and imagery collection process is complete, the data is transferred from the collection systems to processing system that convert binary data into usable geospatial products. Data will be transferred to FWS staff, following an established data management plan, for review in GeoSAP client. Upon reviewing deliverables and approving, FWS staff will use data deliverables to complete design work for IRA-funded restoration projects on the refuge. Data analysis and deliverables are expected to be available for FWS staff review approximately 6-8 weeks after field collection.

Delivery Methods:

Electronic via Point Cloud

Period of Performance:

October 1, 2024 through February 1, 2025.

Areas of Interest:

Image 1: The Kelly Run survey area is approximately 41 acres along in the Seneca division of Erie National Wildlife Refuge.

Image 2: The Swamp Road Culvert survey area is roughly 9 acres in the Seneca division of Erie National Wildlife Refuge.

Image 3: The Coopers Marsh Pool N Pool B survey area is nearly 128 acres in the Sugar Lake division of Erie National Wildlife Refuge.