C04 Region 8_SOW_Final 090926.pdf

Statement of Work Oil and Gas Leasing Availability – USDA Forest Service, Region 8

Statement of Work

8/19/2026

Project

Oil and Gas Leasing Availability Contract – USDA Forest Service, Southern Region (Region 8)

General Information

1.0 Scope of Work

The Contractor shall provide environmental analysis and documentation in support of the Region 8 Oil and Gas Leasing Availability Contract, covering an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 acres of project area across the Region 8 footprint. Deliverables shall include preparation of the appropriate environmental documentation, anticipated to include either Categorical Exclusions (CEs) or Environmental Assessments (EAs), as directed by the Forest Service. The Contractor shall prepare all necessary supporting analyses, documentation, and associated materials required to support the applicable CE or EA and submit draft and final deliverables for Forest Service review, comment, and approval.

2.0 Background

This SOW incorporates key issue areas identified during public scoping including changed conditions since the 2004 Forest Plan, new drilling technologies including hydraulic fracturing, newly listed ESA species, climate change impacts, sensitive species and habitats, hydrology, air and noise impacts, recreation resources, socioeconomic concerns, and cumulative effects considerations. Contractor support will enable preparation of Environmental Assessments (EAs), specialist reports, Biological Assessments, GIS mapping products, technical analyses, alternatives matrices, mitigation recommendations, and all NEPA-required supporting documentation.

Contractor Requirements

Contractor personnel shall possess demonstrated experience with NEPA, ESA Section 7, NHPA Section 106, hydrology, wildlife biology, air quality analysis, climate/GHG analysis, socioeconomic/EJ analysis, GIS, and interdisciplinary environmental documentation.

3.0 Technical Requirements / Tasks

The Contractor shall independently plan, coordinate, and execute the following NEPA-specific tasks:

Task 3.1 – Purpose & Need Development: Prepare Purpose & Need reflecting changed circumstances, ESA species listings, RFDS data, and technological advancements.

Task 3.2 – Alternatives Development: Develop No Action, Open Leasing, No New Leasing, and middle-ground resource-protective alternatives including NSO buffers, species protections, riparian/wetland exclusions, recreation site protections, and biodiversity-based exclusions.

Task 3.3 – Affected Environment Documentation: Prepare baseline analyses for wildlife, special-status species, vegetation, hydrology, climate, air quality, cultural resources, recreation, scenery, socioeconomics, and EJ populations.

Task 3.4 – Environmental Consequences Analysis: Analyze direct, indirect, and cumulative effects including habitat fragmentation, water contamination pathways, hydrologic depletion, air emissions (NOx, PM, VOCs, BTEX), noise pollution, transportation impacts, climate impacts, recreation impacts, and species-specific population effects.

Task 3.5 – Required Consultations: Support ESA Section 7 consultation, NHPA Section 106 Tribal consultation, SHPO/THPO coordination, and agency consultation with USFWS and

NMFS.

Task 3.6 – Climate Analysis: Quantify lifecycle GHG emissions, evaluate consistency with climate policy, analyze carbon stocks, characterize climate risks and stressors.

Task 3.7 – Public Involvement Support: Prepare scoping documents, public notices, comment summaries, response matrices, and public-meeting materials.

Task 3.8 – Administrative Record Development: Maintain full electronic administrative record including GIS, technical references, specialist reports, data sets, and correspondence.

4.0 Government Furnished

Government will provide RFDS (2021), GIS datasets, existing analyses, Forest Plan direction, scoping documentation, available specialist data, templates, technical references, previously prepared studies, and meeting platforms.

5.0 Deliverables / Schedule

The Contractor shall provide environmental analysis and documentation in support of the Region 8 Oil and Gas Leasing Availability Contract, covering an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 acres of project area across the Region 8 footprint. Deliverables shall include preparation of the appropriate environmental documentation, anticipated to include either Categorical Exclusions (CEs) or Environmental Assessments (EAs), as directed by the Forest Service. The Contractor shall prepare all necessary supporting analyses, documentation, and associated materials required to support the applicable CE or EA and submit draft and final deliverables for Forest Service review, comment, and approval.

CLIN Pricing Note: Contractors shall provide separate pricing for CE and EA deliverables.

- Project Management Plan

- Monthly Progress Reports

- Meeting agendas, summaries, and trackers

- GIS datasets and mapping products

- Specialist technical reports (wildlife, hydrology, vegetation, air, soils, climate, socioeconomic, EJ, cultural)

- Draft Environmental Assessment (EA)

- Final Environmental Assessment (EA)

- FONSI documentation

- Public involvement materials

- Comment response matrix

- Administrative Record

6.0 Travel

No travel is anticipated unless specifically requested by the Government.

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel

Key personnel shall include: NEPA Lead, ESA Specialist, Hydrologist, Wildlife Biologist, Air Quality Analyst, Climate Analyst, Cultural Resource Specialist, Socioeconomic Analyst, GIS Specialist, and Technical Writer.

8.0 Security Requirements

Contractor personnel shall comply with USDA security requirements, cybersecurity policies, and rules governing access to systems and sensitive data.

9.0 Data Rights

All reports, analyses, datasets, GIS files, and work products delivered under this contract become property of the U.S. Government.

10.0 Section 508 – Accessibility Standards

All electronic deliverables must comply with Section 508 accessibility requirements.

Attachment – Simplified Schedule of Items for Pricing

Appendix A — Region 8 Environmental Analysis Wording (Verbatim)

The Contractor shall provide environmental analysis and documentation in support of the Region 8 Oil and Gas Leasing Availability Contract, covering an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 acres of project area across the Region 8 footprint. Deliverables shall include preparation of the appropriate environmental documentation, anticipated to include either Categorical Exclusions (CEs) or Environmental Assessments (EAs), as directed by the Forest Service. The Contractor shall prepare all necessary supporting analyses, documentation, and associated materials required to support the applicable CE or EA and submit draft and final deliverables for Forest Service review, comment, and approval.