ESBD_364601_1720816437975_Addeneum #1.pdf

David Basinger, Chairman Barry Mahler, Member Scott Buckles, Vice Chairman Tina Y. Buford, Member Marty H. Graham, Member José O. Dodier, Jr., Member Rex Isom, Executive Director

TEXAS STATE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION BOARD

Protecting and Enhancing Natural Resources for Tomorrow

1497 Country View Lane • Temple, TX 76504-8806 Phone: 254-773-2250 • Fax: 254-773-3311 http://www.tsswcb.texas.gov

ADDENDUM #1

RFP # 592‐24‐RFP001

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

FOR

CLASSIFICATION AND MAPPING CARRIZO CANE ALONG THE RIO

GRANDE

Below are the questions in regard to RFP 592‐24‐RFP001.

If you will be submitting a proposal, please review, sign, and submit Addendum#1 with your proposal.

QUESTIONS and ANSWERS

1. Is there a specific, active growing period for the cane? We want to be certain we fly the Area of Interest at the time for the best results for the classification.

March to November, depending on which region.

2. For the requested model we will utilize, are you just looking for a binary analysis (i.e. Carrizo Cane Yes/No? Or do you need a more detailed classification result?

Yes, we are looking for binary classifications with detailed area information on the Carrizo Cane invasion.

3. All data will need to be delivered by October 1st, 2024, correct? The responding bidders may propose a different timeline to meet the requirements.

The proposed timeline will be taken into consideration during the evaluation process.

4. The acquisition area for analysis is limited to only 1,000 ft north of the Rio Grande River edge, correct?

It will not include the entire square mileage of each border county displayed in Exhibit B. Yes, the acquisition area for analysis is limited to only 1,000 feet north of the Rio Grande River edge (USA side).

1497 Country View Lane • Temple, TX 76504-8806

5. Can you please provide additional info on these requested deliverables? a. Workshop/Webinar Series:

Training sessions for state and local government officials on utilizing the project's data and maps for planning and management purposes.

I. How many sessions do you anticipate needing?

a. At minimum, annual training sessions and updates on changes made.

II. Will they be live in‐person or previously recorded?

a. In-person training sessions will be required at first. After the initial training sessions are completed follow-up video training sessions will be on an as needed basis.

b. Cloud-based storage is to be provided by the contractor for a minimum of five (5) years.

Access to the data by the state agency shall be unlimited in nature and readily available upon request. Secure login credentials will be given to state employees designated by the state agency.

c. I. Is access to the imagery and vectorized Carrizo Cane areas needed?

a. Yes

6. Are there any known Federal (or other) flight restrictions to operate UAS in these areas?

This will be the responsibility of the responding bidder to verify.

7. Can the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board provide any existing deliverable examples for projects like this?

No. This is the first time TSSWCB has engaged in this type of project.

8. Can the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board provide a sample location where you’ve confirmed the cane exists currently? Do you have any data showing current or previous locations?

It is the responsibility of the responding bidder to conduct field research if they want to obtain sample data.

9. Clarification on deliverables regarding accuracy requirements?

The required resolution of the imagery is 15 cm. Therefore, the minimum mapping unit should be aligned with this resolution to ensure precise detection and classification of Carrizo cane areas.

10. Is this a survey deliverable that needs to be signed and sealed?

No.

11. Minimum number of days to acquire the imagery?

No Minimum.

12. Can the imagery also be from drone or satellite not just fixed wing?

Yes, the data can be collected from different platforms, but it is necessary to maintain a minimum 15 cm resolution for the imagery.

1497 Country View Lane • Temple, TX 76504-8806

13. If the company had previous involvement in cane spraying projects is there any conflict with being involved in this project?

This RFP involves data collection and classification of invasive species. Current or prior contracted work with TSSWCB would be outside the scope of this RFP and would not be in conflict. Any vendor that meets the requirements in the RFP can submit a proposal.

14. Does an in‐state bidder have an advantage over an out of state bidder?

Yes.

15. Is there an advantage to a HUB contractor?

Yes.

16. How is the project billing? Invoices, lump sum, or billed on deliverables?

Billing will be determined once a vendor is selected.

17. Was there an RFI published?

No.

18. When are questions due by email?

Questions are due by 5:00 pm on July 11th.

19. Does new imagery have to be collected or can existing imagery be used?

Existing imagery can be used, but the collection time should not be older than the previous growing season.

20. When are the responses to the questions published?

Official response to questions will be posted July 12th on the ESBD.

21. Can you provide an area of interest (AOI) boundary file?

The AOI is defined in the RFP and it will be the responsibility of the responding bidder to create their own boundary file that meets specifications.

22. What is the minimum mapping unit for the carrizo cane?

The required resolution of the imagery is 15 cm. Therefore, the minimum mapping unit should be aligned with this resolution to ensure precise detection and classification of Carrizo cane areas.

1497 Country View Lane • Temple, TX 76504-8806

23. Given the limited access to the many portions of the AOI, how many UAS or ground survey validation areas is the state anticipating? What is the anticipated distribution?

One sample from each county withing the AOI is required. Three samples from within each county suggested.

24. Can the State provide any historic maps of carrizo distribution or ground surveys from which to develop a validation sampling plan?

It is the responsibility of the responding bidder to conduct field research if they want to obtain sample data.

25. How would the State like validation data quantified?

The State would like the validation data to be quantified by comparing the classified imagery results with ground truth data. Validation should include spatially explicit data that allows for assessing the accuracy of the classification across different sections of the AOI.

26. Will the State help coordinate Right of Entry for validation flights or ground survey validation on private land or will all data collection be in public access areas?

Yes, project staff will coordinate with the vendor once desired sample areas are identified. Once access has been granted the staff will escort the vendor to each location.

27. Based on the schedule information presented in the RFP and assuming NTP in August, fixed wing and UAS training/and validation data flights would occur August to September. It would be difficult to deliver all the required deliverables prior to October 1, 2024. Would the State consider a longer timeline that included phased deliveries of the model data?

The responding bidders may propose a different timeline to meet the requirements. This will be taken into consideration during the evaluation process.

28. To facilitate faster data production, can off‐shore subcontractors be utilized?

Due to the sensitive nature of the AOI, US based contractors are preferred.

29. Can you clarify what is required for the data hosting component of the project?

a. Will the service provider be hosting both the imagery and vegetation data?

Yes.

b. If the contract is renewed for the entire period will all years of data be hosted?

Yes

c. Does the state require a web‐based data viewer? If so what functionality is required?

Yes. The state would like to be able to view images, interact with images, see updates, and draw polygons, make notes, and review updated data or project status.

1497 Country View Lane • Temple, TX 76504-8806

d. How many users does the State anticipate and how many secure logins will be required?

No more than 10.

30. What is the exact time frame in which data acquisition should be conducted?

(section 2.3 Scope of Work and Specifications ▶ Project Management) The responding bidders may propose a timeline to meet the requirements.

This will be taken into consideration during the evaluation process.

a. Additionally, is there a maximum number of days over which imagery can be collected from start to completion?

b. The maximum number of days for imagery collection is not specified in the RFP.

The responding bidders may propose a timeline to meet the requirements. i. For example, if it took the selected contractor 20 days to capture all of the data, would that meet requirements?

Yes.

31. Are there any specific licenses or approvals required for contractors to fly so close to international border airspace? If so, would said licenses/approvals be initiated by the TSSWCB or would that responsibility fall on the selected contractor?

(section 2.3 Scope of Work and Specifications ▶ Project Objectives and Responsibilities) It is the responsibility of the responding bidder.

32. Is there any additional importance/priority placed on the RGB imagery versus the CIR?

(section 2.3 Scope of Work and Specifications ▶ Deliverables ▶ Item 3) We prioritize accurate classification over imagery type. A combination of RGB and CIR imagery would be suitable for many sections of the AOI.

33. Is a fixed wing aircraft the only method of data acquisition permissible for this project?

(section 2.3 Scope of Work and Specifications under Objectives ▶ Item 1) No, data can be collected from different platforms, but it is necessary to maintain a minimum 15 cm resolution for the imagery.

34. Is thermal imagery of any value to the TSSWCB?

We prioritize accurate classification over imagery type, but it is necessary to maintain the required resolution for the imagery.

1497 Country View Lane • Temple, TX 76504-8806

35. Can a bid be submitted directly to the TSSWCB without a state approved vendor?

Yes.

36. One original copy of our proposal is noted in the RFP to be submitted, and then later on page 10 the RFP notes that 3 copies are to be submitted. Can TSSWCB clarify how many copies they would like submitted? Would it be one original and three copies total? Or should we omit the original copy and only submit three copies?

Please submit one (1) original and two (2) copies of the proposal.

37. Is there an anticipated budget for the RFP?

No.

38. Can you confirm that new aerial acquisition of imagery is part of the deliverable?

No, existing imagery can be utilized.

39. Will all parts of the cloud‐based storage and accessibility be used by internal (state agency) access only?

Yes.

40. Will any portion of the cloud‐based storage and accessibility require a public access portal? If so, please specify which and describe desired functionality.

No.

41. Can satellite imagery be used (as long as it meets specific quality measures of 15cm) or must it be acquired from fixed wing aircraft?

Yes, satellite imagery can be used.

42.Is there a list of attendees at the conference?

No.

1497 Country View Lane • Temple, TX 76504-8806

Please sign, and return Addendum #1 along with your proposal submission.

Addendum #1 for RFP# 592‐24‐RFP001.

Signature Date