B08_Solicitation_section_C_SOW_and_Bid_Schedule.pdf

Statement of Work

Cover Type Mapping for the Northeast and Upper Midwest Regions of the National Wildlife Refuge System

Summary This project is for the acquisition of visible (RGB) and near infrared (NIR) aerial imagery with photointerpretation, and landcover type mapping on approximately 467,000 acres of lands and waters in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

Additional option items totaling up to 250,000 additional acres may be exercised. This is an update and expansion of aerial photo interpretation projects conducted in 2004, 2012, 2015, and 2019 on National Wildlife Refuges in the Northeastern U.S. This project must be completed to the same methodologies and mapping rules used in those previous aerial photo interpretation projects. These methodologies and mapping rules are detailed in this Statement of Work.

Deliverables

1) A geodatabase with a feature dataset in the projected coordinate system presented in Table 1, and a mosaic raster dataset of the same projected coordinate system.

2) Cover typing feature classes shall be attributed following the data dictionary found here:

https://ecos.fws.gov/ServCat/DownloadFile/171820

3) All raster deliverables shall be orthorectified MrSID formatted with up to a 20:1 compression ratio and stored within the mosaic dataset as described above.

4) All geospatial products shall have an accompanied metadata document that outlines project-level and product-level metadata following the FWS Minimum Set of Discovery-level Metadata Elements found here:

https://ecos.fws.gov/ServCat/DownloadFile/221147#page=11.Project-level metadata may be in a narrative format, however GIS-related product-level metadata shall be in XML or GeoJSON format.

5) Individual imagery tiles in GeoTIFF format clipped to a 5000 ft x 5000 ft grid.

6) All deliverables will be uploaded to and stored on an encrypted external portable hard drive and shipped to:

Nathan Bush USFWS Refuges GIS Specialist 300 Westgate Center Dr.

Hadley, MA 01035

7) Detailed monthly report of acreage areas surveyed, which days were worked, and which work could not be completed due to adverse weather. Monthly report shall be emailed to COR.

Description This project involves capturing aerial imagery, orthorectifying the imagery, interpreting the imagery following mapping rules (cover type mapping), and producing spatially explicit cover type mapping for use with a Geographic Information System. Cover type mapping includes delineating forest and non-forest areas with similar vegetation, height, and density. Vegetation includes tree, shrub, forbs, grasses, and other plants that can be interpreted with NIR technology. It also includes non-vegetated areas such as roads, buildings, gravel surfaces, and waterways. Replicating the methodologies and mapping rules used previously for projects completed in 2004, 2012, 2015, and 2019 is imperative and required as part of the successful fulfillment of this award, these methodologies and mapping rules are detailed in this Statement of Work. The USFWS will provide geospatial files of the project area and associated boundary information to the contractor and a spreadsheet of anticipated locations (Table 2). The locations listed in Table 2 are subject to change at the discretion of USFWS but will be substituted for units of similar complexity, ownership pattern, and acreage. Units may be consolidated or dispersed ownership. Consolidated units are nearly contiguous or adjacent ownership parcels with limited distance between noncontiguous parcels and high density of USFWS parcels in mixed ownership areas. Dispersed units are typically a few hundred acres or smaller each and are distanced from other parcels with low density of USFWS parcels in mixed ownership.

Aerial imagery The project area will be flown in visible (RGB) and near infrared (NIR) at a ground sampling distance (GSD) of 20cm to 28cm with stereo coverage during a time when leaf development is optimal for species identification. This time is expected to be in June, but will vary according to the geography and biota of a given location. It is the responsibility of the contractor to determine the appropriate time to acquire imagery, obtain approval from a FWS technical specialist, and maintain maximum altitude to achieve desired pixel resolution. Stereo imagery overlap will average 60 percent for endlap and 30 percent for sidelap.

Imagery Processing - Each individual image will be orthorectified using best available Digital Elevation Model data.

One seamless mosaic image for each designated location will be delivered in MrSID format with a 20:1 compression ratio, along with individual tiles in GeoTIFF format clipped to a 5000m x 5000m grid. Each orthorectified image shall be of less than or equal to 0.3m or 30 cm resolution and stored within a mosaic dataset as described above.

Feature Classes Processed imagery will be photointerpreted following the methodology outlined below to create polygon representations of features found on the landscape. Each feature class shall be of the polygon type, and be attributed to meet the standards outlined in FWS Minimum Set of Discovery-level Metadata Elements and the data dictionary. Feature classes shall be stored within the appropriate feature dataset and geodatabase.

Performance schedule This project shall be completed within the Period of performance. A performance schedule will be agreed to by the Contractor and the Service prior to commencement of field work. The Service recommends that work be initiated in the spring or early summer of 2024 and timed appropriately for NIR data to be used to accurately depict species identification. This biological window is expected to be in the month of June but may vary from April to July pending location and weather patterns. Under some circumstances Fall imagery may be acceptable if approved by USFWS. Site visits are likely to be conducted by interpreters to inform and confirm accurate interpretation in July-September. The contractor is responsible for coordination with each NWRS station prior to and during imagery capture and validation site visits. A pre-work meeting will be required prior to commencement of work. A detailed schedule of work will be developed by the Contractor and approved by USFWS at the pre-work meeting. Orthoimagery accompanied by a sample of cover type interpretation will be delivered within six to eight weeks after aerial capture. Preliminary imagery and interpretation must be approved by USFWS before beginning the cover type process. All deliverables from imagery acquisition in 2025 due within the Period of Performance which ends December 1st, 2025.

Photointerpretation - Cover Types The typing approach shall be identical to what was used for the other Refuges in 2019, 2016, 2015, 2012 and 2004. The Contractor is responsible for working with USFWS Regional staff and individual Refuges to streamline the process of developing Refuge specific forest types as necessary. Forest cover types will be interpreted using composition, height, and canopy closure classes. This will be done for overstory and understory. Up to two species composition codes will be used for each stand. The first will comprise at least 50% of the stand’s crown closure and the second at least 25%. If no second code appears, then the first code is understood to comprise at least 75% of the crown closure. The codes S and H may be used when a stand is young and/or the species are very mixed. Otherwise, one of the other codes will be used. Up to two stories will be interpreted in this way. Individual species codes may be used by the interpreter if an individual species can be positively identified, and it makes up an adequate percentage of the stand’s composition according to the percentage rules stated above. A list of species codes and other classes is included as Table 1.

Example Forest Cover Types

SFCE4B - Primarily spruce/fir, with a significant component of cedar, 50+ feet tall, 41- 70% crown closure.

THSF3A - Primarily tolerant hardwood (50% or more), with a component of spruce-fir, 31-45 feet tall, 71-100% crown closure.

WP4C/SF1B - Young Spruce-Fir stand 0-15 feet tall, crown closure 41-70%, with significant overstory of White Pine.

Modifiers and Minimum Mapping Unit USFWS requests that multi-storied forest stands be coded with a single modifier field. Also, where possible, a single modifier will be used to indicate where forest types are on wet ground.

Specific non-forest type codes and modifiers will also be used. These will be determined at project startup in consultation with USFWS. Forest types will be interpreted to a minimum size of five acres and non-forest types to a minimum of one acre. Standard GIS procedures will be employed to produce forest cover type data layers as specified.

Habitat Map Code USFWS requests that the Ecosystem attribute from The Nature Conservancy’s “Terrestrial Habitat Map of the Northeast US and Atlantic Canada” (Habitat Map) be applied for the highest proportion of habitat within a given stand. This attribute will be determined by calculation of percentage habitat after overly of the Habitat Map onto the final stand layer.

Roads No road centerline features will be compiled for this project. However, when road features form a cover type boundary, the digitized type boundary will correspond to the approximate centerline of the road.

Water Capture water polygons such as lakes, ponds, and double-line streams from the interpretation process and include them in the forest cover polygon layer as non-forest polygons. No single line streams will be digitized.

Materials to be Supplied by USFWS A list of USFWS contacts from each Refuge/area for the aerial crew to check local flight conditions.

Base data: Property/interpretation boundaries Historical covertype/vegetation classification coverage for all refuges, where available.

Other useful ancillary data that may be available.

Operating Permit

Federal, state, or municipal laws may require permits to operate fixed-wing aircraft. The contractor is required to obtain all necessary permits from the prior to the commencement of operations. A copy of all permits, contracts, and certificates obtained or entered into by parties to this agreement shall be provided in a timely manner to the COR. The Contractor is responsible for ensuring compliance with all notification requirements, as required by State laws.

The Contractor must comply with all Federal and State Laws or regulations in the performance of this award. The Contractor agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the USFWS and all of its agents from any and all claims or demands which may be made against it by reason of the Contractor’s operation or violation by the Contractor of any laws or regulations governing said operation.

National Wildlife Refuge Photo Interpretation Codes

Species – primary and secondary only – a suggested species list is provided in Table 1 below.

TTABLE 1

CCAI -- FFOREST COVER TYPING SCHEME

PPrepared for USFW - 116 Refuges --22019 Project

SSpecies/Group Code SSpecies/Group Common_Name SSpecies/Group

CCode SSpecies/Group Common_Name

AG Allegheny Hardwoods PE American persimmon

AH American holly PH *Pine / Hardwood

AL Alder spp. PI Pine spp.

AS Fraxinus spp. PN Pin oak

BA Black ash PP Pitch pine

BB Black birch PW Paw Paw

BC Black cherry QA Quaking aspen

BE American beech QC Scarlet oak

BF Balsam fir RC Eastern red cedar

BG Black gum RD Rhododendron spp.

BL Black locust RG *Red maple / Black gum

BM *Black gum / Red maple RH Red maple / Hardwood

BO Black oak RM Red maple

BS Black spruce RO Northern red oak

BT Bigtooth aspen RP Red pine

BW Black willow RS Red spruce

CH Hemlock / Hardwood RV River birch

CM Black cherry / Maple RW Riparian Hardwoods

CO Chestnut oak SA Sassafras

CP Scotch pine SC Bear oak

CS

Atlantic white cedar / Black spruce SD Shadbush spp.

CT Baldcypress / Tupelo SE Slippery elm

CY Baldcypress SG Sweet gum

DW Dogwood spp. SH Shagbark hickory

GM *Sweet gum / Red maple SK Swamp white oak

GP Sweetgum / Yellow poplar SL Shortleaf pine

HB Highbush blueberry SM Sugar maple

HE Hemlock SR Southern red oak

HI Hickory spp. SU Sumac spp.

HL Honey locust SV Silver maple

HP *Hardwood / Pine SW Softwood

HW Hardwood SY Sycamore

IH Northeast Intolerant Hardwood TH Northern Hardwood

IM Midcoast Pioneer Hardwood TV Tree of heaven

LH Bottomland Oak / Hickory UH Upland oak / Hickory

LP Loblolly pine US Upland shrub

LS Lowland shrub VA Virginia pine / Pitch pine

ML Mountain laurel VI Viburnum spp.

MS *Red maple / Sweet gum VP Virginia pine

NH Pignut Hickory WA White ash

NS Norway spruce WC Atlantic white cedar

OB Oak / Beech WN Black walnut

OD Oak / Pitch Pine WO White oak

OH Oak / Hardwood WP White pine

OM Mixed Oak YB Yellow birch

OU Sourwood YP Yellow poplar / Tulip tree

* Indicates that the species listed in the group name are in order of more prevalent to less prevalent. An additional group code with the species listed in reverse order exists.

NNon_Forest Code NNon_Forest_Description NNon_Forest

CCode NNon_Forest_Descriptio nn

AF Abandoned Field MS Maritime Shrub

AL Alder Swale MW Meadow

BB Blueberry Barren OB Peat Bog

BL Blueberry Shrubland Swamp OT Other

BN Buttonbrush Shrub Swamp PA Animal Pasture

BR Upland Brush PB Pitch Pine Bog

BV Beaver Marsh/Bog/Pond PH Phragmites spp.

CB Cobble RE Residential

CL Commercial, Abandoned Military RM Reed Marsh

CM Cattail Marsh SB Sand Beach

CR Cropland SM Salt Marsh

ES Ericaceous Shrubs SS Shrub Swamp

GM Graminoid Marsh SW Red Maple Swamp

GP Gravel pit TB Treed Peat Bog

JY Junkyard / Dump UT Utility/Transportation

LG Ledge WA Open Water

MB Macrophyte Bed WI Wetland Impoundment

MG Managed Grassland YD Log Yard

HHeight_Class_Code HHeight_Class_Description

1 0-15 feet 2 16-35 feet 3 36-50 feet 4 51-70 feet 5 71-100 feet 6 100+ feet

CCanopy_Closure_Code CCanopy_Closure_Description A 91-100% B 61-90% C 25-60% D 5-25%

MModifier_Code MModifier_Description A Former Agriculture C Recently Cut D Dead P Plantation R Rocky T Recently Thinned W Wet

MMinimum Mapping UUnit:

55 acres forested 11 acre non--fforested

Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan The Contractor will provide orthoimagery accompanied by a sample of cover type interpretation within eight weeks after aerial capture. Preliminary imagery and interpretation will be evaluated by USFWS within four weeks. USFWS must approve the preliminary products before the Contractor begins the cover type process. Failure on the part of the Contractor to deliver samples in a timely manner may result in delays in cover typing. Cover typing prior to USFWS approval may result in rework by the Contractor at no additional expense to the government.

The Contractor will participate in regularly scheduled meetings with the COR at an interval prescribed by the COR but no less than once per month to evaluate progress, conformance with USFWS needs, barriers to successful completion of the work, schedule of work, and other topics as needed.

Protection of Historic and Archeological Resources The Government may unilaterally modify this contract to protect any sensitive area, object of antiquity, artifact, or similar object which is entitled to protection under the Antiquities Act of 1906, Archeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 and National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. If in connection with operations under this contract the Contractor, subcontractors, or the employees of either discovers, encounters, or becomes aware of any object or sites of cultural value on the contract area such as historical or prehistorical ruins, graves or grave markers, fossils, or artifacts, the Contractor shall immediately notify the COR of the findings.

Table 2 Anticipated refuges requiring imagery acquisition and interpretation with the ownership pattern and UTM Zone. Exact locations are subject to change. Some acreage estimates include large (2,500-7,500 acres) lakes that will not require imagery nor interpretation.

Refuge Name Estimated Acres Ownership Pattern UTM Base/Option

Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge 680,065 Midwest Consolidated 14U, 15U Base

Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge 2,407 Midwest Consolidated 15T Base Fox River National Wildlife Refuge 1,099 Midwest Consolidated 16T Base

Hamden Slough National Wildlife Refuge 3,754 Midwest Consolidated 15T Base Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge 11,134 Midwest Consolidated 15T Base

Necedah National Wildlife Refuge 48,458 Midwest Consolidated 15T Base Necedah Wildlife Management Area 59,635 Midwest Consolidated 15T Base Northern Tallgrass Prairie National

Wildlife Refuge

Midwest Consolidated 15T Base Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge 15,635 Midwest Consolidated 15T Base

Seney National Wildlife Refuge 104,796 Midwest Consolidated 16T Base Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge 33,734 Midwest Consolidated 15T Base Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge 46,790 Midwest Consolidated 15T Base

Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge 335 Midwest Consolidated 15T Base

Maine Coastal Islands NWR Complex 8,764 NE Consolidated 19N Base Missisquoi 8,038 NE Consolidated 18N Base

Northern Maine NWR Complex 58,805 NE Consolidated 19N Base Silvio O. Conte 52,459 NE Consolidated 18N, 19N Base Umbagog NWR 46,424 NE Consolidated 19N Base

Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge 318 Midwest Dispersed 17T Option Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area

7,260 Midwest Dispersed 16T Option

Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District

19,475 Midwest Dispersed 14U, 14T, 15T

Option

Fergus Falls Wetland Management District

13,248 Midwest Dispersed 15T Option

Leopold Wetland Management District 3,801 Midwest Dispersed 16T Option Litchfield Wetland Management District 24,789 Midwest Dispersed 15T Option Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District

1,363 Midwest Dispersed 15T Option

Morris Wetland Management District 5,189 Midwest Dispersed 15T Option Huron National Wildlife Refuge 162 Midwest Dispersed 16T Option St. Croix Wetland Management District 9,330 Midwest Dispersed 15T Option Beltrami Wildlife Management Area 95,686 Midwest Dispersed 15U Option Rachel Carson NWR 6,415 NE Consolidated 19N Option

Harbor Island National Wildlife Refuge 318 Midwest Dispersed 17T Option

PRICE SCHEDULE, COVER MAPPING

ITEM Description Qty Unit Option Line

Item $/Unit Total

001 Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge 680,065 AC No 002 Crane Meadows National Wildlife

Refuge 2,407 AC No

003 Fox River National Wildlife Refuge

1,099 AC No

004 Hamden Slough National Wildlife Refuge

3,754 AC No

005 Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

11,134 AC No

006 Necedah National Wildlife Refuge 48,458 AC No 007 Necedah Wildlife Management

Area 59,635 AC No

008 Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge

255 AC No

009 Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge

15,635 AC No

010 Seney National Wildlife Refuge 104,796 AC No 011 Sherburne National Wildlife

Refuge 33,734 AC No

012 Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge 46,790 AC No 013 Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife

Refuge 335 AC No

014 Maine Coastal Islands NWR Complex

8,764 AC No

015 Missisquoi 8,038 AC No 016 Northern Maine NWR Complex 58,805 AC No 017 Silvio O. Conte 52,459 AC No 018 Umbagog NWR 46,424 AC No 019 Harbor Island National Wildlife

Refuge 318 AC Yes

020 Kirtlands Warbler Wildlife Management Area

7,260 AC Yes

021 Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District

19,475 AC Yes

022 Fergus Falls Wetland Management District

13,248 AC Yes

023 Leopold Wetland Management District

3,801 AC Yes

024 Litchfield Wetland Management District

24,789 AC Yes

025 Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District

1,363 AC Yes

026 Morris Wetland Management District

5,189 AC Yes

027 Huron National Wildlife Refuge 162 AC Yes

028 St. Croix Wetland Management District

9,330 AC Yes

029 Beltrami Wildlife Management Area

95,686 AC Yes

030 Rachel Carson NWR 6,415 AC Yes 031 Harbor Island National Wildlife

Refuge 318 AC Yes

GRAND TOTAL: