SOW.pdf

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Migratory Bird Management

Statement of Work

Support for Arctic Goose Joint Venture:

Arctic Goose Monitoring and Research Projects

1. GENERAL

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Division of Migratory Bird Management (USFWS DMBM) seeks a sole-source contract with the Government of Canada (i.e., Environment and Climate Change Canada - Canadian Wildlife Service and Science and Technology [ECCC]) to carry out research and monitoring programs of the Arctic Goose Joint Venture (AGJV). The purpose of this statement of work is to fulfill the mission and goals of the AGJV through completion of projects recommended and approved by the AGJV Technical Committee and Management Board. The specific projects described herein to be undertaken in 2019 by ECCC will provide data and information (e.g., population estimates, survival/demographic rates, harvest rates, habitat usage, carrying capacity, etc.) that are used by the USFWS DMBM and ECCC to monitor and assess the status of various goose species and populations, set harvest regulations, and inform management decisions. This information is necessary to fulfill legal mandates regarding the conservation and management of migratory birds, specifically arctic nesting geese.

2. BACKGROUND

The USFWS and ECCC have primary responsibility for managing migratory birds within each country under the provisions of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act/Migratory Birds Convention Act (MBTA/MBCA: 16 U.S.C. 703-712). One step down implementation of these Conventions was the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (16 U.S.C § 4401), which was signed by the United States and Canada in 1986, and established the joint ventures, including the AGJV. The USFWS and ECCC co-chair the AGJV. The AGJV was established in 1989 and provides funding support for Arctic goose research and monitoring projects and programs. Collected information from these projects and programs is used by the USFWS and ECCC to monitor and assess the status of various goose species, set harvest regulations, and inform management decisions.

To date, more than 100 projects have been endorsed or funded by the AGJV, and over 400 publications on Arctic geese have resulted from AGJV supported projects. The AGJV Strategic Plan document outlines priority information needs for Arctic geese, details the AGJV funding strategy, and defines the specific guidelines for project proposal submissions, how projects are evaluated and ranked, and how project progress is documented and assessed. Proposals are reviewed by the AGJV Technical Committee with an endorsement recommendation to the AGJV Management Board. The AGJV

Management Board votes to approve a project as well as the given funding level. Due the locale of the work (i.e., the Canadian Arctic), the specialized expertise needed, permitting and land access requirements, and logistical and cost constraints, ECCC is the only entity capable of conducting some AGJV projects and has been an instrumental partner in carrying out the majority of the AGJV projects since its inception.

3. WORK TO BE PERFORMED BY CONTRACTOR

Below is a summary table and description of the projects and funding amounts approved by the AGJV Management Board that are to be completed by ECCC in 2019.

AGJV Project # Project Name Amount #66 Population dynamics of greater snow geese $10,000 #98 Assessment of population dynamics of lesser snow and Ross’s geese $40,000 #106 Arctic goose banding in Canada $145,000

TOTAL $195,000

#66 – Population dynamics of greater snow geese: demographic and habitat monitoring during a period of increased harvest, Bylot Island, Nunavut

Project Lead(s): Gilles Gauthier, Université Laval; Josée Lefebvre, ECCC-Canadian Wildlife Service Summary: Greater snow geese are monitored at Bylot Island to assess abundance, productivity, colony distribution, impacts to vegetation, and effects from harvest. This information is used to evaluate the status of greater snow geese, and the impacts to this population from harvest regulations in eastern Canada and the eastern United States.

#98 – Assessment of population dynamics of lesser snow and Ross’s geese, Queen Maud Gulf Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Nunavut & Saskatchewan

Project Lead: Ray Alisauskas, ECCC-Science and Technology Summary: Lesser snow geese and Ross’ geese are monitored in the Queen Maud Gulf Migratory Bird Sanctuary to assess abundance, productivity, colony distribution, impacts to vegetation, and effects from harvest. Age ratio and other status information are collected in Saskatchewan. This information is used to evaluate the status of lesser snow goose and Ross’s goose populations and the impacts to these populations from harvest regulations in central Canada and the central United States.

#106 - Arctic goose banding, Canadian Arctic (multiple locations)

Project Lead: Jim Leafloor, ECCC-Canadian Wildlife Service Summary: Five species of Arctic geese (i.e., lesser snow geese, Ross’s geese, cackling geese, white-fronted geese, and Atlantic brant) are banded at four locations in the Arctic (i.e., Baffin Island, Southampton Island, Perry River, and Karrak Lake).

Banding data provide information on goose distribution, migration chronology, recovery and harvest rates, annual survival rates, and indirect measures of population size. This information is used to make harvest management decisions in Canada and the United States.

4. GOVERNMENT-FURNISHED MATERIALS/SERVICES

None.

5. QUALIFICATIONS

The Contractor must have at least 5 years demonstrated experience working in remote regions of the Arctic and the ability to access and work within remote Arctic regions. The Contractor must have at least 5 years demonstrated work experience conducting Arctic goose or habitat research, trapping and banding geese, performing data analyses, and writing scientific reports. The Contractor must possess a current banding permit issued by Canada’s Bird Banding Office, as well as any other permits that federal, provincial, and Indigenous governments require for working in areas and for handling captured geese.

The Contractor must have established working relationships with provincial and federal governments and local Indigenous communities across Arctic Canada.

6. SUMMARY OF MILESTONE DUE DATES

All projects endorsed and funded by the AGJV must submit annual progress reports, annual contribution and expenditure reports, and a final report. Evaluation criteria for project continuation are specified in the AGJV Strategic Plan. Annual progress and contribution and expenditure reports are due to the USFWS DMBM via the AGJV by the fall AGJV meeting (typically October–December) following a given year’s field season.

Final reports are due to the USFWS DMBM via the AGJV no later than 1 year following the completion of final field activities.

7. DELIVERABLES

The Contractor shall submit to the USFWS DMBM via the AGJV annual and final reports that detail program operations and summarize the key findings; other data and data summaries shall be submitted upon request. Reports and data may be provided electronically via e-mail.

8. PROJECT COMPLETION/DELIVERY SCHEDULE

Project field work shall be completed during the spring, summer, and fall seasons.

Annual project progress reports summarizing a given year’s field work shall be due by the fall AGJV meeting (typically October–December). Final project reports shall be due no later than 1 year following the completion of final field activities.

9. ADDRESS FOR DELIVERABLES

All deliverables shall be submitted to the following contact within the specified timeframes.

Joshua Dooley U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Migratory Bird Management 1211 SE Cardinal Court, Suite 100 Vancouver, WA 98683-9684 Phone: 360-604-2564 Fax: 360-604-2505 Email: joshua_dooley@fws.gov

10. TRAVEL EXPENSES

Travel expenses will not be covered.

11. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance of this order shall be from May 20, 2019 to March 31, 2020.

12. LOCATION OF WORK

Work will be conducted throughout eastern, central, and western Canada.

13. TECHNICAL LIAISON

The technical contact for this task order is:

Joshua Dooley U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Migratory Bird Management 1211 SE Cardinal Court, Suite 100 Vancouver, WA 98683-9684 Phone: 360-604-2564 Fax: 360-604-2505 Email: joshua_dooley@fws.gov