Attachment_1,_PWS.docx

Performance Work Statement May 23, 2017 Visitor Interpretive Experience Plans (VIEP) - Aransas National Wildlife Refuge; and Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge Introduction Completion of the following planning documents for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service):

· Visitor Interpretive Experience Plan for Aransas (ANWR) National Wildlife Refuge, Austwell, Texas; and

· Visitor Interpretive Experience Plan for Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (LANWR), Los Fresnos, Texas.

These planning documents will be based on the Visitor Services Planning template (605 FW 1, Exhibit 1). Although primary emphasis is on the ‘Big 6’ Wildlife Dependent Recreational Uses (hunting, fishing, environmental education, interpretation, wildlife observation and wildlife photography), the document shall address the other recreational uses identified in the template as appropriate.

At ANWR, the intent of the VIEP is to provide clear direction and identify specific actions that will enable the refuge to provide a high quality visitor experience to a diverse audience (including but not limited new audiences and traditional refuge visitors). Furthermore, the plans must align with the refuge purpose and the goals of the refuge. Additionally, at ANWR the VIEP will inform design and reconstruction of visitor center exhibits and provide other interpretive opportunities specific to identified new audiences on the refuge.

At LANWR, the intent of the VIEP is to provide clear direction and identify specific actions that will enable the refuge to provide a high quality visitor experience to a diverse audience (including but not limited to urban residents, the Urban Refuge Partnership Program goals and traditional refuge visitors). Furthermore, the plans must align with the refuge purpose, the goals of the Urban Wildlife Conservation Program (UWCP), and reflect the UWCP Standards of Excellence. The plan must consider and include all units and tracts of the refuge.

General Approach to Develop Aransas and Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuges Visitor Interpretive Experience Plan (VIEP)

The general approach for completing the VIEP consists of preparing the plan in order to properly align interpretive goals and objectives with the refuge’s purpose and relevant documents. Aransas NWR has a CCP (Comprehensive Conservation Plan) along with a Land Protection Plan (2013) and other relevant documents will be provided. Laguna Atascosa NWR will have a completed Visitor Services plan (2017) and a CCP (2012). The contractor will be responsible for developing themes, sub-themes and supporting stories in order to achieve the VIEP’s goals and objectives. Since ANWR has been selected as a priority refuge within the Region, the themes to be developed will be the groundwork for an interpretive exhibits plan and messages that can be used both off-site and on-site. Lastly, this VIEP will also include an action plan with strategies and tactics that will provide the necessary direction to implement the recommended program. Laguna Atascosa as part of a complex will need the themes to be developed for groundwork for exhibit plans and messages that can be used off-site and on-site that is specific for their niche in the Complex.

The contractor will rely on guidance and information supplied by the Service to develop themes and to manage the project in terms of identifying gaps in information supplied. The Service will provide all prior planning documents to the contractor and due to the large amount of community input in previous planning efforts, the contractor is expected to review and consider the direction established in these plans when drafting the VIEP. The contractor will be required to obtain additional information from other appropriate sources to complete the plan. The contractor will also be required to conduct at least two (2) on-site field work sessions that will include field-checks of interpretive opportunities currently offered at the refuge.

To ensure that the plan is expedited, scheduled discussions will be held following an agreed upon project schedule and will utilize electronic distance communications.

Product

1. The contractor shall provide all personnel, material, equipment, and related services as necessary to research; assimilate input from all members of the Service staff and of the project team, and write 10 year comprehensive VIEP plans for Aransas and Laguna Atascosa NWRs.

Service and Contractor Requirements for the Aransas and Laguna Atascosa NWR Visitor Interpretive Experience Plans:

Contractor Deliverables for Aransas and Laguna Atascosa NWR Visitor Interpretive Experience Plans:

Schedule of Deliverables

*Note: Draft VIEP for Aransas NWR shall begin first and Draft VIEP Laguna NWR shall begin while the government is reviewing the Draft VIEP for Aransas NWR. Work is to be staggered and follow the above schedule.

Step 1: Pre-work The contractor will review all relevant data provided by the Service to determine what information already exists and to become familiar with opportunities and issues. This includes the Environmental Assessment, Land Protection Plan, and Conceptual Management Plan, Visitor Services plans and Reviews, hunting plans, fishing plans, and other facility data bases as relevant including: Real Property Inventory (RPI), Service Asset Management (SAMMS), Deferred Maintenance (DM), and Visitor Facility Enhancements (VFE). Plans by previous contractors including public input will also be provided. In addition, data from the Refuge Annual Performance Planning database (RAPP) that provides information on visitation will be provided.

This step includes the following key tasks:

Step 2: On-site Kick-off Meeting and Tour The initial site visit focuses on accomplishing the following:

· Within 30 days after Post-Award Conference Call, contractor will visit the site for a kick off meeting and tour. This schedule can be staggered to accommodate both refuges since they are some distance from each other and may not be accomplished in one trip.

· Visit all units to be included in the VIEP in the company of Service personnel (discussions during the site visitation will include discussions of potential visitor use goals and objectives for any of the Big 6 wildlife-dependent activities. Additional uses will be considered if they fit within the Urban Standards of Excellence.

· Review the planning process with emphasis on roles, responsibilities, schedules and milestones.

· Gather and request additional information as necessary from local sources and the Service.

On-site field work and work session The purpose of this step is to gather additional information in the field that has impact on developing the plan, discuss the revised goals and objectives, theme hierarchy and proposed VIEP outline, and to discuss and decide on the target audiences to be addressed in the plan.

Specific tasks include the following:

Step 3: Develop Draft Visitor Interpretive Experience Plan This includes both work by the contractor and work by the Service based on assessment of information collected to date.

Key tasks include the following:

Step 4: Develop draft final VIEP This step focuses on developing the draft final VIEP. It requires an on-site meeting to field check proposed visitor experiences, and discuss feedback on the draft document, priority for implementation and an Action Plan. Specific tasks include the following:

Step 5: Prepare final VIEP This includes the following tasks:

Key Personnel

Subcontractors:

1. The contractor shall provide written notice to the Service when any approved subcontractor is no longer performing the specified services if those services have not been successfully completed.

Basis of Payment for Services:

Milestone progress payments for completed services: The Service will pay the contractor all amounts due for services completed and accepted by the Service for Goods delivered and accepted by the Service at the following milestone after the Service’s approval of the contractor’s invoice to the Service. The contractor shall submit invoices at the 10%, 30%, 60%, 75%, 90% and 100% (final) payment steps of the project, upon completion of the deliverables in as shown in the Deliverable Tables.

General Terms and Conditions Definitions: