DTRT-RVT-41-1144_SOW.doc

Procurement Request No. XX-XXXX Request for Quotation Number DTRT57-11-Q-80019

Statement of Work

Attachment 1

BACKGROUND

The Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) has supported Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aircraft environmental mitigation initiatives for decades, and this support is becoming increasingly crucial as airports around the US consider expansion plans in order to meet increasing demand for aviation transport.

Invasive species are a serious threat to native species and functioning ecosystems. Best estimates indicate that in managed systems alone in the US, invasive species cost $34 billion per year in control efforts and lost productivity (Pimentel 2000). Many of the worst invasive species have been intentionally introduced as ornamentals or for other uses. Crops rarely become invasive due to their dependence on the specific conditions that humans provide (irrigation, fertilizer, reduced competition, etc.). However, the recent focus on dedicated energy crops that avoid food-versus-fuel controversy has led to the proposed large scale introduction of species that are being selected for rapid growth in poor habitats and other traits that may predict high invasiveness potential.

The Federal government is required by Executive Order 13112 to “not authorize, fund, or carry out actions that it believes are likely to cause or promote the introduction or spread of invasive species in the US or elsewhere unless, pursuant to guidelines that it has prescribed, the agency has determined and made public its determination that the benefits of such actions clearly outweigh the potential harm caused by invasive species; and that all feasible and prudent measures to minimize risk of harm will be taken in conjunction with the actions.” Furthermore, some states (e.g. Florida) have also begun specifically regulating biofuel crop cultivation with regard to invasiveness, and other states are considering expanding invasive species regulations to cover non-native biofuel crops. How uniform or varied state level regulations will be remains to be determined.

OBJECTIVES

A Biofuel Feedstocks Invasive Species Study (the Study) will assess proposed and established aviation biofuel feedstocks for their potential to introduce or spread invasive species, which could then result in environmental and economic impacts, including lost agricultural productivity, biodiversity, and ecosystem functions. The scientifically-supported assessments in this study will inform policy and decision makers at the state and Federal levels about the relative risk of invasiveness that is posed by a wide range of proposed and established biofuel feedstocks.

REQUIREMENTS

It is expected that a single award to a US contractor will be made for the requirements described below and that the awardee will coordinate closely with the Volpe Center and its existing research partners in the execution of this work. The contractor will produce a final study that performs the tasks and meets the objectives of this Statement of Work. If necessary, templates for the study data reporting process will be provided by the Volpe Center.

TASKS TO BE PERFORMED

The tasks to be performed by the vendor are as follows:

1. Provide monthly status reports to the Volpe Center Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR). These reports will be in MS Word format and include highlights of monthly analysis progress and project funding financial information, including funding balance. Also, visit the Volpe Center in Cambridge, MA, for a Study planning meeting.

2. Perform the Study:

a. Analyze the introduction of biofuel feedstocks as potential invaders and requirements to prevent introduction/spread of invasive species.

b. Perform review of predictors of invasiveness.

c. Perform a first-order approximation of feedstock invasiveness potential based on predictors.

d. Perform a review of existing and proposed Federal and State legislation in this area.

e. Review and discuss how invasiveness potential may be evaluated.

f. Compile an interim Study and disseminate to the Volpe Center COTR in MS Word format.

g. Incorporate Volpe Center comments into the final Study.

h. Compile a final Study and disseminate to the Volpe Center COTR in MS Word format.

3. Develop a peer reviewed research journal article based on the Study and submit to the Volpe Center COTR in MS Word format for review before publication.

4. Develop a White Paper based on the Study results and submit to the Volpe Center COTR in MS Word format.

5. Develop outreach/technical materials for the education of policymakers on the findings of the Study and submit to the Volpe Center COTR in MS Word format.

DELIVERABLES AND PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

All work on this project will be completed within 12 months of award. Deliverables will adhere to the following schedule and formatting:

· Status Reports in MS Word format

· Volpe Center planning meeting

· 21st of each month, starting first full month after award

· 1 month after date of award

TRAVEL

One trip by the project Principal Investigator to the Volpe Center in Cambridge, MA, will be required as part of Task 1 above. All travel performed under this purchase order must be approved by the COTR and shall be performed in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations (FTR). The actual costs for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses will be considered reasonable and allowable if they do not exceed the maximum per diem rates in effect at the time of travel as set forth in the FTR. In accordance with FAR Subpart 31.205-46, a written justification must be provided to the COTR for amounts higher than the FTR maximum amounts. Travel will be reimbursed at actual costs (with a copy of the receipts for expenses) in the following categories:

1.) Airline Tickets (commercial rates)

2.) Hotel Expenses (Government rates unless pre-approved by the COTR)

3.) All Other Modes of Transportation (Taxi receipts are not required if less than $50.00)

Food and other miscellaneous expenses will be reimbursed at the prevailing FTR reimbursement rates.

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