B10_NOI_Sole_Source_1.doc

Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition Bureau of Land Management FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) Simplified Acquisitions

PR 40577718

1. Identification of the agency and the contracting office.

Bureau of Land Management, Barstow Field Office, 2601 Barstow Road, Barstow CA 92311.

2. Description of supply or service required to meet the agency’s needs.

The service required is to conduct bird surveys and cowbird management within the Amargosa Wild and Scenic River. This would be conducted through a time and materials contract with the recommended sole source proposed below.

3. The rationale or circumstances for limiting competition.

The Principal Investigator Geoff Geupel, Point Blue Conservation Science, has been coordinating extensive bird surveys for the BLM in the proposed survey area for 17 years. Using this sole source contractor will allow data being provided to BLM to be consistently collected and compiled with these past data collection efforts. Using this sole source contractor will allow data being provided to BLM to be consistently collected and compatible with these past data collection efforts. The proposed sole source has a unique capability to use this extensive database which they have acquired over the last 17 years to conduct population trend analyses which will allow the presently proposed work to be placed in a historical context. Therefore, the proposed vendor could qualify as a sole source under FAR 6.302-1(b)(1)(i). It would be possible for these historical data to be transferred to an alternative vendor for analysis, but this would result in a substantial cost increase incurred by the BLM.

This is a Sole Source announcement for Amargosa Bird Surveys.

All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency.

Standard commercial provisions and clauses apply.

See below for additional details.

Conservation-focused studies to protect populations of Bell's Vireo populations and other riparian dependent species in the Mojave Desert with cowbird control and monitoring of vireo reproductive success.

Desert riparian habitats can support exceptionally high plant and animal abundance and diversity. However, these habitats have been heavily impacted by human activity, and the California Riparian Habitat Joint Venture and California PIF estimate that only 2 to 7 percent of California's historic desert riparian habitat remains today (RHJV 2004). As a result, desert riparian habitats are high conservation priorities for land management agencies and conservation organizations.

The Least Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus) and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) are riparian-obligate passerines endemic to the southwestern United States and are both State and Federally listed endangered subspecies. Their populations declined dramatically over the 20th century due to riparian habitat loss, habitat degradation, habitat conversion to stands of exotic salt-cedar (Tamarix sp.), and to loss in productivity due to Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) parasitism. Both Least Bell's Vireos and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers require high rates of productivity and habitat restoration to reach numbers that meet delisting criteria.

Secondary objectives included enhance, restore, and create habitat for several California Bird Species of Special Concern, enhance, restore, and create migratory stopover habitat, bank stabilization, buffering from scouring during extreme precipitation events, and carbon sequestration.

CLIN

00010 Amargosa River Bird Survey 2023 Product/Service Code: B516

Product/Service Description: SPECIAL

STUDIES/ANALYSIS- ANIMAL/FISHERIES

Period of Performance: 02/01/2023-12/31/2023 Delivery: 12/31/2023 FOB: Destination Performance Work Statement (PWS)

Restoration of the Amargosa River: Measuring bird response and reducing cowbird impacts on federal and state listed species.

Contents

21.0 Background on the Government’s Requirement

32.0 General Scope of Work

83.0 Overall Objective(s)

84.0 Specific Tasks

135.0 Delivery / Performance Schedule

136.0 Government-Furnished Property, Materials, Services

147.0 Security and Administrative Matters

168.0 Technical Exhibits and Definitions

17EX 1: QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP)

1.0 Background on the Government’s Requirement

The draft Amargosa River Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) Implementation Plan lists 8 management goals and 54 implementation actions (BLM 2006). This project will help the BLM and other partners fulfill four of these ACEC Plan goals:

1. Protect, enhance, and restore natural riparian and wetland systems.

2. Protect and prevent irreparable damage to threatened and endangered species and their habitat.

3. Take prudent, proactive steps toward recovery of threatened and endangered species and their habitat.

4. Implement an inventory and monitoring strategy.

ACEC Plan implementation actions that will be carried out include:

-Control tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) by removing regenerating tamarisk during revegetation in coordination with the Barstow BLM (Priority I action).

-Conduct active riparian restoration, as needed, by introducing native riparian plant species into areas of weed control and other priority damaged areas (Priority I action).

-Use the results of bird surveys and literature review of microhabitat requirements to design projects that encourage the nesting of listed and candidate bird species (Priority I action).

-Initiate additional active riparian and upland restoration in priority degraded areas within the ACEC (Priority II action).

-Monitor for effectiveness of restoration efforts (Priority I).

-Conduct regular focused research and surveys for listed, sensitive, and other riparian birds to determine variety, abundance, nesting locations, and information to maintain and enhance nesting populations (Priority I).

-Monitor species diversity, richness, and abundance for mammalian, avian, reptilian, and vascular plant taxa within the ACEC. Identify thresholds for substantial change that would trigger reevaluation of strategies (Priority III).

This project is also consistent with both the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Final Recovery Plan’s list of Actions Needed (USFWS 2002, p. v) and the Least Bell’s Vireo 5-Year Summary and Evaluation’s Recommendations for Further Actions (USFWS 2006). ).

The Least Bell’s Vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus, LBVI), Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus, SWFL) and Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus occidentalis, YBCU) are riparian-obligate birds endemic to the southwestern United States. They are federally and state-listed, and steep declines in their numbers have coincided with riparian habitat loss, habitat degradation, habitat conversion to stands of exotic tamarisk and for flycatchers and vireos, with loss in productivity due to Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) parasitism (Griffith and Griffith 2000, Sogge et al. 2010). Conservation and protection of these species is mandated by federal and state laws.

2.0 General Scope of Work

This project represents an ongoing partnership between Point Blue Conservation Science (Point Blue) and The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the Amargosa Conservancy, and private landowners. This project grew from these partners’ efforts to restore habitats within and adjacent to the Amargosa River ACEC, along with the need to assess the restoration’s impacts on special-status bird species.

Point Blue initiated this study in 2005 in response to above partners’ recommendations to measure bird response and recover state and federally listed species. Bird density and productivity will be determined using standardized spot mapping and nest monitoring methodologies. Cowbird trapping will be conducted to reduce rates of cowbird parasitism and increase nest success of open-cup nesting riparian birds. Comparisons with the previous 17 years will provide insights to determine population estimates and recovery trends, management and restoration recommendations, and overall status and health of the riparian bird communities of the Armargosa River.

Point Blue’s project team will include Geoff Geupel with 40 years of experience monitoring land birds and publishing on the methods used in this study. Chris McCreedy (now a Research Associate with Point Blue) working on this project since its inception, will provide training, oversight, analysis, interpretation and presentations. Seasonal Technician Leonard Warren, a TNC biologist that lives locally (Shoshone, CA) and worked on the project for 11 years and another seasonal biologist (TBD) will be responsible for bird surveys, cowbird trapping and nest monitoring.

Place of Performance:

There are two study plots: a 32.7 ha plot at the north end of the Amargosa Canyon (AMNO) as well as a 31.8 ha plot near Shoshone (SHOS) initiated in 2006 (Figures 1a and 1b). Both plots pre 2005 contained significant amounts of tamarisk (salt cedar) but are now covered primarily by native vegetation after removal by BLM crews and fire.

The AMNO plot was entirely burned in an arson-caused fire in 2002 and again in 2010, and is currently regenerating mostly native vegetation dominated by Salix exigua and isolated, recovering clones of Salix gooddingii. In addition to willows, upland and transition areas of the AMNO plot hold large patches of dense Atriplex lentiformis, Pluchea sericea, and Phragmites australis, with isolated pockets of Prosopis glandulosa and Prosopis pubescens. Some of these Prosopis patches are tucked into rocky areas that escaped the 2002 burn. The wettest reaches of the AMNO plot are choked with Typha and Schoenoplectus maritimus. Both native and exotic vegetation have recovered rapidly after the fire, and BLM crews removed tamarisk re-growth across the southern half of the plot in the winter of 2006. Point Blue has monitored the AMNO plot for all species each season, beginning in 2005.

The SHOS plot is approximately 20 miles upstream of Amargosa Canyon, near the town of Shoshone. The SHOS plot was initiated in 2006, prior to tamarisk removal. It is more xeric than the Amargosa Canyon plots, and prior to tamarisk eradication, the SHOS plot is dominated by P. pubsescens, P. glandulosa, A. lentiformis, and tamarisk. In addition, the SHOS plot also holds isolated groves of tamarisk aphylla that reach approximately 10 m in height. Nearly all of this tamarisk cover was removed by the BLM crews prior to the 2007 field season, and the BLM and others have returned to the SHOS plot to control tamarisk regeneration after the 2007 field season. Point Blue has monitored the SHOS plot for all species since 2006.

Figure 1a. Amargosa North (AMNO) nest plot and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher and Least Bell’s Vireo playback survey points (red dots).

Figure 1b. Shoshone (SHOS) nest plot and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher and Least Bell’s Vireo survey points (red dot).

Period of Performance:

The period of performance shall be for ~10 months beginning February 2023 and end December 30, 2023. This will account for time needed to get permits in place to authorize surveys, conduct the surveys and report preparation.

3.0 Overall Objective(s)

The objective of this work is conserve populations of endangered bird species and prevent the listing of other riparian bird species along the Armargosa River through habitat improvements, cowbird control and research into limiting factors.

4.0 Specific Tasks

Task 1: Determine breeding density of riparian dependent birds.

Map territorial behaviors and nests for all bird species present on each plot for three to four days each week, April 1 – June 15, using UTM-gridded maps and GPS Garmin receivers. We follow standardized territorial mapping procedures in the field (IBCC 1970, Ralph et al. 1993, Geupel et al. 2018). At the end of the season, daily spot maps will be complied to create territory maps that represent special use of the area or each breeding species. Breeding densities will be summarized following Hall (1964) for all territorial species. Non-territorial species (e.g. Mourning Doves, House Finches) density will be estimated using by number of detected nesting females. Brown-headed Cowbirds occurring on nets plots will be tallied daily on all plot visits from the beginning of the day’s survey until the end, to provide a per-hour index of cowbird abundance.

Task 2: Determining productivity and habitat requirements and vegetation preferences of riparian dependent birds.

We will attempt to locate and monitor all nests on each plot and monitor at least once every 4-8 days (Bell’s Vireos are monitored less frequently due to their sensitive status and permit requirements about disturbance), following protocols described in Martin and Geupel (1993). At each nest check contents will be determined and the presence of Brown-headed Cowbird eggs or young until the fate is determined. Fledging of nest is confirmed by the presence of young or food carries of the adults. After nesting is complete, we will conduct 5 m-radius and 11.3 m-radius vegetation assessments about each nest following Martin et al. (1997).

Nest and non-nest assessments included absolute cover estimates of shrub cover, non-woody cover, and groundcover. Groundcover will be broken into “litter”, “bare ground”, and “rock”. We estimate relative covers (by species) of absolute shrub and non-woody cover, and we multiplied these relative species covers by absolute shrub and non-woody cover to give by-species absolute cover estimates for analysis. Numbers of “tree” stems (stems 5 m in height and over 8 cm in diameter at breast height (DBH) were recorded by DBH size categories in 11.3 m-radius plots around each nest and non-nest point. Canopy measurements included: “canopy height”, the maximum height of the canopy above the nest, and “canopy cover”, the percent of the 11.3 m-radius plot covered by vegetation greater than 5 meters in height.

Task 3: Reduce impacts of Brown-headed Cowbird parasitism on breeding state and federal listed species: Least Bell’s Vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus) and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus).

Adult Brown-headed Cowbirds will be trapped and euthanized following methods described in McLeod et al. (2007). Four funnel-shaped Brown-headed Cowbird traps specifically built to trap cowbirds will be deployed and maintained from early May when cowbirds arrive through mid-June.

Trap locations are depicted in Figures 2a-c. Traps are placed near both nest plots to measure effectiveness on rate of parasitism. An additional trap will be placed at near China Ranch, where the densest population of Bell’s Vireos in the project area exists. A fourth trap north of the AMNO plot in Tecopa, will be placed near a horse corral where Brown-headed Cowbirds are known to congregate.

Initially baited with excess cowbirds from other researchers, traps will be checked once every 24 to 48 hours, and replenished with water and bait seed. During each check new cowbirds capture are recorded and aged and sexed. Juveniles are released, females euthanized and males kept as bait or decoy birds with wings clipped to prevent injury. Males are cycled out of the traps if they had been used as a decoy for more than approximately seven to ten days. All non-target species captured will be released immediately.

Traps are closed and stored open after mid-June.

Figure 2a. Two Brown-headed Cowbird trap locations near the Amargosa River at Tecopa, CA. The Amargosa North (AMNO) nest plot is shaded blue.

Figure 2b. Brown-headed Cowbird trap location near the Amargosa River at Shoshone, CA. The Shoshone (SHOS) nest plot is shaded purple.

Figure 2c. Brown-headed Cowbird trap location at China Ranch on Willow Creek, a tributary of the Amargosa River.

Task 4: Analysis, interpretation and reporting

Density of breeding species will be determined from spot map censuses on both riparian plots. Specific spatial use of plots by for both The Least Bell’s Vireo and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher species will be provided on separate maps of the study area. Species annual productivity will be determined by nest survivorship calculations of nests with known outcome, and which were observed with at least one egg or young (Martin 1992). Impacts of cowbirds will be determined from number captured and rates of nest parasitized. All result will be compared to the previous 17 years to determine trends, management and restoration recommendations and overall status and health of the riparian bird communities of the Armargosa River. All information described above will be provided in report to the BLM California state and Barstow regional offices and USFWS by January 30, 2024. On-line and in person presentations on the project will also be encouraged.

5.0 Delivery / Performance Schedule

6.0 Government-Furnished Property, Materials, Services

General:

The Contractor shall furnish all personnel, materials, equipment, supplies, facilities, transportation, tools, materials, supervision, and other items and non-personal services necessary to perform the work tasks defined in this Performance Work Statement.

Materials:

The Contractor shall furnish all materials necessary to perform the work defined in this Performance Work Statement.

Equipment:

The Contractor shall furnish all equipment necessary to perform the work defined in this Performance Work Statement.

Services The Contractor shall furnish all services necessary to perform the work defined in this Performance Work Statement.

Facilities: N/A

Utilities: N/A Applicable Publications (Current Editions): N/A

7.0 Security and Administrative Matters

Regular Work Hours:

The performance period established for this contract is based upon all work being conducted during regular working hours between 7:00am and 4:00pm, Monday through Friday, excluding government holidays. If the Contractor desires to carry on work outside regular hours, including Saturdays, Sundays, and government holidays, a request must be submitted to the Contracting Officer in sufficient time to allow satisfactory arrangements to be made for access to the work site.

Communications:

“Time” for communications received after 3:00pm, after 12:00 pm locally on Fridays, or after 12:00 pm locally prior to a holiday will not start until the next business day. All times are local Pacific Standard Time.

Federal Holidays:

The following Federal Legal Holidays are observed:

New Year’s Day

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

President’s Day

Memorial Day

Independence Day

Labor Day

Columbus Day

Veterans Day

Thanksgiving Day

Christmas Day

Fire Danger Season:

If the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) allows the Contractor to continue work during periods of declared fire danger or season, the Contractor shall comply with all applicable state laws relating to fire prevention and with all special conditions of work as directed by the COR.

8.0 Technical Exhibits and Definitions

Standard Definitions:

Physical Condition

The Physical appearance of Federal equipment or facilities that considers cracks, chips, dents, abrasions, rust, corrosion, general cleanliness, vibration, operating temperature, and discoloration and other items as identified by the COR.. Physical condition may be determined by visual as well as diagnostic means.

Contracting Officer (CO)

The Secretary of the Interior or designated authorized representative who is the only agent capable of signing a federal award or obligating funds.

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR)

The Contracting Officer’s designated representative as indicated in a delegation of authority letter.

Quality Assurance (QA)

Surveillance of Contractor performance to determine performance requirements are met.

Performance Requirements Summary (PRS) (see Technical Exhibit below)

The PRS identifies the key performance indicators of the Contract that will be evaluated by the Government to assure Contract performance standards are met by the Contractor.

Quality Control

Those actions taken by the Contractor to control the production of goods or services so that they meet the requirements of the performance work statement.

Technical Definitions: N/A Technical Exhibits:

EX 1: Performance Requirements Summary/Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan

EX 1: QUALITY ASSURANCE SURVEILLANCE PLAN (QASP)

Task(s) 1-4

For 2 unsatisfactory inspections, a 5% deduction from the invoice for that Period of Performance.

For 3 unsatisfactory inspections, a 10% deduction.

Literature Cited

Bureau of Land Management. 2006. Amargosa River Area of Critical Environmental Concern Implementation Plan. Barstow Field Office.

http://www.blm.gov/ca/pdfs/barstow_pdfs/amargosa_ea/Complete.pdf (draft)

Griffith, J.T. and J.C. Griffith. 2000. Cowbird control and the Endangered Least Bell’s Vireo: A management success story. Ecology and Management of Cowbirds and Their Hosts.

J.N.M. Smith, T.L. Cook, S.I. Rothstein, S.K. Robinson, and S.G. Sealy eds. University of Texas Press. Austin, TX.

Geupel G., J. Dumbacher and M. Flannery 2018. Fundamental Methods. Ch. 31 in Ornithology: Foundation, Analysis, and Application, edited by M.L. Morrison, A.D. Rodewald, G. Voelker, M.R. Colón, and J.F. Prather, Johns Hopkins Press.

International Bird Conservation Committee IBCC 1970. An international standard for a mapping method in bird census work recommended by the International Bird Census Committee. Audubon Field Notes 24:722-726.

Martin, T.E. 1992. Breeding productivity considerations: What are the appropriate habitat features for management? Pg. 455-473 in J.M. Hagan and D.W. Johnson (editors) Ecology and conservation of Neotropical Migrant Birds. Smithson. Inst. Press, Washington, D.C.

Martin, T.E., and Geupel, G.R. 1993. Nest monitoring plots: Methods for locating nests and monitoring success. J. Field Ornithol. 64:507-519.

McLeod, M.A., Koronkiewicz, T.J., Brown, B.T, and Carothers, S.W. 2007. Southwestern Willow Flycatcher surveys, demography, and ecology along the lower Colorado River and tributaries, 2006. Annual report submitted to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Boulder City, NV by SWCA Environmental Consultants, Flagstaff, AZ.

Ralph, C.J., Geupel, G. R., Pyle, P., Martin, T. E., and DeSante, D. F. 1993. Field methods for monitoring landbirds. USDA Forest Service Publication: PSW-GTR 144.

Rourke, J.W., McCarthey, T.D., Davidson, R.F., Santaniello, A.M. 1999. Southwestern Willow Flycatcher nest monitoring protocol. Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Program Technical Report 144. Arizona Game and Fish Department. Phoenix, AZ.

Sogge, M.K., and S.J. Sferra. 2010. A natural history summary and survey protocol for the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. United States Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia. United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 2002. Final Recovery Plan: Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus). Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Recovery Team Technical Subgroup. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, NM.

USFWS. 2006. Least Bell’s Vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus). 5-year review: Summary and evaluation. Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office. Carlsbad, CA.

USFWS. 2005. Biological Opinion for the Saltcedar Removal and Riparian Restoration Project within the Amargosa River Drainage. Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, 2493 Portola Road, Ventura, CA, 93003.

USFWS. 2002. Final Recovery Plan: Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus). Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Recovery Team Technical Subgroup. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, NM. www.fws.gov/southwest/es/arizona/Documents/SpeciesDocs/SWWF/Final Recovery Plan/ExecSummary_Contents.pdf

Williams, A.P., E.R. Cook, J.E. Smerdon, B.I. Cook, J.T. Abatzoglou, K. Bolles, S.H. Baek, A.M. Badger, B. Livneh. 2020. Large contribution from anthropogenic warming to an emerging North American megadrought. Science 368:314-318.