Bird_Survey_SOW_2026_Catoosa_and_Smyrna.pdf

SCOPE OF WORK

PLANNING LEVEL BIRD SURVEY AT

VOLUNTEER TRAINING SITES –SMYRNA AND CATOOSA

TENNESSEE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

1.0 INTRODUCTION / BACKGROUND

The Tennessee Army National Guard (TNARNG), as an agent of the National Guard Bureau (NGB), is responsible for the prudent management of natural resources on all of its properties. The largest of these, Volunteer Training Sites (VTS), are managed in accordance with the Sikes Act and Sikes Act Improvement Amendments, through Integrated Natural Resources Management Plans (INRMP) which guide all activities that may impact natural resources on a site. Up to date baseline information on flora, fauna, and abiotic characteristics of the training site is essential to informed natural resources management.

Birds are very mobile, and as such their populations can change substantially in a short period of time.

To ensure accurate information for effective management and compliance with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Sikes Act as Amended, and AR 200-1, planning level surveys (PLS) for birds are conducted on a five-year interval. The most recent bird survey on the TNARNG training sites was conducted in 2020.

For this reason the TNARNG requires a PLS of the avian species which utilize the Smyrna and Catoosa training sites for part or all of the year. Of particular concern are neotropical migrants, migratory waterfowl, and any federal or state species of concern. Surveys are necessary to identify any bird community or population changes from previous surveys which may call for special management.

2.0 OBJECTIVE

The objective of this Scope of Work (SOW) is to provide an in-depth investigative survey to identify the bird species using each training site during all seasons of the year, and determine if any are considered rare, threatened, or endangered (RTE) by the Federal or State governments. Comparisons will be made with the previous survey results to identify important changes in species, species groups, or the bird community. This will require using similar methods to the previous survey.

The following are the objectives of this scope of work:

1. A scientifically defensible survey that is comparable to the previous survey’s results of bird species utilizing the various habitat types of the two training sites during all seasons of the year.

2. Recommendations for management actions to support species of interest that are utilizing the sites.

3. Identification of special habitats on the sites and recommendations for their management and improvement.

4. Documentation of any RTE bird species present and the marking and mapping (GIS) of the relevant habitat.

5. If applicable, identification of community or population changes from previous surveys, possible reasons for the shifts, and management recommendations.

TNARNG Volunteer Training Site –Smyrna and Catoosa Bird Survey Scope of Work

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3.0 SITES

The two TNARNG training sites covered by this SOW are VTS – Smyrna in Rutherford County, Tennessee, and VTS – Catoosa in Catoosa County, Georgia. These sites vary in terms of topography, size, type and quality of vegetative cover, and land use activities.

VTS – Catoosa (Catoosa County, GA): VTS Catoosa lies in the state of Georgia, approximately 20 miles south of Chattanooga, Tennessee. It encompasses 1,628 acres, including 1,313 acres of forest land, largely upland mixed oak, bottomland hardwoods, and loblolly pine. It has approximately 209 acres of managed grassland. There are three perennial streams crossing the site: Tiger Creek and its tributaries Broom Branch and Catoosa Springs Branch. The upland oak forests on the site are home to a large population of the threatened large-flowered skullcap, as well as the endangered gray bat (Myotis grisescens), endangered northern long-eared bat (M. septentrionalis), endangered Indiana bat (M.

sodalis), and proposed endangered tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus). VTS Catoosa is bordered primarily by small rural private landholdings.

VTS – Smyrna (Rutherford County, TN): VTS-Smyrna is a relatively small site encompassing 858 acres on either side of Stewart Creek and J. Percy Priest Lake in Middle Tennessee (22 miles southeast of Nashville, TN). It includes approximately 373 acres of forestland, comprised of redcedar woodlands, mixed evergreen/hardwood forest, and bottomland forest, and 117 acres of managed grassland, as well as 126 acres of cantonment area. VTS-Smyrna is home to the endangered gray bat (Myotis grisescens), endangered northern long-eared bat (M. septentrionalis), endangered Indiana bat (M. sodalis), and proposed endangered tricolored bat (Perimyotis subflavus). The training site is bounded on one side by a municipal airport and lies in a fairly urban and industrial environment.

4.0 MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

The following tasks must be completed for the Contractor to successfully accomplish the work under this delivery order:

4.1 Task 1: Project Start-Up Meeting and Site Visits

The Contractor will attend an on-site meeting with TNARNG representatives at the Headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee or at one of the two training sites. At this meeting, the Contractor will be furnished with the most recent environmental information and maps available for the training sites. The TNARNG Point of Contact (POC) will be responsible for copying documents in cases where the original cannot be distributed to the Contractor for use during the execution of this SOW. This information will include the following:

• Maps showing the location of restricted areas (areas that would be excluded from the survey);

• Past survey results; and,

• Documentation regarding current and pending natural resources management activities at the training sites.

Whenever possible, this information will be provided to the Contractor in electronic format. The Contractor will be responsible for reviewing all provided data.

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The Contractor will also schedule a site visit to each training site with the TNARNG POC to become familiar with the natural environment and military facilities on each site and the training site personnel through whom access will be coordinated.

Deliverable: Start-Up meeting minutes.

Performance Period: Meeting within 1 month of Notice to Proceed; minutes within 15 days following meeting.

4.2 Task 2: Submission of Project Work Plan

The Contractor will submit for review by the TNARNG POC a Project Work Plan detailing the scheduled stages of the project and the proposed methodology to be used in each phase. The work plan will be completed and approved by the TNARNG POC within one month following the start-up meeting.

The methodology of the survey should follow the methodology and recommended methodology changes in the 2020 survey report (attached). The goal of this project is a PLS survey of the avian life on the two training sites; comparison of results with prior surveys to identify changes in avian communities and species; therefore, the methodology should address the full range of bird habitat, lifestyle, and seasonality, and should not be restricted to a single survey method (i.e., bird calls). Survey methodology should be designed such that potential species of concern (rare, threatened, or endangered; neotropical migrant;

raptors; migratory waterfowl) will be sampled if present.

The Contractor will identify habitat types of interest located at each training site. The training sites should be subdivided according to these major habitat types and each habitat type adequately sampled across the physical range of the site. Sampling locations will be identified in the work plan.

The Contractor will contact the TNARNG GIS office to develop the GIS/GPS standards and methods for this project. Verification of appropriate GIS configuration will be required before the work plan is approved.

The Contractor is responsible for contacting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Tennessee and Georgia field offices, the Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage, and Georgia Department of Natural Resources to determine what, if any, threatened or endangered species or other species of special concern could potentially be using the training sites at Smyrna, and Catoosa. The standard gauge of species found within 5 miles of the site is useful; however, the mobile nature of birds suggests that habitat availability be a more important factor than known proximity to the training site. Focal species of interest for the project, if any, will be identified in the Project Work Plan.

Deliverable: Project Work Plan detailing survey methodology, sample locations, comparative analysis with previous surveys, and species of special concern.

Performance Period: 3 months following Notice to Proceed

4.3 Task 3: Bird Survey

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The Contractor will sample the different bird habitats of each training site according to the Project Work Plan and in all seasons. Training Site access and scheduling of training activities shall be taken into account in planning the sampling schedule. Access to the sites will be provided as necessary to accomplish field work: however, the Contractor must understand that military training activities will receive first priority with regard to scheduling access to Training Areas. It is the Contractor’s responsibility to coordinate with each training site POC to schedule access to that site. The Contractor will provide all labor and equipment associated with the project, except as otherwise noted.

Sampling will be non-destructive: catch and release and/or non-physical methods. Species identification will be performed by personnel professionally trained in bird identification. If any species of special concern are discovered in the survey, the location at which they were found and any other potential habitat will be designated on the ground with flagging and mapped via GIS. Sample point locations and special concern habitats will be recorded via GPS in WGS 1984 UTM 16 N in a geodatabase format.

Species lists will be recorded in a database format that is compatible with ESRI ArcGIS 10X system, and current Corps of Engineers Spatial Data Standards (SDSFIE) version. Meta-data files will be compliant with the current SDSFIE; the Contractor must coordinate with the TNARNG GIS office (see Section 9.0) to ensure current standards are being followed prior to beginning field work. GIS section can provided a blank database if necessary. All files will be delivered in an editable format; “read-only” files are not acceptable.

The Contractor will make monthly progress reports to the TNARNG POC throughout the execution of this contract. Format of these reports is at the discretion of the TNARNG POC.

Deliverables: Status reports on project progress.

Performance Period: Monthly, throughout contract.

4.4 Task 4: Preparation and Submission of Survey Reports

Results of the survey will be submitted to the TNARNG POC. Each training site will be written up in a separate report. The reports will include: summary of survey methodology, species list by habitat, discussion of significant finds, field notes, map and GIS shapefile of sample locations, map and GIS shapefile of species of special concern habitats (if any), and recommendations for management or further study. The Contractor should review previous bird surveys conducted at the VTSs, make comparisons, and report if there have been any bird community, species group, or species population shifts. Should a community or population shift be noted, possible reasons and management recommendations should be given

The draft reports will be reviewed by TNARNG to insure all needed information is included. The drafts are due 20 months after notice to proceed. One electronic copy of each draft report should be submitted.

All GIS files should be submitted for review at the same time as the draft report.

The draft reports will be reviewed by the State POC and TNARNG subject matter experts to insure all needed information is included. The State POC will return comments within two months of receipt of draft reports.

The Contractor will prepare the final survey reports incorporating the State POC’s comments. Three hard-copies and three electronic copies (2 on CD’s and 1 via DoD SAFE) of each final report will be submitted to the State.

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All data collected in the course of the project including field forms, raw data tables, spreadsheets, databases, and GIS files will be provided to the TN Military Department in electronic form. It should be included on the CDs containing the final reports. All GIS data and metadata will be in editable files that can be effectively incorporated into the TNARNG GIS system.

For the purpose of creating maps for the reports, the Contractor can obtain any applicable raw GIS data from the TNARNG GIS Office.

Publication of results from this project is possible with written permission and cooperation from the TN Military Department, Environmental Office. Any manuscript must be reviewed by the State prior to submission for publication.

Deliverable: Draft Survey Reports, Final Survey Reports, All Data Collected In Digital

Form

Performance Period: Draft due 20 months from Notice to Proceed

Final Report due by close of contract (24 months)

5.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED INFORMATION OR MATERIAL

The TNARNG shall furnish access to all requested data relevant to this project. This will include topographic maps and environmental data about the sites. The TNARNG will provide access to the installation for the necessary field work; however, the Contractor must schedule their access to each training site through the respective training site POC. The contractor must also understand that scheduling and access priority will be given to military units for training purposes.

6.0 CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The contract work shall be performed by or under the direct supervision of personnel who are professionally qualified in bird identification.

The Contractor shall furnish (except as noted) all labor, materials, equipment, tools, transportation, communications, and supplies required to complete the work in accordance with project specifications, terms of the contract, and this SOW. The contractor must remove all flagging, other markings, and equipment upon completion of the field portion of the contract.

The contractor shall obtain all permits and authorizations that may be required to complete this contract.

Copies of permits will be furnished to the TNARNG POC within 30 days of issuance.

The TNARNG POC will serve as the liaison with the training site personnel concerning scheduling of meetings at the facilities and the initial site visits. However, it is the Contractor’s responsibility to coordinate all other access to each facility through the training site POC. Access will be provided as necessary to accomplish field work; however, the Contractor must understand that military training activities shall receive first priority with regards to scheduling access to training areas.

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All information and data provided by TNARNG to the Contractor is for the purpose of fulfilling this contract. This information is to be protected by the Contractor; it is not to be distributed or utilized for any other purpose under penalty of law.

Upon completion of the Project, the Contractor shall protect and/or return to TNARNG all maps, photographs, specimen materials, studies, surveys, inventories, evaluations, plans, and project reports obtained or collected during the course of the Contract work in accordance with all regulations, laws and statutes. Copies of reports and applicable related materials will be furnished to the TNARNG upon completion of the Contract.

Any specimens collected will be provided to a local institution of higher education for archiving and/or educational use. Any endangered species collected will be dispersed according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service instruction.

Publication of results from this project is possible only with written permission and cooperation from the TNARNG Environmental Office. Any manuscript must be approved by the TNARNG POC and the TNARNG Public Affairs Office prior to submission for publication.

7.0 DELIVERABLES

All maps, historic documents and other items borrowed from the TNARNG or other contractors under contract to the TNARNG are the property of the TNARNG and shall be returned to the TNARNG upon completion of this Contract.

The deliverables due in fulfillment of this Contract are summarized below. Payments will be made following receipt of deliverables according to the following approximate schedule (payment will not be delayed if a deliverable is provided ahead of schedule):

Time from Notice to Proceed Deliverable Payment

1.5 months Kick-off Meeting Minutes 10% 3 months Project Work Plan 10%

Throughout Copies of all permits and authorizations obtained during the course of the contract work -

Throughout Minutes and records of meetings, consultations, and conferences -

Throughout Monthly progress reports on field work -

Throughout Field sampling, species identification, and habitat identification 40%

21 months Draft Survey Reports (1 electronic copy of each report) and draft GIS files including metadata 20%

24 months Final Biological Survey Reports (3 hardcopy and 3 electronic (2 on CD’s, 1 via DoD SAFE) of each site’s report)

20%

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Survey results in electronic database compatible with TNARNG systems (MS Access or Excel 2013 or higher version preferred; must be editable)

Electronic copies of graphics and maps (locations of sample points and any species of special concern habitat) in ArcView (WGS 1984 UTM 16 N Projection) with SDS/FIE compliant metadata. GIS data must be provided as editable data layers, not read-only

8.0 MEETINGS AND REVIEWS

Consultations and meetings will be conducted as necessary. At a minimum, this will include:

1. Start-up meeting and site visits – on-site, in person.

2. Review of Project Work Plan – may be conducted in person or via phone/email.

3. Monthly progress report reviews – may be conducted in person or via phone/email.

4. Draft report review – may be conducted in person or via phone/email.

9.0 TECHNICAL POINTS OF CONTACT

The VTS-Catoosa on-site POC for this project is CW3 Terry at (423) 364-4632 (john.r.terry.mil@army.mil). All visits to Catoosa by the Contractor should be coordinated through CW3 Terry and MSG Martin (423) 596-4068 (robert.k.martin4.mil@army.mil).

The VTS-Smyrna on-site POC for this project is MAJ Hatten at (629) 332-7259 (anita.hatten.mil@army.mil). All visits to Smyrna by the Contractor should be coordinated through MAJ Hatten and SFC Rados (629) 332-7261 (david.w.rados.mil@army.mil).

The TNARNG Natural Resources POC is Brian Knapp, (615) 313-0945 (brian.e.knapp.nfg@army.mil).

The TNARNG GIS POC is James “Dave” Meadows at (615) 313-0837 (james.d.meadows.nfg@army.mil). GIS/GPS requirements must be coordinated in advance through Mr.

Meadows.

All material submissions are to be sent to Brian Knapp, the TNARNG POC, at the following address:

Tennessee Army National Guard

JFHQ-TN-CFMO-ENV

ATTN: Brian Knapp 3041 Sidco Drive

Nashville, TN 37204-1502

No TNARNG personnel, other than the Contracting Officer, shall have the authority to change or alter these requirements. The TNARNG POC shall clarify technical points or supply relevant technical information, but no requirements in this statement of work or the scope of work may be altered as a sole result of such verbal clarification.

mailto:brian.e.knapp.nfg@army.mil mailto:james.d.meadows.nfg@army.mil

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10.0 PERIOD OF SERVICE

The Period of Service for this contract shall be twenty-four (24) months from Notice to Proceed.

- END OF SCOPE OF WORK -