DRAFT Draft Beluga EOD Services PWS 20250609.pdf

Management, Species, Beluga EOD Services

Performance Work Statement (PWS)

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Description of Services

This Performance Work Statement (PWS) shall provide details of work to be performed in support of the U.S. Air Force and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson’s (JBER) Cook Inlet beluga whale (CIBW) program. Due to a sudden change in policy now requiring Explosive Ordnance Demolition (EOD) escort for all work in the impact area. This document will describe the base year (FY26) plus four option years (FY27, 28,29 & 30) of a multi-year contract. It is anticipated that the requirements for the option years will track closely with those of the base year.

1.2 Background

Military training on JBER: The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army, located on JBER, are mandated to train combat troops for global deployment. Part of the training requirements for the Army units currently stationed on JBER includes live fire training with high explosive (HE) mortar and artillery rounds. The only area on JBER approved for such training is the Eagle River Flats Impact area (ERF). High explosive rounds do not always detonate when fired, resulting in the deposition of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in impact areas like the ERF. UXO are potentially extremely hazardous, and safe operation requires support from experienced EOD personnel.

Marine mammals common on JBER: The 673d CES has several ongoing CIBW projects requiring access to and movement across ERF, both on land and from a boat in the river.

The projects concern three (3) species of marine mammals, the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale, harbor porpoise, and harbor seal. These species make seasonal forays up to

4.2 km upstream, in Eagle River, within the ERF.

1.3 Legal Drivers

Requirement for EOD Escort in Duded Impact Area (e.g. ERF): Army Regulation 385-63 Range Safety dated 30 Jan 2012 paragraph 1-9,c, (7) empowers the Installation Range Control Officer (IRCO) to establish prerequisite precautions, such as escort by EOD or UXO-qualified personnel, for entry into an impact area. Pursuant to this Army regulation, JBER IRCO, Mr. Steven Thurmond, established the requirement for EOD escort for all work within ERF based on risk assessment, type of impact area, past activities of that impact area and historic requirement for access.

Endangered Marine Mammals: Conducting endangered and threatened species management is required by the Endangered Species Act, Public Law 106-65 (Military Land Withdrawal Act) as mitigation for the land withdrawal Legislative Environmental Impact

Statement (LEIS) and Public Law 86-797 (Sikes Act). Conservation measures aimed at protection of CIBW, and their habitat that were included in the JBER Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) allowed the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to exclude Eagle River from the proposed critical habitat ruling (74 Federal Register [FR] 230). Threatened and endangered species are protected under provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et. seq.) Additionally, all marine mammals are protected by provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (MMPA), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1371(a)(5)). Furthermore, Section 7(a)(2) of the ESA requires that each federal agency ensure that any action authorized, funded, or carried out by such agency is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any endangered or threatened species, or result in the destruction or adverse modification of any critical habitat of such species.

2.0 Overview of Objectives

Task 1 EOD Escort- Provide professional EOD escort for CIBW work within ERF.

Task 2 Situational Contractor Boat Utilization- Provide a boat on trailer for use in the event the Government boat is unable to perform necessary CIBW work.

3.0 Scope

The scope of work for the base and each of the option years is expected to be as outlined below. If, however, circumstances require modification of the scope of work for a given option year, the Contractor shall be informed in advance.

3.1 TASK 1: Management, Species, Beluga EOD Escort

Contractor shall provide professional EOD escort services, material, and labor for escort, surface survey, and identification (all referred to as Escort) of munitions and explosives of concern (MEC) for ESA projects on JBER land, including areas with dense vegetation or shallow water (up to 18 inches). Escort is also required for work in Eagle River, and the Contractor will perform this work through a combination of travel via boat (primarily) and land.

A maximum of up to 720 hours of Escort support is anticipated per FY. The main field season for which the bulk of Escort support is needed is expected to be between 1 May and 15 November, depending on ice. Limited work may occur in the spring prior to May and in the winter after 15 November.

Methods: The Contractor shall provide EOD Escort to 673rd CES staff (including co-operators and volunteers working on CIBW projects) (i.e. accompany biologists into the field) and shall be responsible for protecting the individuals they are escorting from the health and safety hazards associated with MEC.

The Contractor shall locate surface munitions and explosives of concern (MEC) and subsurface anomalies as required to accomplish the ESA program task to ensure the risk from exposure to MEC is reduced. When the Contractor locates surface and subsurface anomalies, the Contractor shall inform the staff being escorted, shall direct avoidance measures and retreat to a safe distance in accordance with (IAW) the approved deliberate risk assessment. Any MEC identified shall be marked by the Contractor to prevent incidental access or ground-disturbing activities. The Contractor shall be required to ride in Government‐furnished vehicles including highway vehicles, off road vehicles and watercraft, as well as assist in the operation of these vehicles if required. An exception to this would be in the event of the need to exercise Task 2, in which case the Contractor shall be required to ride in Contractor-furnished watercraft.

3.2 TASK 2: Management, Species, Beluga EOD Escort: BOAT SUPPORT

Primarily CIBW work conducted by 673d CES and its co-operators is boat-based utilizing Government-furnished vessels. Occasionally those vessels have mechanical issues and cannot be safely operated. In the event that the Government furnished vessels are rendered inoperable due to mechanical or safety reasons, the Contractor shall furnish an appropriate vessel (including trailer) for CIBW work for up to five (n=5) days. The Government will furnish a tow vehicle, an experienced boat captain, and appropriate personal flotation devices (PFD’s) for 673d CES employees and co-operators (i.e. Contractor will supply PFD for Contractor personnel only). The Contractor shall supply up to 15 gallons of fuel per day of operation. Due to the specialized nature of the work and the unique natural hazards presented in the operational area, the Contractor furnished vessel shall be captained by an experienced Government boat captain.

Specific vessel requirements, depending on several factors (e.g. current environmental conditions, mission, etc.):

The vessel must be capable of safe operation in Knik Arm of Upper Cook Inlet, Alaska (huge tidal variation, high turbidity, strong currents, occasional medium to large amplitude standing, confused, short-period and steep-faced waves).

The vessel must be capable of safely stranding (accidentally going dry) during an ebb tide. For example, chine of hull not so steep that the vessel heels when dry to the point that subsequent flood water enters and swamps the vessel.

The vessel must be capable of safely maneuvering within a riverine channel at least (approximately) 30 feet wide by 3 feet deep (upper Eagle River, a relict side channel and Otter Creek).

The vessel must be capable of controlled, fine-scale maneuvers, both forward and in reverse, in heavy current. For example, an inboard boat with rudder would not satisfy this requirement.

The vessel must be equipped with required safety items in good working order.

The vessel must be maintained in good working order.

Safety Requirements and Vessel Damage. The Contractor must supply a seaworthy vessel, properly maintained and meeting all safety regulations. The Government reserves the right to inspect the vessel and can reject acceptance if the vessel lacks seaworthiness, proper maintenance, or safety. The Contractor retains the risk of liability for damages caused from pre-existing conditions or inadequate maintenance regardless of who is in possession of the vessel.

The Government bears the risk of all other damages to the vessel while in its possession. The operation of this clause does not limit any other rights of the Contractor or the Government available to either party under this contract.

4.0 General Requirements

4.1 Contractor Government Access Requirements

4.1.1 The Contractor shall comply with applicable installation, facility, and area commander installation/facility access and local security policies and procedures. The Contractor shall also provide all information required for background checks to meet installation access requirements to be accomplished by installation Provost Marshall Office, Director of Emergency services, and/or Security Office.

4.1.2 The Contractor shall ensure that its employees, entering JBER installations or facilities, have obtained access badges and passes in accordance with facility regulations and that these badges and passes are obtained in advance so as not to delay the accomplishment of services.

4.1.3 The Contractor shall return all issued U.S. Government Common Access Cards (CACs), installation badges, and/or access passes to the Government Representative when the cooperative agreement is completed or when a Contractor employee no longer requires access to the installation or facility.

5.0 Deliverables and Schedule

5.1 Deliverables for all tasks are summarized below. (NOTE: All data gathered during the course of this project is owned by the DOD and may not be retained or used by the Contractor without express permission from the JBER POC).

Deliverable 1: Work Plan. The work plan shall be written in collaboration with the Federal POC and shall detail methods and recommended field schedule.

Deliverable 2: Field report – The field report shall be written in collaboration with the Federal POC and shall include a summary detailing the escort work for the season.

Further details on report components will be discussed and agreed upon during the kickoff meeting. A draft report should be delivered to the JBER POC NLT 30 calendar days after the end of the season with a final report due NLT 30 calendar days after receipt of comments from the JBER POC.

5.2 Period of Performance

The period of performance is 12 months from date of award for the base year and again for each of the four option years

5.3 The following table describes a generalized project schedule with milestones. Note that this is an estimated schedule. The unpredictable nature of Alaskan maritime field work requires that project managers be somewhat adaptable as the natural world outside of the office setting does not conform to rigid time schedules. The Contractor Project Manager shall notify the JBER Technical POC of delays expected to push back any field work or deliverable deadlines by more than 45 days.

6.0 Point of Contacts

The Contractor shall coordinate with the JBER Technical POCs listed below and provide quarterly progress reports and final report to the JBER Technical POCs

JBER TECHNICAL POCs:

Mr. Christopher Garner Biologist

673 CES/CEIEC

Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson (JBER) Phone: (907) 602-0860 (cell) Email: christopher.garner.9@us.af.mil

Ms Andrea Gilstad Biologist

673 CES/CEIEC

Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson (JBER) Phone: (907) 384- 0276 Email: andrea.gilstad.1@us.af.mil

Ms. Kylene Lang Conservation Chief

673 CES/CEIEC

Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson (JBER) Phone: (317) 384-2440 (office) Email: kylene.lang.1@us.af.mil

Milestone

Description General timeframe (all “days” are calendar days)

1 Kick off meeting (can be teleconference) NLT 30 days after agreement award 2 Present Draft Work Plan(s) NLT 30 days after kick off meeting 3 Present Final Work Plan(s) (Deliverable

1) NLT 45 days prior to intuition of field work

4 Provide Escort (n=1) for field work TBD - depends on spring and fall ice, tides, daylight and Army training schedule (estimated May- mid Nov with some potential work earlier than May and later than 15 Nov)

5 Provide boat (n=1) for field work IF NEEDED (Task 2)

TBD- anytime during the open water season (typically 15 Apr-30 Nov)

6 Present Draft field report 30 days after end of field season

7 Present Final field report (Deliverable 2) 30 days after receipt of comments from JBER technical POC

2.0 SERVICE SUMMARY

2.1 Performance Evaluation. The purpose of the Service Summary is to define performance evaluation. The Performance Objective (column 1) describes what the Government will survey.

Performance of a service will be evaluated to determine if it meets the Performance Threshold (PT) of the contract. When the PT is exceeded, the JBER Technical POC will document the file with a Corrective Action Request (CAR) and forward these documents to the Contracting Officer for their determination if further action is necessary.

2.1.2. The Government will evaluate the Contractor’s performance throughout the life of the contract by assigning the JBER Technical POCs to monitor performance and to ensure services are received. The JBER Technical POCs will evaluate the Contractor’s performance through contract services documentation.

Table 2.2. Service Summary

Performance Objective PWS Paragraph Performance Threshold (Per month)

2.2. Service Summary (SS).