BICY_RFP_SOW_.pdf

Big Cypress National Preserve

SCOPE OF WORK:

Long Range Interpretive Plan

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Interior Region 2- South Atlantic Gulf

Solicitation Number 140P5421R0033

I. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Big Cypress National Preserve (hereafter referred to as the “Preserve”) is centrally located between Miami and Naples in southern Florida. It encompasses 729,000 acres of a largely freshwater wetland ecosystem offering refuge to a wide variety of plants and animals. The Preserve was established for the preservation, conservation, and protection of the natural, scenic, hydrologic, floral and faunal, and recreational values of the Big Cypress watershed and to provide for the enhancement of public enjoyment. Established as one of the first national preserves, Big Cypress represents a unique management concept where resource protection, public recreation, and specific uses stipulated within its enabling legislation are managed concurrently.

Water is the unifying force of the Preserve, connecting its five habitats: hardwood hammocks, pinelands, prairies, cypress swamps, and estuaries. These diverse ecosystems encompass a dynamic mixture of tropical and temperate plant communities and wildlife. The Preserve protects 9 federally listed and 31 state listed threatened and endangered or species of special concern animals and 120 state listed threatened and endangered plant species. Visitors can see nearly 200 bird species throughout the year, and large mammals such as the black bear and bobcat make the Preserve their home. Federally listed animals that call the Preserve home include the Cape Sable seaside sparrow, wood stork, red-cockaded woodpecker, Everglade snail kite, West Indian manatee, American crocodile, eastern indigo snake, and the Florida panther. The Florida panther is one of the most endangered mammals in the world. Big Cypress National Preserve protects the flow of freshwater from the Big Cypress Swamp into estuaries of neighboring Everglades National Park and the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge.

In the late 1960s, the area that was to become Big Cypress National Preserve was threatened by multiple forms of development, including a proposal to construct the “jetport,” which would have been the largest airport in the world at that time. Spurred by these impending threats, the concept of a preserve was born through a grassroots exercise in compromise.

Alarmed by the potential for environmental harm and the threatened loss of a traditional way of life, a coalition of hunters, conservationists, and citizen activists, including Marjory Stoneman Douglas and the newly formed Friends of the Everglades, pressured the then Dade County Port Authority to find another location for the jetport. Everyone saw the importance of protecting Big Cypress, but many did not want this region merely added to nearby Everglades National Park. Many felt that traditional forms of access to Big Cypress would be lost if the area was managed as a national park. The resulting compromise created a new land management concept—a national preserve. Under this concept, the area would be protected but specific activities identified in the preserve’s enabling legislation would be allowed to continue. A wide variety of traditional, consumptive, and recreational activities were carried out in Big Cypress before the inception of the Preserve. Today, hunting, fishing, trapping, oil and gas exploration and extraction, operation of off-road vehicles (ORVs), private land ownership, and traditional use by Miccosukee and Seminole people are allowed, consistent with the preserve’s enabling legislation. Cattle grazing leases have expired and no new rights will be extended.

II. SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES

The project shall be the development of a Long-Range Interpretive Plan for Big Cypress National Preserve. The project includes coordination with park staff, partners, and stakeholders.

The contractor shall provide all services including labor, materials, equipment, facilities, and travel (except as otherwise specified in this contract) necessary to provide interpretive planning services for Big Cypress National Preserve.

General Requirements

1. Attachments Outlining NPS Interpretive Planning Standards

All work under this contract shall be completed in accordance with the most recent version of the following attachments:

Attachment A, Comprehensive Interpretive Planning Attachment B, Draft Planning for Interpretation and Visitor Experience Attachment C, HFC Editorial Style Guide Attachment E, Digital Image Guide for Media Production Attachment F: Programmatic Accessibility Guidelines for National Park Service Interpretive Media (version 2.4 October 2019)

A. Elements of Interpretive Plans

I. Project Planning

The contractor shall conduct project planning. A 1-hour post-award teleconference shall be held to determine the project schedule, the contract deliverable dates, and to finalize details for the scoping trip. The project manager and interpretive planner shall participate on the call. The contractor shall provide notes from the post-award teleconference summarizing topics discussed, participants attending, and any action items identified, including who is responsible for completing the action items.

The scoping trip shall take place in and near the park and shall consist of one (8-hour) day. The project manager, interpretive planner and media specialist shall participate in a scoping trip. The media specialist shall be an Exhibit Specialist with expertise in interior exhibits and outdoor exhibits/waysides. A Trip Report shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). The scoping trip shall be combined with the Stakeholder Meeting (B.1) and the Foundation Section Workshop (A.2).

At a minimum, the trip report shall include:

A brief project background;

A review of site visit discussions and observations;

A summary of significant topics the interpretive plan must address;

Planning goals of Superintendent, Chief of Interpretation, and/or other key staff;

A schedule for workshops, document submissions, and review deadlines;

and A list of primary planning team players and responsibilities.

II. Foundation Section Workshop

The contractor shall facilitate a Foundation Section Workshop and shall conduct daily closeout meetings with the COR and key park staff. Foundation Section Workshop Notes shall be submitted to the COR.

The participatory workshop shall include park staff, regional office staff, subject matter experts, park partners, and stakeholders. The government shall choose the participants.

A foundation workshop, consisting of one (7-hour) day, shall be held in or near the park. The contractor shall conduct a 1-hour closeout meeting with the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and key park staff at the end of the day. The contractor shall arrange, facilitate, and record all meetings and workshops in coordination with the COR. In addition to the project manager and interpretive planner, the exhibit media specialist shall participate in this workshop and the close out meetings. The media specialist shall be an Exhibit Specialist with expertise in interior exhibits and outdoor exhibits/waysides. The media specialist shall serve as a participant in the workshop and provide input relevant to their specific areas of expertise. The Foundation Section Workshop shall be combined with the scoping trip (A.1) and the Stakeholder Meeting (B.1).

At a minimum, the Foundation Section Workshop Notes shall include:

A list of workshop attendees and their affiliations;

Discussion points;

A transcription of key notes that reflect the core workshop topic elements;

Specific items of concern, consensus, and/or disagreement.

III. Foundation Section Document

The contractor shall submit a Draft Foundation Section Document to the COR.

This document shall reflect consensus of the planning workshop participants. A revised Foundation Section Document, incorporating all review comments, shall be submitted to the COR.

At a minimum, the Foundation Document shall include:

Park purpose;

Park significance;

Interpretive themes and Essential Questions;

Vision for the future;

Visitor experiences;

Interpretive Program Goals;

Significant issues and opportunities related to interpretation and education;

A profile summary of current park audiences as well as an identification and description of potential future audiences who may be underrepresented in park visitation; and

A summary assessment of existing conditions (facilities, interpretive media, orientation, public programs, educational programs, and other visitor services.)

To ensure that the Foundation Document aligns with other park planning efforts, reference to past and concurrent planning activities which affect visitor experience shall be included. Applicable plans shall include Foundation Document, Concession Management Plans, General Management Plans, Education Plans, Historic Furnishings Reports, Historic Resource Studies, Historic Structures Reports, Visitor Studies, and Cultural Landscape Reports.

IV. Recommendations Workshop

The contractor shall facilitate a Recommendations Workshop and shall conduct daily closeout meetings with the COR and key park staff. Recommendations Workshop Notes shall be submitted to the COR.

The participatory workshop may include park staff, regional office staff, subject matter experts, park partners, and stakeholders. The government shall choose the participants.

The workshop, consisting of two 7-hour days, shall be held in or near the park.

The contractor shall conduct a 1-hour daily closeout meeting with the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and key park staff. The contractor shall arrange, facilitate, and record all meetings and workshops in coordination with the COR.

In addition to the project manager and interpretive planner, this workshop and close out meeting shall require the participation of a media specialist with expertise in interior exhibits and outdoor exhibits/waysides. The media specialist shall conduct a presentation during the workshop to illustrate several suggestions that address the park’s needs as discussed in the Foundation Section Workshop and/or outlined in the Foundation Section Document.

The areas of emphasis to cover in this workshop include:

Make recommendations regarding a seamless visitor experience for the Big

Cypress National Preserve. Recommendations shall reflect management goals, visitor needs, the park’s interpretive themes, and describe potential visitor experiences. The recommendations shall represent a cohesive experience that recognizes all visitors may not visit every site or area.

Recommend a portfolio of interpretive media options to expand capacity for telling the stories of the Big Cypress National Preserve sites in and beyond the park to make them accessible and relevant to all. These shall include digital and social media that support interpretation and management goals as well as other types of interpretive media. Self-directed options should be highlighted.

Identify current and potential future partners and outline roles and opportunities for partnerships and involvement.

Recommend strategies for targeted outreach to local communities.

Invest in education programming and support the development and future collaboration of the Big Cypress Institute.

Expand the website and include new technology in menu of interpretive media offerings.

At a minimum, the Recommendations Workshop Notes shall include:

• A list of workshop attendees and their affiliations;

• A transcription of key notes that reflect the core workshop topic elements;

• Specific items of concern, consensus, and/or disagreement.

V. Recommendations Document

The contractor shall submit a Draft Recommendations Document which reflects consensus of planning workshop participants. A revised Recommendations Document, incorporating all review comments, shall be submitted to the COR.

The Recommendations Document shall address the park needs, goals, opportunities, and challenges which have been identified in the park’s Foundation Section Document (A.3).

At a minimum, the Recommendations Document shall:

Represent a cohesive experience that recognizes all visitors may not visit every site or area.

Recommend specific approaches to digital and social media that support interpretation; strengthen outreach; and raise public understanding.

Recommend specific approaches to permanent indoor and wayside exhibits.

Identify current and potential partners and outline roles and opportunities for partnerships and their involvement in interpretation.

Recommend specific approaches for educational outreach using appropriate national and state standards.

Recommend an interpretive strategy that shares all the stories of NATC through relevance and inclusion.

Recommend how to reach diverse audiences.

VI. Implementation Plan

The contractor shall facilitate one 7-hour Implementation Strategy workshop at or near the park. The contractor shall conduct a 1-hour closeout meeting with the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and key park staff. An Implementation Plan shall be submitted which diagrams and prioritizes sequential tasks, assigns responsibility, and identifies funding sources. The project manager and interpretive planner shall attend the workshop and close out meeting. The Implementation Strategy workshop trip shall not be combined with the Foundation Section or Recommendations Workshop trips.

The framework, either in narrative or table format, and the timeframe for recommended actions shall be determined by the government.

At a minimum, the Implementation Plan shall include:

Timeframes; and Recommended actions.

Other elements may include:

staffing assignments or needs;

themes;

funding sources; and locations.

VII. Full-Text Draft

The contractor shall produce a Full-Text Draft which incorporates the Foundation Section Document, Recommendation Document, and Implementation Plan. In addition, reports, plans, or analyses created through any of the additional elements listed below shall be included in the Full-Text Draft.

Based on review comments, the contractor shall provide a revised draft to the

COR.

VIII. Design, Layout, and Print

Once the draft Interpretive Plan text is approved, the contractor shall design an Interpretive Plan using professional design standards and submit an approximately 75-page Draft Interpretive Plan. A revised Interpretive Plan, incorporating review comments shall be submitted to the COR.

In the Interpretive Plan, the Full-Text Draft shall be enhanced with photographs, maps, tables, captions, and/or graphics needed to communicate essential messages. All images shall possess full rights for public domain. Images may be government-furnished and/or shall be provided by the contractor.

Professional design standards include the following concepts: conscientious use of white space; appropriate selection and sizing of photographs and tables;

breaking into the 2” margin to add sophistication and avoid rigidity; and effective layout of “pull-out” sections such as purpose, themes, significance, implementation plan, and appendices. Full-color graphics shall be used on the front and back covers, and on approximately 35% of all pages. Additional guidance is provided on Attachment D “Design Template”.

B. Additional Elements for Interpretive Plans

1. Stakeholder Meeting

The contractor shall plan and facilitate a three-hour meeting or open-house meeting which invites stakeholders, partners, neighbors, and local community members to inform the development of the Long-Range Interpretive Plan (LRIP). The project manager and interpretive planner shall attend this meeting.

The Stakeholder Meeting shall be an interactive format designed to gather feedback. The meeting shall be held in or near the park and shall be combined with the Scoping Trip (A.1) and the Foundation Section Workshop (A.2).

The contractor shall conduct a 1-hour close out meeting with the COR and key park staff. The project manager and interpretive planner shall attend this workshop. Draft Stakeholder Meeting Notes shall be submitted. A revised Stakeholder Meeting Notes, incorporating all review comments, shall be submitted to the COR.

At a minimum, Stakeholder Meeting Notes shall include:

An outline of topics; and

A transcription of key notes that reflect the core workshop topic elements; and

An analysis of the discussions.

2. Media Report

The contractor shall provide an Exhibit Media Report. A revised Media Report, incorporating all review comments, shall be submitted to the COR.

The report shall consist of approximately ten pages, including graphics, diagrams, and narratives. Photographs and illustrations for the Media Report shall be provided by the contractor. This report shall be incorporated as an appendix into the Long-Range Interpretive Plan.

At a minimum, the Media Report shall include:

An outline of recommendations for current and future exhibits both interior and exterior/waysides;

A cost analysis including high, medium, and low estimates; and

A basic diagram that graphically represents recommendations.

I. QUALITY ASSURANCE PLAN

The final product shall contain all elements of the Interpretive Plan, and any additional options as identified in the scope of work, unless otherwise specified. Materials from past or concurrent park planning efforts shall be incorporated where requested by the park. Content for the Interpretive Plans and most other interpretive planning projects shall be derived from participatory workshops with park staff, regional office staff, subject matter experts, park partners, and stakeholders; participants shall be chosen by the government. Project elements shall be reviewed by the park and COR as specified in the scope of work. All review comments and reasonable design suggestions recommended by the park or planning team, as approved by the COR, shall be incorporated into the interpretive planning documents.

II. OWNERSHIP OF PRODUCTS

All original copies of documentation produced under this contract are the property of NPS. The contractor shall not substitute diazo reproducibles for original deliverables. All original and back-up disks used in the development and production of the interpretive plan or other interpretive documents are the property of the NPS. The NPS’s use of the materials contained on the disks shall not be restricted in any manner.

III. ACCESSIBILITY

All work performed under this contract shall be in accordance with Attachment F: Programmatic Accessibility Guidelines for National Park Service Interpretive Media.

The Harpers Ferry Center accessibility webpage provides information relevant to accessibility, including articles, best practices, and resources and is found at:

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/hfc/accessibility.htm

The Programmatic Accessibility Guidelines for National Park Service Interpretive Media can be downloaded from this page. Before submitting proposals and cost estimates, the contractor shall reference the most current version posted on this website at the time of the proposal. If the guidelines are revised during the course of the contract that impact the contractor’s scope of work, a modification shall be initiated.

IV. INVOICING

Electronic Invoicing and Payment Requirements - Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) (April 2013)

Payment requests must be submitted electronically through the U. S. Department of the

Treasury's Invoice Processing Platform System (IPP).

"Payment request" means any request for contract financing payment or invoice payment by the Contractor. To constitute a proper invoice, the payment request must comply with the requirements identified in the applicable Prompt Payment clause included in the contract, or the clause 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items included in commercial item contracts. The IPP website address is: https://www.ipp.gov.

Under this contract, the following documents are required to be submitted as an attachment to the IPP invoice: none

The Contractor must use the IPP website to register access and use IPP for submitting requests for payment. The Contractor Government Business Point of Contact (as listed in SAM) will receive enrollment instructions via email from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (FRBB) within 3 - 5 business days of the contract award date. Contractor assistance with enrollment can be obtained by contacting the IPP Production Helpdesk via email ippgroup@bos.frb.org or phone

(866) 973-3131.

If the Contractor is unable to comply with the requirement to use IPP for submitting invoices for payment, the Contractor must submit a waiver request in writing to the Contracting Officer with its proposal or quotation.

(End of Local Clause)

V. TIME FOR COMPLETION

The time for completion, including review and approval, is July 31, 2022.

VI. TRAVEL

In accordance with Public Law 99-234, "Federal Civilian Employee and Contractor Travel Expense Act of 1985", travel-related expenditures for Contractor's personnel are restricted to the limits established for federal employees. This includes mileage for company-owned vehicles.

The Contractor shall travel as required to support program tasks. All travel arrangements are to be made by the Contractor. Payment for transportation, per diem, mileage, parking, and other fair and reasonable travel expenses will be paid in accordance with the effective Federal Travel Regulations as amended and supplemented by the Department of the Interior travel regulations where applicable. No Federal travel authorizations are to be issued. The Contractor shall make every effort to keep travel costs to a minimum. No reimbursement will be made for parking at a Contractor's normal place of work. No overhead, profit or G&A shall be allowed on travel costs.

Travel costs shall be reimbursed in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations. Travel is only funded to the extent specified within the travel CLIN. The contractor shall not incur any travel costs in excess of the amount funded within the travel CLIN. The Government shall not be liable for any travel related costs incurred by the contractor which are in excess of the total amount funded within the travel CLIN.

If the contractor has reason to believe they may exceed the amount funded on the travel CLIN, they shall notify the Government Contracting Office immediately. Additional funding may only be added to the travel CLIN through a formal signed modification issued by a Government Contracting Officer. Profit, fee, G&A or overhead may not be incurred on travel costs.

VII. DELIVERABLES AND DESTINATION POINT

All deliverables shall be shipped Free On Board (FOB) Destination, within Consignee’s premises, with all shipping and transportation costs prepaid. Deliverables shall be shipped by either registered or certified mail to ensure that shipments can be traced, if lost.

A. The following deliverables shall be submitted for review and approval:

Low-resolution digital file

High-resolution digital file

DVDs Hard copies

A.1 Notes from Post-Award Conference Call 1 A. 1 Scoping Trip Notes 1 A. 2 Workshop Notes from Foundation Section Workshop

B.1 Stakeholder Meeting Notes 1 A. 3 Foundation Section Document 1 A. 4 Workshop Notes from Recommendations Workshop

A. 5 Recommendation Section Document 1 B. 2 Media Report 1 A. 6 Implementation Plan 1 A. 7 Full Text Draft (containing revised Foundation Section, Recommendations, Implementation Plan, and Media Report)

A. 8 Draft LRIP 1 A. 8 Final LRIP 1 1 3 25

B.

The following deliverables shall be submitted to the COR for review and approval:

Written drafts - (Items C.III.A.1-7 and B.1-2) - Microsoft Word via email

Items C.III.A.8 and B.2 - PDF file using desktop publishing software such as Adobe Creative Suite including written elements described in previous sections, plus graphics, maps, tables, and photographs, including captions, needed to adequately communicate essential messages.

Items C.III.A.8 – Paper copy proof before printing

Item C.III.A.8 - Final document: Twenty-five copies, spiral binding or equivalent, and full-color photographs, and three archival-quality CDs with the Microsoft Word text documents, a high-resolution PDF for printing, a lower-resolution PDF for website use, and the Adobe InDesign (desktop publishing) files. Copies and CDs shall be shipped via FedEx.

C. The contractor shall provide all written documentation, photographs, and all items to the COR.

The deliverables shall be submitted to:

TBD at the time of Award Big Cypress National Preserve

X. LOSS OR DAMAGE

The contractor shall be liable for any loss or damage to any government property caused by negligence, theft, or willful misconduct of the contractor, his agents, servants, and employees, and shall indemnify and save the government harmless against all actions, proceedings, claims, demands, costs, damages, and expenses, including attorney’s fees, by reason of any suit or action brought for any actual or alleged injury to or resulting from the performance of this contract. The contractor shall submit a full written report to the Contracting Officer within 24 hours following the occurrence of such damage, loss, or injury.

If due to fault, neglect, dishonesty of the contractor, his agency or employees, loss or damage to government property is incurred during the performance of this contract, the contractor shall be responsible for same. The government, at its option, may in lieu of repayment, require the contractor to replace at his own expense, all such property as directed by the Contracting Officer. Until the equipment is repaired or replaced, the contractor shall furnish similar, adequate replacement property and/or equipment at no charge to the government, within two working days of the date the equipment has been lost, stolen, or damaged.

XI. CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

A. The National Park Service, Contract Specialist / Contracting Officer address is: National Park

Service, Everglades National Park, 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, FL 33034

The contractor shall use the Contracting Officer as a point of contact on all business and administrative matters concerning this contract. All correspondence, other than that of a technical nature, shall be addressed to the Contracting Officer, with information copies of the basic correspondence to the COR.

B. The National Park Service, COR address is: Big Cypress National Preserve, 33100 Tamiami

Trail East, Ochopee, FL 34141

The contractor shall use the COR as the point of contact for all technical matters under the contract. Technical correspondence shall be addressed to the NPS COR, with an information copy of the basic correspondence to the Contracting Officer.

XII. FACILITY SECURITY POLICY

Contractors attending meetings or accomplishing work within the buildings or real property of the

National Park Service shall adhere to the security policy of each office. It shall be the responsibility of the contractor to contact the office before work begins for a briefing on security policies.

XIII. TECHNICAL DATA CONFIDENTIALITY

The quote submitted in response to this Request for Quote may contain technical data that the offeror or his subcontractor(s) does not want used or disclosed for any purpose other than for evaluation of the quote. The use and disclosure of any such technical data may be restricted, provided that the offeror marks the cover sheet of the quote with the following legend:

“Technical data contained in pages _______ of this quote shall not be used or disclosed, except for evaluation purposes.”

If a contract is awarded as a result of or in connection with the submission of this quote, the government shall have the right to use or disclose this technical data to the extent provided in the contract. This restriction does not limit the government’s right to use or disclose technical data obtained from another source without restrictions. The government assumes no liability for disclosure or use of unmarked technical data and may use or disclose the data for any purpose and may consider that the quote was not submitted in confidence and therefore releasable under the Freedom of Information Act (5 USC 552).